The Audi TT is a sporty 2+2 coupe or convertible that has evolved significantly since 2000, when it was first introduced. While for the first few years after its 2000 model-year intro, the TT was strictly rolling sculpture and eye candy, it’s changed roles somewhat, morphing into more of a full-fledged sports car. In any case, the sporty TT and… Here is the original: Audi TT – TTS

Bentley's Continental GT V8. Image: Bentley Motors The Volkswagen Group currently encompasses an impressive number of automobile brands, including (off the top of our head) Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti and to some degree, Porsche. Given that broad a family lineup, you’d expect see the occasional management shakeup between brands. That’s allegedly the case with Bentley and Bugatti head Wolfgang Dürheimer, who Autoblog (via Automotive News Europe , subscription required) reports will soon be moving to Audi. Dürheimer will be replacing Audi’s development chief, Michael Dick, who is expected to retire later this year. Joining Dürheimer in the shuffle is Volkswagen’s marketing head, Luca de Meo, who will replace Peter Schwarzenbauer as head of Audi’s sales. Also out at Audi are head of procurement Ulf Berkenhagen and production head Frank Dreves. Berkenhagen will move to Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle division as head of purchasing, while Dreves will join Dick in retiring later this year. The moves seem designed to reduce tha average age of members on Audi’s board of management, which Audi views as necessary to achieve its ambitious sales targets in the coming years.   Continued here: Bentley Boss Dürheimer Reassigned To Audi: Report See the original post here:  Bentley Boss Dürheimer Reassigned To Audi: Report

We first saw a Chevrolet bearing the Trax name as a concept at the 2007 New York auto show, riding on the bones of the Chevy Spark. Now Chevy has announced that something called the Trax will go into production for global markets. But the only thing this Trax has in common with the Trax of five years ago is its name. Read full story » Excerpt from: Chevrolet Trax to Join Global Lineup, Will Debut in Paris Original post: Chevrolet Trax to Join Global Lineup, Will Debut in Paris

A Long Island, N.Y. car dealership caught the whole thing on its security camera: Two would be thieves, unsuccessful in their attempts to steal a 2012 Audi S5 convertible, returned an hour later, set it on fire and fled again. More » More: Thieves Couldn’t Steal This Audi S5 So They Torched It [Car Crime] View original post here:  Thieves Couldn’t Steal This Audi S5 So They Torched It [Car Crime]

The announcement last month that Lada will finally stop building the 2107 (also called the Riva) was sad news. At least sad to those of us perverse enough to love the idea that the 1966 Fiat 124 was still in production somewhere. That Lada was part of an ever-shrinking club of true automotive survivors. Let’s see who’s left. More » Go here to read the rest: The Oldest Cars Still In Production [Car History] Read the original here:  The Oldest Cars Still In Production [Car History]

Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental. Opel has disclosed the name of its upcoming minicar: Adam. I am not kidding, it will be called the Opel Adam. Adam Opel, you see, was the founder of the company. Sort of like Enzo Ferrari founded the company that would later build the Enzo. Here’s a “spy shot” conveniently provided by Opel—the Adam looks almost as appealing as its name. Luckily for us, it won’t be sold in the U.S. Read full story » Read more: The Continental: Opel’s Adam, Hyundai’s European Engines, and News From Audi Go here to read the rest:  The Continental: Opel’s Adam, Hyundai’s European Engines, and News From Audi

