Fifteen kilos lighter than the 4.0-litre eight-cylinder TDI it replaces, the new 4.2-litre unit now installed in Audi’s A8 is the first Audi V8 TDI engine to incorporate the latest common rail fuel injection system with Piezo injectors. The twin-turbocharged and twin-intercooled engine provides more power than the 4.0 TDI, but also offers a fuel economy advantage.

Power has risen by 51PS from 275PS at 3,750rpm to 326PS at 3,750rpm. Peak torque of 650Nm is also available 200rpm earlier, from 1,600rpm, and remains constant for an additional 1,000rpm, right up to 3,500rpm.

http://germancarblog.blogspot.com/2005/05/audi-even-more-models-are-coming.html

Audi Nuvolari Concept Will Become A4 Grand Tourer
Date Posted 05-17-2005


(Enlarge photo)
The Audi Nuvolari concept.
INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi's elegant Nuvolari 2+2 concept car, first shown at the Geneva motor show in 2003, will be built as a coupe version of the next-generation A4.

The decision completes a remarkable hat trick for the increasingly impressive brand — all three concept cars shown in 2003 will be turned into production reality with only minimal changes. Audi has already announced the Pikes Peak off-roader concept will become the new Q7 SUV, and the midengine Le Mans supercar will also be built according to Audi sources, it will be badged R9.

The Nuvolari, which looks like a big brother to the TT coupe, will form part of an expanded A4 range in two years, when the model is next changed. It will give Audi a direct rival to the BMW 3 Series coupe, something that has always been missing from the Audi lineup.

Audi sees the car as a classic Grand Tourer, but with a practical hatchback body style. But although the production A4 coupe will look like the Nuvolari, it will be a lot simpler — the Nuvolari was an aluminum spaceframe design based on a scaled-down A8 platform the A4 coupe will be more conventional.

What this means to you: Audi has the Midas touch at the moment — while rival Mercedes is struggling, it's going from strength to strength.

From Autocar.co.uk



Audi bosses have given the green light to the spectacular Audi Le Mans quattro supercar, Autocar can reveal. A recent prototype of the car has been driven by Audi chairman Dr Martin Winterkorn and VW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder in the past two weeks, and both have agreed that the car should be committed to production. The Le Mans Quattro is expected to arrive in final production form in late 2006, with deliveries to customers likely in the first half of 2007.

The box that AZAUDI was hosted on went down and I lost everything. The good news is that I have a three month old backup. The bad news is the backup is not complete.

The good news:
I was able to save all user accounts, galleries, and posts up to January 11th 2005.

The bad news:
All website data between the dates of January 11th 2005 and April 11th 2005 is gone.
All users who registered within those dates must re-regsiter.

See forum thead for more info:
HERE