2008 Audi A4 2.0t Quattro on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Next Audi TT RS comes in 2016, manual transmission doesn't

This line comes from our review of the 2012 Audi TT RS: "Did we mention that the 2012 TT RS is only available with a manual transmission?" When we review the next-generation TT RS, expected to launch next year, we'll have to rewrite that line as: "Did we mention that the TT RS is not available with a manual transmission?" That's the word from Car and Driver, which has heard that the superheated little coupe will only come with the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox found in the Euro-market RS3 Sportback. The first generation came with a dual-clutch and a manual transmission in Europe, but the unit for our market required the laying on of hands to get from one cog to another. If we don't get another, the blow will be all the more painful because Audi's manual transmissions are so good. Our assessment summed up the last one thus, "With a short, precise throw and excellent action, the transmission is a mechanical work of art." Good news? Volkswagen says the installed DQ500 dual-clutch is faster, more refined, and more reliable. As well, power from the reworked 2.5-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder should rise from 360 horsepower to "around 400." You'll just be asked to keep your hands off of it. The first-gen car only came here after a successful Facebook petition gathered more than 11,000 signatures in a month, we wish Audi had given us a chance to weigh in on this, too. Although we will probably get it later next year as a 2017 model, we could see it at the Frankfurt Motor Show in two months. Related Video:

Audi Q7 testing gives us clearer view of new look

Audi just announced its intentions to build the Q1 in 2016. By that time, the company will already have introduced the opposing bookend to that subcompact utility vehicle, the fullsize Q7. The last time we saw the next-gen Audi Q7 out testing, our spy shots were very low quality and didn't reveal much about the luxury SUV. This time around we're able to make out a few key elements about the Q7.
For starters, the unfinished headlights have a stylish, wave-like lighting element with a three-dimensional appearance, while the rear of the Q7 will definitely get a similar wraparound liftgate as the current model. Overall, this prototype looks to be about the same size as the existing Q7, so it will be interesting to see how Audi squeezes almost 800 pounds from the SUV's curb weight. The diet will surely help improve efficiency, and we also hear that Audi is considering a plug-in hybrid model in addition to the standard gas and diesel variants.
Riding on a shared platform with the next-gen Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and the upcoming Bentley Falcon SUV, the next Audi Q7 is expected to bow in late 2014 for the 2015 model year.

Recharge Wrap-up: Audi to build Q6 e-tron in Brussels, Boris Johnson test drives Toyota Mirai

Audi will build the Q6 e-tron at its factory in Brussels, Belgium. Production for the electric vehicle - which will be based on the concept car from the Frankfurt Motor Show in September - is slated for 2018. Its expected driving range of about 311 miles should help make it competitive against the Tesla Model X. Audi's Brussels plant is also where the A1 is made. It employs about 2,500 workers and produced about 115,000 vehicles in 2014. Read more from Automotive News Europe. During a visit to Toyota Headquarters, London Mayor Boris Johnson confirmed that Transport for London will be the UK's first Toyota Mirai customer. Mayor Johnson traveled to Japan on a three-day trade mission, and took a test drive of the fuel cell vehicle. "By embracing this technology of the future, we aim to consolidate hydrogen's role as a practical alternative fuel for the 21st century and beyond," says Johnson. "I am sure that Transport for London will provide the ideal environment for us to see everything Mirai can do and, in doing so, take another great step towards improving air quality in our city and protecting the health of Londoners." Read more from Toyota, or at Green Car Congress. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has delivered 12 electric commercial lawn mowers to government and nonprofit organizations in San Bernardino County. The donation of the electric mowers is part of a demonstration program to promote zero-emissions equipment. At prices ranging from $3,000 to $20,000, the electric mowers cost about 25 percent more than their gas-powered counterparts, but their lower operating costs can make up for the price difference in about two years. In addition, they produce about half the noise, and save about 600 pounds of harmful emissions per year. SCAQMD plans to deliver five more of the mowers as part of the same program. Read more in the press release below. SCAQMD Launches Nation's Largest Zero-Emission Commercial Lawn Mower Demonstration Program in San Bernardino SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The South Coast Air Quality Management District today delivered a dozen new, battery-electric commercial lawn mowers to agencies in San Bernardino County as part of a long-term demonstration program to promote the zero-emission equipment.