When Chrysler dropped the Sebring and replaced it with the new Chrysler 200 in 2011, the car went from just being a rental car choice to a legitimate contender in the mid-size sedan segment. The new Chrysler 200 uses the same platform as the Sebring, but engineers changed and strengthened everything on the new car.  It was an impressive piece of work considering Chrysler pulled off the transformation in just 12 months. Just about every new Chrysler comes with an updated interior as does the 2012 200. On the inside, the first thing that is noticed is the one-piece soft-touch dash, a new gated shift lever, fine chrome accents, and low-gloss plastics. The cheap look of the Sebring is gone and the new 200 is much classier. The interior should wear better with the new materials according to Chrysler’s interior designer Klaus Busse. The fit and finish of the 200 interior is much better now with the use of a soft dashboard skin because it allows for a much smaller tolerance between dash pieces. Inside, Chrysler has managed to provide a reasonably upscale experience. The cabin isn’t up to the level of a Lexus ES350, but it’s now competitive in this class. The 200 is extremely quiet, thanks to a substantial revision of the suspension, engine mounts, and insulation materials. The 200 Limited gets leather trimmed front seats that are comfortable and the eight-way power drivers seat and tilt/telescoping steering wheel makes it easy to find the right driving position. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather with mounted audio controls and along with the heated front seats they add a luxury feel to the new 200 Limited model. This Chrysler 200 Limited tester ($24,070) also gets upgraded interior trim, remote start, touch-screen display, compass, outside temperature reading, 430-watt sound system Media Center CD/DVD with 40-gig hard drive, iPod input, Bluetooth, U-Connect hands-free phone, fog lamps, and 18-inch polished aluminum wheels. The V-6 is optional ($1,795). Navigation is optional ($695) and comes with Sirius Real Time Traffic and Sirius Travel Link. This Chrysler 200 Limited came with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 that’s been around two years and continues to get rave reviews.The peppy V-6 makes 283 horsepower and 260 foot-pounds of torque, and is mated...

It’s no secret famed Rat Packer Dean Martin is still about as cool as it gets, so it only makes sense he would choose a vehicle as cool and unique as a 1962 Ghia L6.4 as a mode of transportation. More » Go here to read the rest: Dean Martin’s Custom 1962 Ghia L6.4 Can Be Yours [Car Stars] Continued here: Dean Martin’s Custom 1962 Ghia L6.4 Can Be Yours [Car Stars]

In 2013, BMW will launch a new family, the 2 Series. A spin-off from the new 1 Series, the 2 Series family will include the coupe and convertible variants. Built on the F20 platform, the new 1 Series Coupe will move up in class and be sold under the 2 Series badge. The car will share some design cues with the 1 Series Hatchback, but overall, the 2 Series Coupe is expected to look and feel sportier than its brother. According to CAR Magazine , the F23 2 Series will use more or less the same engines and transmissions as the 1 Series: • 216i (2.0 petrol, 150bhp) • 218i (2.0 petrol, 177bhp) • 225i (2.0 petrol, 218bhp) • 220d (2.0 turbodiesel, 214bhp) As seen across new BMW models, the transmission of choice will be either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, with the DCT option reserved for the high-end 235i model and M models. Same magazine says that the new 2014 2-series range may be offered in xDrive guise to battle the Audi A3 Quattro and the Mercedes A-class 4Matic, but so far no final decisions have been made. So why the name change? As we mentioned before, by positioning the new coupe and convertible as 2 Series products, BMW will be able to sell them at a premium price while including some of the options featured in higher-end models, like the 3 or 5 Series. Read the original:  More rumors on 2014 BMW 2 Series

Big on performance, small in number: The MINI John Cooper Works GP. Fastest MINI ever built – Best lap of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife: 8 min. 23 sec. Only once has there been anything like it, but even that wasn’t as quick. With the MINI John Cooper Works GP, the British premium brand has come up with another car of exceptional talent designed to deliver extreme performance on both the race track and the road. The sportiest road-registered MINI ever made will go on sale later this year in a limited run of 2,000 cars. It is currently completing a programme of testing in preparation for series production, part of which has involved setting an impressive fastest lap of the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit. The MINI John Cooper Works GP lapped the erstwhile Grand Prix course in 8 min. 23 sec. In so doing, the new model has put clear asphalt between itself and numerous sports cars from loftier perches – and beaten the lap time set by its predecessor, the MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit, by almost 19 seconds. Underpinning the performance characteristics of the MINI John Cooper Works GP is exclusive powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics technology inspired directly by motor sport. Its twin-scroll turbo engine generates outstanding torque, displays remarkable elasticity and demonstrates a healthy appetite for revs. Specially developed, adjustable race suspension channels this superlative output into spectacular yet precisely controllable handling. As well as being undeniably imposing visually, the design of the body also gives the MINI John Cooper Works GP ideal aerodynamic balance in extreme driving situations – a key element in delivering that handling flair. Large front and rear aprons, striking side skirts and a bespoke roof spoiler are complemented by a newly developed rear diffuser which optimises airflow around the underbody. The interior of the MINI John Cooper Works GP also contributes to the car’s inspirational racing feeling; with the rear seats removed, it focuses unashamedly on the needs of the driver and co-driver. Concentrated motor sport expertise – faithfully embodied at MINI by its John Cooper Works sub-brand – is the not-so-secret ingredient in the MINI John Cooper Works GP recipe. The “GP” tag on the model title...

