Audi is calling it "the most powerful production combustion Audi Sport model ever," and unfortunately, it's not a new sports car but an SUV. The new 2025 RS Q8 performance has a 4.0L biturbo V8 engine producing 631HP and 627 lb-ft of torque, and it propels the 5-passenger SUV from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, on its way to an (electronically limited) top track speed of 190 mph. The RS Q8 has a newly developed, lighter exhaust system that not only increases the output of the biturbo 4.0L V8, but creates a sportier, more evocative sound. Optionally, the exhaust system can be replaced with the RS sport exhaust system, which further intensifies the sound experience. What else do you get? Massive carbon ceramic brakes (17.3/14.6” F/R), a retuned adaptive sport air suspension, and a quattro® all-wheel-drive system with an optimized self-locking center differential. The new RS Q8 performance also features several new exterior design elements, including new matte carbon exterior design packages and interior RS design packages. According to Audi PR minions, Audi Sport has "intensified its focus on the driving dynamics of its highest performing SUV." Other stuff? A new front apron with distinctive air intakes, honeycomb structure and matte gray blade clearly identifies the RS Q8 performance as the top model in the series. The large Singleframe grille features a reinterpreted structure where each individual honeycomb cell is now three-dimensional (Wow! -WG). The treatment at the rear includes two oval tailpipes with a diffuser between them, divided by a wedge-like reflector. And, of course, there's a bunch of other stuff too. How much? The new 2025 Audi RS Q8 performance has a starting MSRP of $136,200, and you can order it now at your local Audi retailer. First deliveries are expected before the end of the year.

This is the Ferrari F80, the replacement for the 2015 LaFerrari. The 3.0-liter Twin-Turbo 120° V6 F163CF engine of the F80 produces a peak power of 900HP, for a specific power output of 300HP/l, to which the electric front axle (e-4WD) and motor (MGU-K) of the hybrid system add another 300HP. The architecture of this engine and many of its components are derived from the powerplant of the 499P which won the 2023 and 2024 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Read all about it here. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Ironically enough, the F80's performance numbers aren't as impressive as the 2025 Corvette ZR1 (see below), but it is undeniably H-O-T looking. How much? I'm guessing at least five times as much as the Corvette. -PMD. Watch the official Ferrari intro video here. And, watch Top Gear's video here.

The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is now officially the fastest car ever built by an American auto manufacturer. General Motors President Mark Reuss drove a 2025 Corvette ZR1 at 233 mph, at a test track in Germany, setting a top speed record unrivalled by any current production car priced under $1 million. The Corvette team set this two-way average speed on the northbound and southbound straightaways of the High-Speed Oval Track at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg, in a recent test in Papenburg, Germany.

“Setting the top-speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a true triumph for Corvette and for Chevrolet, and also an exhilarating, surreal experience for me personally,” said Reuss. “With the current generation’s switch to mid-engine, we knew the outstanding performance and balance made this a real possibility. To go over there and get it done is a testament to the power of ZR1, and to the incredibly talented team that developed and built it.”

The ZR1 features the most powerful V8 engine ever produced in America by an auto manufacturer. Corvette shifted to mid-engine architecture in 2020, unlocking new levels of performance and innovation. Chevrolet engineers leveraged GM’s deep software, modeling, and hardware development knowledge to set a new speed benchmark for American automakers.

Facts about Corvette ZR1’s record-setting run:

Watch the video here. 

 

(Audi images)

Attention Audi Freaks: Start Your Checkbooks! The 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant GT "represents exclusivity and performance taken to its maximum," according to Audi PR minions. This very special edition of the RS 6 Avant GT will be limited to 85 units in the U.S. (660 globally) when it arrives in dealer showrooms at the end of this year. Each car will be finished exclusively in a unique red/gray/black heritage livery. The bold exterior design honors – and was inspired by – the iconic Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO race car. "In 1989, through its dominance on the racetrack, this legendary machine drove home the major performance advantages of quattro® all-wheel drive on pavement – whether for racing or simply everyday driving," Audi PR minions continued. The quickest, fastest and most powerful production version of the RS 6 Avant to date, the 2025 RS 6 Avant GT can accelerate from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, and features a top track speed of 190 mph thanks to its 4.0L TFSI® biturbo V8 that produces 621HP and 627 lb-ft of torque. Massive 16.5- and 14.6-inch (420/370mm F/R) carbon-ceramic brakes come standard. And, the driving dynamics and handling capabilities of the RS 6 Avant are extended thanks to a unique three-way adjustable coil over suspension and a quattro sport rear differential, each of which have been expressly optimized for application in the RS 6 Avant GT. Each U.S.-bound RS 6 Avant GT is finished in Arkona White paint and features the red/gray/black racing-heritage livery and RS badging. In addition, all models receive exclusive 22” 6-arm design “Avus” wheels painted in Ibis White; a sleek “pass-through” roof-edge rear spoiler; redesigned front fascia and lower splitter, side sills and rear diffuser; and a unique carbon-fiber front fenders and hood. The RS 6 Avant GT is limited to 85 units in the U.S. and will be available for the 2025 model year alongside the RS 6 Avant performance, with first availability for the GT in the U.S. in Q4 2024. How much? The RS 6 Avant GT has a base MSRP of $198,900 (gulp).

Interior features unique to the RS 6 Avant GT include: RS sport seats wrapped in Valcona leather with an RS 6 GT logo, featuring red and copper double stitching, and complemented by Crimson Red seatbelts; Floormats with “RS 6 GT” lettering (I mean, you gotta have those, right? -WG); Dinamica® covered dashboard, center console, and upper door panels; Red and copper double stitching on the Alcantara steering wheel, sides of center console, center armrest and door armrests. All RS 6 Avant GT models are completed with a center-console badge displaying the RS 6 Avant GT logo and exclusive serialized numbering (“X / 660”) assuring the vehicle’s provenance and exclusivity as a future collectible.

From the "You Just Can't Make This Shit Up/WTF" File comes this: Bentley Fragrances introduces a new scent - Bentley BECOME - "for the bold and the daring," according to Bentley PR minions. This is "A new direction, set apart in style and scent, from the wider Bentley Fragrance portfolio, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary," the minions continued. "The fragrance instantly evokes a sense of boundless freshness and vibrant possibility through a dazzling citrus burst of sweet orange and bergamot." Partnering with Symrise, renowned supplier of recycled and renewable ingredients, Bentley BECOME’s composition "harnesses cutting edge innovation and artisanal sourced plants and flowers." Taking inspiration from the core Bentley design principles, the Bentley BECOME bottle design "is sleek and refined, offering both sophistication and modernity." Editor-in-Chief's Note: Why ask why? -PMD

 

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