Labels: The German Car Blog

iAfrica thinks the Saab wins. They critique the Audi, suggesting the quattro drivetrain makes it less responsive than its rivals. Being an African-oriented review (not so many cold climates where quattro would help on a non high-performance model), and that the Saab's turbocharged, more efficient 4-cylinder is well-liked, one wonders why they didn't compare a 1.8T Front Trak version of the A4.

Labels: Audi

In order to meet a wider range of customer requests, Audi now offers a number of features for “sold orders” only. This means that customers who place an order with the dealer and are prepared to wait for it can select from a broader palette of options and colors depending on the model.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

All new Audi models will now carry DataDot VIN-based microdots, following its successful implementation in October last year on all A6 and A8 models.

All Audi models feature high levels of active and passive safety, however vehicle security is also becoming increasingly important during customer purchase consideration, says Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann.

“The safety of our customers is extremely important. Not only from an occupant protection perspective, but also in terms of vehicle security, giving our drivers peace of mind that their vehicle is hard to steal,” Mr Hofmann said.

For this reason, numerous vehicle safety and security features including DataDot microdot identification are now standard specification across the Audi range, including deadlocks on all doors, speed-activated central locking, safety central locking (two-stage unlocking) and an engine immobiliser system.

All Audi vehicles are delivered to customers with the automatic activation of the company’s speed-sensitive central security locking system which is automatically engaged at 15 km/h and remains locked until the key is removed from the ignition.

Labels: Audi

Leading turbocharger company Turbo Dynamics reveals that turbos for the VAG group head the best selling list.

Everything from early Golf models right through to the current Volkswagen and Audi ranges SEAT cars and Skodas, including diesel versions, have been enhanced by Turbo Dynamics.

Petrol and diesel cars can all benefit from a hybrid turbo developed by Turbo Dynamics with the Golf TDi the most popular diesel car to modify as owners look to take the combination of economy and performance to new levels.

Labels: Audi, VW

The A3's cabin, by contrast, is a whisper of Teutonic restraint. At the moment, Audi's perfectly executed and brilliantly designed interiors are arguably the best in the business. Heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, satellite radio, multifunction steering wheel, onboard navigation, and many other niceties lend the A3's cabin a feel comparable to that of a car costing twice as much. It's a more refined set of surroundings than the Mini, and a bit larger too. (Various versions of the A3 have been available internationally for a decade, but when Audi brought the car Stateside to compete with the Mini in the premium compact category, it tugged the tail a bit and sneaked two extra doors onto the body.) Good rule of thumb: If your kid is under 6 feet tall, go with the Mini; if over, get the Audi.

The A3, on the other hand, is a wonder. Audi dropped its new 200-hp turbocharged engine into the vehicle, and the power plant makes use of something Audi terms Fuel Stratified Injection, which basically means that gas is fired directly into the combustion chamber, allowing a precise air-to-fuel mixture and greatly improving efficiency and power. Next, Audi supplied the A3 with a revolutionary gearbox -- lifted from its racing fleet. Called Direct Shift Gearbox, it is a dual-clutch system that allows the transmission to preselect anticipated gears while the current one is engaged, and then shift instantaneously as required. The system is wildly complex, but the result is all that matters: The A3 shifts faster and more smoothly than any car I've tested. By marrying FSI and DSG (plus a few other things like electromechanical steering and electronic stability control), Audi has created an entry-level vehicle that speeds through its paces as well as most supercars. At any point on my ersatz racecourse -- even heading straight up the steeps -- I could mash the gas and the A3's torque chirped the wheels, shoved me deep into the driver's seat, and tumbled the hapless dog against the hatchback.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: VW

So the new Jetta uses the excellent Golf as a base, adds some useful extra space and a few more toys and is anticipated to cost only a few more notes more than Golf. Sounds like a good proposition. And it is, but the real difference with new Jetta is the way the car looks. No longer does the booted Golf look slightly short-arsed and rather inadequate, instead there’s a proper flow to the design. As the Passat has grown, now almost qualifying as a full size executive saloon, the Jetta has eagerly nipped into the space left behind.

Labels: VW

Volkswagen has just loosed its sixth-generation Passat on dealer showrooms across the country, and none too soon. The German automaker is in desperate need of a marketplace pick-me-up, and the Passat may prove the right prescription.

The Passat is as handsome a design as any hailing from Wolfsburg these days, with an even higher level of interior refinement than the VW norm—already the leader in the field—and a more elegantly shaped skin.

That added power and the extra cog were evident in our short suburban road drive in the new VW, putting the base Passat drive­train in the hunt with upscale V6 models of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Then again, neither the Camry nor Accord can run with the Passat. A V6-powered Camry ($20,915) is good for just 190 horses—10 shy of the base Passat. Honda’s $24,500 V6 Accord maxes out at 240 hp— respect­able, but still 40 horses shy of the six-cylinder Volkswagen.

