Audi
2010 Geneva: Near production Audi A8 Hybrid Concept revealed
This is the hybrid version of the Audi A8 which is scheduled to hit the market in late 2011. The company calls this a near production concept so the eventual production car shouldn’t run far off. The hybrid powertrain has a 2.0 liter TFSI engine that produces 208hp and 250Nm of torque along with an 33 kW electric motor that makes 211Nm of torque.
Combined, they pump out 241hp and 480Nm of torque. The hybrid A8 can run without burning fuel up to 65 km/h for a “distance exceeding two kilometers”. As always more images can be found after the jump. Read the rest of this entry.
Audi A1: e-Tron concept and S-Line Sport Package revealed
The Audi A1 which is set to take on the mighty MINI was revealed ahead of its Geneva debut. The highly anticipated 3-door super mini is offered with number of engine options including an 86hp 1.2 TFSI and a 122hp 1.4 TFSI with a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch tranny. There are also two diesel units. Both versions carry the 1.6 TDI designation and they produce 90hp and 106hp each.
To be honest I feel that the A1 has a lot to do if it wants to shake up the MINI. I prefer the MINI’s design and thus far the engine options and their power figures look better unless a high-performance version is in the works. Rumor has it that an S1 will arrive in 2012 with a 178hp power figure.
Audi didn’t waste much time and decided to present an e-Tron concept based on the A1 at the Geneva Motor Show as well as an S-Line Sport Package. The A1 e-Tron concept features a 75 kW electric motor that is transversely-mounted.
Accompanying the electric motor is a 254 cc internal combustion Wankel engine that acts as a generator. No ridiculous torque numbers this time. Audi claims that the A1 e-Tron can deliver 100 kilometers with just 1.9 liters of fuel and its emissions is figured at 45 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
Audi also released some images of an S-Line Sport Package for the A1. Details are scarce at the moment but we do know that the package includes a modified front bumper, a rear diffuser insert, a larger roof-mounted spoiler along with some unique wheels. There is also a sports steering wheel, sports seats and as well as unique trim on the inside. Continue reading to check out more high-res images. Read the rest of this entry.
Audi RS5 official details released – high revving 450 bhp V8, twin-clutch gearbox!
Now that the world has seen the leaked brochure images, Audi has decided to come clean on its hot new RS5 coupe and we like what we hear. Under that long hood is a 4.2-litre FSI V8 engine, which isn’t new (the old RS4 and R8 has it), but comes with more grunt – 450 bhp at 8,250 rpm, while 430 Nm of torque is produced between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. The choice of a high revving naturally aspirated engine is a refreshing change from today’s turbo trend. The hand made V8 will be “right at home even at high revs – almost like a race engine”, says Audi.
Its partner in crime is a dual-clutch gearbox with seven forward ratios, branded S tronic. This specially reinforced unit (to withstand the high revving V8) should be an improvement from the R8’s single-clutch R tronic semi-auto, which isn’t a favourite among road testers. To blow away that pesky Golf GTI at the traffic lights, launch control will blast the RS5 to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds on to a limited top speed of 250 km/h. Ask nicely, and Audi can increase that to 280 km/h. The four rings brand is also proud of the RS5’s combined fuel consumption of 9.3 km/l, which it says is class leading. Not bad figures for a 1,725 kg car.
Unsurprisingly, the RS5 comes with quattro AWD, but a new development is the self-locking crown-gear center differential. Thanks to its package of plates, the differential can widely vary the distribution of torque between the axles – up to 70% can flow up front or as much as 85% to the rear (default ratio is rear biased at 40:60). A rear axle differential that actively shuffles torque between the rear wheels is optional. Quattro works in conjunction with electronic torque vectoring, which slightly decelerates an imbalanced wheel to cancel wheel spin, resulting in improved traction while “generating a yaw moment which aids cornering”.
Audi drive select allows the driver to switch among three modes – comfort, auto, and dynamic – which adjusts steering, gearbox, differential, engine and the exhaust system. If your RS5 is equipped with the MMI navigation system, you can customize your own profile. Encouragingly, the speed-dependent servotronic steering in the RS5 is especially taut, claims its maker.
The officially released images are after the jump! Read the rest of this entry.
Audi RS5: Brochure with high-res images leaked!
What you see above is a leaked image of the high-performance Audi RS5 that will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show which is just around the corner. Unfortunately the leaked brochure does not contain enough technical specifications hence we will have to wait for the official launch.
