Category: Audi

Fourtitude provides a few details about the engines of the upcoming TTRS and RS5 models. The TTRS will be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show while the RS5 will arrive in 2009.

The TTRS will be powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine which will have an output of 350bhp. However some insiders talk about a 2.3-litre unit. The RS5’s powertrain remains unknown and is still prone to speculation. According to Fourtitude, the RS5 might be powered by a V10 engine taken from the RS6. However this choice might confuse customers as the RS6 is bigger than the RS5 and the price would likely be more expensive than an equivalent M3.

So, a normally aspirated might be the second option for Audi. Detuned, the V10 would still be powerful enough to competed with the german clique. Mercedes did it with the C63 AMG and performances are still at the top. The third option might be to reuse the 4.2-litre V8 seen in the RS4 and add a turbocharger to boost the power output to 450bhp. The last option would be to use the normally aspirated V8 found in the RS4. With its 414bhp, it’s powerful enough enough to fight the M3 and C63 AMG.

While the audi Q7 Hybrid is expected sometimes in 2009, it might be pipped to the post by the Q5 which might be launched in its hybrid configuration on the American market ahead of the other versions.

Secrecy surrounds the exact launch date of the Q5 although some observers think the company will unveil its latest SUV at Geneva. It would then be unveiled as a hybrid model and would be powered by the 210bhp 2.0-litre TFSi petrol engine coupled to an electric engine. The latter would use Nimh batteries at first before getting Lithium-Ion batteries in the future.

No information has been given regarding the pricing of the future hybrid Q5.

Source: Automotive News

Audi has announced the pricing for the Audi TTS Coupe and Roadster for the UK. The coupé will cost £33,380 and the roadster £35,380.

The first Audi TT to sport the ‘S’ insignia is now available to order in Coupe and Roadster forms while first deliveries will start in summer of this year.

The Audi TTS is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with direct injection system which has an output of 268bhp and a torque varying between 206lb ft to 258 lb ft between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm. The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph and the TTS can shuttle from 0 to 62mph in 5.4 seconds.

The TTS features newly designed bi-xenon headlamps incorporating trademark Audi LED strip daytime running lights, a redesigned front apron incorporating larger air intakes and aluminium-look door mirror housings. There are also deeper side skirts and exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, which can be upgraded to 19-inch. The aft gets a revised rear bumper surrounding quad-tailpipes.

On the inside, the TTS comes with two-tone leather sports seats, exclusive ‘S’ instruments with white needles, metal pedals and special aluminium trim elements.

In a previous post, it was reported that the mysterious R4 model was confirmed in a leaked Audi’s future models plan. More details are emerging on the future baby-R8.

The future R4 will be launched in June 2011 and will take on the Porsche Cayman. The smaller R8 will be available with a large choice of petrol engines whose topping unit will have an output of around 300bhp. Along the petrol engines, Audi is seriously considering adding a diesel units.

Engineers will focus on weight reduction in order to ensure that the R4 will offer a sporty handling able to compete with Porsche’s standards.

The Audi R8 has been more than well acclaimed by professional and has received several awards but oddly nobody had thought to bring the car on circuit until now. Netherlands-based Creventic BV is preparing a circuit version for the next 24 hours of Dubai.

Dubbed CR-8 to avoid confusion with the 24 hours Le Mans winner, it features a few changes. The engine gains 10 bhp to 424bhp with the help a re-mapped ECU. The main changes concern the suspension and new race spec. 18-inch BBS competition tires. The car also gets a 90 litre racing fuel tank and saves 660 lbs to weigh only 2976 lbs.

Creventic will be unveiled two CR-8 at Dubai in January.

Click here to see all the pictures

Read also: Dubai Motor Show: MTM R888

After the product plan, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has revealed in an interview given to Auto Zeitung how the brand will jump from less than 1 million cars this year to 1.5 million in 2015.

Audi will focus on the Chinese market on which it’s leader on the executive and luxury segments. Despite a fierce struggle with BMW, the company wants to double its sales to top 200,000 vehicles. The US market will also be carefully taken into account as Audi also wants to double its sales there. The brand will focus on increasing its dealer network.

The spearhead will first rely on a larger lineup. From 22 vehicles this year, Audi plans to sell 40 models in 2015. By covering almost all market niches, the German manufacturer hopes it will take sales from general competitors like Renault or Ford but also from specialist like Saab or BMW. The abundance of new models will be possible thanks to the new modular platform that Audi will generalise on all models within the next three years.

Brodcasting an ad at the Superbowl XLII is the best way for a foreign car makers to show its devotion to the American market. Audi will join Toyota and will feature a 60-second ad at the event on February 3 2008.

This is not the first time for Audi as it aired an ad twenty years ago, but this is a serious attempt from the German manufacturer to boost its brand image. “It’s time for us to not only let the experts and aficionados know about Audi; we want America to know about Audi,“ said Scott Keogh, CMO of Audi of America in an interview with AdWeek

The R8 Spider is a clever choice, of course, as the coupé quickly became a symbol of Audi’s hard work to catch with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Sales have been low with 104 vehicles in October and 67 units in November, but American motoring press unanimously acclaimed the Audi’s supercar. Audi will unveil the Spider at the next Detroit Motor Show and all car aficionados will hear about it. With the Superbowl’s ad, Audi will go mainstream. What a challenge for the German carmaker and a serious contender for competitors!

Here is a highly valuable information as a document revealing the Audi future plans until 2012 has been revealed by Quattro Quarterly, a publication released by the Audi Club of North America. Most of the cars are already known but some rumoured models are also confirmed such as the mysterious R4. Click to read the full list.

– September 2007 – B8 A4
– September 2007 – C6 RS6
– January 2008 – A3 Cabrio
– March 2008 – B8 A4 Avant
– June 2008 – A3 Facelift
– July 2008 – Q5
– August 2008 – TT-S
– September 2008 – R8 V10
– December 2008 – Q7 Hybrid
– January 2009 – A5 Cabrio
– February 2009 – RS5
– March 2009 – R8 Targa
– June 2009 – A7 Coupe
– July 2009 – Q3
– August 2009 – TT-RS
– September 2009 – A5 Sportback
– December 2009 – A1
– February 2010 – Q5 Hybrid
– June 2010 – New D4 A8
– October 2010 – New A3
– January 2010 – A7 Cabrio
– January 2011 – New C7 A6
– May 2011 – C7 A6 Avant
– June 2011 – R4
– October 2011 – A1 Cabrio
– January 2012 – A4 Facelift