Making an official world debut at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show, ABT Sportsline has today introduced the ABT R8 GT S. Based on the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI, the ABT R8 GT S boasts 620 horsepower, aggressive carbon fiber styling, lowered suspension, upgraded wheels and a top speed of 199 mph. All making for what ABT modestly describes as their "hot open-top sports car."

To boost the R8's 5.2 FSI V10 engine from 525 to 610 horsepower, ABT makes use of their patented POWER tuning program. An upgraded ECU and ABT sports exhaust system are enough for not only a 20% jump in power but also a 3.6 second run to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) on to a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). As ABT explains, "the 5.2 litre V10 engine is fully compatible for everyday use and is real fun for cruising on country roads." In the handling department is an ABT lowered suspension system mated to a choice of 20-inch ABT "BR" or 19-inch "CR Superlight" wheels.

Outside, carbon fiber can be seen almost everywhere on the ABT R8 GT S. The hood, rear spoiler, front skirt, rear skirt, windscreen frame cover, red air scoops, engine cover and mirror covers all receive the carbon treatment. Not only does the carbon fiber add an aesethetic enhancement, it also helps the heavier Spyder reduce and optimally distribute weight. Inside, red carbon fiber can be found on the steering wheel, center console, shift gate and door panels; matched then with red and black leather seats and trim.

As mentioned above, The new ABT R8 GT S will debut at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show. If you plan to attend, be sure to stop by the ABT booth in Hall 5, Stand 5031.



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The last we heard about development of a second-generation Audi A2 model was that the project was on hold due to the lack of a suitable platform.

Now it’s been reported that a platform has been found and that the car is on track for a debut in early 2015, more than two years later than originally planned.

Like the previous generation, sold in Europe between 1999 and 2005, the new A2 is thought to be a tallish practical hatch that will sit between the A1 and A3 models in Audi’s lineup. It will also feature aluminum in its construction, but this time only for its body and not its platform as well. In this way Audi will be able to keep the car at a reasonable pricetag, solving one of the biggest issues of its expensive predecessor.

The new platform for the car will reportedly be the low-cost and flexible Modular Querbaukaste (MQB) being developed for the MkVII Volkswagen Golf and destined to spawn a host of other models including the next-generation Audi A3 and now the A2 as well.

Audi is targeting the new BMW i3 with its A2 and thus the car has to remain a technological showpiece. Therefore Audi will offer the A2 with electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

The electric version should have a range of about 150 miles on a single charge and its motor will output around 75 to 110 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid model will likely feature a downsized three-cylinder engine, either gasoline or diesel, and should offer an electric-only range of about 40 to 60 miles. Note that Audi has ditched the cool Wankel rotary hybrid drivetrain of the original A1 e-tron concept, a vehicle thought to be a preview of the new A2.

The computer generated rendering above gives a good indication as to what the new A2 may look like, revealing a traditional hatchback body with a five-door design.

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Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Volkswagen Group said, "Italdesign is a figurehead of Italian design and engineering creativity. We have been working together closely in a spirit of partnership for many decades." In reality, that may be an understatement. After all, Giorgetto Giugiaro is credited with penning the original Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit and Scirocco – two classic shapes that went on to define the VW brand for the last few decades.

After a research study to determine what Volkswagen vehicles of the future may look like, Giugiaro (now owned by the Volkswagen Group) focused on two distinct concepts, one of which is the Go! that you see here (the other is the Tex, which we've already shown you). The design firm thinks of the Go! as a multi-purpose vehicle for urban areas, and as such, it measures just four-meters in length and runs solely on electricity using VW's proprietary Blue-e-motion EV technology. According to the automaker, the Go! is capable of traveling about 150 miles on electric power alone.



Like the Tex, the Go! concept uses VW's modular transverse architecture, which was designed to accomade a diverse range of powertrain options, including plug-ins, internal combustion engines and even hydrogen fuel cells. Despite the Go!'s relatively dimunitive exterior dimensions, its 106-inch wheelbase matches that of the larger Passat. The battery pack sits beneath the passenger compartment, covering the areas of both the front and rear-seat passengers.

VW and Giugiaro are keen to highlight the large glass area of the Go! concept. Such a configuration allows for plenty of natural light and offers maximum visibility. Interestingly, though, only the lower part of the glass is actually electrically lowered (have a look at the image gallery below to see what we mean), and the concept relies on video cameras to give the driver a view of his or her surroundings.



Other interesting design details include rear doors that push outwards and pull back parallel to the vehicle, a high seating position that caters to drivers who prefer the visibility of an SUV and the control panel that is placed at the base of the windshield, well back from its normal location behind the steering wheel.




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The Geneva auto show will host the new A3 four-door sedan concept, which will be the first VW Group car based on the company’s latest modular transverse platform. (It will also underpin the next Golf.)

The Audi A3 concept takes Audi's current styling language a step further, borrowing many design elements from the new A6 and stuffing them into a more compact and vibrant package. The new grille shape, as seen on the A1, A6, and A8, carries over to the new A3. We like the shape of the LED taillights, and the construction and layering of their assemblies are mirrored in the headlights, which are also LED units. The futuristic door handles and side mirrors look great, but they probably won't make it into series production. Dimensionally, the A3 concept is longer (at 174.8 inches versus 168.9), wider (72.4 versus 69.5), and lower (54.7 versus 56.0) than the current A3 hatchback.



If you find the lower front air intakes on the A3 concept a bit menacing, there’s a good reason: Behind the aggressive snout lurks Audi's wonderful 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five, which the company says makes 408 hp here. It sends power to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic. This is the same engine that powers the Quattro concept; it’s also found in the current TT RS and RS3, but it makes 340 hp in those models.



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