We tested the Audi TT-S back in February, and found it to be an awesomely fun car with a very high price tag and a minimal amount of practicality. Audi fans in Europe, however, get an even hotter version of the TT, the RS. The TT-RS doesn’t just have more boost, it’s got an extra cylinder. The 2.5L 5-cylinder Turbocharged engine in this quickest of TT’s makes 340 horsepower and 332 lb/ft of torque (More than a Porsche Cayman S!), and is mated to Audi’s Quattro system through a DSG gearbox. Why are we talking about TT’s right now? Well, one of Audi’s not-so-well kept secrets is the TT is based on the A3/Golf platform, so pretty much anything you can do to one, you can do to the others.
Audi RS3 is a TT-RS With Room To Spare
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010Audi Quattro Concept is Go For Production!
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Quattrophiles rejoice! The drop-dead gorgeous Audi Quattro coupe concept was spotted cruising the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, and its driver let slip a tasty nugget of information: the coupe has been greenlit for a limited production build.
Video: VF Engineering’s Supercharged Audi RS4
Thursday, September 16th, 2010
The Audi RS4 is a wonderful car, powered by one of the best V8 engines ever built. Its Quattro system helps the RS4 get around corners as fast as humanly possible, regardless of the weather. But sadly, the RS4 is becoming outdated, having been out of production for two years now. But alas! VF Engineering has come to the rescue, with a twin-scroll supercharger package for Quattrophiles to tack on some horsepower: 550 of them. Hit the jump to see how this scary-fast car sounds and feels on the track.
VF Engineering Supercharged Audi R8
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
VF Engineering knows power. By strapping superchargers on everything from Porsche 911′s to BMW M3′s, they know how to give an otherwise stock car a major power increase without compromising any other part of the car. We’ve sampled all their Supercharger packages at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, and we filmed mini-segments with each of them. This is the 560 horsepower, Supercharged Audi R8 4.2. Video below.
Audi A3 TDI Review – Can We Drive to the Grand Canyon On One Tank?
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
In this episode of The Smoking Tire, we decide to test Audi’s version of an economy car to its limits, by attempting to drive to the Grand Canyon from Redondo Beach, CA, 550 miles, on a single 14.6 gallon tank of diesel fuel. We then take the Audi to Adams Motorsports Park for a timed lap to see if it’s a sporty economy car or an economical sports car. Video after the jump.
What Do You Want to Know About the Audi A3 TDI?
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Welcome to Interactive Car Reviews, where we ask our readers what they would like to know about the car as soon as it arrives in our garage, and over the course of our week-long evaluation, we try to answer those questions as best we can. In our first installment, we discussed the Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe.
This week, in The Smoking Tire garage is the 2010 Audi A3 TDI (that’s diesel for all our acronymally challenged readers). It’s 2-liter turbodiesel engine is rated at 140hp and can return 30/42 mpg, but the number we’re most interested in is the 236 lb/ft of available torque!
The problem with cars that get good fuel economy is that, for the most part, they aren’t any fun to drive. At least, that’s what most Americans think. In Europe, however, automakers have been building fun-t0-drive, economical diesels for a while. Audi hopes to bring that formula to America with its TDI “Clean Diesel” series of cars and SUV’s. We’ve driven the Q7 TDI extensively and loved it, so now it’s time to see what the A3 TDI can do.
So, what do you want to know about the Audi A3 TDI? Leave a comment….
You Have $250K. What do You Do?
Friday, May 14th, 2010
Despite the energy crisis and a recession, supercars seem to be getting better at an exponential rate. The future of the automobile is uncertain, making the future of the super-automobile even more shaky. Companies are fighting for a shrinking pie, one that got even smaller with the economic shit-storm of 2009. But like the raging bull that graces the front of a Lamborghini, no one is going down easy. Each passing year is like another prick from the matador, only infuriating the bull and making it fight harder.
In 2010 the fight shows no signs of waning. There are handfuls of incredibly fast, beautiful and powerful cars coming our way. They are all so good, yet so different, the only answer I can think of to, “Which would you buy?” is “All of them!” And that got me thinking, what would I-or you-buy?
Comparison Video Review: 2010 Audi S4 vs. 2007 Audi RS4
Monday, April 19th, 2010The Smoking Tire heads out to the mountains of Malibu to tear up two of Audi’s finest sports sedans: the 2010 Audi S4 and the 2007 Audi RS4. We talk about some of the finer points of each car, as well as a few, say, quibbles.
2010 Audi TT-S Review
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
“This is the most orange car I’ve ever seen.”
“Wow, you are soooo getting pulled over in that.”
“What do they think this thing is, a Lamborghini?”
-Reactions from my girlfriend, cameraman, and intern upon seeing the Solar Orange 2010 Audi TT-S pull into the driveway.
I was immediately smitten. I’d never thought much about the TT before; it’s always been kind of a girl’s car, the kind of car someone my size looks very silly driving. Its miniature, curved body, short overhangs, low roofline, and small engine make the perfect up-and-coming female executive’s car. It’s stylish, but those who really thought about driving dynamics (read: men) would traditionally be looking elsewhere, like to the TT’s bigger brothers, the S4, S5, or Porsche Cayman.
But wait, I hear the TT-S is fast. Can adding a bit of flair, more boost, and some orange paint turn the “secretary’s Audi” into a real man’s corner carving dream? More importantly, is it fast enough to justify the color? Hit the jump to find out.
Reviewed: 2010 Audi A4 Avant
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Americans shy away from wagons like they are the smelly kid at school. “Too bad it’s a wagon.” is the same as, “He’s cool but he smells.” Wagons were around long before the SUV showed up, and then watched as Americans scooped them up by the dozens and took them home to a nice warm garage, leaving the wagon outside in the cold thinking, “But I can carry all that stuff, and I’m more fun to drive.”
We passed wagons by when SUVs showed up, and now the “crossover” has come along to try and steal the much-deserved thunder again. Not on my watch. Make the jump for my review of the brilliant 2010 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Avant.
