Aurelia Butler

The lack of high-performance-sports-car plans is glaring at Audi, but Car and Driver has learned that an EV replacement for the R8 is in the works.Don’t get too anxious, though: the launch date for this new model, currently called the Rnext, has been pushed back to 2029. Whether Audi will design its own platform or use a Porsche matrix is still unclear, but if Ingolstadt can have things its way, Lamborghini and Bentley are likely to get bespoke spinoffs.Imagine Audi competing in Formula 1 in 2026 without a high-performance sports car in its portfolio to reap the motorsports rub-off. How silly would that be? And yet, at the moment, the brand’s future road map has no successor to the TT, no replacement for the R8, or in fact any other ultrafast, high-visibility, big-margin, image-building product.While elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group, Lamborghini has the next Aventador and Huracán pretty much cast in stone, Rimac is preparing a follow-up to the Bugatti Chiron fitted with an awesome 1800-hp hybrid V-8, and Porsche is seriously contemplating an electric supercar and hypercar, Audi’s think tank harbors plenty of great ideas but not enough hard plans.To date, the duel between Markus Duesmann (wearing the four-rings livery as Audi chairman) and Oliver Blume (with Porsche embossed in his armor as the brand’s CEO) has ended in a dead heat, but now that Blume has stepped into the hot seat recently vacated by Herbert Diess, the young CEO is calling the shots. Will he let the Audi CTO Oliver Hoffmann develop his own bespoke sports-car architecture as planned? Or is he going to urge the group’s Bavarian satellite to use the SSP6 componentry being compiled exclusively for Porsche? “A decision won’t be made before next spring,” claims one insider. “Blume will keep the brands on a long leash to stimulate creativity and differentiation,” believes another. “In the end, the bottom line is all that matters,” quips a third.Let’s assume for a moment that Audi has free rein and can push ahead with AU634/0, which is the code name for Rnext. While the car at this point does not share a single item with the Huracán replacement, the high-voltage effort is destined to spawn a Lamborghini model late in the decade and a Bentley offspring in the early 2030s. There is still a long way to go, but that’s the plan. We expect three body styles to make it into production: a two-seat coupe and spyder as well as a roomier 2+2, the latter perhaps as a shooting brake. Porsche Batteries, Slim PackagingModularity and scalability are key to keeping the costs down, which is why all models allegedly will use Porsche-sourced high-performance batteries. Will the construction be aluminum or carbon fiber? Perhaps a bit of both, with a synthetic weave for the tub and lightweight metal for the suspension. A cell-to-chassis concept, where the battery pack is a stressed component, promises even fewer calories, slimmer packaging, and extra rigidity.What we have so far is yet another electric supercar to be positioned in the $250,000-to-$300,000 range that may be eaten for breakfast by the less pricey Tesla Roadster, if that ever comes. In all likelihood, not even breathtaking design, extraordinary efficiency, and superb quality will make the Rnext a sure-fire success guaranteed to eclipse the competition. True, admits Audi’s Hoffmann. What defines the difference between greatness and mere competence is how such a car drives. No, we’re not talking 1000 watts of power here, because 1000 horsepower can already be taken for granted when the next RS6 e-tron bows. Instead, the vehicle dynamics specialists are waxing lyrical about their breakthrough neuronal Quattro system that shares its massive brain power with the steering, brakes, and suspension for, to quote Hoffmann, “total control and absolute excitement.”Branding Is EverythingThat’s the good news. The bad news is that AU634/0 is conspicuous by its absence from the latest cycle plan, which does show the next-gen e-tron GT with a Porsche SSP6 platform moniker and a 2029 release date. We asked around and were told that the Rnext will appear in the not yet finalized Planning Round 72 in early 2023. So, at this point, it seems anything is possible. Porsche still could allow Audi to use the Cayman/Boxster platform for a 2027 TT replacement. And it could design the dramatically different electric future 911, code-named PO998, around a component set flexible enough to also accommodate the Rnext. Porsche could, but we wouldn’t bet on it. Brand identity is key when a premium nameplate trades on the stock exchange. And let’s face it: After three years of fierce good cop/bad cop rivalry, isn’t it about time for the new King of Wolfsburg to show some leniency and tolerance towards the Duke of Ingolstadt?This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