Labels: VW

Inspired by sites such as The German Car Blog and a similar forum-based news listing at Fourtitude, AudiWorld is setting out to more comprehensively cover all the news out there via the Audi News Forum. Here we will aggregate many different news sources so that readers can come to one spot as a jumping off point.

Labels: The German Car Blog

TCC: How important is Audi's support?
Winkelmann:Without Audi, Lamborghini couldn't exist. They bring money and technology. Audi is becoming a more sporty brand because they are investing more in technology - technology that Lamborghini (otherwise) couldn't afford. We can benefit from these huge investments, but we must maintain the huge discipline that is the pillar of what Lamborghini stands for. Lamborghini is uncompromising, extraordinary - and Italian.

TCC: How is Audi's investment paying off?
Winkelmann: Lamborghini is 42 years old. For the first 40 years, we never sold more than 250 cars. In 2003, it rose to 1300 and last year 1600. We have decided to stay at the same volume this year.

Labels: Lamborghini

Held the weekend of August 19th-21st and centered around an autocross at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport, the get-together was designed to celebrate the older generations of Audis that tend to be forgotten by the public in view of the spectacular "A"-series cars produced from 1996 onward. Participants from Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts traveled to Cumberland to meet other Audi enthusiasts, see some excellent examples of classic Audi models, enjoy some great food, and most importantly, race!

Now in its second year, the Old School quattro gathering, originally organized by Cumberland resident Doug Macy, is a sub-event put on in cooperation with National Road Autosport, a local enthusiast club that runs several autocross events at the airport each year. OSq coincides with National Road's "Summer Sizzler" autocross in late August. In 2004 about 8 Audis attended the event, which is largely dominated by sports cars such as Porsches and Corvettes. This year the count was up to roughly a dozen on Saturday, with several more Audis arriving on Sunday. Some drivers stayed overnight to compete both days, while others limited themselves to just one day on the fast and smooth taxiways at Cumberland.

Labels: Audi

Labels: The German Car Blog

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Wheels can make one of the most significant and dramatic differences regarding the overall look of any car. For some car enthusiasts, stock wheels and tires might never be kept beyond the first full wearing of a set of tires. By then, they’re off to find something new to tailor the look of the car more to their tastes. When it comes time for tire replacement, that’s often the perfect opportunity to spend a bit more and get a nicer set of wheels to go along with the new shoes. The plans for Project TT were really no different, except that the TT's stock tires were already worn through to the cords the day it was driven it home.

Labels: Audi

As July waned this summer, Waterfest loomed ahead in the early stages of our S4 ownership. The S4 Cabriolet is no slouch, but its understated looks might easily be looked in an over-the-top event like Waterfest where some seriously modified cars fight for awards and attention on the grounds of New Jersey’s Raceway Park in, New Jersey. Fourtitude’s S4 was on the docket to do exhibition duty in the VWvortex / Fourtitude display at the event, and we didn’t want it to go overlooked. The show proved an excellent excuse to convince the keeper of the household budget that an upgrade of wheels and tires was “needed”.

Not intending to mess with the handsome Teutonic look of the S4 Cabriolet, we wanted a set of wheels that was more aggressive in appearance than the four subtle stock Avus alloys that came on the car, and yet maintained a “could be” factory look.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

To be sure, the A3 has all the class and charisma of larger Audis. And with prices that can hit well over $30,000 if lavishly equipped, it isn't exactly your bargain basement compact.

Inside, the A3 shows the usual Audi craftsmanship. Substantial, supportive bucket seats wrap around the shoulders and legs. The instruments, which are illuminated with Audi's trademark red lights, are legible and easily understood. And Audi provides plenty of nighttime illumination, even over the door handles, which are lit by tiny red lights.

The interior on my A3 had tasteful brushed aluminum touches throughout, and the legroom in the rear of the car was surprisingly generous, too.

But driving this car made up for any foibles. It's a powerful, silky, terrific handling auto that feels athletic and far lighter than it actually is. My version had a 255-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 that, according to Consumer Reports, has the best overall mileage -- 21 miles per gallon -- of a group of five distinguished sedans it tested.

Engine response is instantaneous. The only fly in the ointment for me was a steering system that was a touch too light and overassisted.

Standard equipment is generous, including four-wheel drive, a knob-operated drive interaction system that controls audio, navigation and other car settings and a full-complement of safety and convenience features.

Labels: Audi

Remember the late, great, inexpensive Audi Fox? In its salads days of the 1970s, the affordable Fox let the average Joe put a zippy Audi in his garage.

