Audi RS6 2008 News

Many ‘behind the scenes’ videos are tedious productions with a conga line of people nattering on about the car – and not enough of the car itself.Audi shows us how to do it right with backgrounder footage for their recent dual video giving us a look at the tyre-warming preparation for the main action. No surprise then, that the backgrounder is just as exciting as the main event, in which the RS6 Avant duels champion free-runner Damien Walters.The man is armed with paint balloons, the machine is armed with a stonking 412kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds, a top speed of up to 305km/h. And a paint grenade. Watch the Audi RS6 Avant warming the tyres video here. Watch the Audi RS6 Avant Duel video here. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Audi isn’t shy of getting their cars dirty for trailers. We’ve already seen the Audi RS4 in a paintball duel, and now the RS6 Avant has been rolled onto the battlefield.

With the arrival of the A4 and its variants, updated A3 hatch, hot S3, the A3 cabrio and the R8 super coupe, the 2008 pace was fast and furious. The onslaught made Audi the fastest-growing premium brand in the country, with a 30 per cent jump in 2008 sales. The eagerly awaited Q5 off-roader and RS6 sedan are just around the corner — and will be on show in Melbourne. The Quattro all-wheel-drive RS6 shares the same Lamborghini-sourced V10 engine as the wagon. It’s a twin-turbo 5.0-litre direct-injection motor that delivers the same power — 426kW at 6250 revs and 650Nm from just 1500 revs. Granted, the RS6 will get the lion’s share of interest but it is the Q5 off-roader that will please families and off-road enthusiasts alike. The Q5 looks like a shrink-wrapped Q7 and in design terms it borrows some of the same handsome cues. Using the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the Q5 distributes the power between the front and rear axle in a 40/60 split, for a rear-focused driving experience. When needed, the all-wheel-drive system can deliver up to 65 per cent of the power to the front axle and a maximum of 85 per cent to the rear axle. Buyers have a choice of three engines in the Audi range — a 2.0-litre four and 3.0-litre V6 TDI, as well as a 2.0-litre TSFI petrol turbo.   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...  

It has just lifted the wraps off its new RS6 sedan, upping the ante from the old car's V8 to a V10 borrowed from the Italian supercar maker Lamborghini, which Audi has owned for 10 years. Shoehorning a V10 into the A6 engine bay proves that peace is yet to be declared in the German power wars. The electrifying RS6 sedan and wagon takes the 5.0-litre Lamborghini V10 and plumbs in two turbochargers to lift power to 426kW and torque to 650Nm. Fuel price spikes and the sedan's projected $250,000 pricetag haven't turned the queues away either. Audi Australia expects to sell about 50 sedans and wagons combined a year. Spokesperson, Nadine Giusti, says 25 people have already expressed interest. The sedan arrives here early next year but the wagon arrives before Christmas. The 5.0-litre twin-turbo V10 engine features direct injection and dry-sump lubrication. It is mated to Audi's quattro all-wheel drive via a six-speed tiptronic automatic tuned for quicker shift response. The car's peak torque of 650Nm is available from 1500 to 6250 revs. Peak power of 426kW is generated between 6250 revs and 6700 revs. The sedan accelerates to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. To cope with the car's extra oomph the suspension has been upgraded. The front axle gets light-weight aluminium control arms on each wheel and Audi's dynamic ride control is standard for Australia. The speed-dependent servotronic power steering has been retuned and the ratio is more direct. When combined with the sports suspension plus the dynamic ride control has three settings, sport, dynamic and comfort. For Australia, the RS 6 will have 20-inch alloys shod with 275/35 tyres. Up front, six-piston fixed aluminium calipers painted black and decorated with RS badges clamp down on 390mm front discs and 356mm rear discs. The rear axle features single-piston floating brake calipers. The floating steel discs feature large cooling ducts and axial perforations for enhanced performance and less weight. Visually the RS6 gets styling cues to distinquish it from lesser Audis. These include the single-frame grille, the large air intakes, xenon-plus headlights, adaptive light and RS 6-specific LED daytime running lights, flared mudguards and deep side skirts, a rear diffuser. The rear spoiler is integrated into the bootlid and two large oval exhausts complete the picture. Inside, the cabin gets carbon fibre inlays and Silk Nappa RS-embossed leather sports seats. A refreshed A6 sedan and wagon will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October and the cars will hit local showrooms early next year. The midlife update involves modest cosmetic changes to the front and rear, new alloys and some interior trim changes. At the front the current car's broad bar across the grille that backs the numberplate has been removed, replaced by a one-piece plunging grille. The air intake and foglights surrounds have also been given more pronounced ribs for an aggressive look. The headlights and tail-lights are largely untouched, although the rear lights lose the white reverse bar of the current car. The shape of the lower lip on the boot has also been squared off. The car's handsome profile remains the same. The next-generation A6 is not due until 2011.  

