The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place this weekend, July 3-5. You might not have booked your airfare to England yet, but fortunately you can use your friend the Internet to take a good look at what has become one of the foremost celebrations of automotive culture.
The Brits don't have a tradition of burnouts in the parking lot, so instead they do hillclimbs. And the Goodwood Festival of Speed is essentially a 1.16-mile hillclimb in someone's front yard, only this someone is the Earl of March and his estate at Goodwood becomes a stage for fast cars, famous people, and everything that's good about a life with automobiles.You can get a glimpse of the Goodwood Festival of Speed with what the event principals refer to as The Movie.
Audi has released its latest Multi-Media Interface (MMI), which is set to debut in the 2010 A3, TT and R8. The updated system gets an improved screen resolution and an "unmatched" route calculation thanks to a new processor clocked at 600MHz. The radio-navigation system, version E, will be able to read 32 gig SD memory cards.
Operation-wise, the driver and passenger can scroll vertically, horizontally and now even along the route. The "optical parking assistant" feature is also new, which displays the distance the front and rear is from an object on top of the standard Audi-o bleeps.
The system is estimated to start at $3,200, and you can check out the full release here.
BMW has improved its navigation "Search" feature to provide online access to up-to-date fuel prices, weather forecasts and, for those looking for a constant reminder of how much money they're losing, the major stock indices as well.
New and existing nav subscribers will have to purchase the optional BMW Assist Convenience Plan on BMW Assist and BMW Navigation system-equipped 2009 and 2010 models to get the service.
Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
We've all heard it a million times. Americans don't dig hatchbacks. The Euros can't get enough of them, but bring one to the States and it instantly becomes some kind of niche vehicle with a cult following. A very small cult following.
Audi knew all this when it introduced the A3 back in 2006, but it plowed ahead anyway. It was hoping that the A3's more reasonable price, potent 2.0-liter engine and useful configuration would finally win over some buyers who couldn't quite step up to an A4 Avant.
So how much are you giving up by choosing the A3 over the all-new A4 these days? The balance of power has shifted a bit, as the A4 now uses an upgraded 2.0T that delivers 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The A3's similar size four-cylinder continues with 200 hp and 207 lb-ft.
In this case, our A3 tester was helped out by the presence of a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive to save some weight. The more powerful A4 uses a traditional six-speed automatic funneled through a Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Care to guess which one was the better track car? Full details after the jump.
Inside Line has confirmed that the upcoming Audi R8 Convertible will appear in the sequel to Iron Man due out next May. Spotted on the Nurburgring almost a year ago, the soft-top version of the Audi R8 is expected to make its official world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
The Audi A6 needs a little help. It's still trying to escape from the shadow of the BMW 5 Series and now it has the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class to contend with too.
A full redesign is still a few years away, so for 2009 Audi served up a mild facelift and a new supercharged V6 engine to give it a lift. The upgrades made an already competent car that much better, but as Managing Editor Donna Derosa explains, the A6 is still a car caught in the middle. Get the rest of the story in our follow-up test of Audi's midsize sedan.
We showed you the Audi Sportback Concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show last January, and now the vehicle has come to fruition as the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback - looking pretty similar to the concept, too.
Although all we get is a shot of its upper rear end, you can see that the production Sportback keeps many of the concept's lines and even the chrome trim around the windows. However, the taillights stray from the concept vehicle and have a more traditional Audi design.
Audi says the sexy 2010 A5 Sportback will start at around $50,000 for the 2.0 TDI version (making 170 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque) and will roll onto European dealerships in September. Other options under the hood will be the 2.0 TFSI quattro with 211 hp and 258 lb-ft and the 3.2-liter V6 quattro that generates 265 horsepower.
According to an official statement from Audi, there are no plans to sell the A5 Sportback in the U.S. Rest assured, if the demand arises they'll find a way to squeeze into the lineup, so we'll have to keep an eye on its success in the European market.
Peugeot beat Audi to pole position for the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday, June 13. Both teams had spent much of the qualifying sessions working on race setups, but with ten minutes to go in the second session, Stephane Sarrazin took his no. 8 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP onto the circuit with orders to grab pole position away from Allan McNish in the no. 1 Audi R15 TDI.
Sarrazin threaded his way through slower cars on the 8.5-mile track to record a lap in 3:22.888, just 0.8 seconds quicker than McNish, for an average speed of 149.8 mph. This is the third consecutive pole at Le Mans for the Peugeot, while Audi has won the race overall eight of the last nine years. Both the diesel-powered sports cars are slightly slower around the track this year because of new regulations to make the gasoline-powered cars more competitive. The no. 7 Lola Aston-Martin was the quickest of these with a lap of 3:27.704.
Caspar Elgaard drove a Porsche Spyder RS to the pole in the LMP2 class in 3:37.720. The no. 63 Chevrolet Corvette C.6R of Jan Magnussen took the pole in the LM GT1 category with a best lap of 3.54.230, while the Porsche GT3 RSR of Flying Lizard Racing's Jorg Bergmeister took the pole for the GT2 category with a 4:03.202.
Audi's narrow victory over Peugeot in last year's race has revived interest in the endurance contest after a decade of dominance by Audi (and Bentley, its subsidiary), and enthusiasm has also been aroused by access through the Internet. Audi offers coverage through its own site (http://www.audir15tdi.com/) as well as sites on Facebook (fb.audir15tdi.com), Twitter (tw.audir15tdi.com), and YouTube (yt.audir15tdi).
If you have never driven on a race track, you should. If your skills are weak, track time will make them better. And if you think you're an undiscovered Tony Stewart, well then, get out there and prove it. The list that follows after the jump gives some ideas where you might try your luck both on the road and in the dirt.
Writing about the best used performance cars for $5,000 was a challenge. At that price point, you're either going to get lucky and find a gem, or get unlucky and end up shelling out another $5,000 to keep a basket case running.
So with that in mind, we decided to bump the price floor to $10K to start and see what we could find. The talent pool is much deeper for sure, although the possibility of a clunker is still there if you're not careful.
So take a look at our list and see what you think. Anything we missed?
The 2009 Audi AS5-R by Abt Sportsline bolts up a twin-screw supercharger that helps to deliver a much healthier 503-horsepower. There's also 457 pound-feet of torque available, so the stock S5's softness off the line should is cured. At least that's what contributor Matt Davis says after a drive in the German countryside. We hope Audi has something similar in mind for the RS5.
Microsoft has released this video in conjunction with this morning's E3 press conference. Not a huge amount to see here in terms of gameplay, other than the aforementioned Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10. Ample face time for the Ford GT, too. And there's drifting -- courtesy of an E92 M3 and a 370Z.
In case you're living under a rock, the big video game convention, E3, is happening this week in Los Angeles. The Xbox-only Forza series of racing games have always lived in the shadow of Sony's more popular PlayStation-based Gran Turismo series -- this despite the fact that Forza and Forza 2 are actually really good games.
But this is never-say-die Microsoft we're talking about, and at this morning's press conference, the company announced that Forza Motorsport 3 for the Xbox 360 will include the most highly coveted Audi R8 of them all -- the R8 5.2 FSI V10. Audi says it has been working with Microsoft's in-house developer, Turn-10, to ensure the game car has all the right moves and sounds.
Equally important for the GT-vs-Forza wars, Forza 3 will let you wreck your car in full-on rollover crashes, something Turn-10's Dan Greenwalt demonstrated during today's press conference. Microsoft also announced Forza 3 will be released in October -- two months ahead of the anticipated holiday release for Gran Turismo 5.
To help build anticipation for the game, Microsoft and Audi announced the AXF-24 Audi-Forza Challenge. The top 9 ranked Forza 2 racers on Xbox Live will be invited to New York on June 13-14 to play Forza 3 in a 24-hour endurance race. Drivers will be divided into three teams, and the winning team gets an all-expenses-paid trip to the real 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Microsoft has separately announced a contest in which you can design a skin for the Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 and compete to win a wireless steering wheel.
