Audi Reveals New A8 Hybrid At 2012

A little over a year after the presentation of its A8 Hybrid Concept at the 2010 edition of the Geneva Salon, Audi is introducing the final production version of its frugal four-cylinder limousine, which goes on sale in 2012.Confirming our suspicions that the concept label was misleading, Audi made very few changes to the production model such as the smaller (18" instead of 21") but same design alloy wheels and the more conventional looking engine cover.
There are no changes under the hood with the car featuring a parallel hybrid powertrain that combines a modified 2.0-liter turbocharged TFSI gasoline engine delivering 211HP and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque, with a disc-shaped electric motor that develops 40 kW (54HP) and 210 Nm (154.89 lb-ft).
Audi says the short-term system output is rated at 245-horsepower and 480 Nm (345.03 lb-ft) of torque.
The electric motor is mounted in the space usually occupied by the torque converter in front of the modified eight-speed tiptronic transmission, which guides power to the front wheels. Electric energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery, which weighs 36.7 kilograms (80.9 lb) and is located in a crash-proof area in the trunk.
In terms of performance, the A8 Hybrid goes from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph).
Its fuel consumption in the EU cycle is said to be under 6.4 liters per 100 km (36.8mpg US or 44.1mpg UK), and CO2 emissions below 148 grams per km (238.2 g/mile).
In addition, the A8 Hybrid can travel on electric power alone at speeds of up to 100km/h (62mph) and for a distance of up to three kilometers or 1.86 miles at a constant 60km/h (37 mph).
The driver can choose from three different modes including "EV", in which priority is given to the electric drive, "D" where the system controls both the engine and the electric motor, and finally the "S" mode for a sportier driving style.
Visually, the A8 Hybrid sports some subtle differences over the standard model including the turbine rotor-style alloy wheels (18-inch standard, 19-inch optional), special badges on the outside, an available, exclusive Arctic Silver finish and a bespoke instrument panel.
Pricing and availability are expected to be announced at next month's 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Mutant Opel Astra Station Wagon

Of all the excessive custom creations that we've shown you through these pages over the years, this 1999 Opel Astra Station Wagon from Holland must be one of the most bizarre –and that's an understatement- ever.

While keeping the standard model's…82HP-strong 2.0-liter diesel engine, the owner modified the late 1990s Astra estate with anything he could find including an Audi front end, a wide body kit with excessive wheel arches and more vents than a cheese grater.

But wait, there's more: the Astra SW also features a pair of Lambo-style scissor doors up front and….Gullwing-style doors at the back. Inside, we find four-bucket seats (to keep you in place from all those Gs generated by the 82 stallions under the hood) and a decorative NOS kit.

Perhaps the most ridiculous aspect of this story is that the owner put the car up for sale with an asking price of…€12,000 or about US$17,200!

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Audi Q7 Pickup Truck is the Real Deal

A little over a month ago, we showed you a photo of a two-door Audi Q7 Pickup Truck, wondering at the same time if the picture was real or the result of some handy digital manipulation.
Earlier this week, Carscoop reader 15 that the Audi Q7 Pickup Truck does indeed exist in real life, and to prove it, he pointed us towards a Facebook page with four photos of the one-off model.
We can’t confirm this, but Majdo-dk wrote that the Q7 Pickup Truck was produced in Slovakia, while the photo album noted that the pictures were taken in VW BA, which we assume stands for Volkswagen Bosnia and Herzegovina. If that's the case, then the Q7 Pickup Truck could be an official project.

