Yes, Porsche and Audi have struck a deal that will see them join forces to jointly develop the R4 – Audi’s entry-level sports coupe and roadster – and the next generation Boxster/Cayman. Audi’s plan is to have a four-strong line-up of R-cars: an R10 super coupe (based on the Le Mans-winning diesel-powered racer), the next generation R8 (complete with roadster version), an R6 to sit between the Porsche 911 and Boxster, and then the entry-level R4, a mid-engined two-seater strategically aimed at the £28-35,000 price bracket.

The obvious sister model of the R4 is the next-generation Boxster/Cayman, known internally as project 981/C8. Due in 2011, the Mk2 roadster and coupe will of course be rear-wheel drive and fitted with six-cylinder boxer engines. That's in stark mechanical contrast with the proposed Audi spin-off, which will run forced-induction four- and five-cylinder engines through advanced low-friction quattro four-wheel drive with torque vectoring.

Labels: Audi

Thus, the front skirt with its grid element emphasizes the area around the fog lights and the single-frame grill. The brawny laterally attached parts underline the design of the convertible and create a unit with the striking rear section of the car. There the rear skirt inset and the rear wing, providing additional down force, are the central elements. Also the 4-pipe rear muffler, which perfectly harmonizes with the rear skirt inset and its integrated rear diffuser, belongs to the distinctive rear view of the Abt TT Roadster.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

For starters, all Wagons now come in one of four trim levels: Turbo, Komfort, Lux, or VR6. All Passat wagons get a new leather steering wheel, leather shift knob, manual side and rear sunshades, a power 12-way driver seat, and a temporary spare added to the standard equipment list.

By trim level, the Turbo wagon is now the only one available with a manual gearbox. The Turbo sports new interior and chrome window trim, and new 16-inch wheels, while heated front seats are now an option.

Labels: VW

Open-minded – the contemporary redesign of a symbol
Since its debut the Porsche 911 Targa, with its elaborate roof construction, has been a symbol of sporty driving. The Targa also gained fame in the “Targa Florio,” a hazardous long-distance race through the Sicilian mountains, and one in which this sports car has several times been very successful. Since 1996, the design of the 911 Targa has featured a large panorama glass roof – it thus clearly distinguishes itself from a cabriolet or a coupe. The body of the current 911 Targa 4 is based on the body of the Porsche Carrera 4. The body is 44 mm wider, underlining the sporting and powerful appearance of this new model. These new Targa models are also equipped with a permanent all-wheel drive, and thus they now also integrate state-of-the-art technology. One of the most striking features, however, is – as with their predecessors – the large glass roof and the folding rear window. The glass roof blends harmoniously with the lines of the car and – thanks to the use of two electric motors – can be opened while driving at any speed to as much as half a meter in only seven seconds. The side-mounted aluminium trim, which runs along the length of the roof frame, emphasises the car’s elegant profile. Innovative sealing keeps wind noise to a low level even when driving at high speed. The design of the Porsche 911 Targa 4 continues the language of form of its predecessors – thus the statement of timeless elegance by this classic sports car experiences a new and contemporary interpretation.

Labels: Porsche

Here is a very first photo of an almost undisguised prototype, which reveals some of the new styling, including a substantially re-worked rear hatch area. Final styling was reportedly overseen by Volkswagen's lead designer and rising star Walter de Silva.

According to chatter we've been receiving, the front end will move away from a small Passat look in favour of a narrow, four bar, front grille and updated headlights with LED elements. Besides using existing powerplants, expect Volkswagen to offer a BlueMotion diesel and a hybrid version of the new Golf, and most assuredly performance variants will be in the offing as well.

Labels: VW

With the first pictures of the new Tiguan Volkswagen is starting the countdown for the debut of it’s 14th model series. The Sports Utility Vehicle – SUV for short – will be presented to the public for the first time in September as part of the International Motor Show (IAA in Frankfurt). A combination of power and elegance characterizes the design of the new Tiguan. It was conceived as a borderliner between the urban world and endless landscapes, between business and leisure time. The Tiguan is a multitalent with driving characteristics that are just as agile as they are comfortable, high utility value and groundbreaking technologies.

