Lucro da Volkwagen cai 86% no 3º trimestre, para US$ 253,7 milhões

O Estado de S. Paulo/Agência Estado/Dow Jones

A alemã Volkswagen AG informou nesta quinta-feira, 29, que seu lucro líquido no terceiro trimestre caiu 86% em relação a igual período do ano passado, para 172 milhões de euros (US$ 253,7 milhões), prejudicado pela desaceleração no mercado de automóveis. A maior montadora da Europa em vendas reiterou que a receita e as vendas de veículos este ano devem ser menores que em 2008, mas ainda espera ganhar fatia de mercado durante a crise e registrar lucro no ano.

A empresa tem tido desempenho melhor que as concorrentes no atual momento de desaceleração da indústria, graças principalmente à ampla presença em mercados dinâmicos como China e Brasil e à exposição relativamente baixa ao mercado norte-americano.

“O Grupo Volkswagen Group está se mantendo extremamente bem apesar das condições adversas”, disse o executivo-chefe, Martin Winterkorn, em comunicado. “Ao mesmo tempo, a tendência na indústria automotiva significa que não há motivo para otimismo prematuro. O clima para negócios continua difícil”, acrescentou.

A Volkswagen foi uma das grandes beneficiárias dos programas estatais de incentivo à troca de carros em muitos mercados, incluindo na Alemanha, que elevaram a demanda por seus carros compactos.

O lucro operacional caiu 81% no terceiro trimestre frente a igual período do ano passado, para 278 milhões de euros (US$ 410,05 milhões). A receita diminuiu 10%, para 26 bilhões de euros (US$ 38,35 bilhões), com contração de 8,9% nas vendas de veículos, para 1,67 milhão de carros e caminhões.

A marca Audi continua sendo a que mais contribui para o lucro do grupo nos primeiros nove meses do ano, com um lucro operacional no período de 1,17 bilhão de euros, comparado a 2,06 bilhões de euros em igual intervalo de 2008.

Fonte:O Estado de S. Paulo/Agência Estado/Dow Jones/Nathália Ferreira | www.estadao.com.br

Autonomous Robotic Race Car (Race car with no driver)

Stanford University’s robotics lab has built autonomous cars for several years. Recently, it established a land speed record for a robot car — 140 mph in an Audi TT-S nicknamed “Shelly”. But their next goal is even more ambitious: to have Shelly race the twisted dirt road that leads up to Pike’s Peak. Chris Dannen writes in Fast Company about the changes that allow the car to safely navigate sharper turns at higher speeds:

The new autonomous TT-S is markedly different from Junior, however. Junior was environmentally-aware; it had cameras that could see objects and road features, and it paired that data with GPS data. All that processing required two on-board Linux computers running quad-core Pentium chips and programmed in C and C++.

The new TT-S, unofficially dubbed “Shelly,” uses a different system. It has no cameras, only GPS, and a smaller, less powerful computing box running Sun’s Java Real Time System running on Solaris. Why? Despite Junior’s speedy processors, it still takes the car between 20-50 milliseconds to react to inputs from its sensory equipment. Because the TT-S “Shelly” is traveling at much higher speeds–the team has pushed it over 140 mph–even 20 milliseconds is too much of a delay.

You can view more videos of the project at the link.

via Neatorama

[READ MORE]

Recent Reviews of Our Vehicles

Outlander Reviews

KBB names Outlander one of the “Top 10 Tailgating Cars in America”.

Lancer Sportback Reviews

Saskatoon [CAN] Star Phoenix 9/4/2009
“The Sportback performed flawlessly.  Doing the day-to-day things is a lot easier when the vehicle is suited to the task, and the Sportback rose to the occasion every time.”
“Working the transmission was considerably more fun than just leaving it in drive. Mitsubishi has chosen to have actual gear ratio “steps” in its CVT transmission. This means that when you give a tug on the paddle shifter, you can actually feel a gear change.”

Weekly Voice [CAN] 9/5/2009
“Thanks to its extra-roofline, there is much more space for you to haul your stuff in. So if you have baby strollers to lug around, this would come in handy.”
“The ride is quite plush, think of it as a mini Cadillac and you’ll get the idea.”

Carconnection.com 8/7/2009
“The Sportback appears a bit roomier than the Subaru Impreza WRX in the cargo area….Also of note is that the hatch opens down all the way to the bumper, for especially easy loading.”
“No manual transmission is offered on the Ralliart Sportback as of yet, but the Twin Clutch gearbox remains a favorite of TheCarConnection.com, pulling off quicker shifts under power than almost any skilled driver would be capable of, while not bringing the fuel-economy penalty in real-world driving that often accompanies traditional automatics.”
“Overall, there’s a lot to love in the Sportback’s package, including a lot more practicality without a significant difference in the driving experience versus the sedan.”
“The Ralliart trumps the WRX in steering feel.”

