Audi

Audi revs up and down with new stop-start technology

By Darren Quick

01:10 May 11, 2009 PDT

It may sound obvious, but the most effective way to cut a car's fuel consumption is to turn the car off. Of course that isn’t very useful if you're trying to get from A to B. But for many trips, particularly for city driving, a car can be idle for a significant amount of time. Such stop-start driving is far from being fuel-efficient, but Audi has turned that around with a new system that shuts down the engine when the car comes to a stop. The start-stop system joins a new on-board computer, as part of Audi’s modular efficiency platform, which is designed to reduce fuel consumption and cut carbon emissions. Read More

What Diesel Car of the Year Awards 2009

By Mike Hanlon

00:59 April 8, 2009 PDT

The UK's What Diesel magazine is celebrating its 21st year of publication and focuses on one of the few growth areas of the automotive market – the diesel world. Each year its writers and readers vote to award the best diesel car in each category and this year the Car of the Year honour has gone to Ford's new “world car” the Ford Fiesta. Jaguar scored the best executive diesel and second overall with the XF, Volkswagen got three awards (Medium car, coupe and the green award), Citroën grabbed two gongs with the C3 Picasso (best MPV) and C5 Tourer (Best Estate Car) and the Land Rover Freelander 2 won the 4x4 class for the third year running. Read More

The Allio Lite TV/PC combo

By Tim LeFevre

18:15 February 22, 2009 PST

Silicon Mountain Holdings has announced the release of the Allio Lite, the latest offering from their range of popular Allio converged LCD HDTV/PC... and it's at a lower price point. The Allio Lite is available in a 42-inch 1080p model or a 32-inch 720p model, and features the same selection of inputs (2 x HDMI, 1 x s-video & audio, 1 x DVI, 2 x component, 6 USB, 1 x eSATA) and outputs (1 x HDMI, 1 x optical audio) as the original Allio models. Read More

Audi presents its Sportback concept, a preview of the 2010 A7 sedan

By Loz Blain

20:18 January 12, 2009 PST

January 13, 2009 While the firebreathing 5.2-litre V10 R8 supercar is clearly the performance king of Audi's Detroit NAIAS lineup, the Sportback concept unveiled does an excellent job of marrying performance, economy, stunning looks and practicality. Its 3-litre, 6-cylinder direct-injection turbo 'clean diesel' engine puts out 225 horsepower and 550 Nm, for a top speed over 150mph - and yet its average fuel economy nearly tips 40mpg. Ultra-low CO2 emissions are the result of smart decisions throughout the car, from the advanced exhaust emissions control, to electric systems like the power steering that consume no energy when they're not immediately in use, to automatic engine stop-start at the traffic lights and power-smart sunlight-white LED headlights. The Sportback's ultra-clean lines and fastback hatch somehow make this four-door coupe look sportier than some of its two-door contemporaries. Beautiful. Read More

Audi R8 V105.2 FSI

By Mike Hanlon

15:39 January 11, 2009 PST

"The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro was my pick of the first day at Detroit,“ writes Noel McKeegan from the North American International Auto Show which opened today. "It was the most aesthetically striking car that wasn’t a concept, and with the 525 hp 5.2 liter V10 engine replacing the 420 bhp 4.2 V8, performance has gone another level. With the quattro all-wheel drive, LED-headlights and aluminum body with a very curvaceous rear end treatment, it really is a knockout." Read More

Audi R8 V10 becomes first all-LED car

By Mike Hanlon

17:20 January 3, 2009 PST

January 4, 2009 The order books have opened for the 196mph Audi R8 making it the first car in the world with all-LED (light emitting diode) headlamps, daytime running lights and turn indicators. LEDs are the headlight of the future due to their power, homogenous light distribution and the agreeable, daylight-esque colour and Audi can rightfully boast a technological edge with headlights four times more energy efficient than halogen headlights in addition to having a practically indefinite service life. LEDs can be made more or less bright electronically and hence able to be precisely adapted to conditions. In the future, headlights will react to variables such as weather conditions, speed and the distance between vehicles. Audi already has a pre-production headlight which offers exceptional visibility at night without irritating oncoming drivers, by measuring the distance of the approaching vehicle and adapting the shape of the beam continuously. Read More

Audi to unleash 525 hp, 196 mph, R8 V10 supercar

By Noel McKeegan

21:27 December 9, 2008 PST

Audi's new incarnation of its flagship R8 supercar will hit showrooms in 2009 sporting subtle exterior refinements including re-shaped side sills, wider cooling vents, all-LED headlamps, chrome-finished grille and 10-spoke "Y design" alloy wheels, but by far the biggest change lies beneath the surface - namely two more cylinders. The introduction of a 5.2-liter, 525 hp, V10 engine delivers significantly greater performance compared with the original 4.2 liter V8 production model released in 2006 - zero to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds (compared with 4.6 seconds), a top speed of 196.35 mph (up from 187 mph) and almost 25% more maximum torque at 530 Nm - giving it the mantle of the fastest ever road-going Audi and putting it within arms length of elite company like the Porsche 911 GT2. Read More

