Auto Unleashed |
| When 580 hp just won’t do it: 702 hp MTM RS6 Avant Posted: 01 Aug 2008 07:27 AM CDT  However, the really cool package is the other one, which features a stainless steel sxhaust system with throttle control downstream from the catalytic converter and a sports air filter. With these upgrades, the RS6 Avant develops an impressive 702 hp. There are no extra details about this package, because the project is currently under development. The packages cost 3,999 Euros and 9,950 Euros. On the outside, MTM has fitted the Audi RS6 Avant with a carbon-fiber front spoiler lip, a carbon-fiber rear diffuser, six-piston monoblock brake calipers with slotted brake disks and 21″ MTM bimoto wheels. MTM offers this entire suite of compoents for the RS6 R which includes power-boosted engine, modified breathing, exhaust system, suspension struts and 21-inch wheels for a package price starting from 15,500 EUR. More photos after the jump.
 | ||||
| The new Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart priced at $26,490 Posted: 01 Aug 2008 07:08 AM CDT  The full-time 4WD driveline features Mitsubishi’s Active Center Differential (ACD) unit, Standard Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control (TCL), a front helical and rear mechanical limited slip differentials, Ralliart-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. There’s also available an optional RECARO Sport Package, for $2,750, which features Xenon HID headlamps, 650 watt Rockford Fosgate, Sirius Satellite Radio with 6-months subscription and RECARO front sport seats The new 2009 model year Lancer Ralliart also comes with a fully transferable 3-year/36,000 mile “bumper-to-bumper” new vehicle limited warranty. The Mitsubishi “3/36,” limited warranty is in addition to a 5-year/60,000 mile power train limited warranty and a 7-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion perforation limited warranty. In addition, all Mitsubishi models come with 5-year unlimited miles Roadside Assistance benefits. Check out more photos after the jump.
 | ||||
| The weirdest things found in rental cars Posted: 01 Aug 2008 06:52 AM CDT  Rental cars come in handy when you really need a car for a trip or for business, but being entrusted to a lot of customers before you, there’s always room for surprises in certain storage spaces. People are really forgetful, especially if they have a lot of things on their mind and thoroughly searching a rental car before you return it seems to be the last thing they think of. Europcar, one of the biggest car renting chains, have surveyed their branches in the UK to see what customers have forgotten in their cars. The results were really surprising to say the least, objects ranging from the usual things like money, cell phones or wallets to some really unusual things like furry handcuffs, false legs or even a wheelchair. Here is the full list: Unusual Items Left in Europcar's Rental Cars * A false leg (Liverpool)  | ||||
| The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport announced Posted: 01 Aug 2008 06:27 AM CDT  To be honest, I was expecting more fuss created by Bugatti around this annoucement. I mean, it’s the cabrio version of the most exclusive and expensive production cars around so it deserves a little more attention. Because today Bugatti quietly announced the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. Also not much details were made available, all we know is that the roadster with a removable roof, as Bugatii called it, is suppose to have about the same performance and safety levels, possible by incorporating “innovative structural solutions” to compensate for the absence of the roof and structural integrity it provides. Probably more details will be released at the car’s official debut, at the Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance, on August 16th, 2008. The next day, at the Gooding auction at the Equestrian Center Bugatti will be accepting bids for the first unit, that will be built in Spring 2009. Check out more photos after the jump.