Lancer Ralliart Review

Autocraze.com 8/28/2009
“Has loads of power, handling is great, has a dual-clutch transmission and an AWD system that offers some of the finest rallying experiences.”
“Offers an experience like no other machine in its range.”
“Mitsu has gone absolutely bonkers on this one, trying to make one of the best rally cars available to the common man.”
“I have no qualms about the Ralliart. It just has so much to offer. This is the perfect machine to tackle down winding corners on the highest mountains without the fear of falling of the cliff.”

CNET 8/20/2009
“With its dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel-drive system, the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart delivers exciting performance on twisty roads.”
“An excellent car for weekend sport driving.”
“The Lancer Ralliart squeezes power out of a 2-liter four-cylinder engine through the use of a turbocharger and variable valve timing, then puts it to the wheels that need it most with its advanced all-wheel-drive system. The result is some of the most impressive cornering performance on the most difficult roads we’ve found.”

Carconnection.com 8/8/2009
“Mitsubishi detunes the Evolution’s engine but at the same time makes it more drivable for most everyday users in the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. The results are impressive.”
“The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart might be the new king of the budget thrill rides.”
“The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart’s body is as sound as they come.”

Examiner 8/4/2009
“The Ralliart bridges the gap between the fun Lancer GTS and the awe-inspiring Evo by taking the best points of each and placing them in a balanced, affordable package.”
“Driving the Ralliart is a joy…perfect for a brisk drive down a winding country road….The Ralliart moves sinuously through curves – not as flat as the Evo, but definitely a true sports car.”
“Subaru’s latest interpretation of the Impreza line has met with lukewarm support from the press and enthusiast community, so Mitsubishi is poised to capitalize on that weakness with the Ralliart.”
“The bottom line on the Lancer Ralliart is that Mitsubishi has hit that same sweet spot formerly occupied by the Porsche 356SC and the Ferrari GT Berlinetta Lusso. Those are the cars Ferry Porsche and Enzo Ferrari chose to be their own daily drivers. Why not choose a Lancer Ralliart for yours?”

Eclipse Spyder Review

London [ONT} Free Press 9/4/2009
“I’m a sucker for this car, which I still think is one of the prettiest on the planet.”
“The GT-P gets a new dual exhaust, which not only produces a great sound but unleashes a few more horses from the 3.8-litre V6.”
“The top folds down into its own dedicated compartment, hidden from sight by a hard tonneau cover. That means the top and its mechanism don’t intrude into the trunk, which is a useful 147 litres – a bonus in a car this type.”

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'Nuff said

Simplicity seems to be a theme on here lately, and I’m cool with that. Everybody can benefit from some more of less. It’s often easy to try and over-sell ideas. To overdevelop and over-complicate. So amongst the hoards of emails with ‘cooool ads’ that people you know outside of advertising send you, these were refreshingly simple. The McDonalds one below is a particular favourite. Ticks all the D&AD boxes:

A simple solution from Sharp:

And a simple piece of reactive outdoor:

Blogroman: 19 - Diskussionen

Die Frau verwirrte ihn. Nicht viel weniger als es Boss getan hatte. Konnte er ihr vertrauen? Und musste er es überhaupt? Durfte man einer Frau vertrauen, die sich gerade an einem fremden Auto zu schaffen machte?
“Also, wo wohnt ihre Ex?” Sie hatte die Tür geöffnet. Wenige Sekunden waren verstrichen. Schon saß sie auf dem Fahrersitz und entriegelte auch die Beifahrertür.
Tom blieb bei der Fahrertür stehen, trat von einem Fuß auf den anderen und rieb sich die Handgelenke, in denen noch der Schmerz der Fesseln gespeichert war. Er beobachtete, wie sich seine Befreierin nach vorn beugte, eine Klappe unter dem Armaturenbrett öffnete und in den Drähten wühlte. “Warum wollen Sie das wissen?”
Ihre Stimme klang etwas gedämpft unter dem Sportlenkrad des Audis hervor: “Weil die Frau in großer Gefahr schwebt. Wenn wir ihr noch helfen wollen, sollten wir uns beeilen.”
Das klang nicht nur logisch, es entsprach auch dem, was er längst befürchtet hatte. Dennoch blieb er stehen. “Wer sind Sie eigentlich?”
“Mona. Das muss reichen.” Ihre Stimme war noch immer gedämpft. Dennoch hörte er deutlich den genervten Unterton. Der Motor sprang an und Monas roter Haarschopf tauchte wieder auf. Noch einmal deutete sie auf den freien Platz neben sich, ärgerlich, mit einem Funkeln in den grünen Augen.
“Haben Sie Piet getötet?”
“Sollte ich mit ihm ein Kaffekränzchen abhalten?” Ihr Blick fing Toms unruhig wandernden Augen ein und hielt sie fest. Ganz langsam sagte sie: “Ich stehe nicht sonderlich auf langwierige Diskussionen!”
“Rote Gasse 5.”

