Audi Unleashes the TT RS

When the new Audi TT RS is fully unveiled next month at the Geneva Motor Show, expect to be treated to a sportier and more intense ride.

Some 340-horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque bide their time beneath the TT RS’ sleek exterior courtesy of a turbocharged 2.5-litre in-line five-cylinder, until you decide to put pedal to metal, at which point all this power then takes you from 0-62 mph in just under five seconds.

Inside the sports car, a six-speed gear stick helps take you through Audi’s all-wheel-drive quattro drive system, giving you maximum control, and maximum power.

The Audi TT RS, available in both coupe and roadster incarnations, also comes with some subtle changes to its exterior. Larger air intakes on the vehicle’s front and LED driving lamps contribute to the model’s more aggressive front fascia.

Larger wheels and brakes, a fixed rear spoiler, distinctive RS badges on the brakes, alloy-effect door mirrors and fearsome bumpers complete the look. The new Audi TT RS is expected to launch in Europe in the second half of 2009.

Alfa Romeo Mito GTA Concept – Lighter But More Powerful

Alfa Romeo will attempt to lend greater credo to the oft-used phrase “all good things come in small packages” when they unveil their new Mito GTA concept car in Geneva next week.

Essentially, this is the alleggerito (Italian for “reduced weight”) of Alfa’s mini hatch Mito, but with more souped-up power.

Expect lots of carbon fiber to be lavishly deployed in this power Mito, from tailgate spoiler, roof and mirror fairings. Aluminium is used extensively in the braking system, suspension and parts of the chassis.

All these weight-saving measures combine with the Fiat Group’s new compact petrol engine which uses direct injection, dual variable valve timing and turbocharging to achieve 240bhp from a mere 1.7-liter four-pot.

Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse

Third time’s a charm for the Carlsson-Aigner collaboration series, with the scheduled premiere of the Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse at the Geneva Auto Show next month.

Descendent of the Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge and CK65 RS Blanchimont, the third in-line Rascasse carries on the exclusive family trademark - the striking two-tone paintwork.

Like the previous two models, the Rascasse combines the exterior of premium Carlsson full body kit featuring three-piece forged wheels with an interior of lush red leather lined seats and dashboard courtesy of Etienne Aigner.

The Rascasse is based on the Mercedes-Benz GL500, with similarly large silhouettes and roomy seven-seater interiors. However, the Rascasse ups the ante by featuring a bonnet with larger power domes and bigger front grilles reinforced with additional fog lights and LED daytime running lights for an even more imposing presence.

Its seven-seater interior has only two rear seats, and there’s more than enough room for an integrated fridge, dual eight-inch screens and a custom Rear Entertainment System with surround-sound features.

Boasting a 5,461cc, 48-valve, DOHC V8 motor with 388hp (285 kW) and 530Nm of torque in standard form, the Rascasse claims to be the world’s most powerful normally-aspirated GL. Going at an estimated basic price of 228,500 euros, the limited edition Carlsson Aigner will be made exclusive with only 20 cars released. 

Rolls-Royce 200EX Concept Could Offer First Glimpses of RR4

Rolls-Royce has taken the wraps off its baby Roller, dubbed the 200EX for now, ahead of its debut in Geneva in a couple of weeks’ time.

The 200EX forms a long list of experimental models from the first 1EX in 1919 to the most recent 101EX in 2006, precursor of the Phantom Drophead Coupe.

And if there’s anything that history reveals, it is that Rolls’ experimental models, unlike design studies or concepts, have always made it to production. Rolls remains tight-lipped but in its press statements, says that the 200EX concept will indeed “point the way to RR4”, a new Rolls model slated for 2010.

The 200EX is based on the latest BMW 7 series platform, and will also house a new V12 sourced from BMW. Besides this nugget of information, Rolls has not released details on its engine or performance figures.

Rolls has not deviated much with the design, and on first impressions, the 200EX looks just like a shrunken version of its Phantom and Drophead Coupe siblings.

Still, the interiors have been given the quintessential Rolls treatment: handcrafted leather, Cornsilk carpets, cashmere blend headliners, and Santos Palissander wood veneers.

In a climate in which conspicuous consumption is the buzzword, this could be the answer Rolls is offering to wealthy CEOs who still desire the Rolls treatment but may not want to show it off in a Phantom.

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