Audi probably won't be taking the wraps completely off its new small car until the Geneva Motor Show next March, but spy shooters are already out there hunting down the prototypes. The clearest image we've seen yet shows a mini-car that appears to have changed very little from the MetroProject concept that first appeared at the last Tokyo Motor Show two years ago. The new A1 is expected to go on sale around the middle of next year in Europe although its not clear if it will ever come Stateside.
To keep costs down, Audi is expected to build the A1 with a conventional steel structure as opposed to the aluminum space frame of the A2 of a few years ago. Power is expected to come from a range of gas and diesel engines likely topping out at about 1.4 liters. Some of the unseen mechanical bits will likely be shared with the new VW Polo, but this is definitely more than just a re-badge job as evidenced by the completely different shape.
While most shops focus on tuning the latest Euro hotness, MFK has put its efforts into modifying the old-school (C5) Audi RS6, dropping the wagon over a set of 20x10.5-inch wheels and stretching some sticky 28525 Dunlop rubber over each satin black, three-piece hoop.
Unfortunately, MFK hasn't divulged what's been done to the suspension, and there's even less info about the engine mods. All we know is the twin-turbo, 4.2-liter V8's software has been tweaked to coax out 520 horsepower – another 80 hp over the stock, Cosworth-modified mill – and a full sports exhaust is available for the princely sum of 5,999 euros (nearly $9k USD). Or maybe that's a typo in the awkwardly translated press release below the fold.
The performance-partsgasm that is Las Vegas' SEMA Show may be down on fuel this year because of the state of the economy, but that isn't stopping the Chrysler Group from unveiling four concepts based on the models in its lineup that are arguably the most endearing to the aftermarket. To that end, the company's Mopar devision has lavished a bunch of custom bits on everything from a pair of Jeep Wranglers (one of which is fit to sleep in, and the other looking fit enough to climb a wall) to a streetable 556-horsepower Dodge Challenger, and a dolled up Dodge Ram 1500.
Perhaps our favorite vehicle of the lot is the Wrangler "Lower Forty" - an imposing rig that uses a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine to churn its massive 40-inch tires. If it looks familiar, that's because it was first shown at the Moab Safari in April. Interestingly, the huge running gear upgrade has been applied to a standard ride-height two-door Rubicon – no suspension or body lift has been fitted. What has been screwed on, however, are new fender flares that ride four inches higher than stock, and they're an inch wider, too. Other trick bits include a new integrated roll cage, a relocated spare tire, a new drop-down tailgate with an old-school stamped Jeep logo. Did we mention the slick three-inch chop and the extra ten degrees of rake applied to the windshield?
At last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi board member Michael Dick confirmed that a production version of the electric eTron sports car concept would be produced by late 2012. Following the show, Audi NA president Johan de Nysschen confirmed that announcement and now AutoExpress has produced a rendering of a production model. However, there appears to be some details lost in the translation. The eTron is based on the aluminum space frame of the R8 while AE says the R4 will be a smaller roadster with a chassis shared with the next generation Porsche BoxsterCayman.
An Audi R4 has been speculated for some time, with the rumors flaring up after VW showed off the concept BlueSport in Detroit this year. It's not clear if Audi will move ahead with the larger R8-based EV sportster or a smaller machine, or perhaps both. If they do, something like this rendering would be welcome, combining elements of the BlueSport, the eTron and even the top and flying buttresses of a Lotus Elise.
When Motor Trend picks its favorite sport utility vehicle, the winner will have bragging rights for an entire year. And we'll know all about it, because the victorious company behind the winning crossover or SUV will shout it from the rooftops (and in print, TV and web advertisements) about their shiny golden award. We can argue all day long about whether many of the nominees can be legitimately be considered sportutlility vehicles, but either way, this year, there are 11 vehicles up for consideration, with pedigrees ranging from a single traditional body-on-frame SUV to a brace of competent and efficient family haulers and richly appointed luxury crossovers.
As Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus McKenzie points out on the magazine's blog, there is only one traditional SUV on the list, and it takes the size and shape of the Toyota 4Runner. The rest of the vehicles are crossovers, with seven of the 11 candidates sporting luxury badging, three coming from General Motors and one stablemate to last year's SUV of the year, the Subaru Outback. When choosing the SUV of the year, MT says it looks at packaging, presentation and intended function, along with obvious criteria like aesthetics and performance.
As a profession, there's a very long list of cars on sale in Europe that we can't buy which us auto journo types nevertheless constantly rattle our (virtual) pens over. From the Volkswagen Scirocco to the Honda Civic Type R to the 300+ hp Ford Focus to the Citroen C6, total and complete absence makes the heart grow fonder -- as well as providing an easy, brainless way for us to end all stories about said forbidden fruit. I mean imagine reading this line, "The BMW M5 Wagon sports a 507 hp 5.0-liter V10 and can run up over 200 mph with the limiter removed. Leave it in Germany!"
