This feed contains the latest All feed items for the AUDI manufacturer. http://www.motortorque.com/ Copyright 2013 MotorTorque All Rights Reserved. Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss Automotive Website Framework Engine (2.9.1208.1803) A 1994 2.5-litre Audi Quattro convertible is to be auctioned by COYS at their traditional sale at Blenheim Palace on June 29th. The appeal? The car was once owned by Princess Diana. The convertible that was once owned by the Princess of Wales has gone on display in London at the Grange St. Paul's Hotel before its auction - which will no doubt draw huge crowds thanks to the centrepiece. The Audi was the family car in which Princess Diana was photographed in on a number of occasions in 1994, with other passengers including Their Royal Highnesses Prince William and Prince Harry. The Managing Director of COYS, Chris Routledge, commented: 'This is an extraordinary opportunity to own a piece of Royal History. We have put a guide price on the car of between £20,000 and £25,000 but we have no idea what it will go for.' Routledge further added: 'Although we have not formally released the fact that the car was for sale until this press release we have already had enquiries from around the world and particularly from America.' Claire Farrington, Partnership Manager of Grange Hotels, was also delighted with the cars display in the London hotel, reflecting that the location is only a few yards away from St Paul's Cathedral 'which holds such an important place in the history of the British Royal family.' The Audi Quattro convertible itself is in an immaculate condition, with only 21,000 miles on the clock. Visitors to the Grange St. Paul's Hotel will also have the opportunity of leaving a sealed bid for the vehicle, which will then be given to the auctioneer at Blenheim Palace. Furthermore, COYS and Grange Hotel will offer a competition in the near future, with the lucky winner being driven to the auction in the car, as well as being provided lunch and able to attend the auction. Written by Glenn Doyle. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/princess-dianas-audi-quattro-to-be-auctioned-22184.aspx Glenn Doyle Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT In a weight-loss programme to rival Weight Watchers, the engineers at German car manufacturer Audi have managed to shed an incredible 300kg off the TT 2.0 TFSI Coupe. The TT ultra quattro concept now tips the scale at a lean 1,111kg after its weight-loss. This is an impressive achievement considering that the car combines its petrol engine with quattro all-wheel drive. In addition to the excess weight removal, the TT ultra quattro concept, as it's now known, has gained a power upgrade to 306bhp, which helps to power the car to a 4.2 second 0-62mph sprint time, as well as allegedly achieving a top speed of over 170mph. Within the vehicle, the 306bhp four-cylinder engine, also capable of pumping out 400Nm of torque, is mated to a six-speed transmission. Audi made modifications to the crankcase, crankshaft, balancer shafts, flywheel, sump, bolts and certain ancillary units to help reduce the cars weight by 25kg. Furthermore, thanks to its newly-designed hybrid body shell, the concept's body structure sheds another 43kg. With the help of the optimised detachable body parts, manages to achieve a total weight saving of 100kg. Overall, the lightweight construction measures leave the concept car 300kg lighter than the production model. This helps to minimise the inertial mass that the TFSI engine has to contend with during acceleration. Some say you can't improve upon perfection; however, Audi hope that they have taken a step towards that. Written by Glenn Doyle. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/audi-tt-ultra-quattro-weight-loss-programme-22095.aspx Glenn Doyle Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Audi SQ5 is the first ever diesel 'S' model in the makers history. Audi made history in 2006 when it won the famous Le Mans 24hrs race with diesel power - now the German manufacturer has decided to make a performance diesel SUV. The SQ5 is the quickest car on the Q5 line-up while it also has the most power. Not many rivals exist in this sector, performance SUVs are a niche market but rivals including BMW X3 xdrive 35d M Sport and Porsche Cayenne V8 diesel will be looking over their shoulder. Can the Audi SQ5 go straight to the top of the class? Read on to find out. Performance One engine is available on the Audi SQ5 and comes in the guise of a 3.0-litre bi-turbo diesel unit with a power output of 308bhp. It's quick too - getting from zero to 62mph in 5.1 seconds and has an electronically limited speed of 155mph. The diesel engine is mated to an eight-speed tiptronic semi-automatic gearbox with paddle-shifters located behind the wheel. For a big car the SQ5 has plenty of torque - 650Nm of pulling power on tap means that overtaking slow moving traffic on single lane carriageways. Over the benchmark sprint from zero to 62mph - the Audi SQ5 can complete the dash in 5.1 seconds whereas the BMW X3 xdrive 35d M Sport completes the 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds while the Porsche Cayenne V8 diesel can complete the benchmark sprint in 5.7 seconds. Ride and Handling The Audi SQ5 feels nimble and agile for such a sizeable car. On twisty b-roads the Audi SQ5 is good fun but it is not as driver focused as a BMW X3 xdrive 35d M Sport but it is quicker than both the BMW X3 xdrive 35d M Sport and the Porsche Cayenne V8 diesel. Sporty characteristics are already running through the Audi SQ5 