Another racing series starts engines for the first time this 2013 motorsport season. Combining produced-based vehicles of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz with some of the greatest road course in Europe, the DTM Series is set to receive a 24-car field at the Hockenheimring. Ready for a fresh tour, the cast and characters of the 2013 DTM Series will stand on an all-new stage with the off-season announcement of several changes.

Beyond the 42-lap race at the Hockenheimring opening the 2013 11-race schedule, the DTM championship will present a fair assortment of familiar and new tracks. The Eurospeedway Lausitzring round was moved from the 2^nd to 4^th event on the 2013 DTM Series calendar. The 2013 season will open with trips to three countries. A series long accepted as German-based, the DTM Series continues to branch out across Europe and beyond. The biggest addition to the 2013 DTM Series schedule is an inaugural Moscow Raceway round at a 2.555-kilometer on August 8^th. A Spanish round held last year in Valencia has been dropped from the calendar, as has a non-points event that operated at Munich, Germany’s Olympic Stadium.

Winning four races in 2012, long-time DTM Series mainstay Mercedes-Benz suffered an overall unstable outing last season. The HWA Team competing with the AMG Mercedes-Benz C-Coupe was a potent organization throughout the 2012 season with Gary Paffett and Christian Vietoris. The HWA Team’s lead driver Paffett fell short of the 2012 driver’s title. Gary Paffett returns to the HWA Team driving Euronics colours. I can’t wait to finally get started in Hockenheim and intend to be back on the attack once again in my EURONICS Mercedes AMG C-Coupé. My goal is clear: to fight for the championship and not be pipped at the post again in the finale at Hockenheim.” said Paffett. Canadian driver Robert Wickens transfers to the HWA Team in 2013 driving a STIHL sponsored car. “My orange and white STIHL Mercedes AMG C-Coupé is definitely one of the coolest designs seen on the DTM grid this year. In my whole racing career, I’ve certainly never seen a paint job that I liked better. Our goal now is to make sure that we don’t just look cool but are also fast.” said Wickens. Female driver Susie Wolff left Mercedes-Benz and the DTM Series in favour of a Formula 1 test driver post with the Williams F1 team.

Enjoying a big reintroduction to the DTM Series last season, BMW quickly came up to speed with their M3 DTM race car. Finding victory lane in only the second race of the season, the return of BMW to DTM was led by series veteran Bruno Spengler. After an opening race mishap, the Canadian driver went on a tear winning four of ten 2012 DTM events. A late season retirement by Gary Paffett gave Bruno Spengler a window of opportunity to pursue the series title, with an important victory in the 2012 series finale, Spengler won his first-ever DTM championship in 2012. Bruno Spengler returns as the defending champion in the #1 BMW M3. Valencia round winner Dirk Werner, 2011 DTM champion Martin Tomczyk, Dirk Werner and American Joey Hand return to a series. Two additional M3 race cars will be included in 2013 DTM competition as BMW Team MTEK fields Marco Wittmann and former Formula 1 driver Timo Glock.

Audi is looking for redemption in 2013 DTM Series. Winning only two regular series DTM Series events in 2012 (both at the hands of Italian Edoardo Mortara, Audi Sport was seen lagging behind the Mercedes-Benz and newcomer BMW. Audi team’s top star Mattias Ekstrom driving a Red Bull sponsored Audi A5 found victory in the non-point scoring knockout race held at Munich’s Olympic Stadium. This year, Audi adopts the RS5 name for their race vehicles in 2013 eager to discover a change in attitude for the new season. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline organization pouched former Mercedes-Benz driver and last season’s third place finisher in the driver standings Jamie Green. “For me, the race at Hockenheim not only is a great challenge but the beginning of a new chapter in my life”, said Green. An eight-car contingent of Audi RS5 DTM cars is intent take full honours this season.

The only mechanical change to the cars in 2013 is with the adaptation of a Formula 1-style Drag Reduction System (DRS). During approved periods of the race, the movable DRS rear wing element on DTM machine cars adjust to allow five to ten kilometers per hour addition speed down a straightaway. The DRS will be enabled for drivers within two seconds behind another vehicle. A meaningful contribution to overtaking in Formula 1, DRS inclusion in the 2013 DTM Series could put race leaders under considerable more pressure in events.

Other changes to the 2013 DTM Series revolves around racing procedure. Fixed pit windows used last year have been abolished for this season’s events. Instead, teams are permitted to pit for tires beyond the third lap until three laps remaining in a main event. Tire supplier Hankook has also thrown in a unique variable with the inclusion of an option tire at 2013 DTM races. Good for producing lap times up to 1.5 seconds faster than the regular racing tire, the optional Hankook tire’s softer compound will wear quicker. Unlike last season, work on the DTM between qualifying and the main race is strictly limited.

The DTM Series has been a globally accepted auto racing organization that is winning influence with every passing year. By 2014, the Japanese Super GT series will unify with the DTM regulations. Plans to operate a DTM style tour in the United States has also been brought back to focus. Originally intended through the Grand-Am Road Racing body, the initiative has been reaffirmed recently following the announcement of the United SportsCar Racing. An American-based DTM Series is suggested to start by 2015 at the earliest.

Information and photo source: Audi AG, BMW AG, DTM, Daimler AG

The article Dropping the Hammer for the 2013 DTM Series appeared first on Automoblog.net.

(The Audi S7 is priced at $179,900)

Pros: ferocious V8 with the soundtrack to match, gorgeous design, bespoke feel, strictly limited edition of 50

Cons: no full-size spare wheel, even more feel at the steering wheel would be welcome

Introduction

The only negative I could find about the S7 during a return trip from Sydney Airport to the Hunter Valley was the fact that the latest R8 supercar was also on the drive. A bunch of fortunate journalists got to try each car over a length of the journey and I spent my first stint in the gorgeous R8.

Compare the S7 with almost any other 4-door sedan or coupe on the market at any price and the four circles indicate the winner. It’s a knockout.

I have already given the A7 in 3.0 TFSI quattro guise a rave review, but that car had a generous 220 kW of power not 309. Yes, that’s 309 kW backed by 550 Nm of torque (ed. That’s 414 hp and 4.6 ft lbs of torque for the rest of us.) Only a direct comparison with the R8 makes it seem sub-supersonic. In recent memory almost no 4-door car in the world could sprint from zero to 100 km/h in five seconds. The S7 needs just 4.7.

Audi looks almost certain to become the world’s biggest seller of luxury cars. The range is extraordinary. I could hardly believe that all I had to type was “Audi S7″ because that’s it, just the single variant!

The S7 shares its mechanicals with the S6 sedan as the A7 does with the A6. This car is the ultimate 6/7 offering, but is so capable that the $200K pricetag seems reasonable.

