Labels: Lamborghini

Amazingly enough, we've come to the end of another year — one that was truly remarkable for Audi and for all our customers. Among the many highlights that marked 2005 were:

* Step Ahead with Audi A3: 3 filmmaking teams. 3 unforgettable cross-country treks in search of people, places, and things a step — or more — ahead of everyone else. Working with the American Film Institute (AFI), Audi selected filmmakers who competed to create the best 15-minute film. The incentive for each road trip? The sophisticated and irresistible Audi A3.

* Audi A6 named "World Car of the Year": The year was off to a stellar start when the Audi A6 was awarded World Car of the Year at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. The new A6 topped a list of 36 new vehicles across a range of parameters that included acceleration and braking, safety features, and off-road capabilities.

* Audi A4 and A6 Receive "Interior of the Year" Honors: Ward's Auto World selected the Audi A4 and A6 from a field of 23 different vehicles, awarding them top honors in recognition of their innovative use of new technologies, materials, ergonomics, and overall aesthetics

* Three "Double Best Picks" and "Top Safety Picks" for the Audi A3, A4 and A6: When Audi received its first "Double Best Pick" in crash test safety this year for the Audi A6, the press noted that the designation was a distinctive achievement. After all, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had rarely in its history given one vehicle Best Pick status in both frontal and side crash test safety. When, a few months later, the Audi A4 won its own "Double Best Pick" in the same safety tests, the achievement was even more stunning. Now, Audi can celebrate its third "Double Best Pick" of the year — an unprecedented achievement for a car manufacturer. Crowning our efforts to develop the safest cars, in November the IIHS additionally designated each model as the "Top Safety Pick" in its class.

* Partnerships with premier products and services: Throughout 2005, Audi teamed up with providers of premium goods and services to furnish our customers with special offers and values. Among our many partners were iTunes, Bose, Palm, Abercrombie & Kent and Armani Exchange.

* Audi A8 earns 2nd Consecutive "America's Best Luxury Car" designation: For the second year running, readers of AutoWeek voted the Audi A8 America's Best Luxury Car, stating "The more we drive the Audi A8 and its longer, roomier A8 L sibling, the more we wonder why anyone would pick another luxury car."

* Champion Racing: Audi has a spectacular year: "This season is one that probably could not be duplicated," said an elated Dave Maraj, Team Owner/Champion Racing. "We won the three most important sports car races: the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours LeMans and Petit LeMans. Two of our drivers — Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro — won the Drivers Championship, Team ADT Champion Racing won their 2nd Team Championship and we gave Audi their 6th Manufacturer's Championship." Plus, Team ADT won the Automobile Club de France Ecology Trophy. The Audi R8 with its FSI engine outdistanced the field in both fuel efficiency and noise level.

* Audi A3 chosen Best Sport Compact in Car & Driver's "Ten Best Car" competition: It was a fitting finish to an amazing year when Car & Driver selected the new Audi A3 as one of the years finest.

With an extraordinary year like 2005 behind us, the question is: what will 2006 have in store? The answer: more exceptional vehicle introductions, events, and partnerships that underscore — perhaps more emphatically than ever before — Audi's commitment to performance and power. Here are some of the most eagerly-awaited:

* The 2006 Audi Q7: It may be one of the most anticipated releases in Audi history. The Audi Q7, which combines premium luxury, breathtaking performance, and classic Audi excellence in one unforgettable SUV, is making its North American debut in spring, 2006.

* The 2007 Performance Models: In a year focused on power and performance, Audi will unveil four 2007 models that are the embodiment of both: the Audi S4, RS 4 and S8. Each, a tribute to dynamism, as expressed in its engine, transmission, suspension and design. In the coming months, you'll have the opportunity to find out more about these superlative vehicles.

Labels: Audi

For the sixth year in succession, Audi UK is to set another new annual sales record following the delivery of over 81,000 new Audi models to UK customers in 2005, up from a total of 77,882 in 2004.

Final data has yet to be collated, but 2005 draws to a close with well in excess of 81,000 sales already confirmed, equating to an increase of approximately 5 per cent on 2004’s record figure, and a rise of around 100 per cent in just six years from 1999’s total of 40,615 cars.

This exceptional result augurs extremely well for 2006, during which the Audi range will expand to include both new models campaigning in new market sectors and new variants within existing ranges. The hotly tipped new Audi Q7 seven-seat SUV, for example, has only just opened for UK order ahead of first deliveries in the summer of 2006, and will begin to make its presence felt in Audi Centres next year.

2006 will herald another new departure for Audi as the brand ventures into thoroughbred sports car territory for the first time with the new R8. The dramatic new mid-engined, quattro permanently four-wheel-driven super car will also be joined next year by the rugged new allroad quattro, and by new derivatives of the A3 hatchback, A4 Saloon and Avant and A6 Saloon and Avant, all likely to contribute to a substantial boost to Audi UK performance in the premium sector in 2006 and beyond.

Director of Audi UK Jeremy Hicks broke the extremely encouraging news to Audi staff earlier this week, and is confident that the best is very definitely yet to come for the brand in the UK. “I am delighted and greatly encouraged by what Audi UK and its sales network have achieved this year, especially as we are enjoying this success just before we embark on a period of intense new model launch activity and diversification. We have some incredible new cars waiting in the wings that will take us into new territories and also strengthen our core, and I am confident that with their help we will see quite a few more comprehensively shattered Audi UK sales records in years to come.”

Labels: Audi

Labels: Lamborghini

The sports car world's favourite bull is ready to rage again! And Auto Express can exclusively reveal the truth about Lamborghini's plans to bring back one of its best loved models - the Miura.

While contacts close to the firm have been hinting about the possibility of an all-new model for some time, designers in Italy have grabbed the bull by the horns to recreate an icon to sit at the top of the legendary supercar maker's line-up.

The pictures seen in this week's mag have been based on leaked information from within Lamborghini, and show that the Miura will be as close to the original model as Ford's GT is to the classic GT40. The Lambo's dimensions are still top secret, but most likely will end up - as with the blue oval model - slightly larger than the original for both safety regulations and passenger comfort.

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Bentley

Labels: Lamborghini

Italian luxury sports car maker Lamborghini is all set to drive in its best selling model 'Gallardo' to India within the first quarter of '06.

"The plan is to bring the Lamborghini Gallardo within the first quarter of next year," Exclusive Motors Manager (Sales) Rahul Grover (the distributor of Lamborghini in India) said.

While the exact pricing could be known only next month, he said Lamborghini Gallardo could be tagged anything between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore.

Grover said the target was to sell about two to three units of Gallardo in '06.

Lamborghini had stated said it was more concerned with the infrastructure in India than the purchasing capability of its potential customers.

Labels: Lamborghini

According to the VW guy that showed this to me this is a full production car, not a demo or tuner model; it has AWD, a sick factory wing thing on the back, carbon fiber on all the scoops (rears are functional brake coolers!), HUGE brakes front-and-rear, fully race-ready seats and best of all a 3.7L version of the V6 currently found in the new Jetta (which is rated at 280+ hp). No official comment on horsepower figures, but the tech’s best guess was “over 300”… Doh. (BTW, this is apparently factory paint, styling & bodykit as well).

Labels: VW

We are racing down the autobahn at 230 km/h in a Volkswagen Phaeton when a car slides into the lane ahead, prompting our luxurious Volkswagen sedan to gently slow itself down enough to maintain a safe distance between us and the car in front.

Magic? Not at all. This is adaptive cruise control or ACC at work. Using radar or a laser beam to monitor the traffic ahead, ACC adjusts vehicle speed without direct driver input when it senses a vehicle – or perhaps some other object – ahead. It is all automatic and instantaneous. ACC is important because it not only adds a new safety feature to the electronic safety arsenal already on board today's automobile, it just might help reduce traffic jams, too.

