28 Jun 2019

quattro Magazine: Taking the 2019 Audi Q8 to the extreme in the American West

words: George Achorn, photos: Audi of America (Jim Fets) Editor’s note: This article originally ran in the q2_2019 issue of quattro magazine. Is it a “crossover” or an “SUV”? I was in the weeds in more ways than one with an Audi of America product planner in remote and frigid Colorado philosophizing over just what the new Audi Q8 is. I’d called it a “crossover”. He argued “SUV”. From his perspective, an SUV is a more attractive term... at least in the American market. SUV in...
Fri, Jun 28 , 2019 Bill
28 Jun 2019

Compact Powerhouse: ABT Refines Audi SQ2 with 350 hp and 20-inch Wheels

source: ABT Sportsline Its compact dimensions place the Audi SQ2 in the ‘Urban SUV’ class, with 300 hp (221 kW) and 400 Nm of torque, the fun really starts when you’re out of town. Its combination of premium flair and extreme agility make snaking along alpine serpentines or burning up long stretches of motorway equally appealing. In the fast lane, few cars can give the 155 mph SUV a run for its money – fewer now, thanks to the performance upgrade from ABT Power. The updated figures are ...
Fri, Jun 28 , 2019 Bill
28 Jun 2019

New ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Movie Is Audi’s Latest Product Placement

Audi and product placement on the silver screen go hand-in-hand,  particularly this summer with multiple Marvel superhero movies featuring new and future e-tron models. Seemingly out of left field though is participation in the upcoming Charlie's Angels re-boot due out November 15. Sony pictures dropped the trailer yesterday, and from that we've been able to confirm at least two Audi models in the movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSUq4VfWfjE For children of the 1970s, ...
27 Jun 2019

Facts pertaining to Audi Sport’s fifth victory in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring

source: Audi Sport First Nürburgring win for three of the four winning Audi Sport drivers Victory scored in fastest previous-generation car Audi R8 LMS now with 13 victories in 24-hour races On June 23, Audi Sport customer racing celebrated its fifth victory in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Background information and facts pertaining to this success. The victory of the number 4 Audi R8 LMS in the 47th running of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring marked the�...
Thu, Jun 27 , 2019 Bill
26 Jun 2019

Biturbo V8 with Titanic Torque – The New Audi SQ8 TDI

source: Audi UK Range-topping Audi SUV achieves ‘S’ model status through a V8 TDI with 900Nm and advanced chassis technology including active roll stabilisation Most-powerful diesel engine on the European market – biturbo V8 with 435 metric horsepower and 900Nm of torque Touch response operation, extensive connection, many assist systems Available in the UK from July in SQ8 TDI and SQ8 TDI Vorsprung forms Active roll stabilisation, all-wheel steering and sport differential for Vorsprung ...
Wed, Jun 26 , 2019 Bill
26 Jun 2019

Find of the Day: 2019 Audi A4 Ultra sport…the last of the manuals

words: Bill, photos: August Alpern Back in August 2018, we broke the story of the return of the A4 Ultra sport...and the demise of the manual transmission. For those who aren't familiar with the 2019 A4 Ultra sport, Audi of America decided to earmark the last 40 A4s as manual transmission cars. The Ultra sport spec was formulated to be as sporty in appearance as the S4 but with a manual transmission. As we stated in the aforementioned article, all of the cars were built identically. First, the...
Wed, Jun 26 , 2019 Bill
25 Jun 2019

Taken To The Next Level: New Edition of the Audi Q7

source: Audi AG More powerful: new design with clear SUV characteristics and prestige factor More dynamic: active roll stabilization, air suspension and all-wheel steering More cutting edge: touch operating concept, HD Matrix laser light and 48‑volt mild hybrid The Audi Q7 is getting an all-round update – both visually and technically. The large SUV features the new design of the Q family and offers superb dynamics and excellent comfort, in addition to its superior spaciousness. M...
Tue, Jun 25 , 2019 Bill
25 Jun 2019

Firefly Grill Joins Electrify America’s Electric Vehicle Charging Network

source: Electrify America The eco-conscious New American eatery provides EV drivers traveling through the Midwest with a new, convenient charging option in advance of summer travel Electric vehicle (EV) owners locally and EV motorists traveling between major cities in mid-America can now charge their vehicles while enjoying delectable local fare at Firefly Grill, a sustainable farm and eco-conscious New American eatery in Effingham, Illinois. Constantly innovating to improve the dinin...
Tue, Jun 25 , 2019 Bill
25 Jun 2019

PistonHeads: Audi Sport Mulls GT3 Styling Cues for ‘Extreme’ R8

  source: PistonHeads, photos: Audi AG N24 winner set to inspire a sharper, more driver focussed - and RWD - V10 supercar Anyone fancy a rear-drive R8 that takes its cue from Audi Sport's GT3 race car? Because fingers crossed that's exactly what the manufacturer's performance division boss, Oliver Hoffman, is cooking up. Buoyed by the success of the rear-drive RWS and acknowledging that Audi Sport lacks an equivalent to Porsche's GT models and AMG's soon-to-return Black Series, Hoffman sai...
Tue, Jun 25 , 2019 Bill
25 Jun 2019

Unfair Advantage Podcast: We Have A Podcast! Episodes 4-6

words: Bill   It's been awhile since I've posted that yes...we actually have a podcast. The following episodes are pretty darn good if I say so myself. George and I went to the New York International Auto Show back in April to interview Matthew Mostafaei and Anthony Garbis, both Audi of America. A couple of weekends ago, we traveled to the Great White North for Eurokracy and interviewed Audi Club National board member and Canadian Tasmanian Devil, Gordon Varney. These are their stories (dun du...
Tue, Jun 25 , 2019 Bill
24 Jun 2019

