Car Throttle

Mini Cooper SD, watch out! Your not alone in the hot diesel premium supermini market anymore as Audi has spiced up the diesel A1. Originally the only diesel engine available for the A1 was a 1.6L TDI  with 103bhp and 136 lb ft of torque. Now you have a choice between this and a 2.0L TDI that produces 141bhp and 236 lb ft of torque, less horsepower yet more torque than the Cooper SD but the differences are minute. Unlike the smaller 1.6L TDI A1 the bigger 2 litre comes with a 6th gear ratio for the manual 'box. Speed wise it's a similar situation, stationary to 62mph takes 8.2 seconds in the A1 with a top speed of 135mph whilst the manual Cooper SD gets

With the introduction of the LFA last year, you might think that Lexus would start to make hot versions of their current line-up. So far the only sporty Lexus since the LFA has been the IS-F, but last week Lexus announced you can now order a new range topping version of their compact luxury hybrid called the CT200h F-Sport. The disappointing news is that the new CT F-Sport will not be any faster or more powerful than the standard car since there has been no change to the engine. The F-Sport will have the same 1.8L petrol unit teamed with an electric motor and a CVT gearbox, just like a Prius, that goes from standstill to 62mph in 10.3 seconds, which is not hot

Inside the AMG Performance Studio in Southern Germany, there are a team of specialists that make the already insane AMG cars into most hardcore and fastest Mercedes they can be. So far there have been Black Series editions of the CLK, SLK, SL and C Class coupe. Now there's going to be a fifth member of the family, the SLS. This is it here on test at the Nurburgring. Back in 2009, AMG engine boss Friedrich Eichler said the engine in the usual SLS had 'a good deal more to come' and Mercedes revealed that the power plant in the Black Series edition is likely to produce 600bhp and 500lb ft of torque, maybe more. The 6.2L naturally aspirated V8 fitted in the everyday SLS produces 563bhp

Us Brits are the biggest Audi TT customers. We buy more of these unique coupes and roadsters than anywhere else in the world and this week Audi announced you can order a brand new one for £24,070, £3,070 less than than the previous basic TT and £1,250 less than the basic roadster. Back in the late nineties/early noughties basic versions of new mainstream cars were usually rubbish. Any car nut could tell you had the basic version of the car you own because it had big plastic black bumpers, you had to stick your key in the door to open it and you had to use all your energy up to wind down the window. CD players were an optional luxury back then! Nowadays it's

Recently Car Throttle was invited to one of the programs held in conjunction with the launch of the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 2 and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 in Malaysia. The event, held on the 30th of July 2011 was part of the Malaysian launch for the above mentioned tyres and it was a whole day event with participation from various Malaysian car clubs (the BMW, Honda, Porsche, VW-Audi to name a few). It was a basically a blast. This launch event is actually something a little different as most of the time an automotive manufacturer will usually introduce a new product to the media and to its various sales representatives but never directly to the consumer. This time Goodyear's public relations think-tank must

Cadillac has experienced sales success with the SRX crossover, redesigned for the 2010 model year. The first-generation SRX was based on the Sigma rear-wheel drive platform, and while it received rave reviews from critics, failed to sell well. That was mostly attributed to styling. Overall, a more mainstream approach has paid off for Cadillac - SRX is now the second best-seller in its segment, with a 71 percent conquest rate. For 2012, Cadillac is making further changes to streamline the car to better suit the market's tastes. The expensive 2.8-liter turbocharged six-cylinder as well as the previous base 3.0-liter V-6 engine have been dumped. In their place is General Motors' direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 making 308-horsepower. Cadillac says it has the most standard power in its class. Other, more

The new Audi A8 launched for the 2011 model year, and the 2012 one is already starting to roll around. 2012 is a busy year for Audi, especially in regards to high-end performance - the new TT-RS and R8 GT are debuting. On the lower-end is the important new A6. When the A8 launched, it came in eight-cylinder standard and long-wheelbase forms. Now, the company is adding a new top-of-the-line car in the form of an A8 L W12 It is powered by a 6.3-liter 12-cylinder engine making 500 horsepower and 463 pound feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic and Quattro all-wheel drive. All that power results in a startling 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds - sports car levels of

The 2012 Beetle is a big deal for Volkswagen - it is nothing less than the remaking of an iconic automobile. Recently, VW announced that 21.5 million units of the original Beetle were sold, making it the most popular vehicle off a single platform ever. VW says the car inspired many names around the world Beetle, Bug (we added that one in) Käfer, Vocho, Coccinelle, Fusca, Maggiolino or ???! We had no idea what the last one meant..... The car was styled around the original instead of the 1998 New Beetle. VW Group Design Chief Walter de Silva and VW Brand Design Chief Klaus Bischoff worked to create a "new original". It will be up to consumers to see if that goal was achieved. VW

Right now, we wouldn't be off on saying that Aston Martin is experiencing one of the best times in its history. Its new cars have been well-received by the media and consumers alike, and it has a pretty large (if not diverse) lineup. At the same time, Aston has introduced its most expensive model ever, the One-77. The One-77 set new records for price and performance at Aston Martin. For instance, it is the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine sold. The V12 Zagato was introduced a little over a month ago at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este car show in Italy. We drooled over it and we're glad to hear that, while called a concept, it was headed for production. Time between introduction and approval didn't

Last September, Audi confirmed that the TT-RS would be be sold in the United States. That came after much hand-wringing over its arrival by enthusiasts here in North America. The car was introduced after a petition campaign started by Audi that resulted in 11,500 "expressions of interest." The TT-RS marks the most expensive Audi TT yet, and also the fastest. It has been officially priced at $56,850, before destination, taxes and the myriad litany of other fees we get stuck with when buying a new car. 0-60 arrives in just 4.1 seconds, thanks to a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder under the hood that makes 360 horsepower and 343 pound feet of torque. Audi says peak torque comes between 1,650 and 5,400 rpm for "power on