At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show that runs from March 5th to 15th, Audi pulled the covers off the most potent version of the TT, the RS which revives the spirit of the Audi quattro coupes of the 1980s with its 340-horsepower five-cylinder turbocharged engine. Available to order in Europe -but unfortunately, not in the States- in Coupe and Roadster forms from late March, Audi's new high performance sports cars will reach their first customers this summer.

The modern-day successor to the 200HP-plus quattro coupes of the Eighties gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine derived from the U.S.-market Jetta that develops 340-horsepower and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque. Power is channeled to all four wheels through a close ratio six-speed manual gearbox.

In the case of the Coupe, which weighs in at 1,450 kilograms (3,197 pounds), the power-to-weight ratio is 4.3 kilograms per HP while the Roadster that weighs in at 1,510 kilograms (3,329 pounds) is 4.4 kilograms per HP.

The TT RS Coupe sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62mph) in 4.6 seconds while the Roadster needs a tenth of a second longer (4.7 sec). In both cases the top speed is limited electronically at 250 km/h or 155 but Audi does offer buyers the option to increase it to 280 km/h or 174mph.

The standard TT's aluminum McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension has been retuned while at an extra cost the basic sports chassis can also be equipped with Audi's magnetic ride adaptive damping system. Braking power is provided by sizeable ventilated disc brakes with black four-piston aluminum calipers and diameters of 370mm at the front and 310mm at the rear.

With the exception of a few details such as the high-gloss black single grille with a frame in matt aluminum look and the fixed rear wing and, the RS does not differ much from the TTS models. Inside, the sports interior is finished exclusively in black, with brushed aluminium inlays and aluminium footrests and pedals, Silk Nappa leather sports seats and a thickly-rimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel.

For those looking for maximum differentiation, Audi offers 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, bucket seats with folding backrests and even Ibis White or Phantom black painted interior inlays at extra cost.

These are the first official photos of the new VW Golf GTD that was unveiled today at the 2009 AMI motorshow in Leipzig, Germany. As its nametag suggests, the GTD is the new Golf GTI's diesel counterpart and it is aimed at those who wouldn't mind trading off some dynamics for a thriftier ride. The GTD is powered by a 2.0-liter TDI common-rail turbodiesel producing 170HP at 4,200 rpm and most importantly, 350Nm or 258lbs of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. That's compared to the GTI's 210HP at 5,300 - 6,200 rpm and 280Nm or 207lbs between 1,700 and 5,200 rpm.

Like the GTI, the front-wheel drive Golf GTD will also offer, in addition to the 6-speed manual gearbox, an optional 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission. With the standard gearbox, the GTD accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 sec (DSG: 8.1 sec) and reached a top sped of 222km/h or 138mph (DSG: 220 km/h or 137mph). The corresponding figures for the GTI with a 6-speed manual gearbox are 6.9 sec for the sprint to 100km/h and 240km/h or 149mpg top speed.

On average, the Golf GTD consumes 5.3lt of diesel per 100km or 44.3mpg US, which is significantly better than the GTI's 7.3 lt / 100km or 32.2mpg. Theoretically, the GTD can cover a distance of about 1,000 kilometers or 622 miles on one tank of fuel (55 liters).

The GTD come equipped with a sport suspension and 17-inch alloy "Seattle" wheels while the sportiest diesel-powered Golf borrows the designs of the front bumper, the radiator grille and the headlights of those on the GTI. However, the typical horizontal red strips in the GTI's grille are chromed on the GTD.

Inside, the GTD boasts sport seats in black and white plaid as well as a three-spoke steering wheel flattened along the bottom edge, a brake handle with a leather gaiter and light-grey seams and a black moulded headliner.

In Germany, the base price for the GTD which will be available in three- and five-door variants is €27,470 or with the current exchange rates, $US37,400.