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Audi's Urban e-Tron Minicar Concept At Frankfurt motor show

It's showtime for Audi that just released the first sketches of its Frankfurt Motor Show-bound Urban Concept a couple of days after a camouflaged prototype made a public appearance at the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin Germany during a video shoot.
The official sketches show a lower and sleeker design with more futuristic styling elements than what we saw in the video footage of the car, but that's usually the case with all designer renderings.
Audi says the Urban Concept is an ultra-light car for congested urban spaces that is not based on any previous model. It is built around a central carbonfibre monocoque and rolls on massive wheels with a 21-inch diameter.
Power comes courtesy of two e-tron electric motors that draw energy from a lithium-ion battery.
A sliding canopy that forms part of the body opens up to allow the driver and one passenger to enter the car. The cockpit consists of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which integrates the undercarriage of both seats.
The driver is seated in front and to the left while, the passenger behind and to the right. Audi says the driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals to his own body measurements.
More details on the Urban Concept are to be released closer to the Frankfurt Motor Show. 

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Audi Preparing Q6 Crossover to Battle BMW's X6 in 2016

As already reported, the success of Audi's Q-series has convinced company officials to expand the firm's presence in the SUV/Crossover segment. In 2010, sales of the Q7 increased by 37.1% compared to 2009 rising to 47,700 units while the Q5 recorded a 32.4% growth to 155,000 deliveries.
Add to that another 100,000 annual sales that Audi expects from the recently launched Q3 and it’s pretty clear why Ingolstadt's bosses want to double the luxury brand’s range of crossover models.
Sources from within Audi have hinted at the development of three new production models. The first one to be launched in 2014 or 2015, will be the sporty Q4 based on the revised version of the Q5 that will rival the likes of the Range Rover Evoque. In addition, a Q2 model build on a smaller platform is also under consideration.
However, as CAR magazine reveals, it is the Q6 that could be the most interesting of Audi’s new crop of SUVs. The British publication says the Q6 will also be loosely based on the Q5, and while Audi could launch it as soon as 2013, the report claims the Germans will most likely wait for the unveiling of the second generation Q5 to use an extended version of its updated platform architecture.
What prompted Audi to develop the Q6 is the same thing that made Mercedes-Benz plan a new, sporty SUV for 2015: the success of BMW’s X6, which last year alone sold 44,000 units. Car says Audi intends to outperform its rivals by offering a more spacious and practical interior. And although platform sharing with other SUVs in VW Group’s empire sets certain restraints, Audi’s designers have opted for an aggressive stance with a low roofline and raked windshield and rear window.
The Q6 is said to be offered with a wide range of engines from Audi’s more than ample portfolio. The base version will likely be powered by an updated version of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder TFSI with an output of around 220HP.
Further up the range there will be a new 3.0-liter petrol V6 similar to the one found in the S5, but with a turbocharger replacing the supercharger and a maximum output of 300HP.
Consumption-conscious buyers who don't want to sacrifice performance will be able to opt for Audi's 3.0-litre TDI V6 diesel with 250HP and 550 Nm (406 lb/ft) of torque or the plug-in hybrid version that will combine the 2.0-liter TFSI with a 100HP electric motor.

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Audi Reboots its 1.8-liter TFSI Engine

Last month, Audi divulged the facelifted versions of its A5 range, which include the Coupe, Convertible and Sportback models.
While the cosmetic changes were minor, the Ingolstadt-based company introduced a new 1.8-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine that will power the entry-level A5 models. Now, Audi decided to share the full details of its new, more powerful and at the same time more frugal gasoline unit.
The new 1.8 TFSI has a displacement of 1,798 cc. It produces 170HP at a rather low 3,800 rpm and, more importantly, 320 Nm (236 lb/ft) of peak torque from 1,400 rpm until 3,700 rpm. When equipped with a manual-gearbox, the A5 Coupe 1.8 TFSI accelerates from 0-100 km (0-62 mph) in 7.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).
Audi says the four-cylinder engine is much more fuel efficient than its predecessor as average consumption has been reduced by 21% to just 5.7 lt/100 km (41.27 mpg), while CO2 emissions are the lowest in its class, with 134 g/km.
Naturally, the force-fed 1.8-liter unit meets the Euro 6 standards which will be implemented in 2015.
Audi has achieved this by paying particular attention to the combustion behavior of the engine. For example, the new unit features direct fuel injection (FSI) but with rail pressure increased from 150 to 200 bar. At the same time, it also uses indirect injection where fuel is sprayed at the end of the intake manifold when the engine operates at part-load. The direct injection system operates at start up and at higher engine loads. In addition, the variable valve system operates on the exhaust side and adjusts the camshafts in 2 angles, 30 or 60 degrees.
The new 1.8 TFSI is lighter by 3.5 kg (to 131.5 kg) than the previous unit and features an all-new turbocharger with a maximum boost pressure of 1.3 bar. The turbine wheel is manufactured by a new alloy that can withstands temperatures up to 980 degrees Celsius and the electronic boost pressure controller adjusts pressure immediately in order to reduce fuel consumption.
It also has a fully electronically regulated cooling system that aims to bring the oil to operating temperature as fast as possible. This is done by operating the main radiator only at the last possible moment and by keeping the coolant in the crankcase for a long time. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the water-cooled cylinder head, reducing exhaust gas temperature and thus doing away with the need to use a rich fuel mixture at full engine load, further reducing consumption.