Was bisher geschah

da un'auto: � in fin di vita

una mamma commento inviato il 11-09-2009 alle 11:54 da KATE per silentarrow;tutto il mondo è paese ma anche quì in Canada (orientale) stà cambiando,specie con i nuovi immigrati sopratutto europei e giovani non è più come una volta,quando attraverso sulle pedonali mica è scontato si fermino subito anche se dovrebbero……e che dire di quell’automobilista che oggi è stato condannato a 20 anni per omicidio colposo mentre guidava ubriaco per la 19ma volta’O di quel poliziotto beccato ubriaco (fuori servizio per fortuna)’Molti hit e run anche quì comunque…..

commento inviato il 11-09-2009 alle 04:18 da flavio semaforo io abito nelle vicinanze di quel passaggio e mi sono sempre posto il problema che possono avere i pedoni e i ciclisti ad attraversare quel tratto di strada, constatando che si trova in un rettilineo e li arrivano tutti ad alta velocita anche se c’e il limite di 30, io propongo hai politici se mi leggono di mettere un semaforo con rilivamento di velocita il quale se e’ superata compare il rosso

inoltre anche con chiamata per attraversare.

commento inviato il 10-09-2009 alle 20:55 da nestor attraversamenti pedonali Qui da noi (nel Canada occidentale) e’ abitudine rallentare in prossimita’ degli attraversamenti pedonali e appena il pedone si affaccia alla strada, i veicoli in entrami i sensi di marcia si fermano e non ripartono fino a quando la persona ha finito di attraversare.

Ferma restando la piena libertà di ognuno di esprimere la propria opinione su fatti che possano interessare la collettività o sugli argomenti specifici da noi proposti, i contributi non dovranno in alcun caso essere in contrasto con norme di legge, con la morale corrente e con il buon gusto.

Fonte: www.gazzettino.it

Review - 2009 Audi TT-S

The Good: Sweet-shifting transmission, stellar handling, looks like a roadster should.

The Bad: Turbo lag kind of a bummer, flatulent exhaust can be grating.

The Verdict: Convertible fun in a balanced package.

While automotive journalists and racing drivers alike often extol the virtues of closed-roof sports cars, there is simply no substitute for the experience of a convertible. Sure, chopping the roof may give up some structural integrity and motorized tops may add weight, but no amount of lightness or strength can replace the feeling of racing along with the wind in your hair, nothing between you and the sky. For most of us, driving a convertible is as close as we’ll ever come to flying.

That said, the Audi TT-S Roadster is a wonderful substitute for a jetpack.

Thankfully, little of the TT coupe’s clean, elegant styling is lost in the transformation from hardtop to softtop. The styling modifications baked in with the high-performance S package thankfully avoid the gaudiness all too often associated with “sportier” models; if anything, the front lip spoiler and raised wheel arches draw a strong link to Audi’s outstanding R8 supercar. And while “Brilliant Red” might not be the best choice for every car, it sat on the TT-S’s hull like the car was born to wear it. Put it this way – pull up in this car at a party, and you won’t have any trouble snaring some ass. And I don’t mean farm animals. (Unless that’s how you roll.)

The car’s expensive looks and feel are all the more impressive, given that under the skin, the TT-S is little more than a Volkswagen Rabbit (nee Golf), sharing its chassis (hence the car’s rather diminutive size) and engines – in the case of the TT-S, an uprated version of the GTI’s 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-four cranking out 265 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

All this juice is routed to all four wheels through the Volkswagen Group’s dual-clutch gearbox, formerly known as DSG but currently called S tronic. Whatever you call it, the dual-clutch box operates almost seamlessly. As with the dual clutch tranny of the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, the TT-S’s gearbox offers multiple ways of choosing your next gear.

