Audi A1 clubsport quattro Concept

Every year, fans of the Volkswagen Group get together at the Wörthersee festival, held in Reifnitz, Austria, to share their passion about cars. The show is so big that the VW Group’s brands spare no money to develop dedicated one-off models for the event. Audi’s star attraction at this year’s Worthersee Tour (June 1 to 4, 2011), which celebrates its 30th anniversary, is the ludicrous A1 clubsport Quattro.
The one-off show car is a rally-inspired A1 hatch that uses a heavily modified version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine found in the TT RS and the RS3 Sportback. The five-pot normally produces 340-horsepower and 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft), but thanks to the systematic tuning of the turbocharger, intercooler, induction tract and the exhaust, output has been boosted to 503-horsepower and 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) of torque.
Power is transferred to all-four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, both sourced from the TT RS and enhanced by Audi’s engineers.
Weighing in at 1,390 kilograms (3,064 pounds), the A1 clubsport quattro can go from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.7 seconds, and from 0 to 200km/h (124mph) in just 10.9 seconds. The 50-70mph (80-112km/h) overtaking can be completed in fourth gear in 2.4 seconds. The car’s top speed is electronically governed at 250km/h or 155mph.
Audi’s engineers also equipped the special A1 with a high-performance braking system that includes six-piston callipers that grab perforated carbon fibre-ceramic discs up front and large steel discs at the rear. The car rides on 255/30 low-profile tires mounted on bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels and an adjustable coilover sports suspension.
On the outside, the A1 clubsport quattro is finished in a Glacier White matte paint finish contrasted by high-gloss black roof arches with the roof itself made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP). The front wings, the doors and the rear side panels of car have been widened by a total of 60 millimeters (2.3-in.), while it also sports a new front bumper and grille assembly, a vented hood, side exhaust outlets, a large roof wing, a bespoke rear bumper with a diffuser and unique mirrors.

Inside, Audi decided to eliminate the rear seats and use the space to place a large crossbar to further stiffen the body as well as two racing helmets. There are two lightweight bucket seats sourced from the Audi R8 GT that feature a carbon fibre chassis and four-point belts. Many areas are covered with exposed, matte-finished carbon fiber while Audi reduced the car’s weight by removing several features such as the infotainment system. In addition, simple loops replace the handles on the doors, the glove box and the covers of the storage compartments.
While Audi has no current plans to introduce a production version of the show car, the A1 clubsport quattro is believed to hint at an upcoming high-performance version sporting either the S1 or RS1 badge.
Along with its physical debut at the Wörthersee fest, the Audi A1 clubsport quattro will also make a brief online appearance in the Need for Speed World where it will be offered to all players as a free in-game rental car from June 1 – 4.
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Audi Challenges BMW, Mercedes and Lexus with new Ad Campaign

Audi of America has launched a new advertising campaign that will most likely generate a similar response from the competition in the premium segment. Under the tagline “Car Carrier”, the two Audi commercials feature a BMW owner that goes nuts when he sees a truck full of brand new automotive metal from Ingolstadt.

The driver gets out of his BMW 3-Series through the sunroof and jumps on the truck only to discover that the cars have already been claimed for by people like himself (i.e. desperate to get their hands on an Audi). Therefore, he has no choice but to settle for the passenger seat.

The voice in the ad explains the situation: “More people are leaving BMW, Mercedes and Lexus for Audi than ever before”.

Fact or marketing fiction (we incline towards with the latter), expect to see a reply in the form of a campaign from one of Audi’s rival brands in the very near future. But until then, scroll down to take a look at Audi’s TV spots.

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2011 Audi TR8

Judging this tuning package on the project name alone would lead anyone to believe that Project Kahn had worked on another kit for the Audi R8. Take a close look at the images provided and any Audi lover will tell you that this is simply not the case. Although the vehicle you see before does come with the face of an R8, the body actually belongs to its younger brother, the Audi TT

The TR8 project seems to be the kind of project that could provide any TT owner a chance to look like a baller without actually spending the cash needed to back it up. The package started with a 2.0 FSI Audi TT and then escalated with the use of new front and back vented bumpers with mesh inserts and a new front grille fashioned to look like the ones found on the R8. What really makes the tuning package are the R8 style side blades that we guess, at a quick glance, can make a small number of people think they just saw an R8 go by. Other additions to the exterior are a new rear spoiler, a stainless steel quad exhaust system, sports lowered suspension springs, and a front lower bumper lip and door mirrors in a billet steel finish to match the dark gray exterior paint of the Audi. The shiny factor is taken care of with a new set of 20" RSV alloy wheels. For further customization, the TR8’s interior can be altered using a complete bespoke interior design service available to suit individual tastes.

