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The Team Honda Research S2000 CR attacks the track in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

In the eyes of most consumers, Honda is a company that builds safe, dependable and economical vehicles. Models such as the Accord, Civic and CR-V are perennial favorites that deliver fuss-free transportation with minimal time spent in the shop. They offer features that help them shine in the showroom, backed by Honda’s long-standing reputation for reliability.

This history of reliability, however, didn’t happen overnight. Technological innovation has been a driving force at Honda since the company’s inception, as has participation in international motorsports. From Grand Prix motorcycles to Formula 1 and Indy Cars, Honda has competed in the highest forms of racing to help produce the most durable, technologically advanced products possible.

S2000 CR — The Ultimate S2000

The latest example of this racetrack-to-real-world transition is the 2008 S2000 CR roadster. Designated “CR” for Club Racer, this most performance-oriented of Hondas is the final step in the 8-year evolution of the S2000 and by far the most potent. As the CR badge suggests, this is a street-legal production car that has been optimized for track use. Whether it’s track-day lapping, autocrossing or wheel-to-wheel racing, the S2000 CR is equipped to compete.

Upgrades over the standard 2008 model are selective, yet effective. To improve its already-impressive handling, changes have been made to the chassis, suspension and body work to sharpen its reflexes and improved stability at high speeds.

A new rear body brace contributes to chassis rigidity, while specially tuned shocks, springs and stabilizer bars stiffen the suspension to cope with the demands of the track. A revised front air dam and new rear spoiler reduce aerodynamic lift at triple-digit speeds, further improving the CR’s high-speed dexterity over the standard S2000.

To save weight there’s neither a radio nor air conditioning, and the soft-top has been replaced by a removable aluminum hardtop. The 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, however, remains the same, putting out 237 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with shorter throws than stock. Lighter CR-specific 17-inch wheels and wider 255/40R17 rear tires finish off the upgrades.

Tuned for Competition

On the track, pretenders are quickly separated from contenders. To illustrate this, a team of engineers from the Honda R&D Americas facility in Raymond, Ohio, took two virtually stock S2000 CRs and went racing. Highly skilled at engineering next-gen Accords and Civics, these guys are just as passionate about building winning race cars. All are accomplished racers in their own right in both the national amateur ranks and at the professional level.

The event the Team Honda Research engineers chose for their ultimate torture test is the country’s longest sports-car endurance race, the U.S. Air Force 25 Hours of Thunderhill — www.nasa25hour.com .

With nearly 70 cars on track at the same time, this twice-around-the-clock annual event has quickly become a favorite among amateur and professional racers alike. It splits cars into five classes, which include machines from nearly every corner of the automotive landscape. It’s not uncommon to see Mustangs battling BMWs, Miatas trading paint with Civics, or even open-cockpit sports racers hounding a Grand-American Daytona Prototype.

Timo Scheider’s story ended when he jumped the lights and earned a drive through penalty. He climbed back up to 10th overall, earning zero points.

Kristensen had a great race and possibly could have climbed into second overall but at one point was blocked by Susie Stoddart. She was under investigation. He was running 20kg of extra weight.

Other 2008 cars w/ 20kgs: Ekstrom/8th, Scheider/10th and Tomczyk/17th.

Oliver Jarvis placed 5th in his 2007 Audi A4 DTM.

Overall, Audi had 6 cars in the top 10.

Full report soon.

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Audi hit the red carpet last night at the premiere of Iron Man, the summer blockbuster from Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios due in theaters May 2. Celebrities arrived at the event in Audi R8’s, Audi Q7 SUV’s and A8L sedans. Tony Stark’s car, the Audi R8, was also on display on the red carpet.

The following stars drove to Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theater in the exclusive Audi R8, which has a 2-year waitlist: Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau and Terence Howard. Gwyneth Paltrow arrived in an Audi A8L W12 sedan, and Jack Black, Leslie Bibb and Vince Vaughn were escorted in Audi Q7’s.

