The first Audi TT to sport the evocative ‘S’ insignia denoting extraordinary performance - the new 272PS TTS - is now available to order from Audi in the Coupe and Roadster models priced at £33,380 OTR and £35,380 OTR respectively.

The Audi TTS will be equipped with either a standard six-speed manual gearbox or the option of the acclaimed Audi S tronic twin-clutch transmission at £1,400, the most extreme Audi TTS to date, will reach its first UK customers in the summer of 2008.

Audi TTS Coupe and Roadster - 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, 155mph top speed, 35.3mpg combined, CO2 191g/km (TTS Coupe manual).

Audi won their 8th consecutive 24 hours car race of Le Mans against strong opposition from the Peugeot cars; the third race with the Audi R10, Audi driver Tom Kristensen established a new record with his 8th personal victory in this classic car race.

The diesel powered Audi Nº2 driven by Tom Kristensen from Denmark, Renaldo Capello from Italy and British driver Alan Mcnish, survived a scare when it collided with the Zytek 07S Nº32 in the 22nd hour, the Audi continued to race while the Zytek had to go back into the pits.

The Audi No. 2 completed 381 laps in 24 hours Le Mans with a lead of 4 minutes, 31.094 seconds over Peugeot No. 7, driven by Villeneuve, Marc Gene and Nicolas Minassian.

Le Mans 24 hours 2008 Car Race Final Standings:

1st - Audi Sport North America

2nd - Team Peugeot Total

3rd - Peugeot Sport Total

4th - Audi Sport Team Joest

5th - Team Peugeot Total

6th - Audi Sport North America

7th - Pescarolo Sport

8th - Team Oreca Matmut

9th - Charouz Racinf System

With the Start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. only days away Audi Teams are gearing up to defend last years win and try to make it 8 wins out of 10 Starts. And trying for a hat trick of wins for the Diesel powered Audi R10 which scored the first win for a diesel car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Audi has proven that sporting dynamic and efficiency are not necessarily contradictory. The TDI version of the TT and TT Roadster are a logical development step from the Le Mans Programme. The 500 hp Audi R8 TDI Le Mans version of the Audi R8 is the world’s first Super Sports car with TDI Power – with a V12 TDI power plant closely related to the one powering the Audi R10.

This year Audi Are Running 3 Audi R10’s in the LMP1 Class:

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport) said:

We have seen from the results in both the LMS and ALMS that we can expect one of the most exciting Le Mans race in 2008. The competition is very strong and is preparing itself meticulously for this 24-hour race. This is a huge challenge for us. The main aim is to win the race again. It will probably be the toughest Le Mans race in which we have competed up to now. However, the bigger the challenge the greater the motivation.

The time table at Le Mans

Monday, 9 June

14:30 – 18:00 Technical scrutineering

Tuesday, 10 June

08:30 – 17:00 Technical scrutineering

Wednesday, 11 June

19:00 – 21:00 Qualifying 1, part 1
22:00 – 24:00 Qualifying 1, part 2

Thursday, 12 June

19:00 – 21:00 Qualifying 2, part 1
22:00 – 24:00 Qualifying 2, part 2

Friday, 13 June

18:00 – 19:00 Driver Parade

Saturday, 14 June

09:00 – 09:45 Warm-up

15:00 Start

Sunday, 15 June

15:00 Finish

Audi UK announces the return, for the sixth consecutive year, of its exclusive and luxurious campsite. Audi UK invites loyal Audi costumers to experience one of the most prestigious races on Earth - the Le Mans 24 hours race. The race will take place on the 14th and 15th of June.

Equipped with one the best facilities at Le Mans, Audi UK campsite has excellent toilet and shower facilities, a complimentary central bar, 24 hours security, catering is offered throughout your stay, each tent sleeps two people with comfortable air mattress and comes with designated parking for your Audi vehicle. Full Audi hospitality and luxurious facilities will ensure you to have the best Le Mans experience.

The fun begins on Thursday 12th of June and goes on until Monday 16th. The Audi UK campsite is close to the circuit and has easy access to the Le Mans Village. Your reserved grandstand seat allows you to marvel at our legendary Audi R10 LM P1 race cars, primed to defend Audi’s winning streak as you experience the thrills that the Le Mans 24 Hours Race delivers.

Access to the exclusive Audi UK campsite costs just £1,200 for two people and guarantees you one of the best Le Mans experiences.

Places are strictly limited, so to secure your experience at Le Mans with Audi UK, please contact the Audi Events Team on 08000 27 47 87 or email lemans@audi-events.co.uk , to follow all the action from the Audi team check out their podcast.

Audi wins European Inventor of the Year 2008

Every year the European Patent Office joins up with the European Commission’s DG Enterprise and Industry to honour some of the continent’s brightest minds as the European Inventors of the Year.  This year in the industry sector Audi Won.  

Audi’s Norbert Enning, Ulrich Klages, Heinrich Timm, Gundolf Kreis, Alois Feldschmid, Christian Dornberg and Karl Reiter (Germany) for revolutionising automotive manufacturing by making car frames lighter and safer through the use of aluminium - the invention of Audi Space Frame technology (ASF).

