All-New Audi RS4 Avant with 450PS V8 Makes Official Debut [38 Photos]

After we got our first-taste of the new RS4 through a handful of leaked images earlier today, Audi has now officially pulled the sheets off the flagship model of its A4 series. The RS4 makes its comeback as a station wagon featuring the same 4.2-liter V8 engine found in the RS5 models. The naturally aspirated eight-cylinder unit is good for 450PS (444bhp) at 8,250 rpm and a peak torque of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) available from 4,000 to 6,000 rpm. That's a 30bhp improvement over the previous RS4.
Audi's seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with up to 70 percent flowing to the front or as much as 85 percent to the rear with a default 40:60 ratio, transfer power to the road.
According to the German automaker, the RS4 Avant can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 4.7 seconds and reach a governed top speed of 250 km/h (155mph), which can be increased to 280 km/h (174mph) upon request, while consuming less than 11lt/100km on average (21.4mpg US).
Like other RS models in Audi's range, the RS4 Avant features a revised chassis. Among other upgrades, there's a new speed-dependent electromechanical power steering, a taut suspension setup that lowers the body by 20 millimeters (0.79 in), and a new brake package with 365 millimeters (14.37 in) front discs. As an option, Audi offers 380-millimeter (14.96 in) carbon fiber ceramic discs with six-piston calipers for the front axle.
The RS4 Avant rides on 19-inch, ten-spoke forged aluminum wheels shod with 265/35-series tires as standard, but Audi also offers 20-inch wheels with 265/30-series tires as an option.
In typical Audi fashion, the RS4 Avant is subtly aggressive featuring newly designed bumpers, side skirts, a rear diffuser, a different front grille in a matte aluminum-look finish with a honeycomb insert, slightly flared wheel arches, a discrete roof spoiler and aluminum-look mirror housings.
Audi says that the RS4 is 20 millimeters (0.79 in) longer and 24 millimeters (0.94 in) wider than the A4 Avant, but 20 millimeters (0.79 in) lower.
In the cabin, we find a pair of sports seats and a flat bottom, multifunction steering wheel up front, along with carbon inlays on the dash and aluminum inserts on the door sills. Like the regular A4 Avant models, the RS4 offers up to 1,430 liters (50.50 cu ft) of cargo space.
After its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the RS4 Avant will arrive in European dealerships in fall 2012 with a base price of €76,600 (about US$99,900) in Germany. No word on whether it will be offered in North America, but we wouldn't bet on it.

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New Lexus GS Priced from £32,995 in Britain

The new generation of Lexus' GS sedan is gradually making its way to most markets around the world. Today, the Japanese automaker released pricing for the UK market where the GS is available for order now with first customer deliveries to take place in mid-June. The range starts from £32,995 for the GS 250 while the full hybrid GS 450h starts from £44,995. The GS 250 is powered by a 2.5-liter V6 petrol engine delivering 206bhp while the GS 450h combines a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 petrol engine with the Lexus Hybrid Drive for a total system output of 338bhp.
The base GS 250 SE is fitted as standard with 17-inch alloys, automatic bi-xenon headlamps and windscreen wipers, LED daytime running lights, a rear-view camera with parking guide monitor, leather upholstery, dual zone climate control, electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats and a high-end audio system.
Both the GS 250 and full hybrid GS 450h are offered in Luxury and F Sport grade. The Luxury trim models add 18-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, an HDD satellite navigation system with Remote Touch controller and a blind spot detection system.
The F Sport grade includes an aero kit with bespoke bumpers, 19-inch rims, bi-xenon headlights with an automatic high beam function, as well Lexus’s Adaptive Front-lighting System, sports seats and pedals, Adaptive Variable Suspension and selectable drive, plus the Lexus Dynamic Handling System on the 450h.
Finally, the GS 450h Premier comes equipped with bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels and the same bi-xenon headlamp system, adaptive suspension and selectable drive modes as the F Sport models.