Design

Check out those 20-inch alloy wheels and how well they fill the guards. Does any other German sports luxury sedan have quite such a wide stance and such a hunkered down look, combined with what I would call sheer beauty?

The interior is almost as impressive. Bespoke Valcona leather (see image) sets the S6/S7 apart, echoing the R8.

Accommodation

The S7 is a 4-seater. But doesn’t it cosset those lucky occupants!

Where A7 buyers have to be careful with the extensive options list, the 50 S7s on offer locally (with a matching supply of S6s) are highly specified. In fairness, at $200K you’d expect that.

Bose sound, digital television, the aforementioned sumptuous and visually appealing Valcone leather, Renn Sport air suspension, head-up display, an electric glass sunroof, Quattro sports differential, LED lights and automatic cylinder de-activation are all standard.

The S7 doesn’t merely pack the kit, it packages it magnificently. This car is just lovely.

Despite having seats for just four, it is an astonishingly spacious 2-seater because luggage volume is 1390 litres with the rear seatbacks folded.

The biggest downside is the absence of a fifth 20-inch wheel but packaging one would be a challenge!

Performance & Economy

This is an all-new 4.0-litre V8 equipped with twin turbochargers and, as I have said, cylinder de-activation.

You never sense the moment when the S7 stops running on all eight and switches to four but it’s a major reason why this so-fast sports car has an official fuel economy figure of 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres (24.5 mpg.) That puts it in close company with 6-cylinder Commodores, Falcons and Aurions (it’s an Aussie thing.)

Audi’s 7-speed S-tronic gearbox (yes, it’s a DSG but Volkswagen has the rights to that acronym) works almost seamlessly, although these dual-clutch gearboxes (manuals disguised as autos and with no third pedal) can be a little hesitant when manoeuvring in tight situations.

The 309 kW is available from 5500 rpm through to 6400, while peak torque of 550 Nm (and this I think is the major contributor to that 4.7 zero to 100 km/h time) cuts in at 1400 rpm and remains on duty until 5200.

Ride & Handling

This does feel like a big car on tight roads and perhaps you’d rather be punting the TT RS Plus under such conditions but on a track it would be astonishingly quick.

The quattro all-wheel drive system is extremely advanced but the S7 still feels like a car where the front wheels have more influence on the handling. Much of that is due to weight distribution, because Quattro sends the power where it’s most needed.

Thanks to the Renn Sport air suspension, the ride is always good and with the drive select system set to ‘Comfort’ it approaches plush.

You’ll need to engage ‘Dynamic’ to get the steering feel enthusiasts want and it remains the case that Audis without this feature, e.g. the TT RS Plus, continue to lack sufficient heft at the rim.

There is even an ‘Individual’ mode in drive select and I tended to set everything on ‘Dynamic’ except the suspension because we weren’t on a track.

Conclusion

This is an extremely fast car and always feels big. While great on any road it really demands a racetrack to show its prodigious best.

Save thousands off MSRP on your new car at TrueCar.

This article was proudly researched and written by Shaun Mcgowan a writer from carloans.com.au blog.

The article Audi S7 Review From an Aussie’s Perspective appeared first on Automoblog.net.

Well, you’re probably all too drunk to be reading this, but maybe you’ll catch it in the morning.

As you and your liver know, it’s St. Patrick’s Day today! St. Partick’s Day started when…huh? Yeah, pass over another Guinness!

Enough talking – check out the gallery below and let us know what green supercar is your favorite. Feel free to share your own in the comments!

The article Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here’s a Crapload of Green Supercars to Look At appeared first on Automoblog.net.

What Fenway Park is to baseball, Sebring International Raceway is to sports car racing. For all but two years since 1950, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring has hosted motorsport greatness. Beginning life as a former airfield converted to a race course, Sebring International Raceway’s premier sports car event has changed and hosted change in competition. Earlier this past week, Sebring served as the venue for important news on North American sports car racing. The United SportsCar Series name was unveiled at the Sebring is the title of a unified American Le Mans Series and Grand Am Road Racing championship starting in 2014.

As the 2013 American Le Mans Series prepares its final sports car racing season, it opens at the historic Sebring track. Winning during 60 previous runnings of the race includes motorsport legends like Juan Manuel Fangio, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt. When the green flag fell for the 61st edition of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, 42 cars contained drivers wanting to establish their legacy.

The strength of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro and lack of competition in the top prototype class all-but guaranteed overall victory at Sebring for the German squad of two cars. Taking pole at a track record time around the Sebring International Raceway, both Audi R18 e-tron quattro showed speed right from the outset. In effect, the only race organization capable of beating Audi Sport Team Joest is the team itself. In the 2013 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, that simply would not happen to the indomitable team. Distracted by a penalty to the #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro for avoidable contact with another race car and a concern for the undertray of the #1 car, the race would be a 1-2 finish. The #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro driven by Marcel Fassler, Benoit Treluyer and Oliver Jarvis would be the winning team who took the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring for an 11th time overall. While the Audi R8 Grand Am car will likely for a fixture in the 2014 United SportsCar Series, this Sebring race was seen as Audi’s last attempt at overall victory.

The two Audi R18 e-tron quattro prototype were just 7.68 seconds apart crossing the Sebring International Raceway finish line. The Muscle Milk #6 HPD ARX-03c car finished third in P1 five laps behind the Audi race car. As for the P1 class in general, the top-five competitors would finish in the same position they started at Sebring.

Despite the common knowledge 12 hours at the Sebring International Raceway is accepted as a torture test, the 2013 edition of the sports car classic had only four official retirements. Still one of the most radical designs currently on the racetrack, the Deltawing race car made a very short class debut in the P1 category. The #0 DeltaWing chassis lasted just 10 laps in the 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring event. The veteran Dyson Racing team also suffered an early retirement when a host of electrical failures plagued their Lola-Mazda machine.

The remaining two vehicles classified as not running at end of the Sebring race were GT class vehicles. The most dramatic GT retirement occurred on-track during the eighth hour of the 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring. After a brushing with the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R ZR1 driven at the time by Richard Westbrook, Bill Sweedler lost control of his damaged #23 Ferrari F458 crashing hard into the wall.

While the top tier prototype category for the 2013 American Le Mans Series opened with little excitement, the other classes of the Twelve Hours of Sebring provided an ample frenzy. In the popular GT class, Chevrolet Corvette C6Rs, Porsche 991 GT3 RSR and Ferrari F458 Italia waged war at the front. The new BMW Z4 GTE, Aston Martin Vantage V8 and SRT Viper machines were added good measure to the production-based category for Sebring and the rest of the 2013 American Le Mans Series season. In the first Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring race for the new cars, two of the vehicles came across the line respectfully. The #56 BMW Z4 GTE of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing finished fourth in GT class while the highest finishing SRT Viper GTS-R came home four laps off the pace in fifth place. The #97 Aston Martin Vantage V8 was the highest placed of the British luxury car brand registering 8th in class.

