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Story by Dubspeed Driven Staff Writer, Zerin Dube
Photos by Matt Chow and Zerin Dube, studio photo courtesy of the manufacturer

When we reviewed the 2006 Dodge Charger R/T earlier this year, we were pretty impressed. The Charger R/T is a wonderful package of power and performance, all rolled into one practical full-sized passenger sedan. The Charger R/T definitely hauls more than just passengers thanks to the fantastic 5.7-liter, 340 horsepower HEMI engine. But we at Dubspeed Driven are all about high-performance around here, and didn’t leave the Charger experience drooling as much as we’d hoped. Yes, the Charger R/T is one of the best all-around performance sedans for the money, but we wanted more.

Thankfully for us, the engineers at Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division felt the same way. They wanted to give the American muscle car enthusiast exactly what they wanted: more power, better handling, better braking, an ultra-aggressive exterior, and an interior that that was inspired by the racetrack. The result of all this hard work is the new Dodge Charger SRT8 sedan, and what a fantastic result it is.

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NOTE: Photos Coming Soon.

Audi has incorporated the name and the genes of the five-time Le Mans winner, the Audi R8, into a spectacular sports car. Three years after the unveiling of the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car, the production version will be making its debut at the Paris Motor Show in the guise of the new Audi R8 mid-engined sports model. It is a fascinating driving machine and the sporty pinnacle of the Audi brand. The mid-mounted 420 bhp V8 FSI engine, quattro permanent four-wheel drive and Audi Space Frame aluminium body form the basis for truly outstanding driving dynamics. The Audi R8 will be available to order from 28 September 2006; first deliveries will be made in the first half of 2007.

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DALLAS – GM North America President Troy Clarke announced today, just prior to the State Fair of Texas, that the most popular versions of the all-new 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty pickup trucks will be priced the same as the models they replace.

The industry leader in full-size pickup sales, GM has comprehensively redesigned the trucks with new exterior and interior designs, as well as powertrain, chassis and safety systems. Production of the trucks begins on Oct. 2, and they are expected to begin arriving in Chevrolet and GMC dealerships in early November.

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The 19th Annual NOPI Nationals in Atlanta, GA may have ended last weekend, but our coverage is just beginning. Anyone who has been to NOPI knows that the cars are just part of the fun, and this year was no exception. We have coverage of the 15 beautiful ladies who competed in the swimsuit finals this year, and there isn’t one that didn’t deserve to be in there. Yes, some of the suits are painfully tacky, but that won’t keep you from enjoying them.

Note: Normally we cover the preliminary and semi-final swimsuit contests, but lets just say that some of the entrants left a lot to be desired. We decided to spare you the pain and just cut to the best of them. We also apologize for the not up to par quality of the photos, but NOPI management decided to do away with the extended runway, leaving us with piss poor backlighting that even our flashes couldn’t always overcome. We hope you enjoy them anyway!

DEARBORN , Mich. , Sept. 22, 2006 – As crossover sales escalate at a blistering pace, the all-new 2007 Lincoln MKX joins the Lincoln showroom this November at a starting price under $35,000. It takes on a highly competitive market, challenging established players with a host of advantages – including value.

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COLOGNE , September 22, 2006: The all-new Ford Mondeo makes its world debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show between September 30 and October 15. Ford of Europe’s stylish new flagship model is being previewed in its wagon bodystyle in near production specification, with launch scheduled across Europe from the second quarter of 2007.

“The new Mondeo is critical to the Ford of Europe business,” said John Fleming, President and CEO of Ford of Europe. “The Ford Mondeo has always been a major player in the European CD segment, and with over four million owners looking for us to deliver something special, we have every intention of meeting their significant expectations with this all-new model.”

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Volkswagen has revealed the first photographs of its new Touareg luxury 4×4, ahead of its world public debut at the Paris Motor Show next week.

Sporting a new ‘face’, revised rear styling, updated interior and seats as well as the Dynaudio sound system as an option, the new Touareg will go on sale in the UK at the end of January 2007.

At the front, the new Touareg features a new grille, bonnet, front wings and bumper, plus new headlights and mirrors. The rear lights, spoiler, bumper and exhaust pipes have also been modified to freshen the 4×4’s appearance.

The new Touareg will feature new and revised technology, including ABSPlus and additional ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) features. ABSPlus has been developed and patented by Volkswagen and is a world first. The system shortens the braking distance by up to 20% on loose driving surfaces. New features have been added to the ESP, these include Active Rollover Protection (ARP), rain brake support, fading brake support and understeer control logic, which improves the turning behaviour in the event of understeer.

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CHICAGO, Sept. 20, 2006 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] will launch its all-new and highly anticipated 2007 Ford Edge crossover with a sticker price below $26,000, Cisco Codina, group vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, announced today at a meeting of the Midwest Automotive Media Association.

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Rüsselsheim. The CorsaVan concept study that Opel presents for the first time at the Paris Motor Show boasts sporty looks, high-quality interior and a large load capacity. Based on the new three-door Corsa, the model showcases how the Corsa’s dynamic style might look if transferred to a city van.

The CorsaVan concept car is the same striking glossy glamour red of the Opel GT debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. To create a bold contrast, the panels that replace the city van concept’s rear side windows are black. Distinctive sporty features include red front brake calipers, 17-inch alloy wheels with five-spoke design and OPC-line components, such as bumpers, side sills and rear spoiler.

Black leather sport seats with red side bolsters on the seat backs, and piano-lacquer surfaces familiar from the Corsa Cosmo create a fresh ambience in the two-seater’s interior. The concept car is powered by a 90 hp, 1.3 CDTI engine with a six-speed-gearbox, while the low sport chassis with the new Corsa Sport’s variable progressive steering ensures outstanding agile handling.

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Paris, Sep 20, 2006 -
Dodge is looking to spin the global D-segment with the all-new Dodge Avenger concept — a bold, styling statement that does away with the idea that a functional mid-size car is automatically boring. Avenger’s Dodge branded styling makes a definite statement in the D-segment, commanding attention and evoking attributes that define the Dodge brand: bold, powerful, capable and street smart.

This Avenger concept, finished in a striking Inferno Red, will appeal to car buyers around the world who need the practicality, functionality and fuel efficiency of a mid-size sedan, but want more, including a vehicle with pizzazz that stands out and makes a statement. Avenger’s bold Dodge styling, innovative features and solid performance would allow them to do just that. The Avenger concept hints at the next-generation global D-segment vehicle from Dodge.

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