Audi Expands A5 Range with 134HP and 161HP

These days, downsizing doesn't occur only to engine displacement but also to engine outputs. Case in point, the introduction of two new entry-level diesel engines for Audi's A5 Sportback and A5 Coupe models. The new 136PS (134bhp) and 163PS (161bhp) 2.0-liter TDIe diesels will be offered in parallel to the existing 143PS (141bhp) and 177PS (175bhp) 2.0-liter TDI units, the difference being that the 'e' engines are less powerful but more fuel-efficient.
The 2.0-litre TDIe 163PS is available on both the A5 models, linked exclusively to six-speed manual transmission.
It propels the Sportback from rest to 62mph (100km/h) in 9.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 132mph (212km/h), while returning up to 62.8mpg UK (52.3mpg US or 4.5lt/100km) with a CO2 output of 118g/km.
In the Coupe, the 163PS engine pushes it to 62mph in 8.4 seconds on the way to a top speed of 140mph (225mph), and raises fuel economy up to 64.2mpg UK (53.5mpg US or 4.4lt/100km) and taking CO2 to 115g/km.
The 136PS TDIe is only available on the Sportback, which it accelerates to 62mph in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 132mph (212km/h), while recording a fuel economy of up to 64.2mpg (53.5mpg US or 4.4lt/100km) with CO2 emissions of 117g/km.
In the UK, on the road prices start from £27,320.

Audi A5 Sportback and Coupe TDIe models – UK Pricing
A5 Sportback 2.0 TDIe 136PS
Standard £27,320 OTR
SE £29,090 OTR
SE Technik £30,090 OTR
S line £31,390 OTR
A5 Sportback 2.0 TDIe 163PS
Standard £27,825 OTR
SE £29,595 OTR
SE Technik £30,595 OTR
S line £31,895 OTR
A5 Coupe 2.0 TDIe 163PS
Standard £28,775 OTR
SE £30,545 OTR
SE Technik £31,045 OTR

Audio System to 2012 Charger

Before we delve into the details on the Chrysler Group's latest announcement, let us tell you that murdered out 2012 Charger you see in these pictures is an SXT model equipped with the available Blacktop Package. With that out of the way, let's see what the Auburn Hills-automaker plans to debut at the upcoming 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas as well as the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, both of which kick off next week.
For the first time, the 2012 Charger will be offered with a specially developed Beats-branded, 10-speaker audio system that was designed by Chrysler Group engineers in collaboration with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.
“Our goal in partnering with Beats by Dr. Dre is to integrate their recording-studio quality audio experience for our Charger enthusiasts to feel and hear their favorite music as it was intended – all while heightening the street performance and technology assets of the new 2012 Dodge Charger,” said Dodge boss Reid Bigland.
According to Dodge, the Beats Audio system will be standard equipment on the 2012 Charger R/T Max and included with the Blacktop Package and Rallye Appearance Group on the 2012 Charger SXT model.
Currently, the Chrysler Group offers the Beats Audio system as standard on the V8 Hemi-powered 300S and as an option on the V6 variants of the 300.
For more intel on the Beats system on the Charger, check out the press blurb after the break.

Press Release
High-performance of Beats by Dr. Dre audio system delivers the sound and feel
State-of-the-art Uconnect Touch 8.4 provides 2012 Dodge Charger passengers with the segment’s largest touchscreen display (8.4-inch) and next-generation mobile connectivity, convenience and multimedia features. In addition to a “Beats by Dr. Dre” start-up screen, the Uconnect Touch also controls the 12-channel amplifier that integrates the heart of the Beats proprietary equalizer algorithm, creating the high-definition sound Beats Audio founders Dr. Dre, and Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, require in their professional recording studios.
The integration of Beats by Dr. Dre audio system delivers the mid- to high-range needed for studio-quality sound.
Included in the system are:

• Three 3.5-inch speakers located in the instrument panel
• Two 3.5-inch speakers located in the rear doors
• Two 6 x 9-inch front-door woofers provide bass
• Two 6 x 9-inch speakers and a center-mounted 8-inch speaker located in the rear-shelf area provide full-range audio
• Maximizing how music genres from hip hop to Motown should sound and feel, an 8-inch Beats Audio trunk-mounted dual-voice coil subwoofer with sealed enclosure delivers tight, powerful, punchy bass

PHOTO GALLERY

Audi Boss Confirms Q3 Vail Concept for Detroit Show, Says More Models are Coming

The first and second place in the U.S. premium segment may belong to the Germans for 2011, but while BMW and Mercedes-Benz are at the top, Audi couldn’t manage anything better than seventh place, with less than half deliveries of its rivals. Clearly, this is far from ideal for the Ingolstadt-based carmaker since the U.S. remains the number one market for premium brands. Furthermore, Audi, which is the segment leader both in Western Europe and China, wants to overtake BMW as the number one premium brand worldwide by 2015.
That’s why Audi plans to introduce more models in the U.S. market. It will start from next week’s Detroit Motor Show where it will reveal a new concept version of its Q3 crossover named “Vail”, and will follow up with a sedan version of the third-generation A3.
“The next pillar of the market that we have to conquer is the United States”, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told Bloomberg News. “We see opportunities in the SUV and sedan segments”, he added.
Stadler also re-confirmed plans to resurrect the A2 premium compact, the first generation of which was discontinued after failing to meet its targets.
Moreover, despite beginning U.S. production in 2015, long after its rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Stadler said that Audi would follow their example and look into assembling SUVs and sedans at its U.S. plant.

