Audi R8 2014 News

Hot on the heels of the Australian government's mandatory Takata airbag recall, Ford, Audi and Tesla have joined the list of carmakers to detail which of it's models are affected.

It’s no secret that Australians buy a higher proportion of high-performance models like BMW’s M, Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and Chrysler and Jeep’s SRT models than most markets, and Audi is taking full advantage of this with its Audi Sport range of models. With an unprecedented seven RS models now available, the R8 supercar and S-badged versions of almost all of its models, the German brand saw a 172.2 per cent increase in local Audi Sport model sales during the 2013 financial year. This resulted in a total of 1121 units, and a shift from 3 to 7 percent of Audi’s record total local volume of 16,009 units.During this same period, BMW’s M models dropped 1 percent, and Mercedes’ AMG rose 34.3 per cent, and the total Audi Sport volume sits between BMW M’s 623 units and Mercedes AMG’s 1650 units.With the subsequent additions of the RS6 Avant, RS5 Cabriolet, S3 Sportback, RSQ3, RS7 Sportback and the upcoming S3 Sedan and S1 hatch, Audi could be a serious threat to AMG’s top-fiddle status.“We have a renewed focus on Audi Sport, and the central theme of this comes from the 30 years of quattro GmbH last year”  Audi’s Australian boss Andrew Doyle says.In addition to the new quattro GmbH-developed Audi Sport models and the brand’s ongoing motorsport activities, Australia has become the second market after the UK to adopt the ‘Audi Sport Sales Concept’, which will see dedicated Audi Sport-themed areas established in several Australian dealerships. These ‘shops within a showroom’ will feature décor based around the Audi Sport red rhombus motif, and showcase a range of merchandise, wheels and accessories.To ensure buyers of RS models appreciate the full breadth of their vehicle’s performance, each will now be invited to participate – free of charge - in the Audi Driver Experience program with driver trainer and ex-Top Gear Australia host Steve Pizzati.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

The awesome Audi Quattro concept is getting closer to becoming a reality. The car powered by a 700 horsepower V8 hybrid system is nearing approval to go into production after it received overwhelming support at last year’s Frankfurt motor show.Audi spokesman Christian Bangemann said the complex V8 and hybrid system is not a flight of fancy and has been designed to be built off the same underpinnings as the next generation A6 luxury sedan. “The reactions (to the show car) are quite good, so it’s not so far away,”  Mr Bangemann told Australian media at the annual Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. In the car world, that means “two to three years”.“All the technology inside, our engineers have invented. It is based on the modular … next generation platform, and we bring this first in the A6 and (then) this (Quattro concept) could be on the road. It would be not very complicated.” Mr Bangemann said the business case for the Quattro was yet to be formally approved by Audi but the early signs were good.The Quattro concept made its second appearance globally in Las Vegas, in a slightly revised form, to gauge more public reaction. Europe and North America will likely be the biggest markets for the car, given the cult status of the original Quattro. The Quattro concept car was unveiled in the 30th anniversary year of the 1983 model, and Audi hinted at the time it may build the new one as a “limited edition”.The all-wheel-drive coupe has a claimed 0 to 100km/h time of 3.7 seconds. This would make the Quattro even faster than Audi’s current flagship, the Audi R8 V10 supercar, powered by the same engine as a Lamborghini. Driving Audi’s red rocket is 515kW of power and 800Nm from the twin turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine and electric motor channeled through an eight-speed automatic transmission.The electric motor alone contributes 110kW and 400Nm to the equation, although the power overlaps with the V8 so the two figures cannot be added. An on-board battery pack means the car can be charged by electricity overnight and provide 50km of petrol-free driving -- on the way to a claimed top speed of 305km/h. The only catch will be the price. Early estimates put the cost of the Quattro at close to $250,000 if and when it eventually goes on sale.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

When news first broke about the surprise Audi nanuk quattro concept at this week’s Frankfurt Auto Show, some fingers may have been pointed for just a moment—at the close likeness of the nanuk to another concept car from earlier this year: the Giugiaro Parcour. The Parcour was one of the favourite concepts of this year’s Geneva show; and later we learned that the Parcour was essentially a high-riding Lamborghini Gallardo underneath. Now it all computes: Audi has claimed the Parcour and made this curvaceous, stocky supercar its own. And it might even build it. The project started before Geneva with Italdesign, said Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, the new Audi AG board of management member in charge of technical development, in a roundtable interview session at the show. Then after the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the concept, Audi laid claim on the design. “And so the idea came about, let’s try to make such a concept under the eyes of Audi, so with Audi core competences and Audi core values,” explained Hackenberg. The nanuk is built on VW Group’s mid-engine platform - what’s used by the R8 sports car and Lamborghini Gallardo. Because of that, it’s easier to make a business case for such a car, because much is carried over - although the lifted suspension and special V-10 turbo-diesel engine (406kW and 999Nm in the concept) would require a separate development path than the R8. Those who could afford an R8 but might not consider one because of poor road conditions (such as those in developing countries) might be interested in a car like the nanuk, Hackenberg hinted. “Even in countries where the infrastructure is great, it’s just fun to have such a car,” Hackenberg added. “There are some customers in the USA as well who will look at it and say that’s something new, that’s crazy, I want to have it.” www.motorauthority.com  