Norbert Enning, 51, is one of Audi’s most inventive employees. Enning and his team developed ASF technology under the leadership of Heinrich Timm in the early 80s. He comments on the development of the Audi Space frame

“The body of the Audi A8 utilizing the ASF principle is one of the lightest in the luxury class,”

Since joining Audi in 1982, Norbert has made inventions in the areas of pedestrian protection and interior appointments in addition to his numerous inventions relating to the ASF design. He is currently engaged in the predevelopment of vehicle concepts.

The Audi A3 is the newest Audi Cabriolet, with the first deliveries just starting now.

The A3 cabriolet comes in three versions, with Sports and S line versions of the A3 cabriolet available.

Audi A3 Cabriolet Engine Versions

There are two petrol and two diesel engines and both manual and S tronic twin-clutch transmission on all models, except for the 1.9 TDI.

Audi A3 Cabriolet Standard Version

Standard versions of the A3 Cabriolet is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, powered windows and mirrors, a Chorus radio with single CD drive and semi-automatic hood operation. The hood is attached to and released from the windscreen rail manually, but retracts and rises at the touch of a button.

Audi A3 Cabriolet Sports Version

The Sport specification, costing an additional £1,850, has larger 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension and sports seats with fully automatic hood operation, which adds automated “hands-free” detachment from, and attachment to, the windscreen rail, plus a wind deflector. The hood also incorporates additional acoustic insulation, maximising the potential for enjoyment of the upgraded Concert radio.

Audi A3 Cabriolet S Line Version

The S line specification for the A3 Cabriolet supplements the Sport equipment list externally with larger 18-inch 7 twin-spoke alloy wheels and S line body styling including exclusive front and rear bumper design. Inside, it adds extras such as leather and Sprint cloth combination upholstery embossed with the S line insignia, an S line multifunction sports steering wheel with paddle shift controls (for vehicles with automatic transmission), a perforated leather gear knob and matt-brushed aluminium inlays. S line specification carries a premium of £1,550 over the price of a Sport model.

Audi RS3 Cabriolet

No news yet if there will be a RS Version of A3 cabriolet. However, the RS3 Coupe is in an advanced state of testing some sources are reporting.

Tony Stark the hero of the New Ironman Film drives an Audi R8 in the recently released film. There is an official microsite here and Audi will be doing several movie tie ins.

The theatrical trailer has some interesting shots in Tony Stark’s garage including a pre war silver arrow which can be briefly spotted in the back ground along with the R10.

Ford Cobra Fans might want to look away towards the end of the trailer.

Not to be out done by its super car sibling the R8, the Audi S5 also gets a look in as the ride of Virginia “Pepper” Potts, Starks PA played in the film by Gwyneth Paltrow.

Super hero films out side of the very well known hero’s don’t always work well transferring from comic book to screen but this one does have some good d reviews both from fans and the main stream press. In the states Iron Man is the second highest ever opening three days ($101 Million) for a non sequel film.

Audi will present at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show the New Audi R8 V12 Turbocharged TDI Le Mans with 500hp, the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance roadgoing sports car.

Audi is writing a new chapter in diesel technology with this power unit. Equipped with the expertise that Audi has built up through its motor sport activities, the R8 TDI Le Mans in Brilliant Red embodies superb road handling, pioneering technology and fascinating design.

The V12 TDI is closely related to the engine in the Audi R10, the two-time Le Mans winner – so it catapults the Audi R8 into supercar terrain concerning performance too. It sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.2 seconds and its top speed is well over 300 km/h (186.41 mph).

The Audi R8 TDI Le Mans already fulfills the Euro 6 emissions standard that is likely to take effect in 2014 and calls for sharply reduced nitrogen oxides. By designing ultra-precise fuel metering by the common rail system, Audi’s engineers have made full use of current clean diesel technology.

The Audi R8 TDI Le Mans with Brilliant Red bodywork looks even wider and more resolute than the core model. It shows its potential through its muscular proportions, accentuated wheel arches and even larger air apertures.

The V12 TDI engine is displayed as the beating heart of this sports car, like a work of art inside a large showcase. With extremely clean, ultra-low emission technology, Audi is continuing its tradition of leadership in diesel engine technology.

Here is a more detailed break down of the new motoring taxes announced in today’s (12 March 2008) Budget.

Car tax rates and VED bandings

This years budget announced the reform of the car tax structure. New bands will be introduced from 2009, to reward drivers of the cleanest cars. There will also be higher first-year rates in 2010, to influence car buying choices.

Changes to VED rates will take effect from 13 March 2008

Pre-graduated VED (registered before March 2001)

Graduated VED for Private Vehicles (registered from March 2001)

Fuel duty - increase delayed

The planned fuel duty increase of 2 pence per litre in April 2008 will be delayed until 01 October 2008. Main road fuel duty rates will rise by 1.84 pence per litre on 01 April 2009, and will increase by 0.5 pence per litre above inflation on 01 April 2010.

Increase in fuel duty by 2p delayed by 6 months. From 2009, major reform of the vehicle excise duty. For new cars from 2010, the lowest polluting cars will pay no road tax in the first year. Higher polluting cars will pay more - Cars under the 130 g/Km will pay £0 road tax in the first year.