Audi R8 V12 new cars

The diesel Audi R8 looks almost identical to the petrol powered model especially with its LED car bulbs, however very eagle eyed spotters will notice that the carbon fibre side blades are slightly larger, which allows them to scoop larger volumes of air into the twin intercoolers. Being a diesel the R8 has an abundance of torque, over 700 lb ft, meaning you could leave this car in sixth gear all day and still be first away at the traffic light grand prix.

With all that torque available from right at the bottom of the rev range the Audi R8 diesel is no slouch hitting sixty in just over four seconds and accelerating up to 180 mph. Unfortunately like all diesels the R8's power band is very narrow and maximum revs occur at just 4500 rpm, however you can console yourself with the fact that the diesel powered R8 produces considerably less carbon dioxide than its petrol equivalent.

The making of the diesel powered Audi R8 has really pushed the performance boundaries of the diesel engine, however until Ferrari include a diesel powered car in their model range, I think its safe to say that the petrol engine still has plenty of time left.

New 2011 BMW M5

It's going to be hard to anticipate who is going to be happier in 2011, BMW aficionados or BMW stockholders. With the announcement of better than expected profits for the first half of 2010, shares in the German auto maker have soared making 2011 look very promising for investors. However, the second major announcement from BMW of this year is one sure to make owners and enthusiasts giddy.

Good News
Following the announcement of the first and second quarter profits, BMW announced the debut of some new features for the 2011 year models. From the subtle to the class re-defining, according to the engineers in Germany every model in BMW's lineup is slated to benefit from some interesting new technologies.

Automated Service Notifications
Aside from the performance and luxury mainstay features expected from BMW, a bevy of new technological enhancements have been added to 2011 year models. Perhaps the most exciting and innovative of these new features is TeleService, a utility designed to wirelessly communicate the need for service to an authorized BMW service center. Fully integrated into the new scaled down V-8 engine of the M-Series, this new technology will allow BMW owners piece of mind when dealing with vehicle maintenance. The TeleService monitoring system will be offered in only a few of the 2011 classes however BMW has announced plans to integrate the system into all of its fleet in the future.

Z-Class Innovations
Another model getting an innovative upgrade is the Z-class. The 2011 Z-class models will feature a button operated hand brake that will replace the standard lever operated mechanism. Not only is this a technical achievement it is a boon to Z-class drivers.

Upgrades
Almost every other model BMW offers will also see the benefits of new technologies. For instance the 2011 X5 will debut a new USB integrated sound system as well as automatic sunscreens for the back window. The 5 series will also receive some updates including a parking assist control as well ACC (Active Cruise Control).

Summary
The R&D department at BMW may have outdone themselves this year. With the inclusion of so many new features and technologies in the 2011 line of vehicles, BMW is yet again leading the auto industry in innovation.