A5 Sportback to herald new shape for Audi

Audi is likely to extend the body style of the new A5 Sportback further across its range, according to product manager Henry Williams.

2010 audi a5 sportback

“This is a new shape of car for the Sportback name,” said Williams. Currently the only Audi to bear the Sportback title is the five-door version of the lower medium A3, which is more estate-like in looks.

“This shape could make its way to the A3,” said Williams. “This could potentially see the end for the current A3 Sportback shape.”

Williams said this change in focus is down to customer demand. He claimed that customers are moving away from saloons and estate body styles, and are starting to favour the practicality and looks of hatchbacks.

Williams refused to confirm or deny whether another, larger Sportback model is due to arrive soon. However, he pointed to fact that Audi showed off an A7 Sportback concept at the Detroit motor show in January this year. This concept, which claimed emissions of just 156g/km from its 3.0-litre diesel, is predicted to go into production in 2010.

This would give Audi a rival to the 5-series GT that BMW is releasing in October this year.

Woman finds 'stolen' Audi in neighbor's garage

An Audi sedan written off by an elderly German woman as stolen two years ago has resurfaced — in her neighbor's garage beneath a thick layer of dust. Police said Thursday the 82-year-old from the northern city of Hildesheim took the car in for repairs two years ago and had the mechanics drive it back to her house and park it in her garage.

She got the keys and papers from her mailbox, but when she went to get the car it was nowhere to be found. So she reported it stolen.

Fast forward to Wednesday when her neighbor went to clean up his unused garage so it could be rented. He found the car under "a centimeter-deep coating of dust."

It didn't take police long to piece together that the mechanics had parked it in the wrong garage.

2008 Audi RS6

Current Audi A6 has been on sale for almost two years now, but we’re still at least a year away from the release of the potent Audi RS6 super-sedan and Avant. Originally thought to debut at September’s Frankfurt Auto Show, latest reports suggest that its release date has been pushed back to June next year.

The BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 have already proven there potential in both the sales race and on the track, but we’re still waiting to see what Audi can do to topple the former Audi RS6. Commonly referred to as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the original RS6 sedan was chosen by many motoring mags as the pick of the bunch over the BMW and Mercedes competition.

Spotted on numerous occasions undergoing final testing at Germany’s Nürburgring, often with an M5 in tow, the next RS6 is rumored to feature the same 5.2L V10 from the S6 but with a turbocharger bolted on for extra kick. Early estimates put its output in the vicinity of 520-550bhp, enough to give it a significant power advantage over its rivals.

Audi A1

We have seen pictures, artist’s impressions and concept models, but not anything near what the new Audi A1 will look like. So it will be a relief to finally see what Audi’s attempt at a new city car will be like. Audi is calling the A1 a hybrid concept car, but we know that Audi will sell more gas/petrol and diesel versions than it will hybrid one.

See the Audi A1 Concept at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007. The show will run for 17 days and will open from Friday October 26th to Sunday November 11th, although the show will not be open to the public until Saturday October 27th.

New plant to double Audi output in China

Audi will open another plant in China in September to meet fast-growing demand for premium cars in there.

The $150-million plant in the north-eastern city of Changchun will double the brand's Chinese production capacity to 200 000 a year.

Audis are assembled in China through FAW-Volkswagen Automobile.

Zhang Xiaojun, deputy general manager of the Audi sales division at the joint venture, said: "The first two models to come out of the new plant will be the Audi A4L sedan and Q5 SUV.

"The factor will, in theory, will be able to produce all Audi's models." - AFP

Audi R8 chosen Canadian 'Car of the Year'

The all-new 2008 Audi R8 captured the triple crown of Canadian automotive awards by being named as AJAC's "Canadian Car of the Year", being designated as AJAC's "Best New Design" of the year and winning AJAC's "Most Coveted Vehicle" award.

Audi Canada captured the triple crown of Canadian automotive awards Wednesday with the all new R8 mid-engined sports car.

