Introduced in Europe, the A1 came to life from the same chassis used for the Volkswagen Polo (another car some American have summoning unsuccessfully) as the Audi brand’s challenger against the BMW 1 Series or Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Sharing similar expense pressures of driving, the motorists inside countries like France, Germany and the United Kingdom have been battered hard by higher fuel prices on top of car insurance costs. Luxury cars like the Audi A1 are creations based on necessity returning the market as a sporty personal hatchback. Spawned initially in three-door form, the Audi A1’s five-door version charms the tight European roads with youthful looks and practicality.

The 2012 Audi A1 Sportback is another product the German auto company wishes to link thoughts of performance with practicality. While the Sportback name appears more common on the European Audi vehicle line-up, the S7 Sportback brought to the United States lends understanding to the marketing and design principle the five-door A1 looks to accomplish. Adding two additional doors for the rear passengers, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback’s persona is casually altered. Rather being a nifty sport look, the five-door version of the A1 Sportback is propelled as a more considerate, mature existence. Measuring a total length of 3.95 meters (155.52 inches), the Audi A1 Sportback is more than 14.5 inches shorter than the smallest North American Audi offering, the A3. The A1 Sportback incorporates the new Audi brand design traits including the flared wheel wells and the furious-looking front headlamp housings. Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights can be optioned on the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback. On the back of the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback, SuperRed LED taillight units quickly warn following vehicles. Showing that Audi’s knowledge of materials stretches beyond aluminum, one-third of the five-door A1 Sportback consists of high strength steel.

Structurally stable on a front-wheel drive train (there is no mention of quattro all-wheel drive), the Audi A1 Sportback invokes a strong sense of control with an electronic stability program, strong brakes featuring front ventilation and an electronic limited slip differential. In different trim levels, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback sports a trendy assortment of wheels. 2012 Audi A1 Sportback models trimmed in the Attraction version wears rather basic 15-inch steel wheels. The Ambition trim model of the A1 Sportback upgrades the outer look with 16-inch alloys with optional 17-inch cast aluminum and quattro GmbH sourced 18-inch wheels perfecting appearances. An additional outside styling touch is a two-tone colouring scheme on the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback accenting the roof against the list of 12 exterior colours.

With the cabin opened by the two new passenger doors, occupants inside the Audi A1 Sportback partake in a delightfully spacious interior surrounding. Up to 32.49 cubic feet of cargo room is created in the Audi A1 cabin when the rear seats are folded. Helping to create a comfortable environment for adult passengers, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback comes standard equipped as a four-seat vehicle. Optional features provided on the 2012 A1 Sportback includes five-passenger seating, 14-speaker Bose surround sound system, Audi MMI navigation plus with a 6.5-inch screen and the Internet equipment as well as software that can turn the vehicle into a WLAN hotspot.

In touch with the European tastes for diesel power and small gasoline engines, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback is propelled by a selection of six power plants. Thee gasoline and three Audi TDI engine choices all configured with four cylinder banks, entry-level power comes from a 1.2 TFSI powerplant producing 86 horsepower. Top gasoline power for the 2012 Audi A1 is realized with a supercharged and turbocharged 185 horsepower, 1.4 liter inline-4 that allows the premium subcompact to run from 0 to 62 miles per hour in a stout 7 seconds flat. The performance-leading diesel for the 2012 A1 Sportback is a 2.0 TDI that combines 143 horsepower with average fuel economy said to be over 57 miles per gallon. Five-speed and six-speed manual transmissions and a 7-speed twin-clutch S tronic gearbox are available through the Audi A1 Sportback’s engine line-up.

While the potentially lower rates of van insurance could tempt for more financially strapped families, the more energetic presence of smaller utility cars is a solid way to retain a zest for life. Soon to be a realization of automotive customers in Munich in 2012, motorists in American cities are not expected to see the A1 Sportback for the immediate future. However, Audi has a history of being receptive to North American interests in European-only vehicles. Just like the TTRS and the RS5, the Audi A1 Sportback could only be a matter of a petition away.

Information and photo source: Audi AG

Once a chore for well-established automakers to incorporate electrified powerplants in a realistic production vehicle, the task has become much easier in recent model years as high volume and even premium car builders have embraced the technology. In reality, optimizing electric vehicle technology is likely to be the only method for some automakers to meet fleet fuel economy regulations without drastically removing our favourite high fuel-consuming cars. Under the pressure of higher fuel prices than on North American roads, European auto companies have long been providing customers with smaller gasoline engines and longer-range diesel powerplants. However, the push for all-electric as well as electric-assist automobiles is receiving the same enthusiasm for promoting more fuel savings.

