German tuning boutique Avus Performance has unleashed its latest offering based on the pre-facelift Audi Q7 fitted with the 4.2-liter V8 TDI diesel engine. To give the large SUV some extra oomph, Avus Performance updated the software of the V8 diesel’s ECU thus boosting output from 326HP to 365HP and peak torque from 760Nm to 880Nm or 649-lbs/ft. According to the German firm, the result is a 0-62mph (100km/h) time in the 6.0 second range and a top speed of 245km/h or 152mph.

With Porsche now reigning over the Volkswagen auto empire, we can expect to see synergies between the small sportscar maker and all its new subsidiaries over the years to come. One of the first such opportunities has actually emerged in reverse out on the race track, as Audi Sport has ported over two of Porsche’s most successful drivers to its Le Mans team.

Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas have scored nine victories – including at Sebring, Daytona and the Nürburgring – along with two consecutive LMP2 titles behind the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder in the American Le Mans Series, not to mention both contesting the main event in France several times with other teams to considerable effect. The two will be joining Audi’s roster of endurance racers in the new R15 TDI at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the words of Audi motorsport chief Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (which you can read in full in the press release after the jump) the team is “pleased that withing the Group the opportunity now presents itself to have [Bernhard and Dumas] race for us at Le Mans.”

[Source: Audi]

With the first U.S.-spec Audi R8 FSI V10 going on the block in Boca Raton, earlier reports that the V10-powered supercar might not make it to the States have been debunked. Further proof that Audi isn’t going to leave the U.S. out of the fun comes in the form of a directive to dealers (posted after the break thanks to one of our readers) that confirms the R8 V10 is on the way and, although pricing hasn’t been officially announced, buyers can expect to pay approximately $45,000 more for the V10 model compared to its V8-powered counterpart.

The directive goes on to state that the R8 V10 will be sold in the States as a 2010 model and due to high demand for the current V8 variant, production of the V10 model cannot commence “as rapidly as anticipated in order to produce more V8 models to satisfy existing customer orders.” Buyers who want to hold out from the V10 should expect a lead time of eight to ten months if demand and production of the R8 continues at its current rate.

While every other automaker was pumping out SUVs by the truckload (so to speak), Audi insisted that its wagons could offer the same benefits as a sport-ute – all wheel drive, rugged looks, cargo capacity – without the drawbacks. Ingolstadt has jumped on the sport-ute bandwagon since then, but hasn’t given up the ghost on the wagon/SUV debate. While the A6-basded allroad quattro had to hold down the fort all by itself until now, at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Audi will give it a kid brother based on the A4.

The Audi A4 allroad quattro is essentially an A4 Avant wagon, only beefed up for that go-anywhere look. Ground clearance is jacked up to a more commodious 180mm, while the underbody is reinforced front and rear with steel plates. Contrasting lower body cladding and flared wheel arches contribute to the off-road look, along with a unique grille, restyled rear bumper and roof rails on top of the Avant’s sleek roofline. Of course traction is provided by Audi’s trademark quattro all-wheel-drive system, putting the power down from the 211hp 2-liter TFSI, 170hp 2-liter TDI or 240hp 3-liter TDI (gas, diesel and diesel for those unfamiliar with VW Group lexicon) through the six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Last week we showed you the 30-second version of Audi’s Super Bowl commercial called “Chase”. That’s the one you’ll be seeing repeated endlessly on TV over the next few weeks. The full 60-second commercial, however, just debuted during the big game and we have the whole thing for you after the jump. Witness action movie star Jason Statham travel through the decades in search of a suitable getaway car. Spoiler alert: He winds up in an Audi A6 with the brand’s new supercharged V6.

Last year, Audi announced it was killing off plans to offer a hybrid Q7 in the U.S. and several months later the automaker exacted the same fate on its little brother the Q5. Now, word comes from Wolfgan Hatz, head of powertrain development for the Volkswagen Group, that Audi will begin offering a hybrid version of the Q5 in the States late next year.

Hatz makes it clear in his interview with Automotive News that the Audi Q5 hybrid aims to compete with the Lexus RX450h and the forthcoming BMW X6 hybrid, but it’s not part of a full-scale assault on the luxury gas-electric CUV set. According to Hatz, diesel technology makes more fiscal sense due to the costs associated with developing a hybrid system — somewhere between three to four times more — when compared to adapting a standard drivetrain to accommodate a diesel. Naturally, Hatz hopes that once development of the hybrid setup is complete it can proliferate throughout the Audi lineup. The 2011 Q5 will initially be launched in the U.S. and if it proves to be a success, hybrid Q5s could be sold in Europe.

Audi may have chosen the Detroit Auto Show to launch its new R8 5.2 FSI quattro, but that doesn’t mean that the highly anticipated V10 version of the supercar is speeding towards Audi dealerships in the U.S. just yet.

The 518hp supercar is slated to go on sale in Germany in the second quarter of this year – still a couple of months away – with a sticker price of 142,400 Euros (approximately $180k), but it may be a while before it arrives Stateside. According to the guys over at Inside Line, Audi hasn’t decided when – or for that matter, if – the V10 R8 will reach the United States, but suggest its arrival won’t come within the next year. So if you were already mailing your check off to Audi of America, you may have to make do with the existing V8-powered R8 or pony up for its big brother, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. As we’ve discovered, there are worse fates.

