Audi’s full-bore RS5 treatment may only be available in coupe form, but that doesn’t mean droptop enthusiasts can’t join in on some of the fun. Senner AG, a company known for its Audi upgrades, now offers its RS design package for the A5 Cabriolet, and while it doesn’t boast the outrageous power numbers of the RS5, it certainly has the look, with a couple of eccentric one-off touches, to boot.

Starting with an A5 2.0T Cabriolet, Senner has bumped engine output from 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque up to a more palatable 275 hp and 317 lb-ft through the use of sport air filters and ECU recalibration. An all-new exhaust system has also been fitted, as well, giving the A5 a louder, angrier sound - something even the S5 Cabriolet could benefit from.

Visually, Senner has added larger front air intakes similar to those on the RS5, though the A5’s foglamps have been kept intact. Filling out the wheel wells are silver-chrome 20-inch wheels, wrapped in low-profile tires (245/30 in front, 295/25 out back), and a new rear diffuser has been added to round off the host of exterior upgrades. The interior has largely been left alone, save the addition of carbon fiber trim throughout the cabin.

Senner’s kit retails for a healthy €19,900 (roughly $25k USD), and when added to the €55,000 cost of a new A5 Cabriolet, that brings the whole package to €74,900, or $95,150 USD based on current exchange rates. Scroll through the gallery below to see the handsome Senner A5 from all angles, and hit the jump for the full details in the press release.

[Source: Senner AG]

Continue reading Audi won’t build you an RS5 Cabrio, but Senner will sell you the next best thing

Audi won’t build you an RS5 Cabrio, but Senner will sell you the next best thing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Want your little car nut to stand out from the neighborhood pack of wheeled terrors? Go for one of these fantastic looking half-scale classics from the Vietnam-headquartered Harrington Group, and wave goodbye to mediocre renditions of roadgoing vehicles as little Bobby (or Bobbie) cruises in style. These replicas use composite for both the body and chassis, and the detailing is good enough that they look convincingly like the real thing. Until, that is, someone steps into the picture and you get a scale reference. The company claims to have distributors in the U.S. and U.K., as well as Canada and the Netherlands.

A range of gasoline engines brings real internal combustion thunder and the sweet smell of exhaust to the party. Engines start at 50cc and can go all the way up to a terrifyingly irresponsible racing kart unit. Automatic and manual transmissions are available and there is enough room for adults to ride along with their six-year-old and up progeny. Seats and pedals adjust, too, so when Junior is asleep, you can sneak out for a spin without feeling like a circus bear riding a tricycle.

Interestingly, Harrington Group also makes restoration products for real classic cars, including stainless steel reproduction bumpers and interiors for the Volkswagen Beetle, Citroen 2CV and BMW Isetta.

Fisher Price’s Power Wheels are extravagant enough that there’s a healthy trade in used battery-powered backyard buggies. Harrington has yet to respond to an Autoblog request for pricing information, but these cars are likely to be significantly north of the $250-$400 you’ll spend on a tricked out Power Wheels at the local big box store. Available models are Porsche 356, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Jaguar E-Type, Willys Jeep, and Bugatti T35, along with mini scooters that ape Vespas of yore. Put one of these under the tree this (fast approaching) Christmas, and you’ll see what the face of bliss looks like. Thanks for the tips, all!

[Source: Harrington Group]

Harrington’s half-size classics to start pint-sized car nuts early originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With National Childhood Cancer Awareness month underway, Hyundai Motor America has announced plans to donate $100,000 to 68 hospitals and non-profit organizations ($6.8 million total) in the form of “Hope Grants.” The bulk of the money will be raised by Hyundai’s U.S. sales network, now more than 800 dealers strong, who will contribute $200 from the sale of each vehicle in September.

“While we’ve made progress over the last few decades and now have an 85 percent cure rate, cancer still takes more lives than any other childhood disease,” said John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “This September, in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Hyundai will shine a nationwide spotlight on this cause and provide more than $6 million in grants for pediatric cancer research and support programs. We love taking on big challenges at Hyundai, and we can think of no more worthy challenge than finding a cure for all forms of pediatric cancer.”

Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels program has supported the fight against childhood cancer for the past twelve years. By the end of this year, the program will have awarded more than $23 million to hospitals and non-profit organizations across the country. To learn more about the program, or donate directly, visit Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

Continue reading Hyundai giving $200 a car to children’s cancer charity this month

Hyundai giving $200 a car to children’s cancer charity this month originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the IRL IndyCar Series, the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 was all about the number “200.” It was the 200th race in IRL history. The drivers would be running 200 laps around the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway. And the speeds would be well above 200 mph as the field of 27 cars ran inches away from each other under the lights of Kentucky. Among those 27 drivers was last year’s runner-up, Ed Carpenter, who still hasn’t scored a full-time ride, and Paul Tracy, the fan favorite who seems to never get rusty. Maybe we’ll have to start calling him Platinum Paul.

Last week’s winner Dario Franchitti was making things interesting in the race for the championship by closing the gap to points leader Will Power who hasn’t done as well as some of the others - including Franchitti - on ovals. Kentucky is an oval, of course, and so are Motegi and Miami, the final two races of the season. Would Power be able to get that monkey off his back? Would Franchitti take the win and close the gap even further? Would the talented and hard luck Ed Carpenter finally head to Victory Lane? Follow the jump to see how the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 went down.

