We’ve been having some beautiful weather here in San Diego this “winter”, and what better place for Audi to launch the R8 Spyder. In the following video, Chas Murphy, Audi of America Sports Car Manager, discusses the Audi R8 Spyder including the convertible’s new design, its retractable ragtop, new thermal-resistant seats, and bluetooth-enabled seatbelt microphones. The 2011 R8 Spyder 5.2 quattro features the same V10 engine found in the R8 LMS racecar and the R8 5.2 quattro coupe. It achieves 525 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 391 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. The top track speed for the R8 Spyder is 195 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 4 seconds. 2011 R8 Spyder 5.2 quattro (V10) pricing (excluding $1,250 destination charge, taxes, title, options and dealer charges): R8 Spyder 5.2 quattro (manual) $161,000 R8 Spyder 5.2 quattro (R tronic) $170,000 Read the original post:  Video: Audi R8 Spyder Launch

Month by month, and year by year, Audi continues to progress – not just in auto design, but in sales as well… The company has reported that they have broken its sales record from 2008 in the first eleven months of this year. Audi vehicles continue their popularity in the United States and China, while demand in Germany is picking up too.  With an improvement of 23.6 percent increase from last year, Audi is on its way to breaking the 100,000 cars sold in the U.S. for the first time ever.  In China the company has already exceeded the 200,000 mark for the first time. Here’s a chart showing their cumulative global sales growth… Continued here: Audi Breaking Another Sales Record

We’ve seen many car commercials lately, and although many luxury auto makers have stepped up their game and created very stylish-looking cars, Audi continues to be a leader when it comes to innovation and technology. Perfect example: I watched CrunchGear’s video review of the new Audi A8 the other day, and I was blown away by the features of the multi-media interface  (MMI). Audi continues to think about what their customers want and need. 2011 Audi A8 MMI Not only does Audi have a team of creative individuals who are continuously coming up with innovative car designs, but Audi always comes out with thought-provoking TV commercials and ads. View 30 Audi Innovations at Trend Hunter… Audi is also exploring other ways to connect with their customers and create a better experience for them – as evidenced by the recent launch of the ‘Audi A8 Experience’ App for iPad (available for free from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore). This app features virtual test drives and allows prospective buyers to preview the A8 in advance of a dealer visit, like full panoramic views of the stunning new interior and exterior. The App also offers an interactive look at the engineering deep inside the vehicle and features a virtual product customization tool that allows buyers to outfit their Audi with choice of fabric and exterior color and then connect to audiusa.com to see what their vehicle would look like as a finished product. When it comes to creativity and innovation, Audi ceases to surprise us.  What will they think of next? Read the original:  The Creativity and Innovation of Audi

Finally! Not too long ago we saw an Audi commercial during a Monday Night NFL game. Audi of America just uploaded it a few days ago… Yes, Audi has certainly progressed since the 1970′s, when the first model arrived in the U.S. It’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for Audi! The rest is here:  Footsteps of Progress: Audi’s New Commercial

2011 Audi A6 If you don’t like small cars, but don’t want a big sedan either, then the Audi A6 just might be the car for you.  Audi recently announced that the redesigned A6 will be arriving in dealerships in early 2011. It’s sporty, yet elegant…classy and innovative. Just like its predecessor, the new Audi A6 is also available with a wide range of drivetrains. The choice, based on the engine version, will include a manual six-speed transmission, the continuously variable multitronic, and the brand-new, sporty S tronic. What we’re really excited about, though, is that Audi will begin series production of the A6 hybrid, its second hybrid model after the Q5 hybrid quattro. Here’s a video with more details about the A6… Audi A6 Specs Body – Light, extremely stiff body, with a significant proportion of aluminum and high-strength steel – 4.92 meters (16.14 ft) long, 2.91-meter (9.55 ft) wheelbase, 530-liter (18.72 cubic ft) trunk capacity – Optional xenon plus and LED headlights with LED tail lights, as well as adaptive light with headlight range control Interior – Spacious interior offering an ambiance of luxury – Standard MMI radio operating system, engine start-stop button, multifunction steering wheel, two screens, and high-efficiency two-zone automatic air conditioning system – Head-up display and ambient lighting available as options – Optional front seats with ventilation and massage function Engines – Wide selection of engines, two gasoline engines and three TDI units at launch – Redeveloped 130 kW (177 hp) 2.0 TDI, emitting 129 g CO2 per km (207.61 g/mile) – A6 hybrid with system performance of 180 kW (245 hp) – Manual transmission, multitronic, or S tronic for the drivetrain – Four-cylinder with front-wheel drive, V6 with quattro drive standard or optional – quattro drive with new crown-gear center differential, optional sport differential Chassis – Sophisticated chassis design, wheels ranging from 16 to 20 inches in diameter – High-efficiency electromechanical power steering – ESP with electronic limited-slip differential on front-wheel-drive models – Selective torque vectoring with quattro drive – Audi...

Audi’s e-den futuristic charging station Will charging stations become “the hangout” for future electric car owners? Well, Audi envisions the futuristic service station containing wood furniture and fresh potted herbs, organic food, magazines and coffee-table books. For Design Miami 2010 , Audi created a wellness oasis featuring fair-trade products and sustainable materials. It’s being dubbed the “e-den”, where “e” stands for electromobility. This e-den is a far cry from what we experience now with gas stations.  No junk food and dirty restrooms.  To me, it sounds more like the coffee shop of the future.  All they need now is free wifi. View original here:  Audi Exhibits Futuristic “e-Den” Charging Station at Design Miami 2010