At $25,000, the A3 is one of the best cars Motor Mouth has ever driven in its price range. In fact, with few exceptions, this car is almost perfect. Its size is just right: big enough to carry passengers comfortably and store a few things in back, but small enough to whip around city streets. Inside, the A3 is sparse to the extreme - and beautiful because of it.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Well dressed, for sure, the allroad concept looked like a bejeweled production car when we met up with it in southern Florida. Its sheetmetal is clearly shared with the A6 Avant, making this concept car a more efficient buildup than the Pikes Peak and Magellan before it. However, looking closer, there are numerous exotic details, such as the carbon fiber used for the “soft” exterior pieces, from fascias to wheel arches.

Creating dazzling eyes, LED headlamps are fitted with the outer module comprised of 14 individual LEDs to generate Xenon-matching light. An inner module uses 10 LEDs for high beams. This approach creates not only a show-caliber look, but this engineering challenge delves in to the packaging efficiencies LEDs can offer. The polished grille will be black when it reaches production, but the decision is still being made on whether the protective wheel flares will be colored, or dark gray as on the current model.

Moving down the side, the skillfully crafted wheels have beautiful asymmetrical spokes. What appears to be center caps are actually independent lug nut covers that operate via remote control, fanning open like Dr. Octopus’ mechanized claws. While that mechanical indulgence is pure eye candy, the large vented discs portend of a future performance variant.

Labels: Audi

Well they say “the third time is a charm” and this time the number 3 has more significance than ever before. For me, this is the beginning of my third project car, which also just happens to be the all-new Audi A3. It’s Audi’s intent that this new 5-door A3 (a.k.a. A3 Sportback in Europe) will put the company on the map to a whole new world of buyers. A side of that which may not be intended is that of the aftermarket. The A3 is built on the company’s corporate A platform. When product planning comes to reality, this platform will play home to the TT as well as several Volkswagens, meaning the tuning aftermarket will be considerable and healthy. There’ll be plenty of ways to personalize and tune these cars to each owner’s preferences, and that’s a market we intend to explore.

The A3 is becoming quite a prominent car here at Fourtitude. The burgeoning “A3 8P” forum is filled with enthusiastic owners rabid to learn all they can about the new offering and what can be done to them. We’re listening to those ideas, and coming up with a few of our own and are excited about the potential for this new project. The market seems to be booming and we have some pretty cool thoughts to transform the A3 from an off-the-shelf hot hatch into a true performer and show stopper.

Labels: Audi

The 61st International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt starts in one month’s time where Volkswagen will be presenting a series of new models: 16 international and motor show premieres. The highlight is the debut of the Cabriolet, which manages to join opposites with its new roof system. In addition Volkswagen is presenting the successor of the Golf R32 and the new Golf GT, which marks the start of a new engine generation due to its dual charged FSI engine. Also in Frankfurt: new versions of the Caddy, Touran, Sharan, Passat, Multivan, Touareg and Phaeton.

Labels: VW

The 2006 GLI is Volkswagen’s answer to drivers who seek the sporty attitude, style and driving dynamics of an Autobahn-bred performance sedan with the everyday practicality of a large four-door compact, all at a solid Volkswagen value that offers a lot of car for the money.

The heart of the 2006 GLI is Volkswagen’s new and highly regarded 2.0 T turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower at 5,500 to 6,000 revolutions per minute and 207 ft.-lbs. of torque from 1,800 to 4,700 rpm. With a standard six-speed manual transmission, the new GLI accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.7 seconds.

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: The German Car Blog

Audi rally fans pay attention: The legendary films of AUDI’s Group B rally era in the 1980’s is now available for the first time on DVD. The original films of Helmut Deimel were digitally remastered and are now available in the Museum Shop of AUDI’s Museum Mobile in Ingolstadt, on the Internet at the shop’s website (www.audi.de/museumshop) or on the Museum Shop’s ebay store (http://members.ebay.de/aboutme/audi_museumsshop).

Thus far there are two DVDs: “quattro, The Rally Films 1981 ( "Victory of an Idea“) and 1982 ("The World Champion“ Show Highlight 1); "quattro Highlight 2, The 1983 Season ("Marathonspring“) and 1984 ("The Large Double“). More will follow. Each DVD is approximately 60 minutes long and is priced at 25 Euros.

