The 3.0-litre, direct-injection unit produces 286bhp at 4850rpm, and 310lb ft torque at 2500rpm. It’ll be known as the 3.0-litre TFSI, even though the ‘T’ traditionally stands for ‘turbo’.

The new engine uses an Eaton supercharger and has an air-to-air intercooler rather than a water-to-air unit.

Speculation was rife that Audi would fit its 3.2-litre V6 with twin turbos in an effort to rival BMW’s similarly specified 3.0-litre unit, which has just won Engine of the Year for the second year in succession. But the Ingolstadt engineers decided that the increasing weight of cars demanded a solution promising greater torque at low revs.

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Boy! Did I get it wrong!! Having the keys to the vehicle allowed me to adjust the driver's seat properly, and I found that you can actually position yourself quite high in the vehicle because of the excellent available headroom. This then allows for an excellent view of the roadway in front, and almost completely takes away that feeling of being a tiny person in a large vehicle.

Also, as I now had plenty of time on my side, I could start to appreciate the quality of the interior, and the many features which the vehicle boasts.

My Q7 tester came extremely well, if not slightly over-equipped in my eyes, with nearly $20k in option packages added to the base price of $57,800. That's a rather large chunk of change for a bunch of goodies, but to be fair, some of them, like the sporty S-Line package ($3,750), or the wonderful Panorama Sunroof, really do transform the base model.

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Atul Aggarwal, managing director of Audi showroom in Chandigarh, says 50 per cent of the cars sold by them so far in Punjab are custom-made for their clients. “Since we started our operations in the region, we have received orders for 60 cars, mainly from Chandigarh and Ludhiana. While we have already delivered 30 cars, the remaining cars are being readied with customised fittings to suit the clients,” he says.

It may be noted that the cheapest version of Audi is priced at Rs 26 lakh (A 4 model), while the most expensive variant of the company, A 8, is priced at Rs 1.5 crore. However, the customers do not mind spending a couple of additional lakhs to get a more custom-made vehicle. “It could be soft leather upholstery, change in interiors, a panaromic sunroof or a contrast trim. Majority of customers want to change the music system and alloy wheels,” says Aggarwal, without disclosing the cost of getting these customised facilities in the car.

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In its last year of production, Audi's RS 4 continues to amaze and delight. In the "amaze" category, we're all impressed how a car whose compact V-8 engine completely overhangs the front axle centerline can change directions with such agility. And how the styling, both inside and out, has held up so well, reflected by points wins in both styling categories...in spite of the controversial "gasping trout" grille. Our car had the Titanium Package that includes gunmetal-gray 19-in. alloy wheels and rearview mirror housings, plus black-out trim for the oval exhaust tips and fish mouth. "The RS 4 is all about subtle style, nothing outrageous or trendy," wrote Simanaitis.

The intake rumble and exhaust note are a little more muted than the others: "Audi chose a high-class sound rather than the C63 and IS F's manly V-8 noises and the M3's race-car roar," said Monticello. But you can play its engine note like the proverbial Stradivarius with the RS 4's excellent 6-speed manual whose lever "glides through its gates with a Teflon smoothness," observed Bornhop.

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These two new convertible from BMW and Audi create a new niche in the market for £20k-plus, small, premium soft tops.

So, are they any good, and if they are, which one is best?

Steve Sutcliffe finds out by taking the BMW 1-series and Audi A3 convertibles to the winding roads of the South of France, before making the ultimate decision in a very unconventional race.

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The pre-drive indoctrination process at Audi's glass-and-steel corporatorium attached to Munich's Franz Josef Strauss Airport didn't take long to crank into advanced hyperbole. The 2008 Audi TT TDI coupe and roadster were hailed as "the first series production sports cars in the world to use a diesel engine as their power source." Well, perhaps the big buildup is due to the fact that the TT TDI was launched in parallel with the distinctly more commanding TTS with its turbocharged 265-hp gas-fueled engine, making the TDI appear to be the plain sister of the duo. Of course, where the TTS gets the looks, the TT TDI definitely gets the smarts.

Audi's 2.0-liter diesel has been comprehensively reengineered this year in preparation for the brave new world of diesel power, and the measures are about such things as quietness and suppressed vibration as well as power and fuel economy. The DOHC 1,968cc inline-4 features common-rail injection with piezo injectors, a measure that improves efficiency and reduces noise. The compression ratio is 16.5:1 (even in this turbocharged engine), but twin balance shafts control vibration. Even the turbo's vibration is controlled by a special damper.

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As chief of Audi’s division known as quattro GmbH, Stephan Reil holds an enviable position. If you consider the concept of high-performance, Stephan virtually holds the keys to the kingdom. All of the most exclusive performance products that have come from Audi in the last ten years Mr. Reil has had a hand in developing – RS 4, RS 6, R8, Q7 V12 TDI… the list goes on. S-line models fall under his domain, as do models tailored specifically for their owner by Audi Exclusive. If there were a vote to determine the standard bearer of the passion that drives Audi, then most would probably agree that Mr. Stephan Reil would win such an election.

Not surprisingly, Reil is passionate about what he does. There’s a glint in his eye and he always seems about to smile if a grin is not already on his lips – like he’s getting away with something that perhaps he shouldn’t be doing. But, he should keep it up if you ask Audi’s ever-growing mass of enthusiasts, it’s own Board of Directors firmly within that group.

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In what amounts to a depressing footnote for fans of the Audi R8 and its 420 horsepower, the German automaker on Tuesday issued a new sales report that said its "stock of Audi R8 cars is sold out for months to come."