with the epic straight line speed, however, it is better than the standard Q5 around the corners thanks to being lowered by an extra 30mm. The Audi SQ5 comes Audi drive select offering a choice of five modes, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency and Individual allowing for greater customisation. Four settings are available comfort, auto, dynamic and individual. When the dynamic steering option is not specified then these same settings can be applied to the steering weighting, along with the eight-speed S tronic transmission's shift points and the throttle response. Quattro permanent four-wheel drive also comes as standard on the Audi SQ5 - handy in adverse conditions. The BMW X3 and the Porsche Cayenne have still got the upper hand on driving dynamics but the SQ5 has brought the Audi closer to its rivals in terms of pure driving enjoyment. Comfort and Practicality Audi SQ5 comfort levels are superb if you keep the car in 'comfort' mode. This quick version of the Q5 makes light work of traffic but it is also very good at 'pootling' through town centres. You can switch to 'dynamic' mode but we'd recommend to use this function when on your own and on challenging roads to reap the benefit. Audi SQ5 practicality levels are very good with ample space both up front and in the rear. With the rear seats in place the Audi SQ5 has a load space of 540 litres and when folded this expands to 1,560 litres. Running costs Audi SQ5 prices start from £44,055, that's more expensive than the BMW X3 xdrive 35d M Sport but the Audi is quicker from a standing start to 62mph by 0.7s. When comparing with its key rival the BMW X3 xdrive 35d M Sport pips the Audi on claimed average economy and is also cleaner. The Audi SQ5 has an average economy of 41.5mpg and emits 179g/km of CO2 while the BMW X3 xdrive 35d M Sport averages a claimed 46.3mpg and emits 163g/km of CO2. The Audi SQ5 is packed with plenty of kit thanks to being the flagship model on the range. Equipment highlights include 20-inch alloys, xenon headlights with auto headlight-range adjustment, headlight washers and LED daytime running lights, Quattro four-wheel drive, S sports suspension, three-zone climate control, cruise control, light and rain sensors, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors and DAB radio. Summary The Audi SQ5 is the flagship of the Q5 model line-up and if you are intent on buying this version you will not be disappointed. Are there more driver focused cars in the class? Yes, however, this mixes good comfort levels with outright pace. The Audi SQ5 starts from £44,055 and is on sale now. http://www.motortorque.com/audi-q5-estate-(2012-on)-sq5-sq5-quattro-5dr-tip-auto-car-review-22066.aspx Simon McBride Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT The stars of Marvel's upcoming blockbuster Iron Man 3 were joined on the red carpet by a special guest: the Audi R8 e-tron. Robert Downey Jnr and Ben Kingsley were among the names who attended the glitzy event in London's Leicester Square on Thursday 18th April, to watch a VIP screening of the film. In the film, due for general release in UK cinemas from April 25th, the stunning all-electric prototype sports car is driven by protagonist Tony Stark (played by the excellent Robert Downey Jnr). The prototype was shipped over especially from Germany to be displayed on a specially erected plinth alongside the red carpet. Joining the sports car on the red carpet was the film's all-star cast, including the aforementioned Downey Jnr and Kingsley, as well as Rebecca Hall and Don Cheadle. A fleet of Audi A8s chauffeured the film's stars to the event, along with a host of VIP guests including Labrinth, Dermot O'Leary and Estelle. As well as showcasing Audi's sleek design and technology with the R8 e-tron, Marvel's Iron Man 3 also features the Audi S7 Sportback, which is driven by Gwyneth Paltrow's character Peppers Potts. The film also features placement of other Audi vehicles, including the A8 L, A6, S5 Coupe and Q5 models. Is the Audi R8 e-tron cool enough for Tony Stark? Or should he have picked another eco-friendly sports car? Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter to have your say. Written by Glenn Doyle. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/audi-r8-e-tron-wows-at-iron-man-3-vip-screening-22021.aspx Glenn Doyle Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Audi has introduced the RS 5 Cabriolet, a car that sun worshipers and enthusiasts are bound to drool over. The RS 5 Cabriolet mixes pace with wind in your hair driving. The RS 5 Cabriolet is a direct rival for the BMW M3 Convertible M DCT. Yet again the two German heavyweights of the car industry are going toe-to-toe - is the RS 5 Cabriolet a match for the BMW M3 Convertible M DCT - read on to find out. Performance There may only be one engine on the Audi RS 5 Cabriolet but as comedian Frank Carson used to say, "It's a cracker!" The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet is powered by a 443bhp 4.2-litre V8 propelling the drop-top to 62mph in a time 4.9 seconds - that's 0.2 of a second quicker than its direct rival the BMW M3 Convertible M DCT. The RS 5 Cabriolet has an electronically limited speed of 155mph but if required this can be lifted at no extra cost and giving this car a top speed of 174mph. Dab the throttle and you will be thrust back into the driver's seat as the V8 engine kicks into life. The V8 burble from the tailpipe is especially noticeable on the downshift - certainly music to any enthusiast's ears whether you have the hood up or down. Ride and Handling