Category: Audi

Audi has released information on a new TT RS Plus, which follows rumours of the car from March and October last year. As expected power is up by 15kW to a new peak of 265kW. Torque follows suit, up by 15Nm for a new maximum of 465Nm. Enough to propel an S tronic equipped Coupé to 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds (4.3s for 6-speed manual).

Unfortunately, perhaps, earlier suggestions of a weight loss program for the TT RS Plus have not come to fruition. There’s still rear seats and the weight remains at the same 1450kg of the regular TT RS.

The TT RS is available in Coupé and Roadster configurations. Its top speed is still limited, but has been upped from 250km/h to 280km/h. Sure to give you a bad hair day if you try that in the Roadster!

The car looks pretty lairy with its standard 19″ red and black alloys (first seen on the RS3). But we do think Audi has missed an opportunity by only adding a modest power/torque increase. Had the rumoured weight loss proved correct then the TT RS Plus could have an extra edge to dynamics and handling.

UPDATE: This just in: “Audi Australia is currently evaluating the TT RS plus for the Australian market.”

According to a leaked document from Audi’s Swiss importer a third-generation RS4 Avant quattro running the 331kW 4.2 litre FSI V8 and S tronic from the RS5 will be making its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The RS4 Avant is the über wagon we covet the most here at AUSmotive HQ, so we say “Joy to the world!”

It’s going to be a busy gig for the Audi girls at the show. They’ll also be removing the covers for three other world premieres, including the limited edition A1 quattro, the third-gen A3 hatchback and the A6 allroad.

There’s even talk the often mentioned, but continually shy, TT RS plus will be on show as well.

[Source: WCF | Rendering: MOMOYAK]

Car has come up trumps again with some sold info on the Mk3 Audi TT. It’s expected Audi will launch the third-gen TT in 2014 with the company’s R&D boss Michael Dick revealing, “It will be a fusion of the Mk1 and Mk2. Expect a more sinewy and athletic car. The design remains iconic, but the driving dynamics will advance significantly.”

That’s an interesting final comment from Dick, considering the TT will be built on the new MQB platform. That means it’s either great news for the dynamics of all cars to be built on the platform, or its versatility will allow Audi to tune the chassis with a greater degree of accuracy depending on the application.

[Source: Car | Rendering: Larson/Auto Bild]

Car magazine brings us a new selection of spy shots for the upcoming third-generation Audi A3. We’re likely to get a full reveal of the A3 at Geneva in March this year. We already have a pretty good idea of what to expect on the inside.

It’s believed the new MQB platform is as much as 20% more cost effective to build on. Handy cost savings when you consider that Volkswagen Group aims to manufacture a couple of million units a year on this platform, including models like the A3 and Golf VII.

The twin pipes on this test mule could indicate this is a new S3, which is expected to give 300hp a serious nudge from its 2.0 litre turbo four. That’s around 13% more power than currently offered in the 8P S3.

[Source: Car]

This is the new Audi A6 allroad. And, unlike its A4 sibling, it will be coming to Australia. The third-generation of A6 Avant-based offroader will be on our shores in the second half of this year.

Naturally, the A6 allroad features all the mod cons you’d expect, including four-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and head-up display to name just a few. There’s 565 litres of boot space in the back, which can be expanded to 1680 litres with the rear seats folded down.

As you’d expect a car like this is a bit of a porker, but Audi has done well to strip 70kg away compared to the old model. Still, that means the A6 allroad is now just over 1800kg instead of just under 1900kg.

Overseas there are two engines available. First, there’s a petrol powered 3.0 TFSI good for 228kW/440Nm. Then there’s a 3.0 TDI which you can have in three different engine tunes: 150kW/450Nm, 180kW/580Nm and 230kW/650Nm. The TFSI and two lower-spec TDI models come with a 7-speed S tronic transmission, while the range-topping 230kW TDI is fitted with an 8-speed tiptronic.

It’s not clear at this stage if all those engine choices will be available in Australia, but it’s unlikely. Currently there is only one engine spec for the A6 allroad, which by way of comparison is a 3.0 TDI producing 176kW/500Nm.

More pics and press blurb from Audi can be seen after the break.

Yesterday we brought you a bunch of pics of the new interior from the 2012 Audi A3. Within those images there were a few screen graphics showing an exterior rendering of the third-generation A3. The styling is very similar to the A3 concept from last year’s Geneva Motor Show, as you would expect.

Overnight more images from the A3’s MMI display have emerged and show a three-door hatch from multiple angles. So far the interior seems to be gaining universal praise. But what of the exterior, will that enjoy similar positive reviews?

For our Australian readers, if you do like this three-door A3, don’t get too attached. We hope we’re wrong, but it’s been whispered to us that we will only see five-door versions of the next A3 down under.

[Source: autoforum.cz | Thanks to Aaron for the tip]