Labels: VW

Labels: Bugatti

Labels: Bugatti

The lesson gets a little more complex starting in 2006, as Audi has just launched a new premium compact vehicle which necessitates a few new rules. Its called the A3, and its available in a practical five-door package called Sportback, which is somewhere between Avant and hatchback. And, while quite a few have already experienced this compact premium hold-all with the invigorating 200-horsepower FSI-T motor, for the New Year, the car will gain a V6 engine that makes it very schnell. So, by all measures, shouldnt this one be called the S3? It very well could, but it isnt according to Audi. No problem, I can appreciate a good rule bender.
What makes this A3 3.2 stand out even more, as it flashes past into the horizon, is its drivetrain. Where you might expect a humble inline-four, the upgraded model packs a big, powerful narrow-angle V6 engine complete with the kind of mechanical goodies you might find under the hood of a formidable sports car like, say, the Audi TT. This comparison makes plenty of sense considering the engine is the same as the one found in the swanky two-plus-two coupe, complete with variable valve timing and a set of variable intake manifolds. Output is rated at 250-hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, identical to the range-topping TT.

As one would expect, the A3s interior is as good as they come - its best in class, in fact, although theres really nothing on the North American market that competes with it. But even when brought nose-to-nose with the 3-Series or the new Lexus IS, the A3 comes out on top with typically stunning Audi details, beautifully crafted seats and instrumentation. The experience is enhanced if the A3 is equipped with the Open Sky panoramic power sunroof, where the interior is brightened via an open, airy feel. In terms of style, the A3 resides somewhere between the A4 Avant and the TT, particularly in the details.

Labels: Audi

Brand-new Volkswagen Kombis sputter into life as they come off the assembly line in the VW factory 32km south of the city after a manufacturing ritual barely changed since hippies turned the boxy vehicle into a counterculture icon.

They go straight to work on the streets of Brazil's largest cities for deliveries of all kinds, as ambulances, mobile convenience stores and even troop transports, rather than heading on long, strange trips across Latin America's largest country.

But a long chapter in the history of Volkswagen will end on Friday (December 23) when the last air-cooled engine will be installed in a vehicle seen as a museum piece almost everywhere else.

Labels: VW

Volkswagen announced today that it has reclaimed the sales lead in the European market, with over 1.4 million vehicles sold through November.

VW's European market share is now 11.1 percent. The company's 2005 performance has been driven by its Golf model, which accounted for more than a third of VW's sales. Volkswagen Chairman Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard credited the company's strong performance to its wide range of new and updated models, led by the Golf Plus (pictured). Bernhard promises "more surprises" for 2006, and a strong focus on the high-volume segment of the market.

Labels: VW

Volkswagen's EcoRacer sports car has successfully completed its racetrack debut: 34 journalists from nine countries gave the concept car from Wolfsburg a thorough test on the racetrack in Pau in the South of France.

In three days, the motor sport journalists covered over 1200 kilometres, mainly at high speed, in the yellow two-seater. The EcoRacer proved that it is versatile and dynamic in the guise of a coupé, a roadster and a speedster.

The EcoRacer weighs just 850 kilograms thanks to its carbon fibre body. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. The newly developed 1.5-litre turbo diesel with 100 kW /136 PS has a top speed of 230 km/h and an average fuel consumption of just 3.4 litres per 100 kilometres.

However, not only the technology fulfilled the expectations of the Volkswagen engineers. The design of the vehicle was also presented well at the racetrack. Volkswagen designer Cesar Muntada: "It is a wonderful experience to see your new vehicle on the road for the first time and to see the reactions to it. I am particularly pleased about the emotions the EcoRacer stirred up on the racetrack."

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Due for local launch around October 2006, the new Audi S8 will be unveiled at the Melbourne showcase, complete with the superb ‘Advanced Sound System’ created for Audi by Danish luxury brand, Bang & Olufsen.

A sports car of the very highest calibre, the Audi S8 stands for exceptional dynamism, expressed by its engine, transmission, suspension and design, as well as exclusivity and superb luxury. Where the new Audi A8 set the benchmark for sports luxury performance, the new S8 takes this claim even further with its brand new V10 engine.

Capitalising on the expertise of the Lamborghini Gallardo super sports car, this ten-cylinder engine delivers 331 kW (450 bhp) at 7,000 rpm and 540 Nm of torque – the latter available from just 3,500 rpm – from a capacity of 5.2 litres.

As on the Le Mans winning R8, the most successful racing car in the world, FSI petrol direct injection assures superior power output in the Audi S8. This luxury saloon sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, and is electronically governed at 250 km/h.

The advantages of this combination are clear to see:

- very spontaneous response, short reaction time
- shorter shift points, quick gear changes
- sporty, throaty sound when accelerating
- beefy torque curve even at low engine speeds
- sporty behaviour thanks to engine speeds up to 7,000 rpm
- combination of sporty driving pleasure and comfort on long journeys

Labels: Audi

New from the ground up the RS4 will be officially launched in Australia in April 2006.

Remarkable not only for its awe-inspiring capabilities but also for its saloon body shell – a first for this model - the new Audi RS 4 combines the latest high-performance technologies offered by quattro GmbH, in a luxury, thoroughbred saloon design that is perfectly suited to day-to-day driving.

Numerous technical achievements – many of which hail from motorsport – give the new Audi RS 4 unique class and character.

The first ever B-segment RS saloon is the epitome of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’, featuring a high speed engine concept now being introduced for the first time in a production Audi, innovative FSI technology, as well as the latest generation of quattro drive with asymmetric/dynamic distribution of torque.

Developing a maximum output of 420 bhp, the 4.2-litre V8 engine in the new RS 4 revs up to a speed of 8,250 rpm and exceeds the magical barrier of 100 bhp per litre – a feature that is truly outstanding in a production saloon.

Maximum torque of 430 Nm comes at 5500 rpm in this very compact engine, with 90 per cent of the engine’s torque consistently available from 2,250 – 7,600 rpm. The result is excellent muscle and pulling force at all times, enabling the driver whenever he – or she – wishes to drive in truly relaxed style without frequent gear changes.

The RS 4 features racing technology in civilian clothes. While many of its features look similar to the new Audi A4, the RS 4 is far more than just a “fast” derivative of Audi’s highly successful midrange saloon.

Labels: Audi

Labels: The German Car Blog

Labels: Audi

Since the “Ur-quattro” was launched in 1980, more than 2,000,000 Audi customers have opted for models with permanent four-wheel drive – a figure which will continue to rise.

The most successful German pop star of the last few years, Xavier Naidoo, today took ownership of the two-millionth Audi to feature permanent four-wheel drive – an A8 W12 L with a twelve-cylinder engine. The German soul singer stated: “I am an avowed car enthusiast. My new A8 not only provides a great experience in driving terms, but also features a high-end sound system for audio enjoyment.” The A8 is fitted with the Advanced Sound System from Bang & Olufsen. This has a total output of more than 1000 watts and comprises 14 speakers housed in enclosed capsules and tweeters which extend automatically from the dashboard.

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG, commented: “quattro technology is inextricably linked with the Audi brand. Audi is quattro, quattro is Audi. Together with the TDI diesel engines, the petrol direct-injection units with turbocharger, the aluminium body and multitronic transmission, permanent four-wheel drive is the principal genetic feature and the actual brand essence of Audi. It ensures that the classic brand claim “Vorsprung durch Technik” can be directly experienced.

It is 25 years since Audi revolutionised the automotive industry with the unveiling of the first Audi quattro at the Geneva Motor Show. More traction, better handling, consistent dynamism, safe driving – this is what the continually enhanced quattro drive system has stood for right up to the present day.

