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One-off special-edition supercar exclusive to Japan, celebrates Final Fantasy XV video game Powered by a 5.2-litre V10 pumping through a seven-speed automatic transmission, the Audi R8 is usually the reserve of successful business people, sports stars and wealthy enthusiasts. But this Audi R8 has been tailor made for one lucky video game fanatic… A very rich gamer, that is. Priced at around $600,000 or ¥50,000,000, the one-off car costs about 50 per cent more than a regular Audi R8 ($389,616) and features a number of unique additions that will have game geeks everywhere in raptures. Seen in Sony Pictures’ computer-generated movie,  Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV , it’s rumoured the car may also feature in the game, which launches on November 29, 2016. Named the Audi R8 Star of Lucis after the (fictional) crown prince of Lucis, the protagonist of the big-budget $100 million open-world video game, the special R8 features the “decorative pattern of royal prayer...

The S8 Plus could be replaced by an E-Tron version. The performance-oriented version of Audi’s flagship sedan has been spotted multiple times already and now  Auto Bild  is suggesting an official reveal will take place later this year. While the report doesn’t go into too many details about the S8, it’s really not that hard to figure out how it will look like and what will be installed underneath that long and imposing hood. The exterior styling won’t break the mold as it will be typical Audi S business, with only a subtle sporty body kit and quad exhaust tips. Bigger wheels matched by an uprated set of brakes are also ingredients necessary for the S8 recipe, but people who are not much into fast Audis probably won’t notice right away the differences between the standard and the go-faster version While  Auto Bild  does not exclude the possibility of downsizing to a biturbo 2.9-liter V6 engine, chances are the new S8 will boast a 4.0-...

Audi working on berserk EV supercar, but Rimac-rivalling e-tron won't be lithium-ion powered It comes as no surprise that Audi is researching a completely bonkers rival to the new 400km/h Tesla Roadster and 355km/h Rimac Concept_One EV supercars. After all, it developed and then cancelled plans to introduce an all-electric e-tron version of the previous-generation Audi R8 way back in 2015. Although no specific details have been divulged about a new Audi e-tron supercar project, Audi’s global boss of product and technology communications, Peter Oberndorfer, confirmed to motoring.com.au that a rival to the monstrously powerful 800kW/1600Nm Rimac has been discussed. “We consider everything at the moment but I personally believe we need a little bit more battery development [for an extreme EV supercar],” said the Audi technology executive, singling out solid-state batteries as a possible solution. “Because if you go very fast you need a lot of ba...

It’s no SQ5 diesel but punchy new TDI finally delivers six-cylinder resolve for Audi’s latest Q5 Audi Australia has confirmed the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI six-cylinder diesel will come Down Under in September, priced at $83,900 plus on-road costs. It will be the first range-topping turbo-diesel V6 to join the Audi Q5 line-up since the second-generation mid-size SUV was launched locally in mid-2017. With plenty of pent-up customer demand for a beefy diesel medium SUV, the Q5 3.0 TDI is expected to account for up to 15 per cent of all Q5 sales. Power comes from a heavily revised 210kW/620Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that belts out more torque than the near-$100,000 Audi SQ5 260kW/500Nm. The potent Audi Q5 3.0 TDI’s engine drives through a conventional eight-speed automatic with steering wheel paddle shifters fitted as standard. Ripping to 100km in just 5.8sec and with a top speed of just under 240km/h, the new model undercuts six-cylinder diesel competitors such as the Mercedes-B...

New V6 twin-turbo Audi RS 4 Avant quattro is lighter, faster and better value than before Audi will commence sales of its fourth-generation RS 4 Avant quattro next Friday (May 31) with a list price of $152,900 plus on-road costs. Positioned almost $4000 below the mechanically identical RS 5 Coupe ($156,600 plus ORCs), Audi Australia says the RS 4 wagon brings a $22,000 increase in overall value compared to the outgoing model. More importantly, it undercuts its only real chief rival – the $159,711 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate – by almost $7000. The more powerful 331kW/600Nm twin-turbo V6-powered, all-wheel drive Audi RS 4 promises faster acceleration (0-100km/h in 4.1sec) and 17 per cent lower fuel consumption than the heavier model it replaces. Specified to a higher level than in its home market, the Australian-spec RS 4 Avant quattro includes 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, Audi Sport sports exhaust, Audi Sport active differential and Audi Sport S...

High specification ensures all models will receive safety and technology focus Audi has announced the model line-up and pricing for its all-new Q5. On sale in June, the second-generation prestige SUV will receive a technology and safety boost with the addition of new features which will be standard fitment on all Q5 models. The first all-new Q5 since 2009 will be offered with both 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel and 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines, both paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission. Each vehicle features Audi’s new quattro ultra drivetrain which switches from all-wheel drive to front wheel-drive when full traction isn’t required, contributing to fuel consumption savings which amount to a claimed 12 per cent for the 2.0-litre diesel models. In line with its top-selling predecessor and key rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3, the new Q5 range is priced between $65,900 and $73,500 with three models available at launch in two s...

Audi replaces its Q5 with a bigger, more efficient and even more desirable model than before; rivals should be very worried indeed Audi Q5 Preview Drive San Jose Chiapa, Mexico Predictable. Not perhaps the most desirable adjective to describe Audi’s all-new Q5, but you might read it once or twice here. The thing is, Audi’s damned good at predictability and it has done nothing to hurt sales; manufacturers of the Q5’s competitors can only read the sales figures of Audi’s compact premium SUV in Australia (and elsewhere), and weep. When it comes to replacing it, the obvious route is the one that Audi’s taken, and you can hardly blame it for that. The new Q5 rides on a new platform, which allows it to grow in almost every dimension. That’s to the benefit of passenger space, front and rear, so the Q5 is a more accommodating car, and there’s more space in the boot, so you can carry more kit. Outwardly it was never going to be revelatory, and it’s obviously a Q5, o...