2013 Audi R8 V10 Limited Edition

If you thought the Audi R8 China Edition was rare, then you’ll be shocked to know that there’s a limited-edition model that’s even rarer than that. This is the Audi R8 V10 Limited Edition and, as its name suggests, Audi is only building a select number of these babies — 30 in all — for the Chinese market. To distinguish itself from the rest of the R8s out there, including the aforementioned China Edition, Audi decided to dress up the R8 Limited Edition in a unique Nordic Gold paint finish that, on looks alone, can make a serious case as a permanent color option for the R8.

Aesthetic modifications are also abound for this limited-run model, highlighted by front and rear air intakes and outlets, lightweight tailpipes, and a radiator grille that has been finished in matte black. The dress up continues with the front and rear slats. Additionally, the rear bumper, and the radiator grille surround and bars all sport a matte-titanium-grey finish. The front spoiler, side blades, fixed rear wing and the enlarged diffuser have been upgraded to carbon matte.

Inside, the R8 Limited Edition features sports bucket seats and headlining, both of which have been dressed with black Alcantara with contrasting stitching and piping, and the knee pad now comes in shark skin black with its own contrast stitching. Carbon matte, or at least inlays of it, was also used inside, particularly the A-pillar and the door pulls. To assert the limited-edition nature of this R8, the aluminum gear knob comes with a limited edition number, ranging from 1 to 33 with the numbers 4, 14, and 24 excluded from the list. Why, you ask? The number "4" equates to bad mojo for the Chinese.

Audi China has priced the R8 Limited Edition at 2,628,000 yuan, which is around $420,000 based on current exchange rates, an amount that affluent and passionate Chinese auto enthusiasts won’t have trouble shelling out.

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I finally found a car at SEMA with see through acrylic rims... and with a chrome paint, and color changing lights in the rims, side scoops, and grills.. wow

to see how they painted the car http://velocity.discovery.com/videos/inside-west-coast-customs-how-to-chrome-an-audi-r8.html  

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review Audi RH Combines A Zero Emission Hydrogen Engine Concept

review Audi RH Combines A Zero Emission Hydrogen Engine Concept - Due to rapid population growth, driving in the future might create more frustration than joy, especially in overcrowded cities. People will either use high-tech vehicles or public transport. The feeling of individual mobility, however, contributes a lot to the impression of freedom enjoyed by many motorists.

download wallpaper review Audi RH Combines A Zero Emission Hydrogen Engine Concept

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Do Audi's park with their ears pinned back? Or did this owner just try to save them from clods that break off innocent side mirrors (it's happened to me)

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2012 New Audi A6 Hybrid

2012 New Audi A6 Hybrid

Here is information about 2012 New Audi A6 Hybrid. In the near future, Audi will begin series production of the Audi A6 hybrid, its second hybrid model after the Q5 hybrid quattro. The Audi A6 hybrid employs an efficient parallel hybrid concept: Its combustion engine, a 155 kW (211 hp) 2.0 TFSI, works together with an electric motor that delivers 33 kW (45 hp) and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque. The electric motor sits directly behind the TFSI, occupying the space of the torque converter upstream of the modified 8-speed tiptronic. The transmission sends torque to the front wheels. Audi A6

Audi A6 Hybrid Review

A crash-protected area of the luggage compartment houses a light, compact lithium-ion battery that provides 1.3 kWh of nominal power and generates 39 kW. Depending on requirements, it is air-cooled in two ways – by means of a blower from the interior or by means of an internal refrigerant circuit coupled to the automatic air conditioning system. This technology largely maintains the rechargeable battery within the appropriate temperature range, thereby ensuring that the vehicle operates on electric power a comparatively large percentage of the time. Audi A6

The Audi A6 hybrid can achieve speeds of up to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) purely on electricity; at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37.28 mph), it has a range of 3 km. It can also operate with the combustion engine only or in hybrid mode; in the deceleration phases, it recovers power and activates both the engine and the electric motor together when accelerating quickly. Special indicators on the instrument cluster and on the MMI monitor provide of detailed display of the different driving conditions. Audi A6

The Audi A6 hybrid provides the power of a V6, combined with the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder engine. It accelerates in 7.3 seconds from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph), top speed is 238 km/h (147.89 mph) and the average fuel consumption is 6.2 liters per 100 km (37.94 US mpg), a CO2 emissions level of 142 grams per km (228.53 g/mile).

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Hybrid Car Brands

Just who is making hybrid cars these days and what brands are considering making hybrid cars in the future?

