audi Archives | Page 14 of 17

Audi Quattro concept celebrates 30th anniversary of original

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Audi, Design/Style

Audi Quattro concept

Audi Quattro Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve been speculating, applying the magnifying glass to spy shots and just plain wishing that the rumors were true. They are – Audi is set to debut the Quattro concept car at the Paris Motor Show in celebration of its famous all-wheel-drive system’s 30th anniversary. Drawing its inspiration from the original 1980 Audi Ur-Quattro and using some underpinnings from the current RS5, the Quattro concept features a shortened wheelbase, lower roofline and a sub-3,000 pound curb weight.

The original Ur-Quattro weighed in under 3,000 pounds and featured a turbocharged five-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual. Keeping in line with that spirit, the Quattro concept ditches the V8 and dual-clutch transmission from the RS5 in favor of a turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine and six-speed manual gearbox. Power output for the Quattro concept is rated at 408 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. All that energy is put to the ground through Audi’s famous quattro torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which in this case is setup with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split. The weight savings mixed with the power output create a vehicle with a power-weight ratio on par with that of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI.

Since this IS a modern Audi, it features stylish exterior features and a wonderful cabin space. The seats are leather-lined Sparco units that weight in at just 40 pounds apiece. The Quattro concept also makes use of the Audi MMI infotainment system. In this application, MMI includes a slew of screens useful for rally racing like classically-styled round gauges and a page for pace notes. On the outside, the Quattro concept boasts the signature Audi LED treatment, but this time it’s in the form of headlamps that adjust their direction both vertically and horizontally, as well as being able to open fully or close to a slit.

This is an exciting concept that pays homage to a true motoring classic. If Audi doesn’t find a way to put a version of this into production, we’re sure that four-ring fanboys around the world will storm Ingolstadt.

Gallery: Audi Quattro Concept

Audi Quattro Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

Audi Quattro concept celebrates 30th anniversary of original originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Audi Quattro concept celebrates 30th anniversary of original”

2011 Audi A8 to start at $78,050

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Audi, Luxury

2011 Audi A8

2011 Audi A8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Are you ready to write a check for a true German luxury sedan stunner? If so, you’ll surely be interested to hear that pricing has arrived for the 2011 Audi A8. Base MSRP for this Bavarian beauty is $78,050 including all extra charges, which puts it squarely between its two main rivals: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class ($87,950) and the BMW 7 Series ($70,150). The long-wheelbase A8L starts at $84,000 and both versions will be in dealer showrooms starting late November 2010.

It’s an enticing price for the finest luxury sedan to wear four rings. The all-new A8 packs brand new features into a sleek body wrapped around a wonderful 4.2-liter V8 engine. The car and engine work so well together that the A8’s 17 mile per gallon city/27 mpg highway rating put it right next to the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid in the fuel economy category. Those figures are also enough to surpass the I6, V8 and Hybrid versions of the 7 Series.

No word yet on how many organs we need to sell to purchase the W12-equipped A8.

For more information on the 2011 Audi A8, as well as pricing for the rest of the 2011 Audi lineup, you can read the full release after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Audi A8

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading 2011 Audi A8 to start at $78,050

2011 Audi A8 to start at $78,050 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “2011 Audi A8 to start at $78,050”

Audi ready to play hot odds: A1 S-Line, S1, RS3 and RS7 on deck

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi A1

Audi’s lineup is expanding so quickly you’d think its cars were spawning new models by mitosis. In a few days at the Paris Motor Show we’ll be seeing the newest hot addition to the A1 range: the 185-horsepower 1.4 TSFI with thrust provided by a twin-charged four cylinder. That’s not the S1, it just has the S-Line package thrown on for racy looks. Next year, the S1 itself will step forward, with the Golf GTI’s turbocharged 220-hp engine sitting up front. It is a sure bet to shave serious time off the TSFI’s 6.9-second run from zero to 62 miles per hour.

After that comes the Audi RS3, using the same 340-hp, five-cylinder turbo from the TT RS. Sub five-second runs to 62 mph are in the offing, and its 250 kph (155 mph) top speed can be raised to 280 kph (174 mph) for a nominal fee. Then, at the Frankfurt Auto Show in the fall, the RS7 Sportback takes a bow. Powering the four-door fastback will be the 4.0-liter, 550-hp twin-turbo V8 that’ll be shared with the 2011 Bentley Continental GT. That would put it about 100 horses clear of the rumored output in the S7 we should see next week in Paris, and the V8 is said to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than the 5.0-liter V10 in the RS6.