For 2023 Audi will offer 333 special-edition RWD R8 GTs. The Audi R8 GT RWD gets a bump in power for its 5.2-liter V-10, from 562 to 602 hp. To better manage wheel slip from the rear axle, the electronic stability control now offers seven settings, from minimum to maximum slide. Until now, if you wanted the big power from an Audi R8, you had to step up to an all-wheel-drive model. For 2023, Audi will offer a special-edition R8 GT, a rear-wheel-drive coupe with the more powerful version of the 5.2-liter V-10 with 602 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque that was previously only available in the Quattro. Audi says the GT will get to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and have a top speed of 199 mph.The R8’s shifts will be faster too, with new gearing for the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission to allow for the increased top speed, and quicker gear changes along the way. What’s Special about the Special EditionThere will only be 333 special-edition R8 GT RWD coupes available, distinguishable from other R8s through black badges including a new R8 GT emblem. For wind-tunnel-tested stability and increased car-show cred, the GT comes with a glossy carbon-fiber front splitter, side spats, rear scoops, a diffuser, and a high gooseneck rear wing. Not only are the badges and aero elements menacingly midnighted, but should you peer through the rear hatch at the V-10 engine, even the intake manifold on the GT is black. Basically, it looks like the ZL1 1LE of R8s.Inside, it reflects the first-generation R8 GT with a black and red interior, including red seatbelts. Floor mats and seats declare the GT’s special status, and owners can figure out their place in the order line with a sequential special edition build number embedded in the carbon-fiber center console. Rear Drive, Now with More Slip-N-SlideWe’ve liked the RWD R8 for its more playful driving characteristics, and Audi is leaning into that with the R8 GT. The rear axle now offers Torque Rear Mode which allows the traction- and stability-control system to be set in one of seven different programmed curves, from more to less slippage. This is controlled by a knob on the steering wheel, for those last-minute drift decisions. Jokes aside, the customizability of the stability controls means that the R8 can adjust for different drivers, or increasing track confidence. Lighter SideThe GT will weigh 44 pounds less than the R8 Coupe Performance RWD. This is partially due to lightweight forged 20-inch wheels, wrapped in Michelin Sport Cup 2 rubber. Ceramic brakes are standard in the GT, as are sports seats and the performance sport suspension with a carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic anti-roll bar. The lightweight bar and aluminum suspension components also help the GT achieve its weight loss. More on the R8The real loss here is what Audi only hints at with a header in its press release that reads, “Goodbye to the V-10 Engine.” It’s no real surprise that the V-10’s days are numbered, but if this is the start of Audi’s last year festivities, can we expect some additional special R8s for 2023? This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

The 2023 Fisker Ocean is almost ready for production, with 95 prototypes built so far by assembly partner Magna Steyr in Austria.Fisker is aiming to begin building the Ocean SUV on November 17.The top trim will cost nearly $70,000 and travel 350 miles on a charge, according to Fisker, while the base model will start under $40,000 and have a 250 mile range. Tesla has spawned a surge of electric startups with flashy designs, bold performance claims, and ambitious production dates. Most of these EVs never move beyond renderings, but Fisker appears poised to take the plunge into full-scale production. A revival of the brand that built the range-extender Karma sedan in the early 2010s, Fisker announced late last week that its Ocean SUV remains on track for production in November and that the company has already cranked out 95 prototypes of its electric crossover.FiskerThe 2023 Ocean was fully revealed at the 2021 Los Angeles auto show, when Fisker pledged production would start by November of 2022. The Ocean will be assembled by Magna Steyr in Austria, where the 95 prototypes were already built. Outsourcing production could help Fisker avoid the “production hell” that companies such as Tesla and Rivian have experienced at their own proprietary manufacturing facilities. Fisker says the prototype Oceans are being utilized for testing, training for service employees, and to display the vehicle in the nine markets the automaker will launch in. More on FiskerFour versions of the electric crossover will be available: Extreme, Ultra, and Sport trim levels accompany the limited-edition Ocean One launch model. The One, Extreme, and Ultra all feature a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup, with the One and Extreme capable of 350 miles of range and a claimed 60-mph sprint of 3.6 seconds. The Ultra still can run a respectable 340 miles on a charge and hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, while the single-motor, front-wheel-drive Sport’s battery can last 250 miles, and its 60-mph sprint should be closer to seven seconds. These numbers are still all unverified claims by Fisker, with the Ocean yet to receive an official rating from the EPA.Fisker says the Ocean Extreme will start at $68,999 before destination fees, while the base Sport model will cost just $37,499, and Fisker is aiming to begin production on November 17. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