Will we ever get this hopped up TT in the U.S.? The jury is still out, but as contributor Alistair Weaver points out, as good as it looks on paper, the Audi TT-RS doesn't always feel like the Boxster-killer that its spec sheet suggests. See why in our exclusive test drive from Europe.
A report in the German press of an all-electric Audi R8 appears to be a little optimistic. Auto Motor und Sport claimed that the alt-power R8 would appear alongside the R8 convertible at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
When we contacted Audi to confirm the story, a spokesman gave us a much different and very precise answer: "Nope, not true."
So at this point, it depends on who you believe, but we won't be expecting anything more than the convertible in Frankfurt at this point.
So Abt's Audi R8 LMS didn't win the GT3 class at the 2009 ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hour Race. So what? It's still an R8, which means it looks cool not winning an endurance race or sitting in our driveway. And as the race version of the R8 5.2 FSI V10 we might never see in the U.S., the R8 LMS is certainly the coolest R8 to date.
More videos of the R8 LMS after the jump, including Audi's moody promotional video released last year but re-posted here for your re-viewing satisfaction.
If you didn't find a way to watch German TV over the holiday weekend, there's now plenty of footage of the 2009 ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hour Race for online consumption. Here's an extra long video of the Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that won the Nurburgring 24. The 911 started on pole, and was driven by Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb and Marcel Tiemann.
One of the four Abt Sportsline-built Audi R8 LMS cars took second at the Nurburgring 24. It was driven by Christian Abt, Jean-Francois Hemroulle, Pierre Kaffer and Lucas Luhr. More details on the finishers can be found here.
Interestingly, Berhard and Dumas, both former Porsche Spyder RS shoes, announced today that they will team up with Alexandre Premat to drive Audi R15 TDI number 3 at Le Mans.
Two more videos after the jump. One shows the Manthey Porsche on the Nordschleife at night, since this is after all a 24-hour race. The other shows the start of the race.
Practice begins on Thursday, May 21, for the most important motorsports event of the year. No, not the Indianapolis 500. Not the Grand Prix of Monaco. And not the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Of course I'm talking instead about the ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hour Race. This will be the 37th running of this endurance race on the 14.2-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife, and 220 cars take the green flag. If your German language skills are up to speed, you can even follow along on the event's Web site, which features plenty of video clips: http://adac.24h-rennen.de.
The Nurburgring 24 has become the leading motorsports test of production cars, and all the car companies build specially tuned hot rods, and that includes Aston Martin and Lexus as well as the usual suspects from Germany.
This year Audi is making a big effort with its recently developed Audi R8 LMS, a GT3-class version of its midengine sports car. The car has been built and developed by Abt Sportsline and four examples are entered. It's the 100th anniversary of the Audi nameplate, so the guys from Ingolstadt are pretty serious about winning this thing.
There will be a motorcade around the circuit on Wednesday, May 20, and practice begins on Thursday, May 21. The race begins on Saturday, May 23, at 4 p.m. local time. If you can get access to Germany's DSF broadcast network, you'll find the 14 hours of coverage worth watching. These guys will be catching some serious air. -Michael Jordan, Executive Editor
Photos of an Audi RS6 Avant involved in a single-car crash. We don't know how the driver managed to destroy his car this completely, but as you'll see, he did walk away from the fallen Audi.
With the 2009 Q5, Audi has introduced its next-generation MMI (Multi-media Interface).
Although it has always been a good system, MMI now features some improvements that improve the setup's user friendliness. We take an in-depth look at the new features to see just how far Audi has come.
Audi of America will drop use of the Volkswagen-derived, narrow-angle VR6 six-cylinder engine for the 2010 model year.
The engine, which dates back to the '90s VW Corrado/Passat days, has grown to 3.2-liters over the years and produced 250 horsepower in the 2009 TT and A3. But the VR6 doesn't use direct-injection like Audi's newer engines (2.0T and 3.2 V6). The company will also drop the front-drive 2.0-liter turbo TT.
The company will also limit use of its more conventionally arranged 3.2-liter V6. The 265-hp V6 will no longer be available in the A4 sedan. Almost all A4s will be powered by the 2.0 turbo. The S4, that arrives later this year, will be the step up engine in the line. It will use the supercharged 3.0-liter that's just gone into the A6. It will be available in the A5 coupe, but only with the automatic transmission. In other A5 news, the ubiquitous 2.0T will be offered as the base engine in the two-door.
And you better get your order in for your V-10-powered S8 super-sedan soon because that model will be discontinued for the 2010 model year. The S6 carries on with the Lambo-sourced V10 and so does the R8 5.2 V10 which also arrives in the U.S. as a 2010 vehicle. And the range-topping, black-tie-wearing A8 W12 is dead too. Not a big surprise given that the car sold only about 100 units last year (no, we didn't forget a zero in that number).
Looks like the Volkswagen group had a little meeting to figure out its production plans for the next couple of years as Audi has also announced some upcoming production plans. The Q3, a compact SUV loosely based on the Cross Coupe Concept, will be built in Martorell, Spain starting in 2011 Audi announced today.
According to Audi's press release, the Q3 will be, "a coupe-like five-door SUV with seat positions, wheel size, and ground clearance characteristic of a typical SUV. The Q3 will blend a compact car's design and driving dynamics with an SUV's spaciousness and versatility."
So yeah, nothing really new here, just another vehicle to slot into the lineup in an effort to conquer BMW.
Maybe you've seen pictures of the 2010 Audi RS5 before. The prototypes were caught roaming around the California desert in varying degrees of camouflage last summer. But other than indicating that the program was indeed proceeding, the cobbled-together test mules didn't expose any details.
Now the RS5 is undergoing high-speed testing on the Nurburgring, and the prototypes look a little more finished. Our spy video also gives us our first chance to hear the high-performance coupe, and it delivers a good hint at what's under the hood.
You may not notice it from the pictures, but this is the reskinned 2010 Audi Q7. The changes are so slight as to be unnoticeable, so we'll point them out for you.
In terms of design, the grille has been given chrome vertical bars while the lower fascia gets a skidplate-looking thing. You'll also notice the glittery looking light cluster. It's now available with optional LED marker lights that add what is quickly becoming a distinctive light signature for all Audi's.
New window moldings change up the profile of this Q7 while the rear end gets a two-tone paint job along with an aluminum tailgate to save weight. Interior upgrades are also minimal as the most noticeable enhancements are a new instrument panel and additional chrome accents throughout the cabin.
Although Europe gets to choose from six engines in the Q7, U.S. versions will offer just three. A new 3.6-liter V6 with 280-hp, a 4.2-liter V8 with 350-hp and a new 50-state legal 3.0-liter TDI V6. A six-speed automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive is standard with all engines.
Is the 2009 Audi Q5 a useful utility vehicle, or nothing more than a shrunken Q7? Executive Editor Michael Jordan takes a closer look at this new luxury SUV in our first full test of Audi's newest midsize crossover.
Do you like the size and looks of the 2009 Audi Q5, but can't stomach the thought of paying $37,000 for it? Well don't give up on the mini-Q7 just yet. An Audi official told Inside Line that it's only a matter of time before a base Q5 with the company's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is added to the lineup. "It's a question of when, not if," he told us.
With 211-horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the four-cylinder should move the Q5 with acceptable speed while dropping the base price considerably. In the A4 quattro sedan, the price difference between the 2.0T and 3.2-liter V6 is $7,350, so the base Q5 should drop much closer to $30,000.
A Volkswagen Tiguan with the same engine and 4Motion all-wheel drive starts at $28,875. The Q5 won't offer a front-wheel drive model.
Audi officials have told Inside Line that the much anticipated R8 convertible is on the way, but not until next year. Prototypes caught testing last summer showed R8s with a full convertible top, a feature that product planners in the U.S. preferred over a less complicated targa setup. "We fought for a full convertible instead of smaller targa roof," an official from Audi USA told Inside Line.
