Audi R8

Audi R8 V8

This is probably my favourite car of all time since the day it was introduced in 2006. The Audi R8 is a high end sports car from Audi. It's a two door mid engined coupe with Audi's permanent Quattro all wheel drive system.

Visual: I think anyone that sees this car will drop their jaws because it really is that stunning. This sports car is not flashy, it has a really sleek and clean look. The car sits very low and has a short wheel base. This was the first road car with LED

daytime running lights that many other manufacturers now have copied. The side scoops with the carbon fiber sigma sideblade option added gives it a really distinctive look. In the rear, there is a spoiler that will raise up when it reaches a certain speed (130km/h) or could be manually raised with the push of a button. The rear tail lights are very attractive during day or night. I believe they are based off the Audi's Le Mans race car, the Audi R10, which is also where the LED lights came from. On the 4.2, there are four exhausts and on the 5.2, it has two large oval exhausts which looks even cleaner. On the back, you will be able to see the beautifully designed engine under the transparent cover.

Rear view of the Audi R8 V8 with the quad exhaust tips.

Performance: There are two engines for it. A 4.2-liter FSI engine which now produces 430 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 mph time is not the quickest at 4.4 seconds but don't worry, there is a 5.2-liter V10 option which is taken from the Lamborghini Gallardo. It's however de-tuned to 525 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque but still does a quick 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds. The top speed of the 4.2 is 187 mph (301 km/h) and the 5.2 is at a very impressive 197 mph (317 km/h). There are two transmission options: a six speed manual gearbox with a really cool metal gate for the shift lever, or the R tronic gearbox, which are the paddle shifters.

Cockpit view of the interior

Interior: The interior in this car is very solid and clean with buttons placed in an organized way. The cockpit view is really nice like what all Audi's have. But the the rest of the interior could be better. A dash trim in front of the passenger seat could really help. Most of the features are placed into the Audi MMI (Multi-media interface) with a few buttons to navigate it which you can see on the dash. There are many options to add to the interior such as alcantara, leather, carbon fibre packages. But yeah, I think the interior of an Aston Martin looks better.

Nonetheless, the Audi R8 is a really great sports car which is why it has won so many awards.

Want an epic review of the Audi R8?

Volkswagen GTI

I have never been much of a fan for hatchbacks but the new generation of the Volkswagen GTI is definitely an exception. It's a sporty little 3 or 5 door hatchback with great fuel economy. This car is the highest level in the Golf family.

The 2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI 2 door
Image taken from GlobalMotors.net

Visual:
Again, I don't really like hatchbacks and the back of the GTI looks chubby like a mini van. But the rear still looks good with the dual exhaust separated between the diffuser. The slightly redesigned front end looks great. The red lines on the front really gives a good highlight and the fascia is really distinct from any other cars out there (except for the ones in the Golf family of course). The car has option 18" wheels with summer tires which should have been a standard feature because they flow just right with the car. The wheels the GTI comes with look unappealing.


                                                                                

Rear of the Golf GTI
Taken from ModPark.com

 Performance:
As I have mentioned, it's a car with a bit of sportiness and fuel efficiency, so it comes with a turbocharged 2.0 liter engine which gives 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. 0 to 60 mph takes only 6.9 seconds. The optional transmission is the same as before, a super quick 6 speed automatic DSG gearbox costing an additional $1100 or a simple 6 speed manual. Normally, standard gearboxes are more fuel efficient compared to automatics, but the automatic does 24/32 MPG while the manual does 21/31 MPG. Over a period of time, the extra cost in gas will add up to the price of the automatic.

Interior:

Interior of the Golf GTI
Image taken from AutomotiveAddicts.com

People that don't know much about cars might think Volkswagen is comparable to a economy car manufacturer like Toyota, but actually, it's quite up there. Manufacturers such as Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Bugatti etc.. are owned by the Volkswagen Auto Group. So, the GTI's interior is just as solid and luxurious. I could not find anything that will rattle or squeak. Everything is mounted on solidly. The dash is a soft rubber and not plastic and you get leather like a typical luxury vehicle.

This car is another addition to my wish list. It actually costs a bit more than the Hyundai Genesis Coupe but with the materials and quality of the build, it is certainly worth it with a better resale value, too.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

When you think of the automaker Hyundai, you'll probably be thinking it's "Bleh, it's not going to be good". Well in the past years, they have finally brought out cars that are actually quite decent. One of them is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. It is Hyundai's second sports car next to the discontinued Hyundai Tiburon. The Genesis Coupe has the layout of a good sports car. It is rear wheel drive with a V6 engine in the front and a aerodynamic looking car.

Visual: The Genesis Coupe looks like a serious sports car. The front fascia looks mean but the grille could be better since it looks a bit plastic. The body looks really sporty as if a aftermarket bodykit has been added. With the Grand Touring package, it has 19" wheels and a trunk spoiler which makes the car stand out and the red caliper Brembo brakes give a high performance look.


Performance:
Firstly there are two engine choices. A fuel efficient 2.0T engine producing 210 horsepower or a sportier 3.8L V6 engine producing 306 horsepower. Some test drivers were able to get a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. All the trim levels for this car will be available with a standard 6 speed manual transmission which is what most sports car enthusiasts would like to have. But you can also option for the ZF automatic gearbox with paddle shifters which can be useful for cities with lots of traffic. This vehicle is able to compete very well with other cars in the same range such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang and there are rumours about a even bigger engine to be added to the Genesis Coupe.

Interior of the Genesis Coupe
Image taken from egmcartech.com

Interior:
The interior does include a bit of plastic but it still looks very welcoming. I doubt you would get bored in it especially when it has a decent 360 watt Infinity sound system. There are silver and chrome accents which make it far from plain. The main touch points are wrapped in leather such as the seats, steering wheel, shifter and center console box which feel great.




Although Hyundai is not the best reputable brand (it's getting better and better), I'd still love to own one in the future.

Audi A7

There is a new car released from Audi, the A7. It has a sportback design similar to the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes Benz CLS550 but starts at a much lower price. However, the other two cars have much more performance compared to the Audi A7.

Visual:
The front fascia of the A7 looks very nice with a sharp and expensive appearance. The LED lights do not only offer a safer vehicle on the road, but it looks spectacular and how it aligns to the chrome grille looks simply stunning. On the other hand, the rear end of the car is quite disappointing. It looks like it got rear ended and the tail lights make it look droopy. There are options for different car paint and interior colours like any other Audi vehicles.

The "rear-ended" A7

Interior:
Audi has done it again with their amazingly gorgeous interiors. The A7 looks unbelievable with the dash and center console. I believe it has a similar layout to the A8 which is the highest model on the A series. Everything just flows right with how the buttons are placed. Most of them control the settings on the Multi Media Interface display.






Performance: While it is a luxurious family vehicle, it still has a sporty engine. A supercharged 3.0 V6 producing 310 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque while still maintaining very good fuel economy. It does 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds which is not bad at all. For even more performance, Audi will most likely release the S7 which is basically the A7 with a bigger engine. The A7 has the Quattro all-wheel drive system as standard. What's good about it is a feature which sends power to the wheel with the most grip. This vehicle has a 8 speed Tiptronic transmission. Most cars today commonly come with 5 or 6 speeds but the 8 speed will allow slightly more fuel efficiency and it is just as light as a 6 speed transmission.

 The Audi A7 is not released to Canada yet but it should arrive in the Spring of 2011 which is, very soon. It will most likely start off at over $60,000 plus a ton of options which will easily turn it into a $70,000+ vehicle. Honestly I would take the new Audi A6 over it because of the rear end.