Labels: Audi

Body kits can be a double-edged sword. From the enthusiast standpoint, they can make a car look much more aggressive and really set it apart from the crowd. From the non-enthusiast side, they can make a car more difficult to park around curbs and equally difficult to move upon resale. I’ve always preferred a more subtle look from my own cars, explained as the OEMplus design philosophy (OEMplus was a recent focus in my 'From the Armchair column on VWvortex.com. With subtlety preferred but the black trimmed bumpers of our 2002 A4 Avant staring me in the face, it seemed to me that going with the OEM S4 body kit was the way to go.
Why not the UltraSport body kit? For those less in the know on Audi model package lingo, the UltraSport was an equipment and appearance package available during the later production years of the B6 A4. In Europe, this body kit was used on S-line appearance packages for the A4 during those years. Rather than full bumper covers, the kit replaced only the black trim areas of our bumpers with a more aggressive front and rear design and added door wings more aggressive than the standard A4, though not as pronounced as those on the S4. Pricing out the kits, the difference was negligible, so I opted for the S4 kit that I preferred and that I thought would be more exclusive.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

The special vehicles were handed over at the Archbishop's Residence in Cologne during the World Youth Day. The first vehicle is to be deployed in Rome as the Vatican's official ambulance, while the second is to be used at a Catholic mission in Africa.

The ambulances are LT 35 high roof panel vans manufactured by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and powered by 158 hp, 2.8 litre diesel engines. The vehicles have been equipped to the Vatican's own specification and include extensive medical apparatus.

Labels: VW

The systems Bosch supplies for the new Audi Q7 include the optimised adaptive cruise control ACCplus and the innovative, forward-looking safety system called Predictive Collision Warning. Drivers of the new luxury SUV can thus benefit from an immediately perceivable increase in safety and comfort.

Labels: Audi

udi of America continued to celebrate the 25 Years of quattro anniversary and planned a number of activities at one of the premiere automotive events in the world to help mark this historic milestone.

Beginning at Gordon McCall’s “Motorworks Revival” event on Wednesday, August 17th, Audi displayed the A8 L W12 and all-aluminum spaceframe. Audi’s top of the line flagship model comes standard with quattro all-wheel drive system and was the first vehicle to showcase Audi’s new design language, the single frame grille.

The weekend activity continued on Friday, August 19th with an Audi display at “The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.” With a focus on performance, one of the benefits of quattro, Audi debuted a limited edition S4 created to commemorate 25 years of developing the all-wheel drive technology. In addition to the S4 25quattro debut, Audi also displayed the RS 6 Competition which competed in the Speed World Challenge racing series, the RS 4 pace car that was used at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, a new 2006 A6 Avant (on sale in July) and the A8 L W12.

On Sunday, August 20th the 55th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance showcased many historic vehicles including one special highlight, a 1929 Audi Imperator. The beautifully restored eight-cylinder, 100 horsepower Imperator, is owned by AUDI AG and carries an open touring body and is painted in its original brown hue.

Labels: Audi

VW's chief executive, Wolfgang Bernhard, confirmed the car has been given the green light during a dealer conference in America. Salesmen were even shown a top-secret picture of the model, which will sit between the Passat saloon and the flagship Phaeton.

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: The German Car Blog

The AUDI Imperator, also known as the AUDI Type R, will take part in the most reknowned automotive beauty competition in the United States of America – the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.

This first 8-Cylinder AUDI in the history of the company will debut August 21, 2005 in California.

The AUDI Imperator comes fresh from ist recent presentation in Lorbeeren. A few weeks ago the 1929 AUDI also won the Concours D’Elegance of Cranbrook in Michigan. The vehicle has ist work cut out for it, following last year’s "Best of Show“ at Pebble Beach won by an Auto Union vehicle – a rare 1938 Horch 853A Erdmann and Rossi Sport Cabriolet.

The AUDI Imperator is rarer still – there is only one in the world. In 2003, the car was restored by AUDI Tradition.

The Nearly 17-foot long vehicle was discovered near the end of the 1990’s in Saxonia and acquired by AUDI Tradition.

Only 145 Imperators were built and sold over the years, with 100-hp being produced by its 5-liter engine.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

While last Saturday’s UK round of the Le Mans Endurance Series saw the Silverstone circuit briefly masquerade as a canal, multi-million-pound rear-wheel-drive sports prototypes struggled to keep pace with the Audi A6 safety car, which was completely unfazed thanks to its advanced quattro four-wheel-drive system.

The 335PS, V8-powered A6 4.2 quattro carried on regardless through the vast pools of standing water and driving, horizontal rain that conspired to create conditions described by Audi racer Allan McNish as the most difficult and challenging of his racing career. The Audi RS 4 quattro and A6 4.2 quattro Safety Cars were called into action on an unprecedented number of occasions – so many in fact that one of them was in the lead for almost half of the 5 hour and 50 minute race duration.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

A day following Audi's initial info blitz, the company has released several more photos of its upcoming Q7. Further details of the SUV, destined for debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show, can be seen in these new images, specifically of the interior. Expect full coverage of the SUV's launch, live from Frankfurt in September.

Labels: Audi

Straight out of the gate and I've stalled the Apollo because it has a clutch that's as progressive as someone snatching their hand from a Bunsen burner.

I fumble for the start button among the shotgun-blast of toggle switches on the dash, before firing the Audi 4.2 V8 back up and piling on the revs to pull away.

