The Audi R8 is on a diet! Our spies have caught a second R8 V10 Clubsport mule lapping the Nurburgring in Germany, this time finished in stealth-like matte black paint.
Set to be the fourth model in the R8 line up, following V8 and V10 versions of the Coupe and the Spyder variant revealed at Frankfurt last week, the Clubsport will be the most focused incarnation of the supercar so far. And with its wild rear wing, enlarged rear diffuser and more prominent bodykit, you’ll certainly see it coming.
Taking its lead from hardcore models such as the Lamborghini LP550-2 Valentino Balboni and the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, the Clubsport will feature a stripped-out cabin and ditch an all-wheel drive transmission in favour of a lighter and more dynamic rear-wheel drive setup.
The 525bhp 5.2-litre V10 from the coupe will receive a mild boost in power, while around 50kg will be shed from the kerbweight, meaning performance should be mind-blowing. Expect the 0-60mph sprint to be dispatched in the region of 3.5 seconds and a top speed approaching 200mph.
Our sources have revealed that an unveil at the Essen Motor Show in Germany in November is likely, with the car actually going on sale in the first quarter of 2010.For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express
Spied: 2011 Audi R8 Clubsport
New Car: 2010 Toyota 4Runner
"Easily the most capable vehicle to come along since the current-generation Wrangler, and there's much to be applauded in an off-roading legend that's remained true to itself," says editor at large Arthur St. Antoine of Toyota's all-new 2010 4Runner Trail Edition. Truck Trend editor Allyson Harwood adds, "This new 4Runner is an SUV that makes me want to go off-road. Those are getting harder to come by, and it's the only new sport/utility for 2010 that causes that kind of feeling."
As its name suggests (and as the previous comments intimate), the all-new fifth-generation 4Runner -- Toyota cites that of the 1.8 million sold since 1984, about 1.3 million are still on the road today -- soldiers on with body-on-frame construction and a live rear axle. And we couldn't be more pleased. Frankly, with the Highlander, RAV4, and Venza in its lineup, Toyota doesn't need another car-based sport/ute, so sticking with a rugged, heritage-rich offering seems wise, especially when the number of truck-based 4Runner competitors can be counted on one hand.
Based on the Land Cruiser Prado sold in other world markets, the made-in-Japan 4Runner wears boxier -- retro, if you will -- sheet metal that more closely resembles that on the FJ Cruiser. Headlamp and taillamp lenses extrude from the body, the grille is bold and in your face, and the overall appearance just looks bigger, despite modest gains in length (+0.7 inch), width (+0.6), and height (+0.8); the wheelbase, at 109.8 inches, remains the same. Inside, the FJ similarities continue, due to oversized knobs and buttons, a more upright windshield, and water-resistant seats. Our tester was a pre-production model fitted with shiny, unfinished plastics; those pieces in production models will be grained and matte-finished. Some editors found the interior a bit overwrought, but none could argue it wasn't extremely functional, roomy, and easy to use.
Thanks to: Motor Trend