The 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 is the fifth iteration of the track-focused trim, and while it’s the most exotic, it’s still streetable.In 1963, the Z06 moniker first appeared as an optional equipment package for Corvette owners wanting to race their cars. Since the C5 Corvette, every generation has had a Z06 version, with each raising the bar on its race-bred pedigree. Who’s ready for a history lesson? Any fan of the Chevy Corvette is almost certainly familiar with the track-focused Z06 version, especially after the arrival of the exotic mid-engine 2023 Corvette Z06. However, not every fan knows the car’s origin story, which can be traced back nearly 60 years to 1963, when legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov first developed it as an option package dedicated to customers who wanted to race their cars at the track. Thus, an icon was born. The rest is history. Sort of. The Z06 moniker would sit in the pits for about four decades until it returned to glory on the 2001 Corvette. Chevy has since offered a Z06 model with every generation, and each has raised the bar on its race-bred pedigree. Here’s a look at the five installments of the Chevy Corvette Z06. 1963: The OG Z06If you haven’t heard of Zora Arkus-Duntov, do yourself a favor and read his story. You don’t have to thank us, but you can thank big Z for contributing to the Corvette’s greatness. As we mentioned, he was responsible for creating the original Z06 in 1963. Zora was a racing advocate, and he convinced GM’s brass to commission an option package for Corvette customers in the racing community. This led to the then little-known Regular Production Option (RPO) Z06 box on the car’s order sheet. Chevy only sold 199 Corvettes equipped with the Z06 package in ’63.ChevyVirtually all were coupes with a 360-hp 327-cubic-inch V-8, four-speed manual transmission, and Positraction rear axle. As an option within an option, the Z06 package could be paired with a larger 36.5-gallon fiberglass fuel tank that enabled longer track sessions. This led to nicknames like “tanker” and “big tank” Corvettes. Also, along with aluminum wheels and a race-ready suspension (thicker front anti-roll bar, larger dampers, stiffer springs), Z06s featured upgraded brake components that included power drum brakes with sintered metallic brake linings, a vacuum booster, and a dual master cylinder.2001: Return of the Z06 You won’t find a Z06-badged Corvette from the C3 or C4 generation because, well, there weren’t any. In fact, after the 1963 model year, Chevy wouldn’t produce another Z06 for about 40 years. Thankfully, the brand resurrected the race-car-inspired moniker on the 2001 Corvette (a.k.a C5). Following a similar formula as its forebear, the reborn Z06 put performance above all else, and it would go on to be one of the first production cars to lap the famous Nürburgring in under eight minutes (7:56, for those who are curious). The C5 Z06 also introduced trademark details such as cooling ducts for the rear brakes that were integrated into the back fender.All C5 Corvette Z06s (2001–2004) were based on the limited-production hardtop coupe that saved weight and improved rigidity compared with the regular hatchback coupe. That and other diet restrictions helped the Z06 cut about 100 pounds through thinner glass, lighter wheels, less sound-deadening materials, adopting a lightweight titanium exhaust, and more. Most notably, the C5 Z06 benefited from an exclusive LS6 engine, basically an enhanced version of the Vette’s standard LS1 5.7-liter V-8. The LS6 featured a hotter cam, a higher compression ratio, redesigned intake and exhaust manifolds, and other internal enhancements. It initially produced 385 horses and 385 pound-feet of torque, but those figures rose to 405 and 400, respectively, in 2002. Every Z06 from this era had a six-speed manual and specific gearing. 2006: Z06 Meets Z07 Once Corvette customers got a taste of the awesome sauce that was the C5 Z06, Chevy was only too keen to follow it up with an even tastier one. It arrived in 2006—one year after the sixth generation debuted—and the C6 Z06 (2006–2013) promptly took the Corvette’s track capability up another notch. Not only did it have a unique aluminum frame that Chevy claimed to be 136 pounds lighter than the standard version’s steel structure, but it also featured an exclusive high-revving 505-hp 7.0-liter V-8, dubbed the LS7. At the time, it was the most powerful Corvette ever, and it used technology from the corporating racing program (titanium connecting rods, dry-sump lubrication system).The 2006 Corvette Z06 didn’t just have loads of performance equipment such as the usual brake, suspension, and wheel-and-tire upgrades, it was also the first version to