Autoblog

General Motors' European division has announced the development of three new engines that will provide the power consumers crave while returning higher fuel economy and lower emissions. Two turbocharged engines, ranging in output from 1.0- to 1.4-liters will between 120 hp and 129 lb.-ft. of torque, and 140 hp and 148 lb.-ft. of torque, while returning an eight-percent increase in fuel efficiency compared to their larger displacement counterparts. The duo of new engines will find their way into the new Astra and some European-market Chevys in 2010, although there's no word if either engine will make the trek across the Atlantic.

Hit the jump to read up on both engines and a new, 1.6-liter CNG-powered mill that GM plans to market in Germany and Italy.

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Alfa Spider Mille Miglia

The 500 Abarth Asetto Corse isn't the only limited-edition Fiat Group vehicle that'll be available for order at this year's Mille Miglia. Alfa Romeo will also be taking orders for the 11 Spider Mille Miglia editions it's building to commemorate the 11 times it's won the race. Setting the cars apart from standard editions are Rosso 8C paint, Quadrifoglio shields on the fenders and a red-accented black interior. Translation: it's a super-exclusive paint-and-badging special.

Each car is, of course, individually numbered, and their unique ID plates note a different Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia victory. We can totally envision some eccentric collector ultimately securing all eleven rides one day just to have the complete set. Power comes from the automaker's 3.2L V6 producing 260 horses. Price? We don't know, but we'll bet that it more than covers the costs of the model-specific paint and a few extra badges.


[Source: Alfa Romeo]

There's no arguing that the Caterham R500 is an amazing piece of four-wheeled machinery. In fact, it may just be the quickest way around a race track short of a Formula 1 car. We're equally as certain that the Ducati Hypermotard is an awesome motorcycle, so putting both of these performers on the same track and letting them have at it is certain to entertain. Autocar must have thought so, too, and udging by the video posted after the break, the event didn't let anybody down. As is usually the case when a bike is put up against a car, the race was close. In the longer straight sections of the track, the Duck's power-to-weight ratio allows it to pull away from the Caterham. The Caterham, with twice the number of contact patches, easily out-brakes the Ducati rider and can carry more speed throughout the turn. So, is the race that will finally put an end to the age-old question about which is faster around a given course? Probably not, but it sure is fun to watch. Want to know who won? Hit the jump, and be sure to pay attention as the Caterham goes airborne.

[Source: Autocar]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi RS6 Avant

If there's anything the 580-horsepower Audi RS6 Avant isn't lacking, it's power. But according to AutoTelegraaf, Audi plans to launch a "Plus" version of its insane estate towards the end of the RS6 life cycle. According to the Dutch site, Audi insiders said that a new "Plus" version would go on sale sometime in 2011, just as the A6 is about to get a mild facelift. The "Plus" will supposedly receive tweaks to its suspension and engine, with the V10 producing 613 horsepower.

This wouldn't be the first time Audi offered a "Plus" variant of the RS6. The original, C5-based RS6, built from 2002 to 2004, got a boost in output during the last three months of production, netting an additional 30 hp (from 450 hp to 480 hp), through the use of a remapped ECU and two additional radiators mounted behind the intercoolers. The Plus version also benefited from standard DRC, 19-inch wheels and a sports suspension that dropped the wagon 10mm. Production was limited to just 999 units.


[Source: AutoTelegraaf via WCF]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse

Fiat is in attendance this week at the famous Mille Miglia in Brescia, Italy and it brought with it a whopper of a small car to impress the crowd. On hand is the Fiat 500 Abarth Asetto Corse, a full race version of the little iconic car that sports a screaming 200-hp turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder that also produces 220 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed through a six-speed gearbox on its way to a set of 17-inch track white ultralight racing wheels that totally look the part. Make no mistake, this is a real race car and a special one-make championship series is being planned that will put it on the most famous race tracks across Europe next year. Only 50 will be made, however, so entry is exclusive.

While we don't know the price yet, your bag of Euros will get you a 500 that's kitted out with an aerodynamic package that adds a front spoiler, big rear wing, fender flares at all four corners and two new hood-mounted air intakes to feed the turbo. The interior has been stripped to save weight, which now stands at just 2,050 lbs., and a racing roll bar has been installed to protect the driver who now sits closer to the center of the car to improve weight distribution and driving feel. The Asetto Corse gets big Abarth badges all around and a pastel grey with red striping livery. The one on hand at the Mille Miglia is No. 00/49 and a pre-production prototype, so there are still plenty left for those who've always wanted a 500 race car.


