Autoblog

Click above for more shots of the GM LSA V8 and its Eaton supercharger

The ongoing debate between the supercharger camp and the turbo boys isn't likely to die along with large, fuel-thirsty performance engines. In fact, Eaton believes that the market for both power-boosters will continue to grow at an extremely fast pace along with the rising price of gas. Because manufacturers are looking to downsize their engines, power-adders like the supercharger are becoming increasingly necessary in order to deliver the kind of performance new car buyers have come to expect along with the low fuel consumption that is becoming increasingly necessary.

Unlike the high RPM power generally associated with heavily-boost turbocharged engines, superchargers produce added power at all engine speeds. The downside is that engine power is used to drive the compressor, which reduces the available power gains somewhat. In order to make up some of that lost power, Eaton is developing variable-speed superchargers, which will allow for good power from idle through redline with a reduced strain on the engine. For our part, we fully support the use of both turbochargers and superchargers on any and all new cars. Solely in the name of fuel economy, of course.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

CAR sat down with a "high-placed Audi source" at the European launch of the Q5 and was able to pry out a few details about the automaker's future products.

To begin with, the next RS4 will use a retuned version of the supercharged, 3.0-liter V6 due to be fitted on the next S4. Audi's unnamed engineering mole said that the decision to go with the supercharged six was primarily to provide higher torque at lower RPMs. With the base engine putting out 290 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, it's assumed that the tweaked version should crest the 350 hp mark and just under 400 lb.-ft. of torque. How that will play in the inevitable comparison test between the RS4's V8-powered competition remains to be seen.

The A1 is still set to debut in 2010, but despite its aim at MINI, Audi won't resort to retro styling. Based off the next Polo, the A1 will spawn several variants, including three- and five-door hatches, a convertible and an off-roader. While Audi has no plans to build anything smaller than the A1, it does plan to increase the size of the A3, along with offering a Q3 CUV inspired by the Cross Coupe Quattro concept.

And what of the R8? The V10 version is on its way this fall, but a turbocharged variant isn't in the cards, nor is the V12 TDI. And while Audi has continued to deny that it's working on an R4, CAR's source says that there's still room in the automaker's lineup for another R-badged vehicle.

[Source: CAR]

We knew that the new Audi S4 was due to be unveiled within the next six months, but CAR was able to confirm that the supercharged sled will make an official appearance at the Paris Motor Show this September. As previously reported, the new S4 will ditch its 4.2-liter V8 in favor of a new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 producing around 350 hp – a few ponies more than the current S4's output.

CAR got the details about the new S4 while running the twin-clutch-equipped S5 through its paces, and is able to confirm that the S-badged sedan will benefit from the same seven-speed gearbox, with shifts taking place in 200 ms. Naturally, the S4 will be equipped with quattro all-wheel-drive, and sales will begin in the UK in early 2009, with wagon and convertible variants following thereafter.

As for the future of the RS4, Audi isn't confirming any specs yet, but they're confident that when the new M3-fighter hits the streets in 2010, the new S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox's shifts will be reduced to around 140-150 ms.

[Source: CAR]

In nature, only the lion and tiger are bigger cats than the jaguar, and the spotted feline is quite the predator, as prey learns when the cat's fangs penetrate their skulls. The wild jaguar is also diminishing in number. When you think about it, you can draw a parallel between the beast and the brand named after it.

After all, there are bigger luxury marques with more notoriety, such as Mercedes and BMW, and it's no secret that Jaguar (especially in the United States) has been fading from the sales charts, as a peek at our By The Numbers posts will demonstrate. Like the feline predator, however, Jaguar is still no slouch at what it does.

Which brings us to the XF. The XF is The Next Big Step for Jaguar, blending modernity with big sedan proportions and dollops of luxury. Curiously, the blown mill that powers the other "R" cars is available on a standard-grade XF, so the XFR has to be better, and Auto Express has spotted it out testing. Bigger intakes in front, bigger wheels and brakes at the corners, and big power underhood are all on tap. An stout 500 horsepower is expected from the car's supercharged 5.0L V8. Out back, a spoiler and quad tips are the other telltale signs that the XFR is the most serious predator of its immediate family. Assuming it's as good as the XJR and XKR, this is one cat we're eager to tame.

[Source: Auto Express]

Yea, we know - the automotive press has featured a whole bunch of Corvette ZR1 content lately (including us!), and readers are probably getting a bit tired. However, we figure that a cutaway of the mighty supercharged LS9 should be interesting enough to justify yet another post on the revived King of the Hill.

Painted in monochrome silver as GM is wont to do, this particular display isn't particularly photogenic. Still, we were able to capture some details that aren't easily observed in 2D drawing or press releases, so click through the jump for a variety of shots.

Update: Video of the CTS-V live reveal are available after the jump.

Click the photo above for a gallery of live shots

If you look at the picture above, you can easily imagine Maximum Bob shouting, "I told you folks that it'd be <bleeping> spectacular!" Those of course were not his exact words during the intro of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, but the sentiment was approximately the same.

