In “Alien,” the most recent TV spot from Audi, viewers are transported into the world of a child who misunderstands her dad’s looks, actions and most notably all of the technological innovations inside the Audi A6 as proof that he is a space alien. “Alien” showcases just a few of the best-in-class features that made the Audi A6 one of Car and Driver’s 10Best of 2012. www.caranddriver.com
Audi plans to show off a new concept version of the Q3 at the Worthersee Tour in Austria next week. The Q3 Red Track boasts the same 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine found under the hood of the Audi TT RS, and thus, there’s a galloping 340 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque on hand. A seven-speed S Tronic gearbox handles shifting duties and drops the available grunt to all four tires via the company’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. In addition to the extra power, the Red Track wears unique Energy Red paint flecked with gold, while accents like the fender flares and lower fascia are coated in matte gray.
Likewise, the headlight arrays wear body-color accents, and massive 20-inch five-spoke wheels help set the crossover apart from its production kin. Audi also stretched the track by by 1.5 inches and lifted the machine by 1.2 inches for a beefier stance. The Red Track will be on display at the Worthersee Tour starting on May 16.
When Audi announced the 2013 A8 with the 3.0T V6, it didn’t mention fuel economy numbers but did tout the 333-horsepower engine’s “great efficiency.” According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the V6 efficiency exactly matches that of the more powerful 372-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 – the 3.0T was rated the same 18 city, 28 highway as the naturally aspirated 4.2.
It’s figured that the stop/start system fitted to the V6 will provide a slight bump, which, since the EPA doesn’t factory such tech into its testing, doesn’t register in the official numbers. It’s difficult to make fuel economy comparisons with the same engines in other countries since they have different power ratings; in Germany, for instance, the V6 is rated at 286 hp, the 4.2 isn’t offered and the 4.0 TSFI V8 makes 414 hp – but in that case, the V6 does get better gas mileage, if you’re wondering.
Are you looking to buy a cheap Audi? You can find the Audi A3 in second hand condition on the motors.co.uk site for much a much cheaper price than you would if you were looking for new. There are many versions available on the site so have a look today.
Speaking of wondering, that’s what many including our own commenters are doing about the space between the 333-hp V6 and 520-hp V8 in the S8. The report in Car and Driver posits a detuned version of the S8′s motor. No matter what, the V6 A8 will be less expensive than all of them, which was the real point all along.
Audi celebrated the grand opening of its innovative and stunning Audi Pavilion in the renowned Automobile City.
We just attended a thorough workshop covering the tech inside the next Audi A3, the new compact from Ingolstadt that the U.S. gets in October 2013 as a five-door Sportback model, as well as a new four-door small sedan. A concept version of the four-door was shown at the Geneva Motor Show last year, while deliveries of this European hatchback start this July.
Our first drive of the three-door premium hatchback model that will be available at launch happens later this month, though it’s sort of a shame we won’t be getting this three-door here in the States. The five-door Sportback model that will be sold in the U.S. will be shown this October at the Paris Motor Show and will be available in Western European in January of next year. The premium hatch segment is fillling up fast now with this Audi, then the Volvo V40, to be followed then by the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
It’s been fascinating to sample Audi’s new greener edition of the EA824 V8 in all of its various incarnations. Our first crack at the new TFSI powerplant with cylinder-on-demand was in Audi’s own 513-horsepower S8, and we then went on to try it out in the new 500-hp Bentley Continental GT and GTC V8 models. Most recently, we dipped into the 4.0-liter biturbo in the new S7 before getting behind the wheel of the closely related S6 seen here.
Versus the previous S6 with its muy macho Lamborghini-derived 5.2-liter V10, everything is quicker, more efficient and lighter in weight. The new fourth-generation S6 Quattro with S-tronic seven-speed dual clutch comes in at a European curb weight of 4,178 pounds – about 30 pounds lighter than the previous V10-stuffed car with its automated six-speed. Yes, power is slightly lower now at 414 horses, but peak torque of 406 pound-feet is slightly higher and happens over a vastly wider range of 1,400 to 5,200 rpm. Audi’s 0-62 miles per hour sprint time is now listed at 4.6 seconds, a figure that compares favorably with the outgoing car’s official 5.2-second time.
For my test drive, Audi thoughtfully provided a couple of S6 four-door setups for me to sample: those with Dynamic Steering and the torque vectoring sport Quattro rear differential, and those without. You know which trim I went for already. So equipped, these S6 sedans were all painted Misano Red… an exterior color that Americans cannot get this time around.
The new Audi S7 Sportback takes to the streets of Munich for the first time
Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury
A report by the Center of Automotive Research at the university of Duisburg-Essen in Germany has revealed that Mercedes-Benz, currently the number three luxury carmaker, could move up to number two in 2015, Automotive News reported. Mercedes owned the second slot until last year, when Audi overtook it. BMW has held the lead in the luxury market since 2005.
“We aim to be the front-runner wherever we compete on a permanent basis,” Zetsche said in a speech earlier this month. “Wherever we are not number one, we will strive to become it,” he added.
BMW will sell 1.76 million vehicles in 2015, followed by Mercedes with 1.68 million and Audi with 1.63 million, the CAR report said. One of the reasons Mercedes could see such growth is that it intends to introduce 10 new models by 2015, including a sportier version of the A Class (above).
Audi and BMW have no plans to cede any ground to Mercedes in the World War of Luxury Vehicles as the two German brands continue to vie for number one. Audi has said it plans to sell two million vehicles by 2020, which would surpass BMW and Mini total sales. Additionally, Audi plans to build a plant in Mexico, which could increase it’s U.S. lineup from 16 vehicles to 27.
Mercedes could reclaim No. 2 luxury spot from Audi by 2015 originally appeared on AudiMobiles on Tue, 01 May 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
