New Audi A3 Black Edition S-Line

First of all, I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with Barack Obama becoming the US President. The new Audi A3 Black Edition is available in all three Audi A3 bodytypes, namely the 3-door, the 5-door Spotback and the Audi A3 Cabriolet. Available powertrain options are the 1.8 liter and 2.0 liter TFSI engines, and two different 2.0 TDI engines. The A3 Black Edition is based on the S-Line trim level and features a de-chromed front grille, black surrounds for the roll bars and shoulderline for the Cabriolet, 18 inch S-line alloy wheels with a dark titanium finish, privacy glass from the B-pillar to the back, and also Brilliant Black paint. If you want, Phantom Black is also available at extra cost. Audi is even allowing you to choose a non-black premium colour if you pay more - Misano Red and Monza Silver. But what's the point of a Black Edition car when it's no black? Even on the inside, the black theme carries on. The interior features high gloss Piano black inlays, and the Cabriolet version is specced with a black acoustic hood.

 

Five-door Audi A3 gets new petrol and diesel variants as part of 2009 upgrade

AUDI has added two new engine variants as part of an overall upgrade of its five-door A3 Sportback range in Australia. The A3 Sportback gets a 1.4-litre TFSI direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine for the first time while the 2.0-litre diesel option is now a more powerful and economical direct-injection TDI unit. Other changes for the 2009 model year include the availability for the first time in the A3 Sportback of Audi's 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, which is now standard in the 1.6 and 1.4 TFSI models and is available as a $2700 option on the 1.8 TFSI (which comes standard with a six-speed manual). Minor exterior changes to the range include revised bonnet, grille and front and rear bumpers, redesigned tail-lights, LED side indicators integrated into the side mirrors (first seen two months ago with the launch of the high-performance S3 Sportback), new alloy wheel designs and four additional exterior colours. Prices still start from $37,200 for the 1.6-litre (non-turbo) Attraction, which now has the seven-speed auto instead of the previous six-speed unit. The new turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder TFSI petrol engine delivers 92kW of power at 5000rpm and 200Nm of torque, which is available from 1500 to 4000rpm. Fuel consumption is an impressive 5.8L/100 km and the 1.4 TFSI Attraction is priced at $39,950 with its standard 7-speed S tronic transmission. Although there was a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel model in the superseded A3 Sportback range, the new direct-injection common-rail TDI gets a big lift in performance with a power output of 125kW (up from 103kW) and maximum torque of 350Nm (up from 320Nm) delivered from 1750rpm to 2500rpm. At the same time, even using the same six-speed S tronic transmission, the advances in technology have reduced fuel consumption by five per cent to 5.7L/100km while carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced to just 149 grams per kilometre. And the price of the new A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI is $47,900, which is $600 less than the previous model. As part of the 2009 model year upgrade, Audi Australia has extended the options list with the addition of magnetic ride, park assist (which also debuted on the S3 Sportback) and adaptive headlights with cornering light technology. Park assist is priced at $1750 and works at speeds of up to 30km/h using ultrasonic sensors to detect if a parking spot is large enough. Once reverse gear is engaged, it then parks the car automatically in a single movement. Magnetic ride was developed in Australia and uses magnetic particles inside the shock absorbers that enable the dampers to be continually adjusted electronically according to the road and driving conditions. Audi first used this electronic suspension control system in the TT and R8 models and now offer it at $2400 on the A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI, 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TFSI models. Interior changes include additional chrome elements on the air vents and on the 3-spoke steering wheel, single-colour black dials and needles in the instrument cluster (similar to the S3 Sportback and TT models), new trim colours and a change-up display in the driver information system that now shows optimum gear changes. Top-end models can also be optioned with a $700 flat-bottomed multi-function leather sports steering wheel, with paddle shifts for S tronic models. 2009 Audi A3 Sportback pricing: 1.6 Attraction (7-sp S tronic) (a)                $37,200 1.9 TDI e                                         $38,900 1.4 TFSI Attraction (7-sp S tronic) (a)           $39,950 1.8 TFSI Ambition                                 $42,500 1.8 TFSI Ambition (7-sp S tronic) (a)             $45,200 2.0 TDI Ambition (6-sp S tronic) (a)              $47,900 2.0 TFSI quattro Ambition (6-sp S tronic) (a)     $53,200