I pray my passenger can't see me gurning with the effort of balancing 650bhp on the see-saw of 1,150kg and rear tyres the width of industrial lawn rollers. It's not pretty, but we're still going in the same direction - and nobody is screaming. Not yet.

Everything's gone 'whooshy'. I swear there's a place where your vision goes black-and-white in order to create the resolution necessary to stop you becoming a carbon-fibre mosaic on the nearest tree, and it's fair to say that the extra gumption feels beefy.

It's provided by a pair of turbos the size of footballs, and the thrust surfs the Apollo along the scarred dual carriageway outside Stoke Poges like a supersonic tidal bore.

Labels: Audi

The life and times of a 2006 model year Audi A3 Sportback named Claudia3. She was born in Germany and is being raised in the USA.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Audi designers opted for a radical redesign that adopts the brand's new family "face" -- a yawning grille, new clear-glass headlights and creases in the hood that give the car a "power bulge."

There is no male/female split here on whether the Germans did the right thing with the 2005 A4, which debuted in March. To us, the design is a hands-down winner, cutting across gender lines to score a slam dunk.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

BorgWarner has been awarded two new European programs with two new customers for its fuel-efficient DualTronic(TM) transmission technology. The programs, which start production in 2007, are for vehicle types that range from compact and mid-sized to luxury passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles. Combined annual production is expected to be 600,000 units at full production volumes.

"Adding business with new DualTronic(TM) customers is an integral part of BorgWarner's growth strategy," said Tim Manganello, BorgWarner Chairman and CEO. "Having demonstrated the technology's popularity with VW/Audi and the drivers of its vehicles, I'm pleased to announce that two new customers will be using DualTronic(TM) for new transmission programs. We are delighted to see the momentum for this technology continuing to build, and to bring its benefits to two new customers who value fuel economy and an exceptional driving experience."

Labels: Audi, VW

The side impact test has provided the proof. The patented LSD wing door hinge system – whose mechanism allows the wing doors to open sideways and then to swing upwards – provides an optimum level of safety in the event of a side impact. The test was conducted in accordance with Directives ECE- R 95 and 96/27/EC which is applicable for automotive producers.
The DEKRA Accident Research and Crash Test Center has confirmed that equipping a vehicle with LSD wing doors provides the required level of protection and ensures optimum occupant safety. The side impact test conducted confirms that the maximum permissible loading values for occupant dummies even fall short by a significant amount.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Which brings us right to the 2002 Audi TT of Juan Nunez of Coconut Creek, Florida. Juan fell in love the TT right when his eyes connected with the low roofline and the futuristicly styled interior. He knew the TT wasn’t a kid’s car and would be a great candidate to show all the typical BMW owners in his area that this car was a capable alternative to their roundel-snouted status symbols. His mind started spinning right away thinking of what he could modify on the car while still keeping the car 100% Audi TT.

Juan likes his cars like he likes his women. Smooth, sexy, sleek and with gobs of horsepower. The latter description doesn’t really work with a woman, but Juan refused to back down from his statement. Which makes it a good thing he already found his wife Karina. She loves to tag along to car shows and clean tires just about as much as Juan does.

As you are reading this, Juan has already changed just about everything on the car but the wheels. The reincarnation of this TT will be better than ever, consisting of more suede, more horsepower, more shine, and a different aTTitude than you are used to from Juan Nunez’s Audi TT.

Oh, and on a side note. Juan wanted everyone to know that his TT recently weighed in at just a hair under three thousand pounds. It’s wide, but it's not fat.

Labels: Audi

In addition to the S1, five additional ex-factory Audi quattro rally cars were on display and in competition at Castle Combe. These included the original Audi quattro rally car tested by Hannu Mikkola in October of 1980 – a car that is now owned by audi enthusiast John Hanlon from Manchester.

Hanlon also brought out an ex-Mikkola 1983 Audi quattro A2 “Tour de Corse” from his impressive collection.

Other notable racecars include an ex-Röhrl 1985 Monte Carlo Rally Audi Sport quattro, a 1986 Hong Kong-Beijing Audi quattro A2 and the Audi Coupé quattro in which Llewellin placed sixth on the 1987 Network Q Rally, now owned by Dave Preece.

Labels: Audi

Volkswagen is bringing the new Jetta to Europe. The fifth generation of the saloon also sees the company introduce a standard name for all markets across the globe. In Germany / Europe, the Bora will therefore be called the Jetta again. It has more space to offer for long journeys than ever before. Compared with the Bora, the length of the new Jetta has grown around 18 centimetres to 4.55 metres. It also has an impressive 527-litre boot (plus 72 litres). This combination definitely works. In the USA, for example, the Jetta has managed to secure the position of best-selling car among all European manufacturers year after year.

