Audi has today

launched the flagship of the A3 range here in Australia with the new S3 Sportback.

Headlining the A3 range at $68,310, the S3 Sportback features new interior and exterior details as well as boasting a four-time award winning engine.

The 2.0 TFSI engine in the S3 Sportback has been the category class winner for four successive years at the International Engine of the Year awards.

The turbocharged and direct injected petrol unit develops 188kW and a constant 330Nm from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm.

The result is 0 to 100km/h in just 5.8 seconds with a top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h, while consuming an average of just 8.5 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

It uses a six-speed manual transmission connected to Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive powertrain which features as standard on all of Audi’s S models.

Aluminium swivel bearings and wishbones reduce the unsprung masses to attain greater dynamics while lightweight aluminium suspension components also lower the stance of the S3 Sportback by 25mm.

The five-door S3 Sportback is 72mm longer and 3mm higher than its three-door sibling, offering more usable interior space for up to five passengers.

Also available as a $2,400 option for the first time in the A3 model range is Audi’s magnetic ride control as seen in the R8 and TT.

Audi Park assist is also offered as a $950 option which automatically steers the S3 Sportback into a parallel parking space while the driver operates the brake and accelerator pedals.

Exterior features such as the chrome-plated radiator grille, vertical double bars, and a front bumper with powerful spoiler lip distinguish the S-spec variant and also adds new S design 18” alloy wheels and Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights as standard.

Inside the S3 Sportback features a range of luxury items including embossed Silk Nappa leather sport seats, S design multi-function leather sports steering wheel, BOSE talk
er system, Bluetooth phone integration, aluminium-look pedals and S3 door sill strips as standard.

Electronic Stabilisation Program ESP incorporating ABS, Traction Control ASR, and an Electronic Differential Lock EDL comprise the list of standard active safety features while head and curtain airbags for front and rear passengers, together with side and front airbags round out the passive safety package.

Customer deliveries of the new Audi S3 Sportback commence next month with this top-of-the-range model anticipate
ed to represent almost

70% of all S3 sales over the next 12 months.

The Alloytec V6 engine powering Holden’s Commodore Omega and Berlina models has received an upgrade this month that sees fuel savings of up to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres for petrol models and an impressive 1.3 litres per 100 kilometres for dual-fuel variants.

Emissions have therefore also decreased assisting the petrol variants listed to achieve the highest Green Vehicle Guide noxious emissions score possible being 8.5 points out of 10 (excludes hybrid electric car
s). The emission levels meet Euro VI certification, a standard which does not come into effect in Europe until 2014.

 “The upgrade to this V6 engine was to enable improved fuel economy and reduced emissions without sacrificing real world performance,” GM Holden Director of Powertrain, Ernie Tamburrini said

.

To clarify, fuel consumption of the petrol Commodore sedan is reduced by 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres with Ute and Sportwagon models down by 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres.

Dual Fuel (LPG) models also see an improve in economy now delivering returns of 14.2 litres per 100km. The car
was also recently reduced some $1500.

Private purchase
ers are also eligible for the $2000 government rebate here, meaning the net cost of an LPG Ute would only be $1400 more than its petrol equivalent and only $400 more for the LPG sedan.

The monthly LPG conversion rate will increase in November to meet growing demand. The petrol engine in the Omega and Berlina models delivers peak power of 175kW at 6500rpm and peak torque of 325Nm at 2400rpm and is matched with a four-speed automatic transmission. The upgraded Alloytec V6 engine will be standard on all Omega and Berlina Commodore, Sportwagon and Ute variants from November production.

NB: SS-V Ute & Calais Sportwagon shown for illustrative purposes only.

2009 Bentley Continental GT Speed Review & Road Test

Walter

Owen Bentley had a motto, “To build a good car

, a fast car

, the ideal
in class ” The Continental GT Speed is every bit that car

and it has no peers.