However that will not stop some people from suggesting that the RS5 is powered by a 450hp 4.2 liter V8 that is also good for 450Nm of torque. The brochure reveal that the RS5 has a red line of 8200 revs, an S-Tronic transmission and options that include three types of front seats and four wheel designs. Continue reading to check out more images! Read the rest of this entry.
Two limited-edition equipment packages announced for the Audi RS 6
Audi has announced two limited-edition equipment packages for the high-performance 580hp RS 6. These packages are restricted to only 500 units of the M5-fighter. These packages are called the RS 6 plus Sport and the RS 6 plus Audi exclusive respectively.
The plus Sport package includes an instrument-panel hood and center console covered in leather as well as an RS 6 logo on the front floor mats. Via the plus Exclusive package customers can specify a custom paint job by choosing from the color range of quattro GmbH.
The seat upholstery, controls, door trim inserts, front center armrest and the armrests in the door trims are also covered in leather of a color from the Audi exclusive program. Seat add-on parts are also adapted to match the color of leather in question.
An RS 6 fitted with either one of the packages will also feature a carbon design package for the engine compartment, 20-inch wheels bearing a 5 segment-spoke design and the sports suspension plus. Each of the 500 units will also bear a unique number in the interior.
The plus Sport package goes for 3,250 euros while the plus Exclusive package carries a 8,310 euros price tag. Audi claims that one would have to pay 50% more if the items above are purchased separately.
Audi releases details of the A1 ahead of Geneva debut
Move over Mini (and parent company BMW), details of the new Audi A1 has just been released ahead of its 2010 Geneva unveiling. The company makes no qualms about its target market as this can be seen from the exterior stylings very different from its previous artist renderings. I hope this butch sporty look has been reserved for the S-line range as the ‘roof contrast line’ makes it look very A2-ish.
It can be seen that exterior styling is very much taken from the A3 and is a premium option in the super-mini market. One of the Engine options available in the UK will be the 1.2 TFSI petrol engine that produces 84 hp and 160Nm of torque and manages to return 55.4mpg while only releasing 119g/km of CO2.
If that’s not enough there will be the 1.4 TFSI that puts out 120 hp and 200Nm of torque and is available with option of the seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission. It will produce a top speed of 122 mph and delivers 55.4mpg with CO2 output of about 119g/km.
Click below for more pictures and details Read the rest of this entry.
Audi A5 Sportback launched in Singapore
Audi has officially launched the A5 Sportback for the Singaporean market. The Sportback which is a 5-door coupe measures 4,711 mm long, 1,854 mm wide and 1,391 mm high. It’s wheelbase is rated at 2,810 mm. It has a rear hatch that features an electrically actuated lock and it opens to a 480-liter trunk. The space can be increased to 980 liters if the rear seats are folded.
The A5 Sportback is offered with two engine options including a 2.0 liter TFSI that makes 211hp and 350Nm of torque. This engine is mated to an S-tronic dual clutch transmission. There is also a 3.2 liter variant with 265hp and 330Nm of torque. Both models feature Audi’s all wheel drive configuration (quattro). The former goes for S$174,500 while the latter can be yours for S$201,800. Please click here to learn more about the Audi A5 Sportback. You can also get an ABT package for the Sportback from Autovox Pte. Ltd.
Compact Audi e-tron revealed in Detroit, to become the R4 sports car
Audi was at the Detroit Motor Show with a compact version of the e-tron all electric vehicle. Compared to the model that was showcased in Frankfurt last year, the model you see here is actually the size of an Audi TT. Apart from a smaller size, Audi’s latest iteration of the e-tron has two electric motors instead of four.
Both motors are mounted on the rear axle and both can collectively deliver 201hp and 2,650Nm of torque. Don’t be fooled with the mind-boggling number as a recent article by Automobile Magazine indicated that the torque figure is measured at the wheels, instead of at the output shaft which is the industry standard.
The magazine was actually talking about the original e-tron’s 4,500Nm. A 341Nm figure is obtained if the 4,500 number is converted to the output shaft calculation. A quick math will also give you an approximate of 200Nm for the 2,650 figure. Audi could have saved us the trouble if it calculated based on the industry standard measurement in the first place.
Anyway the new e-tron can hit 100 km/h in 5.9 second and give you a top speed of 200 km/h, while being able to deliver 250 kilometers in terms of driving range with a full charge. Insideline also recently reported that the e-tron could become the R4 when it goes into production by 2012. The website also said that Audi will produce conventional fuel-powered versions, apart from an all electric version. Continue reading view an image gallery of the more compact e-tron.
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