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When Audi announced the 2013 A8 with the 3.0T V6, it didn’t mention fuel economy numbers but did tout the 333-horsepower engine’s “great efficiency.” According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the V6 efficiency exactly matches that of the more powerful 372-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 – the 3.0T was rated the same 18 city, 28 highway as the naturally aspirated 4.2.

It’s figured that the stop/start system fitted to the V6 will provide a slight bump, which, since the EPA doesn’t factory such tech into its testing, doesn’t register in the official numbers. It’s difficult to make fuel economy comparisons with the same engines in other countries since they have different power ratings; in Germany, for instance, the V6 is rated at 286 hp, the 4.2 isn’t offered and the 4.0 TSFI V8 makes 414 hp – but in that case, the V6 does get better gas mileage, if you’re wondering.

Speaking of wondering, that’s what many including our own commenters are doing about the space between the 333-hp V6 and 520-hp V8 in the S8. The report in Car and Driver posits a detuned version of the S8’s motor. No matter what, the V6 A8 will be less expensive than all of them, which was the real point all along.

2013 Audi A8 3.0T matches 4.2 V8 fuel economy numbers

It doesn’t get much more hard-core than the Gumpert Apollo. The German supercar is about as close as it gets to a race car for the road. But an outfit like Gumpert isn’t about to sit around and let its product speak for itself. You can count on it taking the extreme to an even further extreme, and that’s exactly what it’s done here at the Geneva Motor Show with not one, but two new versions of the Apollo.

What you’re looking at above is called the Apollo Enraged, which Gumpert calls the most powerful street-legal car ever to leave its factory. Limited to just three examples, the Apollo Enraged ups the output from its Audi-sourced supercharged 4.2-liter V8 to 780 horsepower and trims weight down to 1,175 kg. Further details are scarce, but the vehicle looks positively scary.

Joining it on the Gumpert show stand is the Apollo R (above right), a customer racing version that, while not street-legal, packs a whopping 860 horsepower. Burdened by just 1,100 kg of dry weight, the Apollo R promises to be just as devastating on whatever track it’s driven as the hybrid prototype that Heinz-Harald Frentzen campaigned at the Nürburgring 24-hour race in 2008.

Both models pack more wings than a Boeing factory and “Pure German Speed” decals that would still raise a few eyebrows in parts of Eastern Europe, but are, in typical Gumpert style, positively menacing. Look below for the full press release, and scope out the live and official images in our collection of galleries for a closer look.

Continue reading Gumpert gears up for the race with Apollo R and Enraged

Gumpert gears up for the race with Apollo R and Enraged

Cadillac admits it only needs to sell a half dozen CTS-V Sport Wagons to cover its development costs. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the 2013 Audi RS4 Avant. Audi execs have made it clear that its hottest midsize Avant won’t be coming to the States anytime soon, so if you’re particularly sensitive to forbidden fruit, stop reading now.

Like the RS5, the RS4 Avant packs Audi’s meticulously crafted 4.2-liter V8 putting out 450 horsepower at a stratospheric 8,250 RPM and 317 pound-feet of torque from 4,000 to 6,000 RPM. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox sends power to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system, including a beefed up version of the S4’s torque vectoring rear differential. The run to 60 blows past in the high four-second range and while the “standard” top speed is limited to 155 miles per hour, grease the palms at the Audi service department and you’ll max out at 174 mph.

The 14.4-inch front rotors are framed by standard 19-inch lightweight wheels, with optional 14.9-inch carbon ceramic discs barely obscured by 20-inch hoops. A customizable, active suspension is fitted at all four corners, dropping the RS4 by nearly an inch over its standard Avant counterpart.

Pricing hasn’t been set, but sales are due to begin this fall in Germany. And if Audi can make the case in the States, we hear the next generation could be a global model.

2013 Audi RS4 Avant is the latest behatched forbidden fruit

Right on schedule, Audi has unleashed a flood of details and images highlighting the 2012 RS4 Avant. We got an early look at the V8-powered wagon due to the nature of the ever-leaky internet, and most everything is just as we had been expecting… sadly including its Euro-only status.

Underhood is a 450-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine with 317 pound-feet of torque available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and, using launch control, the RS4 Avant has enough boogie to scoot from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds on its way to an electronically governed top speed of 155 miles per hour, or up to 173 in optionally ungoverned form.

