The Lamborghini Gallardo sister car, namely the Audi R8, will continue its world of motorsports conquest in 2012. After winning the australian Bathurst 12 Hours, here is more to come. The first four examples of the new customer sport race car, the Audi R8 LMS ultra, have been delivered ready for the 2012 season. Two other vehicles were shipped to Japan at the same time. This marks the start of part two of a success story: Since 2009, Audi has produced more than forty examples of the first generation of the R8 LMS and has achieved 119 international victories with the vehicle. And now its successor is ready to go. Two race customers collected the first examples of the new Audi R8 LMS ultra at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm. They will be collected in Japan by Nova Engineering, one of quattro GmbH’s four international service partners, and will then be presented to local customers there. Audi Sport customer racing will have delivered 20 examples of the new model by the end of April. The new Audi R8 LMS ultra boasts numerous technical modifications in comparison to its predecessor. The new GT3 sports car is state of the art in everything from its passive safety to much improved aerodynamics, a more efficient cooling system, and modifications to its chassis. At a purchase price of 329,900 euros (plus VAT), Audi’s newest customer sport race car is an attractive offer. This GT3 race car bearing the four rings also boasts very long intervals between overhauls. For example, the powerful V10 engine, which is based on a mass-produced engine, regularly clocks up 20,000 kilometers or more of racing before needing its first overhaul.
Category: Audi
Audi R8 set to race all over the globe with ULTRA
Audi S4 to be unveiled at Paris
Audi has announced it will unveil the new S4 at the Paris Motor Show in October. As expected, the future sporty saloon will feature 350bhp under the bonnet.As previously reported, the future S4 will drop its V8 engine to get a smaller and more fuel efficient V6 engine. Thanks to a Eaton roots-type supercharger, the new TFSi engine will deliver a similar power output of 350bhp. Audi explained that a supercharger was chosen because of the available power at lower revs than compared with a turbo, more suitable for a premium saloon. IN other words, say your farewells to the sporty S4. The new S4 will be bourgeois.
The new gearbox confirms the new direction taken by Audi. A new S-Tronic gearbox will replace the current manual transmission. At 284 lbs, the new gearbox will be 80 lbs heavier than the manual model. However, Audi promises better performance and claims the future S4 will shuttle from 0 to 62 mph in less than six seconds. Top speed will be electronically limited to 155mph as usual.
Audi considering new supercar and compact SUV for U.S. market
Audi’s US CEO Johan de Nysschen has revealed that the German carmaker is considering two new models to the current lineup, a compact SUV and a supercar.Audi has set an ambitious plan to increase its sales to 1.5 million vehicles by 2015 and the American market is a key market to reach the sales goal. The German carmaker still needs to catch BMW and Mercedes in terms of sales. Like the two other carmakers, Audi plans to to catch up with its competitors by launching two new models, a compact SUV and a supercar.
The compact SUV would be a lifestyle model similar to what Toyota did with the first-generation RAV4. Rumoured to be the future Q3, it would reinforce the company SUV’s lineup and would likely share its underpinnings with the next-generation A3. However, the compact SUV won’t be called Q3 as a result of the deal signed with Nissan over the use of the “Q” badge. The deal authorizes Audi to only use the “Q’ letter for the Q5 and Q7 on the American market.
The mentioned supercar raises concerns regarding its veracity. Even though it is revealed by Audi’s US CEO, how would BMW fit another supercar in its range without taking on the Lamborghini Gallardo or Murcielargo? Maybe Nysschen talked about the R8 Spider and V10 versions.
Audi R8 to feature full LED headlights
Audi has unveiled the first LEd headlights on the market which will be available as an option on the R8 supercar.Audi has strong ambition for the Audi R8 and the new LED headlamps, confirms the carmaker wants to lead the market in terms of innovation. Generally seen on the concept cars, the Audi R8 is the first production car to offer LEd headlights. In addition to the daytime running light which now features 24 LEDs per headlamp, light-emitting diodes are also used for the turn signals, the low-beam and the high-beam headlights. However, the new lights aren’t cheap and will cost the buyer a hefty price of €3,590.
LEDs have prominent advantages: lower energy consumption and a color that more closely resembles daylight, provides greater contrast and is easier on the human eye. LEDs are also non-wearing, require a lower voltage, are compact and offer greater design freedom.
VW CEO threatens to resign
Martin Winterkorn is more and more upset by Porsche’s will to interfere with the VW’s operations and has threatened to resign.Porsche’s will to interfere with the VW’s brands generate more and more frustration among companies’ executives, especially at Audi. The German weekly magazine Der Spiegel reports that premium carmaker’s managers are more and more concerned by Porsche involvement. In an attempt to increase its sales to 1.5 million vehicles by 2018, the carmaker has started expanding its lineup and some models are competing with Porsche models. Unhappy with the results, Porsche has started to interfere with the future lineup. The rumoured R4 has been canceled by Audi. It isn’t confirmed whether Audi took the decision alone, but the R4 was expected to compete with the Porsche Cayman.
This isn’t the first time it might happen. A longtime rumour suggests that Porsche had obliged Audi to cancel a similar project fifteen years ago. Audi was developing the Quattro coupé which would have competed with the future Porsche Boxster. Under pressure from Porsche as rumoured, the German carmaker canceled the project.
