Enthusiasts always seem to think what they want in a sports car is a mildly detuned race car. They want to be just like the guys on TV: banging around, scraping the pavement, arms thrashing with every bump. These are guys who have never actually spent time in a race car getting beat up, cooked, and otherwise abused while driving. Truth is, real competition cars are built with driver comfort near the bottom of the priority list. What everyday drivers really want is a car with all the flash and raw sensation of pounding around Circuit de la Sarthe, but with all the comfort they have come to expect in their family transport. Audi has gotten a pretty good handle on this desire and has built an R8 to scratch that itch.

It is hard to fill a segment void in the automotive world these days. But even so, there are certain pockets of opportunity that remain untouched. And in the case of Audi and its lineup of go-fast sedans, there are unique tuners like Stasis Engineering that will happily fill them.

Vehicles like the Audi Q7 TDI have done a lot to change the perception that diesel vehicles are crude, stinky, black smoke-spewers, and the company's lone turbodiesel SUV gets even better for 2011. (Sister company Volkswagen has several other diesels in its line, including the Touareg, with the same engine as the Q7.)

It's hard to improve on greatness, so when Stasis Engineering offered us a short drive of its modified Audi R8 Spyder, we were excited and skittish. The last time we debarked from a stock R8 5.2 FSI, we concluded that Audi had improved upon near-perfection. Could Stasis improve the R8 even further, or would its upgrades actually set the car back? We intend to find out.

While Americans still settle for the 200-horspower Audi A3, our counterparts in Europe have had the option of buying its higher-performance stablemate, the S3 for quite some time. While an RS 3 variant has long been rumored, it has never surfaced from the four-ringed factory; that is until now.

By now you should be well aware of Motoren Technik Mayer, the German tuning firm that does for the four rings what Brabus does for the three-pointed star. Our last MTM subject was an Audi A3 tuned to replicate the home-market S3, a tantalizing piece of forbidden fruit on our shores. This one seeks to genetically engineer a fruit that doesn't even grow in Germany -- the RS 5 Cabriolet.

These days, it's seemingly a requirement for any supercar worth its Y-rated rubber to have a limited-edition evil twin. Names like Scuderia, Superleggera, GT3 RS, and ACR-X are all testament to the current demand for no-nonsense road monsters, sacrificing comfort and practicality for purpose and sheer speed. Audi's R8 was billed as an everyday supercar when it was released, and the addition of a V-10 in the latest example hasn't done anything to change that impression. But such a reputation is a double-edged sword, with some dismissing the mid-engined Audi as too soft, or without soul.

Audi's elegant and aluminum-intensive A8 has always been a solid player in the luxury-car market, but seldom has it been a sales dazzler. For reasons real or imagined, it has, in the eyes of many, taken a back seat to category juggernauts such as the 7 Series and the seminal S-Class. Audi is now out with a virtually new player in the cabin-cruiser class, and it's a fine one.

Attired in sport coats, faces twisted into the same, pathetic "we're players" expressions assumed by all male humans when prowling the Las Vegas Strip, the three of us cut through the bustling, AAA Five Diamond-winning Bellagio hotel and casino and grab a table in the Petrossian Lounge, the sort of gilded neo-classical haven where a man can kick back after a long, hard afternoon driving 500-horsepower, air-conditioned supercars and soothe his aching fingertips with an icy cocktail and the warm view of a hostess who probably moonlights as Heidi Klum. "I'm driving the Gullwing first tomorrow," says Ed Loh, leaning back, libation in hand. "I need seat time to decide whether the V-8 sounds more like the engine room of the USS Nimitz, or KISS playing Wagner during a thunderstorm."

Tiny bits of gravel crunch and pop under our tires as we roll across a hard-packed dirt path, just outside of Ingolstadt. Traffic is bad, really bad; a midweek holiday and long weekend have conspired to pack Germany's usually efficient autobahn tighter than an Oktoberfest biergarten. So we're taking backroads on the return to Munich, which doesn't really explain why we're on a mostly deserted bike path -- or what happens next.

For the privileged few with the means, a private jet is arguably the ultimate luxury accessory, capable of whisking you anywhere in the world quickly and comfortably. With its new 2011 Audi A8 L, which is landing at next week's 2010 Beijing auto show, Audi is doing its best Gulfstream imitation. No, it won't go 500 mph, but Audi's lengthy new sedan -- especially the coming W-12 version -- should fly on the interstates and get the other half where they need to go in high style.

