Another casualty.

Audi has just announced that it will no longer offer a manual transmission option for the 2014 model year of the R8 if Car Magazine is to be believed. And there really is no reason why they shouldn’t because it seems manual transmission options are dying off faster than support for Mayor Peter Kelly (that’s a Halifax reference for all you non-Haligonians).

Likely the reason for the omission is due to an unfortunate disinterest from most R8 customers to spec their new Audi with a third pedal. Curious, since manual transmissions are pretty synonymous with performance (at least with purists). The R8 can be described as nothing but a brilliant performance car. However the fact of the matter is, most automatic DSG transmissions can shift faster and more smoothly than you ever could. This certainly is an advantage on the track, however with the R8 being able to handle daily driver duties quite well, I personally would rather row my own gears while blasting through the countryside bends.

Another thing the 2014 R8 will not have is the signature side-blade.

Guess I’ll need to buy my R8 before 2014. Then again, Porsche still understands the joy of a performance machine mated to a manual transmission. I suppose I’ll be taking a 911 over an R8!

[Car]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if someone pitted a drag race between a BMW 1-Series M, a Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a Chevy Corvette Z06, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Nissan GT-R, an Audi R8 GT, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a Lexus LFA, a Porsche Cayman R, and a Lotus Evora S? Of course you have. And so apparently has Motor Trend because they actually had the pull to make it happen.

All 11 vehicles are definitely among the best of the best in terms of performance vehicles that are currently made. With that said, they all excel at different things. For instance, there’s no question that the 1-series M is going to lose to the 458 Italia. So, why bother doing it? Because each one of us has a 5 year old boy in us that’s why. Without giving too much away, it’s clear that Motor Trend arranged the obvious front runners to be in the middle of the starting line and then worked backwards. The result is a spectacular flying ‘V’ made up of American, Japanese and European brilliance. The symphonic notes coming from each of the exhausts comes together exquisitely.

Click the above video to see it all unfold.

[Youtube]

Audi has had quite an agreeable reaction to the new A8 as production for their flagship sedan has increased. A new iteration is just around the corner in the form of a hybrid and if the fuel efficiency numbers are to be believed, this is quite the technical achievement.

Audi is claiming that the new A8 hybrid will get an efficiency score of 6.4 L/100 kms. And what makes it even more impressive is that the A8 hybrid uses a 2.0 litre TFSI engine which makes 245 horsepower and 345 pound feet of torque. So while it won’t be the most powerful A8 ever made, it certainly is no slouch.

The A8 hybrid has a lithium-ion battery which stores energy and can use it to power the wheels up to three kilometers at as much as 60 km/h. Once up to highway speed, the A8 can run on the battery alone at around 100 km/h.

While 6.4 L/100 kms is not Prius levels of efficiency, it’s pretty much at Ford Fiesta levels of efficiency which is incredible considering how much the A8 weighs and considering the power plant under the hood. It’s especially impressive considering it absolutely slaughters the efficiency of the regular gas-only A8 which is rated at 13.3 L/100 kms city and 7.2 L/100 kms highway. The A8 hybrid’s closest competition is the BMW Active Hybrid 7 which is rated at 10.2 L/100 kms. The BMW offers much more power though with 440 horsepower and 480 pound feet of torque.

Which would you rather? The more efficient but less powerful Audi or the more powerful but less efficient BMW?

[Audi]

Who would’ve thought that when BMW introduced its polarizing X6, it would do so well that BMW’s rivals would be forced to make a competitor?

There are reports that Mercedes-Benz is the latest to jump on board the weird cross-over-SUV-coupe segment that BMW started a while back. To be dubbed the GLS and based on the newly redesigned M-Class (pictured above), the GLS will be a four seater-only with a sloped roofline a la CLS. Mercedes will also likely develop a V8 AMG version to directly combat the X6 M. Details other than that are scarce at the moment.

Mercedes-Benz is the third automaker that has now apparently seen enough X6 sales to realize they need a competitor. Acura’s ZDX, while significantly cheaper than the X6, has not been selling in droves. In fact, Acura has had to incent consumers with as much as $12,000 off before hagling. Audi, on the other hand, is confident it can be the one to slow X6 sales with its upcoming Q6.