[Source: Auto Bild via German Car Blog]

Audi ready to play hot odds: A1 S-Line, S1, RS3 and RS7 on deck originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Audi ready to play hot odds: A1 S-Line, S1, RS3 and RS7 on deck”

Audi A3 sedan still in the cards, but needs a little help

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, Audi, Diesel

2010 Audi A3 TDI

2010 Audi A3 TDI – Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi’s A3 has been something of a quiet entry point for the German automaker in the North American market, selling in modest volumes compared to its more upscale A4 and A6 brethren. According to Audi of North America president, Johan de Nysschen, those low volumes have been supply constrained for some time. The A3 has been performing so well in the European market that capacity remains in short supply. The supply constraint is so acute that Audi hasn’t been offering any incentives or leasing plans to help boost the model’s numbers.

Another reason for the A3’s low take-rate, de Nysschen admits, is its five-door hatchback bodystyle, a configuration that is at odds with traditional expectations for premium cars among U.S. consumers. But help may be on the way.

As we first reported back in January, Audi may build a sedan version of the A3 to better appeal to this market’s consumer tastes. However, the company is reluctant to undertake the cost of developing a new bodystyle for the North American market alone, and Audi of Europe apparently isn’t terribly interested in offering one to its customers. The potential solution de Nysschen is pursuing hinges upon lobbying Audi’s other international arms to see if they are interested in offering an A3 sedan. Of those divisions, Audi’s Asian outposts would seem to be the most likely candidate, as countries like South Korea and China are very accepting of cars with trucks, and both are seen as strong growth markets.

Interestingly, de Nysschen reminded Autoblog that the A3’s sales volume has actually more than doubled in the States this year. That’s partly because Audi is earning more consideration from car buyers, and partly because demand for the model has fallen in Europe where it is approaching the end of its lifecycle. With less product needed to keep EU dealers happy, Audi has been able to secure more units to sell in the States. Through August, Audi sold 4,012 A3 five-doors in the States. That represents a whopping 74.8 percent year-over-year increase – a remarkable feat for a car that has been on sale since 2006. By this time last year, Audi had only managed to shift 2,295 units. Just as interesting is word that sales of the TDI diesel A3 account for around 50 percent of the model’s sales – a percentage that Audi says holds true for its other TDI offering, the Q7.

The next-generation A3 is expected in 2012, but with plans for a sedan still up in the air, it seems unlikely that a four-door variant will accompany its initial rollout. Either way, the second-generation model is expected to continue sharing quite a bit with its Volkswagen counterparts, including offering a derivative of automaker’s ubiquitous 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder and Quattro all-wheel drive.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI

Audi A3 sedan still in the cards, but needs a little help originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Audi A3 sedan still in the cards, but needs a little help”

Spy Shots: 2012 Audi S7 caught, but what’s under the hood?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

2012 Audi S7

2012 Audi S7 – Click above for high-res image gallery

When this first batch of spy shots landed in our inbox, we didn’t think too much about them. It’s an Audi A7 with the optional S Line bodykit. Big whoop. However, the rear view tells a different tale. Specifically, the quad-tipped exhaust system.

What we’re looking at is the first Audi S7 prototype which, according to earlier reports, could debut as early as next week at the Paris Motor Show.

If it does, we can expect a slightly lower ride height over the standard A7, upgraded brakes, wheels and tires, and a set of deeply bolstered buckets up front. But what’s under the hood?

Initial speculation suggested that the 4.2-liter FSI V8 found in the Audi R8 could be the engine of choice, but the latest intel floating around involves a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 outputting upwards of 450 horsepower and a healthy amount of torque.

Hopefully, all will be revealed in just over a week, but before then, scope out the S7 mule in the gallery below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Audi S7

Spy Shots: 2012 Audi S7 caught, but what’s under the hood? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: 2012 Audi S7 caught, but what’s under the hood?”

Don’t Call It S1: Audi shows off 185-hp A1 ahead of Paris debut

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi

2011 Audi A1 1.4 TFSI

2011 Audi A1 1.4 TFSI – Click above for high-res image gallery

As if we needed another reason to salivate over the delicious little Audi A1. The Four Ring’d One has just announced that it will pull the sheets off of a new, hopped-up version of its tiniest hatch at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Here’s the important part: under the hood, there’s a 185-horsepower dual-charged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 185 lb-ft of torque. That’s right, this machine makes use of both a supercharger and a turbocharger, and as a result, Audi says that its new A1 1.4 TFSI can scoot to 60 mph in a quick 6.9 seconds.

By way of salting the wound even further, Audi says that the meanest of the A1 breed returns around 40 mpg U.S., effectively making the Honda CR-Z look both lethargic and overtly wasteful. A seven-speed DSG gearbox handles shifting duties and likely helps with that massive fuel economy number. Quattro all-wheel drive is still not available, however.

European buyers can expect to see the brawny A1 by the end of this year, where it will carry a price tag of around $31,500 at current conversion rates (though the included EU taxes inflate that figure somewhat). As usual, we won’t see it on our shores. Hit the jump to take a look at the press release and the high-res gallery below if you’re a glutton for punishment.