Audi's twin-turbo V10 RS6 could have been made to sneak up on unsuspecting victims at the lights — but that is not its raison d'etre. Unveiled as what must surely be the world's fastest family wagon, the RS6 is now being offered in sedan guise and will arrive in Australia early next year.Pricing is yet to be settled, with uncertainty about the proposed 8 per cent increase in the luxury car tax playing a role in that.However, with the RS6 Avant priced at $259,000, the sedan is likely to be in the low $250,000 range.The RS cars in general — and the RS6 in particular — are showcases for what Audi's go-fast technicians can do with a luxury donor.The 5.0-litre twin-turbo V10 engine packs a massive 426kW and 650Nm of urge from just 1500rpm right through to 6250rpm.Getting that punch out on to the road is the work of the lauded quattro all-wheel-drive and a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox tweaked to provide shift times commensurate with the supercar performance.At the heart of the car, the V10 is a very hi-tech work of art, bundling together Audi's technologies such as FSI direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication and twin turbos. That technology allows the RS6 a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds on the way to an electronically-governed top speed of 250km/h.Standard on the car will be Audi's Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), which reduces pitch and roll using hydraulics. When combined with the sports suspension plus, DRC offers a choice of three selectable damper settings — sport, dynamic and comfort.The standard ESP has a relatively high activation threshold to encourage a dynamic driving style without compromising safety.Standard equipment for Australia will include the MMI control centre with colour monitor and TV reception, advanced key entry, electric glass sunroof, Audi navigation, dual-zone deluxe automatic airconditioning, an acoustic parking assistant at front and rear, three-spoke, multifunction leather sports steering wheel with flat-bottomed rim and a Bose surround sound system. 

The Ingolstadt marque — whose launches have a clockwork regularity — will by July have introduced an insane station wagon, a cute cabrio, a sexy coupe and their crucial mid-size sedan.The RS6 Avant, TTS, A3 cabrio and their all-important BMW 3 Series rival, the new A4, will be showcased at the Melbourne International Motor Show. With the atmo V10-powered S6 sedan obviously considered on the soft side, the RS6 Avant cops a twin-turbo version good for 426kW/650Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint time of a claimed 4.6 seconds.Essentially an all-wheel-drive family wagon with near-supercar performance, it's priced at $259,000. As one of Audi's typically gnomic marketing blurbs puts it, the uber-wagon buyer is “likely to be a highly successful 45- to 64-year-old businessman with a family.” Right ...By contrast, the TTS — available locally in coupe or cabrio form from July — will be driven by one who is a “culturally-minded 25- to 64-year-old with a strong interest in fashion, architecture and design.” Of course.Packing the same hugely enhanced version of the 2.0-litre direct injection turbo four that motivates the S3, the range-topping TTS gets quattro all-wheel-drive and a choice of S-tronic robotised manual or a proper 6-speed manual transmissions. If you happen to be “25 to 54 years with an active, outgoing approach to life and a love of the outdoors” then you'll just love the A3 Cabriolet. Apparently.At a time when drop tops are hardening up, this one retains a lightweight soft top. Due here in July, it will want to be pretty good if it's to succeed — not so much against BMW's 125i, but Volkswagen's Eos.But it's those between “30 and 54 years with a young family, and likely to be in a management role with an interest in design, technology and computing” that Audi really needs to land with the largely new A4 sedan.Due in April, pricing for the sedan (the wagon follows later) has been announced. It starts at $50,900 for the 1.8 TFSI manual and $53,500 for the multitronic auto; $54,900 for the 2.0-litre TDI diesel in auto and $88,500 for the 3.2-litre FSI quattro tiptronic.A 2.7-litre TDI multitronic, at $67,900, follows in May or June, with a 2.0-litre TFSI quattro later in the year.Built on the MDS platform already available in the S5 and A5 coupe, the A4 should have the same marginally improved ride and handling. 

Let’s start at the baby of the range, the new A3 Cabrio, which is a dedicated four-seat soft top to rival BMWs newly-launched 1 Series Convertible.

