Audi's R8 mid-engined supercar caused a stir when it was first driven back in January. The 414bhp 911 rival was warmly received by CAR's testers - and it even trumped its Porsche and Lambo rivals on our first test in the US.

However, lurking in the back of everyone's mind was the thought of the potent V10 version in the pipeline. After all, the R8 shares many components with its Gallardo brethren, so it was only a matter of time before the V10 would be dropped in. And now our spies have caught a V10 test car being put through its paces at the Nurburgring in Germany.

Labels: Audi

"With an annual build of just 5,000 R8s for global sale, deliveries to UK customers will start in July. Just 450 of the cars will arrive this year and 750 in 2008.
With 1,200 deposits paid by UK customers, and 700 R8 advance orders already being built to specific customer requirements, new UK customers placing an order now will receive their car towards the end of 2008.
Germany, the USA and then the UK are expected to be the largest markets for the R8 but the UK leads the world when it comes ‘early adopters’ said Audi UK this week."

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Eagle-eyed reader Philip Dea spotted one of Audi's North American-spec A5 preproduction cars in California recently. We've confirmed this car's existence with several Audi of America representatives who've driven the very car. Note in particular the wheels, a new design not-yet seen but definitely due to go into production say our sources.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

The folks at Audi of America’s Denver-based interactive agency are at it again, this time shooting a new video starring a Brilliant Red Mk2 TT.

Readers will remember a similar video shoot from early January which combined the Audi Q7 with an Apple iPod, laptop and monitor. At the time we could only speculate about the intended messaging, although we now know that Audi has been producing regular Vodcasts regarding various models, technologies and features.

Does this latest video represent more content in the ongoing Vodcast series or something different?

Labels: Audi

The new 4-cylinder gasoline engine is going to be called 1.4 TSI despite not being a twin-charger engine: in the 122 ps power-step it's going to have only a turbo-charger (losing the supercharger). Torque is going to be a healthy 200 Nm.

The second novelty is a new version of the DSG gearbox (double clutch robotized transmission). This new gearbox will have seven speeds, can be coupled with engines with torque up to 250 Nm and the double clutch will no longer be immersed in oil as in the current DSG and, according to VW, it's going to be particularly good for fuel economy: a Golf with the new 1.4 TSI and the new 7-speed DSG will have an average fuel consumption of 5.9 liters/100 km.

Labels: VW

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At the Shanghai Motor Show Audi has presented a study that defines a new segment in the field of crossover vehicles. The Audi Cross Coupé quattro combines the design and dynamism of a compact premium sports car with the spaciousness and versatility of a four-seat sport utility vehicle (SUV) - see it in the official Audi Video Podcast.

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Apparently a Hong Kong manufacturer created this Porsche-branded phone with a reported two-megapixel camera, color screen and the shape of the affluent Suburban-mommy car. Engagdet says it "purrs along on dual band GSM, supports microSD flash cards, and plays nice with MP3 / MP4 files," but those specs haven't been confirmed.

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Our Four Seasons Audi RS4 has a lot of fans around the office. While it's a great all-around car, it's the 8,250-rpm, 420-hp, 4.2-liter engine that really gets our attention. The V-8's power delivery is so linear that it feels like an electric motor, except of course no electric motor could ever sound this good. I once described its staccato exhaust note as sounding like a thunder cloud. Assistant editor Sam Smith said it sounded "like an angry, drunken bear being shot from a cannon." One of us is obviously a big fan of hallucinogenics.

Anyway, Audi's new R8 shares the RS4's engine, albeit with a couple of small changes. First, it has different intake and exhaust paths due to its mid-engine layout. Then, its dry-sump lubrication system allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis, permitting the use of a smaller, and lighter, flywheel.

The lightened flywheel is evident as soon as you turn the key. The R8's V-8 revs much more quickly than the RS4's. So quickly, in fact, that it seems the flywheel must be made of helium. Teensy little prods of the throttle result in huge surges of revs, with sharp barks of anger shooting out of the short exhaust pipes.

2007 Audi RS4 Dyno
In gear under load, the R8 sounds frenetic, evil, and pissed off. By comparison, the RS4 sounds happy, refined, and non-threatening. Never thought you'd hear those words about an RS4, did you? The R8 sounds that good.

Labels: Audi