Other celebrities in attendance included Rosanna Arquette, Beau Bridges, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, and Jon Voight, among many others. Following the film, the stars enjoyed the festive Audi-sponsored after party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. All images from the event are available on WireImage.

“Audi is thrilled to celebrate two great properties this evening – Iron Man and the R8,” said Jeff Kuhlman, Chief Communications Officer for Audi of America. “Hollywood is the perfect opportunity to showcase this exciting performance of the R8, starring alongside the stellar cast of this crowd-pleasing movie.”

Earlier in the day, a motorcade of 10 police-escorted Audi R8’s blitzed the Los Angeles area, the greatest number of R8’s ever to be driven together in the U.S. The vehicles started in downtown Los Angeles and circulated throughout Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and Brentwood, ending at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

In the hotly awaited film, Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark – the title character in the film. His superpowers are the result of the highly versatile and indestructible high-tech armor that he developed himself. When he is without his suit, the technically-adept billionaire relies on the Audi R8. The leading lady, Oscar® winner Gwyneth Paltrow (Virginia “Pepper” Potts), drives an Audi S5 in the film.

Audi has developed a micro-site for the film available at www.audi.com/ironman. The site includes exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interviews with the cast and crew, Audi Iron Man commercials, background on use of Audi vehicles on the movie set, etc.

“Iron Man” also stars Oscar® winner Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar® nominees Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges and Shaun Toub. “Iron Man“ is directed by Jon Favreau from a screenplay by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway. The film is produced by Avi Arad and Kevin Feige. The executive producers are Louis D’Esposito, Peter Billingsley, Jon Favreau, Ari Arad, Stan Lee and David Maisel.

About Audi of America

Audi of America, Inc. offers a line of luxury vehicles that include the Audi A3 sport compact; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models, the high-revving RS 4 sport sedan and Cabriolet; the all new A5 Coupe with FSI direct injection technology; the S5 Coupe with 354 hp; the design-leading A6 sedan and Avant; the V-10 powered high performance S6 sedan; the Audi Q7 performance SUV; the new all-aluminum Audi A8 and A8L; the new S8 with V10 power; the all-new 2008 TT Coupe and Roadster models; and the all-new, all-aluminum R8, one of the most exclusive mid-engine sports cars in the world.

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Audi has let loose with more details — many being Euro-specific — regarding its upcoming TT sport coupe variants, the performance-oriented TTS and diesel-powered TT TDI. For starters, we’ve learned that the TTS will hit European showrooms in early summer and will start at 44,900 euros for the Coupe and 47,750 for the Roadster.

Representing the performance end of the TT spectrum, the TTS will offer 278 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine. In Europe, the TTS will be offered with both a six-speed manual and Audi’s S tronic DSG transmission, while in the U.S., we’ll only get the S tronic. Not to fear though, Audi says the dual-clutch transmission provides for quicker acceleration than the manual, giving 0-62 mph sprints in just 5.2 seconds. In addition to featuring Audi’s magnetic ride adjustable suspension, beefed-up brakes, a short-shift gear lever, and new 18-inch wheels, the TTS will also receive a rear spoiler that deploys automatically at 75 mph.

Meanwhile, the TT TDI will reach German showrooms by the end of the first half of this year at a cost of 34,850 euros for the Coupe and 35,900 euros for the Roadster. Both will be powered by a 2.0-liter TDI common-rail diesel engine with 170 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque — enough to propel the Coupe from 0 to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds, with the Roadster just 0.2 seconds behind. Backing those numbers up is the TT TDI’s average fuel economy rating of 43 mpg — a vast improvement over the standard gasoline-powered variant — and Euro V emissions compliance. The TT TDI will feature standard Quattro all-wheel drive and ESP stability control, while Audi’s magnetic ride suspension will be available optionally.

We’ll be bringing you more information on U.S. TTS and TT TDI pricing when it becomes available.

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