 

2010 Audi A8 / 2011 Audi S8 - Car News

Plutocrats take heed! Ingolstadt readies its next-gen flagship, and you're going to want one. Audi is charging ahead with its third-generation A8, set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show in the fall of 2009. Once released, it will battle a slightly face-lifted Mercedes-Benz S-class, expected to be unveiled next spring, and BMW's all-new 2009 7-series. But unlike the rather conservative 7-series, which backed away from the audacious styling of its predecessor, the next Audi A8 will show a new look and carry the brand forward stylistically. Audi's chief designer Stefan Sielaff explains: "The first generation was very dogmatic and product-design-like. With the second generation, the theme was 'elegance'—softer, flowing lines. The upcoming third generation will be stronger, sharper, and more precise." Highlighting the Technology Within While the design of the current, second-generation car is pleasing to our eyes, you could argue that it doesn't properly convey the advanced chassis technology under the skin—the A8's all-aluminum structure is lighter and stronger than those of its steel-intensive competition. The next A8 continues to use an aluminum space frame and aluminum exterior panels, all of which bring weight down compared to a conventional steel design. Sielaff says that the next-gen Audi A8's styling will play up that distinction. "It will highlight the aluminum aspect, and it will have a strong three-dimensional theme. In that respect, the next A8 will be the first of a new styling language at Audi. We are entering a new phase with a clear top-down strategy." Keep Reading: 2010 Audi A8 / 2011 Audi S8 - Car News

 

First Drive: Audi Q5

Audi has been one of the biggest automotive success stories of the past ten years. The German manufacturer has more than doubled its model range while grabbing a growing share of the UK car market

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Paris 2008: Audi A1 Sportback Concept

At the Paris Motor Show (October 2-10, 2008), Audi is unveiling the A1 Sportback concept study: following on from the Audi A1 project quattro, the three-door show car presented in 2007, this is a concept for a five-door four-seater for the sub-compact class – once again exhibiting all the characteristics of a genuine Audi.

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The Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet - the joy of open-top driving

Dynamic and wonderful to look at, the new A5 Cabriolet is a real Audi, and an especially exciting one at that. The four-seater with the fabric top combines a sporty character with the fascination of open-top driving, refined comfort, and great everyday utility. Seven powerful engines, an agile suspension and a wide range of high-end options make the new Audi model the most attractive mid-range convertible.

 

Audi presents long-wheelbase A4 for the Chinese market

Audi is the first premium brand to introduce a prestigious long-wheelbase version in the upper mid-size category exclusively for the Chinese market: the Audi A4L's wheelbase is 60 millimeters (2.36 inches) longer, which benefits rear-seat passengers in particular. The A4L thus offers unrivalled spaciousness in its segment. Manufactured at the plant in Changchun, China, the new Audi A4L made its debut yesterday in Beijing. Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of …

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Audi S3 and S3 Sportback with S tronic

A milestone in transmission technology is now available in the Audi S3 and S3 Sportback sporty compact models. The S tronic dual-clutch transmission unites the powerful two-liter TFSI engine with the road in a manner that is both sporty and efficient. This ensures quicker acceleration, high agility and ride comfort along with improved fuel efficiency. A genuine marvel of engineering, the revolutionary S tronic dual-clutch transmission has been a sensation ever …

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Audi enjoys ultra-successful motor racing year

AUDI AG is celebrating its most successful motorsport season in its history. Almost 30 years after the German manufacturer enjoyed world dominance with its groundbreaking quattro four-wheel-drive rally cars, pioneering Audi TDI fuel injection now reigns supreme as the World leading power in endurance racing.Britain's Allan McNish helped Audi achieve its eighth outright victory and its third consecutive diesel-powered win in the Le Mans 24 hour …

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