Audi RS3 Sportback Takes on BMW 1 M Coupe in Quarter Mile Duel

The Audi RS3 Sportback and the BMW 1 M Coupe represent two very different approaches on the compact sport model segment.

Ingolstadt’s proposal is a five-door model that looks more like a hotted-up small station wagon than a hatchback. It features a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five producing 340-horsepower and 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft) linked to Audi’s all-wheel drive quattro system and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

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Video: Audi Q3 RS Prototype Fitted with RS3’s 2.5-liter Turbocharged Inline-Five

What more proof that Audi is seriously considering the introduction of a high-performance S or RS version of its newly launched Q3 compact SUV than the creation of a prototype model shown at a media event?

According to the folks over at Sweden’s Sportbilen, the prototype was uncovered during the European press launch of the new Audi Q3 in Zurich, Switzerland. And mind you, this wasn’t a static presentation as the media had the chance to drive the pre-production model on the road.

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Video: Second Audi R18 TDI Crashes Spectacularly at Le Mans

Audi may have won its 10th title at 24hours of Le Mans, but the brand with the four rings had a tough weekend at La Sarthe. As if Alan McNish’s horrifying accident less than an hour after the start of the endurance race was not enough, Mike Rockenfeller, driving the number 1 R18 TDI, was also involved in a huge crash. Read more »

VIDEO: Audi’s McNish Suffers a Terrible Accident at 24h of Le Mans

Audi may have dominated the qualifying session of the 24 Hours Le Mans, but suffered a setback early in the race when the R18 TDI that started from 5th place and was at the time being driven by Allan McNish, had a terrible accident. The incident occurred about an hour in the race at the Dunlop curve when McNish tried to overtake a slower Ferrari 458 Italia. Read more »

Did Audi Import Its New A6 Avant Commercial from Detroit? Chrysler Thinks So

It’s not uncommon these days for certain companies to reproduce (or at least try to) the styling and/or the available technology features of Germany’s finest carmakers but this time we have a story that turns the tables the other way around. In mid-May, Audi aired a new commercial for the just launched A6 Avant in its home market. The ad shows the executive station wagon model cruising through streets of a German city as a version of Eminem's "Lose Yourself" song plays in the background.

If you watch the commercial in the video after the jump and it reminds you of Chrysler’s “Imported from Detroit” ad for the new 200 sedan from this year's Super Bowl event, rest assured you are not alone.

"It is absolutely shocking," said Joel Martin, manager of Eight Mile Style, the company that handles the song licensing for Eminem. "We believe Audi not only used 'Lose Yourself' to sell their product without permission, but their spot actually feels inspired by elements of Chrysler's commercial campaign,” Martin added.

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Audi's Allan McNish Explains 24 Hours of Le Mans in Animated Film

Audi will attempt to achieve a new victory next month at the Le Mans endurance race, with last year's victorious trio of veteran drivers (Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello) aiming for a win in the new R18TDI. Audi has won the Le Mans 9 times in the past 11 years, with both petrol and diesel racing cars.

In this eye-catching animated film, driver Allan McNish walks us through some interesting facts related to the famous 24 hours race, the Audi team as well as about him. Entitled “A Day in the Life of an Audi Driver”, the video shows us in an interesting way the difficulties a driver has to overcome during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Roll down after the break to see the race through the eyes of the Scottish driver.

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Audi Challenges BMW, Mercedes and Lexus with new Ad Campaign

Audi of America has launched a new advertising campaign that will most likely generate a similar response from the competition in the premium segment. Under the tagline “Car Carrier”, the two Audi commercials feature a BMW owner that goes nuts when he sees a truck full of brand new automotive metal from Ingolstadt.

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Audi USA Promotes its Pre-Owned Program with Two New Commercials

Imagine buying a new car and being annoyed constantly by the car's next owners telling you not to do this or that in order to keep the vehicle in top shape. Not a very nice image, but thats exactly what Audi portrays in a series of commercials that promote the brand’s Certified pre-owned program. Read more »

First Video of Audi’s All-New 2012 Q3 Baby SUV

If you’re done looking over the official gallery of the new Audi Q3 compact SUV, we have some good news as the Ingolstadt-based automaker has released the first video of the smallest Q series model yet. The new promotional clip shows the Q3 testing on an oval circuit while also offering us a quick walkaround of the exterior and interior. Read more »

VIDEO: 2012 Audi RS3 Chasing RS3 During Monte Carlo Presentation

In March, Audi invited members of the press to test drive the new RS3 Sportback on the roads of the Principality of Monaco. Not surprisingly, some of the journalists filmed their encounter with the smallest and most affordable RS model ever produced by Audi on the twisty mountain roads of the principality. Read more »

VIDEO: A Wonderful Road Trip through Brazil in an Audi R8 Spyder V10

Truth to be said, any journey would be a blast if you were behind the wheel of sports car like the Audi R8 Spyder V10, but we can’t help but applaud the brand with the four rings for this beautiful, 2-minute long clip filmed in remote, untouristy parts of Brazil. Sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy the ride in the video right after the break.

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New Audi A6 Commercial is a Magical Ode to Metal Crafting

Audi has aired some great commercials over the years and this latest one is no exception. Called ‘Manipulation’, the ad was created for the 2012 A6 and it touts the premium sedan’s hybrid body structure of steel and aluminum. The commercial translates all this tech talk into visual magic: special effects make the metal easy to model by hand, just like Play-Doh. If only real car making were that easy... Video follows after the jump.Read more »

Audi R8 Commercial: It’s a Good Day for a Drive in the Snow

While the worst of winter may soon be over in the northern hemisphere, carmakers continue to roll out snow-theme advertisements, which proved to be rather popular this season as even Ferrari touted the capabilities of its newest offering, the FF GT, on the snow.

This advertisement comes from Audi, which is an automaker with a long tradition in all-wheel drive models. The German company questions the notion that supercars are only good for the track and for flat, dry roads and not for the “biggest snowstorm in recent memory” showcasing an R8 Coupe having some fun on the snow. Watch the video right after the jump.

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VIDEO: New Audi RS3 Sportback Drifts its Way on the Snow

Now here's a video worthy of the all-new Audi RS3's sporty credentials and quattro heritage. Forget about the bland static footage of the car released at launch because this clip is -mostly- about having some slideways fun on the snow accompanied by the howling sounds of the RS3's 340HP turbocharged inline-five. Enjoy the 7 minute long film, which was shot in Canada, right after the break.

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VIDEO: 2011 Audi A8 Commercial Mocks the Mercedes S-Class

With its new commercial for the 2011 A8, Audi of America is opening a fresh chapter in the advertisement wars. Taking inspiration from the 1947 children’s book Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, the ad portrays S-Class owners as gluttonous people with an excessive lifestyle, representing the age of “old luxury”. The 60 second clip is said to be a prelude to the upcoming Super Bowl TV spot, set to air in the first break on Super Bowl Sunday, February 6, 2011. Hit the jump to watch the video.

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2012 Audi A6 Sedan: Live Photos from Detroit [plus Video]

The Audi brand ended 2010 with a new sales record in the U.S. and is now looking forward to an even more successful 2011, as demand for luxury vehicles is high in the States. Spearheading the firm's growth in the U.S. is the all-new 2012 A6 sedan, which made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

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First Videos of 2012 Audi A6 and A6 Hybrid Sedans

When Audi released the first pictures of the 2012 Audi A6 sedan, many readers found the design somewhat bland. The new model is definitely an evolution and not a revolution, sharing many design cues with the A4, A7 Sportback and the flagship A8. I must admit though that, after seeing the car in video, my opinion on the styling has nudged a little towards the positive side. Of course taste is subjective, so tell us what you think in the comments section after the jump.

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Video: Audi Quattro Concept Meets up with 1984 Quattro Coupe

At this year's Paris Auto Show in October, Audi celebrated the original 1980s Quattro's 30th anniversary by unveiling the Quattro Concept. Soon after, rumors started flowing around that Audi plans to develop a production version of the sports car, which is loosely based on the RS5 Coupe's architecture using a modified version of the RS3 Sportback / TT RS' 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five with 408 ponies.

Even though we've yet receive any official confirmation on the production model, the German automaker continues to release new material on the Quattro concept. This time, the Ingolstadt firm has published a new promotional film showcasing the design study as well as its spiritual predecessor, the 1984 Quattro Coupe. Watch the video right after the break.

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VIDEO: New Audi RS3 Sportback 340HP

Earlier this week, we brought you a first look at Audi's second proposal in the hot hatchback segment after the 265HP S3, the new RS3 Sportback that borrows the TT RS' 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five with 340 ponies. Now we have the first video that takes us up close and personal with the RS3. Unfortunately, the clip does not include any running footage of the car. The European market order books for the RS3 Sportback open in December with prices in Germany starting from €49,900.

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VIDEO: BMW X3 vs. Audi Q5 in an all-wheel drive man-made hill climb

Who would have thought that BMW's all-wheel drive systems were enough to shame Audi's famous quattro system? Not the average consumer, that's for sure (though BMW certainly has had enough time to get it right). BMW, which has actually been making AWD cars for the past 25 years, has decided to begin more aggressively targeting consumers who live in harsher climates.

According to this video, BMW's xDrive is vastly superior to Audi's quattro - at least when driving up metal inclines built by BMW... In the clip, we get a glimpse at what appears to be some sort of BMW press event and a hill climb-off between two small-ish diesel-powered premium soft-roaders: Audi's Q5 and BMW's X3.

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