Audi R8 V10 plus 2016

Audi’s luscious R8 is beautiful to behold, easy to live with, and simply marvelous to drive—all the qualities you could want in a supercar. All-new for 2016, this generation is more powerful than ever. The base engine is a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10 that makes 540 hp; the V10 Plus makes 610 hp. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a seven-speed automatic. Only a coupe is offered for now; expect a roadster later in the year, along with either a turbocharged V-6 or turbo inline-five.

Ferrari Says V-6s coming soon.

Ferrari debuted the 488 Spider (shown above), the folding-hardtop-equipped variant of the new 488GTB, at the Frankfurt auto show this week. The two new 488 models are emblematic of Ferrari’s changing strategy in the face of increasingly demanding fuel-economy and emissions regulations, as they have a smaller-displacement, twin-turbo V-8 where once there was a shrieking naturally aspirated engine. At a private media meeting that we attended in the Ferrari booth in Frankfurt, we learned about some of Ferrari’s next big plans. The short answer: Smaller engines are in and manual transmissions are out.

Asked by another attending journalist about the possibility of a V-6 engine in a future Ferrari, CEO Amedeo Felisa answered with what amounts to a definite maybe. “What we are doing right now is following a path to reduce emissions,” Felisa said. “For sure, the downsizing of the displacement is one of the ways you can get to that result. [As for] the six-cylinder, will it be beneficial? Probably yes, but I think we have a good path before going to that specific solution.” When asked if such a hypothetical V-6 Ferrari would be a smaller vehicle, Felisa quipped, “Why would you reduce the engine and make a bigger car?” This ostensibly would be the much-rumored sub-488 car, which may resurrect the Dino nameplate.

Later, Felisa was asked about the possibility of future manual-transmission models in the Ferrari lineup. The exotic carmaker’s response: “Never say no, but today we’ll say no. We have the fastest [automated] gearbox in the market . . . right now, we are not thinking of a manual gearbox.” CEO Felisa continued: “The last Ferrari with a manual gearbox has been the California. We sold three. Which, by the way, the ones that were bought were a fantastic investment. But the client demand was very minimal."

Finally, on the topic of whether today’s Ferrari buyer enjoys driving, in the purist sense, the same way that a Ferrari owner did 10 or 20 years ago, Felisa opined, “Yes, in the sense that [. . .] when they buy a Ferrari, they’re looking for emotion. If you look at the evolution of the last 15 years, if you compare the 360 with the 488, the car is totally different. And what we have tried to do is not to ask of the customer a higher level of skill in order to drive these cars. It’s incredible the way we are improving the power, [but we're] not asking the drivers to be specialists or professionals. I think this was the big challenge that the engineers had.”ansmissions Are Dead.

Mercedes-Benz Planning Fully Electric Crossover SUV

Mercedes-Benz will launch an upmarket, fully electric vehicle, R&D board member Thomas Weber stated in an interview with Car and Driver. “I confirm that we will make a fully electric car with a range between of 250 to over 300 miles,” Weber said.

He did not provide details, but said that it would “not be a competitor of any of our current electric offerings. It won’t be a Smart, it won’t be the next B-class [Electric Drive], and it also won’t be a sports car like the SLS Electric Drive.” He hinted that the car would be a crossover SUV, pointing out that “sedans are not particulary well suited to storing large battery packs.

Weber added that the car will be “cool and emotional.” We expect the fully electric crossover to be a standalone vehicle, separate from any current Mercedes-Benz model line. It will compete with the upcoming Audi Q6 and the Tesla Model X. The new car will join Benz’s expanding lineup of plug-in hybrids, which includes versions of the GLE-class, the C-class, and the S-class.

2016 Infiniti QX50

Now here’s something you don’t see too often: a carmaker refreshing a model—and giving the fresh ride a lower price than its predecessor. Such is the case with the 2016 Infiniti QX50, which was given a longer wheelbase and, well, not much else relative to its 2015-model-year equivalent but costs $550 less. (You may know this model better by its old EX badge, although given its low sales, maybe not.)

Starting at $35,445, the base, rear-wheel-drive 2016 QX50 is not only longer but better-equipped, too, with a standard sunroof and heated seats front and rear. Like last year, all-wheel drive will cost QX50 buyers an extra $1400. Unlike last year, the Premium package is available on all QX50s—before, all packages were restricted to the now-dead uplevel Journey trim—and sees a price drop to just $500. (It includes an 11-speaker Bose audio system, a power tilting/telescoping steering wheel, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and used to cost $3050, albeit with navigation and a touch screen included.) A $2000 Premium Plus package augments the Premium gear, and brings Bluetooth audio streaming, navigation, Infiniti’s Around View parking camera system, and parking sensors.

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• 2017 Infiniti Q30 Debuts, Brings Several Brand Firsts
• 2016 Infiniti Q50 Finally Adding Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engine Option
• Infiniti QX50 Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Photos, and More

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The $2750 Technology package (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring) and the $2400 Deluxe Touring package (power driver’s-seat lumbar adjustment, eight-way power front passenger’s seat, 19-inch wheels, power-folding second-row seats, and adaptive HID headlights) go unchanged, although, again, they’re now available on every QX50.

joke of the DAY.

;)

:D