2011 Audi A1 flips on its side during promo stunt

2011 Audi A1 flips on its side during stunt

Sometimes things just don’t go as planned. We recently saw a perfect example of that during Volvo’s crash avoidance system demo to the media where an S60 sedan had a technological glitch causing it to crash in the back of a truck (thankfully no one was injured).

Audi recently experienced something similar when it decided to show the new A1 hatchbacks cart-like maneuverability by taking it on a skateboard half-pipe in Brussels. While performing the stunt, the A1 flipped onto its side and smoke started to blow out of the engine bay.

Audi employees quickly rushed to the scene and tried to push the car back on its wheels… even before the stunt driver escaped. We guess they were trying to avoid anyone from taking pictures, which obviously didn’t work.

APR Motorsport Audi S4 Expects Podium at Lime Rock

The APR Motorsports Audi S4 in action at VIR. (Courtesy APR Motorsports)

PR Motorsports introduced its brand new Audi S4 to the Grand Am Continental Tire Sports car Challenge Grand Sport class. The car had never been raced anywhere by anyone, and had the teething problems one would expect from a totally untested car in a demanding racing series.

The Audi qualified in the top five at the Homestead and Barber rounds, and showed it had the speed to run with the podium winners. Reliability was the car’s downfall, but with each race, more problems were fixed and more was learned.

Through constant development, the team believes it has fixed all the problems that hindered the car in the past.

“This is what developing a new program is about, something goes wrong and you develop a fix and learn from it. We know we have the pace, and the reliability is getting better all the time,” said APR Director of Motorsport Jeff Mishtawy, in a press release.

Audi to Offer Internet Access in 2011 A8 Sedan

Audi has announced that its upcoming 2011 Audi A8 will be released with the option of a factory-installed wireless Internet hotspot inside the car. The A8 will be the first car worldwide to offer the WLAN option and expect passengers to be able to surf the internet at speeds up to 7.2 Mbit/s wile in motion. All the pilot needs to do is insert a SIM card into the Bluetooth car phone and you are surfing! The WLAN hotspot can connect up to eight Wi-Fi ready devices and even supports WPA2 encryption.

Jon Sibal dreams up Audi R8 GT Spyder

Photo Rendering: Audi R8 GT Spyder by Jon Sibal

The Audi R8 is really hot but the drop top Audi R8 Spyder makes our hearts beat a little faster. Of course, the new Audi R8 GT makes us go crazy, but Jon Sibal wondered what if Audi created a R8 GT Spyder. Well, if they do, it’ll look something like this (at least according to Sibal).

Audi A8 review

Audi A8

Audi A8

The Audi A8 is the flagship for the brand and while sales of the car itself will be dwarfed by the A4, A3 and, soon, the A1, it plays a crucial role in convincing car-buyers Audi is the right choice for them, whichever model they choose.

Plus the new technologies introduced in the A8 will soon surface elsewhere with the new A1 already earmarked for some of the premier car’s kit.
But for those who are actually looking to buy an A8 rather than bathe in the reflected glory, we can report the new car has undergone some significant improvements to make it an even more compelling choice.

The new A8 will be available in normal and long wheelbase form with a choice of two new petrol and two new diesel engines. They bring increases of between 15 and 22 per cent, reduced CO2 emissions of between 15 and 22 per cent, and improved fuel economy.

Audi A8

A8 3.0 TDI quattro

• This V6 is expected to account for 85 per cent of all cars sold. More powerful than the outgoing model, it has been boosted from 230bhp to 247bhp. CO2 emissions have been reduced from 224g/km to a class-leading 174g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 33.6mpg to a class-leading 42.8mpg. Start-stop technology is now fitted as standard.

A8 4.2 TDI quattro

• It too is more powerful than the outgoing model, its output being increased from 322bhp to a class-leading 345bhp while, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 249g/km to 199g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 30.1mpg to 37.2mpg. It covers 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds.

Audi A8

A8 4.2 FSI quattro

• Again more powerful than the outgoing model it has been taken from 345bhp to 367bhp while CO2 emissions are down from 259g/km to a class-leading 219g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 25.9mpg to a class-leading 29.7mpg.

A8 3.0 TFSI

• This supercharged version will come with 286bhp, a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds, 31mpg and 213g/km of CO2.

All models are mated with a new eight speed Tiptronic transmission.

The two normal wheelbase 4.2-litre models go on sale this month with the 3.0-litre models and long wheelbase versions following later in the year.

We had the opportunity to put the 4.2-litre TDI version through its paces at the launch of its UK spec right-hand drive versions in Le Castellet, in the south of France.

(Follow the link to read Deputy Editor Stuart Milne’s first impressions of the car from the Audi A8 international launch when he had the opportunity to drive the left hand drive versions of the car.)

With prices that range from £54,835 to £66,450 and an options range which can make the final price tag a six figure sum, Audi appreciates its customers can afford the best but don’t necessarily want to put that wealth on show too much.

And for a car which is now wider and longer than luxury saloon rivals; the BMW 7 Series, the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the Jaguar XJ, it manages to conceal its bulk within a very elegant exterior.

The combination of conservative styling and cutting-edge technology, including all LED highlights, is pure Audi.

The new interior follows that theme inside with the new Multi Media Interface integrated discreetly into the dash with the controls sitting just in front of a new gearstick design (described as “yacht style” by Audi, think upside-down golfing wood) which feels very natural to use.

This is where a lot of Audi’s latest batch of the clever stuff comes into play.

Driving smart

The MMI-housed Navigation system works with the transmission and headlights.

This means the gearbox “knows” if there’re a series of corners coming up, the headlights “know” what kind of road you’re on and will vary to suit the location e.g. junction lights at a crossroads, even continental set-up lights when you cross the channel, bringing a new meaning to automatic lights.

And there was indeed a different response depending on whether I was on the winding mountain roads or the motorway. Spooky at first, but if you’ve got the money, something you could soon get used to.

The satnav can also link up with online services including weather reports and Google points of interest. Later this year the technology should be in place to make the car itself a mobile hotspot allowing complete access to the Internet, including Google earth for integration into the mapping.

All models benefit from Audi’s quattro four wheel drive system but the 4.2-litre TDI, which is due to take a smaller but significant proportion of diesel sales than the 3.0-litre, also benefits from the quattro sports differential, previously featured in the S4 quattro, as standard.

In essence it sees pulling power directed to the outer wheel when cornering which increases stability and the potential for quicker acceleration out of bends.

Despite its all-aluminium lighter and stiffer frame, the Audi A8 is still a lot of car and though this feature may not be required for motorway cruisers it certainly made a difference on our twisting route.

As for ride comfort, the standard 4 corner adaptive air suspension helps ensure the comfort levels you’d expect from a luxury saloon with full double glazing and leather keeping occupants comfortable and cosseted.

Safety

The new A8 also comes with a new raft of safety devices under the banner of its pre-sense systems, some available as standard but with the option to add further features.

These include improved adaptive cruise control (now with two radars rather than just one), as well as night vision thermal imaging (the camera is concealed within one of the rings of the Audi badge) which can pick out pedestrians ahead and display them on the screen.

This is also a feature in the BMW 7 Series launched and updated to include the 740d last year.

Available in SE and SE Executive trim, the new Audi A8 is the supremely competent car one would expect from the super-efficient German manufacturer’s flagship model.

Its abilities on road, refinement and newly-improved CO2 emissions and fuel economy should put it on any luxury saloon buyer’s shortlist.
At which point it might just come down to brand, and whether Audi has convinced you it is the one for you.

Key facts:

Model tested: A8 4.2 TDI Quattro
On the road price: £63,900
Price range: £54,835 to £66,450
Date tested: May 2010
Road tester: Adrian Higgins

2011 Audi R8 GT Set for First Public Appearance at 2010 Worthersee Tour

2011 Audi R8 GT Picture

Look for the 560-horsepower 2011 Audi R8 GT to be one of the showstoppers at the 2010 Worthersee Tour here, which kicks off on Wednesday. The R8 GT, which has the Porsche 911 GT3 in the crosshairs, makes its first public appearance at the annual Worthersee event.

The limited-edition version of the R8 was formally unveiled at an exclusive gala in Monte Carlo on May 1. Audi is also showing off a stable of seven special A1 models at the Worthersee Tour, including a "Hot Rod" version with a Daytona Gray paint job and an "extremely low ride height," the automaker said in a statement.

While the R8 GT — decked out in orange exterior paint — is a no-brainer for Audi's Worthersee plans, the automaker noted that "the A1 fits in with the GTI meet because customization has always been a central topic for the Audi fans at the Worthersee."

The A1s have been tweaked with add-on parts, special paint finishes and adhesive films for this appearance, Audi said.

Look for the A1 "Fashion" model in Aubergine, as well as the A1 "Follow Me" in Citrus Yellow with a black checkerboard pattern that takes its inspiration from airport ground control vehicles, said Audi.

Audi's A8 a step up in performance

Audi's flagship sedan, the A8, will arrive this fall in its newest generation, again offering its signature combination of performance and elegance — with a heavy dose of excellent German automotive engineering.

Also as before, the A8 will come in two sizes, standard length and long wheelbase, with the latter being the kind of vehicle that pampers the rear-seat occupants in luxury and comfort while a chauffer handles the driving duties up front.

The standard-length model will be 202 inches long, while the expanded one will be 207.4 inches long. The extra length shows up in the back seat, mostly in extra legroom.

Audi, the luxury subsidiary of Volkswagen, says the new A8 will introduce “a new era in progressive excellence” and will combine “dynamic exterior and luxurious interior design with sporty driving characteristics, while providing the highest level of comfort and convenience equipment in the segment.”

2011 Audi A4, A5, Q5 get 8-speed automatic, Q5 also gets 2.0L TFSI

Audi Q5

2011 order guides are out at Audi dealers, and the important numbers are eight and four. In addition to the updated 2011 Q7 and new-for-2011 A8, some models of the A4, A5, and Q5 will be getting eight-speed transmissions. The guides also confirm a new, turbocharged four-cylinder Q5 model.

Six Gears Versus Eight

The new ZF-sourced eight-speed will be labeled Tiptronic and take the place of Audi’s six-speed unit in Quattro-equipped vehicles with the turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This includes the A4 2.0T Quattro sedan and Avant and also the A5 2.0T Quattro coupe and cabriolet. All Q7s—both strengths of supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 as well as the 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel—as well as the A8 and A8L, will get the ZF eight-speed.

Auto-equipped models sticking with either a CVT or the six-speed automatic include the front-wheel-drive A4 and A5, all A6 and S6 models, the S5 coupe, and the 3.2-liter Q5. Other cars currently using dual-clutch automated manuals—S5 cabriolet, A3, TT, etc.—are unaffected.

Q5 Goes Turbo Four

Another interesting tidbit gleaned from the order guide is the appearance of a new Q5 model equipped with a 2.0-liter TFSI engine for 2011. It’s likely the newer 211-hp EA888 engine, which develops 258 lb-ft of torque, and it too will be paired with the eight-speed automatic. With less weight, more torque, and better fuel economy than the 3.2 V-6, we’ve found the 2.0T to be a better match for the A4, and we expect the same to be true with the Q5.

All of the new 2011 models will be on sale this fall.

Slim Fast: Future Audi A4 to Shed Some 330 Pounds Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/6679413/future/slim-fast-future-audi-a4-to-shed-some-330-pound

Audi A4

According to a senior design chief at Audi AG, the next generation A4 will be 330 pounds (150 kilograms) lighter than the current model.

Heinrich Timm (pictured), Audi’s Head of Aluminum and Lightweight Design Center says the company will employ advanced materials and manufacturing techniques to reduce the overall mass of its most popular sedan and cites the many benefits of the cuts, including, but not limited to, increased fuel efficiency and dynamic performance as well as reduced operating costs (related to raw materials).

The rationale sounds good, but can it be done? Timm would know. Since 1982 he has been the pioneering force behind the development of several high tech manufacturing processes that Audi now uses across its range of vehicles, most notably, for the aluminum space frames found in the A8 and R8. Timm and his team have been working to reverse what he calls the “weight spiral” that has occurred in the C-segment over the last several decades. His research has shows that C-segment vehicles (Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, etc) have gained roughly ten percent in weight with each generation..html#ixzz0nlhPG4yJ

Next-Gen B9 Audi A4 Shedding More Than 300 Pounds

Audi plans to reduce the total weight of the future A4 with about 330 pounds to improve performance, ride and consumption.

Although the public still enjoys the current generation, the new A4 already begins to take shape in design workshops of Ingolstadt. Audi plans to make the mid-size luxury sedan unbeatable in the premium segment, offering more than BMW and Mercedes.

So, in order to do that, Audi though of a process of weight reduction for the next Audi A4 generation. The 3 Series’ rival could lose up to 330 lbs, an explicit goal, fixed by Heinrich Timm, Head of the Audi Lightweight Design Centre. Reaching this goal would bring to an improved ride, performance well above the current ones, lower fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

The 330 lbs will be lost by using an aluminum structure, of composite materials such as carbon fiber, and by improving the production methods. The philosophy first experienced on the future A4 will then be borrowed by the entire line-up of the German automaker of Ingolstadt.

2010 Audi R8 GT Latest Pictures

2010 Audi R8 GT Latest Pictures