In the race for GT honours, the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R ZR1 pulled off a stunning victory over the #62 Ferrari F458 Italia. Overcoming challenges that included the penalty for contact, the #4 Corvette Racing team’s margin of victory in the GT class was a mere 2.7 seconds. Oliver Gavin, Tom Milner and Richard Westbrook celebrated their first class win at Sebring since 2009. The win is also significant during the 60th year anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette sports car.

The #551 Level 5 Motorsport HPD ARX-03b (a car derived from Acura’s sports car involvement during the late 2000s) won the P2 class at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Finishing a lap ahead of their teammate vehicle, the #551 car was driven by Scott Tucker, Marino Franchitti and Ryan Briscoe. In the third and final prototype category, the 12-hour race was a duel between two PC (Prototype Challenge) teams. The #8 BAR1 Motorsports car of Kyle Marcelli, Chris Cumming and Stefan Johansson had a spirited battle with the #52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsport machine of David Cheng, Michael Guasch and David Ostella. Recovering from contact from a P1 machine midway through the event, the #52 car would cross the line 15.8 seconds ahead of the #8 car. The Performance Tech Motorsports #500 Visit Florida-sponsored car was also part of the PC class lead battle during the Sebring race but ended the race a lap behind the main battle.

The #22 Porsche of Cooper MacNeil, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Dion von Moltke took victory in the GTC class. A category consisting entirely of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup vehicles, this will be the final Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring race for GTC competition at the track. However, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars may be eligible for the new GT Daytona class under the United SportsCar Series.

Concluding this Sebring race, the race results depicted new optimism. Besides driver and team achievement for this 2013 American Le Mans Series race, new cars as well as the enthusiasm for a future under United SportsCar Series solidifies long-term stability for North American sports car racing.

Information and photo source: American Le Mans Series, Audi AG, Porsche Cars North America

2013 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

The article 2013 Sebring Sports Car Race Highlighted by Audi, GT Battle appeared first on Automoblog.net.

As many are aware, the gasoline engine dominated the past century-worth of motoring. Steam power disappeared in the 1920s while electric cars lost early 20th century momentum. Throughout the time gasoline power has held a stranglehold of the automobile marketplace, there had been one other propulsion choice making a small but effective impact. It was February 23rd of 1893 when a German inventor named Rudolf Diesel received the patent for his unique engine. Through a combination of trial and error (including one error that almost cost the life of the creator) as well as luck, Diesel discovered the principles that led to the engine and fuel that continues to carry the inventor’s name.

Specifically using high compression to force an air/fuel mixture to combust, diesel is known for several superior performance attributes. Impressive low-end torque development, high overall torque and robust fuel economy have been obtained with diesel engines. However, several downsides of diesel powerplants have been hurtful to fairly competing with gasoline on a global scale. History of diesel-powered cars defines a colourful automotive story.

Unlike the case with numerous powerplant options staking a claim to the horseless carriage, diesel engines was not immediately accepted as an automotive powerplant choice. Diesel powerplants were first developed for stationary and naval applications. In 1897, Adolphus Busch (known best as the co-founder of brewing giant Anheuser-Busch) obtained the first rights for use of diesel technology. It wasn’t until the mid 1920s that diesel engines would be considered for cars and trucks. Marketed initially to commercial truck operators, several early attempts to test diesel engines in passenger cars were performed by Stoewer and Citroen. The 1936 Mercedes-Benz 260 D would become one of the earliest production vehicles to tout diesel technology.

In 1929, Clessie Cummins spotlighted diesel power to North American audiences when he drove a modified Packard limousine 600 miles to an auto show in New York on what was said to be $1.38 worth of fuel. Struggling for years in selling diesel engines to the United States public, Cummins and his company set out to prove redeeming the powerplant as capable and reliable. More than a decade later, Cummins obtained headlines in the motorsport world when they fielded diesel power at the Indianapolis 500. First appearing in 1950, the Cummins Diesel Special in 1952 would be driven to pole position by Fred Agabashian. The 1952 Cummins Diesel Special was particularly notable for the incorporation of turbocharging. A heavy, unproven race vehicle, the Cummins Diesel Special retired after 71 laps due to mechanical issues. While Cummins never captured the Indy 500, the publicity work of the American diesel engine builder would ultimately cement the company as a future leader in the marketplace that would include involvement with Chrysler. The all-new Ram HD pickup truck contains the latest iteration of Cummins diesel power.

Though diesel power had achieved acceptance in commercial vehicles by the 1970s, the efforts to move the technology into passenger vehicles took center stage when the oil crisis caused drivers to place great emphasis on fuel economy. Volkswagen began testing diesel power and Mercedes-Benz became the first automaker to sell a turbo diesel engine in their vehicles. In the United States, the world’s largest auto company at the time (General Motors) would engage in a widespread effort that would have seen the automaker dominate the diesel passenger car market. Introducing the LF9 diesel V-8 engine in Oldsmobiles during 1978, General Motors proliferated the use of diesel during the 1980s across almost every vehicle they manufactured. An ambitious effort, the first major attempt for an automaker to embrace resulted in ultimate disaster. Widespread reliability issues and terrible performance characteristics resulted in General Motors humiliatingly ending the experiment in diesel passenger car technology in 1985. It would not be until the recent introduction of the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Diesel that General Motors has committed to sell a diesel-powered car in North America.

While American automakers resisted the development of diesel technology in a global scale indirectly stained by the failure of General Motors, the European marketplace began embracing diesel engines with better results. Near the end of the 1980s, there were several automotive products in Europe using diesel propulsion. Volkswagen Group made a lasting impact with their TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) diesel first with the Audi 100 in 1989. Turbocharged diesel and regular diesel engines would flourish in Europe because of expensive gasoline (a result of supply and high fuel taxes). Twenty years later, the European automobile market would have diesel engines powering roughly half of all new cars sold annually. For 2012, 50.8 percent of the passenger vehicles sold in the United Kingdom.

As diesel engines gaining worldwide interest, development into curing the technology’s aspects that are more troublesome have proven largely successful. Most notably, the rattling sound most people associated with diesel engines is reduced in the latest generation of the technology. Ongoing efforts have been underway in reducing the emissions of sulphur and NOx from diesel exhaust recorded as higher than burning gasoline. Lower sulphur diesel fuel introduced to North America in the mid-2000s was the first step in making “clean diesel” a reality. To lower the NOx levels, new diesel engines are constructed to treat the exhaust gases before they flow out of the tailpipe. Diesel particulate filters and the emission-reducing technology of BlueTEC have brought clean diesel.

