Audi: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005

Fourtitude and their new UK-based writer David Corfield, who is also the publishing editor of the new Audi print magazine "Total Audi", have a short review of the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005.

The event is always extremely well supported by manufacturers and racing teams and this year was no exception, particularly for fans of the Audi group.

The company were here with an impressive display to celebrate the quattro’s 25th anniversary. From Walter Röhrl’s infamous 1987 Pike’s Peak Sport quattro to the very first quattro rally car from 1980 – reunited with original driver Hannu Mikkola for the first time since its restoration – Audi were here to make their presence felt.

And perhaps the most impressive sight (certainly the dirtiest), was its victorious R8 sports prototype, which came to Goodwood straight from the Le Mans chequered flag to bask in the glory of a record five wins. The R8 looked superb, bringing a real flavour of Le Mans to the event, mixing bug splatter with peaches and cream.

On the specially prepared rally stage – a new addition to the event this year – legendary Audi driver Hannu Mikkola took the quattro A2 rally car he used on the 1983 Tour de Corse and threw it around the dirt track with great enthusiasm. Remarkably, Mikkola and his 23-year old quattro were only a few seconds off the pace set by the modern rally machinery and the crowd loved every moment of his homecoming.

Read more here.

Source: Fourtitude

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Audi: Innovative Technology

Fourtitude has some great articles on their website about some of Audi's innovative technology for the future.


Please read the article about "An Analysis of Driver Assistance" here.


If you are interested in "Innovative Solutions and Future Trends at the Driver's Workplace" please read here.


Or you can read about Audi's cooperation with Bang&Olufsen and their advanced sound system for the Audi A8 here.


Source: Fourtitude

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LeMans 2005: stats

Here are some stats about the 2005 LeMans 24 hour car race:

• 230.000 spectators, an increase of 15% in relation to the previous year


• 1.43 million television viewers followed the start on France 2, an increase of 37% in relation to last year


• 1 out of 5 TV viewers watched the start of the greatest endurance race in the world


• Almost the same number saw the finish on France 3 the next day


• World wide 325 million TV viewers watched the race on the five continents


• 1854 journalists from 36 countries (as against 27 in 2004) were given accreditation for the race


• 51 million enthusiasts consulted the Internet pages on the lemans.org site live coverage compared with 35 million in 2004 (23% French, 20% Japanese, 13% American and 9% Danish)

Source: Fourtitude

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Audi: new print magazine in UK

A brand-new UK-based Audi print magazine will be out in September, called "TotalAudi".

Welcome to Total Audi, a brand new magazine for Audi drivers around the world.
No matter whether your Audi is old or new, there’s a place for you – and your car – right here. In each and every issue we will be putting you in touch with the Audi experience at all levels: from what it’s actually like to drive the latest high-performance models, to practical advice on how to keep your cherished classic Audi on the road.
We’ve cut no corners on this magazine. Our promise to you is a monthly feast of high-quality features on all aspects of Audi cars and Audi culture, lavishly illustrated with superb photography and written by the best journalists around.

Total Audi is not available in the shops.

Source: TotalAudi

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King Kong is back!

Please be reminded that Volkswagen is only going to offer the exclusive previews of the Peter Jackson remake of "King Kong" for another 12 hours!
After that you have to wait until December for the real movie.

And here are the links to the movies:
Small, Medium, Large.

Source: Volkswagen

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Audi: Head-up display with laser projection

German car magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" is reporting that Audi is planning to use head-up displays with laser projection soon.
This is just the first step regarding the high information density and the need for new displays.
According to Willibert Schleuter, responsible for electric and electronic development, Audi will display such information like speed and driving directions from the navigation system.
The laser projection will be used to reach better contrast and better pictures.

In future it is planned to also show and mark traffic signs, distance warnings or to display the navigation arrows directly "on" the real streets.
In mid-term not only a small part of the front window shall be used, it is planned to use the whole window. This is currently tested in the "Electronics Research Laboratory" (ERL) in the US.

Source: Auto Motor und Sport (only in German)

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Audi A4 DTM Edition: more power!

10 races, 3 titles, 1 champion: The Audi A4 DTM.
To let you participate in Audi's great victory in last year's German race series "DTM", you can now order the Audi A4 DTM edition with even more power.

Audi is launching a throwback to its successes in the DTM championship in the shape of the A4 DTM edition. quattro GmbH is sending an extremely sporty version of the mid-size saloon car with a power output of 220 bhp and cutting-edge turbo FSI engine technology onto the road. The Audi A4 DTM Edition with 6-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive will cost € 38,550. The 6-speed manual gearbox version of the DTM Edition in combination with quattro four-wheel drive is to cost € 40,650.

The A4 DTM Edition is aimed at customers who want to further accentuate the already sporty orientation of the series-production models. The Audi A4 DTM Edition is powered by the new 2.0 turbo FSI engine. The power of this direct injection engine with turbocharger was especially boosted for the new model from 200 to 220 bhp, and torque was increased from 280 to 300 Nm.

The special model is based on the new Audi A4 saloon, but boasts a more dynamic appearance. The exterior of the Audi A4 DTM Edition is distinguished by the new side sills and the DTM logo in the rubbing strips of the rear doors. The striking single-frame radiator grille is in Phantom Black, and as an option, the exterior mirrors are also available in Phantom Black, at no extra charge. The newly developed front bumper is distinguished by a striking carbon-fibre lip in black at the bottom, derived from the field of motor sport. Additional air vents at the front and rear provide another sporty touch to the car.

Source: Fourtitude

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Audi A6: New Entry-Level Petrol Engine

Audi is extending its range of engines for the A6 to include the 2.0 TFSI, a turbocharged petrol direct injection engine. This four-cylinder power plant is also the new entry-level petrol engine.

The 2.0 TFSI delivers 170 bhp in the Audi A6. This free-revving, high-torque and, at the same time, economical engine combines petrol direct injection with a turbocharger. Audi was the first manufacturer to introduce this technology in series production. Boasting 280 Nm of torque, available across a wide speed range from 1800 to 4200 rpm, the FSI engine offers excellent pulling power at any time. The A6 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds and touches a top speed of 227 km/h. Its fuel consumption measures just 7.9 litres per 100 km.

Audi offers the front-wheel-drive A6 2.0 TFSI as a saloon and an Avant with manual gearbox or multitronic. Prices for the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI start at
EUR 32,700.

Audi now offers seven engines for the A6, and they all meet the Euro 4 standard. The customer can also choose between different automatic transmissions and manual gearboxes, as well as between front-wheel drive and quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The Audi A6 has received numerous international awards since its market launch a year ago.

Source: Fourtitude

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Kong is back! Brought to you by Volkswagen.

According to German magazine "Der Spiegel" Volkswagen is going to sponsor the remake of King Kong, which is part of the cooperation between Volkswagen and NBC Universal.
It's worldwide the first long-term sponsoring of a company with a Hollywood studio: the cooperation is set for 3 years.

And they have a big bang, right at the start: Volkswagen is sponsoring the Peter Jackson remake of "King Kong"!
Starting from June 28th, 02.44 am CET Volkswagen is showing exclusively a 2.5 minute collection of movie sequences for just 48 hours. You can watch the movie on Volkswagen's website www.volkswagen.com.
And here are the links to the movies:
Small, Medium, Large.

According to Volkswagen spokesman Emanuela Wilm, Volkswagen will also use movie scenes for some Touareg ads and commercials in TV, magazines and in movie theatres.

Source: Spiegel Online (only in German), KongisKing.net

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Audi A8 L W12: Follow-Up Test

Inside Line made a follow-up test of the Audi A8 L W12 and they seem to be quite expressed. They also have some nice interior shots.

The 2005 Audi A8 L W12 is many things. It's large. It's expensive. It's fast and it's comfortable. It's also stylish, technologically advanced and even sexy. But most of all, the Audi A8 W12 is reason enough for people to talk to you.

Audi does things differently — always has. If BMW and Mercedes-Benz zig, Audi zags, usually for the better. This time the zag takes the form of a unique engine design. The top-of-the-line BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class sport V12 engines. So what does Audi do? It designs a W12.

Instead of having two banks of six inline cylinders like a traditional V12 design, the 12-cylinder bores in the W12 engine are also split into two banks of six.

Although the Audi's sticker price is shocking, after a week in the A8's 16-way adjustable seats, it actually seems justified. This is as good as cars get.

One editor put it best when he said, "The Audi appeals to me more than the 7 Series or the S-Class. I just feel at home in it."

Home indeed.

In addition they have a short video of their follow-up test. Please check the article's link for more details.

Source: Inside Line

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Audi A3: 3-Door Gets Facelift

The 3-door Audi A3 gets a new face and extra dose of exclusivity.

The most obvious change can be seen at the front end of the vehicle. The three-door A3 now also sports the new single-frame grille which makes the latest Audi models so unmistakeable. The new Audi face enhances the dynamism of the three-door model even more significantly than before. The coupé-like line which combines tautness and athleticism has been retained. The gently rising baseline of the window area and the coupé-like roof line converge in the powerful tail end. This is also where the visual centre of gravity of the three-door A3 is, the powerful tail making the whole car look as if it is about to leap forward.

Source: GermanCarFans

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Audi Q7: 3rd stage of going public

It's the Audi Q7 weekend: first Audi's upcoming SUV was spotted in Colorado and now Audi opened the 3rd stage of the going public called "Performance".
Two more stages are coming, called "Comfort" and "Flexibility".

You can download more revealing pictures than ever before and they also have a new screensaver out.
Please watch the offical Audi Q7 microsite.

Source: Audi

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DTM: Audi driver Ekström defends lead

Mattias Ekström, who has really a great season so far, defended his lead in Germany's car race series DTM by finishing 2nd at Motopark Oschersleben in front of 88.000 spectators.

"I’m satisfied with my result. If you want to move forward from the fifth position on the grid to second place, you mustn’t make a single mistake, and the pit stops have to be perfect – we successfully met both of these challenges today. Although I was able to catch up with Gary (Paffett) on the final laps, it was too late for an attack. It’s a nice feeling to be able to go to Audi’s home race at Nuremberg as the leader of the standings."

Next race will be in Nuremberg, around 70 km north of Ingolstadt and therefore recognized as Audi's home race. Usually you can expect that a lot of Audi's employees are coming to there and also usually they make a big noise when an Audi is passing their corner.
It's really a big event for them and absolutely worth a visit!

Source: Fourtitude

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Audi Q7: spotted in Colorado

The guys from "Inside Line" spotted the Audi Q7, Audi's upcoming premium sport SUV, in Colorado and are giving us an exclusive first glimpse.

Rest assured, you don't have to worry that the Audi Q7 is nothing more than a reskinned Volkswagen Touareg or Porsche Cayenne.

Despite the fact that it shares the same platform as the SUVs from VW and Porsche, the Q7 rides on a nearly 6-inch-longer wheelbase that gives it a much leaner and more athletic appearance. Its overall dimensions give it the look of a tall wagon similar to the current allroad, but the Q7 is larger and better proportioned.

Johan De Nysschen, executive vice president of Audi of America, confirmed the news and wasn't shy about the reasoning behind the move. "The sportiest utility vehicle will no longer be sold at Porsche dealerships," he said with a smile.

Source: Inside Line

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Johan De Nysschen: Quote of the month

Audi of America's Executive Vice President said about Audi's Q7:
"The sportiest utility vehicle will no longer be sold at Porsche dealerships."

Source: Inside Line

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Audi RS 4: Ride of the Valkyres

Fourtitude's George Achorn had the chance to get a ride in the new Audi RS 4 during the 24 hours of LeMans.

If there’s a car in Audi’s lineup that is closest in DNA to the R8s screaming through the night just yards away, then it surely must be the new RS 4 sedan. It’s the first production Audi to use one of their venerable 4.2-liter V8 gasoline engines that’s fitted with FSI direct injection, pumping out a peak 414bhp at 7,800 rpm, 317 lb. ft. of torque at 5,500 rpm and it’ll happily rev all the way up to a 8,250 rpm redline.

Then I get a tap on the shoulder. One of the attractive French women attending the signup desk tells me it’s time to go. My blood starts to pump in anticipation. It’s now about 2AM. I’m punchy, but I’m about to get a ride in the new RS 4 for the first time under the shroud of darkness.

Given my state of tiredness, the cover of night and that I’m not driving, I keep mentally telling myself to try to remember every detail as I ride in the shuttle through the dirt roads of the airport to the far end of the runway.

Under the moon and some flood lights Audi has brought in to help illuminate the area, I step out of the shuttle to see three RS 4s sitting eerily in the darkness while I hear the song of blazing Le Mans racecars not more than a half-mile away. There’s a red one, a gray one and a black one, and it appears they’ve been giving rides part of the evening at the hands of some professional French drivers.

George is really a lucky guy. You should read his article!

Source: Fourtitude

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VW Fox: pictures of some studies

German car magazine Autobild has some pictures of the two studies "VW CrossFox" and "VW Fox Pepper".
The VW CrossFox is a cross country model of the VW Fox. It has a 1,6-Liter engine with 101 bhp. The engine can run with gasoline as well as alcohol.



They also have some pictures of a study called VW Fox Pepper, a sporty version of the VW Fox.



Nice and small!

Source: Autobild (only in German)

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Audi RS4: photo gallery

AutoWeek has a nice photo gallery of the new Audi RS4 from their latest test drive.
This car is really hot, especially in red.
You should watch it! Or even better, drive it, if you have a chance.

Source: AutoWeek

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Audi: 3 models in current TopGear magazine

Three great new Audis break cover in this month's Top Gear mag - the Gallardo-sized aluminium R9 supercar, multiple Le Mans-winning R8 and the understated but amazing new RS4.
Short movie of the Audi RS 4 world premiere at Audi's quattro night (5 minutes).
Long movie of the Audi RS 4 world premiere (30 minutes).

Source: TopGear

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Audi TT quattro sport: vehicle review

AutoWeek has a review about the Audi TT quattro sport with the the title "A Legend Lives On: Audi creates the best version of the design that changed the company forever".

As a farewell to the legend­ary existing design, Audi introduced the TT quattro Sport in March at the Geneva show. Emphasis here is on lighter weight, greater power and torque, the overall appearance and drive characteristics. It’s a simple recipe for sure, but this TT is something special.

Working with the base 1.8-liter turbo coupe with quattro, Audi nudged horsepower up from 222 hp to 237 hp at 5900 rpm and bumped the torque rating from 207 lb-ft to 236 lb-ft between 2300 and 5000 rpm. Engineers also managed to peel 165 pounds off the car. Based on the new curb weight of 3065 pounds, the power-to-weight ratio is just 12.9 pounds per hp vs. the standard car’s 14.5 pounds per pony.

The handsome S-line package skirts the lower part of the TT quattro Sport, with slightly firmer suspension and 15-spoke, 18-inch forged alumi­num wheels with 235/40 tires. The Sport gets a pronounced rear spoiler and a two-tone paint scheme.

And you’ll need to hold things down. Driving this tight little TT brings out the celebration in any road. We felt the road-hugging solidness of the car only 500 yards away from the train station. We simply knew right away this is one of the best two-seaters ever; it’s a pity we didn’t get this five or six years ago—and that the United States will not get this model at all.

This article is definitely a must read for all Audi TT enthusiasts, and after reading it, we all are!
Thanks Matt for this great review.

Source: AutoWeek

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Audi: Celebrating Landmark Anniversary at Goodwood

Audi celebrates a landmark anniversary at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next weekend (24-26 June) with a fitting reunion. One of the world’s greatest rally drivers, Hannu Mikkola, will be reunited at the annual speed event with a car that changed the face of the sport forever.

In October 1980, the “Flying Finn” tested an Audi quattro rally car for the very first time in public - a prelude to the remarkable 25 rally championship titles won worldwide by Audi between 1981 and ’85. Mikkola will drive that very same pioneering Audi quattro, which rattled the sport to its core, at a motorsport event for the first time since the Portugal test 25 years ago.

The Audi, which has been beautifully restored by Manchester-based quattro enthusiast John Hanlon, changed the face of rallying forever. Whether on dry or wet tarmac roads, snow and ice or indeed muddy forest stages, four-wheel-drive rally cars became the norm the world over and to this day still dominate the sport.

The most successful modern day sportscar in recent times, the actual 2005 Le Mans race winning Audi R8, will be on display throughout the three-day event. Now a five-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Audi R8 has scored an incredible 54 outright race wins from 66 starts. Furthermore, an Audi R8 has never retired from a race with mechanical problems since its race debut in March 2000. Since 2001, the R8 has benefited from FSI, direct fuel injection, offering crucial petrol saving characteristics - like the quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system, a technical innovation that is now commonplace throughout Audi’s product range.

Please check also the official website of the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Source: Fourtitude

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Audi TT: test drive

ForbesAutos has a test drive of the Audi TT with the title "Forever young?".
Although we have our doubts about some of ForbesAutos opinions and so-called "tests", we do not want to hide this test drive from you.

With its rounded body and handsome, aluminum-trimmed interior, Audi's TT remains fresh even without a major redesign since its 2000 debut. The high beltline and symmetrical curves make it look something like a modern-day Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 1960s.

They also have a short questionnaire on the second page, if the Audi TT is for you.
And again, they compare a classic design beauty like the Audi TT, which is already called a future classic car, with cars like the Honda S2000 or the Infinity G35 Coupé. Truly unbelievable in my opinion, but please make your own mind ...

Source: ForbesAutos

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Audi: new models confirmed!

The German internet newspaper "Netzeitung" is reporting that according to one of Germany's most important car magazine, the "Automobilwoche", Audi boss Dr. Martin Winterkorn confirmed that Audi is working on 3 new models:


1. the Audi A3 convertible


2. the Audi A5 Coupé


3. a compact SUV, known as the Audi Q5

Dr. Winterkorn is also quoted that "Audi shall be the leading premium brand by end of this decade".
Good news for all Audi lovers!

Source: Netzeitung, Automobilwoche (only in German)

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VW Beetle: Is Herbie really fully loaded?

Inside Line is asking the question if Herbie, a well-known VW Beetle, is really fully loaded.

But where in the pantheon of great car flicks does something like
Herbie: Fully Loaded fit? Should we immediately dismiss the too-cute VW as Disney Kid's stuff or is there a place for the lovable Love Bug in the who's who of hot movie cars?

Check some of the original Herbie movies and you'll quickly learn that the diminutive Beetle has been racking up kills on unsuspecting Vettes, Ferraris, Maseratis and the occasional Apollo 5000GT (a.k.a. the Thorndyke Special) since the heyday of TransAm racing. Sure, it's mostly movie magic, but just the thought of a '60s-era VW bug passing an AC Cobra is entertaining on so many levels.

But words can't really communicate the nature of such a car, so we've compiled a series of photos of the real Herbie in action. We've included original artist sketches and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos as well as promotional stills from the actual film. If you don't think a little VW with a silly name can be taken seriously as a performance car, you'll want to check out these pics.

And if you still can't get enough Herbie, we've also provided a short behind-the-scenes video courtesy of Disney Pictures. This video includes commentary from some of the actors and the director of the film. They've also included a look at how NASCAR played a major role in the movie.

They also have some great pictures and a short "behind-the-scenes"-movie. Check it out!

Source: Inside Line

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VW: Carlos Sainz will drive the Paris-Dakar rallye

According to German's top car magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" the Spanish race legend Carlos Sainz will drive this year's Paris-Dakar rallye for Volkswagen in a VW Race Touareg.
Carlos Sainz was rallye world champion of 1990 and 1992. His navigator is supposed to be Andreas Schulz, who is respected as an expert for this job also.

VW will start with at least 4 Race Touareg this year. The Race Touareg will get a facelift and also two turbochargers for the 5 cylinder diesel engine.

Source: Auto Motor und Sport (only in German)

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VW Touareg: Preparing for the DARPA challenge

As mentioned earlier, the Stanford University is using