That said, there are a few cars that we really do want. As in, when we get together after hours on a press launch with some free booze and really start talking cars, these are the vehicles we pine for. For instance, as nifty as the Ford Focus RS is, we get to drive around in the MazdaSpeed3 often enough -- we'll live. But the aforementioned M5 Wagon? Gotta have it. Or the RS4 Avant? Mommy please. Or the Citroen C6? Or, perhaps best of all, the twin-turbo V10 Audi RS6 Avant? Oh man -- could you imagine? So yes, it's true -- all automotive journalists secretly (and not so secretly) spend their lives lusting after mega-horsepower wagons. Now you know how unreasonable and silly we all are.
Oh, yeah -- almost forgot. MTM just took their tuned 702 hp RS6 Avant to the annual Nardo High Speed event, and it blew the doors off all the other cars, two-door sports cars included. How fast? 344.2 kmh. Translated into something us 'Mericans can understand: 214 miles per hour. Can we get a dang? DANG! Full results appear next month in Auto Motor und Sport -- we'll keep you posted.
Automakers appear to be pulling out of Formula One en masse. Jaguar and Ford withdrew a few years ago already, Honda canceled its participation at the end of last season, BMW is leaving at the end of this one, and both Toyota and Renault are reportedly considering canceling their programs as well. But one major automaker is now reported to be closely considering entering the fray: the Volkswagen group.
Soon-to-be the world's largest automaker, VW stands as one of the largest automakers having never participated in the sport. Auto Union competed in pre-war grands prix, Porsche participated briefly back in the '60s, and Lamborghini provided engines to a handful of teams a couple of decades ago. But that's about the extent of it.
As budgets constrict with each passing season, however, a senior VW executive in the Far East has reportedly indicated that the company is considering entering the sport, but that budgets would have to fall even further to make it financially viable for the German auto group. If it did, however, the conglomerate's participation – whether as a constructor or engine supplier – could be branded as Volkswagen, Audi or Porsche.
Last year, Volkswagen's new Jetta TDI was named the 2009 Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show, which means that the Volkswagen Golf TDI has a bit of baggage if it wants to win the 2010 award. Regardless, the Golf was named one of five finalists today, along with the Audi A3 TDI, the Honda Insight, the Mercury Milan Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. Odd that the Mercury would be chosen above the Ford Fusion Hybrid, but so it goes. That makes it two diesels and three hybrids vying for top spot.
The Green Car of the Year award is given out by Green Car Journal, which narrows the field of green cars down to five and then turns over picking the winner to "jurors such as Jay Leno, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Carroll Shelby, Matt Petersen of Global Green USA and the Sierra Club's Carl Pop." The winner will be announced in LA on December 3, so stay tuned.
If you've got an Audi A3 or TT and like to drive it hard, you may want to check in with your local dealer, because a recall notice has been issued that is directly focused on enthusiastic drivers.
The action concerns a spring that holds the fuel tank ventilation valve closed. Under "extreme driving conditions", the spring in question might not be strong enough to prevent gasoline from leaking out. And since that could start a fire, this recall strikes us as rather important.
The vehicles in question include some 10,200 A3s, TT coupes and TT Roadsters built between September 29, 2005 and August 26, 2009. Volkswagen of America will be contacting vehicle owners to notify them of the recall, and Audi dealerships will replace the faulty ventilation valves with an improved design free of charge.
Last week, we showed you BMW's new "Jump for Joy" ad. The 1:16 video features BMW owners literally jumping into their vehicles in spectacular fashion. Decent commercial overall, but it lacked that certain zing that Audi's "Meet the Beckers" spots showed last year. Remember those Internet gems? Audi was absolutely brutal towards BMW, Mercedes and Lexus owners, and we loved every minute of it.
What we didn't know last week when we posted the original "Jump for Joy" commercial was that BMW also created an extended version of the ad, this time totaling nearly two minutes in length. The first half of the video looks a lot like the original spot, save for a bearded voyeur watching on as the BMW drivers jumped into their Bavarian g-rides. At 1:10 in, we discover that the stalker guy is, in fact, an Audi owner, and he wants to jump for joy too. Needless to say, Mr. Audi doesn't prove to be as graceful as his BMW-owning neighbors. He clumsily botches his attempt at jumping into his car, jamming his testicles in the process. Not as funny as "Meet the Beckers," perhaps, but not a bad effort at demoralizing the competition, either. Hit the jump to view the testy ad for yourself.