This is confirmed by numerous awards: this year, for example, the Audi A6 quattro and the Audi A8 quattro were voted the best four-wheel-drive cars in the luxury class for 2005 by the readers of “Auto Bild Alles Allrad”, Europe’s best-selling four-wheel-drive magazine. With runners-up spots going to the A3 quattro, the A4 quattro and the TT Coupé quattro, Audi was the most successful brand of all in this readers’ poll.

Cars which distribute their propulsive power between all four wheels can generate a higher cornering force at each wheel than front-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive vehicles; their traction and cornering behaviour are superior. quattro drive can always transfer considerably more propulsive power than two-wheel drive thanks to the superior traction. The less friction provided by the road surface, the greater the reserves available due to increased driving safety. The Audi model range currently comprises 74 four-wheel-drive versions.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

The equipment package “S line sports package plus” further emphasises the sporty characteristics of the Audi Q7. The Q7 S-Line package includes a true sports suspension, sports seats and 21-inch cast aluminium wheels that take after the muscular RS4’s wheels. The “S line exterior package” additionally provides visual accents. There is no word yet on whether or not this package will make it North America, but I certainly hope it does. The S-Line kit really transforms the already good looking Q7 into a great looking SUV.

Labels: Audi

Congratulations are in order, because there's a baby Bugatti on the way! The model doesn't have a name yet, but the famous horseshoe grille is set to feature on a new 'cut-price' supercar.

The distinctive emblem already adorns the world's fastest production model, the 252mph Veyron. However, it has an £830,000 price tag, while the new machine is expected to sell for £90,000.

Sources say it'll be named after a 17th century painter - so Vermeer, Caravaggio and Rembrandt are all possible. However, fans who are hoping for a junior version of the 16-cylinder Veyron monster look set to be disappointed. Unlike the 987bhp two-seater, the baby model is set to follow more traditional lines.

The entry-level Bugatti is expected to be a front-engined 2+2 using either a VW VR6 or V8 motor. And, as with the Veyron, it could boast all-wheel drive. It'll go head-to-head with Aston Mar-tin's DB9 and the Bentley Continental GT - and as Bugatti, like Bentley, is owned by the VW Group, it could even use the latter's platform to cut costs.

Engineers have already started work on the project. The final design is expec-ted to be signed off early next year, paving the way for a 2008 launch. However, development of the Veyron was plagued by problems, and bosses will be keen to avoid a repeat of that situation.

Labels: Bugatti

Lamborghini has yet to make a final decision on an SUV model or a 2+2 grand tourer, CEO Stephan Winkelmann said in an interview with Auto Telegraaf.

The Dutch auto-enthusiast magazine said Winkelmann did confirm plans for a rear-wheel-drive version of the Lamborghini Gallardo that would be lighter and less expensive than the all-wheel-drive model.

Winkelmann also addressed concerns about cannibalization between the Audi and Lamborghini brands, especially in the light of Audi's announcement about its R8 supercar. He said Lamborghini will remain the top marque in the Volkswagen group.

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: VW

Prestige German car maker Audi has been declared Manufacturer of the Year 2005 by the Midland Group of Motoring Writers.

Audi took the award by a single point from Honda, first winner of the title in 2003. In third spot was last year’s top achiever, Renault.

The award is voted for by the 30-plus members of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers who between them write for publications with a total circulation of more than seven million.

Unlike most other motor industry accolades, the Midland Group’s award is much more than simply a car of the year contest. These days, issues such as safety, the environment and perceived value for money all play as important a role in determining consumer choice as badge image and driving dynamics.

So Midland Group members are asked to assess each company on six specific criteria – advertising, design, safety, quality, customer care and green credentials – and to award points in each category.

Audi scored 424 points to Honda’s 423 and the 408 totalled by Renault. In bottom place was Proton with 170 points.

Midland Group chairman Ian Donaldson will present the 2005 trophy – a specially commissioned piece of silverware – to Audi UK early in the new year.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi, Lamborghini

There's plenty of ice in Sweden. Aside from the super cold climate, Audi Sweden and Swedish jeweler Stahl worked together to make the Tailor Made Audi TT. The green TT roadster features a diamond encapsulated gearknob, white gold and pink tourmalines. The TT's signature round vents also contain diamonds, and there's an 18 karat white gold badge signifying the model. If that's not enough, there's a line of accessory jewelry to go with the car.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: Bugatti

Two Audi and two Volkswagen models rank highest in satisfying owners, according to the J.D. Power and Associates/CAR Magazine 2005 South Africa Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Study(SM) released today. The four awards -- which are the most received by any manufacturer in the study -- are for the Audi A3, Audi A4, Volkswagen Citi Golf and the Volkswagen Touran.

The CSI Study is a comprehensive measurement of ownership satisfaction covering 77 attributes grouped into four factors of satisfaction (the importance of each factor is shown as a percentage):
- Vehicle quality and reliability (32%) - Vehicle appeal (29%) -- includes performance, design, comfort, styling and features - Dealership service satisfaction (19%) - Cost of ownership (20%) -- includes fuel consumption, insurance and cost of service/repair.

Labels: Audi

In the past decades, AUDI set many trends in automobive design. In the new publication "AUDI Design - Automobile Organization from 1965 to the Present", published by AUDI Tradition, analyzes and comments upon the entire model range of the 40-year contemporary history of Audi design. Audi’s impressive post-war design is explained in detail. The author Othmar Wickenheiser includes sketches and images of models, views of the secrets of the fascinating jobs of Audi’s automobive designers. He carries the reader forward on an exciting journey of the recent past into the near future of AUDI Design.

The book carefully thoroughly investigates the process with photographs and Illustrated designs. An extensive glossary describes the most important technical terms from automobive design in an understandable way. The author Othmar Wickenheiser, born 1962, has been a professor for Transportation Design in Munich since 1996. His work "AUDI Design - Automobile Organization from 1965 to the Present" covers 367 pages and pas published by Nicolai publishing. The book is available now at a price of 64.00 Euros in bookstores and in the museum shop at the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt. It can also be ordered online at www.Audi.de/museumshop.

The four rings of the Audi brand symbolzes the marques Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer, which were all part of the Auto Union. Auto Union and NSU, which merged in 1969, shaped the development of the automobile considerably. In1985 AUDI NSU Auto Union AG was created and later Audi AG. Audi Tradition maintains maintains and presents the history of Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH as part of the broad Audi history.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi, Bugatti, Lamborghini

As many as six of the powerful 1,001 hp Bugatti Veyron 16.4 that has a top speed of 407km/h have now found new national owners. At an individual cost of AED 4.33 million (Euros1 million), the choice of colour is important: one red, one blue, one two-tone silver/black and one two-tone ice-blue/white. The total value of these deals is pegged at AED 26 million.

At Lamborghini C. K. Ashok, Sales Manager, who has over two decades of experience in Lamborghini sales is delighted to narrate his magnificent sales record, one Murcielago Roadster with a price tag of AED 1.1million on the very first day of the show and another the following day, both to UAE nationals, together with a Gallardo Spyder. They have also sold a Gallardo Coupé at a cool AED 745,000, the latter two will be gracing the garages of expatriate UAE residents.

Labels: Bugatti, Lamborghini

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

The Horch 420 is particularly rare and thus quite valuable. World-wide, there are only known to be three remaining examples of this 4.5-liter Cabriolet. This 1931 example followed an adventurous route to its new home in Ingolstadt. Like so many Horch cars, this 420 saw the end of World War II as a "piece of war booty" and was shipped to the USA. In the 1970s, the 90-hp Cabriolet found its way to England, where it was sold to a native of Munich in 1979 at an auction. This Horch belongs to the famous 400-series of Horches from the 1930s.

