2011 Audi R8 eTron Photo Gallery

2011 Audi R8 eTron
2011 Audi R8 eTron
2011 Audi R8 eTron
2011 Audi R8 eTron

2010 H&R Audi R8 Spyder

Just shortly after the official launch H&R can already offer a sports suspension set for the 525 PS Audi R8 V10 Spyder. Audi has provided its super open-topped car with a whole portfolio of technical support, from the legendary quattro four-wheel drive to the newly developed sports suspension with electronic steering. H&R Spezialfedern has developed a sports suspension set exactly for this, which can improve the sporty characteristics of the ten cylinder vehicle – without perceptibly reducing the driving comfort. In addition a 20mm lowering suits this fast open Audi very well. The imposing mid-engine sportscar thus appears more compact and powerful. For even more agile handling the suspension specialists from Lennestadt are offering an aluminum coil over kit with which the height and damping force can be individually adjusted within of the values approved by the Technical Inspection Authority (TÜV).

2010 tuning Audi S5 Sportback Grand Prix

The German-based Audi cars enhancement expert Senner Tuning has unveiled its latest program, which lends the 2009 Audi S5 Sportback more athletic stance and styling as well as boosted output figures.

Although the S5 Sportback represents a premium, all-rounded mid-size vehicle with sufficient performance, the guys at Senner have decided to give the ride an extra kick. Thanks to the optimization of the ECU and a new sport air filter, the S5’s 3.0-litre TFSI engine is now capable to deliver the staggering 375 horsepower and 495 Nm instead of the factory 333 horses and 440 Nm of peak torque. In addition to the new output level, Senner has also mounted the ride with a brand-new in-house exhaust unit with catalytic converter and four end-pipes.

For the sportier stance, the Senner S5 Sportback benefits from a 35/40 mm lowering springs and a gorgeous 20-inch set of two-piece alloys in T1S Work VARA Diamont black design. The new rims are fitted with high-performance tires in the dimensions 245/30 R20 at the front and 295/25 R20 at the rear axle.

Upon a customer demand, the interior of the Senner S5 can be further reinforced with carbon fiber accents and gadgets.

Audi S5 Sportback

Audi S5 Sportback

Audi S5 Sportback

Audi S5 Sportback Grand Prix

Audi S5 Sportback Grand Prix

Audi A8 pictures

Audi A8

Renowned for its astonishing VAG automobiles conversions, ABT Sportsline, the Bavarian aftermarket expert has exclusively unveiled the details on its astonishingly elegant creation, the new ABT AS8. The extraordinary luxury ride is based upon the recently launched, new-generation premium sedan 2011 Audi A8 and offers more sophisticated yet unobtrusive sporty vision.

Audi A8

Audi A8

ABT AS8 – Specifications list:

ABT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY
Engine: 4.2 TDI, 4134 ccm capacity
Performance tuning: ABT Power
Performance: 385 HP/283 kW (standard: 350 HP/257 kW)

ABT AERODYNAMICS
ABT front wing
ABT side skirts
ABT rear wing (three-part)
ABT rear skirt with exhaust covers

ABT WHEEL TECHNOLOGY
ABT CR wheel in 20 and 21 inches
Available also as complete set of wheels with sports tyres

Audi AS8 ABT performance saloon

Although Audi’s 2011 A8 is no slouch and far from being unattractive, it hasn’t stopped German tuning guru’s ABT trying to improve an already excellent package. With ABT releasing pictures and specifications we can now see how to make a good car better.

ABT chose the popular 4.2-litre TDI V8 model as their base for the conversion. Even though in standard trim the A8 Diesel manages to push out a very respectable 350 horsepower, with 590 pound-feet of torque, ABT decided that this wasn’t enough. To turn the luxury cruiser into a more sporty option the tuners have squeezed out an extra 35 hp bringing it up to 385, whilst boosting the torque figure to 649 lb-ft. While we can assume that the top speed could exceed the normal limitations on 155 mph, the 0-60 time has been dropped to five seconds flat.

