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Superminis are big business for European automakers, and Peugeot has just released its latest salvo in the form of its new 208.

Available in both three- and five-door body-styles, the 208 represents a complete overhaul of the French carmaker’s core model. Its wheelbase is the same as the 207 it replaces, but while overall exterior dimensions have shrunken, Peugeot says interior volume has increased.

Meanwhile, weight has decreased, and the new 208 range is motivated by a pair of 1.0- and 1.2-liter gasoline engines with about 75 and 100 horsepower, respectively, designed to replace the 207’s 1.4 and 1.6 models, with a range of five diesel engines paired with stop-start ignition and hybrid assist on most models to return exceptional fuel economy and emissions figures.

The new Pug range is certainly distinctively styled, particularly the three-door shown above, with its sculpted doors and unusual chrome trim flourish at the rear of the windowline (a treatment not shown on the family-oriented five-door). The interior is no less interesting, with unusual ambient lighting elements on select models and a premium-look dashboard.

Peugeot is also expected to roll out a 208 GTI based on the three-door that promises to channel much of the beloved 205 GTI hot hatch’s sporting characteristics in the new form. That may still be a year away, but for now, you can check out the standard models in the high-res image gallery and the press release and video after the jump.

Continue reading Peugeot tackles supermini market with new 208 [w/video]

Peugeot tackles supermini market with new 208 [w/video]

It just wouldn’t be SEMA without a whole slew of Chevrolet Camaro coupes and convertibles staring us in the face, and this week’s Vegas show doesn’t disappoint. General Motors’ own booth features four rather interesting specimens, which you can see in the image gallery we’ve compiled here.

First comes the Camaro ZL1 Carbon Concept, which boasts a sinister Ashen Gray look with a smattering of carbon fiber bits and pieces. Power comes from the same 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque supercharged V8 that’s set to debut in 2012 in the ZL1.

Up next is the Camaro Red Zone Concept. Based on the convertible version of the Chevrolet pony car, this machine wears a coat of Crystal Claret that’s newly available for 2012 along with Chevrolet Accessories silver Ice interior pieces. The exterior features Accessory wheels and a full body kit, all available straight from the dealer. Finally, that stripe package you see will soon be available to Camaro owners.

The silver convertible you see in our gallery is the Camaro Synergy Series Concept, and it’s wearing a coat of Silver Ice plus black Synergy decals with red line inserts. Chevrolet Accessory black-painted wheels join a body kit and body-color grille.

Finally, there’s the Camaro 1LE Concept. As with other 1LE packages, this one has a suspension kit that is intended for road race circuits. It’s Victory Red exterior is set off by a flat black hood and hash mark extensions. Most of the underpinnings will be available on the ZL1 for 2012, including the magnetic ride suspension.

Read all about each of these concepts in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Chevrolet Camaro concepts storm the General Motors booth

Chevrolet Camaro concepts storm the General Motors booth

Ever since Hyundai debuted its Tau 5.0-liter V8, we wondered just how tough it would be to shoehorn the naturally aspirated monster under the hood of the Genesis Coupe. After much anticipation, the Korean automaker has teamed up with Rhys Millen Racing to bring us this, the RM500 – a 450-horsepower Genesis Coupe with a free-breathing, eight-cylinder heart.

The 5.0-liter powerplant is obviously the big story for the RM500, but there are plenty of other upgrades that make this one-off Genesis Coupe all the more interesting. RMR has added a custom stainless exhaust with a GReddy rear section muffler, oil cooler and rear differential cooler – all good for 20 additional horsepower. What’s more, RMR has added things like a lightweight clutch and flywheel, new engine management system (natch), Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and new 19-inch tires on super-slick Z-rated tires (245/40 front, 275/35 rear) mounted on custom HRE wheels.

Specific RMR visual enhancements include a whole bunch of carbon fiber aero tweaks. Specifically, a new front lip, side skirts, rear diffuser, spoiler, grille, roof overlay, foglamp vents and foglamp covers. The end result is a sinister-looking Genesis Coupe that we’d love to get our mitts on.

Moving inside, RMR and Hyundai have added an interior suede package (because it wouldn’t be a SEMA car without a touchy-feeling interior), sport seats, a new shift knob and a small steering column extension, among other little details.

