Audi has revealedetails of its all-new 2011 Audi A7 Sportback five-door coupe at the vehicle’s official unveiling in Munich.

The A7 Sportback is the same height as the original four-door executive coupe, the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but is 50 mm longer, 40 mm wider and has a 20 mm longer wheelbase.

From launch the A7 Sportback will be offered with four V6 engines – two petrol units and two diesels. Power will range from 150 kW / 280 Nm to 180 kW / 500 Nm. Combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will range from a low of 5.3 l/100km and 139 g/km in the diesels to 8.2 l/100km and 190 g/km for the petrol engines.

The A7’s Sportback design gives it a useful 535-litre luggage capacity, which expands to 1 390-litres with the back seats folded flat.

Like the A8, the Sportback is available with Audi’s new Multi Media Interface (MMI) touchpad operating system which is compatible with Google Maps navigation data. A 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system comes with the advanced system, and a head-up display for the driver is optional. Pre-sense, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, active lane assist, night vision, speed limit display and park assist head an impressive list of safety and assistance features.

Deliveries of the 2011 Audi A7 Sportback are scheduled to begin in the final months of 2010 in the northern hemisphere. There’s no word yet from Audi SA as to local delivery dates, but we expect the new car to arrive in the first half of next year.

As the years roll on the Audi TT may arguably be starting to seem a bit ‘run of the mill’. In the 12 years since it’s been in production, the TT has developed a wonderful following and helped owners enjoy the experience of some good old fashion open top motoring.

However, Audi is now working on an all new sports car called the R4. Although this latest set of renderings is not meant to depict the final production car, you can get an idea of how the Audi R4 might look in Walter de Silva-approved, production sheetmetal… with the wheels from the R8 5.2 FSI V10. The R4 has not been touted as a replacement for the TT, but one look should tell you that the TT’s days could be numbered.

The mid-engine coupe will sit upon an entirely new chassis that was conceptualised on the VW BlueSport roadster concept car. An all electric R4 is also said to be in development and is based on the Audi e-tron concept car. Power will most likely come from a version VW’s 2.0-litre TFSI engine.

As Toyota’s reputation begins a slow path to recovery,  Volkswagen continues its quest to topple the ‘Big T’ as the biggest manufacturer in the world.

Volkswagen has began streamlining its products and optimising its lineup to cover the entire market. Rumours circulating the web suggest the German company (which owns Audi, Lamborghini, Skoda, Seat, Bugatti and Porsche) is expected to take a 90 percent stake in Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.

Italdesign has been around for over 40 years and currently has 975 workers. The link to Volkswagen goes all the way back to 1974 when the company designed the original Volkswagen Golf.

The 90 percent sale will see the Giugiaro family keep 10 percent, with father and son Giorgetto and Fabrizio expected to remain at work.

Volkswagen’s plan to become the world’s largest manufacturer by 2018 will see the company sell at least 10 million cars annually and will thus require more designers for its array of different brands.

Adapted from CarAdvice

Following the launch of the A5 Sportback range in January this year, Audi South Africa has now introduced a S5 Sportback performance oriented model.

The five-door S5 Sportback is powered by a supercharged 3,0-litre V6 engine with an output of 245 kW and 440 N.m of torque. The supercharger sits in the 90 degree ‘V’ shaped by the banks of the cylinders and produces up to 0.8 bar of pressure. Two intercoolers lower the temperature of the compressed intake air for improved filling of the combustion chambers.

Power is delivered to the wheels via a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox and quattro drive, with optional sport differential.

The S5 Sportback sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and accelerates up to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h. The supercharged V6 unit consumes a claimed 9,4 l/100km on average, with C02 emissions of 219 g/km.

The Audi S5 Sportback has a sports-tuned chassis. The S-design 18-inch cast aluminum wheels are shod with 245/40 tyres and black brake calipers are emblazoned with S5 emblems. Servotronic speed-sensitive steering is also standard, with dynamic steering available as an option. A strut brace provides the front section of the car with additional rigidity.