Of course having this extra power is nothing if you cant shout about it, and ABT realise this by kitting out the AS8 with a new front spoiler and deep splitter, chunkier side skirts and a sculpted rear apron that incorporates the new tail pipes. To add to this a boot spoiler overlooks the rear and ABT’s own design CR 21-inch alloys keep the car rolling down the road.

If your not convinced with the looks of Audi’s latest large saloon take a look at Autoblog for more tasty looking pictures and give us your opinion.

Autonomous Audi TT-S Receives Retro Color Scheme

Touted as a modern take on the Pikes Peak-competing Sport Quattro S1 rally car of the 1980s, the special TT-S has been adorned with the same red, gray, and black stripes of yore. Unlike the 80s, however, an advanced assembly of electronic controls will help propel the TT-S on the route it needs to travel. From 1985-1987, Michele Mouton, Bobby Unser, and Walter Röhrl claimed victories at Pikes Peak with the original Quattro, and if the autonomous TT-S can reel in a time even remotely close to the three rally drivers (Röhrl finished in 10 minutes and 47 seconds in 1987), you can consider us impressed.

Dubbed Shelley, after 1985 Pikes Peak winner Mouton, the TT-S will continue testing before hitting the mountains for its special event in September. Assuming Shelley stays on course, it would be the first vehicle of its kind to clear the 12.4-mile, 156-turn ascent to the 14,110-foot peak.

The Audi Q7 Diesel

I don’t often test out big hulking S.U.V.’s, not because I believe that they’re grotesque and emblematic of everything that’s wrong with the auto industry, or because I already own a vintage, 38-year-old gas-guzzling proto-utility vehicle of my own, but because they’re generally not that fun to drive and thus don’t fit very well into my prissy/sporty aesthetic. They’re overweight where I prefer sinewy, wallowy where I prefer taut, and plodding where I prefer athletic. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be satisfying to drive, particularly when an appropriate need arises (or when you just want to compensate for feelings of emasculation/inadequacy). That need came up this week when our good friends from Chicago visited us upstate with their adorable one year-old. And by “need,” I mean transporting the landfill worth of apparel, accessories, accoutrements, and apparatuses people seem to think is necessary for the practice of contemporary parenting. It was amazing that they were able to fit all their shit on a commercial airliner. “If we’d brought even one more thing,” our friend said, as I helped him drag a pair of wheelbarrow-sized wheelie bags across the commuter rail parking lot, “we’d have had to hire a Sherpa.” But amazingly enough, the sea-gray Audi Q7 I’d borrowed for their visit was able to swallow their huge load with the esophagal avidity of one of the guys from Oral Exams 4.

ABT AS8 Based On 2011 Audi A8

German tuner ABT has already come up with their own version of the hot out of the oven 2011 Audi A8. It’s based on the4.2 TDi version and as usual it’s called the AS8. The looks of Audi’s flagship saloon has been discretely modified with a front spoiler, side sills, a rear apron with new tailpipes and rear spoiler.

Also contributing to the looks are the tuner’s CR alloys available in 20 and 21-inch sizes, and the magnificent phantom-black coating. As for the power, ABT has lightly modified the 4.2 liter diesel unit of the A8, which in standard form has 350 hp and 800 Nm of torque, and gave it a bump in power up to 385 hp and 880 Nm of torque. That’s a lot of torque!

Audi next-gen vehicles

Audi's next-generation "seeing car" will be equipped with forward-looking 3D imaging sensors and internal cabin cameras that keep track of driver attentiveness to assist its active-braking technology.

(Credit: Audi)

Audi equipped a test vehicle with forward-looking, 3D-imaging sensors, a processing unit that identifies traffic situations, and affixed internal cameras that keep an eye on the driver in an effort to develop next-generation active pedestrian and cyclists safety and crash-avoidance technology.

As part of the German Adaptive and Cooperative Technologies for Intelligent Traffic (AKTIV) consortium, Audi is participating in a three-pronged program consisting of Safety for Pedestrians and Cyclists, Active Emergency Braking, and Driving Safety and Attentiveness, which aims to use advanced automotive technology and communication to reduce traffic accidents.