Leave it in automatic, and it’ll shift itself without a second thought. Slap the shift lever sideways into Sport mode, and the car assumes you’re trying to recreate Ronin, holding gears close to the redline to keep the engine on the boil. And if you prefer manual override, you can pick your own gears using either the lever or the small metal paddles affixed to the back of the wheel, which feel great but can be hard to find during turns. In automatic mode or under hard acceleration, it snaps off shifts like rifle fire; driving sedately in manual mode, there can be a pause between toggling the shift paddle and the desired effect, but the gap is short enough to effectively be a non-issue.

Slightly more annoying than the transmission’s quirks is the tendency of the quite exhaust pipes to burp quite loudly on every upshift. While it certainly adds a welcomed sense of fuck yeah! during hard-charging acceleration, it can grow a little tiresome while tooling around town. A system that restricts the belching to hard-core acceleration would certainly be appreciated.

Still, there’s little to complain about in regards to the car’s performance. Acceleration runs towards the back of the sport roadster class – not surprising, as the TT-S is quite a bit less powerful than competitors like the Porsche Boxster S, the awkwardly named BMW Z4 sDrive35i, or even the Chevrolet Corvette convertible. However, unless you’ve got the car’s competitors at hand for direct comparison, you’ll only be disappointed with the TT-S’s acceleration if you’re trading down from a Ferrari.

To access that power, though, you’ll have to punch through some turbo lag early on. Below 3000 rpm, the four-cylinder feels a touch anemic; once past that point, though, things stay interesting all the way up to the redline. Still, driving around New York City, I often found myself dropping a gear in order to keep up with traffic. (Then again, if all you need to deal with traffic in New York is a downshift, consider yourself lucky. I usually need something in a 12-gauge Remington.)

Plus, when the roads start winding, the Audi grabs hold like an angry cat on carpet. Compact car or not, the Rabbit/Golf’s capable handling has often been celebrated, and the lowered ride height and AWD of the Audi only add to it. Should you desire, you can turn cloverleafs into G-force simulators with relative ease (but make sure your soda lid is screwed on tight).

Unfortunately, all that performance makes for quite a bit of temptation, and even if you’re lucky enough to avoid speeding tickets (good luck with that), playing with this Audi can cost you at the pump. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 21 city/29 highway; however, achieving the higher figure likely requires driving with the top up at 55 miles per hour, and if you’re driving your TT-S like that, you should just pull over and give the car to the nearest teenager. My tester’s low fuel light popped on after just 330 miles.

Inside, the TT-S boasts the same sort of quality seen all along the Audi line. You sit low in the car, with the high doors creating a mild case of “bathtub effect.” In keeping with the nature of the car, sporty touches abound, from the snug seats to the metallic finish on the shift lever and paddles and the thick, flat-bottomed steering wheel similar to the one in the Lamborghini Gallardo. (Lamborghini, like Audi, is owned by the Volkswagen Group – along with Bentley, Bugatti, and a host of European carmakers American audiences have probably never heard of.)

Of course, no matter how committed you are to soaking up the sun – or in the case of Irish people like myself, risking melanoma – eventually some sort of event will occur (thunderstorm, hole in the ozone layer, Mothman attack) that will cause you to raise the top. Thankfully, the TT-S makes it easy; press and hold one button, and the top will rise or fall as you desire, even while driving at low speeds. While power hard tops have come into vogue in the last several years, the TT-S doesn’t suffer for choosing canvas over metal; the top boasts a glass rear window, feels nearly as strong as a hard one, and was just as effective at keeping warmth in and noise out.

The Bottom Line: From its humble roots in the Volkswagen family, the TT-S has grown into a genuine sports car. While it may lack the mid-mounted engines or hefty V-8s of other roadsters, the little Audi still kicks ass and takes names while making you feel like an action hero. Sure, it’s not the perfect convertible for everyone – there are faster roadsters, more convenient roadsters, flashier roadsters and cheaper roadsters – but the TT-S strikes a nice balance between value, size and style. Lay your eyes on one, and it’s hard to look away; drop the top, crank up your favorite Foo Fighters song and floor it through a couple of gears, and you’ll be hooked.

All figures are for 2010 models; the car is effectively unchanged from 2009.

Base Price/Price As Tested: $54,950/$54,950

0-60: 5.1 seconds (courtesy Car and Driver)

EPA Fuel Economy: 21 city/29 highway

Key Competitors: BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Porsche Boxster S, Mercedes-Benz SLK350, Chevrolet Corvette.

Notícia: Motorista tem vergonha do seu Audi.

E depois você diz que viu de tudo nessa vida...

