1998 Autotech-Tuned Volvo S40 T4 Shows Lamborghini Gallardo Who's The Speed Boss


Of all the models that have worn the Volvo badge over the years, the first generation of the S40, which was co-developed with Mitsubishi and shared a common platform and engines with another mind-numbing model, the Carisma, ranks very high on the uncool-meter.

However, this particular S40 has a little something that its regular siblings don't: 420-horses rumbling under its hood. We're told that it's a 1998 Volvo S40 T4, which in factory guise was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four delivering 197hp (200PS), but this one is tuned by Autotech. It's unclear whether the 420-horses are measured on the crankshaft or the wheels.

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VW to Unveil Golf GTI Study at Wörthersee Previewing Faster Production Model


At next week's 2013 GTI meet at Wörthersee, Austria, Volkswagen will bring a new Golf GTI concept car that previews an upcoming high-performance variant of the hot hatch.

VW research and development boss Ulrich Hackenberg confirmed to Car Magazine that a concept car previewing a future version of the GTI will be revealed at the tuning show.“It won’t have as much power as the Golf GTI W12. It will be more realistic,” Hackenberg told the British publication.

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Man Charged for...Drunk Walking Over Need for Speed Movie Barricades, Plus New Film Footage


In the Need for Speed racing games, players break the law with their cars, but the story of Joseph Paul Kuhn, is one far less glamorous. Police arrested the 26-year old man after he allegedly crossed barricades for areas closed for “Need for Speed” movie filming at Macon, Georgia, not with a car, but by…foot.

The Macon Telegraph reported that Kuhn had been warned by officers redirecting traffic to not go through the barricades, but he made…a run for it and did it anyway. The young man was charged with public intoxication (we guess that would be Walking Under the Influence) and failure to obey officers.

Since we're talking about the upcoming Need for Speed movie, which is scheduled for release next year, we looked around and found new videos with chases shot by fans both in Mendocino, California, last month, and from Macon, Georgia, from earlier today (May 1, 2013). You can view the videos right after the break.

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New Lotus Exige S Roadster Announced in Promo Video


Lotus cars are unique machines, which reflect the company’s strict philosophy on cutting weight, keeping the size small and the driving dynamics agile. They are widely regarded as being very good driving and fun cars to chuck around a track or a twisty bit of road. Nowadays, if you were to say that a car “handles like a Lotus,” you’d be entering the realm of clichés – their handling is their party piece, and it is stating the obvious.

Now, the British automaker is enhancing its range, as it chopped off the roof of the Exige S creating the Roadster, which just made its official appearance in a video, announcing potential buyers that the car is “ready for the summer."

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Revised 2014 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster Announced for the UK


Mercedes-Benz has updated its SL roadster for the 2014 model year in Britain, with the most significant change being the introduction of the new SL 350 and SL 500 AMG Sport variants that replace the base versions of the respective models, and which come with new styling appointments and enhanced standard equipment.

Despite all the upgrades worth £6,625, the new SL 350 and SL 500 AMG Sport models are actually priced lower at £69,960 OTR (-£2,570) and £79,970 OTR (-£3,520) respectively, than the base models they replace.

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MotorTrend Gives Us a Taste of Cuban Car Culture


Cuba is a very interesting place for so many reasons, but to us it’s all down to the cars. MotorTrend recently posted a video shot on the island, showing just what kinds of automobiles its residents drive – it’s mostly American classics from the 1950s, with a sprinkling of Ladas.

There are no new cars to speak of in the country, and the embargo imposed by the US makes sourcing parts extremely difficult (and expensive). Most of the classics on the road have had their engines swapped, with the most common units used being from the Soviet Era.

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Wald International Hands Mercedes-Benz Viano Some Styling Oomph


Large people carriers like the Mercedes-Benz Viano, which in some countries, including Japan, is sold as the V-Class, are designed from the offset to put the emphasis on practicality and spaciousness, leaving the eye candy-aspect of the build on the side.

While you can't convert a minivan originally developed to transfer goods into a sleek looking sports car, you can spice up its appearance, which brings us to Wald International and its Mercedes-Benz Viano program.

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