Like most SEMA cars, we don’t expect a factory version to come along anytime soon. But we’ll say this: It’s very good to know that the big V8 will fit under the Genesis Coupe’s hood so cleanly. You know, just in case Hyundai might have something else up its sleeve…

Gaze in wide-eyed wonder at our high-res galleries, then check out the official press release for more after the jump.

Continue reading Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing show off Tau V8-powered RM500 Genesis Coupe

Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing show off Tau V8-powered RM500 Genesis Coupe

Mazda has given SEMA goers something to get excited about with a pair of MX-5 Miata concepts. The MX-5 Miata Spyder Concept has done away with the standard car’s folding soft top or retractable hard top mechanism in favor of a lightweight grenadine-red canvas covering à la Porsche’s Boxster Spyder. The look lends the already lithe roadster an even more svelte appearance, and the Spyder’s 17-inch Advan alloys and Mazdaspeed coilovers ensure that the driver should have plenty of fun when the road turns twisty. Mazda has also rolled in quite a few excellent details, including etched brushed stainless Spyder badging on the front fenders and a clean MX-5 Spyder logo on the passenger-side dash.

While the 2.0-liter MZR four-cylinder underhood looks familiar, Mazda says the MX-5 Spyder runs on isobutanol, the same biofuel that powers in Mazda’s/Dyson Racing ALMS car. To further the company’s “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom” effort, the Spyder also has a lightweight lithium ion battery, among other changes.

Does the Spyder have a chance at production? Well, probably not the isobutanol powertrain, but a lighter model with a similar top configuration might have a shot. As Mazda’s design director, Derek Jenkins, notes “…because the stock models are extraordinarily versatile, who’s to say some elements of these SEMA concepts can’t be ready for public consumption?” Sign us up.

The MX-5 Super 20 – which debuted last year – brings more of a motorsports flavor to the convertible. A fixed hardtop has replaced the standard folding mechanism and the interior has been stripped bare in favor of a full roll cage. Additional power comes courtesy of a DPTUNE ECU reflash, a 304-stainless steel header and exhaust. Racing Beat hollow front and rear sway bars, Mazdaspeed coilovers and a Mazdaspeed shock tower brace help lend sharper handling, too.

Continue reading Mazda MX-5 Miata Spyder and Super 20 Concepts land in Las Vegas

Mazda MX-5 Miata Spyder and Super 20 Concepts land in Las Vegas

Chevrolet has rolled a dozen customized Sonic models into SEMA, and while it hasn’t released details on every single variant of its entertaining subcompact, one of the modified hatches caught our eye.

If Chevy decided to launch a one-make race series for the Sonic, the Super 4 Concept (inset right) would be the blueprint. Sporting an SCCA-approved roll cage, racing seat, five-point harness, fire suppression kit and a detachable steering wheel, the Super 4 is as close to race-ready as the Sonic can get. The 1.4-liter turbocharged four-pot hasn’t been modified aside from a new intake and exhaust, but adjustable coilovers are fitted at all four corners and the braking hardware has been upgraded to four-piston front calipers with two-piece drilled rotors and two-piston piston rears with one-piece rotors, replacing the stock drums. Sticky rubber is wrapped around 18×7.5-inch wheels while a carbon fiber lower splitter, rocker panels and rear diffuser, along with a Concept Z-Spec spoiler round out the package.

Being SEMA, a brace of Sonics wouldn’t be complete without a hi-fi-infused version, and the Boom concept from Kicker answers the call. Get all the details on the concepts in the press blast below the fold.

Continue reading Chevrolet SEMA display reveals Sonic boom

Chevrolet SEMA display reveals Sonic boom

What’s a COPO, you ask? Back in the heyday of American muscle cars, COPO was an acronym for Central Office Production Order, which was, for all intents and purposes, a way for Chevrolet and its enterprising dealer network to sneak high-performance option packages and oversize engines past the bigwigs at General Motors and into the waiting hands of automotive enthusiasts.

With ancient history out of the way, what’s COPO mean in 2011? Well, it still means performance, but there’s certainly no way Chevy is going to bypass the powers-that-be at GM HQ, especially not with a Camaro proof-of-concept that’s destined to live out its life at the drag strip in NHRA Stock Eliminator drag racing competition.