Unforgettable when mentioning the successes of diesel power in the past several years is success on the racetrack. Though an Indianapolis Motor Speedway victory has yet to be realised, diesel engines have carried drivers to victories in various locales in the sports car world. The Audi R10 TDI diesel prototype sports car won its maiden race at Sebring in 2006 before becoming the first diesel vehicle to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since the 2006 Le Mans victory, a diesel racecar from Audi or Peugeot has been the overall champions at the French track. Last year, the winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro was a TDI diesel combining electric power. New to the racetrack in 2013, a Mazda6 Clean Diesel car is competing in the GX class of the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Having arrived in European and other areas of the world, the North American market remains the largely undiscovered for diesel. Existing as more of a tourist in a gasoline culture, Audi, Volkswagen and a line of Mercedes-Benz vehicles had made up most of diesel’s content in the United States aside from heavy-duty pickup trucks. However, this is quickly changing as the fuel-savings of diesel remains tempting for cars and manufacturers wanting to increase their fleet-wide fuel mileage average. The before-mentioned Chevrolet Cruze Clean Diesel, Porsche Cayenne Diesel, a new generation Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel and the Mazda6 Clean Diesel are new additions to dealership showrooms. More recently, Chrysler’s Ram division announced the extension of an EcoDiesel to the 1500 line of their pickup trucks for the 2014 model year. Hints of Toyota and Kia equipping some of their North American vehicles with diesel engine options have also been in the news.

A powerful source for vehicle propulsion, diesel has held tough thanks to various supporters over the past 120 years. Right now, it appears diesel is a burning answer to a burning question.

Information and photo source: Audi AG, Chris Nagy, Chrysler Group, Cummins Incorporated, General Motors, Mazda Motor Corporation

The article 120 Years Since Patent, Diesel Power is Being Realized appeared first on Automoblog.net.

If you’re looking for the best SUV for 2013, check out some that have been named as the best for the year:

2013 Range Rover

In December, 2012, the 2013 Range Rover was named the Best SUV of the upcoming year by Playboy magazine. Another car website quipped that the staff of Playboy have evidently never had to maintain a Range Rover. Kim McCullough, the brand vice president of Land Rover North America, said it was a great way to go into the New Year. He added that Range Rovers were iconic and had been brought to new levels of performance, luxury, and sustainability. The 2013 model is also lighter and stronger due to its all-aluminum structure, the first for an SUV. Panels are bonded together rather than bolted or welded, like a jet aircraft. Playboy’s finding was the result of a number of SUV reviews and ratings by journalist Ken Gross, who has years of experience.

A website that was named as one of the top 20 SUV sites to be found online listed the best SUVs for 2013.

Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 is selling like hot cakes throughout Europe. There had been fears that it would never be seen in the United States, but it made its debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Audi said that it was a new variation of the SUV concept, designed for young fans of winter sports. It’s a sporty and robust compact SUV with many practical attributes, an appearance that’s elegant, and particular design highlights. The basic model has a four-cylinder engine capable of 168hp which can be upgraded a further 40hp. It can reach 60mph in 6.9 seconds.

BMW X1

BMW tried to change the SUV mold with the BMW X1, and produced amazing results. The car is compact and drives exceptionally smoothly due to its six-cylinder engine. It’s ideal for driving both on- and off-road. There are three models to choose from which can feature any of three trims. The X1 is available in 11 metallic colors or black or white. Colors other than black or white increase the cost by $550. The basic model costs $32,350.

Ford Escape

Ford is well-known for manufacturing compact cars that drive very well indeed. It’s Escape SUV can be expected to be no different. It will probably be lighter than Ford’s other SUVs, which will contribute to more efficient fuel consumption. Although the vehicle is compact, there is still a great deal of space within, making it perfect for a small family. The cost is likely to be less than $30,000.

Mazda CX-5

Another vehicle that is quite possibly the best SUV for 2013 is the 2013 Maxda CX-5. Its high-efficiency power trains make it drive like a dream. It has been completely redesigned and will have better fuel efficiency and more power.

Chevy Equinox

Chevrolet claims that the size of its Equinox is “just right” and grants people access to the SUV experience without taxing their wallets unduly. It’s beautiful. Chevrolet makes other vehicles that drive incredibly well. The second-largest automotive classified website said it had an average consumer rating of 4.5.

The best SUV for 2013 will surely be on this list. Are we missing any?

Timothy Chilman subsists from writing. He has written a number of car reviews for motoring.com.au.

The article What’s the Best SUV for 2013? appeared first on Automoblog.net.

Ok people, this sort of thing is really getting old.

As you may know by now, a crapload of hyper-sensitive drama-seekers are calling Audi promoters of sexual assault because of their latest Super Bowl commercial, “Courage Wins.” Why? Because some people love to find drama where there is none, and look for any reason to be offended and cause a ruckus.

The commercial, if you haven’t seen it, can be found below, but in short:

A lonely teenage boy goes to the prom alone, but at the last minute, his Dad throws him the keys to his shiny new Audi S6. As he pompously drives to the school dance, he gets some courage, parks in the Principal’s parking spot, walks in and kisses a girl he fancies. You know, kinda like how life works sometimes. She clearly likes the kiss but the douchey Prom King boyfriend gives the kid a black eye and he drives home satisfied.

Here’s the video:

After the commercial aired, loads of people did what any outraged American would do and jumped on Twitter:

@amaditalks says: “News flash to all men: kissing someone without consent isn’t brave, no matter what @Audi says, it’s sexual assault. Do. Not. Do. That. Ever.”

Can any man here claim that he awkwardly says “may I kiss you?” before he goes for a first kiss with a gal he likes? Not if you ever actually want to get anywhere with her. Without becoming a relationship advice article, women tend to expect confidence and bravery in a partner – I could cite a shitload of articles on this written by women, but I’ll spare you.

Look, if you go in for a kiss and she accepts, which she did in the commercial, that’s how things work. It’s only sexual assault if you’re a dick and keep trying to sleaze on her after she says no.

That look like a “no” to you?

@EWAnnieBarrett cleverly quips: “Sexual assault. It’s what defines us.”

@Stepto: “Audi just seemed to encourage sexual assault, teen violence, and reckless driving all in one commercial.”

Dude, teen violence, reckless driving; it’s fucking high school, that’s how shit works. Just be glad they didn’t show how my high school days were; they would have showed a group of friends skipping prom, loitering outside a comic book shop drinking beer and smoking pot.

Hugo Schwyzer writes: “a classic rape fantasy is that the no magically turns to a yes.” – WTF does that have to do with anything? This kid is clearly a typical, shy, teenager who never gained up the courage to ask her out in the first place.

