Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

inning european car’s 2008 Editors’ Choice award by a significant margin, the R8 distinguished itself among the european car staff as a completely viable supercar – a vehicle capable of getting groceries or going flat-out at LeMans.

“It’s rare to find a car like the R8, because it manages to bring supercar performance and styling to the point where it can be used every day,” said Les Bidrawn, european car’s editor. “We tend to ask a lot from our cars—we’re hard on them. The fact that the R8 stood up to our exhaustive tests speaks volumes about its fantastic technology and user-friendly ergonomics. I guess you could consider the R8 the world’s most reliable supercar… we like that.”

In addition to performance, the Editors’ Choice takes into account ergonomics, styling, user-friendliness and price. Also considered is the difficult-to-explain excitement that comes from a great car—basically, a ‘how does this car make you feel?’ gauge.

Obviously, the editors at european car feel the Audi R8 excelled across the board. “To be honest, this is the type of excellence we’ve come to expect from Audi,” added Bidrawn. “The company set the bar very high and managed to exceed it.”

Labels: Audi

Although both factory teams are racing similar turbodiesel-powered prototypes, to date they have only clashed once. That was at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, where the Germans came out on top.

Audi has been contesting the American Le Mans Series while, on its return to top-level sportscar racing, Peugeot has taken victory in all six rounds of the predominantly European-based Le Mans Series.

Neither outfit has confirmed its future intentions, but both are likely to lock horns in Florida, US, at the 12 Hours of Sebring in the spring, as well as at Le Mans next summer. And now, with 12 months of experience under its belt, Peugeot is sure to provide an even stiffer challenge to all-conquering Audi.

Labels: Audi

Four Audi models have taken first place in their classes in the "Auto Trophy 2007" awards. This was the verdict of the readers of the motoring magazine "Auto Zeitung". They voted to give the Audi A3, A4, A6 and R8 four of the year's most prized awards. Another Auto Trophy went to the current A5 advertisement as Print Advertisement of the Year. The models Audi Q7, TT Roadster, A8 and S5 were runners-up in their classes.

350 vehicles in total were competing for votes in 31 categories this year, in addition to the year's best print advertisements. A total of 103,721 readers of the Auto Zeitung, published in Cologne, and of www.autozeitung.de voted for their favourites.
The Audi A3 was the preferred choice of 23.5 percent of voters in the compact class. The rest of the field of competitors finished a considerable way behind.

The A6 picked up even more votes, taking first place in the executive class for the fourth successive time. The A6 received 29.4 percent of the vote, leaving the runner-up trailing by almost 10 percentage points.

As the champion of the super sports car class, the R8 won a respectable 30.5 percent of the readers' votes to claim its second victory – another clear first place, some 12 percentage points ahead of its closest competitor.

The victory of the new Audi A4 in the mid-size class is also particular pleasing for Audi. Even before customers take receipt of the first cars, 35.7 percent of readers voted for the Ingolstadt-built saloon – the best result of all the winning Audi vehicles and one of the best results of this year's Auto Trophy awards as a whole.

For the second year running, Audi advertising won the award for the best print advertisement of the year. The Auto Zeitung readers' most popular choice for the Auto Trophy was the image "The new A5 meets its equal".

The Audi brand has already won 39 of the coveted awards in the 20-year history of the Auto Trophy.

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

The readers of AUTO ZEITUNG have made their choice. With more than 39 Auto Trophy awards collected over the past 20 years, Volkswagen is the “Most Successful Brand” and has therefore been awarded the anniversary Auto Trophy in this special category. Prof Martin Winterkorn personally attended the ceremony to accept the prize.

“I am extremely proud,” said Prof Martin Winterkorn, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, in his acceptance speech before 400 guests at the Meilenwerk Berlin forum for automobile culture. “We feel very honoured by this award, because it is the choice of the readers, the people, and our customers. I accept this prize as a good sign of things to come. The Volkswagen brand can look back on a successful past and we will do everything in our power to make sure we continue being successful in future.”

Labels: VW

Hella has developed vehicle-specific LED daytime running lights for retrofitting to the Volkswagen Golf V and Ford Focus II. The fit perfectly into the front of the vehicle and look as if there were fitted as standard. Modern lighting technology and elegant design with a clear-glass look are combined to give a safety benefit while going easy on the environment: After all, two LED daytime running lights need just ten watts of power; additional consumption is not measurable.

The round lights are supplied with special covers that are tailor-made for the respective model. They fit exactly into the front apron and enhance the appearance of the vehicle. Three high-performance LEDs per light ensure a high level of recognizability during the day and therefore considerably improved safety in road traffic. They switch on automatically when the engine is started. The rest of the vehicle lighting is then not in operation. This eases the load on the energy balance. In addition, LEDs last for the life of a vehicle; their service life is about 10,000 hours of operation.

The LED daytime running lights consist of a robust, compact diecast aluminium housing. A shock-resistant plastic cover lens protects the light sources and the high-sheen metallized reflector. The lights are designed as a multi-voltage version and are therefore universally suitable for 12-volt and 24-volt vehicle electric systems. A relay integrated into the light saves an additional relay during installation.