Gallery: 2011 Audi A1

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Don’t Call It S1: Audi shows off 185-hp A1 ahead of Paris debut

Don’t Call It S1: Audi shows off 185-hp A1 ahead of Paris debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Don’t Call It S1: Audi shows off 185-hp A1 ahead of Paris debut”

First images of Audi e-tron Spyder leak out?

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Audi, Electric, Luxury

Audi e-Tron Spyder sketch – Click above for image gallery

We aren’t sure of the provenance and we have no information beyond the images, but these could be the first sketches of the oft-rumored Audi e-Tron Spyder that’s supposedly set to debut at the Paris Motor Show. As you’d expect, this convertible creature appears to be based on the design of the e-Tron Concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show this year, not the original concept shown in Frankfurt. Still, no word on the powerplant involved, but if it is headed for production expect a run of 1,000 units in 2012. Hit the gallery for a few more images.

Gallery: Audi e-Tron Spyder sketches

[Source: Caradisiac (translated)]

First images of Audi e-tron Spyder leak out? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “First images of Audi e-tron Spyder leak out?”

Spy Shots: Audi R4 up close and in camo

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Etc., Audi, Design/Style

That mysterious Audi coupe we saw in grainy video form is slowly becoming more clear. The above photo shows off some of the styling lines, even though the curly-Q camo is trying hard to hide them. Originally, the internet was abuzz with word that this vehicle could be related to Audi’s all-electric e-tron. Now, however, many are now backing away from that thinking – the large brakes, sporty wheels and shining tailpipes suggest otherwise. This could very likely be an R4 coupe or cabrio prototype basking in the Austrian sun, getting ready for a reverse ski-jump workout and laughing at our attempts to figure out what it is.

Our friends at GermanCarBlog may have a better idea as to exactly what’s going on here. They believe this is not the e-tron, not the R4 coupe or cabrio, but the S5-based Audi Anniversario project. That’s right folks, we may be staring at a long-awaited update to the beloved Ur-Quattro.

What exactly is sitting under the Van Gogh-esque wrap job remains to be seen. In the meantime, our eyes will remain glued to the ‘tubes until we learn more.

[Source: R4um, GermanCarBlog]

Spy Shots: Audi R4 up close and in camo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: Audi R4 up close and in camo”

Report: Helicopter crashes on Pikes Peak while filming Audi commercial *UPDATE

Filed under: Etc., Audi, Volkswagen, Specialty

Audi Autonomous TTS Pikes Peak – Click above for high-res image gallery

A helicopter carrying four crew members filming a commercial for Volkswagen/Audi has crashed near the summit of the famed Pikes Peak Highway just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County. The pilot is reportedly in critical condition, and three passengers are listed as stable.

Due to the location of the crash, a medical helicopter is unable to reach the victims, so crews are attempting to transfer the injured to nearby Crystal Creek Reservoir, which is the closest the medics were able to get. Hazmat crews have reportedly been dispatched to clean up a 150-gallon fuel spill from the crash.

According to KKTV in Southern Colorado, the crew was filming Audi’s driverless car as it navigated to the summit of Pikes Peak. Click past the break for a couple videos of Shelley, Audi’s autonomous TTS, in action. Thanks for the tip, Mason!

*Update: Audi’s official statement on the incident is pasted after the break.

Gallery: Audi Autonomous TTS Pikes Peak

[Source: KKTV Colorado | Photos by jurvetson | CC2.0]

Continue reading Report: Helicopter crashes on Pikes Peak while filming Audi commercial *UPDATE

Report: Helicopter crashes on Pikes Peak while filming Audi commercial *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Helicopter crashes on Pikes Peak while filming Audi commercial *UPDATE”

Video: Audi scales down its marketing for the Toronto Film Festival

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Audi, Toys/Games, Canada, Humor

Audi scales down marketing, Bobba Fett approves

Audi starts thinking smaller, Boba Fett approves – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing, and Audi is taking advantage of the crowds to do a bit of advertising. Utilizing scale models, a bunch of magnets and the natural curiosity of human beings, Audi has created a unique marketing campaign which uses a simple statement to deliver a brilliant message.

Hundreds of scale models sticking to various downtown Toronto street fixtures is a good way to draw attention to a brand. The cars are literally stuck to random telephone poles, mailboxes and in front of one sure-to-be surly Cadillac CTS-V. The payoff for this short video (it’s well under two minutes) doesn’t come until the very end but it ties everything together perfectly. And no, Boba Fett is not the big star of this marketing clip. The “brilliant message” comes through in the end and provides an ah-ha moment for viewers and Toronto citizens alike. Very clever, Audi.

Now we just need Audi to keep running this campaign in other cities so we can score some sweet model-car toys for the office. Check out the clever marketing scheme after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Davor!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Audi scales down its marketing for the Toronto Film Festival

Video: Audi scales down its marketing for the Toronto Film Festival originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Audi scales down its marketing for the Toronto Film Festival”