Audi S3 2A 362 HP Five-Cylinder Demon Hatchback

Iwas mighty impressed when I drove the all-new 2015 Audi S3 earlier this year,but I could definitely tell Audi left some room for a little more. That "more" will be the most powerful five-cylinder engine they've ever built. Meet the 2015 Audi RS3.

While it won't hit Europe until next spring, Audi tonight released the full specs and photos of what may be the baddest modern hatchback they've ever built. Here, the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine puts out 362 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. A zero to 60 mph run gets done in about four seconds.

Intelligent torque vectoring sends power to all four wheels (duh) via a new seven-speed S tronic transmission, re-worked for faster shifts. No mention gets made of a manual gearbox by Audi, so it seems manual fans are going to feel left out on this one.

The new RS3 salutes the Audi rally cars of yore in a big way: with its sound. Audi touts the car's as the same one they've used since their 1980s rally racers, and the new car has driver-controlled flaps in the exhaust pipes that control exhaust flow and bring the noise whenever you want. And that's just the standard one — there's also an optional sport exhaust. 

In addition to the revised front and rear, the car also sports a magnetic ride suspension, optional ceramic brakes and a ton of other goodies.Itall sounds pretty sweet. Audi is reportedly still deciding whether to bring the RS3 to the U.S. For now the Sportback five-door hatch is the only bodystyle, but we've also heard rumblings a sedan might be in the works. I'd love to see that happen for America. Do it, Audi! Read more

Next-Gen Jewish calendar month GT-R might Go Hybrid Current Godzilla possible to Last till 2017

The 2014 Jewish calendar month GT-R represents the fifth revision of the R35 series GT-R since its launch. we tend to hear that a minimum of 2 additional updates to this Godzilla area unit within the works which the R35 can continue to exist till a minimum of 2015, tho' our supply says it can be around till as late as 2017. The extended timeframe can be excellent news, as we've detected that Jewish calendar month CEO Glen Gebhard Ghosn solely recently lit the inexperienced lightweight to start development of a brand new GT-R. therefore what is next? Let the speculation begin! the foremost vital changes to the new GT-R can presumably be to its exterior style and engine. As you'll see from this artist's impression consecutive GT-R, the fundamental proportions ought to stay constant, whereas the headlights and mechanics package area unit possible to receive a giant makeover in an attempt to any maximize downforce and high-speed stability.  2013 Jewish calendar month GT R Black Edition Front 3 Quarter In Motion Like all automakers, Jewish calendar month is staring down the barrel of ever additional demanding U.S. and European emissions laws which will force it to still scale back CO2 output and improve fuel economy. consistent with our supply, which means consecutive GT-R might ought to use "some electronic device" to assist boost Godzilla\'s mpg numbers. Jewish calendar month reportedly is viewing 2 potential choices. the primary is a few quite hybrid system. One doable future hint was the hybridized (and downsized to three.7 liters) VR38DETT fitted to the Infiniti Essence thought automotive initial seen at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show that created associate degree calculable 600 combined H.P., tho' our supply stresses that the Essence isn't consecutive GT-R. Engineers also are evaluating a hybrid system almost like that of the Infiniti M35h. However, adding a hybrid system suggests that bulking up the GT-R's already substantial weight with motors and batteries, therefore unless designers will shave some four hundred pounds off of this automotive, a hybrid GT-R is probably going to be problematic.

The second possibility may be a "turbo mechanical device and generator setup" still within the testing stages. Seen as a mere "assist" device for this powertrain, a fresh fitted drive motor can be designed to fit right within the car's rear transaxle. "The GT-R would even have to use a start-stop device also as cylinder deactivation technology to induce CO2 down," says our corporate executive.  2013 Jewish calendar month GT R Black Edition side Chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno hinted at a doable date for consecutive generation's debut once he aforesaid his team's entry during this year's Nurburgring 24-hour race was to confirm the automotive had the performance, reliableness, and endurance capabilities to "take the automotive up to 2017, once you will expect vital revisions." As we tend to left the circuit, Mizuno hinted that he and his team were already acting on consecutive generation GT-R. however it had been one in every of his gifted younger cohorts United Nations agency nodded a silent "yeah" once we recommended the next-generation motorcar would be a hybrid. So, if nods area unit to be believed, then the all-important weight issue appears to own been resolved. currently that is excellent news.

Range Is Not Guaranteed - Soul EV exposed after a full charge

Rangeis not guaranteed. In freezing temperatures, it is safe to expect at least a 10 percent degradation of battery power. The battery cells are all huddled together, like train passengers waiting on the platform. In extreme subzero temps, as was the case with Soul EVtesting in Swedish Lapland, near the Arctic Circle, cold weather degradation can be up to 50 percent.

We left the Soul EV exposed after a full charge for 12 hours in freezing weather on the top of a parking garage to wind chills in the single digits and temps in the teens. It had 91 miles of range when we left; it was down to 74-mile range when we got back in. Remarkably, after two minutes of driving, the range went back up to 90 miles. All the heat generated from the butt warmers and steering wheel and climate control heated the cabin, which heats the battery in the floor. While it may be problematic to leave the Soul EV exposed in such cold with only a quarter battery left, most plug-in owners wouldn't do that anyway.

The Soul EV can be programmed to heat itself for 15 minutes before you get in, as long as it's plugged into the grid. Remote programming is available through a smartphone app.

Kia's UVO infotainment system is customized to the EV, providing a list of the nearest chargers on a real-time basis, from nearby dealerships to public chargers to Charge Point stations. We had no idea how many chargers were available to us in the Chicago area.

While the interior of the Soul EV is not nearly as striking as the Soul ! (top-of-the-line Soul Exclaim), it is in line with Kia's holistic design philosophy. Many plug-ins get higher-grade trim levels standard to support the EV premium, but instead of the exclamation point, Kia used the symbolic equivalent of recycling arrows. More