Fiat 500 Abarth hits showrooms in the United States

The Fiat 500 design is similar to that of the MINI Cooper, and not surprisingly, was designed by the same individual, Frank Stephenson. But what differs greatly between the cars is what’s under the hood, and how big of a dent it’ll put in your back pocket.
Running on an eye-opening 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, maxing 94 horsepower, don’t expect to be winning any racing medals anytime soon. But if you’re not concerned about speed, the Fiat 500 can lift quite a burden on your finances.
When it hits the showroom in late 2010, it’s expected to become one of the best cars for fuel economy in the U.S., averaging almost 40+ mpg. Although no numbers have been officially released, the cost of the Fiat 500 is expected to be quite affordable. In terms of auto insurance, the Fiat is expected to be one of the most affordable in the U.S. due to its low cost, small engine, and high fuel economy.

2011 Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI Quattro Spyder

The topless version of the stupendously awesome Audi R8 supercar is finally official public knowledge. The reveal of the Spyder, which also will serve as Iron Man’s next ride, shows that the R8 looks just as amazing with its domed roof removed.

The R8 Spyder is being debuted only in 5.2 FSI form (Iron Man would accept nothing less, we hear), which means that a 525-hp V-10 with 391 lb-ft of torque rests under the sexy rear bodywork. In this case, front/rear weight distribution is split 43/57 percent, and Audi expects that the R8 5.2 FSI Spyder will be able to hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and 134 mph in 12.7 on its way to a top speed of 194 mph. Transmission choices remain a cool, six-speed gated manual and a six-speed R tronic automated manual.

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Nissan To Build Rear-Wheel Drive Electric Powered Sports Car

Nissan has plans to launch its own small sports car that will rival the Mazda MX-5. Nissan’s newcomer will have a rear-wheel drive system and will be powered by the Leaf’s electric drivetrain. At one point, Nissan wanted to revive the legendary rear-wheel drive 200SX but that was put on the back burner in 2008.

However, the project has been resurrected, and it will be part of Nissan’s ambitious plan to launch 52 new cars by 2016. Before the SX was shelved, the plan was for the car to sit on the 370Z platform, and would share the turbocharged 1.6-liter Juke engine that produces 188-hp. However, plans have changed again, and the car will likely have an entirely different name, using an all-new chassis. Last March, Daimler signed and agreement with Nissan to supply mid-size platforms to the Japanese automaker. The platform can accommodate anything from a four-banger to a V8, but nothing has officially been announced as of yet.