Paul Tan's Automotive News » Audi

Audi Approved :plus – Audi now sells pre-owned cars

Chris Ng — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:14:06 +0000

Audi will officially open their doors to the company’s first pre-owned vehicle centre tomorrow, April 28. Called Audi Approved :plus, the centre is located beside Audi Glenmarie 3S Centre and it is created to meet the demand for quality pre-owned Audi cars.

The premises cover the area of 1,500 square feet and can hold up to 20 cars on the showroom floor at any given time. Plans for expansion are in the works.

The Audi Approved :plus programme ensures that customers buy with peace of mind. Each car sold will have a mileage of less than 100,000 km and are less then three years. All vehicles sold here will come with certified and documented assessment history and will have to pass a 110-multi point check by Audi technicians.

Factors about the car that will be scrutinized are mechanical, bodywork, interior and electrical components. The car will also undergo a full road test to detect any irregularities and will be corrected with Audi Genuine Parts. Only cars that tick all the boxes will get the Audi Approved seal and consecutively sold.

In addition, pre-owned cars sold under this programme will have a minimum six-month warranty, 24-hour Audi Roadside Assistance together an attractive financing and insurance package.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi Q5 gets mid-life updates, adds hybrid to the range

Chris Ng — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:50:26 +0000

There’s nothing simple when it comes to the Germans updating their cars. Case in point is this Audi Q5 with five new engines and three new transmission options that is said to be 15% more efficient. The Q5 also gets a hybrid version as well. So let’s get to the specs.

Of the five engines, three are TDI and two are TFSI engines. The TDI starts with the 2.0 litre diesel engine that is tuned in two different frequencies. The first plays to 143 hp and 320 Nm torque, consumes 5.3 l/100km and emits 139 g/km of CO2. The other tune gets the engine up to 177 hp, 380 Nm torque and drinks 6.0 l/100km.

The topline diesel is a 3.0 litre V6 engine that delivers 245 hp and 580 Nm torque. This Q5 configuration can go from zero to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 225 km/h. It sips just 6.4 l/100km.

The TFSI petrol engine gets two versions. The first is the 2.0 litre petrol that outputs 225 hp, 350 Nm torque and drinks up 7.6 l/100km. Just as its diesel counterpart, the petrol’s top range engine is a 3.0 litre V6 that produces 272 hp and 400 Nm torque. It completes the century sprint in 5.9 seconds and maxes out at 234 km/h. Fuel consumptions clocks in at 8.5 l/100km.

Except for the 2.0 TDI, which is front-wheel driven, the rest of the pack comes with quattro. As for transmission choices, there are three. The 2.0 litre TFSI comes with a six-speed manual as standard, with the eight-speed tiptronic as option. The 3.0 litre V6 TFSI gets the eight-speeder as standard. As for the seven-speed S tronic, the 3.0 TDI gets it as standard and it is optional with the 177 hp 2.0 TDI.

The Q5 also gets the honor of wearing the company’s first hybrid suit. Audi takes the 2.0 TFSI with 211 hp and 350 Nm and sticks it an electric motor that outputs 54 hp and 210 Nm. Together, they can generate 245 hp and 480 torque. The Q5 hybrid sprints to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds and has a top speed of 225 km/h.

When taking energy only from the 1.3 kWH lithium-ion battery, the Q5 hybrid has a range of up to three kilometres when travelling at a constant 60 km/h. The top speed in this mode is 100 km/h, which if you go faster will kick the petrol engine back to life. Fuel consumption is 6.9 l/100km.

The hybrid engine is paired with a modified eight-speed tiptronic that transfers power through the electric motor (combined with a multi-plate clutch) in place of the torque converter. There are three drive modes – EV for pure electric, D mode efficiently uses the engine and motor, and S that cares only in giving you a sporty drive.

The update also involves a slight design change; the Q5 now wears the new single-frame grille with beveled upper edges. Front bumpers are also modified to integrate air inlets with high-gloss black inserts and fog lights with chrome rings. As for the rear, the diffuser insert and the tailpipes gets redrawn. It now has two versions, depending on the engine.

The LED daytime running lights, which are optional with the xenon plus lights, are now shaped as curved bands that surround the headlights. At the back, the LED tails lights are laid out uniformly.

The interior design has also been cleaned up to reflect the new Q-specific styling. Ergonomics are further dialed in, the MMI navigation plus now has four buttons with its volume dial has an additional skip function.

Bang & Olufsen supplies the sounds and is hooked up to the MMI navigation plus which has a hard drive, seven-inch colour monitor, 3D graphics and DVD player. The unit integrates WLAN into its system and brings the Audi connect online services into the car; Google Point of Interest, Google Earth and Google Street View are on tap for the driver. The system also allows the driver to stream more than 5,000 Internet radio stations.

Prices, when it arrives in European showrooms in the middle of the year, will start from 39,990 euros. Audi says that the price of the Audi Q5 has barely increased, in spite of the upgrades and new features.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A6 L e-tron concept reduces emissions, not luxury

Chris Ng — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:11:17 +0000

Audi shows China how it could help the nation reduce carbon emissions without sacrificing the want for luxury at the Beijing Motor Show. Enter the A6 L e-tron, a concept based on the A6 L that is produced at the Changchun plant in a joint venture with FAW.