Naturally, both the interior and exterior get upgrades to set the car apart from lesser models, and under the crisply defined sheetmetal lies an aluminum-intensive suspension setup that’s tuned to sit 20 millimeters closer to the asphalt than the regular-grade A4 Avant. Electromechanical speed-dependent steering is standard, as are polished 19-inch, ten-spoke forged aluminum wheels shod with 265/35-series tires.

Want one? We don’t blame you. Audi says it will be available in Germany in the fall for a starting price of €76,600. Still interested? Check out the press release after the break for all the details, and be sure to browse our high-res image gallery above.

Continue reading 2012 Audi RS4 Avant hits the ‘net with all four wheels

2012 Audi RS4 Avant hits the ‘net with all four wheels

Details are scarce, but what you’re looking at is the 2012 Audi RS4 Avant, the ultimate V8-powered Euro-only wagon that Audi refuses to offer the good people in the U.S. of A.

Powered by the same 4.2-liter V8 fitted to the RS5, output is up around 450 horsepower with 320 pound-feet of torque, allowing the all-wheel-drive super sled to hit 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds and top out at 175 mph.

A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is likely standard as is the Dynamic Ride Control suspension and a ride height that’s been dropped around two inches.

We’re hoping to know more before the Avant’s official unveiling in Geneva, but in the meantime, check out the factor fresh batch of images in the gallery above.

2012 Audi RS4 Avant leaks out

At first glance, pitting the Porsche Boxster Spyder against the Audi R8 Spyder is a bit like throwing a trout in a five-gallon bucket with a piranha. After all, the big Audi boasts over 100 horsepower more than the baby Porsche. Throw in the fact that the R8 puts its power to the ground through all four wheels while the Boxster Spyder is left to manage with just two, and the fight looks even more bleak for Stuttgart’s finest. Still, the Audi R8 Spyder isn’t a lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. The vehicle needs all 430 horsepower from its 4.2-liter V8 to move the sports car’s 3,858 pounds around the track.

The Porsche Boxster Spyder, meanwhile, weighs in at over 1,000 pounds lighter. That 100 horsepower gap doesn’t seem so big now, does it? EVO Magazine recently took the time to put the two vehicles to the test and worked up a quick video of their exploits. Who came out on top? You’ll just have to hit the jump to find out for yourself.

UPDATE: EVO’s embed code is busted, so click through to watch the video.

Which Spyder is the fastest? EVO finds out [UPDATE]

At first glance, pitting the Porsche Boxster Spyder against the Audi R8 Spyder is a bit like throwing a trout in a five-gallon bucket with a piranha. After all, the big Audi boasts over 100 horsepower more than the baby Porsche. Throw in the fact that the R8 puts its power to the ground through all four wheels while the Boxster Spyder is left to manage with just two, and the fight looks even more bleak for Stuttgart’s finest. Still, the Audi R8 Spyder isn’t a lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. The vehicle needs all 430 horsepower from its 4.2-liter V8 to move the sports car’s 3,858 pounds around the track.

The Porsche Boxster Spyder, meanwhile, weighs in at over 1,000 pounds lighter. That 100 horsepower gap doesn’t seem so big now, does it? EVO Magazine recently took the time to put the two vehicles to the test and worked up a quick video of their exploits. Who came out on top? You’ll just have to hit the jump to find out for yourself.

Continue reading Which Spyder is the fastest? EVO finds out

Which Spyder is the fastest? EVO finds out

News on the next-generation 2015 Audi R8 has been spilling forth for a bit now, but a report in Autocar has begun to put them into a single package. We knew that next R8 wouldn’t offer a manual option, only a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and that the monocoque would be a lighter, aluminum and carbon affair. Audi has apparently pegged a target weight of under 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds), meaning it will shed more than 135 kg (305 lbs.) versus today’s 4.2-liter V8 manual.

That will make the two engines in the next car – refined versions of the current naturally aspirated V8 and V10 – even more potent. Autocar didn’t mention an increase in displacement, but horsepower bumps were rated at 20 hp for the V8, to 450 hp, and 25 hp for the V10, to 550 hp. The GT will also benefit from 20 additional horses, getting 580 hp. More interestingly, neither mill will benefit from forced induction as Audi wants to maintain “the throttle response, the soaring nature of the delivery and the inherent sound.”

