Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Lamborghini Estoque takin' it to the streets

Lamborghini has been hemming and hawing over the production prospects of the Estoque concept ever since it was unveiled last year at the Paris show. With a front-engine, four-door layout, the family-sized Lambo wouldn't be able to share much with either of the company's current models. But with Porsche and its new Panamera now under the same corporate umbrella – to say nothing of the upcoming Audi A7 and Bugatti Galibier concept – the prospects have...

Montezemolo reportedly confirms Ferrari 458 Spider

Ever since the introduction of the 348 Spider back in 1993 and on through the 355 Spider, 360 Spider and F430 Spider – to say nothing of the targa variants that came before – Ferrari has always produced droptop versions of its mid-engine V8 supercars. So it should come as no great surprise that Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has reportedly confirmed the development of a roadster version of the new 458 Italia.Like its predecessors, the 458...

Sunday, 27 September 2009

Review: 2009 Audi Q5 3.2 Quattro

Quality costs. Ask a recording engineer. For the same money you'll burn on a pile of inexpensive, non-serviceable gear whose greatest virtue is that "it works," you could alternatively purchase one channel's worth of serious equipment. The trade-off is that the real kit sounds great all the time, while the cheaper stuff never does. Boiled down to their essence, they both do the same thing, but it's the quality of the components and the careful construction...

BMW Lovos concept

It must be fun to be a car designer. Unless, of course, your name becomes synonymous with a specific styling trend that very few seem to appreciate... but we digress. It definitely seems that 24-year-old Pforzheim University graduate Anne Forschner had a good time coming up with her BMW Lovos concept, which can alternatively look either like a frightened porcupine or svelte salmon, depending on its needs at the time.The exterior of the Lovos – which...

Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production

Land Rover has today confirmed what we've long expected – the popular LRX Concept from the 2008 edition of the Detroit Auto Show is headed for production. The British-born automaker doesn't actually say the new 'ute will be called the LRX when it hits the market in 2011, but it will definitely be wearing a Range Rover badge and therefore likely be marketed as a premium vehicle.No details are given about the coupe-like SUV's powertrain, but Land Rover...

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Review: 2009 Lotus Exige S 260

Over its 61-year history, Lotus Cars has spent a considerable amount of time clawing its way back from the brink of insolvency. The company's most recent bout with financial disrepair came in the early Nineties after the front-wheel-drive Elan proved a commercial failure (surprise!) and the Esprit toiled away in the shadows of newer, more powerful supercars. As hope for the historic marque's triumphant return began to fade, a group of Lotus engineers...

First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo

Evolution is a tough thing to watch – and not merely because it takes millions of years. While the developmental pace of the automobile has proven to be rather quicker than the natural world surrounding it, the car industry's recent house-on-fire rush into new niches and sub-genres has often been similarly challenging to make sense of. Like those primordial fish that beach themselves, drag their bellies on the sand with their fins and eventually...