“The electronic device that allows me to remotely unlock and keyless start my Audi A8 probably has more memory than the 64 kB computer Apollo 11′s lunar module took to the surface of the moon. Next to my old Mini the A8 is a real spaceship, jam-packed with powerful, complex, super-fast computer systems beyond the wildest imagination of NASA’s best and brightest 43 years ago.”

And while the technology and looks of the 2012 Audi A8 are nothing short of impressive, it’s the personalization and attention to detail that really gives drivers like MacKenzie satisfaction. Here’s an excerpt from what he had to say about the modern spaceship built for the road:

“The more I live with the car the more I’ve come to appreciate the fact I can have it set up exactly the way I want it, right down to the most arcane detail. When I walk up to it and press the button on the remote, I do more than just unlock the doors: The Audi wakes up, a zillion electrons zapping this way and that through its man-made neural network as makes itself ready to serve me.It’s taken nearly 8000 miles and a couple of months of fine tuning, but I know that even before I thumb the start button on the center console the suspension and transmission and throttle and steering calibrations are now exactly the way I want them; that the sound system and seat and climate control settings are just right; that my iPhone will sync seamlessly with the on-board hands-free system; that the interior mood lighting will fade just the way I want it. I can even Google a nice restaurant near my destination now I’ve set up the on-board internet connection.”

The A8, which carries a prestigious starting MSRP of $99,700 in Canada, is the benchmark for luxury and design. And with a futuristic 8-speed Tiptronic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive, it’s the new measure for athleticism, too.

Without a doubt, the 2012 Audi A7 is one of the most beautifully sculpted vehicles on the road today. It’s futuristic four-door-coupe design, slick roofline, sharp angles and everything in between is guaranteed to turn heads. But what’s the point if the interior of the sexy Audi can’t match the sheetmetal? Thankfully, that’s not the case at all, as WardsAuto, a leader in automotive news and reviews, deemed the A7 worthy of its 2012 roster of 10 Best Interiors.

“We saw a tremendously diverse group of interiors this year, and it’s obvious to us that auto makers are pushing their design staffs harder than ever for interiors that are beautifully appointed, well-equipped and extremely comfortable,” saysWardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

“There are too many great interiors in the market for any auto maker to think it can stand pat with its current interior offerings and remain successful,” he says. “Based on some of the vehicles we have seen at recent auto shows, we can tell the competition among interiors will be fierce in the next few years.”

The A7 won over WardsAuto editors with an interior styling theme that does, in fact, manage to be every bit as dramatic and inviting as the sheet metal. Good enough to the point where the 4-passenger luxury liftback carries the aesthetics of an exotic much higher than its sticker price. Notably, the generously applied matte-wood trim and intuitive human-machine interface were what really tipped the Audi in the editors’ favor, labeling the entire brand as “a leader in lavish interiors.”

This is the second year WardsAuto has recognized outstanding interior designs, fit-and-finish and comfort by applying the same proven model used to select Ward’s 10 Best Engines, of which also includes the Audi A7′s 3.0L supercharged V6 engine for 2012.

Until 2011, the WardsAuto competition had been known as Interior of the Year. But considering the diversity of the industry, a list of 10 cars are now created instead. Notably, there is no ranking within the Ward’s 10 Best Interiors. In other words, there is no No.1, 2 or 10, but we imagine the Audi A7 is the most desired interior on the list.

WardsAuto editors scored and ranked all 40 nominated interiors are ergonomics, safety, material selection, overall value and aesthetics before winding the list down to 10. In addition, judges rated each interior’s human-machine interface in determining how effectively vehicle information is communicated to the driver.

The 2012 interior winners will be honored in a ceremony at this year’s WardsAuto Interiors Conference, to be held May 17 at The Henry hotel in Dearborn, MI.

An extensive package profiling the winners in more detail will appear April 30 onWardsAuto.com and in the May issue of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine. Stay tuned for a more comprehensive breakdown.

Paul Jaray was an Austrian-born engineer who transferred his aerodynamic designs for zeppelins to the smaller canvas of the automobile. Most of his creations weren’t exactly pretty, however, as the Audi concept car from the 1920′s in the opening scene of the new advertisement demonstrates. But Audi’s come a long way, shedding old awkward looks for a design language that is both envied by rival brands and desired by consumers. And one of the best vehicles to exhibit this is the 2012 A5, with a little help from singer Danny Kaye and Hans Christian Andersen.

The Audi A5 family builds on its looks with diversity, being offered in Sportback, Coupe, Cabriolet, and the range-topping S5 here in North America.

For 2012, the interior of the Audi A5 is more elegant than ever – with new steering wheels, including an option for a flattened ring, new steering column stalks, and narrow chrome clasps that frame the control elements. Also updated were the ignition key, selector lever for the automatic transmission, button for the optional Audi drive select system, and the controls for the high-efficiency air conditioning and multifunction steering wheel. All displays now illuminate in white.

Under the hood, the A5′s line of engines include three gasoline and four TDI units. All engines feature forced induction and direct injection for greater pulling power. Even the entry level engine produces 320 Nm (236.02 lb-ft) of torque and puts out 125 kW (170 hp). Unlike any other manufacturer, the start-stop and recuperation systems are standard with all engines.

The completely redesigned 1.8 TFSI features ground breaking innovations in the control of the valves and lifters, the thermal management concept, the injection system, the turbocharger, and the integration of the exhaust manifold. In the A5 Coupe, the high-end four cylinder unit consumes on average just 5.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (41.27 US mpg). This best-in-class value corresponds to 134 grams CO2 per km (215.65 g/mile) and is 21 percent lower than before. The output of the 2.0 TFSI remains unchanged at 155 kW (211 hp). While new to the Audi A5 lineup is the 3.0 TFSI which is a supercharged V6 producing 200 kW (272 hp).

The diesel engines are also impressively efficient. With the 130 kW (177 hp) 2.0 TDI and a manual transmission, the A5 Coupe consumes on average just 4.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (50.05 mpg) which has a CO2 equivalent of 122 g per km (196.34 g/mile) — a milestone in the coupe segment. Three V6 diesels round out the lineup on the top end. The 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) is the most fuel efficient six-cylinder unit in its class worldwide. in the A5 Coupe with multitronic, it consumes on average 4.9 liters (48 US mpg) of fuel and emits just 129 grams CO2 per km (207.61 g/mile). The second variant of the 3.0 TDI produces 180 kW (245 hp). Arriving at a later date is a particularly low-emissions clean diesel model that will make the A5 the first coupe on the market to meet the Euro 6 diesel standards.

All A5 models are equipped with a CD radio and eight speakers. The optional top-of-the-line unit is MMI navigation plus a large hard drive, seven-inch color monitor, 3D graphics and DVD player. Its controls have been improved where the number of buttons have been reduced from eight to four and the volume control now features a joystick cap to make it easier to choose songs. The voice control and digital radio reception have also received some fine-tuning.

An additional option is the Bluetooth car phone. Audi connect is the catchphrase for the attractive services this phone brings to the A5, which includes Google POI search, navigation with Google Earth images and a WLAN hotspot. The hotspot enables enables the passengers to surf the internet and send and receive email with their mobile devices.

With this different power source, comes a different sound in power. A throaty, high-revving exhaust note has long been recognized as something tops the automotive food chain, but when there is no internal combustion engine, that sensation disappears. That’s why Audi has developed a special sound for the Audi R8 e-tron, one that delivers a new-found sense of power with the push of its accelerator pedal. Audi has taken more than three years in developing the acoustics program for the R8 e-tron, blending the talents of composers with acoustics engineers to find that perfect sounds.  In its current form, the sound changes based on what the e-tron is doing. It comes out of a speaker blasting up to 40 watts that is attached to the bottom of the car.

The e-sound is played via a sturdy loudspeaker attached to the car’s undercarriage. Axel Brombach, the specialist in this field, shares details: “We designed it to handle as much as 40 watts, but during normal operation it ranges between five and eight watts. That’s loud enough for nearby pedestrians and cyclists to hear the e-tron.” A fraction of the sound signature enters the vehicle’s interior via airborne and structure-borne sound waves.”We could utilize sound paths and mechanical actuators for more sound in the interior,” explains Dr. Ralf Kunkel, Head of Acoustics at Audi. “After all, a vehicle body is basically a large soundboard.But we believe strongly that our e-tron models call for an atmosphere of calm, which best conveys the unique experience of electric driving.”

The e-sound for this electric-powered high-performance sports car is just the beginning. Audi notes that every e-tron model will have a sound signature all its own.

“Last year, what started as a small swell on Twitter erupted into a nationwide battle to win an R8 for a day. The #WantAnR8 Twitter campaign allowed Audi fans to engage in a fun, exciting way and we’re thrilled to bring it back for a second year,” said Scott Keogh, Chief Marketing Officer of Audi of America. “The spot highlights the Audi R8 as one of those iconic vehicles that leaves a lasting and memorable impact on the world at large. The spot is exhilarating, fast paced and portrays the R8 as a history-defining vehicle.”

In 2011, local D.C. Audi fan Joanne McCoy tweeted Audi of America about how much she wanted the R8. When she used the hashtag #WantAnR8 in her tweet, Audi took notice, and decided to send a brand new Audi R8 to Joanne’s house to use for the day. From there, Audi decided to make everything official, and launched an official Twitter campaign to give Tweeters the very same opportunity as Joanne. The rest is pretty much history. And since, the hashtag has been used over 75,000 times.

The new #WantAnR8 Twitter contest will run from March 20, 2012 through October 29, 2012. More specifically, the contest is split up into four entry periods, and two winners will be selected in each round, with eight winners in total. Like Joanne, winners will have an R8 delivered to their home, but they also have the option of driving the R8 on the track at the Audi Sportscar Experience in Sonoma, CA. The practicality of living with an R8 for a day sounds greatly enticing, but who could resist unleashing its power on a race track?

All drives will happen within the 2012 calendar year. Terms and conditions, can be found at audi.us/R8contest.

The coveted 2012 Audi R8 is available as both a Coupe and Spyder bodystyles, with each style offering two levels of power – a 4.2-liter FSI V8 or a 5.2-liter FSI V10. While the V8 generates a potent 430 hp at 7,900 rpm, with 428 Nm of torque at 4,500 – 6,000 rpm, the high-revving 5.2-liter V10 gives the driver 525 hp at 8,000 rpm with 530 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm.

This is made possible by a hybrid kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) feeding electric power to the front wheels, gathered from otherwise wasted energy lost in braking. The 510 horsepower V6 TDI on the other hand sends its might to the rear wheels. And even though the hybrid powertrain adds weight, it’s actually offset by a lighter carbon-fiber gearbox housing, used for the first time in endurance racing.

Audi  plans on entering two examples of the R18 e-tron Quattro at the high-profile 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and at Spa beforehand in May, alongside two of the R18 Ultras with conventional diesel power. Since both cars were developed together, they use mostly the same components, enabling more efficient race logistics for the team.

Notably, one does not have to be a race car driver to experience technology derived from racing. From the small A3 to the mighty Q7, owners can possess the power and efficiency found in Audi’s TDI turbodiesel engines. If Quattro all-wheel-drive is desired, one only needs to look towards the acclaimed A4, or even the awe-inspiring R8 supercar. And with this new technology Audi has ventured into with its racing program, we can only imagine what the technology of a TDI AWD Quattro system will transfer like from track to street.

Over the past two years, Audi has been upset by rival Peugeot at the 12 Hours of Sebring — the first race of both the American Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship. This year was very different. With Peugeot out of the picture this year, Audi has seemingly no competition during the 60th anniversary of the 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

The Audi R18 TDI coupes finished 1st and 2nd, with the car of Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish taking the win. All are multiple winners at Sebring, with five, six and four overall titles, respectively.

To give a perspective on how far ahead Audi won the race, the 2nd-place Audi R18 driven by Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loic Duval was four laps off the 325-lap pace set by the winners in the season opener for both the American Le Mans Series and the new FIA World Endurance Championship.

Additionally, the Audis swept the top three spots in qualifying, however, the  finished No. 1 car that started from pole position finished in 16th, after gearbox problems developed. The car led in the first six hours of the race.

It was the first 1-2 finish for Audi at Sebring since 2005, and gave the brand its 10th victory since 2000.

It was the last race for the current TDI, which is being replaced by two new R18s — the Ultra, a lighter-weight version of the chassis with the 3.7-liter turbodiesel V6. There’s also the e-tron Quattro that will be fielded at fielded at the upcoming 24 Hours of Spa and 24 Hours of Le Mans, which cleverly utilizes a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain to deliver propulsion to all four wheels.

The new R18s will debut in the second World Endurance Championship race in May at Spa, Belgium, and will attempt to carry on Audi’s amazing domination of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

When Audi first launched the R8 supercar back in 2006, it created a new poster child for German engineering. With its timeless looks, an available V10 engine, the superior control of Quattro, and performance figures to send Italian ponies back home to reassess their point in life, Audi mustered together a masterpiece. The above video celebrates their achievement. At the same time, Audi teases with a brief image of a refreshed R8 on the way for the coming model year, building on its winning formula.

Today, buyers can choose between two fantastic engine variants: a 430 horsepower base V8 engine, or the aforementioned 560 horsepower V10 — for those who simply require the extra power and performance. Channeling the power to all four wheels of the R8 can be either a satisfying 6-speed manual transmission, or a precise R tronic sequential manual transmission — the paddle shifting kind. Give the R8 enough room, and it will rocket from 0-100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds and will push all the way to 300 km/h. And that’s just with the V8.

With the V10, the R8 will clear its throat and howl its engine from 0-100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, and rocket all the way to an electronically limited 320 km/h in the GT Coupé 5.2 FSI — the fastest R8 that can be found on the road. Wonderfully, the R8 is as refined as it is fast.

Inside the R8 can be found an LCD screen and MMI-inspired center console that controls AM/FM radio functions, the six-disc CD changer, and two SD card slots for easy MP3 playback. Navigation information is given through the speakers as the route-guidance directs the driver in conjunction with turn arrows via the instrument panel, with additional help provided by a detailed colour map on the main screen. As an added option, there’s the Audi Navigation System Plus with convenient Audi Music Interface, in place of the six-disc CD changer.

For those that are sick of hum-drum headliners, there’s a black alcantara headliner. this material is finely crafted and soft to the touch, which helps to add an additional feeling of luxury that spans through the two-seat cockpit. It goes great with the unrivaled sound of the R8′s Bang & Olufsen sound system that delivers 465 watts of power while combining a range of cutting-edge technologies. These include Acoustic Lens technology, proprietary Digital Signal Processing [DSP] and ICEpower digital amplification. With everything working in perfect harmony, the Audi R8 becomes a virtual concert hall on wheels. But of course, you could just turn of the sound system, slide the windows down, and enjoy the sound of the engine while effortlessly carving through the mountains.

Using the LED headlamps to defeat the darkness of the forest, our character finds his fanged fellows around a bonfire, the party in full swing. Unfortunately for all vampires involved (that’s everyone), the bright lights from the Audi S7 were so radiant, that they seemed to replicate the effects of sunlight on the vampires. As a result, everyone — including the vampire nice enough to bring more O-positive, humorously turned into smoky dust.

The moral of this story, vampires shouldn’t drive Audis. They’re simply too effective in the dark.

Audi’s Light Emitting Diode headlamps are just one square millimeter in size and offered on every vehicle in the lineup. As a result of their space efficient size, LEDs have opened up an array of styling opportunities for Audi designers, arranging them into alluring and athletic shapes that are distinct yet unmistakably Audi.