Standard specification on the S5 Sportback includes the likes of ‘S’ sports suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, multi-function leather sports steering wheel with ‘S’ emblem, decorative carbon inlays, ‘S’ design exterior styling cues and ‘S’ sports seats.

As with all Audi models a range of options are available, some of which include a Sports Differential; Audi Drive Select; Bang and Olufsen sound system; front and rear park distance control; lane change assistance and departure warning; adaptive lighting.

The Audi S5 Sportback 3.0T FSI S tronic is available from R636 500 and is sold with a one year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

For the fourth year in a row, Audi will have its own stand at the GTI tuner meet at the Wörthersee Tour in Germany and is once again expecting Audi fans from throughout Europe. The star of the show will be the new Audi A1, which though the use of adhesive film designs, vibrant paint finishes and exterior add-on parts can feature a distinct look that potential customers could use to differentiate their cars.

“The Audi A1 fits in with the GTI meet because customisation has always been a central topic for the Audi fans here at the Wörthersee and will also play a special role for A1 customers,” says Stefan Sielaff, Head of Audi Design.

Sielaff and his team have developed seven different models for the appearance at the Wörthersee, including a model sporting an ‘FC Bayern’ look. This particular car has the Number 10 of FC Bayern star Arjen Robben on the roof and on the doors.

Joining the nine Audi A1 models will be the new Audi R8 GT and 9 other models. Take a look at the renderings below:

Audi has added a fourth model to its growing R8 line-up, in the form of the limited-edition 2011 Audi R8 GT. Based on the 5.2 FSI V10 model, the R8 GT is both lighter and meaner than its ‘regular’ siblings.

Thanks to its alumininium spaceframe, the R8 was already close to being the lightest it could be. Nonetheless, Audi has managed to cut a further 100 kg from the supercar’s usual 1 625 kg kerb weight by swapping a number of aluminium panels for carbon fibre versions. There is also a thinner windscreen, and a polycarbonate rear window.

If slicing the equivalent of a human passenger from its mass isn’t enough, Audi has eked a further 27 kW of power from the big V10, making for a total of 418 kW – topping its cousin, the Lamborghini Gallardo. The boost in power comes courtesy of tweaks to the engine electronics, leading also to a small boost in torque – up 10 N.m to 540 N.m at 6 500 r/mon. The limited-edition R8 GT is claimed to accelerate to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and on to 200 km/h in 10.6 seconds. The top speed has increased slightly to 320 km/h, versus 316km/h for the ’standard’ R8 V10. For transmissions, the R8 GT is available only with the hydraulically-actuated R-tronic sequential ‘manual’ transmission, which Audi claims can change gears a within a tenth of a second at high load.

Only 333 examples of the R8 GT will be built and the price in Germany is €193 000. No word from Audi SA on when or how many will be landing on our shores.

We’ve seen spy shots of the Audi RS3 since last year, but new shots confirm Audi is indeed still working on the car. The hottest A3-based model had been expected to debut at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but when Audi didn’t deliver, some thought the project might be on ice.

It’s alive and well, however, as these shots of an orange-painted S3-badged test mule reveal. Huge mesh airdams in place of the usual foglight location, a series of holes drilled under the grill, and a mismatched set of wheels, all hint that there’s more going on here than just a revised S3.

We expect the extra breathing room in the front bumper is there to feed and cool the turbocharged five-cylinder borrowed from the TT-RS, which should be rated at about 250 kW and 450 N.m of torque in the RS3. A more focused suspension treatment and unique front, side and rear aerodynamic aids will also be part of the RS3 package.

Zero to 100 km/h should require just under five seconds in the RS3, with a top speed of 250 km/h (limited) or up to 280 km/h with no limiter, if Audi follows the same path it did with the TT-RS.

Adapted from MotorAuthority

Audi is set to formally unveil the 2011 Audi A8 Long WheelBase (LWB) at this years Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, following the debut of the standard wheel base saloon at Detroit earlier this year.