[Source: World Car Fans, Italiaspeed]

Audi has been tearing up the automotive landscape with a torrent of new products, and now it's cleaning up on the awards circuit, too. The European Patent Office awarded Audi as its third inventor of the year for its innovative new products that are helping Europe excel in the global market. The product worthy of such an award is Audi's aluminum space frame, which underpins the Audi A8, TT, R8, and Lamborghini Gallardo. The lightweight platform provides substantial weight savings vs. a traditional steel frame, which results in better fuel economy and a reduction in CO2. The space frame also provides improved structural rigidity and improved crash protection.

Hit the jump to view Audi's press release.

[Source: Audi]

Click above for new high-res gallery (24) of the Spada Codatronca

Bruce Wayne's loaded, so this really is a perfect fit. The Spada Codatronca made its formal debut at Top Marques in Monaco, which is appropriate since the principality's wealthy residents are the type of clientele SpadaVettureSport will surely be courting when the coachbuilt supercar goes into production. The first flavor to arrive will be the 600-horsepower TS, which will also be available with a flex-fuel mod that allows the car to run on E85. SVS notes that the car will comply with FIA GT1 regulations, too -- can you imagine how wicked a race-prepped version would look?

From the photos, the TS Codatronca looks to be exceedingly well turned-out, especially inside where specialty rides like this can quickly devolve into kit-cardom (see the cabin of the Weber "faster one" sports car for an example). SVS has partnered with a laundry list of big names like Alcantara, Sparco, Aznom, Pirelli, and O.Z. Racing, who will supply various parts for the stealthy-looking sports car. Hopefully, they have someone lined up to furnish these, too. You know... to talk to Commissioner Gordon.


[Source: SpadaVettureSport via Autoblog Spanish]

Click above image for a gallery of the Novitec Fiat 500

Fiat's retrolicious 500 is designed to transport people with panache, if not punch. Novitec's specialty is both bringing the punchbowl to the party and then spiking it. Sure, the tuner tweaks the likes of Alfa and Ferrari, but the everyman isn't left out either, as evidenced by the new collection of mods it's now made available for the Fiat 500.

500 drivers can add a subtle front chin spoiler, new wheels and tires, and suspension updates to improve the car's already appealing looks. On the performance side, Novitec has come up with an exhaust upgrade and a pair of power packages. The 1.3L Multijet turbodiesel gets bumped from the stock 70 horses to a stouter 83, and the 1.4L gasoline engine gets an even more substantial boost. In standard form, it makes 100 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque. With Novitec's supercharger, it jumps to 131 horses at 5,200 rpm and 126 lb-ft of torque at 6,200 rpm.

Yes, these numbers are topped by the upcoming 500 Abarth (quite dramatically, in fact -- the Abarth makes 155 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm), and the factory hot hatch probably makes more sense for new shoppers looking to combine the 500's looks with better power the moment they drive away from the showroom. with the Novitec mods, however, early adopters who grabbed the huggable little hatchback as soon as it arrived now have some power options of their own, too.


[Source: Novitec]

Click above for photo gallery, watch video after the jump

It doesn't get much simpler than this. Turbine-powered cars are, as a rule, extremely cool. So too are all vintages of the Porsche 928. Therefore, a turbine-powered Porsche 928 is positively... Arctic. Owning this might well cause snowfall in your garage, and you can actually find out, because this divinely-inspired combination is up for grabs on eBay. Better still, the bid at the time of this writing this is a little over six-thousand bucks. I paid more than triple that for each of the last two used cars I've bought, neither of which is a Porsche 928, and neither of which has a Boeing 502-6 turboshaft engine underhood. Sure, it's not for everyone, and the video after the jump suggests that your neighbors might not like the noise so much, but come on. It's a turbine 928. This rules on several levels. Don't miss the hilarious item description and seller Q&A, either. Apparently, this thing use to be new. Neff should buy it to replace his Alero.


[Source: eBay]

Opel experienced an 8-percent sales dip in Europe in the first quarter, and designers at GM plan to give the storied German brand some of its mojo back by moving design and content upscale. GM says the move upmarket will result in a relatively inexpensive one- to three-percent price hike, but in return customers can expect sexier sheet metal, better packaging and more technology. The move makes sense as GM's value-conscious Chevy brand has steadily increased its presence across the Atlantic, giving the General the opportunity to push Opel up the automotive food chain. GM's plan is already underway, too, as the gorgeous Insignia is due to hit the showroom floor before the end of the year.

The great part about GM's plan to give Opel luxury looks and more inventive interiors is that we'll continue to see better Saturn cars and CUVs here in the States. And that's saying a lot, considering Saturn already looks fresher than most brands on the market today.


[Source: Auto News (subs req'd)]