Since 2009, Audi has delighted the taste buds of green-conscious auto show goers with the promise of their e-tron technology to premium vehicle customers. Putting electric-sourced movement at the forefront of a future involving luxury-branded motoring, the latest Audi e-tron Spyder introduced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show is the best of everything a fan of the four-ring division would want.

Started as an all-electric showcase, Audi’s e-tron has begun to embrace the plug-in hybrid propulsion model. Chiefly moved by two electric motors mounted to the front axle through urban travel, 88 total horsepower drives the e-tron Spyder as far as 50 kilometers or 31 miles on a single charge. Under more performance-based driving experiences, the German auto company adds a twin-turbocharged, 3-liter TDI engine to back up the electric power. Setting the Audi concept vehicle in motion through 300 horsepower, this is the same TDI engine revealed on the European Audi A8 with a 50 horsepower boost. The Audi e-tron Spyder also providing “boosting“ under acceleration as the two electric motors shoots the car movement in concert with the turbocharged diesel engine. Combining 388 horsepower and a collective 739 pounds-feet of torque, the experimental sports car proposed by e-tron is estimated to send performance-seeking riders from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds. Using a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Audi e-tron Spyder maximizes performance and vehicle efficiency.

An urban-centric sport convertible, this latest Audi e-tron Spyder shows off a striking performance ambition. Within 13.32 foot in length by 5.94 feet in width, the Audi e-tron Spyder accomplishes a race car appearance inspired by the R8 LMS vehicle. Looking over the road with LED headlamps, the highly-aluminum Audi Space Frame is based around a mid-engined design configuration. Carbon fiber touches such as a spoiler and rear diffuser creates a sporty accent to the Audi e-tron Spyder’s outer surface. Hind side area engine cover allows the upper stack of the Audi TDI powerplant to poke through the Audi e-tron Spyder. Completing the theme of a thrilling street rod or race car, 20-inch aluminum wheels formulates into a turbine blade design. With the notable exception to the chopped windscreen, the Audi e-tron Spyder displays a consider production car grace.

Including the full-array of exterior lighting and wearing side view mirrors, the interior of the Audi e-tron Spyder is clean but practical. Given a light and breezy appearance with a gentle degree of curves, Audi’s sports car concept features two racing-inspired bucket seats. For a high-tech interior touch, the Audi MMI system is behind the comfort as well as entertainment in the snug spyder. Instead of the center-mounted control display, the Audi e-tron Spyder instrument panel embeds the MMI setup between gauges. The Audi MMI can be controlled either through the traditional center-mounted unit or via a touch-sensitive steering wheel panel.

Buying time before the first e-tron powered Audi joins cars for sale in the 2014 model year, Audi has begun selling the Audi A6 Hybrid sedan. Once released, the Audi e-tron sports car will not be alone in exploring the world of plug-in hybrid premium personal vehicles. A Chevrolet Volt-based Cadillac ELR and a BMW i8 are set for arrival in showrooms over the next several years.

Information and photo source: Audi AG

An annual event where the best in sports car racing sprint around the Road Atlanta circuit for 1,000 miles or 10-hours (whichever comes first), the Petit Le Mans has become a final event in the sports car racing season. One of many sports car races Audi has won on a multitude of occasions since 2000, the Audi Sport Team Joest race organization will be wearing silver into combat for the first time with their 24 Hours of Le Mans winning R18 TDI prototype sports car. While tested at the Sebring International Raceway just days after the Mobil 12 hour race, the Audi R18 TDI prototype sports car will make its competitive debut in the North America at the 2011 Petit Le Mans in Road Atlanta.

Built to new safety and performance rules set out by the ACO (the French sanctioning body that oversees many sports car events including the 24 Hour of Le Mans race), the Audi R18 TDI is another evolution on the competitive ladder the premium carmaker. Powered by a smaller V-6 engine through an electronic gearbox, the R18 prototype sports car has better weight balance than the previous Audi R15 Plus. The biggest change to the Audi racing machine was the incorporation of a roof over the driver. A closed cockpit prototype, the R18 became the first such vehicle since the early Audi R8C that run last in 1999.

