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7:00 AM
netfandu
While we have already brought you a single grainy picture of a completely undisguised 2013 Audi A6 Allroad Quattro prototype that was caught completely off guard on the road, our spy photographers just dropped these latest pictures of a test car in our mailbox.
The mild off-road version of the new A6 Avant, which will once again carry the Allroad Quattro moniker, was covered up in the usual swirly camouflage seen on other Audi prototypes.
However, it is evident that the test car has a visibly higher ground clearance along with the typical chunky plastic cladding to protect the bodywork and tall roof rails similar to the previous Allroad models.
Don't expect any surprises under the hood with the A6 Allroad Quattro making use of the same diesel and gasoline powertrains found in the new Avant combined with the Ingolstadt-based firm's transmission options and all-wheel drive system.
The new A6 Allroad Quattro should make its appearance at one of the upcoming international motor shows and reach dealers sometime in the second half of 2012.
6:57 AM
netfandu
Following its tenth victory at the famous Le Mans 24 Hours in June, Audi is now aiming for its 10th triumph at the endurance race's U.S. counterpart, the “Petit Le Mans” at Road Atlanta in the state of Georgia, with the R18 TDI racecar.
From 2000 until 2005, the Audi R8 dominated the race, passing the torch to the R10 TDI which continued Audi’s rule in Road Atlanta until 2008. The R15 that replaced it wasn’t that fortunate over the next two years, so the team is returning to Road Atlanta with its brand-new weapon, the 3.7-liter V6 diesel R18 TDI. Team Joest will field two cars in the R18’s overseas debut.
Audi Motorsport boss Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said: “I’m very much looking forward to Road Atlanta. I like this track and I think it’s one of the nicest circuits for sports prototypes, and a track on which Audi has had major success before. I’m hoping we’ll be showing a good performance with the R18 TDI in America and achieve victory.”
Qualifying for the “Petit Le Mans” will take place on September 30, and the race will start on Saturday, October 1, at 11:30 local time.
6:56 AM
netfandu
Now that the 2011 International Auto Show in Frankfurt has passed into history, analysts are crunching the numbers to see which carmakers and models sparked the crowd's interest the most.
UK-based Kantar Media Precis released the results of a study that looks into the number of online stories from websites, Tweets, blogs and other social media starting from two weeks before the first press day of the Frankfurt Motor Show on Aug. 30, 2011, until the end of the second press day on Sept. 14, 2011.
The study reveals that the most talked about model on the internet was the new Porsche 911 sports coupe, while next up was the Mercedes-Benz B Class small MPV, followed by the BMW i3 Concept hatch, the Audi Urban Concept studies and the Ford Evos Concept.
According to the findings of the study, Audi and Ford were the most popular brands among bloggers and YouTube users, with the Audi A2 Concept taking first place followed by the Ford Evos Concept.
The statistics show that from August 30 to September, a total of 19,549 online news stories and 5,666 social media posts talked about the 2011 IAA in one way or another, with 59 percent of those discussions taking place before the first press day on September 13.
For what it's worth, the most viewed 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show story on Carscoop in the same time period was the Ford Evos Concept followed closely by the new Porsche 911 and the Jaguar C-X16.
6:54 AM
netfandu
German tuning firm Motoren Technik Mayer, aptly known as MTM, has a knack for improving the performance of any Volkswagen Group model. The firm's most recent project concerns the Audi RS3 Sportback that is normally powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five generating 340-horses and 450 Nm (331 lb-ft) of torque, which are good for a 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) acceleration time of 4.6 seconds and a limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).
MTM offers buyers a choice of three engine packages, the first of which includes a modified ECU that lifts output to 410HP and 550Nm (406 lb-ft). The second stage kit adds a downpipe together with a new intercooler and exhaust system that helps up power to 424HP and 560Nm (413 lb-ft).
Finally, the most extreme option is the Stage 3 kit that brings in a new turbocharger pushing output to 472HP and 600Nm (443 lb-ft).
Other available choices include the removal of the speed limiter, exterior and interior bits along with bespoke paint jobs like the one seen here and MTM's own alloy wheel designs.
