Audi auto news

Don't Tell Mom the College Fund's Dead: Audi R8 V10 to start at $146,000*

Although we haven't gotten the chance to drive it yet (we will be soon), Audi has plunked a price tag on its 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro - better known as the V-10 R8. The mid-engined ten-cylinder wundercar will start at $146,000 for manual gearbox models, while the R Tronic commands $155,100 (*both are subject to a $1,200 destination charge).

Those two extra cylinders command a premium of nearly $32,000 over the 2010 R8 4.2 FSI, which runs just $114,200 by comparison (R tronic? $123,300) - the same price as it did for 2009. The V10 does grant the owner a further 105 extra horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque, but that's still quite a hike.

Audi says the delivery of the first two examples of the 525-horsepower coupe have just been delivered to charity auction winners, one of whom paid $500,000 for the privilege.

We adore the eminently usable eight-cylinder R8, and hear very promising things about the new V10 model, but we'll have to hold off until we get the chance to sample the 5.2 to see if it's really worth the extra scratch. Here's hoping.

High-res gallery below, official press verbiage and more images after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI

Continue reading Don't Tell Mom the College Fund's Dead: Audi R8 V10 to start at $146,000*

Review: 2009 Audi TTS is our Orange Crush... but only just a crush

The Audi TT is a highly entertaining package -- good looks, great personality, terrific cabin feel, solid handling and a good price. Yet with the TTS here and the TT-RS on the way (well, not for us Americans, but...), the TT becomes something like The Girl Next Door who you just found out has two hotter siblings. That doesn't mean you have to stop loving The Girl Next Door... but you're eyes may have a tendency to wander. Autoblog spent a week with the middle sister who was out to steal our hearts with an upgraded turbocharged engine, brilliant all-wheel drive and a flamboyant paint job. Follow the jump to find out if she kept our attention.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Audi TTS

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Jonathon R. Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Audi TTS is our Orange Crush... but only just a crush

Autoblog Podcast #137

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Episode #137 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived. Chris, Sam, and Dan are back, chewing the fat over the Acura ZDX, Death Valley spy shots of the Jaguar XJ, what will underpin Cadillac's new flagship model, Electric Lexus pricing, the ongoing Volkswagen/Porsche soap opera, and Honda's swearing off of V8s and RWD. Wrap it all up nice and tidy with some of your questions, and 82 minutes later, you're done. We apologize for the poor audio quality on Dan's track for some of this week's podcast. It only lasts through the end of the Autoblog Garage segment, and then we're back to full-fidelity. Getting a show out to you quickly was important to us, so we went with what we had. 23 minutes in is the magic point where the audio clears up. Let us know what you think, drop us a line at Podcast at Autoblog dot com. Thanks to all who have taken the time to fill out our survey; hit the jump to listen or subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast. If you like what we're doing, check out some of our sister blog podcasts like Engadget and Joystiq - you can never have enough listening material!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #137

Veil of Secrecy: Next-generation Audi A8 teased

Next-generation Audi A8 teaser - Click above to view in high-res

As we reported last month, the debut of the next-generation Audi A8 is tipped to have been pushed back from its anticipated launch at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show. But that apparently hasn't stopped the German automaker from releasing this veiled teaser photo, giving us a hint of what we can expect from its next flagship sedan.

Peering around Audi development chief Michael Dick, the first thing that can be discerned from this shot is the strip of LED headlights forming an aggressive silhouette through the veil, a design cue that is quickly becoming Audi's trademark. Beyond that, the new A8 appears to cut a more coupe-like form in the mold of the new A5 Sportback, though not quite as extreme, with a steeply raked windshield, lower roofline and gently tapering trailing edge.

The next-gen A8 is expected to carry a wide range of engines, from a 3.0-liter diesel V6 all the way up to a 620 horsepower V10 for the S8 model.

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2010 Audi A4, A5 and Q5 priced, A5 2.0T starting at $36,000*

When Audi announced it would begin offering the A5 with its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four for the 2010 model year, we expected the manual-equipped entry-level model to be priced significantly lower than the current 3.2-liter, stick-shifted A5. Thankfully, Audi didn't disappoint. For $36,000* you'll be able to get behind the wheel of the A5 2.0T Quattro Coupe with a manual transmission in Premium trim, with the Premium Plus model commanding $39,500 and the Prestige variant priced at $44,300. Tack on an additional $1,200 onto each model's MSRP if you opt for the Tiptronic automatic gearbox.

