Autoblog: Top Gear flogs the Aston Martin DBS

[monkeyboy]

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Videos, Supercars, Aston Martin

Top Gear has laid hands on the new hotness that is the Aston Martin DBS, and after watching Jeremy Clarkson take us on an eight-minute tour of the car and what it can do, we desperately want to win the lottery. In his review, he literally places it head-to-head against the DB9 (prettier and less costly) and the Vanquish S (faster in a drag race), and for a time, you almost think he's disappointed in James Bond's latest company car. But as the segment concludes, he has an epiphany of sorts, explaining that its the best car he's driven this year and detailing what makes it special. Then the Stig takes the wheel and does his thing. What's the final verdict? Where does it rank against the other exotica that's lapped the Top Gear test course? We won't give it away, other than to say that it keeps some pretty heady company on that ranking board. Follow the jump and check out the video for yourselves.

[Source: YouTube]

Gallery: 2008 Aston Martin DBS

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Honda ramping up CR-V production in Mexico

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, Honda

The small utility vehicle market is booming right now, and there may be none better in the non-luxury space than the fuel-sipping Honda CR-V. Honda has to be thrilled with their little 'ute, mostly because customers are snatching up the vehicle with little or no incentives, and it's far and away the best-selling CUV in the US. The CR-V has been so successful that Honda has increased production in Mexico by 20,000 units annually to expand sales into Brazil and Argentina. Honda is hiring an additional 600 employees to its El Salto plant in Mexico to account for growing production. The move is part of Honda's plan to double North American production of the CR-V.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Detroit Preview: Audi has plans for big showing

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertibles, Coupes, Supercars, Audi


The quad-ring obsessives over at Fourtitude have the inside scoop on what Audi plans to unveil in Detroit this January, and enthusiasts stand to benefit from a duo of performance products in the form of an R8 concept and what's likely to be the production version of the TT-S.

Audi's midship masterpiece has only been on the market a few months, but it's been all but confirmed that bigger things are on the way. The rendering above was supposedly released to a handful of lucky press outlets a few weeks back and it obviously foretells a future convertible variant of the R8. Rumors about a powerplant upgrade in the form of a V10 are also circulating, but we think its doubtful that Audi would blow it all on one show.

While the R8 convertible is pure motoring pr0n, the TT-S is proof that Audi is taking its performance offerings seriously. The exterior benefits from a number of S-line goodies originally spied at the 'Ring, while power is expected to come courtesy of the European S3's 265 HP 2.0-liter turbocharged four. The combination of a more aggressive suspension, larger brakes and upgraded rolling stock is sure to capitalize on the TT's already nimble chassis.

Head on over to Fourtitude for a rendering of the TT-S and to get an eyeful of the R8 cabrio concept.

[Source: Fourtitude]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder Limited Edition

Filed under: Convertibles, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows

Click the image above for more high-res shots.

Porsche won't be coming to the Bologna Motor Show in Italy empty handed. Instead, the souls from Stuttgart will be unveiling a limited edition Boxster S that draws inspiration the automaker's 1960 win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in the Type 718 RS.

The Boxster RS 60 Spyder comes swathed in GT Silver Metallic paint with a Carrera Red interior to match the #42 car it's attempting to channel, along with a serialized silver plaque on the dash proclaiming its limited numbers and a new front spoiler. But it's not just a bit of extra glitz heaped atop the already competent Boxster S. The stock rollers are swapped in favor of a set of 19-inch Porsche SportDesign alloys, the suspension benefits from Porsche's Active Suspension Management system (PASM) and the flat-six is uncorked with a sports exhaust that bumps output to 303 HP.

Appropriately, only 1960 units will be available worldwide, with a base price of 53,000 euro abroad.

[Source: Porsche]

Gallery: Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder Limited Edition

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