Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Audi

We all like a good car video. Whether it’s a high-dollar commercial worked up just for the Super Bowl or one of Will Roegge’s pieces of cinematic glory, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t mind watching a slick piece of sheetmetal get sideways. But it’s easy to underestimate the amount of work that can go into even the shortest pieces of footage. Take, for instance, this latest spot worked up by the crew at WebRidesTV for the Audi R8 5.2 FSI. The guys shot from dawn till dusk, hired none other than Nathan Swartzbaugh of ALMS fame to pilot the mid-engined terror and even rolled out a slick camera car just for the action - all 30 seconds of it.

Now, if you’re like us, you’re probably wondering where the “Gymkhana” part comes from in the title. We honestly have no idea. As far as we can tell, there’s no sort of predetermined course, active timing or even meandering Segways - just Swartzbaugh getting sideways in a car that’s worth more than all of our worldly possessions. Still, not a bad way to blow five minutes of your day. Hit the jump to see the action.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009, Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: YouTube via WebRidesTV]

Continue reading Video: Audi R8 V10 reminds us what else an airstrip is good for

Video: Audi R8 V10 reminds us what else an airstrip is good for originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jul 2025 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Audi, Quick Spin, Racing

There is only one Audi TT RS in the entire United States right now. And here we are, hurling the black coupe down the front straight at Willow Springs Raceway at 132 mph. We’ve been invited out to the sunny California desert on a pristine day to flog the hottest-ever Audi TT back-to-back against its TTS sibling, along with a few stints in the all-new S4 and R8 V10 for good measure.

The TT RS isn’t simply another upgraded model in the automaker’s diversified lineup. The TTS (and the other standard performance models) come from the Audi AG Sport division, while the TT RS was incubated and hatched by Quattro GmbH - the team who brought us the nefarious R8, RS4 and RS6. And while we’ve seen the TT on our shores with four- and six-cylinder powerplants, the new five-cylinder engine marks a significant departure for the front-engine coupe and convertible (even as it pays homage to the original 1980s-era Audi Sport Quattro).

So what makes the TT RS special and how does it fit into the current TT lineup? More importantly, how does the enthusiast-tuned package work under demanding track conditions? We intend to find out while answering a very important question for Audi: Should it bring the TT RS to the States?

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2010 Audi TT RS performs, assuming Audi AG decides to deliver

Quick Spin: 2010 Audi TT RS performs, assuming Audi AG decides to deliver originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2026 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Hybrid, Performance, Etc., Hatchback, Audi, Chevrolet, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ferrari, Citroën, Design/Style

Awards season is finally winding down with the 2010 World Car of the Year and World Performance Car of the Year being handed out this morning at the 2010 New York Auto Show. After whittling the fields down to three finalists in each category, the panel of 59 international journalists voted one last time to crown the World Car of the Year.

While the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Polo and Mercedes-Benz E-Class were nominated, it was the Polo that took home the gold for 2010 World Car of the Year.

On the performance vehicle front, the nominees were the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari California, with the Audi winning top honors.

They also handed out a Design award for a group of finalists including the Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Camaro. That honor went to the Camaro. (U-S-A! U-S-A!)

The Green category saw Volkswagen‘s line of diesel-powered BlueMotion vehicles beat out the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids. (Die-sel! Die-sel!)

Click below for a gallery of all the winners.

New York 2010: Volkswagen Polo wins 2010 World Car of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2026 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We got our first peek at Abt’s R8 GTR late last year, but like with many cars, it was a whole different experience to see it in person. To say carbon fiber has been used liberally is an understatement, as the entire car is clothed in the lightweight material. The look suits the R8, and Abt has managed to give the car a more aggressive look without going overboard. The interior is lathered in carbon fiber as well, and lightweight Recaro racing seats help reduce weight even further. In total, Abt has managed to take 220 pounds off the R8′s heft.

In addition to changing the look of the car, Abt has given the R8 more power as well. Its 5.2-liter V10 is now rated at 620 horsepower, good for a 0-100 km/h sprint of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph. Other performance upgrades include an adjustable sport suspension, ceramic brake system, lightweight 18-inch wheels and Michelin Sport Cup tires.

If you’ve never heard of Hispano Suiza, you’re not alone. The Spanish automaker hasn’t been producing its own vehicles since World War II and later returned to its aerospace roots in the 1950s, merged with another firm in 2005 and had a few prototypes running around a few years back (the oft forgotten Mazels). But that’s the past and this is apparently the automaker’s future: A rebodied Audi R8 V10 packing a supercharger and the possibility of a hybrid system.

According to AutoBild, the Hispano Suiza’s return will take place at next week’s Geneva Motor Show, with the introduction of this €700,000 coupe. As you’d expect from a hastily resurrected marque, the details are as shady as the renderings in the gallery below, with Hispano Suiza claiming that the 750-horsepower R8-based show car is good for a run to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds (grip is obviously an issue) and a top speed of 205 mph. There’s also a talk of an additional 150 hp from a hybrid drive system, with the ability to travel on electricity along for an unspecified range. Skeptical? Of course, but we’re looking forward to seeing it in person in less than a week.

[Source: Autobild via Autoblog Spanish]

Geneva Preview: Hispano Suiza is back and packing Audi R8′s V10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Feb 2026 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Europe, Audi, Canada

We’re going back and forth on this one. Do we file it under “We’ll believe it when we see it” or “Pinch me I’m dreaming”? Either way, we get to sub-tag it, “Thank God for rich friends.” That’s right y’all, Audi is allowing Horchaus, the Canadian distributor MTM, to federalize some special four-ringers for American consumption. These are the real deal, hopped-up German Audis, straight from the tweaker factory.

As we’re sure you all know, Audi keeps a whole bunch of extra spicy models back in Europe. Why? The excuses typically involve some song and dance about Americans not wanting high performance station wagons (as if), though in the case of the RS4 Avant (arguably the most desirable car we can’t buy), the U.S. prohibition was because the rear-mounted battery didn’t pass DOT certification…

So which cars can we now get via Horchaus? The RS4 Avant, RS4 Convertible, S3, the RS6 sedan and RS6 Avant, Q7 V12 TDI and TT RS. And there’s something else to note: Since Euro-tuner MTM is involved in the equation, these cars can be pumped up a bit over stock. One example would be the twin-turbo V10 in the RS6 upped from a paltry 580 horsepower to a more appropriate 735 hp.

That said, Horchaus’s pricing announcement is leading us back to the “We’ll believe it when we see it” category. Using nothing but a straight Euros-to-dollars conversion rate, the RS6 would cost you about $150,000. However, Horchaus is saying it can be yours for just $107,600. Here’s where it gets hinky. Supposedly Horchaus can sell you a R8 V10 5.2 FSI for $98,000, which is mucho less expensive than Audi USA sells them for (the last one we drove cost $172,250). We don’t believe this last bit. Still, will us Americanos be able to get two of the hottest wagons in the world? Si senor, si.

UPDATE: After collaborating with a few colleagues who’ve spoken with people at both Audi Canada and Audi of America, along with Audi AG, we’re a little unsure how a few of the vehicles listed could make it to the States and be legalized. The RS4 and S4 Avants shouldn’t be a problem, as both have had their engines federalized and the S4 Avant has been crash-tested for the U.S. requirements. The RS6 Avant and its V10 engine have not, so importation of that beast is hardly cut and dry. We’ll continue poking around and update this post as necessary.

[Source:
IEDEI
]

Legalize It: Horchaus federalizing non-U.S. Audis for North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2026 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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