Autoblog

Officially Official: Audi RS5 hitting Geneva with 450-hp 4.2L V8

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Audi

Audi RS5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the weekend, we got our first look at official images of the new Audi RS5 when a brochure leaked out onto the interwebs, but it didn't contain any technical details of the latest product from Quattro GmbH. Thankfully, our friends in Ingolstadt have seen fit to drop that information on us this morning, and as we suspected, they have opted to go with an upgraded version of the engine that served so well in the late RS4.

The 4.2-liter V8 remains naturally aspirated, but its breathing has been improved to bring the maximum output up to 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The power peak comes up at 8,250 rpm, just shy of the 8,300 rpm redline, and maximum torque is delivered throughout the range between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. The RS5 comes out the factory with the ability to accelerate to 62 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds on the way to a governed top speed of 155 mph. Owners that wish to exceed that speed can have the governor unlocked, enabling a terminal velocity of 174 mph.

As usual with higher performance Audi models, Quattro all-wheel-drive is the order of the day for power distribution. However, unlike other recent applications that have used a Torsen center differential, the RS5 features the first use of a new crown gear differential with electronically controlled clutch pack. The torque split can be varied from the nominal 40:60 front-to-rear to as much as 70 percent front or 85 percent rear. An optional active torque vectoring rear differential is also available to further improve the RS5's handling. The only available gearbox in the RS5 is a new seven-speed S-Tronic dual clutch transmission (DCT). Hopefully now that Audi has a high-output DCT, we'll also see it replace the dreadful R-Tronic unit in the R8 soon.

The RS5 will get its public debut in Geneva next week and goes on sale in Europe this spring for a base price of €77,000 (about $104,000). Sadly, U.S. Audi spokesman Christian Bokich tells Autoblog that there is nothing to announce right now about plans for the RS5 in this market.

Gallery: Audi RS5

[Source: Audi]

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Officially Official: Audi RS5 hitting Geneva with 450-hp 4.2L V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R8 V10 spied again at Audi's quattro GmbH

Noah Joseph — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Audi

Click for hi-res images of the Audi R8 V10 at quattro GmbH

If the latest batch of spy shots are to be believed, the V10-powered version of Audi's R8 supercar must be nearing its public release. Following earlier shots snapped by the folks at Bridge to Gantry, more photos of what seems to be the same vehicle were caught by audiblog.nl at the source: quattro GmbH, Audi's equivalent to Mercedes' AMG or BMW's M division.

In addition to the wider intakes and fewer front grille slats discerned from the last spy shot, these images also betray a more aggressive body kit, a flux capacitor, larger exhaust pipes and two fewer horizontal fins in the rear. (We're kidding about one of those.) Check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Audi R8 V10 spied at quattro GmbH

[Source: audiblog.nl via World Car Fans]

R8 V10 spied again at Audi's quattro GmbH originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Cool Stuff" from Audi coming to the U.S.

Dan Roth — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:33:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Audi

Audi's given the A4 an S-Line package for European consumption, and they're pledging that the US won't get stiffed when the fifth-generation A4 lands in America in late 2008. The German word for sport is, uh, sport, and the S-line bits can appease S4 aspirants without the heavy outlay for the über-performing version of the A4. Inside Line has been assured by Audi USA's Christian Bokich that they "won't hold back on the cool stuff from Germany," meaning you won't have to hunt down esoteric Euro part numbers for the bits you really want; nor will you have to go at your Audi with hand tools to get something a little special.

For about $3,000, European buyers will get a lowered suspension by Quattro GmbH, 18-inch cast aluminum wheels, sport seats, special perforated Alcantara and leather, and different accents for the leather wrapped sport steering wheel. While the interior execution will be Audi sumptuous, it certainly won't make the car any sportier or faster. The bolsters on the sport seats are likely to be more snug-fitting, but what it sounds like, the main value is in the Quattro GmbH suspension which would probably be hard to duplicate for a mere $3K aftermarket. The extra finery is de rigeur in this segment, lest you forget you're driving an uprated car.

[Source: Inside Line]

"Cool Stuff" from Audi coming to the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi says more RS models quickly on their way

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Audi

Quattro GmbH, Audi's high-performance subsidiary, is responsible for all manner of RS, S, S-line and "Exclusive" hotness for the automaker and has seen a substantial increase in sales over the last seven years. Back in 2000, it sold about 2,500 units. In 2007, it has produced just over 360,000 models imbued with Audi's distinct brand of performance street cred. Those numbers are expected to further rise with even more models being S- and RS-ified, including the R8, which is currently being produced at a rate of 27 vehicles per day.

Auto Motor und Sport sat down with Werner Frowein, the director of Quattro GmbH, where he let loose that the former strategy for RS model production will be laid to waste in the coming years. Traditionally, RS cars are produced in the last two years of the vehicle's lifecycle, but a new shift in production will allow new models to benefit from the RS-treatment after the first two years of their run. The TT-RS and RS5 are two of the models on the horizon, while an RS version of the R8 has been rumored since its introduction earlier this year. More RS is hardly a bad thing, unless premium gas prices continue their northward trajectory.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via World Car Fans]

Audi says more RS models quickly on their way originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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