NAIAS Blog: Audi V12 TDI, TTS, A4 for North America and Bryan Adams

Audi's self-described "Year of Passion" has passed, so maybe cars like the 2.0T-powered TTS and R8 V12 TDI concept come from more rational minds. The cars sip less fuel at least - 29 MPG for the manual tranny TTS coupe and 24 MPG for the R8. No, those aren't Prius numbers, but with faces and performance like that...

As is becoming the Audi norm, you can't launch a car without a gratuitous celebrity and Detroit marked a visit and one-song performance by Bryan Adams... and no, he didn't sing Summer of '69.

Detroit also included the first domestic showing of the A4. Since the smallest Audi sedan is over 50% of US sales, this is definitely an important launch for the brand. Both the A4 and the TTS are slated to hit market by next fall. As for the R8 V12 TDI.... we'd mortgage the McMansion for one and give thrill rides to GreenPeacers, but there's no official word yet if it'll actually happen.