The second car, a four-door Horch 830 BL Sedan Cabriolet was built in 1939. In contrast to the 420, it is propelled by a V8 motor. Since the 830 BL was frequently used by the armed forces as a staff car, only a few of these models remain. The particular car acquired originated with the former GDR and came into the West when the Berlin wall still stood. The previous owner, a Hamburg resident, moved the car through the iron curtain separated into parts. With 92-hp, this Horch was restored over a period of two years by Horch specialist Werner Zinke in Saxonian Zwoenitz.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Here are some words we never thought we'd see in a feature about cars: The French are back. With the recent production startup of its $1.2 million Veyron 16.4 sports car, French automaker Bugatti has restored its country's former mystique in the automotive world.

French cars of the 1930s are among the most beautiful and highly prized collector's items in the world. In 1939, a 57C model brought Bugatti its second and final championship in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race (and tragically, in the same year, a 57C killed Jean Bugatti, who was the car's designer and the son of the company's founder, as he was testing it). The 57, like other French cars of the late 1930s, drew heavily on the Art Deco style. The vehicle would be beloved on looks alone but is a landmark in motor sports as well.

Type 57 Bugattis won Le Mans in 1937 and 1939, as French cars ruled the race for a short time. In both 1937 and 1938, the top four spots at Le Mans were won by the legendary French manufacturers Bugatti, Delahaye, Delage and Talbot.

Before the Veyron, cars like the 57C represented the high point of French motoring--and many people never expected France to rise above the level of pedestrian Renaults and Peugots and return to its former glory. But the Veyron has instantly catapulted the country back to the top of the exotic car market, and we honor it in the following slide show of 2005's best cars.

We have awarded the Veyron the title of "Most Outrageous Car Ever." It receives this honor for several reasons, none more impressive than its combination of price and top speed (over 248 mph).

Labels: Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini

German automotive industry weekly Automobilwoche has quoted a manager at the German auto group as saying there was now corporate consensus that the need for such a car was not urgent.

It would be a tough sedan with modern styling and plenty of cabin and boot space to replace the Santana 2000/3000, which is dated in both look and technology, and a Jetta model.

The plan would involve a market launch in 2009, with the car to sell for the equivalent of €10 000 to €12 000.

Labels: VW

The Jetta -- Volkswagen’s best selling car in North America -- has sold more than 2.2 million units since its introduction 25 years ago. For 2006, the fifth generation Jetta gets a complete make over. This all-new model has grown in every respect: It is now 177-mm longer, 25-mm wider and 11-mm taller. It also earns a much-needed 66-mm stretch in the wheelbase and the track is wider – 25-mm up front and 33-mm in the rear. The result is a much larger footprint and greater stability than ever before. The Jetta also looks the part with its new sheet metal, large headlights and a new bi-level chrome grille, (a design that will grace many new VWs).

Volkswagen's new Jetta is larger and more luxurious, but more impressive is the fact it now has a much higher fun-to-drive quotient thanks to its boost in performance and nimble road manners.

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

The 2006 model of the Audi A4 is more contemporary, keeping the car current with a new wave of competition coming its way.

It is not exactly what you might call a "new" A4. It is based on the same platform as the old car. On Audi's to-do list was a new exterior, a revamped suspension, some tweaking of the interior and some new engines.

The new interior is essentially the same as the outgoing car only a little neater with some dimensional changes. The materials feel even better than before and everything is softer and tighter fitting.

On the road it is a fine car to drive in the most basic sense of the word - fine. It does everything effortlessly and smoothly. Without any drama the V6 will bring you to a higher speed than you want faster than you thought.

The most impressive part of how the car drove was how it slowed down. At any speed, it can deliver firm braking force without spilling your coffee. The front end never dives and it remains perfectly straight.

The new A4 is a more mature and better-dressed luxury sedan than its predecessor. It's upscale in a passive and cool manner.

Like the engineering philosophy Germans are famous for, this is not a new A4, it's just the next one. It is a progression of what it already was, a comfortable all-wheel drive performer with an immaculately finished, rock-solid interior.

Labels: Audi

File under the "I-can-dream-can't-I?" dept.: the Bugatti Veyron, with a sticker price approaching $1 million, including floor mats.

The Veyron, which spools up to 1,001 horsepower, probably won't find a home at the Classic Car Club: Volkswagen, which owns the legendary Bugatti marque, expects to sell fewer than 300 Veyrons in the next five years, mainly to kings and potentates, who likely won't drive them on public roads, if they drive them at all.

VW, which is pulling its high-line ultra-luxury Phaeton out of a U.S. market that ignored it, will use the Veyron as a "halo" car to enhance the brand's image. It launches at the Los Angeles auto show next month.

Labels: Bugatti

With a $1.2 million price tag and a top speed of 253 mph, the new Bugatti Veyron is the most expensive way to go nowhere fast on New York's clogged roads.

But the fact that the space-age sports car won't get you across the Gowanus Expressway any quicker than the VW Golf in the next lane isn't deterring the filthy rich from placing orders.

A half-dozen people have already put down $400,000 deposits for the Veyron through Miller Motor Cars in Greenwich, Conn., the only dealer authorized to sell the two-seater in the tristate area.

"There's been a lot of interest and we haven't even advertised it yet," said Miller Motor President Richard Koppelman, describing the buyers as Wall Street types, entrepreneurs and collectors.

Since there's no model on display in the showroom, some of the customers flew to the factory in France to try the Veyron.

"This isn't like being in a Concorde at takeoff. It's much, much more impressive," a writer for London's Daily Mail reported after a test drive.

Labels: Bugatti

Labels: Bugatti

To fill the gap between the Passat and the Phaeton sedans, Volkswagen is expected to introduce a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive crossover. Expected to arrive in concept form in 2005, the actual production version should to be ready to launch in 2007.

The name "Sfero" was registered by Volkswagen in June of 2003. Insiders have told us that the Sfero will be a crossover between a wagon and an SUV, although all-wheel drive will not be offered

To lessen the development costs, Bernd Pischetsrieder and Ferrari-boss Luca di Montezemolo are said to be in agreement for a unique technology transfer: While Maserati will deliver the chassis of their brand-new Quattroporte sedan as a base for the new VW Sfero, Volkswagen will deliver the 4x4 chassis of its Touareg off-roader for the future Maserati Kubang SUV. This deal is actually quite interesting for both parties: while the Touareg's 4x4-chassis is regarded to be the best currently available, the Quattroporte's transaxle chassis allows an excellent weight-balance and therefore promises superb handling for the Sfero.

Another advantage of the Maserati chassis is the compatibility with Audi's V-8 engines. They are too large to be fitted under the hood of the next Passat - but they are said to fit perfectly in the Sfero, with the top-of-the line engine expected to offer as much as 450 horsepower.

Other luxury features include a new active steering system, a wide track and long wheelbase (114.2 inches), an electrically operated rear door, air suspension and LED taillights, and an adaptive brake light.

Lots of information has been leaking out about the Sfero, but apparently no decision has been made as to if the Sfero will be a four-, six- or even seven-passenger vehicle.

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Labels: Audi

Recently we had a chance to sample the S8 in Dusseldorf Germany. One scenario in which the S8 was sampled was on a slalom course at a local airport. We managed to shoot some footage while there, and have just now had a chance to edit it and splice together.

You may note that there are two different drivers on the two rounds. One was trying for oversteer, the other simply to see how quickly he could span the course. Both have been spliced together to show two very different aspects of the S8's capabilities. You can also get a good idea of the throaty growl, both inside the cabin and outside as the exhaust's wail echoes off the nearby airplane hangars.

Labels: Audi

The A6 isn't as thrillingly sporty as the BMW or Infiniti, but for the money, it still proves to be the most complete luxury car. While many automakers have been trying to get more "emotion" into their cars' contours (think strange angles and odd headlamp styles), Audi gave the A6 a subtle shape that looks gorgeous. The cabin is equally admirable. Everything looks and feels just right, cementing Audi's reputation for building some of the best interiors in the business. Even Audi's MMI controller is vastly superior to BMW's iDrive. In a nod to practicality, the A6 also has a cavernous trunk, the largest of all those we tested.

