The must anticipated pricing and details were released today by Audi USA. The 2013 Audi RS5 will start at $68,900. The RS 5 is powered by the potent 4.2L FSI engine that puts out 450HP and comes standard with Audi quattro and the sport differential. 

The base model will include the following features: 

• 19″ 10-spoke forged wheels with 265/35 summer tires*
• Audi drive select controls
• Audi music interface with iPod® cable
• Audi concert radio (1CD) with SIRIUS satellite radio
• Audi xenon plus front lighting with LED DRLs & taillights
• Auto-dimming interior mirror with compass
• Auto-dimming, heated exterior mirrors 
• RS-design Carbon Fiber inlays 
• Color driver information system with trip computer 
• Garage door opener (HomeLink®) 
• Heated, 12-way power front seats with driver memory 
• Preparation for mobile phone (Bluetooth®) 
• 3-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles 
• Audi adaptive light 
• Audi advanced key 
• Headlight washer system
• RS exterior kit:
• Wide-body design
• Speed-activated rear spoiler
• Matte Alu-optic mirror housings & grille
• Dual oval-outlet exhaust, silver pipe finishers
• V8 badging on front fenders, RS 5 logos on grille & trunk lid
• Fine Nappa leather RS-embossed sport seats
• Tire sealant / mobility kit with tools and car jack
• Split-folding rear seatback
• RS-specific sport suspension & brake system
• Three-zone climate control
• Tilting glass panel sunroof with retractable shade
• Audi quattro with sports differential
• Front and rear acoustic parking sensors
• 174 mph top speed limiter

OPTIONS:

Audi MMI Navigation plus package $3550

• Bang & Olufsen Sound System HDD 
• Navi with voice control
• 1 CD/DVD-player & HD radio 
• MMI “high” control panel
• Audi rearview camera 
• Audi connect with online services

Driver Assist package $3,240

• Audi adaptive cruise control 
• Audi dynamic steering
• Audi side assist

Titanium package $2500

• Exterior mirror housings in body color (Alu-optic delete) 
• 20″ 5-arm-Rotor-design wheels with 275/30 summer tires*
• Black Optics kit (gloss black grille & matte black window trim)

20″ 5-arm-Rotor-design wheels, silver finish, with 275/30 summer tires  $1,000

Ceramic Front Brakes $6,000

Leather / Alcantara S Sport seats $750

Aluminum Race inlays  $0

Sports exhaust system with black finishers $1,000

Power rear window sunshade $350

Available standard colors include:

• Phantom Black Pearl Effect
• Panther Black Crystal Effect
• Daytona Gray Pearl Effect
• Suzuka Gray Metallic
• Ibis White
• Prism Silver Crystal Effect
• Misano Red Pearl Effect
• Sepang Blue Pearl Effect

We will let you know when we get more information, for now, get on the list at your dealer!

2013 allroad Pricing and Product Highlights

The new allroad is built on the B8 platform and has been modified to meet the functionality and design elements that define the iconic allroad.

With 211 horsepower, 258 pounds-foot of torque, and an eight-speed tiptronic transmission the new allroad is faster and more fuel efficient than its predecessor.  In fact, the new allroad achieves better fuel economy in the city than the previous allroad achieved on the highway.

The exterior features a unique single frame grille design with vertical chrome struts, stainless steel skid plates and side sills, and raised aluminum-optic roof rails. Matte finished lower bumpers and wheel arches are standard, while a full paint finish is optional.

The Audi allroad replaces the A4 Avant starting in the 2013 model year, and is 0.6 inches wider and 2.3 inches taller with 1.5 inches greater ground clearance. The new allroad is185.9 inches in length with a wheelbase of 110.4 inches. Compared to its predecessor, the new allroad has a longer wheelbase for ride comfort and more headroom for front passengers. The allroad has 27 cubic feet of cargo space and a spacious 50 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded down. An optional power tailgate is available. 18-inch wheels are standard, and 19-inch wheels are optional.

The interior of the new allroad features a standard Panorama sunroof, 8-way power seats, and Aluminum Trigon inlays. Heated front seats, driver memory, a choice of three wood inlays, and a 505 watt Bang & Olufsen Sound System are optional. The allroad can also be equipped with a sports interior package featuring 12-way power front sport seats, and a three-spoke steering wheel with shift paddles.

