The highly anticipated Audi R8 Spider has made its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The drop top R8 will only be available with the 5.2 Liter FSI V10 (with a V8 version announced as a possibility in the future) connected to Audi’s patented quattro all wheel drive system. Sales in Europe will begin in the first quarter of 2010 and retail starting at $227,000. Details for the U.S. market version will be announced at a later date.

The 5.2 Liter FSI V10 in the R8 Spider delivers a maximum output of 525 HP at 8,000 RPM and has a rather high compression ratio of 12.5:1 in order to get the most out of the high revving naturally aspirated power plant. With a weight of only 3,792 pounds, the R8 Spider is able to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in under 4.1 seconds; go from 0 to 125 MPH in a little over 12.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 194.49 MPH, all while consuming 15.79 MPG in the manual transmission version, or 16.92 MPG in the R-tronic variant.

The all new Audi R8 Spider is being offered with a cloth top that weighs only 66.14 pounds; chosen as a solution by Audi to keep the rag top’s total weight and center of gravity lower in the vehicle. The electro hydraulic soft top opens and closes in 19 seconds, and operates even while driving at speeds of up to 31.07 MPH.

Audi will offer the unit in three different colors, while the car will be available with eleven different paint options, with metallic and pearl effect finishes standard. Like all of Audi’s luxurious convertibles, the reinforced windshield frame is covered with anodized aluminum.

Press release after the jump.

Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 8 March 2010 08:30 EST.

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Russia’s first foray into the world of supercars is finally coming to fruition with the debut of the Marussia B1 hybrid at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.

The B1 will be released via serialized production so you can expect that only a limited run will be seen out on the roads. Marussia is bringing two of these babies to Frankfurt, in addition to the company’s brand-new concept car, the Marussia B2. We’re veering away from making any references to ‘Bananas in Pajamas’ jokes because we think that the Marussia B1 and B2 deserve better than being compared to two over-sized bananas wearing nightwear.

In any event, the Marussia B1 is expected to cost around €100,000 – or $146,000 – and will most likely be released at the tail end of next year.

As far as the B2 is concerned, there haven’t been a lot of photos of the new car, apart from a couple of teaser shots, so your guesses are as good as ours as far as what the car looks like.

The good news is, we won’t have to wait long to find out!

Updated 02/12/2010: We just added new image of the new Marussia sports car. Check the picture gallery to see them all!

Marussia set to bring B1 and B2 supercars to Frankfurt originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 12 February 2010 11:30 EST.

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After we have seen the Lexus LF-Ch concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Japanese company will bring the production version in March at the Geneva Motor Show. It will be called CT 200h and will be the first, and only, full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment.

The new CT 200h will feature the second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology – a full hybrid system with advanced powertrain technology that delivers an unprecedented combination of fuel economy, low emissions and performance.

Press release after the jump.

Lexus CT 200h originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 12 February 2010 06:34 EST.

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If you made a poll on what concept car that was revealed in 2009 would stick to the minds of pistonheads all over the world, one that would sit on top of the list is BMW’s revolutionary Vision EfficientDynamics concept.

Ever since it was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, the Vision EfficientDynamics has been the talk of the automotive world, and rightfully so. We’ve gone over all the specifications, photos and videos of the car and it seems like all of it still isn’t enough to satiate our appetites for this concept car.

So before the year ends, we have a new video of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics courtesy from the folks over at Edmunds Car Pool. This video was taken during the recently-concluded LA Auto Show where it takes us on an up-close tour of the car while it was prominently displayed during the event.

Enjoy.

Video: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics at the LA Auto Show originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 December 2009 10:00 EST.

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As announced previously Jaguar is preparing to reveal a successor for the E-Type. Called XE, the new model will be a competitor for models like Mercedes SLK and Porsche Boxster and will make its official debut in 2010 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The German magazine AutoBild reports that the 2011 XE Roadster will “continue the new design line with a fierce look and a distinctive front grille.”

The XE will be built on an all-new aluminum platform and will be powered by a V8 petrol engine with 385hp in naturally aspired version and 510 hp in the supercharged version.

2011 Jaguar XE Roadster – will it look like this? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 16 December 2009 07:07 EST.

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Lexus recently unveiled the compact hybrid LF-Ch Concept earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The forward thinking hatchback is a preview as to what the future of luxury will be all about, set to compete head to head with other efficient space saving luxury vehicles like the the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 when the LF-Ch makes its scheduled debut sometime in 2012.

In an official statement, Lexus General Manager Mark Templin said that “There is a group of buyers growing up now who won’t buy cars by the pound. We have already seen a structural shift to the smaller and lower-priced segments of the luxury market over the last couple years.” The compact premium segment has been strong in congested urban areas for years, especially in Europe. The challenge that not only Lexus but a host of other automakers are setting for themselves is how to get the American market to warm up to the idea of paying mare and getting less. One of the steps that will most likely be taken when the LF-Ch becomes production ready is the use of a conventional power train in order to pass the savings along to the customer, but with any success you can expect Toyota to release a hybrid versions shortly after.

Lexus LF-Ch Concept could be going into production by 2012 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 15:00 EST.

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