The extended time frame will allow for more time between the launch of the convertible and the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI Quattro. There was some initial hesitation from Audi USA regarding Stateside sales of that model, but it has now been confirmed for arrival later this year. And will the V10 fit with the convertible top? "Yes, it all fits," the Audi official told us.
The car is a lot more complicated electronic device than any iPod you can imagine. When you're behind the steering wheel, there's a lot of stuff on the menu: ventilation controls, audio entertainment options, navigation system, calibrations for the powertrain and chassis. It's no wonder that car designers have been trying to figure out what to do about operating all this stuff.
Designers have long recognized that a simple touch-panel display possesses superior Human Machine Interface (HMI) qualities, yet they continue to seek a more elegant solution than the customary computer screen jammed in the middle of the dashboard. This is what led BMW to bring us iDrive in 2001, followed subsequently by Audi's MMI and Mercedes-Benz's COMAND. Now even Lexus is headed down this route to the remote-control device, replacing its widely admired touch-panel display with its Remote Touch interface for the 2010 Lexus RX.
It feels like we've been waiting too long for the 2010 Audi RS5 to arrive. First spotted in prototype form last summer, the high-powered coupe was expected to debut in Geneva.
Instead, we got the RS version of the TT. Not a bad placeholder, but hardly the big-displacement coupe we were hoping to see. These new spy photos prove there's definitely an RS5 on the way, however, so it shouldn't be long before Audi unleashes the V10-powered coupe.
This latest prototype shows off some revised bodywork in back, but the wheels certainly aren't new. Expect to see something a little more exotic at each corner when the production version debuts later this summer.
Everything you need to know about sports car racing you can find on iTunes.
Truth in 24, the feature-length documentary about Audi's effort at 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, is now available for free download from iTunes. It can be played on Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod or a widescreen television equipped with Apple TV. An HD version will be available next week.
Sponsored by Audi and produced by NFL films, Truth in 24 is the best portrayal of racing on film since Steve McQueen's Le Mans (1971). It gives the annual sports car race a human face, yet respects the speed and technology that make the spectacle so compelling. It's a movie about cars, not just racing.
Audi has triumphed at the classic French endurance race every year but once since 2000. Until last year it did so largely without competition, and it's been easy to wonder whether the company has simply turned the event into an elaborate marketing exercise. With Truth in 24, we can see that Audi has instead managed to revive the culture of sports car racing, giving it a relevance that Formula 1 and NASCAR so conspicuously lack.
Small cars were all the rage six months ago. Now dealers can't get them off their lots. Of course, they can't really get anything off their lots, but let's not mix up too many issues here.
Hard to tell who's right here. Sure, we probably don't need quite so many full-size SUVs, but does anybody really want to drive a compact hatchback? Maybe when they're 25 and poor, but what about when they're 35 and doing well for themselves?
Everyone always uses Europe as an example, but you know what rich people in Europe drive? S-Class sedans, and 7 Series sedans and A8s. And if they're really rich - Jeep Grand Cherokees. So yeah, they drive small cars when they have to, not because they really want to.
A race is kind of like a physics test, a high-speed evaluation of automotive machinery. But the best thing about sports car racing is, there isn't just one right answer.
The 12 Hours of Sebring provide a worthwhile reminder, as a surprising number of different exam booklets were submitted for the 57th running of the annual, twelve-hour endurance race in Florida. This road-racing event is part of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), one of the few racing championships that is about cars, not just money. In comparison, Formula 1 and NASCAR look like one-make spec-car series, where the only way to tell the cars apart is by color and sponsorship decals.
The Audi R15 TDI earned the gold medal in this particular physics test by narrowly winning the race by just 22.279 seconds over the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP with which it had rubbed fenders for virtually the entire 12 hours. But the Acura ARX-02a, BMW M3 GT2, and Lola B09/86-Mazda MZR-R also came up with some interesting answers.
Produced by NFL Films, "Truth in 24" is a full-length documentary that focuses on Audi's efforts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's been shown at various venues throughout the country, but tomorrow marks the first time it will be shown on national television, ESPN no less (8pm EDT).
Now a report from the 2009 Geneva Auto Show sounds a little more definite. Speaking with Automotive News, Global Sales and Marketing Chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said that Audi is working on brand awareness right now, so small cars are not a priority.
He went on to say that American consumers aren't ready for small cars with big price tags. As for Mini and Smart, Schwarzenbauer said their volumes are still relatively small. "I'm not so sure yet we really see a trend to small cars in the United States," he said.
You sort of expect an auction house named Bonham and Butterfields to be "delighted to offer for auction nothing less than one of the most charismatic Grand Prix racing cars ever built."
All delightfulness aside, this is a well-preserved racecar with a rich history. Powered by a rear-mounted 3.0-liter supercharged V12 and driven by the likes of Hans Stuck, "chassis 19" as it's known competed in the last pre-war season of grand prix racing, finishing sixth at the final race at Reims.
Bonhams says it expects bids in the $8M range when it goes to auction at the Quail Lodge on Aug. 14th.
The Audi AG mothership delivered its first ready-to-race, 500-hp R8 LMS racer to Audi Sport Italia Tuesday.
The new customer sport program -- not too dissimilar to what Porsche has had for years -- has lined up five other teams to run the R8 LMS in various European championships in the GT3 class. In addition to Audi Sport Italia the roster includes heavy hitters such as ORECA, Abt Sportsline and Team Rosberg. Audi says no official "factory" effort will be mounted.
The R8 LMS will first see action in the ADAC GT Masters race in Germany on April 13th. That will be the first of more than 40 races the R8s will contest during the 2009 season. And Audi has developed a special endurance version of the R8 LMS for 24 hour racing at the Nurburgring.
The V-10-powered R8 LMS was designed and is being built by Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH in a factory in Heilbronn-Biberach, Germany. The V-10 engines come from the Audi factory in Gyor, Hungary.
Follow the jump for a full photo gallery of the R8 LMS.
Apparently, the budget crisis in California isn't nearly as dire as we'd feared. Or, maybe it's a lot worse than anyone realizes and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has fled to Switzerland.
Either way, we can't begrudge his taste: The 2010 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet are beautiful cars, and today at Geneva's Palexpo, Gov. Schwarzenegger sat in an S5 Cab. You can, too, come late 2009.
The Geneva auto show is always filled with cool cars we can't get in the U.S., and now you can add the Audi A4 Allroad to that list.
Audi officials told us that until we get over our love of big, high-riding SUVs, they'll keep sending us Q7s and Q5s. Hard to argue with that school of thought. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Audi may be doing better than most manufacturers right now, but that doesn't mean it's immune from the worldwide slump in auto sales. The new 2010 Audi A5 cabriolet, and its supercharged S5 convertible sibling, were destined to hit U.S. shores in September.
That timing has now been pushed back a bit. Turns out Audi wants to make sure it has adequate time to clear out its current stock of A4 and S4 cabriolets. The delay only amounts to about two or three months, however, as Audi officials said to expect the cars in late 2009.
Update: Audi has clarified its statements regarding the A5/S5 launch. Turns out there is no delay as of yet. Current A4 Cabriolet inventories are normal, so plans for a fall launch of the A5/S5 remain.
First it was a leak of the teaser shots, now more has spilled out on the Audi TT-RS that's headed for Geneva. Looks like there will be coupe and convertible versions, both powered by a 340-hp turbocharged five-cylinder connected to a six-speed manual transmission. Audi says to expect a 0-to-60mph time under 5 seconds. Not bad for a TT.
Teaser shots of the upcoming Audi TT-RS have hit the web and all we can say is, "were jealous". That's because this high-powered TT coupe isn't headed for the U.S.