Like the Touareg, the second Volkswagen SUV also presents a self-confident design. Shaping the front of the new Tiguan are the sexy proportions that Volkswagen first introduced with the Concept A Study that garnered worldwide attention – a crossover of a coupe and SUV. On the sides an elongated and powerfully modulated silhouette spans between the extended wheel arches with a – typical Volkswagen – unmistakable C-pillar. A very short overhang characterizes the steep rear end. Also significant are the front headlights and rear lights with matching shapes.

Labels: VW

Two downshifts and a burst of wide-open throttle later, our 2008 Volkswagen R32 is filling the tunnel with the refined burble of its sport exhaust. Up to redline and back down again, the engine is flawlessly smooth with an occasional crackle when we abruptly let off the gas. The R32's V6 has never sounded so good, and yeah, we're feeling much better now.

A few more runs through the six-speed direct-shift gearbox (DSG) and we're through the tunnel, headed toward roads with fewer ceilings and more turns. Wind noise overcomes exhaust growl at this point, but the 2008 Volkswagen R32 has plenty more to keep us interested.

Labels: VW

We were soon comfortably seated and our instructors started to cover various features of the R8 with the help of videos. Harald gave the talk in German for the participants from Germany, and Rob repeated in English for the benefit of the North American drivers. It’s surprising how little translation is needed, however. As anybody who has attended a driving school knows some of the most important instruction comes in the form of hand gestures.

Since the cars used for the Audi Racetrack experience were equipped with the R-Tronic transmission, the instructors systematically talked through the four operation modes (automatic or manual mode, each with regular or sport shifting) and the various controls. They then gave a few pointers on how to correct understeer or oversteer, how to pick a good braking point, how to manage the throttle through a corner, etc.

Labels: Audi

What do you get when you combine the engineering and design knowhow of Audi and Lamborghini?An exclusive--and screamingly fast--supercar.

Labels: Audi

here can be no doubt that Audi is making two of the very hottest vehicles in the world. So hot are these cars, that I don't even need to mention names.

Automobile Magazine placed both of them on a dynometer and we couldn't be less surprised by the results. The dry-sumped, smaller flywheel R8 revs a bit quicker and puts down 7 more horsepower (338 hp vs. 331in the RS4) at the wheels. However, the "when I grow up I wanna be a freight train" RS4 makes a little more torque a whole lot lower down in the revs: 276 lbs. ft. @ 3,750 rpm for the 4-door, 275 lbs. ft. @ 5100 for the coupe.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

In 1964, NSU introduced the 4-cylinder successor to the 2-cylinder Prinz IV minicar, the Prinz 1000. The square and upright unibody of the Prinz IV was stretched in all dimensions, but without change in appearance, to provide the basis for the new, larger car. Positioned in the lower end of the middle class of European economy sedans, the Prinz 1000 featured a roomy cabin for four adults, with a large glass area, and accommodating luggage area. What separated the car from its competition was the 996cc, 48hp SOHC in-line “four” mounted in the rear, coupled with four-wheel independent suspension. Together, they made for a lively and agile compact car. Derived from motorcycle racing technology, the lightweight engine was mounted transversely, and featured a five main bearing crankshaft.

Labels: Audi, Others

Most definitely an event on the “Must See” list for serious auto enthusiasts, the Goodwood Festival of Speed continues to up its game. That it could be called the pinnacle automotive event in the UK, combined with the UK being Audi’s second-largest market, Goodwood has always been an important exhibition for the four rings. This year was no exception, with numerous spectacles from Audi, including a run by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason at the wheel of an Auto Union silver arrow.

Labels: Audi

Audi was yesterday named as the best manufacturer for car security in the 2007 British Insurance Car Security Awards.

