Audi cars

Spy Shots: Revised Audi A8 Caught Testing in the Alps

Last month, the 2014 Audi A8 was caught testing for the first time on the public roads in Germany. Today, the car changed landscapes and went for high-altitude testing in the Alps.

Just like in the previous testing session, Audi chose to heavily camouflage this A8 prototype; but even so, we expect to see the same updates that we have seen in all of the recently launched Audi models.

These updates will include: new headlight units; new grille; and small changes to the bumper. On the rear, the revisions include: new taillights and a revised bumper. The interior will also receive some small updates, plus an updated infotainment system.

Under the hood, Audi will focus on reducing fuel consumption and lowering CO2 emissions.

We expect the revised Audi A8 to be unveiled in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A8.

2013 Audi R8 V10 by Pfaff Tuning and Heffner Performance

You shouldn’t be too surprised to hear that the Audi R8 V10 has just received a new upgrade package. After all, ever since it was launched on the market, it received lots of attention from tuners. Today’s package comes courtesy of Pfaff Tuning and Heffner Performance.

The two tuners teamed up for one of the most amazing upgrades offered for the R8 V10. The car received a new twin-turbocharger system from Heffner that includes a pair of Garrett GT35R units running 6 psi of boost.

As a result, the 5.2 liter V-10 engine delivers a total of 725 wheel horsepower (about 850 horsepower at the crank) - quite an increase over the car’s standard 525 horsepower. We’re just wondering how these upgrades will improve the car’s performance figures. Pfaff promised that it will let us know soon.

Click past the jump for a video of the tuning kit and more details on the standard Audi R8 V10.

Video: 100 Years of Audi Innovation in 1 Minute

To review a century of history in just 1 minute can be pretty difficult, especially if you want to highlight those special moments that made you famous. Somehow, however, Audi did it with the release of a video that tells the story of over 100 years of Audi innovation in just 60 ticks of a the second hand.

According to Audi, the video tells the story of "doing things that have never been done before. And doing them until they’re perfect." It starts with the first Audi built, then continues with the Audi 100 and all the way up to the quattro all-wheel drive, ASF space frame technology, the iconic TT, motorsports and all the great things Audi has offered and continues to offer.

In developing the story behind the video, Audi was inspired by the words from the poem, "It Couldn’t be Done" written by the late poet Edgar Albert Guest: "He started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done, and he did it.”

Check out the above video to see all Audi’s 100-year summary.

2013 Audi R8 V10 by ABT Sportsline

We never considered the Audi R8 a model that needs much improvement. We think it has everything it needs: beauty, style and power.

The folks over at ABT Sportsline have developed a very cool kit for the 2013 R8 V10 and transformed it into "an extreme athlete." The tuner started by doing some tricks under the hood, including installing an ABT POWERed kit that increases the engine’s output to a total of 600 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque - up from the standard 525 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque.

Thanks to these upgrades, the ABT R8 V10 will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 198 mph. That’s a 0.2-second drop in 0-to-60 time and a 2 mph increase in top speed from the factory numbers.

Also, because it is even more powerful than the standard version, the tuner equipped it with new ABT suspension springs and coil-overs that both lowered the car’s ride and improved road behavior.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi R8 V10 by ABT Sportsline.

2013 Audi S6 by TAG Motorsports

The Audi S6 is the rare kind of car that appeals to multiple markets. Business types will appreciate the luxury and style that it offers while the power savants will undoubtedly enjoy the luxury sedan’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that packs a stout 450 horsepower.

But just like any car, there’s always room for improvement and in some cases, it doesn’t have to be the audacious variety. U.S. tuner TAG Motorsports proved that with its impressive program for the S6. You might notice that there aren’t any overwhelmingly exuberant components added to the luxury sedan.

But rest assured, what TAG did to the S6 shouldn’t just be ignored. It’s not all about aesthetics; sometimes, it’s about taking advantage of what the car’s strengths are and improving its handling and performance credentials.

So what exactly did TAG Motorsports do to the S6? Click past the jump to find out.

Next Audi TT-RS Could Develop 380 Horsepower

The third generation Audi TT (Tourist Trophy) has already been caught testing in many times and today, new details on the model have surfaced online.

As previously reported, the third-generation TT sports car will return to its original roots: its design will once again be inspired by the original concept unveiled at the 1995 Frankfurt auto show.

