2004 Audi S4 Base Sedan 4-door 4.2l on 2040-cars

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The 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona: What we learned, what we saw

Two days after the flag dropped on the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona, people are still trying to figure out what it might portend for the rest of the season. In 24 hours, two minutes and 24 seconds, 695 laps were completed by the car that crossed the line first. During that time, 67 cars began the race, 18 of them retired. There was that accident, and a red flag. There were supposedly slower classes beating supposedly faster classes. There were 16 caution periods, including that yellow flag. And then there was The Decision. And Then The Uproar. And then The Reversal.
There was also some pretty good racing, so let's have one last look at the weekend. Oh, and there was that 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO Series II...
If you want to skip the reading bits and go to the photos, there's a high-res gallery of 158 images above and a couple more below. Enjoy.

Audi to enter third R18 following Loic Duval's huge crash

When we saw the picture above yesterday, our first thought went to driver Loic Duval. After hearing that he, miraculously, walked away from the annihilated heap that had been the number one Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, our next thought went Audi's hopes in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the race kicking off on Saturday, we couldn't be sure if the team would run a two-car effort (that would put them on even footing with the two-car teams of Porsche and Toyota), attempt to rebuild the decimated racer or bring in a new tub and start from scratch.
Turns out, Audi opted for door number three, importing an all-new chassis to replace the destroyed R18. According to Audi, the team pulled an all-nighter to ready the new car in time for scrutineering and the second round of qualifying.
After a lot of hard work the rebuilt #Audi R18 e-tron quattro No. 1 is almost complete #R18 #LM24 @FIAWEC pic.twitter.com/xicPj0wScW

Audi Sport Quattro Concept to race into Frankfurt

Audi has pulled the official wraps off its new Sport Quattro Concept, which will be debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The automaker is understandably keen to draw inspiration from its classic Quattro line of automobiles, specifically the original Ur-Quattro from 1980 and the short-wheelbase Sport Quattro that took part in rally racing and set a record at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1987. A massive dose of modernity comes courtesy of its 700-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain.
There is a clear link in the styling of the Sport Quattro Concept to Quattro coupes of the past, from the large flat surfaces that make up its C pillars to the blisters over the fenders and the basic headlamp shape (equipped as they are with Audi's Matrix LED technology). Pay special attention to the car's grille, which introduces a slightly new design language that is expected to be seen in the next generation of Audi's mainstream production models.
The interior of the Sport Quattro Concept is a refreshing departure from Audi's admittedly attractive and useable design, with sharp lines and lots of visible carbon fiber. There are seats for four occupants inside, along with a comparatively generous cargo area measuring 10.59 cubic feet.