The luxury sales wars are heating up. The three top luxury players are Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Globally, no one else registers on the radar. The aforementioned companies all have their eye on the top spot. BMW has held it since 2005, when Mercedes relinquished its position. Audi, on the other hand, has grown steadily. The three are fiercely competitive, which is good for consumers. If we had to bet on an eventual leader, we’d probably go with Audi. The vast amount of platform and engine sharing that can be done within the VW Group is a huge factor in their favor. Audi’s leadership is one component of VW’s larger global number one sales goal by 2018. We’ve never seen a company push so relentlessly and openly push to achieve that. Audi’s goal isn’t to be number one until later in the decade, but they’ve already topped BMW for one month this year. In April the result was 125,200 to BMW’s 121,476. Mercedes was a bit farther behind at 104,344. The good news is that all of these companies saw increased sales, it was just a question of how much. Audi sales grew 14.4 percent, BMW’s 7.4 percent and Mercedes’ 3.6 percent. Audi’s impressive result comes down to very strong growth in the Chinese market, where the A6 and A4 are extremely popular. Sales last month in China were up 44 percent, to 34,221 units. That makes China Audi’s largest market, followed by Germany at 24,301 and the United States at 11,521. Year-to-date BMW is still in the lead. If this trend continues though Audi may reach its goal sooner than anyone thought. They also have a lot of room for growth in the U.S, as Audi is far behind the leaders here. Mercedes was on top in the U.S last month with 24,302, followed by BMW at 21,062 and Lexus at 17,551. Once the new small cars (Audi A3 Sedan, Mercedes-Benz CSC, etc) from these companies land on our shores, volume will go up significantly. With BMW’s long-time dominance over the entry-level class with the 3-Series, it is going to be interesting to see who comes out on top in this emerging segment. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts More: Number One: Audi Bests BMW, Mercedes in April Sales

Filed under: Latest News Figures from HPI, the car data organisation, show that 61,000 uninsured cars were seized by the police last year. Within this number were five Ferraris (the most valuable being a new 458 Italia valued at £151,475), three Lamborghini Gallardos , an Audi R8 and a Bentley Continental. Whether they were being driven by people with such bad records that they could not get insurance, or so arrogant they thought they needn’t bother, is unclear.Among mainstream cars the type of recovered vehicles tends to reflect the overall market. The most commonly seized car was the Astra (373) examples, followed by the Focus, the Corsa and the Fiesta. Quite why Vauxhall drivers seem to be a bit more likely to be uninsured than equivalent Ford drivers (the Vectra was also seized more often than the Mondeo), is another open question. The most frightening statistic though is the total number of uninsured drivers on our roads – currently thought to be 1.4 million. Given that insurance is now fully computerised, with records instantly accessible to the police, it surely can’t be impossible to clamp down on this crime? Police forces do mount campaigns periodically: the Metropolitan police seized 300 vehicles in one day last October, but there is clearly plenty more to do. The motivation of the police is partly to stop other crimes: they reckon that 70% of uninsured drivers are involved in other illegal activity, so the hope is that taking away criminals’ wheels makes other crimes harder to commit.   Read more from the original source: Uninsured £150K Ferrari seized – plus £31 million of other cars Go here to read the rest:  Uninsured £150K Ferrari seized – plus £31 million of other cars

