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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.

31/01/2012 | By: Luke Vandezande

Audi is introducing their new line of bi-turbo diesel engines that will make their way into several A6 cars and the A7 Sportback.

Those included in the list are the A6 sedan, A6 Avant, Allroad Quattro and A7 Sportbacks. Next spring U.K. customers can look forward to those cars sporting the option of Audi’s most powerful V6 diesel to date. The 3.0-liter bi-turbo oil burner will have 309 horsepower and 479 ft-lb of torque. That will be enough to propel the A6 Quattro from 0-60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, while the A6 Avant and A7 will get there in 5.3.

There isn’t any news on those cars making their way across the ocean just yet, but Audi did well in the U.K. last year, selling 14 percent more vehicles than they did the previous year. Audi says part of their plan to continue that upward trend is to invest more money in new products for what looks like a hungry market.

While this is little more than speculation, it doesn’t seem that outlandish that Audi might decide to bring those products to market in North America. An A6 diesel has long been rumored for the US, but the date keeps scooting out of sight.

Hopefully the new engine will sell well in the U.K. and encourage Audi to expand its distribution. That said, we won’t be surprised if it takes a long time or just doesn’t happen at all. Afterall, we’re still staring at the A1 with envy as the clock ticks by. There’s also already a diesel engine being sold in the US, albeit one with only 225 horsepower, sold in the Q7, and soon to be available in the Q5 CUV and A8 sedan.

14/07/2011 | By: Harry Lay

Audi has once again won the Silvretta Electric Car Rally in Austria’s Montafon region. Last year, the R8 e-tron won the competition, and this year, a Q5 also competed finishing sixth place out of 32 vehicles.

The A1 e-tron bearing the number 206 covered 307 kilometers in three days, winning the car rally. The event was held from July 7th to July 9th on “highly taxing mountain roads” with inclines up to 15 percent. Franciscus van Meel, the driver of the A1 e-tron said, “Sending an electric car into the Alps is one of the toughest challenges you can present it with. The fact that the A1 e-tron proved so impressive here is especially gratifying to me and it proves we’re on the right track with our electric mobility approach of combining an electric motor with a combustion engine”.

The A1 is fitted with a 75-kilowatt electric motor, 12-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and single-disc, and a 254-cc rotary engine. This car had enough power to propel the range-extended electric into the lead.

Gallery: Audi A1 E-tron

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21/06/2011 | By: Harry Lay

Audi is planning on launching the Q2 and Q6 sport oriented SUVs by 2016. Along with the Q2 and Q6 will be the new Q4 and today’s Q3, Q5 and Q7 to complete Audi’s lineup.

“It’s clear that demand for SUVs and crossovers is still in an upswing phase and will remain so for some years to come. We want to make sure we have the coverage to satisfy it,” an Audi insider revealed.

The Q2 will be the smallest of the Audi SUV range, will sport a new four-wheel drive system and will compete with the Mini Countryman. The Q2 will start at £18,000 in the UK and will likely be powered by the engine found in the A1. The Q2 will be similar in size to the Nissan Juke which Audi has admitted is parked in the design studio as a reference. The Audi will also have unique body styling and a raised ride height for better ground clearance.

The all-new Q6 first revealed in April will be a direct competitor to the BMW X6 and will likely be launched in 2016 at the earliest. The Q6 will use the same platform as the Q5 and is part of a new engineering program aimed at lowering the weight of all future Audi models. The Q6 will receive an aluminum body coupled with composite plastic and carbonfibre elements.

[Source: AutoCar]

 

21/10/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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A few days ago we revealed that Stasis engineering would debut its 710-hp R8 Spyder in the Audi booth at SEMA and now Stasis has released full details on three more vehicles that will appear at their own booth.

Stasis will be bringing several of their Signature Series-tuned vehicles, showing off to the world just how great customized Audis can look and perform. An S5 Cabriolet will feature performance modifications that help it put out 410-hp instead of the factory 333-hp. These upgrades also enhance torque by 26 ft-lbs and SEMA visitors will be able to admire the six-piston Alcon calipers up close and personal. For the SUV lovers out there, Stasis’ Audi Q5 puts out 310-hp with upgrades to its handling and braking capabilities. Lastly, the popular S4 sedan has close to 80-hp more than the factory to go along with its suspension and brake upgrades.

Stasis Engineering products are all sold at Audi dealerships nationwide, offering up to a 25-percent increase in performance for various Audi models. This is in addition to their suspension, brake and driveline enhancing products. All Stasis Engineering products installed by a certified Audi dealership are backed with a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty. (No wonder they’ve got such a good relationship with the folks at Audi corporate).

Look for photos of all the Stasis vehicles with AutoGuide’s complete coverage of the 2010 SEMA Show starting November 2nd. Until then, check out our SEMA Preview here.

Official press release available after the break.

Continue Reading…

15/01/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Popularly known for tuning Audis, Sportechnic was present at Tokyo Auto Salon this year with an equal number of Audi and Porsche products. Alongside a Q5 and more highly modified A4 model, sat a Cayenne and a brand new Panamera. The Panamera was mostly stock except for a set of Sportech wheels. We’ll be interested to see where Sortechnic and other tuners (Japanese, German and even American) do with this incredible new platform.

GALLERY: Sportechnic Porsche and Audis

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