Geekmom on Wired: “this is a dangerous message, unwanted sexual contact is cool.”

Right, but it wasn’t. I’ve went in for a kiss before, got rejected, and that was that. This is a pretty typical high school situation (minus the Dad letting his kid drive a new $72,000 S6, maybe,) and we have no idea what the (hypothetical) back story is. You won’t hear one person who was a nerdy kid in high school agree with this nonsense.

Jenna Karvunidis from Chicago Now has the right idea:

1. Just because another guy is mad about the interaction between Audi Kid and Prom Queen, thus seeming to take ownership of a girl (not possible, by the way), does not mean he is necessarily her choice of guy. This commercial used the context of the “real” boyfriend being mad to imply the girl didn’t want to kiss Audi Kid. Wrong! If we remove the overbearing boyfriend character and just focus on the wants and reactions of the girl we see . . .

2. She embraced him and . . .

3. She kissed him back. Also, there was no tongue or forced body part entry, as Schwyzer suggested.

4. She was longing and smiling after the encounter. That is not how assaulted women look after an attack. Why are we saying a happy person is an assault victim? If I had to take an oath and sign a waiver after every guy kissed me, I’d still be waiting by my locker.

You see this kind of sappy boy-spontaneously-kisses-girl stuff in movies all the time and say “awwww that’s cute” – now it’s suddenly “OMGWTFAudiAreRapists!!!” – what’s so different?

The article Loads of People Calling Audi Rape-Promoters Due to Super Bowl Ad – Really? appeared first on Automoblog.net.

Another day, another electric vehicle program cancellation from Audi. This is despite the company’s recent announcement that it will invest $17.2 billion into new plants and the modernization of existing plants through 2016. You’d think with all that investment that there would be room for electric vehicles somewhere, and definitely plug-ins.

Audi risks of being left behind in this area. The brand has the world’s largest luxury manufacturer title in sight and it plans to reach that goal thanks to a relentless focus on volume. Autocar reports the latest cancellation is for the next-generation Audi A2 concept. The A2 concept was introduced in 2011 as a competitor to the upcoming BMW i3 and Mercedes-Benz A-class.

Like the original A-class, the A2 concept used a sandwich floor construction, which in Audi’s application housed a lithium ion battery pack. Audi’s plans for the car included a pure electric model with 125 miles of range, as well as a conventional plug-in hybrid. Poor sales of EVs from other manufacturers are what caused Audi to cancel the A2. We could see them canceling the pure electric iteration, but a plug-in hybrid city car could really add sales as well as helping with fuel economy averages. BMW is still moving forward with the i3, and we expect the majority of that car sales to be for the plug in model.

Autocar was unclear about Audi’s plans for a next-generation gasoline powered A2. It would be surprising if it got canceled, as the A2 is in a growing market segment and Audi is looking to add new models wherever possible. These latest decisions by Audi leave the brand without any entry in either the pure electric or plug in hybrid vehicles segments. We think this is a mistake, as sales of plug-ins like Chevrolet Volt are up and Cadillac will be entering the market in a few weeks with the ELR at the North American International Auto Show. This is unlikely to have a major impact on Audi sales though – the brand looks well on track to meet its goal of becoming the world’s largest luxury automaker by 2020.

The article Audi Cancels Plans For A2 EV, Plug-In Hybrid appeared first on Automoblog.net.

Reaching an end to another year, 365 days can be summed up by a number of successes and failures; the same can be said for the automotive field of 2012.

Vehicle premiere, discontinuation of models, safety recalls and other tidbits of news have been the subject matter for this as well as other automobile resources this past year. In what is a traditional pattern among news outlets, this article is taking time to look back at what the previous 12 months brought to car culture. The following examples are some spotlight moments involving automobiles in 2012.

Viper Returns as SRT Brand Vehicle

The discontinuation of the Viper supercar took the cherry off the top of the automaker’s sundae in 2010. Accepting the fact that a very potent Dodge Challenger SRT8 maintained some performance creditability for the Chrysler division, fans venomously desired the high-performance vehicle behind a reptile-inspired name. A car steered by a culture even the auto company was not immune to, the New York Auto Show marked the return of the Viper supercar. Under the newly assembled, performance-oriented SRT brand, a 640-horsepower V-10 engined dream machine materialized. Back with a vengeance, the SRT Viper took a bite at the American Le Mans Series with the Viper GTS-R for selected 2012 events starting at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Hyundai-Kia Busted on Fuel Economy Miscalculation

For anyone who has purchased a new car and boiled with outraged when fuel mileage was not as advertised, 2012 brought some high profile attention to this costly pet peeve. After an investigation by the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) into 13 Hyundai and Kia brand vehicles the Hyundai Motor Company was pressed to knowledge they misstated fuel economy. Affecting popular products built between the 2011 to 2013 model year, Hyundai Elantra, Santa Fe as well as the Kia Shortage are some of the vehicles revealed to receive less fuel mileage than originally stated. The worst offender in terms of fuel economy was the automatic-equipped Kia Soul observed in producing six miles per gallon less in highway gas mileage.

Upon admitting the error, Kia and Hyundai owners of affected vehicles by lower fuel economy received special debit cards that will reimburse for the increased fuel consumption. Estimated to cost 100 million dollars, some civil attorneys filing suits to the problem could potentially make the price higher. There are many indications now the Hyundai-Kia fuel economy embarrassment could be etching the soil of even more investigations into misquoted fuel calculations. Bad news for automakers, the news has been terrific for lawyers filing class-action lawsuits.

Audi Hybrid Claims Historic Le Mans Win

The 2012 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a technological showcase. Occupying paddock 56 was the radical Nissan Deltawing race car exhibiting clever lightweight engineering as an unclassified experimental entrant in the race. In the fight for victory in the prototype category, Audi’s R18 e-tron quattro diesel powerplant combined with an electric motor became the biggest newsmaker of the sports car season. Fielded by Team Joest, the Audi R18 e-tron quattro was brought to the Circuit de la Sarthe with just a single race of development. For the Le Mans 24-hour race, the two hybrid race machines entered by Audi crossed the finish line first and second place. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro became the first hybrid vehicle to win the French sports car classic.

Battle of the Super Pony Cars

As sharply rising fleet fuel economy averages threatens to put a cap on horsepower (or at least the way will get performance in future new cars), there is a very real possibility that free-spirited, American supercars could eventually be forced to practice more civility. Acting as a refreshingly defiant scene in the face of zero-emissions vehicles as well as downsized powerplants, Ford and Chevrolet grabbed pony car performance echelons untouched from a factory-prepped version.