The award is given to the carmaker that produces the safest model ranges over the 12 months to the end April.

Volvo took second place overall, boosted by its new Personal Car Communicator, which alerts a driver returning to their car if someone is hiding in the vehicle.

Labels: Audi

The big highlight of the transformation is the world premiere of the rebuilt turbo 3.2 V6, which is modified through twin-turbo technology and now gets up to 520 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. The conversion is available for manual-transmission models and for TTs with the DSG transmission. The conversion includes a reinforced clutch and specially adapted gear transmission ratio. Nothelle also offers an increase in performance for the 2.0 TFSI up to 330 hp.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking has denied rumors that there’s a new Porsche SUV in development positioned below the Cayenne. Speaking at the general meeting in Stuttgart on Tuesday, Wiedeking said that there will be “no baby Cayenne” and that all focus is centered on the successful launch of the new Panamera four-door sport-coupe for 2009.

Labels: Porsche

When it comes to driveways and speedbumps, that's when the lowest of riders crank the wheel back and forth, trying to sort out the right angle-of-attack to prevent that horrific scraping sound. If that's you and you're a Carrera GT owner, it's Ruf to the rescue. The Porsche tuner has created a driver-controlled, pushbutton-operated, hydraulic, height-adjustable front suspension that raises the front bumper two inches, at speeds up to 40 mph. You can get yourself out of a crunch for just 14,800 euros plus tax.

Labels: Porsche

Labels: VW

The current-gen VW Passt is a handsome car, and as such, it can be made to look really great with subtle changes, as we saw at last year's NY Auto Show, where a Passat wearing subtle factory appearance mods really elevated the presence of the staid sedan. The same goes for the Audi A3. The cars are good looking when they roll out of the factory, and both can be made to look cool without doing anything drastic. You know the saying: Less is more.

Labels: Audi, VW

John Gable is an artist with a reputation for thinking big. He specializes in creating evocative murals for a
variety of projects, from architecture to museums; his skill at capturing both the spirit and detail of bygone times has made his work sought-after throughout the world. His work graces the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, and he recently created some road show murals for Audi, showing the pre-war Auto Union Grand Prix cars in full-blooded action. When not painting in monumental scale, John can also be commissioned to create unique portraits of owners with their most-cherished cars. John, who was born in 1944 in Frankfort, Kentucky, had a successful career as an automotive designer with GM before leaving in the late 1970s to become a painter. He now lives and works in Woolwich, Maine with his wife Bobbi; he is an enthusiastic driver, owning an Audi TT Quattro Roadster with 19-inch Avis wheels, as well as a replica Shelby Cobra. John, who also owned an Audi 5000S in the early 1980s, admires both the 'machine-like' precision of Audi design and the quality of engineering that goes into Audi vehicles. "People intellectualize about design, but with cars, there's a visceral, emotional reaction to the shape" he declares. "I love the stance, simplicity and beauty of the TT."

Labels: Audi, VW

Labels: Audi

This new TT convertible is lighter and more powerful than the model it replaces and, for the first time, offers the option of a six-cylinder powerplant and a sophisticated suspension damping system.

The standard features list for the new Roadster is extensive: front and side airbags, ABS brakes, ESP traction and stability control, EDL, EBD and BA, anti-theft alarm, microdot security marking, auto-dimming rear vision mirror, cruise control, climate control, electric heated seats and flat-bottom sports steering wheel. The 2.0 TFSI has Valetta leather seats while the 3.2 V6 has Fine Nappa leather. The 2.0 TFSI runs on 17-inch alloy wheels while the 3.2 V6 has 18-inch alloys.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

One is CCS, or Combined Combustion System. Almost identical to a diesel engine, the difference lies in the way fuel and air are mixed 'homogeneously' inside the engine to remove all traces of soot and dramatically reduce the toxic nitrogen oxides that constitute one of the main pollutants in car exhaust fumes. However, for CCS to provide maximum benefit, it needs a new kind of synthetic designer fuel currently under development by VW and others. SynFuel is made from natural gas, while SunFuel is made from plant matter known as biomass, or by processing straw.

