World Auto News & Reviews

German firm Senner Tuning has released a new line of styling and performance enhancements for the freshly introduced Audi A1 supermini with the 1.6 TDI diesel engine. The tuner starts by massaging the 1.6-liter diesel with a recalibrated ECU, boosting output from 105HP to 140HP. Peak torque also climbs from 250Nm to 310Nm.
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The new MINI-rivalling A1 hasn’t even hit UK roads yet, but Audi is already working on a barnstorming S1 to go head-to-head with the Cooper S.

These spy shots show an A1 test mule fitted with the S line bodykit which, with the exception of a few minor cosmetic tweaks, provides a good idea of how the hot hatch will shape up.

The test car’s wheels, with their extreme low-profile tyres, will make way for 18-inch twin five-spoke alloys unique to the S1. And to further mark out the newcomer from lesser models, it will get chrome door mirrors, a gloss black diffuser and S1 badges.

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As we are all patiently waiting for the Audi RS5 to head on over to the US, tuners are already giving us the goods to want the RS5 even more. The Audi RS5’s V8 engine already develops a total of 450 HP, but the tuners from SKN didn’t seem to think that was enough for the little sports coupe. They managed to increase the power to an amazing 500 HP by adding a SKN Power Tuning Stage 2 and a Milltek stainless steel exhaust system “Hockenheim Edition” with throttle control, including motor sports Cat/Cat replacement pipe.
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The London Design Festival has invited Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram to design this year`s Trafalgar Square Installation. Their project entitled OUTRACE empowers the general public to take control of eight large-scale industrial robots on loan from Audi’s manufacturing line that will descend onto London’s most public square. Both visitors to the square and a global web audience can send large scale three dimensional light messages through the installation via www.outrace.org from 16 to 23 September 2010.
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It’s not uncommon for an automaker to make an also-ran – or at least a reasonably respectable performer – into a genuinely fine automobile with the addition of just one simple feature. We’ve seen that many times – the diesel TDI engine, for example, makes VW’s humble Jetta into a superstar.

But making one of the greatest vehicles ever built even better? Now that would be a feat.

Among the best sports cars to ever terrorize two-lane byways, the Audi R8 is a magical sports car. Made even better with the availability of a Lamborghini-based V10 about a year ago, the R8 makes other supercars seem superfluous.

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