The new model of Audi speaks of speed and power, loud and clear. The 2008 Audi RS6 Avant is a wagon, but don’t let its exterior fool you. It runs on a 5.0-liter twin turbo V-10 engine with a maximum torque of 480 lb.-ft., ensuring of a driving performance that will never be forgotten. Compared to the BMW M5 and the Lamborghini Gallardo, the 2008 Audi RS6 actually has more power. This model will be able to go from zero to a hundred kilometers per hour in just 4.6 seconds. That makes it just as swift as the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG model, which possesses 507 horsepower. The engine of the 2008 Audi RS6 Avant’s 10-cylinder V-configuration engine is, in point of fact, built upon the V10 powerplants found in the Audi S6 and the Audi S8. The difference is that the engine of the new Audi RS6 Avant was tweaked and improved for a remarkably better car performance.

The TFSI technology of Audi was used for this car. Said technology is the fusion of direct injection and turbocharging. With this powerful technology, more efficiency would be present in terms of power output. The end result would be a significant effectiveness when it comes to combustion. With a 6-speed tiptronic, the 2008 Audi RS6 Avant has been made even more powerful. To add enhanced driving performance, the hydraulics and control system have rapid shift times. Dynamic Ride Control also comes in this sleek and powerful wagon. This makes it possible to achieve fewer bumps and shakes while coasting through rough, uneven roads. There is more control and the ride becomes more comfortable.

The 2008 Audi RS6 Avant comes standard with a Bose Surround Sound for its audio system, heated front and rear seats, tyre pressure monitoring system and the Audi parking system plus. Other options are available to further enhance the said model with the owner’s personal touches. The message is obvious: The 2008 Audi RS6 Avant’s combines grace and speed, comfort and convenience.

source: Super Cars

“A sports car for fans of wind-in-your-hair driving.” This is one of the things that the 2008 Audi TT is all about: Pure driving pleasure, whether it is the Audi TT Coupe or Audi TT Roadster.

The original look of the Audi TT was designed by Freeman Thomas and J Mays. It was Walter de’Silva who gave the second generation of the Audi TT an overhaul. Walter de’Silva is the head of the styling departments at Audi, Seat and Lamborghini. The 2008 Audi TT comes in two different body styles: One is a hatchback coupe and the other is a roadster. They may differ in body styles but both unleash power and speed.

The starting price of the 2008 Audi TT coupe is $34,800. It comes with options to make driving it and riding it more enjoyable than usual. The seats can be transformed to heated leather seats. 18-inch alloy wheels are also an option and you can always make the sounds or audio of the coupe even better. Other options are the navigation system and the Bluetooth phone preparation. This Audi TT coupe comes standard with a 2-liter engine, direct injection, six-speed automatic gearbox, and front-wheel drive. It has 17-inch alloy wheels and vented disc brakes with ABS with stability control. The eye-catching metal accents and classy leather interior make the inside of the Audi TT coupe even more fun to be in.

The 2008 Audi TT roadster is powered by the 200 horsepower, turbocharged engine just like the Audi TT coupe. Its engine is a direct-injected 2.0-liter four; alternately in Quattro (250 horsepower, 3.2-liter V6). The aforementioned 2.0-liter four is able to generate more than enough torque. The good thing about it is that when it does generate plentiful torque, its horsepower is not compromised. The torque ranges from 1800 until 5000 rpm. The Audi TT roadster can seat up to two people, with a dashing convertible roof which opens and closes within 12 seconds.

Drivetrain choices are also made available. There’s the front-drive model: This is turbocharged, with two-liter four that reaches 200 horsepower. The other drivetrain available is the 3.2-liter, 250-horse V-6. The transmissions comprise of a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic.

