Mystery Audi Sports Coupe / Spyder (R4?) Filmed at Ski Resort in the Alps

Audi gone viral or someone at the right place, with... almost the right equipment at the right time? Well, we can't answer that, but we do know that a Youtube user filmed a series of videos showing a mysterious Audi sports coupe (or Spyder) in covers being transferred via helicopter to the Olympia Ski Resort in the Tyrolean Alps, close to Innsbruck, in Austria - or at least that's what we understood, so any corrections welcome. The person who filmed the car said Audi was making some sort of a promotional video.

The mysterious Audi sport coupe's shape looks very similar to the e-Tron Concept model shown at the Detroit motor show earlier this year, but that's all we could make about the vehicle from the videos we've added below.

While the possibilities are almost endless, recent reports from Germany suggest that along with the A7 Sportback and S1 hot hatch, Audi will lift the covers off a more production ready version of the e-Tron Concept called the R4 - possibly in Spyder form- at this month's Paris Motor Show.

Could this be that car or is it something different such as a concept version for a new TT? Watch the videos below and share your thoughts in the comments section.

Hat tip to Marcus!

SPY VIDEO: New Audi A7 Sportback Doing Some Fast Laps on the 'Ring

Here's another spy video of the A7 Sportback, Audi's upcoming, low-roofline hatchback [sic]. Based on the architecture of the next-generation of the A6, the A7 will slot into the Audi lineup above the A6 and below the A8, in the same way that the A5 Sportback fits between the A4 and A6 models.

The upscale five-door model will compete with the new Mercedes-Benz CLS, and if the rumors turn out to be true, with the BMW 6-Series GT (or whatever else the Bavarian firm's decided to call the production Gran Coupe) also, when it goes on sale next year.

Tear away the prototype model's swirly camouflage, and we're willing to bet that what you'll see underneath is a toned-down version of the Sportback Concept that premiered at the 2009 Detroit auto show (see gallery below).

The new A7 will share its engines and transmissions with the next A6 offering buyers a choice of petrol and diesel units including Ingolstadt's 3.0-liter supercharged V6 TFSI, while rumor has it that Audi will expand the range in late 2011 with a gasoline-electric hybrid model.

An S7 with either a pumped up version of the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 or a naturally-aspirated 4.2 V8, as well as an even hotter RS7 possibly with the 5.2-liter V10 are also believed to be in development, but details remain scarce for now.

Video: Youtube

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Audi Sportback Concept

Audi A1 with S-Line Sport Package Spotted in the Wild

A sharp-eyed reader over from Autogespot took this single photo of the brand-new Audi A1 in the city of Barcelona, Spain. If we're not mistaken, the specific model appears to be equipped with the S-Line package that adds several goodies such as 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, sport suspension, a larger roof spoiler at the back and unique bumpers (notice the protruding insert on the rear bumper).

Audi's Mini Cooper chasing A1 hatch will have its first public outing at the Geneva Motor Show in March. At launch, it will be offered as a three door hatch with of four engines including two petrol units, the 86HP 1.2 TSI and 122HP 1.4 TSI plus two diesels, a 1.6 TDI with 90HP and 105HP.

European sales of the A1 will start this summer with prices beginning from around €16,000. No word yet if the Audi's new entry-level model will make it on this side of the Atlantic.

Via: Autogespot

VIDEO: New Audi A7 Caught Testing with BMW 7-Series in Norway

A pair of camouflaged prototypes of the upcoming Audi A7 were spotted testing outside the city of Oslo in Norway. The A7s appear to be accompanied by an A5 Sportback, a BMW 7-Series and one more car that we couldn't identify. The A7 is to the next-generation A6 what the A5 Sportback is to the A4 / A5 models; a sexier looking and less practical five-door variant (notice the open hatch in the video) of the A6 with seating for four.

Designed to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS that will soon enter its second generation, the A7 shares its steel-reinforced aluminium platform and mechanical hardware with the next A6.

The A7 though will arrive first as Audi has already made it official that it will launch the sporty-looking saloon onto the market in the second half of 2010.

Power will come from a variety of gasoline and diesel engines including the firm's supercharged 3.0-liter V6 TFSI petrol, while rumor has it that Audi will expand the range in 2011 with a gasoline-electric hybrid model.

Via: DN TV

Audi RS5 Coupe Spied on the Road, gets V8 Engine and Wider Bodywork

These are the latest spy photos of Audi's hotly-anticipated RS5 Coupe that is expected to celebrate its world premiere at the next Geneva Salon in March of 2010. Compared to the S5 upon which it is based, the flat-black prototype you see pictured here is distinguished by a new front bumper with larger and more pronounced side air inlets, the honeycomb grille and the single-outlet tailpipes that replace the S5's two smaller outlets on each side of the rear bumper.

Furthermore, the black panels on the front and rear fenders of the test car clearly indicate that the RS5 will get a wider body with flared arches harking back to the original Quattro coupe as well as to the current RS6 saloon and Avant models.

The spy photos also suggest that the RS5 may get a deployable rear spoiler located at the tip of the boot.

There's no official word about what's hidden under the hood, but all evidence (and rumors) points to a modified version of the outgoing RS4's naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine tweaked to produced somewhere north of 450 horsepower that should give the BMW M3 Coupe a run for its money.

The V8 will be teamed to six-speed manual transmission or optionally to a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch semi-automatic transmission while it goes without saying that the RS5 will be fitted with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.

Other upgrades will include wider tracks, specially tuned suspension and steering system plus uprated drilled disc brakes.