At the opening press conference of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the R8 was presented the 2008 "Canadian Car of the Year" award by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The Audi R8 was evaluated against a long list of discerning criteria amidst a group of strong eligible competitors. The Audi R8 beat 11 other "best new" category winners, announced December 4th, to secure the prestigious Canadian Car of the Year honours.

The new Audi R8 was also declared the winner of AJAC’s "Best New Design" award for 2008. In addition, Canada’s leading automotive writers and editors also selected the Audi R8 for the rarely presented AJAC "Most Coveted Vehicle" award.

The AJAC Canadian Car of the Year competition gathers more than 60 prominent Canadian automotive journalists in Niagara-on-the-Lake for several days in October for the annual "TestFest" event. This program has received praise from consumers because the evaluation and voting processes are carried out in a professional, fair and, serious manner.

The participating journalists have the opportunity to test drive all the entries back to back in identical conditions. An extensive list of important criteria is assessed by the journalists and all active participants vote for their individual choice as car of the year.

2010 Audi A5 Sportback - First Drive Review

With frameless windows and a fast, sloping roofline, the A5 Sportback is a handsome car, but a new concept it is not—sleek hatchback variants derived from their sedan brethren were common in the 1970s. Audi's own original Avant models, for instance, arrived as fastback hatches in 1977 and remained as such through the third-generation Audi 100/5000 sedans, until they were finally replaced with a conventional boxy wagon style in 1990.

The "Sportback" concept goes back quite a ways inside of Audi Design, too. Initially proposed in the late 1990s—down to the name—by designer Marc Florian (now at GM), it morphed through several iterations over the years before it finally emerged as this car and the upcoming A7.

But before you decide you want one, know that the A5 Sportback won't come to the U.S. Audi thinks the market would be too small, and U.S. crash regulations would have required the roofline above the rear passengers to be about 1.5 inches thicker, so extensive reengineering would have been in order. Audi is planning to produce 40,000–50,000 units annually, most of them for Western Europe.

So Many Engines

On the Continent, a whole range of engines is offered. Audi figures the two 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesels, rated at 143 hp and 170 hp, will be the most popular and account for 40 percent of sales. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TFSI gasoline engines, in 180-hp and 211-hp iterations, will account for 25 percent. The remainder will be split between two TDI V-6 turbo-diesels—a 190-hp, 2.7-liter and the ubiquitous 240-hp, 3.0-liter (of Q5, A6, Q7, A8, VW Touareg, and Porsche Cayenne fame)—along with a normally aspirated, 265-hp, 3.2-liter gasoline V-6.

We drove all of them and liked the 211-hp, 2.0-liter four and the 3.0-liter TDI six best. With the turbo-four, the A5 Sportback feels like a huge, premium GTI: 0 to 62 mph takes in the mid-six-second range, and top speed is 150 mph. You hear a low-pitched, sporty note instead of the typical four-banger drone, and response to throttle input is rapid. The 2.0 TFSI works well with both the six-speed manual and the optional seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox. It's a light engine, and the A5 Sportback is a very balanced car thus equipped.
Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon

ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED (Germany): $60,033 (base price: $47,912)

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, cast-iron block, aluminum head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 121 cu in, 1984cc
Power (SAE net): 211 bhp @ 4300 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 258 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 110.6 in Length: 185.5 in Width: 73.0 in Height: 54.8 in Curb weight (C/D est): 3700 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 62 mph: 6.0 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.5 sec
Top speed (drag limited): 150 mph


FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 22/28 mpg

You can't quite say the same about the 3.2-liter V-6. It is more powerful, but offers hardly more torque than the burliest 2.0-liter, and you can't help but notice the extra weight during turn-in. On twisty highways, the 3.2 feels clumsier than the 2.0 TFSI. The sensible choice among gasoline engines is the entry-level 2.0-liter TFSI with 180 hp, but the horsepower deficit compared with the more powerful version dilutes the fun. An even less expensive A5 Sportback is coming later, a 1.8 TFSI with 160 hp. This engine is great in the A3, but we’re not sure we’ll like it as much in the bigger and heavier A5 Sportback.