A hectic 2007 proved to be lucrative for the car industry with a plethora of new cars launched and more than a million sales throughout the year. And there's no indication that it will be slowing down in 2008.AUDI The new A4, to rival the 3 Series and C-Class is expected here about April, while July will see the hot sports wagon, the RS6 Avant and the A3 Cabrio. Extra A5 variants will follow. BMWBMW has a busy year ahead, starting with the 320d and 335i touring this month. The 1 Series Coupe will go on sale around April, followed by the convertible in May-June. But its big one for the year will be the new X6 Sports Activity Coupe, arriving between July and September. It comes with three engine variants, all twin-turbo, an in-line six, a 3.0-litre diesel and a 300kW 4.4-litre V8. Pricing is expected to start at just under $100,000. And the X5 scores a new engine in February, with the first variable twin turbo diesel offered in the range. CHRYSLER/JEEPJanuary will be a busy month for Chrysler, with the Sebring Cabrio and Grand Voyager people mover both arriving in Australia. The Jeep Cherokee will also get a total makeover. CITROENBased on the C4 Picasso, but bigger and better equipped, Citroen will introduce the Berlingo van between July and September, with a mainly diesel range. This will make room in the line-up for the new Nemo small van mid-year. The C5 will also get a new V6 diesel engine.FERRARIDeliveries of the exquisite F430 Scuderia, priced at about $550,000, will start mid year. Only about 40 will come to Australia and New Zealand. FIAT The reincarnation of the 1960s Bambino will arrive in March, but Fiat has already sold the first four months' supply. The new Fiat 500 will have three engine choices, a 1.2-litre petrol, a 75kW 1.4-litre petrol engine or a 56kW 1.3-litre turbo diesel. Pricing is expected to start from $22,000. The new Ritmo will join the Fiat 500 in March with pricing from $30,000. FORD One of the biggest launches for the year will be the new Falcon. Ford will release details of the new model in February and it's expected to be followed by an unveiling at the Melbourne motor show in the same month, with the official launch around May.FPV FPV will start the year with a new model, the hot turbo Territory, known as the F6 X model. It's the first non-Falcon model from FPV, with 270kW and 550Nm. The FPV Falcon range will also arrive this year. HOLDEN/CADILLACWith Ford's big year planned, you can't expect Holden to keep quiet. But so far, Holden has only announced it is expecting the VE Sportwagon, due in the first half of the year. GM-Holden is also introducing Cadillac with the first model due late in 2008. HONDA Honda will start the year with the new Accord model, due to be launched in February. The small Jazz is also getting an update after the middle of the year. Details on the new generation will be released closer to the launch. The Accord Euro is also expected to arrive later this year. HYUNDAI No big launches just yet, although an upgraded Sonata is expected mid year. JAGUARJaguar's major release for the year will be the new XF in June, with pricing expected to start from $105,000. It will be available in a V6 diesel, as well as a V6 and V8 petrol. KIAPreviewed at the Sydney motor show last year, Kia will launch its new seven-seater Rondo crossover in February. It is expected to start from as low as the mid-$20,000 mark. LEXUSNew for Lexus will be the LX570 around April or May, followed by the IS-F towards the end of the year. Details still to come. MAZDAThe second-generation Mazda6 will go on sale at the end of February with pricing from less than $30,000. It will be powered by a 2.5-litre, four cylinder engine, with 125kW and 226Nm.MERCEDES-BENZThe first arrival for Mercedes-Benz is expected to be the C 63 AMG in mid March. It will be followed by the S 320CDI, priced at $189,874 and the C-Class wagon, which will carry a $3000 premium over the sedan, coming in just under $60,000. MINIAnother new version of a 1960s cult car is also headed our way, with the Mini Clubman launched in February. The modern successor of the Morris Mini Traveller, the Austin Mini Countryman and the Mini Clubman Estate won't get into showrooms until March or April. Pricing will start in the mid-$30,000 area. MITSUBISHIMitsubishi will release two turbocharged Lancers this year. The top-level Lancer Evo X GSR will be here in April and sell for about $58,000. The 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo engine pumps out 200kW and 422Nm. Joining it will be the detuned version in the Ralliart all-wheel drive, at about $40,000. NISSANNissan's first addition for the year will be the all-wheel-drive wagon, the Dualis. Starting at $28,990 and stretching to $35,990, it's powered by a 102kW, 2.0-litre engine. PEUGEOTThe big launch for Peugeot will be the 308 replacing the 307 range, which will start with the 308 hatch in February in both petrol and diesel guises. The touring will follow in June or July, with the 308cc model a prospect for late 2008 or early 2009. PROTONProton has announced the Persona, based on the Gen2 hatch platform, will make its debut at the Melbourne motor show in late February, going on sale in March. It will be priced around the mid-teens. The Gen2 will also get engine updates and minor styling changes. RENAULTThe all-new Laguna will go on sale mid-year with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. SAABJune sees the arrival of the Turbo X AWD. SSANGYONGThe South Korean company will go completely diesel in 2008, with no more petrol engines on offer in Australia. SMARTThe new Fortwo arrives in Australia in February. The one-model brand will get both the 52kW and 62kW models, in hatch and cabrio, being bigger than the current models. SUBARUThe star WRX STi comes in February with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, although pricing is still to come. The third generation Forester arrives in March. SUZUKIFebruary's proving to be a busy month, with Suzuki also launching its Grand Vitara diesel. TOYOTAAfter a big year in 2007, Toyota is expecting a quiet year, with only the TRD Hilux due to be launched in April-June. VOLKSWAGENVolkswagen will kick off the year with the SUV, the Touareg R50, to be released in April. It's powered by a 258kW V10 TDI engine. The Tiguan also arrives about October.  VOLVOThe recently launched XC70 arrives in showrooms this month, joined by the C30 diesel also in January. It's priced at $43,950. A base model C30 will also enter the line-up, at $34,450. A 3.0-litre six-cylinder engined V70 will arrive in March. 

Less than two months after Audi announced its multi-million dollar plans to cement its future in Australia, the big spending has continued for the parent company Audi AG, with further plans of investm