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Audi's A3 three-door has been upgraded to bring it in line with the A3 Sportback, launched here in July, and a new 147 kW 2.0T FSI engine has been introduced.

The A3 now has Audi's trademark single-frame grille – mirrored inside, of course, by a new-generation steering wheel with trapezoidal boss. Audi SA now also offers the sporty S line exterior package for the three-door, as well as a new selection of 17 and 18" inch alloy rims.

Labels: Audi

Labels: The German Car Blog

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Normally, when someone builds a prodigiously powerful V8 diesel, they take it to a boatyard and bolt it to the back of a powerboat. It's the right and sensible thing to do.

But in this case there was clearly an embarrassing mix-up, possibly involving the word 'flagship'.

You see when Audi's finest engineers created a 321bhp engine with enough torque to lug an oil rig off its moorings, instead of installing it in some kind of high-performance motor launch, some chump got the wrong idea and dropped it into a high-end executive car by mistake.

Red faces all round. And that, car fans, is the true story of how Audi's A8 4.2 TDI came to be the most powerful diesel production car in the world. Only, of course, it isn't. It happened because Audi wanted to be the first German manufacturer to bring an überdiesel saloon to the diesel-hungry British market.

Labels: Audi

Volkswagen’s Phaeton with its 6,000㏄ capacity and 12 cylinder engine headed sales of luxury import cars last month.

The market, however, is tiny. The Korean Imports and Distributors Association said Monday six Phaeton W12 6.0 models, five Audi A8 6.0, four Mercedes-Benz S600 and three BMW 760Li were sold in July.

Volkswagen said sales contracts for the Phaeton altogether reached 210 units since the model was launched last April, while 21 Phaeton W12 6.0s were sold from April through July, second only to the 25 Audi A8 6s.

Labels: VW

Performance is a big part of Audi, UK’s business. This geographically small market constantly brawls with the United States over the number two position in cars sold for Audi, often second only to Germany. Further, in a land where roads can be awful, large wheels are typical equipment on cars and seemingly there are large secret societies of ownership for the plentiful TT models and the UrQuattro before that. It didn’t surprise us then, when Audi UK announced RS 4 pricing almost immediately after the car was first shown last fall in Geneva. It seems our UK compatriots have gone one step further, this week releasing a 14-page PDF file that includes pricing, specs, options and equipment list.

This list is for the UK market, and as such is subject to change for other markets, including the United States.

For the United States, we know that the Recaro seat option will be the only seat option due to side-impact airbag requirements for North America. North American cars will also get the market’s specific center console and, as such, will delete the console-mounted starter button.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

The car is longer and wider than the current model, so it'll be roomier inside, and it features Audi's new family "face" with the now familiar deep grille. Styling is more angular than the current rounded model, with sharply sculpted side panels.

Both roadster and coupe versions of the new TT are expected to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year. The car will feature new engines, with the 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine being replaced by the 2.0-liter turbo power plant from the VW Golf GTI. The V6 TT will have the same 3.2-liter V6 as at present, but mated to the two-pedal DSG transmission on top-line models.

Labels: Audi

The group's task over 13 months is to determine VW's vehicle needs in the United States as well as to understand this market. Moonraker consists of 22 Germans and an American.

VW says the group's goal is "to draw up a vehicle and business concept for the American market that would boost volume, earnings and brand reputation."

The longer term results could change the way VW develops vehicles.

VW says it's too early to have Moonraker members talk to the press. But the company says team members must "detect forthcoming trends, experience the customer's demands directly and draw conclusions from them as to the direction project development must take."

The team is based near Malibu, Calif., and is traveling through the country making extended stays in various locations.

Labels: VW

Audi’s middleweight A6 sedan scored an “Excellent” rating in the September issue of Consumer Reports, ranking second in a comparison of new top-rated luxury sedans priced around $50,000 and was narrowly edged out of first place by the Infiniti M35.

In the comparison, the A6 and M35 were the only two vehicles to land an “Excellent” rating. Also in the comparison were the Acura RL and Lexus GS300, which ranked as “Very Good”, and the Cadillac STS.

Full tests and ratings of the group will appear on newsstands August 9 in the September 2005 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine and a complete report will also be made available to subscribers at www.ConsumerReports.org.

One key place where the A6 could be considered lacking is reliability data. The 3.2 is so new a powertrain that Consumer Reports cannot properly project reliability figures. Consumer Reports recommends the M35, but cannot yet recommend the A6 ats it needs to have data from subscriber surveys, and crash-test data from a government rollover test.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: The German Car Blog

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Audi AG, one of the major manufacturers of luxury cars is a 99%-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen, the largest car manufacturer in Europe. Audi produces more than 790,000 cars per year and the staple models in its line-up of A-series cars include the A4, A6, and A8. Other models include the TT Roadster, TT Coupe, the new S4, and an all-wheel-drive wagon -- the allroad quattro. The latest addition to the A-Series, the A3, will be available from 2006. The companys Italy-based subsidiary Automobili Lamborghini makes the extravagant Murcièlago.

