Manual transmissions are becoming more and more rare these days, since more and more new car buyers choose the automatic gearbox in favor of a manual – see our Ed’s verdict on the Golf GTI manual vs DSG.

Lamborghini have already ditched the manual transmission, so did Ferrari and it also rumored that Porsche will abandon the manual gearbox for its performance models. Rumours have now also surface that Audi maybe next to make the chop.

The website for Audi enthusiasts, Fourtitude, reports that the German carmaker won’t offer manual transmissions in next year’s facelifted S4 and S5 in Europe. Audi will keep offering a six-speed manual for the Audi S4 and S5 models in the United States. Fourtitude contacted Barry Hoch, Audi’s product planning manager of Audi of America, who replied:

“They (Europe) lose the manual. We keep the manual! 100% confirmed, although I don’t know what other markets also get to keep it. I don’t want to fear for my life when I leave the office. The manual transmission enthusiasts are… umm… passionate individuals. Save the Manuals!”

Although many purists would argue a manual transmission offers more fun, Audi’s S-tronic transmission has a lot of advantages: the S-tronic can achieve faster shift times, there is no loss of torque transfer from the engine to the driving wheels during gear shifts, and it stands to offer improved fuel economy.

So, is this the end of the manual gearbox in a high performance car? Let us know what you think in the comment box below.

via GTSpirit

New spyshots have revealed a new Audi, which for all intents and purposes, screams RS4. While it is not the final design, the RS goodies under the body shell are visible, like the bigger brakes and wider track. The front bumper will be more aggressive with large air intakes and the fenders will be wider just like the RS5.

It’s not clear if the new RS4 will have the same V8 engine found in the RS5, but despite the trend toward eco-friendly downsizing it’s unlikely that the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 found in the S4 could be boosted to the levels required to compete with the Mercedes C63 AMG and BMW M3. The 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 found in the RS5 will endow the RS4 with 331 kW and 430 N.m. of torque, which should easily launch the car from 0 – 100 km/h in under 5 seconds. Following Audi’s latest trend with its faster models, expect to have the option of raising the electronic speed limiter from 250 km/h to 280 km/h, which flies in the face of the gentleman’s agreement between Germany’s ‘Big Three’.

Images via TeamSpeed

The Audi plant in Ingolstadt produced the five-millionth Audi A4 earlier this week – an Audi A4 Avant 3.0 TDI quattro in Misano Red. This production milestone is the latest in a story that began in 1994 when the A4 model name was adopted. In the words of Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at Audi AG: “This is another major milestone in Audi’s history. All versions of the A4 are efficient, elegant and enjoy outstanding success in their class. Our highly motivated team and our effective Audi production system will keep this model on course for continued success in the future.”

Audi began production of the A4 model line at its Ingolstadt site in 1994, and since 2007 has also been building it at Neckarsulm as part of the production turntable. Today the A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, A4 allroad quattro, S4 Sedan and S4 Avant are manufactured in Ingolstadt; the A4 Sedan also leaves the assembly line in Neckarsulm. “The success of the entire A4 model family keeps our two main production plants fully occupied and safeguards the workforce’s jobs,” says Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council. “Audi owes this success to its employees, who have invested so much know-how, quality awareness and dedicated work in the A4.”

The A4 has earned numerous awards over the years, including the title of “best midsize car”, for the fourth year in succession, as voted by readers of the German car magazine auto motor und sport in January. Auto Bild car magazine and residual value assessor EurotaxSchwacke also chose the A4 as the midsize car with the highest value retention in its class in December 2010, awarding it the title of “Top Value for 2011″.

Source: Audi

MTM is not known for its restraint – it is, after all, the same company that fitted two engines into an Audi TT to set a speed record at Nardo. Its engineers have now taken the tuner’s brand of high-power, no-holds-barred modification to the internal workings of the new Audi S4 Avant, already one of the most potent of the Audi S cars.

Just on the market, MTM has injected the new 3,0-litre supercharged S4 with more power and driving dynamics. The V6 engine in the standard version comes with a respectable 248 kW on tap, but it really comes alive after the MTM treatment. With this package the modified S4 is able to challenge the bigger RS models with their V8 engines. A total of 320 kW and 515 N.m of torque was measured on the MTM dynamometer.

With drive sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and quattro AWD, the modified S4 will sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds – 0.4 seconds faster than the stock version.

Beside improved performance, MTM also offers for the S4 a custom exhaust kit, bimoto wheels (19 and 21-inch) and MTM height adjustable suspension and performance brakes. This latter element comes with 380 mm discs and 8-piston calipers.

Adapted from MotorAuthority

While it doesn’t look like the Opel Insignia OPC will be coming our way here in South Africa, our European counterparts certainly have something to look forward to.

Packing a turbocharged 236 kW 2,8-litre V6, sophisticated suspension and four-wheel drive, the technical specification for Vauxhall’s Insignia VXR reads like something you might see in an Audi brochure.

But priced from GB£30 995 it’s slightly cheaper than the car it seeks to rival – the £34 260 Audi S4. Sitting at the top of the excellent new Insignia range, can the VXR model prove that Vauxhall can also challenge premium car makers with a performance version too?

The Insignia VXR stands out from the rest of the line-up – but it’s not garish in the way that previous models have been. At the front is a deep bumper with twin mesh grilles while a spoiler is added at the rear, along with a new bumper featuring dual matt chrome exhausts. The overall result is sporty but surprisingly subtle.

While the visual upgrades are subdued, the mechanical changes are anything but. As well as four-wheel drive, the hot Insignia gets a front suspension system, which like the RevoKnuckle system fitted to the Ford Focus RS, limits torque steer and boosts grip by maintaining negative camber during cornering.

There are also specially developed Brembo brakes and standard 19-inch wheels (20-inchers are an optional). But the changes don’t end there. The firm’s three-stage Flexride system is tweaked, giving drivers the choice of Normal or Sport settings, together with a hardcore VXR mode. The latter delivers more direct steering, sharper throttle response and stiffer dampers. And as a neat final touch it turns the illumination of the dash dials a menacing red.

Do these changes work? Undoubtedly. Finally this is a VXR-badged Vauxhall that can cope with the enormous power its engine produces. And that’s just as well given that the big turbocharged V6 kicks out 236 kW and 435 N.m of torque. From a standstill it rockets the Insignia to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds, but find a tight corner and that sophisticated chassis means you can accelerate out with confidence, all four wheels gripping hard and launching the car at the horizon.

Of course, that engine sounds fabulous too, with a bassy V6 note overlaid with some exciting turbo rush – although the exhaust can generate an intrusive boom on long journeys.
The steering is accurate and well-weighted, and what’s more, the ride is very well-judged, being firm but still big-car comfortable. Strong brakes complete the package and the result is a true dual-purpose sports saloon, capable of putting a smile on your face on a B-road but settling to a comfortable cruise on the motorway.

There’s no doubt though, that the Insignia VXR will be pricey to run. With combined fuel economy of 11.4l/100km and CO2 emissions of 268g/km (274g/km for the Sport Tourer), owners will need deep pockets. But it’s no more expensive to run than an Audi S4 – and it does a very, very good impression of that car with a driving experience that’s fast, fun but secure in all weather types.

Adapted from AutoExpress