Rowan Atkinson checks in with <i>Top Gear</i>, shows off V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom

Before you get angry at us in the comments, we're using the first line of this post to issue a spoiler alert.

Rowan Atkinson is best known to American audiences as Mr. Bean. He's a hilarious comedian with a lengthy career comprising works on both the silver and small screen. If you weren't already aware, he's also completely infatuated with cars. You've got to be if you wind up putting a McLaren F1 in your garage, and then tack over 37,000 kilometers on the odometer. Recognizing this passion for speed, it's no surprise that Atkinson wound up on the Top Gear guest couch staring down Jeremy Clarkson.

Rowan brought along a prop car from his upcoming film Johnny English Reborn. What appears to be a standard Rolls-Royce Phantom from the outside actually hides a rather large secret under the hood. According to Atkinson, Rolls flirted with the idea of building a 9.0-liter V16-powered Phantom, but ultimately scrapped the idea. Still, the British car maker wound up producing three or four of the mega mills, and Atkinson asked to use one for his new film. The engineers at Rolls obliged, and his Phantom is now a truly exotic luxury coupe.

Rowan wasn't there simply to talk about his movie and the Phantom. He is a star, and the Reasonably Priced Car was on the track waiting for him. How'd he do? Click past the jump to find out.

View the original article here

Audi Urban Concept – Auto Shows

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Audi Urban Concept - Auto ShowsAudi imagines an e-tron for the city.BY DAVID GLUCKMAN
August 2011

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Photos (5)Visit Our Buyer's Guide »AudiNews & Reviews2013 Audi A3 Spy Photos - Future Cars2014 Audi RS7 Spy Photos - Future Cars2012 Audi A6 Hybrid - First Drive Review2012 Audi A6 Avant TDI Diesel - First Drive ReviewHow Audi Hybrids Could Keep the Wankel Rotary Alive - Tech Dept.2012 Audi A5 / S5 - Car News2012 Audi S8 Spy Photos - Future Cars2012 Audi Q3 - First Drive Review2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder - Car News

Audi is to be commended for avoiding the use of the word “mobility” in describing the Frankfurt-bound Urban concept. That oft-employed term has a way of reducing motoring to a means of getting from place to place, something with which the final portion of this publication’s title conflicts. Audi’s latest future-car vision promises to continue to involve the driver in the process, but do it in a smaller, lighter, more maneuverable way. And it’s electric, of course.

Audi bills the Urban concept as “a completely new kind of concept car,” but it brings to mind other hyper-efficient VW pods from the recent past, namely the Up!, as well as the L1 and XL1 “1-Liter” cars. Those and the Messerschmitt KR200.

In this Audi, two passengers sit in a fighter-jet-looking cockpit, complete with a rollback canopy in place of doors. The chassis is made of carbon fiber, into which the seat buckets are molded; the steering wheel and pedals adjust to the driver. The seats are staggered, as in the XL1, to afford a little more shoulder room in the narrow vehicle. Twenty-one inch wheels stick out from the body and are covered by cycle fenders with built-in LEDs.

Unlike the turbo-diesel 1-Liter concepts, the Urban deals in Audi’s not-yet-realized electric promise. The vehicle itself isn’t billed as an e-tron (it doesn’t quite have the stun factor of the early e-tron concepts), but it does employ two electric motors that carry that branding. A lithium-ion battery pack serves as the power supply.

While we like what we hear so far, we haven’t been told too much about this concept. Audi will wait until the Frankfurt show in September to fully unveil the car and share more details. Here’s hoping the “M-word” doesn’t come up at the press conference.

 


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Audi E-Tron Spyder Concept - Auto ShowsBringing you two e-tron firsts: roofless cruising and a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

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Rowan Atkinson checks in with <i>Top Gear</i>, shows off V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom

You are here: Auto News > Video >  Top Gear, shows off V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom">Rowan Atkinson checks in with Top Gear, shows off V16-powered Rolls-Royce Phantom

Before you get angry at us in the comments, we're using the first line of this post to issue a spoiler alert.

Rowan Atkinson is best known to American audiences as Mr. Bean. He's a hilarious comedian with a lengthy career comprising works on both the silver and small screen. If you weren't already aware, he's also completely infatuated with cars. You've got to be if you wind up putting a McLaren F1 in your garage, and then tack over 37,000 kilometers on the odometer. Recognizing this passion for speed, it's no surprise that Atkinson wound up on the Top Gear guest couch staring down Jeremy Clarkson.

Rowan brought along a prop car from his upcoming film Johnny English Reborn. What appears to be a standard Rolls-Royce Phantom from the outside actually hides a rather large secret under the hood. According to Atkinson, Rolls flirted with the idea of building a 9.0-liter V16-powered Phantom, but ultimately scrapped the idea. Still, the British car maker wound up producing three or four of the mega mills, and Atkinson asked to use one for his new film. The engineers at Rolls obliged, and his Phantom is now a truly exotic luxury coupe.

Rowan wasn't there simply to talk about his movie and the Phantom. He is a star, and the Reasonably Priced Car was on the track waiting for him. How'd he do? Click past the jump to find out.

View the original article here

2012 Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows

April 22, 2011 at 5:52pm by Alexander Stoklosa

These sportier Volvos each have 325 reasons to go rather than stop.

For Swedish performance aficionados who remember the Volvo R sedans and wagons from the ’90s and early 2000s, Volvo’s recent R-Design packages left much to be desired. Rather than increase power, those add-ons were being limited to stiffer suspension bits, flashy wheels, and sportier interior and exterior trim. Somewhere a pale yellow 850R wagon may be cracking a smile, though, as Volvo’s upcoming 2012 S60 R-Design and XC60 R-Design mark the return of power upgrades to the Volvo fold.

Keep Reading: 2012 Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows

Tags: 2011 New York auto show, auto shows, luxury, New York Auto Show, Scandinavian, sedan, SUV, turbocharged, Volvo, Volvo R-Design, Volvo S60, Volvo S60 R-Design, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC60 R-Design |

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2012 Kia Soul – Auto Shows

April 21, 2011 at 6:01pm by Steve Siler

Kia strengthens its Soul with more power, improved efficiency, and some new luxury equipment.

Kia’s well-designed, well-equipped, and rather fun Soul has made a lot of friends around here. Now, two years after the boxy hatch’s launch, Kia is showing off a mid-cycle refresh for the 2012 model. Previewed at the 2011 New York auto show, the update includes more content, more power, and a few surprising touches.

Keep Reading: 2012 Kia Soul – Auto Shows

Tags: 2011 New York auto show, auto shows, hatchback, Kia, Kia Soul, Korean, New York Auto Show |

View the original article here

2012 Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows

April 22, 2011 at 5:52pm by Alexander Stoklosa

These sportier Volvos each have 325 reasons to go rather than stop.

For Swedish performance aficionados who remember the Volvo R sedans and wagons from the ’90s and early 2000s, Volvo’s recent R-Design packages left much to be desired. Rather than increase power, those add-ons were being limited to stiffer suspension bits, flashy wheels, and sportier interior and exterior trim. Somewhere a pale yellow 850R wagon may be cracking a smile, though, as Volvo’s upcoming 2012 S60 R-Design and XC60 R-Design mark the return of power upgrades to the Volvo fold.

Keep Reading: 2012 Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows

Tags: 2011 New York auto show, auto shows, luxury, New York Auto Show, Scandinavian, sedan, SUV, turbocharged, Volvo, Volvo R-Design, Volvo S60, Volvo S60 R-Design, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC60 R-Design |

View the original article here