Audi officially unveils the R8 V10

It looks like the Volkswagen Group really wants to take all the high performance coupe market, because yesterday the Audi R8 V10 was officially revealed. Powered by the 5.2 liter V10 engine from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, which delivers 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, the R8 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 316 km/h (196 mph). Audi claims that, equipped with the R tronic sequential gearbox, the car achieves an average fuel consumption of 13.7 liters per 100 km (17.17 US mpg), which is not bad at all, considering its performance figures. However, as standard, the car comes equipped with a six speed manual transmission and, of course, quattro all-wheel drive system. As you'd expect, the R8 V10 will come with a set of extra features comparing to the 'regular' R8: 19 inch exclusive 10-spoke Y design alloy wheels, all-LED headlights as standard, plus a few styling elements (more accentuated sideblades, wider side sills and matt aluminium look for the exhaust grilles). Also, the standard equipment list is very impressive: Fine Nappa leather heatable seat covers, a driver information system, navigation system and Bang & Olufsen sound system, deluxe automatic air conditioning, alarm system, instruments and gearshift knob decorated with red rings, while the footrests and the rocker switches of the R tronic have an aluminum finish. To see all the R8 V10's features, check out the official press release. The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro is scheduled to go on sale in Germany in the second quarter of 2009 at a starting price of 142,400 Euros. Photo Gallery: Audi R8 V10

 

Audi Expands the A4 Lineup with New FrontTrak and and Six-Speed Manual Models

Audi has announced the expansion of the A4 lineup with a new front-wheel-drive (FrontTrak) model and the addition of a six-speed manual transmission on the A4 quattro sedan. The A4 2.0T FrontTrak features Audi's 2.0 TFSI engine that is paired to a multitronic continuously variable transmission. The setup helps the A4 get 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The A4 2.0T quattro equipped with the six-speed manual transmission gets 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan with multitronic CVT transmission starts at $31,000. The MSRP on the 2009 Audi A4 2.0T quattro manual is $31,850. PRESS RELEASE: Audi A4 Lineup Expands With New FrontTrak and Manual Models -The Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan pairs the multitronic transmission with the award-winning Audi 2.0 TFSI engine -The Audi A4 quattro sedan is now available with a six-speed manual transmission -MSRP for the base front-drive model is $31,000 and $31,850 for the base manual quattro model. HERNDON, Va., Dec 19, 2008 - Audi announced an expansion of its 2009 A4 lineup with two new models, one featuring front-wheel drive and one featuring a six-speed manual transmission. The newest 2009 Audi A4 models offer exceptional value and the best fuel economy ratings in their individual segments. The 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak combines the advantages of the Audi 2.0 TFSI engine, which recently earned a spot on the 2009 Ward's 10 Best Engines list, and the efficient multitronic continuously variable transmission, or CVT. The A4 sedan now available with a six-speed manual transmission, offers a sporty driving experience for those who prefer to shift for themselves. The manual transmission is also paired with Audi's efficient 2.0 TFSI engine along with Audi's latest generation of quattro all-wheel drive featuring a rear torque bias for sporty handling. The result of the new front-wheel drive A4 powertrain combination is the best fuel efficiency in its class with an EPA rating of 23 mpg in city driving conditions and 30 mpg in highway driving. Those fuel economy figures represent a 4 percent fuel-efficiency gain over the previous-generation A4 powered with earlier versions of the 2.0 TFSI engine and the multitronic transmission. The 2009 A4 2.0T quattro manual sedan achieves the best efficiency of any all-wheel drive car in its luxury segment with EPA fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on highways. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price on the front-wheel drive 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan with multitronic CVT transmission starts at $31,000. The MSRP on the 2009 Audi A4 2.0T quattro manual is $31,850. Both models come with a rich list of standard equipment such as sunroof, leather seating, SIRIUS satellite radio, and quattro all-wheel drive. "Offering exceptional efficiency without sacrificing the comforts that luxury car buyers expect is Audi's hallmark," said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America. "These two new A4 models are no exception. Their addition to the Audi lineup allows us to meet a broader array of consumer tastes with our highly acclaimed, best-selling car." Audi is a pioneer in continuously variable transmission technology. The multitronic transmission was significantly revamped and first appears in the 2009 Audi A4. With the redesign, the multitronic transmission offers greater sportiness and agility along with reduced fuel consumption. The first Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak multitronic model will begin arriving at dealers this month, with Audi A4 2.0T quattro manual models expected to arrive in dealerships by early 2009.