Rupert Stadler, president of Audi, announced that Sir Timberlake will oversee all U.S. relations having to do with their new roadster, A1. I wonder how Jason Statham took the news?

Timberlake was the star of Geneva’s stage as he stood next to an all new Audi and proclaimed in his mighty voice A1 is a “cool, environmentally friendly and perfectly suited to his crazy urban lifestyle.” Justin didn’t say much about his future plans as the ambassador of A1, but judging by the crowd that gathered around him after the press conference, plenty of people seem to care. You think he’s want something a little fancier like the R8, but who are we to judge.

Source: Inside Line

There’s no doubt Audi fans will LOVE the A1 – but then again they love pretty much anything Audi releases. The trick will be to tackle a market for small car nuts, who like their vehicles simple, easy to drive & maintain. Audi has not gone over the top with this redesign, but did retain some of the more noticeable, flashier benchmarks, such as their spaceship-esque headlights, Audi grill and rims.

But the rear end of A1 needed an all together new look – Audi has built wagons before, but a two-door hatchback? Treading on new ground. The slight bump on the A1′s back gives the vehicle a small “shelf” which adds ample trunk space for a ride that technically doesn’t have a real trunk, just what they call a storage space.

Audi is giving birth to the new model with four 4-cylinder engines: two TDI and two TFSI gasoline power plants, producing between 86 and 122 hp. All engines substitute turbocharging for displacement and draw their fuel through direct injection units. A1 impresses environmentalists with a MPG rating between 43.56-61.90 US, and all of the engines come equipped with a recuperation system, allowing them to recover energy during braking.

The interior is “spacious and airy.” The instrument panel “is suggestive of an airplane wing; its four round air nozzles are reminiscent of the turbines of a jet.” This is where Audi also retains some of their fancier design theories – when you site in A1, even if it’s smaller then the A6, you know what brand of car it is.

Starting price for an A1 will begin around $16,000.00 EUR / $21,766.25 USD. Keep an eye out for the A1 on US lots hopefully next year.

As the company’s first gas-electric vehicle, Q5 brings Audi into the crossover realm – a place once populated by SUV’s or station wagons. Volkswagen is pumping 7.3bill Euros into Audi over the course of three years in order to make this hybrid dream come true. Also being introduced next year, according to sources, is the Audi A1, A7, A8, and R8 Spyder. The all-electric Audi e-tron sportscar is due by the end of 2012. Full details in Audi’s press release below.

Audi continues to invest strongly in the future

About 2.5 billion euros will be invested at Ingolstadt and about 1.3 billion euros at Neckarsulm. A new transmission and emissions center will be opened at the Ingolstadt plant, and other investment priorities will be stamping tools for the new Audi A1 and the manufacturing structures for the A3 and A4 models. The investment focus in Neckarsulm will be on the A6, A7 und A8 models and new engine-function test rigs.

The Source: WCF

One of the key ingredients in the A8′s state of the art tech is the “pedestrian detection”
system, which can demonstrate dynamic range adjustment when a possible collision with person/animal/bicyclist/etc is imminent. An onboard computer also includes handwriting recognition for directions – sweet!

According to the official press release, “Set to arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2010, the initial engine offering is the well known 4.2 FSI V8 with 273 kW (372 hp). The standard transmission is an all-new eight speed tiptronic coupled to the latest generation quattro all wheel drive as standard. 0-100km/h (62 mph) arrives in 5.7 seconds while Audi is claiming an estimated 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption versus the current A8 (EPA figures TBD).”

With that engine capability you shouldn’t expect a 45mpg ride, but the numbers for previous Audi models’ EPA rating have increased steadily over many years. So, fear not eco-commuter, you can have your green Earth and an A8 too!

On top of the grand opening comes the announcement that the Audo R8 V10 will make its official debut to the European public. Audi first unveiled the R8 V10 Spyder at the 2009 Frankfurt International Motor Show last month. It runs the same 5.2-litre V10 engine found in the coupe. Maximum power is 386kW (518 PS) and peak torque is 530Nm (391 lb-ft). The 0 – 62mph sprint time is 4.1 seconds while the manual can deliver a top speed of 194 mph.
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Audi will deliver the first customer cars to UK and German dealers in 2010. Via WCF

This so called Audi A9 is not a new concept, it’s the freakiest Frankenstein conversion we’ve seen since The Ecto-1. In all honesty, the rear end isn’t too obnoxious, but check out the front – squared lighting structure and an butt-ugly 80′s looking grill are insanely cringe-inducing. This is an Audi Fail.

Audi’s electric R8 ePerformance is scheduled to make a public appearance Sept. 15th, two days prior to the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. But in order to wet enthusiasts’ appetites the German auto maker has launched a new micro site – ElectricityUntamed.com – which features fan made/found viral videos, touting the unpredictable nature of electricity. We promise those on Audi’s site are far less staged then the one above.

More exciting to us then a bunch of youtube clips featuring Jackass-style antics is the above R8 ePerformance Concept image – which is shown off at the end of every clip. You can just make out the headlights and grill, but we’re guessing in two weeks that Audi fans globally will be impressed. The R8 EV is reported to be powered by a massive lithium-ion battery and a series of electric motors. Stay tuned for more details.

Set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the RS5 will come equipped with a powerful 4.2-liter V8 engine with at least 450hp (331kW). Boasting quattro AWD and a standard six-speed manual transmission (a seven-speed R Tronic gearbox will be optional), the RS5 is expected to accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than 5 seconds. Audi will likely limit the top speed to 250km/h (155mph), but after market tuners will surely fix that.

source: WCF

Audi’s promotional video shows us one sleek A5 Cabrio strolling through tight roads of some European town. The drop top is canvas, not a hard top, which separates it from the metal convertible lids many car companies go with today (unfortunately it makes the top more accessible to harsh weather damage and fading) This lid can come down in 17 seconds at speeds of up to 31 miles per hour. But is it hard to stay warm on those chilly Spring evenings with the it down? Not with Audi’s heating set up on the A5, borrowed from Mercedes-Benz, which shoots warm air at driver/passenger neckline.

Audi’s A5 Cabriolet will offer owners a choice of five different engines, including a 3.2-liter V6 265 horse power. Two different versions of the 2.0 TFSI will also be available, the entry level version produces 180 horse power, while the other pumps out 211 horse power.

A supercharged version of the A5 (Audi’s soon to be released S5) features a 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 333 horse power, allowing a 0-62 mph run of 5.6 seconds. So, whether you go for the conservative convertible or sporty roadster, it looks as though Audi will not disappoint and bring the Cabrio style car back to the forefront of driving.