Audi AG was mum about just how many R8s it has sold since the supercar was introduced last year. It reported that total sales in April were up by more than 2.9 percent, with the brand selling 86,700 cars worldwide last month.

The R8 is Audi's first midengine sports car, as well as the fastest Audi ever produced. Equipped with a 4.2-liter FSI V8 engine, the R8 has a 0-60-mph time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph.

Audi reports that the Audi Q7 has become the automaker's most successful model in the U.S. market after the Audi A4. Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler said he expects a "significant growth in sales" in the second half of the year and predicts "we'll achieve the millionth car sold by year's end as announced."

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Audi is expanding its second-generation TT range; 160bhp 1.8 TFSI petrol engines now mark the entry level and the 270bhp TTS sits at the upper end, with 2.0 TFSI (200bhp) and 3.2 V6 (250bhp) models in between. Now comes the one many have been waiting for: the diesel.

Both TT coupe and roadster are offered with the VW Group's 170bhp 2.0 TDI engine, in conjunction with six-speed manual transmission and Quattro four-wheel-drive; the S-tronic sequential-shift auto gearbox will be optional later in the year. Performance is strong - 140mph and 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds - yet this diesel model returns 53.3mpg and emits a tax-friendly 139g/km of carbon dioxide. It also meets the future Euro 5 emissions legislation.

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Toni Rieger and his crew have boosted the performance of the six-cylinder turbodiesel, through such modifications as a reprogrammed ECU, a new sport air filter and a stainless-steel exhaust system with quad tailpipes. Output climbs to 294 horsepower and torque to 450 pound-feet. Brakes and suspension also have been upgraded, and the car is fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels and performance tires.

A carbon-look aero body kit includes a front lip spoiler, side skirts, deck spoiler and rear bumper with integral diffuser.

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According to latest reports Audi and Japanese electronics giant Sanyo are planning to work together on a new pilot hybrid project for the Volkswagen Group.

The partnership will see the development of advanced battery technology and electronic components that will eventually make their way into a number of VW models. According to a report in Germany newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, the two companies will invest a combined €1 billion on the project.

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A technological masterpiece, the 2008 Audi A5 impressed us during its week-long stay in our test fleet. We have praise for the LED headlamps, well-appointed interior, and even Audi’s MMI interface.

It’s probably better looking than the Infiniti and BMW, completely obliterates them in headlight awesomeness, and covers any bet the BMW or Infiniti make on interior airiness. Our model had the automatic Tiptronic transmission—a very nice six-speed that is a good daily driver option.

I wrote last week that the BMW M3 was the perfect car. I feel as if I could say the same about the Audi A5, however it’s perfect in a different way. The A5 looks good, perhaps even better than we think. Drive past an intersection and heads turn to follow your path. Driving through neighborhoods, kids playing on lawns stop and stare and point. Maybe it’s the shape of the body, the sweet propeller blade-like wheels, or the unique LED headlamps—the car delivered a lot more curb appeal than I expected. More, even, than the M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan.

Driving felt great. It’s an Audi—no complaints there.

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Rupert Stadler told Welt am Sonntag in an interview published on Sunday that he expects diesel and battery technology to dominate in the coming five to ten years.

"By then we will offer cars without exhaust emissions," Stadler said.

Asked if Audi was not lagging domestic rivals Mercedes and BMW in the development of lithium-ion batteries that are more powerful than batteries used now in hybrids, Stadler said Audi's research capacities were larger than those of its German competitors.

"Electric cars offer great opportunities, which we have already seized on," Stadler said without elaborating.

Labels: Audi

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I’ve spend years seeking out the best in-car footage on DVD, on the internet, on VHS , and now, thanks to the American Le Mans Series, we’ve been able to create a new online in-car series, ALMS: In-Car Camera Theater.

While my motivations for creating this new series are somewhat selfish, I’ve also heard from a number of sportscar racing fans and insiders expressing their interest in seeing more of the racing action from inside the American Le Mans Series cars.

What better way to kick things off than to watch Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr’s race-long battle with the Penske Porsches at Long Beach. With our first showing, I've pared down the 100 minute Tequila Patron Long Beach race to the best 14 minutes of frenetic action. After a crafty (and torquey) pass for the lead with just minutes to go, the overall and LMP1 class winning Audi R10 TDI of Werner and Luhr delivers footage of some incredibly intense battles on their way to victory circle.

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Audi's TT coupe and roadster are still stunning-looking cars; ten years on from the original's debut, the minimalist design has not dated, nor has its familiarity blunted its impact. The 2006 overhaul brought little by way of styling changes - why tamper with a classic? - but did bring marked improvements in handling, ride and interior comfort. Now here comes the long-awaited high-performance version: the TTS, with a 268bhp (272PS) version of the turbocharged, direct-injection 2.0 TFSI engine.

Not only is it the most powerful version of the TT yet, it's also intended to be the most sports-focused to drive. The power steering has been modified, the brakes uprated, and the two-mode magnetic-ride adaptive suspension system optional in other TTs is standard-fit, as is Audi's quattro four-wheel-drive.

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Audi has completed development of a 530-horse V-10-powered R8. But demand for the regular R8 is so strong here in the United States (we hear dealers are asking astronomical premiums) the company has pushed back the launch of the car until well into 2009. No point undermining a sales success.

With more power-at least 110 horses extra-plus upgraded suspension, wheels, tires, and brakes, the V-10 will move the R8 into genuine supercar territory. The easy way to pick the V-10 version from the regular R8 is the extended scoops on the car's distinctive side blades, needed to get more cooling air into the engine compartment.

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