VW Golf GCI
Clean as a petrol engine, frugal as a diesel
SunFuel is cleaner than petrol and diesel and is CO2 neutral because the plants it is made from absorbed the greenhouse gas when they were growing. But these new biofuels are in their infancy and VW experts expect it will be 2015 before they go on sale in any quantity.

Another new engine design called GCI, for gasoline compression ignition, combines the fuel economy of a diesel engine with the low emissions of a petrol engine. It works by switching between the spark-plug ignition of a petrol engine for starting and hard acceleration, and the sparkless compression ignition of a diesel when cruising gently.

Labels: VW

Expect the GT2’s horsepower to be at least 520 when it is announced later this year, with the possibility of 550 hp or more. Top speed should exceed 200 mph, a first for a production-line 911.

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Bugatti

Labels: Lamborghini

The current V10 Gallardo costs £127,000, so expect this new derivative to cost around £105,000 - a decent saving but still enough of a premium over the £76,825 Audi R8 to justify its Raging Bull badge. Expect it to arrive at the Geneva motorshow early next year, with a Spyder to follow for the start of 2009, neatly fulfilling Lamborghini's promise of a 'new' model each year.

Labels: Lamborghini

If you want the RS4 Cabriolet, you'll need to part with $81,900 plus a $775 destination charge and a to-be-determined gas-guzzler tax. Oh, and that V8 doing the guzzling is only available mated to a 6-speed manual and the quattro AWD system.

In return for that not-insignificant sum, you get an RS4 minus two doors and a roof (all the better to appreciate the raucous goings-on at the car's exhaust tips), plus loads of standard convenience/luxury equipment like the (excellent) Audi Music Interface, which provides full iPod integration via the car's nav screen and MMI controller.

Labels: Audi

Audi’s new RS6 will blow away the competition when it hits the street with a supercar rivaling 571hp output derived from its twin-turbo V10 engine. Vehicle registration details from an inside source reveal specific information about the new Audi model including engine capacity and specific outputs.

The last three numbers of vehicle chassis codes for the new RS6, ‘Audi AG 4F 7967 21 AAJ N31 N30 579 426 5002’ reveal that the car will have 579ps (metric horsepower rating), which is roughly equivalent to 571hp. The second last number describes the rating in kilowatts, in this case 426kw, and the last number is the engine capacity, 5002cc.

Labels: Audi

AUDI AG will import its R8 sports car and A5 sports sedan into the Chinese market next year as it taps the market of private auto buyer to boost sales and raise its market share.

The R8 model will be introduced early next year and the A5 will hit the market in the first quarter, according to Werner Paul Eichhorn, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen Audi Sales Division.

“Our current product line-up and future models in China will have more sports features and target social elites,” said Eichhorn. “The models would be a customer’s second or third car.”

Labels: Audi

Porsche has done a good job of uglifying these Panamera mules from the B-pillar rearward in the hopes of keeping the car's true shape a secret for as long as it can.

Labels: Porsche

Like the facelifted 911, which is due to hit the market by the end of the year, Porsche’s new Boxster is only expected to get a few minor changes to its exterior.

New additions to the ’08 model include a revised front bumper with LED daytime running lights and more circular air intakes. The headlights too, which feature some camouflaging tape, are also likely to come in for a change, as will the rear bumper. The final change is the new taillights, which also gets the LED treatment.

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Lamborghini, Porsche

Labels: VW

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Bentley

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Under the hood we can find a flat-six 3.6-litre developing 550 hp at 6000 rpm and 790 Nm of torque between 2.100 rpm and 4.900 rpm. It's sprint from 0-100 km/h goes in 3,44 seconds, max speed= 338 km/h! For a price of € 200.000 it can be yours.