Audi R8 LMS Ultra to Compete in Next Year's FIA GT1 World Championship as Well

Only a month after the introduction of the improved R8 LMS Ultra and Audi has revealed plans to compete in the FIA GT1 World Championship next year with two examples of its latest GT3 racecar, which will be independently fielded by Team WRT. The announcement comes after a recent decision by the FIA GT Commission and World Motor Sport Council to develop uniform regulations between the FIA GT1 World and FIA GT3 European Championships, thus allowing the R8 LMS Ultra to fight for a world champion’s title of its own for the first time.
"We very much welcome the decision of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on December 7th in favour of the GT3 cars," said Werner Frowein, Managing Director of quattro GmbH.
"In the future, this vehicle class will not only stand for high-calibre national and European customer sport but also for the world’s pinnacle in GT racing. We are delighted that Team WRT has submitted its entry for the World Championship and will be representing the colours of Audi Sport customer racing."
WRT said that it is planning to select and announce its drivers for the championship before the end of December.
The provisional race calendar for the championship follows below.
2012 FIA GT1 World Championship
Round 1: Apr 08 Nogaro (France)
Round 2: Apr 22 Zolder (Belgium)
Round 3: May 27 Navarra (Spain)
Round 4: Jul 08 Algarve (Portugal)
Round 5: Aug 26 Peking (China)
Round 6: Sep 02 Ordos (China)
Round 7: Sep 16 Moscow (Russia)
Round 8: Oct 07 Zandvoort (Netherlands)
Round 9: Nov 25 San Luis (Argentina)
Round 10: TBA

PHOTO GALLERY

Audi A5 Sportback Officially Revealed: Mega Gallery with 60 High-Res Photos

AudiThe wait is finally over for the all-new A5 Sportback as Audi unleashed a full photo gallery of its high-anticipated five-door coupe which will be formally introduced this fall at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The German firm claims that new member of the A5 family "combines the best of various vehicle genres such as the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon." Of course most will see a five-door, liftback version of the A5 Coupe with a sleek roofline, but still, we must admit that our first reaction on the Sportback's styling is positive.

Aside from the low-slung roofline and the rear hatch, the Sportback also boasts a unique C-Pillar design with a dramatic kink as well as frameless doors.

Without doubt, the A5 Sportback looks even better with the optional S-Line sport package that combines a tauter suspension setup and lowered body with larger alloy wheels, specific bumpers, distinctive features on the side air intakes, on the diffuser and on the tailpipes along with color keyed side sill trims.

Moving on to the interior, Audi's styling experiments pretty much come to an end with the new door trims and the four-seat layout as the dashboard is no different than the one found in the rest of the A4 and A5 family.

Even though the Sportback is 36mm (1.42 in) lower than the A4 Sedan, the German automaker supports that the four-seater model offers comparable headroom and legroom space with the more conventionally styled A4.

Furthermore, Audi says that the Sportback's compartment volume of 480 liters (16.95 cu ft) is nearly as much as the A4 Avant, and it can increase to 980 liters (34.61 cu ft) with the rear seats folded down.

There are no surprises under the hood as the Sportback will roll into European showrooms in September with a similar engine lineup to the A4 and A5 models. The initial range will consist of three gasoline units, a 2.0 TSI with 180HP and 211HP and a 265HP 3.0 FSI V6, and three diesels, a 2.0 TDI with 170HP, a 2.7-liter TDI delivering 190HP and a 3.0- V6 TDI that makes 240HP.

All models are equipped with a recuperation system that recovers energy during braking and deceleration and stores it temporarily in the battery while the three gasoline and the top diesel variants are offered with Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.

Audi said that the A5 Sportback's range will be enhanced with three more engines by mid-2010, one of which will surely be the new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 TFSI that develops 290HP in the A6 and 333HP in the S4 Sedan and Avant models.

In Germany, prices for the A5 Sportback range from €33,650 for the 180HP 2.0 TSI to €47,950 for the 3.0 TDI.

For the time being, Audi claims that the A5 Sportback won't be heading to the United States, but something tells us that the automaker may change its plans in the very near future.

Audi A5 Sportback Prices at Launch (Germany)

2.0 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission - €36,050

2.7 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission -€39,300

3.0 TDI quattro with 7-speed S tronic - €47,950

2.0 TFSI (132 kW / 180 hp) with 6-speed manual transmission - €33,650

2.0 TFSI (155 kW / 211 hp) quattro with 7-speed S tronic - €42,150

3.2 FSI quattro with S tronic - €47,000