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As we exit the first decade of the 21st century, we thought it best to remind ourselves of some seriously great sounding cars. We've listed (in no particular order of preference) 25 of the best sounding cars to have come out in the past ten years. If we've missed anything, please leave a comment. Enjoy. 1. Audi RS42. Chevrolet Corvette ZR13. Aston Martin V8 Vantage 10. Kia Sportage
Not long ago, the only appealing thing about buying South Korean cars was the fact that they were cheap to buy and run - and that was about it. They were text book point A-B cars. Now though, the argument that South Korean vehicles aren’t desirable no longer holds water. Kia and Hyundai have been on a roll in terms of design, and the Kia Sportage in particular stands out. The Sportage isn’t  Let's face it, Audi have always been rather good at making their cars. Whenever you step into an Audi you get the sense that no expense was spared to make the interior last way after humans have disappeared from planet earth. However, there is a whiff of dull about them, and the driving experience doesn't exactly set your heart racing either. However when it comes to RS and S-badged Audis it's a whole different story. It's the equivalent of the school librarian being a back up dancer in Beyonce's Crazy in love video.
The legendary Nurburgring race track is in danger of closing down. Mismanagement of funds means that the Nurburgring is now in desperate need of financial aid, so much so that Sabine Schmitz - "Queen of the ring" as she's also known - has sent out this message on youtube. Join the group SaveTheRing on facebook and join thousands of fans who want to keep this motorsport treasure alive.  Here it finally is, the very first BMW 1 series to be given the M treatment, the 1 series M coupé. Despite only being the entry level as far as M cars are concerned, the 1 series M coupé does have a lot to live up to, especially after the fact that BMW have released shots of it side by side the original 1980s M3, a suggestion that the 1 series M coupé is its spiritual successor. Impressions from the pictures suggest a thrilling driving experience, what with swollen wheel arches, aggressive looking bumpers, and M3 CSL style rims. Power comes from BMW's new TwinPower turbo 3.0 litre inline 6-cylinder engine producing 340 hp @ 5900 rpm, and a maximum torque of 500 nm (around 368 lb ft) @ 1500-4500 rpm. The torque figure means that it produces more than its V8-engined big brother the M3. Another area where the 1 series M coupé trumps the M3 is in weight. It weighs in at 1495 kg making it around 160 kg lighter than the M3, and 65 kg less than the 135i on which it is based. The 1 series M coupé will be available with a traditional six speed manual transmission. Which combined with the new powerplant will get the M coupé from 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds, while top speed is limited to 155 mph. The average fuel economy figure is 9.6 litres per 100 km while producing 224 grams per kilometre.                   BMW fans are still trying to get around the idea of a turbocharged M car. But with a 340 hp straight six and a revised chassis, BMW promises the new 1 series will be a true M car. Here's a sneak preview.  The Bologna motor show saw the unveiling of Ferrari's 458 Challenge racer. Set to replace the successful F430 Challenge car, the new 458 Challenge will have the same engine as the road-going 458 Italia. That means it comes with a 4.5 litre V8 engine producing 570 hp @ 9000 rpm. The 458 Challenge also gets the same seven speed dual-clutch transmission as the Italia, although the gear ratios and calibration have been modified to ensure availabilty of torque at low engine speeds. The F1-Trac traction control system will also be found in this car, the first time Ferrari has made it available in a Challenge racer. The 458 Challenge will also benefit from being a lot lighter than its road-going counterpart, and will be complemented with a thoroughly modified chassis riding on 19 inch forged rims wrapped around in Pirelli slicks. All these modifications mean that the 458 Challenge can generate upto 1.6G of lateral grip, meaning that it can lap Ferrari's Fiorano race track two seconds quicker than its predecessor. Its 1'16.5" lap time also means that it has set a new record for Fiorano.      Nissan has released new acceleration figures for its 2011 model year GT-R. At a media event held today at the Sendai Hi-Land Raceway in Yokohama, Japan, Nissan announced that after a series of tests the 530 hp GT-R will do 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3 seconds flat.   |
