Car Throttle News Bites: 14th February 2012

In news bites today, we've got the new Audi RS4 Avant, Kia's upcoming RWD flagship, pricing on new Hyundais and BMWs, and new cars from Caterham and Audi, as well as Morgan.  Read on for all the details!

Three images of the new Audi RS4 Avant leaked out to Autoblog.nl and GTSpirit today, before it's official reveal at Geneva in April.  The RS4 Avant is the first RS variant of the new B8 Audi A4.  The rumor had been that the RS4 would use a higher-output version of the S4's 3.0L supercharged V6, somewhere around 400 horsepower, but apparently not - it's got the same 4.2L direct-injected V8 as found under the hood of the RS5, tuned to 450 horsepower.  It will come with a 7-speed DSG gearbox and Quattro AWD, of course.  The V-spoke alloy wheels and bulging bodywork are specific to the RS4, as are the larger brakes and more aggressive front and rear valences.  Very tasty; but still 106bhp short of Cadillac here - just saying.

Kia released teaser images of it's upcoming large flagship sedan, codenamed the "KH."  From these drawings, I see quite a bit of BMW 5-series here - in the headlights and definetely the tail lights.  The KH will be based on the Genesis platform, and it will be Kia's first RWD car.

The "KH" was previewed by the Kia GT concept shown at last year's Frankfurt show, and since then the styling has evolved quite a bit, gaining cleaner details and a more realistic greenhouse.  Best bets for power would be similar to the Genesis: direct-injected 3.8L V6 and 4.6 or 5.0L "Tau" V8's.  If they make the suspension tuning more sports-oriented than the Genesis sedan (which would fit in very well with K/H's brand seperation strategy) this could be a particularly appealing large sedan... from Kia.  The KH will be introduced in the Korean domestic market within the first half of this year, with sales elsewhere starting between 12-18 months from now.  I'm excited.

Hyundai has released pricing details on two new models: the 2013 Genesis Coupe (above) and the new Azera.  The Genesis lineup benefits from revised engines and styling, and 8-speed automatics optional with either engine.  Pricing below.

• Genesis Coupe 2.0T Base: $24,250 with 6-speed manual, add $1,250 for 8-speed automatic
• Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec: $26,500 bigger wheels and brakes, limited-slip diff, 6-speed manual only
• Genesis Coupe 2.0T Premium: $28,750, 8-speed automatic only, Navigation, Driver's side power lumbar, etc
• Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec: $28,750, 6-speed manual and 348-horsepower V6, wheels/brakes/LSD
• Genesis Coupe 3.8 Grand Touring: $32,000, 8-speed automatic only
• Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track: $33,000 for 6-speed manual, add $1,250 for 8-speed automatic

The Azera is completely redesigned for 2012, with a new body and an updated direct-injected 3.3L V6 with 293 horsepower and a 6-speed automatic.  This FWD competitor for the Taurus, Avalon, Maxima, LaCrosse etc starts at $32,000 and goes up to $36,000 for the Technology Package, which adds Xenons, 19" wheels, Panoramic sunroof, side and rear window shades, a premium stereo, ventilated front seats and other goodies.  One for the golf set.

Audi is introducing a hotter version of the TT-RS Coupe and Roadster at Geneva, creatively named the TT-RS Plus.  There's some precedent in this goofy name, starting with the euro-market 1997 Audi S6+ Avant, which had a 322bhp 4.2L V8 instead of the normal 2.2L I5.  There was also the (C5) RS6 Plus, which had 473bhp instead of 444.  So what's done to the TT-RS Plus isn't surprising: a smidgeon more power.  The growling 2.5L Turbo 5-cylinder has it's output upped from 340bhp to 360bhp (presumably through some coding in the ECU) and there's a new sound flap in the exhaust for even more growl.  The Plus gets a set of 19" wheels with a red lip, matte-finish trim on the front grille, and other stuff that only Audi nerds will notice.  It will be available in Coupe and Roadster with a manual or a DSG- the Coupe DSG will do 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds, the Roadster manual in 4.4.  Pricing ranges from €60,650 for a manual coupe to €65,650 for a DSG Roadster.  They probably won't sell it in America, but don't cry, just go to your local Unitronic dealer, plunk down 500 bucks, and make more power anyway.

British boutique sports car maker Caterham is working on a clean-sheat design sports car, according to an interview with CAR magazine.  Unlike the 90's Caterham 21 (above) which was basically a rebodied 7 with real doors, the new Caterham sports car won't be based off of an existing design.  It should come to market in 2015 in Roadster and Coupe forms (plus a third undisclosed variant), and will share some basic characteristics with the iconic minimalist sports car - it should be open-wheeled, light, and intense.  Beyond that, nothing yet.  A clean-sheet Caterham?  What's next, a new Morgan Plus 8?

Yes, actually, it is a new Plus 8.  Morgan's traditional Rover-powered drop top has been out of production since 2004, which is about when the Rover V8 finally breathed it's last breath.  The Aero 8 has been carrying on in quasi-modern fashion, but recently there's been a resurrection of classic Morgans: most notably the Harley-powered three wheeler.  Well, the traditional Plus 8 is back, and it's going to be really f*!@#ing fast, to put it politely.  While it looks like the old ash-frame Plus 8, it's actually the aluminum chassis of the Aero 8/Aeromax underneath- and it's also got the snarling 4.8L BMW V8 from those modern cars too.  Weighing in at under 1,100kg (2,425lbs) with 367bhp, the new Plus 8 should be good for a sub 4-second 0-60 time.  It also looks amazing.  Morgan is debuting the new Plus 8 at Geneva, and it will be available for around £80,000 later this year.  Lucky bastards at PistonHeads are getting a long-termer before the car's even out.

And finally, BMW released pricing on the upcoming 6-series Gran Coupe, which sits somewhere between the 6 and 7 series.  This low-roofed sedan will start at a hefty $76,895 for the six-cylinder 640i, which has a 3.0L turbocharged engine with 315bhp.  No word yet on how expensive the 650i, with it's 445bhp twin-turbo V8, will be.  Just to put things in perspective: that's $5,595 more than the MSRP of the V8-powered CLS550 (which has 402 horsepower!), and $17,645 more than the 3.0T (310bhp) Audi A7 Quattro.  It's also $48,380 more than a VW CC.  Just saying.  Maybe BMW is going for the Panamera trick where expensive = good?  Never mind, it's $1,300 more expensive than the V6 Panamera.  Good luck with that, BMW.