Audi TT Coupe (2011)

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audi tt coupe
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audi tt coupe
audi tt coupeDynamic design, enthralling performance and exemplary efficiency - the Audi TT Coupe and the TT Roadster are now more attractive than ever. The design of the lightweight bodies made primarily of aluminum and the interior have been revised with great attention to detail, while new technologies lower the fuel consumption of the compact sports car. New to the lineup is a powerful and highly efficient four cylinder: The 2.0 TFSI develops 155 kW (211 hp), but is content with an average fuel consumption of just 6.6 liters per 100 kilometers (35.64 US mpg).

Exterior design

The second generation Audi TT Coupe and the TT Roadster have made a name for themselves as design icons, similar to their predecessors. Awards such as the 2007 "World Design Car of the Year" document this status. A brawny, broad foundation, powerful shoulders and a flat roofline - the two compact sports cars have fascinatingly masculine lines. Their dynamic appearance is now even more expressive than ever.

The most obvious feature at the front of the car is the powerful bumper, which frames the larger air inlets with three-dimensional, sharply drawn out edges. The fog lights are set in chrome rings. Also sporting a new look are the lattice of the single-frame grille in high-gloss black and the optional xenon plus headlights. Twelve white LEDs arranged in a straight line at the lower edge of the headlights serve as the daytime running lights. These together with the wings in the headlight body are classic Audi design features.

2011 Audi A1 - First Drive Review

Audi is introducing a whole new dimension to the compact class with the all-new Audi A1. It is dynamic and high quality, emotional and individual. It condenses all of the virtues of the brand down to less than four meters - a design full of character, uncompromising quality and pioneering efficiency technologies. The agile chassis and powerful engines make the Audi A1 the sportiest car in the segment.

The young customers of the Audi A1 live in major cities and therefore are looking for a vehicle that is designed for the urban environment. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it is very agile and nimble in city traffic and offers a high degree of everyday utility.

The interior of the Audi A1 is also sporty and of high quality. Customers can customize numerous details to tailor the car to their personal tastes. Audi's latest model has a broad portfolio of advanced technologies on board; its infotainment system sets new standards in the segment. The Audi A1 is the first premium automobile in the small compacts class - a true, fully-fledged Audi.

The Audi brand stands for automotive passion. With its agile chassis and powerful engines, the Audi A1 is the sportiest car in its class, and this is readily apparent at first glance. The design is unique and modern. Styling cues placing the Audi A1 in the Audi family include the side line with the distinctive roof arch, the coupe-like C-pillars, the large wheel wells and, of course, the front end with the typical single-frame grille. The hood and rear hatch encompass the body; the tail lights are three-dimensionally molded and present an unmistakable design, day or night.

The interior of the Audi A1 is spacious and airy. The instrument panel is suggestive of an airplane wing; its four round air nozzles are reminiscent of the turbines of a jet. The clear ergonomics and the uncompromisingly high fit and finish typify the Audi brand's high standards. Many lovingly designed details in the interior document the premium character of the Audi A1.

In addition to the Attraction and Ambition trim lines, Audi also offers a media style package focused on infotainment and the interior design. The innovative materials and modern colors underscore the character of the Audi A1. Whether colored air nozzles, LED interior lights or seat covers in expressive colors - customization is an important catchword. The equipment program offers countless opportunities for matching the Audi A1 to the driver's own personal style. There are even a variety of paint finishes from which to choose for the roof arch. Customers can order many of these features after the initial sale to follow a trend or a whim.

The available infotainment and multimedia systems available come directly from the luxury class. The top of the line is MMI navigation plus, a media center that sets new standards in the compact segment. From the monitor that rises up out of the instrument panel to the control unit that follows the MMI logic, it is oriented on the systems found in Audi models in the higher segments. Based on the concert radio, the connectivity package offers the option of retrofitting an Audi map-based navigation system - a novelty in the automotive sector. The 465 watt Bose surround sound system is just one example of the complementary modules available.

