design of the Audi A8 hybrid

This near-production Audi A8 hybrid concept car has 21-inch, two-colour wheel rims styled with highly three-dimensional surface areas. The exterior paint job of the A8 hybrid is in "Prism Silver" with "Spectra Flair" as an accent color – a rainbow effect that's accentuated in reflected light along creases and seams on the body. The prominently located "hybrid" lettering on both front fenders leaves no doubt about what kind of car this is. The accentuation of its width by a prominent low horizontal spoiler edge and a chrome strip conveys the vehicle's solid stance on the road.

The engine compartment cover with its high-gloss finish and the glass cover of the battery in the trunk also provide visual links to hybrid technology. And the illuminated doorsteps bear the "hybrid" insignia as an elegant touch to underscore the electric aspect whenever the doors are opened – using LED technology to minimize energy consumption.

The passengers also see the prominent hybrid logo displayed on the dashboard. The "Powermeter" in addition shows the energy flow in the instrument cluster.

technology of the Audi A8 hybrid

The combustion engine of the Audi A8 hybrid is the 2.0 TFSI – a high-tech powerplant. This four-cylinder unit, which has been named "Engine of the Year" five times in a row since 2005, is an example of Audi's downsizing philosophy. It combines direct fuel injection with turbocharging and the AVS Audi valvelift system, which regulates the valve lift in two stages. In combination with the adjustable intake camshaft, the Audi valvelift system improves cylinder charging and ensures spontaneous and powerful torque build-up. The 2.0 TFSI delivers 155 kW (211 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft); the torque value remains constant from 1,500 to 4,200 rpm.

In the crankcase of the four-cylinder unit, which has a displacement of 1,984 cc, two balancer shafts offset second-order inertial forces to ensure virtually vibration-free and pleasantly quiet operation that goes well with the luxurious character of the A8. All components are optimized to minimize friction. The flow-rate-regulated, pressure-controlled oil pump further reduces fuel consumption.

Audi A8 Hybrid Concept

Audi A8 Hybrid Concept
Audi is calling its A8 Hybrid "the efficiency standard." And it's not exactly untrue since the top-of-the-peak, 211-horsepower 2.0-liter sedan boosted by a 45-hp electric motor has more power than an A3 TDI and a faster 0-60 sprint, yet the gas mileage comparison isn't unfavorable: the A3 gets 34 miles per gallon combined, the A8 Hybrid does 38 mpg. And you get all that A8 size and panache. And 21-inch rims. Responsibly.

Audi A1 Sports Model

The Audi A1 became official in the halls of the Geneva Motor Show just days ago, and Audi has followed that up with details on the S-Line package for the small hatchback. The S-Line Sport package will bring a little extra zip and pep to the A1 through stiffened suspension and larger wheels and tires. The package offers 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, adjustable suspension kit and leather sports seats and steering wheel.

Audi February Car Sales Rise 20%, Fueled By China

Luxury car maker Audi AG (NSU.XE) said Monday that global sales rose 20% year-on-year in February to about 75,900 vehicles as a 62% sales rise in China more than offset a 3.3% decline in its home market in Germany.

"We are on course for a strong first quarter ... (This is) mainly thanks to our leading position in China and Western Europe," Audi sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said in a statement. He noted that the premium brand and key earnings contributor of Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE), Europe's largest auto maker by sales, "is also performing very well in the U.S."

Sales in China, including Hong Kong, climbed to 15,108 cars last month compared with 15,647 vehicles in Germany. Audi's two-months sales suggest that China might outpace Germany as the brand's largest single market this year, underscoring a broader geographic shift among auto makers toward Asian growth markets.

In January and February, Audi sold 31,906 cars in China, up 86% year-on-year, compared with 27,304 cars in Germany, up 1.7%. Audi previously has said it expects China to become its largest sales region in 2012 or 2013.

China proved to be one of the few bright spots for luxury-car makers when demand evaporated in other major markets amid the economic downturn and is now driving the segment's recovery.

Audi emerged from last year's industry gloom relatively unscathed and narrowed the gap to its larger premium-brand rivals BMW AG (BMW.XE) and Daimler AG's (DAI) Mercedes-Benz marque last year due mainly to its strong presence in China and a smaller exposure to the troubled U.S. market.