Major Hybrid Car Brands
Hybrid cars are currently being built and sold by General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota and Nissan. General Motors builds hybrid cars under several divisions including Saturn, Chevrolet, and GMC.  Ford has the Mercury and Ford divisions.  Toyota sells hybrids under the brand name of Lexus .  While Honda and Nissan just sell hybrids under their own name plates.

Toyota
Under the Toyota brand name, there are three models currently on sale. The iconic Prius is almost synonymous with hybrid and is the first car most people think of when they think of hybrids. Toyota also sells the Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid under the moniker of Toyota.

Toyota also has their luxury division, the Lexus hybrids. Under the Lexus brand name, Toyota sells the HS, LS, RX, and GS Hybrids. They keep adding models under the Lexus nameplate, so expect and IS hybrid to arrive soon. The HS hybrid is a dedicated model like the Prius. The others are subtypes under the model. In other words, you can buy gas-only models, or you can opt for the hybrid engine.

Honda
Honda sells the Civic Hybrid under their brand name. They also currently sell the only other dedicated hybrid on the road, the Insight. They used to sell a Hybrid Accord, and the two-seater hybrid Insight, but have retired both models.

Expect to see Acura Hybrids in the future.

Nissan
Nissan has only one hybrid model for sale, the Nissan Altima Hybrid. It is built using hybrid technology from Toyota and is sold in only eight US states. Nissan has plans to bring an Infiniti M35 Hybrid to market in the coming year.

General Motors (Cadillac, Chevy, Saturn, GMC)
They build several models (currently) using the Chevrolet brand. There is the Chevy Malibu and Chevy Silverado. The Chevy Volt, the Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV), will be out soon and while GM considers the Volt to be a subtype of electric vehicle, it still falls under the hybrid type.

GM also builds the GMC Yukon and Sierra. And the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid also falls under the GM brand.

The Saturn brand was at one point, the cornerstone for hybrids under the GM umbrella. But Saturn is no more. You can still see the hybrid Vue and Aura on the road today.

Ford
Ford sells four different models under two different brand names. The Mercury Division sells the Milan and Mariner Hybrid. While Ford retains the Fusion and Escape Hybrid. The Lincoln division will have its own hybrid soon, but it's not here yet. The Mercury hybrids are the upgraded version of the Ford Hybrids, so expect them to be very similar if you take a look at both of them.

Chrysler
Chrysler sold the Aspen and Durango Hybrids for a total of two months before pulling the plug on both models. The Dodge Durango is very similar to the Chrysler Aspen, and both were built using the dual hybrid technology developed in partnership with BMW and GM.

Chrysler at one point had plans to bring a Dodge Ram Hybrid to market, but that seems to be on hold.

Hyundai
Hyundai is jumping in with both feet in the next year, with the Sonata Hybrid. Distinguishing itself from the other hybrids listed above, it's going to be one of the first hybrids to use lithium polymer battery packs, giving it an advantage over some of the more established hybrid models and brands listed above.

Mazda
Mazda has sold the Tribute hybrid in very limited numbers.  The Tribute was built using Ford Hybrid technology, when Mazda and Ford were a lot tighter than they are today.  Now Mazda is looking to partner with Toyota for the technology used in the Prius for their future hybrid model in 2013.

Fisker and Tesla
Fisker and Tesla are both bringing hybrid cars to market (they probably don't appreciate being lumped together given the lawsuits over the past few years). These startups are working hard to go straight to electric or hybrid and are emphasizing performance, rather than fuel efficiency right from the get go.

Audi, Subaru, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, Ferrari, Lotus, Kia, Maserati, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen and Volvo
Each of the brands mentioned above are attempting their own hybrid models, and several have brought some noteworthy test models to auto shows. Several are on their way to bringing those cars to market right now, but are still a few years away from seeing them on the road in more than just 'test fleets'. Some are closer than others, while some probably have no intention of ever going hybrid unless they are forced to do so by the tighter restrictions being enforced in Europe, Asia and the US in the coming years.

Looking for more information on one of the brands above?
Either search for the brand name here on this site or use the categories below or on the sidebars.  Each of the major brands listed will have more information that I've accumulated over the years.

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First Drive: 2010 Audi TTS Coupe

Finally, Speed Matches Style

By Nate Martinez

In the decade or so it's been on the market, the Audi TT has become world renowned for its avant garde style, but it's never ranked high as a true sports car. That perception changed recently thanks in large part to quattro GmbH -- the performance division responsible for the mighty R8. The result is the new TTS, a potent blend of speed, flair, and livability. Watch out, Porsche.

