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Which one of these fabulously capable cars would you think is the fastest around the track? The Audi is the most powerful but is slowed down by an old-fashioned manual gearbox. The new Porsche 911 Turbo now features a super-fast dual-clutch transmission and is only slightly less powerful than the uber-Audi. The Nissan is the heaviest and least powerful by at least 100 hp, but is blessed with incredible traction.

We won't spoil the fun. Just watch Autocar editor Steve Sutcliffe take the cars around for a timed lap to find out.

[Source: Autocar]

You may have already seen pictures of the all-new Audi A8 revealed to the world last week. However, we have a bit of a special belated post on Audi's flagship. You see, tucked away in the Neckarsulm division of Audi, where the "S" cars are created, sits a 6'6" Viking engineer whose job, among other things, is to fine tune A8 engines using simulation software. Not only can the horsepower and torque figures be predicted with amazing accuracy, but the engine note can also be analyzed and 'designed' as well. That A8 engineer just happens to be one ...

Audi has announced that it will enter a driverless Audi TT Quattro in next year's Pikes Peak rally. While Audi's entry will not be in contention for an actual award or title during the event, the company intends to demonstrate advanced technologies that will make it onto the marketplace.

Using a Java-based realtime script, the car receives telemetry updates within a 20-mile range. Eventually, Audi envisions a system comprising of aerial towers that communicate with cars, akin to the current mobile phone systems.

What is is point of this futuristic technology? Audi believes it will be useful in ...

By now, any TopGear fan is used to Jeremy Clarkson’s superlatives every time he drives a “sensational” car with its “astonishing” engine. But the man HAS driven just about every great car made over the past few decades, and then some.

So when Jezza calls a car “the best car I’ve ever driven,” you take notice. What is the object of his ultimate lust? None other than the V10 Audi R8 5.2. Watch the video to hear the words from the horse’s mouth. Before you do, here is a refresher of the vital stats:

Engine: 5 ...

As we reported recently, Audi has green-lighted the production of its all-electric sports car, dubbed the e-Tron in concept form. While it would be great if the concept's futuristic shape made it intact into production, InsideLine reports that the final car will likely look more like the car pictured here.

To be called the R4, the car will be somewhere between an Audi TT and R8 in size. Now that VW owns not just Audi but also Porsche, it is highly likely that the R4 will be built on the same platform as the next Porsche Boxster.

As for ...

This teutonic battle is as close as it can get: two 3.0L, force induction-propelled German sports sedans battling for the title of class benchmark. For years, that benchmark has been the BMW 3-Series, a car that wins critics' hearts through its perfect balance of all the elements necessary to make a sporty, practical every day car.

Enjoying the lofty position atop the list of sports sedans has its dangers: it inspires rivals to mark you as the bulls eye as they try and better you. Audi in particular has seemingly made a laser-like focus on BMW its raison-d'etre ...

If you were wondering whether Audi's e-Tron concept would ever see the light, wonder no more: Audi of America's president, Johan de Nysschen, has confirmed that the outlandish, all-electric vehicle will see the light of day as a production car.

“I expect we will see running examples in the next 24 months,” said de Nysschen.

Somewhere between the R8 and TT in size, the eTron will produce 313 hp and 3319 lb ft of torque. You read that correctly, 3319 lb ft of torque, or roughly10 times that produced by the V8 engine found in the base R8 ...

How much justice does the first 5-cylinder Audi in a very long time do to the legacy of the defining Audi sports car, the legendary Quattro of the eighties? Autocar attempts to find in this video.

The TT RS (pardon the lack of video, Fifth Gear has removed it from YouTube), of course, is one of those cars Audi denies us here in America. Quite simply, there would not be enough sales volume for this special TT to warrant Audi bringing it here. Therefore, we will just have to enjoy it from afar. To refresh your memory, here are the ...

We recently reported on a new, viral Audi site dedicated to the company's focus on electric cars. As hinted on the site, electricityuntamed.com, Audi had been planning something big for the Frankfurt Auto Show, and here it is: the Audi R8 e-Tron concept car.

This fully-electric R8 concept packs an equivalent of 313 hp and a transmission-destroying 3,319 lb-ft of torque! This mighty amount of shove comes courtesy of four electric motors powered by a Li-ion battery pack. While 0-62 mph comes at a brisk 4.8 seconds, it is the 4.1 second dash from 37 ...

