2008 Audi R8 on tour around Canada

Audi has something good going on with the R8 supercar and they know it. The problem is, there isn't enough of them to go around. In order to make sure as many enthusiasts as possible get to lay eyes on the new machine, Audi is sending 15 journalists on a cross Canada jaunt from Cape Spear, all the way to the west, finishing up in Victoria, BC.

Friend of The Garage, Russ Bond from Painkillerz is lucky enough to be along for the section from Barrie, Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario. In fact, Russ is having a month filled with R8 goodness, having visited the press launch for the car last week and will spend next week with the press car. While Russ is on the road with the Audi R8 Trans-Canada Performance Tour, he'll be updating Painkillerz readers with daily photos and stories.

Source: http://thegarageblog.com/garage/2008-audi-r8-on-tour-around-canada/

Preview: 2010 Audi A1 hatch and cabrio

The minicar segment is about to explode, with new models planned from most of the major carmakers including, for the first time, premium labels such as Audi, which is planning to launch the new A1 hatch in 2009. A concept version of the car will be displayed at next month's Tokyo Motor Show complete with a hybrid drivetrain. These new renderings give us an accurate look at what to expect, revealing designers are going with conventional hatchback styling and Audi's familiar oversized grille.

The A1 won't be a niche model. Audi management is hoping to sell more than 100,000 units per year and will likely add a 'shooting brake' mini-estate and cabrio to its lineup. Audi is also rumored to be working on a mini SUV labeled the Q1, which you can see a preview of by clicking here. In addition to the mild hybrid version, Audi will also build cars equipped with more conventional TSI and FSI petrol engines as well as its frugal TDI diesels displacing 1.4 and 1.6L.

The car will be built on a new platform that will also spawn the next-gen VW Polo as well as allow engineers to add quattro AWD for a low-volume performance model. The new platform also means engineers may add a new low cost dual-clutch transmission with seven gears in total. Unlike the production version of the VW up! concept, the Audi A1 won't be cheap and is expected to have a price tag of around €20,000. By contrast, VW's minicar is expected to cost close to €8,000.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/preview-2010-audi-a1-hatch-and-cabrio/

600 New Employees for Audi

Audi is hiring young graduates in an effort to ensure the strong future of the brand. This year, the automaker is looking for 600 new employees.

German automaker Audi is making a bid to become the king of the mountain. Six hundred academics is the target for Audi. The young talents are there to unveil the new Audi RS6 - the company's most powerful production vehicle. Dr, Werner Widuckel, a Board Member for Human Resources at Audi AG, declared that the increase in their offering will mean more jobs in the future. Only motivated and dedicated employees will ensure company success and innovative power in the future," he said.

Most in demand are graduates in electrical engineering, mechatronics, mechanical engineering and automotive technology. Not only academics are attracted to Audi as an employer: 682 young people started their apprenticeships last week in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. Audi provides training in 20 different vocations.

"To a great extent, graduates want to identify with the products of their preferred employer. Factors such as market success and innovative power, interesting work and individual opportunities for development play an important role when choosing an employer," added Dr. Widuckel.

Last year, the automaker recruited 450 academics. The increase in the number of employees they are hiring shows the company responding to the need for engineers. The automaker is focusing on the employment of young engineers to develop highly-efficient diesel engines as well as alternative powertrains.


Source: http://theautorider.blogspot.com/2007/09/600-new-employees-for-audi.html

Audi R8 downed in Moscow

The Audi R8 isn't even on sale yet in most parts of the globe, but already we've heard of cars going up in flames in Germany and now we have a story about one that's gone amok in downtown Moscow. From the images, it appears the driver lost of control of the car in the wet weather, skidded across onto the median strip and then crashed into a small tree before spinning to a stop. The car must have been traveling at some speed because the crash managed to rip out the car's headlight out, projecting it several meters away onto a small patch of grass.

Every time we see a crashed exotic, we wonder when more car companies will start offering some kind of advanced driver training course as part of the car's purchase. Then again, there's no way to prevent the stupidity that makes someone want to speed in a built-up urban area in the wet. We hope the driver was at least smart enough to have insurance because it appears this R8 will have one very hefty repair bill.

Source: http://news.euro-truck.biz/autoblog/audi-r8-downed-in-moscow/

Abt Sportsline releases the Audi AS6 3.0L TDI

We're used to seeing plenty of highly modified petrol cars but every now and then a tuned oil-burner crops up. This time it's from the Bavarian-based Abt Sportsline, which has taken the wraps off its new AS6 3.0L TDI. The new car boasts a rare 100hp (75kW) per liter output, with a total 300hp (225kW) churned out by its 3.0L TDI mill. The maximum torque, which arrives at 4000rpm, is a staggering 600Nm.

The increases come from a series of upgrades including new engine management software and more boost from a custom Abt compressor. With the new performance numbers, the AS6 completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 249km/h.

