Audi TT-RS Official Pics Cropped and then Leaked

The cropping and leaking of official car pictures weeks or even days before they are officially revealed is becoming the new in-thing in the motoring world. Audi is the latest "victim" of this practice after these cropped pictures of the TT-RS leaked out. The high-performance TT looks like a real pocket R8 from these pictures. LED daytime running lights feature prominently at the front, so do bi-xenon headlights and honeycomb-design air vents with three blades at the bottom front.

The wheels are dual-spoked and feature brake calipers with the RS badge on them. Unlike the TT-S it appears the rear wing on the TT-RS is fixed which means it doesn't move up and down depending on the speed of the car. Finally the cherry on top is the actual TT RS badging that can be seen clearly next to the left rear lights.

Plenty of times before the TT-RS prototype has been caught by spy photographers during its many periods of testing. Recently powertrain details were reported as being a 2.5-litre engine making 340hp (253kW) and 332lb-ft (450Nm) of torque. It's a force fed motor using either turbo technology or a supercharger. Audi may even surprise with its new 3.0-litre supercharged engine.

Everyone who stays put on WCF should be able to view extensive official pictures and details of the TT-RS when the 2009 Geneva International Motor Show opens on March 3.

Skoda Fabia Scout wannabe Crossover @ geneva motorshow

The ever-growing family of crossoverish station-wagons has just welcomed a new member in the form of the Skoda Fabia Scout that is set to make its world debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show. But despite its off-road looks and unlike Audi's A4 Allroad Quattro or Subaru's Legacy Outback, the Fabia Scout retains the standard model's front-wheel drive architecture.

Based on the subcompact Fabia Estate, the Scout has been adorned with plastic cladding, newly styled bumpers and silver roof-rails.Other distinctive features of the Fabia Scout include fog lamps (with corner design), tinted windows and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, apart from the Scout-specific upholstery there's floor mats bearing the Scout logo, pedals with stainless steel surfaces and anti-slip, heavy-duty rubber elements.

When it goes on sale across Europe from late May this year, the Fabia Scout will be available with four powerplants. The petrol engines will consist of a 85HP 1.4 litre, with fuel consumption of 6.5L/100km (43.5mpg UK) and a 105HP 1.6 litre with a fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km (40.9mpg UK).

The two diesel engines are a 80HP 1.4 litre with fuel consumption of 4.6L/100km (61.4mpg UK) and the top-of-the-range 105HP 1.9-litre engine with fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km (57.7mpg UK).

EuroNCAP's Revised Safety Ratings for Six New Cars Including Mazda6, Avensis and Impreza

The European organization for the assessment of vehicle safety has published the first results under its updated rating system. Up until now, Euro NCAP made three separate ratings available for each vehicle, but with the new system there's an overall rating for every car covering Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment, Safety Assist which takes into account systems such as electronic stability control (ESC) and seat belt reminders.

Of the six cars tested under the new ratings system, four managed to achieve Euro NCAP's maximum award of five stars: the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Avensis and Toyota iQ. Citroen's C3 Picasso minivan and the Subaru Impreza were both awarded four stars.

According to Euro NCAP, with the exception of the Subaru Impreza, all the other cars failed to impress on pedestrian protection.

After the announcement of the results, Mitsubishi and Subaru both said that they would change their ESC (electronic stability control) fitment policies for the Lancer and Impreza, as variants of these models without optional ESC were offered in some Euroepan countries.

Euro NCAP's new rating scheme requires all safety equipment, including ESC, to be standard on 85% of volume sales and at least optionally available on every variant.

Hyundai ix-onic Concept with 175HP 1.6 Turbo: First Photos of 2010 Tucson Study

This is Hyundai's ix-onic concept, also known as the HED6, and it previews the second-generation Tucson compact crossover / SUV that will be officially revealed in production form at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show this fall. Even though it's hard to deny the styling resemblances to the Ford Kuga, the ix-onic that was penned at Hyundai's European center looks way cooler than the anonymous Tucson.

The concept version of the 2010 Tucson that will be called in Europe ix-35 will be powered by Hyundai's new 1.6-litre turbocharged gasoline engine that delivers an output of 175HP. This engine will be available in the production version as well other Hyundai models in the near future. It will also be joined by a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel producing 184HP.

source:carscoop

Modified Audi S5 with 510HP for Geneva Debut

The Audi S5-based AS5-R from ABT Sportsline will be making its worldwide debut at next month's Geneva Show. ABT's tuning proposal for the most powerful variant of the A5 coupe includes an updated version of the current S5's 344HP 4.2-liter V8 engine that has been modified to produce an output of 510-horsepower. For the record, Audi is planning to replace the S5 Coupe's V8 with the recently introduced S5 Cabriolet's new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine that develops 333HP.

ABT did not disclose any more information on the car, but aside from the engine-tune up, the AS5-R will also benefit from a new bodykit and larger alloy wheels along with a modified suspension and a more powerful braking system.

The German tuner's Geneva booth will also host the firm's latest creations including the ABT VW Sciorcco Coupe and the ABT Audi Q5 and R8.