With an eye for stylish detail and powerful engines, the 2008 Audi TT delivers the statement of form following function.

source: philly.com

It is the second time that Tilmann Schlootz, a German design student, has won an award for his Audi Snook. The first award he received was at the VDA Design Awards which had been held at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. This time around, the Audi Snook won the 2008 Michelin Challenge Design under the theme of “Smaller, Safer, Better.” This unique concept vehicle resembles a helmet and operates on a single wheel. It is powered by a multidirectional engine and boasts of technology which is drive-by-wire. This certain type of technology makes it possible for the driver to be able to navigate the auto-stabilizing vehicle in any direction. Just like the usual cars, the Audi Snook concept vehicle is capable of sideways maneuvers, can go forward and backward and can turn at a given point. This concept vehicle can either hold one person or two. Its impressive capabilities to handle maneuvers adroitly assure more improved and more enjoyable mobility. Not just that but it also designed with safety measures to suit the world’s fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

Michelin Challenge Design, one of the world’s top emerging transportation design programs, has already announced their central theme for the year 2009: “Brave + Bold, America’s Next Iconic Vehicle.” Submissions will be accepted until April 16, 2008. Participants are urged to come up with ideas that would truly give an improvement to the vehicles. Such areas that are encouraged are accident avoidance, enhanced driver controls, survivability, and visibility. The proliferation of interest in more compact vehicles is due to the rise of the cost of energy, overcrowded cities and environmental issues. However, consumers are hesitant to invest on their interest because of their concern for safety. And so it is highly encourage that participants come up with designs that are able to manifest unique designs, strike to the public in the aesthetic sense, and technical execution. For designs which will exhibit safety benefits and will be able to address environmental concerns, they will be given additional consideration.

Past themes of the Michelin Challenge Design competition are:
Italian – 2002
French – 2003
Cars for the Emerging Chinese Market – 2004
German – 2005
California – 2006
Road Safety for Everyone – 2007
Smaller, Safer, Better – 2008

source: Car Design News

This Spring of 2008, Audi’s first compact cabriolet is bound to make its appearance. With sportiness of a coupe and yet never losing a touch of elegance, the Audi A3 cabriolet is to be made available to the public in Germany supposedly at the start of this month. Built with solid, dependable quality this Audi model has four engines to choose from: Two petrol and two TDI. They bring together plenty of power and will surprise people with their efficiency. All four engines are direct injection units and turbocharging. The Audi A3 cabriolet’s engine performance range runs from 77 kW (105 bhp) to 147 kW (200 bhp). One of the things optional about this model is the S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox. The standard found on engine versions starting at 140 horsepower and above is the six-speed manual transmission.The Audi A3 cabriolet sports a soft top, which is like most Audi convertible models. The trademark soft top is quite remarkable due to its light weight and excellent fitting on the car. Opening hydraulically in just nine seconds and closes in eleven seconds, the soft top is available in both semi-automatic and fully automatic versions. The fully automatic version comes with a specially soundproofed acoustic hood. What move the soft top are a high-pressure pump and two hydraulic cylinders and this is for both versions. The acoustic top can be opened and closed even while driving up to 19 mph.

The interior of the car can be aptly described as “sporty elegance.” It has enough space for four occupants and the rear seat can be folded down. When the rear seats are folded down, the luggage capacity is increased from 260 to 674 liters whether the hood is closed or not. The design of the interior is offered in two different types: the Ambition Line and the Attraction Line. The Ambition Line has a tailored leather sports steering wheel which is slip-proof and has a three-spoke design. The leather seats are optional. For the Attraction Line, the cabin has touches of decorative inlays. These inlays are made of pearlescent granite. Optionally, the inlays could also come in aluminum, burr walnut, micrometallic silver and Vavona wood.

Combining class and comfort, style and ease, the new Audi A3 cabriolet is, indeed, the “premium option in the compact class.”

source: The Motoring

Audi introduces the “Cross Cabriolet Quattro” at the 2007 Los Angeles Motor Show. The Cross Cabriolet Quattro is said to be a crossover between a convertible and an SUV. The vehicle is said to have a similar construction as the 2008 Audi Q5. According to Audi spokesman Christian Bokich, the Cross Cabriolet Quattro is an example of what the Q5 will look like, but it will not be the production car.

