Audi Introduces 5-door A1 Hatchback

We still can't get one in the US, and now there's another reason to be sad about that: Audi will be introducing the production version of the A1 5-door (Sportback) at the Tokyo Auto Show at the end of November. Audi previewed the 5-door A1 with the A1 Sportback Concept at the '08 Paris show, and the real thing isn't especially surprising. Dimensions will be nearly identical to the 3-door A3, riding on the same 97.2" wheelbase, and an overall length within 5mm of the 3-door as well. The 5 door will come with an optional color-contrasting roof and pillars (while the normal one just has the pillars in a contrasting color.) It's mostly the same inside as well, meaning small but high-quality.

Sub-Zero Seasonal Tips for Britain’s Drivers

In the wake of one of the mildest autumns in generations, snow and ice alerts are now kicking in for the UK in the lead up to Christmas. The warnings are nerve-jangling reminders of 2010’s cold snap, which triggered pandemonium across the country’s road networks, and led hundreds, if not thousands, of frantic drivers to ditch their motors. Unsurprisingly, Arctic weather seriously swells the odds of car breakdowns and collisions.

Porsche Panamera GTS Takes to The Track

At the Los Angeles International Auto Show, Porsche showed off the new 911, but its big (literally) debut was the Panamera GTS. It sounds really expensive doesn’t it? Well it is, but it isn’t the top dog in the Panamera lineup. It takes its spot in third place. The most-expensive title goes to the Turbo S, which dings the register at $174,175. Ouch. That makes it $98,000 more expensive than the base model V-6. Next is the Turbo, at $137,675, then the $110,875 GTS.

2013 Mustang GT500: Just What We Needed, More Power

If I were to make a list compiling the positive and negative things about the Mustang Shelby GT500, it'd go a little like this. On the plus side: Enough power to pull an entire trailer park. Enough power to eclipse the sun with tire smoke on accident. Enough power to win a tug-of-war with a Panzer tank. Enough power to stand up at the United Nations and bang it's shoe on the table screaming "we will bury you!" and everyone takes it seriously.

Hot Audi A1 Diesel To Take On Mini Cooper SD

Mini Cooper SD, watch out! Your not alone in the hot diesel premium supermini market anymore as Audi has spiced up the diesel A1. Originally the only diesel engine available for the A1 was a 1.6L TDI with 103bhp and 136 lb ft of torque. Now you have a choice between this and a 2.0L TDI that produces 141bhp and 236 lb ft of torque, less horsepower yet more torque than the Cooper SD but the differences are minute.

LA 2011: Jaguar XKR-S Cabriolet Convertible

I'll get straight to the point, this is the fastest and most powerful convertible Jaguar have ever made. If you happen to be near or in Los Angeles you can go and see it in the flesh with your own eyes at the LA Motor Show this week! The XKR-S cabriolet is fitted with the same 5.0L Supercharged V8 that you find in the coupe which produces 542bhp and 502 lb ft of torque. That means 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and going up to 100mph only takes 4.5 seconds longer. This all adds up to a limited top speed of 186mph. To make all these figures possible, the supercharged V8 has had changes to the fuel mapping system and an active exhaust

LA 2011: Fiat 500 Abarth Revealed

We’ve known it was coming, but now we have all the details on the US-Spec Fiat 500 Abarth. Following the regular 500 and the 500C quasi-convertible, the 500 Abarth packs more of everything: power, grip, brakes, and attitude. Here’s what to expect.We’ve known the US Abarth would be getting the turbocharged 1.4L MultiAir I4, but we didn’t know whether it would arrive in regular (135bhp) or EsseEsse trim (160bhp.) Thankfully Fiat realized that we love power, so the turbocharged Italian will arrive in full-strength form, packing 160bhp and 170lb-ft of torque under the hood. The Abarth version gets goodies like forged connecting rods, piston cooling jets, and lower-compression 9.8:1 pistons, down from 10.8:1 in the normal 500. The small turbocharger breathes through twin side-mounted intercoolers.

Lotus Developing New V-8 Engine To Power Esprit

Lotus stole the Paris Auto Show in 2010 with a whole host of new concepts. While the company has been saying they are all headed to production, launching them all would be a huge feat for a small company such as Lotus. The funding and manpower needed are just beyond the level they are at right now.

What is definitely coming though is a successor to the Esprit super car. It is scheduled to arrive in late 2013. For years Lotus has had an engine sharing relationship with Toyota. The Elise, Exige and Evora are Toyota powered, and many expected that partnership to continue with Lotus in the future.

Nissan Juke-R Ready For Testing

The world's fastest crossover is one step closer to being on our roads. Weirdly though, Nissan say it won't be a production car but instead a road legal concept. Two will be made; one with right hand drive for us Brits and Japan and one with left hand drive for everyone else. The Juke-R is a simple combination. Take the 3.8L twin turbo V6 from the GT-R that pumps out 480bhp as well as the drivetrain and the suspension and then put those underneath the body of a weird looking compact crossover. Sounds hilarious doesn't it? There is a bit more to it than that obviously. The unique body has bigger circular vents at the front so the twin turbo V6 stays

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

Before the much anticipated '991' 911 coupe has even touched British tarmac, Porsche have announced the new 911 Carrera convertible which starts from £79,947 and is on the road from March 2012. Usually new convertibles in this day and age have very fancy and complicated folding metal roofs but supercar manufactures tend to stick to fabric roofs. Old fashioned I know but fabric roofs save weight and space compared to folded metal roofs which pretty much fill the boot and weigh more than a dining room table. In this case there's an engine in the boot so a fabric roof is pretty much the only choice Porsche have. Speaking of engines there's a couple of flat 6 petrols to choose from for the Carrera Cabriolet. A 3.4L