Ferrari 599XX

If we were to describe this car to you in writing, you'd think it was lame, but somehow in pictures, it's the hottest thing since sliced bread. Inexplicable but awesome.

2010 Mazdaspeed3

Using the old model's 268 HP turbocharged engine, the Mazdaspeed gains a Furai-like grille and we're ok with that.

Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire

Bugatti's got a thing for blue and it's got a super expensive hypercar to sell. So why not combine the two for a mutual win-win? As silly as we think this is, the combination of matte and gloss blue (or Bleu if you're super rich) is surprisingly nice.

Aston Martin One-77

The DB9 too common for you? Then how about a one of 77 (get it?) limited run of a super fast, super luxurious model based on the same platform? Sounds good to us, but then anything with over 750 HP sounds good to us.

2011 Opel Ampera

Just like a volt, but wearing eyeliner. Somehow, we think this is GM's attempt at a subtle insult to its more successful, better looking, but slightly effeminate European relatives.

Nissan Qazana Concept

What if we combined the sexy lines of a sportscar with the high clearance and off-road ability of a 4x4 and the luxurious interior of a sedan into one car? Great idea, let's call it a "crossover." Oh, wait; it's not 1999 anymore? Damn, back to the drawing board.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce

When I was a kid, the SV versions of Lamborghinis existed to snuff out the trashiest of the uber rich with their tacky graphics, then kill them off with dangerously unpredictable handling. It was like Lamborghini was some kind of ancient secret society that existed to promote natural selection. We're guessing Tom Hanks has somehow infiltrated the company, because this SV has AWD and won't likely kill anything but innocent spotted owls and polar bears.

Pagani Zonda R

Ray worships at the alter of this track-focused, ultra-light version of the Pagani Zonda. Somehow, that's the least disturbing thing we've found out about him this week.

Gumpert Apollo Speed

How do you make the ugliest supercar on sale even uglier? Easy: a two-tone aquamarine and white paintjob. There's also some Aurora-esque bodywork. Yuck.

Mansory Veyron LINEA Vincero

Somewhere, there's a market for tuned Veyrons. This one has 1,109 HP and exposed carbon bodywork. Who buys these things?

2010 VW Polo

There's a magical land where small cars are both appealing, good to drive, nice to sit in and highly efficient. That magical place's name is Europe, it also has good cheese. We think VW USA is crazy for giving us a rebadged Golf instead of a rebadged Diesel Polo as the Rabbit.

Koenigsegg Quant Concept

Solar electric cars get free energy from the sun, but they're really slow. Enter Koenigsegg. The 512 Quant, we don't know how they did it, but somehow it sounds like they connected the sun directly to its rear wheels.

Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport Air Concept

We kinda wish Mitsubishi would hurry up and put an iMiEV into mass production, but for the time being we're pretty happy with the Sport Air and its Tron-like interior. Sunglasses required.

Infiniti Essence Concept

Wow, probably the best looking car at the show; like a Ferrari California, but attractive. If the G37 looked like this we'd be all over it.

Ford Iosis Max Concept

Previewing the next Focus, the Iosis Max is fitted with an Ecoboost (Newspeak for turbocharger) 1.6-liter engine putting out 180 HP. Make sure you bring this one to the States please Ford.

2010 Audi TT RS

The most appealing thing about the Audi TT are its clean, uninterrupted lines. So bolting a big honking wing to the back does little for us. Having said that, the 335 HP, 331 Lb-Ft turbocharged five-cylinder does.

2010 Audi A4 Allroad Quattro

You run a successful daytime talk show in which you convince guests to dance and you need plenty of room in the trunk for your burgeoning collection of men's trousers. Your first instinct says "Subaru Outback" but you've got money now and you want something a touch classier. The A4 allroad quattro is the car for you.

Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro

370 HP and a 187 MPH top speed from a .8-liter engine and two electric motors. It will also find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and single handedly save the world from aliens. Man, this car sounds awesome.

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE

Ferrari buyers are a fickle lot, always wanting new and better features if they're going to be convinced to pry open their wallets for a new, six-figure supercar. The HGTE adds firmer suspension, stickier tires and a lower ride height.

Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA

The MiTo GTA is the best looking small car we've seen in the last thirty years or so. We're probably not going to ever get one here in Obama land. Still, those big new exhaust pipes are awful good to look at.

Rolls Royce 200EX

The new, smaller Rolls is still over a foot longer than a BMW 7-Series and every bit a Roller deserving of the retracting Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament.

Spyker C8 Aileron

Dramatic in detail, outdated in profile and mechanical spec. Yep, it's another Spyker.

We knew the super-TT would be something to make note of, but Ingolstadt has delivered numbers which simultaneously confuse and delight. An inline-5 you say? Why yes. Turbocharged and direct injection? Indeed. 335 HP between 5,400 and 6,700 RPM and 331 lb-ft of torque from 1,600 to 5,300 RPM? Seems impossible, but it is so. The little devil of a 2.5 liter spoons up superman-sized quantities of thrust capable of shooting this fahrzeug to 62 MPH in a scant 4.7 seconds. Darn respectable for such a car tipping in at 3,196 lbs. Of course, that time is highly dependent on whether you option the six-speed manual transmission

But it's not all about going fast down the drag strip, in addition to the upgraded brakes, dampers, springs and anti-roll bars of the regular TT RS, there is an optional magnetorheological damper system like that of the Corvette ZR1, and the active damping system works in concert with the other electronic nannies to insure maximum handling prowess.

UK Prices start at £42,980 for the coupe and £44,880 for the Roadster, expect puddles of drool on the shop floor when you go to order yours.

POTENT NEW AUDI TT RS TAKES FIVE IN GENEVA

Latest standard bearer for celebrated Audi RS range pays homage to 1980s quattros with high-tech five-cylinder power

* New TT RS Coupe and Roadster debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (March 5th to 15th) and open for UK order in late March priced at £42,980 OTR for the Coupe and £44,880 OTR for the Roadster - first deliveries in June
* First modern day Audi model since the emblematic quattro coupes of the 1980s to feature charismatic five-cylinder power in a new high-tech form that makes 340PS and 30mpg a reality
* 340PS from 5,400rpm to 6,700rpm, 450Nm from 1,600rpm to 5,300rpm, 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds (Roadster 4.7 seconds), top speed limited to 155mph but can be increased at extra cost to 174mph, combined mpg 30.7 (Roadster 29.7mpg)
* RS 4-style Sport button boosts throttle response and further enriches exhaust note
* New six-speed manual transmission, enhanced quattro system capable of diverting almost all torque output rearwards, TT RS-specific sports chassis lowered by 10mm (Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping available at extra cost)

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (March 5th to 15th) the spirit of the revolutionary Audi quattro coupés of the 1980s will be reborn for the 21st Century in the TT RS, a remarkable fusion of these two emotive modern day Audi hallmarks equipped with a new high-tech, 340PS interpretation of the quattro's evocative five-cylinder turbo engine. Available to order in the UK in Coupe and Roadster forms from late March priced at £42,980 OTR and £44,880 OTR, the new high performance sports cars will reach their first customers in June.

The successor to the five-cylinder, 200PS-plus turbo charged petrol engine that delivered premier league power with a famously charismatic engine note in the rally-bred quattro road cars of the Eighties blends that same unmistakeable acoustic character with performance and economy that epitomises the modern day Audi RS.

Ultra compact, and weighing in at a low 183kg, the new TFSI engine is a perfect accompaniment to the lightweight aluminium and steel hybrid TT bodyshell, helping to keep the kerb weight of the RS Coupe down to 1,450kg, and contributing to an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 234PS per ton. This weight consciousness is reflected in a 4.6-second 0-62mph sprint time and, more unexpectedly for an overtly performance focussed sports car, in a combined fuel economy figure of 30.7 mpg. In common with many high performance Audi models, the TT RS is electronically limited at the factory to a top speed of 155mph, but for the fortunate few enjoying regular access to derestricted tarmac, the limit can be raised at extra cost to 174mph.

RS 4-style Sport button
The prodigious power is accessed by way of a new rapid-shifting six-speed close ratio manual gearbox, and the exhilarating surge triggered by each successive gear shift is enlivened by a sonorous soundtrack that is a much loved trademark of five-cylinder engines. This addictive accompaniment can be further amplified by pressing a Sport button on the transmission tunnel which not only alters throttle response but also opens a flap in the left exhaust tailpipe to further intensify the exhaust sound.

To ensure that the high levels of torque involved are employed as gainfully as possible the latest incarnation of the hydraulic multi-plate-clutch-based quattro system designed specifically for transverse engine installations oversees measured transmission to the four driven wheels. The hydraulic clutch is capable of directing the majority of torque from front to rear if sensors deem this necessary.

The equilibrium made possible by quattro drive and by the counterbalancing effect of positioning the hybrid body's 31% steel content (Roadster 42%) towards the rear contributes to a feeling of exceptional neutrality on challenging roads. The sophisticated, aluminium-intensive McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension with RS-specific settings backs this up with incredible agility and composure.

At extra cost the standard sports chassis can also be equipped with the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping system incorporating sophisticated dampers filled with a magnetorheological fluid containing minute magnetic particles that can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. By applying a voltage to the system's electromagnets, the viscosity of the fluid is altered by the affected magnetic particles, increasing resistance to damper movement to iron out pitch and roll when necessary, and reducing resistance when ride comfort takes precedence.

