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Saturday, 20 November 2010
Used Audi A4 Modified
This picture used audi A4 modified is best sample for your car modification. Cool audio system and wrong place LCD TV for this car is amazing concept for your new ideas. This modification make the used audi A4 modified luxurious and sporty look.
Audi Ready To Show Off Seven Modification Cars
2010 Audi A1 Worthersee Tour
Avus Performance Audi R8 exhaust modification photos
To us, photos of cars taken apart can be just as good as photos of a freshly waxed show car. This is one of those occasions. Avus Performace has just uploaded a set of photos showing the exhaust modification process of an Audi R8. Is it just us, or doesn't the Audi R8 look just as spectacular partially disassembled as it does on the street?
ABT Releases Details on 510HP AS5-R Audi S5 Coupe
2009 PPI Razor GTR Audi R8
The RAZOR GTR utilizes specially designed lightweight MAG9 Carbon Fiber forged aluminum PPI wheels. At the front, 10Jx19 MAG9 wheels weighing 8.8kgs with 255/35 ZR 19 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres are fitted and an impressive 12.0J x 20 MAG9 wheels weighing 10.0 kgs with 325/25 ZR 20 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres are used at the rear.
PPI also developed a special high-performance braking system available only for the RAZOR GTR that can be identified by its metallic orange-coloured brake callipers. The optimal deceleration and perfect pedal pressure control is now achieved by enlarged 6-piston callipers in connection with extra-large discs measuring 380 x 36 millimetres at the front and 356 x 32 mm discs at the rear axle providing greater pad surface contact area and heat dissipation.
2009 AVUS Audi A5 Batmobile
To improve the power of the 3.0L TDI engine the ECU has been modified. The results are 275bhp and 600Nm ( 442.48 lb/ft) of torque which make the A5 accelerate much more agile. Furthermore the car is equipped with the latest in lighting technologies from Audi. The A5 / S5 LED taillights diverse painted small parts like the front grille, mirror covers and the rear diffuser in sparkling black round off the package.
Audi S5: K500 mod by MTM Audi S5
ABT SPORTSLINE AUDI R8 TUNING
Many tuners are trying to modify those vehicles that look perfect also in their stock version. But some of them can produce very nice modifications that look even better than those stocks. And one of these companies is today’s ABT Sportsline. This bodykit called Extravagant isn’t some coincidence. It was created to celebrate the 110th anniversary of ABT Sportsline. This long era is a strong proof that also small company can become powerful. So this product has to be more than perfect.
The tuner has focused on visual improvements of this beautiful machine. So it has prepared a visual kit including both bumpers, side sills and rear wing.
The front part has dominating front bumper with rib opening modified to have only one pair of ribs. Also air openings are covered with a honeycomb black grill.
There are tow pairs of spoilers in the front placed under the bumper with a diffuser between them. It’s available also in a carbon variation.
The side sills are visible on the car’s sides. Their fine rounded lines are very pleasing. They’re visually lowering the ride and bring some nice amount of extravagance.
There is also another tiny change – a pair of vertical openings for air intake to the engine.
The Audi R8’s rear part was heavily modified. The biggest change is the rear bumper with three new skewed openings. One of them is situated under the trunk including a big badge of ABT. It’s used as an off take for hot air from the engine area and remaining two openings are for hot air from brakes. They’re connected with an elegant rounded line.
We can find there also a big diffuser (carbon version available) coordinating air under the car. There are also interesting exhaust tips placed in the bumper’s corners. The best possible aerodynamics is provided by the sporting wing on the trunk.
There is also another tiny change – a pair of vertical openings for air intake to the engine.
The Audi R8’s rear part was heavily modified. The biggest change is the rear bumper with three new skewed openings. One of them is situated under the trunk including a big badge of ABT. It’s used as an off take for hot air from the engine area and remaining two openings are for hot air from brakes. They’re connected with an elegant rounded line.
We can find there also a big diffuser (carbon version available) coordinating air under the car. There are also interesting exhaust tips placed in the bumper’s corners. The best possible aerodynamics is provided by the sporting wing on the trunk.
ABT Sportsline did some nice job under the hood too. They’ve modified the V8’s ECU and installed a mechanical compressor to increase the power for 110hp and 120NM. So now we have the tuned Audi R8 offering 530hp and 550Nm of torque. This means 3.9 seconds to beat the 100 km/h and top speed of 317 km/h.
The higher performance needs the best suspension too – new ABT shock-absorbers, bigger and durable 380 mm brake discs and highlight in case of new rims – beautiful 5-spoke doubled rims (9x20 in front and 11x20 at the back). They have same color as the body and wears ultra low-profile tires.
Audi R8 – full-blooded sporting experience
The Audi R8 is a result of longtime work of Ingolstadt‘s designers, developers and technicians. One say that the Audi R8 is a symbol of history and powerful experience (not only from dirty tracks) of Audi, second one thinks that this is a new way of automotive industry. Both are right.
Audi and this model is a part of the best automotive production. Maybe it’s not so powerful as Lamborghini, or Ferrari, but it has definitely place between them.