Ever wonder what an Audi R8 would look like without its side blades? Well, you now can - sort of. The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 V10 has been unveiled to the world in Frankfurt, and its design is certainly quite a departure from that of its donor coupe. This being Audi, the Spyder is exquisitely crafted and it takes a while to take in all the details

As the name suggests, the Spyder comes with the delightful, Lamborghini Gallardo-derived V10, albeit in the detuned Audi form. Good for 525 hp and 391 lb-ft. of torque, the engine accelerates the Spyder ...

Did you know that kissing for 10 minutes generates enough power to run a TV for one hour? This, along with several funny videos (see one below), is one of the many electricity-related fun facts you can find on Audi's new viral minisite, electricityuntamed.com. The site is dedicated to Audi's plans for electric vehicles. Strong rumors insist that on September 15, Audi will reveal an electric R8 at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

The idea is not so far-fetched, what with Audi's German rivals having already announced their electric performance car plans. BMW recently revealed its Vision ...

Sometimes, older is better. To celebrate its 100th year as a car company, Audi recently updated its logo, giving it a shinier look and changing both the font and the positioning of the Audi name with respect to the four rings.

Below, you can compare for yourselves and also take a quick trip back to the Auto Union origins of the Audi logo.

Of course, this is subjective but I will miss the unique, backswept Audi font. What do you think?

2009 Audi logo

Former logo

Audi logo design progression

[Source: Autoblog]

Last week, we reported Autocar’s judgement that the Lotus Evora is the UK’s Best Driver’s Car, which I interpret as the world’s best driver’s car as explained here. Today, we present you videos from that comprehensive test around the Goodwood circtuit.

As Autocar editor Steve Sutcliffe states, this is the most talented group of cars they have ever tested, which is high praise for Lotus indeed from the world’s oldest car magazine.

Above is the summary video, while below, you will find the full Evora review followed by some gratuitous, naughty videos. You're ...

Car enthusiasts have been waiting for the hot-rod version of Audi’s handsome A5/S5 line for quite some time. It looks like their wait will come to an end soon, as hinted by these spy pictures of an RS5 prototype caught near the Nurburgring.

The RS5 will be distinguished from the S5 with not only much more horsepower, but also wider fenders with cut-lines reminiscent of the original Ur-Quattro. Power will likely ...

After a brief departure from Audi's showrooms, the Audi S4 is back in the US and it's all new. Starting at $45,900, the 2010 S4 is significantly different from its predecessor in one major way: it eschews the naturally aspirated, 340 hp 4.2L V8 in favor of a supercharged, 3.0L, direct-injected V6 producing 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. However, even though ever-more stringent emissions laws have prompted Audi to downsize the engine and take on forced-induction, you can rest assured that the end result is a faster S4. How much faster? How about ...

Not content with winning over the hearts of swooning car fans and auto journalists alike with even its 'base' V8 model R8, Audi has been caught testing a hardcore, lightweight track-oriented version of its R8 V10 at the Nürburgring, where all great cars are born. Although it is too early to say, this new R8 will likely carry the "Clubsport" moniker. Visual clues of its special mission are the fixed wing a la the TT RS, spoiler blades up front as well as the heavy-duty diffuser out back. Old-school racing hood latches complete the track-biased effect.

Audi, who owns ...

These are a few interesting future transportation concepts imagined by students at Swansea Metropolitan University in the UK. We have included the design descriptions verbatim in order to stay true to the designers' intended messages.

Ferrari F75 Mugello by Adam Flay

The Ferrari F75 Mugello is a design study aimed at producing an archetype for future eco-friendly supercars. The concept is powered by a mid-mounted electrical motor and twin turbine boosters, providing a sustainable solution for the supercar of tomorrow’s world with no compromises on performance, style or beauty.

The concept also rejuvenates Ferrari’s classic surface language to ...

Ever wonder whether you could be as comfy as you are in living room while someone drives you down the road in a solid, German automobile? If you have indeed had such a day dream, rejoice because Audi has created a concept vehicle just for you: the Audi Contact!

As you can see in the pictures, the Contact's huge swing-open door can connect to another Contact's in order to create a large common area for you and your mobile living room-loving friends.

Will Audi build it? Who knows, but it is an amusing concept nonetheless.

[Source: thedesignblog]

Am I teasing you? I suppose the answer is yes, because you cannot buy this best-of-breed Audi TT RS in the US. Perhaps that will change in the future if you lobby Audi USA hard enough, but in the meantime, watch this video of host Jason Plato driving the TT RS through four European countries in a timed sprint copied straight from TopGear. Plato states that the TT RS is better than a Porsche Cayman - huge praise indeed!

Engine: 2.5L turbocharged inline-5
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Horsepower: 340 hp
Torque: 332 lb-ft
0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
Price: equivalent to ...