With the "S" onboard, Audi's small 2+2 has evolved into a mechanical ensemble that delivers as many smiles on its drivers' mugs as stares from passersby. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder is fortified with a strengthened block, an aluminum-silicon alloy head, a bigger Garrett variable turbocharger, reinforced internals, and a remapped ECU. How does 265 horsepower sound?

Audi says a sprint to 60 mph in the TTS only takes 4.9 seconds. That's just a couple of ticks off the Porsche Cayman S PDK (4.4 seconds), putting the TTS squarely in the legitimate sports car neighborhood. Unfortunately, we weren't able to put the TTS through our usual barrage of instrumented testing, but there's no doubt this thing is fast. It's a point-and-shoot type of ride with boatloads of grip courtesy of an intelligent quattro all-wheel drive system and aluminum-bred suspension. And that's with the electronics set in "Normal."

Slide the S-tronic dual-clutch lever down into the more aggressive "S" mode, and the throttle's responsiveness noticeably steps up. Like in its R8 big brother, the TTS's magnetic variable-rate dampers can be stiffened at the press of a button for a considerably sturdier ride. We ran our Solar Orange tester on some rain-soaked serpentine byways of San Diego County, and it easily devoured pavement with a level of poise and eagerness not found on the standard model. Even with the hard mountain rain creating mini-skidpads ahead of us, the quattro all-wheel drive setup kept us out of the berms and pegged on the proper line.

The TTS is a capable all-arounder -- not just a straight line missile. In full-on sport mode (dampening and transmission in "S"), the dual-clutch 'box holds each of its six gears to high revs and shifts at the 6800-rpm max with a palatable "braap! braap!" from its quad pipes. Its 258 pound-feet. of torque is available between 2500 to 5000 rpm. Linger in this sweet spot, and heads will get sucked into their leather buckets with each seamless upshift.

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Audi e-tron in the Coming Years

Audi will be launching the Q5 Hybrid in late 2010 (maybe early 2011), but that's just the beginning. The A8 hybrid concept is being debuted along with the A1 e-tron in Geneva. A small series of the e-tron (E-REV) will be built and sold in limited numbers by the end of 2012.  And it's the e-tron name Audi wants you to remember.

Audi A8 pictured

"Just as “quattro” has become a synonym for all-wheel drive, so “e-tron” is to be the Audi brand name for electric mobility." said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG in a statement.

Audi has been creating an e-performance project house since 2009, with support from the Federal German Ministry for Education and Research. They have been working on the development of a new overall electric vehicle concept, including the body, battery and power electronics.

A1 e-tron
The A1 e-tron concept is an E-REV with 50 km (31 miles) of all electric range, followed by a range extension powered by a single-rotor Wankel engine of about 200 km (124 miles). 

The average fuel consumption is 1.9 liters per 100 km (1248 mpg) with CO2 emissions of 45 g/km (72.42 g/mile).

Audi A8 Hybrid.
The A8 Hybrid combines a 2.0 TFSI engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 245 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.  That's about the equivalent of a six cylinder engine, but the fuel efficiency has been raised significantly at the same time.  Average fuel consumption was rated at 38 mpg or 232 g/mile.

The hybrid engine is set in parallel, with the electric motor and gas engine capable of moving the vehicle in certain situations.  The electric motor can move the car up tot 60 mph and can last for more than 2 km (1.2 miles).

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Audi A8 Hybrid on the Way to Geneva

Audi, who will not, I repeat, not build mild hybrids, is going to reveal a full hybrid A8 at the Geneva Auto Show in March. This according to board chairman Rupert Stadler who was speaking to reporters at the Detroit Auto Show.

Stadler revealed the A8 Hybrid will be powered by a lithium-ion battery pack developed by Sanyo. He expects the fuel efficiency to increase by 15 percent over the current A8.

Audi does not want to focus on hybrids, but is instead hoping to use them as stepping stones to building electric vehicles. That's why the emphasis on skipping over mild hybrid technology and going right for full hybrids.

Full hybrids can be propelled by either the electric motor or the gas engine. Mild hybrids use the electric motor to 'assist' the gas engine which is responsible for actually moving the car.

Audi will have a Hybrid Q5 Crossover late this year or early next year, with the A8 Hybrid (now that it's out there) expected sometime after.

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Diesels Beat Hybrids in 2010 Green Car of the Year

The Audi 3 TDI hatchback was named Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal at the LA Auto Show. That's the second year in a row a diesel has taken home top honors.

The nominees for 2010 included 3 hybrids and two diesels.

Last year, the Jetta TDI won and the year before it was the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. So, obviously, green car of the year is not 'Greenest Car' for that year. Instead, the qualification require a new vehicle and focuses in on the new aspects of a vehicle that make it green.

