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Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Luxury

2012 Ferrari FF

2012 Ferrari FF – Click above for high-res image gallery

Are you a mega-wealthy car enthusiast that’s always eager to be first in line when it comes to supercars? Here’s a tip for you: Buy a plane ticket (or fuel up the jet) and head on down to Florida for the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance.

Now in its fifth year, this upper-crust car show has been gaining momentum in the concours community, in part by scoring a lot of “firsts” for the auction portion of its event. Auctiongoers in past years have had a shot to buy the first U.S. examples of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 and Spyder R8, Ferrari California and 458 Italia and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

On the docket for this year’s festivities? How does the 2012 Ferrari FF, 2012 Audi R8 GT and 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. According to The DuPont Registry, each car will be the first of its kind sold in the United States. If you need to pick up something for your kids or the wife, Mercedes has also supplied a 2012 CLS63 Limited Edition, of which only 30 are to be made – and, of course, this is also the very first one sold.

*UPDATE: If you were booking travel arrangements to Florida with the goal of winning yourself the first example of Ferrari’s FF shooting brake… don’t. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County (the organization for whom the concours auction is to benefit) has issued a formal retraction – the Ferrari FF will not be available for auction. Please read the official press release after the jump for more details.

Gallery: 2012 Ferrari FF

[Sources: DuPont Registry, Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County]

Continue reading Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE

Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2012 Audi A6

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Audi, First Drive, Luxury

A Smaller, Livelier, Less-Expensive A8

2012 Audi A6

2012 Audi A6 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi is on a roll. Need proof? Who doesn’t overtly or secretly lust after an R8 Spyder? Would any of us kick anything with an RS badge out of our garage? Didn’t think so. Audi’s sales are growing because of its products. The German automaker recently broke the 100,000 unit sales mark in the States, with 2010 calendar year sales up 23 percent over 2009. The all-new 2012 Audi A6 – due in U.S. showrooms in September – continues the manufacturer’s aggressive product expansion and portfolio revitalization plan. Now we want to know if it’s good enough to bring even more buyers into the Audi family.

Gallery: 2012 Audi A6: First Drive

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First Drive: 2012 Audi A6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A8 L Security blends serious protection with luxury and style

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Audi, Luxury

Audi A8 L Security

Audi A8 L Security – Click above for high-res image gallery

Attention wealthy car shoppers looking for mobile security beyond an alarm and LoJack. Your new chariot of protection has arrived and it’s wearing Four Rings in the grille. Audi is preparing to launch a truly battle-ready premium sedan and it’s called the A8 L Security.

Produced in a heavily guarded section of a secure workshop (no cell phones allowed), the A8 L Security is an armor-plated luxury sedan certified by the German government for compliance with the VR 7 ballistic protection standard (2009). Basically, that means this A8 L is capable of taking numerous rifle bullets and small explosive hits such as hand grenades and anti-tank mines.

All of that protection adds weight, and the Audi A8 L Security employs measures to help counter -balance the added heft. Under the hood is a 6.3-liter W12 engine that produces 500 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and both work together to push the heavy four-door from zero-to-60 miles per hour in around seven seconds.

As you may recall, Audi showed off its last generation A8 L Security in 2007, and that car cost $685,000. No word yet on a sticker price for this latest version, but armoring ain’t cheap.

The full list of features on this rolling luxury tank is hugely impressive, and it’s available for you to read in the press-release posted after the jump.

Gallery: Audi A8 L Security

Audi A8 L Security

[Source: Audi]

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Audi A8 L Security blends serious protection with luxury and style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As Audi plants struggle to meet demand, buyers wait months for cars

Filed under: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Audi A6

2012 Audi A6 – Click above for a high-res image gallery

The Volkswagen Group wants to be number one in global sales, luxury sales and, hopefully, profits. In order to reach the auto sales zenith, however, Volkswagen may need to make room for more Audi production.

Bloomberg reports that Audi is struggling to meet demand for the A3 and A6, with buyers waiting three to four months to take delivery of those models. Audi sales boss Peter Schwarzenbauer tells Bloomberg that its factories are running at full throttle and that if sales continue to grow it will be “difficult to say how long it could take to reduce waiting times.”

So why aren’t car buyers leaving Audi for the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz? The line for Germany’s other luxury makes can be just as long. All three automakers reported record sales in January, and that’s with buyers waiting up to six months for hot new vehicles like the new BMW X3. While all three German luxury struggle to keep pace with demand, experts say Audi is in the toughest spot, with wait times up to two months longer than its competitors.

Will the Volkswagen Group address the problem in a timely manner? Since Audi reportedly contributed 47 percent of VW’s overall profits for the past nine months, execs should be eager to take care of their cash cow.

Gallery: 2012 Audi A6: Detroit 2011

2012 Audi A6

[Source: Bloomberg]

As Audi plants struggle to meet demand, buyers wait months for cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: NHTSA investigation into 100,000 VW and Audi diesels intensifies

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Audi, Volkswagen, Diesel

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI (MkVI) – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to The Detroit News, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is turning up the heat on its investigation into faulty Volkswagen fuel pumps. The administration has announced that it is currently looking into 97,272 diesel Volkswagen and Audi vehicles after receiving a total of 160 complaints about the issue. NHTSA says that in roughly half of those complaints, the bad pumps resulted in an engine stall on the highway or in traffic that prevented the engine from being restarted. Even so, no major accidents have been attributed to the faulty pumps, though one minor fender-bender has been reported as a result of the issue.