Aware of the situation, the former Audi’s CEO has sent a warning to Porsche. How will Piech react? The former VW CEO and Porsche shareholder brought Winterkorn at the head of VW and also helped Porsche to acquire 31 per cent of VW.
Audi R8 V10 for sale?
A German website might have revealed the future specs of the long-awaited V10-powered R8.The German website Mobile.de features an interesting R8 powered by a V10 petrol engine. The engine is reported to deliver a power output of 552bhp. This is 20bhp less than the rocketing-estate RS6 which offers 572bhp. The price tag is rather high for the R8 with a reported price of £100,000.
On the same page, the launch date is announced in February 2009 before hitting the showrooms in the second quarter of next year.
Audi unveils the Clubsport Quattro
Last week, Petrol-Head unveiled some spyshots of the rumoured TT Clubsport Quattro. Surprising everybody, Audi has unveiled the final version.
The car was unveiled today at the Lake Worther Tour, an annual gathering of VW and Audi enthusiasts held in Austria. Compared to the TT, the biggest change is the new windscreen which is a low-level speedster style windscreen. The Clubsport Quattro is also 60 mm wider than the normal TT to make room for the bigger 19in wheels. The speedster sits on 235/55 tires and features the upgraded braking system seen on the new TTS. Under the bonnet, the Clubsport Quattro features a boosted version of the 2.0-litre TFSI unit which delivers 300bhp.On the inside, the Clubsport comes with a aluminium pedals, a special instruments panal and specific door handles. Seats feature a specific race style with a tan leather uphosltery.
Audi to launch 15 new models by 2011
With the aim of selling 1.5 million cars by 2018, Audi plans to expand its already wide lineup by unveiling 15 new models or versions within three years.The most important model for the carmaker will be the small A1 expected to take on the established Mini in the small car segment. Sharing its inner-structure with the VW Polo, the A1 is rumoured to offer an all-wheel drive version.
On the compact market segment where Audi dominates the German clique, the carmaker will continue to multiply variants with the launch of the Q3 SUV in 2010. Expected to be 4,300 mm long, it will be 300 mm shorter than the new Q5 and will only be available as an all-wheel drive model. Power output will range from 168 to 349bhp. The three-door A3 will be renewed one year later, while the Sportback variant will be launched in 2012.
The next-generation A6 will be launched in 2011. It will be the first high-volume Audi model to come with an aluminum structure. However, the masterpiece in this segment will be the future A7 set to compete with the top-selling CLS-Class. This four-door coupé will be followed by the new A8.
With the R4 cancelled, the R8 supercar will be the only sporty model in the range. Audi will expand the R8’s range by launching the V10-powered version and the first diesel supercar. There will also be a roadster version which will be launched this year.
Audi unveils the A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro Concept
In a previous report, Petrol-Head published the spyshot of the production version of the TT Clubsport Quattro Concept. Audi is readying its second Clubsport model based on the A3 and powered by a TDI engine.
The main interest in this concept is the TDI engine. A 2.0-litre unit, it has a power output of 221bhp and a torque of 332lb ft. Audi claims the A3 Clubsport can shuttle from rest to 62mph in just 6.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 149mph. The power is transmitted to the Quattro system through a six-speed manual gearbox. At the front wheels, stopping power is provided by six-piston brake calipers and ceramic discs. The Audi drive select driving dynamics system allows the driver to vary the throttle response characteristics, the exhaust sound, the level of power assistance for the steering, the cut-in thresholds for the ESP stabilization system and the operating mode of the dampers.
Will Audi build the A3 Clubsport as it might do with the TT Clubsport. According to Autocar, Audi has no plan to produce it. However, it announces a future range of powerful diesel engines currently developed by the Quattro division.
Next-generation Audi A6 details emerge
The replacement of the Audi A6 is a few years away, but first information have emerged on the internet.The main novelty for the next-generation will be its construction that will use the lightweight ASF II spaceframe. Inaugurated with the current TT, the Aluminum and Steel Spaceframe (ASF II) is a platform which weighs half as much as steel, but is half again as rigid. Until now, the carmaker has reserved the platform technology for low volume models, but with the A6, the Audi will go mainstream.
Using an aluminum body will enable the company to save weight, reduce consumption, CO2 emissions and also improves handling and performances. THE ASF II will also be used for the next-generation Q7 which will reduce its weight by 300kg.
Like the latest models, the next A6 will use the company MLB platform which will bring new suspension, new brakes, new steering like it happened with the A4 as the engine is mounted further back in the chassis for better balance. From the A4, Audi will also take the overall styling
The next A6 will likely take is styling cues from the Audi A4 and A5, which means that it will be serious, classy but as exciting as an Italian car.
Like the current model, the next-generation A6 will be available with a wide range of engines. Petrol unit will include a 190bhp 2.8-litre V6, a 224bhp 2.8-litre V6, a 265bhp 3.2-litre V6, a 350bhp 4.2-litre V8, a 420bhp 5.2-litre V10 unit for the S6 and a 580bhp 5.0 V10 unit for the RS6. Two diesel will be available, a 185bhp 2.7-litre unit and a 238bhp 3.0-litre unit. Surprisingly, the future supercharged V6, which delivers 290bhp, is not listed.
The next A6 is expected to be unveiled in 2010.
Source: Car