Pode acreditar. Não é montagem (virtual). O dono desse Audi R8 resolveu batizá-lo como um BMW. Segundo o blog francês Autoboost, o sujeito colocou, além da insígnia dianteira, o logo da BMW 850i na traseira. Talvez seja uma forma criativa e bizarra de fazer alusão e um trocadilho a uma possível Série 8.

Colocar as quatro argolas num Passat 78 TS eu até entendo. Agora, substituí-las pelo escudo de Munique… num R8… Deus sabe lá onde esse mundo vai parar…

AUDI LAUNCH SHOW

Last night was a right old showbizz event with the Launch Party of the brand new Audi Showroom in West London. The biggest showroom in the World, seriously I think it had 5 floors including 2 under sea level. It was amazing. The floors were divided with colours, black cars on the first floor, red on the second and white on the third, the other two floors are a car park and a MOT garage which is mind blowing. It was also the first time the new R8 Convertable was on show to the public.

Lemar was there, I met him for the 2nd time and he informs me that an album is due next year. He got on stage and performed with The Feeling, was massive!

Beverley Knight also jumped on stage to perform with The Feeling as well. Her voice blew me away.

The best part of the evening, aside from the food was meeting one of my idol’s – James Corden from Gavin & Stacey, such a nice dude!

Gordon Ramsay was also in the place along with too many Footballers, a few F1 drivers PLUS Nick Ferrari from LBC – top guy, we had a good chat and he gave me some good advive.

Kit Xenon para Audi A3 8P (+2003)

Well-Done mostra kit Xenon exclusivos para o Audi A38P.

Toda a gente sabe que o novo Audi A3 é um modelo muito delicado quando montar luzes xenon.

Há centenas de casos de motores mais limpos danificado após a instalação de kits de xenon convencional.

Audi é consciente do problema e não cobre a reparação sob garantia, o cliente tem de pagar entre 400 € e 700 € para reparação.

Portanto Well-Done trabalharam para desenvolver uma nova equipe que iria resolver o problema discutido acima.

Verificou-se que a alta voltagem utilizada por equipes para a luz de xenon lâmpadas causaram interferência no motor do limpador dianteiro deixando-o totalmente inutilizado dentro de algumas horas de uso de luzes.

Seguindo o desenvolvimento da equipe passou a realizar testes adequados para garantir que após a instalação do kit xenon carro sofrer qualquer avaria do limpa.

As primeiras unidades começaram a montar em 2008 e após vários meses de testes começou a vender oficialmente.

Até agora foram vendidos centenas de unidades sem 1 único caso de reparação de motores limpos.

Well-Done é o único fabricante que garante o bom funcionamento de seu computador na A38P Audi.

O novo equipamento não só previne a falha do motor do limpador, mas graças ao seu novo design é muito mais fácil de instalar.

Ao contrário dos kits xenon convencional pode ser montado de equipamentos sem furar ou modificar qualquer peça original. Bombilla y balastro quedan completamente integrados en el faro original y resulta totalmente invisible desde fuera del faro.

Kit Xenon A38P

Link al producto

Vantagens:
- Ele não quebra motor limpo
- Fácil instalação
- Não é necessário furar o farol
- A equipe pode estar dentro do farol
- Totalmente invisível e indetectável
- Não há interferência de rádio / ABS / ESP

Resultado tras la instalación:

Xenon izquierda VS halógenas derecha

Xenon Well-Done + Angel Eyes LED

halógenas + Angel Eyes LED

Kit Xenon Well-Done A3 8P + Angel Eyes

Xenon cruce VS halógena carretera

Otras:

COMPARATIVO XENON – HALÓGENA

Audifahrer gesucht

Herzogenrath

Nach einem Verkehrsunfall am vergangenen Freitag (02.10.2009) , bei dem ein Motorradfahrer verletzt wurde, sucht die Polizei nun den Fahrer eines älteren goldfarbenen Audis.

Auf der Willibrordstraße hatte der 18-jährige Biker gegen 14:20 Uhr den Audifahrer gerade überholen wollen, als dieser unverhofft ausscherte. Der 18-Jährige hatte zwar noch bremsen können,
stürzte aber. Der Audifahrer, der den Sturz nicht unbedingt mitbekommen haben muss, fuhr weiter ohne sich um die Folgen kümmern

Der Motorradfahrer kam mit dem Rettungswagen in ein Krankenhaus.

Rotondes

Nederland heeft sinds een jaar of tien besloten dat vrijwel elke kruising wordt omgebouwd tot een rotonde. Prima idee! Snellere verkeersdoorvoer, minder wachten, minder irritaties. FOUT, dus …..