2011 Audi A8 offers Wi-Fi access inside the vehicle

Audi A8 offers in-vehicle Wi-Fi access

The new 2011 Audi A8 is allegedly the first car in the world to offer an optional factory-installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access. Of course, this means that all your passengers will probably spend less time talking to you and more time on their laptops, Apple iPads and iPhones or netbooks.

Audi: "A1 not going to the US"

Can you smell the irony here? After using an American A-list celebrity -raise your hand, Justin Timberlake - to promote their new premium hatchback, reports out of Ingolstadt are saying that the A1, for one reason or another, will not be brought to the U.S. market.

Audi already mentioned this a few months ago when global sales head Peter Schwarzenbauer say that the brand isn’t that well established in the US to be selling small vehicles like the A1, given also the fact the U.S. customers are more inclined into buying larger vehicles. Recently, Audi reiterated their stance when Schwarzenbauer, in an interview with Automotive News, said "If you look at the real numbers [MINI and Smart sales in the US], it’s not huge volumes. I’m not so sure yet we really see a trend to small cars in the United States."

Audi: "A1

With European sales of the Audi set to kick off later this year at a price of €15,800 ($19,382) for the 1.2-liter TFSI engine base model, Audi is skeptical that the A1 would generate significant sales - at least for Audi to make even a marginal profit - in the U.S. market.

American Audi A1 Still in Doubt

Audi really hopes that the freshly-revealed A1 will be a massive hit when it will go on sale this summer but contrary to what many might expect, the new small car won't be sold in the United States. At least, this is what company insiders familiar with the matter are claiming, although there are several things that indicate an American A1 is still possible. But first things first.

Audi A1

The A1 was initially believed to help Audi step into the US small class segment and the fact that the Germans used Justin Timberlake to promote the car might be a sign that such a thing is indeed possible. On the other hand, Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi's global sales and marketing boss, told Autonews in March that Audi's small cars won't be sold in the US for the time being, indicating that a potential launch of the A1 might be possible, but only at a later date.

Audi A5 is a classy cruiser

Audi's A5 2.0 TFSI Quattro Tiptronic has a turbocharger, direct fuel injection and solid acceleration.

The elegant convertible uses Audi's advanced engine technology to combine excellent fuel economy with the effortless high-speed cruising owners expect from German luxury cars. Features ranging from blind-spot alert to vents that blow warm air on your neck for top-down cruising in cool weather add to the A5's appeal.

The car's hands-free phone, iPod interface and navigation system could use some refinement, though.

Fuel economy, fast cars can mix

Oil is not popular on the gulf coast this spring. Thanks to the massive BP spill, stinking slicks and tarry balls of crude threaten ecosystems and livelihoods as the gunk slouches toward fisheries, bayous, homes and resorts.

All of which made driving the A5 through the magnolia-scented air in southern Mississippi and Louisiana that much sweeter.

The convertible's name is a jawbreaker, but the sleek four-seater is Audi's "What, me worry?" riposte to merchants of gloom who say high fuel economy can't coexist with fast, luxurious cars.

The A5 uses Audi's turbocharged, direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to combine effortless high-speed cruising with fuel economy that encourages you to drive past gas stations and consider yourself a friend of the Earth.

2010 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Quattro Tiptronic convertible

All-wheel drive four-seat luxury convertible

Price as tested: $55,700

Rating: *** (out of four stars)

Reasons to buy: Looks, fuel economy, all-wheel drive

Shortcomings: iPod control, luggage space, minor goofs on comfort features

2010 Audi A5 convertible at a glance

Vehicle type: Front- or all-wheel drive four-passenger luxury convertible hatchback

Engine: 211-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged direct injection DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder

Transmission: Continuously variable or six-speed automatic

Price range: $42,000-$44,100 (excluding destination charges)

Key features

Antilock brakes; stability control; front-seat side air bags; driver and front passenger knee air bags; automatic roll bars; power locks, windows and sideview mirrors; eight-way power front seats; manual tilt and telescope steering wheel; wind blocker; glass rear window with defroster; 90-days' Sirius satellite radio service; split folding rear seat; keyless entry with alarm; trip computer.