The A6 is also, no surprise, a pleasure to drive. It feels sporty on a back road and serene on the highway. Such all-around talent made it both entertaining and coddling on long drives.

The A6 is a top value, with a 255-hp, 3.2-liter front-wheel-drive model starting at $41,540. The 4.2 Quattro starts above $54,000, as it comes with a tremendous 335-hp V-8. The six-cylinder A6 is a smart buy: It will save you several thousand dollars and two to five miles a gallon without sacrificing performance.

The A6 combines progressive design and technology with traditional comforts. It's both sporty and comfortable. In other words, it's the essence of the modern luxury sports sedan.

Labels: Audi

Goodness, gracious, great gobs of torque. There's no other way to describes how the Audi S4 just lays down the power and keeps laying down the power- seemingly forever.

When you see an "S" on an Audi badge, you know it is going to have the best that Audi engineers can provide. With each model, Audi has continued to raise its own bar to the point where they meet or exceed what BMW offers with the M-Series and Mercedes-Benz has with AMG.

Combine all of this with the traction of Quattro drive and you have an awesome road machine that delights the senses visually and aurally.

Labels: Audi

Making its debut at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Q7 is Audi’s direct shot at other luxury crossovers such as the Lexus RX and BMW X5. Based loosely on the Pikes Peak concept shown a few years ago, the Q7 will share a platform with the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne.

Q7 is an attractively weighty, well-resolved design that's a distinctively Audi take on the sporty SUV. "It's the coupe of SUVs," said Audi's Prof Dr. Martin Winterkorn. Clever styling gives the car tall, flat nose (complete with trademark deep trapezoidal grille) and sides, but a steeply raked windscreen and a coupe-like swept, descending roofline.

Luggage space is limited with all seven seats in place—but with the third row folded into the floor, there's reasonable capacity. The extensive technology list ranges from the expected (ESP, hill-descent control, variable ground clearance) to the innovative (side-radar for lane-change protection).

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Shell is delighted to announce a major partnership with Audi Sport, to develop the world’s first ever diesel-powered Audi sports prototype capable of winning the famous 24 Heures du Mans race (Le Mans).

The 2006 race will see Shell V-Power Diesel fuel technology put to the test in the ultimate challenge, where blistering power, engine endurance and unrivalled fuel economy are critical to success.

The technical partnership is unveiled today with a live demonstration through the streets of Paris, and next year will see the Shell V-Power Diesel-driven Audi R10 line up alongside some of the world’s fastest gasoline-driven cars for what is widely regarded as the world’s toughest motor race.

This advanced fuel is designed to help the latest generation of diesel engines to continuously deliver more power, and will utilise Shell’s exclusive synthetic GTL Fuel technology. Shell has led the introduction of this innovative fuel technology and is already supplying GTL through more than 3,000 of its Service Stations as the special ingredient at the heart of Shell V-Power Diesel.

In addition, the crucial role of the car’s diesel injection system has been carefully considered. Development in this area will be important for the next generation of Shell V-Power Diesel - to ensure it remains at the front of its field.

Following an extensive testing programme, the Shell-fuelled Audi R10 will race for the first time at Sebring, Florida, in March 2006, ahead of 24 Heures du Mans on June 17 2006.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Looking mean and moody, the Audi S6 has been spotted in northern Sweden, where it's undergoing cold-climate testing. And it'll be fitted with a version of the 5.5 V10 used in the upcoming Q7 4x4. The S6 won't have the same 550 bhp output as the Q7, though its 440 bhp from a reduced-capacity 5.2 should be more than adequate. A 550 bhp unit will be reserved for a lighter-weight, even quicker full-on RS6, due in another year's time. In the meantime, the low-riding S6, with its pair of double exhausts, deeper front grille and airdam and huge 19-inch alloy wheels, is expected to make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in spring 2006. It should look pretty much like the car pictured here, though a different wheel design and unpainted aluminium door mirrors may well feature on the production model.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

The 2006 VW Passat arrives just in time for me to jump in and pick my kids up from school. Admittedly, I'm running a tad late, but what's new? I jump in, adjust the seat (which I'll get to a little later) and mirrors and try to start the car. Just how do I start this thing?

There's no key, just a key fob and a slot that it seems to fit in. It doesn't turn however. Okay, I'm running way too late now to fuss with it, so out comes the owner's manual. Let's see — insert the key fob, and press in to start. Whatever happened to turning a key to start a car's engine? It's a little strange at first, but I quickly adapt and am soon running errands like a champ in the '06 Passat.

The 2006 VW Passat comes equipped with some family-friendly safety features, and what's even better is that they're standard equipment, so budget-conscious families need not be left out: Driver and front passenger front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, Side Curtain Protection® head airbags for front and rear passengers, pinch protection on the power windows and a tire pressure monitoring system (after a recent cold spell, the system is telling me my tire pressure is too low).

The rear seat of the Passat features an armrest that folds down to reveal a pass-through to the trunk, perfect for storing long, skinny items like skiis. And, although we don't get much rain in the middle of winter in my neck of the woods, I'm thrilled to find a secret compartment in the driver's door storing an emergency umbrella complete with the VW logo. How thoughtful!

The 2006 VW Passat is a budget-conscious vehicle that, although marketed to a young crowd, can last well into the young family years. Just know in advance that when you have 2.5 kids, you'll have to move onto to something roomier.

Labels: VW

HIGH-FLYING Bentley Motor Cars is taking on extra staff to cope with the Christmas demand for luxury models by the rich and famous.

The Crewe car maker, which is the town's biggest employer, has reported a 60% increase in sales and is recruiting to meet demand for its most successful model, the Continental GT.

Orders have come in thick and fast for the Baby Bentley dream machine and the production line at Pym's Lane is working flat out to meet Christmas orders.

Labels: Bentley

After a seven-year wait, Volkswagen AG is set to launch the super-luxury Bugatti Veyron, a $1 million two-seater that goes from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, in early 2006 at a handful of Bentley dealerships across the United States.

The car will be sold in select cities, including Troy, Michigan; Greenwich, Connecticut; and Pasadena, California. It will be shown at the upcoming Los Angeles auto show. VW hopes to sell about 300 vehicles in the next five years. The Veyron is outfitted with a rear-mounted 16-cylinder engine with 1,001 horsepower. It has a top speed of 252.9 mph.

Labels: Bugatti

It was a day of all things Palm Beach.

There were the luxury cars — Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Ferraris, three Carrera GT Porsches, a rare Mercedes-Benz CLX DTM shipped from Germany for the event, the 1956 Silver Wraith Rolls Royce used in the 1981 movie Arthur starring Dudley Moore and a Meredes-Benz SLR McLaren — all valued at $500,000 and up.

There was a fashion show, art works on display, an exclusive guest list, appearances by celebrities and fashion models and multi-million dollar real estate offered by Barclay's International Realty Inc. in partnership with Palm Beach Super Car Weekend.

And to top it all, there was Donald Trump personally guiding a brief tour of the former Gosman estate at 513 N. County Road, now on the market for $125 million.

About 250 luxury car owners were invited to the Palm Beach Super Car Weekend exhibition which began earlier in the day in Manalapan. Temerian said two Fortune 500 CEOs loaned their cars for an exhibition and weekend events that included private parties Friday and Sunday.

Luxury cars valued at about $40 million were on display, including a $1.5 million Ferrari Enzo. Some of the luxury cars were on display later that afternoon at the Gosman estate. "It's just to get car guys together and have a great time," Temerian said. "I describe it as a lifestyle event. It's everything into one."