2008 Paris Motor Show round-up

By Noel McKeegan

19:37 October 19, 2008 PDT

As the curtain falls on the Paris Motor Show for 2008 we take a look back at some of the biggest surprises and brightest innovations to emerge from this massive global automotive extravaganza. As a starting point it's hard to go past Lamborghini, which emulated its 2007 most-talked-about crown by showing its Estoque concept. As a mid-engined four-door coupé with a V10 55 bhp motor and permanent four-wheel drive, it's not really eco-inspired but a weapon to behold for the family man. Mazda definitely made our short-list for the most striking design with the aerodynamic Kiyora Urban compact and Citroen also floated some compelling concepts including the colorful Hypnos luxury hybrid crossover and the virtual-meets-real-world GTbyCITROEN which will appear on-screen in the next installment of Gran Turismo. Read More

The Audi A1 hybrid drive Sportback concept

By Noel McKeegan

20:31 October 14, 2008 PDT

Audi has used the Paris Motor Show to unveil a compact 5-door variation of the 3-door A1 project quattro car first shown in Tokyo last year. The concept, which the company says "shows another possible direction for forthcoming production A1", features updated hybrid technology which combines a 1.4 TFSI petrol engine with a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor that adds up to 150 Nm of torque during acceleration and can also run purely on electric power for more than 60 miles on a single charge. Read More

Audi offers SmartBeam headlight system

By Kyle Sherer

18:13 June 2, 2008 PDT

June 3, 2008 Audi will offer the Gentex SmartBeam system as an option on the A4, A5 and Q7 models, to be released this spring. The SmartBeam High-Beam Headlamp Assist system, or “Fernlichtassistent”, uses a miniature camera to automate a vehicle’s high beams at night. Read More

Major auto manufacturers commit to eco-friendly development

By Noel McKeegan

19:31 May 29, 2008 PDT

Two separate announcements from the automotive world this week have given further impetus to the growth of energy efficient vehicles. Volkswagen has teamed up with Sanyo to develop high-performance lithium-ion based storage systems for use in its hybrid diesel and electric-drive systems and the ongoing Renault-Nissan Alliance has resulted in the Scenic ZEV H2 - a prototype based on a Renault Grand Scenic which features Nissan’s in-house developed fuel cell stack, high-pressure hydrogen storage tank and compact lithium-ion batteries that will be shown in Barcelona in June. Read More

Audi's A3 TDI clubspot quattro

By Kyle Sherer

20:28 May 25, 2008 PDT

May 26, 2008 Shown over the weekend at the 27th annual Lake Wörther Tour in Austria, the Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro is a one-off show car featuring "the most extreme incarnation to date of Audi’s four-cylinder TDI engine", a powerplant which propels the car from 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds and achieves a top speed of 149mph. Read More

Audi's diesel sportscar: new TT Coupe and Roadster debut at Geneva

By Kyle Sherer

16:54 March 2, 2008 PST

March 3, 2008 The terms "sportscar" and "diesel engine" don't exactly go hand in hand, but Audi has brought the two together by adopting a diesel powerplant for its latest TT Coupe and Roadster models which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The 140mph TT 2.0 TDI quattro has a 50mpg-plus fuel economy, is EU5 compliant, and shows a 23% reduction in CO2 output compared to the pertrol equivalent. The six-speed Coupe achives 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, with a top speed of 140mph while the Roadster can go from 0-62km in 7.7 seconds, with a top speed of 138mph. The cars on show in Geneva are "production ready" with first deliveries expected in summer 2008. Read More

Audi adds a sportier version of the TT sports car

By Mike Hanlon

18:37 January 10, 2008 PST

January 11, 2008 The ‘S’ emblem that spells extraordinary performance in the Audi range graces the TT for the first time this month in a new, even more focused version of the iconic sports car debuting at the North American International Auto Show (January 19-27). Available mid-2008 in both Coupe and Roadster body styles, the TTS earns its esteemed badge through the adoption of a specially developed, 272bhp Turbo FSI petrol engine complemented by state-of-the-art chassis technology. Read More

Audi’s hybrid metroproject quattro

By Loz Blain

23:59 October 24, 2007 PDT

October 25, 2007 We’re running around like kids in a candy store at the Tokyo Motor Show, it’s a technophile’s delight – and Audi has just come out swinging. The German company has just unveiled its sexy metroproject quattro, a plug-in electric/petrol hybrid concept car with some amazing features, including a detachable remote control that acts as an integrated or standalone mobile phone, navigation unit, MP3 and video player and keyless ignition tag, while letting you turn the car’s heater on before you leave the house. Read More

Audi’s R8: “the slowest car we’ve ever built”

By Noel McKeegan

22:03 October 17, 2007 PDT

October 18, 2007 Audi has labeled its R8 as “the slowest car we’ve ever built” in a new tongue-in-cheek ad campaign designed to bring attention to the laborious process of manufacturing the largely hand-built high-performance sports car. Read More

