Car Sight

2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro Car is already an exceptional sports car. The combination of its stunning appearance, outstanding performance and general livability are plenty to be proud of, but the folks in Ingolstadt weren’t quite satisfied. As a result, they’ve produced the 2010Audi R8 5.2 FSI – or simply put, a ten-cylinder R8.

Audi UK sold 100,845 cars in 2008, and this year it wants to sell even more. But how can the automaker pull that off in days like these? By putting its smaller 1.8-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine in the TT Roadster (since the Brits just looooove their convertibles), thereby creating a car that is more economical, environmentally friendly and, hopefully, almost as fun as its 2.0 TFSI brother.
The four-pot’s 158-horsepower, 184-lb-ft works through a six-speed manual and pulls from 0-to-62 mph in 7.4 seconds and maxes out at a top speed of 139 mph. The car’s single trim specification offers 17-inch Y-design alloy wheels, a power top with heated glass rear window, power wind deflector, power windows and mirrors, Tetrus cloth upholstery, climate control and a Chorus CD audio system.
The TT Roadster 1.8 can be ordered now with an on-the-road price pegged at £23,910 ($34,717 USD), versus £27,355 ($39,748 USD) for the 2.0 TFSI. Deliveries will begin in April and the full press release from Audi is after the jump.I love it that they always post a direct conversion just so we get to see which nubbies actually think that’s what it would sell for in the US.

The Audi R15 TDI should be hitting the track competitively for the first time next week at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The new diesel-powered racer will be running against the Peugeot 908 HDi and Acura’s new ARX-02a next Saturday. The oil-burning Audi and Peugeot will be competing under modified LMP1 rules that have cut their wing widths by 40 mm (for all P1 cars) and reduced the size of their air restrictors and amount of turbo boost pressure for the diesels. The new R15, which replaces the very successful R10, has been optimized with a reduction in weight, radically new aerodynamics and an all-new powertrain to work with the new rules while still trying to outrun the Peugeots.

The R10’s old 5.5L V12 has been replaced in the R15 by a smaller V10 of unknown displacement for greater efficiency and improved packaging. The car’s electrical system now uses a lithium-ion battery, again for reduced mass compared to a lead battery. As far as we know, Audi is not planning to use a hybrid KERS system on the R15. Contrary to some information released by an unnamed Audi official at the Geneva Motor Show last week, the R15 will only run at Sebring next week and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in July. The last two ALMS races at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca are not part of Audi’s game plan at this time.

WTF!!! While I can’t wait to see this car run at Sebring, (on TIVO, since I will be out of the country on business next weekend), I was really looking forward to seeing it run in person atLaguna Seca. C’mon Audi, throw us (us as in U.S.) Audi fans a bone a do more ALMS races!

While other automakers are fleeing Detroit’s Cobo Hall, Audi has plans to make up for their absences. We already knew the V10-powered version of the R8 would be making its world debut at the North American International Auto Show next month and it looks like several more vehicles will be appearing as well.

Audi’s brightening up the picture significantly with its New 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Car, due out next year and previewed for the media today.The New 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Car and its V8-powered S5 sibling are considered by many to be the most beautiful Audis ever created. For some time now it’s been common knowledge that an open top variant of Audi’s latest coupe was coming.

The New Audi A1 Sportback Car – designed to fill the slot left by the discontinued A2 – lacks the MINI’s wistful sensibilities, but it comes packing an extra set of doors, four usable seats, some handsome sheetmetal and an multimedia interface that ties in with the driver’s mobile phone to provide navigation, music and an internet connection. Oh, and New Audi A1 Sportback Car can make calls too.

At 9AM Eastern on Monday morning, a fleet of 23 diesel-powered Audis will roll out from Manhattan’s Tavern on the Green on a trans-continental trek to demonstrate diesel