You've likely seen the guy in the local haberdashery holding a blue necktie in one hand and a red tie in the other. He squints to assess the paisleys on one, eyeballs the dancing circus elephants on the other, then sweeps back and forth between the two. (In the background, the salesman slowly disappears under a web of spider silk.) Finally, after a half-hour, it does indeed come down to a tie: "Can't make up my mind," says the shopper. "Guess I'll just take 'em both."

The guy undoubtedly drives one of the cars you see here.

The sport package. And those sexy LED daytime running lights. That's why you buy an Audi A3 over a run-of-the-mill compact sedan or hatchback. Balance is why you buy an A3 TDI diesel over a hybrid.

Audi launched its all-new 2011 Audi A8 at the Fountainbleu Hotel in Miami Beach, where the automaker is a major sponsor of Art Basel December 3-9, the sister event of a show in Switzerland. Actress Lucy Liu emceed the gala.

2008 Aprilia SXV 4.5-5.5

Born on the race track, the Aprilia SXV is the supermotard that breaks all the rules it doesn’t agree with. It first proved it with the help of its V-twin engine, and now it does it again by taking the levels of performance and handling even higher.

2008 Aprilia Tuono 1000 R

Aprilia had the wonderful idea of inspiring their biggest naked motorcycle, the Tuono 1000 R, on their superbike master, the RSV 1000 R. It resulted in the most powerful and aggressive naked motorcycle of all times, one which not only leads the class, but determines other manufacturers to put their hands on a pencil and take a few notes.

For those of you who like to spend time in the dirt, Kawasaki has improved the KFX 450R for the 2012 model year with a lightweight aluminum frame, long lower front A-arm suspension, and a fully adjustable rear shock. The ATV is on sale at a price of $8,099 and Kawasaki is offering the possibility to further customize the bike with a full line of Authentic Kawasaki Accessories.

There are only two reasons Audi's new A5 Sportback won't be seen in U.S. showrooms shortly after production begins in September. The first is the brand's apparently unshakeable belief that Americans don't like and won't buy premium hatchbacks, no matter how sleekly seductive. "This concept is designed for Europe," shrugged Audi executives at the A5 Sportback launch in Italy this week.

Before the Audi R8, it would have been a long shot for Audi to be invited behind the velvet rope of any VIP party for modern sports car makers. But now everyone knows Audi can build a Porsche 911 rival.

When it was released in 2007, the Audi R8 became an instant sensation. But seemingly before the car even turned a wheel the inevitable follow-up question was asked: when is the more-powerful variant coming? After all, Porsche is never content with just a base 911 and with comparisons aplenty between the Stuttgart legend and upstart rookie from Ingolstadt, it was obvious Audi would eventually up its R8 game.

The revised 2009 Audi A4 sedan and wagon have been around for several months now, but there has been no word on the convertible receiving the same treatment. There's a reason for that: After 2009, the A4 Cabriolet is dead. In its place will be the new 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet, a logical move given that it's easier to convert a coupe into a drop-top than a sedan.

Featuring fresh lines, an improved cabin, and a new 3.2L, 265-hp V-6 under the hood (an updated 2.0L turbo-four is available, too), the all-new 2009 Audi A4 reaches 62 mph in an estimated 6.2 sec, just a couple of ticks slower than a BMW 335i with an automatic transmission. But A4 shoppers looking for a little something extra have no doubt skipped the regular model to wait for Audi's newest go-fast A4 variant, the 2010 Audi S4.

Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez used to be the head of R&D at Porsche. The Porsche 993, still regarded as the best of the air-cooled 911s, was developed on his watch, so you could say he knows a thing or two about sports cars. Never one to doubt the veracity of his view of the world, Bez left Porsche after clashes with senior management, most notably over the stillborn four-door 989, and spent several years in the wilderness at Daewoo.

 

To Sunbelt residents, all-wheel drive is essentially useless. It presents little more than a complex mixture of driveshafts and differentials that bleed energy from the drivetrain. The safety net it provides comes with a cost, straining wallet and gas pedal. And since 2007, it has been the only choice for the Acura RDX. This year, along with a host of other upgrades, Acura's adding to the model line a front-drive RDX, which, in an oddly Colin Chapman-esque move, offers less, but gives more.

Unsaddled by Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, the front-drive RDX is more fuel efficient, faster, and less expensive. It's not decontented, mind you: Standard goodies new for 2010 include a rearview camera, electronic compass, auto-headlights, ambient footwell lighting, USB-connectivity, and Bluetooth with audio capabilities.

 

We got our first taste of Aston Martin's N cars back in 2007 with the introduction of the N400, a V-8 Vantage that was slightly modified for a more spirited driving experience. Aston Martin has done it again with the introduction of its new N420.