The investigation covers 2010 Golf hatchbacks, 2009-2010 Jetta sedans and certain 2010 Audi A3 models as well.

Volkswagen says that the fuel pump issues that it has encountered have resulted from diesel fuel that has been contaminated with gasoline. The company says that even a small amount of gas mixed in with diesel fuel can cause the pumps to shut down. Unfortunately for thusly affected owners, fuel system damage due to using the wrong fuel won’t be covered under warranty.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen has informed NHTSA about 120 separate fuel slip-ups, some of which came courtesy of dealers and service personnel using the wrong fuel.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: NHTSA investigation into 100,000 VW and Audi diesels intensifies originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Are you the Audi RS7?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Hatchback, Audi

Audi RS7 Sportback spy shots

Audi RS7 Sportback spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Normally, any spy shots having to do with Audi’s RS series involve large wheels, huge fender flares and low-profile tires. This potential prototype for the Audi RS7 Sportback, however, appears to be going incognito under standard A7 skin.

Audi RS7 spy shots The dead giveaway that this A7 is more than meets the eye? The brakes. Specifically, our spy photographers tell us that they’ve seen prototypes of the standard S7 Sportback plenty of times, and none of those cars we fitted with brakes this large. Even so, the quad exhaust pipes out back are similar to what all of Audi’s S models use, though we’re told that when it hits production, the RS7 will use a large, dual-exhaust setup.

As for what’s underhood, the latest speculation suggests that a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine will be in use, producing somewhere around 550 or 600 horsepower. This power will be managed by a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and sent to all four wheels via Quattro all-wheel drive. Expect the production car – with the normal aggressive RS fittings – to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Audi RS7 Sportback

Spy Shots: Audi RS7 Sportback

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Are you the Audi RS7? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Audi Super Bowl ad features Kenny G as prison warden

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising

Kenny G Audi ad

Kenny G is Head of Riot Supression – Click above to watch the videos after the break

Audi today announced that Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G will make a “humorous” appearance (we could assume it would try to be humorous…) in the brand’s 60-second spot during Super Bowl XLV.

The ad, set to air in the first break after kick-off on February 6, 2011, will feature an adventurous prison escape scene that culminates with a comical cameo by Kenny G as the luxury prison Riot Suppressor.

The german automaker launched a couple of online long-form teaser videos – neither of which actually features an automobile – for the commercial that you can find after the break, along with details on how you could win prizes from Audi, including the chance to drive an R8 at a racetrack.

Click here to continue reading…

Continue reading Video: Audi Super Bowl ad features Kenny G as prison warden

Video: Audi Super Bowl ad features Kenny G as prison warden originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi R18 tests successful at Sebring

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Audi, Racing

Audi R18 Testing at Sebring

Audi R18 Testing at Sebring – Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi has officially put its new R18 Le Mans racer and all nine of its factory drivers through their paces. The pair of closed-cockpit Audi bruisers and one last-generation R15 TDI spent some time lapping Sebring as part of preparations for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Each of the cadre of pilots was able to get some seat time in all three vehicles. Interestingly enough, Audi has made it clear that the R15 “Plus Plus” will campaign alone at this year’s 12 Hours of Sebring. Audi typically uses the venue as a dry run for new hardware before showing up in France.

At this point, it appears that he R18 will enjoy its race debut at Le Mans instead. Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said that Sebring offers up a unique test of any race car’s mechanicals, and that the warm, dry weather in Florida is more conducive to testing than European venues. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: Audi R18 at Sebring

[Source: Audi]

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Audi R18 tests successful at Sebring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren recruits Audi’s Greg Levine to lead sales and marketing

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising, MISC

Greg Levine, McLaren Sales and Marketing Director

You can have a great product on your hands, but if you don’t sell it right, it ain’t worth jack. That’s why McLaren has hired Greg Levine.

A 15-year industry veteran, Levine comes to McLaren from his position as head of operations for Audi in the UK. Prior to that, he served as head of sales and marketing for Audi in South Africa, where Levine was credited with ushering the R8 to market – critical experience on which McLaren is keen to capitalize.

In his new position as head of global sales and marketing, Levine is responsible for bringing the new McLaren MP4-12C to market and overseeing an upstart network of 35 dealers in 19 countries. Sales are projected to be 1,000 units in the first full year, of which the United States is expected to account for 400 units. Details of the announcement are in the press release after the jump.

[Source: McLaren]

Continue reading McLaren recruits Audi’s Greg Levine to lead sales and marketing

McLaren recruits Audi’s Greg Levine to lead sales and marketing originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi turns pedal car into another e-tron for German toy fair

Filed under: Etc., Audi, Toys/Games, Electric

Auto Union Type C e-tron study

“Auto Union Type C e-tron study” with electric drive – Click above to enlarge

Once again, Audi is bringing a sweet-looking electric car to the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany. While this thing is branded with the e-tron name, it’s more toy than car – but the little prototype can get going at speeds up to 18.64 miles per hour.

Called the Auto Union Type C e-tron study with electric drive, the toy is based on the limited-edition pedal car model, the Auto Union Silver Arrow Type C race car, that was shown last year. The new electric version uses a lithium-ion battery that can spin the 1.5-hp rear-wheel-drive electric motor to generate 29.5 pound-feet or torque (peak at 44.25) and has a range of just over 15 miles. Also, it has a reverse gear. Recharging from a 230-volt European socket takes around two hours. The best news: Adults up to 5’11” can fit inside. Beats the heck out of those silly toy Escalades.

[Source: Audi]

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Audi turns pedal car into another e-tron for German toy fair originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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