Long respected as a showcase where the best creations of auto manufacturers competed on speed and endurance, sports car racing is once again relevant as a test bed for modern automotive technology. In the case of Audi, their prototype sports car program aided in the refinement of several items currently utilized in production car. Their Audi R8 prototype won the Le Mans 24-hour race thanks to the FSI gasoline direct injection technology allowing team drivers to remain on track longer. Since the introduction of the Audi R10 in 2006, the German automaker advocates their clean diesel technology discovering an unfair advantage over gasoline-powered race cars. In the Audi R18 TDI, the race vehicle is the showcase for full LED headlights recently introduced in production vehicles including the Audi A8 sedan. Introduced as low-beam illumination on the Audi R15 TDI sports car, the LED lighting technology is fine-tuned for the R18 prototype.

Making its debut at the 2011 Petit Le Mans, this race is part of the 6-race run for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. An award that the ACO established in 2010, this is a modern initiate to crown a global honour. Leaving the 6-Hours of Silverstone, the Peugeot squad’s 908 prototype has propelled the French team to a 7-point lead over Audi Sport Team Joest. Having won the Petit Le Mans 9 times in the LMP (Le Mans Prototype) class, the Audi R18 TDI will have to out muscle the Peugeot who has won the previous two Road Atlanta events.

On October 1st, Audi Sport Team Joest will bring a two-car contingent with three drivers per Audi R15 TDI race machine. In car #1, Timo Bernard, Romain Dumas and Marcel Fassler combining for 4 overall wins at Road Atlanta. The #2 Audi R18 TDI will be helmed by an experienced trio of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Dindo Capello.

Information and photo source: Audi AG

Audi is giving their Facebook fans the Green Police Super Bowl ad a bit early. The ad, which will be shown during Sunday’s game, features the Audi A3 TDI being praised by the Green Police during a “green crackdown.” The 60 second spot is actually a compilation of many of the other Green Police videos already shown.

The fact that Audi is advertising the A3 TDI really speaks to the current economic climate, and I hope will help get diesel technology out to the masses.

Here’s the video:

Check out Audi’s Facebook fan page for some other Green Police videos and info.

Abt AS7 Audi Q7 Facelift

After a couple years, it’s easy to get bored with a car you drive every day, especially if it’s not a particularly exciting car in the first place. Take the Audi Q7 for example. It’s not a bad vehicle in any way, but just like every other SUV on the road, it’s a bit…mundane. That doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a new car every couple of years though. Bored with your Q7? Hand it over to ABT for an energizing facelift and overall upgrade. Not only will it make you love your SUV again, but you’ll stand out from all the other standard Q7s on the road.

Once you hand the keys over to German tuner ABT, they’ll make enough changes to convince you it’s a different vehicle altogether.

First on the list, ABT will tune the Q7′s engine for a beefier output. If your Q7 is equipped with the 240 hp 3.0 TDI, choose the upgrade for 282 hp or have them add a turbocharger for 310 hp. Owners of the 326 hp Q7 4.2 TDI can get an increase to 365 hp. Audi’s 3.0 TDI clean diesel also has an upgrade available taking the total power output from 240 hp to 278.

In addition to the increased power, ABT will add a complete aerodynamics kit for the AS7, including side skirts, rear skirt, end pipes, fender extension, and rear wing. Special ABT BR one-piece casted wheels round out the exterior changes and add some serious aggressiveness.

A few interior changes are also available, including aluminum pedals and footrest, ABT floor mats, and an ABT trunk mat.

For the third year in a row, Audi will be advertising on the Super Bowl. For the first year, Audi premiered a clever Godfather-style ad for the R8. Last year, they made a short action film based around the A6. This year Audi will feature the A3 TDI – awarded “Green Car of the Year” by Green Car Journal. Can you tell the direction the auto industry is heading here? Featuring the A3 TDI is a very smart move on Audi’s part, and will likely bring in a lot of buyers. This will also help out the diesel market in general, which will be a positive step, especially in the US market.

The Super Bowl ad will feature 70′s rock band Cheap Trick reinterpreting one of their old songs for the ad. Interesting.

The Audi A3 TDI gets an incredible 42 MPG on the highway, which is into hybrid-level territory without the hybrid price premium. The A3 TDI accounts for 53% of the United States’ A3 sales, showing positive movement towards diesel returning to the mainstream.

2011 Audi A4 TDI

Right before the Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi is announcing two new A4 models, each using a different fuel.

