Sibling Rivalry? Audi R4, Baby R8 Could Be A Reality

Liking the Audi R8 is as inevitable as feeling occasionally hungry during the day or sometimes sleepy late at night. Unfortunately the sexy supercar is something the vast majority of us can only ever drool over. The R8 5.2-liter was the third most selected car in the popular Forza 3 online video game, and to give you an idea, the Jaguar XKR-S was 99th. Now, according to the UK’s Auto Express, Audi may be planning a baby R8.

Going under the R badge, the car would likely be the oft rumored R4, a car that will likely compete against the Porsche Boxster or Porsche Cayman, and be similarly priced. Initial images show a sharp looking Nissan 370Z-style body with a distinct Audi nose, similar to the TT. With the brand’s new focus on more efficient and smaller engines, the baby R8 would likely have a baby engine compared to the R8′s base 4.2-liter V-8, or remarkable 5.2-liter V-10 capable of producing 525 hp, the one that has video-game enthusiasts flocking to the R8, if only in the virtual world.

Much more likely, the R4 would have Audi’s very capable 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo 360-hp engine seen the in the TT RS, the highest performance TT model. In fact, it’s likely that the R4 could be greatly influenced by the TT RS. A hybrid version is also possible, and could come to fruition in the form of a manipulated Audi e-Tron Spyder. Regardless the R4 is likely to be developed as a convertible, requiring only a top to be added for a traditional coupe.

With a more accessible entry price, and some of the exquisite styling and luxurious, premium interiors we’ve seen from Audi, the R4 could be a huge success. Still, the car hasn’t been officially given the green light, which means at this point, we’re at least a few model years away from getting inside one.

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/sibling-rivalry-audi-r4-baby-r8-could-be-a-reality-62967.html#ixzz1c6iDA1tb

2013 Audi S1 / RS1 Spy Photos: Audi’s Small Hatch Gets Hotter

Beware, Mini: Audi is putting the European-market A1 hatchback on steroids. The smallest four-ringer, which shares its platform with the VW Polo, has just gone on sale, but the company is already testing performance variants.

The most powerful A1 in current production is powered by a 185-hp, super- and turbocharged 1.4-liter four. It’s equipped solely with a dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive. Before the end of the year, though, you’ll see a five-door version called the A1 Sportback, and Audi also plans to add an all-wheel-drive Quattro version of the three-door. The latter will pump out slightly more than 200 hp and be sold in limited numbers, but it won’t look much different from lesser A1 models.

That’s not to say there will be a dearth of aesthetically different A1s; we submit this new prototype, spotted at the Nürburgring, as proof. The test car sports wide rocker panels seemingly taken from Audi’s current “competition kit,” a massive roof spoiler, wide-set twin exhaust pipes, and a front bumper and air intake that look to be swiped from the Wörthersee Clubsport Quattro concept. (The Clubsport Quattro debuted at the Wörthersee, Austria, gathering of VW and Audi aficionados, and featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five. Its six-speed manual and engine—rated at an incredible 503 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque—were modified from TT RS pieces.)

It’s not clear if the model spied here is an S1 (see previous spy photos of a mule here) or something more powerful. Audi executives have confirmed that an S1 Quattro model will be offered in 2013; it will be powered by the brand’s turbocharged 2.0-liter EA888 four and could easily produce 230 hp or more. Whether Audi will offer a range-topping RS1 is still undecided. If an RS1 were to be engineered, it could be powered by a further-tweaked EA888, as the engine can reliably produce up to 300 hp, or the 2.5-liter turbo five.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-audi-s1-rs1-spy-photos-audi%E2%80%99s-small-hatch-gets-hotter/

Audi A3 joins Volkswagen Golf, Jetta in TDI recall for fire risk

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has added the 2010-2012 Audi A3 TDI to the previously announced 2010-2012 Volkswagen Golf and 2009-2012 VW Jetta and Jetta SportWagen recall. These diesel-powered cars are at risk for a potential fuel line leak that could lead to fire. The recall action now involves 168,275 cars.

In the common-rail diesel engine, the fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of an injector line, causing stress during certain driving conditions. Consequently, injector line number two can develop small cracks that may leak fuel.

The recall affects 159,884 Jetta TDI sedans and SportWagens manufactured from May 2008 through September 2011 and VW Golf TDIs manufactured from May 2009 through September 2011. The Audi A3s in question were manufactured from September 2009 through September 2011.

Audi and Volkswagen dealerships will install an improved fuel line for the injector at risk and a damper to quell the vibrations.

Both brands will contact owners, and the recall campaign will begin in November.

Given the severity of risk, and that VW itself has notified dealerships to temporarily halt sales on new models until a fix can be implemented, we recommend consumers considering buying one of these models wait. Current owners should contact their local dealership to schedule an immediate inspection, and ask for a loaner if necessary.

Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/10/audi-a3-joins-volkswagen-golf-jetta-in-tdi-recall-for-fire-risk.html

REVIEWS: Driven: 2012 Audi TT RS

Strange as Las Vegas is, it's not quite as strange as the Audi TT RS. With its hairy turbocharged five-cylinder, unglamorous VW Golf roots, and scorching performance, the TT RS has all of the right stuff to share the stage with a fire-breathing bearded lady. But damn if it doesn't entertain.

While taking our first drive of the U.S.-spec TT RS in Sin City, we discovered that this compact coupe has emerged from humble origins to deliver sports car competence that we never thought was possible.

The five-cylinder freak

The TT's core DNA is still intact with the RS -- a transverse-mounted engine, a front-drive-based all-wheel-drive system, and a nose-heavy weight distribution -- but one key hardware change is enough to completely adjust this TT's attitude. That change is an engine swap from a boosted four-cylinder to a turbocharged five-cylinder that pumps out 360 hp at 5500 rpm. To realize the ridiculous power density of 144 hp per liter, the iron block is fortified with a forged crankshaft, forged connecting rods, and cast aluminum pistons.

Such big power from such a small engine typically results in an unhealthy amount of lag followed by an unmanageable wallop of thrust. Yet the TT RS exhibits neither of those traits. It boasts refinement and power delivery on par with that of the esteemed 2.0T. Responsive, potent, emotive, the TT RS is reaffirmation of the Volkswagen Group's expertise and consistency when it comes to building turbocharged engines. The 2.5-liter produces 343 lb-ft of torque over a wide band from 1650-5400 rpm. You won't experience the punch that quickly off idle, when the turbo needs more time to spool, but the car builds boost linearly and accelerates much like a normally aspirated car.

Audi claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 174 mph. Those numbers alone are enough to silence any errant "chick car" comments slow-pitched from the driver's seat of an automatic-transmission 3-series. The TT RS is anything but, not just because of how quick it is, but how competent it is when driven hard. As a reminder that is no ordinary TT, the spirited five-cylinder creates a soundtrack that can't be ignored. The RS steps off the line with the deep burble of a big rig and swells into a high-pitched hum with a subtle vibrato. From inside the cabin, it's an air-raid siren building into a wail. This is an enthusiast's car, through and through. While a dual-clutch automatic and roadster version are available in Europe, U.S. buyers can only have a six-speed-manual coupe. The overgrown aluminum shift knob fills your palm and adds to the satisfaction found in wonderfully short and crisp throws. The steering wheel is a sculpted, flat-bottom piece that's even better than what you get in an R8.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1109_2012_audi_tt_rs_driven/index.html#ixzz1ZwPlPc4U