Major companies reveal their visions for the cars of 2057

By Loz Blain

00:53 October 12, 2007 PDT

As part of the LA Auto Show Design Challenge, several major manufacturers have submitted blue-sky design concepts showing where they feel automotive design will go in the next 50 years. From Nissan's friendly family assistant to Mercedes’ liquid-metal convertible and Toyota's pollution-chewing roller/strider, the submissions are an exciting and thought-provoking look at where the next half a century will take us in personal and family mobility. Read More

The new V10 Biturbo RS 6 Quattro

By Mike Hanlon

13:22 September 5, 2007 PDT

September 5, 2007 Successor to the revered V8-powered Audi RS flagship, the new RS 6 quattro Avant will go on show for the first time at Frankfurt next week with ten cylinders, twin turbochargers and 580PS, making it the most powerful production Audi of all time. Features include a six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, the latest generation quattro system with 40:60 front-to-rear torque split and an hydraulically controlled Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) system that minimizes pitch and roll. Read More

High-tech redesign for AUDI A4 compact executive saloon

By Gizmag Team

17:11 August 30, 2007 PDT

August 31, 2007 A new version of the Audi A4 compact executive saloon has been revealed to the world in pictures this week, ahead of its debut on the show stand at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. The all new Audi A4 Saloon has been completely redesigned and includes new sports chassis. Read More

MINI tops U.K. retained values list

By Mike Hanlon

July 20, 2007 The MINI has topped the Lex retained values list for second-hand automobiles in the U.K. for the second year running, beating out a long list of seemingly far more prestigious vehicles. The Lex listing looks at how much each model will be worth in the second hand market after a typical three year/60,000 mile contract and the MINI had the highest retained value at 54%, taking out top single car honours. Viewed by brand name, Audi was the most coveted used car brand according to the data compiled by the UK’s leading leasing company. Last year's results can be found here. Read More

Audi and Peugeot diesel sportscars set to battle in Le Mans 24 Hour

By Loz Blain

June 15, 2007 Since the invention of the automobile, winning on Sunday has meant selling lots of cars on Monday and beyond and this weekend’s running of the fabled Le Mans 24 hour race looks set to influence a lot of sales over the coming decade. Last year Audi’s R10 diesel race car used its frugal fuel consumption, 650 bhp and 1100 nm of torque to win every race it entered. Peugeot meanwhile have been developing a diesel car too – with 700 bhp and 1200 nm. This weekend they face each other for the first time. Astoundingly, the Peugeot has taken first and third grid positions in qualifying. Read on for the background and where you can watch the 24 Heures du Mans unfold. Read More

The Audi TT clubsport quattro study

By Mike Hanlon

May 17, 2007 The Audi TT clubsport quattro study reduces the TT Roadster to a purist driving machine that combines the performance of a sports car with a unique design language. It consequently remains a TT on the one hand, while at the same time demonstrating just what is possible with such a fascinating production vehicle. A powerful engine, state-of-the-art technology and numerous traits borrowed from the world of motorsport are the dominant features of the “study” which is now under consideration as a “small-series production model”. The car was unveiled at the Worthersee Tour, (better known as the “GTI Meet”), being held this week in the Carinthian Lakes region of Germany. Read More

Audi Cross Coupe quattro - compact performance SUV concept

By Mike Hanlon

April 26, 2007 One of the stars of the Shanghai Motor Show is a new Audi Cross Coupé quattro concept 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). Innovative technical solutions show new ways of achieving efficiency, driving pleasure and comfort, on all roads, under all conditions. Read More

Audi A5/S5 revealed

By Mike Hanlon

February 25, 2007 Audi is launching a fascinating new model series for its entry into a highly emotionally charged segment of the market. The A5 successfully unites the acclaimed Audi design language and thrilling dynamic driving performance, and combines generous refinement with the brand’s characteristic quality and sophistication. Its progressive design gives the new coupé an appearance that is both elegant and dynamic. With its muscular FSI and TDI engines, its entirely newly developed high-precision running gear, and a raft of innovative, luxury-class equipment features, the Audi A5 has been crafted to be a modern grand tourer, a touring coupé in the best tradition. The Audi S5 is an extra sporty offering to complete the new series. A powerful V8 FSI engine gives the S5 a dynamic edge, which underscores its athletically accentuated design. The A5 and S5 are available to order from March 2007 with the first vehicles due for delivery from June. Read More

A three wheeler from Audi

By Mike Hanlon

January 25, 2007 This interesting three wheeler is apparently work from within the Audi Design Centre, but we can’t comment any more than that because we don’t know any more. The images surfaced this week when Stefan Sielaff was appointed head of design for AUDI AG, with the three-wheeler model in the foreground. Sielaff reports to Walter de'Silva, who is responsible for design in the entire Audi brand group including SEAT and Lamborghini. Read More