2001 Audi S4 Stage 3+ on 2040-cars

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Audi entices enthusiasts with manual option for the 2017 A4

When we first drove the 2016 Audi A4, newly redesigned although cosmetically very similar to its predecessor, much was improved but there was no hint of a manual transmission option. For the 2016 model year, you could have any gearbox you wanted as long as it was a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. For some reason, despite low take rates for manual gearboxes across the board, Audi is stepping up for enthusiasts and offering a six-speed manual. Equally auspicious is the fact that this manual won't be resigned to some non-enthusiast variant, like the front-wheel drive model. The six-speed will be exclusively offered in the Quattro all-wheel drive version with the 252-horsepower version of the 2.0-liter TFSI engine, rather than the 190-hp Ultra variant which utilizes the Miller cycle and is more fuel-economy oriented. There's also an available Sport Plus package that's exclusive to the manual model that adds some previously S4-exclusive bits to the mix, which is further catnip to Audi gearheads. Those S4-derived parts are dynamic steering and sport adaptive suspension, which drops the ride height a bit, too. The rest of the Sport Plus package includes a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel, 18-inch split-spoke wheels, available Daytona Grey paint, sport seats, and some brushed aluminum interior trim. Best of all, the manual is a no-cost option, and so prices for each trim are the same across the line. In the entry-level Premium trim, the 2017 A4 manual will start at $40,350 and goes on sale this fall. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Audi A4: First Drive View 33 Photos Audi Performance Sedan quattro

2017 Audi TT RS arrives with 400 horsepower

If the Audi TT was ever considered to be more style than substance, that stereotype can be put to rest with the arrival of the new TT RS. Revealed in both coupe and convertible bodystyles at the Beijing Motor Show today, Ingolstadt's latest performance models boast 400 horsepower. And for nostalgic VW and Audi fans, this is still the only way to buy a five-cylinder engine. For those keeping track, that represents an increase of 60 hp over the previous version, accompanied by 354 pound-feet of torque. Channeled to all four wheels in typical Quattro style, those 400 horses will propel the TT RS to 62 miles per hour from a standstill in as little as 3.7 seconds. That's enough to undercut the new Porsche 718 Cayman S by a good few tenths, and will leave the vast majority of drivers on the road or track looking at its pair of oval tailpipes, OLED taillights, and fixed rear wing rather than the new front end with its oversized air intakes. Those lucky enough to find themselves inside the new TT RS will find a pair of low-slung bucket seats along with standard TT fare like a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit display, Audi Connect infotainment system, and inductive smartphone charging. US pricing and availability are still being worked out, but Audi of America spokesman Mark Dahncke tells Autoblog that the new TT RS will arrive in showrooms Stateside "sometime next year." Overseas the new model is set to launch in the fall. The starting price of ˆ66,400 euros listed for Europe works out to nearly $75k at current exchange rates. More tellingly the TT RS price is just above the ˆ64,118 that Porsche charges for the new 718 Cayman S. This is clearly one bout of sibling rivalry that's just heating up. Related Video: Dynamic duo: Audi TT RS Coupe and Audi TT RS Roadster Audi is sending the most powerful TT ever into the competitive field. Its newly developed five-cylinder engine delivers 400 hp – accompanied by unmistakable engine sound. The Coupe and Roadster are celebrating their world premieres at the Beijing Motor Show. Muscular front end, large air inlets, low-positioned spoiler, fixed rear wing – at first glance, the Audi TT RS* clearly hints at just how much power there is under its streamlined skin. Its new five-cylinder aluminum engine delivers 400 hp, which is 60 hp more than the power of the previous model.

Next-gen Audi A7 spied from afar

The 2018 Audi A7 has been spied testing from afar. The blurry photos reveal very little about the upcoming sedan, which is covered in heavy camouflage. The next A7 appears to retain its iconic fastback design and is sporting the automaker's single-frame grille with slimmer headlights. In typical Audi fashion, we expect the upcoming A7 to get subtle changes that give the sedan a more muscular look, while maintaining the overall appearance of the current model The next-gen A7 will utilize the MLB Evo platform that can be found on the Audi Q7 and should make its way onto the upcoming Audi A8, as well. The platform should help the A7 lose some weight and give the sedan better driving characteristics. The upcoming A7 should have similar engine options as the current model, which include a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. European countries will most likely get a diesel model with a rumored plug-in hybrid variant coming in the near future. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Aud A7 Spy Shots Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos Audi Hatchback Luxury Sedan