Options on test vehicle: Navigation system; Bluetooth phone compatibility; memory for driver's seat and mirrors; Bang & Olufsen sound system; iPod interface; heated and ventilated front seats; three-zone climate control; LED tail lights; Xenon headlights with LED running lights; 18-inch five-spoke wheels; pushbutton start; rain/light sensor; lumbar support in front seats; perforated leather upholstery; neck heating vent; backup camera; rear sensors; blind-spot alert.

Competitive EPA fuel economy ratings

(Automatic transmission models; all 2010 unless noted)

Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Quattro: 20 m.p.g. city/ 26 m.p.g. highway/23 m.p.g. combined. Premium fuel.

BMW 328ci: 18 m.p.g. city/27 m.p.g. highway/21 m.p.g. combined. Premium fuel.

2011 Ford Mustang V6: 19 m.p.g. city/31 m.p.g. highway/23 m.p.g. combined. Regular fuel.

Infiniti G37: 17 m.p.g. city/25 m.p.g. highway/20 m.p.g. combined. Premium fuel.

Lexus IS 250C: 21 m.p.g. city/29 m.p.g. highway/24 m.p.g. combined. Premium fuel.

Specs

2010 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Quattro Tiptronic convertible

All-wheel drive four-seat luxury convertible

Base price: $42,000 (excluding destination charges)

As tested: $55,700

Safety equipment: Antilock brakes; stability control; front-seat side air bags; driver and front passenger knee air bags; automatic roll bars.

Specifications as tested

Engine: 2.0-liter variable timing DOHC 24-valve turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder

Power: 211 horsepower at 4,300-6,000 r.p.m.; 258 pound-feet of torque at 1,500-4,200 r.p.m.

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Fuel economy: 20 m.p.g. city/26 m.p.g. highway

Wheelbase: 108.3 inches

Length: 182.1 inches

Width: 79.5 inches

Height: 54.4 inches

Curb weight: 4,034 pounds

Where assembled: Neckarsulm, Germany

Comparative base prices

(not including destination charges)

(Automatic transmission convertibles)

BMW 328ci: $46,375

2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium: $31,840

Infiniti G37: $44,350

Lexus IS 250C: $40,610

The torque-tastic 2011 Audi TT

2011 Audi TT -

This is the 2011 Audi TT. It looks the same, it steers the same and it sticks the same. But there's one major difference: torque. Audi has managed to coax an additional 51 pound-feet of twist from its ever-evolving 2.0-liter TFSI four cylinder. The result? The standard TT isn't just the Bauhaus design icon that propelled Audi into the luxury limelight at the end of the last decade – it's finally a proper sports car. And it's about damned time. Follow the jump to see what we're torquing about.

Audi RS3 spied during testing

Audi RS3
Audi’s hottest hatch ever is almost ready and we have the best pictures yet of how the brand-new RS3 flagship will look.

Spied testing at the famous Nurburgring race circuit in Germany, the mule captured in the pictures is wearing an S3 Sportback shell, but don’t let this fool you, underneath, the RS version is a different beast altogether.

As well as Audi’s trademark Quattro four-wheel-drive system, it is expected that the RS3 will get a modified version of the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine found in the TT RS. As a result the RS3 will have no shortage of power, with over 330bhp and 450Nm of torque. The result of this will be a 0-60mph time of less than five seconds.

Mated to an S-tronic gearbox, the RS3 will also get a host of exterior additions over the S3, including a body kit, bonnet air-intakes and twin exhausts.

Audi luxury compact future car

Compact cars that are premium rather than second-rate, that is. Compacts admired for elegant, tailored looks as well as exceptional fuel efficiency. Luxury automobiles, yet distinctly athletic in character.

Today's Audi A3 TDI fits the description tidily.

Yesterday's Cimarron was compact, otherwise none of the above applied. It was an overdressed, over-priced version of the Chevrolet Cavalier peddled as a Cadillac through the mid-1980s to the detriment of the brand and to any subsequent compact that aspired to anything worthwhile.

