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Audi RS6 sets new ice-speed record


Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres equipped a previous generation Audi RS6 with a set of studded winter tyres - measuring a whopping 20in in size - and stormed a really big and really cold bit of lake in Finland's Gulf of Bothnia. It's really ruddy cold up there.

Nokian's Audi RS6 - itself packing 572bhp and four-wheel-drive and a little bit of sheer terror - made two passes of the 7.5-mile untreated ice surface within the hour at "extreme speeds"; when travelling in this spirited manner, the RS6 was doing over 93 metres per second, with the studs on the tyres ploughing the ice 43 times per second.

Driver Janne Laitinen managed to hit 208.602mph (335.7km/h), which smashes his previous top speed, by 2.6mph. At one point during the run, Nokian's very own ‘Iceman' hit 211mph. Probably best not to remind him to keep the tyres warm though, as we suspect he knows what he's doing.

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2013 Audi Q5 Facelift Officially Revealed

As expected, the 2013 Audi Q5 features the updated hexagonal grille, a revised front bumper with larger air intakes and chrome accents and updated headlights featuring LED daytime running lights. The rear gets an updated apron on the bumper and tweaked taillights.
But what we didn’t see before is the interior, which actually received very minor changes. It appears that the more premium trim levels will get minor upgrades, but the Q5 does sport a new steering wheel design.
The 2013 Q5 will ride on an updated chassis that also see’s changes to its suspension to enhance its ride quality. A more fuel-efficient engine lineup will also find its way under the Q5 hood and will include the popular, supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI.

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Audi in Talks to Buy Ducati

Audi is in talks to buy Ducati, the famous Italian bike company from owner Investindustrial SpA, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Audi, which has the right of first refusal on a purchase until mid-April, is considering a total price of about 850 million euros ($1.12 billion) for the Italian company, which would include assuming some 800 million euros in liabilities, according to one people who declined to be identified.

The Financial Times reported last month Investindustrial was looking to sell the motorbike brand for up to 1 billion euros, three times its initial investment.

Investindustrial, the majority owner of Ducati, best known for its premium and professional racing bikes, declined to comment.
 
According to Reuters, Ducati had expanded its market share in the countries where it was active from 8.5 percent in 2010 to 10.7 percent in 2011. It introduced two significant new models in the last year, the Diavel and the 1199 Panigale.

Aside from the financial implications, a takeover by a major corporation such as VW would make sense for Ducati due to the huge advantages in terms of investment and access to new technology.

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Audi R8 GT Spyder priced at $211,200

Audi released last week pricing for the 2012 R8 GT Spyder. The all-wheel-drive, Lamborghini-V10-sporting convertible will sticker for $211,200 with destination. Only 333 examples will be built, with just 50 coming to the United States. Audi built the same number of hardtop GTs, with 90 coming stateside.

Output goes up to 560 hp in the open-top R8 GT, with 398 lb-ft of torque. The 5.2-liter, direct-injection V10 will sprint to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 197 mph.

Audi dropped 187 pounds from the R8 V10, which not only improves acceleration but increases fuel economy. The engine cradle is made from ultralight magnesium, while the soft-top cover and rear side panels are made from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. The fixed rear spoiler is carbon fiber as well.

The GT Spyder is 10 millimeters lower than the R8 V10, and the suspension has a stiffer calibration. XYZ ventilated and cross-drilled rotors provide stopping power, with 19-inch wheels at all four corners.

Visual cues on the GT Spyder include a larger rear diffuser, front splitter and a fixed rear spoiler. The interior is black, only. Accent stitching can be ordered in gray or red. Alcantara trim adorns the seat inserts, flat-bottomed steering wheel, parking brake and windshield frame.

Deliveries begin this month.

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Audi unleashes 252bhp A1 Quattro


This is faster than a JCW Mini. It's faster than the Corsa VXR Nürburgring. It's also faster than a Ford Focus ST and nudges the VW Golf R for pace. This is the turbocharged, four-wheel-drive Audi A1 Quattro.
 
Like a mini Walter Rohrl-shaped gift to the world, Audi has announced plans to produce 333 left-hand-drive models of this, the fastest production A1 ever built.
 
It's destined for mainland Europe for now, but Audi expects positive customer reaction to this bonkers little thing could see it reach our potholed shores. And that's an intriguing prospect, because it packs 252bhp from a turbocharged, 2.0-litre TFSI unit and 258lb ft of torque from between 2,500rpm and 4,500rpm. All the Audi's horses and torques help propel it from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 152mph. That's really quick.
 
It's also the first production A1 to get the Quattro system. As in that car, traction comes from an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch rotating in an oil bath.
 
Which basically means its front wheel drive for normal driving, but sends power to the rear "in just a few milliseconds" if you start to Stiggify it. And there's an electronic diff that brakes whichever wheel is losing grip, helping to keep you out of the nearest hedge/tree/sofa warehouse.
 
The 333 cars are slightly longer than the standard A1, and get the full complement of Audi equipment: S sports seats, quattro badges, dashes of aluminium, Infotainment gubbins, a 465-watt speaker system... No word on price, but if it does ever reach the UK, expect it to be significantly more expensive than the current range topper, the £21,270 1.4 TFSI S Line.

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Entry-level Audi TT revealed

The Audi TT just got cheaper, with a new entry-level 1.8-litre petrol version starting from $38,000

One of the best coupes on the market - the Audi TT - just got a little cheaper, with the news that the brand has launched a new entry-level petrol version that costs just $38,000.
Powered by the turbocharged 1.8-litre TFSI petrol engine from the Roadster, the newcomer produces 158bhp and 250Nm of torque, and is available with either a six-speed manual or Audi's optional seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch automatic.
Despite being the cheapest TT in the range, the new coupe isn't short of pace, as manual versions cover the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in just 7.2 seconds, going on hit a 140mph top speed. Yet it's also surprisingly economical, managing to return a combined 44.1mpg and emitting just 147g/km.

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