Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the Audi TT-S

The Isle of Man credits itself as hosting the world's oldest races, the Tourist Trophy (TT). The 32-mile long island, located in the Irish Sea (it's the body of water between the United Kingdom and Ireland), held the first motorcycle and car races back in 1905. Now, for the first time in more than a century, a car sharing the same name as the event has been named the "Official Car" of the event. You guessed it, event organizers have chosen the Audi TT as the "Official Car." It's not just any TT that gets the honor -- it's the hot new 265-hp Audi TT-S. Audi will be supplying eight cars for the event at the end of May. Driven by race officials (yes, at non-race speeds), they will help with the course inspection and other logistics during the week-long event. Oh, we should add, it is a motorcycle race. Doh!

[Source: Audi]

There's no denying that Audi is planning more variants of the TT and R8, but most of the speculation revolves around fitting both models with high-output engines to produce RS variants. The TT-RS is expected to house a turbocharged, five-cylinder engine making around 350 hp and the R8 will benefit from some form of forced induction, with either a V8 or V10 mill taking the place of the stock 4.2-liter V8 – not to mention the V12 TDI mill. But what about weight reduction?

According to Inside Line, Audi is considering "Sport" variants of both models, a concept that was executed back in 2005 with the introduction of the TT Quattro Sport, which featured a slight bump in power, revised suspension, Recaro thrones and nixed some of the superfluous material inside. Unfortunately, it never made it Stateside.

The new "Sport" versions of each model would use a similar philosophy, and in the case of the R8, that could mean a boost in power to around 500 hp, limiting some of the creature comforts like heated seats, climate control and stereo, and replacing the hood, engine cover, dash, doors and roof with carbon fiber components. And while Inside Line was speculating, they threw on some carbon ceramic brakes for good measure. All told, that could drop the R8's curb weight by some 200 pounds, dropping its 0-60 time into the high three-second range and paying dividends in the handling department. Inside Line expects both models to make it to production next year as 2010 models, although distribution in the U.S. is still an open question.

[Source: InsideLine]

Click the image above for a high-res gallery of the Audi TT 2.0 TDI quattro.

Audi has been on a diesel-fueled kick in the last couple of months, first with the unveiling of the R8 V12 TDI concept in Detroit and then followed earlier today by the R8 V12 TDI Le Mans. Both pieces of oil-burning exotica stoke the flames in our diesel-desiring hearts (through compression ignition), but they remain – for the time being – unobtainium. However, Audi maintains that diesel power and driving prowess aren't mutually exclusive, so to prove the point, Audi unveiled the TT 2.0 TDI Quattro. The iconic coupe and roadster are both equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo diesel producing 170 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, with power transmitted through a six-speed manual gearbox and through Audi's legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Puttering along on the U.S. combined cycle in the coupe will net you 44.3 mpg, while the drop top version gets an equally impressive 42.7 mpg.

We've assembled a handful of live pics and press images in the gallery below, and you can read through Audi's press release in full by checking out our previous post.

Hyundai has proven to the world it can build high-quality and reliable cars that rival mainstream brands like Toyota and Chevy. Now it wants to prove it can build an iconic sports car to boost its image and say to the world that Hyundai is exciting and dynamic. Speaking at last week's Sydney Motor Show, Hyundai's general manager of European design Raphael Bretecher revealed a desire to launch such a car.

"As a car designer I would like to make the icon, that is obvious," he said. "But this company looks at what is most profitable and that is what must be delivered first." Bretecher used Audi's TT as an example of what he envisaged a modern icon should be and explained how that one car embodies the entire Audi philosophy.

The only problem is convincing bosses back in Korea to think along the same lines. Another issue bosses need convincing of is creating a new global look for Hyundai, something Bretecher admits will take some time to implement. Pictured above is the Veloster concept car, which was displayed in Sydney. The concept was designed in Korea and gives a clue as to a new look that could unify future Hyundai designs.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Most people buy pickup trucks for one reason, and one reason alone: to carry stuff. They don't buy pickups because they want to drive a sports car and carry a few items on the weekend. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule as evidenced by this Audi TT sports coupe, which was converted into a pickup by having its rear hatch replaced with an open flatbed.

As the images reveal, the owner of this oddity does like to use it as a genuine workhorse but, being a sports coupe, the cargo space was always going to be severely limited. The fact that there appears to be no tonneau cover also suggests that this could just be a running joke or a method for this tradesman to promote his business in a comical way. Whatever it is, it's starting to make us sick the more we look at it. We just hope nobody else has any similar ideas.

