Labels: Audi

What do you get when you cross an SUV with an estate car? If you're Audi, the answer is an A6 allroad quattro. On sale from June and priced from £33,530, the new Allroad will nestle between the A6 Avant and the Q7 in Audi's fast-expanding range.

The original Allroad was launched in 2000, helping - together with the rival Volvo XC70 - to define a new genre of 'crossover' estates. More than 90,000 were sold across the world to customers who wanted chunky aesthetics and all-terrain versatility, but didn't fancy the image and proportions of a full-size SUV. Audi's marketing gurus reckon the new Allroad will appeal to a similar clientele, making it an ideal complement to the extrovert Q7.

The Allroad's aesthetic makeover follows the theme established by its predecessor, the A6 Avant bodyshell being accessorised with the introduction of an off-road body kit, as plastic wheelarch extensions, aluminium roof rail and door sill extensions, larger door mirrors and revised bumper mouldings join forces with stainless steel skid plates, front and rear. Audi's trademark trapezoidal grille has also been given a once-over, with the introduction of vertical, chrome-effect strips.

These revisions are wholly successful, helping the Allroad achieve a distinct identity without appearing gauche or ostentatious. Buyers put off by the bold exhibitionism of the new Q7 could well be seduced by the Allroad's more understated charm.

Labels: Audi

Going up against Citroen's C1, Peugeot's 107 and Toyota's Aygo - not to mention newcomers like Kia's Picanto - the Fox is VW's eagerly awaited Lupo replacement. It goes on sale this month in two trims, standard and Urban, with a starting price of £6,590 - nearly £1,300 less than the its predecessor.

And not only is the Fox cheaper than the Lupo, it's also much bigger. Measuring 3,828mm by 1,544mm, it's 301mm longer and 85mm taller than its predecessor, and is close to the Polo in size. The bland exterior may not win it many friends, but those added dimensions certainly give the Fox an edge over rivals for cabin space.

Inside, it performs Tardis-like tricks. Rather than have a token central rear seat, there are two good-sized chairs in the back, and with lots of head and legroom, there's ample space for four tall adults inside. All the chairs are mounted high, too, giving occupants an MPV-style seating position, with great visibility.

Once on the move, the Fox proves to be very impressive. The steering is linear and well weighted, but it's completely devoid of any feedback. The handling, meanwhile, is composed and very grown up for such a small car, if not much fun. Unlike its competitors, the Fox has a very comfortable ride, and despite the tall driving position, the car doesn't feel as if it pitches about. Road and wind noise are very well suppressed, too, which means motorway cruising is a relaxing affair.

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Since 2004, Audi has also been demonstrating its pioneering role in the field of infotainment by offering innovative DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) technology. Digital radio makes it possible to receive a wide range of stations with the audio quality of a music CD. DAB can currently be ordered for the Audi A6/S6, A8/S8 and Audi Q7 models.

DAB, however, also provides the basis for another fascinating and particularly customer-oriented application: within the scope of a future-oriented project, researchers are working on a new system that will be able to read the driver permanently updated and personalised news from all over the world. This means that the driver becomes his own editor-in-chief, so to speak, the car his personal newsreader. This service is available at all times and can be operated conveniently by speech control or Audi MMI (Multi Media Interface). The required information is presented by automated voice output.

In order to prevent information overload and redundancy, MACS My News, as the system is known, can be individually configured. The driver can decide for himself whether and for how long he wishes to be informed about certain contents, such as world and sports news and weather reports.

This new development is aimed above all at satisfying the demand from customers for the latest information tailored to their personal needs. Its implementation in the first prototypes, moreover, will produce findings that will provide the basis for a number of other individual services.

The objective of the research project MACS (Mobile Automotive Cooperative Services), which is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and is a joint project of Audi, the Technical University of Munich, the Institute for the Automotive Industry in Nürtingen/Geislingen and the Technical University of Darmstadt, is the integration, development and realisation of innovative mobile services.

Audi presented the current development status during the 6th Services Conference of the BMBF at the end of March 2006 in an Audi A6 Avant.

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One of the world’s most modern eight-cylinder engines is now available for the Audi A6 and A8 model lines. The 4.2 FSI, closely related to the high-revving V8 in the Audi RS 4, develops considerably more power than its 335 bhp predecessor. With the aid of petrol direct injection, it now generates 350 bhp (257 kW). And at the same time, its fuel consumption is around 10 percent lower. The immense power of the eight-cylinder engine is transferred via 6-speed tiptronic transmission and quattro permanent four-wheel drive.

The new engine is available in the new 2007 model year for all A6 models and for the standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions of the A8. The basic prices are € 61,300 for the A6 4.2 FSI quattro saloon and € 76,200 for the
A8 4.2 FSI quattro.

The A6 3.0 TDI quattro will now also receive more power – in future, like the Audi A8, it will generate 171 kW (233 bhp, instead of the previous 225 bhp).

Also available for both model lines is the Audi parking system advanced, which aids the driver with a wide-angle rear-view camera when parking. The completely distortion-free images contain guidance lines which show the line the car should follow and the distance to obstacles based on the steering angle. This is a system which has already proved itself in the Audi Q7 and which received nothing but praise from the media on making its debut.

In the cockpit of the Audi A8, a 5-inch central display will be a standard feature of the driver information system, replacing the 3-inch monitor used up to now. This has the advantage of an improved and enlarged display of information on navigation, consumption and range. Further information can also be shown in parallel on the colour display.