The A6 L e-tron employs a parallel hybrid system that matches a 2.0 TFSI (with 211 hp) and an electric motor capable of producing 70 kW (95 hp). Electricity is drawn from liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery located in a collision-protected space at the rear of the car. The A6 L e-tron can travel with electricity alone up to 80 km with a constant speed of 60 km/h. But the hybrid system will choose the best mode to suit the driving situation.

To differentiate between the un-electrified A6 L, the e-tron version is fitted with massive 21-inch wheels and a special rear diffuser. To emphasize on its status, the A6 L e-tron is measured to be 5,020 mm long, 1,870 mm wide and 1,460 mm tall (or short?), with a wheelbase of 3,010 mm.

More differentiation points coms from the tachometer, which is a powermeter in the A6 L e-tron. It indicated the total drive system power on a scale of zero to 100. Also, coloured segments indicate the current operating state of the car together with an auxiliary instrument that visualised the charge state of the lithium-ion battery. The energy flow indicator tells the driver the current operating mode and which hybrid drive components are currently active; it is displayed on the MMI.

In spite of it being a hybrid, the Audi is still fully decked out in all the necessary luxury equipment. So there’s ventilation and massage functions, Bose surround sound, auto air-conditioning with air ioniser and ambient lighting. Also featured inside is the MMI navigation plus that recognises 29,000 Chinese characters, all developed at the Audi Infotainment Tech Centre (ITC) in Beijing, where German components are adapted to suit the wishes of Chinese customers.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi Q3 jinlong yufeng concept SUV rolls out in Beijing

Chris Ng — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:05:42 +0000

We’ve already seen Audi dropping the veil on the Beijing-bound Q3 RS. Now, here is another that is also based on the Q3 and this one comes with a Chinese twist. Its full name is the ‘Audi Q3 jinlong yufeng’. For those who don’t understand what it means, Audi says ‘jinlong yufeng’ stands for ‘Golden Dragon in the Wind’.

This concept is based on the fast-moving sport of kite surfing. So, mounted on the hood of the Q3 jinlong are two carbon fibre-reinforced kite boards, which can be stowed in a kite pouch specifically designed for the vehicle. The designers also developed a flat outdoor pouch as a special cargo floor liner that protects against dirt and stows away wet things. It can also be used as a sun umbrella or a seat cover.

In addition, jinlong also comes with two sport cameras, dubbed Audi Cams, and it is stored on the left sidewall of the cargo area. Kite surfers can mount the Audi Cams to the sail bar, or strap it to their equipment or helmet. Images are transmitted to the car via WLAN router connection. From there, the images can be sent with Bluetooth car phone online to any UMTS receiver.

Where the Q3 RS is blue, Q3 jinlong is painted Liuli Yellow to express a zest for life and high energy. To play up more on its ‘off-road vehicle for the young’ positioning, the jinlong features the off-road package that is currently available for production cars and an aluminium underbody guard to protect the engine and the exhaust system. The exhausts are actually integrated in the diffuser, which acts as the said underbody guard.

Three colours dominate inside – black, gray and yellow. Roof liner is lined with titanium gray Alcantara, the instrument panel is wrapped in black Fine Nappa and is decorated with yellow seams. Steering, seats and door cards are also treated with skin in colours dictated by the three-colour scheme.

A 2.5 litre five-cylinder TFSI engine gives 310 hp to the jinlong. The engine is paired with a seven-speed S tronic that sends power to the quattro system. Century sprints are accomplished in 5.5 seconds and its speed tops out at 250 km/h.

Five-spoke alloys are chosen for the jinlong, with a size of 8.5 J x 20 and wrapped with 255/45 off-road rubbers. The front and rear track is made 40 mm wider than the production version and its height is raised another 30 mm, to accommodate for its off-road capability.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi to buy Ducati for 860 mil euros, making it 12 for VW

Anthony Lim — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:11:30 +0000

Audi has announced that it is acquiring Ducati from Invest industrial Group, with the deal reportedly set to cost 860 million euros. The Italian motorcycle marque is set to join the Vokswagen empire as the 12th brand under its portfolio.

It will be the third Italian brand under the VW fold – Lamborghini and Italdesign being the others, with the purchase bringing along the Italian company’s expertise on design and light engines. The transaction will be completed as quickly as possible once authorised by the competition authorities.

The acquisition price is certainly higher than that originally bandied about earlier, but cements a move on to the two-wheeled path for the group, which VW chairman Ferdinand Piech apparently wants to pursue. It will also allow VW to take on BMW on the bike front.

In 2011, Ducati sold around 42,000 motorcycles and generated revenue of some 480 million euros, and employs around 1,100 staff. Its racing activities are currently focused on the Ducati official factory team in the MotoGP class of the Motorcycle World Championship and in the Superbike World Championship, supporting competitive private teams.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi RS Q3 concept to break cover in Beijing Motor Show

Chris Ng — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:55:50 +0000

‘Thrilling dynamic performance’… that’s the theme Audi is going with to the Beijing Motor Show. And to headline the event, Audi has glued together the Audi RS Q3. Essentially, it is a Q3 with all bits and bobs from the RS bag of tricks.

For starters, the RS Q3 sits 25 mm closer to the tarmac and widened with visual details. The black honeycombed grille now gives off a 3D effect by its offset placement and framed by a brushed and polished aluminium trim. The headlights are slightly tinted and certain chrome parts are either finished in dark tones or covered by carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) panels. More CFRP are found in the redesigned bumper with the honeycomb inserts and front spoiler, the wing mirror housings and the diffuser. The colour you see in the pictures is called Ordos Blue, which Audi says is a matt blue with a slight yellow tint.

