Car Throttle

FINALLY.  The friggin' Buick Encore is here.  All my dreams and prayers have been answered, I'm so excited I can hardly...

...oh, sorry, got caught up in Auto Show mode there.  I'm just glad we don't have to deal with teaser images of a small SUV any more.  Look, I love auto show season.  Even after years of this, it still gets my blood going - who doesn't like seeing new stuff for the first time?  But not everything that comes out at the auto shows are worth an entire article.  Thus, Car Throttle News Bites: Detroit Auto Show Edition.  If you missed the earlier coverage, you can find it under the Detroit 2012 Category.

Speaking of that

Some manufacturers would choose to space their introductions of performance cars out a bit.  Maybe one or two at Frankfurt, and another at Detroit.  Not Audi - they're bringing four all-new S models to the Frankfurt show this fall: the S6, S6 Avant, S7 Sportback, and the S8. The big trend with performance cars is obviously engine downsizing.  The BMW M5 went from 5.0L and ten cylinders to 4.4L and eight (gaining two turbos and 60 horsepower or so in the process.)  Mercedes' AMG Division has shrunken their thundering 6.2L V8 down to 5.5L, but added twin turbochargers.  The new Focus ST is dropping a cylinder and gaining direct injection for more power.  This comes from a seemingly contradictory pair of needs: meeting rising fuel economy

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

Audi is pressing forward with new models at both ends of the spectrum - from the A1 minicar to A8 sedan. In performance, the R8 continues to set the standard for the brand. The new Audi A8 was revealed last year and is going on sale currently, with the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-Class firmly in its sights. Befitting of those aspirations, it gets a hefty price tag to match. Audi waited until the last minute to reveal the A8's pricing information. The standard length car is going on sale right now, and it starts at $78,050 (excluding $875 destination and dealer charges). Next month the long-wheelbase A8-L (pictured) hits showrooms, and it checks in at $84,000. Next up is the R8 Spyder. Last year, Audi released the Spyder

Recently a volcano situated in Iceland whose name none of us can pronounce properly caused a whole lot of hardship throughout the world. Flights were cancelled throughout Europe and if you were either planning to leave or head towards United Kingdom, you were not able to do so. Even the F1 circus was stuck in China after the recent Gran Prix. Of course, the airports opened up again and things are now back to normal. After a few hundred million dollars worth of losses that is. This unpronounceable volcano has basically reminded us that nature is an uncontrollable force and that we are still bound by it. In fact, every legal system in the world agrees with this fact and we have escape clauses in contracts stating

Audi, fresh off a record-breaking Q1 sales result that vaulted it to second place, could be taking something sort of a victory lap. The standard Audi A8 was introduced late last year, and now they are introducing the top-shelf A8 L model. Look any different? It looks longer, that's for sure - by nearly 1 and a half feet, coming in at 17 and a half feet. It is also motivated by a different powertrain, a 500 horsepower W12! Normally, an engine like that would be the primary focus of a car. Not so with the A8 L though - the back seat is. Why? Because with a back seat as good as the A8 L's, that's where we would want to be spending our time. There is a

After a big introduction, usually new variants and models are confirmed at a later date. That helps to keep interest up n the model and not to deflate any current sales. The new Audi A8 was released at a special event on Monday at the "The Art of Progress" show in Miami Beach, Florida. Audi has always offered a great driving experience and sporty models on even the standard cars. For those looking for a bit more, the S range of models compete with the equivalent M models at Mercedes-Benz. Audi design director Stefan Sielaff said the new S8 will "Create a new design grammar which will also go onto the next S6, S7 and S1." That is a very interesting statement, because it is a confirmation

As far as top-end luxury sedans go, I've always preferred Audi's A8 over pretty much anything else. I figured I'd get this out of the way first, because I've got a bit of a bias on this topic.  I find Merc's S-class too gaudy, BMW's 7-series too new-money new-edge, Jag's XJ too feline, and the VW Phaeton too out-of-production. The Audi A8 has always blended what I consider to be the best attributes of a super-luxury car the best.  It was always expensive looking, but not in a loud, annoying Chris Bangle sort of way.  It was relatively restrained; it relied on good proportions and clean detailing to be attractive, rather than the latest stupid styling trend.  The interior was heavenly yet fairly simple, the engine choices

Audi's new flagship A8 has only been out for a few hours following its introduction at the The Art of Progress event at the Audi Pavilion in Miami Beach, Florida. We're still working on a comprehensive post with all the details and information, but until then Audi has released a new video showing off their latest introduction. It shows a bit of driving footage in the beginning, but mostly focuses on "beauty shots" of the exterior and interior that consist of a silent video walkthrough demonstrating various functions (like the lighting system). Patience is required for those who want to see the whole thing! httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTUUp2s3bX0

Audi is preparing to launch its flagship model, the A8, on November 30th at the Audi Pavilion in Miami Beach, Florida.The new A8 is expected to show off the company's next-generation design language. Don't expect too radical of a change though - a teaser shot released in July offered us a glimpse of what to expect. In order to build anticipation around the event, Audi has released a teaser video. The new A8 is an important model for Audi - in order to keep information leaks from happening, the company supposedly has a strict embargo with no advance information given to auto news outlets. Check this video out until we get more on the A8 - November 30th is next Monday. Unfortunately, as far as teasers go,