Let's say Acura does as well as the premium wagon market leader, and 10 percent of its 2011 TSX sales are of its new 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, which is making its debut at the 2010 New York auto show. That's little more than 3,000 units per year in the U.S., figuring that TSX sales next year will be closer to 2008's 32,000 than '09's 28,650. In many cities, chances are you'll go months after launch without seeing one.

The 2011 Aston Martin DBS is a unique machine. It's not quite a pure exotic, and it's not quite a pure luxury car. It's a hybrid of the two -- a luxotic, if you will. And, aside from a few quibbles, the DBS pulls it off.

No two ways around it, the revamped 2009 Acura TSX is a larger, heavier car than the version it replaces. Sure, the suspension wizards tinkered around with anti-roll bars, increased the track width, fitted some trick new dual-mode dampers, and shifted the roll center to keep the new TSX feeling as composed as its lighter, nimbler forbearer. Even the drivetrain techies got involved, bumping the 2.4L four-banger's compression ratio, improving its breathing for a small increase in torque (8 lb-ft to 172), and shortening the gear ratios in the manual-equipped car to prevent acceleration times from slipping.

Whatever you think of the new Acura TL's er, unusual styling, you've got to hand it to the boffins working on the car -- they're enthusiasts. Most luxury brands can boast no better than a low single-digit manual gearbox take-rate. Acura is one of those: It expects about 5% of its projected 70,000 TL sales per year, or 3500, to be sold with the stick. That's enough for those Acura boffins to argue for it, coming a year after the new TL's launch, due to the car's engineering development cadence. Honda management figured the stick might as well be scrubbed, however, and management still has 10-12 months to pull the plug if it so decides.

Looks like Toyota and Gazoo Racing will be bringing more than just the Lexus LF-A to the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race this week. In a surprising announcement, the Japanese automaker will also bring their new mid-engine convertible hybrid concept to Nurburgring, which they’ve christened as the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II.

We don’t know if German tuner, Magnat, is just really late or really early, but they have just revealed a new tuning package for the Porsche GT3 called "Snowmobile." Yeah, it’s a tuning package called ’Snowmobile’ and they revealed it at the start of Summer. Luckily, the only thing the vehicle has in common with snow is its snow white exterior paint job, and maybe the snow bunny strategically placed on the side. Other than that, Magnat has provided the Porsche GT3 with a boost in power and first class Hi-Fi equipment.

Now that Mini has released the official details on their new Coupe model, the ball has been set in motion for the release of the production version of the Roadster Concept as was laid out by MINI Vice President Jim McDowell last year. McDowell’s timeline projected the Coupe’s debut just six months after the Countryman, with the Roadster following six months after that. The Mini Coupe is all set for its day in the spotlight at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, leaving the Roadster to bode well at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Sales for the Mini Roadster will begin immediately following its release with prices coming in at about $2-3K higher than the Coupe, or roughly $25,000 for a base Roadster.

The Evo-loving world was in shambles after Mitsubishi Global Product Director, Gayu Eusegi, announced that the company would be killing off the all-wheel-drive turbocharged Lancer Evolution. The Evo is one of the best models Mitsubishi has ever offered and fans everywhere were shocked that the company would take such extreme measures.

Hennessey Performance have revealed the official details on the Venom GT supercar. Based on a Lotus Elise, their kit will be limited to only five units, four of which have already being spoken for.

The Venom GT is powered by a supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 V8 engine, same used in the Corvette ZR1, that delivers a total of 725 bhp. And if this is not enough, the tuner will also be offering 1000 bhp and 1200 bhp twin turbo V8 engine variants. With a curb weight of 2,685 lbs, the 1200 HP Venom GT will hit a top speed of 275 mph.

Jaguar’s long rumored XE model is finally making its way towards production as confirmed with the newest spy shots of the small roadster. First thought to be dropped due to struggling sales, the XE project has been seen spot testing with almost zero camouflage, and we like what we see.

How long has it been since MINI first unveiled the John Cooper Works Coupe? Yeah, it was only a few days ago, but that hasn’t stopped the German automaker from making a race-spec version of their latest pride and joy to compete at the "SP 3T" class of the 2011 24 Hours of Nurburgring.

The automotive and fashion world collide quite a bit to make some of the coolest, albeit expensive, vehicles for the uber elite. The latest collaboration between the two is Aston Martin’s "Cygnet & colette" model built in conjunction with Parisian fashion authority, colette. The special edition will only be built in a limited run of 14units, each hand-crafted via the company’s ultimate personalization service. The price? A staggering €48,995 ($69,325 at the current rates) compared to the £30,995 ($43,856 at the current rates) of the standard Cygnet. Something tells us the extremely limited number was a good idea.