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Kia Shows More of its All-New Cee'd Hatchback Including the First Shots of the Interior

The all-new Kia Cee'd will make its world premiere at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon in March but the South Korean automaker wants us to get a better view of its VW Golf rival with the release of another set of photos, which include the very first pictures of its interior. The car's overall appearance is in line with Kia's latest crop of models and especially the Optima sedan. This is even more evident inside with Kia promising a more premium look and feel, higher perceived quality and enhanced driving position ergonomics.
The dashboard layout features a driver-orientated fascia with the main switchgear positioned towards the driver.
Kia has not yet announced precise dimensions but it said that the new Cee'd is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, while retaining the same wheelbase.
The engine lineup has not been confirmed but given that the Cee'd is a sister model to Hyundai's new i30, we expect it to be offered with the same 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter diesel and gasoline units at launch in Europe.

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Ferrari Introduces California Facelift with 490HP Ahead of Geneva Debut

We've known for some months now that Ferrari was preparing a mild update for its entry-level California model and today, the Italian automaker made it official releasing the first photos and specs ahead of the hardtop roadster's world premiere at next month's Geneva Auto Show. While there aren't any noticeable styling changes other than the silver front grille, under the skin, it's a different story.
For starters, the new model year California's 4.3-liter V8 engine with direct-injection technology gains new exhaust manifolds and engine mapping, which boost output from 460-horses and 485Nm (358 lb-ft), to 490-horses 505Nm (373 lb-ft) at 5,000 rpm.
Equally important, Ferrari's engineers managed to shave 30 kilos (66 pounds) off the California's chassis without affecting in any way on its structural rigidity and performance – always according to the Italian automaker.
These improvements allow the California to go from zero to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, or 0.2 seconds faster than the outgoing 460HP model.
Ferrari has also developed a new optional "Handling Speciale package", which is said to encompass modifications to the suspension set-up that minimize body roll and "make the car even more responsive to driver inputs".
The package includes Magnetorheological dampers controlled by an even faster ECU (-50% response time), stiffer springs and a modified steering wheel system with a 10 per cent quicker steering ratio.
Ferrari has also introduced a more extensive palette of colors that include new two-tone finishes and modern re-interpretations of the company's classic color schemes.

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First Official Photo of All-New 2013 Audi A3 Leaked?

The last time we had a good look at the 2013 Audi A3 hatchback, it was from the January Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas where the German automaker displayed the compact model's interior. In some of those aforementioned shots, the new A3's exterior was displayed on the LCD screen located above the center air vents.
Now, an Eastern European website has posted this picture claiming that it's the first official photo of the new three-door A3, which is scheduled to make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.
As with the Volvo V40 images we showed in an earlier post today, we can't be sure if its real of if it has been doctored.
In any case, the third generation of the A3 hatchback won't stray away for the current model's design, combining a similar if not identical silhouette with Audi's new family face that includes the six-point grille and "angrier" headlamps.
Story References: Auto-forum

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Aston Martin Debuts V12 Zagato in Kuwait, Watch it on the Move

Almost a year after its presentation in concept form at the Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este , the production version of Aston Martin's new V12 Zagato made its world premiere today at the 2012 Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance before it heads over to the Geneva Salon in March for its European debut .

The new Aston Martin is essentially a re-skinned version of the V12 Vantage designed by Italian coachbuilder Zagato in celebration of the golden anniversary of the 1962 DB4GT Zagato.

The coachbuilt Aston sports the same normally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 as the regular Vantage, which means it delivers 517PS (510bhp) at 6,500 rpm and 570Nm (420lb ft) of torque at 5,750rpm, to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Only 150 examples will be built, with sales to start in the summer. For those of you with deep enough pockets to be interested, the starting price is £330,000 (plus local taxes), or about US$519,700 or €398,500 at today's (Feb. 15, 2012) exchange rates.

Kudos for the tip to Abdul from FanGears!

VIDEO

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