Car Reviews: 05/06/10

Thursday, May 6, 2010

2010 Aston Martin Sports Car Rapide Nurburgring Race Car

The Aston Martin Rapide Nurburgring race car has been unveiled today and the company says it will make its debut in the 24-Hour event that will take place on 15/16 May 2010. Previously, Aston Martin has competed in the Nurburgring 24-Hour race with the V8 Vantage and the V12 Vantage. for this year, the British brand goes four-door.

Aston Martin Rapide

For all those who thought Aston Martin had somehow gone soft by offering a four-door saloon, the famed British marque plans to prove the new Rapide is no slouch by entering it in the 38th ADAC Nurburgring 24-hour race on May 15-16. Piloting the vehicle win the grueling race will be none other than Aston Martin’s CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez, who at age 66 can still give the young guns a run for their money. Aston, with Bez at the wheel, has won top honors in the race’s production-based SP8 category for the past two years with versions of the Vantage coupe.

The Aston Martin Rapide Nurburgring will been entered in the race as company's Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez considers this event represents the ultimate durability test for any sports car.

The Aston Martin Rapide Nurburgring is extremely close to the production car. The only differences between the Aston Martin Rapide Nurburgring and the production model include the removal of interior trim to save weight, re-tuned suspension and slick tires.

PRESS RELEASE:

Aston Martin Rapide to contest gruelling Nürburgring 24-hour Race

Gaydon, Warwickshire 6 April 2010. Aston Martin will return to the starting grid of the legendary Nordschleife circuit for the fifth consecutive year at the 38th ADAC Nürburgring 24-hour race on 15/16 May 2010 with the marque's new four-door sports car; the Rapide.

Further underlining the sporting credentials of Aston Martin's latest model, the Rapide will compete in the demanding 24-hour race - as has been the case with other recent Aston Martin road cars, the V8 Vantage and V12 Vantage. The Rapide will compete in near-standard specification apart from mandatory changes required to compete in this most demanding of endurance races and will be driven by a team of engineers from the company's Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire, England.

Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez who will lead the Rapide driver team, explained: "This race represents the ultimate final engineering durability test for any sports car - it subjects the car to the toughest possible assessment under public scrutiny. "The Rapide has the capability to carry four people in comfort but first and foremost it is a sports car and we will subject it to the same tests we would our other sports cars. We already have a proven track record at the Nürburgring racing our road cars with limited modification and in recent years we have enjoyed success in winning the SP8 class both in 2008 and 2009."

The Rapide race car will be close to production standard with only essential race safety modifications, interior trim removed to reduce weight, re-tuned suspension and will run on slick tyres designed for track use. The Aston Martin Rapide encapsulates the values of Aston Martin in pure four-door sports car form with an unrivalled combination of performance, comfort, craftsmanship and exceptionally elegant design. Since the Rapide's original premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 the car has gone on to win the widespread approval of customers and media commentators alike, prompting strong global demand for the car. Deliveries of the Rapide commence later this month through Aston Martin's 125-strong global dealership network.

The Rapide race car will be joined by a V12 Vantage - again modified only slightly for racing - which in 2009 swept to a class win on its competitive race debut. The near production standard V12 Vantage - which finished in 21st place overall last year - saw off competition from a field of largely specialist race cars in the SP8 class to claim an impressive debut win.

Further details on the V12 Vantage and the full driver line-ups for both Aston Martin entries plus details on a number of customer teams competing in the race will follow in the coming weeks.

The 38th ADAC Nürburgring 24 hour race will take place on 15/16 May 2010.

2011 Audi Sports Car RS5

The 2011 Audi RS5 made its world debut last month at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and come complete with an uprated version of the 4.2-liter FSI V-8 from the RS4. The latest iteration of the sweet engine delivers 450 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and, between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm, transmits a maximum of 317.15 pound-feet of torque.

2011 Audi RS5

The mighty engine is matched to a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox and a new center differential in the standard quattro all-wheel drive system. Together, the powertrain propels the coupe’s 3,803 pound kerb weight from 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds and sees it reach a top speed of 174 mph.

Despite the performance, the new RS5 has relatively good--for a performance car--fuel economy of 21.8 mpg for the European combined cycle.

Developed by quattro GmbH, the RS models comprise the dynamic spearhead of Audi's model range. The Audi RS5 is the latest torchbearer in a tradition dating back over 15 years to the RS2 Avant: superior handling in the mid-size class. A close relative of the V10 which powers the high-performance Audi R8 sports car, the high-revving V8 engine delivers its output from a displacement of 4,163 cm3. Like nearly every Audi gasoline engine, this one also operates via direct fuel injection known by the abbreviation FSI. This same technology has propelled the Audi R8 racing car to four triumphs at the classic endurance race in Le Mans. The common-rail system generates up to 120 bars of pressure.

Intensive fine-tuning of the dual-branch intake and exhaust system allows the undersquare engine to breathe freely; four adjustable camshafts and tumble flaps in the intake manifold facilitate mixture formation. The 4.2 FSI provides imposing torque and is right at home even at high revs - almost like a race engine. The engine delivers 331 kW (450 hp) at 8,250 rpm and - between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm - transmits a maximum of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) of torque.

The vigorous strength, the spontaneous responsiveness, the joyful high-revving, and the throaty, sonorous music: this V8 produced by hand at Audi stunningly combines the essence of power and emotion. The 4.2 FSI propels the coupé's 1,725 kilograms (3,802.97 pounds) in 4.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.14 mph) to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Audi can increase that to 280 km/h (173.98 mph) upon request.

The RS 5 will ride on a lowered and stiffened suspension, and it most certainly will have a torque-vectoring rear differential similar to that which we recently sampled in the 2010 S5 cabriolet. Also look for an RS-specific calibration of the Audi Drive Select system that allows the driver to tailor steering effect, damping qualities, and transmission/throttle response to his or her tastes. We expect the RS 5 to make abundant use of lightweight materials such as aluminum, magnesium, and probably a conspicuous sprinkling of carbon fiber, á la BMW M3 coupe, as part of its ambitious plan to begin reducing vehicle mass across its model lineup and particularly among its performance cars.

A carbon design package is available for the engine compartment and, for the vehicle body, there are styling packages in black or matt aluminum look, including for the exhaust system, which can be fitted with black tailpipes. The new RS5 is scheduled to go on sale in Europe this July and previous spy shots of prototypes testing in the U.S. suggest the car will also be in local showrooms.