Nope, only those highfalutin Europeans will get this direct-injected, turbocharged five-cylinder. Audi says it will produce "well over 300-horsepower" and take "nowhere near five seconds" to hit 60mph. We're assuming that means it'll hit 60mph in around 4.5- and not 6.7-seconds.
Audi also notes that passing in the TT-RS will amount to "child's play" while the top-speed is limited to 155mph only on paper. Who knew Germans could get so giddy?
As you might have guessed by the name, the A4 allroad is essentially an A4 Avant with a slightly higher ride height (7.1-inches) and more aggressive bodywork. It gets quattro all-wheel drive too, along with a slightly wider track and three engines choices (2.0 TFSI, 2.0 TDI, 3.0 TDI). The 2.0-liter diesel gets a six-speed manual while the other two engines offer S-Tronic only.
Sales of the 2010 Audi A4 Allroad begin this summer, in Europe at least.
An Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 is the top car on the auction block at the 2009 Boca Raton Concours d' Elegance. Attend the black-tie-optional, $500-a-plate gala on the evening of February 21 and you, too, can bid on Audi's supercar.
A 2010 Ferrari California will also be up for auction, but next to the Audi, it seems almost second-tier. How often does that happen to a car with a prancing horse badge? Not very, we'd guess.
Just when we were beginning to wonder if the compact 2009 Audi Q5 crossover would ever get to the U.S., Audi announced pricing today and confirmed that 2009 Q5s will arrive at U.S. dealership next week. The 2009 Q5 Premium will cost $38,025, including an $825 destination charge.
The not very elegantly named Q5 Premium Plus comes in at $42,325, while the high-line 2009 Audi Q5 Prestige will cost you $49,025. Quattro all-wheel-drive is standard on all three versions of the Q5.
Every U.S.-spec Audi Q5 will have a directed-injected, 3.2-liter gasoline V6 rated for 270 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. Its EPA rating is 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway.
It was the star of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but the 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI may not make a Stateside return. When asked when the V10-powered R8 would go on sale in the United States, an Audi spokesman told Inside Line, "The 5.2 FSI isn't yet fully confirmed for U.S.A."
It was one thing when manufacturers started teasing upcoming auto-show reveals with dark and moody photos of one detail of a future car. Now Audi has taken the teasing to a whole new level by releasing this two-and-a-half-minute detailing the making of its Super Bowl advertisement. It's called building excitement, kids.
Yes, that means the tease is two-and-a-half times longer than the actual ad will be. Called "Chase," the ad is an opportunity for Audi to poke at its competitors with a small stick and also to highlight some questionable hair and sartorial choices of the last 30 years.
So why do we care? Well, we reckon the ladies in the office will find the ad's star, Brit actor Jason Statham, to be super-dreamy and, for the guys, there's the fishtailing '70's Trans-Am.
Call it the anti-iDrive. Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) uses a similar center-console controller as a command center for much of the car's cockpit tech, but it's much more intuitive and fluid than BMW's complex iDrive, which has gotten better over the years.
The last-gen version of Audi's MMI, which will debut stateside on the 2009 Q5, gets even better with the addition of a joystick to the controller, a high-capacity hard disk for navigation functions and music storage and a hi-res 7-inch display that provides 3D map displays.
Audi has released more details on the U.S. market version of the upcoming Q5 small crossover vehicle. The highlights? The Q5 will be powered by a 270-hp 3.2-liter direct-injection V6 which will be mated to a six-speed automatic. Naturally, it will also come with Quattro all-wheel drive. Audi will launch an updated version of its MMI entertainment and information control system in the Q5.
The company still hasn't announced pricing for the Q5 which will go on sale in March. Audi estimates that the Q5 will return 18/23 mpg city/highway, but the EPA hasn't yet posted official figures.
In related news, Audi will introduce a hybrid gas-electric version of the Q5 sometime around 2011. The company has cancelled earlier plans to produce a hybrid version of the larger Q7 crossover.
Ever wonder how having a bicycle, kayak, snowboard, kiteboard or -- if you live in an an outdoor-sports crazy place like me -- all four on a roof rack at the same time affects your vehicle's aerodynamics? And if there's anything you can do to compensate for the extra drag besides putting a sticker-plastered wind fairing on the front?
If your off-hours duds are made of Lycra, Gore-Tex and neoprene, you'll be stoked to know that the crossbars on the roof rack of the 2009 Audi Q5 crossover include sensors that automatically alert the vehicle's Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) that there's a load on top in order to compensate for it.
Of all the concept cars unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Audi Sportback drew some of the biggest crowds -- so much so that everything short of physical blows were traded between photographers after the press conference. Below is a gallery of all the nicest media shots Audi has released of the A4/A5-based, hatchback/4dr-coupe vehicle that's said to become the production A7. You can finally get a look at the interior, too, which is every bit as interesting as the sheetmetal.
#DAS09 Several reporters and I met and had a brief conversation with Italdesign director Fabrizio Giugiaro tonight at the 2009 Michelin Challenge Design reception a few doors down from Cobo in Detroit.
Giugiaro's favorite concept car of the show is the Cadillac Converj, though for different reasons, he also likes the Volvo S60 concept. Naturally, he's a fan of the Volkswagen Concept Bluesport, as he worked on an early iteration of this well-received, easily translatable-for-production roadster concept.
And he likes what Audi has done with the Sportback concept, though he conceded that the tail is awkwardly truncated on this car. He's confident, though, that this detail will be resolved on the anticipated A7 production car: "This is one case where the production car will look better than the concept."
The Sportback breaks with current Audi designs, he added, and the company needs that. "Q5s look like Q7s. A3s look like A4s." -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#DAS09 There's not much to complain about when it comes to the Audi R8. We've lived with one for months now, and it's about as drivable as a supercar gets. Then again, next to other supercars, the R8 is a little short on power. Not any more.
The 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI fixes that little problem. With 518 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque available from its 5.2-liter V10, this R8 will go from zero to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds according to Audi. Its top speed has been bumped to 197 mph and there are a few cosmetic tweaks like new wheels and wider side vents to make it identifiable at a glance. Doesn't look bad in red either. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
#DAS09 Photos of the Audi Sportback concept leaked out yesterday, but the four-door coupe hatchback labradoodle made its official debut at this afternoon's Audi press conference at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
It's based on the A4/A5 platform architecture, and if it goes into production, we'd expect it to be called the A7. Yet, at 195 inches long, this concept is almost 13 inches longer than the A5/S5 (and only 5 inches shorter than Audi's Q7 SUV). It's also 3 inches wider (76 inches) and 1 inch taller (55 inches).
In person, the Sportback looks disturbingly like a lowered BMW X6. However, we heard people raving about the car and the adoring mob around it was so thick, the flesh began to coagulate. This is a good sign for Audi, as company officials say the Sportback heralds the future of its production designs.
#DAS09 The Audi A3, remember it? It's that nice looking, entry-level hatchback that undercuts the A4 Avant on price, but delivers a similar reduction in cabin space. It does quite well in Europe, but hasn't really caught on in the U.S. Audi sold just 4,749 of them in 2008 while BMW unloaded over 12,000 1 Series coupes.
Audi gave the A3 some help last fall with a mild refresh and the addition of quattro all-wheel drive as an option on 2.0T models. Today it announced another new feature: TDI clean diesel power.
#DAS09 Images of the Audi Sportback concept leaked out ahead of its official debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show yesterday. As expected, the new Audi concept is a low-slung four-door "coupe" much like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Volkswagen CC. We'll have more details and photos later today after its official rollout.
So Detroit is hurting and the Asian automakers are pulling out of Detroit. So what's left?
Plenty of room for the Europeans apparently. There will be no less than ten world debuts from the other side of the pond at this year's show, a sign that although our market is down, it's can still make or break a new product for most manufacturers. Here's a rundown of what the German et al. will have on display next week.