The standard and long wheel base saloons both share the new eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive, as well as the 277 kW 4.2-litre FSI V8. Both can be optioned with torque vectoring and sports differential, and come standard with adaptive air suspension and 19-inch alloys (20- and 21-inch are also available).

A 6,3-litre W12 petrol engine will also be available and will push out 368 kW and an epic 625 Nm. Audi says all that power takes the LWB from 0 – 100km/h in under 4.9 seconds, yet it is still predicting fuel efficiency of around 11.8 litres/100km on the EU test cycle.

Despite being around 130 mm longer than the standard A8, visually very little distinguishes the two. Rear passengers will notice the stretched version’s longer rear doors and additional leg room – if they can ever draw their attention away from the rear-seat entertainment system, four-zone automatic air conditioning, refrigerator, folding table and massaging and reclining seats with electronic footrests.

The fun continues with a touch screen navigation system in the front, twin-glass panoramic roof overhead, 1400 watt Bang & Olufsen audio system with no less than 19 speakers and wood and leather everywhere else. Safety tech includes night view with pedestrian detection, side and lane assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and Audi’s pre-sense safety system.

European Audi A8 LWB deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2010 with pricing to remain competitive with similar offerings from its traditional German rivals.

The Audi specialists from MTM have released the MTM Audi R8 GT3-2 package, which places no less than 412 kW and 580 N.m of torque under the hood of the German supercar. The official numbers say the MTM Audi R8 GT3-2 can rocket from 0 – 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 317 km/h. Bare in mind this is the V8 4.2 FSI version of the R8 and not the newer V10 model.

Another major development brought by the MTM Audi R8 GT3-2 is the fact that the quattro all-wheel-drive system has been removed and power is now sent to the rear wheels only. Touted as the only street-legal RWD Audi, MTM has this to say: “Those who are searching for an ‘Ingolstädter’ with four rings and rear wheel drive have to look back more than four decades ago.”

With great power, and less grip, comes the need for great suspension; it’s a good thing then that MTM had a solution in their parts bin. The R8 GT3-2 gets the tuner’s adjustable setup, which has been designed to mesh perfectly with those 20-inch forged rims, behind which reside 380 mm discs.

Lastly, aerodynamics have been updated with the addition of a carbon fibre front spoiler, skirts, and an enormous rear wing.

Audi has revealed details and images for the updated-for-2011 Audi TT today. Both the Coupe and Roadster body styles have been given a modest makeover, and the line-up gains a new model powered by Audi’s updated 2,0-litre TFSI four-cylinder petrol engine.

With the use of Audi’s Valvelift system, the updated 2.0 litre TFSI engine produces 155 kW (up 8 kW on the previous model) and 350 N.m of torque (up 70 N.m). It is paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or, moving up the specs list, Audi’s six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission mated to the quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The 0 – 100km/h sprint is covered in 6.1 seconds in the manual-equipped model, and a spritely 5.6 seconds with the S tronic and quattro setup. Despite the boost in output, fuel consumption for the 2,0-litre TFSI engine is listed at 6.6 l/100km – down from 7.7 l/100km.

On the styling front, the updated TT gets simple tweaks to the front bumper with larger intakes and a single-frame gloss-black grille. As is fast being an Audi trademark, a row of LED daytime-running-lights now features along the bottom edge of the headlights. At the rear, subtly updated tail lights, larger exhaust tips and an oh-so-slightly larger diffuser round out the updates. Thanks to the tweaks at both ends, the TT is now 20 mm longer, measuring 4 187 mm in length.

The more powerful 2011 Audi TTS variant gets a more obvious update up front, featuring a new grille and front bumper with chrome intake frames. The range-topping TT RS remains unchanged, maintaining Audi’s familiar RS styling.

Updates in the cabin are similarly modest, with a new satin-aluminum look to the steering wheel, centre console and door trim. The glove box gets a brushed aluminium insert, and new interior colour combinations are available for the TT and TTS models.

South African pricing is still to be announced.

Adapted from TheMotorReport