Labels: Porsche

The superb dual-range all-wheel-drive system, precise steering and stout brakes give the Cayenne surprising dexterity both on and off road. Its low-profile speed-rated tires limit its ability to go rock-crawling, but it is possible for Cayenne to navigate all manner of terrain into which a sane person should never, ever take a $100,000 vehicle.

All the changes do add up to a spicier blend of Cayenne. If you are rich enough not to care about Porsche’s pricing schemes, the ’08 Cayenne is truly a remarkable performer.

Labels: Porsche

Volkswagen of America rolled out minor changes to its 2008 lineup on Thursday, noting that the Jetta and the Rabbit will get a new 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The improvement means 20 more horses than the outgoing engine and 7 more lb-ft of torque.

Labels: VW

Consumers can sign up at Touaregadventure.com. The price per person is $2,000, which gets them an advance welcome kit, resort lodging (single occupancy), and meals.

Steve Keyes, Volkswagen brand communications director, said Volkswagen will target current owners and prospects through a variety of promotions including dealership-run initiatives. "The first couple of sessions are sold out," Keyes said, in a phone interview from Moab. "It will run through the end of October at which time we'll evaluate it. If we're happy with the results we will extend it into year two, which is our inclination at this point anyway."

Keyes said most SUV buyers rarely use the off-road capabilities built in to the vehicles, so differentiating one feature from another can be a challenge. The Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker plans to use the tour to help consumers make the distinction between Touareg and its competitors by showcasing its off-road capabilities and technologies.

"When people are driving SUVs to and from work and the supermarket there's not a lot to differentiate," Keyes said. "So we felt the best way to leverage our capabilities was to offer this experience."

Labels: VW

Which leaves us with what it is: the good things that you'd expect from a 911 Turbo Cabrio, plus a few things that maybe you wouldn't. It's lighter than the last 911 Turbo Cabrio and it's no less economical. It's comfortable and roomy enough for two. It's well equipped and built to last. It rides well, in a sporting kind of way. It grips superbly.

Labels: Porsche

German tuning house Edo Competition has taken a look under the hood of the Lamborghini Murcièlago LP640 supercar and worked its magic to the tune of 663hp, 23 horses up on the factory model. Torque from the 6.5L V12 is increased from 660Nm to 675Nm at 5,600rpm, which results in final acceleration numbers of 3.8 seconds for the 0 to 100km/h sprint and a top speed of 348km/h.

Inside, the guys at Edo have added a rear view camera and a splashing of carbon fiber.

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Audi

“This is not a trick, all the images are real,” says Jagoda Becic, Head of Advertising at Audi. “Authenticity,” she says, “was the essential requirement. If it hadn’t been possible to navigate the kite by car in reality, then we wouldn’t have implemented the idea.” For Gerhard Kiefer, who manages all Audi promotional films, it was also clear from the beginning that: “Honesty is a point of honour. We couldn’t have produced well-known adverts such as the ski jump or the ‘wakeboarder’ if our vehicle technology had not been equal to the task. This also holds true for the stunt kite scenes.”

Labels: Audi

As a means of dealing with congested Italian roads, the S5 coupe is hard to beat. A 350-hp V-8 coupled with Quattro all-wheel drive lets us get on the power ludicrously early coming out of corners. And as for straight-line performance, it's headline-grabbing stuff: 0 to 60 mph in about 5.0 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph, according to Audi.

Inside, the A5 and the S5 are vintage Audi. All of the instruments are logically laid out, and Audi's MMI operating system remains one of the most intuitive on the market. The cabin also imparts that quality look and feel that have become Audi hallmarks. Neat details include the electromechanical handbrake, which has an automatic mode that applies the brake whenever the car stops and then releases it as you drive off.

Labels: Audi

Volkswagen of America says it has already sold nearly 1,000 of its motorsports-inspired 250-horsepower 2008 Volkswagen R32 hatchback. That accounts for one-fifth of the allotment of 5,000 R32s bound for the U.S., the company noted. And that's months before the sport hatch is due to arrive in showrooms.