Pass Diesel, Collect $200 (In Saved Fuel Costs)

If you’re more mileage-minded, you can go directly to the diesel versions. The four-cylinder TDIs are strong enough to move the A5 Sportback smartly, but their noise, vibration, and harshness never let you forget that you have a small oil-burner under the hood. The two V-6 diesels almost sound melodious by comparison. The 2.7-liter is great for effortless, long-distance cruising, and its CVT transmission makes you forget the (well-founded) prejudices you might have harbored about those boxes. But for real authority, go for the 3.0-liter V-6 TDI, which is a lot quicker and can be mated to the quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. With 369 lb-ft of torque on tap, it simply leaves the smaller V-6 TDI—and every gasoline-powered model—in its dust.

The chassis nicely blends great handling and coddling comfort, even when equipped with 18-inch wheels. We like the Drive Select chassis-adjustment option that lets you tweak the chassis and steering to be either harder-edged or softer according to your preferences, and we love the Sport differential, which you can get with the top-level gasoline and diesel engines and which helps mitigate any understeer that the heavier engines might produce.

Audi arguably makes the nicest interiors in the industry, and the Sportback cockpit is carried over unchanged from the A5 coupe. As in the A4, rear seating isn’t particularly generous but neither is it uncomfortable. This, after all, is a relatively compact sedan by U.S. standards. The A5 Sportback does offer more trunk space than a conventional sedan, and it's easier to access, but this body style clearly is no alternative to a Volvo V70 (or even an A4 Avant).

Based on the A4, but You Probably Knew That

You likely know that the Audi A5 is based on the A4 (much like the Mercedes E-class coupe is based on the C-class). Indeed, the A5 Sportback is a sedan with the front end (including an identical S-line look) and taillights of the A5 coupe, but the wheelbase of the A4.

What's the point? After all, why have two sedans roughly the same size? The answer is simple: the A5 Sportback is a designer's car. It may sport a hatchback, like the portly BMW 5-series GT, the Porsche Panamera, and the Aston Martin Rapide, but the A5 Sportback also will be compared with some of the more elegant, conventionally trunked sedans, such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Volkswagen CC. These are all cars for which marketing departments invented the nonsensical “four-door coupe” moniker.

Technological highlights include optional LED light strips up front and in the rear, including a third brake light with 24 LEDs. The front fenders are made of aluminum to save weight. If one feels the need to more closely track their carbon footprint, there is a driver information system which shows the energy flow in the car, including the juice sucked up by the air-conditioning unit and the rear window defroster. Give us a boost gauge for the turbo instead.

In Germany, pricing starts at €33,650 ($47,912) for an A5 Sportback with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, with most of the range slotting just under respective A5 coupe models and above the A4 sedans. It's fast, cool, and distinctive, and we think it is a good deal. If only they’d found a way to lower the rear seats by an inch and a half—we wouldn’t mind seeing this car in America.
VIA

Modified Audi Car Pictures

Modified Audi Car Pictures

PPI Razor GTR Audi R8

The Razor GTR from Germany based Audi-tuners PPI Automotive is based on the Audi R8.


The PPI Razor GTR was first introduced at the 2008 Essen Motor Show as the R8 Razor show car. After extensive testing and development on the road, track and wind tunnel the show car was transformed into a production ready model with increased power, improved handling and reduced weight over the standard Audi R8.

One of the most important engine modifications is the specially designed supercharger. This unit works in conjunction with the ram-air intake system and a high performance stainless steel sports exhaust which allows the engine to breathe more easily. These new components are precisely regulated to work with each other thanks to a new ignition control unit.

The result is that the supercharged 4.2 litre V8 develops up to 580 hp @ 7,400 rpm and 600 Nm of torque @ 6,200 rpm. This means that the PPI Razor GTR Audi R8 can reach 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and continue on to 206 mph.

In addition to the power enhancements the PPI Razor GTR also has wind tunnel tested aerodynamics with a widebody appearance. The overall weight of the car has been significantly reduced thanks to the use of carbon fibre for the various aerodynamic features.

The front bumper of the Razor GTR has been designed to work in conjunction with a specially engineered front diffuser to increase downforce over the front axle. Larger air inlets below the headlights supply the radiators with additional fresh air, and an intake in the hood provides cooling air to the brakes. At the rear is a large spoiler to balance out the front/rear downforce.

The motor cover, made of a light high-tech polycarbonate, also features carbon-fibre ram-air inlets that replace the heavy OEM Engine cover and aid in cooling.

The exterior design of the PPI Razor GTR is further enhanced by a new widebody skin to allow the body to accommodate all the performance enhancements and wider wheels. The car utilizes specially designed lightweight wheels. At the front, 10Jx19 MAG9 wheels weighing 8.8kgs with 255/35 ZR 19 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires are fitted, at the rear are 12.0J x 20 MAG9 wheels with 325/25 ZR 20 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires.

The interior of the PPI Razor GTR is also modified and Onyx Nubuck-leather with orange coloured accents and highlights. Additionally, PPI equips the limited edition PPI Razor GTR with extensive carbon fibre trim throughout the cockpit; hand-brake lever, door sill protectors, Driver and Radio Console Surround, Door Trims, Center Console inserts, and kneepad trims, the ultra-light folding sport seats are also made of carbon fibre.

Audi S4: The fastest and most powerful S4 ever!

The fastest and most powerful Audi S4 comes from ... Poland!

Arek’s 1,000+ horsepower 1998 B5 Audi S4 Avant is fast. Very fast. Not only is it the fastest Audi in Poland (winning the 2005 Polish 1/4 mile racing championships), it’s also the fastest and most powerful Audi S4 in the world.

The basis of this story started years ago. It is common knowledge that the B5 S4 platform has a very strong aftermarket following with numerous tuning options. Off-the-shelf kits exist which can easily double a stock S4’s modest 250 hp output, and then some. One of the limiting factors has always been the tight placement of the turbochargers within the B5 platform’s cramped engine bay. There is simply not much space available between the exhaust manifolds and frame rails, which makes stuffing jumbo sized turbos under the hood of a B5 S4 a challenging and frustrating exercise.

Back around 2004 pictures and videos of a Polish-built S4 putting out crazy amounts of power and running staggeringly fast 10 second quarter mile times started to circulate around the internet. This Audi was equipped with huge Turbonetics T4 turbochargers which had been relocated higher up in the engine bay, instead of the normal location tucked underneath each cylinder bank. Naturally this sparked considerable interest, as this type of power output and dragstrip performance had not yet been achieved by any North American S4 tuner.

Audi A7 Four-door Coupe to debut by 2010

As Audi aims to fulfill its goal of expanding its fleet to a total of 40 units from the today’s 23 cars, new sedans, coups, and soft-roaders are being introduced to the market. Following the 2008 release of the A5 cabrio, the S5, and the Audi Q5 SUV in North America, Audi is planning to release the A7 coupe with four doors by late 2010.

The new A7 4-door coupe will be rolling of stores as a 2011 model. Audi is beefing up its Neckarsulm factoriy by spending millions of Euros to produce the A7. The production of the new member of the brood will start late next year, so American consumers will most likely enjoy the new car by 2011.

According to an insider, the A7 will get a variety of engines under its hood. There are buzzes that a V10 capable of producing about 600hp will be fitted in. Hybrid versions using the combo of diesel and electric engines are also said to be on the works.

The ordinary A7 is expected to have a V6 engine. The base model may get a 2.8L V6 engine capable of giving out 204hp. A notch higher will be a 3.0L powerplant that gives 300hp to the car. The S7 variant of the car will be equipped with V8 4.0L engine that adds another 94hp to the equation. The RS7 will be the ultimate setup with 600hp.

The high end models will have their engines coupled with a dual clutch system while the lower end models will be coupled with either an automatic eight speed or a six speed manual gearbox.

Audi R8 RWD? It's Possible

Is this mystery winged Audi R8 an RWD test mule?

"Remember that mystery winged R8 running around Nurburgring run last week by Spyshots.
nl? There's a theory by a usually knowledgeable user at RS6.com that suggests the car is a prototype of a potentially RWD R8 much like the latest Lamborghini Gallardo
LP550-2."

