2004 Audi A4 1.8l Quattro on 2040-cars

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Audi working on new Quattro-centric horizontal design language

If we were to opine that Audi needed a new design language, we certainly wouldn't be the first. Because while most of the vehicles wearing the Four Rings these days look slick enough, they all tend to look rather similar, and perhaps lack a certain amount of character. If the latest rumors are to be believed, Audi is working on just such a design overhaul.
The new design language being developed in the studios at Ingolstadt is said to differ from the current theme in two ways. For one, it's set to be dominated by a more horizontal approach, eschewing the tall vertical grille that dominates the noses of many of Audi's current models in favor of one that stretches more widely across the fascia.
For another, Edmunds projects that the new design language will emphasize the four-wheel-drive setup that has become Audi's hallmark. We understand that to mean more muscular wheel arches, with the rest of the design revolving around that element for an overall look that's more visually planted on the road. We'll have to wait to see how this theme develops, but the rumors at least indicate that Audi is aware of its design issues and is working to address it.

The pre-race and first in-race report from Le Mans

The 2013, 90th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has begun, tragedy marking the opening laps with the death of Allan Simonsen. We're at the track now as a guest of Audi and plan to stay through the evening, and even we haven't been able to find out what caused the accident - the only video is from just after the incident, and beyond the statement from ACO there's been no more news. The Aston Martin in the LM GTE Am class and its all-Danish drivers had taken pole in its class and was one of the favorites to win.
The pre-race report will come first, and even thought we can't spoil the race because we're only five hours into it at the time of writing, we'll put all of the news at the end in case you don't even want the updates.
Or you can go straight to the high-res galleries above.

Audi RS4 Avant Nogaro Selection puts a fresh face on old memories

I've been fortunate enough to drive plenty of memorable cars over the years, and one of my all-time favorites is the Audi RS4 sedan. It was only sold in the United States for a short time, but during that quick run, it made a huge impression on me. I remember everything about that car - the smell, the sound, the exact feeling of the manual shifter as it clicked between the six gears, and the texture of the steering wheel that I so happily tossed about. In fact, whenever I'm feeling nostalgic, I go back and watch this video of the late David E. Davis, Jr., running the California Mille roads in a Sprint Blue RS4 - a video we shot for Winding Road many years ago during my tenure as an editor there.
So even though the Audi RS4 Avant Nogaro that debuts here in Geneva isn't super important, especially for our American-centric audience, I feel compelled to write about it. No, we don't get the lovely RS4 in the States anymore, but the package offered in Europe is just as sweet as ever - perhaps even more so, what with that stylish longroof shape. Under the hood is Audi's excellent, naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine, tuned to deliver 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, allowing for a 0-62 sprint of 4.7 seconds.
The Nogaro name refers to the special blue paint - a throwback to the original Audi RS2 Avant that kicked off the company's super sweet luxury offerings. Other unique features for the Nogaro car include gloss black exhaust outlets, window frames and grille surround, as well as matte black roof rails. Special 20-inch wheels round off the exterior enhancements, and inside, Nogaro Blue Alcantara accents can be had on the door panels and seat inners.