It Came from Kyrgyzstan: Steel Drake’s Volkswagen Concept Sports Car

Imagine for a second that, in the very near future, Audi is facelifting the TT to look more like its big brother R8. Then, halfway through the project, Audi cans it and hands over all its sketches and prototyping model to Volkswagen which then decides to put the two-door coupe into production.

Kyrgyzstanian graphic designer “Steel Drake” has created something very much fitting with this scenario in the form of his Volkswagen Concept Sports Car. Looking like a scaled-down, front engined Audi R8, Steel Drake’s Concept Sports is a simple-yet-sleek design let down only by some questionable design choices.

Take for instance the drooping taillights that seem more befitting a Chinese car than one built in Germany, or the peculiar concave curves around the doors that seems stuck on rather than an integral part of the design. Otherwise it’s quite good looking, though perhaps more something Infiniti would produce than Volkswagen.

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By Tristan Hankins

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Audi Delivers First TT RS 360HP to U.S. Customer

The very first example of Audi's highly anticipated TT RS sports coupe to be sold in the USA has been delivered to veteran race car driver Don Istook, who was one of more than 11,500 fans to sign the German firm's TT RS petition drive on Facebook.

The Fort Worth native is an old acquaintance of Audi as Istook was one of the first drivers to race the original Quattro coupe in the U.S. in 1985, while he also raced S4 models in the Motorola Cup, which became the Grand-Am Cup. More recently, he has raced TT quattro coupes.

Upon receiving the keys to car, Istook stated:

"Having raced at almost every major track in the U.S. and Canada, I've pushed the limits in many cars in my 34 years as a race car driver. I like my street car to give me some of that thrill. With my new Audi TT RS, I not only get that thrill, but I also get that 'race car' sound.”

“Superb brakes and handling go right along with the magnificent power from the 2.5-liter turbo, especially the low end torque,” Istook continued. “It reminds me of the mid 80's when we raced the original 5 cylinder turbo Audi Quattro. What is great, though, is that I get all of that, yet I have the refinement, sophistication and technology of a truly modern sports car."

However, the first U.S. owner of the 360HP TT RS won't de driving the car just yet: “Interest in the return of the RS marquee has been so strong that Mr. Istook is allowing us to keep his TT RS at the dealership longer to show Audi fans and customers,” said Bobby Baillargeon, owner of Forth Worth Audi.

Powered by Audi's 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five, the 2012 TT RS can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 174mph (280km/h). U.S. prices, including an $875 destination charge, start from $57,725.

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New 2012 Audi TT RS with 360-Horses Priced at US$56,850* in the States

After giving the green light to the U.S. specification TT RS last year, the flagship version of Audi’s sports coupe has finally arrived in the States. It will go on sale within the next few weeks with prices starting at $56,850 (*) excluding destination charges, taxes, title, options and dealer charges.

Interestingly, the North American version of the TT RS is more powerful than its European sibling as the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine is said to deliver 360-horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque between 1,650 and 5,400 rpm. The European market model is rated at 340HP and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque.

Power is channeled to all four wheels through Audi’s quattro system and a 6-speed manual gearbox. The brand with the four-rings says the TT RS accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in just 4.1 seconds en route to a top speed of 174mph (280km/h).

The TT RS also gets the Audi magnetic ride, which allows the suspension characteristic to be actively altered, bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels, a fixed rear wing, prominent body sills and exterior mirror housings in matte aluminum.

Standard features include special interior appointments such as the contoured 3-spoke sport multifunction steering wheel, aluminum door sills with the RS logo, and RS-specific interior door handles, along with 10-way power sport front seats with three-step heating, leather seat coverings, brushed aluminum interior inlays, and available LED ambient lighting.

Specifications
ENGINE:
Type: 2.5 liter turbocharged, in-line five-cylinder, spark-ignition engine with TFSI direct injection, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts [DOHC], turbocharger with intercooler.
Arrangement: Front mounted, transverse
Bore: 3.25 in (82.5 mm)
Stroke: 3.65 in (92.8 mm)
Displacement: 151 / 3.25 / 3.65 (2480 / 82.5 x 92.8)
Compression ratio: 10:01
Fuel: Unleaded Super, 95 RON (unleaded regular, 91 RON, as an alternative with slight reduction in performance)
Horsepower (SAE): 360 hp @ 5,500 - 6,700 rpm (265 kW)
Max. torque: 343 lb-ft @ 1,650 - 5,400 rpm (465 Nm)
ENGINE DESIGN:
Cylinder block: Cast iron
Cylinder head: Aluminum
Valve train / intake: DOHC, 4 valves/cylinder
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:
Battery: 380 amp, 80 amp/hr
Alternator: 140 amp
DRIVETRAIN:
Transmission: 6-speed manual, fully synchronized
Gear ratios:
1st 3.570
2nd 2.160
3rd 1.890
4th 1.430
5th 1.160
6th 0.097
Reverse 4.500
STEERING:
Type: Eletromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance
Ratio: 16.9 : 1
Turns (lock-to-lock): 2.9
Turning circle
(curb-to-curb): 35.96 ft (10.96 m)
SUSPENSION:
Front: MacPherson strut (gas charged) with aluminum 3-point lower control arm, aluminum sub frame, tubular anti roll bar, track stabilizing steering roll radius
Rear: Four-link rear suspension with separate spring/shock absorber arrangement
BRAKES:
Service brake: Dual-circuit brake system with diagonal split, ESC, hydraulic brake assistant, front and rear disc brakes ventilated
Front size: 14.6 in (370 mm)
Rear size: 12.2 in (310 mm)
Parking brake: Mechanically actuated at the rear wheels
WHEELS (standard only):
Size: Aluminum, 9Jx19
TIRES (standard only):
Size: 255/35 R19 Y
BODY:
Material: Hybrid ASF construction: Lightweight construction concept, which is a mixed construction using aluminum and steel
Corrosion protection: Multi-step anti-corrosion protection
CAPACITIES:
Engine oil: 6.9 qt (6.5 l)
Fuel tank: 15.90 gal (60 l)
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 97.2 in (2,468 mm)
Track front / rear: 61.2/ 60.9 in (1,555/ 1,546 mm)
Overall length: 165.3 in (4,198 mm)
Overall width: w/o mirrors 72.5 in (1,842 mm)
Height: 53.1 in (1,348 mm)
Curb weight, quattro: 3306 lb (1500 kg)
Drag coefficient: 0.32
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS:
Seating capacity: 2 + 2
Head room
front / rear: 37.7/ 32.6 in (957/ 829 mm)
Shoulder room
front / rear: 53.2/ 47.5 in (1,352/ 1,206 mm)
Leg room
front / rear: 41.1/ 29.3 in (1,044/ 743 mm)
Int. vol. (EPA)
front / rear: 47.7/ 26.2 cu ft
Luggage capacity
standard / seats folded: 13.1/ 24.7 cu ft (290/ 700 l)

PERFORMANCE:
0-60 mph 4.1
Top speed 174 mph
EFFICIENCY/ENVIRONMENT:
EPA estimate:
City mpg: Not available at present time
Highway mpg: Not available at present time
Combined mpg: Not available at present time

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