2009 Audi R8 on 2040-cars

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Jon Olsson's 1,000-hp Audi RS6 Avant stolen at gunpoint, burned

Swedish professional freeskier Jon Olsson loves some insanely modified vehicles, like his Rebellion R2K, but tragedy recently struck for one of his crazier former rides. The custom Audi RS6 Avant was a wild wagon with DTM-inspired bodywork and an engine tuned to a claimed 1,000 horsepower. Unfortunately, the machine was stolen in a brazen armed robbery. Making matters even worse, the crooks torched the car at the end of their joyride. Olsson drove the tuned RS6 in this year's Gumball 3000, and later sold it to a dealer in the Netherlands, according to Auto Evolution. Recently, the wagon was taking part in a photo shoot in Amsterdam. That's when two armed men showed up to steal the Audi. Somehow in the chaos, the robbers' van caught fire, and they got away with the RS6. The criminals weren't too clever, though, because they didn't think to grab the key from the owner's pocket, Car Throttle reported. That would have made the Audi much more difficult to start again, if they shut if off. Although, that apparently never became a problem. The crooks sped off and eventually dumped the car before police were ever able to get them. In a final act of destruction, the thieves also incinerated the one-of-a-kind RS6. An investigation is ongoing. Olsson's Instagram post below shows how little is left of this once incredibly cool wagon. "But now I am more motivated than ever to follow this build up with something just as good," Olsson wrote on his website. Poor poor #RS6DTM Such a sad sight! ??? Who would do such a thing! #hurtsmyheart A photo posted by Jonolsson1 (@jonolsson1) on Oct 15, 2015 at 8:03am PDT Related Video:

2016 Audi R8 looks like a promising second chapter [w/video]

Audi shook up the supercar market when it released the original R8 road car. Now, it's hoping to do the same with the second-generation of the handsome mid-engine star. But where the original R8 was something of an analog supercar, boasting a naturally aspirated V8 and a delightful gated shifter, this new model is something much different. Gone is the popular, high-revving 4.2-liter V8 and the snickety-snack transmission, although the 5.2-liter V10 that joined the original R8 later in its life remains. In base form, it turns out 540 horsepower in the second-gen R8, while the V10 Plus model can be had with an impressive 610 ponies. That's good for a sprint to 60 of just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 201 miles per hour in the former and 3.2 seconds and 205-mph in the latter. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is the sole gearbox, sending power to a revised Quattro all-wheel-drive system that's capable of shunting 100 percent of the engine's torque to the rear axle. Meanwhile, Audi has managed to shave 441 pounds by using a new Audi space frame, with more aluminum and carbon fiber than before. Weighing in at just 3,205 pounds, the R8 is slightly lighter than the new, V8-powered Ferrari 488 GTB, although it's not quite as light as its cousin, the 3,135-lb Lamborghini Huracan. And of course, we can't forget to mention the R8's new look. It's very clearly an evolution of the first-gen's handsome styling. A strong grille and canted headlights, inspired by the TT and the concepts that came before it, highlight the front end, while Audi has opted to bisect the last-gen car's side blades with a body-color section of sheet metal. In back, slim taillights, exhausts that have been integrated into the rear bumper and a central diffuser are the main styling features. Opt for the V10 Plus, and you'll get a sizable rear wing, for added downforce. Take a look at our full gallery of live images from Geneva for a closer look at the new Audi R8.

BMW says SUVs killed the sports car market

In many ways, we're living in a golden age of automotive performance. After all, it's possible to show up at a Dodge dealer, hand over about $60,000 and storm away with a 707-horsepower Challenger Hellcat. Or for those who prefer a touch more luxury, the BMW M4, Mercedes-AMG C63 and latest Cadillac ATS-V offer between 425 and 503 horsepower, depending on your pick, with a bit more poshness. However, none of these powerful vehicles fit the classic definition of a two-place, droptop sports car, and according BMW head of sales Ian Robertson, that's because the segment is very much in the doldrums.
According to Robertson, two factors seriously wounded the classic sports car market. First, the global economic crisis of a few years ago put a serious hurt on sales, according to Bloomberg. Further worsening the situation, the boom in popularity of luxury SUVs and crossovers in the past few years hasn't allowed for much recovery. Even car-hungry China hasn't helped much because of the smog in many cities and preference among some of the very rich there to be chauffeured.
Combined, Audi TT, BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLK sales peaked around 114,000 units a year in 2007, but they are only expected to reach 72,000 annually by the end of the decade. Robertson is pretty pessimistic about the market's comeback too. "Post-2008, it just collapsed. I'm not so sure it'll ever fully recover," he said to Bloomberg.