According to Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, the COPO Camaro that is debuting this week at SEMA “is a clear indication that Chevrolet intends to homologate the Camaro for sportsman drag racing.” Seems pretty clear to us, too – in lieu of the standard independent rear suspension setup is a straight axle that’s perfectly suited to straight-line racing. Plus, there’s a full roll cage for safety.

Buyers of the COPO Camaro, if and when it becomes available, will be able to fit one of two suggested engine packages: one 427-cubic-inch naturally aspirated V8 (7.9 liters for A Stock racing) and one 327-cubic-inch supercharged V8 (5.3 liters for for AA Stock racing). The car you see in our live images is powered by a prototype version of the supercharged 327.

Check out all the details in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept lives life a quarter-mile at a time

Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept lives life a quarter-mile at a time

In a world where physics holds no sway, one cop is ready to take on corrupt politicians and the mobsters that pay them off… or something. Honestly, we don’t care about the plot to Singham – a Bollywood remake of the 2010 Tamil film of the same name. What we do enjoy is watching two Mahindra SUVs playing bit parts in an action-adventure that’s one part Lethal Weapon and two parts Naked Gun. If nothing else, the lead character is inspiring a last minute revision to our Super Troopers Halloween costume. Check out the absolute best part of the film after the jump.

Continue reading Trailer for Bollywood’s Singham flips our lids

Trailer for Bollywood’s Singham flips our lids

Resurrecting Ford’s Iconic 4×4 With Style

“The watch industry is a very interesting parallel in that none of us need watches anymore,” Jonathon Ward, founder of Icon 4×4, offers as a metaphor for his latest project. “The secret to them succeeding and prospering and furthering their design efforts in the modern market is in the execution – making the execution distinct and purposeful and bespoke. We are trying to take that unnecessary ethic from other industries and evolve it into niche transportation.”

In other words, Ward knows that his custom creations are superfluous, but like timepieces, people appreciate them for more than just their practical use. We count ourselves in that group, as we’ve previously sampled the Icon CJ3B and found it to be more than the sum of its parts.

The company’s latest project is the Icon Bronco. After completing the development of the FJ series and the aforementioned CJ3B, Ward has turned his unique perspective to Ford’s legendary off-roader from the 1960s and 70s. Icon will officially debut this Bronco at SEMA in Las Vegas later this week, but when Ward called us up earlier this month and asked if we wanted a sneak preview, we jumped at the chance. With the Bronco needing to maintain its like-new condition for the show, however, we would be limited to a short jaunt around the city streets of his facility in Van Nuys, CA. That would have to do, though, as we were eager to see what sort of unique details and materials Ward’s team has implemented into the Bronco’s design.

Continue reading Icon Bronco

Icon Bronco

A few years ago if you wanted a Mercedes-Benz Coupe your only choices were the dandyish CLK two-door or spending the GDP of a Polynesian island on an SL or CL. The options have grown – and grown more manly – lately, and according to a story in Auto Bild there’s another one coming: the E-Class Superlight.

With a rumored arrival of 2015, this rethink of the E will weigh just 2,860 pounds, meaning it would shed 770 pounds compared to the current E Coupe. How? By being “made of super lightweight carbon fiber.” Powerplants for the model are suggested to be a six-cylinder gas with a hybrid motor, or a fuel-cell hybrid.

If true, this is presented as Mercedes’ response to BMW and Audi moves into plastics and light weight. And this wouldn’t be the only challenger from Benz, with a lightweight B and an SCS also said to be in the works.

Mercedes-Benz working on carbon fiber E-Class?

It’s not often that a mainstream automaker sets its sights on building a world-class supercar, but a few standout examples come to mind: cars like the Acura NSX, the Ford GT, the Dodge Viper, and the Lexus LFA.

Of course, none of these projects simply materialized overnight. Each took years of development, fine-tuning, tweaking and, in the case of the LFA, going back to the drawing board. Toyota spent years on the car’s development and put some of its best personnel on the job. Lexus has now documented the LFA’s development in a ten-minute video.

Follow the jump to watch it in full and see how the LFA went from idea to aluminum concept car to carbon fiber reality, through its rigorous development at the Nürburgring, the tragic loss of Hiromu Naruse and the victorious Nordschleife lap time.

