Report: Audi won’t churn out RS sport-utes

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Crossover, Audi, Rumormill

Audi Q5 Custom Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes has been doing it for years with their AMG sport-utes. BMW finally caved with the X5 M and X6 M. Even Porsche’s in the game with the Cayenne Turbo and anticipated upcoming Cajun. But Audi’s not about to follow suit, according to reports from across the pond.

Our (unrelated) Italian counterparts claim that Audi’s technical chief Stephan Reil has ruled out the possibility of ever slapping an RS badge on any of its SUVs or crossovers. Audi’s high-riding range currently includes the Q7 and Q5 and is soon to be joined by a smaller Q3. The top of the line Q7 is available with a twin-turbo V12 diesel churning out a massive 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, but a big engine, says Audi, does not an RS make.

Of course the difference may come down to badging. S variants remain a possibility, but though they may have the engines and even the suspension and other ingredients, Audi insists that the RS badge is to remain exclusively for high-performance models, and that a big lumbering crossover – no matter how quickly it’s capable of covering all types of terrain – doesn’t fit the mold.

[Source: Autoblog.it]

Report: Audi won’t churn out RS sport-utes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel to churn out 800 lb-ft of torque

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, GM

In February, the specs on Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel V8 were announced: 390 horsepower and 735 pound-feet of torque. A month later, General Motors laid out the specs on its 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel: 397 hp and 765 lb-ft. According to PickupTrucks.com, the Duramax could be shoved to the corner again later this year, when a high-output Super Duty blows out the footlights with 400 hp and 800 – or more – lb-ft of twisting gumption.

According to the unknown source within the Blue Oval, Ford’s new 6R140 TorqShift six-speed transmission has strong enough guts that Ford can open up the taps on that engine a bit. And give GM something to think about. If this absurdly powerful dream does come true, the behemoth motor will be seen in the second wave of 2011 Super Duty pickups that begin production in a few months. No word on whether early adopters of the 6.7-liter will get a free upgrade.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Ford 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel to churn out 800 lb-ft of torque originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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