Audi Blog
The latest news from the German engineered cars from the GT through to the R8, the only Audi blog you need.
Audi's new S tronic gearbox can handle 406 lb.-ft. of torqueFiled under: Tech, Audi 
The Audi S tronic / Volkswagen DSG gearbox supplied by Borg Warner is a very nice compromise for someone who enjoys shifting manually but also needs, for whatever reason, an automatic transmission. Snapping off lightning-quick shifts in something like an Audi TT will put a smile on your face in a hurry, but the downside is that this experience has been limited to cars with torque ratings below 258 lb-ft. Not any more, though. Audi's new 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch system is VW-developed and is ready to accommodate more powerful vehicle offerings. Specifically, it can handle torque up to 406 lb-ft. That's a lot of twist, and things are about to get interesting for drivers across the pond.
The Europeans will first get the new gearbox in the Q5 SUV and the S5 coupe, where it'll supplant the 6-speed auto that's available as an option in the 2-door. Given the choice between Tiptronic S and this new S tronic, we'd happily choose the latter every time. Unfortunately, we won't be seeing it for the foreseeable future. While Audi plans to drop it into a number of Euro-spec models, including S and RS-series cars, the Tiptronic S will continue to be the offering for Americans who want a manumatic in vehicles such as the forthcoming Q5. Audi apparently thinks we'll find the shift action of the S tronic to be too harsh. If that's the automaker's worry, how about this: take the R tronic that's currently available in the R8, cast it into the ocean, and replace it with the the new, improved S tronic. Based on our experience, it might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
[Source: Inside Line | Photo: Alex Núñez] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi system detects stop lights, tells drivers to floor itFiled under: Safety, Tech, Audi 
It takes months of traveling a particular route to properly time the stop lights, and even with the most intricate knowledge of every intersection, missing the red every time is about as probable as winning the lotto. Audi is looking to change that with a new stop light detection technology that communicates with specially equipped vehicles to tell the driver exactly how fast to drive to avoid getting caught at a red. Audi installed special devices at 50 traffic lights in Ingolstadt, Germany with sensors that calculate your current speed and the distance to the light to determine what adjustments are needed to lay off the brake pedal. The result is improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions, optimal use of time spent on the road and less wear and tear on the brakes. The system can also adapt to traffic patterns to minimize the amount of red lights you'll have to encounter on your daily drive. After soldering on virtually unchanged for 100 years, it appears the modern day traffic light is almost ready for a makeover. Technology is good.
[Source: Kicking Tires] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Volkswagen unveiling two-door Elise fighter in LA, new sports carFiled under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Convertibles, Coupes, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen 
Click either image for a high-res gallery.
Over the past five years, Volkswagen has continued to tease us with sports car concepts that never seem to come to fruition. Back in 2003, VW unveiled the Concept R in Frankfurt to critical acclaim and two years later, the wraps came off the EcoRacer, proving that the automaker was still kicking around the idea of a lightweight, affordable roadster for the masses.
In the interim, VW had two similar concepts that never left the studio, but when the Los Angeles Auto Show rolls along later this year, a new mid-engine coupe will be revealed, and this one actually has a shot at production.
 According to Autocar, this newest concept aims to be a budget alternative to the Lotus Elise, balancing performance and fuel economy in a low-cost package. Sources suggest that the coupe will feature either a 168 hp, 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine or a 125 hp, 1.6-liter TDI mounted amidships and sending power to the rear wheels via a seven speed DSG gearbox. If and when the production version debuts in 2011, the coupe's curb weight is pegged at just over 2,200 pounds, allowing it to run to 60 in under seven seconds while still returning over 55 mpg.
If the project is given the green light, the same architecture that underpins the VW variant could form he basis for the oft-rumored and continually denied Audi R4. And with Porsche's stake in V-Dub, that means a 914 successor is just a badge and prayer away.