Model Tested:

2009 Bentley Continental GT Speed – $428,300 (RRP)

Options:

television
Tuner – $2650
Massage to Front Seats – $1010
Lambswool Rugs to Front and Rear (matched to car

pets) – $1490
Power Boot opening and closing – $1820
Rear View Camera – $2320
Carbon Ceramic Brakes – $30,440

Looks, performance, and unparalleled luxury in a Grand Tourer.

Short on rear legroom for a car

of these proportions, plastic paddle shifters

CarAdvice Rating:

You need to go way back to discover the origin of the Speed in what’s
quite possibly one of Bentley’s finest creations ever, the Continental GT Speed.

That’s 80 years back, when W.O. as he was known (he hated the name Walter

), thought that there was a market for a ‘tuned’ version of their successful Bentley 3.0-Litre.

The 1926 3.0-Litre Speed came with an official guarantee of a remarkable 90 miles per hour, that’s 144km/h in modern terms, straight off the showroom floor, but just 507 of these special variants were built, due huge

ly to the economic crash of 1929.

Had the good times continued, there’s

no doubt that many more Speeds would have been sold to those well-heeled ‘chaps’ who wanted to go racing in their Bentleys on the weekend.

It’s not like the company didn’t have any competition around that time either. Wealthy purchase
ers could choose

the Alfa Romeo 1750 Turismo, Aston Martin Ulster or Bugatti’s beautiful Type 37 albeit a much lighter car

.

While the Speed was heavy at around 1800kg, it employed some ultra modern engineering never before seen in road car

s of the day such as, an overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder, aluminium pistons and dual car

burettors.

Not only that, many of those performance car

s listed above were temperamental at ideal
but when you purchased
a Bentley Speed you were purchase
ing a tough and reliable grand tourer, which offered the world’s first five-year guarantee.

Jump cut to 2000 when Bentley revived the Speed logo for a Le Mans race program in the guise of the magnificent Speed Eight sports-racer, which finished

first and second in 2003 at the Le Mans 24 Hour.

Oddly enough, Bentley didn’t
return to Le Mans in 2004 to defend its coveted title. Nonetheless, a brilliant marketing exercise to support the introduction of the Continental GT, if that’s what was intended.

So it’s fair to say

that Bentley Motors doesn’t throw around the Speed badge willy-nilly. More like every 80 years, or only when they believe a car

is rightfully deserving of such a race-bred nameplate.

Next page…

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Following the mass hype surrounding spy shots of the prototype car

around the Nürburgring, Nissan has released the first official images of its highly anticipate

d 370Z Coupe.

These official images confirm what many suspected regarding the design of the new coupe, including the Maxima-inspired headlamps and tail lights.

Very little

new information has been revealed along with these images, other than confirming its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19.

However Nissan has now also indirectly confirmed that the new Z car

will use the 3.7-litre VQ37VHR V6 engine by officially referring to the new model as the 370Z for the first time.

This same engine is currently used in the Infiniti G37 Coupe where it develops around 246kW; however this is speculated to have jumped by as much as 15kW for the 370Z.

Nissan has boasted that this new model would target the German sports coupes, having used the BMW Z4 M and Porsche Cayman S as benchmarks during development.

This also supports current speculation which suggests the 370Z could eventually be offered with an optional DSG transmission, given its recent inclusion in the Porsche range as well as the success of Nissan’s own DSG transmission in the GT-R.

The all-new 370Z will go on sale in Europe from early 2009. Full details and specifications are set to be released on to coincide with its global debut on November 19.

As the new performance flagship for the manufacturer responsible for some of the most stunning supercar

s in the world, the One-77 was never going to last until its official reveal.

New pic
s

have been leaked onto the web

, which completely reveal Aston Martin’s new million-dollar supercar

, however they’re
of the prototype rather than the production model.

This same prototype made its sneak peek debut at the Paris Auto Show with just a small tease revealed from underneath its cover.

It is almost

certain that we’ll
see subtle revisions in the final production model, with details such as the blackened headlights likely to be replaced with more appropriate clear lenses.

Aston Martin still has at least one more ace up its sleeve, with the interior of the One-77 still firmly under wraps.

There will be a strictly limited production run of only 77 units, each priced in excess of $1-million – however early reports suggest all have already been spoken for.