The most exciting of the two is the A4 3.0 TDI quattro. I’m not sure if we’ll be getting this is the States (cross your fingers,) but it uses the same 3.0-liter diesel engine found in the Q7 TDI. Achieving about 35 mpg, the A4 TDI boasts 240 horsepower and even more impressive, 369 lb/ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed tiptronic transmission which can get the A4 from 0-62 mph in 6.2 seconds.

The second A4 announced runs on biofuel, aka E85. This fuel is a mixture of 85% ethanol to 15% gasoline, which provides more power, but a significant reduction in fuel economy. Great for corn farmers, not so great for consumers. Audi’s E85 engine for the A4 will be a 2.0-liter TFSI producing 180 hp and 236 lb/ft of torque. Fuel economy is terrible, as expected, at about 26 mpg. Put regular premium gasoline in the same engine and you’ll get 36 mpg – 10 mpg more. I still don’t understand why manufacturers are making these flex-fuel cars, I think they’re terrible.

To get this straight then, we have two new engines – one TDI and one E85. The TDI gets 240 hp and 369 torque and achieves 35 mpg, while the 180/236 E85 gets 26 mpg.

Right.

Yes, E85 fuel is a bit cheaper since the government wants you to use it, but not that much cheaper. I’ll stick with the TDI, thanks.

Audi Clean Campaign in NYC

Audi is running with a new promotional technique in which they use cleaning agents to “paint” the sidewalks in New York City. A great choice in location, considering the cleanliness of the city.

The images created on the sidewalks depict how if only one-third of Americans drove clean diesel, we’d reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 1.5 million barrels a day. I’m glad Audi is really pushing the diesel thing, and now that driving a diesel vehicle is no longer a dirty and smelly experience, I’m really hoping that it catches on in America.

A few facts about diesel:

• Clean diesel engines reduce carbon emissions by 20% over gasoline and are 30% more fuel-efficient.
• One drop of diesel fuel has 12% more power than one drop of gasoline.
• If one-third of Americans switched to from gasoline to clean diesel, it would be the equivalent of planting 2.2 billion trees.
• Diesel is currently less expensive than gasoline nationwide. While this may change day-to-day, it does come back to the issue of America’s dependence on gasoline and being dependent on speculative commodity price fluctuations.

Below is a video released by Audi showing the benefits of diesel technology:

Audi A3 1.6 TDI

Audi is introducing two new engines to the A3 line-up in Europe, both focusing on a significant improvement in efficiency. The engines are the same size – 1.6-liters – and are both diesel-powered TDIs. The more powerful of the two engines, at 105 horsepower, will achieve over 57 mpg, well into and above the range of gasoline-powered hybrid cars. This engine uses the same start/stop and energy recovery system as the A4 2.0 TDI e, which shuts off the engine when stopped and uses regenerative braking to recover energy normally lost when slowing down. This engine will propel the lightweight A3 from 0-62 mph in 11.4 seconds, which isn’t bad for a car that gets 57 mpg.

The other newly available engine is also a 1.6-liter TDI, but produces only 90 hp, and gets slightly less fuel economy at 52 mpg. This engine does not use the same start/stop and energy recovery system as the more powerful engine, but still gets good fuel economy, and has a decent 170 lb-ft of torque which gives it a 0-62 mph time of 12.9 seconds.

The 90 hp version will start at 22,550 Euros ($32,242 USD,) and the 105 hp car will be 23,550 Euros ($33,672 USD.) I couldn’t see any reason to choose the 90 hp version over the 105 hp alternative, especially with only a 1,000 Euro price difference. The engines will be available for order immediately.

Audi R8 V12 TDI

Despite everyone lusting over the R8 V12 TDI Concept from last year, Audi has decided to halt plans on development, citing that “the market isn’t strong enough to make it realistic.” According to AutoExpress, the final blow was a lack of demand in the United States for diesels – the US accounts for one-third of global R8 sales. What a shame, we should absolutely be adopting the idea of diesel engines right now.

Audi claims the cost of re-engineering the petrol R8 to accommodate the massive twin-turbocharged diesel engine is simply too great – and that it would be unable to recoup its investment through sales alone.

But man, what an engine it is. The 5.5-liter TDI engine produced 500 horsepower and over 738 lb-ft of torque for a 0-60 mph blast of 4.2 seconds.

Source: AutoExpress