Audi Q5 Review

Audi Q5 Review

The day that Audi celebrated its 100th birthday was also the day that the Audi Q5 arrived. It is the latest SUV from the German manufacturer and younger sibling to the mighty Audi Q7.

Thankfully, the Audi Q5 bears all of the hallmarks of its big brother but isn't quite as brutish but still bullishly distinctive, nonetheless. It must be a matter of scale because the smaller Audi Q5 appears to be almost exactly the same as the Audi Q7, perhaps a little more car-like and, unless they stood side by side, the only noticeable difference is in the large front air intakes that flank the imposing trapezoidal grille, which have more rounded edges.

Smaller than the Audi Q7 it may be, but size is relative and at just over 4.6 metres in length, almost 1.9 metres wide and standing some 1.6 metres tall, the Audi Q5 is by no means small. What is more, the 2.1 metre wheelbase is said to be the longest in its class. This has been made possible by moving the differential forward of the clutch, which in real terms, means more cabin space.

The Audi Q5 also has class-leading aerodynamics and boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.33, which is surprising given the somewhat squared-off front end. However, the bonnet and body contours and design lines, along with the rake of the windscreen, allows the air to flow over and around the car and even strong side-winds don't pose too much of a problem.

Compared to the hefty Audi Q7, the Audi Q5 offers a choice of smaller engines: 2.0TDI and 3.0TDI V6 are the diesels and the petrol options are the acclaimed 3.2FSI and the 2.0TFSI.

The Audi Q5 test car housed the smaller petrol unit, which, with the help of TFSI technology, produces 211PS between 4,300- and 6,000rpm and 350Nm from as low down as 1,500 rpm and doesn't start to tail off until 4,200rpm is reached. These are diesel-like figures and as such, an advantage when towing or off-roading.

FSI stands for Fuel Stratified Ignition, which is a way of making the engine do more for less fuel; it was first developed for the Le Mans 24-hour race and now we all have the benefit of the technology. TFSI adds an exhaust turbocharger, allowing a 0-62mph time of just 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 137mph.

The New Audi A3 1.6 TDI

The Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI S Line

Success will smell even sweeter in the Audi A3 from this month as the consistent class best seller slashes emissions even further with the help of an all new 1.6-litre common rail TDI engine combining an outstandingly low CO2 output of 109g/km with the potential to cover close to 69mpg. Aided by the latest auxiliary fuel conservation technology, including an automatic start-stop function, the new unit effects an eight per cent economy improvement over the engine powering the Audi A3 1.9 TDIe, which it replaces. It is available in three-door, five-door Sportback and Audi A3 Cabriolet models priced from £17,485 OTR.

The three-door version's 68.9mpg combined economy figure demands no sacrifices in power or performance - with the same 105PS and 250Nm peak power and torque outputs as the larger displacement 1.9-litre TDI unit, the new arrival powers the Audi A3 1.6 TDI with five-speed manual transmission to 62mph in 11.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 121mph. This uncompromising breadth of ability is made possible with the help of automatic start-stop and energy recuperation systems, both of which made their debuts recently in the Audi A3 1.4 TFSI.

The start-stop system cuts engine power at idle when the clutch pedal is released and the gear lever is in its neutral position, and then restarts in just two-tenths of a second - more rapidly than any other comparable system - when the clutch is depressed. With the system's help, economy is boosted and CO2 is reduced by approximately 5g/km, but if required it can be deactivated at the touch of a button.

Braking Energy 'Recycled'

Recuperation technology provides further fuel and CO2 savings by recycling a proportion of the wasted kinetic energy which is generated under normal braking and normally dissipated as heat, and storing this temporarily in the vehicle battery to reduce the engine load when the car subsequently accelerates again. With its help, fuel usage is reduced by as much as three per cent in the A3.

These virtually imperceptible economy-maximising measures in no way detract from the responsiveness and agility which has always characterised the Audi A3 range. For keen drivers this can be maximised by specifying the Audi A3 1.6 TDI in Sport form with sports suspension lowered by 15mm over 17-inch five-spoke Star design alloy wheels, or as an S line which rides 10mm lower still on 18-inch seven twin-spoke wheels. The 1.6 TDI is also available in more comfort oriented SE and Standard trim levels, all four options featuring alloy wheels and comforts such as air conditioning or climate control, a single CD audio system, electric windows and mirrors and split/folding rear seats.

The frugal new engine and accompanying efficiency measures bear testament to the concerted efforts being made to honour Board of Management Chairman Rupert Stadler's pledge to reduce average Audi fleet CO2 output by at least 20 per cent by 2012.

Audi Q7 SUV gets an efficient new engine

Audi was late to the luxury-SUV ranks, watching for almost a decade as BMW and Mercedes-Benz took the initiative with the popular U.S.-built X5 and M-class.

But since the Q7 launch in 2006, Audi has made quite an impression. In three years, the Q7, which shares mechanicals with the Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg, has had sales of almost 230,000 worldwide. Not bad.

Now, with the global credit crunch, Audi is introducing a facelifted Q7, which, at prices similar to those charged until now, is claimed to offer greater value while providing the choice of a frugal new 3.0-liter V6 diesel. This pitches the Q7 against BMW's X5 xDrive 35d and the ML350 CDI Bluetec from Mercedes.

The exterior changes to the Q7 are slight, mostly affecting the headlamps, subtle makeovers with new LED graphics and the option of a new high-tech projector for improved long-range illumination. The big grille has a new insert, making it even bolder.

Interior changes are minimal, including redesigned instruments and some changes to the MMI (multimedia interface) controller. Buyers can still choose between a five- and a seven-seat layout, although the latter comes largely at the expense of trunk capacity. Still, it's an impressive cabin, built to a level of quality comparable with the German carmaker's flagship A8 sedan.

The engine in the Q7 3.6 FSI is a 3.6-liter V6 with 280 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Next up is Audi's 4.2-liter V8, with 350 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. That engine propels the Q7 from 0 to 62 mph in 7.4 seconds, with a 154-mph top speed. The six-speed automatic is standard.

A picture of The new Q7 uses the latest generation of Audi's MMI multimedia interface.

The new Q7 uses the latest generation of Audi's MMI multimedia interface.

The big news is Audi's 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, which receives a catalytic converter with urea injection, making it 50-state legal.

With 240 hp and an extraordinary 406 lb-ft of torque, the common-rail diesel claims an 8.5-second 0-to-62-mph time and a 130-mph top speed. The new diesel's big draw is its 26 mpg, almost 8 mpg better than the V8 gasoline engine, for a theoretical range of almost 700 miles on the Q7's 26-gallon tank.

Audi will not offer a Q7 hybrid, at least until the next-generation model arrives in 2012, when it likely will adopt the system revealed in the Cayenne and the Touareg.

Given the emphasis on comfort, we recommend that buyers look at the optional air suspension. It operates in one of three modes--dynamic, comfort or automatic--all selectable via the MMI controller. It smooths out the ride and provides four levels of ride height, including an off-road setting with 9.5 inches of ground clearance.

It's tough peddling a luxury SUV, especially one that starts at more than $40,000. However, the changes made to the Q7 help give it an added touch of class. It continues to feel unwieldy around town, with its generous dimensions and big turning circle. The upside is its impressive ability on the highway, where it devours big distances with ease and with the sort of refinement matched by only a handful of rivals.

SPECS

2010 Audi Q7

ON SALE: September

BASE PRICE: $44,525 (est)

DRIVETRAIN: 3.6-liter, 280-hp, 266-lb-ft V6; AWD, six-speed automatic

CURB WEIGHT: 5,100 lb (est)

0-60 MPH: 8.2 sec (mfr)

FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 16 mpg

Audi A1 set for Frankfurt

Audi will put its A1 concept car into production later this year after its launch at September’s Frankfurt motor show.

The Audi A1 was first seen as the three-door Metroproject Quattro in 2007 and a five-door sportback model was unveiled at last year’s Paris motor show.

The A1 will be built at Audi’s plant in Brussels. The factory’s manager Alfons Dintner confirmed in a recent interview that production is due to start in October, ahead of an on-sale date early in 2010.

The Brussels plant will undergo a five-week shutdown period this summer to retool and prepare for production of the three-door A1 to begin.

The styling of the production model should be toned down from the concept, so don’t expect to see the frameless doors and luxurious interior in dealer showrooms.

The A1 is set to make use of the VW Group’s new 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines; a 1.4-litre TDI should also feature. An S1 model and a convertible model are also said to be under consideration.

Production of the five-door Sportback model will follow the three-door; it should begin before the end of 2009.

An Audi UK spokesman didn't confirm that A1 production was set to officially begin this year, saying only pre-production models were to be built in 2009 ahead of the car reaching UK showrooms later in 2010.

2011 Audi A8: First Teaser Image Revealed

DESPITE THE EXPECTED absence of the 2011 Audi A8 at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Audi has released the first teaser image of its next-generation A8 saloon.

Resting beneath a black sheet that gives away little, the specifics of the A8’s design are well hidden. A hint of shape to the headlights is revealed courtesy of the LED daytime running lights glowing through the black sheet, while the outline of the grille is vaguely apparently as well.

Very little else has been seen of the next generation A8, and even the test mules spotted on the roads of Europe have worn the panels of the current generation D3 A8 as a disguise, albeit with widened flares and a stretched wheelbase.

Little is known about the A8’s styling, although the rendering below puts some visuals to the speculation that has followed the car since its announcement, and the new preview image adds some credence to the concept below.

A single-frame grille is expected, with the almost trademark daytime running lights running along the re-styled headlights. A coupe-like profile is also expected, inspired by the recently revealed A5 Sportback.

“The first generation was very dogmatic and product-design-like. With the second generation, the theme was ‘elegance’—softer, flowing lines. The upcoming third generation will be stronger, sharper, and more precise,” Audi’s chief designer Stefan Sielaff said of the next generation A8.

Sielaff said that the A8 will be “the first of a new styling language at Audi,” and this is most evident in the dramatic new headlight design.

The aluminium spaceframe body technology of the current A8 will carry over to the new model, which is expected to save some 150kg compared to a steel body and leading to a final kerb weight of between 1650-1900kg.

Power is expected to come from a number of engine options, including a 186kW 3.0 V6 TDI, a 216kW 3.0 litre V6 FSI, a 253 4.2 litre V8 TDI, a 277kW 4.2 litre V8 FSI, and 5.0 litre 462kW V10 FSI for the range-topping S8 model.

Audi S8, 2nd generation car

Audi S8, 2nd generation car

NEW Audi A5 Sportback 2010

Do you lust after an Audi A5, but need something with some extra doors and space to handle the family? Good news: Audi has just the car for you.

Well, not quite. Such a car--the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback shown here--is indeed destined for production, but not the New World. Audi says the shapely fastback doesn't mesh well with its U.S. market plans, and as such, the car will essentially be forbidden fruit for the time being.

Although it looks quite similar to the new BMW 5-series Gran Turismo, the A5 Sportback is considerably smaller. At 15.45 feet long, the A5 is a foot shorter than the Bimmer, and is closer in size to an A4.

Those accustomed to riding in the back of an A4 will complain the rear seat is slightly smaller (it's been pulled forward in light of the rakish roof), but luggage space isn't compromised one iota. The Sportback offers 16.9 cubic feet of cargo space, but that number expands to 34.6 cubic feet--nearly two-thirds of that offered in the A4 Avant--with the rear seats down. Unlike the 5-series GT, access to the cargo bay is available only through a full-size hatch.


Although it's labeled as an A5, the Sportback's engine offerings have more in common with the A4 range. The 180-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 is the A5 Sportback's base engine, available in a front-wheel-drive model with either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. A 211-hp version is also available, but only with Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The A4's direct-injection 3.2-liter V-6 serves as the premium gas engine, and is available only with Quattro and the S-tronic dual-clutch transmission.

As the A5 Sportback is tailor-made for Europe, a number of diesels are also part of the model mix. Volkswagen's ubiquitous 2.0-liter turbo-diesel I-4 serves as the base engine, while 2.7-liter and 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6s offer buyers additional power. To further boost fuel economy, both the 2.0-liter gasoline and diesel engines come with a start/stop system on models with manual transmissions.