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Hacking your Car through a Smart Phone

Security consulting firm iSec Partners warns drivers that thieves could exploit smart phone apps that allow the unlocking and starting of cars remotely.

Researchers Don Bailey and Mathew Solnik have hacked the protocols some of these apps use and demonstrated how they can take advantage of them using a laptop.
According to Mr. Bailey, the whole process of hacking and improvising the signals these apps send – what he dubs “war texting” – can take as little as two hours.
Mr. Bailey will discuss the research at Black Hat Technical Security Conference in Las Vegas this week. Of course, he won’t name the products or provide full technical details of Mr. Solnik and his work until the software makers can patch them. GM, Mercedes-Benz and BMW all use the technology in one form or another.
Bailey and his cohort intercepted messages sent between the server and the target vehicle over standard mobile networks. He explains:
"We reverse-engineer the protocol and then we build our own tools to use that protocol to contact that system.”
Researchers at iSec think this is indicative of a more widespread problem created by the proliferation of “cheap and easy” mobile networking technology.
Bailey suspects that security considerations are often minimally addressed, thereby making devices using the technology susceptible to exploitation and misuse.

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MTM Adds Some Power Upgrades to Audi A7 Sportback TDI

After Senner Tuning's recent take on the Audi A7 Sportback TDI, MTM is next in line to offer its services to the diesel-powered model.


In regular factory trim, the A7's 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel engine churns out 245-horses and 500Nm (369 lb-ft) of peak torque. The German tuning firm offers buyers two different options, the first pushing output to 285HP and peak torque to 580Nm (427.8 lb-ft), and the second to 300-horsepower and 600Nm (442.5 lb-ft) respectively.
Whichever tune you choose, top speed is set at 263 km/h (163 mph). MTM said both systems are available for 1,392 Euros (US$2,000) including fitting.
For those with deeper pockets, MTM offers a sports exhaust system with quad tail pipes for 2,600 Euros (US$3,750) and 20-inch Bimoto alloy wheels, while the tuner is also working on a new sports suspension for the A7 V6 TDI.

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Mercedes-Benz Wants to Take Top Spot from BMW

If Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche's dream comes true, Mercedes-Benz is on course to become the world’s leading premium car maker both in sales as well as in profits. As Automotive News reports, Zetsche sent a letter to the firm's employees admitting that chief competitors Audi and BMW are growing faster than Mercedes.
"Some of our competitors are now growing faster and more profitably than we are. Granted, those are just snapshots in time and should not be overestimated. After all, many of our best new products are yet to come" Zetsche wrote in the letter.
But he didn’t stop there: “We can’t be content to be in a solid second or even third place. We are Daimler – we should be far ahead of the pack! And if it requires something we don’t have, we’ll identify and develop it”.
Currently the premium car market is enjoying great success mostly due to the boom in China and the rebound of the US market. However, Mercedes-Benz global sales, despite increasing by 9.7% to 610,531 units in the first half of the year, still trail those of BMW (689,861 deliveries) and Audi (652,970 units).

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