2012 Audi S5 V8 on 2040-cars

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Audi testing long-tail version of R18 e-tron quattro for Le Mans

Race teams are always looking for ways to shave hundredths of seconds of their lap times. Case in point: Audi is making some slight changes to its prototype racecar to make it ever so much more slippery as it cuts through the air.
Debuting at the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Spa on May 4, Audi will be testing a long-tail version of its R18 E-tron Quattro racecar. As its name suggests, the long-tail car gets a lengthened rear section with the goal of improving aerodynamics. The long-tail will be run alongside the standard version of the racecar as a testbed for possible changes that might be in store, heading into the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Audi did not say how many inches were added to the racecar, but as you can see in the image above, "long-tail" definitely doesn't take on the same meaning of classic long-tail cars of the past such as the Porsche 917. More information about the car, Audi's team and even some info about the track itself can be found below.

Audi Q1 captured wearing production metal for first time

Audi is getting closer and closer to introducing its smallest crossover ever in the form of the new Q1. Now, we have our very first shots of the mini cute ute wearing its production skin. Expected to make its debut in 2016, it would seem that the Q1 will follow the trend set by the Q3 and draw inspiration from the brand's Q5 mid-sizer. Proportionally, it doesn't look dramatically smaller than the Q3. The front overhang is similarly sized, although there's a smaller rear overhang and a more aggressive rake to the rear window. The front windshield looks more aggressive too, and overall, the Q1 looks to sit lower to the ground than its big brother. While it shares a number of parts with the current Audi A1, when the Q1 debuts, it won't be based on the same platform. Audi's smallest car rides on the Volkswagen Polo's platform, while our spies report that the Q1 will instead be based on the Volkswagen Group's MQB platform. Despite the different platforms, though, expect there to be some sharing of powerplants. That means a variety of gas engines, and likely a version of the A1's 1.6-liter, turbodiesel four-cylinder. There should also be an SQ1 coming shortly after the standard model debuts. You know, for all the folks demanding a high-performance, all-wheel-drive, luxury mini crossover. Check out the full gallery of spy photos at the top of the page.

2013 Audi RS6 Avant hauls ass and then some

Holy moly. Despite the fact that Audi first released details on its 2013 RS6 Avant back in December, we're still just as smitten with it now as we were a couple months ago. And why wouldn't we be? This stunning piece of forbidden fruit combines two of our favorite things: fast Audis and useful wagons.
The meat and potatoes behind the RS6 Avant is its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, tuned to crank out 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the all-wheel-drive wagon can scoot to 60 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 155 mph. Opting for the Dynamic package ups that v-max to 174 mph, and selecting the Dynamic Plus pack increases that even further to 190 mph.
This RS6 Avant certainly looks the part of an extreme ass-hauler, fitted with the usual RS-spec gaping air intakes, 21-inch wheels, sport exhaust and carbon fiber ceramic brakes. Combine all that goodness with dynamic ride control, an adaptive air suspension and torque-vectoring Quattro all-wheel drive, and we have no doubt that this thing will scare off every other station wagon in the parking lot. (Well, except maybe that Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Woof.)