 | ||||
| Over 600,000 cars in the US Government garage Posted: 01 Aug 2008 06:10 AM CDT  Car collectors across the world have really been put to shame by none other than the United States Government, owning approximately 642,233 cars. Quite a lot to say the least, putting together this data from the General Services Administration, the Associated Press have reached the conclusion that the costs of maintaining all these cars in running order and fueled costs about $3.4 billion. This without taking into consideration the rise of fuel prices. Most of these cars are protocol ones, being used by dignitaries and officials from the government, so you would think that they are only used in the interest of the country and are being taken care of by their users, well, not that much. Millions of dollars are being effectively thrown out the window by this administration, such is the case with some drivers earning up to $90,000, with a base salary starting from $46,000. Quite a lot of money for driving around officials without being pulled over by police. A part of those cars are rarely put to work, at a medical center in Cleveland, a few cars have been driven an amazing amount of 16 times in the past year, and to top it all off, a car has been missing for a few months, police having no ideea where it is.  | ||||
| Lamborghini flown from Qatar to UK for an oil change Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:29 PM CDT  You’d better be careful next time you complain the service is really far from your home, because it can be even worse. Take this ‘poor’ Sheik’s case. He had to fly his £190,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 (similar to the one from The Dark Night movie) all the way from Qatar to the UK for an oil change. The whole trip cost him £20,000, plus £3,552 to service at an approved dealer. I know, the guy has too much money than he can spend, but you have to admit, that’s pretty cool. Of course, environmentalists don’t have the same opinion, because the whole ‘operation’ sparked fury from them. For example, here are a few statements from some very angry people: To be honest, what I really don’t understand is why the owner chose to do that? I mean, I suppose there are Lamborghini services in Qatar. Or maybe he only did it because he can?  | ||||
| Beware, catalyzer thieves are coming! Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:08 PM CDT  Even though it's hard to believe, it seems that catalyzer thefts is increasing from one simple reason: the Platinum inside has a market value of 200 dollars. The main problem with these thefts are that the catalyzers found at the thieves could not be identified and the police couldn’t press charges. To handle these thefts, Ford joined forces with Retainagroup security specialist, so now the catalyzers are die-cut with a 7-digit unique code and one phone number, available 24 hours a day. The registration kit is available at Ford dealers at a price of 11.87 pounds for a single car, or 30 packages kit, with only 136 pounds.  | ||||
| The first Tesla crash happend in San Francisco Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:01 PM CDT  In case you haven’t heard, the Tesla Roadster is the first electric sports car to enter production soon. Finally we can say good bye to all the ugly little cars and save the planet in a stylish and sporty way. But untill you can make your deposit for the car, you can see how it performs in the crash tests. Even though they were unplanned ! Looks like the first Tesla crash took place in San Francisco. Fortunatelly nobody got injured, but the poor car got squashed between a Mercedes and a Toyota Camry. That’s a shome, considering that only nine Tesla cars were manufactured so far. You can see for yourself in the photos what happened. Would you buy one ?  | ||||
| More leaked photos of the new Ford Ka Posted: 31 Jul 2008 11:04 AM CDT  Two days ago we’ve shown you the first leaked photo of the upcoming Ford Ka. The car is scheduled to debut this autumn, at the Paris Motor Show and Ford was probably planning on announcing the car closer to the French show. However, since that photo leaked, Ford has announced that the official press release will be made tomorrow but still, we’ve managed to get a hold of another two photos of the car. We can now see the rear and the interior. More official details tomorrow, but rumors say that the car will be built in Tychy, Poland it’ll be powered by 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines and a 1.6 TDCi diesel engine. Check out the other photo after the jump.  Source: AM-Online  | ||||
| Posted: 31 Jul 2008 10:48 AM CDT  A year and a half after Saddam Hussein was executed, here’s your chance to won a piece of history, by buying a Rollls Royce Corniche that belonged to the tyrannical Iraqui dictator. The car will be sold at Autocontinental, a car dealship in Redhill, Surrey and it has a price tag of £185,000. The Rolls features heated, brown leather seats with red piping, climate control system and comes with papers confirming its ownership by the former Iraqi leader. According to Steven Brown, the owner of car dealership, the car will be shipped from Baghdad within the next 28 days and before the new owner takes possession, it will be refitted with a new stereo to replace the one he claims American soldiers removed when they found the car. The Rolls was bought by an Iraqui friend for Steven’s and he already has a lot of interested buyers, including an American Colonel who wants to afix SADDAM numberplates to the car. But that’s not all, because Steven is planning on buying one of Saddam’s gems, a top-of-the-range Maybach Mercedes which was fitted with 23-carat gold, but Saddam never got the chance to drive before he was arrested and executed for crimes against humanity in 2006.  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Auto Unleashed To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email Delivery powered by FeedBurner |
Inbox too full?  Subscribe to the feed version of Auto Unleashed in a feed reader. | |
| If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: Auto Unleashed, c/o FeedBurner, 20 W Kinzie, 9th Floor, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