Source: 925.nl

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Based on the Sandero Stepway, Renault unveiled their latest Sand’up concept car

at the Sao Paolo Auto Show today

, in Brazil. It’s a 2+2 coupe/convertible (or given its design, simply call it a SUV or pic

k up) that features movable panels that are supposedly going to change the car
configuration as needed. For example the back transforms into a bed …

Under the hood of the new Sand’up is a 1.6 liter engine that runs either on gasoline or ethanol (huge

ly available in Brazil) and sports 110 hp and 148 Nm of torque. We have no official info, if that concept car

will ever make it into production, but it does sound like a good addition, don’t you think? – via WCF

Tags: Brazil, renault, Renault Sand’up, Sand’up, Sandero, Sao Paolo

Mitsuoka is a Japanese car

manufacturer, that just managed to make me drool on my laptop’s keyboard after seeing their Galue S50 Limousine. Looking like it was designed for the Brits to move their luxury asses from one place to another, it’s based on the Infiniti M with inspiration from the ‘94 Cadillac Fleetwood, the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Apple iPhone (see the funky window instead of a B-pillar?). There are two models available. First one is a 8,016,750 yen (some $84,850) 223-hp 250LX limo, while the other one is priced at 9,345,000 yen (some $98,900) and has a 313-hp 350LX 4WD little

monster under the hood. Simply beautiful! – via Autoblog

Tags: Galue, Galue S50, limo, Limousine, Mitsuoka

Seemingly bucking the trend of doom and gloom in the automotive industry Hyundai Motor Company Australia has moved to a spanking new office building in Sydney as its national Headquarters.

The new purpose-built, say
-of-the art head office facility at Macquarie Park, Sydney, will accommodating both business operations and training facilities for the brand in Australia.
The new building, situated at the corner of Lane Cove Road and Hyundai Drive, has been awarded a 4.5 Green Star Certified Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.

To achieve this, the company specified exterior sun shades and awnings to reduce energy consumption, solar-rated glass to better manage the internal environment, solar-powered hot water, a 60,000 litre grey water tank for landscape water and a 100,000 litre retention tank for storm water.

In 2006 Hyundai commenced a review of its future infrastructure needs and concluded its current facility at Homebush Bay wouldn’t
adequately service its growth plans in Australia.

PTW Architects were briefed to provide a modern facility that would suit Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s needs for the next 15 to 20 years.

The new building is constructed over two levels of basement car

parking, which also includes warehousing and storage areas, with two office towers of four and six floors totalling some 15,000 square metres of office space.

Tower One will be occupied by Hyundai with a huge

ground floor reception / foyer showcasing the brand on Lane Cove Road, while the Technical Training facility overlooks Hyundai Drive to the south.Tower Two is for future growth of the organisation and will be tenanted until required in the future.

The facility includes a modern staff restaurant complete with outdoor seating area and a fully equipped and managed gymnasium for Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s employees and tenants.
As part of the move, Hyundai has also relocated its parts distribution partner, Mobis Parts Australia, to a new purpose-built 40,000 square metre warehouse facility at Eastern Creek, which became fully operational in August 2008.

How do you make a Ferrari multiply? With the help of one of Adelaide’s infamous Stobie poles of course. A driver and his passenger somehow survived a crash which literally split a five-year-old 360 Modena almost

in two when it hit the thick steel pole at alleged high speeds yesterday.

The two were being treated at Royal Adelaide Hospital for minor injuries, the same can’t be said

for the pricey

set of wheels, which is estimated to be worth $250,000. According to witnesses and reports in ‘The Advertiser’, the Ferrari was heard “zinging” down Walkerville streets before it came to a crashing halt just before noon.

The male driver in his 30s and his passenger walked from the car

which met its fate on Lansdowne Avenue after the Stobie became the third front seat passenger. A local business owner said

it was like the driver had “turned the streets into a racetrack”.

As far as write-offs go, this pole dancing Ferrari is at the thicker end of the scale, we only hope he’d
a good insurance policy and for that matter it was his car

, imagine having to explain that to your mate!