The addition of a full LED lighting system to the Audi R8 5.2 might not seem like big news, but it does represent a major shift in technology that could radically shift future car designs. It's one of those technologies that's been promised for a long time and is only now making its way into production.
A little over a week ago Honda announced that they were dropping their F1 team (Audi and Honda drop racing teams), and now they have announced that they are also pulling out of AMA road racing with their bikes (here). With the bikes there is a sub-plot in that there are a lot of bike teams upset with the new AMA road-racing governing body (Daytona Motorsports Group), so I guess this financial mess was the last straw.
Porsche and Subaru too!
After the announcement of Audi pulling out of the American Le Mans Series, we now have learned that Porsche too is pulling out of this racing venue (here).
Subaru is leaving the WRC as well (here). This is a company that has spent 20 years in the WRC!. At least SOA is continuing with their effort in the American Rally series. Wow, talk about a collapse of the racing industry.
A sure sign of the lousy economic times, Audi has announced that it will not support a factory effort in the 2009 Le Mans racing series. No word as to whether a private team might pick up where Audi is leaving off.
The lights are out at Chrysler. No seriously, while every other manufacturer utilizes special additional lighting, the entire Chrysler stand just gets by with the high-up L.A. Convention Center lighting. I guess it can't afford the power bill. Compare this to Chrysler's next-door neighbors, Audi, whose stand you could probably perform surgery on. Next door to it is Volkswagen, who has an equal amount of lighting power and a white floor to boot -- it's like standing in Aspen on a sunny day.
The below video should give you an idea about the difference. My camera isn't sophisticated enough to change light levels mid-shot, so I could either have Chrysler all dark or Audi looking like the surface of the sun. I chose the former. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Originally, the prospect of driving a full-size SUV like some kind of hypermiling superdouche--with the air switched off, mind you--had all the appeal of listening to Fran Drescher on infinite loop.
And the Audi Mileage Marathon certainly would have been a supreme bore had James Tate (of Traction Magazine) and George Achorn (Fourtitude Forums) in Q7 number 4 not put on their game faces for Day Two. In doing so, the team turned the friendly-but-daft Audi marketing campaign into a manhunt.
It's well known that racing has contributed heavily to the design and engineering of vehicles that you and I drive. With that thought in mind the LA Auto Show will feature a display of what future race cars might be like in 2025, what they may offer in terms of technology and safety; and ultimately, how that might be applied to ordinary cars sometime in the future.
The designs are part of the fifth annual Los Angeles Auto Show's Design Challenge, where studios including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen are pitted against each other to showcase their talents and further explore new ideas in automotive design.
We haven't even loaded up our 2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI and the smack-talk is thick. James Tate and George Achorn in the number 4 Q7 are already talking a big game. Seems they're not planning to take even a fuel-miser competition lying down.
We're committed though. No air conditioning. Windows up. We've deflated the Q7's air suspension to its lowest, most wind-cheating ride height. Driving like there's an egg on the accelerator pedal. Heck, we've even turned off the daytime running lights in order to reduce the parasitic load on the alternator. We have every itention of winning this thing.
Wait, we're keeping the air off when we're driving through Death Valley?
In case you haven't heard, the Audi Mileage Marathon--a coast-to-coast trek across the USA in diesel-powered Audis--is underway. The trip is divided in four major legs, the final leg of which Edmunds is currently participating. Leg Four will stretch and divide the distance between Las Vegas and Santa Monica into three days of driving with stopovers in Mammoth Lakes, CA, and Monterey, CA.
They're pitting automotive journalists in teams of two against each other in several of their TDI-powered models including Q7s, Q5s and A4s. Dan Edmunds and I make up the team representing Edmunds and Inside Line. We're in a 2009 Q7 3.0 TDI bearing the number 3.
Audi says the goal is to demonstrate the efficiency of their TDI turbodiesel engines. We say they're just staging this competition as an excuse to witness the absurd lengths to which automotive journalists will go in order to gain an advantage and protect their fragile egos.
Day One of our leg is Vegas to Mammoth Lakes. Stay tuned.
We've already had some seat time behind the wheel of the new Audi RS 6, but seeing it again under the lights of the Paris auto show stage reminded us of just how tough the new four-door looks. It didn't hurt that this particular example had what Audi calls the "black optical pack," an option that replaces all the chrome on the car with flat black trim.
Would a Cadillac CTS-V look as good with a similar package? Yes.
Will we ever find out? No. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Despite the Volkswagen group's apparent disdain for hybrids, the latest A1 Sportback concept is in fact, a hybrid. It combines a 1.4-liter TSFI gasoline engine with a 20-kilowatt electric motor that's able to deliver as much as 110 pound-feet of torque for short bursts of acceleration. Audi also claims that the A1's electric motor is powerful enough to propel it up to 62 miles on electric power alone thanks to its powerful lithium-ion batteries.
And that's not all. How does a 0-60 time of 7.9 seconds sound? What about a top speed of 124 mph? Still not enough? It gets 60 mpg, too. Well, at least that's what Audi says, and when it comes to concepts, who's checking?
Expect to see an A1 similar to this concept on the roads of Europe in the not-too-distant future. Given its subcompact dimensions, there's little chance Audi will bring it to the U.S., unless of course that hybrid drivetrain actually works. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Okay, I haven't posted anything auto/nautical in while, so I guess we're due...
And for starters, how about a catamaran with a distinctly Audi R8 influence? Yep, that's what Swedish designer Bo Zolland has come up with. As to specifics: How does an 8.8 meter long speedboat that has been designed to use a V10 biodiesel marine engine or two smaller 320 HP diesel units grab you? Top speed? 110 MPH so says Zolland.
Porsche has just increased its share of VW to 35.1 percent, up from 31 percent. In doing so, Porsche has gained "de facto" control over Volkswagen AG. Also, by increasing its ownership stake, Porsche is required by law to submit a formal offer to buy Volkswagen's subsidiary Audi.
Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche's CEO, said that the automaker has no intentions of separating Audi from the Volkswagen Group.
"We see Audi as an integral part of VW group and have no interest in taking the company out of the group."
"Our goal continues to be to increase our stake in Volkswagen to more than 50 percent," Wiedeking added. "Today's step is a further milestone along this road."
It seems like dashboard technology is getting wilder by the day. Now Audi and Futuremark, a California computer graphics firm, have teamed up to develop a new electronic dashboard that goes well beyond anything we've seen to date.
The new dashboard features a fully electronic instrument panel
and central screen, with both 3D and 2D views. Full customization of the display and controls is also possible. The graphics are rendered in real-time, and can switch between the standard speedo/tacho and navigation systems or both at the same time on a single screen.
"We are delighted to work with Audi due to their professional expertise in the car industry," said Futuremark design chief Petri Talala. "Audi is a leader in this field with sophisticated, real-time rendered and high quality content available for future infotainment systems, and being able to have our graphics engine experts and artists contribute to this effort is very special for Futuremark."
Not that the Audi S5 isn't fastest enough, but another 100 horsepower or so might make it the best coupe on the planet. Looks like we'll get our wish soon enough as spy photographers caught what looks to be an Audi RS5 testing in Death Valley.
It has a more aggressive front end and a larger set of 265/35ZR19 tires too. The signature oval exhaust tips aren't there, but that's probably just a temporary attempt to confuse onlookers. Our hope is that those exhaust pipes are connected to the same 580-hp V10 found in the RS6 sedan. Expect to hear an official announcement by the end of the year.
LeftLaneNews is reporting that a possible new mid-engine sportscar from VW may be in the works, and may be displayed at the LA auto show. If true, this would be a 'halo' car for the VW brand. Even more intrieging is that Audi and Porsche may also get versions.
Think of this as being a modern-day VW/Porsche 914. Also think Lotus Elise-fighter, but cheaper; well the VW version will be cheaper. A couple of engine could be used, all based on a four inline four-cylinder format set in front of the rear axles. As to specifics, a gasoline 1.4-liter turbo engine making 168 horsepower and a new 1.6-liter diesel with 125hp are under consideration. Either engine will likely use a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Audi version would likely use the 211hp 2.0TFSI engine, with the option of a twin-turbo 2.0-liter TDI good for 204hp. Porsche may even revive the 914 nameplate for their model.