It sure is a weird segment to be competing in, but sounds like things will heat up significantly within the next few years. Now all we need is Infiniti and Lexus to take notice, then we’ll really have a ball game going.

[Autocar]

Porsche has indeed confirmed rumours that it is working on a smaller version of their first ever SUV, the Cayenne. They have even let us in on a few more details.

The new baby Porsche SUV, to be called Cajun, will be based on the Audi Q5 (pictured above). While the Q5 is based on a front wheel drive platform, you can bet your knickers that Porsche’s iteration will not be front-wheel drive. The public may be able to tolerate a Porsche SUV, but front-wheel drive would surely cause riots in the streets even worse than in Vancouver. As such, Porsche has promised that the Cajun will be all-wheel drive only to tame the masses.

Power is expected to come from two engines: a 220 horsepower four cylinder and a 350 horsepower V6. Both diesels and hybrid versions are not out of the question either. A six-speed manual or a seven speed DSG will be transmission choices.

The Cajun is expected to go on sale in 2014 with its main competition being the Range Rover Evoque. In fact, Porsche hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a three-door Cajun being produced to battle the 3-door Evoque.

[Car and Driver]

If you haven’t heard, Audi is taken a bit of heat for not being able to build and supply vehicles to meet demand. Basically customers are asked to wait anywhere from six to eight months if they choose to order rather than buy an Audi off the lot. With that said, Audi is fully aware of the problem and has even gone to some pretty generous lengths to keep customers satisfied and from canceling orders.

However, Audi being Audi, they couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to use their slight misfortune to playfully jab the competition. In a new commercial we see an owner of a BMW 3-series spot a truck full of brand spanking new Audis. Seemingly, said owner has already ordered an Audi and was patiently waiting for it arrive for months until he saw the truck and decided to take things into his own hands.

In addition, Audi then ends the commercial stating that more and more BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus drivers are jumping to Audi than ever before.

This commercial is just the latest in a long lasting friendly feud between Audi and BMW, and to a lesser extent Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. Click here to check it out.

What do you think of Audi’s commercial?

[You Tube]

Say hello to the newest member of the Audi family, the Volkswagen Tiguan  Audi Q3.

The Q3 was officially revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show and yes, it will be coming to Canada. Even though it’s heavily based on the Tiguan, there are still familiar Audi cues such as signature LED running lamps, a gaping grille and a more swoopy body. In fact,  Audi is claiming the this bodystyle gets a pretty impressive low drag coefficient of just 0.32.

Unfortunately swoopy shapely bodystyles usually mean some sort of compromise for interior space and the Q3 is no exception. It actually has less cargo room than the Tiguan does and even the Tiguan isn’t winning any awards for cargo room as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 offer about 25% more storage room. The Tiguan makes due with 18.6 cubic feet of storage space with the seats up and 56.1 with the seats down. The Q3 gets a tighter 16.2 cubic feet of storage space with the seats up and 48.2 with the seats down.

There will be three engines offered, two gas and one diesel. The engines are expected to range between 140 and 211 horsepower. The more powerful engines will get Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system as standard mated to a 7-speed automatic.

Initially, the Q3 will be available pretty much fully loaded only at launch with cheaper models coming down the road. The Q3 is meant to take on BMW’s X1. Which would you rather?

For more pics, click here.

[Autoblog]

Bad news. Audi has confirmed that the next generation RS4 will not be coming to North America. There were rumours of it getting the axe a while back and the reasons for its death are essentially true. Audi doesn’t want to over saturate our market with RS models. Which is essentially saying, Audi doesn’t want you to have too much fun.

Audi says the lack of an RS4 in the line up will be filled by the RS5. In my opinion, that doesn’t quite fill the shoes of the RS4. The RS5, from what I’ve consistently read, has too much understeer for its own good. Not to mention it’s more expensive and not nearly as practical as the RS4. Even BMW and Mercedes-Benz offer sedan versions of the M3 and C63 AMG. Audi says we will get a next generation RS6 to fill the gap of no RS sedan in the lineup, which also doesn’t make sense because in my eyes the RS6 would compete with the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-Benz E36 AMG, not the M3 or C63 AMG.