The new vehicle-specific LED daytime running lights are type-approved (in accordance with ECE Directive 87) and will be available from specialist automotive aftermarket retailers from January 2008. The scope of supply includes corrosion-proof metal holders, plastic Design covers and a pre-assembled harness with perfectly sealed plug-connections and protectively-covered cable looms.

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Lamborghini is rushing to unleash a monster lightweight, rear-drive rocket in late 2008 as a last hurrah for the Murciélago supercar.

Sources at Sant'Agata say the car, dubbed the SV, will have even more power than the 641-hp V12 Reventón and will be blindingly fast in a straight line. Sources say it will have at least 220 pounds stripped from the Murciélago LP640's 3663-pound body, with some suggesting the savings could be close to 300 pounds.

Losing the front differential and driveshafts will save some 90 pounds alone, and dietary lessons learned from the Gallardo Superleggera will provide the rest of the needed weight reduction.

The welded-tube steel chassis is a more difficult proposition than the aluminum-bodied Gallardo, though, because most of the larger car's body panels are already carbon fiber. Only its roof and door panels are aluminum.

Lamborghini sources note the SV program has followed the Superleggera program by dividing the focus into three areas: interior, exterior and mechanicals. The interior will become carbon-fiber central, including the inner door skins, the seat shells and the center tunnel. Leather-lined door panels will be replaced by carbon, with a pull strap for a door handle, saving five pounds per door.

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Bugatti

As previewed in the Clubsport Quattro, we expect the S to use a heavily tweaked version of the S3's 2.0-litre direct injection four-pot engine, hooked up to a revised version of Audi's double-clutch transmission. The hotter S will be easily identified by those large gaping front air intakes, deeper chin, bigger 19inch alloys and those gutter-sized split twin exhaust pipes. Audi is apparently reserving its four-pipe exhaust layout for the blood-spitting RS version...

Labels: Audi

Confirming our earlier news story, the V10 engine will be completely new and not related to the V10s in either the RS6 or the Lamborghini Gallardo. Instead it is essentially a development of the high-revving V8 from the RS4 and R8.

Engineers tell us that this new engine will shade BMW’s 500bhp M Power V10 – as found in the M5 and M6 – in terms of outright power and revs. Considering BMW’s figures, that means the new 5.2-litre engine should be good for around 520bhp and rev beyond 8250rpm.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

The Audi Q7 SUV and A8 luxury limousine were today announced as Australia’s most secure vehicles in their respective classes at the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) ‘Secure by Design’ awards in Sydney.

The Audi Q7 took out the award in the ‘large SUV’ category and the A8 won the ‘luxury’ category award. Each of the winning vehicles were expertly assessed against their market competitors in relation to the following criteria:

• entry systems (such as door, ignition and fuel filler locks, rear seat/boot access and glazing);
• theft resistance systems (such as alarms, engine immobilisers, sound systems, wheel and component substitution protection); and
• vehicle identification (body stamping, security labelling and microdotting).

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

The company has earmarked €9.5 billion for investment over the next three years. A lion’s share of the moolah, 6.5 billion euros will go into new products while 1.7 billion euros will be invested in emerging markets like India and Russia, along with a third assembly line and the press shop in Wolfsburg and the paintshop in Pamplona.

Wolfsburg plant will get 479 million euros, 229 million for the Brunswick plant, 540 million for the Kassel plant and there’s more money for other plants as well.

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

The $1.4 million Reventón--Lamborghini's 641-hp, V12-powered, carbon-bodied Frankfurt motor show star--has a presence so physically overwhelming that it makes people do things they ordinarily would never do.

Still, the Reventón is seriously, dangerously fast. It's the ultimate he-man car, and to squeeze mid-corner speed out of a Reventón, you will need to invest more risk, concentration and commitment than in any other mainstream sports car (apart from the LP640), not in itself a bad thing.

Like the rest of the car, its engine never hides its direct threats of violence. There is no pretense here, and you should pause every time before firing it up, because you know the two of you are about to arm-wrestle over who's boss.

The redesign isn't purely exterior. Inside, the Alcantara-trimmed seats are specific to this car, built around the sportier of Lamborghini's two-seat options and so narrow that your hips start aching in about 30 minutes. The dashboard gets your attention: If you don't like the chunky, military typeface of the round digital dials, you can push a button and change to something that looks like two runways.

Labels: Lamborghini

Hit the gas. The car rockets forward. Immediately. Instantly. You're going really fast. Like it decided to skip everything from 2-MPH to 40-MPH and just jumped straight to 41-MPH, didn't pass go, didn't collect $200.

That took maybe two seconds. Maybe.

And you're not even doing anything yet.

Because while you were busy trying to figure out where those two seconds went and where this speed came from, the turbos were busy getting ready to come on stage --

And then they kick in --

And then forget about it.

No really, forget about it.

Sixty miles per hour comes in maybe another second.

And another second after that, hell, who knows how fast you're going. And another second after that, I think time and space take on different properties. I think I became a rhombus.

And this is the PCH, remember. I only had room in my head for two thoughts:
1. I need to stay on Earth.
2. I need to not hit a telephone pole.

That's it.

Labels: Bugatti

R8-Based Concept Car
Piecing together bits and pieces we’ve heard from often-in-the-know mouths at Audi, we hear they plan a concept car and believe it will be based on the R8. Rumors of V10s and convertible or targa roofs have circled around the R8 since it was first shown, and we suspect the concept will probably be a convertible, a V10 or maybe even both.

