Car Throttle

One of the highlights of the Geneva Motor Show next month is the fastest Audi TT yet. The new TT RS Plus is exactly what it says on the boot lid: a TT RS plus more power, more torque and more speed. The original TT RS comes with a 2.5-litre, 5 cylinder direct injection petrol with 335bhp and 332 lb ft of torque which gives it a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, the same as the standard R8, and a limited top speed of 155mph. That isn't enough for some people, though, so the Plus gets a revised inlet manifold and increased turbocharger boost to deliver 355bhp and 343lb ft of torque meaning the 0-62mph is down to 4.1 seconds with the S-tronic gearbox. That's just

Currently, there's only one exclusive member of the sports car/SUV crossover club and that is the Porsche Cayenne. Now, though, a range of luxury and exotic SUV concepts have sprung out of nowhere. In the next few years you'll have a choice of a Bentley SUV, a Maserati SUV, even something called an Eterniti and possibly a Lamborghini SUV.  This wouldn't be their first attempt at off roading, though. Believe it or not, this is a classic Lamborghini! It's called the LM002 (or 'Rambo Lambo') and it was originally built to sell to the US Army. There were two engines for it: the same 5.2 V12 that's in the Countach or a 7.2 'Marine' V12 and both sound great but the car was

Ahahaha, oh my. An "entry level" supercar - right, that makes sense.  It used to be there were sports cars that normal people could afford (Mustang, Corvette, Porsche 944, etc), and Supercars that only oil barons and filthy rich Enron executives could afford (F512M, Countach, Cizeta Moroder, EB110.)  As the industry moves along, though, we've actually developed upper and lower echelons of the supercar.  It's funny to think of something costing nearly a quarter-million dollars as being "entry level," but despite all the insanity of the Ferrari 458 Italia, it's not the craziest thing they make. There didn't used to be a lot of choice here, either - you could pretty much get an F355 or an Esprit, and a few others have crept in here

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI is already one of the most desirable cars on earth. I mean, come on - it's a combination of Lamborghini craziness with Audi civility and beautiful design.  It makes a sound like God playing a trumpet, accelerates like it's just been rear-ended by a runaway dump truck, and will make beautiful four-wheel powerslides with one hand on the wheel.  The interior is immaculate, it's got an external-gated 6 speed, and... well, I could go on for days.  It took up where the NSX left off; offering supercar performance with everyday civility in a perfectly engineered package. And now Audi has seen fit to add a little spice to the recipe, and it looks like it's about to get a little more

Sometimes, you get a filet mignon when you're expecting Hamburger Helper. That's sort of how I feel going to an Audi dealership - for the most part, modern Audi's don't push my buttons as much as the golden oldies like the Type-44's, the ur-Quattro, and the Porsche-engineered RS2.  But when you pull up to your local Audi dealer and this is sitting outside, I'd like to see your expression. Sure, most of Audi's modern range is uninspired and just too German to be interesting, but the R8 is different.  This is the type of car that leaves an impression after you see it - one that lasts a long time.  I think it's sure to go down as one of the most beautiful designs of this

The latest-generation of the BMW M5 is the most high-performance iteration of the car yet. Perhaps the most unique thing about it though is the engine - it has a V10 engine in place of a traditional V-6 or V-8. That's something most people (aside from us car enthusiasts, of course) probably don't know about it. Does it matter that the M5 has two more cylinders than everyone else? Apparently not. A new report out by Edmunds' Inside Line says that the M5 could be shedding that engine for a V-8 powerplant. The report flies in the face of a previous one we heard about the M5 in June. That one said that the M5 would be getting more outrageous than ever, utilizing not just the same

One topic that automotive enthusiasts can never seem to agree on is: what is the best-sounding car? I realize it's a HIGHLY subjective field, and there isn't a possible definitive answer.  Everyone has different tastes in what sounds good - heck, some people think Harley V-Twin's sound good - but I've compiled my top ten favorite automotive noises here for you to pass your judgement on.  I think they cover a wide spread, but I welcome your comments and critiques on my choices.

10) Subaru EJ20ET Displacement: 2.0L Mechanical Layout: 180° Horizontally-opposed Flat Four Valvetrain: Dual overhead cam, 4v/cyl Aspiration: Turbocharged Applications: Subaru WRX

The EJ20 is one of the most unique sounding powerplants out there.  It's got this off-beat staccato burble

Audi's critically acclaimed R8 sports car gets an upgrade for the 2010 model year, with the addition of a second optional engine to the lineup.  The R8, which is largely based on the Lamborghini Gallardo supercar, gains an optional V10 engine next year that will make the R8 all the more desirable to those with the money for one.  You can debate just how finite a number of people that is in today's economy, but if this car doesn't bring a smile to your face, you're not quite alive: The 5.2 FSI offers a bit more of everything over the regular R8.  While the normal R8 "makes do" with a 4.2L, direct-injected V8 making 420 horsepower, the 5.2 FSI utilizes a 5.2L  V10.  This race-bred 90°