And to add insult to injury, Audi is developing an RS4 Avant (that we will not get either) which could have gone head to head with the Cadillac CTS-V wagon.

Sounds like Audi’s product planning department for North America needs a bit of a tune up.

In the meantime, it looks like if you want a compact sports sedan with four rings on the grille in Canada, the best you’ll be able to do is the S4. Which isn’t disappointing by any means, it just hurts a little knowing it’s not the best Audi can do.

[Inside Line]

When BMW debuted the X6 a few years back, they must’ve known something that the rest of us didn’t because everyone thought it was a bad idea and that it would fail miserably. It hasn’t. In fact, the X6 is selling surprisingly well.

Now it seems other manufacturers are taking notice of the X6′s success and are scrambling to build competitors. Acura  had a go at it, but the ZDX has been anything but sucessful so far since there are huge cash incentives to move them off the lot.

Audi is going to have a go now too, it seems. Dubbed the Q6, it is expected to be based on both the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne. Engine choices would be the standard units in other models and there’s even word of an RS version in the cards to take on the X6 M,  and the ML AMG.

Which would you prefer? An X6, ZDX or Q6?

Despite the fact that it’s now a six year old design, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is still outselling its rivals in Canada – at least according to February 2011 sales.

Audi is probably none too pleased that its recent jab at the S-Class is apparently not working to boost the newly redesigned A8′s sales.

Meanwhile, BMW doesn’t have a whole lot to be upset about as the 7-series was the second best selling full-sized luxury car last month in Canada and was the best selling unit in its class in the United States last month.

Hyundai’s venture into this very competitive market also turned out to be decent, but decent is relative. They only sold eight Equus sedans, but that’s double of what they sold the month before.

Here are the number of units sold in Canada in February 2011:

Mercedes-Benz S-Class (includes CL sales): 38

BMW 7-series: 21

Audi A8: 13

Jaguar XJ: 11

Lexus LS: 10

Hyundai Equus: 8

[Auto News Data Center]

Audi is starting to act a lot like Stephen Harper. Just attack your competition rather than letting your product speak for itself.

Audi has taken several jabs at BMW over the past year to which BMW has responded to, but ultimately BMW has stopped responding to the prodding. Which is just as well. As entertaining as ad wars are, it does get old every now and then. Apparently Audi doesn’t know when to stop though.

They’ve also taken digs at Lexus and recently, they’ve turned their attention to Mercedes-Benz. Their last jab was in this ad.

But the latest jab targets Mercedes-Benz only insinuating that Benz’s are full of old non-innovative technologies, referring to the current S-Class. Audi is of course comparing it to their newly redesigned A8. Much like GM’s tig at an older Hyundai (posted below) this is a bit of an unfair fight. Of course the new A8 will have more new technology than an old S-Class design. When the redesigned S-Class comes out, then you can compare them, but until then this just seems like an unfair fight.

All these attack ads of late kind of make Audi seem like the bully of the sport luxury car world. You make great cars Audi. Let your products to the fighting for you.

[Youtube]

Not too long ago, Audi and BMW had a little advertising game going where Audi made a video called “Meet the Beckers“. It basically played up stereotypes of people who buy BMW’s, Mercedes-Benz’s and Lexuses (Lexi?).

Audi then took a shot at BMW in a TV commercial.

BMW responded with its own commercial taking shots at Audi’s lack of efficiency development. They even went as far as paying to have a huge billboard promoting  a BMW 335d directly on top of an Audi dealership in Hong Kong.

Mercedes-Benz on the other hand, has chosen to stay quiet in the feud, but that hasn’t stopped Audi from prodding the big German company as well.

Audi has apparently developed a car cover for unhappy BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners that mimics the look of an Audi R8. Seemingly so people can cover up the “shame” of owning one of the R8′s rivals.

The description for the car cover reads:

“Don’t have an Audi R8 Spyder? Now you can pretend to have one. Trick your neighbors, and best of all, trick yourself into thinking you have the car of your dreams. Perfect for the BMW or Mercedes owner in your life filled with regret.”