[Source: German Car Zone]

click above image to view new pics of the SSC Ultimate Aero TT's record run

It was made (almost) official last week that Shelby Supercars' Ultimate Aero TT has been crowned the fastest production car in the world by the kind folks at Guinness – after they file the appropriate paperwork. Until now, all we've had are pictures of the 1183 HP, six-liter V8-powered beast looking menacing at speed, but thankfully SSC posted video of the record-breaking run on its site.

It's pure aural bliss, and although the camera work isn't the most compelling, the sound is enough to make you weak in the knees. Click on and enjoy.

According to Britain's Autocar, the Audi TT RS is waiting for a nod from Audi brass. Here's hoping the suits start making like bobbleheads and greenlight the über TT soon. The skinny, according to Autocar, goes like this. The TT RS will be powered by a turbocharged version of the 2.5L 5-cylinder currently found under the hood of the VW Jetta. The high-po 5-banger will dish out a stiff 350 horsepower, a full 100 more than the current TT 3.2 quattro range-topper.

The mag speculates that the RS will be a coupe-only offering whose styling borrows elements from the extreme-looking TT Clubsport show car the automaker trotted out at the Wörthersee meet earlier this summer (gallery below). Autocar also spoke to an insider who claims to have heard the 2.5 turbo, and word is that the sound recalls that of the fabled capital-Q Quattro. If that's accurate and it sounds anything like this, it'll be a four-wheeled piece of Heaven on Earth. Expect a 5-second 0-60 sprint and a governed top end of 155 mph. Autocar also tells us to expect a TT S powered by a hopped-up version of the 2.0 TFSI motor making 261 horsepower. Please hurry, Audi.

[Source: Autocar]

One of the scribes contracted by World Car Fans just wrapped up some seat time in the supercharged MTM Audi RTT, and says, despite the love-fest going on over the Audi R8, its MTM-massaged baby brother can give it more than a run for its money.

Focusing more on outright speed than competent handling, our tuner tour guide provides us a straight-forward account of the RTT's accelerative qualities, citing a 0-62 MPH time of 4.1 seconds, a half-second less than Audi's high-dollar mid-engine masterpiece. Beyond the blower, which brings output up to 415 HP and 368 lb.-ft. of torque, the RTT also benefits from an R8-inspired body kit (€2000), although surprisingly, MTM has left the stock suspension in its place – something they'll rectify with the right amount of cash.

With an entry fee of just under €73,000, it certainly isn't for the faint of heart. But then again, neither is its performance.

[Source: World Car Fans]

If your local Audi dealer calls the cops every time you ask for a test drive of an RS4, we suggest you either dress nicer next time or, if that's not possible, head to one of four cities hosting the Audi Driving Experience.

New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco are the four sites for Audi's traveling test drive, where participants can have the chance to drive their TT, A4 and Q7 all for free. You'll be able to put them through control, braking and accident avoidance maneuvers. If you can show you know how to handle their cars, Audi will even let you take one out for a lap around the racetrack.

The most improved drivers at each venue wins a ride in Audi's much-vaunted R8 supercar. Those winners will instantly be upgraded from most-improved to most-envied.

That's all included in the Audi Driving Experience two-hour introductory program, but for $600 Audi offers the half-day enthusiast program. That gets you professional driving instruction and track time in all the aforementioned cars, as well as the RS4 and R8.

There are two dates in each city, but with a chance to either ride in or drive an R8, we would expect them to fill up quick.

Click image for high-res gallery

Abt Sportsline strongest ties to the Audi TT date back to when they ran a race version in the 2002 DTM series. Outside of racing however, Abt is known for its work modifying and tuning cars that sport the interlocking rings, and with the arrival of the TT Roadster from Audi, they're back on the case with a suite of appearance and performance upgrades.

For starters, Abt's new aero kit tastefully muscles up the open-top 2-seater with new skirts and spoilers -- de rigeur for a tuner like this. The obligatory wheel/tire upgrade is also available in 19" and 20" diameters. A sport exhaust with quad outlets gives the TT's rear a more serious visual and aural presence, while underhood, go-fast measures can be taken regardless of what engine the car's equipped with. Abt's regimen for the 3.2L six-cylinder involves the addition of a supercharger that helps boost output to 355 horsepower -- enough to propel the TT ragtop from 0-62 mph in five seconds flat. The standard 2.0 TFSI powerplant is not ignored either, with tuning packages that offer everything from a modest bump to 240 horses to an even more serious kit that offers a robust 300 hp.

Full details from Abt are in the press release after the jump, and a gallery of the hot little roadster can be found below.

[Source: Abt Sportsline]