The Cross Cabriolet Quattro is a two-door four-seater car with 21 inch wheels. It has a fabric hood that folds behind the rear seat when the car is in convertible “mode” and a rear glass window that hinges to the fabric hood when the hood is up. The vehicle has a longitudinal six-cylinder 3.0-liter TDI engine with a 240 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It runs on diesel fuel at 7.3 liters per 100 km. It has an electric ride height adjustment, which lifts the vehicle 1.6 inches above the ground with the touch of the button.

The Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro has a smart navigation system that is linked with Google Earth. One only needs click the place of destination on the Google Earth map in order to get directions to the place. The car is also equipped with an intercom that allows the car’s occupants to be able to hear each other even if the fabric hood is open.

Source: 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: It’s Audi Gone Wild With Cross Cabriolet Quattro

Audi is set to launch a concept car called the Audi Q5. The new vehicle is classified as a premium midsize sport-utility vehicle.

The Q5 shares the same platform with the recently launched A5/S5 and the B8 A4. The Audi Q5 engine is built longitudinally or north to south and the transmission is located behind the axle. This feature provides improved handling which feels almost like a new A4 drive. The fully loaded Audi Q5 is equipped with either a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which makes 200 hp or an optional 3.1-liter, 255-hp V-6 engine. It is an all wheel drive (AWD) vehicle. The Q5 has a wheelbase of 112.0 inches, a length of 185.0 inches, a width of 72.8 inches, a height of 61.0 inches and a base curb weight of 4850 pounds.

Initially, there were plans to launch the Audi Q5 as a V8 automotive but the recent high prices of gasoline in the US proved that the plan was not feasible. The Audi Q5 debuts in the US market as a V6 instead and is intended to become a key player in Audi’s sales in the US market.

The Audi Q5 is priced at a hefty sum of 35, 000 dollars. The vehicle will go on sale in the US in early 2008.

The illustration above is the artist’s rendition of the Audi Q5 as based on the spy photos that have been spreading over the internet lately. (Photo Credits: Brenda Priddy and Company, Photo Borrowed from: thecarconnection.com)

Sources: Exclusive Preview: 2009 Audi Q5 , Spied: 2009 Audi Q5 - Car News , 2009 Audi Q5 Spy Shots , 2009 Audi Q5 Review , 2009 Audi Q5 Preliminary Specifications

In a recent review of the 2008 Audi S5, theautochannel.com considered all of its aspects but dwell more on its new styling. The review even recognized the impressive works of Walter de’Silva.

Theautochannel.com’s review describes the S5 as a “coupe with an elegant, yet muscular, presence.” Along the distinguishable four large interlocked rings, the S5 has projector-beam headlamps framed below. Audi did not just concentrate on the exterior but also gave attention to the S5’s interior. The controls are conveniently placed in the center information screen and the satin finish gives it a luxurious feel. The chairs are ergonomic and have a great design.

But the style is not just what the S5 can brag about. The vehicle’s performance is also something to look at with the numerous changes done on the engine position and suspension geometry. Impressively, even with a detuned version of the 4.2-liter V-8; it is still capable of delivering 354 bhp at 7000 rpm and 325 lb.-ft of torque at 3500 rpm through a 6-speed manual gearbox.

For more information on the new Audi S5, click here.

Car enthusiasts, especially Audi fans will have to wait awhile until Audi launch three new SUVs due to marketing reasons. These SUVs are known under one model, the compact Q5, it just so happened that a diesel and hybrid versions of it will also be introduced at the end of the decade.

The delay is because Audi want to avoid its newest entrants from getting lost in the ether of year-end sales drives, by marketing all three vehicles as 2010 models. The Q5 was originally set to be available in the third quarter of 2008.