The TDI won last year because the 'clean diesel' was new. The Chevy Tahoe wonn in 2008 because it had the new two-mode hybrid system.

This year, the other nominees were the latest generation Prius, the Mercury Milan Hybrid, the Honda Insight, and the Volkswagen Golf TDI.

From the press releases (Audi and Green Car Journal)
The A3 TDI is the latest example of the fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions benefits provided by the critically acclaimed TDI clean diesel product line, following the wildly popular Q7 TDI, which launched in June 2009. TDI clean diesel technology was first developed by Audi 20 years ago and has come to signify the brand's commitment to trailblazing automotive performance executed in an environmentally responsible way.

The groundbreaking TDI 2.0 engine available in the A3 delivers 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, yet achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway fuel economy that is the best of any luxury car sold in America. That means the Audi A3 TDI achieve 50% better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.

"The Audi A3 TDI offers it all," says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "This compact luxury car features an impressive EPA estimated 42 mpg on the highway - a 50 percent highway fuel efficiency improvement over the standard gasoline engine A3. Plus, this Audi's quiet, clean diesel engine delivers loads of low-end torque and a fun-to-drive experience, all with the functionality of a 5-passenger hatchback."

Along with setting the bar for highway fuel economy in the compact luxury car segment, Audi's 50-state certified A3 TDI is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo direct injection (TDI) engine with a standard S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and comes at an MSRP of $29,950.

"In winning the 2010 Green Car of the Year Award, the Audi A3 TDI demonstrates the bright future that clean diesel technology provides through reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "This honor demonstrates that the A3 TDI is a ready-now solution to our society's toughest transportation issues."

The Green Car of the Year® jury, comprised of six environmental and automotive experts along with Green Car Journal editors, selected the 2010 Audi A3 TDI from a field of five finalists that also included the Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius and VW Golf TDI.

This year's invited jurors included Dr. Alan Lloyd, president of the International Council on Clean Transportation; Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; Matt Petersen, president of Global Green USA; automotive expert and television host Jay Leno; and automotive icon Carroll Shelby. The Green Car Journal has been unveiling the Green Car of the Year® winner at the LA Auto Show every year since it initiated the annual award in 2005.

"This was the strongest field of nominees ever for our Green Car of the Year® program," said Cogan. "It's a clear indication that the auto industry is on track to deliver an expanding number of 'green' car choices at the showroom in coming years. It's also an affirmation that fuel-efficient clean diesel models are becoming a serious competitor in the American market."

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2009 Audi S4 Sedan

The next generation 2009 Audi A4 is set to debut at next week's Paris Motor Show. It marks the innovation of a modern powerplant for the S-series lineup, a 3.0L TFSI V6 engine supercharged. The Audi A4 uses a pair of 4 vane rotors and assembles in valley of the engine block. It's air were fed through a set of intercoolers up to the combustion chambers that provides the fuel straight from the injection system.

Equipped with a 333 horsepower and 325 pound feet of torque fed through a 6-speed manual gearbox or a new 7-speed S-Tronic dual clutch transmission, it runs to 62 miles per hour in 5.1 seconds. The new S4's quattro system transmits 40% of the torque to the front wheel and 60% to the rear wheel. The S4's exterior gets a more intense looking front and rear with a new 18-inch wheels. The new sport seats and it's elegant and fancy interior brings the new S4 a very distinct design.

The Audi A4 will be released in Europe on both sedan and Avant wagon variety this coming March. It will be unleashed in the U.S. this coming fall with the limitation to the sedan model only. Pricing is at $48,610 similar to the current model.

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2008 Audi R8 TDI Le Mans Concept

2008 Audi R8 TDI Le Mans Concept

Audi is presenting a revolution in the top class – the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance roadgoing sports car. The V12 TDI with a displacement of six liters powers a concept car based on the Audi R8. This unit generates a huge 500 hp and 1,000 Newton-meters (737.56 lb-ft) of torque. Audi is writing a new chapter in diesel technology with this power unit. Equipped with the expertise that Audi has built up through its motor sport activities, the R8 TDI Le Mans in Brilliant Red embodies superb road handling, pioneering technology and fascinating design.

The V12 TDI is closely related to the engine in the Audi R10, the two-time Le Mans winner – so it catapults the Audi R8 into supercar terrain concerning performance too. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.2 seconds and its top speed is well over 300 km/h (186.41 mph). The peak torque, reached at only 1,750 rpm, paves the way for effortless acceleration that is unrivaled even at this level.

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