Official: Super-Duper Audi A1 Quattro with 256-Horses [44 Photos]

Audi has officially presented the meanest and baddest production version of its A1 series yet, aptly called the A1 Quattro. Both its name and styling details such as the white colored alloy wheels clearly draw on Audi's rallying heritage. The first ever quattro version of Audi's premium supermini, which was previously thought to be named RS 1, will be produced in a limited run of just 333 units with sales to start in the second half of 2012.
Powering Ingolstadt's hot hatch is a tuned 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection and turbocharging technologies that produces 256HP at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 350 Nm (258.2 lb-ft) continuously available between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm.
The 2.0 TFSI is couple to a six-speed manual gearbox and Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. Audi says the A1 quattro sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 245km/h (152mph), while it consumes on average less than 8.5 lt/100km (27.7 US mpg).
The German firm says its engineers adapted the chassis to the dynamics of the drivetrain with the A1 Quattro featuring McPherson struts up front and a four-link axle at the rear. The hot hatch also gets an electrohydraulic power steering with a direct 14.8:1 steering ratio, while the ESP stabilization program includes a sport mode and can be switched off entirely.
The Quattro rides on new 18-inch, center-locking cast alloy wheels in a bespoke turbine design wrapped in 225/35-series tires.
Available exclusively in a Glacier White metallic with a high-gloss black finish for the roof and details such as the single-frame grille and lower half of the tailgate, the A1 Quattro is fitted with a new aero kit that includes a different front bumper with larger air vents, side skirts, a roof wing and a rear diffuser. It also gets tinted LED rear lights, tinted rear windows, and bespoke twin tail pipes.
The interior of the car is dressed in Nappa black leather with contrasting red seams, while standard features include a pair of body hugging sports seats, a flat bottom sports steering wheel, aluminum gear shift lever and pedals, and a revised instrument panel.
More details on the A1 Quattro will be released next year.

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CR Poll Finds that 40% of U.S. Car Owners Delay Maintenance Due to Financial Reasons

The state of the economy is affecting every aspect of our everyday lives – including cars. And it’s not just the gas prices that affect motorists: a new poll from Consumer Reports shows that almost one in two car owners delay their car’s servicing or repairs.
Lower-income households are more likely to delay necessary work, and younger drivers (18-34 years of age) tend to postpone work on wear items like tires or brake pads – with 21 percent of them admitting that they don’t even pay attention to these items.
 
The necessary work most commonly postponed was minor manufacturer-recommended scheduled service (22 percent), followed by replacing wear items (17 percent) and repairing body or other exterior damage (15 percent).
For most car owners that took part in the poll, a repair bill of about $2,000 is currently a serious financial burden – agreeing with a previous AAA survey, which stated that 25 percent of Americans can’t afford such a repair bill.
Forty-four percent of car owners who delayed having their vehicle serviced on time admit that they feel the value, safety and reliability of their neglected car is suffering as a consequence.
“The family car is the second largest purchase a consumer can make”, notes Jeff Bartlett, deputy automotive editor of CR. “We expect our car to work even in the harshest conditions. So protecting that investment should be a priority, especially when it becomes a safety issue.”
Apart from compromising reliability and security, motorists who fail to fix small problems on time are also more likely to cause their vehicles much more serious, and much more expensive, problems later.
Moreover, 83 percent of those interviewed replied they were confident that their repair shop of choice would do the work properly, and for the right price.
Dealers lose out to independent repair shops (30 vs 37 percent) when servicing or repair is due, and repair chains are chosen by 11 percent of car owners.

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Tesla Releases Full Pricing Details on 2012 Model S, Starts from $49,900 After Tax Credit

Even though first deliveries won't begin until fall of 2012, Tesla has dropped final U.S. pricing and options on its most ambitious project to date, the new 2012 Model S electric sports saloon. The BMW 5-Series-sized sedan is available for order in two trim levels, basic and Performance.
The basic version is offered with a choice of three battery options with 40 kWh, 60 kWh and 85 kWh, priced at $57,400, $67,400 and $77,400 respectively or $49,900, $59,900 and $69,900 respectively after a $7,500 federal tax credit.
Standard features include Tesla's massive 17-inch Touchscreen, 19-inch alloy wheels and a Universal Mobile Connector with three adapters.
The Performance model is offered exclusively with the larger capacity 85 kWh battery and is priced at $87,400 or $79,900 if you deduct the $7,500 federal tax credit. A Nappa leather interior with carbon décor and Aclantara accents along with an Active Air Suspension and 21-inch alloy wheels come as standard on the Perfomance trim.
There are various available extras and packages such as a glass panoramic roof ($1,500) and a Tech Package ($3,750) that includes a 16GB hard drive, rear USB ports, LED fog lights, Xenon headlamps, turn-by-turn navigation system, high-def back-up camera, power lifgate and keyless entry.
Tesla also announced details on the battery specification. The 40 kWh unit offers an estimated range of 160 miles (258km) at an average speed of 55mph along with a 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint time of 6.5 seconds and top speed of 110mph (177 km/h). 
 
The 60 kWh battery delivers 230 miles (370 km) at 55mph, a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 120mph (193km/h).
With the 80 kWh battery, the Model S can travel for 300 miles (370 km) at 55mph, while recording a 0-60mph time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 125mph (201km/h).
According to the automaker, the 85 kWh models will arrive in mid-2012, the 60 kWh model about three months later and the base 40 kWh version around the end of the 2012.
If you're interested, you can head over Tesla's new Model S webpage to build and price your own car.

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