Chapter overview:
Chapter 1 - Overview (Company name, Business activity, Stock symbol, Key executives, Summary financials, Key competitors, Key customers, Outlook)

Chapter 2 - Worldwide locations

Chapter 3 - Financial analysis

Chapter 4 - Competitor analysis

Chapter 5 - Key events (Disposals)

Chapter 6 - SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

Chapter 7 - Customers

Chapter 8 - Products

Chapter 9 - Product development

Chapter 10 - Prospects

Labels: Audi

It has been an age-old question: Is it possible to develop a car that is both occupant and performance friendly? One that doesn’t just get you from point A to point B, but gets you there with a grin on your face? Sure it is.

Audi’s ’05 S4 quattro sedan takes the pedestrian sedan and kicks it up a notch in the performance department, providing more than enough thrills of delight for those fortunate enough to handle the steering wheel. Engineers managed to take the already stellar A4 platform, throw in a 340-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 engine (yes, there’s an 8 under there) and a responsive suspension, turning this car into a true competitor to the BMW M3.

What makes the S4 truly amazing is the powertrain. The growl of the V-8 is more than enough to get your blood boiling. Stomp on the accelerator and the 6-speed automatic transmission (with sport shift setting) sends the power gracefully through all four wheels, keeping the S4 firmly planted. For those wanting more a sporting driving experience, the transmission features paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel, although I found that using the automatic’s sport setting seemed to squeeze the power out the engine just fine.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

The recently released A8 3.2 with FSI direct petrol injection technology is now available with the option of quattro permanent four-wheel-drive for added all-weather driving security. The new A8 3.2 FSI quattro models join their front-wheel-drive 3.2 FSI counterparts with OTR prices starting from £49,830, and open for order this week.

Labels: Audi

The famous five-cylinder turbo growl was the sound of the weekend in and around Ingolstadt when hundreds of quattro Audis gathered for the biggest quattro meeting in the world. Supposedly as many as 450 cars arrived from Germany and neighboring countries to be admired by Audi fanatics. The most represented model in the meeting was naturally the original ur-quattro, but the best eye candy, however, definitely were the dozens of uber limited Sport quattros. By the number of examples at the meeting, you could’ve thought it’s not so rare after all!

Labels: Audi

It was the most powerful Golf ever. The Golf R32 powered by a 177 kW (241 bhp) engine was first launched in August 2002. Not only was it one of the hottest cars on the road, it also sold like hot cakes: three times as many R32’s were sold than originally planned. These are excellent prospects for its successor.

Now comes a new R32 based on the Golf V generation. This time it packs 184 kW (250 bhp) under the bonnet; the permanent 4MOTION four-wheel drive again promises excellent roadholding. The new model will see its world premiere at the 59th Frankfurt Motor Show (15 to 25 September). Presales in Germany start on 19 August. Market launch will be at the end of September. Prices for the new Golf R32 start at €32,200.

250 bhp catapult the custom-made sports model to 250 km/h with 4-wheel drive.

Labels: VW

Audi was somewhat surprised at the fact that the allroad, its version of the off-road station wagon pioneered by Subaru with the Forester, has sold 90,000 examples since it was launched early in 2000. That car will cease production in mid-2006, but the German company has confirmed that the second-generation version is already being prepared for production.

The new car will closely follow the lines shown in the allroad concept shown in Detroit at the beginning of the year. Based on the A6 sedan with permanent all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension, the concept showed how the sleek sedan can be modified to provide the cross-country clearance that few of its buyers will ever use. Audi hasn't said as much, but it's pretty certain that the allroad concept that will be shown in Frankfurt will be even closer to next year's production model.

Labels: Audi

The Passat Estate has never been a car you’d particularly yearn to own if the money you’re spending is your own. But as a tool for those whose working days are spent on the road it has always made a great deal of sense. And so it is with this version, sharing the same refinement, well-controlled ride and tidy, if not entertaining, handling as the saloon. With prices set to start around £16,000, private buyers should give it some serious thought, too.

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

The A6 is the first Avant to be offered with an optional $450 power tailgate that opens and closes with the push of a button. Standard equipment includes a leather interior with 12-way power heated front seats and dual-zone climate control. Options include a $2,300 adaptive air suspension, $2,100 adaptive cruise control, $200 heated steering wheel, and $250 manual rear and side window sunshades.

With gobs of sophisticated goodies and a torquey V6 engine, the new A6 Avant is a whole lot better than your mother's station wagon.

Labels: Audi

VW has just unveiled a potent V6 version of its new Passat. However, this engine is destined for the Golf too...