Vandaag reden wij net zoals vrijwel elke andere zondag naar mijn ouders, zo’n 7 kilometer verderop. Op de route liggen drie grote rotondes. Aangezien het principe van een rotonde gericht is op snelle doorvoer, wat gerealiseerd kan worden door tijdig richting aangeven verwacht je zo door te kunnen rijden, FOUT, elke dag weer opnieuw sta ik tevergeefs te wachten omdat de snelle heren en dames in hun audi, BMW of Golf verzaken om hun richting aanwijzers aan te doen, te druk met bellen of andere belangrijke zaken waarschijnlijk…..

Recap - 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

(We apologize for the lateness of this posting. Unfortunately, it was a pretty hectic week here, as we were prepping for our move to a new space. However, we’re now settled into our new, better office, so we can bring you even more of the coverage you love! Or tolerate. Or hate. Just so long as you read it.)

For car enthusiasts, the Frankfurt Motor Show tends to be one of the more consequential events of the year. Not only does it segue nicely into Oktoberfest, but it’s usually home to dozens of palpitation-causing model revelations. (Though that might actually be caused by all that wurst.)

Blissfully, this year’s show was no exception, with quite a few exciting cars showing their front fascias (fasciae?) for the first time. Sadly, due to the sagging economy, we were unable to send any correspondents to Germany this year, but we’ve still prepared a recap of this year’s highlights for your viewing pleasure, divided up into appropriate categories.

SUPREME SEDANS:

2010 Aston Martin Rapide

After years of waiting and teasing, Aston Martin finally went public with all the details about its sleek sedan – or “four-door sports car,” as they prefer to call it. We don’t really care what they call it – so long as they let us stare at it. Thankfully, the sports car maker’s attempt at domestication hasn’t resulted in any loss of attractiveness; like a six-foot-three supermodel, all that extra length just means you have to look at it longer.

Motivation comes from the same 6.0 liter, 470-horsepower V12 motivating the DB9 on which it’s based, connected to a six-speed automatic. No word yet on whether Aston will see fit to bring out a more aggressive model based on the DBS at some point, but it wouldn’t be too surprising.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but expect something in the $200,000 range – about $60-$100K more than its direct “competitors,” the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG. But odds are if you’re in the market for a six-figure sedan that performs like a supercar and prefer the looks of the Aston Martin, you can swing the difference.

2011 Bentley Mulsanne

After taking the wraps off its new flagship at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance last month, Bentley officially unveiled the Mulsanne in all its glory at Frankfurt – and it’s pretty freakin’ glorious.

Power comes from a 6.75 liter turbocharged V8 (presumably the same basic one motivating Bentleys for half a century), putting out 505 horses and 725 lb-ft of torque. All that twist heads to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic – and no, there’s no good reason why a car with as much torque as a Mack truck needs eight forward speeds.

Bentley says the Mulsanne will also come with a variety of 21st century features, such as Bluetooth, sat-nav, MP3 player hookup, and a 6-disc CD changer. Of course, if all you wanted were those features and leather seats, you could save yourself in the range of $275,000 and buy a loaded Mazda3 – but where’s the fun in that?

2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost

If there’s a new Bentley, a new Rolls-Royce probably isn’t too far behind. (After all, Kanye and Fiddy can’t both be rolling in the same whips, can they?) However, the Ghost and the Mulsanne aren’t direct competitors – the big Bentley stacks up against the heftier Rolls-Royce Phantom, while the Ghost is a “discount” model aimed at the “cheap” Bentley Continental.

Of course, cheap is a relative term – the Rolls will retail for around $245,000 when it hits the States next year. Sure, that’s almost $75,000 more than the Conti, but that’s not too much to ask for a little brand loyalty, is it?

Like the Continental, the Ghost is also based on a less expensive vehicle from its corporate master’s stable. The Continental shares many of its unseen bits with the Volkswagen Phaeton luxury sedan (remember that car? Well, no one else does, either.); the Ghost, in turn, shares a platform with the new BMW 7-series. Motivation comes from a slightly uprated version of the BMW 760Li’s powertrain – the Roller pumps out 563 horsepower from a 6.0 liter turbocharged V12, through yet another eight-speed automatic. Prudent buyers will probably pick the far cheaper Bimmer…but Rolls-Royces have never been about prudence.

Bugatti 16 C Galibier

While the Galibier wasn’t actually featured at Frankfurt – it was unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Molsheim, France – it deserves inclusion in this list because of its mind-boggling magnificence.

