The 2009 Audi R8 carries the tagline: “The German Supercar with Italian Roots”. It is an Hours of LeMans 5-time winning racecar that has also achieved an unmatched 62 out of 70 first-place finishes in international endurance races. It has been designed and created to serve as direct competition for the Ferrari F430, but has a sticker prices that reads more than $70,000 less. Its 420hp V8 blasts the R8 off like a rocket at speeds in excess of 185 mph.

The R8 is a showoff too; it likes to let that rocket engine run around naked, covered with a clear Lexan cover only, and surrounded by LED lighting. The R8 also has been manufactured with a space-age aluminum frame and a skin that creates optimal aerodynamic-based performance. An underside diffuser is in place to create a strong down-force that stops the car from actually taking flight at top speeds. 0 to 60 times rate consistently at a lightning-fast 4.4 seconds.

It gets better though. The 2009 R8 from Audi is also able to calmly cruise any neighborhood avenue as well. In fact, a ninety-year old lady could drive it to church on Sunday and not even kick up dust - unless Granny was a wild one and wanted to! And unlike a stock car, it comes equipped with every imaginable luxury feature as well. The spacious interior features goodies like a state-of-the-art NAV system, a 12-speaker, ear-blasting 465-watt stereo from Bose and much more.

Buyers get their choice between two transmissions: a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed R-Tronic. The R-Tronic utilizes no clutch pedal and can be shifted with either paddles shifters or a lever. It also is able to be entered into an automatic mode. Of course, either transmission works best at higher rpm’s. Both are a little quirky at in-city speeds. The track-worthy braking system is slightly sensitive at low speeds as well. Dual-mode shock absorbers adjust to the terrain and driving style automatically and the Quatro AWD system allows you to take corners at speeds that would simply roll other cars.

MSRPs for the Audi R8 are $109,000 and $118,000 for the stock 6-speed transmission package and the R-Tronic transmission package respectively. The list of standard features is, of course, Audi-impressive. 10-way heated power seats, Sirius radio, 19-inch alloy wheels, advanced anti-theft alarm, loads of airbags, electronic stability and traction control, daytime running lights and a tire pressure monitoring system are but a few. Optionally, there is a $5500 4-way lumbar support Nappa leather seating package that is a big seller.

As with any car that produces 420 horse, you shouldn’t expect stellar fuel efficiency ratings here. The 2009 Audi R8 is a performance-based monster of a machine that can blow most cars on the planet straight into ditches - and it’s all wrapped up into a luxurious and stylish bundle.

Packed with practical features and luxury touches, the 2008 Audi A4 Avant Wagon is powered by a 2.0L 200hp 4-cylinder engine which develops 207 ft-lb of torque @ 1800 RPM. Stylishly understated yet thoroughly roadworthy, the Avant Wagon is engineered to weather the storms and navigate any road. Whether you opt for the base A4 Wagon or go for the premium trim, all Avant Wagons have consistently exceeded all safety and performance criteria they face.

If you are hauling cargo, passengers, or both, the well-balanced Avant Wagon is as agile as a bobcat and sturdy as a grizzly bear. The interior of the A4 will impress the most jaded car critic with its numerous standard features, including: tilt and telescoping steering wheel, air conditioning, sunroof, and power windows. The luxurious upholstery and stylish wood and alloy accents add a level of richness not seen in any other wagon. Add an FM/AM radio and CD changer for an outstanding compliment to the car’s ambiance.

To carry precious human cargo, Audi backs up its luxurious packaging with concomitant safety features including: front driver and passenger airbags, and side curtain torso protective airbags. The 2008 Audi A4 Avant Wagon has passed the NHTSA criteria for frontal crashes with a 4-star rating. For side crashes, the Avant Wagon front seat tests earned 5 stars and for rear seat tests, 4 stars. When it comes to defensive driving, the Avant Wagon puts an amazing amount of control in the driver’s hands with the almost supernatural capability of electronic stability control.

At the risk of overstatement, we are impressed with the 2008 Audi A4 Avant Wagon from all viewpoints. Maneuvering the large Avant Wagon through traffic or on a winding road is smooth and effortless with Audi’s phenomenal 4-wheel drive. We doubt you will ever challenge the A4’s anti-lock brakes the way we did, to attempt to put the A4 into a 4-wheel power slide. We were also surprised and pleased at the Avant’s gas mileage, 22mpg city, 30mpg highway, putting the icing on the cake.

The first-ever SUV offered by this maker, the 2007 Audi Q7 is offered in four different trim levels, with a starting MSRP of $39,900.

Standard with Audi’s version of four-wheel drive (they call it “quattro”), the base model comes with a 280 horsepower V6 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission equipped with another of Audi’s signature feature, their “Tiptronic” system that allows manual gear selection. The fully loaded version kicks it up some, with a 350-horsepower V8 engine, but all models have anti-lock brakes, and an electronic engine management system that caps their top speed at 130 mph.

The Q7’s design is fairly safety conscious for an SUV, and includes the expected LATCH child restraint system as well as child safety locks in the back seat. As well, there is a full array of airbags. The driver and front passenger are both protected in the event of front- or side-impact collisions, and the passenger-side bag includes a sensor to tell if the seat is being used, or not.

Interior features of the Q7 are fairly typical of Audi. The cruise control has three separate settings, and the climate control system is dual-zone. More interesting is the driver’s seat with it’s 12 power-adjustable positions, including lumbar, and ever-practical additions include a complimentary first-aid kit and an air compressor for fixing emergency flats. The standard feature-list goes on to include xenon headlights, heated mirrors, and keyless entry, all of which are becoming the norm for Audi as well as other makers.

Standard with seating for five, a third seat is optional, as are side airbags for the second and third rows, but even without that or the upgrade to a satellite radio, the 2007 Audi Q7 is a feature-rich, comfortable ride.

The 2008 Audi Q herniates the luxury sport utility envelope with this 4-door behemoth. Cell phones in hand, soccer moms will revel at the ease with which they can bully others for that last compact parking space. For true brute strength, the Audi Q dominates the feed lot with two trim levels, the base, and the Premium. Two V8 engines punish the environment: a 3.6Liter, 280hp unit and a 4.2Liter 350hp wrecking ball-sized engine.

Luxury is the password into the interior of the Q, with leather and imperiled rare woods dazzling the eye. With a tiltable steering wheel and telescoping steering column, you can add the optional bolster seat and give the appearance of a normal human being sitting behind the wheel. Instrumentation is well-placed and easily read, with trip computer and digital clock standard.

Safety is of primary importance in all Audi vehicles, with seat-mounted front side airbags, rollover indicator, reinforced side door beams, and rear side head curtain airbags standard. Equipped with a mechanical liftgate with remote release, the Q pulls out all of the stops to minimize any wasted physical effort on the part of its occupants. We especially liked the anti-theft features which will serve as a vital safeguard if mom is confronted by environmentalist demonstrators.

Gas mileage is as important as ever, and the 2008 Audi Q dutifully reports that its 3.6Liter engine rates 14mpg city, 19mpg highway, while the 4.2Liter confesses 12mpg city 17mpg highway. To be impartial, the new 2008 Audi Q is a handsome, well-engineered luxury SUV that is no bigger part of the environmental problem that any other vehicle in its class. The Audi Q awaits the opportunity to participate in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, soon to be scheduled.

The 2009 Audi Q7, with its high-end accessories and elegant exterior make the Q7 well worth the money. Generous power is supplied in this 2009 Audi, while three different trim levels give buyers the opportunity to customize the model to fit their needs. The only glaring deficiency in the Q7 is its poor fuel economy. With a mere 13 city MPG and 18 highway MPG, the Q7 is near the bottom of the list for seven-passenger models. It simply does not have a chance against the Cadillac SRX or luxury hybrid vehicles on the market.

Under the hood, the 2009 Q7 can be fitted with either a powerful 280 horsepower 3.6L V6 or an impressive 350 horsepower 4.2L V8. Consumers should be pleased with the engine selections and will also find the six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with overdrive to be sufficient. Tiptronic refers to the transmission’s ability to switch into a manual mode in which drivers can smoothly shift with total control. A Sport Package can be added to the Q7 as well. This package will provide a delay in upshifting for an even sportier driving experience. Audi’s signature all-wheel drive, referred to as Quattro, is standard on all three trims. The Quattro program supplies superior handling and added traction.

Inside, buyers will be impacted by the sheer number of added features. Power front seats are trimmed in rich leather, while the steering wheel receives the leather touch as well. The front seats are also heated on the upper trims, and automatic four-zone climate control can be included with the premium Q7 trims. However, for buyers that choose not to upgrade to four-zone, the 2009 Q7 comes standard with automatic dual-zone climate control. This allows the driver and front passenger to each select their perfect temperature. An auto-dimming rearview mirror provides glare protection for drivers, and a premium audio system with a six-disc CD changer is standard on the base trims. Buyers can improve the stereo system with Bose Surround Sound.

Innovative safety features range from a sophisticated anti-theft vehicle alarm system to the high-strength uni-body construction. Constructed of highly resilient steel, the Q7’s frame absorbs impact energy, rather than deflecting it. This is why the IHTSA named the Audi Q7 one of the top safety picks for the 2008 model year. The 2009 Q7 is a carryover from the prior year.

Overall, the 2009 Audi Q7 is jam-packed with convenient features. Its level of customization is hard to beat in a luxury crossover. However, the base MSRP of $43,500 could certainly turn away a large number of buyers. This four-door model is for the family with deep pockets and little concern for fuel economy. Those that are looking to be more eco-friendly will need to look elsewhere.

With enough power to have some real fun, the 2008 S6 fills the Audi mid-size performance slot. That 435-hp, 5.2-liter V-10 from Lamborghini lays out a consistently high torque plateau throughout the rpm spectrum. All this performance is mediated through a 6-speed automatic with overdrive while the essence of the car is unchanged for 2008.

With classy yet understated elegance, the interior of the S6 is a strongly masculine domain, accented with leather and rare wood. Equipped with up market AM/FM stereo and CD changer, the only sound sweeter than the V10’s exhaust note is the concert-quality sound track you’ll be hearing. The gray headliner is a perfect match for the muted tone of the wood accents. S6’s instrumentation is easy to read and logically organized.

Powerful as the S6 is, its virility is tempered with state-of-the-art safety features such as: front and rear curtain airbags, front and rear seat torso airbags, and Quattro all-wheel drive. As a testament to that point, the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) chose the Audi S6 as a Top Pick for frontal, side, and rear crash test safety.

Looking as solid as stone, the exterior of the 2008 Audi S6 is pulsing with dynamic style, from its Xenon headlamps with eye-catching LED running lights to its quad tailpipes. Riding on 19 inch wheels, the S6 is a statement of quiet domination over all other mid-size luxury performance cars. The only downside to owning the S6 is the penalty the US government imposes in the form of a $1300 tax, levied against vehicles that guzzle, not sip gasoline.

The newly redesigned 2009 Audi A4 Sedan features a more squat stance and a sportier overall appearance than did last year’s model. The A4 is Audi’s smallest sedan model, but it is continuing to grow. In fact, it is only 1.3 inches shorter in its wheelbase than is the Audi A6. That’s a full 6 inches longer than the wheelbase on the 2008 Audi A4. It’s also two inches wider and, including the Toyota Avalon, is the largest vehicle in its class. These dimensional increases grant the 2009 A4 enhanced levels of road-gripping performance and an elevated confidence range as well.

MSRPs for the Audi A4 range from $30,700 up to $48,800 and it comes with an impressive 48-month, 50,000-mile standard warranty. Fuel economy ratings make you feel good delivering 30 mpg on the highways and 23 mpg in the cities. It shares its underpinnings with the soon-to-come A5 and S5. Its lines are expertly-sculpted and it features a new front end that is noticeably aggressive. There are also catchy rows of running lights under each headlight. The longer wheelbase is accentuated with a shorter front overhand to make the car appear less long than it actually is. There has also been a 10 percent decrease in body weight over last year’s model due mainly to the use of “ultra-high-strength steel”.

On the inside, the 2009 A4 by Audi is all class. It features almost Lexus-grade materials and design standards. The seats are crafted from black leather and make a bold statement of elegance when matched with the black door panels. Aluminum accents are placed throughout to complete the pricey look and feel. As for cabin dimensions, they have grown in every respect as well. The seats offer considerably more comfort than did the 2008 ones and the trunk volume has increased by 3.6 cubic feet to 17 cf. The 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen 6-CD, iPod-enabled stereo system also has no problem getting your attention.

Enhanced safety features, both standard and optional continue to keep Audi in the forefront of the industry as a company that cares a lot about you and your family. There are 6 airbags standard and an option to purchase rear-side airbags as well. Engine-wise, the Audi A4 does not fool around; the stock engine pumps out 265 horses from its 3.2L V6/ZF 6-speed transmission combo. It will take you from 0 to 60 mph in only 6.2 seconds. Direct fuel injection and a 2-staged valve lifting system have created a 6 percent increase in fuel efficiency over last year’s model. Reduced bodily weight has also lowered the drag coefficient from 0.31 to 0.29 Cod. Even the new air conditioner offers a ten percent power increase while simultaneously requiring roughly 20 percent less fuel to operate it.

Not surprisingly, the 2009 Audi A4 Sedan is a hot seller and continues to build solid consumer loyalty for the auto giant. The A4 over delivers in almost every respect imaginable. Power, safety, comfort, style, performance and above-average fuel economy make the Audi A4 well worth the price.

The 2009 Audi A4 Avant Wagon is Audi’s upscale midsize station wagon. Competitors include the BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon, Volkswagen Passat Wagon, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Volvo V70 and Subaru Outback.

One of the sharpest looking station wagons on the road, the Avant has been refreshed for 2009. It is longer, wider and lower than the first generation. Headlights are similar to those on the A8, and LED running lights are also part of the combination. All in all, the first glance might make you think you’re looking at a sports car instead of a station wagon.

The A4 Avant is propelled by a 2.0 liter, 211 horsepower I4 engine (no options) generating 258 pound feet of torque - which is excellent torque for a small station wagon. Like the engine, there is only one transmission, a six-speed automatic with overdrive. This combination generates 21 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. This is well above the average fuel efficiency of either upscale midsize cars or station wagons in general.

The A4 Avant, like all Audi vehicles, has quattro all-wheel drive. Quattro is a permanent all-wheel drive system with its genesis in the Volkswagen World War II German Army command vehicles.

In the quattro systems, torque is split between the front and rear axles. In adverse conditions the amount of torque applied to each axle can be changed instantly and unnoticeably with up to 80% of the torque going to a specific axle. The small amount of torque for the troubled axle helps maintain control of it. Unlike many modern automotive systems, this is done without computers, which actually makes it more reliable.

German engineering at its best, the A4 Avant rates five stars in every category of NHTSA crash tests. Standard safety features include antilock brakes with electronic braking assist and traction and stability controls, with a full set of airbags, anti-theft system and tire pressure monitor. An electronic parking aid is available.

The A4 Avant has only one trim, but being an Audi you can bet it’s a nice one. The Avant gets good marks for its overall warranty, but the power train warranty is below average for class. The other knocks on the vehicle are that it is underpowered for a high dollar vehicle and somewhat short on headroom for a station wagon.

Base price on the 2009 Audi A4 Avant Wagon is $34,500. That’s quite a bit higher than average for station wagons, but a little lower than average for upper end makes. The thing is, if you’re looking for a high-end vehicle, an Audi has the safety, the features and the reputation to back up their asking price.