Continue reading Lexus documents LFA development

Lexus documents LFA development

To the outsider, it would be all too easy to forget that the FIA World Rally Championship has more than one class. Just like Le Mans endurance racing has various LMP and GT racing categories, and NASCAR has the Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series, so too does the WRC have more than one tier. So while the Sebastien Loeb and the Citroën World Rally Team were locking up their seventh title in the top tier of the championship, Skoda took its first title in the Super 2000 category as its Finnish crew Juho Hänninen and Mikko Markkula won took a class win and 10th overall in the RACC Rally of Spain this past weekend.

So what, who cares, you ask? Well you’d be forgiven for dismissing an overseas automaker (whose products we don’t even get here) winning a second-tier rally series that doesn’t come here, either. (Mexico’s the closest stage on this year’s calendar.) But we’ll tell you why it matters: Skoda’s sister (or parent) company Volkswagen is entering the top-tier WRC next season with the new Polo R. And while VW has enjoyed much success in rally-raid events like Dakar, the WRC is an entirely different beast.

In order to prepare for its assault on the most world’s foremost rally series, Volkswagen has been looking to Skoda’s program to test out everything from machinery to personnel. And given that Skoda – whose motorsport division celebrates its 110th anniversary this year – has come out on top, we could be looking at a very serious contender from Wolfsburg for next year’s championship.

Continue reading Skoda hints at what’s to come from Volkswagen with S2000 WRC title

Skoda hints at what’s to come from Volkswagen with S2000 WRC title

We at Autoblog love a good supercar battle, and of all the rivalries within the land of the exotic sports car, perhaps none is as fierce as Ferrari versus Lamborghini. And while Ferrari doesn’t exactly have a direct competitor for the absolutely bombastic Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, the folks at Underground Racing may have come up with a suitable (and awesome) solution.

The Ferrari 458 Italia you see here isn’t just your stock coupe. Underground Racing has fitted the 458 with its Stage One bolt-on twin-turbocharging system, bringing the Italia’s output up to a staggering 700 horsepower – at the wheels. Naturally, a race was in order.

Now, we’ll go on record right away and say we’re shocked that the team decided to do an acceleration race on a public highway, but nevertheless, it’s clear that the addition of two turbochargers have indeed helped the Ferrari’s performance. Was it enough to beat the Aventador? Follow the jump to find out.

Continue reading Twin-turbo Ferrari 458 Italia takes on Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Twin-turbo Ferrari 458 Italia takes on Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

You may remember a fun little hatchback called the Fiat Panda 100HP. All it took was a hundred horsepower to turn a ho-hum supermini into what European editors knew and loved as one of their favorite driving machines. That was a little overshadowed by the Fiat 500 that offers the same powertrain, if not all the same fun, but the Panda put things into perspective. Especially considering now how one tuner has taken an earlier Fiat Coupe and squeezed a whopping 1,000 horsepower out of it. That’s ten times as much.

So how’d they do it? Well, for starters they scrapped the stock engine and shoehorned in the twin-turbo V6 from the Mitsubishi 300GT VR-4. Advanced though it was for its time, with its 24 valves and dual overhead cams, the Diamond Star engine never produced more than 300 horsepower in stock form. So the tuner performed some undisclosed magic on it and boosted the output up over three times its stock figure.

While they were at it, they also squeezed the Mitsu’s advanced all-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steering system in there. Because as bonkers as 1,000 horsepower is by any account, trying to keep that much twist on the straight and narrow when it’s just driving the front wheels would be a nightmare. This, on the other hand, is clearly someone’s dream come true. Check it out in the trio of videos after the jump.

Continue reading Russian tuner squeezes 1,000 horsepower into a Fiat Coupe

Russian tuner squeezes 1,000 horsepower into a Fiat Coupe

Shelby Super Cars surprised everyone when its Utlimate Aero managed to show the Bugatti Veyron a thing or two. This without the massive development budget that Volkswagen put in to developing the Veyron, mind you. But if its first shot was impressive, its follow-up should prove even more so.

