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Showing posts from March, 2018

Audi R8 V10, car review: Entry-level supercar remains a mighty beast

The new R8 V10 remains a mighty beast, a practical supercar with one of the really great powerplants Most models have an entry-level version, and this is Audi’s economy version of the R8. In other makes that might mean no air-con as standard or maybe a small engine only really suitable for running round town. Think of the R8 V10 like that.  This basic R8 compares fairly unfavourably to the more potent R8 Plus of course. There’s less power, more weight and, I know you’ll find this shocking, you don’t even get the ceramic brakes. This is what happens when you save £15,000 over the better-spec Plus.  However, on the plus side, nearly everything else is there. In a world where smaller engines with turbos are replacing big normally aspirated engines (think Porsche), there’s a huge amount to be said for the sheer stonking grunt of the 5.2-litre V10. The great, endless churning rolls of torque and horsepower just keep on coming, as the engine wails up the range.  It s...

New Audi RS3: less weight, more power, more aggression

We’ve been used to the RS3 as a sportback, but Audi has now decided there should be a saloon version. At first glance that may seem a slightly strange decision. And at a second glance. But we’ll look deeper. Generally, the UK hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for compact performance saloons. But often that’s because to British eyes they just didn’t seem to look right. The RS3 saloon certainly looks right, helped by a track widened by 20mm at the front and 14mm at the rear. It looks purposeful, with those 19in rims filling the wheelarches and with the more aggressive styling cues. And that aggression is backed up by more power and less weight. The engine has been lightened by 25kg by using more expensive metals and the 2.5-litre five-cylinder unit has been given more power to the tune of 395bhp. With a weight of 1515kg this is now lighter than a BMW M2. With as near as damn it 400bhp on tap, the quattro system has some work to do, with torque vectoring definitely not getting ...

Supercar shoot-out: Honda NSX vs Audi R8

The long-awaited new Honda NSX is here in Britain at last. How does it square up to the current supercar champ, Audi’s R8? The new Honda NSX has been a long time coming, but finally it’s on sale in Britain. And as if to make up for this, Honda has equipped it with some genuinely space-age technology. The 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo has high-tech electric motor assist, and there are two more electric motors driving the front wheels. Result of this computer-controlled masterclass? 573bhp. Mind you, even this is topped by the rather more old-school approach of the Audi R8, whose 5.2-litre V10 produces a wild 602bhp. It doesn’t have a single turbo, never mind electric motor wizardry. As they meet for the first time in Britain, we finally have our chance to decide: which is best? Right away, it’s clear these are two mid-engined supercars that you need to familiarise yourself with. Even the more traditional Audi has several different driving modes that turn it from GT cruiser into wild ...

Leading all that is to come, the all-new 2019 Audi A8 brings future premium to the luxury segment at the Los Angeles Auto Show

First production execution of new Audi premium design language shown on the Prologue concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014 New touchscreen MMI system with haptic feedback for user-friendly operation Exceptional balance of safety, dynamics and comfort through innovative Audi AI active suspension and driver assistance systems HERNDON,  Virginia, November 20, 2017 –  The all-new A8, in its fourth generation, serves as a leader in the luxury sedan segment.  The all-new A8 delivers a serene interior design, usable technology that seamlessly connects drivers and passengers to their digital lives and driver assistance technologies that allow everyone to arrive more relaxed. The A8 redefines future premium and leads all that is to come in the Audi model portfolio. Design The exterior design of the all-new 2019 A8 marks the start of a new era for Audi. With an emphasis on progressive elegance, the sedan blends bespoke craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology....

The Audi vision of autonomous driving

FRANKFURT/INGOLSTADT, Germany, September 11, 2017 – Audi to debut three at IAA 2017: The new Audi A8 is making its show premiere in Frankfurt. It is the first production automobile to permit conditional automated driving on public roads. For the first time, drivers will be able to completely turn over the task of driving in certain situations. This step is a technological revolution. And with the double world premiere of two concept cars, Audi is also showing how the brand intends to further develop autonomous driving in the future. Audi Elaine is an electric-powered SUV coupe that in a few short years will make highly automated driving possible – at times even without a driver on board. The driver parks the Audi in a designated area – the “handover zone” – and exits the vehicle. From there, the car drives automatically and unoccupied into a multistory parking garage offering a variety of services, such as a car wash, a package station, a gas station or a charging post. Thanks to...