Audi is the first company worldwide to feature factory-installed wireless internet, enabling the innovative infotainment system called Audi connect™. Previously available in the A6, A7, A8 and Q7, Audi connect will now be available on the allroad, A4 and A5 models, making Audi the only brand worldwide to feature this level of integrated internet service in the segment. For model year 2013 Audi connect will include Google Maps Street View (delayed availability).  While stationary, Street View allows full 360° views of your destination or point of interest, as well as the ability to tour the inside of a building (where available). During navigation, an image of the destination will be displayed just before arrival to provide the driver with a realistic view of the destination.

2013 Model                                                                                    Base Price

allroad 2.0T quattro® (Tiptronic) Premium                               $39,600

allroad 2.0T quattro® (Tiptronic) Premium Plus                      $42,900

allroad 2.0T quattro® (Tiptronic) Prestige                                $48,800

2013 allroad Equipment Highlights

(see Order Guide for additional details and option pricing)
 

Standard Equipment Highlights:

•    quattro® all-wheel-drive

•    18” 5-arm-Rotor-design wheels (allroad) with 245/45 all-season tires

•    allroad exclusive body kit & suspension

•    Aluminum exterior package

•    Leather seating surfaces

•    Panorama sunroof

Premium Plus includes Premium and:

•    Audi music interface with iPod® cable

•    Heated front seats with driver memory

•    Audi xenon plus lights with LED DRLs & taillights

•    HomeLink®

•    Bluetooth® mobile phone prep

•    Three-zone climate control

•    Power tailgate

Prestige includes Premium Plus and:

•    Audi adaptive light

•    Audi advanced key

•    Audi MMI Navigation plus package with Audi connect

•    Audi side assist

•    Bang & Olufsen Sound system

Optional Equipment Highlights:

Driver Assist Package:

•    Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go

•    Audi dynamic steering

•    Audi drive select controls

Audi MMI Navigation Plus Package:

•    1 CD/DVD-player & HD radio

•    Color driver information system

•    Audi parking system plus with rearview camera

•    HDD Navi with voice control

•    MMI “high” control panel

•    Audi connect with online services

• Chairman Rupert Stadler: “As a sporty, global premium brand, Ducati is an excellent fit for Audi.”
• Third pillar for AUDI AG in Italy
• Ducati a leading player in engine technology and lightweight construction

Audi’s international growth has been amazing over the last few years. They have taken the international luxury car market by the horns and are well on their way to becoming the leading luxury car manufacturer on the globe by 2015. In a surprise announcement today, we have found out that Audi has agreed to purchase the high end Italian motorcycle company, Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

Does this mean we may see “Audi motorcycles” in the future? That is unlikely in our opinion, but it is worth noting that Audi has strong roots in motorcycle manufacturing and that it will be exciting to see how this deal progresses. We will keep you up to date on any new information that we receive.

Here is the story from the pages of Car Magazine, who got the exclusive scoop on this story.

Audi has struck an exclusive deal giving it first rights to buy Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati, CAR can reveal.

The exclusivity deal gives Audi until mid April when the deal will likely be finalised, according to high-ranking sources contact by CAR.

Ducati’s liabilities are said to be in the area of €800 million, and our sources suggest the total purchase price is about €850m. This is a bold move by Audi, which sees the long-term advantage in moving into two wheels as well as four.

Read the entire article here: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/Audi-to-buy-Ducati–the-four-rings-expands-from-four-wheels

• December 2011 sales set all-time record with 12,655 vehicles sold, a 20% gain across the model line up
• 2011 marks the best year in Audi of America history, with 12 straight months of record-setting sales and 117,561 vehicles sold YTD
• Record-shattering 2011 sales propelled by demand for C- and D-segment vehicles, representing 34% of the sales mix, and strong TDI® clean diesel sales

• In-car reception of over 4,000 internet radio stations worldwide through the new “Audi music stream” app 
• Access a smartphone’s music library via WLAN 
• Audi connect and Google Street View enable new navigation based on true-to-life street visualization

Audi USA has long been heralded as a leader in social media. They took another step today in showing that they are an early adopter of new technologies by being one of the very first companies to launch a company page on Google+. In a tweet sent earlier today, Audi announced their new page: “There’s no such thing as too many social networks, right? To that thought, we’re live now on the Google+: audi.us/AudiOnPlus”. I encourage you all to check out their new page, and perhaps they will put some unique content on there for us. While you are at it, be sure to check out and +1 QuattroWorld’s Google+ page as well! With nearly 4 million (WOW) fans on Facebook, it will be an interesting test to see how many they can get over on Google+ as a comparison!

