National 4615v Seal, Auto Trans-torque Converter on 2040-parts.com

Audi R8 spyder appears headed for Frankfurt show

The much-anticipated Audi R8 spyder likely will make its world debut in production guise at the Frankfurt motor show in September. The drop-top version of the head-turning German supercar would share mechanicals with the coupe, which offers a V8 making 420 hp and a V10 with 525 hp. The R8 has a mid-engine layout and channels power to the ground with all-wheel drive.

SEMA 2008 show report: Volkswagen Passat CC

By Ben Whitworth Motor Shows 07 November 2008 09:00 Volkswagen’s sobriety took a back seat at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this week – it pulled the covers off a pair of muscle-bound Passat CCs, a racy 295bhp Tiguan and a grunty diesel Jetta aimed at cajoling the American market into turning its back on gasoline. The unambiguously named Performance CC – designed by Volkswagen’s California-based design centre – gets a shot in the arm from a three-stage turbo boost to its 2.0-litre TSI engine. In Eco mode you get a modest 222bhp and 236 lb ft of torque, GT mode hikes those outputs to 252bhp and 268 lbs ft, while the Full Power stage unleashes 311bhp and 313 lb ft.

Mazda 2 three-door (2008): first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 23 January 2008 14:26 Mazda will debut the three-door 2 at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. And while the five-door 2 hardly looks staid, and actually rather dynamic, the Japanese company is claiming the three-door will be even more sporty. Quite how this will be achieved Mazda doesn’t say and is remaining tight lipped until nearer show time.