Rolling out the 580-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 early in the year, General Motors’ pre-production enthusiasm was hindered by Ford’s latest Shelby GT500. Seeing the high-performance Camaro in the horizon, the response from Ford was a 662-horsepower presented as a 2013 model year vehicle. The latest motoring extremes of the supercharger-induced Ford Shelby GT500 and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 revisited the muscle car era where street-going horsepower was not subject to compromises. However, with both vehicles north of the $50,000-range, the super pony car lifestyle is about as accessible as an entry-level Tesla Model S.

Sun Sets on Suzuki’s Automotive Business

In November, American Suzuki Motor Corporation filed for bankruptcy and announced the winding down of their 27-year effort of distributing automobiles to the United States. Operating as a very small vehicle niche in later years, sales of vehicles like the Grand Vitara crossover and the Kizashi sedan in the United States were ultimately not enough sustain the product line-up for the future. Despite concerns that Suzuki vehicles could now possess lower resale values as part supplies and customer support after warranty periods will be tainted, sales of automobiles have been showing an upward pattern ending off November claiming by 22 percent compared to 2011.

Chrysler, Dodge Drops NASCAR Effort After 2012 Season

After five wins and 23 top-ten finishes on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup tour, Brad Keselowski claimed the 2012 stock car title. Driving a Dodge Charger, it was the first time since 1975 that the brand powered a competitor to the series championship. With the triumph in 2012 came realization that 2013 will not feature a title defence from a Dodge. Early in 2012, Keselowski’s NASCAR team Penske Racing had announced a switch to Ford for the upcoming season. Unable to find a suitable anchor team in the present NASCAR series or the Nationwide Series, Chrysler chose to pull the plug on support of racing activities. It also means the sharp-looking 2013 Sprint Cup version of the Dodge Charger will not be joining the Chevrolet SS and Ford Fusion on NASCAR race tracks.

Brad Keselowski was also involved in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series moment of glory with Chrysler Group. Ryan Blaney won the September race at Iowa Speedway driving a Keselowski-owned Ram pickup truck. The first victory for the Ram brand, Blaney’s win was the first for a Chrysler division truck since March of 2008.

Tesla Shocks Many with Model S

A car that almost didn’t come to be as Elon Musk’s all-electric automaker has been tethering on financial disaster, Tesla’s luxury four-door sedan certainly made a charge forward in the battery-powered car segment.

An eye-catching sports sedan, technological innovation at the heart of the Tesla Model S. Safe to say the Tesla Model S is not likely to become an all-electric equivalent to the Ford Model T in changing the way we travel. However, requiring around $50,000 (after government tax credits) for a base example, the price of the Model S positioned at roughly half of their outgoing Roadster. Tesla is showing electric vehicle can edge towards cost effectiveness.

Nine years since the Toyota Prius, two years after the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt, the Tesla Model S became the 2013 Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. The award’s first all electric vehicle winner the Model S sedan was admired for its technological as well as design. At this point, only one of the company’s harsher critics Mitt Romney could be quieter than the Tesla Model S sedan’s electric motor. For the record, I am tiring of the electric vehicle puns as much as I suspect readers are.

Battery Blunders for Electric Vehicles

As electric cars have become more prevalent, it is perhaps inevitable that electric vehicles join the rest of the production car culture with the occasional recall. However, with so many new electrified vehicles entering the marketplace in 2012, quite a bit of noise was created around some popular battery-dependant cars.

At the beginning of 2012, the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt was placed under a safety recall after a federal crash test later led to a fire. Linked to a damaged battery coolant system following the crash, the Chevy Volt’s problem was quickly addressed.

Another plug-in hybrid car, the Fisker Karma, has been connected to more troublesome battery saga. A late 2011 recall of the Karma because of a battery fire risk was only a start to a series of teething problems resulting with a start-up auto company and their new vehicle. Similar to the Chevrolet Volt, the cooling system for the Karma’s battery was the culprit that time as well as a later recall in August. The Fisker Karma was also the recipient of a lot of embarrassment when a Consumer Reports test vehicle shut down during evaluation. Ultimately found to be a construction flaw at Fisker’s battery supplier A123 Systems, the issue compounded issues with the latter company. Entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October, A123 Systems was ultimately sold to Wanxiang America Corporation founded by Chinese businessperson Lu Guanqiu.

Google Revolutionizing How People Will Not Drive

In 2012, the Google driverless car or self-driving car fleet has achieved over 300,000 miles of travel with 50,000 performed without a human driver. Despite the many concerns regarding autonomous vehicles roaming the roads and highways, work by Google is continuing to gain steam.

2012 saw new freedoms introduced for the Google driverless Car project as the state of Nevada and California where tests can be performed on public roads. Unrelated to Google, mining company Rio Tinto announced they were created a driverless train for operating in Western Australia by 2014. A popular cultural icon among anyone following technology, the Google driverless car concept was also a subject of a NASCAR April Fool’s Day joke. As the driverless vehicles earned the right to operate on roadways, it is unclear if the car had to pose for an ugly license card picture.

Information source: A123 Systems, Audi AG, Chrysler Group, Google, NASCAR, Suzuki, Tesla Motors
Photo source: Audi AG, Bryan Czobat/Autostock, Chris Nagy, Google

The article In the Rearview Mirror: 2012 Auto News in Review appeared first on Automoblog.net.

As far as German luxury goes, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have always been king-of-the-hill. Audi, on the other hand, was the lesser-known and quirkier brand of the three. Beginning in the 2000s, Audi made a concerted effort to expand its line-up and become a top-tier global luxury brand.

It has been fabulously successful in its mission, seeing growth all over the globe. Particularly here in the United States, Audi has set new records. Globally, it has surpassed Mercedes, with much more growth potential in the U.S. market. Clearly they are doing something right. However, some criticism has been lobbed at Audi’s styling department for uniformity across the line-up.

Audi has called it a “family look”, and while it’s good to have a distinctive brand identity, they have perhaps taken it too far. A4, A6, A7 Sportback and A8 are all examples of beautiful vehicles that simply are too close to one another from a styling perspective.A buyer shelling out cash for an A8 wants to be clearly differentiated from the A6 for instance. Wolfgang Durheimer spoke with German magazine AutoMotorundSport and let us know that the criticism has come in loud and clear.

“In the future, I will work with our designers to differentiate the ‘faces’ of our various model series even more…the customer of an A8 will, in the future, find details in his car that will fifer significantly from those on the A4 or the A6.” says Durheimer. He will do that by pushing designers to take more risks. Recently, it has been reported that there will be some niche models, like a Q6 crossover CUV. This is a potential model for Audi to push the envelope. Another one is the upcoming A3 sedan. The concept of that car was very dynamic, and we’re hoping that look carries through to production. To compete against styling-stunners like the Mercedes-Benz CLA, the A3 sedan is going to need to be very compelling.