TTS
Preproduction test mules of the upcoming TTS have been seen rounding the Nurburgring weeks ago, while just this week, two more undisguised red examples were photographed behind a chain link fence at an Audi facility in Germany. We know the TTS is coming, and now we know when.

Word is, the TTS drops in Motown as a full production model. Even better, we are happy to confirm that the car will be sold in North America.

Labels: Audi

Ingolstadt's due to release the mid-size model around the end of the decade. The new car continues the usual A6 features like six side windows and relatively short deck, along with Audi's now trademark maw grille. The new A6 will be a bit more angular than the current model, incorporating styling cues from the new A4 and A5 models, with a touch of R8 in the headlights.

Labels: Audi

When we first wrote about the burned out Audi R8 in the picture above, we mentioned scuttlebutt saying it was a test mule. Now, Quattro GmbH director Werner Frowein reveals that it was indeed an RS8 test mule, and that the problem was specifically due to the turbos of its V10 powerplant getting too hot in the mid-engined layout. Based on the best translation we can find of the Dutch article, Frowein says (or at least we think he says) that putting the twin-turbo V10 in the R8 is out of the question, and that they are instead working on a normally-aspirated V10 with a little more than 500 HP.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Porsche is launching a new edition of the Boxster, the RS60 Spyder, that is intended to evoke memories of the Type 718 RS60 Spyder endurance racer of the early 1960s. It is slated for U.S. sale starting in the spring following a 2008 New York Auto Show debut in March.

But first, the modern-day Spyder is having its international unveiling at the Bologna auto show, which opens December 5. Worldwide deliveries begin in March, with prices in Europe starting at $79,500. The price in the U.S, Porsche says, will be $64,900. Porsche says it will build only 1,960 copies, to mark the original racing car's victory at Sebring 47 years ago. Of those, "fewer than 800" are slated for U.S. sale.

Labels: Porsche

In what would seem to be a page out of Herbie’s adventures, a 1965 Beetle challenged a Porsche 997 and beat it to the punch. The driver of the battered looking gold colored Beetle asked the Porsche’s driver to race him, a challenge gladly accepted.

The cars raced on the drag strip at Santa Pod, to see the Porsche being humbled by the bug. The beetle ran through the strip in 11.04 seconds with a terminal speed of 129.77 mph while the Porsche clocked 13.18 seconds at a terminal speed of 113.03mph.

An ordinary bug obviously cannot beat down a Porsche, this one was packed with a 2276cc engine with a 650cfm Holley and Turbo Dynamics reconditioned draw through turbo set up.

Labels: Porsche, VW

Labels: VW

The R36, the flagship of the Passat range and the fastest production VW you can buy, will be on its way to New Zealand in the middle of next year at a price of about $90,000.

The R36 is only the second model in the VW range to wear the R-badge - the first was the Golf R32 - and can rocket from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

It will be available in both sedan and Variant wagon versions, with the latter expected to account for about 70 per cent of sales.

The basis for the R36 is a 3.6-litre FSI V6 engine developing 220kW/350Nm. It's mated to the super-quick direct shift gearbox (DSG) and it drives through a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. Suspension and brakes have been heavily uprated to cope with the extra performance.

The styling changes are typically subtle - side skirts and chrome highlights, with unique 18-inch wheels.

Labels: VW

Labels: Lamborghini

The Bentley Continental GT Speed coupe is a magnificent automobile. It is noticeably faster than its sibling, the Continental GT that was introduced in 2002. But sheer speed is only part of the Speed model’s undeniable appeal. Torque makes the world go round, and torque is what makes you grin like a fool as you press this newest Bentley’s pedal to the floor and the trees start to blur.

Labels: Bentley

Labels: Audi

They’re on a roll at Audi! Believe it or not, the company could be giving its stunning Cross Cabriolet quattro the green light for production.

Auto Express can reveal that the amazing concept, which debuted at last week’s Los Angeles Motor Show, looks set to hit the roads as a drop-top version of the forthcoming Q5 SUV. It follows hot on the heels of the metroproject quattro, which previews the firm’s new A1 city car.

Brit Steve Lewis is design chief for Audi USA, which created the Cross Cabriolet. Speaking at the event, he said: “Such a vehicle has been talked about within Audi for quite some time, because nobody else has ever produced a cabriolet SUV before.

“If there is sufficient demand for around 5,000 units a year, this model could go into limited production, and arrive in showrooms around 2010.”

Labels: Audi

The TDI has again demonstrated its superiority as an engine concept that combines efficiency, low emissions and dynamic performance. In the Michelin Challenge Bibendum, the world's leading test and showcase event for sustainable mobility, the Audi A5 3.0 TDI with ultra low emission system finished first in the prototype vehicles category – ahead of a strong field of competitors, many of them vehicles with hybrid drive or powered by fuel cells. The three vehicles entered by Audi scooped a total of nine awards.