This sporting roadster with the aluminum chassis (just only 210kg) and LED daylights has become a hit of the year. Sharp lines, sporting look and perfect aerodynamics are priorities of this German monster.
The car has carbon elements both outside and inside, giant openings outside; amazing interior and extreme width prove its sporting hearth.
The engine above the rear axle is the biggest lure of this model. A donor of the engine is the most sporting version of the A4 series called Audi RS4.
Audi and this model is a part of the best automotive production. Maybe it’s not so powerful as Lamborghini, or Ferrari, but it has definitely place between them.
This sporting roadster with the aluminum chassis (just only 210kg) and LED daylights has become a hit of the year. Sharp lines, sporting look and perfect aerodynamics are priorities of this German monster.
The car has carbon elements both outside and inside, giant openings outside; amazing interior and extreme width prove its sporting hearth.
The engine above the rear axle is the biggest lure of this model. A donor of the engine is the most sporting version of the A4 series called Audi RS4.
But it’s more agile thanks to the Audi R8’s lower weight. The engine placed under the vision glass is a 4.2 liter V8 with a FSI direct injection. It can produce 420 hp at 7800 rpm. Speeding is easy and providing by 430 Nm of giant torque. These parameters allow the car to reach 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and 300 km/h without any electronic limits.
2007 JE Design Audi Q7 Wide Body Kit
True to the motto of "everything or nothing", the car styling specialist from Leingarten,Germany, customizes the Q7 to create an impressive car. In addition to the muscular wide body kit, which makes this Audi look even more powerful, JE DESIGN is also offering a performance enhancement, new rims and an electronically lowered suspension.
Brute supercharger power!
2.3 tons of unladen weight are not that easy to gloss over. With that much weight, every scrap of power and every Newton meter of torque counts. The basic specifications of the 4.2-litre Audi Q7 do indeed make quite an impressive read. After all, 257 kW / 350 bhp, 440 Nm at 3500 rpm, a top speed of 151 mph and 7.4 seconds for the sprint from 0 - 62 mph are not exactly chicken feed. But JE DESIGN turns the Q7 into real high-flyer, with no less than 500 supercharged horses (368 kW) rearing and bucking under the hood. 600 Nm of torque, available at 3,850 rpm, propel this heavyweight from a standstill to 62 mph in just 5.6 seconds. And it does not stop till it reaches an impressive 169 mph. The supercharger conversion includes a water-cooled intercooler, an exhaust system from the manifold, special forged pistons and modified engine management. JE DESIGN also takes care to ensure that the Q7 still complies with the emissions regulations. The conversion also includes TЬV certification.
Muscular styling kit
JE DESIGN lends the Audi Q7 greater width and an awesome-looking stance. The styling kit includes headlamp lens caps, which lend the car a more aggressive look. Fitting the impressive front spoiler helps to reduce lift. It can also lend the Q7 greater prestige when overtaking. Also, it is possible to equip this Audi SUV with a set of JE DESIGN twin headlamps, which look far better than the original headlamp design. JE DESIGN enhances the appearance of the rear end by equipping the Q7 with a new tailgate skirt attachment, which incorporates diamond-shaped openings on the right and left. In each of these openings belongs a JE DESIGN dual tailpipe from made permanently shiny, corrosion-resistant stainless steel.
The upper part of the rear end is also spectacular, which JE DESIGN adorns with a wing spoiler tail fin including a C-pillar trim. A feature that is sure to get heads turning. The same also applies to the JE DESIGN fender flare kit "WIDE BODY", for which matching door panels are also available. In front of the rear fenders, air inlets lend the car a sportier look, without appearing "plump". JE DESIGN is offering the muscular look as a complete body-styling kit which is cheaper than buying all single parts piece by piece.
Which rim?
Also when it comes to rims, JE DESIGN does not miss a thing. First off, the tuning specialist offers its complete set of wheels JE DESIGN "361" in the dimension 10 x 22 ET 20 (front) and ET 10 (rear) fitted with size 295 / 30 R 22 Y tires. The rims are also sold separately and are specially adapted to the wide body kit. Secondly, JE DESIGN offers a complete set of wheels AZEV "R-Wheel" in the dimension 10 x 22 ET 50 with size 295 / 30 R 22 Y tires. These rims are also sold separately . For rims with a wheel offset of 50, JE DESIGN recommends using its aluminum track extensions, which add an extra 60 mm width on the front axle and as much as 80 mm on the rear axle.
The fine figure of the JE DESIGN Q7 is rounded off by an electronically lowered suspension, which the car customizer from Leingarten offers for cars with air suspension and which finally helps the JE DESIGN Q7 to morph into a true racing SUV.
Preview: 2009 Audi S7
Audi is preparing a new four-door coupe positioned between its A8 limo and A6 models and, as with any new Audi, there's invariably a performance "S" model. Aimed at the segment starter, Mercedes' svelte CLS saloon, the new A7 should arrive on the market in early 2009 and will be joined by a convertible version one year later.