[Source: Autocar] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi introduces the next MMIFiled under: Sedans/Saloons, Tech, Audi 
If you're buying an A8 this year, prepare to spend a lot of time getting to know your new MMI system. We have consistently thought that Audi's buttons-and-knob interface is the best, and it looks like they've put an entire NASA team on the job of making it better. A seven-inch TFT screen with 800x400 resolution is now controlled by an 8-position joystick. Moving from one screen to another is done via "elegant crossfades," which sounds a bit PowerPoint-ish, but we'll wait until we see it to judge. And among other improvements, navigational maps can be rendered in "birds-eye perspective" 3D, with topographical map coloration. The only thing missing is the Encyclopedia Britanica. You can check out the exhaustive press release after the jump.
[Source: Audi]Continue reading Audi introduces the next MMI Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Eaton tapped to produce superchargers for AudiFiled under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Tech, Audi 
 Audi is using American supercharging muscle to give its new 3.0 liter TFSI V6 the desired wallop. Eaton Corporation has been enlisted by Ingolstadt to supply positive-displacement, Roots-type blowers that will work with direct injection to deliver 290 horsepower and fat, responsive torque down low on the tach. Roots blowers aren't anything new, but Eaton has refined the design with its latest Twin Vortices Series units. The TVS units add a fourth lobe to the rotors, and crank up the twist to 160 degrees for maximizing the amount of atmosphere the blower can pump out. Jettisonning turbochargers may help packaging when the V6 is crammed into the S4's engine bay, as well as reducing complexity by simplifying intake plumbing. 310 lb/ft of torque at 2,500 rpm will put a grin on anyone's face, and we'd expect to see this engine proliferate into many Audi engine bays. Press Release after the jump.
[Source: Eaton]Continue reading Eaton tapped to produce superchargers for Audi Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi releases all the details on the North American Q5Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Audi 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi Q5
For those of you queuing for the Q5, Audi has let loose a flood of new info on its high performance, low consumption, relatively low emission sports SUV. Consumers outside the U.S., get to choose between one of two diesel-sipping TDIs -- of 170 hp and 240 hp -- that are the envy of Stateside quattrophiles. Even with that 240 hp and 369 lb-ft, you'll still get 31 MPG. Folks in the fifty U.S. will need to make do with the 211 hp, 2.0-liter V6 FSI... which isn't exactly a complaint.
The vehicle wrapped around those engines is a study in efficiency, from the power steering pump to the energy recovery to the .33 coefficient of drag. The full press release is after the jump -- it's probably the only one you'll read this year that mentions a "holistic optimization of energy." And be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res images below.
[Source: Audi]Continue reading Audi releases all the details on the North American Q5 Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Audi's "The Art of Performance"Filed under: Videos, Audi 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Audi R8.
A few of the Autoblog crew are former (or current) musicians that have tempered our insatiable lust for all-things-automotive with a healthy appreciation of the aural arts. So whenever an automaker attempts to combine the two, we're keenly interested in the outcome.
Audi teamed up with the German group Bullet and the graphics and video crew at Campana to create an orchestral masterpiece to launch the R8 in Brazil. With 41 musicians, three DJs and one conductor providing the soundtrack, the video clips integrate with the score and sound effects to create an impressive experience. Our only gripe is that the first two videos aren't nearly long enough, but they're worth checking out after the jump.
[Source: GermanCarBlog]Continue reading VIDEO: Audi's "The Art of Performance" Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi RS4 to get supercharged V6, R8 V10 to remain NAFiled under: Audi 
CAR sat down with a "high-placed Audi source" at the European launch of the Q5 and was able to pry out a few details about the automaker's future products.
To begin with, the next RS4 will use a retuned version of the supercharged, 3.0-liter V6 due to be fitted on the next S4. Audi's unnamed engineering mole said that the decision to go with the supercharged six was primarily to provide higher torque at lower RPMs. With the base engine putting out 290 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, it's assumed that the tweaked version should crest the 350 hp mark and just under 400 lb.-ft. of torque. How that will play in the inevitable comparison test between the RS4's V8-powered competition remains to be seen.