The RS Q3 is fitted with a glass sunroof that lets light into the cool black interior. What are not inked in black are painted in blue with CFRP highlights. Three kinds of leather are featured in here – seats get Fine Nappa, steering wheel gets black Velvet leather that repels dirt well and the door trim panels are covered in blue Alcantara. In the tacho, the usual Arabic numerals are replaced with Chinese characters, no doubt to appeal to the Chinese market.

Style is also what you get when you pop the hood. The engine compartment features a layered-carbon trim panel that covers the area around the five-cylinder engine with a red valve cover. There are two laterally arranged ventilation screens that feed air into the engine. Cylinder numbers are marked on the spark plug covers – a racing trait. Rounding up is the aluminium housing that holds the open sports air filter while the air tube is made of stainless steel.

Which brings me to the engine; it’s a powerful one. The RS Q3 will have the 2.5 litre, gasoline direct injection, turbocharged TFSI engine. It generates 360 hp, no word on its torque. It is capable of accomplishing the century sprints in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 265 km/h.

Paired with the engine is a seven-speed S tronic (Audi’s dual clutch, in case you didn’t know) and it sends power to all four extremities. Yes, it has quattro. The RS Q3 will wear 8.5 J x 20 alloy wheels. The front surfaces are high-gloss; the sides are sandblasted. The 255/30 rubbers will be shoehorned onto the wheels.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A4 facelift arrives in Malaysia – from RM235k

Anthony Lim — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:55:03 +0000

Euromobil has announced the arrival of the facelifted B8 Audi A4, with the 2012 car available in two variant forms, the 1.8 TFSI and the 2.0 TFSI quattro – bookings for the car open from today.

Both turbocharged, direct injection mills come with start-stop system and the recuperation system as standard. The new 1.8 litre unit increases the output for the A4 from the previous 160 hp to 170 hp at 3,800 to 6,200 rpm and an even more significant torque hike from 250 Nm to 320 Nm, available from 1,400-3,700 rpm.

As for the 2.0 litre job, that offers 211 hp at 4,300-6,000 rpm and 350 Nm at 1,500-4,200 rpm for numbers. Drivetrain partners are a eight-speed multitronic CVT gearbox for the 1.8 TFSI, while the 2.0 version gets a seven-speed S tronic tranny.

Exterior cosmetic changes include a reworked bumper, which features new look angled air inlets and fog lights, restyled headlamps as well as a redesigned grille and bonnet, fringed by updated LED daytime running lights. At the back, the tail lamps reflect the shape of the headlights and the bumper, and the diffuser insert has also been redesigned.

For wheels, the 1.8 TFSI is equipped with 17-inch alloys in a 10-spoke star design, wrapped with 245/45 series rubbers, while the 2.0 TFSI comes wearing 18-inch, five-twin spoke alloys, and these are clad with 245/40 profile tyres. Optional 19-inch wheels are available, if you like them bigger.

Inside, revisions to the refined interior include new choices of trim material and colour schemes. New steering wheel designs find their way on to the car, while the optional MMI navigation plus system now features four instead of eight buttons, with a script function integrated in the volume control dial.

Other improvements concern operation of the automatic transmission, the air conditioning system, Audi drive select and the multi-function steering wheel, while the seat heating and air conditioning are now directly operated by respective buttons.

Elswhere, the 1.8 is fitted with an Audi Symphony radio and 10-speaker sound system, while the 2.0′s Symphony unit is partnered to a 14-speaker, 505-watt Bang and Olufsen Sound System. And, optional Fine Nappa leather upholstery replaces the Valcona leather of old; also on the options list are inlays in Aluminium Trigon, walnut dark brown, fine grain ash natural brown and Beaufort oak.

A selection of 15 exterior paint finishes, including four new tones, are available for the revised A4, and as far as pricing goes, that for the 1.8 TFSI starts from RM235,000, while the 2.0 TFSI quattro’s is RM309,800. Euromobil also has the optional S line exterior package to dress things up, and that’s an additional RM25,000.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Reports: Four goes two, as Audi looks to buy Ducati

Anthony Lim — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:36:50 +0000

Ah, it looks like the four rings has serious aspirations to go the two-wheeled path – reports indicate that Audi has been given the first rights to buy Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati, this despite the latter’s recent cooperation deal struck with Mercedes-Benz’ AMG unit.

A deal has apparently been struck that gives Audi until the middle of next month to finalise the purchase, with the going price reportedly in the region of 250 to 300 million euros, though some reports indicate that the sum may be lower, towards the 100 million mark.

The move for Ducati, which is on the market, is part of VW chairman Ferdinand Piech’s dream of going the bike path in what’s called Project Eagle. The reports add that the original plan called for a revival of the German brand Horex, which made bikes in the 1930s. The lack of clout with the name, however, means that Ducati is a far finer prospect to contemplate, even if it is encumbered by debt.

Audi isn’t the only company which has taken a fancy to the Italian – Mahindra and Hero from India, as well as Daimler and VW are also potential suitors. Ingolstadt, however, has the exclusivity deal in place, so it’s the front runner in the race to get the bride.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A6 allroad quattro – the Avant that drives on all roads

Chris Ng — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:26:58 +0000

The Audi A6 allroad quattro is such a niche model that it does not have a category that you can conveniently pigeonhole the car in. Don’t be fooled by saying that it’s a station wagon, because it is not. It is the A6 Avant that gets to claim the station wagon title. Confused yet? Read on to get a better picture.

The Audi A6 allroad quattro you see here is actually the third generation of its kind. At 4.94 metres long, 1.90 metres wide and 1.47 metres tall, this makes it slightly larger than the A6 Avant. The allroad also sits six centimetres higher than the A6 Avant.

More differences come from the trim strips on the side sills, the more-flared fenders and the vertical slats on the grille (the A6 Avant has horizontal slats). Stainless steel covers protect the front and rear underbody and the tailpipes are large and flattened. The colour Java Braun is also exclusive to the allroad.

But what makes the allroad different is the fact that it can go off-road. The car comes standard with adaptive air suspension, which combines air suspension with controlled damping. It crouches lower to the road by 15 mm when going at high speeds and is able to raise its ground clearance by 35 mm with a button push.

At low speeds, drivers can actually raise the vehicle by an additional 10 mm to tackle rougher terrains. The quattro system keeps the wheels firmly planted to the ground. There’s also a hill descent assist function, that limits the car’s speed to between 10 and 20 km/h when needed as such.

The allroad is equipped with the Audi drive select system that allows the driver to set the function of the steering, the air suspension, accelerator pedal, automatic transmission, differential, air conditioning, lighting and adaptive cruise control. Individual mode lets the driver tweak each of the mentioned systems on its own and the Efficiency mode makes the system work as economically as possible.

Four V6 engine choices abound – one TFSI gasoline engine and three TDI units. All are three-litre units with turbocharging and direct injection. They make use of important technologies from the Audi modular efficiency platform – the start-stop system and innovative thermal management. Their fuel consumption has been reduced by as much as 20% compared with the previous model.

There are four engines to choose from, one petrol and three diesels. The 3.0 TFSI generates 306 hp and 440 Nm of torque. It completes the century sprint in 5.9 seconds and top speed is limited to 250 km/h while only consuming 8.9 litres per 100 km.

The three variants of 3.0 TDI diesel engines produce 201 hp, 241 hp and 308 hp with a torque of 450 Nm, 580 Nm and 650 Nm respectively. The base-level engine consumes just 6.1 litres per 100 km. The top-range 308 hp engine is equipped with a twin-turbo unit that accelerates to 100 km/h from zero in 5.6 seconds, with a top speed that is limited to 250 km/h.

Except for the 308 hp engine, which is paired with an eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the other engines are mated to the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

Another key feature of the A6 allroad quattro is its interior space, thanks to is 2.91 metre wheelbase. The boot has a capacity of 565 litres, expandable to 1,680 litres with all rear seats folded down. Standard to the new model is a rail system with an included load-securing kit for dividing the luggage compartment as needed, tensioning straps on the left wall and a double loading floor.

In terms of equipment, the vehicle’s MMI system comes with a function that depicts the car’s pitch. Drivers also have the option to include the MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch – a touchpad operation. A 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System rounds up the more premium options one can have.

There is also a host of connectivity options like Bluetooth car phone online, which connects to the Internet through UMTS and WLAN hotspots. Tailored services include the new Audi traffic information online or Audi music stream web radio, delivered straight to the car. Google also provides services in the form of Google Earth, Google Street View and voice-activated POI search.

As with all Audi cars, the A6 allroad quattro comes with a radar-based adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, Audi active lane assist, Audi side assist, night vision, a system that detects when the driver is getting tired, and a park assist system that enables the A6 allroad quattro to park itself.

The parking system plus, with a 360-degree camera, provides all-round vision and four small wide-angle cameras record images of the vehicle’s surroundings and displays them on the MMI monitor, much like a CCTV works.

If you so happen to be looking for a vehicle that has the practicality of an SUV and the go-everywhere capability of a 4WD off-roader in a shell that looks equally good driving to a jungle and to a black-tie dinner… well, then I suppose you’ve found your car.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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New Audi A3 – third-gen compact makes Geneva debut

Danny Tan — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:35:03 +0000

Perhaps it’s the same-same looks, or Audi’s ever growing range of models, but this third-generation Audi A3 nearly slipped under our Geneva radar. It is instantly familiar, as if we’ve seen it all before, but put the new A3 side-by-side with the model it replaces, and the evolution becomes obvious.

Apart from a few Sportbacks by Euromobil, the A3 was never really marketed here, but the hatchback is a very important model for Audi. Over its production life to date, the A3 model series has represented over 20% of total Audi sales. The four-ringed premium compact is very popular in its home continent, Europe.

The new A3 appears more dynamic than before. Its length of 4,237 mm and height of 1,421 mm are pretty much unchanged, but the wheelbase is up by 23 mm to 2,601 mm. The front overhang is now shorter, width is increased by 12 mm, and there’s more rake to the C-pillars. The single-frame Audi radiator grille is the current and sharper new version. Xenon plus technology together with LED DRLs are available now, with full LED headlights in the pipeline.

Audi has made the A3 80 kg lighter than before. Components made of form-hardened and hot-formed steels form a strong structure in the underbody, pillars and roof arch. Elsewhere, high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel grades are used. The engine hood and fenders are made of aluminum, which saves over 9 kg. The 1.4 TFSI model, for instance, weighs just 1,175 kg, significantly less than rivals.