Also expected is an aluminum spaceframe. If true, the car would weigh in at under 2,200lbs, which would mean great performance as well as fuel economy.
Although many rumors suggest that this Audi test mule is an early look at the A5 Sportback, we don't find it quite that conclusive. For one, the wheelbase looks unchanged from the current A6 which at 11.9-inches is over three inches longer than the wheelbase of the A5. Given that the current A6 rides on Volkswagen's C6 platform, it seems doubtful that a new model, even one that's like to be longer than the A5, would use an older platform. Then consider the increased ride height and 20-inch Q7 wheels it's riding on, not exactly what you would expect from a hatchback version of the A5.
Audi has released images of their A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept. Under the hood resides a 1,968cc turbodiesel that produces 221 hp and 332 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is delivered via a six-speed manual transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system...
Audi will be joining BMW in using the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission on their top-of-the-line models. This is in an effort to match Lexus, which already is using an 8-speed automatic on their LS460. BMW had earlier announced that the 7-Series and X6 models would be getting this new ZF tranny, and now Audi too will use it on their A8, Q7, and the upcoming A7 four-door coupe. The 8-speed Audis are expected next year...
Audi chose the 2008 Beijing Auto Show to debut their new Q5 crossover, further signifying how important the Chinese market is becoming. The Q5, which will be pitted against the BMW X3, Infiniti EX35, and Lexus RX350, will come with Audi's 3.2L V6, a 6-speed automatic, and AWD when it comes Stateside in 2009.
One of the most anticipated introductions at the show was the 2009 Audi Q5 SUV. Instead of a full-blown press conference, however, Audi just put a couple of Q5s out on the show floor and let the vehicles speak for themselves. After taking a closer look, they should’ve made a bigger effort.
Maybe it was the colors or the chrome wheels of the main display model, but the Q5 looks too anonymous in person, especially for a company that’s trying to re-create itself as the anti-establishment luxury brand. There’s not a memorable line on it from the front, and the only notable styling feature in back are the big LED taillights.
There’s nothing wrong with the interior, as it’s basically borrowed straight from the new A4 sedan and wagon. Passenger room is about average and the cargo area is a useful size. With Audi’s 3.2-liter V6 under the hood, the Q5 should have reasonable performance, too. In other words, nothing unexpected here, and nothing very exciting either. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
As sexy and exciting as we all find the Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans, it isn't Audi's big story at this Geneva auto show. That honor goes to the 2009 Audi A4 Avant, the wagon version of the all-new A4 sedan.
Now larger than before, the Avant's wheelbase has been stretched by 6 inches and the overall length is up to 185 inches, about 5 inches longer than the previous model. Audi says the extra size opens up a little over an inch of extra knee room in back, while also increasing head-, shoulder and legroom...
Last night Audi took the wraps off the newly red and newly named Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans. And we were there. We just failed to get a picture of the diesel-powered supercar. Well here it is in all its crimson glory, sorry for the delay...
Audi will debut a new A4 Avant at the Geneva Auto Show. The mechanicals and vehicle content are pretty much as per the sedan. At launch, Audi will offer two gasoline engines and three diesel engines. These engines offer superior performance by more than 14 percent as compared to previous versions.
Well, you knew someone would do it sooner or later, imitating NASCAR's best by doing donuts in a $118,000 Audi R8—on a public street, no less. Well maybe we can forgive this guy just a little, as he's Russian, and may not be familiar with NASCAR-isms (or highway safety).
The best part about the Big Game when your team is not involved (um, go Eagles?) are the commercials.
Those 30-second spots that are usually your chance to run to the bathroom or throw some nachos into the microwave, morph into multi-million dollar mini movies. And the car companies compete every year in hopes that theirs will be the one that everyone is talking about the next day.
This year expect masterpieces from Audi, Cadillac, Ford, GMC, Hyundai and Toyota...
GM claims the quick answer to reducing our dependence on gasoline is ethanol. Audi says clean diesels are the way to go. In 2007 Audi sold 964,000 vehicles worldwide and intends to break the million mark in 2008, and they think diesel cars will help get them there.
If increasing its TDI line-up includes producing the Audi R8 V12 TDI that was unveiled here in Detroit as a concept, then we say bring on the diesels.
During the press conference, not even Audi AG board member Michael Dick's thick German accent could prevent us from comprehending the following facts:
Audi has learned a lesson that BMW has not: When planning a long press conference hosted by German executives, give your audience a little something for the effort first. In this case, that something was a live tune from Bryan Adams.
After Bryan finished chilling us out, Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board for Audi AG, entertained us with a few fun facts about the new 2009 Audi TTS. With 272 horsepower, the turbocharged direct-injection 2.0-liter inline-4 engine propels the TTS from zero to 60 in 5.4 seconds with the manual transmission, and 5.2 seconds with the dual-clutch tranny. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
The Audi TT has always been one of my favorite sports cars, and now there's one more reason to love it: the TTS.
The TTS will be the top-of-the-line TT model, and sports a 272 hp 2.0 turbo, with beefed up internals. All US-spec models will have AWD and their dual-clutch transmission. The TTS will ride on 245/40x18 tires, and it will use an adjustible magnetic ride control with a standard ans sport setting...
Between now and 2012 expect to see a bunch of exciting new products from the Ingolstadt automaker. Besides the usual upgrades and redesigns of exhisting models, Audi plans on introducing several all-new models in market segments never before addressed by the brand. Paul Lienert outlines what we can expect on Inside Line.
We’re not sure what to make of these latest spy shots. Spy photographers in Germany caught these pics of what looks like an Audi A4-based Allroad. With its raised ride height, knobby tires and black fenders, all the signs are there. The only problem is the sedan bodystyle as the Allroad was offered as a wagon only...
The Germans' odd fascination with minor American celebrities continued today with the introduction of the Audi Cross Cabriolet Concept. None other than Peter Greenberg, the travel reporter for The Today Show (we did say minor), hosted today's press conference and it was about as exciting as you might expect. He started out by shelling Rupert Stadler, chairman of Audi AG, with questions about the shock of having to pay $3 for a gallon of gas in the U.S. Apparently Mr...
We thought Audi had exhausted the Bryan Adams card already in Frankfurt. But no, the hair was back again along with another '80s flashback favorite played thanks to Audi's new integrated music player/cell phone. Audi's Chairman of the Board, Rupert Stadler, demonstrated just how easy the device is able to connect to the Metroproject concept after the car's official unveil here in Tokyo.
After contemplating which song he would use for the momentous occasion, he fired up a little "Run to You" and slid behind the wheel...
It looks like Audi is taking a page out of the odd Japanese car naming play book with their Metroproject Quattro concept. Since the vehicle will debut at the Tokyo auto show, maybe it makes sense; who knows...
In any event this is Audi's first attempt at displaying a hybrid, and judging by the "quattro" part of the name, you would assume that it's AWD. The car also has an all-electric mode, which has a range of 62 miles...
Audi has created a new iPhone-like "mobile device," that functions as an access authorization system for the vehicle, mobile phone, navigation unit and audio and video player all in one. The menu is in keeping with the Audi MMI interface used on premium Audi models.
The Audi phone comes equipped with both Wi-Fi and 3G UMTS technology. It will allow the driver to interface with the car and use the device as a MP3 player or input tool for the nav system...
You may think we're starting to pull comparison tests out of our hats, but not so. These two vehicles have more in common than you would think at first glance.
They are both all-wheel drive, both have V8 engines and both are rated at 420 horsepower...
It had no interpretive dance performed by man/birds. It had no crazy concept. And yet, somehow, Audi's press conference had its own surreal appeal. How does super-Canadian Bryan Adams performing a hit live on stage grab you?..