Rear passengers can also enjoy a new perspective in the 2007 model year of the A8 and A8L if desired: with the Rear Seat Entertainment plus system from quattro GmbH, they will in future have the option of watching TV via monitors in the head restraints of the front seats while travelling. The system is operated via remote control from the rear.

Labels: Audi

How niche is niche? Well in the UK for Audi it seems about 900. That’s how many A6 allroads they anticipate selling in a good year here, their own new Q7 SUV likely to make a small dent in the allroad’s sales figures.

Even so, Audi claims a very loyal audience for the allroad and it’s easy to see why. Not only does it look good, but compared with a conventional SUV it makes a great deal of sense.

To drive it eclipses even the most accomplished SUVs. So niche it may be, but it offers most of the benefits of an SUV without their compromises on the road. That alone makes it hugely appealing.
As does the fact that it looks so good and isn’t likely to attract the sort of anti-SUV scorn now so common. Starting at £33,530 it’s slightly cheaper than most of its premium off-roader rivals too. If you’re one of those 900 anticipated buyers you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

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How do you get three Hollywood stars into a two-seater Lamborghini? Mission: Impossible?

In what is sure to be the blockbuster hit of the summer of 2006, the Lamborghini Gallardo makes a dazzling on-screen appearance in the highly anticipated Mission: Impossible III (Paramount Pictures). Italian moviegoers were treated to an extra performance, when the cast arrived in 10 Lamborghinis at the movie’s spectacular world premiere in Rome.

Under the direction of J.J. Abrams, of the famous TV series "Lost" and "Alias", super agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) returns with a bang in the third installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. The high-performance Lamborghini Gallardo, styled in a vibrant orange, is just the car to complete the IMF team.

The Gallardo is named after one of the five main breeds of bulls used in Spanish bullfighting. Just like the powerful animal after which it is named (and like the women Ethan Hunt loves and battles!), the car is the most beautiful specimen within the race.

So how do you get Tom Cruise, Maggie Q and this year’s Academy Award winner for best actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, into the two-seater Lamborghini Gallardo? Go see Mission: Impossible III to find out!

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IT'S a shame the car that put more people into a Porsche - the Boxster - doesn't have a higher profile.
Over the few days trialling the Boxster S, I noticed that Porsches featured in the media- and driven by a premiership footballer, a celebrity chef and a top actress, among others - were all, without exception, 911s.
Even the ladies seem to be shunning the Boxster in favour of the Cayenne off-roader. Prices for the non-turbo Cayenne 4x4s aren't that much adrift of the Boxster, either.
But for all the lack of visible image, the Boxster probably offers the best value of all the German firm's flying roadsters.

There's two versions: the 2.7 litre Boxster, and the 3.2 litre Boxster S, and both are supreme performers.
But it's the S that takes the value title thanks to the impressive dynamics of the flat- six- cylinder engine.
Sited mid-ships, just behind the two black leather seats, the 3179cc engine can rocket to 62mph in 5.5 seconds, and feels laid back at British speed limits. Sensible restraint is needed over the available 280bhp and 167mph top speeds in order to avoid points on the licence.

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Finally! Audi's sensational new Q7 has landed in the UK, and it's sure to make an impact - not least because of its huge size. Tipping the scales at two-and-a-quarter tonnes, the five-metre-long SUV is the German firm's first off-roader - and it's already proving a hit with buyers.

Audi has forecast annual sales of up to 5,400, and has already taken 1,327 deposits - not bad considering first deliveries don't start until July. So, what's got buyers this interested? Well, the company claims it is the first car in the class which will appeal to the practically minded family driver and the sporting enthusiast in equal measure.

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Audi continues to receive notoriety through out it's model line. The A8 and allroad quattro are the most recent recipients of praise. LA Car recently awarded vehicles from several categories the title of "Best Cars to Drive in Rush Hour". The article originated from the notion that, for the infamous journey through rush hour traffic in Los Angeles, some vehicles are better suited for such a daunting task than others. The Audi A8 was named in the "Isolation Chamber" category. This category consists of premium luxury vehicles deemed as luxurious and relaxing. LA Car states "Audi's latest A8 may be the best all-around luxury car south of the six figure range. In rush hour traffic, it performs very well... and its all-wheel drive and aluminum space frame design make it a great handling luxury sedan." The allroad 4.2 quattro was recognized in the SUV category. "Like all Audis, it's a work of art, lavished with one of the nicest interiors you'll ever find... The 4.2L is fitted with Audi's formidable V8 engine, which translates into instantaneous acceleration on command. Combine all this with the excellent visibility all around, and you've got one of the best cars for rush hour traffic."

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The sporty elegance of an A6 Avant given a new slant with distinctive off-road elements – the new Audi A6 allroad quattro is a car without compare. With credentials including immense technological prowess, remarkable handling both on and off the road, luxury-class comfort and premium equipment, the successor to the highly successful allroad quattro is the perfect choice for sporty customers who enjoy recreational pursuits and are looking for a car with a powerful, individual character.

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For buyers who prefer speed and power over total comfort, Porsche unleashes a more powerful version of the blown 911 convertible. Shown here for the first time, Stuttgart’s latest Turbo Cabrio will go on sale toward the end of this year as part of the thoroughly revised 911 lineup. At the cab’s heart is the Turbo’s reworked version of the twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six with 480 hp.

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On the Targa, exterior modifications over the coupe include a sharp-edged rear side window plus the panoramic transparent roof that slides back over the rear window at the push of a button. Our spies tell us it is more than likely the Targa will be available as a Carrera 4 and S, on top of the Carrera 2 Targa.

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