Audi cars

Tommykaira launches Audi R8 White Wolf Edition

Nagoya-based styling specialist Tommykaira has unveiled at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show a tuning kit based on the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. The package is called White Wolf Edition, mainly because the model features a sweet Formula Silver exterior paint.

Along with the sweet paint, the package also includes an aerodynamic kit, featuring a new front spoiler, side step sill extensions, a new rear lip spoiler and a lower diffuser section. On customer’s request, all of these items can be made from carbon fiber.

The car sits on a set of Prodrive GC-05N alloy wheels sized 9.5-by-20 inches up front and 11.5-by-20 inches at the rear wrapped in 235/30 Bridgestone Potenza S001s tires.

The most impressive addition to the package is the tuner’s new titanium exhaust system. We cannot tell for sure if it increases the engine’s output level in any way, but for sure it looks pretty darn sexy.

2013 Audi TT Coupe and Roadster Black Edition

Ingolstadt-based automaker, Audi, is already working on a new-generation TT, but this doesn’t mean customers can’t still enjoy the current generation. On the British market, for example, Audi unveiled a cool TT Black Edition that can be combined with a new Amplified Black specification package priced at only £700 (about $1,100 at the current exchange rates).

The new Black Edition will be based on the top S line trim level and adds a black trim for the radiator grille surround, tinted rear privacy glass, and xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights. The optional Amplified Black package also adds numerous black elements like the front lip spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler, rear diffuser and the exhaust pipes. The same black treatment continues on the interior.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Audi TT Coupe and Roadster Black Edition.

2013 Audi R8 V10 Plus

Audi has dropped the official details on its updated R8 family, and, much to everyone’s surprise, the company has added a new top model to the line-up: a 550 HP R8 V10 Plus. This new model has received a 25 HP increase over the standard V10 version which develops 525 HP. The new R8 Plus will go on sale at the end of 2012 at a starting price of 173,200 euro, about $210,000 at the current exchange rates.

Compared to the rest of the R8 line-up, the new Plus version will be distinguished by carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) additions in just about every angle of the sports car, including the front splitter, lateral air inlets, the huge rear diffuser, the lining in the engine compartment. The intense use of carbon fiber has helped drop the car’s total weight to an impressive 3461.26 lbs.

In addition to these features, the vent louvers next to the rear window have been painted in matte black, while the dual round exhaust tailpipe trim sections have been finished in gloss black. The new R8 V10 Plus also features LED lights that illuminate the engine compartment.

Updated 02/06/2013: Today Audi has unveiled a new promo video for its latest addition to the lineup: the R8 V10 Plus. Equipped with a new 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic gearbox, this car delivers incredible performance figures!

UPDATE 03/02/13: Yet another new promo from Audi involving the R8 V10 Plus. Don’t worry, it’s a pretty cool video that prominently discusses the power of supercar’s new mid-engined lay-out. Check it out!

Hit the jump to read more about the new Audi R8 V10 Plus.

Audi Threw Zing at Mercedes After SuperBowl Outage

Leave it to Audi to take advantage of an opportunity to get some digs on a rival automaker.

With the unexpected Super Bowl power outage taking well over 30 minutes to get resolved, the German automaker decided to throw a grenade Mercedes’ way. In case you didn’t know, the Superdome is officially titled as the Mercedes SuperBowl by way of Merc’s sponsorship of the dome.

So with the lights out, Audi went to Twitter to send a hilarious tweet Mercedes’ way. Here’s what it said:

"Sending some LEDs to the @MBUSA Superdome right now..."

Shots fired! Shots fired!

To be fair, the lights did come back on, but it was still another ingenious dig by an automaker that’s fast becoming one of the must-follow Twitter accounts in the industry. Remember their previous shots at Acura and its NSX Concept for "spiking" the design of the 1991 Quattro Spyder?

This Mercedes zing, though, is a lot funnier than that one.

2014 Audi A8 L TDI

The 2014 Audi A8 L has been the object of affection for a lot of people, including myself who may or may not have a desktop wallpaper of the German luxury car on his laptop computer.

So, when Audi announced that the A8 L TDI is set to be brought to U.S. shores, you had at least one happy camper that’s already trying to fill up his piggy bank.

In all seriousness, this is great for everyone who has been clamoring for the super-luxurious German limousine to find its way in the Land of the Free. Take out the fact that the Audi A8 L TDI looks like an outright stunner that takes advantage of all the beautiful styling cues that Audi has come to be known for in the past years. Audi’s Premium Package also comes as a standard for the A8 L TDI, which means that you’ll receive Audi side assist and pre-sense rear, 22-way multi-contour comfort seats, front seat ventilation with massage capabilities, and full LED headlights. Sign us up, please!

But what we really like about the A8 L TDI is its 3.0-liter TDI engine that delivers 240 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, allowing the car to hit 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds. Sure, there could have been more power added to the engine, but given the kind of market the A8 L is supposed to take aim at, 240 ponies is mighty plenty for us, especially when the returns equate to an EPA estimated 24 mpg city / 36 mpg highway/ 28 mpg combined.

The 2014 Audi A8 L TDI will retail for $82,500 when it hits dealerships in the spring. That’s significantly cheaper than the $93,000 price tag attached to the Mercedes S350 BlueTEC. We like the S350 BlueTEC, but when given a choice, we’re not hesitating picking the A8 L TDI on this round.