According to an unconfirmed report from Car and Driver, the U.S.-spec TT will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with Volkswagen Group’s EA888 turbocharged and direct-injected technology – the same engine that was just added to the 2013 Beetle Turbo. In the base version this engine will deliver a total of 220 horsepower and the S version will receive an extra turbo to allow it to deliver a total of 300 horsepower.

Car and Driver also reported that the TT-RS version will continue to carry a five-cylinder engine tuned to produce a whopping 380 horsepower. That adds up to a 20-horsepower increase over the current generation’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Audi will also offer both front and Quattro all-wheel drive systems on the TT-RS.

The new Audi TT will arrive on the market in 2014 in coupe form and in roadster form a few months later.

Click past the jump to read more about the next Audi TT.

2013 Audi TT Ultra Quattro Concept

Every year at the Wörthersee event, Audi makes sure that its presence is felt significantly.

This year, the German automaker is presenting the “Home of quattro” and it’s got a pretty impressive concept on tap to make its debut in the form of the TT Ultra Quattro Concept.

It’s based on the Audi TT, the German brand’s resident sports car. That’s as far as similarities go because the TT Ultra Quattro Concept is more like the TT’s hotter and sexier cousin, dressed more provocatively to accentuate its sexier curves.

Sure, it’s a concept, which is a real shame, and if Audi ever decided to bring the car to production, it might have to do so at the cost of what makes this car really unique.

At the end of the day, the TT Ultra Quattro is a fantastic concept that will probably give Audi headaches should it decide to green light production. But in its current state, it’s remarkably awesome in every sense of the word.

Updated 05/08/2013: Audi unveiled new images of the TT Ultra Quattro Concept and a new video featuring Le Mans-winning driver Andre Lotterer behind the wheel. Enjoy!

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi TT Ultra Quattro Concept

2013 Audi A1 Competition Kit R18 Red Plus

While the TT ultra quattro concept will no doubt be the star at Audi’s stand at the 2013 Wörthersee meeting, the company is also coming with a few other models that also made quite a sensation.

One of them is the Audi A1 updated with a competition kit inspired by the look of the successful Audi R18 e-tron quattro racecar. Of course, do not expect the A1 to look as extreme as the R18, but still, its look has been reinterpreted for the Audi A1, and the competition kit R18 can be ordered in either gray or red.

The new competition kit includes red plus (or optional gray) decals for the body, new front lip and side skirts, a stylish roof spoiler at the rear and a silver sticker. The car sits on special wheels, while the center console also received a matching color trim.

Click past the jump to read more about the standard Audi A1.

Audi A9 Expected to Arrive in 2016

The long awaited Audi A9 has been in limbo for the past couple of years with Audi seemingly taking its time to unveil its new flagship sedan. And that’s after word spread out that the German automaker trademarked the A9 and S9 names last year.

But there appears to be a groundswell of movement in Ingolstadt these days and according to Auto Motor und Sport, the A9 is expected to be launched in 2016.

Circle those calendars, fellas.

The date of the A9’s launch has changed multiple times, but the latest timetable seems to point to a more concrete expectation as to when the luxury sedan finally comes out and smiles to the cameras.

Another interesting tidbit surrounding the A9 involves the platform it’s going to use, which apparently is the same one that will underpin the next-generation Q7. Now, that’s interesting, considering that the Q7 is a pretty large SUV.

Guess it’ll be interesting to see what the A9 is going to look like, but fortunately, we made a rendering of the luxury sedan (above). Read more about the A9 after the jump.

Video: Marvel’s "Steer The Story" Teaches us How To Draw An Audi R8

The full-court press surrounding the upcoming release of Iron Man 3 has reached a fever pitch, especially for Marvel and German automaker Audi.

A week ago, the two companies decided to give fans of the comic a chance to write their own ending, or more specifically, create the final frame of Iron Man’s comic book showdown against the Blizzard.

This week, Marvel’s "Steer the Story" campaign released a new video, only this time it’s one where Marvel fans will undoubtedly trip over in delight. Or at least those with the artistic chops to do so.

See, Marvel and Audi are giving fans a chance to learn how to do draw a car. But it’s not just any car; it’s a lesson on how to draw the Audi R8 Spyder. The tutorial is a pretty cool exercise, specifically because the instructional video starts with a blank sheet of paper and runs us through the entire process of drawing the R8, beginning with the outline all the way to the shading.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi R8 and Marvel’s Steer the Story contest.