Hmm, chalk another one up for Audi. BMW will respond to this one for sure, but what’s it gonna take for Mercedes-Benz to play the game?

Who do you think is winning the ad wars so far?

[All World Cars]

According to Audi insiders, the performance injected RS4 will not continue on with the rest of the A4 line up.

Audi says the reasoning behind the disheartening decision is due to there being enough RS cars in the Audi line up to begin with. They see the RS5 filling the shoes of the RS4 quite nicely. However, Audi’s rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, both offer performance sedans in the M3 sedan and the C63 AMG.

How does Audi explain that discrepancy? Well they say the RS6 will fill those shoes. Um, okay. But doesn’t that car compete against the M5 and the E63 AMG?

Well there’s always the S4, according to Audi, if you must have a smaller performance sedan. I’m not going to deny the brilliance that is the S4, however when compared to the M3 and C63 AMG – both making well over 400 horsepower, the S4 can’t quite keep up.

What do you think? Should Audi make another RS4? Or is this just smart product planning?

Lexus actually names the Audi A3, the Mercedes-Benz B-Series, the Volvo C30 and the BMW 1-series as the CT 200h’s main competitors. In my opinion, the only one on that list is actually comparable is the Audi A3 and even then only with the TDI engine. They’re both 5 door premium hatchbacks built for efficiency.

And now it has even less in common with those players as the price is significantly cheaper than all of them and on par with the C30. It will start at $30,950.

So since the A3 TDI is the most comparable vehicle, let’s see how they stack up.

The A3 TDI starts at around $35,000 so it’s about 4 grand more. But it gets better efficiency on the highway than the CT 200h, 4.6 L/100 kms and 4.8 L/100 kms respectively. But the CT 200h beats the A3 TDI with its city rating at 4.5 L/100 kms. The A3 gets a still respectable 6.7 in the city.

How the CT 200h drives remains to be seen, but the A3 sets the bar quite high as it is, even though it suffers from under steer as I found out in a test drive.

Which would you take?

[Lexus Canada]

Audi has quietly revealed the 2012 A6, but it’s causing quite the stir on the political world stage. It comes with techbology so advanced that it has been banned by certain countries from the United Nations.

Apparently Volkswagen has developped an intelligent infrared pedestrian protection system that is so powerful that the UN is worried that rogue paramilitary groups will repurpose this technology for most unfortunate ideas. Therefore the UN has banned the A6 in countries where gun-wielding thugs are a real threat.

Luckily they aren’t much of a threat here in Canada, so expect the new A6 at your local Audi dealership.

The A6 is arguably the weakest model in the lineup so this new generation is welcomed news. The new A6 gets a reworked front facia with typical Audi LED overload in the headlight design. Do the headlights look a bit off to you? Well that’s because they are. Audi designers didn’t originally intend for the headlights to look as they do, but they had to make them that way in order to house halogen, bi-xenon and LED lighting. That’s a lot of lighting in one headlight unit. LED tailights are also standard and it is now almost impossible to tell them apart from the tail light design of the A8 and A4.

The A6 also uses Audi’s new grille design more in line with the A8 and the A7 (which is not available in North America). A standard trunk lid spoiler and blacked out diffuser can be found around back as well. The A6 is actually shorter, lighter and lower to the ground than the outgoing model. It is 176 pounds lighter and Audi achieved this by using generous amounts of alluminum like th A8. This is good for economy and performance, but extremely expensive to fix should you crash your A6.

All models will initially be Quattro only with a front wheel drive version expected to come down the line. There will be no V8 option at all. Power will come from Audi’s 3.0T which makes 295 horsepower and 325 pound foot torque. Not bad, but considering both BMW and Mercedes-Benz offer V8′s in the 5-series and E-Class, Audi might be outdone.

A hybrid version is expected as well. Audi claims a 0-100 time in 7.3 seconds all while achieving 6.2 L/100 kms on the highway.

The A6, with its larger wheelsbase, will offer more interior room than the 5-series.

For more info and pics, check out Inside Line.

[Inside Line]