Depending on the trim, the 2010 Audi A4 2.0T is priced slightly higher, lower or the same as their corresponding 2009 models, although all new A4s include LED tail-lamps on Premium Plus and Prestige models. The 2010 Q5 3.2 FSI starts at $37,350* and can be had with all-new 20-inch five-spoke wheels, a choice of Fine Grain Ash or Natural Brown interior inlays and a new Luxury Package for the Prestige model that includes leather door armrests and IP, along with ventilated front seats swathed in Milano leather.

Although Audi hasn't priced the 2010 Audi S4, it has released an on-sale date for its 333-hp sedan: August. Expect pricing to follow in the coming weeks.

Make the jump for all the details and corresponding changes for the 2010 model year.

* Excludes $825 destination charge

Gallery: 2009 Audi A5

Continue reading 2010 Audi A4, A5 and Q5 priced, A5 2.0T starting at $36,000*

Spy Shots: Tony Stark snapped driving Audi R8 V10 Spider

We were assuming the billionaire superhero genius will continue to have a great stable of rides in the next installment of the series, and spy photos taken on set confirm our suspicions. Robert Downey Jr. is seen driving in an Audi R8 V10 Spider during shooting of the film, which is scheduled to be released on May 7, 2010. In one of the spy photos, the V10 badging is clearly visible, confirming that Stark's drop-top R8 will be powered by VW's corporate 5.2-liter V10. With an expected 525 horsepower,the Audi R8 V10 Spider looks like our kind of Arc reactor.

Audi observes centennial with massive historical gallery and video

As devout gearheads you're undoubtedly aware today marks Audi's 100th anniversary, and in celebration of its centennial, one of Germany's most historic marques is kicking off the festivities with a star-studded event at the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt, Germany.

The unveiling of the A5 Sportback was the first in a long line of events to take place over the coming days, but Audi also wanted to provide admirers a photographic glimpse into its past. And we're all too happy to oblige while snagging a few choice wallpapers in the process.

Make the jump for Audi's press release on the celebration, along with a video introduction by Chairman Rupert Stadler. And be sure to check out the four massive galleries we've put together, broken down into "Classic," "Motorsport," "Concept" and, of course, "Quattro."

Gallery: Audi Centennial - Motorsport

Continue reading Audi observes centennial with massive historical gallery and video

Officially Official: 2010 Audi A5 Sportback revealed, not coming Stateside

After teasing us with a video of the 2010 A5 Sportback, Audi has finally dropped all the details on its all-new mid-size five-door liftback. Building on the curvaceous body work of the A5 coupe and cabrio, the Sportback adds an extra set of doors, along with a tailgate to blend a bit of functionality with its form.

European buyers will be able to pick up a Sportback starting in September with a choice of six engines split evenly between gas and diesel units, all of which come equipped with direct injection. Like the A4, the 2.0-liter TFSI four comes in 180 and 211 hp flavors, along with a choice of Audi's 3.2-liter V6. On the compression ignition side, 2.0-liter inline-four, 2.7-liter V6 and 3.0-liter V6 units will be available, with the 170 hp 2.0-liter TDI rated at 45.2 mpg (US) on the EU combined cycle. The four cylinder engines all get automatic start-stop systems and the top gasoline- and diesel-powered V6s get the requisite quattro all wheel drive. Three additional engines will drop into the lineup in 2010.

This five-door sport hatch segment is quickly getting crowded with the BMW 5-series Gran Turismo, the Acura ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour and, of course, the upcoming A7 Sportback in 2010. Get all the details in the press release after the break.

Gallery: 2010 Audi A5 Sportback

Continue reading Officially Official: 2010 Audi A5 Sportback revealed, not coming Stateside

Audi gifts hometown with 10-ton TT as part of centennial celebration [w/VIDEO]

It's not at all unusual for successive generations of a car line to grow larger the preceding edition. However, in an era where down-sizing is becoming more common, this is a bit absurd. Actually, the car shown here is a 33.5 foot long, 10-ton sculpture of the Audi TT coupe.

The giant TT has actually been around for several years now, debuting in Berlin in 2006 and having been shown in Beijing, Munich, and Hong Kong since then. The outsized work of art has now been brought to Audi's Ingolstadt headquarters as part of the centenial celebrations of the automaker. The sculpture has been placed in the center of a roundabout in Ingolstadt where it should pose absolutely no issues with driver distraction... right, guys? Check out the high-res gallery of images below, as well as the press release and a video of the sculpture being trucked in after the jump.

Gallery: Audi TT Sculpture

Continue reading Audi gifts hometown with 10-ton TT as part of centennial celebration [w/VIDEO]