Standard models will get the usual assortment of FSI and TDI six and eight cylinder engines but a new top of the line S7 is tipped to get the naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 engine from the S6. The S7 will also benefit from Audi quattro and the carmaker's new sport differential torque distribution set-up.
Depending on the success of the car, there could even be a new super-saloon in the form of a RS7 powered by the new 580hp twin-turbo engine that debuted in the new RS6.
These new renderings of the car reveal designers won't be making any drastic changes to Audi's current design language, with the new S7 taking many cues from the S5 and S4 models. One of the new themes set for Audi's performance models is the clean front end, devoid of any fog lights, and it appears this will carry for the future S7 as well.
Audi A8 – the new driving experience
Audi is honing the character of its flagship: from September, the Audi A8 will exhibit notably enhanced qualities. An even more precise driving feel, superior ride and acoustic comfort and subtle refinements to the design and interior underline the exceptional position of the sportiest saloon in the luxury class. Just how well the A8 combines sporty, elegant design with superlative handling characteristics, supreme comfort and exemplary eco-friendliness is illustrated by the Audi A8 2.8 FSI: with CO2 emissions of 199 grams per kilometre it is the best by far in its class.
Impressive handling characteristics, pioneering technology and exclusive design and equipment – the Audi A8 defines the notion of sports appeal in the luxury segment in a distinctive, masterly way. As the flagship of the brand, the A8 embodies the progressivenees of Audi: its extremely rigid lightweight aluminium body built according to the Audi Space Frame principle, the potent FSI and TDI powerplants with direct injection, quattro permanent four-wheel drive and the highly praised MMI operating system are only some of the elements employed by Audi to demonstrate its proverbial Vorsprung durch Technik in the luxury class.
The best fuel consumption figures in its class
New in the model range is the Audi A8 2.8 FSI. With FSI petrol direct injection and the innovative Audi valvelift system AVS, this engine develops 154 kW (210 bhp), producing its maximum torque of 280 Newton-metres across a wide speed range from 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. These ample reserves and – thanks to the aluminium Space Frame body – remarkably low vehicle weight of only 1690 kilograms ensure supreme acceleration in every situation. The A8 2.8 FSI sprints from 0 to 100 in 8.0 seconds, its top speed being 238 km/h.
Despite these convincing performance figures the A8 with the 2.8-litre FSI engine achieves top marks in its class in terms of fuel consumption: an average of only 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres, according to the standard test method. This corresponds to a CO2 figure of only 199 grams per kilometre.
Saloon for a unique driving experience
The entire model range offers a new driving experience: To this end, the A8 has been consistently developed in many areas and refined in terms of its unique blend of sportiness and elegance, superiority and sophistication. The rack-and-pinion steering with variable steering gear ratios and servotronic speed-dependent power assistance has been optimised and is more direct. Shock absorbers, bearings and adaptive air suspension settings have been modified. As a result, the A8 responds more spontaneously to steering inputs, tackles winding country roads with precision yet – seemingly of its own volution – maintains calm and supreme straight-line stability at high speeds.
Exceptional comfort in terms of suspension and acoustics
Similarly to the handling characteristics, ride comfort has also been improved: the standard adaptive air suspension is now more responsive to minor irregularities in the road surface. The continuously variable shock absorbers feature new seals to reduce friction, new valves optimise the characteristics and the entire hydraulics system has been retuned. The A8 even moves smoothly over transverse joints, with no vibration whatsoever. Together with the package designed to insulate rolling and road noise, the luxury saloon from Audi offers outstanding comfort.
The acoustics of the A8 have been enhanced and optimised throughout by using innovative materials – after all, noise insulation at Audi is always viewed under the aspect of intelligent lightweight construction. The result: without any additional weight, the Audi A8 exhibits the lowest rolling, road and ambient noise level in its class. The Audi A8 is one of the quietest cars in the world – an important element for relaxed comfort on long journeys in the saloon.
Comfort and safety with assistance systems
The Audi A8 supports the driver with state-of-the-art assistance systems. These provide comfort and convenience on long journeys, helping to keep the driver fit and alert – and are therefore decisively important for safety, too. Audi side assist utilises intelligent radar technology. The system is specially designed for lane-changing manoeuvres, alerting the driver to hazardous situations: if another vehicle moves into the critical zone, yellow LEDs in the housing of the exterior mirror light up permanently. If, despite the warning, the driver of the A8 sets the indicator lever to change lanes, the LEDs become brighter and flash rapidly for about one second. It is virtually impossible to overlook this impulse because the human eye is highly sensitive to changes in contrast in the peripheral field of vision.
Audi lane assist alerts the driver if he/she inadvertently moves out of the lane. A small camera, located on the windscreen above the rear-view mirror, monitors the road in front of the vehicle; a high-performance computer identifies the lane markings. If the driver drifts on to one of these lines without indicating, Audi lane assist signalises this accordingly by causing the steering wheel to vibrate.
