An interesting feature of Speed Devils consists of the obstacles that the game throws in front of the races, like rolling boulders and sometimes even dinosaurs. The action of the game takes place in exotic locations like Aspen, Nevada, Mexico and even Hollywood. Other online street games like Street Racers Syndicate are a bit more serious: there are no dinosaurs falling from the sky and you need to drive carefully in order to make sure that you win the game. This game features 50 licensed cars with models from Subaru, Toyota, Lexus and Mitsubishi and was released for PS2, Xbox, PC and Nintendo GameCube. In order to win the game you must do more than just win a street race. The money you earn racing are more important in deciding the winner of the game and you will lose money if you need to repair your car after every race. Street Racers Syndicate is one of the few online games that actually encourages safe driving.
More than 75 percent of the diesel engines sold in the passenger car and SUV segments in the United States can be found under the hoods of Volkswagen and Audi models. Ever since 1977, when Volkswagen first offered a diesel in the Rabbit, the company has sold more than one million cars and SUVs powered by these engines in this market. High-mileage, TDI Clean Diesel Volkswagen models accounted for 21 percent of sales in November and 24 percent of sales year-to-date, the best year-to-date results on record. In 2013, Audi showed it intends to remain at the forefront of clean diesel expansion in the U.S. Audi Q5 TDI, A6 TDI, A7 TDI and A8 TDI models. Those premium models joined the Audi Q7 SUV in the market, and next summer Audi will introduce its most fuel-efficient model, the all-new A3 TDI sedan. Volkswagen offers Clean Diesel technology in seven different models, six of which get an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 40 mpg or more on the highway. The models include the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat and Touareg.
When the special-edition R32 retired, the new-and-improved GTI returned to the top of the Volkswagen Golf range. Not for long, though, as Volkswagen is introducing the R32's successor -- the Golf R -- at the hometown Frankfurt auto show. Powered by a direct-injected, turbocharged, and intercooled 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces an impressive 270 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque, the Golf R is far and away the most powerful production Golf Volkswagen has ever offered. After power leaves the engine and travels through either the manual or DSG transmission, it's routed into the latest version of Volkswagen's 4MOTION AWD system. Unlike previous generations, the latest AWD unit doesn't need to wait for a speed differential between the front and rear axles to leap into action and can vary the power split between the axles continuously. If needed, it can even route nearly 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels. To match the enhanced power, Volkswagen has also done some work on the suspension.
The Golf R rides nearly an inch lower than the Mk VI GTI, itself already lowered versus the previous generation. MacPherson Struts in front and a multilink setup in rear remain, though the spring rates, dampers, and stabilizer bars have been retuned to offer better handling performance. Brakes are stout 13.6-inch discs up front and 12.2-in. units out back. On the electrical side, Volkswagen's Electronic Stability Program has been updated with a new Sport setting that will allow the driver more leeway before stepping in. When equipped with the optional Dynamic Chassis Control, the power steering also adjusts itself depending on the driving mode selected -- Normal, Comfort or Sport. To distinguish the Golf R from the standard Golf and GTI, Volkswagen designers massaged the bodywork and came up with new front and rear bumpers and new side skirts. Inside, the gloss black theme carries on with piano-black paint on the spokes of the leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel. Grey and Black "Kyalami" sport seats -- named for the South African racetrack -- are standard and race seats are optional. R logos on the special shifter and embroidered on the headrests, steering wheel, aluminum doorsill plates, carpets, and special gauge cluster make certain you and your passengers don't forget you aren't driving any normal Golf. Stainless steel pedals, automatic climate control, and a CD/MP3 stereo complete the package.If you're lucky enough to live in Germany, the special-edition Volkswagen Golf R goes on sale at the end of this year. Other markets haven't been announced yet, but given that the R32 found its way to America, there's hope the Golf R will as well. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but expect it to cost significantly more than a standard Golf or GTI.
