Paramount pictures has released yet another extended trailer of its forthcoming Transformers film, 'Revenge of the Fallen' that will hit the big screen on June 24th. And just in case you missed out on the previous trailer, this one too gives us a short glimpse of the Audi R8-based Decepticon named Sideways that crashes through a building of some sort at around 52 seconds into the video. Hit the jump to watch the trailer as well as to check out the screen shots we took from the film. 
During the opening ceremony for the celebrative festivities on occasion of Audi's 100th birthday at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt on July 16, the company will unveil an all-new model in front of around 2,500 invited guests that will include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the automaker has announced. Audi did not disclose any details on the car that it is planning to reveal, but we are aware of most of the cars that are destined to join in the German automaker's line-up in the very close future.These include in random order, the R8 Spyder, A1 minicar, A5 / A7 Sportback, Q3 small SUV and the RS versions of the A3 and A5 Coupe. Our guess? We would probably give our vote to either the R8 Spyder or one of the Sportback models. If you happen to know something we don't, feel free to enlighten us with a comment below.
The competition is heating up for next month's 24-hours of Nurburgring as Audi has announced that it too will take part in the famed endurance race with four factory supported R8 LMS racecars, two for each of the ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing teams. The R8 LMS is a rear-wheel drive GT3 version of the German firm's mid-engined sportscar equipped with a 500HP-plus 5.2-liter FSI V10 that was developed by Audi's motorsport division for private customers and race teams alike.
"The 24 Hours is not only one of the biggest motorsport events in Germany," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "The Nürburgring-Nordschleife is considered one of the world's toughest and most demanding race tracks. Similar to Sebring for the sports prototypes, it is superbly suited for revealing the final improvement potential of any new race car. This is exactly what we're planning to do at the 24-hour race before delivering the R8 LMS to customers, starting this fall."
The ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing teams will hit the 'Ring on May 23 with driver squads consisting of five current Audi "factory" drivers, four DTM Champions, four Le Mans winners and five drivers who have won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring at least once.
Among others they include the reigning DTM Champion Timo Scheider, who – together with his DTM teammate Mattias Ekström and three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner – will compete for Team ABT Sportsline, and three-times 24h Nurburgring winner Hans-Joachim Stuck, who will pilot one of the cars of the Team Phoenix Racing.
The Audi teams at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring:
Audi R8 LMS #97 (ABT Sportsline)
Audi R8 LMS #98 (Phoenix Racing)
Audi R8 LMS #99 (Phoenix Racing)
Audi R8 LMS #100 (ABT Sportsline)
In about two month's time, on June 24, 2009, the much anticipated sequel of Michael Bay's Transformer movie will see Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) once again joining forces with the Autobots against their mechanical foes, the Decepticons. To get the blood pumping, the creators of the film dropped a two-and-a-half minute long trailer where we get the chance to see Bumblebee crying -really, a few fights, a first glimpse of the Audi R8 transforming into a Robot (1:52 minutes into the video) and oh, what's her Fox-y name taking her clothes off. Hit the jump to watch the video.
We never cease to be amazed by the lack of taste shown by many tuning houses. This latest proposal from MTM for a modified Audi R8 finished in a truly repulsive Porsche GT3 green color with contrasting black accents is a classic example. We'll just leave it that and continue with the other mods performed by MTM. Paint aside, the R8's exterior has been garnished with an aero kit made from carbon fiber that includes a front splitter, side sills and a rear diffuser. The looks are rounded off with a set of lightweight 20-inch forged wheels finished in black.
The Audi R8's standard 4.2-liter V8 engine has been upgraded with the addition of a specially developed compressor that helps boost output from 420HP to 560HP while maximum torque increases by 34 percent, from 430 to 580Nm. Owners of the R8 5.2 FSI V10 will be happy to know that MTM has developed an ECU upgrade for the range-topping model as well that lifts output from 520HP to 560HP.
Other mods included in MTM's package for the Audi R8 are a new exhaust system with valve control that leads into four black ceramic-coated end pipes and height-adjustable chassis springs for the Magnetic Ride System and serial dampers that can raise the front- or rear axle of the sportscar by 40 millimeters.
The still under development drop-top variant of the Audi R8 will arrive in U.S. showrooms in about a year's time according to a report from Insideline citing, but not naming, company officials. The report goes on to say that Audi's product planners in the USA managed to convince the firm's execs to go for a full open top version of the R8 instead of a less costly and complicated targa-roof solution.It is also reported that the R8 Spyder -the name has yet to be confirmed- will be available with both the basic 420HP 4.2-liter engine and the top-of-the-line 5.2-liter V10 with 525HP.
Via: Insideline
Can't wait for the 525HP Audi R8 5.2FSI V10? Then you might be interested in Wheelsandmore's new performance package for the R8 4.2-liter V8. The German tuner offers an ECU kit for €1,700 that gives the V8 an extra 30HP for a total output of 450HP. If you're willing to depart with €32,500 -or roughly the equivalent of a new TT Coupe in Germany- Wheelsandmore will add a kompressor boosting output to 530HP. Since we don't have an issue with cash, €13,998 will get you a set of 8-piston front and 6-piston rear brakes with high-performance pads.
Still have more money available? No problemo, €4,800 will give your R8 a handmade rear silencer with a valve system (optionally remote controlled add €900), €900 will buy you new springs, €3,999 an aluminum full race suspension and €8,949 a hydraulic lift full-race suspension that allows the lifting of the front and rear axle by 30mm.
Another €5,500 will get you a carbon-fiber front lip spoiler and a carbon-fiber rear diffuser while Wheelsandmore also offers two different sets of 20-inch alloys wheels wrapped in Dunlop Sport Maxx rubber for €9,250 and €9,800. For the record, all prices include 19% German tax and installation.
And since we're pretty sure that you like doing your math, the base price of an R8 V8 FSI in Germany is €109,100 while its V10 FSI counterpart costs €142,400...
The first example of Audi's track-only R8 LMS with chassis number '101' has been delivered to its lucky owner in Italy. Overall, twelve units of the 500hp+GT3 sports car will be delivered during the forthcoming weeks to six customer teams that plan to race in five European GT3 championships as well as in the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring for which Audi Sport has developed an endurance version of the R8 LMSThe R8 racer uses a 5.2-liter V10 engine producing over 500-horsepower and more than 500Nm of torque. Since the GT3 regulations forbid the use of a four-wheel drive system, Audi's race-spec sportscar comes with a rear-wheel-drive powertrain. According to Audi, a fully homologated R8 LMS costs €262,000 plus VAT.
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