Unlike the exterior, Audi chose a new direction for the cabin design. The old A3′s conventional dash with a tall centre stack makes way for a minimalist look also seen on the A1. The reason why it can look so simple is because many functions have been integrated into the MMI system, which projects info on a seven-inch pop up colour display. The screen’s 11 mm thin housing is made from magnesium.

The top spec MMI navigation plus with MMI touch has a touchpad for input of letters and numbers by finger motion. A Bang & Olufsen sound system (705W amplifier, 12 channels, 14 speakers, 5.1 sound) is also available.

The new A3 will launch with three new four-cylinder engines – a 1.4 TFSI (122 hp/200 Nm), a 1.8 TFSI (180 hp/250 Nm) and a 2.0 TDI with 150 hp and 320 Nm. The 1.8 TFSI is mated to a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, while the other two come with a six-speed manual gearbox. Compared to the previous model, fuel economy has been improved by about 12% on average.

Audi’s quattro AWD and other engines – including a 1.4 TFSI with cylinder on demand tech – are a few months away. Also coming soon are low-emissions variants, including a CNG version and a 1.6 TDI that consumes just 3.8 liters of diesel per 100 km.

Audi drive select is standard on selected trim levels. With it, the driver can alter steering, accelerator pedal and transmission characteristics. It also incorporates the optional adaptive shock absorbers that utilise magnetic ride technology.

The highlight in the driver assistance systems list is Audi adaptive cruise control. This one helps maintain a desired distance to the car ahead by accelerating and braking – up to 150 km/h. If one orders the assistance package, which combines several systems, the control range is extended up to 200 km/h. Nothing groundbreaking, but in this segment and size of car, it’s unique.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi RS 4 Avant – third-gen 450 hp wagon arrives

Anthony Lim — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:02:10 +0000

Audi has introduced its third-generation RS 4, and the vehicle arrives in Avant form. The
wagon is powered by the 4.2 litre V8 as found on the RS 5, with 450 hp at 8,250 rpm and 430 Nm from 4,000 to 6,000 rpm being the main numbers.

Performance figures are a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds and a governed top speed of 250 km/h, which can be increased to 280 km/h upon request. The mill is mated to a seven-speed S tronic transmission, with quattro permanent all-wheel drive – replete with self-locking crown-gear center differentialon – on call.

Going the RS route lowers the body by 20 mm, compared with the A4 Avant, with a sport suspension plus with dynamic ride control (DRC) – in which oil lines and a central valve connect diagonally-opposed pairs of shock absorbers – available as an option. The variable damping system has a choice of three settings, all selectable via Audi drive select, which comes as standard fitment.

The car also features dynamic steering, which varies its steering ratio by nearly 100% depending on the speed and which automatically countersteers slightly at the cornering limit for more precise and stable handling. Meanwhile, the ESP stabilisation system has a Sport mode and can be fully deactivated.

Exterior design cues include a matte aluminium finish for the hexagonal single-frame front grille’s frame, while the honeycomb insert is done in high-gloss anthracite, and the LED daytime running lights encircling the wedge-shaped xenon plus units are arranged in a clasp-shaped pattern.

Other elements include flared wheel wells and side mirror housings/trim strips in a matte aluminium finish. At the back, items include a discrete roof spoiler and a dual exhaust system with its two oval tailpipe caps integrated into an upturned diffuser. If that’s not enough, there’s an optional sport exhaust system with a more voluminous sound and black caps.

The RS 4 version wears new, polished 19-inch, ten-spoke forged aluminum wheels wrapped with 265/35 series rubbers as standard. There’s a 20-inch titanium-look, five-V-spoke design (with 265/30 profile tyres) as an option, along with two additional variants in the five-arm rotor design.

The brake system’s calipers are painted high-gloss black, with the eight-pot units in the front sporting RS logos. As standard, the car wears 365 mm front discs, but a 380 mm carbon fibre ceramic disc system, along with six-piston calipers in anthracite gray, is an option.

The all-black interior features a mix of chrome, brushed matte aluminium and carbon for accents – the pedals, footrest, air vents, steering wheel shift paddles, MMI buttons are among those dressed in an aluminium-look finish, with RS 4-badged aluminum inserts adorning the door sill trims as well.

The standard sport seats are done in a combination of black leather and Alcantara, with bucket seats or luxurious, climate-controlled deluxe ventilated seats as an option for the car, which will be available in eight external colours when it begins shipping to customers in the fall.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi TT RS Plus: 5-cylinder turbo with more power!

Paul Tan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:57:05 +0000

Audi has added a new model to the TT range – the Audi TT RS plus, available in both roadster and coupe bodies. The plus in the model name denotes the extra 20 horsepower and 15Nm of torque the RS plus has over the normal RS, which results in 360 horsepower and 465Nm of torque from the car’s 2.5 liter 5-cylinder TFSI engine.

As a result, the TT RS plus Coupe can do the 100km/h sprint in 4.1 seconds with the 7-speed DSG box – the Roadster does the same in 4.2 seconds. With a 6-speed manual, the TT RS plus Coupe does 4.3 seconds and the Roadster – 4.4 seconds. About a third of a second better than the non-plus TT RS 6-speed manual numbers – 4.6 seconds for the Coupe and 4.7 seconds for the droptop.

