VW Group to Display Up to Seven Concepts at the Geneva Show

It seems that the VW Group will do just about anything to become the world’s biggest automaker by 2018. After announcing a €51.6 billion (US $70.3 billion) investment plan last November, the Germans also want to showcase their future intentions at the Geneva Motor Show in March, by displaying up to seven concepts.

Walter de Silva, head of the group’s design department, told ANE that the concept lineup will include Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen models, plus “one – if not two” Audis.

Furthermore, the Italdesign Giugiaro design studio, acquired by the automaker last spring, will also present two Volkswagen concept cars.

Seeing this kind of commitment, one has to wonder what exactly has Volkswagen is store for us. With the Golf Mk7 said debut in late 2012 or early 2013, we're inclined to say that it’s too early for a design study and the same goes for the next generation Audi A3, due for a release in the summer of 2012. While the manufacturer did say that it wants to expand its North American SUV lineup, information on the subject is scarce, so we wouldn’t bet on an SUV concept either.

In any case, if you have an opinion on the matter, now is the time to share it with us in the comments section below.

*Note: Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept featured in the gallery

By Csaba Daradics

Source: ANE [Subscription required]

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Audi Presents High-Tech Auto Union Type C e-tron Toy Car Study with All-Electric Drive

At this year’s International Toy Fair in Nuremberg (February 3-8), Audi will showcase a selection of model cars and other products, including the Auto Union Type C e-tron, a concept study with a fully-electric drive based on the firm's limited edition pedal car, which is sold through is quattro GmbH subsidiary.

The one-of-a-kind Auto Union Type C e-tron boasts a hand-finished body made of aluminum and carbon-look material. Measuring 2.32 meters (91.34 inches) in length and 97 centimeters (38.2 inches) in width, the 1:2 scale model is suitable for children as well as adults up to 1.8 meters (5’11”) tall.

The high-tech toy car is powered by an electric motor delivering 1.5HP (1.12kW) and up to 60 Nm (44.25 lb-ft) of torque, fed by a lithium-ion battery. Power is sent to the rear wheels and the study is also equipped with a reverse gear.

The top speed is a very respectable 30 km/h (18.64 mph) and, depending on the driving style, the electrified Type C can travel as far as 25 kilometers (15.53 miles). Charging takes about two hours at most, using any standard 230-volt household socket.

Audi did not say if it has any plans to introduce a production model of the study in the future.

By Csaba Daradics

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2012 Audi RS6 Sports Sedan Rendered by Photoshop Buff

Talk about a lightning fast response. It's been less than 24 hours since Audi pulled the veils off the fourth-generation A6 premium sedan, and yet we already have a photoshop rendering of the future RS6 created by an artist from EDL. Granted, the production model would most likely sport blistered wheel arches while it wouldn't sit so close to the ground, but the 'chop gives us an idea of what an RS version of the new A6 would look like.

Rendering aside, we're still in the dark about the details surrounding the next generation RS6. Despite some rumors of Audi opting for a force-fed V8 engine, we wouldn't dismiss the possibility of the German firm using an upgraded version of the 5.2-litre V10 engine mated to a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. In any case, expect the horsepower-war between German luxury carmakers to continue with Audi's proposal moving closer to the 600hp mark.

Source: EDL Design, Via: Autoblog.nl

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Video: Audi Quattro Concept Meets up with 1984 Quattro Coupe

At this year's Paris Auto Show in October, Audi celebrated the original 1980s Quattro's 30th anniversary by unveiling the Quattro Concept. Soon after, rumors started flowing around that Audi plans to develop a production version of the sports car, which is loosely based on the RS5 Coupe's architecture using a modified version of the RS3 Sportback / TT RS' 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five with 408 ponies.

Even though we've yet receive any official confirmation on the production model, the German automaker continues to release new material on the Quattro concept. This time, the Ingolstadt firm has published a new promotional film showcasing the design study as well as its spiritual predecessor, the 1984 Quattro Coupe. Watch the video right after the break.

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Speculative Rumors: Audi Readying Mid-Engine R5 Sports Car?

If we are to believe a report from Britain's Car magazine, Audi is planning to introduce a mid-engined sports car called the R5. Said to be positioned between the more mainstream TT and the flagship R8, the R5 is believed to be based on the VW Group's forthcoming MiMo (as in "MittelMotor") mid-engine sports car platform, which will also be used on future Porsche and VW models.

The same inside sources imply that the R5 will be available in both coupe and convertible forms, with styling cues borrowed from Audi's E-tron and E-tron Spyder concepts.

The R5 is said to measure only 3.9 meters (153.5 inches) in length, or roughly the same as a Lotus Exige. Being super-compact in dimensions means that weight should be kept low, and that is a definite advantage. The entire history of Lotus is based on this concept, with considerable success.

The 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged mill, sourced from the TT-RS, would most likely be the range-topper. With somewhere around 350 hp (261 kW) on tap, it would surely deliver "the goods" in a lightweight sports car. Smaller displacement inline-fours such as the 2.0-liter TSI, should also be in the mix.

I wouldn't exclude a hybrid variant either, as "green" sports cars are becoming increasingly popular these days.

We still have a long way to go until we hear something official about the R5, but we'll keep an eye open for any developments.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Car

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Report: Audi Working on a Production Version of the Quattro Coupe Study

If you thought we'd had enough of 'malignant rumors' with our last article reporting that Jaguar was seriously considering putting the C-X75 hypercar into limited production, you were wrong.

British magazine Autocar reports that a team of engineers at Audi's Ingolstadt headquarters are advancing plans to put the Quattro Concept from the 2010 Paris Motor Show into limited production. If approved, this would see the nouvea-Quattro being built in limited numbers at ItalDesign's plant near Milan.

Stefan Reil, Head of Development at Audi's Quattro GmbH alludes that the Paris Show car was always intended as more than a one-off, and that limited production plans are already at an advanced stage: "We know how to engineer it already." he said.

Though the newly acquired subsidiary has no facilities for vehicle assembly at present, ItalDesign does have some experience with low volume production, having assembled the BMW M1 supercar in the late 1970s. The Italian design house also has a history of producing one-off concept cars for Audi's parent firm Volkswagen.

The Quattro Concept features an aluminium / carbonfibre body and the four-wheel-drive underpinnings of the RS5 coupe. The powerplant is the same 2.5-liter turbocharged five-pot unit used in the TT RS, though Mr. Reil suggests it could be tuned beyond its existing 340 bhp (254 kw):

"A really good turbocharged petrol engine has around 140bhp [/ 104 kw per litre]. We're a little under that now. But with a larger turbocharger something around 350bhp [261 kw] is possible."

Mr. Reil, however, remains cautious: "We need feedback to see if it is possible. Audi has no heritage in building 200-500 cars that are really exotic. But it won't be over €100,000 [£86,000 / US$139,000]."

Furthering the possibility of a limited production run, Audi's Paris Motor Show booth hosted a scale model of a Quattro Concept dressed in rally livery and featuring an ur-Quattro-emulating front spoiler, flared arches and rear wing hints at a return to Audi's glory days at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

We will have further updates as they come through.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Autocar

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