WickedExotics.info

If you enjoyed seeing the new V10 powered Audi R8 in Maranello, Audi TV has another interesting clip for you. This time they have pitted their R8 super car against and airplane. For the Audi this isn’t just an acceleration test, if the driver doesn’t get on the brakes early enough he and the car might just end up in the drink. Filmed aboard the USS Midway in the San Diego bay, Audi has outdone themselves once again.

We're all for alternative forms of transportation here at Autoblog, and we're not just talking about hydrogen fuel cells and lithium ion batteries, either. We're talking jet packs! Eric Scott is a 46-year-old Go Fast! Jet Pack pilot from Denver who became the first jet-propelled man to cross the 1,053ft-wide Royal Gorge Canyon in his home state of Colorado last year. This past week he also became the fastest jet-propelled man alive when he was clocked going 68 mph at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland. What better way to follow up a record-setting jet pack run than to drag race a Ford Focus RS? The impromptu race occurred at the circuit with BTCC champ Gordon Shedden behind the wheel of the lime green Focus RS. Who do you think won? We'll tell you now because it's not altogether obvious in the video after the jump. The jet-propelled man narrowly beat out the Focus, but considering Scott's rig can only carry 30 seconds worth of fuel, we think the Ford could take him with a little more road.

The 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 is unquestionably bad-ass. Its naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six provides 435 hp from behind the driver's seat, and its track-tuned chassis can dance with the world's most nimble supercars. The free-wheeling product of Stuttgart has been undergoing testing at the famed Nurburgring in Germany (along with every other sports coupe worth its salt) and it's been timed at an unofficial 7:40. Porsche driving ace Walter Rohrl was behind the wheel for the sprightly lap.

While 7:40 isn't enough time to best the 7:26 from the 638 hp Corvette ZR1, it's a very impressive time nonetheless (BTW - During testing Rohrl posted a 7:45 in a borrowed Ferrari F430 Scuderia). Nissan probably isn't impressed, though, since it recently clocked the GT-R at 7:27. Well, Porsche is still calling balderdash on that claim, telling Motor Trend that the twin-turbo Nissan is only good for a time of 7:56 in stock US form. Just under eight minutes is an amazing time, but almost 30 seconds slower than reports from Nissan.

The Nissan vs. Porsche 'Ring smack-down feels as though its about to peter out, but the grudge match is almost to the point that the GT-R vs. GT3 drama should play out on premium cable. Who can we call to set this up?


[Source: Motor Trend]

Audi Q7 V12 TDI





Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: n.a.
Driveline: All Wheel Drive
Engine
Type: Turbodiesel V12
Displacement cu in (cc): 362 (5934)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 500(373) / n.a.
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 738(1000) / 1750
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Exterior
Length × Width × Height in: n.a.
Weight lb (kg): n.a.
Performance
Acceleration 0-62 mph s: 5.5
Top Speed mph (km/h): 155 (250) - electronically limited
Fuel Economy EPA combined mpg (l/100 km): 20 (11.9)
Base Price: $173,497 (this is price in Germany converted to USD, since Q7 V12 TDI is not available for the North American Market)

BMW X6-M





Brakes (Front) 15.6 inch rotors
Brakes (Rear) 15.2 inch rotors
Tires Front 275/40-20 Bridgestone
Tires Rear 315/35-20 Bridgestone
Wheels 20 inch light-alloy M Sport wheels
Rear Suspension Integral four-link rear axle
Front Suspension Double-wishbone front control arms
Drivetrain
Layout Front Engine, AWD
Transmission 6 Speed M Sport Paddle-Shifted Automanual
Differential Electronic front and rear LSD
Engine
Type: Direct injection BMW M Sport V8
Induction Twin Garett turbochargers, 21.0 PSI
Displacement 4.4 liters
Torque 500 lb-ft. @ 1500 to 5650 rpm
Horsepower 555 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Compression Ratio 9.30:1
Exterior
Body Type 2 Door, 4 Seat SUV
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph 4.5 seconds
Base Price: $95,000