The Audi TT RS plus is fitted with 19-inch cast wheels of five-arm “Rotor” design; they are painted black with contrasting red rim flanges. The wheels are fitted with 255/35 tires. A large, fixed rear wing increases downforce at the back of the car. The Singleframe radiator grille also sets the Audi TT RS plus apart visually: Its diamond-pattern mesh is in highly polished anthracite, its trim frame has a matt aluminum-look finish.

The housings of the exterior mirrors are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). The dual-branch sport exhaust system has black oval tailpipe trims. A sound flap further intensifies the sound of the engine. The Carbon design package gives the engine compartment a more exclusive look. The knob on the gear or selector lever features an aluminum-look trim ring and a TT RS plus badge.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi R8 Limo – stretching the V10 to the limit

Anthony Lim — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:30:13 +0000

Fancy being chauffered around in a Audi R8? Well, you can if you happen to be in the UK sometime after summer this year. Specialist limousine service company Limo Broker has announced plans to create the world’s first R8 stretch limousine.

Work has already begun on the creation of the one-of-a-kind white example, under the guidance of Chris Wright from Carbonyte UK. Carbonyte UK, which is also responsible for the world’s only Ferrari limo, will work in conjunction with Limo Broker to create the vehicle, which is set to become the signature car for the Limo Broker brand.

There’s a rendered video which gives a 3D outline of the concept behind the limo, and an impression of how the finished stretched supercar will look like. The seating arrangement as displayed from the interior rendering looks pretty cool. So, anyone for a ride?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Cool Audi Q3 Vail Concept wears a winter sports theme

Danny Tan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:25:45 +0000

Here what Audi brought to Detroit. The Audi Q3 Vail Concept is a winter adventure themed version of Audi’s smallest crossover, the Q3. Groomed specifically for winter sports like the pistes in the famous Colorado mountain resort which inspired its name, the Vail combines harder-edged styling with a brawny 2.5-litre TFSI engine.

Designed for fans of skiing and snowboarding, the Q3 Vail wears Energy Red paint, and its add-on body parts are finished in matte grey quartz. The area around the windows is enhanced by aluminium and high-gloss black.

Vertical bars in the single-frame grille sets it apart. The struts feature a bi-colour theme: their lateral edges are in matte quartz and the slim front faces have a high-gloss finish. Plenty of aluminium panels in front, the top of the side air inlets and the underbody guard are made of the stuff.

Eyecatching features on the flanks include flared wheel arches and running boards, and on the roof the specially designed aluminum rails firmly hold carbonfibre skis and snowboards. The front roof-rail support integrates compact, wide-angled LED lights controlled via buttons in the roof module. Lights on roof rails are things that previous gen X-Trail owners are familiar with.

The Q3 Vail is fitted with 255/45 section off-road tyres and 20-inch five-arm wheels. Track width has increased by 40 mm at the front and rear compared to the standard car, and the body sits 30 mm higher. At the rear, the twin tailpipes are integrated into the diffuser and underbody guard area.

The interior of the Q3 Vail includes two practical devices for winter sports fans. The wall of the boot houses a charging station for storing flashlights and charging them inductively at the same time.

The same technology is used for the Thermos bottle located in the cup holder between the front seats. Both devices have LEDs that show the current charge level. The flashlights also incorporate an infrared heating element that can be used for warming hands or ski boots.

Another intelligent solution is the load floor mat, which has integrated heated seat cushions. The mat can be folded out and laid over the loading lip. This protects the trunk edge while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded, and also provides a warm area to sit on when putting on or taking off your ski boots. Small LED spotlights on the inside of the tailgate provide light.

The Q3 Vail is powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine with 314 PS and 400 Nm of torque. The engine’s five cylinders are consecutively numbered; red ‘wrinkled-finish’ paint has been applied to the cylinder head cover. A panel made from carbonfibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) partially covers the engine, and the air filter is also protected against dirt.

Power is transferred to the quattro permanent AWD system via a seven-speed S tronic transmission. This small SUV can do 0-100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and top speed 260 km/h.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi Q3 preview in Malaysia: 26/12/11 to 8/1/12

Paul Tan — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:18:54 +0000

Guess whose coming to town? Other than Santa of course. The Audi Q3 will be here in Malaysia for 2 weeks on an ASEAN preview tour.

It will be at the Audi Kuala Lumpur showroom from the 26th of December 2011 to the 1st of January 2012, and at the Audi Glenmarie showroom from the 2nd of January 2012 to the 8th of January 2012, after of which it will head out to Indonesia.

The 5-seater Q3 is a compact SUV, and the specs indicated by Euromobil lists a 2.0 liter TFSI four pot turbo engine making 170 horsepower at 4,300 to 6,300rpm, and 280Nm of torque from 1,700rpm to 4,200rpm, mated to a 7-speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission. And of course, you’ll also get quattro all wheel drive. 0 to 100km/h takes 7.8 seconds.

The Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI will be on sale in Q2 of 2012. Yet another runaway success for Audi in Malaysia? If the Q3 follows the footsteps of its larger stablemates, you can expect long waiting lists! Look after the jump for a small gallery of the Audi Q3.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A1 quattro: 256 hp and 350 Nm, only 333 units

Anthony Lim — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:48:37 +0000

Audi has announced the arrival of the range-topping A1 model called the A1 quattro. Just 333 examples of the form will be built in 2012, and all will be left-hand drive units.