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Audi, The German Car Blog

Labels: Audi

"The R10 project is the biggest challenge ever to have been handed to Audi Sport,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "TDI technology has not been pushed to its limits in motorsport yet. We are the first to confront the challenge. The demands of such a project are accordingly high. Long-term technology partners such as Bosch, Michelin or Shell support us in our quest. Together we have the chance to write new chapters in the history books of motorsport and diesel technology.”

Labels: Audi

There'll be a new, pretty quiet, exhaust note among the howling of high-revving engines and whistling of turbo waste gates at the 2006 Le Mans 24 Hours – a V12 diesel with so much torque the driver will hardly have to change gears.

Racing diesel engines – even diesel racing vans – have been around for a while but none in the league of this superhighperformance block of aluminium from Audi: ultra-high fuel-injection pressures have helped take its output to around 500kW and, way more importantly, its torque to more than 1100 nm.

Now Audi is hungry for the first diesel-powered win at Le Mans – even though wins there are its forté. Audi first raced at Le Mans in 1999 and has won the annual sports car classic five times in the last six years with its Audi R8.

Labels: Audi

Audi formally took the wraps off its new R10 endurance car here on Tuesday, with the vehicle's massive new power plant inspiring awe among those in racing circles.

While the basic design is not a significant departure from that of its predecessor, the successful R8, motor sports pundits were dazzled that the car would be powered by a 5.5-liter V12 turbodiesel, replacing the R8's 3.8-liter V8. The engine is coupled with Audi's X-trac gearbox, although the company remains mum on the actual number of gears, and a ceramic clutch.

The R10 employs a carbon-fiber monocoque integrated with the body, and has a longer wheelbase than the R8 to accommodate the new 12-cylinder power plant. The car is 50mm lower than the R8.

Does a modern V12 diesel stand a chance against gasoline engines in endurance racing? If anyone can pull off this engineering feat, it should be Audi.

Labels: Audi

The LM P1 category is not only the “top class” at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – it is currently the most technically interesting category in motorsport. No other class offers an automobile manufacturer so many possibilities to implement new technology and to test these for production, particularly in the engine sector.

Additionally, the organising Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) place increasing value on environmental compatibility. The ACO’s target is to promote the development of environmentally friendly, quieter and more economical high-performance engines from which production cars can also benefit in the future. Therefore, the regulations stipulate that engine speeds must lie in a similar rev range than production cars. A direct technology transfer from motorsport to production is therefore possible – unlike the extremely high-revving Formula 1 engine.

This is a decisive reason why Audi continues its involvement with Sports-Prototype racing. Audi successfully positions itself as the premium segment’s most sporting manufacturer, whereby the motorsport involvement plays a far greater role than just a marketing instrument: For more than 25 years, the motorsport success of AUDI AG has been based on ground-breaking developments, which established themselves later in production.

The best examples of this are quattro drive, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and TFSI technology which was used for the first time in the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans and remains unbeaten in the French endurance classic since then. The Audi R8, the most successful Le Mans Prototype ever with 61 victories from 77 races, is still the only racing car in the world to combine turbo-charging and direct fuel injection.

Labels: Audi

AUDI AG is once again one step ahead of the opposition: The inventor of ‘TDI’ will become the world’s first automobile manufacturer to fight for overall victory with a diesel engine at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The all-new Audi R10, which was unveiled on Tuesday in Paris, is powered by a totally new 5.5-litre, twelve-cylinder bi-turbo TDI engine, which is extremely quiet and economical.

Labels: Audi

The heart of the Audi R10 is a completely new V12 TDI engine with a cubic capacity of 5.5 litres – the maximum permitted at Le Mans. Audi ventures into previously unexplored diesel-engine terrain with power exceeding 650 hp and torque of more than 1100 Newton metres from the V12 power plant. "This engine is the specifically most powerful diesel there is in the world and, up until now, the biggest challenge that Audi Sport has ever faced in its long history,” explains Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Technology at Audi Sport. "There has never been anything remotely comparable. We started development with a clean sheet of paper.”

The V12 TDI used in the R10 is the first Audi diesel engine with an aluminium crank case. The cylinder-bank angle is 90 degrees. The V12 TDI has, like Audi production car engines, four valves per cylinder and twin overhead camshafts. The fuel induction is made by a modern "Common Rail System”. The injection pressure easily exceeds the 1600 bar achieved in production cars. The ignition pressures also reach values never previously seen in any Audi engine.

The turbo pressure produced by the two Garrett turbochargers is limited by the regulations to 2.94 bars absolute, the diameter of both engine air intake restrictors, stipulated by the regulations, is 2 x 39.9 millimetres. The engine management is controlled by the latest generation of Bosch Motronic (MS14).

The engine’s power and the high torque are available to the driver practically from idling speed – a speciality of diesel technology, to which the Audi drivers must now become accustomed. The usable power band lies between 3000 and 5000 revs per minute.

Labels: Audi

Audi is set to become the world’s first automobile manufacturer to fight for overall victory with a diesel engine at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The all-new Audi R10, which was unveiled this morning in Paris, is powered by a totally new 5.5-litre, twelve-cylinder bi-turbo TDI engine, which is extremely quiet and economical.

The Le Mans Prototype, with over 650-bhp, significantly exceeds the power produced by the majority of previous Audi racing cars – including that of its victorious R8 predecessor. Audi ventures into previously unexplored diesel-engine terrain with the V12 power plant manufactured completely from aluminium. As with the TFSI technology, which triumphed initially at Le Mans before being adopted for mass-production, Audi customers should benefit once again from the lessons learnt in motorsport.

“With the A8 4.2 TDI quattro, Audi already builds one of the most powerful diesel cars in the world,” explained Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, at the R10 presentation in Paris. “The Le Mans project will help our technicians to extract even more from TDI technology. Nowadays, every second Audi is delivered with a TDI engine. We expect that the percentage of diesel engines will be even larger in the future.”

The new Audi R10 successfully completed its first test at the end of November. An extensive test programme, including the 12-hour race at Sebring (USA) on 18 March, is scheduled before the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 17/18 June 2006. The development team from Audi Sport is supported by Reinhold Joest’s squad, which also performed this task during the R8 project.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

These latest photos are showing the upcoming off road version of the Audi A6 Avant during a fuel stop at a service station near the Artic Circle.

The current A6 Allroad’s production ended in July this year, and the new A6 Allroad’s release is scheduled for launch at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Audi had tested the public’s reaction to the new model at the Detroit Motor Show in January with a high tech Audi allroad quattro Concept. These pictures, however, are showing the production version. The prototype has a visibly higher ground clearance and the typical rear skirt similar to the current Allroad.

Labels: Audi

Audi’s entry into the premium compact segment continues to collect accolades. Car and Driver magazine has just presented the 2006 A3 2.0T its 2006 “10Best” award, winning the “Best Sport Compact” category. The all-new 2006 A3 made its North American debut back in May.

The A3 2.0T won this distinction by virtue of its sporty driving dynamics and robust structure. Car and Driver specifically made mention of the A3’s nimble handling, strong chassis, powerful 200 hp 2.0T FSI engine, and easy-shifting six-speed manual transmission. These areas of performance are essential when developing a dedicated sports car, but the 4-door A3 2.0T was designed with these traits right from the onset.

Not only is the A3 sporty and well equipped, its one of the safest vehicles on the road as well. The A3 was recently named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). All A3 models come standard with dual front and front-side airbags, Sideguard™ curtain airbags for both the front and rear passengers, three-point seat belts for all five passengers, active head restraints that move towards the occupant during impact to help reduce possible whiplash injuries, and a rigid structure that helps protect the occupants in the event of a crash. The A3 also has optional rear-side airbags for back seat passengers.