The A1 is still set to debut in 2010, but despite its aim at MINI, Audi won't resort to retro styling. Based off the next Polo, the A1 will spawn several variants, including three- and five-door hatches, a convertible and an off-roader. While Audi has no plans to build anything smaller than the A1, it does plan to increase the size of the A3, along with offering a Q3 CUV inspired by the Cross Coupe Quattro concept.
And what of the R8? The V10 version is on its way this fall, but a turbocharged variant isn't in the cards, nor is the V12 TDI. And while Audi has continued to deny that it's working on an R4, CAR's source says that there's still room in the automaker's lineup for another R-badged vehicle.
[Source: CAR] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Web Rides TV pits the Audi R8 against the LS3 CorvetteFiled under: Coupes, Videos, Audi, Chevrolet 
The LS3 Corvette and the Audi R8 are have a similar purpose, but go about their jobs in completely different ways. The 'Vette is all about a big engine, with big power and pushing the rear wheels. The R8 utilizes a high-revving 4.2L V8 and AWD to keep the rubber firmly planted on the pavement. Both vehicles have over 400 hp, weigh in at under 3,500 lbs and have similar 0-60 times, but for the price of one R8 you could by a LS3 and Z06 Corvette.
The car nuts over at Web Rides TV put the two vehicles through a "Super Lap" consisting of a slalom, a straightaway, and two sharp turns to see which vehicle would come out on top. The result produced an entertaining video, some great sounds and a very clear winner. Hit the jump to see it for yourself.
[Source: Web Rides TV]Continue reading VIDEO: Web Rides TV pits the Audi R8 against the LS3 Corvette Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi A1 not bound for U.S. shoresFiled under: Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchbacks, Audi 
Despite the burgeoning popularity of small cars, especially with premium nameplates, Audi doesn't think there's a case for bringing its MINI-sized A1 to the United States. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler acknowledges that American customers are increasingly interested in fuel efficiency, but also contends that we want that frugality wrapped in larger sheetmetal than customers elsewhere might go with. In the interest of greener numbers, Audi's planning on going electric, launching an armature-motivated car around 2010, roughly the same due date as a Volkswagen electron-mobile. No decision has yet been made about a plant in North America, but that might reduce costs enough for attractive pricing to facilitate Audi's target of selling 1.5 million annual units by 2015. Without the A1, we're going to be forced to continue drooling all over the Alfa MiTo's roundy-round front fenders.
[Source: Auto News - Sub Req]
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Audi R8 debuts as DTM safety carFiled under: Motorsports, Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, Audi 
Click for hi-res gallery of the Audi R8 DTM safety carAudi has announced that its superlative R8 sportscar will serve as the safety car for the ever-popular DTM touring car championship, having also served in the same capacity for the recently-concluded 24 Hours of Le Mans. Audi's performance division quattro GmbH prepared a pair of R8s for the German racing series - with the second serving as a "racing taxi" - but noted that, "because the R8 possesses the genes of a perfect sports car", little in the way of modification for duty was required.
The pair of R8 support vehicles made its debut at the Norisring Speed Weekend yesterday, where Mercedes-Benz beat out the new Audi A4 DTM with a 1-2 finish. Follow the jump for the press release and click on the thumbnails below for our high-resolution image gallery.
[Source: Audi Motorsport] Continue reading Audi R8 debuts as DTM safety car Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Shots: Audi RS6 tweakedFiled under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Audi 
Click above for high-res gallery of Audi RS6 spy shots
The Audi RS6 is about to receive some sheetmetal tweaks that both bring the super sedan's exterior styling more in line with the corporate design language and give it a decidedly more devilish look than the standard A6 or sportier S6. Out back the RS6 drops the current A6 taillights for a pair that appear lifted directly off the A5. It's a good switch, as the A5's rear end is decidedly more simple and clean the current A6. We would expect to see the same udpate made across the A6 line very soon. Up front the car gets new air intakes that flank the gaping grille, which include one big intake on either side that are capped by a smaller inlet right at the leading edge of the front fenders. The headlights also sport a row of LEDs along their bottom as well as an eyelid of some sort above, which gives the RS6's face a mean glare. Of course, behind those glaring eyes lie a 5.0L twin-turbo V10 producing well above 500 horsepower that can back up the serious stare.