Audi USA on Google Plus

QuattroWorld.com on Google Plus

• The Audi A7 claims top honors in Luxury On-Road category
• The Audi Q7 tops all competitors in Family Vehicle category
• Winners judged by elite and recreational U.S. athletes

The Audi A7 and the Audi Q7 won their respective categories in the 2012 Active Lifestyle of the Year Awards, which stands as the only competition of its kind in the U.S. to combine the opinions of automotive journalists and elite athletes.

Both Audi models were among the 32 finalists for recognition in the eighth-annual ALV program. The Audi A7 won as the best Luxury On-Road vehicle, while the Audi Q7 won in the best Family vehicle category.

The competition, held this year in Chandler, Ariz., involved seven categories overall with each grouping of finalists assessed by a jury panel made up of at least 10 elite and local athletes and journalists. The juries assessed the cars in each category on overall design, engine power, fuel efficiency and cargo capability. The goal of the jurors is to reward cars best suited for the needs of a sports lifestyle, such as stowing bicycles, kayaks or golf clubs.

“While ALV is technically a car-of-the-year competition, it’s also an impromptu focus group,” explained program co-founder, Nina Russin. “Our objective is to widen the pipeline between the people who plan, design and engineer new cars and the consumers who ultimately buy and drive them. At previous programs athletes including professional football players, elite runners, swimmers and triathletes have interacted with vehicle designers and product specialists.”

ABOUT THE AUDI A7
Audi has broken new ground with the A7, combining the emotional appeal of a coupe with the prestige of a sedan and the functionality of a wagon. The innovative, five-door design of the newest Audi entry sits atop a sporty, lightweight chassis and is partnered with a highly efficient supercharged V6, latest generation quattro® all-wheel drive and the latest advanced driver assistance and multimedia systems to define a new benchmark for the premium segment. The all-new A7 features the acclaimed Audi 3.0 TFSI® V6, complete with belt-driven supercharger and direct fuel injection. The supercharged 90-degree V6 produces 310 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. of torque to blend seamless power delivery with enhanced fuel economy of 18 mpg city / 28 mpg hwy / 22 mpg combined.

ABOUT THE AUDI Q7 TDI
The seven-passenger 2012 Audi Q7 highlights the brand attention to details through a host of features that exceed driver and passenger expectations for functionality and comfort. The premier luxury SUV in the Audi lineup provides impressive carlike handling and functional utility for every day driving. The 3.0-liter common-rail injection V6 clean diesel engine in the Audi Q7 TDI generates 225 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. It achieves an EPA estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city / 25 mpg hwy / 20 mpg combined.

First Audi TT RS sold in U.S. marks return of heralded high-performance RS line

Editor's Note: We are very excited that one of our own members was the very first person in the United States to receive delivery of their TT RS.  Read the press release from Audi below and see Don's post in our TT forum here: http://forums.quattroworld.com/tt2/msgs/11655.phtml Pictures coming soon!

The return of the heralded Audi RS line to the American performance car scene officially launched when Forth Worth Audi in Texas delivered the first 2012 Audi TT RS in the U.S. to veteran race car driver Don Istook.

Last year, Istook was one of more than 11,500 fans to sign the Audi TT RS Facebook petition drive, which helped convince Audi to introduce the 360-hp coupe in the U.S. But Istook’s connection to Audi and to the TT performance car line runs far deeper. The Fort Worth native was one of the first drivers to race an Audi Quattro in the U.S. in 1985 and he drove Audi S4 models in the Motorola Cup, which became the Grand-Am Cup. More recently he has raced Audi TT quattro coupes.

"Having raced at almost every major track in the U.S. and Canada, I've pushed the limits in many cars in my 34 years as a race car driver,” Istook said. “I like my street car to give me some of that thrill. With my new Audi TT RS, I not only get that thrill, but I also get that 'race car' sound.”

The 2012 Audi TT RS stands as the pinnacle of the TT model line, representative of the highest performance category for Audi vehicles. The Audi TT RS, powered by the award-winning 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine, generates 360 hp between 5,500 and 6,700 rpm, and 343 lb-ft of torque between 1,650 and 5,400 rpm for power on demand. With aluminum and steel hybrid ASF® technology and standard quattro® all-wheel drive, the TT RS offers excellent aerodynamics and increased rigidity and safety.

The 2012 Audi TT RS is priced at $56,850 (excluding $875 destination charges, taxes, title, options and dealer charges).

The newest Audi for the U.S. market truly showcases the performance engineering of the RS line of sports cars produced by quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm, Germany. The RS line has given Audi a special element of sports appeal, individuality and exclusivity.

“The technical capabilities of the Audi brand are perfectly distilled in the RS models developed by quattro GmbH,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “For the past few years, American sports car enthusiasts have pleaded with us to make the marquee available here. With the TT RS we are now furthering the Audi performance story that includes models from the Audi S4 to the new Audi R8 GT.”

Audi has announced plans to follow up with the U.S. introduction of the Audi RS 5 coupe next year. Audi dealers expect keen interest in the RS line.

“Interest in the return of the RS marquee has been so strong that Mr. Istook is allowing us to keep his TT RS at the dealership longer to show Audi fans and customers,” said Bobby Baillargeon, owner of Forth Worth Audi.

The Audi TT RS features exclusive design elements denoting its special place at the top of the TT model line, including high gloss black diamond-patterned Singleframe® grille and large front air inlets, fixed rear wing spoiler, oval exhaust pipes, rear diffuser, unique 19-inch rotor wheels and more. It comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, and available adaptive headlights. The interior also features RS-exclusive appointments, such as the contoured three-spoke sport multifunction steering wheel, aluminum door sills with the RS logo, and RS-specific interior door handles.

The Audi TT RS offers electronic features one expects from Audi, including Audi concert radio with single CD player and MP3 reading capability, and a complimentary three-month subscription to SiriusXM® Satellite Radio. Available advanced electronics offer an increased level of sophistication for the premium sports car, including technologies like Audi navigation plus with real time traffic, MMI® inspired controls, a BOSE® sound system, and Audi music interface.

But the specific appeal of the Audi TT RS – and the rest of the Audi RS line – is performance and handling.

“Superb brakes and handling go right along with the magnificent power from the 2.5-liter turbo, especially the low end torque,” Istook noted. “It reminds me of the mid 80's when we raced the original 5 cylinder turbo Audi Quattro. What is great, though, is that I get all of that, yet I have the refinement, sophistication and technology of a truly modern sports car."

Discuss this article in our TT Mk2 / TT RS forum: http://forums.quattroworld.com/tt2/msgs/11655.phtml

The discussion of a US based Audi factory has been around for several years. In fact, Audi’s sister company, VW just opened a new state of the art factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee to help with increasing demands for their vehicles in the United States. However until today, the had been no confirmation of an Audi specific factory on our soil. Audi USA president, Johan de Nysschen told us at the Detroit Auto Show that they were “looking into possibilities” for a new US based plant of their own but did not confirm any plans at that time.

However in an interview with Automotive News, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said “It is totally clear that we need new production capacity in the U.S. The question only is when.”

“Our dealers currently ask for more cars than we can deliver,” Stadler said. “Our delivery times are still too high.”

This is a great problem for Audi to have, and it will be interesting to see how they increase capacities in the interim. I know dealers and customers alike share the frustration that many top models like the Q5 and TDI versions are nearly impossible to find just sitting on dealer lots. Audi currently only holds enough inventory in the United States to last them approximately 21 days.

Now that we know they will be adding a factory here, we should know soon where the factory will be located. We will not be surprised to see them put it next door to the VW plant in Chattanooga. We expect the factory to focus on the Q5 and next generation Q7, or perhaps the next generation A4. The addition of a United States based factory will result in increased capacity and decreased lead times. With moves like this, it is apparent that Audi’s goal of becoming the top luxury brand in the world but 2015 is not far fetched at all.

Source: Automotive News