The VW Group's pre-press-preview-days press conference was so big that it had its own traffic jam. In an almost GM-level of bigness, VW unveiled a car from each and every one of its passenger car divisions. It was so big it was housed in a converted basketball arena. It was so big that the Chinese Minister of Science was in the house...
Oh brother! Does Audi have a potential problem here?
The reason for the fire at this point is unclear, but there is an assumption that the fire was caused by some fuel that spilled and made its way to the hot exhaust pipe and/or engine.
How that happened, no one is sure, but there was an incident of an R8 prototype also catching fire. So the word to any Audi R8 owners out there is to take extreme care when refueling...
Audi will debut its all-new 2009 A4 at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show next month.
As with many new cars, this one has grown a bit, as it is 4.6 inches longer and 2.2 inches wider. Here in the USA expect initial models to be powered by a turbo four (FWD) and a 3.2L V6 (AWD).
Is the Audi A3 Cabriolet headed for the U.S.? Well, this prototype was spotted testing in Arizona, but that doesn't mean it's a done deal just yet. We've heard there's a good chance that this soft top A3 will make its way into U.S. dealerships, so if you like the way it looks you should be able to pick one up next year for around $30K...
Forbes has come up a list of the top 10 least expensive luxury vehicles to own over a 5-year span.
The figures include not only MSRP, but also depreciation, interest and opportunity costs, fuel, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and taxes and fees.
10. Lincoln MKZ: $55,011 9. Lexus ES 350: $54,585 8. Acura RDX: $54,502 7. Lexus IS 250: $53,220 6. Volvo V50: $52,906 5. Audi A3: $51,513 4. Saab 9-3 SportCombi: $51,499 3. Volvo S40: $51,484 2. Saab 9-3 Sedan: $50,282 1. Acura TSX: $47,084
Inside Line conducted a not-really-a-comparison test by pitting the BMW M3 against some of our favorite cars. There was no track testing involved, just an all-out drive across Spain.
The players were a 2008 BMW M3, a VW Golf GTI, an Audi RS4, a Porsche 911 GT3 and an Audi R8.
We knew the 2009 Audi Q5 was in the works, but the first set of spy photos didn't reveal much about its styling. These latest shots from the mountains of Austria give us a much better look at the upcoming midsize SUV and not surprisingly the Q5's sheetmetal mimics the larger Q7. Designed to compete against the BMW X3 and upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLK, the Audi Q5 will mostly likely use V6 engines in the U.S., although Audi's 2.0-liter four-cylinder could be offered on base models if gas prices continue to rise through next year. Look for the official unveil of the Q5 later this year with U.S...
Redesigned for 2008, the sexy new Audi TT Roadster is 200 pounds lighter than the previous model and handles better than ever. With a 6-speed automatic dual-clutch gearbox, 250 horsepower and Audi's all-wheel-drive system, is it enough to outshine the competition?
The 2007 editiion of the 24 hours of LeMans is history. The anticipated epic battle between Audi and Peugeot came to pass, but the story didn't exactly unfold the way anyone expected.
Because a scheduled business trip coincided with the race weekend, I had the chance to see the race first hand. Of course I simply had to attempt to stay up for the entire event. Spending as much time as possible wandering the infield and taking in as much I could was another goal.
When two of the most successful in their field get together, the result is a partnership of a special kind. Besides giving concerts all around the world, the British soul singer Seal tours the world as an Audi ambassador, representing the brand with the four rings.
"His amazing career is an unparalleled success story, characterized by extraordinary ambition, creativity and fantastic music. I am particularly pleased that Seal approached us with the proposal of entering into a partnership." Ralph Weyler, Board Member for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG, can hardly hide his excitement about working alongside the exceptional English musician who has such an impressive record. Seal has sold more than 15 million albums since he launched his career in 1990. In the same period, Audi has sold more than 10 million cars – successful statistics from a successful duo, statistics to be proud of.
But success is not only the only thing that Seal shares with Audi. An enthusiastic photographer, he studied architecture and is also a technology enthusiast and a fan of flawless design. Sporty, sophisticated cars have a special attractiveness for the artist, a self-confessed engineering aficionado. The singer with the unmistakable, soulful voice has already made two appearances at Audi events so far this year. At the Detroit Motor Show on 7 January 2007, Seal helped to liven up the atmosphere with his hit "Crazy". At the same time, a world first was presented: the Audi Q7 V12 TDI is the first car to have a twelve-cylinder diesel engine fitted as standard. When Seal discovered the 500 bhp SUV, one thing was clear to him: "I have been driving an Audi Q7 with a petrol engine for one and a half years, and I use it almost every day. Yet my first thought when I saw the V12 TDI was: When can I get that car?"
A legend of the automotive world is celebrating its centenary this year: DKW. The company from Zschopau in Saxony originally planned to build steam-driven vehicles, yet ultimately rose to fame courtesy of its two-stroke engine. DKW had already become the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer in the late 1920s, and then in the 1930s was the first company to mass-produce vehicles with front-wheel drive. DKW produced the pre-war period’s answer to Volkswagen, the F-series small cars, in astonishing numbers. Audi Tradition is marking the anniversary of its predecessor brand by entering DKW classic cars in a whole host of events, including the Mille Miglia and the Gran Premio Nuvolari in Italy, the Concours d’Elegance in Bergerac, France, the Silvretta Classic and Ennstal Classic in Austria, and of course the “100 Years of Rasmussen” festival in the town of Zschopau on 26 August.
In 1907 the Dane Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen (pictured above) set up a small metal goods factory in Zschopau in the Ore Mountains. After initially manufacturing exhaust-steam oil separators, steam-engine equipment and other metal goods, he started to experiment with steam-driven cars in 1916. The project did not continue past the prototype phase. What did remain, however, was the brand name derived from this project: DKW, the abbreviation of the German word for steam-driven vehicle (Dampfkraftwagen). In 1919 Rasmussen built a two-stroke engine, which he marketed as a toy engine under the name “Des Knaben Wunsch” (literally: “The Boy’s Wish”). This mini-engine was enlarged and used as an auxiliary bicycle engine, and subsequently in 1922 was made into a genuine motorcycle engine known as “Das Kleine Wunder” (“The Small Miracle”). Under the auspices of Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen with Manager Carl Hahn and Chief Designer Hermann Weber, DKW developed into the world’s most important motorcycle manufacturer in the course of the 1920s – in 1928 the Zschopau plant was the largest motorcycle factory in the world. In that very year Rasmussen took over the Audi car factories in Zwickau, and two years later commissioned the Audi designers with the production of a small car with the following design features: a DKW two-cylinder two-stroke motorcycle engine with a displacement of 600 cc, a unitary wooden body with leatherette upholstery, front and rear swing axles and front-wheel drive. The DKW Front was thus born, becoming one of the best-selling and most popular German small cars of its time.
Although Audi hasn't made an official announcement yet, this prototype spotted recently on the Nurburgring points to the development of an even hotter version of its R8 sportscar. Larger side air intakes are one tip off to this car's nontraditional setup while revised rocker panels are another. We're not sure if it will come badged as the RS8 or R8-RS, but it appears as though there's a good possibility this range topping two-door will get a version of the 5.2-liter V10 currently found in the S6 and S8 sedans. Expect around 500 horsepower from the V10 which will separate it from its sedan siblings without infringing on Lamborghini Gallardo territory. Expect to see this version of Audi's super coupe on sale next year.
Well, you just knew this was bound to happen: A disgruntled Cadillac owner is suing GM over the fact that the OnStar on his '02 Caddy will go dead next year as GM converts their OnStar system from analog to digital. Welcome to the world of high technology, where nothing is safe from obsolescence...
This change will also affect some cars from Acura, Audi, Subaru and Volkswagen. Some vehicles made between 2002 and 2004 can be upgraded, but all pre-2002 models will become obsolete...