Progressive design language, with specific refinements
The clear and progressive design language of the Audi A8 is characterised by its timeless quality. New touches were added to the exterior, for instance, but only in specific yet effective areas – from the single-frame grille to new exterior mirrors with integrated indicator and new wheel designs through to new-look LED taillights. New paint finishes complete the range as do high-quality aluminium applications, new colours and inlays for the interior.
Continuing on the road to success
Hence the Audi A8 is clearly on the road to success. With over 100,000 vehicles sold so far the current-generation model including both top-of-the-range versions, the Audi A8 W12 and Audi S8, has already surpassed the sales total of its predecessor.
Year for year, it continues to achieve sales growth in an overall stagnating market segment. The reason: while the A8 constantly attracts customers of other brands with its clear personality, the product loyalty and repurchase rate among A8 drivers is at the same time higher than average.
When it comes to the trade press and its readers, the A8 also has much to celebrate. It regularly picks up awards as the best car in the luxury class – from "auto, motor und sport" in Germany, for example, from "Auto Express" in the UK or "AutoWeek" in the US.
Impressive handling characteristics, pioneering technology and exclusive design and equipment – the Audi A8 defines the notion of sports appeal in the luxury segment in a distinctive, masterly way. As the flagship of the brand, the A8 embodies the progressivenees of Audi: its extremely rigid lightweight aluminium body built according to the Audi Space Frame principle, the potent FSI and TDI powerplants with direct injection, quattro permanent four-wheel drive and the highly praised MMI operating system are only some of the elements employed by Audi to demonstrate its proverbial Vorsprung durch Technik in the luxury class.
The best fuel consumption figures in its class
New in the model range is the Audi A8 2.8 FSI. With FSI petrol direct injection and the innovative Audi valvelift system AVS, this engine develops 154 kW (210 bhp), producing its maximum torque of 280 Newton-metres across a wide speed range from 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. These ample reserves and – thanks to the aluminium Space Frame body – remarkably low vehicle weight of only 1690 kilograms ensure supreme acceleration in every situation. The A8 2.8 FSI sprints from 0 to 100 in 8.0 seconds, its top speed being 238 km/h.
Despite these convincing performance figures the A8 with the 2.8-litre FSI engine achieves top marks in its class in terms of fuel consumption: an average of only 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres, according to the standard test method. This corresponds to a CO2 figure of only 199 grams per kilometre.
Saloon for a unique driving experience
The entire model range offers a new driving experience: To this end, the A8 has been consistently developed in many areas and refined in terms of its unique blend of sportiness and elegance, superiority and sophistication. The rack-and-pinion steering with variable steering gear ratios and servotronic speed-dependent power assistance has been optimised and is more direct. Shock absorbers, bearings and adaptive air suspension settings have been modified. As a result, the A8 responds more spontaneously to steering inputs, tackles winding country roads with precision yet – seemingly of its own volution – maintains calm and supreme straight-line stability at high speeds.
Exceptional comfort in terms of suspension and acoustics
Similarly to the handling characteristics, ride comfort has also been improved: the standard adaptive air suspension is now more responsive to minor irregularities in the road surface. The continuously variable shock absorbers feature new seals to reduce friction, new valves optimise the characteristics and the entire hydraulics system has been retuned. The A8 even moves smoothly over transverse joints, with no vibration whatsoever. Together with the package designed to insulate rolling and road noise, the luxury saloon from Audi offers outstanding comfort.
The acoustics of the A8 have been enhanced and optimised throughout by using innovative materials – after all, noise insulation at Audi is always viewed under the aspect of intelligent lightweight construction. The result: without any additional weight, the Audi A8 exhibits the lowest rolling, road and ambient noise level in its class. The Audi A8 is one of the quietest cars in the world – an important element for relaxed comfort on long journeys in the saloon.
Comfort and safety with assistance systems
The Audi A8 supports the driver with state-of-the-art assistance systems. These provide comfort and convenience on long journeys, helping to keep the driver fit and alert – and are therefore decisively important for safety, too. Audi side assist utilises intelligent radar technology. The system is specially designed for lane-changing manoeuvres, alerting the driver to hazardous situations: if another vehicle moves into the critical zone, yellow LEDs in the housing of the exterior mirror light up permanently. If, despite the warning, the driver of the A8 sets the indicator lever to change lanes, the LEDs become brighter and flash rapidly for about one second. It is virtually impossible to overlook this impulse because the human eye is highly sensitive to changes in contrast in the peripheral field of vision.
Audi lane assist alerts the driver if he/she inadvertently moves out of the lane. A small camera, located on the windscreen above the rear-view mirror, monitors the road in front of the vehicle; a high-performance computer identifies the lane markings. If the driver drifts on to one of these lines without indicating, Audi lane assist signalises this accordingly by causing the steering wheel to vibrate.
Progressive design language, with specific refinements
The clear and progressive design language of the Audi A8 is characterised by its timeless quality. New touches were added to the exterior, for instance, but only in specific yet effective areas – from the single-frame grille to new exterior mirrors with integrated indicator and new wheel designs through to new-look LED taillights. New paint finishes complete the range as do high-quality aluminium applications, new colours and inlays for the interior.
