New V8 gives Jaguar XK, XF plenty more grunt

Big cats have to purr, so here’s Jaguar making sure its 2010 XK and XF do exactly that.
Under the hood is a new, direct-injection 5.0-liter V8 pumping 385 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque--both numbers substantially from the outgoing 4.2-liter V8.
Refinement is terrific and power delivery creamy smooth--it’s easily the equal of the German competition. The exhaust even pops and crackles evocatively on the over run.


Jaguar XF
Compared to the new, hard-core supercharged XKR and XFR, the naturally aspirated V8 cars ride more smoothly, despite being more focused than soft-riding Jags of old.
Jaguar just got more serious for enthusiasts.

Audi concept turns A3 into diesel racer

Audi sees potential for diesel-powered racing outside its high-profile R10 sports-car program.
The German automaker has prepped a new racing concept--the A3 TDI clubsport quattro--to debut at the Lake Wörther Tour in Austria at the end of this month.
The heart of the concept is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that makes 224 horsepower and a stump-pulling 332 lb-ft of torque at 1750 rpm.
Audi says that the 3251-pound car will leap from 0 to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 149 mph.
Power is channeled through a six-speed manual transmission to the wheels via Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system.


Pulling this racer to a stop are six-piston calipers at each wheel. The front brake discs are made of ceramic for less weight, while the rear discs are straight from the A3 parts bin.
The chassis is also fitted with shocks filled with magnetorheological fluid, which quickly change damping effort via an electric charge.
The shock package is part of Audi's dynamic driving system, which also changes throttle response, electric power steering effort and stability control threshold at the flick of switch.
Audi adorns the concept's exterior with large flares over the wheel arches and a rear wing adapted from the A4 race car that competes in the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) series.
The concept's interior takes its cues from the R8, including a flat-bottomed steering wheel and the navigation monitor and controls. Front passengers get deeply sculpted racing bucket seats, while the rear seats are also shaped bucket style. Instrument panel buttons are replaced with toggle switches for the complete racer feel.