2010 Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI Quattro - First Drive Review

Building the R8 has been one of the best decisions Audi has ever made. As launched, Audi did almost everything right. Indeed, avant-garde styling, light weight from an all-aluminum body and structure, and near-perfect handling with a standard all-wheel-drive system all contribute to the car’s special nature. Alas, one thing was missing from the package: Brute force.

It’s true that tuners such as MTM in Wettstetten, Germany, have squeezed extra power out of the R8’s standard 420-hp, 4.2-liter V-8, bringing it into supercar territory. But it has been a poorly kept secret for some time that Audi was planning its own, more-powerful version of the R8, with a V-10 installed behind the driver’s head. And now it’s arrived.

Keep Reading: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI Quattro - First Drive Review

Audi spends more than $6 million on not so great Super Bowl Ad featuring Jason Statham

Last week we were very delighted to hear that, after last year’s great Super Bowl ad, Audi will once again air a commercial during one of the world’s most watched sports events. Not the mention that the news about Jason Statham, one of our favorite actors, will star in the ad made us even more excited about it. However, yesterday we got the chance to see a 30-seconds cut of the video, with Jason running away in a Mercedes, a BMW and a Lexus before finding the perfect getaway car, a supercharged Audi A6. Let’s hope that the full 60-seconds spot will make us change our minds, because from what we’ve seen so far, we’re really dissapointed. I mean, it’s not a bad commercial, but we were expecting something a little more exciting or funny. And considering the spot cost at least $6 million (NBC is charging $100,000 a second for Super Bowl ads this year, plus production costs and Jason’s payment), they’d better show

O.CT Boehler Concept BS3 based on the Audi S3

German tuning company O.CT Tuning released the first details and photos of another package for the Audi S3. Called Boehler concept BS3, the car is based on the quattro version of the S3, powered by an upgraded engine that delivers 328 hp (241 kW) and a maximum torque of 425 Nm. The power upgrade was made by fitting a a specially developed Engine control unit, deep thorated Sportexhaust with integrated Controlfolds and improved Air Intake System. According to O.CT, the BS3 has a top speed of 265 km/h (165 mph) and it goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) “almost a full second quicker than the Stock S3″ (which does the sprint in 5.5 seconds).

Other upgrades include a fully adjustable O.CT Coilover Suspension, 8-piston braking system with 372 mm discs/rotors and O.CT Carbon Fiber Add-ons for the engine, battery and air intake. Last, but not least, the body kit looks very good, with widened fenders and redesigned rear bumper, finished in white and black paint, plus a set of 20 inch MÖZ alloy wheels.

The only downside of this package is its pricing, around 67,000 Euros, but the fact that the car will only be built in a limited run of 100 units, O.CT hopes to find customers for it.

Check out more photos after the jump.

Photo Gallery: Audi S3 tuning by O.CT

Audi Q5 Hybrid Coming Next Year

The hybrid bandwagon is filling up fast as just about every car maker has plans to release a new hybrid model in the next year or two. Audi is one of them where they plan on introducing a small SUV dubbed the Audi Q5 Hybrid. It is slated to be ready for the showroom in 2010.

Previously Automotive News reported that Audi axed the Q7 hybrid along with the Q5 but now they have confirmed through head of the powertrain development for the Volkswagen Group,, Wolfgan Hatz, that they will be offering the Audi Q5 hybrid in the USA in late 2010. In addition to this good news the Audi Q5 Hybrid will be first introduced in the USA first and then a possibility of it being sold in Europe depending on the success in the States.

[source: Automotive News]

Audi Superbowl Commercial With Jason Statham - Video - Full Version

 

  

Okay, who wants to wait for the Audi Superbowl commercial? Hmm… oh you don’t? If you want to see the new Audi Superbowl Commercial then you should NOT look below, you should wait until Superbowl Sunday! DO NOT scroll down and watch this video before Superbowl Sunday… if you do then your computer may explode!

The new Supercharged Audi A6 is showcased in the Audi Superbowl commercial. The actual slot for the commercial is supposed to be 60 seconds (1 minute) while this clip is only 30 seconds. Maybe we are missing something here.

Super Bowl Update:Full video included below from the Super Bowl XLIII.

[source: carversation.com]

[source: YouTube]

2007 Audi S8 - Long-Term Road Test

If you accept the idea that cars can suffer a midlife crisis, then we think you’ll agree that the one experienced by our long-term Audi S8 test car was pretty severe.

Here’s the story: With 23,288 miles on the odo, the S8 found itself closely involved in a noisypas de deux with an elderly minivan, a dance from which neither vehicle emerged in running order. It was a classic offset collision. We must mark this down to a judgment error on the part of our pilot, who darted for a left-turn opening that was suddenly occupied by the minivan, which had been screened by a string of large SUVs.

The cops helped us sort out who was at fault. Though our driver lamely suggested that the minivan was moving quite briskly, the investigating officer pointed out that whatever its speed, the minivan had right of way, and he issued a citation for failure to yield. His conclusion was hard to contradict.

Keep Reading: 2007 Audi S8 - Long-Term Road Test

Audi also reducing work hours for 25,000 workers in Germany

Two days ago we wrote about BMW and Volkswagen planning on reducing work hours for a total of 86,000 workers, Germany. And now, even though last year was one of the best years in Audi's history, the German giant announced that they also plan on reducing work hours at their Ingolstadt and Neckarslum plants, between February 20 and 27. The decision, which affects around 25,000 employees from the divisions directly associated with the production of automobiles. However, Audi reassured its employees that they workplaces are secure, at least until 2011. "The overall demand in some major markets has dropped so drastically, especially in the last few weeks, that we've been forced to act," said Dr. Werner Widuckel, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at AUDI AG. "This is our way of reacting to the downward trend in demand on worldwide car markets." "In the agreement on reduced hours compensation allowance, we agreed with the Board of Management on a gross increase in the reduced hours compensation. Through this, remuneration should for the most part be equalized," said Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG. Source: Audi