Audi’s MMI in-car command system is one of the most intuitive offered by an OEM, but that isn’t stopping Audi from piling on the improvements. The screen is now a seven-inch, 800×400 TFT display, being fed info from a high-capacity hard disk, a DVD drive, and an NVIDIA graphics chip. It also gets an eight-way joystick on the central knob, which means you can make mouse-like movements on the screen for point-and-click ease. In addition to all that, there are simpler vocal inputs, 3-D maps, a 10,000-number phone book, and two processors so that everything can run at the same time.

PRESS RELEASE

The next generation MMI from Audi: top-level multimedia and communication
- Introducing a new generation of the market’s best system
- Even higher performance and easier operation
- First appearance stateside in the all-new Audi Q5

HERNDON, Va., Jan 28, 2009 - Audi is increasing its lead in infotainment technology even further. A new generation of the MMI, the supreme solution for multimedia, communication and operation, has been announced. With a high-capacity hard disk, a DVD drive and an automotive grade NVIDIA™ chip for graphics processing, it is much more versatile and its performance is higher than ever before. The new MMI’s first appearance will be in the all-new Audi Q5.

New joystick control- The basic operating principle has been retained, but the innovative joystick makes it even more convenient. This joystick is located on the central knob and can be moved in eight directions within the navigation map screen – with high precision and the sense of quality that the Audi driver expects. For example, now you can easily navigate to a location on the screen and just point and click for directions.

New Display- For the new MMI, Audi has provided a large TFT display measuring seven inches from corner to corner. It is located in an ergonomically favorable position high up on the center console.

With the very high resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and LED backlighting, this monitor supplies an exceptionally sharp image with plenty of contrast. Even in poor light conditions, the colors are intense and the text is crisp.

3D map displays-The driver can choose between the conventional two-dimensional view and the new 3D images. These modes feature a birds-eye perspective of the map area, with plenty of carefully presented detail including real-time traffic information, and while in 3D orientation, the various topographies are shown throughout the entire US. Another new feature is that the outlines of buildings in many major cities are displayed to help with orientation while navigating. Additionally, the most important buildings in large cities appear in near-authentic-detail, as well as several branded point-of-interest icons.

Vocal Input- If the driver uses voice input to load a destination into the navigation system; this can now be done without spelling out the individual letters. The new MMI understands complete words in a number of languages.

The same applies to the new high-performance telephone directory, which can store up to 2,000 entries each with five numbers for each user. The telephone is even more convenient to use with the new MMI. Additionally a speech-to-text engine is used so you no longer have to create voice tags for every name in your directory. A digital voice processor ensures the best hands-free quality; while voice outputs are through the car’s sound system.

Music and Entertainment: the DVD drive-The new MMI has an integral drive for video DVDs; the new joystick function on the control knob is especially practical for this, as it enables you to quickly navigate title menus and screen selections. When played back with the optional sound systems, DVD soundtracks can be heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 multi-channel sound and other frequently used formats. For safety reasons, the picture is only displayed when the car is standing still. The system also plays music from CDs and SD cards, including those coded MP3, AAC and WMA.

Additional technical modules have made the MMI even more attractive. The optional Audi Music Interface makes a perfect connection with an mp3 player, for instance the customer’s iPod. The complete menu structures and contents appear on the MMI display, and control is at the MMI terminal or the multifunctional steering wheel.

The Sirius Radio display has also been updated on the new MMI. Without interrupting music, or changing stations, users are now able to preview the artist and track title on other Sirius stations.

MMI Tech- One of its key components is the hard disk; 10 GB of its 40 GB capacity can be used as a jukebox, to store up to 2,000 tracks, all sorted for easy access. The hard disk also contains navigation data and an electronic logbook for the car.

Two processors, an 800 MHz chip and a 500 MHz digital signal processor, allow all applications – navigation, voice input, telephone and audio functions – to operate simultaneously. Using the 3D graphics processor from Californian 3D chip manufacturer NVIDIA™ gives the MMI access to the third dimension. Audi has used this chip’s outstanding performance with graphics for the first time to provide a genuine 3D map display – a ‘digital topographical model’. With this processor, the screen display sets new standards with its attractive display layout, high resolution, and presentation quality, smooth animation and cross fading.

For better or worse, the automotive industry has had its share of partnerships with fashion labels. Eddie Bauer edition Ford SUVs. Nautica edition Mercury minivans. Levi’s edition AMCs. Diesel edition Fiats. You get the point. The latest collaboration brings together German automaker Audi and Italian fashion house Prada.

If you’re thinking this sounds familiar, that’s because just a couple of months ago we reported that Prada had gotten into bed (a very stylish bed, we’re sure) with Hyundai and its new Genesis luxury sedan. But apparently Prada has had a change of heart and is now teaming up with Audi. No word yet on where the partnership will take them, beyond joint sponsorship of a sailing yacht, but considering that Audi subsidiary Lamborghini’s collaboration with Versace produced special edition Murcielagos and Bugatti a special-edition Veyron with Hermes, we’re not discounting anything.

[Source: Inside Line]