A lot of work was put into the exterior of the car, but that’s where the similarities - if you can really call them that - to the R8 end. The TR8 is simply all bark and no bite with only 200 HP and 207lb-ft of torque coming out of the 2.0L FSI TT engine which is a far cry from the R8’s 430 HP and 317 lb-ft of torque.

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2014 Audi Q6

There’s been talk about an Audi Q6 as far back as 2006 when it was reported that the company had registered the name in Europe. Nothing much was said until two years later when it was reported that its underpinnings would be shared with the Porsche Cayenne to get it ready to do battle with the BMW X6. The Q6 went back into news hibernation for a few more years and now we’ve come across more information to prep us for the coupe-like SUV’s entrance into the market around 2014.

As far as we can tell, the Audi Q6 will be slotted between the Q5 and the Q7, and will share its underpinnings with the Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. It will be offered with a variation of gas and diesel engines, plus a hybrid option as seen in the Cayenne. The top of the line model is rumored to be called the Q6 RS and may share the turbocharged 4.0L V8 engine as seen on the new generation RS6.

More details will be Announced sooner.

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All-New 2012 Audi A6

It’s only been five months since Audi pulled the wraps off the four-door saloon version of its fourth generation A6 executive model at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, but the brand with the four rings has already prepared a more practical station wagon body style with the Avant moniker.
Today, Audi announced that it will reveal the spanking new 2012 A6 Avant next week on Wednesday, May 18, during a special event at the Humboldt Box in Berlin, which will also be broadcasted online. Don’t expect any surprises under the hood, with the Avant model gaining the same range of diesel and gasoline engines (depending on the market, of course) with the option of the firm’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.
Talking about all-wheel drive, aside from the standard Avant model, Audi is also believed to be readying a replacement for its high-riding soft crossover, the A6 Allroad Quattro.

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Audi Trimaran Concept

If Audi can make themselves a cool little bicycle, why not throw in a boat while they are at it? That’s the opinion of German grad student, Stefanie Behringer, which is why she designed a trimaran yacht as her graduate project under the supervision of the AUDI concept design group in Munich, Germany.

The new trimaran boat integrates two jet skis within a motorboat, but its basis is pure trimaran. A trimaran is a boat with multiple hulls that features a main center hull. This center hull is supported by two smaller outrigger hulls on either side of the boat. The Audi trimaran is 15m long and only 6.40m wide. The deck has enough room for 12 people, but more space is available in the form of four berths.

Audi’s part in the project involves two efficient and lightweight Audi TDI (turbo-charged injection) diesel engines that develop about 500 HP each. For speeds of up to eight knots, the boat will use the 100 HP electric engines that are used to drive the jet skis, but at higher speeds (of up to 30 knots), the boat will use the two engines alternatively. With a total output of about 1200 HP, the boat is rumored to hit a top speed of 40 knots.

Automakers sure don’t make what they used to.

The specifications available are:

 length: 15 m / 49.2 ft
 width: 6.40 m / 21 ft
 draft: 0.58m / 1.9 ft
 width main body: 2.80 m / 9.2 ft
 length jet skis: 3.2 m / 10.5 ft
 width jet skis: 1.15 m / 3.8 ft

 maximum velocity: 74 km/h / 40 kn
 maximum velocity (e-engines): 15 km/h / 8 kn

 2x 500 horsepower V12 TDI (turbo-charged injection)
 2x 100 horsepower / 74 KWI

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BMW 3-Series Still Top Dog despite Strong Competition

In the ingloriously named, “small premium car segment”, the BMW 3-Series is king. A good all-rounder with sporting pretensions and cred, a nice assortment of engine and equipment options, and perhaps most importantly, a variety of body styles including a coupe and station wagon derivative that have ensured its market supremacy.

All 3-Series models are doing their bit to keep sales high. According to a study released by R.L. Polk & Co., from 2008 through this past February, the 3-Series sedan covered around 60 percent of the model's retail registrations, with the coupe, convertible and station wagon versions accounting for the rest of the sales.

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