As you know from our previous posts, Audi is celebrating 100 years as a company this year, and its birthday is today. As part of the international celebrations, Audi has created an online microsite replete with pictures, movies and facts about its achievements over the past century.

Take time and delve into the Audi 100 Years Online Special. It is quite a lot to take in from a great company that was left for dead in the US market following the devastating, fabricated 60 Minutes sudden acceleration report of 1986. Audi's product line improvement over the past 15 years ...

After months upon months of speculation about the final looks, we can now show you the official pictures of this brand new Audi A5 Sportback. Unfortunately, Audi does not plan to bring this car to the United States.

In Europe, the car will be offered with three gasoline and three diesel engines:

180 hp 2.0L TFSI
211 hp 2.0L TFSI
265 hp 3.2L V6
170 hp 2.0L TDI
190 hp 2.7L TDI
240 hp 3.0L TDI

Depending on the engine selected, the transmission choices include manual, Multitronic or 7-speed S tronic. All three gasoline ...

Visitors to this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is as close as to a car lovers' paradise as one can think of here on earth, will behold this simple but beautiful  installation by award-winning artist Gerry Judah. Audi celebrates 100 years as a company this year and it is this year's featured marque at Goodwood. The cars you see at the top ends of the 115 ft, 44 ton structure are the mad, V16-powered 1937 Auto Union Type C Streamliner and the recently released V10 Audi R8, both of which are uniquely beautiful examples of automotive form ...

These pictures are being referred to as 'leaked' in the blogosphere, and we are happy someone was a bit naughty. We showed you spy pictures of the baby Bimmer SAV a few weeks ago and as you can see here, no surprises: a handsome vehicle with typical BMW design cues inside and out.

With the X1, scheduled to be unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show this fall, BMW takes straight aim at its German rivals: Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK, and Volkswagen Tiguan. Aah, nothing like a good duel.

The rivals:

Audi Q5

Mercedes-Benz GLK

Volkswagen Tiguan

2010 BMW X1

[Source ...

This headline should read 'video of Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV makes grown man weep from envy.' The grown man would be, well, me. And the video would be by none other than those damn lucky Brits at the BBC.

I serve at your pleasure, so far be it from me not to shamelessly share with you another pirated clip of TopGear that had my heart racing earlier today. Watch Hammond wring out the last in line of the glorious Murciélago line that will be replaced by what is surely to be a capable, modern but less outrageous ...

Yes, another car we will not get here in the US: the Audi A5 Sportback. Audi showed off the concept at the Detroit Auto Show this year and has now released this teaser picture of the car's rear corner. Thanks Audi, show us just your shoulder and then tell us we can't have it!

Regardless, watch this neat little video of Head of Audi Group Design, Wolfgang Egger sketching the Sportback and describing the design language.

[Source: Audi]

The English TV show Fifth Gear has recently driven the V10 version of the Audi R8, the 5.2 FSI. You know that the V8 version has already been hailed as one of the best cars of all time; the 525hp 5.2L V10 engine that is very similar to the one found in the Lamborghini Gallardo just moves the game further along in the 5.2 FSI.

The big question will be: is another 105hp enough to justify the significant price increase? We don't know what the price for the 5.2 will be, but expext something around ...

Autocar reports that Audi is planning a much edgier Audi A3 with the hopes of increasing that model’s sales in the Unites States. While the current car is a handsome hatchback in the generally restrained Audi way, these rendering reveal a much sportier look reminiscent of the new VW Scirocco that will unfortunately not make its way to our shores (why oh why, VW? You create an emotional design and then you deny us?!)

The Audi A3 sells well in its home continent of Europe, but that likely has to do much with the fact that across the pond ...

While you await the arrival of the new flagship of the Audi R8 lineup, the R8 V10, on our shores, enjoy the unabashed throttle-mashing in this video. Car nuts will have a sense of deja-vu, noticing the similarity of the glorious sound to that of the Lamborghini Gallardo. No surprise there, as the R8's V10 also does corporate horsepower duty in the Italian marque's stable as well.

Until the BBC police comes along and removes it, see the below Gallardo video (direct link here) from TopGear to compare engine sounds.

[Source: worldcarfans via YouTube]

Take a look at a sneak-peak of the commercial Audi has planned for the Superbowl, starring the decidedly typecast but badass Jason Statham. While others backed out of this most-coveted airtime, Audi is stepping in, just like it did at the Detroit Auto Show, to continue nurturing its seemingly unstoppable brand awareness campaign.

[Source: worldcarfans via youtube]