The Challenge Bibendum Rally, which this year was staged in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, was the context in which consumption, emissions, driving safety and handling characteristics were all assessed. After all its qualities had been taken into account, the Audi A5 3.0 TDI emerged ahead of its challengers. It came out on top in the categories Handling, Acceleration and Emissions. This achievement was squarely attributable to the technology that makes the TDI the cleanest diesel in the world – its ultra low emission system. Though the Audi A5 was entered in the Prototypes category in Shanghai, this system is virtually ready to go into production: the Audi A4 and Audi Q7 will be the first car lines to feature the 3.0 TDI with ultra low emission system, due to go on sale in 2008 in Europe and the USA.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

• MQB - For small cars and upper-medium cars, the MQB platform will form the basis for volume sellers like the Passat, Eos, Golf, and Jetta, as well as smaller Audis, Skodas, and Seats


• MHB - A rear-engine architecture that will spawn a family of small city cars based on the Volkswagen up! concepts

• MLB - A longitudinal-engine architecture that is designed to be front- or all-wheel-drive. The Audi A4 and A5, which use the MLB design, are already on sale.

• A mid-engine platform that will be used to sports cars, such as the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo. Automotive News even hints that a more affordable (though that term is relative) Bugatti could be in the works.

VW expects that transitioning to modular platforms can shave a year off the time required to introduce a new model and save up to 40 percent on the cost of development, as structural elements like crumple zones, engine mounting hard points and pedal positions will be constant from one car to another.

Labels: VW

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Lamborghini

The dangerous to know, meanwhile, buy the genetically mutated GT3 RS (R1 795 000), which is an insanely fast, super-light, street-racer that will almost certainly creep up to your bedroom in the dead of night and kill you while you sleep.

So, where does the marginally less insane, 300kW GT3 fit in to this? It costs R250 000 less than the Turbo yet it is still astonishingly quick. It is also brilliant fun: its throttle is alive to the slightest input, its engine bursting with torque at any speed and in any gear, and its brakes can give you an instant facelift. Ignore, if you can, the fact that it is as ugly as pigs' doings; the GT3 perfectly balances the thrill of a track car with the refinement of a road car; the noise is just this side of tolerable, the ride goes easy on the spine and humans can just about control it.

But the steering wheel and gearshifter are not lined with super-absorbent, rough suede for nothing. Unleash the GT3's potential and the sweat will pour in buckets.

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

How important is the new A4 for the Audi brand?
The A4 is the heart of Audi. If it doesn't work, the company will die. It's as simple as that.

Is it true that the architecture of the new A4 is already designed to accommodate a hybrid derivative?
At the Frankfurt auto show, we presented the VW/Audi modular longitudinal architecture (MLB). This allows hybrid technology to be used on all our cars with a longitudinal engine — A4, A6, A8 and Q5 [the forthcoming smaller SUV]. There will be a hybrid A4 in 2.5-3 years.

And there will also be a hybrid design for transverse-engine cars?
This was presented on the Volkswagen stand in Frankfurt. The hybrid technology will be combined with the Group's dual-clutch gearbox. These hybrids will be able to run solely on electric power for a short period of time.

And hybrid SUVs?
Audi, VW and Porsche and will share a hybrid solution for their SUVs. This will be introduced with the next-generation Cayenne in about two-and-a-half years time. Rather than introduce it now, it's better to wait for the next generation of cars, which will also feature a revised transmission technology.

Labels: Audi

Although the car marks the return of the Scirocco name to VW's range for the first time since 1992, the new 2+2 coupe has little in common with its predecessor.

Buyers will have a choice of a six-speed manual or semi-automatic gearbox.

The Scirocco is expected to go on sale in late 2008 and cost from £18,000.

Labels: VW

Labels: Porsche

A few days in a two-seat Gallardo—Spanish for gallant—is enough to fix anyone's self-confidence problem. People will adore you. People will implore you to give them a ride. "Is there any way I can just sit in it?" asked one American tourist during a refueling stop with our Gallardo just outside of Munich.

Sure. No one can indulge alone.

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Bugatti

The drop top A3 will use the same running gear as the 3door & 5door hatch versions, meaning that aside from the 125 Hp 1.4 TSi, 160 Hp 1.8 TSi & 200 Hp 2.0 TFSi petrol units, we may very well see a top-of-the-range S3 model powered by the 265 Hp 2.0-litre TFSi unit. We’ll have all the official (and unofficial…) details on the A3 Cabriolet next week.

Labels: Audi

The S5 -- the performance variant of the A5 Coupe, with an extra 89 horsepower in the snout -- is another in a lengthening line of Ingolstadt's products that deliver crazy-great performance with a refinement and absence of stiction that makes them feel like they are lubricated with angels' tears. Or the fatty renderings of an enchanted ermine from some Russian folk tale. Or Astroglide. Whatever it is, these cars' moving parts seem to commune in a way that has banished friction to the dustbin of physics.

This quality -- which manifests itself as smoothness in operation, and absence of noise and vibration -- is even more notable because the S5 has so darn many moving parts.

I could go on like this since the whole car (switch gear, doors, brakes) feels as if it were dipped in hot-buttered sin. But what I remember best from my time in the S5 ($50,500 base price) is its immaculate steering and handling. What a wonderful car to flog!

Perhaps the slickest bit of lubrication on the S5 is its shape. With the merciless technical beauty of that face, with the big chrome-streaked grille and the trapazoidal bumper intakes, the car should not cut through the air as easily, or quietly, as it does (wind noise in the cabin is barely there).