We’ll update this review as more information on the U.S.-spec A8 L TDI is release.

Click past the jump to read Audi’s short press release

MTM Gives the Audi S6 a 32-Percent Increase in Power

If you own an Audi S6 and you are not very pleased by its 420 horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine, the German tuner MTM has the perfect solution for you. The tuner announced a sweet tuning kit that can increase the V-8’s output to an amazing 555 horsepower, but only you need it.

The tuner installed an M-Cantronic system that allows the driver to deliver the extra power just by pressing a button. When the engine delivers its peak 555 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, the top speed is also increased to 180 mph. For these updates, the client will have to pay a total of €3,499 ($4,752 at the current exchange rates). The tuner also offers a four-pipe stainless-steel exhaust system priced at €3,791 ($5,149 at the current exchange rates).

There is also an air spring suspensions system that can lower the car’s ride by 25 mm (0.98 inches) up front and 20 mm (0.78 inches) at the rear. This update will cost you another €1,737 (about $2,359). The final element is, of course, a new set of wheels, priced from €2,107 ($2,850) through €5,228 ($7,101), depending on the customer’s wishes.

A Brembo brake system is in development, but there are no details on the system just yet. We’ll let you know when MTM releases this info.

Check out MTM’s website to order this kit.

2014 Audi S3 Convertible

Shortly after Audi unveiled new generation A3 hatchback at the 2012 Geneva Motor it has been rumored that a convertible version will arrive in just a few months time. If until now all we had were rumors, today our spy photographers have caught the car testing for the very first time. To make it even better this is not just the standard A3 Convertible, but the even more powerful S3.

The new generation A3 Convertible will be based on the A3 sedan version we have caught testing the other weeks, meaning that it will be a little bit prettier than the current generation: you should imagine something like a smaller A5 Convertible.

In fact this is a move everyone expected, considering the current generation A3 Convertible is not the prettiest thing we have seen.

Expect the new Audi S3 Convertible to be unveiled at the end of 2013, most likely in Frankfurt.

2014 Audi RS6 Avant Plus

When Audi announced the TT RS Plus at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, we got pretty excited, as it featured a sportier look and delivered an extra 20 horsepower over the standard TT RS. The R8 V10 Plus followed later in 2012 with an increase of 25 horsepower over the standard R8 V10 and numerous weight-saving treatments.

Now it is time to get even more excited, as it looks like Audi will apply the same treatment to more models in its lineup and the next in line is the RS6 Avant.

First details suggest that, unlike the previous two Plus models, the RS6 Plus’ final output will be increased to an astounding 600 horsepower — up from the standard 560 horsepower in the RS6 Avant. The extra 40 horsepower combined with numerous weight-saving tactics will transform the RS6 Plus into a real beast.

The best part is that the model won’t be built in limited fashion, so if you want an improved RS6 this may be your chance.

We’ll update this review as Audi releases more info.

Super Bowl Ad: Audi Lets You Vote for its Super Bowl Commercial

The Super Bowl is just over a week away and many automakers are already teasing the commercials that they will pay millions to air as the Ravens and 49ers square off. Audi, for example, has prepared a cool collection of commercials, but only one will make the cut for the Super Bowl.

The commercials have been created to promote the S6 sedan - a luxury sedan perfectly designed for those customers who need to gain more confidence with every mile spent behind the wheel.

The idea behind the commercial start from a very big event in any student’s life — the Prom — and the difficulty in find the perfect date. When dad says he can drive into the S6 to the prom, he gets pretty excited, but the question remains will the car help him find the right date? Let’s find out!

Hit the jump to watch the other two commercial Audi prepared for the Super Bowl.

Keep in mind that that you only have until 11:59 p.m. EST to vote for your favorite one on Audi’s YouTube page. Then just watch the big game and see which commercial won.

Hofele Adds Extra Style to the Audi Q7 With the Strator GT 780 Kit

Until Audi drops the next-generation Q7 SUV onto the market, the guys over at Hofele Design have unveiled an awesome tuning kit based on the 2011 and 2012 Q7. The kit is called Strator GT 780 and can be yours if you have an extra €6,900 ($9,300 at the current exchange rates) in your pocket.

The Strator GT 780 kit includes a new front bumper with bigger air intakes and four additional lamps, more pronounced wheel arch extensions, a wide rear apron diffuser and a new exhaust system with four oval tailpipes. For the interior, the tuner adds a bi-color leather treatment on the seats, the door elements, the front and rear armrests and the steering wheel.

The kit also includes a set of 20-inch wheels combined with an electrical lowering module that can lower the car’s ride by 40 mm (1.57 inches). Once the SUV hits 80 km/h (49.7 mph), the lowering module lifts the Q7 back to its normal ride height to retain its normal ride and safety.

If you have extra money in your pocket you can also opt for some engine updates. Hofele offers up tuning packages for all five engines that the Q7 has available, which includes the 3.0 TDI, 3.6 V6 FSI, 4.2 V8 FSI, 4.2 TDI and 6.0 V12 TDI. From the factory, these engines crank out 240 horsepower, 280 horsepower, 350 horsepower, 340 horsepower and 500 horsepower, respectively. With the Hofele engine updates, these engines get bumped up to 275 horsepower, 305 horsepower, 375 horsepower, 370 horsepower and 555 horsepower, respectively.

Regardless of whether you want only aesthetics or a little pep to go along with the show, Hofele has the right kit for you.