We've already covered the technical details, but in case anyone has been disconnected from the world for the past week, here's what is important - 550 HP and 550 lb-ft of torque from the supercharged LSA 6.2L V8, huge Brembo brakes front and rear, Magnetic Ride Control suspension, and a choice of a manual or automatic (each carrying six forward ratios). Huge Michelin Pilot radials wrap the 19" wheels, and inside are a pair of seriously sporty Recaro buckets with 14-way adjustment. If there has ever been a four-door embodiment of the Corvette spirit, this is it.

We've already started behaving well, just in case Santa is thinking of bringing us one next Christmas. Rest assured, though, that our behavior behind the wheel of the CTS-V would earn us several years of coal in our stocking along with a revoked driver's license - and it'd be worth it.

click above to view more high-res images o fhte G-Power Hurricane M5

Coaxing more power from an engine as finely-tuned as BMW M-division's 500-horsepower V10 is no easy task. But that didn't stop German aftermarket tuner G-Power, which managed to get total power output up to a staggering 730 hp for its Hurricane M5, claiming the hotly-contested mantle of the world's fastest and most powerful street-legal Bimmer.

To extract that kind of juice, G-Power fitted not one, but two superchargers – one for each cylinder bank – with stratospheric spooling redlines of 100,000 rpm. They've also fitted an overhead intercooler, swapped in a bigger oil cooler and tinkered with the M5's notoriously intricate electronics. The result: half a second off the M5's already supercar-like 0-60 time, now down to just 4.2 seconds. With all that extra power and the electronic limiter removed, the aptly-named Hurricane is claimed to hit a top speed of 340 km/h – that's over 211 miles per Autobahn-storming hour.

More after the jump, including all the specs and G-Power's official press release, and be sure to scope out the photos in the gallery below.

[Source: G-Power]

The Range Rover has long been known as one of the best off-road vehicles on the planet, and it goes about its dirty business in class and style, if not snobbery. The current Rangey isn't getting any younger, so to keep its top dog fresh, Land Rover is offering North Americans 500 of its new Westminster edition models. Equipped with a 400-horsepower supercharged V8, the usual interior appointments, and ten-spoke 20" rims, the Westminster has the niceties its prospective buyers are looking for. Real wood is prevalent, as Land Rover incorporates a 14-piece lined oak extended wood veneer and a lined oak anthracite gear shift knob. The wood trim is further accentuated by special edition "java black" leather seats with tan inserts and tipping.

Of course, all the luxury and exclusivity that accompanies the Westminster comes at a price so steep you practically need another Land Rover to carry the cash you need to pay for it. If you've got $105,600 burning a hole in your pocket and an off-roading fantasy that will likely never be fulfilled, the Range Rover Westminster is in your price range. Unfortunately, we seem to be a little short on both funds and 60 degree grades here in the Detroit-area suburbs.

[Source: Hispanic PR Wire]

click above image to view video

Our reaction to the official press shot of the Corvette ZR1 was a little guarded. The bright blue car that accompanied the lifting of the embargo left us thinking a bit more about Hot Import Nights than we were comfortable with. 0-60 Magazine recently had a photo shoot with another ZR1, and this one dressed nice. All the tungsten instruments around 0-60's ZR1 really play up the surface detailing of the C6 Corvette, and the handsome metallic gray hue made this particular ZR1 a stealth bomber. There's the minor detail of that polycarbonate skylight in the hood, and the humongous brake package peeking from behind equally huge rims is far more striking in person than pictures will ever convey, too. So, even in a subdued color, the ZR1 still manages to announce to the world that it's packing something special. There's nothing of any consequence in the video, it's a few walkarounds of one of the hottest cars extant. It's a nice holiday treat, so stop feasting on goodies for a couple minutes and hit the jump for some eye candy instead.

[Source: 0-60]

There is awesomeness to the prefix "twin-turbo." It could be a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine (awesome in its own right) that you're talking about, but prepending any engine designation with the modifier "twin-turbo" can suck all of the air out of a room. Owners of lesser cars just nod in acknowledgment of their inferiority. Audi fans have lamented the evolution of the S4 from a twin-turbocharged V6 in the B5 version to V8 power for the two most recent iterations. Many feel that the V8 powerplant doesn't have the addictive frenetic nature of the old S4. For the next generation, Audi is returning the S4 to its roots as a more refined version of what you'll find in the Evo or the STi. The B8 S4 has reportedly been lapping the Nurburgring with a force-fed six-shooter underhood.

With the A5/S5 joining the lineup, the S4 doesn't have to worry as much about serving customers who'd rather have a GT than something more serious. Thus, an artificially-aspirated V6 displacing three liters and employing VW/Audi Group's FSI direct-injection technology and Audi's Valvelift actuation system can be parked in the S4 without fears that the hardcore nature of such a powerplant would be off-putting. Whether the external compressors are turbos or a supercharger is the subject of rumor. Also open to speculation is the horsepower output, but it'd be safe to bet that something slightly higher than the 300 HP packed into the BMW 335 can be expected. Also expect the S4 to employ Audi's Sport Differential to offer tweakable chassis attitude, as well as the obligatory styling tweaks and sumptuous cabin, too. Click the Read link below to view a couple renderings of what the next S4 might look like courtesy of Fourtitude.

[Source: Fourtitude, Rendering: Fourtitude]