The Q5 is said to compete BMW’s X3 and Mercedes’ upcoming GLK. The new compact SUV has actually been under development for some time and finding a home atop the VW Tiguan platform. By the time of the launching of Q5, the diesel variant of the Q7 will also be offered. It is said that the diesel variant will be equipped with a three-liter turbo-diesel V6, producing 230 HP and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Since the new engine will be 50-state compliant, it’s “just a matter of formality,” according to Audi’s U.S. head Johan de Nysschen, that the oilburner will find its way into the A4, A6 and A8 models of the future.

Reports say that all three vehicles, along with the 280 HP V6 hybrid-equipped Q7 will be launched in Detroit in 2009.

Here is what enthusiasts out there can expect when Audi releases the new Audi A1 by 2010:

• Hatch, coupe and cabrio variants expected

• 1.4-liter petrol and 1.6-liter diesel engines

• Likely to cost from £11,000

Audi finally launched their own fleet in the arena of small cars, and that is the Audi A1 supermini, which is fast on its way to following the successful path that the BMW Mini went through. Hopefully, Audi will keep its promise in releasing it by 2010, so just check out these computer-generated photos on how the Audi A1 will look like.

According to the company’s statement, Audi is planning four A1 variants: a three-door hatch, a five-door hatch, a two-door coupe and an open-top model. Reports also suggest that Audi plans to produce “five variations of the same 1.4-liter petrol engine. They will be turbo and non-turbo units, giving 65bhp, 85bhp, 105bhp, 140bhp and 170bhp. The diesel range will be based around a 1.6-liter unit, giving 75bhp, 90bhp, 105bhp and 130bhp.”

Already dubbed as the challenger to BMW’s very glorious Mini, the A1 boasts of an optimized chassis, together with “higher specification models” which, according to reports, have been tipped as Audi’s all-wheel-drive system. the German carmaker is said to be targeting about 100,000 units sold during the A1’s first year in the market.

Hence, Audi aims to price the A1 for only £11,000, which is notably about 10% less than the Mini. Top-end A1 models, however, complete with safety features such as the much awaited for all-wheel drive, will be priced close to £24,000.

Audi has unveiled its hottest fleet of luxury coupé yet, which is bound to fascinate the automotive market. Introducing, the 2008 Audi A5—the most dynamic in performance with an intelligent design of an optimized combination of car parts—the Audi A5 is surely the coupé that enthusiasts are waiting for. With the Audi A5’s “progressive design that gives the new coupé an appearance that is both elegant and dynamic”, its state-of-the-art FSI and TDI engines together with the highly accurate running gear is paired with a very innovative, luxury-class equipment features—Audi has succeeded in making the A5 a grand  tourer in its fleet of coupés.

According to a release by Audi, “the Nuvolari quattro concept car of 2003 gave a first taste of Audi’s vision for a powerful and expertly styled coupé with a high performance potential and a progressive, sophisticated design. This was a bold step into the future. Many elements from the Nuvolari have been adopted in the Audi A5. The new coupé is a clear and unique statement of sportiness and elegance. At the same time, the A5 offers a driving experience characterized by exhilarating dynamic performance and excellent comfort over long distances,” the statement read.

4.63 m in length, the Audi A5 shows all distinct characteristics that it should be a part of a superior class of coupé. With its capacity to hold four people with its comfortable seats, plus a load volume weighing 455 liters—this car is the ideal long-distance tourer for anyone who wants to achieve this. The car’s excellent performance is being powered by FSI and TDI engines, with a power that ranges from 125 to 195 kW (170 to 265 bhp). All A5 engines notably share the same eco-friendly and efficient characteristics. With Audi’s trademark quattro technology, you now have a choice on whether to transmit the horsepower through the front-wheel drive, or the quattro four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The transmission bow that is developed for the A5, will be new for it combines an easy driveability with the definite safety that a car must possess.

The edge of the new Audi models is basically the elegance and dynamism that they exude. The Audi A5 bears all trademarks of what appears to be the Audi “genetic code”. The smooth design of the exteriors are clearly impeccable. With its flowing structure and seamless design, it is clear that the coupé will reign as Audi’s new flagship of luxury sportscars—from its bumpers, to the tail end.