Audi R15 TDI's Le Mans début

Logical lightweight construction, downsizing, efficiency and the best possible aerodynamics the same subjects which currently occupy the brains of the automobile industry development departments are also key elements in the 24 Hours of Le Mans held for the 77th time on the weekend of June 13/14.

2010 Audi TT RS is ready for its closeup

Audi TT RS Coupe and Roadster -

Audi has released a plethora of new beautiful photographs of the Audi TT RS Coupe and Roadster, and it just makes us want them to change their mind about bringing the car to the United States even more. After all, what's not to love? The 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder puts out 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft torque running through a six-speed manual transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.
It also comes with other goodies like a stiffer suspension, five-spoke 18-inch wheels, more aggressive exterior styling, Alcantara /leather sports seats, and more. Why wouldn't we want a TT that has all that? More details on the car can be found in the press release after the jump, and dozens of new high-res images are available in the gallery below.

Forza Motorsport 3

Forza Motorsport 3

Autoblog visited the official unveiling of Forza Motorsport 3, Microsoft's latest racing title for the XBox, at the E3 expo. With graphics playing on numerous flat screens that, to borrow the phrase, moved the game on, and with the backing of an Audi partnership and a gleaming red R8 V10 on a plinth among the crowd, everyone involved was bullish enough on FM3 to make an actual bull think "Better watch out for those guys..." In fact, said Dan Greenwalt, the lead developer at Microsoft's Turn 10 Studios, said "We already made the best racing game the last time, with Forza Motorsport 2." Forza Motorsport 3, he said, signaled that "We were out to make the best game." Follow the jump for the story.

Auto Union D-Type Silver Arrow back on the auction block at Bonhams in August

Auto Union D-Type Silver Arrow

The history of the notorious Silver Arrow racers parallels that of the nation which bore its birth. In the years leading up to WWII, Adolf Hitler was bent on world conquest - not just on the battlefield, but on the race track as well. Convinced that motor racing was the perfect venue to exhibit what he viewed as Germany's superiority, the Fuhrer commissioned Germany's top engineers at both Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union to develop a generation of advanced racing machines that would later become known as the Silver Arrows. The 1938 Auto Union D-Type was Hitler's favorite.
The cars reigned victorious in the 1930s, but with the outbreak of the war, racing in Europe ground to a halt. The following decade Nazi Germany lay in ruins, Hitler was dead, and the Soviets seized the D-Types from the Auto Union factory in East Germany. With an Iron Curtain cutting off contact between the Soviet Bloc and the Western world, enthusiasts and historians were convinced the Silver Arrows remained intact somewhere in the Communist empire, but all the while they were being brutally dismantled. Although many of the Mercedes pre-war racers survived, few of the Auto Unions did. Only three of these D-Types are known to remain intact.
The example you see here, Chassis 19, was painstakingly restored to original condition, and was set to hit the auction block at Christie's two years ago until it was withdrawn at the last minute due to unanswered questions over its heritage and provenance. With the questions answered and its pedigree assured, Bonhams is now offering this extremely rare and most desirable piece of automotive history at its upcoming auction at the Quail Lodge this coming August, where it is expected to fetch in excess of $8 million. But with previous estimates having placed it closer to $12 million, it stands a real chance of breaking the $12.2 million record set by the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa at the RM Auction in Maranello just last month. Check out the press release after the jump and the high-res pictures in the gallery below.

Audi reportedly shoots down electric R8 rumor for Frankfurt

Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric Audi R8 supercar (or an extended range EV that uses a diesel range extender) to the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September have been denied by an Audi spokesperson. The anonymous Audi representative told Edmund’s Inside Line that the stories in Auto Motor und Sport in Germany and L’Automobile in France were “not true.”

Instead, Audi will stick to the liquid fuel path and show off the R8 Spyder with gas engines. While we certainly don’t fault Audi for sticking with what it knows, the possibility of a limited edition R8 EV challenging Tesla made for a good night’s dream, anyway.

Audi Q5 custom : 2009

Audi showcased the Customized Audi Q5 custom concept at the Wörthersee Tour 2009.

2010 Audi TT RS Coupe - First Drive Review

 

 

Audi might be the hottest brand among luxury carmakers—more styling-oriented and more sporty than others, but still something of an insider's tip. What the brand doesn't have is a history as rich as that of Mercedes-Benz, or even BMW. Audi can be traced back to a number of companies originating as early as 1899, but the brand, as we know it today, did not surface until the 1960s—with some rather bland cars.

It took Ferdinand Piëch, now head of Volkswagen's supervisory board, to turn Audi into a high-tech, premium carmaker. As Audi's chief engineer, he pushed for projects such as the charismatic five-cylinder engine, Quattro all-wheel drive, turbocharged engines, and, ultimately, Audi's advance into the luxury segment with the all-aluminum A8.

Almost 30 years after the launch of the original Quattro, Audi is unveiling the TT RS. We have tried this car, which is unapologetically playing the theme of that legendary, Audi 4000–based coupe named Quattro that dominated the international rally scene for years.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 3-door hatchback

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $57,000

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 20-valve inline-5, iron block and aluminum heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 151 cu in, 2480cc
Power (SAE net): 340 bhp @ 5400 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 332 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 97.2 in Length: 165.3 in Width: 72.8 in Height: 52.8 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3200 lb

C/D PERFORMANCE (C/D est):
Zero to 60 mph: 4.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.2 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 174 mph

FUEL ECONOMY (C/D est):
EPA city/highway driving: 18/26 mpg

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