The hatchback sedan concept looks more or less like the offspring of a Porsche Panamera and a Bugatti Veyron, and given its supercharged 8.0 liter W16 engine and all-wheel-drive, presumably performs that way as well.

While Bugatti officially has only said the Galibier is  one of several concepts for the next Bugatti road car;however, AutoExpress claims it has been approved for production, and should start rolling out in 2013.

Should the Galibier go into production, expect around 800 horsepower, an eight-speed dual clutch gearbox and a pricetag of about $1,400,000 – meaning the average Goldman Sachs employee will have to save up slightly more than two whole years’ worth of bonuses to buy one.

CLEAN LUXURY:

2010 BMW X6 Active Hybrid

BMW dropped the production version of its high-end hybrid SUV at Frankfurt this year, which should be going on sale here soon.

The 2010 X6 ActiveHybrid (as opposed to the PassiveHybrid line, which mostly sits around in the driveway eating potato chips and watching The Bonnie Hunt Show) is strapped for performance, with two electric motors added onto its already hearty 4.4 liter turbocharged V8. BMW quotes total combined output at 480 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque – not too far from the balls-to-the-wall X6 M. However, the X6 M can’t claim to travel at up to 37 mph without using a drop of gasoline, unless it’s being pushed by a T.rex.

BMW says the hybrid X6 does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds and tops out at 130 mph, while still using 20 percent less gas than the regular V8 model. If they deliver on these promises without hurting the X6’s playful performance characteristics or jacking the price up too much, I doubt anyone will want to buy the regular old X6 xDrive 50i.

Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-In HYBRID concept

Equipped with the sort of obscenely long name currently in favor with German luxury automakers, the plug-in S500 remains merely a concept – for the moment. Mercedes-Benz engineers say the technology is being prepped for production sometime in the near future.

The S500 Plug-In doesn’t operate quite like the famous Chevy Volt; in the Benz, the gasoline engine still powers the wheels directly, instead of simply recharging the battery. Still, by plugging the battery into an outlet, it can store up enough juice to run the S-class for a whopping 19 miles before the 3.5 liter V6 kicks in.

Mercedes estimates combined fuel economy at 74 miles per gallon, though as with many hybrids today, eking that out could prove harder than squeezing sanity from Glenn Beck. Still, if a production model can achieve even 50 mpg while still cranking out a 5.5 second 0-60 time, Mercedes will have a winner on its hands. (But can we get at least 30 miles out of that battery, guys?)

LEAN, GREEN, FAST MACHINES:

Audi e-tron

Do you like the Audi R8, but want to take the metaphorical Beano and say goodbye to gas? Then feast your eyes on the electric-powered e-tron concept, based off Audi’s sweet supercar.

According to Audi, the concept packs four electric motors punching out 313 horsepower and an unfathomable 3,319 lb-ft of torque. Of course, you can’t use all that twist at once – it would probably send the wheels flying across the continent – but it sounds cool. Audi also claims a 4.8 second 0-60 time, a top speed of 124 mph and a range of 154 miles…but not if you’re going 124 mph.

Of course, those figures are pretty academic, as Audi hasn’t announced any definite production plans for the e-tron. Of course, if Mercedes-Benz’s electric-drive SLS proves successful, don’t be surprised to see an electric R8 sailing silently past the gas pumps within four years.

BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept

Not content to just slap an electric motor in a pre-exising car, BMW instead toted out a brand-new concept designed to showcase what a fuel-efficient supercar of the near future could look like.

According to BMW, the ED (snicker) gets its power from the unification of a 163-hp, 1.5-liter turbodiesel and a pair of electric motors, creating a maximum output of 356 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Lightweight design (is that why there are no doors?) helps the ED scoot to 60 in 4.8 seconds, while achieving the usual Bimmer top speed of 155 mph.

Not sure who this image is supposed to appeal to...aliens?

Fuel economy is reportedly estimated at 63 mpg, with 31 miles of electric-only driving possible. While a  production version is pretty unlikely, some of the fuel-saving technology seen here will probably show up on the rumored “Z10″ supercar that’ll hopefully be coming our way in a couple of years; however, that car will reportedly run a twin-turbo 3.0 liter inline six making 450 horsepower (awesome).

SPEEDING BULLETS:

Ferrari 458 Italia

We’ve featured the Italia here on the site several times before, but since it was officially revealed at Frankfurt, it only seemed appropriate to look at it one more time.