The 2006 A3 2.0T starts at $24,740 (plus $720 destination) with a comprehensive list of standard equipment. Luxurious features such as automatic climate control, keyless entry, one-touch power windows, cruise control, electronic stabilization program, 17-inch alloy wheels, tilt and telescoping steering column, and 140-watt 10-speaker audio system with in-dash CD player are all standard

2006 A3 2.0T models are available with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.

Audi is already upping the ante with the recently introduced A3 3.2 S-line featuring a narrow-angle 3.2-liter V6 engine making 250 hp. All of this power is put to the ground through a six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox, and Audi’s legendary quattro® all-wheel drive. The A3 3.2 S-line has a base price of $33,980 (plus $720 destination).

Labels: Audi

Audi has found a way to quietly kill the automotive scene with an exquisite product that somehow goes unnoticed to many high-end luxury buyers. The 2006 Audi A8L with the W12 engine, no less, has been one of our most satisfying test drives this year. Every time we jumped in the A8L we looked forward to playing with a few of its interior gadgets and getting cosseted by its incredible ride. And each time we stepped out of the German royalty we talked it up as if we were all family.

From the Night Blue Pearl Effect exterior paint to the Adaptive Air Suspension to the Four Zone Climate Control, the A8L could not help but ooze amenities at will. Mercedes, BMW, and yes Audi have been producing luxury cars for a long time with the first two garnering social fame and top sales in the US. So why not take a look at the A8 since it goes round for round against the S-Class and 7-Series? Actually, we chose it over the two. Why? For one, it has character that only a few earnestly understand. Also, the interior is flawless during the day and seductive after dark. Have you seen the dashboard lights? Finally, it's equipped with our favorite – quattro all-wheel drive!

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

This is quite a dinky little sports car. It looks low and short – just shorter than a Lotus Elise, though a little wider and taller – and it’s striking for the length of the roof and the narrowness of the tyres. They’re thin to minimise rolling resistance, but also promise more feelsome moments at the wheel.

Eventually the EcoRacer will spin if you push it too hard, but at the prototype-preserving speeds we managed it felt well-mannered and great fun. The steering is a major contributor: it’s quick, direct and feels unassisted despite the fact that it isn’t.

Labels: VW

A full engine range means that the right engine for the job is always available. The 2.5-litre five-cylinder TDI engine is available with 65 kW (89 PS), 80 kW (109 PS), 100 kW (136 PS) and 120 kW (164 PS), depending on the application. All engines have high torque at low engine speeds. This, together with modern common rail technology, ensures that the engines have very low fuel consumption. In addition, a diesel particulate filter (DPF) is fitted as standard.

A choice of three wheelbases, four load compartment lengths and three roof heights enhance the versatility of the new large transporter from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The Crafter has a maximum load capacity of 17 m³. Naturally the payload and maximum permitted gross vehicle weight have been increased in line with the new capacity. The 5-tonne panel van can now transport a weight of approximately 2,670 kg. Access to the load compartment is excellent in the Crafter. In vehicles with the medium or long wheelbase, a sliding door reveals a loading aperture 1.3 m in width and 1.8 m in height, allowing standard pallets to be loaded easily (applies to LH2/LH3 load compartment heights). There is sufficient room inside the vehicle for two standard pallets to stand next to each other. An optional transport safety system can be used to prevent the load slipping.

Labels: VW

The Audi R8 wrote motorsport history for six long years winning 61 from 77 races it contested – five of them at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its eagerly awaited successor is now raring to go: the Audi R10.

There has already been a great deal of speculation concerning the new Audi sports car in the media. One thing is certain: Because of its new technology and numerous innovative details, the R10 is one of the most ambitious projects ever to have been implemented at Audi Sport.

On 13 December, the R10 will be presented to media representatives from all around the world in the city centre of Paris. The presentation and the following press conference can be followed "live” via the internet: From 12:00 noon onwards a video "live” stream from Paris will be available at www.Audi.de and www.Audi.com. The direct link to follow the broadcast will be www.Audi.de/R10.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

In a statement released on Thursday, VW outlined the features of the Touareg Kong. The special-edition SUV is outfitted with 19-inch alloy wheels in sterling silver finish, silver-colored roof bars, a chrome package, and "King Kong" badging. The interior is set up to mimic a movie theater with darkened rear windows, two cupholders in the center armrest, and a rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones.

The vehicle comes with several engine choices, including a 237-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 and a 308-hp V10 TDI diesel. It will be priced at 48,225 euros or about $57,000. VW told Inside Line it plans to build approximately 5,000 Touareg Kong models for sale only in Europe. Peter Jackson's remake of the classic movie will make its debut December 14.

Labels: VW

45 degrees max. gradability, 58 centimetres wading depth, 3.5 tonnes max. trailer weight. The new Touareg Kong is a powerful helper and the ideal crew vehicle at the filming of the new "King Kong" film. This extraordinary Touareg also offers elegant and sporty design, outstanding ride comfort, and the latest technology.

The mighty, colour-coded widened sills, 19-inch "Avignon" alloy wheels in Sterling Silver finish with 275/45 R 19 tyres, the silver-coloured front and rear underbody guards, the exterior mirror housings also in silver-look, and the characteristic chrome surround of the front bumper air intake all contribute to the Touareg Kong's exclusive and eye-catching appearance.

To round off the picture it has sporty oval tailpipe trim, silver-coloured roof bars and the elegant chrome package, consisting of chrome strips on the radiator grille, side windows, and sills, high-gloss black roof pillar trim, and a chrome-finish step on the rear bumper. Naturally each Touareg Kong has a "King Kong" badge on the B-pillar identifying it as an official crew member.

Labels: VW

South of France near the city of St. Paul de Vence - Somewhere during a heart-stopping, GTI-pounding romp through roads most people could only dream of, it struck me. We often talk about what makes a European car "feel" different than a vehicle made in Asia or America, particularly in this increasingly homogenized car market where global engineering teams are finding new ways to clone nearly everything. True automotive inspiration isn't found in a sterile lab but out on the road, and Europe arguably has some of the best in the world. Almost nowhere else do roads have the variation, challenge, length and majesty of scenery found in Europe. That is the secret ingredient - cars developed for people that drive these types of roads every day. Roads that require a vehicle to not only glide down the highway but also handle well, transition well, inspire confidence and most important, are fun to drive. The type of roads that most Europeans drive every day not only inspire but dictate this distinctly European character trait that is often lost on other vehicles.

So it seems only fitting that Volkswagen decided up front to squash any idea that the American-bound GTI is significantly watered down offering us a first drive of the North American-spec cars on some of Europe's most famous driving roads, including sections found in the FIA World Rally Championship Monte Carlo Rally route. So how is it you ask? After flogging a U.S. spec GTI for a whole day over these types of roads I'm happy to report that it left me with a huge grin on my face. In fact I went back out a second time to drive the first part of the drive route nearly running out of fuel in the process, returning the car with brakes smoking and my mind thoroughly baked from the experience. If there were such a thing as a Vehicular Therapeutic Spa for car enthusiasts this is it.

Labels: VW

Finalists (three cars and three trucks) will be announced Dec. 13; winners are anointed Jan. 8 at the Detroit auto show.

Labels: VW

Driving along the N97 from Nice to St Tropez between mountains and sea I find myself in a very happy place. The reason? The new Audi A4 cabriolet.

I'm in the 233bhp, six-cylinder 3.0 TDI and it's certainly got the measure of this hilly topography, 332lb ft of TDI torque making short work of pretty much everything.

What's more, the addition of permanent quattro four-wheel drive adds that feeling of surety you never quite get in the front-wheel drive cars.

Saying that, the A4 still manages to feel light and responsive, especially compared to something like the Saab 9-3 convertible, which suddenly seems quite leaden and heavy by comparison.

So what's new? Well, Audi has given the A4 its standard singleframe grille, as well as new lights front and rear. The changes make it look more aggressive, and - as with all decent face-lifts - it's sharpened up the lines.