Labels: VW

Revision highlights include updated interior and exterior styling as well as a new 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine which boasts more power than the outgoing unit, and which is the first Volkswagen engine to comply with the stringent Euro V emissions legislation.

Prices for the new Phaeton will start at £37,995* RRP OTR. The revised Phaeton is available to order now from Volkswagen Retailers, with cars arriving in UK showrooms in September.

3.0-litre V6 TDI 233 PS SWB 4MOTION: £37,995.00*
3.0-litre V6 TDI 233 PS LWB 4MOTION: £40,265.00*
4.2-litre V8 335 PS LWB 4MOTION: £56,042.00
6.0-litre W12 450 PS LWB 4MOTION: £74,272.00

* Limited offer until 31 December 2007 at participating retailers only

Labels: VW

"Why take unnecessary risks at work?"

Labels: VW

Managing director Joerg Hofmann used last week’s launch of the new S3 and TT Roadster to emphasise the fact Audi was easily the nation’s fastest-growing premium brand and to suggest BMW was already discounting its freshly redesigned, volume-selling 3 Series.

"Every manufacturer is reacting to us in different ways – smarter and less smart ways," said Mr Hofmann.

"We are confident and proud of what we are doing. We are relaxed because we know we have a great future ahead of us. But we are never ever arrogant. If you ask ‘what is the difference between Audi and some other brands?’- this is a big difference.

"I don’t want to comment about specific companies. (But) whatever we communicate is based on fact and the fact is that Audi is by far the fastest growing premium brand in Australia," he said.

Audi has recorded an outstanding 41 per cent growth in sales in the first five months of this year – 10 times more than BMW’s 4.1 per cent increase, which of course comes off a sales base that is about double that of Audi. Just ahead of Audi for vehicle sales, Lexus has also robbed market share from BMW this year and its 16 per cent up on its 2006 sales.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Results are impressive: 0-62 4.2 sec / top speed 193mph (310km/h) / 415hp (even though that’s 75hp less then 911 turbo … power to weight is exactly the same!)

Labels: Porsche

Gear changes will be activated via F1-style paddles behind the steering wheel that control two separate clutches, one for the odd numbered gears and the other for the even ones.

There’s no word on when it will first appear on the market or for which vehicles, but considering acceleration will most likely be quicker than regular manual boxes we suspect most of the lineup will get the double-clutch option.

Labels: Porsche

Porsche is promoting "an exciting high-speed run" in the 385-hp Porsche Cayenne S for the public during the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The 415-horsepower Porsche 911GT3 RS will make its debut here, alongside the 480-hp four-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Turbo. The two highest-performing models in the 911 range will participate in the "Sunday Times" Supercar Run.

The Porsche Museum will showcase three historic vehicles: the 1973 917/30, the 1977 "Baby" 935 and the 1986 962. The 2007 RS Spyder from Porsche Motorsport will make its European public debut.

Labels: Porsche

The VW Lupo is a decent car. Sporty even in some cases. But adding Porsche Turbo brakes and 18" OZ rims seems a tad over the top. That is, until you see that big V6 poking out through the hood cutout. We can't imagine how nose-heavy this little runabout is with that lump out front, but fortunately we don't have to. The creators decided to take a novel approach to counter that weight over the front axle. They put another VW V6 in back. One powers the front wheels, the other powers the rears. Makes the roll cage an entirely logical addition now.

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Admittedly its speculative, but sources and pics from the 'Ring indicate to World Car Fans the possibility of a V8 Gallardo with a revised fascia, altered exhaust treatment, and a less raucous exhaust roar than the V10.

Labels: Lamborghini

They claim the Brucegasmic automaker will drop the 4.2-liter V8 TDI engine that's currently powering the Q7 SUV into the engine bay of the R8. In The Q7, it produces 322 HP with 561 lb-ft of torque but AutoExpress claims this morning they'll be further tuning that engine up to 350 hp and 590 lb-ft o' torque. When hooked up to either the R8's six-speed manual or the six-speed R-tronic tranny, they're betting the R8 should be capable of about a five second 0-60 time with a top speed of 160 mph. But here's the kicker -- it'll get 30 mpg.

Labels: Audi

Even though Audi is getting its larger bahn-stormer the RS6 ready for production and RS models don't usually overlap, the RS4 will complete its production run through 2008.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Porsche

Porsche specialist 9ff has dropped its potent 4.0L biturbo flat-six into the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio, and in doing so has created the world’s fastest convertible. Developing 780hp in the Cabrio, the modded 911 drop-top can reach a top speed of 381km/h.

To achieve this level of performance, engineers took the standard 3.6L biturbo motor from the regular 911 Turbo and added their own custom turbochargers, a sports air-filter, larger injectors, modified cylinder heads and a stainless steel exhaust system with special manifolds as well as high-performance catalysts, and finally, an extensive increase in engine displacement to the tune of 4.0L. To make sure everything is in check, all the modifications are controlled by means of a reprogrammed ECU.

Labels: Porsche

Labels: VW

So Bugatti is stepping up Veyron production from 60 cars built in its first year to around 75 annually. 'We want to shorten the waiting time from just over a year,' chirps a spokesman. I bet they do. At the current rate of five dozen Veyrons a year, it'll be 2011 before they've finished building the last W16-powered behemoths, the fastest series production car the world has seen.

Labels: Bugatti

True, but the S6 featured a detuned version of the Lamborghini V10, whilst the RS6 is going all out for hell-raising power. Quattro, Audi’s inhouse tuning division, is responsible for making the RS6 as nutty as it is, so judging by recent experiences in cars like the RS4, our hopes are set higher this time round.

Naturally, the RS6 will put the power down through all four wheels, and torque will be biased 60:40 to the rear of the car, to make for a more involving driving experience.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Audi's S3 hatchback has always been a high-performance "family" sports car, a superbly logical alternative to its sister sportster the TT, and now it's back for 2007 with the most powerful derivative yet of Audi's two-litre, turbocharged FSI engine.

Frankly, it makes a helluva lot more sense than a two-litre turbo TT unless you're into posing; after all, those who know the S3 will also know this latest version is devilishly fast thanks to it scoring 188 against the TT's 147kW and that it still has the quattro all-wheel drive that the latest two-litre TT has dropped.

Labels: Audi

Manzoni said that the new Golf will adopt the style trend of previous versions and conserve the proportions of the current car. However, the front-end and rear will adopt a new design that will be adopted by future VW models.

For the Scirocco, designers will be revising the car’s front end as well as the flanks in an effort to tone down the concept car’s aggressive style.

Labels: VW

You might think about hybrids and say, "Those were so 2005." After all, as promising as hybrids are, many manufacturers are turning to clean diesel as a more promising automotive technology for the future. The next three years will be crucial to the success of clean diesel, as the car companies roll out new diesel products to test the waters. Europeans have long known the benefits of diesel, and it looks like we're about to catch up.

Labels: VW

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Porsche

Those wonderfully crazy Germans are set to add forced induction to the already balls-out 5.2L V10 that powers the more "pedestrian" S6, and somewhere around 550hp will be the end result. Other changes include oval tail pipes like those seen on the production RS4, a rear diffuser, and a larger front air intake. The changes are still pretty subtle, though, as Audi seems to cherish the role of sleeper.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

This year’s running of the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans may prove Audi’s biggest challenge to date. Though the brand’s reach now reaches further than ever with three different Audi-powered teams and one Lamborghini, Peugeot’s two diesel-powered 908s and sortie of driving aces have shown themselves to be incredibly fast, logging the fastest lap during the Le Mans test day. All things considered, 2007 is stacking up for Audi as one of the most interesting runnings of the 24 Hours in its eight year history in La Sarthe.

Labels: Audi

Audi clearly thinks you can have too much of a good thing: the sensational RS4 saloon is now out of production.

The 414bhp V8-powered RS4 was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in 2005, and went on sale in the UK in October of that year.

It has been a big success for Audi – not least with us here at Autocar, who have fallen for its supercar pace and agility.

Labels: Audi

Gathered by Automedia at Germany's Nürburgring, the clip shows Audi's answer to the Mercedes E63 AMG and BMW M5 in effect, its larger air intakes, the wider fender flares and rear diffuser giving away the goods. It's reportedly powered by the same V10 as the S6, but turbocharged to produce between 520 and 550 hp.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

It apparently wasn't entirely smooth sailing though, as the car got stuck once on a course while passing a car, although it eventually managed to recover -- it never did push it past 15 mph though. As with the other contenders, however, Junior still has a ways to go before the big race, with another, more challenging test in store later this summer that'll narrow the field down to the top thirty.

Labels: VW

The machine in the video is a Matsuura MAM72-42V 5 axis CNC, a model that first appeared back in 1991 and has since sold over 500 copies to various companies. Inside is a small electric motor that spins the greased up spindle anywhere between 12,000 and 30,000 rpm. The machine is rated at only 15 hp, which is small change compared to the 1001 hp that the W16 block it's machining will have to endure.

Labels: Bugatti

On Thursday, KTM announced that it has eclipsed the 1000-car mark in pre-orders, and that more continue to flow in, surpassing the company's expectations. And why not? The Audi TFSI-powered X-Bow is mean-looking, fast, and exclusive. After the initial pilot series of 100 Dallara-built cars is complete, the regular production run at Magna Steyr in Germany will begin.

Labels: Others

Labels: VW

The gears are beginning to turn on a new groundbreaking phase for Audi, which is set to revolutionize the auto industry in another way: through the use of diesel power. Diesels aren't anything new, of course, and while Audi has had great success using diesel power on the track, especially with its new TDI Le Mans winning R10 racer, they're far from the first to incorporate Rudolf's invention in race or road cars.On the contrary, they're looking to be the first to create a diesel-powered supercar, based on nothing less than their brand new R8.

Instantly, the engine that Audi aficionados will think of is the brand's flagship diesel, the majestic 6.0-liter V12 TDI that develops 500 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque, although it probably wouldn't make the cut for its size and weight. Keeping in mind that the R8 is a very small vehicle, the cast-iron and vermicular graphite block would completely alter the car's balance and therefore its handling characteristics. Instead, insiders are reporting that the R8 TDI will feature Audi's newly developed 4.2-liter V8 TDI engine.

The latest evolution of the V8 TDI has yielded a brand new engine that is 4.2-liters in displacement and generates 326 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. With four less cylinders on board, the engine will weigh less and will be more compact in size.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche

Labels: Audi

The unique winning streak of Audi sportscars at Le Mans is to be honoured in the future by a landmark situated at the heart of the circuit, and which will be inaugurated this coming Saturday shortly before the start of the 75th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of AUDI AG, Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Jean-Claude Plassart, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), and an Audi factory driver will unveil the "Audi Tower” in the heart of the circuit’s "Village” at 10:40 a.m.

Labels: Audi

The cabin is, of course, where the Brooklands gets really special. It's a proper four-seater; there's almost a metre of both legroom and headroom in the back, so even adults should find considerable comfort, and Bentley's stirring mix of veneer, hide, and polished stainless steel is definitely in evidence.

The Brooklands cabin is trimmed entirely with leather hides as standard; even the headlining is hide. It uses the front seats from the Azure convertible, with their built-in seatbelts and side airbags, and a rear bench seat set 100mm further back than in the Azure, for increased leg room, and 25mm lower than in the Arnage, for maximum headroom.

On the options list there are 42 exterior paint colours to choose from, 25 interior hides and three different cabin veneers. And if those aren't varied enough, you can always spec-up your Brooklands to individual specification through the Bentley Mulliner colour-matching and hide-selection service.

Labels: Bentley