[Source: KGP Photography] Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi officially unveils supercharged, direct-inject 3.0L TFSI V6Filed under: Audi 
Audi has finally confirmed all the details on its new range-topping supercharged V6, and the final output figures are in line with previous reports. The 3.0-liter TFSI engine (although the "T" is a misnomer since it used to stand for "turbo") is putting out 290 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, with maximum twist beginning at an incredibly tractable 2,500 RPM. The blown six's thrust should be linear considering the belt-driven design, and Audi maintains that it will consistently outperform its biturbo predecessors. Although Audi has yet to confirm what models the supercharged, direct-injected mill will be fitted to initially, it's a safe bet that it will find a happy home within the new A6 and the next S4. Check the press release after the jump for all the details.Continue reading Audi officially unveils supercharged, direct-inject 3.0L TFSI V6 Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi A1 drop-top bound for Frankfurt in '09, aimed at MINI cabrioFiled under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Convertibles, Audi 
Audi gave the world a preview of its new A1 mini-car last fall in the form of the MetroProject and the production version of the new A1 is expected to debut in 2010 with a lineup that should include a drop-top version to take on the MINI Cabriolet. As usual, Audi will likely bring all the bells and whistles to the A1 Cabrio, including a power top that descends fully into the back end of the car. That would give the A1 and advantage over the MINI which stacks on top of the hind-quarters. And, unlike the MINI that maintains a diminutive replica of a rear seat, Audi won't bother with the rear quarters, keeping it strictly a two-seater. In the rendering from AutoExpress the car looks more like a miniature version of the RS4 Cabrio, but the little machine won't bother with quattro all-wheel-drive. Instead, the front wheels will be powered by 1.4L TFSI engines with mated to a DSG gearbox. The A1 Cabrio should debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
[Source: AutoExpress] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi adds 2.0-liter TFSI to A5 lineupFiled under: Coupes, Green, Audi 
The A5 already has good looks, and for the 2009 model year, Audi's killer coupe adds a bit of environmental responsibility. Audi's new 2.0L TFSI engine will be added to the A5's repertoire, giving the four-ringed automaker a vehicle capable of a reported 42.8 Imperial mpg (36 mpg US) in mixed driving. The little powerplant also has a fun side, with 208 hp at 4300 rpm and 258 lb-ft at 1500 rpm, which helps the A5 hit 62 mph in a respectable 6.9 seconds when equipped with the six-speed manual. The engine was derived from the 1.8L TFSI, but it includes Audi valvelift technology, which ueses sliding cam units mounted on the intake camshaft to allow for more valve lift variation to maximize performance and efficiency. The good news is that the frugal petrol motor will be available beginning this August for a respectable £28,760, but the bad news is that there is no word when the engine will be available Stateside. It will, however, be available in the A4 when it launches this fall. Hit the jump to view Audi's press release.
Continue reading Audi adds 2.0-liter TFSI to A5 lineup Permalink | Email this | Comments
R8 V10 spied again at Audi's quattro GmbHFiled under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Audi 
Click for hi-res images of the Audi R8 V10 at quattro GmbH
If the latest batch of spy shots are to be believed, the V10-powered version of Audi's R8 supercar must be nearing its public release. Following earlier shots snapped by the folks at Bridge to Gantry, more photos of what seems to be the same vehicle were caught by audiblog.nl at the source: quattro GmbH, Audi's equivalent to Mercedes' AMG or BMW's M division.
In addition to the wider intakes and fewer front grille slats discerned from the last spy shot, these images also betray a more aggressive body kit, a flux capacitor, larger exhaust pipes and two fewer horizontal fins in the rear. (We're kidding about one of those.) Check out the images in the gallery below.
[Source: audiblog.nl via World Car Fans] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi to debut Auto Union "Silver Arrow" Type D reconstruction at GoodwoodFiled under: Motorsports, Audi 
Click above for a high-res image of the Auto Union Silver Arrow.
The three-ring automotive circus known as the Goodwood Festival of Speed is less than a month away and Audi is using the UK's most unique motoring event to debut a reconstruction of the Auto Union "Silver Arrow" Type D Dual Compressor from 1939. The replica uses a handful of parts from the original Silver Arrow and was built in England over the last four years by Crosthwaite & Gardiner, a specialty automotive workshop located in East Sussex.
The Silver Arrow, originally piloted by H.P. Muller and Tazio Nuvolari to two Grand Prix wins, was broken up by occupying Soviet forces in East Germany after WWII. When the rebuilt Arrow debuts during the Festival of Speed on July 11, Nick Mason, Pink Floyd's drummer and all-around car guy, will drive the 420 hp, 12 cylinder racer on its first run in the 21st century.
Full press release after the jump.Continue reading Audi to debut Auto Union "Silver Arrow" Type D reconstruction at Goodwood Permalink | Email this | Comments
3-liter Audi diesel confirmed for Porsche CayenneFiled under: SUVs, Green, Audi, Porsche 
Many will cringe at the idea of a diesel-powered Porsche, but since Stuttgart rolled out its first SUV, we've all had a while to get used to the idea. Although previous speculation held on to hopes that Porsche might employ a more powerful 3.2-liter oil-burner, reports now indicate that the Cayenne diesel will employ Audi's 240-horsepower 3.0-liter TDI V6.
Expect the diesel Cayenne to debut next March, following a probable launch at the 2009 Geneva auto show.
[Source: Automotive News Europe - subs. req'd] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Shots: Audi R8 V10 at the 'Ring?Filed under: Spy Photos, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Audi 
To the untrained eye this might appear to be just another run-of-the-mill Audi R8 lapping the vaunted Nurburgring Nordschleife. But a closer look at the details reveal that this may just be the production-ready V10-powered version of the supercar from Ingolstadt.
Firstly, eyewitness accounts relate that the vehicle pictured above has a distinct exhaust note over the V8-powered version. We could take that at face value, or take a closer look at the revised intakes that would be needed to cool the larger engine lest it burst into flames like previous prototypes. The side intakes underneath the blades behind the doors are larger, and the front side grilles underneath the sinister headlamps have two bars instead of one. Audi has several versions of the V10, including the twin-turbo unit in the devastating RS6 and the normally-aspirated version in the latest Gallardo LP560-4, but we'll just have to wait - possibly until Paris - to find out which version has been shoehorned into Iron Man's choice mode of transportation.
[Source: Bridge to Gantry] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Rendered Speculation: Will this be the new Audi A7?Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Audi, Rendered Speculation  We recently gave you details and showed you spy shots of Audi's forthcoming A7 four-door "coupe". Not much could be gleaned from the photos though, with the car looking much more like a sport camel than a sport sedan. A year ago, CAR magazine was passing out renderings of the A7 based on information it was getting from insiders. Their images were of an impossibly sleek -- and quite good looking -- stealthmobile that substituted a huge hatch for a trunk. Auto Express has new renderings of the car, and it maintains all the spirit of the CAR originals. It's still red and impossibly sleek, with a reptilian, evil eye front end treatment that says "Yeah, I'm lookin' at you..." We've been examining the wheel wells on the spy shots to see if they could really fit wheels as big as those on the rendering -- and we can't say for sure either way. If the 600-hp RS7 variant comes on feet that big, it'll be a serious looking car indeed. However, unless that rear end is hiding a hatch, you won't able to fit anything in the trunk except two-by-fours.
[Source: Auto Express via German Car Blog] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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