Replacement for the F430 and heir to Ferrari’s long line of mid-engined V8 sports cars, the 458’s 4.5 liter V8 makes 570 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, and sends it to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. 0-60 comes in 3.4 seconds (probably less – Ferrari tends to be conservative), top speed is 202 mph, and combined fuel economy on the European cycle comes to 18 mpg. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but if you go into your Ferrari dealership with $300,000 in cash, you’ll probably be able to buy a baseball cap or two as well.

Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

Likewise, the Reventon is no stranger to this site (it’s the car in our headline banner), but it’s always worth taking another look at – especially when a new version comes out.

Mechanically and physically, the roadster is pretty much the same as the coupe – 6.5 liter V12, 660 horses, 487 lb-ft of torque, six-speed sequential manual transmission, outlandishly gorgeous styling. The only real difference is the lack of a top and the increased rarity – Lambo will be making a mere 15 roadsters, as opposed to a bountiful production run of 20 for the coupe. As Lamborghini itself proudly boasts, the odds of owning a Reventon Roadster are 1 in 700 million; however, at $1.6 million a pop, the odds of getting laid in the passenger’s seat are about 1 in 2.

Mercedes-Benz SLS

Again, we’ve already shown you the SLS here on CCO, but since it too received a public unveiling at Frankfurt, we thought we’d take another look at it (even though it hurts our eyes to do so).

Packing a 571-horsepower version of AMG’s 6.3 liter V8 running through a seven-speed transmission, the SLS blasts from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds and tops out at 197 mph. When it goes on sale sometime next year, expect to pay around $175,000 before any options – slotting it neatly between the Audi R8/Porsche 911 Turbo and the Lamborghini Gallardo/Ferrari 458 Italia.

Reportedly, the SLS is a blast to drive, capable of holding its own with any of the aforementioned competitors; hopefully the looks improve in person, as well, because it really doesn’t look too good in those pictures. But at the very least when you’re inside, you won’t have to look at the car’s ass…

GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME:

Mini Coupe/Roadster

Now, at first, you might wonder why Mini would be building these cars. After all, doesn’t the Mini already only have two doors…and isn’t there already a convertible?

However, you would be thinking rationally. If so, you’re not who Mini’s looking for for these two. Go buy a Clubman. No, these are for the drivers who take their Minis to the max.

[Ed: Really? Are you kidding me? That's the best you can do?]

Shut up, Ed. You try writing this on seven Red Bulls. Anyway, the Mini Coupe will reportedly hit the streets with the turbocharged 208-hp 1.6 liter inline-four from the John Cooper Works Mini, while the Roadster plays it a bit lighter with a 175-horsepower 1.6 liter turbo four. You should be able to buy them in early 2011.

2010 Porsche 911

Ah, 911. Tragic connotations aside, those numbers will always have a special meaning for car enthusiasts. For more than 40 years, the penultimate rear-engine sports car has been undergoing constant evolution, and this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show gave Porsche a chance to show off their latest subspecies. Both cost about the same, and both share an engine – but they’re aimed at different people, for sure.

For those who only feel alive on a racetrack, there’s the 911 GT3 RS, a 450-horsepower naturally aspirated race-ready RWD machine that’s so plugged into you, you’d swear it has one of those neck plugs from The Matrix. 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds, top speed 194 mph, and a price of $132,800.

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, seen here being enjoyed by General Zod.

But if you need something you can drive to work every day, the new 911 Turbo offers a turbocharged 500 horsepower 3.8 liter flat six. All-wheel-drive means improved traction in all conditions, and there’s even a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for those too lazy to row the gears themselves. 60 mph comes in a stunning 3.2 seconds, and top speed is 194 mph as well. The coupe also starts at $132,800, while the convertible starts at $143,800.

And Porsche, if you’re reading this, we’d kill for a Turbo Coupe for a week…

BMW 5-series GT

Wrapping things up for our Frankfurt Show coverage is BMW’s wagonoid, the 5-series GT. Not as roomy as a station wagon…not as tall as an SUV…and not as svelte as a sedan, this hatchagon sacrifices the bitch seat in back to offer prime seating for four. In addition, the rear hatch can open in two ways – the trunk lid alone can open, or the whole hatch can go up, too.

The GT comes in 535 and 550 forms, offering a 306-hp twin turbo 3.0 liter I6 in the former and a 407-hp 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 in the latter. An eight-speed auto provides the motivation; rear wheel drive is standard, AWD optional. And while it may seem a bit odd in pictures, we’re willing to bet it’ll prove a surprisingly convenient all-weather all-task vehicle.

So, BMW, if you want to throw a 550 GT our way too, that’d be great.