Continuing on the road to success
Hence the Audi A8 is clearly on the road to success. With over 100,000 vehicles sold so far the current-generation model including both top-of-the-range versions, the Audi A8 W12 and Audi S8, has already surpassed the sales total of its predecessor.
Year for year, it continues to achieve sales growth in an overall stagnating market segment. The reason: while the A8 constantly attracts customers of other brands with its clear personality, the product loyalty and repurchase rate among A8 drivers is at the same time higher than average.
When it comes to the trade press and its readers, the A8 also has much to celebrate. It regularly picks up awards as the best car in the luxury class – from "auto, motor und sport" in Germany, for example, from "Auto Express" in the UK or "AutoWeek" in the US.
Spied: Audi A3 Cabrio on US shores
Spy photographers have spotted the upcoming A3 Cabrio on U.S. shores for the first time. The A3 Cabrio is expected to debut at March's Geneva Motor Show, although a September introduction at the Frankfurt Auto Show is still possible.
The newest A3 is also reported to have significant styling changes, both front and rear. The front fascia is said to have a new hood, narrower headlights with a more imposing grill and a new lower spoiler. The new rear fascia will include A5-styled taillights.
The styling changes will help align the A3 with the newly introduced A5 coupe and the next-generation A4 sedan, which will show up at the Frankfurt auto show next month. The side profile should remain similar to that of the current A3, thanks to a sharply raked rear window. The soft-top, which is electrically operated, will fold flat behind the rear seats, revealing twin roll-over hoops.
The A3 was first offered in North America just two years ago in 2005. It has been available in Europe since the mid-1990s.
The newest A3 is also reported to have significant styling changes, both front and rear. The front fascia is said to have a new hood, narrower headlights with a more imposing grill and a new lower spoiler. The new rear fascia will include A5-styled taillights.
The styling changes will help align the A3 with the newly introduced A5 coupe and the next-generation A4 sedan, which will show up at the Frankfurt auto show next month. The side profile should remain similar to that of the current A3, thanks to a sharply raked rear window. The soft-top, which is electrically operated, will fold flat behind the rear seats, revealing twin roll-over hoops.
The A3 was first offered in North America just two years ago in 2005. It has been available in Europe since the mid-1990s.
Performance Audi TT Coupe & Roadster?
Reports from Europe suggest Audi is working on a high-performance version of their ever popular Audi TT. Although the current range includes a 3.2-litre V6 Quattro All-Wheel-Drive variant (using the same engine as the last generation Golf R32), Audi is hoping for more with the new killer TT (to be named TT-R).
As for the all important powerplant question, the cat is still in the bag, originally many believed the car would be powered by a twin-turbo version of the current 3.2-litre V6, but in recent days, credible sources have informed the automotive world that Audi is planning a new five-cylinder turbo unit, possibly a 2.3-litre turbo engine, and not just for the TT, but for other models as well.
Power is expected at around 230kW (no word on torque). Although there are no images of the new beast, we expect the usual power enhancement features, such as lowered suspension, more agressive body kit and beefed out wheel arches.
Exotic Audi R8 outshines stars
Until I spent a long weekend with the Audi R8, I didn't realize just how many camera phones there were in the city of Toronto.
Having been cellphone shopping only a few weeks before my R8 experience, I knew that camera phones were quite popular. But my, oh my, they're everywhere.
They're in your side-view mirror, hanging out of cars sitting in your blind spot on the Gardiner Expressway, trying to get some footage of you accelerating away.
They're staring at you through the back window of cars in front, panning back and forth to take in the full magnificence of the R8's LED driving-light arrangement and its big, low shield-shaped grille.
They're poking out from crowds at bus shelters, snapping a pic as you drive by. They're right in your face as you come back to the car in a parking lot, hoping to sneak away and avoid any lengthy conversation.
I've driven more expensive cars than the Audi R8. I have driven faster cars and cars that make more noise and cars that go around corners faster. But I have never driven anything that draws quite so much attention.
The Toronto International Film Festival opened the same day I picked up the R8. On my drive home from work through the entertainment district, onlookers peered into the gunslit-shaped side windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of celebrity and instead got an eyeful of fat Asian auto journalist – not old enough or thin enough to be Chow Yun-Fat and not in good enough shape to be Jackie Chan.
One guy, I kid you not, even asked for my autograph, even though he didn't know who I was. The car was enough, he said; he'd glimpsed it parallel-parked on Richmond and had circled the block to take a closer look. Is this what celebrity feels like?
Such adulation from the masses comes at a price, of course, but perhaps not as high a price as you might expect.
Oh sure, $139,000 to start (my tester listed at just over $150,000) is a big chunk of change in anybody's book. But curbside speculators always guessed high on the price scale.
Perhaps it's the R8's proportions, which are long, low, wide and eerily reminiscent of the Lamborghini Gallardo with which it shares a little bit of DNA.
Perhaps it was the detailing: delicate double-spoke alloys that barely wrapped around huge brake calipers bearing R8 logos, rear lights that looked like neon-outlined TV screens, that contrasting panel of silver on the side of my gray test car.