However, the best news is that VW will fit this engine to the Golf as well. Such as Golf will be named the R36 and will be the most potent Golf to date. The Golf R36 will rocket from 0-100 km/h in about six seconds.

Although VW is mum about its plans for a Golf R36, it is expected to be launched sometime in 2006.

Labels: VW

Despite close ties to the B6 platform, the B7 S4 is a completely different car in almost every way. Visually and viscerally, Audi has certainly reached the pinnacle of refinement with their most recent offering. I went into this review with high expectations, and with few reservations, those expectations were met.

Overall, the S4 is a near-perfect embodiment of everything I wish my own 2002 A4 could be. Nearly every aspect of the original B6 design has been improved upon, in most cases to perfection. However, with a $55,000 as-tested price tag, the S4 is no longer the value it once was. The price premium over the base-engine A4 has now grown to $20,000 from the $10,000 it used to be in the B5 iteration. Unless four doors and all-wheel-drive are an absolute necessity, there are too many other cars that offer better performance at that price point. That said, I’ll be keeping an eye on the pre-owned lot at my local Audi dealer.

Labels: Audi

In today’s world of global partnerships and remote offices, executives find themselves needing to travel more and more in order to meet the needs of their businesses. Airlines are taking advantage of this new era by touting their “new and improved” business class seating just about everywhere you go. Each airline tries to one-up its competition, offering just a little more leg room, or a place for you to plug in your laptop or other electronic gadgets, all in an effort to try and seduce the would-be business traveler to fly their airline.

As the youngest player in the game, Audi has the most to prove to potential buyers to sway them away from the 745iLs and S500s of the world. Enter Audi’s latest offering in the premium luxury segment, the 2005 Audi A8L (The “L” denotes long wheelbase). The current generation Audi A8L was originally launched in June 2003 and has already won several industry awards, including being named one of the “Top 10 Cars for CEOs” by Chief Executive Magazine. The A8L is touted by Audi as the “World’s Most Intelligently Designed Car.” This bold statement is part of Audi’s young-upstart attitude and meshes with Audi’s “never follow” design and marketing philosophy.

To call the Audi A8L one of the most gorgeous sedans I have ever seen would be an understatement. Most cars these days might look great from the front, or have a very nice side profile, but always seem to have a disappointing angle that leaves one wondering if the designers ran into a time crunch or simply gave up during the design process. This is not true of the A8L. The lines of the entire car seem to work with such synergy that there simply is no bad side. Every aspect of the A8L has been designed to create a very understated, yet elegant and sporty look that is very consistent with Audi tradition. This car has greater presence on the road than any of the A8L’s competition.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Life is good. This is something that is immediately apparent when you have at your disposal an S4 Cabriolet during the summer months. Sure, gasoline isn’t cheap nowadays and black leather gets hot in the sun, but such worries are trivial when you’ve got both the top and the accelerator in the down position, wind flowing through your hair and that sultry exhaust note bouncing off the underside of overpasses as you blast down the highway.

Needless to say, performance on the S4 Cabriolet is satisfying. Torque is wide and plentiful, making it relatively easy to pass in sixth gear with little need for a downshift. Cowl-flex is there, but not obtrusive and certainly livable.

Then again, the S4 cabriolet is arguably the best all around convertible in the world, capable of doing so many things so well. With only 2200 making their way here each year, which just so happens to be the same number of Lotus Elises which annually make the same voyage, I doubt there will ever be much need for Audi to worry about selling every one.

Labels: Audi

VW could pay up to $440m (£250m) for a 30% stake in Proton, the Reuters news agency said.

Press reports earlier this month suggested a deal with VW had been opposed by Proton's senior management.

A deal with VW would give Proton access to the German company's technology. VW, in turn, would obtain greater access to Asian markets, which last year accounted for less than 7% of its sales.

Labels: VW

Gone is the Teutonic styling, once elegant in its stark, purposeful appearance, replaced by a more staid, Japanese-influenced design. That slippery sheetmetal skins a larger, roomier sedan with more power, chassis sophistication, and refinement than its predecessors, making it a fitting tribute to celebrate the nameplate’s 25th anniversary in the United States. The new Jetta launched in March 2005 with a 2.5-liter/150-horse five-cylinder engine mated either to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission in Value Edition and 2.5 models. The I-5 was later joined by an available turbodiesel, and eventually a 200-horse turbo I-4 in the sporty GLI model. Engineered as an enthusiast’s car, this is the first Jetta with an independent rear suspension, providing improved ride and handling. Fun is balanced with responsibility, as the Jetta has a lengthy roster of passive safety equipment.

More luxurious and larger than the four prior generations, the new Volkswagen Jetta packs enough upscale features to appeal to upwardly mobile Golf and Jetta owners, while drawing new buyers into the fold.

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi