Donkervoort D8 GTO 400 HP

The long-nosed roadster was developed in close collaboration with Audi Quattro GmbH, which provided a modified version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five found under the hood of the RS3 and TT RS.

According to Donkervoort, the 2.5 TFSI has undergone a diet and lost 30 kg or 66 pounds over the standard Audi variant.

"This weight savings is obtained by redesigning several accessory parts of the motor together with the Audi technicians," says Joop Donkervoort, founder of the Dutch brand.

"For example, amongst others a new intake manifold was developed. Because the intake follows a more favorable route through the motor area it is not only lighter, but has a favorable effect on the achievements of the motor as well," he added.

According to Donkervoort, a special race module switch on the dashboard allows the driver to increase the 2.5 TFSI's output from 340HP to 400 HP.

To accommodate the bigger engine, the GTO is a size larger than its predecessors, the GT Coupe and the D8 270RS roadster, measuring about 350mm (13.8-in.) longer and 150mm (5.9-in.) wider.

The Dutch company says that the GTO shares only 5 percent of the parts with the D8 270RS and about 30 percent with the much more recent GT Coupe. The sports model is built on a tubular hybrid chassis made out of carbon fiber, aluminum and steel, and features a carbon composite body, which help keep the total weight down to around 700 kilos or about 1,550 pounds.

The GTO accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3.0 seconds and can reach a top speed of 255km/h (159 mph).

Production of the new car will begin in 2012 with deliveries of a first batch of 25 limited edition models expected in the summer. The regular versions of the GTO will arrive in Europe in the beginning of 2013 with prices ranging from €100,000 and €150,000 [US$130,700 - US$196,00] excluding taxes.

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2012 Chevrolet Camaro V6 323 HP

The revised engine is 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg) lighter and benefits from a thorough rework, including new cylinder head design, larger intake valves, new fuel pump and optimized-flow fuel injectors, among other changes.

2012MY Camaro SS coupes will be available with a new FE4 sport suspension, which improves handling. “We applied lessons learned from extensive track testing to better refine the suspension geometry for flatter cornering, a more neutral balance during hard turns, and minimized understeer at the limit,” says Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer.

The new suspension package includes retuned front and rear dampers, new solid front (23 mm) and rear (24 mm) stabilizer bars and 20-inch aluminum wheels.
The interior revisions for the 2012 model year Camaro concern the revamped instrument panel with different graphics and trim, a new steering wheel design (which looks exactly like the one found in the Sonic…) and a power lift feature for the passenger seat.

A new added feature is the Rear Vision Package, which consists of a rearview camera system. On the outside, the 2012 Camaro gets a new rear spoiler and the RS appearance taillamps as standard.
Chevrolet will also launch a 45th Anniversary Special Edition Camaro, set to be unveiled on April 15 in Arizona at the Camaro5 Fest II. The anniversary package will be offered on the top two trim levels (2LT and 2SS), for both coupe and convertible models. Special edition Camaros carry over all the 2012 upgrades and feature a unique rally stripe in red and silver painted over the Carbon Flash Metallic paint.

Model-specific exterior details include 45th Anniversary badges on the front fenders, new 20-inch dark silver wheels, RS-style taillamp lenses, fog lamp and taillamp bezels finished in dark silver, standard rear spoiler and HID headlamps and body-color roof molding.
On the inside, the 45th anniversary Camaro features a Jet Black interior with leather upholstery, a white instrument panel and door trim inserts, red, white and blue stitching on the seats, steering wheel, shift knob, door armrests and console lid. The 45th Anniversary logo can be found on the seats, steering wheel and sill plates.

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Video: Chevrolet Camaro Twin Turbo 1,810 HP

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2012 Audi S8 520 HP

The model will use a Bentley-sourced 4.0-liter twin turbo V8  that produces 520 hp (388 kW / 527 PS). If this is correct, the Audi would slot in between the 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS) BMW B7 Alpina and the 537 hp (400 kW / 544 PS) Mercedes S63 AMG. Of course, weight and traction will play a factor, so it'll be interesting to see how the car compares when the official specifications are released.

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