Perhaps it's the specifications: 420 horses from its dry-sump, direct-injection V8, six speeds, four-wheel drive, only two seats.
Perhaps it's the technology: magnetic ride-control suspension, GPS navigation, optional F1-style paddle shifters.
The darn thing looks high-tech, too, a combination of its tall windshield, jeweled lights, the vents cut into those side panels and the mesh-inset rear wing that automatically rises at 110 km/h. "One-forty?" people gawped. "It looks like should be two-fifty!"
One-forty it is, though, making Audi's most direct target the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, which stickers at about $10,000 less than the R8 but is about the same when equipment is evenly matched.
Curious about the reaction the R8 would get, I took it to an informal gathering of Porsche and Corvette enthusiasts that meets every Saturday in the parking lot of a suburban coffee shop. It was, not surprisingly, the star of the show, swarmed by interested would-be owners who loved its design, its interior and the sound its V8 made.
The only disappointment, really, seemed to come from the fact that all of next year's allocation of 100 cars is already sold out, making R8 ownership an unlikely proposition even for people who can afford it. It's all part of Audi's plan to keep the car exclusive enough to stay special.
In terms of the way the R8 compares behind the wheel, the Porsche has its advantages and it has its disadvantages.
The main difference is that the 911 feels smaller once you're on the move. Its narrower body, more upright seating position and larger glass area make it easier to thread through traffic and along winding roads with precision.
The Audi, despite being incredibly nimble and light on its feet, always feels like a big car: its width makes squeezing into tight parking spots a chore, even when using the reversing camera, and you always second-guess yourself about whether you can thread through any given piece of pavement.
While their power-to-weight ratios and acceleration times are close enough to be almost equal, the Audi can feel faster and more powerful in everyday situations, thanks to the fat spread of torque from its V8.
While the R8 redlines at over 8000 r.p.m., it delivers plenty of low-end punch even at 2000; the Porsche needs to be revved harder and often requires a downshift when the Audi doesn't.
Braking performance is about equal; the C4S has six-pot calipers up front while the Audi has eight, but both drag the cars to a drama-free stop in a minimum distance. Likewise, both all-wheel-drive systems are strongly rear-biased, shuttling power up front when needed without inducing understeer in corners.
One area where the 911 has an advantage is steering feel. While both cars corner flat and true – and both, interestingly enough, also bob their noses a little bit in fast curves – the Audi's steering can feel heavy and a little bit numb while the 911's three-spoke wheel dances under your fingertips.
Ultimately, this leads to a greater sense of confidence, even if the Porsche's rear-engine layout means it'd be trickier to drive at the limit than the smoother-transitioning mid-engined Audi.
On the other hand, the R8 is vastly more comfortable as a daily driver: even in the supposedly-stiff sport mode, it rides better than the 911 and, in comfort mode, is as composed as any sedan.
The R8's cabin feels much wider and, except for a dead pedal that was too close for my taste, the layout is near-perfect, with easy-to-decipher controls and displays right where you would expect them.
Even though a lot of the parts in the R8's interior come from other Audis – the steering wheel, door handles, climate control knobs and other bits come from the TT, for instance – it's hard to deny the sense of occasion you feel dropping into its low, low cabin.
The view out the windshield is spectacular. The cockpit sweeps around the driver, the gauges float in chromed triangular pods and the navigation screen swivels away at the touch of a button so you can load discs and memory cards.
Choose the manual transmission and you get an exposed shift gate like a vintage Ferrari's; even moving around a parking lot, you get a clack-clack sensation to remind you that you're driving something special.
There are other theatrical touches as well. When you unlock the R8 with the keyfob, not only is the interior lit up, but so is the glass-covered engine bay, cool blue xenon exposing the V8 for the world to see.
Flick on the headlights and you discover subtle little R8 logos in the headlamp lenses; the driving lights are a row of LEDs that curve under the main beams, sort of an automotive form of mascara.
Inside, the gauges flicker on and all the needles do a full sweep before settling into their proper positions; the navigation system even has a cool R8-branded startup screen.
Under way, you're treated to one of the world's greatest engine notes, a magnificent high-tech rumble from the quad pipes; think Pavarotti singing thrash metal.
Properly executed downshifts are greeted with a sharp bark from the exhaust and you hear the odd screech of tire before the lenient stability control reins in the fun in tight corners.
It is, ultimately, the sense of theatre, combined with genuine everyday ability, that makes the R8 such an interesting proposition.
It's as practical as a 911 – save for the Porsche's tiny rear seats – but looks so much more exotic.
It's as comfortable as a luxury sedan but exudes so much more drama, whether you're sitting still in traffic or roaring along the left lane of the expressway.
It's a car with the visual presence of an Italian supercar, with a generously sized trunk, decent behind-the-seats storage and unflappable build quality.
It is beautiful to behold and a delight to drive, one of the very best performance cars you can (more or less) buy. And, at least for now, definitely the coolest.