Audi ranks third in global luxury-car sales behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but it retains a firm grip on the top position in China, which it gained thanks partly to the early market entry of its parent company. Audi plans to launch its A3 hatchback in China this year and aims to ramp up local production as well as expand its dealership network.

Audi's sales totaled 43,127 cars in Western Europe last month, up 6% compared with the same period last year.

2010 ABT Audi R8 V10 GTR

Sure, the R8 is no lame duck, and this is even more so once the sports car has been tuned by ABT Sportsline. The result is a real model athlete, which does not just ooze power, but also doesn’t have a single gram of fat on its body. With the limited version R8 GT R (with only 25 units available) engineers and designers have gone one logical step further: experience from motorsport flowed into the design, and all the components have been systematically trimmed to ensure a light-weight construction and optimal weight distribution. As a result not just the bonnet, front and rear aprons, the adjustable rear wing or the tailgate are made of carbon, but the outline edge on the rear, the external mirrors and the door panel are also made of the same material. The side windows are made of Makrolon - the high-tech polycarbonate does not just reduce weight, but also has impressive strength properties. The result: the ABT R8 GT R is a proud 100 kilos lighter than its series counterpart.

Audi Sports Car Lands Role in ‘Iron Man 2

Audi sports car

If you want the Audi sports car that Tony Stark drives in “Iron Man 2,” you’ll have to wait – and come up with at least $160,000.

In the meantime you can start looking for ads as the film’s May 7 release date approaches. While Audi didn’t reveal specifics about its advertising plans it is almost certain to use the film to promote its cars, as it did with “Iron Man” film in 2008. When the company is linked with a blockbuster film like “Iron Man 2,” “We like to do a great campaign around it,” says Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer for Audi of America.

2010 Audi S4

2010 Audi S4
The S4's transformation from small sedan packing a V8 to a supercharged V6 can be looked at as a mostly positive thing. For starters, the S4 is now substantially less expensive, with a base price that is more than $4,000 less than the previous car. The 2008 S4 with the 4.2-liter V8 started at $51,085, which included a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax. The new V6 doesn't suffer the guzzler penalty.

2010 Audi S4 A quick comparison of the spec sheets shows that the new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 falls a little short on horsepower from the V8 (333 hp versus 340 hp), 2010 Audi S4 but features 23 lb-ft of additional torque and comes lower in the rev band (2,900 rpm versus 3,500 rpm).

2010 Audi S4

2010 Audi S4
The S4's transformation from small sedan packing a V8 to a supercharged V6 can be looked at as a mostly positive thing. For starters, the S4 is now substantially less expensive, with a base price that is more than $4,000 less than the previous car. The 2008 S4 with the 4.2-liter V8 started at $51,085, which included a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax. The new V6 doesn't suffer the guzzler penalty.

2010 Audi S4 A quick comparison of the spec sheets shows that the new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 falls a little short on horsepower from the V8 (333 hp versus 340 hp), 2010 Audi S4 but features 23 lb-ft of additional torque and comes lower in the rev band (2,900 rpm versus 3,500 rpm).

Audi RS7 concept with exposed engine cover

Audi RS7 Combining the features from a number of vehicles such as Lamborghini, VW and SEAT Leon Cupra R, Austrian designer Adriano Mudri has conceived the RS7 concept for the Audi that other that presenting a hybrid design also has minimal LED lights to remove the visual apprehension of Audi’s current corrective lenses. Passing the hood and descending character lines over the front wheels and into the doors, characteristic evident in the SEAT Leon Cupra R, the new Audi concept extracts scissor doors from Lamborghini Murcielago and the rear end from the Audi R8 to complete its hybrid design. Exposing the engine cover, curved to mimic the engine underneath, the Audi RS7 concept presents an interesting but at the same time stunning design upfront.

Look at an Audi RS7

Audi RS7, Audi may be satisfied with its R8, but at least one artist loves the idea of an R8-inspired RS7 slotted below it. The renderings were provided by Austrian industrial designer Adriano Mudri. Audi RS7 The car pulls clear influence from the R8, though it loses the distinctive side vents, and maintains plenty of personality all its own. The contrasting back end is something unusual and somehow it kind of works. The front end is another lesson in contrast, using minimalist LED lights and large, imposing vents. Audi RS7 And how could we forget the Lambo-inspired scissor doors?

2011 Audi A7 is Here

The 2011 Audi A7 is sporting a new feature we hadn't seen on the A7: an automatic spoiler.

Riding on a version of the next-generation A6 platform, the A7 will go into production in the second half of 2010. In the United States, we can expect Audi's 300-horsepower, supercharged V-6, along with a 4.2-liter V-8.

While the Mercedes CLS will be the A7's main target, BMW's 5 series GT may also be on Audi's hit list. Watch for the A7's official debut in the next few months.

Figures show Audi surging over other VW brands

Volkswagen's luxury brand Audi is racing ahead of VW's other makes and generated more than 85 percent of total operating profit in 2009, according to group figures released on Thursday.

Audi's operating profit of 1.6 billion euros (2.2 billion dollars) was nearly three times that of VW's eponymous brand, which posted a profit of 561 million euros.

VW's finance unit was the second biggest contributor to operating profit, turning in 606 million euros.

In terms of unit sales, Audi sold just under 950,000 vehicles, less than one quarter the 3.954 million VW's delivered last year.

"Without Audi, VW would not be profitable," German car expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer from the University of Duisburg told AFP.

The VW group "does not pay enough attention to costs," he added.

VW, Europe's biggest carmaker, aims to overtake Toyota as the world number one by 2018, and sell more than 10 million vehicles per year at that point.

To reach its goal, VW is ramping up local production in Brazil, India and the United States, countries where chairman Martin Winterkorn said the group was "under represented."

2010 Audi A3 Sportback

2010 Audi A3 Sportback


2010 Audi A3 Sportback


2010 Audi A3 Sportback


2010 Audi A3 Sportback

2010 Audi A3 complete Specification

2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI FWD S-Tronic

BASE PRICE: $27,270 for gasoline-powered model with manual transmission; $28,750 for gas model with automatic; $29,950 for diesel model.

AS TESTED: $36,725.

TYPE: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, five-passenger, small wagon.

ENGINE: 2-liter, double overhead cam, turbocharged diesel, four cylinder.

MILEAGE: 30 mpg (city), 42 mpg (highway).

TOP SPEED: 130 mph.

LENGTH: 169 inches.

WHEELBASE: 101.5 inches.

CURB WEIGHT: 3,296 pounds.

BUILT AT: Germany.

OPTIONS: Navigation system $2,050; Premium plus package (includes Xenon headlamps with light-emitting diode daytime running lamps, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, power driver seat, three-spoke, leather-trimmed steering wheel, 17-inch, alloy wheels) $2,000; convenience package (includes Bose sound system, automatic-dimming interior mirror with compass) $1,000; cold weather package (includes heated front seats, exterior mirrors and windshield washer nozzles) $500; dark walnut wood inlays $400.

DESTINATION CHARGE: $825.

Geneva Auto Show: 2011 Audi A1

2011 Audi A1
A premium segment two-door hatchback that is big on style, but, unfortunately, also on price. The A1 comes with the option of two gas engines and two diesels, each one turbocharged. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, while a 6-speed manual and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle-shifters are optional.2011 Audi A1

Audi A1 E-tron Geneva Auto Show

Audi A1 E-tron
Audi, the A1, was introduced as scheduled at Geneva. An unexpected version, however, was the somewhat mind-boggling A1 E-tron concept. The fast-developing E-tron electric-car technology — “still only a few months old,” as Audi proudly notes — has yielded a robust-looking third family member (after an R8 E-tron and a more TT-sized E-tron). This smaller third version, however, is more of a serial hybrid (with range-extending technology) than a pure electric car. Audi A1 E-tron Power comes from a torque-rich 45-kilowatt electric motor, or the equivalent of around 60 horsepower, driving the front wheels. For short bursts, however, the electric motor can produce up to 75 horsepower (and 177 pound-feet of torque). Audi says the A1 E-tron can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds. Top speed is about 80 miles per hour. It will travel up to 31 miles on electric power alone, which isn’t really good for much. But for an extended range of up to another 124 miles, the battery pack can be charged by an onboard 20-horsepower, single-rotor Audi A1 E-tron 253-cc Wankel rotary engine (fed by a 3.17 gallon fuel tank). Otherwise, the A1 E-tron can be recharged in less than three hours on a 380-volt circuit (good luck finding one of those).