The evolution or disappearance of the sideblades on the “clean-sheet design” also wasn’t broached, but the trademark signifiers don’t appear in Autocar’s rendering. The report states that it will take cues from the R8 e-tron (pictured), but they see intakes at the door shut-line, which feature very MP4-12C-like dual strakes. It’s only a rendering, but if sideblades are what you’re after then the future doesn’t look bright. We’ll see the sibling Lamborghini Gallardo replacement next year, a year before the R8 is shown in 2014.

Details on 2015 Audi R8 leak out

Downsizing? What downsizing? While rivals may be replacing cylinders with turbochargers – heck, even Audi itself has done that with the twin-turbo V8 succeeding the V10 in the S8 and such – the new RS4 is reportedly on its way in full-fat 4.2-liter V8 FSI trim.

The report comes courtesy of AMAG, the importer for Audi in Switzerland, which has confirmed that the RS4 Avant (oft spied in prototype guise) is scheduled to debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this coming March. Along with it, we’re told to expect a series of new TSFI engines and an upgraded TT-RS with 360 horses.

As for the RS4 Avant, we’re looking at 450 horsepower with all-wheel drive and enough cargo capacity to make any luxury crossover buyer reconsider (much like the S4 Avant pictured above, only more so). That is, buyers in Europe, anyway, as we’re not expecting the RS4 to make the trek across the Atlantic.

2013 Audi RS4 Avant headed to Geneva

Audi apparently has a mind to turn out a convertible version of the RS5. A slew of patent drawings depicting the high-performance drop-top have made their way to the internet via our Spanish-speaking sister site.

Judging by the drawings, we can tell that the vehicle will have room for four occupants and use the same power electric folding soft top as both the A5 and S5. The rest of the vehicle wears the same facelifted garb as the new S5 unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Under the hood, chances are buyers will see the same naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 found in the RS5 coupe. The kicking eight pot is good for 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, and will likely be mated to the company’s S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox. As you may have guessed, all-wheel drive will be standard.

Thus far, Audi hasn’t made mention of where the vehicle will debut or exactly which markets will get to enjoy the convertible heathen. Stay tuned.

Trademark filings suggests Audi RS5 Convertible imminent

A light nip and tuck is often all that a stylish sports car needs as it gets older. The Audi RS5 isn’t even old yet, but’s gone in to have some work done anyway. With a refreshed face, the RS5 has emerged on the internet ahead of its global debut at this week’s 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The handsome coupe is propelled by way of a 450-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 engine that revs to over 8,000 rpm. As before, forward momentum is metered out through the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, and helps the RS5 run from 0-62 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds.

Updated for the coming model year, the Audi RS5 wears a new face that features restyled headlamps, new daytime running lamps and a revised lower fascia. (Apparently the RS5 shown above will buck conventional fog light trends and go with a singular lamp – that, or perhaps Audi is rocking some sort of special offset radar-based cruise control sensor). Either way, we’re finally looking at the RS5 that will be sold in North American Audi dealerships, and we couldn’t be more excited. Check it over in our gallery and then look past the jump for all of the official details.

Continue reading Facelifted 2012 Audi RS5 breaks out before Frankfurt debut

Facelifted 2012 Audi RS5 breaks out before Frankfurt debut

If you’ve been hankering for a new two-door Maserati but the 400-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 in the base GranTurismo and the 434hp 4.7-liter V8 in the GranTurismo S just aren’t cutting it, Maserati North America has good news for you, as a pair of more powerful versions are ready to hit American and Canadian roads.

First up is the GranTurismo MC that packs the same aggressive aerodynamically optimized bodywork as the more hardcore GranTurismo MC Stradale available overseas, but with four seats instead of two and a torque-converter six-speed ZF automatic instead of the sequential paddle-shifter.

Also reaching our shores is the GranTurismo Convertible Sport, which is the same as the GranCabrio Sport sold overseas, just with a different name. (Apparently the Modense automaker doesn’t feel those on this side of the Atlantic know what a cabrio is.)

Now here’s the juicy bit: both the MC and Convertible Sport pack the more powerful version of the 4.7-liter V8 with 444 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. The 2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC carries a base price of $139,900 in the U.S., while the 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport goes for $147,500. Follow the jump and scope out the high-res images in the galleries for more.

Continue reading Maserati NA prices GranTurismo MC and GranTurismo Convertible Sport

Maserati NA prices GranTurismo MC and GranTurismo Convertible Sport

Here she is, the refreshed 2012 Audi A5. And while we’ve always been quite fond of the current model’s styling, the subtle touches to the front and rear fascias of the new car make it look even more elegant than ever before. As for the S5, well, it just looks downright mean now. We approve.