Labels: Audi

FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd., the flagship joint venture between China FAW Group Corporation and German Auto giant Volkswagen AG, launched Audi A6L, a car model equipped with 2.8L FSI engine, at the 5th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition.

The venture's Audi-branded cars showed a strong sales growth trend in 2007. Totally, more than 100,000 Audi-branded cars will be sold in the full year, according to a forecast.

82,868 such cars were sold in the first ten months of this year, including 6,433 imported cars. Of those imported cars, Audi A8 saw a 30 percent growth in sales.

Notably, China-made Audi A4 was still a major force in the domestic B-class car segment. The model reached sales of about 15,000 units during the period from January to October 2007, leaping 40 percent from the same period of a year earlier.

In addition, FAW-Volkswagen will this December launch Audi A8L sedans and introduce Audi R8 sports cars into China, the world's second-largest automotive market.

Labels: Audi

Volkswagen AG plans to expands its cooperation with its largest shareholder Porsche AG to include marketing and distribution, chief executive Martin Winterkorn told manager magazin in an interview.

'Porsche without doubt is a role model regarding marketing and distribution,' he said according to a prerelease of an interview to be published tomorrow.

Volkwagen is currently restructuring its US distribution to reduce losses on the North-American market.

So far, Volkswagen and Porsche have been cooperating in developing a single platform for their Touareg and Cayenne models, in developing hybrid engines and in producing Porsche's Panamera model.

This technical cooperation will also be expanded, Winterkorn said.

Labels: Porsche, Volkswagen

Labels: Porsche

Labels: Bentley

Yes, Lamborghini’s outrageous Reventon is unlike anything else we’ve seen. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, the Reventon is about the meanest, baddest and most aggressive sports car ever conceived.

It’s based on the sensationally proportioned LP640 Coupe, but has been dressed up by Satan’s personal tailor in a military hue.

The Reventon is one of the most fascinating sports cars (a lot of) money will buy. Its presence is second to none, its twelve-cylinder is an old-school monster motor and its chassis remains untamed despite all-wheel drive. With its uprated suspension and low-profile 245-front and 335-rear Pirellis rubber, the Reventon’s ride quality is jarringly firm – it fights every pothole, every transverse ridge and every tramlining groove.

Although all-paw drive and traction control do help, there is no ESP, something that becomes immediately apparent even at these low speeds through downhill corners and in the wake of late lift-off actions.

Labels: Lamborghini

We're a disciplined lot when it comes to selecting the Car of the Year. If we weren't, this gorgeous red coupe would be rocketing off into the sunset with the golden calipers. Our S5 test car, equipped with a V-8 and six-speed manual tranny is the debut variant of Audi's new grand-touring coupe. S5 automatics and V-6-powered A5s arrive in the spring. Sporting the only V-8 in this year's field, the S5 was far and away the most enjoyable car to drive. With the biggest engine, the best weight-to-power ratio, and quattro all-wheel-drive routing all that juice to the ground via fat and sticky tires, the S5 easily trumped all contenders in every objective performance test. It also managed to press all the right subjective buttons on the various hilly and twisty roads, prompting comments like this gusher from Ed Loh: "So much grip out of corners, it's scary to think what it would take to get this thing loose."

Labels: Audi

It's one of those classic pub conversations for car bores: if you could make one car from all your favourite bits of the best models, what would it have? Well, in a sense, the A5 is Audi's answer to that question.

The A5 is every bit as classy as any other Audi. Step inside, and you can't help noticing the distinct whiff of high class - this is a car that feels genuinely expensive to the touch.

Labels: Audi

DT: Winner
I personally wouldn’t want a convertible riding at SUV height, but maybe Audi's on to something here. Research shows that female drivers like the height of SUVs; maybe this is the convertible for them. Whatever the demographic, the Audi was a stunner in person, especially the golden color scheme and great overall proportions.

JW: Winner
I’ve been a fan of the deep grilles Audi has begun to use, but even I think this one is over the top. I’m not wild about the slablike rear end, either. But it’s becoming hard to stand out in this market, and Audi has done it with this high-riding, large-wheeled convertible. Also, to Dave’s point, the height should be a benefit in collisions, in which topless cars are usually at a significant disadvantage.

MH: Winner
Even though Audi says this concept is supposed to hint at an upcoming small crossover SUV, when you take it for what it is — a convertible — the Cross Cabriolet Quattro is a compact droptop in the vein of VW's now-discontinued Cabrio, though obviously more upscale. With assertive looks and that pumpkin paintjob, it gets the nod.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: VW

VAIL will house Stanford's CarLab, a research and teaching program that aims to "radically rethink the automobile in order to deliver unprecedented levels of safety and driver and passenger enjoyment." VW's own engineers will work with CarLab, as well as other academic groups housed at VAIL that explore computer science and electrical engineering, a mechanical engineering group working on cleaner engines and advanced dynamic control, and a communications group that is studying the "psychology of making cars safer and more enjoyable."

Labels: VW

Labels: Porsche

In terms of sheer speed, power and history-making levels of engineering excess, the Bugatti Veyron is a success. Bugatti's parent, Volkswagen, set out to build the fastest production car in the world, and it did. There is a photograph of it right there in the 2007 edition of "The Guinness Book of World Records," under the heading of Fastest Production Car.