Ensuring all that torque reaches the ground, engineers added a set of 20in wheels measuring 9in across. They also upgraded the brakes, added an adjustable suspension set-up and a complete bodykit. The latter consists of a set of side skirts, front spoiler and pumped fenders.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/audi/abt-sportsline-releases-the-audi-as6-30l-tdi/

2008 Audi R8 on tour around Canada

Audi has something good going on with the R8 supercar and they know it. The problem is, there isn't enough of them to go around. In order to make sure as many enthusiasts as possible get to lay eyes on the new machine, Audi is sending 15 journalists on a cross Canada jaunt from Cape Spear, all the way to the west, finishing up in Victoria, BC.

Friend of The Garage, Russ Bond from Painkillerz is lucky enough to be along for the section from Barrie, Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario. In fact, Russ is having a month filled with R8 goodness, having visited the press launch for the car last week and will spend next week with the press car. While Russ is on the road with the Audi R8 Trans-Canada Performance Tour, he'll be updating Painkillerz readers with daily photos and stories.

Source: http://thegarageblog.com/garage/2008-audi-r8-on-tour-around-canada/

Preview: 2010 Audi A1 hatch and cabrio

The minicar segment is about to explode, with new models planned from most of the major carmakers including, for the first time, premium labels such as Audi, which is planning to launch the new A1 hatch in 2009. A concept version of the car will be displayed at next month's Tokyo Motor Show complete with a hybrid drivetrain. These new renderings give us an accurate look at what to expect, revealing designers are going with conventional hatchback styling and Audi's familiar oversized grille.

The A1 won't be a niche model. Audi management is hoping to sell more than 100,000 units per year and will likely add a 'shooting brake' mini-estate and cabrio to its lineup. Audi is also rumored to be working on a mini SUV labeled the Q1, which you can see a preview of by clicking here. In addition to the mild hybrid version, Audi will also build cars equipped with more conventional TSI and FSI petrol engines as well as its frugal TDI diesels displacing 1.4 and 1.6L.

The car will be built on a new platform that will also spawn the next-gen VW Polo as well as allow engineers to add quattro AWD for a low-volume performance model. The new platform also means engineers may add a new low cost dual-clutch transmission with seven gears in total. Unlike the production version of the VW up! concept, the Audi A1 won't be cheap and is expected to have a price tag of around €20,000. By contrast, VW's minicar is expected to cost close to €8,000.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/preview-2010-audi-a1-hatch-and-cabrio/

600 New Employees for Audi

Audi is hiring young graduates in an effort to ensure the strong future of the brand. This year, the automaker is looking for 600 new employees.

German automaker Audi is making a bid to become the king of the mountain. Six hundred academics is the target for Audi. The young talents are there to unveil the new Audi RS6 - the company's most powerful production vehicle. Dr, Werner Widuckel, a Board Member for Human Resources at Audi AG, declared that the increase in their offering will mean more jobs in the future. Only motivated and dedicated employees will ensure company success and innovative power in the future," he said.

Most in demand are graduates in electrical engineering, mechatronics, mechanical engineering and automotive technology. Not only academics are attracted to Audi as an employer: 682 young people started their apprenticeships last week in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. Audi provides training in 20 different vocations.

"To a great extent, graduates want to identify with the products of their preferred employer. Factors such as market success and innovative power, interesting work and individual opportunities for development play an important role when choosing an employer," added Dr. Widuckel.

Last year, the automaker recruited 450 academics. The increase in the number of employees they are hiring shows the company responding to the need for engineers. The automaker is focusing on the employment of young engineers to develop highly-efficient diesel engines as well as alternative powertrains.


Source: http://theautorider.blogspot.com/2007/09/600-new-employees-for-audi.html

Audi R8 downed in Moscow

The Audi R8 isn't even on sale yet in most parts of the globe, but already we've heard of cars going up in flames in Germany and now we have a story about one that's gone amok in downtown Moscow. From the images, it appears the driver lost of control of the car in the wet weather, skidded across onto the median strip and then crashed into a small tree before spinning to a stop. The car must have been traveling at some speed because the crash managed to rip out the car's headlight out, projecting it several meters away onto a small patch of grass.

Every time we see a crashed exotic, we wonder when more car companies will start offering some kind of advanced driver training course as part of the car's purchase. Then again, there's no way to prevent the stupidity that makes someone want to speed in a built-up urban area in the wet. We hope the driver was at least smart enough to have insurance because it appears this R8 will have one very hefty repair bill.

Source: http://news.euro-truck.biz/autoblog/audi-r8-downed-in-moscow/

Abt Sportsline releases the Audi AS6 3.0L TDI

We're used to seeing plenty of highly modified petrol cars but every now and then a tuned oil-burner crops up. This time it's from the Bavarian-based Abt Sportsline, which has taken the wraps off its new AS6 3.0L TDI. The new car boasts a rare 100hp (75kW) per liter output, with a total 300hp (225kW) churned out by its 3.0L TDI mill. The maximum torque, which arrives at 4000rpm, is a staggering 600Nm.

The increases come from a series of upgrades including new engine management software and more boost from a custom Abt compressor. With the new performance numbers, the AS6 completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 249km/h.

Ensuring all that torque reaches the ground, engineers added a set of 20in wheels measuring 9in across. They also upgraded the brakes, added an adjustable suspension set-up and a complete bodykit. The latter consists of a set of side skirts, front spoiler and pumped fenders.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/audi/abt-sportsline-releases-the-audi-as6-30l-tdi/