Having been cellphone shopping only a few weeks before my R8 experience, I knew that camera phones were quite popular. But my, oh my, they're everywhere.
They're in your side-view mirror, hanging out of cars sitting in your blind spot on the Gardiner Expressway, trying to get some footage of you accelerating away.
They're staring at you through the back window of cars in front, panning back and forth to take in the full magnificence of the R8's LED driving-light arrangement and its big, low shield-shaped grille.
They're poking out from crowds at bus shelters, snapping a pic as you drive by. They're right in your face as you come back to the car in a parking lot, hoping to sneak away and avoid any lengthy conversation.
I've driven more expensive cars than the Audi R8. I have driven faster cars and cars that make more noise and cars that go around corners faster. But I have never driven anything that draws quite so much attention.
The Toronto International Film Festival opened the same day I picked up the R8. On my drive home from work through the entertainment district, onlookers peered into the gunslit-shaped side windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of celebrity and instead got an eyeful of fat Asian auto journalist – not old enough or thin enough to be Chow Yun-Fat and not in good enough shape to be Jackie Chan.
One guy, I kid you not, even asked for my autograph, even though he didn't know who I was. The car was enough, he said; he'd glimpsed it parallel-parked on Richmond and had circled the block to take a closer look. Is this what celebrity feels like?
Such adulation from the masses comes at a price, of course, but perhaps not as high a price as you might expect.
Oh sure, $139,000 to start (my tester listed at just over $150,000) is a big chunk of change in anybody's book. But curbside speculators always guessed high on the price scale.
Perhaps it's the R8's proportions, which are long, low, wide and eerily reminiscent of the Lamborghini Gallardo with which it shares a little bit of DNA.
Perhaps it was the detailing: delicate double-spoke alloys that barely wrapped around huge brake calipers bearing R8 logos, rear lights that looked like neon-outlined TV screens, that contrasting panel of silver on the side of my gray test car.
Perhaps it's the specifications: 420 horses from its dry-sump, direct-injection V8, six speeds, four-wheel drive, only two seats.
Perhaps it's the technology: magnetic ride-control suspension, GPS navigation, optional F1-style paddle shifters.
The darn thing looks high-tech, too, a combination of its tall windshield, jeweled lights, the vents cut into those side panels and the mesh-inset rear wing that automatically rises at 110 km/h. "One-forty?" people gawped. "It looks like should be two-fifty!"
One-forty it is, though, making Audi's most direct target the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, which stickers at about $10,000 less than the R8 but is about the same when equipment is evenly matched.
Curious about the reaction the R8 would get, I took it to an informal gathering of Porsche and Corvette enthusiasts that meets every Saturday in the parking lot of a suburban coffee shop. It was, not surprisingly, the star of the show, swarmed by interested would-be owners who loved its design, its interior and the sound its V8 made.
The only disappointment, really, seemed to come from the fact that all of next year's allocation of 100 cars is already sold out, making R8 ownership an unlikely proposition even for people who can afford it. It's all part of Audi's plan to keep the car exclusive enough to stay special.
In terms of the way the R8 compares behind the wheel, the Porsche has its advantages and it has its disadvantages.
The main difference is that the 911 feels smaller once you're on the move. Its narrower body, more upright seating position and larger glass area make it easier to thread through traffic and along winding roads with precision.
The Audi, despite being incredibly nimble and light on its feet, always feels like a big car: its width makes squeezing into tight parking spots a chore, even when using the reversing camera, and you always second-guess yourself about whether you can thread through any given piece of pavement.
While their power-to-weight ratios and acceleration times are close enough to be almost equal, the Audi can feel faster and more powerful in everyday situations, thanks to the fat spread of torque from its V8.
While the R8 redlines at over 8000 r.p.m., it delivers plenty of low-end punch even at 2000; the Porsche needs to be revved harder and often requires a downshift when the Audi doesn't.
Braking performance is about equal; the C4S has six-pot calipers up front while the Audi has eight, but both drag the cars to a drama-free stop in a minimum distance. Likewise, both all-wheel-drive systems are strongly rear-biased, shuttling power up front when needed without inducing understeer in corners.
One area where the 911 has an advantage is steering feel. While both cars corner flat and true – and both, interestingly enough, also bob their noses a little bit in fast curves – the Audi's steering can feel heavy and a little bit numb while the 911's three-spoke wheel dances under your fingertips.
Ultimately, this leads to a greater sense of confidence, even if the Porsche's rear-engine layout means it'd be trickier to drive at the limit than the smoother-transitioning mid-engined Audi.
On the other hand, the R8 is vastly more comfortable as a daily driver: even in the supposedly-stiff sport mode, it rides better than the 911 and, in comfort mode, is as composed as any sedan.
The R8's cabin feels much wider and, except for a dead pedal that was too close for my taste, the layout is near-perfect, with easy-to-decipher controls and displays right where you would expect them.
Even though a lot of the parts in the R8's interior come from other Audis – the steering wheel, door handles, climate control knobs and other bits come from the TT, for instance – it's hard to deny the sense of occasion you feel dropping into its low, low cabin.
