Having lost ground to the Peugeot’s in the first two hours the Audi drivers seemed unable to fight with their French rivals, but soon after Allan McNish had boarded the #7 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15 TDI the lap times improved and the Scot went after Pagenaud and Sarrazin. Despite knowing he would have to come in earlier than the Peugeot McNish kept pushing and had closed down the gap to just a few tenths of a second before making his pit stop. Double stinting at Audi was a problem and the team decided not to do it anymore.

Download 1000 KM Zhuhai: Audi take over the lead at Zhuhai

German tuner, Wheelsandmore, provided a kickass tuning package for the Bentley Continental Supersports back in 2010 and we are happy to report that they are revisiting the Bentley brand with a new package for the Continental’s Convertible version.

Download 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible by Wheelsandmore

Going to see a film is one of the best ways to get out, and one film we saw last year comes to mind: Transformers 2.

Download 2010 Chrysler 300S

"This will be the most powerful Golf ever offered," says Andres Valbuena, VW's Golf product manager. "The last was the 250-horsepower Golf R32 [released in 2008]. The 2012 Golf R will have more power and greater fuel efficiency."



Download First Drive: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R

It was associate online editor Mike Febbo's first time in this long-termer. "Power and torque are great, so good in fact that I would happily give up the close-ratio gears for a longer and more fuel-efficient sixth. I averaged 21.5 mpg on the highway. Grip is phenomenal. The car works amazingly well on smooth surfaces, but mid-corner bumps are an adventure at speed.

Download Long Term Update 5: 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster

Assistant Web producer Scott Evans drove the Routan to the 2010 SEMA Show. He came back wondering about the van's raison d'etre.
"Volkswagen did an admirable job of dressing it up, but all of the Town & Country's ghosts haunt the Routan. The brakes are fried and make the whole vehicle shake when you get on them hard, and they aren't that great to begin with. Under even moderate braking, the console shakes violently, tossing off anything sitting on it and rattling like a paint mixer. To be fair, it handles pretty well for a minivan and the 4.0-liter V-6 is surprisingly strong. The transmission is about as smooth as they come and the ride quality is quite nice."

Download Long Term Update 3: 2010 Volkswagen Routan

As "new" cars go, they don't get much newer than Chevy's extended-range electric Volt. So much is different about the first production plug-in hybrid that we have loads of questions: How do you "break in" an engine that may serve only occasional use? (Succinct owner's manual answer: "The vehicle does not require a break-in period.") What's its real-world battery range? (So far: 22-30 wintry miles.) How does its climate-control system work in extreme temperatures? (Better dress for the weather.) Is it worth the money? (Not if you crave only net cost savings.)

Download Arrival: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

The Cadillac SRX was unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and is going on sale starting at $33,330 for the base 3.0 Liter V6 powered front wheel drive version and climbs all the way up to $51,360 for the 2.8 Liter six cylinder Turbo Premium version. As the Cadillac of crossovers enters its second generation, the completely redesigned SRX delivers a dynamic alternative in terms of visual appeal and driving character to ordinary CUVs with its downsized fuel efficient gas burning engines. The SRX comes standard with a front wheel drive layout and is available with all wheel drive as an option. It is built atop a version of General Motors’ Theta platform that is also used for the Chevrolet Equinox and the Epsilon II platform that is also used for the European Opel Insignia.


Download 2010 - 2012 Cadillac SRX

It's a balancing act that would challenge a Cirque du Soleil performer. When you're one of the most prestigious car companies in the world and it's time to update your flagship, certainly you want to wow the crowd with some new material, but you also want to maintain your trademark style and personality. Especially when you have a 90-percent owner loyalty rate (meaning the S-Class enjoys a helluva lot of repeat business) and you've dominated your market segment for years. A tough challenge indeed.

Download First Drive: 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550

The watch and jewellery company THOMAS SABO headquartered in Lauf an der Pregnitz will become a partner of Mercedes-Benz in the DTM. 30 year-old Briton Gary Paffett, DTM champion in 2005, will enter his eighth DTM season at the wheel of the THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class in 2011.

Download Mercedes-Benz DTM Partners With THOMAS SABO

Throughout the economic conditions, it is interesting to note luxury car sales have been brisk as some customers were apparently able to achieve a financial footing more quickly than others. Enjoying sales up 17.1% in 2009 and 22.9% in 2010, luxury brand Audi boasts amazing US sales thanks to a desirable portfolio of vehicles. Starting with the entry-level Audi A3 before progressing right up to the supercar Audi R8, those cars as well as the choices in between is both tempting and indulging motorists. For too many, the upfront price of these vehicles leaves the inner desires of some automotive lovers unfed despite their hard work. After taking into consideration fuel, state auto insurance, as well as your whole financial well-being, the prospect of leasing a new or previously-owned Audi vehicle could be a sound opportunity to absorb the thrill of possessing German luxury. With Audi, they have been making the goal of luxury car motoring surprisingly accommodating but does require foresight.

Download Leasing Luxury, Audi Style

There will be two models of the 2012 SLK available in its first year, both powered by direct-injection engines. The completely redesigned V6 engine in the SLK350 develops 302 hp from its 3498 cubic-centimeter displacement, using this power to accelerate in 5.4 (est.) seconds from 0 to 60 mph (top speed 155 mph). Its fuel Later on in the model year, the SLK250 goes on-sale with a four-cylinder engine developing 201 hp from a displacement of 1796 cubic centimeters.

Download 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Technical Data

There’s something about cargo vans that we love. Obviously, it’s not because they’re fun to drive (although there is something fantastic about pitching a self-propelled warehouse sideways, but we digress). Rather, it’s because of what they can become. As artists take to blank canvases, so do our imaginations to cargo vans. Cargo vans start out as nothing, but can become anything, from rolling billboards or innocuous delivery vehicles to clandestine command centers or mobile man caves. (Check out how we designed our own digital Ford Transit Connect.)

Download 2012 Ram Cargo Van

Based on the Range Rover Sport

Land Rover has announced plans to introduce the Range_e prototype at the Geneva Motor Show.

Download Land Rover Range_e announced for Geneva debut

Toyota returns to its compact-truck roots with its latest concept vehicle A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck) making its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in January. The A-BAT uses a hybrid powertrain reported to provide modern versatility, roominess, and style for a new kind of buyer.

Download Toyota A-BAT Concept

In his late teens in the early 1970s, Eric Clapton fan and rebellious guitarist Kotaro Shige dreamed of being a rock star. That goal was dashed when his group could only manage third place in a nationwide band contest, and he abandoned his dream of stage stardom.

Download Honda's Head of R&D Talks CR-Z, Minivans and Music