The interior is equally stylish and with the optional acoustic hood, almost as quiet as the saloon. The roof's also quick - just 21 seconds from start to finish and super easy to operate.

You can also raise or lower it at speeds of up to 19mph just by pressing a single button. Bliss.

Labels: Audi

Finalists (three cars and three trucks) will be announced Dec. 13; winners are anointed Jan. 8 at the Detroit auto show.

Labels: Audi

Badgers, zebras, collie dogs and the occasional magpie. Fine. I could even deal with a ringtailed lemur, or the more subtle colourations of the coal-highlights-on-ivory polar bear.

But if you were to ask me whether I wanted a black-and-white Lamborghini yesterday, I'd have spat some unnecessarily vitriolic rejoinder about not being a monochromatophiliac retard. Sorry.

Thankfully, this Lamborghini Gallardo SE has taken a style bludgeon to my preconceptions. It makes use of the most basic of colour schemes to highlight its differences by delineating the new blacked-out roof, window line and jewellery - like the dark wheels and wing mirrors.

A bellowing advert for racial harmony; never have black and white got on so well in so confined an aesthetic space, or done more to make a car look like a Stormtrooper's helmet.

The use of the black, the pause in the Lambo's visual tempo, is also one of the ways that you can tell that this isn't just any old Gallardo, but the new and supremely boxfresh SE.

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Bentley

Labels: Lamborghini

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Winter was late coming to the nation's capital, but its damp, chilly debut was coincident with the arrival of the quattro-adhered Audi A6 Avant with its electrically heated front and rear seats. Easing the shock of the belated appearance of winter is simply a matter of thermal management and traction control, so a heated steering wheel and skillful all-wheel-drive can fend off lingering remembrances of the beach, refocusing thoughts on the ski season.

There is nothing so comforting in times of suspect traction as quattro all-wheel-drive with electronic differential locking and electronic stability control to Velcro (brand hook and loop fastener) the tires to the slick pavement. I also applaud the addition of brake assist, the quick-draw emergency stopping technology that shaves a few critical feet off full U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt-arrester-cable stops.

Labels: Audi

The cutting-edge information and technology infrastructure here has made Korea a major global testing ground in those areas. Now, the automobile industry is taking up the challenge, as sales of imported vehicles have been on the rise, particularly this year.

"Because the market for imported cars in Korea is expanding and consumers' preferences are becoming more and more fastidious, foreign car companies are using Seoul as a testing ground for marketing," said Yoon Dae-sung, executive managing director of the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.

That may well be an exaggeration, since marketing is still very much tailored to cultural nuances, Seoul's crowded streets and nearby highways and pollution make automotive innovations like convertibles and cruise control impractical and the penetration of imported cars is still very small. But at least the latter is changing.

According to a recent report by the association, monthly sales of imported cars hit a record high last month of more than 3,000 cars. With the current momentum, the imported car industry is expecting to see sales surpass 30,000 units for the year. Already in the first 11 months, sales of imported cars have reached 27,090 units. The imported car market share is expected to surpass 3 percent of the Korean market for the first time.

The imported car companies are strengthening their marketing in Seoul, hoping that the brisk sales they have enjoyed this year will continue. But their efforts suggest that they still consider going after the affluent end of the market the best strategy here.

Volkswagen Korea last week opened an exclusive showroom for its luxury vehicles, such as the Phaeton and Touareg. In addition to the showroom, the company is offering golf lessons, wine classes and opera tickets as premium services to its customers.

Several foreign car companies are expanding their lineups in Korea. Audi Korea earlier announced it would release several models, including its first sport utility vehicle, the Q7, in the first half of next year. An Audi Korea official said that except for a few models such as the A3, its full lineup will be available for Korean consumers next year.

Labels: Audi, VW

Labels: Audi

Two important engineering developments are front and center for several engines on this year’s list: direct-injection gasoline (DIG) technology and forced induction. These systems allow engineers to develop engines that generate startling power yet return acceptable fuel economy.

DIG technology is emerging as one of the powertrain sector’s most promising new developments. Injecting fuel directly into each of the engine’s cylinders produces outstanding performance and emissions improvements for new-generation diesels. Engineers now are using the technology for gasoline engines to generate improved low- and mid-range torque and in many cases to conserve fuel.

DIG systems are featured on three of this year’s 10 Best Engines winners.

The technology is widespread throughout Audi AG’s engine lineup, and buyers of the entry-level A3 have access to this year’s winning 2L FSI DOHC I-4.

The FSI system (an acronym for “Fuel Straight Injection”), combined with a sophisticated variable-geometry turbocharger, helps Audi’s diminutive 2L powerhouse produce 100 hp per liter – an industry benchmark for performance.

Superb V-8 performance also is at the heart of two returning 10 Best Engines winners.

Audi enjoys its second 10 Best Engines winner for 2006 with its stellar 4.2L DOHC V-8. Racking up its third consecutive award, the Audi V-8 once again impressed Ward’s testers with its remarkable blend of performance and refinement.

At 81 hp per liter, the Audi 4.2L V-8 remains at the forefront of the class of “premium” V-8s.

Labels: Audi

"That is probably correct," an Audi spokeswoman told Inside Line when asked about rumors posted on the Internet. The company showed its new S8 sedan at the recent Tokyo Motor Show.

Like the S8, the S6 will use a modified version of the V10 engine from the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe. The S8 for the U.S. market will have about 450 horsepower, and the S6 a bit less. "It may be somewhere around 420 or 410," said the spokeswoman.

The S6 will go on sale in the third quarter of 2006 in the United States, and the S8 will go on sale in the fourth quarter. Audi tries to have S versions of most of its cars, although the company is "not sure yet" whether it will offer an S version of its forthcoming Q7 SUV, according to the spokeswoman. Audi is also planning to continue offering its RS hot-rod brand, but with much greater exclusivity.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

Hard to imagine, but the 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle is in its ninth model year with only mild changes. Industry observers like to point to sagging sales of the Beetle as some indication that it has lost popularity, but really, what did they expect? The Beetle is doing fine for its age, and Volkswagen has done a good job of freshening the car mechanically to keep it current.

Case in point: For 2006, the Beetle finally dumps the tired 115-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder as its base engine, replacing it with a gutsy 2.5-liter, 150-horsepower five-cylinder. Gone also is the turbo-charged 1.8-liter four-cylinder. Because it had 150 horsepower, there was no need to keep it around as long as you have a base engine with the same specifications.

This leaves the New Beetle with two engines: the 2.5-liter five-cylinder, and the 1.9-liter four-cylinder turbo-charged diesel. The diesel engine has just 100 horsepower, but it's still a fuel mileage champ, EPA-rated at 37 miles per gallon city, 44 mpg highway with the manual transmission, and 35/42 with the automatic. (The diesel version can't be sold in California.)

And even though it's 9 years old, it remains one of a kind.

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

CASTELBUONO, SICILY - WARNING! DO NOT read on if: 1) Your right foot is heavier than your left foot, and 2) Your driver’s license is one ticket away from being revoked.

Okay, you made it this far, which means you are probably sane enough to consider the following:

Forget the 660-bhp Ferrari Enzo, the 605-bhp Porsche Carrera GT, the 617-bhp Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, or even the mighty 627-bhp McLaren F1. These supercars are simply slugs compared with the new 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (16.4 for 16 cylinders, 4 turbochargers). This $1.2 million “hyper-exotic” boasts 987 bhp (1001 metric horsepower) and 922 lb.-ft of torque, enough to propel the 4160-lb. beast to a top speed of over 250 mph. And according to the factory, a 0-62 mph acceleration run (0-100 km/h) can be done in 3.7 sec., and 0-186 mph in 16.7 sec., faster than you can re-read and comprehend the astonishing stats.

Labels: Bugatti

Labels: Lamborghini