Drive-Through, Bad Breaks Ultimately Spoil Imola Italian Gran Turismo Weekend for Audi Sport Italia Young Guns

source: Audi Sport Italia Mattia Drudi claims maiden GT3 pole position in rain-soaked qualifying one Mishaps keep Andrea Fontana stuck to P6 in drivers' points standings Imola, Italy – The Italian GT Sprint meeting staged at historic Imola venue started on a high note for Audi Sport Italia, with Mattia Drudi claiming his maiden GT3 pole position in his one-off come back in the same R8 LMS chassis that he made first acquaintance with. Unfortunately the accomplishment of the young Italia...
Mon, Jun 24 , 2019 Bill
24 Jun 2019

Find of the Day: 2009 Audi 4.2L Supercharged R8

words: Bill, photos: Streetside Classics In a former life, I was fortunate enough to drive a 2012 R8 V8 6sp manual on the fabled track at Sebring. For the next several months, that car came in and out of my life and let me tell you...it was heaven (humble brag shot of me at Sebring following). My fondness for the OG R8 grew and grew and I decided that if I could ever be in the position to own an R8, it would be a MK1 V8 R8 6sp manual in Brilliant Red. So imagine my delight when I stumbled acr...
Mon, Jun 24 , 2019 Bill
24 Jun 2019

International successes for Audi customer teams

source: Audi Sport Further club racing successes of the Audi R8 LMS in Australia Successful debut of the Audi R8 LMS GT4 in Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia First lap of an Audi R8 LMS without a steering column on the Nordschleife While Audi Sport customer racing won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, customer teams clinched international successes on the same weekend. The Audi R8 LMS, the Audi R8 LMS GT4 and the Audi RS 3 LMS achieved numerous podium finishes in Europe, Asia and Australia on ...
Mon, Jun 24 , 2019 Bill
23 Jun 2019

Audi Sport Wins 24 Hours of Nürburgring for the Fifth Time

source: Audi Sport 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019: a 45-percent win rate of the Audi R8 LMS in the world’s biggest endurance race since 2009 Audi Sport Team Phoenix wins with Pierre Kaffer/Frank Stippler/Dries Vanthoor/Frédéric Vervisch Good class results for customer teams complete the brand’s showing The 47th running of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring was a thriller up until the last second: Following a turbulent final stage, the number 4 Audi R8 LMS won the battl...
Sun, Jun 23 , 2019 Bill
23 Jun 2019

Difficult Day For Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler

source: Audi Sport Positions six and nine for Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi in Bern Lucas di Grassi with fightback from nineteenth on the grid Sam Bird from customer team Envision Virgin Racing in fourth At the first E-Prix in the Swiss capital Bern, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler scored points with both cars. However, in the Formula E title race, the team suffered a setback. Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi finished in sixth and ninth positions in Bern. As a result, the gap of d...
Sun, Jun 23 , 2019 Bill
22 Jun 2019

Bern E-Prix: Where to watch

words: Bill, photos: Audi Sport With only two races left in the 2019 season, there aren't many chances to see the action. Fortunately, there are ways you can see the practices and race no matter where you are. The link for those who are not in the States is HERE. At the time of this writing, Practice 1 starts in about an hour. Go Audi! [embed]https://youtu.be/S5U6psJBxl0[/embed]
Sat, Jun 22 , 2019 Bill
22 Jun 2019

Best FIA WTCR Weekend for Audi Sport at Home Round

source: Audi Sport Audi Sport customer racing scores 89 points at the Nürburgring Two second places by Frédéric Vervisch as best results All four Audi Sport drivers score points Audi Sport has every reason to be pleased: Halfway through the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup season the brand celebrated its best result to date. In the supporting program of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, Audi Sport drivers Frédéric Vervisch, Niels Langeveld, Jean-Karl Vernay and Gordon Shedden co...
Sat, Jun 22 , 2019 Bill
21 Jun 2019

autoblog.nl: Bram Schot is fed up with the ‘whining’ about the TT

source: autoblog.nl, photo: Audi Club North America The TT is dead...long live the TT! Back in May, it was reported that the future of the TT was dead. Now? According to autoblog.nl, the TT is very much alive but maybe not in the iteration we are familiar with now. In an interview with Audi CEO Bram Schot at the BNR Auto show, he mentioned he was done with all the whining about the TT demise and wanted to invest in a successor. Read the article HERE
Fri, Jun 21 , 2019 Bill
21 Jun 2019

Gallery of the Day: Audi S5 Coupe and Sportback TDI

words: Bill, photos: Audi AG Note: Audi has released photos and technical details on the new Audi S5 Coupe and Sportback TDI…yes, TDI. If you aren’t aware yet, the new S models from Audi are all powered by diesel engines and it’s highly doubtful we in the States will ever see these on our shores. We will get a gasoline power plant in our S cars. While the engine will be different, our S5 Coupe and Sportback should be identical to the EU model and they are seriously good looking vehicles. ...
Fri, Jun 21 , 2019 Bill
21 Jun 2019

Find of the Day: 2010 Spyker C8 Laviolette

words: Bill, photos: Autosport Designs Inc Well this is different. If you've never heard of Spyker, they are a (very) small Dutch bespoke car manufacturer who just happen to source the Audi 4.2l V8 for their C8 Laviolette coupe (pictured here), C8 Spyder, and the C8 Aileron (long wheel base). Their interior is to die for as you'll see in the photos. This particular C8 Laviolette is for sale on Long Island. It includes the original sticker which shows a price of $209,990. However, the dealer is...
Fri, Jun 21 , 2019 Bill