[Images: Chris Graythen, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images | Ed Reinke, James Crisp/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 comes down to fuelish decisions [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stig, as we’re all now aware, is portrayed by talented wheelman Ben Collins. Stiggie, like the three Top Gear presenters, is beloved by fans around the globe. It’s hard to attend a motorsports event without someone claiming to be a fat relative of the white-suited power lap maestro. What would persuade Mr. Collins to give up his clandestine position behind the visor? According to The Daily Mail, it all comes down to money.

Ben Collins’ company, Collins AutoSport, has reportedly racked up over $1.5 million dollars in losses over the last five years. He has a wife, three young kids and three other business ventures to support. The other members of Top Gear command handsome sums (rightfully so) and perhaps Collins felt he deserved a larger slice of the BBC cash cake. Removing the helmet allows him to cash in on what’s sure to be a substantial number of opportunities. He recently received an advance of close to $400,000 to begin work on his autobiography and there’s already talk of a Ben Collins TV Show.

Is breaking the trust of his Top Gear brethren worth the potential financial windfall? In the eyes of many fans, it might not be, yet we imagine Collins’ autobiography will be a page-turner. To Collins and his family, however, this bold move might be the fast lap to fiscal freedom. Thanks for the tip, stecki!

[Source: The Daily Mail]

Why the Stig outed himself originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ayrton Senna da Silva was born on March 21, 1960. To our knowledge, he won his first competition when he cut his umbilical cord before his doctor could. In reality, he began his karting career at age 13. He jumped to single-seat race cars in 1981 before finally reaching the holy land of Formula One in 1984. He was just 24. Four years later, he captured the first of three world championship titles, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest drivers of all time.

Watching Senna drive, especially in rainy conditions, was like watching an artist create a masterpiece. As you already know, tragedy struck when Ayrton Senna died in an accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. Senna aficionados will soon get the opportunity to learn more about their idol, thanks to a forthcoming documentary. A Japanese-language trailer has been released for the upcoming biopic. Senna, the first officially-sanctioned feature-length film about the Brazilian driver who, to this day, remains sorely missed. Click past the jump to watch it.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Japanese trailer for Ayrton Senna documentary

Video: Japanese trailer for Ayrton Senna documentary originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, this is certainly different. We’ve seen our fair share of wild vehicle modifications over the years, but this one takes the cake as one of the most imaginative. If the YouTube description is any sort of indication, this craft was hewn just for Sheik Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan as his personal toy. Near as we can tell, the guy liked the side-mount spare tire carriers on classic vehicles from the ’30s, but wanted to be able to deploy them without having to actually get out and spin a lug nut. The solution was found in the miracle (or curse) of hydraulics.

Let’s just do the world a favor and make sure this doesn’t evolve into a trend. We’ve already had terrible visions of a future SEMA show with row upon row of six-wheeled, white-wall wearing Honda Civics. If you’re brave enough, you can hit the jump to see the Nissan-based for yourself. Just don’t show anyone else.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Sheik’s custom six-wheeled Nissan SUV is a thing that makes us go ‘Hmmm’

Video: Sheik’s custom six-wheeled Nissan SUV is a thing that makes us go ‘Hmmm’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After seeing a handful of spy shots of the next-generation Euro-spec Honda Civic, the North American car is finally starting to show up out roaming the heat-soaked roads of Death Valley. When the new Civic arrives next year, it won’t be that much larger than the current car, and the overall shape looks to have stayed the same, though substantial changes to the front and rear fascias are definitely on deck.

Our spies were able to get a peek inside the Civic’s cabin, showing that the two-tiered dash theme from the current car will likely be carried over to the new Civic. This means we can expect a digital speedometer on the top shelf with an analog tach below, and while we’ve never been big fans of this arrangement, it has its adherents among Civic fans.

We’re not expecting to see the Civic debut until sometime in 2011, possibly at the Detroit or New York auto shows. For now, check out Honda’s latest prototype from all angles in our gallery below.

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic prototype holds on to two-tier dash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daihatsu has announced plans to recalling over 500,000 vehicles in Japan due to taillight lenses that can fade over time. The lenses, originally orange, will bleach white with exposure to the sun, leading to a potential safety risk. As a result, Daihatsu is recalling a total of 435,423 Move hatchbacks built between 1995 and 2000, as well as 145,769 Mira models manufactured from 1998 to 2000. Both vehicles fall into Japans micro-car category and are powered by fuel-thrifty .66-liter engines.

The company plans to fix the issue by installing orange bulbs in the vehicles instead of the white ones that came from the factory.

Daihatsu is owned by Toyota, and the company produces a number of small vehicles for the manufacturing giant. While not as crippling as some of the other issues Toyota has had this year, the Daihatsu does add to the 11 million recalled Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled since fall of last year.

[Source: Automotive News]

Report: Toyota’s Daihatsu recalls over 500,000 minicars over… fading taillamps? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus just dropped us a note to let us know that its F Sport line of performance accessories are on sale between September 10 and November 1, with between $100 and $300 off on accessory packages ranging from $500 to $2,000. If you’re interested in wheels, brakes or an exhaust for your GS or IS, click here for the coupon with all the details.

$300 discount on Lexus F Sport Accessories originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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