Now that the 2011 installment of the legendary 24 Hours of Nurburgring is upon us, participating automakers are slowly coming out of the woodwork with the presentation of their endurance race cars.

For their part, Volkswagen has developed a high-powered race-spec version of one of its most popular models. Called the Golf24, Volkswagen’s entry to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring will be a four-wheel drive and will carry a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 440 horsepower and 398 lb/ft of torque mated to a sequential six-speed transmission with paddle shifters.

BMW chose the M Night event in the lead-up to the Nürburgring 24-hour race to debut the sedan version of the BMW M3 GTS. The new model is called the M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technology) and debuts the new production process for CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) components. It will be limited to only 67 units, each priced at 130,000 euro - or about $185,000 at the current exchange rates.

For a car that took a few years to develop, you would think that Noble would take to great lengths in hyping the hotly-anticipated production debut of their new supercar, the M600.

Instead, it was about as low-key as it could get. On one hand, we weren’t surprised considering that the company isn’t particularly known for bombastic and glitzy unveilings. On the other hand, you would think that a car of this stature should have had its own stage, a chance for the world to see the final product of Noble’s hard work and dedication.

McLaren’s response to Ferrari’s 458 Italia Spyder is well on its way, thanks to the success achieved by the MP4-12C coupe. The new MP4-12C Spyder was confirmed back in 2009 and should be arriving within the next year if it plans to tackle Ferrari’s drop top. When it does arrive, expect the new model to be priced at a few thousand more than the $230K coupe.

Ohio-based tuning specialist, Switzer Performance, is fast making a name for itself in the aftermarket industry, having created a growing number of projects that include the Nissan GT-R E900 and the Porsche 911 GT2.

It was only a month ago that Kahn Design unveiled the TR8 - an Audi TT inspired by the R8 sports car. Now the tuner is releasing another package called the TT GT that promises a more powerful driving experience. It still involves an Audi TT dressed up like an R8, but this time the tuner focused on replicating the R8 GT.

Lexus struck it big with the Royal Wedding when it was announced that Prince Albert of Monaco would be riding in an LS 600H for the royal affair. The experience must have been exquisite for the Prince because Lexus has created a Landaulet version of the hybrid for him to ride in with his future wife, Miss Charlene Wittstock, during their very own wedding.

Usually when a new car is released, tuning companies are just foaming at the mouth to create a tuning package that will transform the look of the vehicle. This time, Bentley has beaten the tuning firms to the punch by releasing a brand new feature created especially for the Continental GT. The "Mulliner Styling Specification" was created by Raul Pires, Head of Exterior Design at Bentley, to give customers the opportunity to fit their luxury coupe with a range of exterior styling options.

Now, we know we have already seen two concepts- FT-86 and FT-86 II - for this vehicle, but will have to endure one more as Toyota has brought us yet another FT-86 concept. This time it has been revealed at the New York Auto Show under the Scion badge and it won’t go into production until Toyota finally brings their production version later this year at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Scion FR-S Concept is a preview version of a new model coming to the Scion brand next year.

Kahn Design has a thing for sticking to certain models until they have provided a number of solutions to the standard look. Their focus is usually on improving the overall look for the exterior and interior of the vehicle and we can’t think of a time when this British tuning firm has failed us.

For the past eight years, Audi has created a special model to be auctioned off at the EJAF White Tie & Tiara Ball. Last year, Elton John’s charity was able to pull in £350,000 (about $522,500 at the current rates) by auctioning off the pink Audi A1 designed by renowned British artist Damien Hirst. This year, Audi doubled its efforts by providing not one, but two one-off chromed R8 Spyders for the auction, one from Audi Group Germany and one from Audi UK. In total, the two cars were auctioned off for an impressive £620,000 - or almost $1 million at the current exchange rates.

Volkswagen’s predicted domination of the automotive world just launched its next attack with three production versions of the Volkswagen Bluesport concept. According to Volkswagen, the BlueSport will see three different levels of performance illustrated in three different badges: Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. It can go without saying that the Porsche model will be the most powerful and, up until now, it was just known as the "baby Boxster." Well, that baby Boxster has finally been named. Say hello to the future Porsche 550.

Seeing as its home to one of the world’s biggest automakers, it goes without saying that the Japanese have a deep understanding of their cars. And yes, that includes American muscles.

So it really isn’t all that surprising to find out that Ford is unveiling a special edition Mustang exclusively for citizens of the Rising Sun.