That might be why, despite a total run of only 300 cars, half of the Bugatti Veyrons scheduled for production are still unsold.

Price might be a factor, too. The Veyron retails for about $1.4 million, although sometimes the price is quoted at $1.3 million or $1.5 million, depending on the exchange rate.

As bad as this may make you feel about your own financial situation, the world has plenty of big-money car nuts with $1 million-plus to spend on a Veyron. But so far, despite fawning reviews, the market has given the car a lukewarm reception.

Labels: Bugatti

Luckily, Audi has shown itself to be remarkably courageous of late. Its recent new products have all been suitably daring, ranging from the who’s-going-to-buy-a-forty-thousand-dollar-hatchback A3 to the Lamborghini-as-imagined-by-Ludwig-Mies-van-der-Rohe aluminum R8 supercar. If anybody could bring a proper personal luxury coupe to market, Audi could do it - and with the new S5, they certainly have done so.

It’s really a secret weapon of sorts, having no direct competition in the American market. The Mercedes CLK550, the only other car with a similar price and mission, is smaller inside, neglects to offer a manual transmission or all-wheel-drive, and rides on an ancient, creaky platform. BMW fans might point out that the 335i is just as rapid as the S5, but this comparison neglects the sheer pleasure to be had from the V8 and the upscale pleasantries of the Audi’s interior.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

You could pick from a sleek touring coupe (Jaguar XKR at $126,000), a luxurious sedan with the latest green technology (Lexus LS 600h L hybrid at $132,000), a muscular German luxury sedan (Mercedes AMG 63, $157,200) and the gorgeous road rocket from Audi (R8 coupe, $170,700).

If passion rules, however, the car everybody here loves -- Yours Truly included -- is the Audi R8, a mid-engined, 420-horsepower sports car that gets the adrenaline pumping before it's even started.

It's so refined and so responsive yet so easy to drive -- who cares if there are only seats for two and minimal trunk space?

It's truly a car to covet.

Labels: Audi

The major market offensive will be led by a multimillion dollar building project by Fouad Alghanim & Sons Automotive Co. W.L.L. which will incorporate all three brands in a state-of-the-art automotive city.

For the Audi brand alone an area of more than 5,000 sqm is being redeveloped to include capacities for the showroom display of 80 new and used cars as well as 45 work bays for qualified servicing of the vehicles. As one of the first in the world, the concept for Kuwait City follows the Audi terminal showroom concept, which has been developed by the German headquarters of AUDI AG to specifically cater for the needs of automotive retail of the future.

The start of construction of the Audi terminal is scheduled for Q1 2008. The other brands will follow suit to complete the automotive city.

Labels: Audi

A roadster version of the New Beetle would replace the closed Beetle version and convertible in 2012, the magazine reports quoting company sources.

The new model is based on the two-seater "Ragster" concept VW presented at the Detroit Motor Show in 2005, displaying a lowered roofline, 19-inch wheels and a canvas top that can be lowered at the press of a button, auto-motor-sport said.

The roadster would be powered by a 3.2-litre V6 engine with an output of 206kW. It would be fitted with start-stop automatic and brake-regeneration technology to conserve fuel, according to the report.

The magazine also reports that VW in turn was mulling plans to end production of the Eos convertible that is fitted with a foldable steel roof.

Labels: VW

The car was the 2001 Nardo supercar concept and it featured a 600hp version of the engine and a kerb weight of just 1,200kg. This meant that it could reach 62mph in just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 217mph.

Labels: VW

Volkswagen originally had these promotional toasters done up for its Japanese operation. Buy a new VW or bring your VeeDub in for an inspection, get a toaster. While supplies last, of course. There were only 5,000 produced, and fans of splitties and air-cooled VWs in general are rightfully nutso for them. We're not sure if the 100-volt wiring for the Japanese consumer will be okay on the slightly higher voltage here in the US, but if you torch your house after spending at least $250 on the toaster, please don't hold us responsible. Just in time for Christmas, the ultimate culinary delight for Volkswagen fans.

Labels: VW

- Extensive wide body aerodynamic component kit "Cyclone" designed by HAMANN
- HAMANN-Daytime running lights for better safety
- 22" and 23" alloy wheels ANNIVERSARY II and EDITION RACE available

The Porsche Cayenne enjoys great popularity with the customers. No wonder, since the noble SUV combines power and design. HAMANN MOTORSPORT in Laupheim offers various modifications for Porsche Cayenne to refine it and to make it more individual. The most obvious alteration ist the shapely and mighty envelopment. Fitted with the HAMANN wide body-kit the Cayenne becomes the "Cyclone"!

A true HAMANN without aerodynamical conversion is inconceivable. Even more so, when the vehicle in question is a Power SUV like the Cayenne. Brandnew is the HAMANN wide body-kit, which make the Cayenne appear even more imposing. Fitted with this kit, the Cayenne may call itself "Cyclone" .

