Autoblog

Driving a car on a racetrack, a controlled environment where the vehicle's limits can be safely probed, is an experience that not only increases driving skills, but it builds confidence too. Recognizing this, and offering car enthusiasts a way to legally wring-out some of their hottest products, Audi has partnered with Emotive to launch their 2008 Audi Sportscar Experience. Unlike last year's marketing-oriented Audi Driving Experience, or any other Driver Education event, the Sportscar Experience is focused on high-performance driving.

The program consists of several different one- and two-day programs held at Infineon Raceway in California. Drivers sign up for the event of their choice, and each one includes a high-performance Audi "S" model for flogging (yes, tires and brakes are included). The vehicles include the 420-hp Audi RS4, the 354-hp Audi S5, the 450-hp Audi S8, and the awesome 420-hp Audi R8. If there is a downside to all of this fun, it's the price. The entry-level half-day "Introductory Program" runs $695. A full-day program in the RS4 will cost you $1,295. Want to improve your skills behind the wheel of the R8? That will set you back a cool $1,895 for a one-day program, $3,495 for two days. Having fun ain't cheap.

[Source: Audi]

Will the M5 get a twin-turbo and be joined by an M7? Mr. Lehmann and Co. have caught an M5 and a 7-Series with extra ventage. It's hypothesized that Audi has understated the RS6's pony count, telling the world it's 580 when it's actually 600. And now with both Mercedes and Audi outdoing the M in the horsepower war, the theory is that that's an insult BMW simply cannot allow. Hence the addition of double-barrel blowers to equalize the equation.

As for the possibility of an M7, all there is to see are a large scoop at the front of the hood and two smaller scoops at the rear. With years of AMG S-Classes and Audi S8's behind us, if there is an M7 on the way, all we can say is: it's about time.

[Source: World Can Fans]

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Audi's delightful A8 flagship sedan sees a number of refinements made for the 2008 model year, with the lion's share of the attention being paid to things that aren't immediately visible from the outside. The biggest addition is the 2.8L FSI six-cylinder that will be offered (in Europe, at least), which will give the big sedan fuel economy of around 28 mpg and the lowest CO2 emissions in its class at 199g/km. Power is rated at 210bhp, and the engine is good enough to allow the big cruiser to make the 0-62 run in 8 seconds. More direct steering and a revised air suspension are intended to make the '08 A8 an even more engaging partner to the person behind the wheel. And it's not as if the '07 is a slouch in that department to begin with. Audi's also building in new safety features, with a side-assist system that will alert drivers when a vehicle is in the sedan's blind spots and a lane departure warning system that will keep an eye on lane markers and alert the driver with a vibration in the steering wheel should he or she begin to go astray. Finally, the car is said to quieter than the 2007 edition.

Visually, Audi has updated the single-frame grille, incorporated new lighting in back, added new wheel styles, put turn indicators on the outside mirrors, and will offer a number of new paint finishes. New interior colors and inlays are also on tap. In short, Audi's taking a good thing and making it better. You won't hear us complaining.

[Source: Audi AG]

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This edition of "In the Autoblog Garage" is brought to you by the letter S and the number 8. Alone, each is just another mundane alphanumeric character. When positioned next to each other on a vehicle bearing Audi's interlocking rings, however, they turn into something very special. The character pair becomes shorthand for 5.2 liters, 10 cylinders, 450 horses, 398 ft.-lbs., 4.9 seconds, 155 miles per hour, and $110,000+ in the case of the Daytona Grey Audi S8 tester that had been deposited in my driveway. Yep, it was going to be a pretty good week.

We thought throwing a detuned version of the Lamborghini Gallardo's V10 in the Audi S8 and S6 was a brash move on behalf of Ingolstadt, but news from World Car Fans is that the next RS6 will receive a turbocharged version of the 5.0-liter V10 producing between 520 and 550 bhp. We previously thought the RS6 may get the Q7's top petrol engine, a 4.2-liter FSI V8 tuned to 500+ horsepower, but it would be strange to give the top A6 model two less cylinders than the S6. Still, this V10 makes 520 horsepower without the help of a turbo in the Gallardo, so it still seems strange to detune the engine and slap a turbo on it to increase the power back up to a level that can compete with the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Either way, Lamborghini can't be pleased that a high-performance saloon and wagon from Audi will soon be pumping out more power than its entry-level exotic supercar.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Audi has announced that the 2007 S6 sedan will start at $72,000 in the U.S., while the 2007 S8 (Euro-spec model shown) will begin at $92,000. Don't forget the $700 destination charge that's not included in the price, as well as the $1,300 gas-guzzler tax for the S6 and $1,700 for the S8. Still, for now these two vehicles stand as the least expensive way to mash the throttle of the Lamborghini Gallardo's V10, which has been detuned to 435 hp in the S6 and 450 hp in the S8. With that kind of motivation, the S6 can charge to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and the larger S8 can reach the same mark in a more impressive 4.9 seconds. Neither are quite as fast as the Gallardo, which can reach 60 mph in a hair under four seconds, but can the raging baby bull carry four people in comfort? We think not.

[Source: Audi]