The A5’s new nose now uses styling cues found elsewhere in the Audi lineup, specifically, the new-for-2012 A6. Unlike the A6, however, the A5 and S5 do not get Audi’s adaptive LED lighting treatment, instead relying on an attractive wraparound LED running lamp combined with a standard projector-beam xenon unit. Out back, the taillamps are only slightly different than the ones found on the current car, save for a larger, thicker running lamp right through the center of the light cluster.

Powertrain options don’t change much for 2012, with the A5 coming standard with Audi’s turbocharged 2.0-liter, 211-horsepower inline-four. The big news for the new car, however, is that the S5 Coupe will no longer be available with the excellent, free-flowing 4.2-liter V8 – the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 is the only powerplant available. In the S5, it carries over unchanged, rated at 333 hp, though a new, 272-hp version of the 3.0-liter engine will be offered up in the A5, as well.

Look for the refreshed A5 and S5 to go on sale later this year, with prices only expected to increase very slightly. Follow the jump for Audi’s official press release.

Continue reading 2012 Audi A5, S5 get a nip/tuck

2012 Audi A5, S5 get a nip/tuck

The Transporter film series is taking a detour from the silver-screen to arrive in TV land. Called – crazily enough – Transporter, the new Cinemax series stars a man who is not Jason Statham quite good at … transporting. Lead actor Chris Vance’s preferred method of transportation will reportedly be the redesigned Audi A8, which we think should fit the bill quite nicely. After all, a 372-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 paired with Quattro all-wheel-drive, excellent seats and a 1,400-watt B&O sound system should be enough to keep driver, passengers and cargo moving along quickly and comfortably.

Of course, were we the appropriately named Transporter in question, we might wait for Audi to hand over the next S8. How about you – What would be your preferred tool for the Transporter gig? Have your say in Comments.

Audi A8 to star in new Transporter TV series

Audi has worked up a special edition version of the company’s R8 to commemorate the German automaker’s victories at Le Mans. Powered by the same 430 horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 found in the base coupe, the R8 V8 Limited Edition models are available with special titanium-effect paint with titanium-toned wheels to match. Those rollers are 19-inch double Y-spoke bits that were crafted in the spitting image of the hardware found on the R8 GT Coupe. Buyers can also expect to find a set of red brake calipers tucked behind the wheels. All of the company’s standard metallic and pearl effect paint options will also be available on the commemorative cars.

Inside, the R8 V8 Limited Edition comes with satellite navigation and Audi Music Interface with a Bang and Olufsen sound system as well as a unique interior lighting package and Bluetooth hands-free calling. Prices start at £93,935 in the UK. That figure translates to around $150,000 (including Britain’s costly Value Added Tax), though there’s no clear indication as to whether or not any of the 100 examples will make their way to the States or how much Audi will ask U.S. buyers to pay. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading New R8 Limited Edition celebrates 10 Le Mans victories for Audi

New R8 Limited Edition celebrates 10 Le Mans victories for Audi

Despite the rumors of its demise, the next-generation Audi RS4 appears to be on track (literally) based on this mule that our spy shooters have just spied on Germany’s Nürburgring. Seen here testing in the all-too-desirable Avant body style, the next RS4’s final design will likely be a bit more aggressive, incorporating a much more pronounced front fascia complete with lower air intakes similar to those on the RS5 Coupe. On this mule, we can clearly see the larger wheels (straight from the RS5 – how ’bout that), bigger brakes and slightly wider track.

As for power, the safest bet is to expect that the RS5’s high-revving 4.2-liter V8 will carry over to the RS4, producing somewhere around 450 horsepower. Other rumors have suggested that an all-new 4.0-liter turbocharged V6 could be put to use here, but based on all of the scuttlebutt we’ve heard, the 4.2-liter V8 still looks to be the safest bet. Since the RS4’s key competitors will be the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, Audi would probably be wise to use the 450-hp mill in an effort to keep things as competitive as possible. The RS4 will surely be no slouch, and we’re bursting with eagerness to see (and drive) the end result.

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Audi RS4 Avant caught on the right track

When the Maserati GranTurismo made its debut at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, it came equipped with a 400-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 made by Ferrari. A year later, Maserati shoehorned a larger 4.7-liter unit under the GT’s hood, boasting 434 horsepower. But when the GranCabrio – known as the GranTurismo Convertible in the United States – hit the market, the Modense automaker opted to skip the smaller engine and go straight for the 4.7 from the S. Now the Trident marque is doing one better with the new GranCabrio Sport.

Due to be unveiled in Geneva, the top-spec four-seat convertible packs an upgraded version of the 4.7-liter V8. 450 horsepower are driven through the same ZF six-speed auto as the standard model, but re-calibrated with the MC Auto Shift programming for quicker response. The Skyhood active suspension has also been optimized, along with the upgraded brakes, and as you can see from the images in the gallery below, the automaker has also applied a number of sporty touches to the styling as well. You can read the full press release after the jump

[Source: Maserati]

Continue reading Maserati to present more powerful GranCabrio Sport in Geneva

Maserati to present more powerful GranCabrio Sport in Geneva

2010 Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything from Spyker that didn’t have to do with its acquisition of Saab. The Dutch automaker has apparently had its hands full taking the reins in Trollhattan from General Motors – so busy in fact that it has apparently missed production targets. Like with the new C8 Aileron Spyder.

The convertible version of the stretched and updated C8 debuted about a year and a half ago in Pebble Beach, and was supposed to enter production in the first half of 2010. Well, 2010 has come and gone and apparently production still hasn’t started. But we do have some news.

According to reports from the company’s native Netherlands, Spyker is planning on keeping the C8 Aileron Spyder very exclusive, with a production run of just 99 units. That’s a mighty limited edition, but there’s more: according to the same report quoting CEO Victor Muller, Spyker will be ditching the Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V8 for the 6.2-liter supercharged LS9 from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Considering that, at 638 hp, the LS9 produces over 50% more power than the 400-horse Audi mill, the commensurate drop in the previously estimated 4.5-second sprint to 60 should be well worth the work involved in turning the blown eight around and mounting it in the middle of the Spyker. Either that, or this could all amount to nothing – but the notion that the door between GM and Spyker could be swinging both ways is certainly intriguing.

[Source: GTSpirit.com]

Report: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder trying catch up to 99 units with ZR1 power?

Automakers are always looking to add a tinge of green to their fleets, and Audi is reportedly ready to drop a few cylinders on its flagship sedan. The 2012 Audi A8 will be offered as a hybrid, with a four-cylinder gasoline engine being paired with an electric motor. The A8 Hybrid will likely be offered after Audi has launched a front-wheel drive six-cylinder diesel version, both of which should provide quite a different driving experience compared to the 372 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 currently available.

The move to a smaller cylinder count comes as automakers begin to prepare for tougher CAFE standards. Audi, not wanted to be left behind, sees that Mercedes-Benz and BMW are already moving to more efficient powertrains. Mercedes, who already launched its S400 Hybrid, is also adding a four-cylinder version of its flagship model – a 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel in the S250 CDI model. BMW has a different take on how it will produce more efficient luxury sedans. Rather than reducing the number of cylinders, BMW will add electric motors to its six and eight cylinder engines, so for the time being there are no plan to put a four-cylinder in the engine bay of a 7 Series.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Audi bringing four-cylinder A8 in 2012

Are you ready to write a check for a true German luxury sedan stunner? If so, you’ll surely be interested to hear that pricing has arrived for the 2011 Audi A8. Base MSRP for this Bavarian beauty is $78,050 including all extra charges, which puts it squarely between its two main rivals: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class ($87,950) and the BMW 7 Series ($70,150). The long-wheelbase A8L starts at $84,000 and both versions will be in dealer showrooms starting late November 2010.

It’s an enticing price for the finest luxury sedan to wear four rings. The all-new A8 packs brand new features into a sleek body wrapped around a wonderful 4.2-liter V8 engine. The car and engine work so well together that the A8’s 17 mile per gallon city/27 mpg highway rating put it right next to the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid in the fuel economy category. Those figures are also enough to surpass the V6, V8 and Hybrid versions of the 7 Series.

No word yet on how many organs we need to sell to purchase the W12-equipped A8.

For more information on the 2011 Audi A8, as well as pricing for the rest of the 2011 Audi lineup, you can read the full release after the jump.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL [Source: Audi]

Continue reading 2011 Audi A8 to start at $78,050

2011 Audi A8 to start at $78,050