Hugh Jackman risked being upstaged when showed up to the London premiere of his new movie The Wolverine in an Audi R8 V10 Spyder.What does the stunning Audi sports car have to do with Jackman and his latest movie? Well, in The Wolverine, Jackman’s character is driven by Yukio, played by Rila Fukushima, in the very same car. Wolverine doesn't take the wheel himself it seems -- and it would admittedly be difficult to steer with those adamantine claws.Jackman also happens to be an ambassador for the brand with the four rings, which means he takes an active role in raising the profile of Audi and its products during social events like the movie premiere.The R8 wasn’t the only Audi in the new movie. Also starring on the silver screen were an Audi A8 L and a Ducati Diavel (the Ducati brand is now owned by Audi).The latest version of the R8 is now available with a smooth-shifting dual-clutch transmission in addition to the standard manual. The range starts at $287,000 for the standard R8 Coupe, but if you want the R8 V10 Spyder Jackman used you will need to front up at least $395,800. Or you could upstage him in the Audi R8 V10 Plus Coupe at $408,200.See our reviews of the latest 2014 Audi R8 range.www.motorauthority.com 

Most manufacturer-produced automotive videos feature high-end cars in exotic locations, backed by either a classical, trance or techno music soundtrack. While that may be fine for most consumers, those of us with 5w30 in our veins much prefer to hear the engine’s song instead of canned elevator music. Audi has apparently heard our complaints, and its latest marketing video for the R8 V10 Plus fades the backing track when the driver mats the throttle. Better yet, the car is strapped to a dyno, so there’s no wind noise to distract from the glorious roar of the car’s 399 kilowatts, 5.2-litre V-10 engine as it surges to redline. The R8 V10 Plus is naked, too, stripped of its rear body work to show off the oily bits. Most of the exhaust system is missing as well, allowing us to see flame belching from the car’s sizable downpipes. As Audi porn goes, it doesn’t get much better than this. Audi also wants consumers to know that it’s partnered with image-recognition app Blippar to create an “augmented reality” multimedia experience. Point your Blippar-equipped smartphone at a print advertisement for the Audi R8 V10 Plus, and the app will automatically call up the video seen here (in the U.K., anyway). Kristian Dean, Audi UK’s national communications manager, sees such apps as the future of advertising, saying, “The use of Blippar technology allows people to interact immediately with the car, and get under its bonnet in a way they simply would not be able to do with a 2D advertisement alone.” We’re in agreement, so expect to see more of the same from automotive manufacturers in the coming years. www.motorauthority.com  

...Drool. Check your bank balance. Sigh.

More wicked news from Audi as it polishes its R8 supercar with a new transmission for even more blistering performance. Out goes the clunky electro-mechanical six-speed gearbox and in slots a seven-cog dual-clutch box. Audi Australia says the updated R8 - in V8 and V10, coupe and Spyder and R8+ coupe - will be here early next year but hasn't announced prices. Only 26 R8s have been sold this year to the end of June compared with 28 Lamborghinis and 49 Ferraris. The updated R8 precedes a new model set for 2016. Other changes for the 2013 R8 are improved LED headlights and new rear LED lights, a deeper rear diffuser, new bumper and grille and subtle changes to the R8+ lightweight model. The new transmission - called S-tronic by Audi but known by the Volkswagen Group as DSG - is optional on the V8 and standard on the V10. It is an evolution of the current DSG design with a new layout for the two clutches, a small 600mm overall gearbox length and drive to the front wheels via the engine's crankcase. Up to 30 per cent of torque can be directed to the front wheels. The new transmission has reduced emissions by up to 22g/km CO2 and fuel consumption by 1.2 L/100km. The V8 S-tronic averages 12.4 L/100km and the V10 is 13.1 L/100km. Audi claims the new model is quicker to 100km/h by up to 0.3 seconds. That gives the V8 S-tronic a 4.3 second time and only 3.6 seconds for the V10. Power outputs remain the same at 316kW/430Nm for the V8 and 386kW/530Nm for the V10. Both engines are also available with a six-speed manual - standard on the V8 and optional on the V10. Details of the Spyder version are identical to the coupe.