The view out the windshield is spectacular. The cockpit sweeps around the driver, the gauges float in chromed triangular pods and the navigation screen swivels away at the touch of a button so you can load discs and memory cards.
Choose the manual transmission and you get an exposed shift gate like a vintage Ferrari's; even moving around a parking lot, you get a clack-clack sensation to remind you that you're driving something special.
There are other theatrical touches as well. When you unlock the R8 with the keyfob, not only is the interior lit up, but so is the glass-covered engine bay, cool blue xenon exposing the V8 for the world to see.
Flick on the headlights and you discover subtle little R8 logos in the headlamp lenses; the driving lights are a row of LEDs that curve under the main beams, sort of an automotive form of mascara.
Inside, the gauges flicker on and all the needles do a full sweep before settling into their proper positions; the navigation system even has a cool R8-branded startup screen.
Under way, you're treated to one of the world's greatest engine notes, a magnificent high-tech rumble from the quad pipes; think Pavarotti singing thrash metal.
Properly executed downshifts are greeted with a sharp bark from the exhaust and you hear the odd screech of tire before the lenient stability control reins in the fun in tight corners.
It is, ultimately, the sense of theatre, combined with genuine everyday ability, that makes the R8 such an interesting proposition.
It's as practical as a 911 – save for the Porsche's tiny rear seats – but looks so much more exotic.
It's as comfortable as a luxury sedan but exudes so much more drama, whether you're sitting still in traffic or roaring along the left lane of the expressway.
It's a car with the visual presence of an Italian supercar, with a generously sized trunk, decent behind-the-seats storage and unflappable build quality.
It is beautiful to behold and a delight to drive, one of the very best performance cars you can (more or less) buy. And, at least for now, definitely the coolest.
Import To Euro
Hey whats goin on guys, i just bought a 97 2.8 quattro 5 speed. I love the thing, its got a lowered german racing suspension, short throw, intake, deleted res with true dual delta flow 44 and the most amazing momo racing seats. I had a 95 accord before this but i killed it racing. ive been into cars for a while, my accord had 300 hpw before i killed it which is pretty good considering everything was done by me. It had i/e/h, short throw, bored tb, h22 head swap, f23 intake man, centerforce clutch, and Jspec tuned Ecu. My audi is slower but i like it a lot, im looking at getting a tap chip, and eventually boost it. I have some crazy idea's about doing a twin turbo, with the way the V engine is facing it would be perfect minus the weak internals. Its got a strong head but weak bottom, if i swaped the S4 bottom it could work, I think. But thats just a fantasy for now. Me and my cousin are hopefully gonna open a performance shop with in the next couple months and we are both gonna take out loans for the business and our cars. We figure that way if the shop doesnt go over well and we fail atleast we got fast cars.
Audi RS6 may produce more than 600 HP
At one time Japanese regulations prohibited engines in that country producing more than 274hp, and oddly enough a wide array of different engines were all rated at that same level. Given the actual performance of the cars, it was clear that many manufacturers were sandbagging. Audi appears set to do the same with its uber-powerful RS6. The twin-turbo V10 is expected to carry an official rating of 571 hp, but the actual output could be as high as 610hp. Does anyone actually need this much power in a sedan or wagon? Of course not, but sign us up anyway.
Enter the Rumormill: Audi R8 getting twin-turbo V10 from RS6
Word around town is that the same engine that powers the 580-hp 5.2L twin-turbo V10 in the recently announced Audi RS6 Avant could also find its way to the back hatch of the Audi R8. We first reported on the possibility of a twin-turbo V10 back in February, and it seems the stat sheet on the RS6 has merely stoked the flames.
With 580 (or more) ponies in tow, the R8 should beat most anything on the road, including its current competition like the Porsche 911 that offers more powerful models in its lineup. Throw in bigger brakes and wheels with a modified suspension, and even the vaunted GT2 should begin to worry.
With 580 (or more) ponies in tow, the R8 should beat most anything on the road, including its current competition like the Porsche 911 that offers more powerful models in its lineup. Throw in bigger brakes and wheels with a modified suspension, and even the vaunted GT2 should begin to worry.
Latest Audi uses Blackfin and SHARC processors
Audi is using Analog Devices' Blackfin and SHARC processors in its new A5 Coupé. The A5 includes the Symphony and Concert advanced digital radios, a Digital Audio Broadcast option, a six CD changer and a MultiMedia Device Interface for connecting to personal media players.
Peter Kohlschmidt, Audi;s Director Wireless, Acoustics, Connectivity, said: "Blackfin, in conjunction with additional ADI technologies, gave us competitive and distinguishing features that differentiate our new vehicle, enhance our brand positioning, and reflect our relentless pursuit of the perfect driving experience."
Peter Kohlschmidt, Audi;s Director Wireless, Acoustics, Connectivity, said: "Blackfin, in conjunction with additional ADI technologies, gave us competitive and distinguishing features that differentiate our new vehicle, enhance our brand positioning, and reflect our relentless pursuit of the perfect driving experience."
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