ESP with Sport mode
The reassurance to drive the TT with the conviction that befits an RS model is provided by sizeable ventilated disc brakes with black four-piston aluminium calipers and diameters of 370mm at the front and 310mm at the rear. The Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) adds to that reassurance without excessively numbing performance or dulling feedback and adjustability thanks to its Sport mode, which prevents the system from retarding engine output to monitor traction and delays braking intervention for as long as possible. ESP can also be fully switched off.

From their sizeable, air-gulping front intakes, through extended side sills and stunning 18-inch 5 twin-spoke alloy wheels to the downforce-maximising fixed rear spoiler and enlarged oval tailpipes, the latest TTs signal intent but with a degree of restraint that is in keeping with Audi RS tradition. Customers wanting to keep the lowest possible profile can even opt to replace the fixed rear spoiler with a more discreet version which raises and retracts automatically.

Inside, the highly favoured TT sports interior is finished exclusively in black, with brushed aluminium inlays and aluminium footrests and pedals providing contrast and RS logos adorning the heated Silk Nappa leather sports seats, the thickly-rimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel, the rev counter and the door sill trims. True to Audi RS form, the standard Driver's Information System has additional displays for boost pressure and oil temperature, and also includes a lap timer for circuit use.

Customers looking for maximum differentiation can add 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, bucket seats with folding backrests and even Ibis White or Phantom black painted interior inlays at extra cost, in addition to the latest navigation and multimedia options.

Photo Credit: autoblog.nl

Audi has just dropped a press release which in a previous age could have been easily mistaken as one from Bentley or Rolls-Royce. Acceleration is described as "Nowhere near five seconds to reach 100 km/h," passing is called "child's play" and the brakes are "stupendous." Marketingspeak aside, we now have official confirmation of the return of an Audi five-cylinder. This 340 HP turbocharged direct injection 2.5-liter I5 mated to an all-wheel-drive system which will no-doubt be "adequate" when marched around the twisty bits. We'll be getting more all details when the car is unveiled next month at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

The Audi TT RS: Sporty Powerhouse with Five Cylinders

* This top model will debut at the Geneva Auto Show
* Direct gasoline injection and a turbocharger deliver far more than 300 bhp
* Top-notch chassis, big brakes, and quattro drivetrain

Audi is once again producing a five-cylinder powerhouse: the Audi TT RS will be unveiled to the world at the Geneva Auto Show. Its turbocharged 2.5-liter engine produces well above 300 bhp. It also delivers explosive acceleration, driving delight, and unrivaled sound.

A legend is reborn. After all, powerful five-cylinder gasoline engines have a long legacy at Audi. And the turbocharged direct-fuel-injection engine in the TT RS is the new torchbearer of this dynamic tradition. It enables the TT RS to perform extraordinary feats. For example, it needs nowhere near five seconds to reach 100 km/h (62.14 mph); overtaking is child's play; and 250 km/h (155.34 mph) is the limited top speed only on paper.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, a sophisticated chassis, and stupendous brakes keep a tight rein on the power. All in all, the compact TT RS - with its lightweight and largely aluminum body constructed as per the Audi Space Frame principle - is a driving machine to be reckoned with.

Additional information will be available during the Audi Press Conference at the Geneva Auto Show on March 3, 2009 (Hall 1, Booth 1060).

To be officially revealed at next month's Geneva Motor Show, the TT RS will be available as both Coupe and Roadster models. Audi has equipped the TT RS with a new turbocharged 5-cylinder engine with direct-injection and a capacity of 2.5-liters.

The result is an output of 340 HP and a maximum torque of 331.9 lb-ft. The sporty TT uses Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system with power being transferred through a six-speed manual gearbox. In terms of performance, Audi says that the TT RS will have a 0-to-62 time of under five seconds with a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph.
CarScoop's also got some engine sounds in a YouTube video. Check it out via the link below!

[CarScoop via CarPlatform]

The new images don't show as much as the uncamouflaged spy photos from the Nurburgring, but details are beginning to emerge on the super TT, such as a 300-350 horsepower range on a rumored 2.5 liter direct injection turbocharged five cylinder with an undersquare 82.5 mm bore and 92 mm stroke. Should make for a very interesting power band. Performance is expected to include a 0-60 time under five seconds with the Germanically traditional and fun-killing electronically limited 155 MPH top speed. Also expected are further "leaked" and "teaser" images which will make us eventually recoil in annoyance at the sight of the car by the time it's unveiled. [Fourtitude, Auto, Motor & Sport (Bork, Bork, Bork)]