Audi RS3 makes us hate winter less

If you live in Pittsburgh, you probably don’t need a dissertation on the evils of winter. The season is an expanse of cold darkness punctuated by spurts of insufferable weather and hamfisted drivers. Fortunately, the good people at Audi have been so kind as to provide the world with a reminder of all there is to love about the cooler months. The company has turned out another lengthy bout of footage of the delicious new RS3 Sportback as it dashes through the snow.

There’s plenty of sideways action as well as excellent car control, all shot from multiple angles. Audi even busted out a helicopter to take in the view from above. There’s over seven minutes of footage to enjoy without a whisper of music or a pesky voiceover to spoil the sound of the RS3 barking through the powder. Hit the jump to watch the full clip for yourself.

Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro

Audi, the inventor of TDI, blazes a trail in the field of engine manufacture. At the 27th annual Lake Worther Tour being held at the end of May in the Austrian province of Carinthia, the brand behind the four rings is showcasing this technology’s potential with a sensational study. The 2-litre TDI unit under the bonnet of the Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro delivers 165 kW (224 hp) and musters up 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque – the sort of pulling power normally associated with a sports car. The show car races from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.6

The Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro projects its power with supreme confidence – both acoustically courtesy of its sonorous exhaust and visually with a series of exclusive parts mounted on the body and in the interior. Exterior components such as the large DTM-look rear spoiler and the bolt-on wheel arch extensions give the car a dynamic air, while the racing bucket seats and open gear lever gate in aluminium form the highlights of the interior.

The show car is a true high-tech sports car. The drive power is directed to the 20-inch wheels via a six-speed transmission and the quattro all-wheel-drive system. At the front wheels, stopping power is provided by six-piston brake callipers and ceramic discs. The Audi drive select driving dynamics system allows the driver to vary at will the throttle response characteristic, the exhaust sound, the level of power assistance for the steering, the cut-in thresholds for the ESP stabilisation system, as well as the operating mode of the dampers. The dampers deploy Audi magnetic ride technology, enabling them to react to changes in the driving situation with lightning speed.

Technical Specifications

Engine: 2.0-litre TDI

Aspiration: Turbocharged

Maximum Power: 165 kW (224 hp)

Maximum Torque: 450 Nm (332 lb-ft)

Transmission: Six-speed manual

Drivetrain: All-wheel drive

Audi TTS Concept Part.1

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept

Audi TTS Concept Part.2

Audi shows off revised eTron Spyder

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler rolled onto the stage in the same eTron Spyder we saw in Paris, but for the crowd in Sin City, Audi swapped the silver paint for a more delectable red hue.

Aside from the color change, everything else remains the same, from the 300-horsepower twin-turbo TDI V6 churning out 479 pound-feet of torque to the front-mounted battery and wrap around windshield. It’s still a looker, although we’re generally in favor of something a little more subtle…

Audi deflects criticism about A1 pricing

There’s been some speculation that the steep price tag on the Audi A1 has kept the hatch from being the sales success that Audi had hoped. Right now, the A1 commands a €15,800 price tag in Germany (that’s a bit over $21k USD), and many analysts seem to think that kind of coin is well out of the reach of most young buyers. Audi, meanwhile, says that it isn’t having any issues moving A1 models off of dealer lots. The automaker is still on track to build 50,000 units this year, and hopes to put 30,000 into the hands of waiting buyers.

According to Automotive News, Audi has sold around 20,000 A1 hatchbacks since the hatchback hit the market in August. Even if things are as rosy as Audi claims, there’s some indication that the company will move to make the vehicle even more appetizing in the near future. European buyers may be able to get their hands on a five-door version of the car in short order. As of right now, the three-door design is the only available body configuration – and no, you still can’t have one, America.

Audi R18 Le Mans prototype unveiled with full roof, epic LEDs

Right on schedule, Audi has pulled the sheets off its next-generation Le Mans prototype. As had been rumored before the unveil, the R18 has abandoned the open-top design of its forefathers – the R8, R10 and R15 Plus – for a closed canopy to improve aerodynamics and reduce driver fatigue. The company hasn’t worked with a clamshell since 1999, and we’re guessing is has more than a little to do with Peugeot’s 2009 Le Mans win. That victory is the only wrinkle in the Audi’s domination of the world’s most difficult motorsports race, and it’s no small coincidence that work on the R18 began in mid 2009.

The R18 gets its grunt from a 3.7-liter TDI V6 engine, and while Audi isn’t saying exactly how much horsepower or torque the oil-burner produces, we have to guess that the figures are nothing to sneeze at. Behind the engine is a new six-speed transmission, though the innovations aren’t simply chained to the drivetrain. Audi used a single-piece construction carbon fiber monocoque to keep weight down and increase stiffness, and those epic all-LED headlights are the first make their way to Le Mans.

While Audi is planning to campaign a total of three R18 racers at the 2011 Le Mans race this summer, the vehicle’s first appearance will be at the six hours of Spa on April 24. Click past the jump to see the full press release.