The front view presents itself in an unmistakable optical characteristic. The specialists in Laupheim designed a front spoiler with two integrated LED-daytime running lights and fog lamps each. By offering the LED daytime running lights HAMANN makes a valuable safety contribution. Three high performance-LEDs and 250 reflectors lead to a better signal aspect. Their lucent white signal light is highly visible even at daytime and warns oncoming traffic fast and efficiently, which in case of emergency leads to better reaction time. Further advantage: LEDs beat normal H7-bulbs in terms of durability because they can be used 30 times longer. Additionally, they lead to less fuel consumption which is a result of their better energy-efficiency.

Labels: Porsche

German Sports carmaker Porsche plans a series of new launches in India. To start with, it plans to bring in the GT2, a version of its 911 range of Sports vehicle, and the GTS, a version of its Cayenne luxury Sports utility vehicle (SUV), by early 2008.

Porsche plans to launch the luxurious four-door Panamera by the end of 2009, and the hybrid version of its luxury Cayenne in 2010, indicated Ian Reynolds, MD, Porsche Centre, Mumbai & Delhi.

The Cayenne is currently the best selling range in India. In the Sports car segment, the company has a presence with Boxer, Cayman and 911 range. “The SUVs segment is bigger in India. But even Sports cars are picking up in the country,” said Mohamed Rahman, after sales director, Porsche Middle East & Africa.

Porsche will close this year with sales of 140 cars, compared to last year’s 120 cars.

Labels: Porsche

And then Winkelmann is asked about the rumors of a Lamborghini SUV. With a smile, but with no hesitation, his answer was a brief two words: "No SUV." So there. Purists, you can rejoice now.

Labels: Lamborghini

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

If I were looking for a car with the most appealing acoustics - excluding multi-million rand exotics such as Lambos and Porsches - the RS4 would probably top my sub-R1-million list.

What I failed to mention, perhaps unfairly, was that the Audi makes the better roar (than the BMW M3).

The RS4's exhaust sound is served up in two varieties: it's always guttural but, when you press an "S" button on the steering, flaps open in the pipes and move you a few rows forward at the rock concert.

The "S" (for "Schweet"?) button also quickens the throttle response so it becomes more of a trigger and at the same time squeezes the power-operated side supports of the driver's bucket seat inwards so that you're plugged in and ready for the g-forces that inevitably follow.

Labels: Audi

The decision has been made: no Volkswagen Scirocco for North America. Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen of America, revealed the decision to Car and Driver in an interview at the L.A. auto show.

The four-passenger coupe will go on sale in Europe in mid-2008. But the U.S. already has the GTI and the R32, which are enough halo vehicles for what is already a niche segment, Jacoby says.

“We need to focus on our core products,” he says, namely the Rabbit (Golf), Jetta, Passat, and the launch of the new Tiguan compact SUV. “The (2009 Scirocco) is lovely, but we can’t have everything.”

Labels: VW

The VW concept car “Space” is showing off a very intuitive touchscreen complete with what appears to be CoverFlow. It is well known that Apple and VW are collaborators so this idea isn’t as far fetched as you might believe. In this scenario, both companies win: VW looks young and hip by tying market-leading Apple and Apple gets yet another platform that makes us want to use iTunes (and thus keep forking over $1 everytime we turn around).

Labels: VW

There has been talk about the Phaeton coming back.

It is not about Phaeton. It's not about a single model. It is more about how to position the brand Volkswagen. Volkswagen came from a very strong positioning of Drivers Wanted. Driver's Wanted was, in the '90s, a lifestyle in the United States. The lifestyle has further developed. We cannot just copy this again. In between we have shifted too much, from my point of view, into extremes or niches. I think we need to carefully reposition the brand in the middle of the market and we have to, of course, offer a wide model range. This might include the Phaeton as well. The Phaeton is a German-engineering euro-car. It has nothing to do with how we position Volkswagen into a premium segment. It has something to do with Phaeton belonging to the model range that is Volkswagen. I believe that if you do things right with the Phaeton, you have a good possible and potential here in this market. Actually, whenever I talk to customers of the Phaeton and dealers they think it is a fantastic product. I have to admit that it was a mistake to take the Phaeton out of this market. Again if I re-launch this car it has nothing to do with positioning Volkswagen as a premium brand. You cannot reach 800,000 premium luxury customers even in a market the size of the United States. We are a volume brand and if we want to grow, we need to strengthen our volume segments.

There have been rumors that we won't see the Rabbit/Golf VI in our market.

Maybe your readers can help me whether they like the name Rabbit or not. For me Golf is the brand for Volkswagen. Why should this be different in the U.S. market? I think the Golf is a statement. It is the core car for Volkswagen, and with the GTI and Rabbit we have the right history in this market.

Labels: VW

Labels: Porsche

I don't know how fast we actually traveled because I couldn't take my eyes off the track as it seemed to vaporize in front of me. But I do know this: The Porsche 911 GT2 is a monster car. And a safe one, too. It's the third generation of the GT2 - the first version was introduced in 1995 - and it is the first 911 to have a top speed of more than 200 miles per hour. It takes it just 3.6 seconds to go from standing to 60 miles per hour, thanks to a launch assist system that lets you hold the gas pedal to the floor for full power, then pop the clutch.

The car weighs just over 3,000 pounds, owing to the liberal use of aluminum, carbon fiber (which saves 20 pounds in each of the two seats), and ceramic brakes, which are 40 pounds lighter than regular brakes.