Following a long line of unpronounceable supercar names, the Tuatara will drive well past its predecessor’s rather derivative styling with a new shape penned by celebrated automotive designer Jason Castriota. Names and designs are all well and fine, but a car like this needs to be able to perform. And SSC promises it will.

With 1,350 horsepower on tap from its 6.8-liter V8, the Tuatara is tipped to hit 60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds en route to a top speed of 275 miles per hour. To get there, SSC has been working diligently with Aero-based prototypes. The independent exotic automaker is currently testing a new seven-speed transmission for the Tuatara, and found it can rocket from 0 to 200 mph in under 16 seconds.

That’s blisteringly fast: for comparison’s sake, consider that the current record-holder, the Koenigsegg Agera R, ran the same gauntlet in 17.68 seconds. Check out the video clip after the jump.

Continue reading SSC runs Tuatara prototype from 0-200 in under 16 seconds

SSC runs Tuatara prototype from 0-200 in under 16 seconds

The Audi A4 has been the German automaker’s best-selling model for 39 years running with over 10 million individual examples sold, so any sort of major update to the machine is a big deal in Ingolstadt. For the 2013 model year, Audi has bestowed its A4 with revised sheetmetal and powertrains in order to keep it at the forefront of the entry-level luxury car arena… which is especially important with a new BMW 3 Series on its way.

A quick glance may not be enough to take in all the visual changes to the latest A4, but a closer look reveals that there are revisions to nearly every surface, including the front fascia, bumpers and hood. The headlights and taillights have been reworked to more closely match the rest of the lineup with a “slight wave” at the bottom and highly stylized LED elements. Inside the cabin, new steering wheels, refined finishes and a somewhat simplified MMI infotainment system.

European buyers will be able to select from six turbodiesel and four gasoline engines, all with forced induction and direct injection for maximized power and efficiency. In the States, we’re expecting at least the 2.0-liter turbocharged four (211 horsepower) and 3.0-liter supercharged six with up to 333 horsepower in high-performance S4 trim. That’s enough ponies to hit 60 miles per hour in about 5.0 seconds.

There’s a slim chance the U.S. could get a crack at the new 1.8-liter turbo four as well, but we’re not holding our breath. As you would expect, Quattro all-wheel drive will be available across the line, and power will reach the wheels through either a six-speed manual, CVT automatic (front-wheel drive only), eight-speed auto or seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Audi is also introducing a new electromechanical power steering system for the 2013 A4.

We’re expecting Audi to bring the A4 and S4 to the U.S. in the summer of 2012 as 2013 models, and we should also get the new A4 Allroad wagon as well. You can see a whole slew of images in our high-res galleries, and we’ve embedded videos highlighting the new A4 Allroad and S4 after the break (along with the press release, naturally) for your viewing pleasure.

Continue reading 2013 Audi A4, S4 and A4 Allroad Quattro fully revealed [w/video]

2013 Audi A4, S4 and A4 Allroad Quattro fully revealed [w/video]

DTM is one of Germany’s best-kept secrets. The series features (ostensibly) production-based touring cars piloted by a mix of up-and-coming talents and retired F1 drivers around some of Europe’s finest racing circuits. But the series won’t be a secret for long as a number of developments aim to up its profile.

First of all, with the 2011 season now complete, the German touring car championship is about to switch to a new formula that will see a new generation of racing coupes replace the older sedans. The new crop just made their track debut this weekend at Hockenheim for the DTM season finale, and we’ve put together a little gallery of high-res images for you to check out.

The 2012 field is also growing thanks to the arrival of BMW, which is joining the series as of next season to take on Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which have been dueling it out mono-e-mono for the past few seasons. Having only shown the new M3 DTM in matte black until now, BMW has finally showcased its new racer in full regalia, packing the marque’s signature striped white livery.

BMW is eager to leverage its new DTM program beyond Germany’s borders. This year’s calendar included races in Austria, Holland, England and Spain, in addition to those within Germany, and has in recent years raced in such locations as Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Turkey and even China. However, a closing gap in regulations between DTM and Japan’s Super GT series could soon see the two competing on common fields.

More intriguing, however, is a development BMW is keen to pursue that would see DTM come to the United States. Touring car racing – as distinct from stock cars – is not very popular in America, and the organizers of the German series have been working at filling that gap by pairing an American version of the series as support races for series like NASCAR, Grand-Am or IndyCar. Sources indicate the move could happen as soon as 2013 – in other words, the racing season after next. Follow the jump for press releases from Audi and BMW on the track debuts of their new racers.