The vehicle is powered by a 2.0 TFSI mill offering 256 hp at 6,000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque available between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, which is of course delivered to all four wheels. Performance figures include a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds and a 245 km/h top speed.

The 2.0 TFSI delivers its power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system via a six-speed manual transmission, which features an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch whose package of plates rotates in an oil bath. There’s an electronic differential lock in the mix, of course.

The car’s chassis has been adapted to the dynamics of the drivetrain, and is much more tautly tuned than that of the production model. The front suspension is a McPherson construction, while a four-link axle is used at the rear, and the electrohydraulic power steering on the car features a direct 14.8:1 steering ratio.

The Audi A1 quattro rides on 18-inch cast alloy wheels, finished in Glacier White, wrapped with 225/35 series tyres. Elsewhere, the internally vented 312 mm diameter front brake discs are clamped by black calipers.

The car is available only in Glacier White metallic, with a high-gloss black roof, some dashes of red and a two-colour rear wing providing contrast. Decent amount of tint to be found too – the rear windows are blackened, as are the LED rear lights. The exhaust system terminates in two polished dual tailpipes on the left and the right, adding yet more flair to the equation.

Inside, black is the thematic shade, with the seats and door armrests covered in Silk Nappa leather, with contrasting red seams. The S sport seats up front have pronounced bolsters, integrated head restraints and a quattro badge on the backrest covers.

Elsewhere, the lower section of the centre console is in high-gloss black, while the footrest and the pedal caps are in brushed stainless steel. Red seams frame the floor mats, and the door sill trims bear A1 quattro badges.

As for the instrument cluster, unique cues include white needles, a red tachometer and a quattro logo. Meanwhile, the multifunction flat-bottom sport steering wheel is wrapped in leather, again with contrasting red stitching and it also sports the car’s serial number.

There’s also plenty of other mod cons, including xenon plus headlights, high-beam assistant, adaptive brake lights, LED interior lighting package, light and rain sensor, automatically dimming interior mirror, rear parking system, automatic air conditioning, alarm system, storage package, convenience key and cruise control.

Rounding things off are a Bose sound system with 14 speakers and 465 watts of power, and the woofers in the doors are indirectly lit with light guide LEDs.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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LIVE from Tokyo: Audi A1 Samurai Blue for the footie fans

Danny Tan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:24:29 +0000

Most people in Japan drive Japanese cars, but in trendy Tokyo, driving a Continental car is a status symbol and a way to stand out – even better if it’s a left hand drive unit! Now, here’s one even more rare specimen, a one-off model called the A1 Samurai Blue. Part of profits from this Japanese national football team edition car will go to a charity.

Based on the 122 hp 1.4 TFSI three-door hatch, the Samurai Blue is one for the hardcore Blue Samurai fan, and besides the unique paintjob, every customisable part of the A1 interior gets a matching job, from the plastic seatbacks and door cards to the base of the centre console and air con vent rings. Adidas is the kit sponsor for JFA, and their logo is peppered around the A1, too.

Too bad we’re too small a market for an “A1 Harimau Malaya edition”. Wait, that one will end up looking like Bumblebee!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Tokyo 2011: Audi A1 Samurai Blue slices its way in

Anthony Lim — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:32:06 +0000

Not all the fun and games belong to the Japanese, despite Tokyo being home ground. Audi has snuck in a premiere of its own at the TMS, and this one is a unique A1 called the Samurai Blue.

The three-door A1 wears the blue and white colours of the Japanese national soccer team, accentuated by the red of the Japanese flag, and the exclusive polygonal design 18-inch wheels are likewise painted red. The vehicle even takes its name from the team’s Blue Samurai nickname.

The interior equipment of the 122 hp 1.4 TFSI hatch is in black, with contrasting stitching in blue and corresponding colourful accents for the air vent nozzles, inlays, center console and floor mats.

Audi plans to sell the Samurai Blue as a one-off model and donate part of the profit to a charity. The company does plan to come out with an A1 Limited Edition next year, with its design based on the Samurai Blue. All the better to slice you with, I guess.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A1 Sportback – enter the five-door variant

Anthony Lim — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:01:04 +0000

Audi has announced that the five-door version of the A1, which is called the Sportback, will be introduced early next year. The car is the same length as its three-door sibling, but is 6 mm wider and several millimetres taller, at 1.75 metres and 1.42 metres respectively, and as such offers more space in the rear seats.

The A1 Sportback seats four, but a fifth seat is available on request, at no extra charge. Headroom and shoulder room have each been increased by about 10 mm compared with its three-door sister model. The car offers a boot capacity of 270 litres, and folding down the split rear seat increases this to 920 litres.

Buyers will be able to choose from three TFSI gasoline and three TDI diesel engines producing between 86 hp and 185 hp. A choice of five-speed or six-speed manual transmissions are available, depending on the engine, and the seven-speed S tronic is available as an option with the 122 hp 1.4 TFSI and 90 hp 1.6 TDI, and as standard with the range topping 185 hp 1.4 TFSI model.

Aside from a variety of interior trim choices, there are 12 exterior finishes to pick from, including a new shade called Samoa Orange, which is exclusive to the A1 Sportback. A S line exterior package is available as an option. Upon request, Audi can paint the roof line – the roof arch, the roof and the roof spoiler – in one of three contrasting colours.

Features include xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights, a high-beam assistant, a light and rain sensor, panoramic sunroof, the convenience key, the alarm system, two different parking system versions and cruise control, to name a few.