To those who have watched it fly down the Daytona straightaway, the GT2 resonates like a jet. The overwhelming sound comes from a 3.6-liter, horizontally opposed engine. The muscle it produces is sent through a six-speed manual transmission whose first three gears get eaten up immediately by its ferocious power.

Labels: Porsche

The first Bugatti Royale (Type 41) was launched in the ’30s. It was a of the most extreme luxury cars ever built. It was enormous, with a 4300 mm wheelbase and 6.4 m overall length. It weighed approximately 3175 kg (7000 lb) and used a massive 12.7 liter straight-8 engine.

It seems that Bugatti wants to bring back the "Royale" name at the end of the decade. It will be an extremely luxurious limousine, built in a very limited number.It will be powered by a W16 engine and will hit a top speed of 400 km/h. Price? Around 1 million euro.

Labels: Bugatti

Labels: Bentley

Road tests from abroad indicate that the B8 A4 - larger, more refined and chock full of goodies from the rest of the Audi lineup - will hold its own quite well, thank you. North Americans will need to mark their calendars for next fall's availability, however. That said, the S4 variant of the A4 remains a mystery to all since it was not revealed together with the A4 in Frankfurt in September.

Audi wants and needs a strong performance (sales performance that is) from the all important next generation A4. Meanwhile, enthusiasts have been turning to the S4 for many years for performance of a different type: on the road where it counts.

We have confirmed with inside sources that the B8 S4 will debut with a brand new 3.0-liter TFSI bi-turbo producing 330-hp. With this powerplant Audi can nearly match the B7's 340-hp output while providing even better performance figures. Manufacturer published (conservative) 0-60mph drops from 5.4 seconds to very low 5's, while the accompanying combined fuel economy rises from 17 mpg to over 20 mpg.

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

Labels: Audi

When the first TT hit the streets, it was immediately applauded for its distinct, sensual, sexy sheetmetal. With its multiple curves and its sloping roofline, the initial TT turned heads wherever it went.

Here's the new 2008 TT. It's making a comeback, and is more beautiful and sexier than ever.

Audi created a car that's visually more exciting than the old one, and it doesn't seem to have gained any weight.

It still features a streamlined roofline and more curves than a supermodel, and dressed up in red paint like my test car is, the TT never goes unnoticed.

While Audi had to retrofit a small rear spoiler on the rump of the first TTs to assure its high-speed stability, it's now articulated on the new model; at low speeds, it's flush-fit in the tail of the car, rises at 120 km/h and goes back down at 80. It's always an exciting moment to see the spoiler deploying itself in the rear view mirror.

Labels: Audi

The new Beetle will gain more length in order to offer more space. The design cues will be inspired by the Up! Concept unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The headlights will receive a new form and LED technology. The new Beetle will be designed so it can be easily adapted for a wide variety of model variants.

The 2010 Volkswagen Beetle will be styled in California and engineered in Germany. The starting price for the coupe version will be $18.000 and $25.000 for the convertible version.

Labels: VW

Music:
L'Onomatopeur
DROP BEAT NOT BOMB
"Always beating"

Labels: VW

Labels: VW

Volkswagen AG will be expanding the output at its main manufacturing facility in Wolfsburg by producing an extra 100,000 cars next year compared to this year, Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported yesterday, citing company sources.

It said the production figures were amongst those approved by the supervisory board last Friday.

The report said part of VW's plan is to increase the production of Golf Plus by 30,000 units to 434,000.

Labels: VW

The GTS uses the Cayenne S as its starting point, but the addition of its two extra letters required more than just plastic molds and superglue. The new model's front and rear fascias are boosted from the more powerful Turbo model, but the wheel arches that are widened by just over a half-inch are unique to the GTS, as is the no-cost (but also non-functional), optional, double-wing rear spoiler. Rounding out the GTS's cosmetic tweaking are new, lower side sills, and blacked-out b- and c-pillars. Twenty-one-inch wheels wrapped in massive 295/35R21 Michelin rubber are available in two different styles, and two new colors — Nordic Gold and GTS Red — are exclusive to this latest Cayenne.
gts2_right.gif

Inside, every surface is wrapped in either leather or sweet, sweet Alcantara, and the steering wheel is padded for extra grip-friendly thickness. The driver and front passenger get 12-way adjustable sport seats that are supportive and comfortable on long drives. Three seatbelts still line the rear bench, but the two outlying positions have been shaped and bolstered to match the fronts, so this Cayenne is better suited to four than five passengers.

Labels: Porsche

The supertuner/niche manufacturer has readied its latest creation for debut at the upcoming Essen Motor Show (think SEMA for European manufacturers). The TechArt Turbo Cabriolet follows the usual formula, offering incremental power upgrades culminating with a ridiculous 630 hp/604 lb-ft. This, while retaining the Turbo's AWD system and offering the added benefit of topless motoring. 911 GT2? What's that?

The added juice comes from new turbos, extensively upgraded intake and exhaust plumbing, and new engine management programming that ties it all together. TechArt also doctors the chassis, allowing the car to be lowered an additional 25mm via the factory PASM setup. Buyers can choose between two aero packages and the usual assortment of wheel/tire/interior upgrades, resulting in a bespoke convertible sports car with a top speed of 214 mph.

Labels: Porsche