Europeans should see the A5 Sportback in dealers this September, but we'll have to wait until 2010 to see a Sportback--a larger A7 model--arrive on our shores.

New Audi Cars Awesome design and Style R8 V12

If you want to have a powerful and fast car that also from diesel than new Audi cars are perfect for you. This is a 12 cylinder diesel base new Audi car. These 12 cylinders give the power of 500 hp. Generally all new Audi cars can reach at maximum speed within fractions of seconds, but this new car reach 100 km/hr in mere 4.2 seconds. Top speed of this new car is 300 km/hr.

Now a days all new Audi cars got the muscular look but this car got the class and style as well. So over all this is the perfect combination of power, beauty and speed.

Audi Review : New 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Car Review

New Audi A5 2010
Audi’s brightening up the picture significantly with its New 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Car, due out next year and previewed for the media today.The New 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Car and its V8-powered S5 sibling are considered by many to be the most beautiful Audis ever created. For some time now it’s been common knowledge that an open top variant of Audi’s latest coupe was coming.

New 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Car Review Pictures

The New 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Car is one of the few European cars that has as much impact as a convertible as it does as a coupe. Audi’s rounded fender forms have been with us a long time, yet they still capture a sense of modernity that the extruded forms of BMW, the surface flash of Mercedes-Benz and the elaborate proportions of the Infiniti and Lexus convertibles can’t match.

Quick to lose its canvass top, the A5 Cabriolet performs its "top off" stunt in 15 seconds, and "top back on" in 17 seconds through an electric system. The manoeuvres can be done at up to 50km/h (31mph) so no need to park on the side of the road when unexpectedly the heavens shed their tears. A neck-warming function is an option if driver and passenger fancy an open top cruise in cold weather.

As a start, a 1.8 TFSI with 160hp (118kW) provides entry into this segment, followed by a 180hp (132kW), 320Nm option, nicked closely at the heels by a 208hp (155kW) and 350Nm version of the same engine, that hard working 2.0-litre TFSI from the VW Group. At a mid level we see naturally aspirated V6 coming in, 3.0-litre size and making 265hp (195kW) and 330Nm of torque.

For those who love their open-sky driving as much as change in their pocket, Audi is making available two turbo diesels. Both V6 configured, the two are expectedly thriftier than their petrol counterparts. They are listed as a 2.7-litre TDI producing 190hp (140kW) and 400Nm, returning 6.3-litres per 100km, and the 3.0-litre TDI producing 240hp (176kW) and 500Nm of torque.

Top of the range, for now, at least until RS5 Cabriolet bares its teeth, is the S5 Cabriolet. True as predicted it features Audi’s new 3.0-litre supercharged V6 with power figures of 333hp (245kW) and 440Nm. Audi says it will run from standstill to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds, yet retain an average fuel consumption figure of 9.6 litres/100km. Three transmissions come with the A5 range; standard 6-speed manual, infinitely-geared Multitronic and seven-speed double-clutch S tronic, depending on the model.

The A5 and S5 Cabriolet won’t be seen stateside until the New York auto show at the earliest, with the world premiere scheduled for early March at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The cars are scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms in the fall 2009 with pricing to come later, though the A5 Cab at least should not be substantially higher than the $40,750 entry price for an A4 Cabriolet.

Future Cars : Audi Calamaro

The Audi Calamaro Concept was developed by a designer Tibor for a design competition, organized by Porsche Hungary. This futuristic flying concept car looks like a cross between a speed boat and a plane.

According to the designer, the shape is inspired by “the bone of the cuttlefish”.

We can’t see any propellers, tires or thrusters. We can only assume it will be powered by a new type of power source that hasn’t been developed yet. It is a very interesting concept, but in addition to the unknown futuristic engine it makes us ask how will it park or turn? Perhaps like the cars in Back To the Future sequel.


Future Cars : Audi Calamaro

Future Cars : Audi Calamaro


Future Cars : Audi Calamaro