The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet does not feel as nimble through the twisty stuff as a BMW M3 Convertible M DCT. The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet is phenomenal in a straight line, however, it lags behind the M3 through the twisty stuff. The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet comes available with a dynamic steering option and is integrated into the standard Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system. Four settings are available comfort, auto, dynamic and individual. When the dynamic steering option is not specified then these same settings can be applied to the steering weighting, along with the eight-speed S tronic transmission's shift points and the throttle response. The RS 5 Cabriolet has astounding levels of grip thanks to its four-wheel Quattro but for driver engagement the M3 is still the class leader. Even in Dynamic mode the weighting of the steering feels a tad artificial and never gives you the amount of feedback that you get from an M3. It's really good but there is still a little bit of work to do on this front. Comfort and Practicality Audi RS 5 comfort levels are very good if you are willing to keep the car in 'comfort' mode. Switch to 'dynamic', however, and the car becomes much firmer. UK roads littered with potholes are not suited to sporty cars with firm suspensions but this is not the RS 5's fault - on a smooth track you will get the best out of the car in dynamic mode. The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet is surprisingly quite practical - there is a decent amount of legroom in the rear for passengers and boot space is also good. With seats in place the Audi RS 5 Cabriolet has a load space of 380 litres and with the rear seats folded this expands to a 750 litres. The lightweight fabric hood can be raised and lowered by the touch of a button. Opening the hood takes 15 seconds and closing takes 17 seconds. You shouldn't get caught out in sudden downpours as the hood can be closed at speeds of up 31mph. Running costs The entry price for the RS Cabriolet is £68,985, that's £7,300 more expensive than key rival, the BMW M3 Convertible M DCT. Performance is pretty much identical, the Audi pips the BMW in the benchmark sprint by 0.2s, however, the RS 5 fares well when it comes to fuel economy and C02 emissions. The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet has a claimed average economy of 26.4 while the BMW M3 Convertible M DCT should average 24.6mpg. The RS 5 Cabriolet has better CO2 emissions (249g/km) when comparing against the BMW M3 Convertible M DCT (269g/km). The Dynamic Ride Control, dynamic steering and sports exhaust options are available individually or combined as part of a new sports package including 20-inch alloys priced at £2,250. Summary Audi's RS 5 Cabriolet oozes class and buying this car will ultimately depend on how you want to use it. If you want a driver's car then you'll probably go for the default choice in the guise of the BMW M3 Convertible M DCT - where does this leave the RS 5 Cabriolet? Audi die-hards will sign on the dotted line thanks to the brand appeal and the lure of the Quattro technology. It's a good car but there is more work to be carried out if the RS 5 Cabriolet is to become class leading. http://www.motortorque.com/audi-rs5-cabriolet-(2013-on)-car-review-22002.aspx Simon McBride Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Read more about the Audi A3 The hatchback market is renowned for being one of the most competitive out there, with lucrative models like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf forming an integral part of its identity. The Audi A3 is one of the more premium additions to the hatchback segment as it combines the luxurious nature of the German brand with practicality. Watch as we out the Audi A3 to the test in our latest review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_43elUKAfM http://www.motortorque.com/videos/new-car-reviews/audi-a3-review-and-road-test-2013-21858.aspx New Car Reviews Richard Bush Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT When the luxurious nature of German brands like Audi are combined with the practicality of a colossal saloon, you get this - the Audi A4 Avant. Essentially combining the practicality perks of a large family estate with the polished interior and signature exterior appeal of the Audi brand, the A4 Avant seems to be the perfect car for both convenience and street credit - on paper that is. So, what has the Audi A4 Avant really got to offer? We take the Audi A4 Avant out on the road to see what it is all about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXyK_Dkjrns http://www.motortorque.com/videos/new-car-reviews/new-audi-a4-avant-review-and-road-test-2013-21837.aspx New Car Reviews Richard Bush Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT A man was taken to a hospital in Suffolk over the weekend after he left the road and crashed his Audi TT into the side of a house. The incident happened in Long Meadow Walk, Lowestoft, just before 2am on Sunday morning. The driver of the red Audi TT, believed to be in his 20s, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital after being removed from his vehicle by firefighters. The driver of the vehicle was then taken to a hospital in Gorleston, before being transferred to a specialist head injuries unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Luckily the accident didn't end in further injuries, as the three people living inside the suburban home in Suffolk were not in the room at the time of the incident - although they all were in the house that night. Terry Howard, a neighbour who lives opposite the site of the crash, told reporters that he was woken up by 'a really loud bang' that was 'similar to an explosion'. Another neighbour, Keith Shales, remarked: 'I've seen photos of cars going into people's houses before but from the pavement, through the bushes and the cars behind it - it was like a launch pad - it must have been for him to get that high.' The car is believed to have mounted a nearby pavement and flew through the hedge in front of the property, before going over the top of two parked cars in the driveway and smashing into the £250,000 house - about 4ft off the ground. Sergeant Bob Patterson, of Suffolk Police, commented: 'Collision investigators will be at the scene today as we try to ascertain exactly what has occurred.' Patterson further added: 'At this early stage we could not speculate as to what has caused the crash.' http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/man-injured-as-he-crashes-his-audi-tt-into-a-house-21758.aspx Glenn Doyle Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT The five millionth Audi with quattro all-wheel drive has rolled off the company's assembly line at Neckarsulm, Germany. An Audi A6 allroad 3.0 TDI, a quattro all-wheel-drive-equipped model, was the vehicle that earned the title of 'five millionth Audi quattro model'. The rugged, air suspended 'Avant' is just one of over 140 models across the Audi range that currently benefits from this invaluable all-weather grip enhancer - which would come in useful in today's UK weather! Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, commented: 'quattro is one of the key pillars of our brand and has been a critical factor in our successful history.' Stadler further added: 'The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system makes it possible to directly experience our 'Vorsprung durch Technik'. We are committed to our pioneering role and will continue to develop this advantage with new technologies.' The 200PS Audi quattro was an instantaneous hit at the Geneva Motor Show back in 1980, showcasing the first mainstream four-wheel-drive system. The vehicle triggered the intensive development that culminates in today's leading, cutting edge Audi all-wheel-drive technology, which instils all-weather traction and high limits of adhesion in the latest quattro versions. Last year, over 43 per cent of Audi customers worldwide opted to receive the added reassurance of quattro and so the Neckarsulm plant in Germany, which is home of quattro GmbH, had to equip one in every two cars on the production line with the technology. Currently, within Audi models that feature transversely mounted engines, such as the Q3 and TT vehicles, resides a rear axle-mounted multi-plate clutch version of the quattro system. In addition, a further developed version of the aforementioned quattro system will make its return to the all-new A3 and 300PS S3 models. For models with longitudinally mounted engines, such as the A6, A8 and Q7 variants, amongst others, the quattro system divides their torque across all four wheels by way of a self-locking centre differential. The most advance version of this is the crown gear differential, which is currently used by models such as the RS 4 Avant and RS 5 Cabriolet, as well as coming to cars such as the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback versions in the near future. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/audi-produces-five-millionth-quattro-model-21743.aspx Glenn Doyle Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Nearly all Audi cars will be fitted with DAB radio as standard as the digital switch over draws near, the brand has announced. The news follows similar promises from Volkswagen, Jaguar and Ford as the UK government plans to switch off the standard analogue AM/FM radio from next year. Audi says the majority of its cars built from 2014 will have DAB radio as a standard option from the Audi A1 upwards. It has not been announced which cars will retain analogue radio but these should be few and far between. The Audi R8 supercar and Audi TT coupe were the first Audi cars to get the digital radio option. Audi says announcing the changes before the switchover will benefit customers because of the 'enhanced clarity and strength of its signal'. Digital radio is widely believed to be clearer, easier to find reception and offer more stations than standard radio. Nearly a third of all UK radios are digital and the government is believed to be waiting for a 50 per cent figure before implementing the switchover permanently. The UK is currently preparing for the switchover by installing 14 local transmitters by 2015 and the automotive industry is preparing for the changes. In terms of cars; a third of all new models have DAB fitted as standard meaning there are nearly 150,000 new DAB cars on the roads every three months in the UK. Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, added: "This digital radio announcement from Audi demonstrates a huge industry transformation, with digital radio increasingly becoming the norm in new cars. This is significant news for new car buyers who can now enjoy the full range of BBC and commercial stations on the move." In-car DAB radios are available as a retrofit for those who have not got it as standard. Prices for a DAB radio generally range from £100 to £200. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/audi-latest-to-get-dab-as-standard-21688.aspx Stephen Hurrell Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT