The German "Presseportal" of "News aktuell" is reporting that the Audi A8 W12 and Audi A3 Sportback 3.2 quattro will play a significant role in the movie "Transporter 2".
The Audi A8 W12 is playing a key role as luxury and sporty transportation for the movie's main character, agent Frank Martin, played by British actor Jason Statham. Statham is known from movies like "Snatch", "The Italian Job" and "Cellular".

The Audi A3 Sportback 3.2 quattro will be driven by female main actress Amber Valetta, known for example from "Hitch".

"Transporter 2" will come to cinemas in France at 3rd August, Germany at 1st September and in the US at 2nd September 2005.

In the meantime please watch the trailer.

It's also said that Audi will start an own microsite for the movie, starting from end of August. You will find it here www.audi.com/transporter2.

Source: News aktuell (only in German), picture by Fourtitude

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German speaking "Presseportal" has an article about a Herbie parade in Berlin (see picture below).
The parade was held due to the German premiere of the movie "Herbie: Fully reloaded" with Lindsay Lohan.

Watch the trailer here.

Some great cars were participating in the parade:
For example the last of 21.529.464 ever produced VW Beetles, many rare cars from the 50's and a whole bunch of type 1200 and 1302 VW Beetles from the early 70's.
There was also a unique New Beetle Pick-Up. About one third were VW New Beetles with a strong share of convertibles.



Source: News aktuell (only in German), pictures by Disney and Presseportal

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German newspaper "RP Online" is citing "Automobilwoche" that VW is planning to build a factory in Russia (Moscow area) in cooperation with Czech carmaker Skoda.
For Wolfgang Bernhard this is a top priority project and the first cars shall be produced from middle of 2007. A total of 200.000 cars is planned so far.

Source: RP Online (only in German), picture by AFP and flaggen-server.de

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The editors of the Austrian website "Salzburg.at" had the chance to test drive the Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro for full two weeks! How lucky they are.
Of course they wrote a review about it and they also produced a video which can be watched here.
Their summary: A great car close to perfection!

Source: Salzburg.at (only in German)

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CNet has a video review of the VW Touareg. Worth to watch!

Source: CNet, picture by Volkswagen

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The German Car Blog is featured on iLounge, formerly known as iPodlounge, an independent provider of information about Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod digital audio players, accessories, and related software.
They covered our story about the VW Golf getting iPod'ed, even if they cite "Jalopnik", who also covered our story, and not us directly.
Please come here straight next time, guys!

Source: iLounge

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If you have a mobile phone which is able to play realtones, like mp3, this news is for you!

Audi is offering two new DTM engine sound ringtones in their "Mobile Services" section.
Just follow the link and then choose "Audi DTM 1" or "Audi DTM 2".

I am not sure if this is working outside of Germany, please try. Sounds are great!

Source: Audi

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Audi launched a new functionality called "modelfinder" last night on their German website.
The modelfinder works as an overview of Audi's model range including their price categories, so you can see which model fits to you best.
If you click on a model you can choose if you want to be guided to the car configurator, to the new car stock, to the pre-owned stock or to the company car stock. You can even get more information about your chosen model by clicking on that link.

This functionality is one more time outstanding and a great added value to the website. The Audi website already received many awards for its design, service, handling and speed. I am sure this new feature will lead to even more credits.

Here is how to reach the Audi modelfinder:
Go to www.audi.de, click on "Neuwagen" in the navigation menu and then you will see "Modellfinder" at the right bottom.

Source: Audi

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Abercrombie & Kent, the original luxury travel company, is offering Audi customers a special offer for exceptional travel experiences.

Now, when you book a holiday with Abercrombie & Kent by December 31, 2005,
you'll receive $225 off your companion's itinerary. To take advantage of this offer,
contact A&K at 800-554-7016 and mention promotion code 6008AUDI.

Source: Abercrombie & Kent

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"Auto Motor und Sport" has an article about an enhanced version of the Audi A8 done by JE Design.
This is worldwide the first tuning which offers a complete package for the Audi A8, even chip tuning for the 4.2 TDI V8 is under construction. After the tuning the Audi A8 4.2 TDI V8 will have 390 nhp instead of 321 bhp. And even before the tuning this engine is already the most powerful diesel engine in the world!

Of course there is also some optical tuning including 19 inch alloy rims with 255/40 wheels and four pipes as you can see on the pictures.



Source: Auto Motor und Sport (only in German)

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Enthusiasts from as far away as the USA are expected when Audi quattro fans descend on Ingolstadt for the world’s biggest quattro meeting from 5 to 7 August. About 900 participants in 450 Audi quattro vehicles have registered and are due to arrive on the Piazza at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt, from Friday morning onwards. The motor sport meeting is a particular highlight of the Audi Club International (ACI) event. Backed by Audi Tradition, three-times Le Mans winner Frank Biela and topical Le Mans winner Marco Werner will complete several demonstration laps of the Audi car park P 10 in four superb racing cars from Audi’s sporting history. Audi rally cars from all stages of development, which are being brought along to the meeting in Ingolstadt by private collectors, can also be seen in action.

The highlight of the event is the excursion on Saturday, 6 August. Participants will leave the Piazza at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt from 8.00 a.m. The route will take them through the Altmühltal, Germany’s biggest nature park. Passing through Pfünz, Kipfenberg, Beilngries and Dietfurt, the quattro convoy will head to Riedenburg, where participants will board ships for a trip on the Rhine-Main-Danube canal while enjoying a relaxing lunch. Then it’s back via Altmannstein to Ingolstadt, where the Le Mans winners will be waiting. At 4.30 p.m., Frank Biela and Marco Werner will rev up the engines one by one of the Audi 200 quattro TransAm (1988), the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO (1989), the Audi V8 quattro DTM from 1990 and the Audi A4 STW, which won seven national championships in 1996. Also appearing: the Audi racing cars from the legendary rally era 1981 to 1987, which produced two driver’s and two manufacturer’s world championship titles. After the demonstration laps on Audi car park P10 at the Logistics Centre (GVZ), participants are invited to a party at the Audi Forum. On Sunday, 7 August, the quattro community will meet for a traditional Bavarian white sausage breakfast before saying their farewells.

The four rings of the Audi badge symbolise the brands Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer, which were later combined under the umbrella of Auto Union. Auto Union and NSU, which merged in 1969, made many significant contributions towards the development of the car. AUDI AG was formed from Audi NSU Auto Union AG in 1985. Together with the two traditional companies Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH, Audi Tradition nurtures and presents the deep and diverse history of Audi. The Audi museum mobile at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt is open from Monday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Source: Fourtitude

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In its 4th part of the Bike Week Fourtitude is writing about Philadelphia-based company Christini which is pioneering a 2-wheeled AWD, following the example of Audi's famous quattro drive.

It’s no surprise, most Audi owners and enthusiasts understand and value of all-wheel drive. When quattro burst onto the scene in the early eighties, it took the world by storm and allowed the cars fitted with it to seemingly break the laws of physics. Since then, all-wheel drive in automobiles has become a “must have” option on many high-performance cars. Still, when thinking of all-wheel drive, most don’t think of the bicycle or motorcycle. That’s not so with Steve Christini.

Regarding the Audi frame, Steve would only say that Audi had been evaluating the technology. The frame had been sent to Christini to see how difficult it would be to add the system to the Audi design. The answer was that the frame was suitable, and it could be done relatively easily.

Will there be an all-wheel drive Audi mountain bike? Christini wasn’t sure. Talks on the project had stalled from what we could tell from his response.

Source: Fourtitude

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GermanCarFans has an in depth report about the new VW Passat Wagon, known as VW Passat Variant.

New Passat Variant: Not speedier, but safer, bigger, more comfortable and friendlier
New Passat Variant: Professional functionality packaged in a compelling design

Volkswagen presents the new Passat Variant. The sixth generation of this bestseller estate car is due to be launched in Germany on August 19, followed by its introduction in many other European markets in September and then in the markets of North America and Japan in Spring 2006. For 43 years now, the term variant has been the renowned worldwide trademark for Volkswagen estate car models around the globe. The original variant was given the simple name of Type 1500. Eleven years on/later, Volkswagen presented the first of 4.3 million Passat produced to date under the variant label. It was this automobile which catapulted the estate class to the top of the European buyer market. And its boom continues.

Source: GermanCarFans

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German website "Auto News" is reporting that VW is eqipping the VW Golf with an optional iPod interface.
The Apple iPod is going to be stored in the center console and you can operate it via the multifunctional steering wheel.
The iPod interface is compatible with the iPod and iPod mini and ready to order from today for a price starting at 195 Euro (only available for the VW Golf and VW Golf GTI).

Source: Auto News (only in German)

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Volkswagen won a bunch of awards at the International Automotive Advertising Awards.
Here is just a short list:
Gold: Passenger cars/Luxury - Print, Publications - Special Event Marketing, Interactive Media Microsite.
In addition they received several "silver" and "bronze" awards. Please see the full list at http://www.iaaawards.com/.

Source: The International Automotive Advertising Awards

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Volkswagen just opened a microsite for the upcoming VW Cabrio, also known as Concept C, under the name "es geht auch beides", which means literally "you can have both".
The website is asking the question: "Why you have always have to decide?". With the new VW Cabrio you can have both, a coupé and a convertible.
If you register on the microsite Volkswagen will keep you up to date until the official release of the VW Cabrio at the IAA in Frankfurt.

Source: Volkswagen (only in German)

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According to a survey by "Automobile News" American teenagers like the VW cars and think they are "cool". VW, Jeep, Porsche and Scion are seen as trendsetters.
On the other side Buick, Oldsmobile, Lincoln and Mercury are oldfashioned.
People between 16 and 24 years have been asked.
Unfortunately there is no link provided.

Source: Der Spiegel (only in German), picture by Volkswagen

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In part 3 of the Fourtitude "Bike Week" you can read about current offers of Audi's quattro GmbH.

Mention the name “quattro GmbH” to most American Audi enthusiasts in these post-RS 6 days and you’ll no longer drum up a quizzical look. This small division of Audi is responsible for special edition models like the aforementioned RS 6, the upcoming RS 4 and European market A4 DTM models to name just a few. In addition to these special cars quattro GmbH is also responsible for a seemingly endless palette of interior options and upgrades for tailoring an Audi to specific desires at a price. Still, those with knowledge of this division of delights from Audi might be surprised to know that quattro GmbH is also behind the design and manufacture of Audi-branded bicycles, though it will probably come as no surprise that these non-motorized Audis are far from pedestrian.

Source: Fourtitude

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Germany based tuner B&B is offering a power tuning kit for the VW Touareg V6 3.0 TDI.
This kit includes an engine tuning to 275 bhp with 550 Nm torque or even 300 bhp with 600 Nm torque. The kits are available for up to 5.998 Euro.
In addition you can order a body styling kit (see pictures) for between 3.298 Euro and 6.998 Euro.



Source: Auto-News (only in German)

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German magazine "Der Spiegel" had the chance to make a test drive with the new VW Passat Wagon at Frankfurt airport.
There is no big news in there, but they seem to be quiet impressed by the quality and noble appearance.



Source: Der Spiegel (only in German)

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At Audi, TT stands for pure driving pleasure. Both the Coupé and Roadster have fascinated drivers since their launch with their agility and revolutionary design. Audi is now injecting new power into its sports car. In future, the two 1.8 T engines will deliver an output of 163 bhp (120 kW) and 190 bhp (140 kW). Their torque will also be boosted to 225 Nm and 240 Nm respectively.

Performance has also improved as a result of this increased power output. The
1.8 T Coupé with 190 bhp engine accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and touches a top speed of 234 km/h. The 163 bhp version reaches 224 km/h. Despite their additional power, the average fuel consumption of all models remains unchanged.

Audi is offering the two new engine versions for both the Coupé and the Roadster. The more powerful version is available in addition with quattro permanent
four-wheel drive and tiptronic.

Despite their improved performance, the prices of both models remain unchanged: the Audi TT Coupé is available from € 28.000, the Roadster starts at € 29.400.

With its puristic design, exclusive technology and extraordinary performance potential, the Audi TT has made its mark worldwide and has received a large number of design awards.

Source: Fourtitude, picture by Audi of America

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Please try our new survey on the right side.
This week's question: Should Audi produce motorcycles again?

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This is how an Audi motorcycle might look like, at least if it comes to Bertrand Bach, an individual designer.

The Motorcycle business and lifestyle are hot. Hit the road on any weekend and you’ll see droves of two-wheelers on the highways and byways. Knowing that, and knowing Audi/Auto Union’s own history for motorcycles, an obvious and immediate flow of thought goes to what a modern Audi motorcycle would be like. What would happen if you applied the ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’ (translated: 'Lead Through Technology') mantra to this different form of transportation? It is just that question that vehicle designer Bertrand Bach set about answering with the design you see here.

Bach cited the Audi TT as an inspiration for the work, utilizing a similar approach to clean and strong design that is also carries an emotional element due, as he explains, “to the balance of the volumes.” He also tops this off with another characteristic element of the TT – that of beautifully detailed design elements.

Note the winglets on the sides of the fuel tank – a perfect place for the Audi brand logo of four interlocking rings, while on top of the tank a TT-inspired alloy filler cap is displayed.

Puuh, I wish we will build motorcycles some day again, in memory of good ol' times but with designs like this. Would be great! What do you think?

Source: Fourtitude

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