Also caught in Audi's backlot today is a new SUV based on the same platform as the upcoming A4. The Audi Q5 will slot in below the Q7 in the lineup and should measure up closely with the BMW X3 in terms of price and size. Like the A4, this prototype is well covered but you can get a pretty good idea of what it will like anyway.
Here are some additional spy photos of the 2009 Audi A4. With the cover still in place there isn't much to see, but you can get some idea of the sedan's overall size and shape, which not surprisingly are pretty close to the current Audi A4.
Audi has mastered the art of camouflage as of late. Instead of the usual black tarps and tape, it's going with the full blown car cover to keep us guessing. Our best estimate from these spy photos? This is the next generation A4 sedan scheduled to go on sale next year...
Audi calls this concept a coupe. Okay, but it's not what I would call it, and it certainly doesn't fit my or most people's definition of what a coupe is.
Regardless, I like it. It's going to be shown at the Shanghai Auto Show, and likely tips off what we can expect to see in showrooms shortly, but badged as the Q5...
Audi of America, LLC announced today pricing for the all-new 2008 R8 sports car. The R8 with a six-speed manual transmission will have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $109,000 when it launches this fall in the United States. Models equipped with the six-speed R tronic automatic gearbox will start at $118,000.
The X-Bow is the first four-wheeled machine from bike manufacturer KTM. It looks like a track day car, but KTM says the X-Bow is homologated for street use. Most intriguing is the fact that KTM sourced the engine from Audi. This is the same highly tractable, direct-injected 2.0T power plant used in the A4, although it has been tuned for 220 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque in the X-Bow. A six-speed manual gearbox with a limited slip is standard, and KTM plans to offer Audi's six-speed autobox as an option.
Thanks to its carbon-fiber monocoque construction, the X-Bow weighs in at just 1,543 pounds -- which means that the standard drivetrain delivers it to 60 mph in under 4 seconds. KTM is studying the possibility of producing a 300-hp variant.
Audi invited a group of U.S. journalists to a roundtable discussion with Rupert Stadler, chairman of Audi AG's board of management, and Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer for Audi of America, this morning at Geneva's Palexpo. A few tidbits:
The A5's new chassis design isn't just a single platform. It's a modular structure that will not only underpin the next A4 and A6, but can potentially be adapted for other vehicles within the VW group as well...
Here are our photos of the 2008 Audi S5, which debuted alongside the A5 this morning but was quickly overrun by admirers who wouldn't stop popping the hood and opening all the doors.
Of course, we popped the hood, too, to get a look at the S5's 4.2-liter direct-injection V8.
At dinner this evening I had a few moments to talk to Michael Dick, a member of Audi AG's board of management for technical development, and who, despite the longish title, seems to have taken a hands-on role in the development of the A5 and S5. He said he's already logged 10,000 km behind the wheel of these new coupes. Naturally, he's driven them in all the good places -- Audi's proving grounds, the Nurburgring, etc.
I asked him how the driving dynamics have changed, compared to the A4 and A6 families, with the engines located further back in the chassis. His reply was pretty much what we expected: "The weight shift from the front to the rear is better, and the understeer tendency is much less." And with the steering column positioned close to the wheels, he added, "it has a very good reaction on steering command."
Audi's press conference for the 2008 Audi A5 moved along at an unusually brisk clip. No rehash of previous-year sales figures, just a quick overview of the company's efforts to drop CO2 emissions and raise fuel economy through its TDI power plants. Then, Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board of Audi AG, offered this slightly awkward transition: "The Audi A5 has a gear upshift indicator that tells the driver when to shift gears in order to minimize fuel consumption. The driver is after all responsible for 50% of fuel consumption."
An upshift light in a luxury coupe? Well, most U.S. buyers will end up with the automatic transmission anyway. That automatic is actually a CVT, by the way, though it has eight simulated forward gears. The quattro all-wheel-drive system, as we suspected, will be standard on all U.S.-spec Audi A5s. We're still not sure Audi's 3.2-liter V6, the only engine slated for the A5, will be enough to fend off BMW's 335i coupe, but says Karsten Ruwoldt, an Audi product planner, "the A5 is more distinctive [from the A4 sedan] than the 3 Series coupe is from the 3 Series sedan."
We expect Walter de'Silva, chief designer on the A5, shares that sentiment. Speaking in Italian in a short film on the project, he offered, "I am convinced the Audi A5 is the most beautiful car I've ever designed in my career." Mr. de'Silva, by the way, is now head of VW design, so this was his last assignment for Audi.
Images and info of the stunning new Audi A5 have been leaked prior to its Geneva Motor Show debut.
This new Audi has the engine placed behind the front axle to improve handling. I want to see how they do that with AWD, as that should be interesting. Also expect a 3.0 TDI V6 and a 3.2 FSI V6, with the S5 and RS5 to come later...
Love historic race cars? Who doesn't? The bigger question is do you love historic race cars—and have deep pockets? If you can answer yes to that last question, then maybe this Christie's auction coming up February 17th is something you may want to check out...
There's been no shortage of spy shots of the 2008 Audi A5 coupe, so of course we're here to bring you more. This time around, the prototype shows a little extra skin down the sides which reveals additional details about the profile of this upcoming coupe. Slated for a debut at the 2007 Geneva auto show, the A5 coupe will come to the U.S. with Audi's 4.2-liter V8 under the hood and a choice of three transmissions: manual, automatic, and S-tronic dual clutch. Quattro will be standard of course and sales are expected to start by the end of the year.
The Q7 will be Audi's first BlueTec vehicle with a diesel, 3.0-liter engine. It will be sold in all 50 states in 2008. Audi thinks clean diesel could represent 10 percent of new car sales by 2015.
But the big news in Detroit is the V12 TDI concept Q7...
The Audi R8 is going to light up the road in more ways than you may have thought. The car reportedly has 210 exterior LED lights, including LEDs to light up the engine compartment.
Audi R10 numbers 1 and 2 at Laguna Seca. The diesel-powered racing car won honors from the U.K.'s Autosport magazine. (Image courtesy of Audi)
INGOLSTADT, Germany --- It might have seemed like risky business when Audi said it was going to be the first auto manufacturer to tackle Le Mans with a diesel engine.
As the debut date for the 2008 Audi A5 coupe edges closer, the prototypes are getting more revealing. These latest spy photos are the first to show the new coupe's window lines without heavy camouflage. Not surprisingly, it looks pretty slick. And with a 4.2-liter V8 under the hood it should be plenty fast too.
Tonight, in Beverly Hills, Audi hosted yet another unveiling of its new R8 supercar, this time for dealers, customers and celebrities. The party took place on Rodeo Drive, the swankiest shopping street in the world. There, directly in front of the Porsche Design store, we sipped bubbly and watched former 90210 star Ian Ziering check out Audi's new supercar. When that got boring we spoke to Johan de Nysschen the head of Audi in North America...
The world debut of the 2008 Audi R8 was held a few months ago in Paris, but its North American debut here at the L.A. auto show may be just as important. After all, a big chunk of the R8's sales will go to U.S. buyers, and many of those buyers are likely to be the Hollywood type. Getting the eye-catching R8 in the hands of high-profile owners could go a long way toward elevating Audi's brand image in the U.S., something the execs in Ingolstadt have tried and failed to do for years.
"The new TT roadster is more grownup, is longer and wider, and has a higher luggage capacity," said Ralph Weyler, member of Audi AG's Board of Management and Sales. He adds that it's quicker, too, and weighs 200 lbs less than its predecessor, thanks to its aluminum/steel body construction.
While we have no doubt that the 2008 Audi TT Roadster will be a better drive than the original model, styling will remain its strongest asset. To underscore that point, the TT was unveiled with supermodel Molly Sims (of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition fame) at the wheel and James Denton (Desperate Housewives) riding shotgun...