BMW X5-M





Brakes (Front) 15.6 inch rotors
Brakes (Rear) 15.2 inch rotors
Wheels 20 inch light-alloy M Sport wheels
Tires Front 275/40-20 Bridgestone
Tires Rear 315/35-20 Bridgestone
Front Suspension Double-wishbone front control arms
Rear Suspension Integral four-link rear axle
Drivetrain
Layout Front Engine, AWD
Transmission 6 Speed M Sport Paddle-Shifted Automanual
Differential Electronic front and rear LSD
Engine
Type: Direct injection BMW M Sport V8
Compression Ratio 9.30:1
Displacement 4.4 liters
Induction Twin Garett turbochargers, 21.0 PSI
Horsepower 555 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque 500 lb-ft. @ 1500 to 5650 rpm
Exterior
Body Type 2 Door, 5 Seat SUV
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s: 4.5 seconds
Base Price: $90,000

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S






Brakes 6 piston aluminum calipers front, 4 piston aluminum calipers rear
Wheels 21 in front/ 21 in rear
Tires 295/35 R 21
Drivetrain
Layout Front Engine, AWD
Transmission 6 speed Tiptronic S
Steering Power-assisted (hydraulic)
Engine
Displacement 4.8 liter Twin-Turbo V8
Horsepower 550 @ 6000 rpm
Torque 553 @ 2250 rpm
Compression Ratio 10.5:1
Performance
0-60 mph 4.7 sec
Top Speed 174 mph
Curb Weight 5,192 lbs.
Base Price: $124,800

Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG





Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 295/45 R19, option: 295/40 R20
Driveline: All Wheel Drive
Engine
Type: V8
Displacement cu in (cc): 383 (6208)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 503(375) / 6800
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 465(630) / 5200
Redline at RPM: 7200
Exterior
Length × Width × Height in: 189.8 × 76.8 × 73.3
Weight lb (kg): 5093 (2312)
Performance
Acceleration 0-62 mph s: < 5.0
Top Speed mph (km/h): 155 (250) (electronically limited)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): 12/16 (n.a.)
Base Price: $85,500

The guys over at Garage 419 are shamelessly ripping off Top Gear, but they not only admit it, they also added a third element. While Top Gear challenges usually pit a car against one form of mass transportation, these guys are putting a Dodge Challenger SRT8 up against a plane and a train.

Now that the 2010 Chevy Camaro is finally ready to hit dealerships, details like the car's official EPA estimated fuel mileage and its estimated run to 60 mph are beginning to hit the interwebs. Good news: Both are impressive. According to The General, the 304-horsepower direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 engine that's standard in the LT and LS models will achieve 29 miles per gallon on the highway and 18 mpg in the city with the six-speed automatic, or 17 mpg with the six-speed stick. V8 models also perform more efficiently than expected, with figures of 16 city and 25 highway (24 with the automatic transmission).

Those numbers are better than what the Camaro's muscle car competition can muster across the board. Its eco-victory likely won't last long, however, as the new 2010 Ford Mustang offers carryover engines from the last model year that we expect will be replaced for the 2011 model year with more efficient powertrains, maybe even a twin-turbo, direct-inject EcoBoost V6.




[Source: General Motors]

While we're working on our own shoot-out between the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and a yet-to-be-named contender, the crew at Inside Line put Hyundai's new rear-wheel-drive two-door against one of its strongest opponents: the Infiniti G37.

IL's 3.8-liter V6 Genesis Coupe tester came equipped with the Track pack, which includes a stiffer suspension, limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes and 19-inch wheels, along with the standard six-speed manual. The sticker? $30,375, or $6,625 less than a base model Infiniti G37. For the extra scratch, the Infiniti is a more luxurious package and carries a bit of badge snobbery, but performance and driver engagement are the metrics we're interested in and the Hyundai proved to be a serious contender.

The G is packing more power from less displacement (330 vs. 306 hp), a bit more torque (270 vs. 266 lb-ft) and revs higher (7,600 vs. 6,800 rpm). But it's also packing the pounds. The Infiniti tips the scales at 3,709 pounds, while the Genesis Coupe comes in just under 3,500 pounds.

IL performed its usual battery of tests, along with a dyno run, and deemed the G37 a better vehicle on the road from both a driving and livability standpoint, but gave props to the Genesis for its competence on the track and predictable handling characteristics. Both cars were remarkably close in the performance department, with the Hyundai taking the win on the skid-pad, while falling short on the sprint to 60, quarter-mile time and slalom run.