Michael Schumacher and Nick Fry announced the partnership deal between Starwood Hotels and Mercedes AMG Petronas team, which means that the team will stay in different Starwood hotels as they travel to different countries for the Grand Prix. Starwood in exchange, will present their Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program to the Formula 1′s audience. “We are extremely proud to be an official team partner of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. The Starwood Preferred Guest programme goes beyond gaining and redeeming points, it’s about building a deeper relationship with our guests. We want to offer our members exclusive experiences that they are most passionate about – be it sports, music or arts. Through our collaboration with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS, members can connect with their passion for the entertaining world-class sport, ” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior VP Distribution Loyalty and Partnership Marketing for Starwood Hotels and Resorts. On Mercedes Petronas side, Ross Brawn Team Principal commented, “We are very pleased to have agreed a new team partnership with Starwood, and to welcome the brand to Formula One for the first time. As regular travellers will tell you, a good hotel can make a real difference to your trip, and I am delighted that our team will have the opportunity to experience some of the Starwood hotel portfolio as we travel around the world. We are very much looking forward to working with Starwood and helping to promote their Starwood Preferred Guest programme to a new audience.” Source: Daimler Go here to read the rest:  Mercedes Petronas and Starwood Hotels are Now Partners!

In a video made by Chris Harris of Autoblog , he showed the C63 AMG Black Series being lined up against the BMW M3 GTS and Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and although it didn’t win against the Porsche, the previous clip did show that the C63 is one mean machine. To further prove its power, Mercedes-Benz released a new video where the vicious monster was strolling for a short time before it went on track and roared its V8 6.2L engine. Aside from its engine that gives out 510HP, the car is also known to have a great exterior that is emphasized by the generous LED treatment it has. Inside, you will never go wrong too, as it also has excellent upholstery, a new fiber called Dinamica and all the technological advancements a vehicle could offer. This video though, will only make you drool because of its speed and manliness, which is something you should surely watch. Continued here:  Mercedes-Benz Released New Video of the C63 AMG Black Series Coupe in Action

Debuting at the 12 Hours of Sebring, BMW Motorsport and Schnitzer Motorsportentered a two car team. The cars were immediately fast, taking the pole position in qualifying. During the race, both cars ran towards the front for the first six hours. Unfortunately, V12 LMR chassis #001 suffered a large accident, damaging the car to the point that it would never race again. However, the second V12 LMR was successful in taking the overall win. From Sebring, the team went back to Europe in order to prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In early May, at the initial test session for Le Mans, three V12 LMRs appeared. In the tradition of the famous BMW Art Cars, one of the two undamaged cars featured a paint job created by artist Jenny Holzer. Unlike at Sebring, the V12 LMRs would be facing closed cockpit prototypes which were theoretically faster over a single lap yet not as fuel efficient. Even with this apparent setback, a V12 LMR was able to take the 4th fastest lap time over the practice session, behind two Toyota GT-Ones and a Panoz prototype. For the race itself, only two cars appeared with the Art Car being dropped from the line-up. In qualifying the two LMRs again showed their speed, taking 3rd and 6th places, again beaten only by the Toyota GT-Ones. During the race the V12 LMRs ran strong, outlasting a large number of closed cockpit competitors who suffered woes, including Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, and Audi. In the second half of the race, BMW’s main competitors were a pair of open-cockpit Audi R8Rs and the lone remaining Toyota GT-One. Unfortunately, in the closing hours of the race the #17 BMW V12 LMR driven by JJ Lehto crashed heavily in the Porsche Curves section of the track, as a result of a stuck throttle. This left the #15 BMW LMR in the lead, less than a lap ahead of the 2nd place Toyota. The Toyota was catching the BMW in the final hour until it suffered a tire blowout at high speed, allowing the Schnitzer BMW team to solidify their lead. The driving team of Joachim Winkelhock, Pierluigi Martini, and Yannick Dalmas were successful in bringing the V12 LMR home for the victory, a single lap ahead of the GT-One. The BMW V12 LMR is estimated to put out about 580 hp, which in the 1999 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans allowed the German prototype...