The article Audi To Better Differentiate Model Lines In The Future appeared first on Automoblog.net.

If you a purchaser of the latest in high-tech items but do not welcome the overnight line-up at an electronic store, you are perhaps very familiar with the process of waiting a special, desirable product. A case of days or weeks in many instances, there is also times where a specific item could be delayed for months or even years. Living in Canada, I remembered a five-year wait until satellite radio services were officially sold in the country.

For the case of some vehicles, the wait for certain vehicles to be officially welcomed to the United States has stretched decades. The Toyota Prius was first marketed in 1997 but would not be sold by the Japanese auto giant in North America until the 2000 calendar year. A similar, longer scenario played out in regards to the Nissan Cube that was brought to the United States after around a decade of enchanting its domestic market with the funky, odd shape. With the news of the world more accessible than ever, the word of a special vehicle spreads at the speed of light. For this reason, the game is up for automakers wanting to preserve the secret of concern cars and trucks limited to their selected marketplace.

Reflective of a more global auto market, the following vehicles are examples of how the North American car buyer has received a reward for patience:

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

First constructed in 1979, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class (earlier known as the G-Wagen) has been in continuous production since. A classic body-on frame, four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle, the G-Class was accepted by European buyers as well as by numerous militaries. With the United States love for large sport utility vehicles being especially strong during the late 1990s through to the 2000s, it made little sense why Mercedes-Benz chose to put priority to the M-Class crossover while keeping the G-Class out of the market. Eventually, Mercedes-Benz bowed to pressure by introducing the heavy sport utility vehicles to their North American line-up in 2002.

Though not officially going on sale in the United States until 2002, those with money and the desire for the G-Wagen or G-Class could acquire them through import channels. Some companies would import Mercedes-Benz G-Wagens and convert them to comply with American vehicle regulations. When Mercedes-Benz finally began importing the G-Class through their dealerships, those same buyers were actually saved money when comparing the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price to the ‘gray market’ importer cost.

In 2013, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has out-lasted the whole product line-up from the Hummer division as a pompous display of luxury and off-road capability in one vehicle. A Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG can also be selected containing 536 horsepower that can move the vehicle from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds.

Ford Fiesta ST

For an auto company that started in the United States, it is surprising to see how many vehicles Ford Motor Company has produced for other markets but kept away from their domestic buyers. In 2005, Ford chose to present an all-new Focus to the European market while leaving North American buyers with the older Focus that wasn’t entirely revisited until the 2012 model year vehicle. 2005 was also the same year the Ford Fiesta ST debuted on European roads. In a marketplace where the Ford Mustang isn’t the name of performance for the Blue Oval, the need to improvise has created a variety of sport compact vehicles to fill the void. The side effect of creating some breath-taking small performance cars in Europe is the fact North American buyers will eventually see the vehicle and want it themselves.

Through the arrival of the Transit Connect, C-Max and the Transit van, Ford appears more open to sharing European-positioned vehicles with their stateside line-up. Under the weight of public outcry, the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show came highlighted by the announcement that the next generation Ford Fiesta ST is coming to North America. A 2014 model vehicle, the upcoming Fiesta ST features a 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine producing 197 fun-loving horsepower. The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST will join another long-time holdout Focus ST as examples of European small car performance present in United States showrooms.

Scion (Toyota) iQ

While it’s clear that Europe and Japan are big microcar markets, the wide, long roads of North America have not always delivered the same amount of love for smaller vehicles. Referred to as microcar, city car and super compact, the vehicle segment has attracted several serious automakers with fuel economy standards set to more than double in some world regions by 2025. In 2007, Toyota debuted a concept called the iQ that entered production in late 2008. A 120.1-inch long vehicle powered by a small engine, the Toyota iQ began running about Japan and Europe in award-winning fashion.

Interesting enough, British luxury carmaker Aston Martin had reached out to Toyota so they can build their own iQ microcar. Called the Cygnet, the Aston Martin super compact car is significantly dressed up version of the iQ meant to satisfy their clientele. While it’s questionable whether the US auto market would accept a luxury city car let alone the general vehicle type, Toyota realizes that a growing influx of smaller vehicles into the North American marketplace is enough to sell the iQ.

Four years since being named the Car of the Year in Japan, the iQ can now roam United States and Canadian roads. Seeing the vehicle as more tempting as first-time new car buyers, Toyota decided to marry the iQ into the Scion brand. Priced at a nifty $15,385 starting price, the 2013 Scion iQ also sports super-efficient fuel economy numbers of 37 miles per gallon highway.

Audi TT RS

Kept away from the subcompact Audi A1 and such high performance offerings as the RS6 Avant, the North American market is understandably unnerved by being overlooked concerning certain models. However, as Audi has devoted a greater global focus to their product line, there seems to be some optimism for United States customers wanting something more from Volkswagen Group’s premium luxury division. With the Audi Q3 crossover all-but here, modern motoring times has also allowed many of the specialty RS vehicles to cross the Atlantic.

For the 2012 model year, the North American marketplace was treated to the hyper-powered edition of Audi’s entry-level TT sports car. The Audi TT RS had brought all 360 horsepower from its TFSI 2.5-liter engine to the United States after nearly three years in Europe. Since the TT RS was set loose on the Autobahn and other roadway in European locales, hardcore Audi fans stateside led a fierce campaign to bring the car over the ocean. When Audi posted a petition on their Facebook page with 11,500 respondents requesting the TT RS, the auto company finally concurred that the sports car belonged in the marketplace. Arriving only as the TT RS Coupe, this vehicle brought some life back to Audi’s smaller sports car.

Nissan GT-R

The story of the Nissan GT-R’s arrival to the United States was a long one. Connected to the Nissan Skyline for nearly four decades, the GT-R badge was one of the Japanese leading supercars remaining as a long held secret for the land of the rising sun. Thanks to the enthusiastic launch of the compact tuner car market during the 1990s, the all-wheel driver, twin-turbocharged engined Nissan Skyline GT-R was vaunted into the world spotlight. So desired, versions of the Nissan Skyline GT-R was a product of various second-hand importing attempts. For the most part, the desired R-32 to R-34 variants of the Nissan Skyline GT-R built between 1989 to 2002 was illegitimately brought into the United States.

At last, the time had come in 2008 that the GT-R moniker grew into its own supercar. By doing so, the Nissan GT-R was free to enjoy its first legal trip to the United States. Incorporating the latest performance-oriented ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive and originally the twin-turbo 3.8 liter V-6 engine that originally cranked out 480-horsepower, the Nissan GT-R became and continues to strike terror in a challenging Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette. Producing a mammoth 545 horsepower for under 3 second launches from 0 to 60 miles per hour, the 2013 Nissan GT-R is very much the fans of the brawny Japanese supercar wanted to see (though the just under $100,000 base price may not be).

Which cars are you glad that you’re finally able to see in the States?

Information source: Audi AG, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, Nissan North America, Toyota Motor Corporation
Photo source: Chris Nagy, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, Nissan North America

The article Top 5 Cars that are Finally in the States appeared first on Automoblog.net.

For years enthusiasts have talked about diesels as a viable answer to rising gas prices. They are proven, offer a lot of torque, and are inexpensive to produce. In Europe, diesel sales have always far surpassed their gasoline counterparts.

As such, the German manufacturers have many diesel engines in their arsenal. However, they have never caught on in the United States – until now. It seems the image of the underpowered, smelly and unrefined diesel Mercedes did their image in.

Recently though, Volkswagen has seen strong sales of the Passat TDI and just introduced a Beetle TDI recently. Now Audi is joining the club with five TDI models for the American market. Up until now, Audi has only offered a Q7 TDI. Today though, that is expanding to the Q5 and Audi’s A6, A7 and A8 sedans. Curiously, the A4 is left off the list. Why not just go with them across the board? Previous reports said we would see an A4 TDI and maybe it’s coming later. We won’t complain..this is good news, really good news.

These models will all share a singular engine option: a 3.0 liter turbo charged V6, making 240 horsepower and a startling 406 pound-feet of torque. Mileage estimates are only available for the A8 and Q7 at the moment. The A8 TDI will return 24 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The Q7 SUV gets 19 mpg city and 28 highway. As for the other cars, Audi says they will achieve roughly 30 percent better fuel economy and 30% lower carbon dioxide emissions. The first to go on sale is the A8 TDI early next year. The rest will follow next fall.

The article Audi Announces Five Diesels Across Lineup appeared first on Automoblog.net.

In 2010 Audi debuted the Quattro Concept at the Paris Motor Show. It wowed crowds with a modern-day take on the original Ur-Quattro. This is after a lot of rumors and speculation that Audi was developing such a car. With a response so favorable, we were hoping Audi would green light it.

After all, the company is centered around performance and has green lighted numerous different model lines to that end over the past few years. According to CAR Magazine, that is exactly the point. With the TT-RS, S5, RS5 and R8 Audi thinks the market for performance coupes is pretty well taken care of already.

We’d have to agree – the Quattro Coupe would be a very limited production model if produced. Why does reality have to get in the way sometimes? CAR reports that the name Quattro Coupe may still be used though – but instead on a crossover. We can hear groans already. However, the idea may have some merit. The original Ur-Quattro was a rallying model designed to go off-road – and to be honest the Quattro Concept is entirely a road-going machine.

A raised height off-road model could capture the intent of the original in a new way. The car wouldn’t be a five-door either, but rather a specialty three-door model after the Range Rover Evoque. We like the sounds of that. There’s another factor in this equation as well – Porsche is busy developing the Macan CUV. Could the potential new Audi share a platform with the Porsche? It seems like the perfect pairing, except for the fact that the two will probably be stepping on each others toes. So far the Volkswagen Group hasn’t seemed particularly concerned with that though (what with seven brands and all). Whether you’re for or against it, the idea is still an interesting one to ponder. We’ll have to see if anything comes of it.

The article Audi Nixes Quattro Concept, May Build Three-Door Crossover appeared first on Automoblog.net.

The 2013 Audi RS5 was announced a while back (along with the Audi TT-RS) and it went on sale in the United States this past July. Audi waited until the RS5′s freshening to bring it to the U.S, and it also launched significant changes to the 2013 S5.

Instead of a naturally-aspirated V-8 engine like last year, the 2013 S5 is powered by a twin-turbocharged V-6. Audi’s V-8 in that car is missed. The RS5, on the other hand, is still powered by Audi’s 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 engine. We’ll always love it for that. In the RS5 it makes 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.

With the coupe on sale, Audi has dropped the top on the RS5 Cabriolet for the 2014 model year. Like the coupe, the Cabriolet puts power to the pavement via Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, which is tuned for a 40:60 front/rear split. Audi’s new cars are biased toward routing power to the rear wheels, proving there is more than one way to skin a cat. The RS5 reaches 0-62 mph in just 4.9 seconds, on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.

The A5/S5/RS5 lineup is beautiful; we love the car’s Walter de Silva penned lines. That naturally-aspirated V-8 has quite the aural soundtrack too. It’s a shame they ditched it for the S5, but we digress. The German-market RS5 Cabriolet is scheduled to go on sale in spring of next year. There isn’t anything on when the car will go on sale on our shores, but Audi has given it the green light. A U.S launch in spring or summer next year seems most likely.

The article 2014 Audi RS5 Cabriolet Revealed in Germany appeared first on Automoblog.net.

Rear-wheel drive is considered by most enthusiasts (including this one!) to be a prerequisite for true luxury competition. Infiniti found success switching to it with the G and M, and Cadillac only experienced a bump in sales with the RWD CTS. If there is one brand that is forgiven for lack of an RWD lineup though, it would be Audi. That’s because the brand’s heritage has primarily been centered around its quattro all-wheel drive system.

Deeper than that, platforms have engines longitudinally set back in the chassis A large majority of the brand’s vehicles are sold with AWD, and it is often tuned for a RWD bias. There are disadvantages though; for instance on the top-level A8. It is a stylish vehicle, but it doesn’t quite have the same stance and presence (it’s that front overhang) as a RWD-based vehicle.

Car and Driver reports that for the next-generation A8 due in 2017, that could change. If it did happen, Porsche would be to thank. The company is currently developing the Volkswagen Group’s “MSB” (Modularer Standardantrieb-Baukasten in German) rear-wheel drive platform. MSB will underpin the high-profit next-generation Panamera as well as Bentley sedans. Audi’s new Research and Development chief is Wolfgang Dürheimer, who formerly worked at Porsche. He has an affinity for the platform that could see Audi tapping it for the next-generation A8′s use.

Also in the article is news that Audi could ditch the current car’s all-aluminum body for an “aluminum hybrid one” that would include high-strength steel and composite materials. This combination would reduce weight even further. Without Porsche’s development of MSB, a RWD A8 wouldn’t bee a big consideration. If given the green light, the MSB-based A8 would be the first RWD Audi since World War II. It would be a big change – but a welcomed one that would enable Audi to push the styling envelope. The A7 Sportback and A8 are hampered by constraints with their current platforms, and MSB would change all that. Hopefully Durheimer pulls the trigger on it.

The article Porsche-Developed RWD Platform Could Underpin Next Audi A8 appeared first on Automoblog.net.