The earlier successes of the BMW 320, Audi 4000 and Saab 900 among others inspired Cadillac's failed experiment. It may not have been coincidence that successive models of these European imports grew ever larger.

Who knows how many North Americans decided on the basis of having seen, heard, or even worse drove, a Cadillac Cimarron that no compact-sized car could ever merit a luxury price?

We'll soon find out, in any event, how many drivers are willing to rethink the matter as new fuel-efficiency standards beginning in 2012 surely will herald another wave of smaller vehicles.

The Acura CRX, BMW 135i, Mercedes-Benz B200 and Volvo S40, as well as the regular Audi A3, are current examples of luxury compacts. The A3 TDI moves a step beyond them in fuel efficiency. As the 2010 Green Car of The Year, this diesel-powered model (TDI stands for turbo direct-injection diesel) provides a model for every major manufacturer's product planning.

Audi A3 TDI

Audi A3 TDI

Diesel vehicles are starting to grow in popularity. Diesels offer up to 30% better mileage than comparable gas engines. But they were dismissed as smoky and noisy until the new generation of diesels went on sale in 2008. And even then, they had to fight through bias.

The 2010 Audi A3 TDI, seen here at the 2010 Denver auto show, was named Green Car of the Year at the 2009 LA Auto Show.

Audi R8 ClubSport Clubsports

Audi R8 ClubSport

Within the next two years, Audi plans to have five different variants of the R8 in production: V8- and V10-powered coupes and convertibles, and one harder-core variant tuned to play as well on the track as it does on the road. This newest, lightweight model – likely carrying either a ClubSport (CS) or GT badge – has been undergoing testing in Germany this week, and beyond the sinister matte-black paint scheme (with matching fuel door), there are a few choice modifications to the body to set it apart from its standard siblings.

The front fascia has been lowered slightly with the addition of a new splitter and reshaped winglets, while out back you'll notice the larger, round exhaust outlets, restyled rear bumper with new air outlets aft of the wheels and that shapely fixed rear wing. The rolling stock appears to have grown a bit and larger carbon ceramic brakes are fitted at all four corners.

Audi Extends The A8

The Audi A8 is a large car by most people's standards, but the A8 L, which makes its world debut at the Beijing Show, is larger still.

Compared with the standard A8, it's more than five inches longer, and all that extra room is devoted to the rear passengers, who also get heated seats, individual climate control air-conditioning and rear and side window blinds.

The A8 L comes with a choice of four engines. The three most familiar are 247bhp 3.0 and 345bhp 4.2 TDI turbo diesels and a 367bhp 4.2 FSI petrol. Above them all is a new version of the Volkswagen Group's W12 (basically two V6s joined together, and introduced several years ago in the Volkswagen Phaeton). This has now been extended from six to 6.3 litres and produces a maximum of 493bhp, giving the A8 L a remarkable 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds, with top speed limited to 155mph. Combined fuel economy has also improved, to 23.5mpg, and the CO2 rating is 278g/km.

The W12 is not available in the standard A8, and A8 L customers who choose it also get two individual rear seats which can be heated, ventilated, slid forwards and backwards and reclined to suit the occupants.

2011 Audi A8 L Details Revealed

Audi has unveiled details of its new range-topping model, the 2011 Audi A8 L sedan. Basically the long wheelbase version of the top end Audi A8 sedan, this car is expected in the U.S. market in the coming months.

Since the major difference of this car from the others is in terms of its body proportions, here are the details of it. The car is is 5,267 millimeters (17.28 ft) in length, a good 130 mm (5.1 in) longer than other models. The wheelbase is 3,122 mm (10.24 ft) and there is a 2 mm (0.08 in) increase in the height of this car. Width remains the same though at 1949 mm.

The vehicle is powered by a 247 kg 6.3-liter W12 engine that delivers 373 kW and 625 Nm of torque. The 0 to 100 kilometer per hour target can be achieved in 4.9 seconds. Top speed is an impressive 250 km/hr. Owing to its Audi Space Frame aluminum body, Audi claims that this car is 40 percent lighter than a car with a similar steel body.