really visually differentiate itself. The C6 Z06 (again hardtop only) had wider front and rear fenders, front and rear brake-cooling ducts, and distinct aero add-ons. This iteration also introduced a Z07 package in 2012 that unlocked even higher racetrack limits courtesy of parts from the almighty 638-hp supercharged Corvette ZR1. With the Z07 package, the Z06 gained even more carbon-fiber addenda, MagneRide adaptive dampers, carbon-ceramic rotors, and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. The result? It helped the 2012 C6 Z06 lap the Nürburgring in 7:22.68—about an amazing 34 seconds quicker than its predecessor.2015: The Mightiest Z06 Despite the pressure to keep raising the performance bar with every new Z06, Chevy didn’t let off the throttle. When the fourth iteration of the Z06 arrived in 2015, following the debut of the seventh generation one year earlier, it came packing a monstrous 650-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. For those keeping track, that’s mightier than the mill in the previous-gen ZR1. The C7 Z06 (2015–2019) also marked a series of firsts, including the first with an optional automatic transmission as well as the first to offer targa and convertible body styles. The latter two were due to the Vette’s stiffer aluminum frame.This era of Z06 also brought a boatload of carbon-fiber equipment, specifically an optional aero package with splitters, winglets, rocker panels, and spoilers made of lightweight material. The Z07 Performance package returned, too, adding adjustable aero bits, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, and grippier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. For further proof of the C7 Z06’s incredibleness, check out our comparison test, where it beat the vaunted Porsche 911 Turbo S. Sure, the Vette’s incredible value played a big role in its victory, but we also touted its ability to be civil or ferocious at a moment’s notice. It was also the last front-engine Corvette Z06.2023: Z06 Zenith Here we are. It has all led up to this. A mid-engine Corvette Z06. At its heart is the most exotic mill ever dropped into a production Vette: a naturally aspirated flat-plane-crank 5.5-liter V-8 (engine code LT6). Per tradition, the C8 Z06 (2023–TBD) exceeds the power precedent set by its predecessor with 670 horsepower. Oh, and this V-8 sounds unlike any other Z06 engine, with an 8500-rpm redline that translates to authentic race-car noises. Unfortunately, this is the first Z06 without a manual gearbox. Instead, every version has an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, and it’s once again offered in Targa or convertible body styles.The C8 Z06’s engine is undeniably special, but the rest of the car is special too—optimized for track duty just like its ancestors. Even with 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminum wheels (carbon-fiber versions are optional) and myriad chassis upgrades meant to help the wide-body C8 extract every millisecond from every lap, it’s never punishing, even when the more aggressive Z07 track package (more aero, higher spring rates, carbon-ceramic rotors, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, etc.) is added to the mix.The Ultimate Corvette Z06While we’ll likely see more powerful Corvettes—heck, even electric ones—the latest Z06 looks to be the zenith of the gas-powered bunch. Big Z would be proud. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Subaru has announced updated pricing for the 2023 Forester, which now starts at $27,620.Other than the jump in price, the Forester is not gaining any additional features over the refreshed 2022 model. The new base price is $1300 more than the 2022 Forester was at the start of the model year, but only $550 more than its $27,070 base price after a midyear price hike.Adding another to the growing list of vehicles that keep getting more expensive, the 2023 Subaru Forester is the latest model on the market to see a noticeable price increase. Despite no changes or added equipment for the new model year, the 2023 Forester will cost $1300 more than the 2022 version did when it originally went on sale. Midway through 2022, Subaru increased pricing of the refreshed Forester by $750, so the 2023 is actually only $550 more than the current 2022’s base price. The base price for 2023 is now $27,620, ranging up to $37,720 for the top Touring trim.Subaru gave the Forester a comprehensive refresh for 2022, reworking the front end and updating the interior. The 2022 model year also saw the addition of a more rugged Wilderness trim level that, like the Outback Wilderness, adds ground clearance over other trim levels. Subaru StoriesRegardless of trim, each Forester is powered by the same 2.5-liter flat-four engine which makes 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired to a continuously variable automatic (CVT). We managed 28 mpg in our 75-mph highway driving test, but that number fell to an observed fuel economy of 22 mpg through our testing of the 2022 version. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More