Continue reading DTM steps into new era (and maybe America) as new racers debut at Hockenheim

DTM steps into new era (and maybe America) as new racers debut at Hockenheim

Who’s the best driver in the world? Hard to say when everyone’s driving on different machinery in different series… That’s what the annual Race of Champions is all about.

The year-end event consistently brings a crop of the top talents from around the racing world to one place where they square off against each other on common, yet varied equipment. And this year’s is already shaping up to be one heck of a showdown.

In addition to showboating American hot-shoe Travis Pastrana, the line-up for this year’s event has got champions from all kinds of racing disciplines: newly-crowned DTM champ Martin Tomczyk, his rival and two-time champion Mattias Ekstrom, current WRC title contender Sebastien Ogier, reigning GP2 champ Romain Grosjean, three-time WTCC dominator Andy Priaulx and three of F1’s top talents: reigning two-time champion Sebastian Vettel, his chief rival (and former champion) Jenson Button and seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.

Last year saw the relatively obscure Felipe Albuquerque – who until then had only won races in A1GP and Italy’s Superstars Series – defeat the venerable champions, including Ekstrom who’s won the RoC three times, while Schumacher and Vettel took the Nations’ Cup team category for Germany for the fourth time running. Will this year’s pull a new wild card? Tune in for the race on December 3-4 from the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf to find out.

Race of Champions keeps lining up the talent

You knew it was coming, so don’t act surprised. After a little super Sonic skydive, next came something closer to home. Or at least to Earth. In Long Beach over the weekend, the Chevrolet crew stacked shipping containers ten stories high and then tipped a Sonic over the edge. It landed safely, gently plopping its nose into a wading pool before elasticity took over and hurtled the Sonic back in the air.

This is all part of the “Let’s Do This” and “Game of Firsts” campaigns, and as far as we can tell there remain ten brand new Sonics to be won by a very suspecting public. If you’d rather just watch a Sonic fall 100 feet, however, then there’s a video for you after the jump.

Continue reading Next up for the Chevy Sonic: bungee jumping

Next up for the Chevy Sonic: bungee jumping

Lexus is headed to SEMA in Las Vegas with an arsenal of custom vehicles. A total of nine Lexus products will be in attendance, tuned by the likes of Five Axis, VIP Auto Salon and JT Grey Racing in addition to a line of factory-customized F-Sport offerings.

Five Axis plans to bring along both the CT 200h that the company unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show this year as well as a new GS F Sport project (seen above). The latter vehicle wears a full widebody conversion as well as custom paint, brake hardware from StopTech and a full AirRunner TC-5 air suspension.

VIP Auto Salon, meanwhile, plans to show off a special IS 350C with custom carbon fiber aero work, a Power Enterprise Rotex supercharger kit for a little bit more speed and a TOMS upper shock tower brace.

But we’re most taken with the idea of the Lexus LX 570 by JT Grey Racing. Sadly, there aren’t yet any pictures of that beast, but Lexus says it has been built to be a full-blown off-road racer with 37-inch BF Goodrich Baja TA tires, 17-inch custom wheels, lots of off road lighting and Sparco race seats inside. We’re always fans of airborne luxury SUVs… Read all about each vehicle in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Lexus shows off glut of SEMA hardware

Lexus shows off glut of SEMA hardware

What’s better than a 360-horsepower Audi TT RS? Well, not a whole heck of a lot, as we recently found while test-driving the pint-sized beast on American soil. But how about a TT RS Plus with more power and less weight? Now that’s the ticket.

Rumors pouring in from overseas suggest that Audi is preparing to upgrade the coupe’s 2.5-liter turbo five to 385 horsepower and removing some 130 pounds worth of extra weight – like the rear seats, for a start. Given that the current version already runs the 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, dropping that time into the threes wouldn’t be out of the question.

Of course with the TT RS still making its way to these shores, we wouldn’t hold our breath for the Plus version. One supercar-trouncing super-coupe at a time, right?

Audi developing lighter, more powerful TT RS Plus?