2011 Audi RS5 Image

2011 Audi RS5
The 2011 Audi RS5 made its world debut last month at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and come complete with an uprated version of the 4.2-liter FSI V-8 from the RS4. The latest iteration of the sweet engine delivers 450 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and, between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm, transmits a maximum of 317.15 pound-feet of torque.

The mighty engine is matched to a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox and a new center differential in the standard quattro all-wheel drive system. Together, the powertrain propels the coupe’s 3,803 pound kerb weight from 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds and sees it reach a top speed of 174 mph.

Audi's R8 Spyder Awaited Eagerly

The automobile reviewers and owner are eagerly waiting for the most impressive car of the year - Audi's R8 Spyder. The car is becoming popular even before its launch due to the stylish design it carries.

This entire car batch for the year 2010 has been booked in advance by the Audi fans. The new model is different from the top model because of the reworking done to its styling. The car comes with the fabric roof and contrasting slide blades to give a nice finishing. The slanting roof has been replaced. Audi confirms that its fine engine has the capacity to inhale 750 kg of air per hour.

People who are expecting substance with style may get a little disappointed as the Spyder is presently available in Audi's 5.2-litre V-10 which accounts for 525 horsepower and 391 foot-pounds of torque which is supported by the
6,500-rpm. The car is a speed machine which responds eagerly once it hits at 3500rpm. If the gears are lowered down, the car can even go up to 5000 or 6000 rpm with a thunder.

Audi A8 Hybrid

Audi A8 Hybrid
Audi says its A8 Hybrid, introduced this week at the Geneva auto show, can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 7.6 seconds.

Audi A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI S line Road Test

It's a while since I've had an Audi of any sort sitting outside the house, and I must admit there is something rather uplifting about it. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Audi is my favourite manufacturer above all others, but opening the front door and finding an Audi sitting there is somehow different - in an entirely positive way - from opening the front door and not finding an Audi sitting there.

This is not because Audis look dramatic. On the contrary, their designs are very restrained - the A5 Cabriolet which I promise I'll get round to talking about very soon whispers rather than declaims its status, which I find rather satisfying. And Audis which have not been ruined by having low-profile tyres fitted to them are generally very pleasant to drive, even if they happen not to be especially quick.

That last point is particularly relevant to the open-topped version of the A5. Last year I drove the 2.0 TFSI petrol turbo version, and in a subsequent road test questioned the advisability of fitting a 208bhp engine to a car which, unless it had four-wheel drive, did not seem able to take it. The 2.0 TDI turbo diesel reviewed here has 40bhp less, and a similar question arises. 168bhp is still on the high side for an A5 Cabriolet which drives only through the front wheels.

Nothing particularly dangerous or alarming happens if you start pushing hard, but it doesn't take long to take the car well away from its comfort zone. Both the ride and the handling deteriorate quickly, and you soon learn to take things easy.

That doesn't mean you necessarily have to dawdle. The Volkswagen Group's 2.0 TDI engine is one of the best in the business, and it develops enough power for relaxed but purposeful driving without any great effort on the part of the driver (far more so than the 2.0 TFSI does, certainly). I can quite imagine that you could buy an A5 Cabriolet of this type now and sell it in two or three years' time without ever having used more than an inch of the accelerator pedal travel, and not once consider it to be a slow car.

Other features of the car have been dealt with before but may as well be mentioned again here. Although it has four seats, it is quite out of the question to fit four adults into them, though I doubt that many Cabriolet owners would ever be minded to try. The roof - only a fabric job, following Audi tradition, but a high-quality one at that - does a fine job of keeping extraneous noise out of the cabin when it's in place, and when it's folded down there is a fresh-air feeling which does not extend to an impression that you are experiencing a hurricane (unless of course you actually are). Less happily, the footrest is placed so far away that even I, an unnecessarily tall person, find it hard to reach, a problem common to all A5s and indeed the A4s on which they are based.