Announced back in January, the first 20 Audi R8 LMS vehicles will be delivered to their teams by mid April. The GT3 cars will be raced at 24-hour races at the Nürburging and at Spa-Francorchamps. Each team had to pay 298,000 euros for their personal R8 LMS.

The R8 LMS gets a modified chassis and suspensions, the engine cooling system has also been improved; it gets complex electronics and an optimized exhaust system, but also a six-speed racing transmission.

Press release after the jump.

Audi R8 LMS deliveries started; 2010 production sold out originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 8 March 2010 17:00 EST.

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Lotus today revealed the 2010 Evora at the British Motor Show. It will be hand crafted and built on a dedicated new assembly line within Lotus’s advanced manufacturing facility at Hethel in the east of England; capacity limitations will restrict production to approximately 2000 cars a year, ensuring the dynamic new sports car’s rarity and exclusivity.

Evora is powered by Toyota’s all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 DOHC, with dual VVT-i (‘intelligent’ variable valve timing). The engine delivers 280 PS at 6400 rpm, while boosting its maximum torque to 342 Nm at 4700 rpm (prototype figures). The 2GR-FE V6 engine is mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, again Toyota-sourced. A close-ratio version of this gearbox is also currently under development for the even more sport-focussed driver. The 0 to 60 mph sprint is made in less than 5 seconds.

Designed ‘in-house’ by Lotus Design, the sleek and athletic form uses fluid forms and crisp surfaces to communicate velocity, agility and sophistication. Low and wide with modern cab forward proportions, muscular rear haunches and function optimised hip air intakes this is clearly a serious mid engined sportscar that skilfully hides the practicality of its two plus two capability.

Full details in the press release after the jump.

Lotus Evora originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 22 July 2008 09:47 EST.

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In 2008 at the New York Auto Show Kia unveiled the Koup concept. And only a year after, at the same show Kia brought the Forte Koup coupe, a model that stays quite faithful to the concept. The Forte Coupe will be offered in EX and SX versions, with prices starting at $16,595 and $17,695, respectively.

The idea for the car is simple: a sleeker coupe look for the sharp Forte sedan. That also means the engine lineup won’t change from the sedan. The Koup will be available with either a 156 hp 2.0-liter or 173 hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Both engines are mated to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.

Standard equipment includes: air conditioning, a driver’s seat height adjuster, adjustable rear seat headrests, tilt steering column, rear defroster, center console with dual cup holders, map lamps and variable intermittent wipers.

Press release after the jump.

Kia Forte Koup originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 8 February 2010 16:00 EST.

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GMC unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show the Granite concept, a urban-industrial design aesthetic with functionality aimed at young professionals. that, if will go into production, will become the smallest GMC ever.

The Granite is powered by a 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed transmission.

At the exterior it features a GMC’s signature grille design flanked by headlamps, prominent taillamps with multi-layer appearance and LED lighting technology, a centered exhaust outlet with a brushed metal tip, brushed metal finish and 20″ wheels.

Press release after the jump.

GMC Granite originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 11 January 2010 02:36 EST.

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As you can see by the hand-out photos, the changes to the baby off-roader are not dramatic and concentrate on the grille and headlights.  The front of the baby VW now shares its headlight and grille design cues with the Polo and Golf and just-upgraded T5.  Although details are scarce, the Tiguan is expected to carry over the same petrol and turbo-diesel four cylinder engines and Haldex all-wheel drive system  However, a six speed DSG gearbox is expected to replace the six-speed automatic.

Inside the cabin gets the Golf’s new three-spoke steering wheel and white dials, while the switchgear for the heating and ventilation has also been upgraded.  Reports out of Europe suggest VW is also working on a longer seven-seater Tiguan to join the lineup in 2011.

Thanks to original article poster