As for wheel choices, it starts from 15-inches right up to optional 18-inch alloys from quattro, with a new 17-inch seven-spoke design exclusive to the Sportback.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi R8 LMS Ultra to replace R8 LMS GT3 in 2012

Anthony Lim — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:20:58 +0000

Next year, Audi will be replacing the successful R8 LMS GT3 race car with a new version, the R8 LMS Ultra, which will feature a host of technical developments, including an updated transmission and a new exhaust system equipped with race catalytic converters to help improve the engine’s characteristics. The 5.2 litre V10 mill on the Ultra, which delivers 570 hp, will as such be able to draw even higher torque at lower engine speeds.

Also, the cooling system has been revised – in addition to a larger engine oil cooler and transmission fluid cooler, an oil cooler for the steering hydraulics that used to be installed at the front is now located in the vehicle’s mid-section, and the Ultra will feature enlarged air vents for the cooling system for improved thermal management. Additionally, the air supply to the radiator at the front of the vehicle has been improved, as has interior ventilation.

The chassis has also been updated, in several steps. At the front 12-inch, instead of 11-inch, wheels are now used, and the car will wear wider 30-65/18 Michelin tyres, which will allow more consistent lap times to be achieved.

Optimised brake cooling at the front wheels improves the durability of the braking system, and instead of the previous silent rubber mounts, the transverse control arm mounts will now feature uniball joints. Weight-reduced compression and rebound-adjustable gas dampers with optimised characteristics from partner Bilstein complete the chassis package.

Aerodynamic improvements round off the changes for 2012. The front hood has been widened and now optionally provided with louvres, subject to permission by the homologation rules for the various racing series.

A new wider rear wing is also on, and now features larger end plates – it’s also been repositioned to get maximum downforce and minimised aerodynamic drag, with the improved air flow and larger effective area increasing downforce on the rear axle. Finally, there’s a new front plate, with optimised diffusion under the front end, to ensure perfect aerodynamic balance.

From next year, all new R8 race cars will be equipped with this evolution stage pack, and for existing vehicles, quattro will offer conversions to the 2012 evolution stage. Deliveries of the R8 LMS Ultra are set to begin in March.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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B8 Audi A4 range receive their mid-cycle facelift

Paul Tan — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:29:58 +0000

Audi has given the B8 Audi A4 a little facelift, which is timely as it updates the A4 to the latest revision of Audi’s signature grille that’s being used on all their other latest models. Other than the new grille and bumper, the headlamps have also changed, with a new added slight wave at the bottom edges, and a rearranged lens design.

The interior has also been updated. The MMI navigation plus system now features four instead of eight buttons, with a shift function integrated in the volume control dial. The seat heating and air-conditioning are now directly operated at the respective buttons. The upholstery range has also been revised, with Fine Nappa leather replacing Valcona leather.

The A4 also receives Audi’s new 1.8 litre TFSI engine, now producing 170 PS and 320 Nm of torque while offering a fuel economy figure of 50.4 mpg and 134 g/km of CO2 emissions. The new 1.8 litre engine features improvements in the control of its valves, and a new thermal management system. There’s also a detuned entry level version of this engine making 120 PS. The 2.0 TFSI makes 211 PS and the top of the line 3.0 TFSI in the S4 makes 333 PS.

Another new feature is an electromechanical power steering, which allows reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 7 g/km because it does not need to be powered for straight-ahead motion, thus reducing fuel consumption.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A7 3.0 TFSI quattro now in Malaysia – RM599k

Paul Tan — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:30:51 +0000

The Audi A7 Sportback is now available in Malaysia, priced at RM599,000 without insurance, about an 85k premium over the Audi A6 which was launched here just last month. Like the A6, the new Audi A7 comes with a 300 hp and 440 Nm 3.0 litre TFSI engine mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic twin clutch gearbox and the quattro all-wheel drive.

Both vehicles are pretty much in the same segment and sit on the same platform, but the A7 is designed for those who want a sportier coupe-like roofline for their car, without sacrificing the convenience of four door access. The A7 is a sportback instead of a sedan, so instead of a traditional boot, there luggage area is accessed via a large tail gate, which by the way can be electrically operated so you don’t need to lift the large piece of metal and glass up yourself. The doors are also frameless, which is another unique feature over the A6.

Features that come standard with the RM599k price tag include eight airbags, ABS, ESP, electric adjustable front seats including adjustable lumbar, anti glare mirrors including heated wing mirrors, xenon headlamps, a 6-CD changer system with two SDHC card readers, Bluetooth handsfree, a 7- inch driver info system in the instrumentation panel and a 6.5-inch MMI display, Audi Drive Select with auto/comfort/dynamic/efficiency modes, power assist closing doors and cruise control.

There are a number of optional extras that you can tack onto the car. Pearl paint costs an additional RM5,000. A heads-up display system costs RM6,500. LED headlamps will set you back another RM8,500. A high-end Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System (upgraded from the stock 600-watt Bose 12-channel, 14-speaker system) costs RM28,000. And an S-Line package for a sportier appearance will cost you RM30,000.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A6 3.0L TFSI quattro launched in Malaysia – RM515k!

Paul Tan — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:10:35 +0000

The new Audi A6 is finally here in Malaysia, with the sole unit offered right now being the top of the range Audi A6 3.0 TFSI quattro. Priced at RM515,000, it significantly undercuts the similiarly engined 535i by a huge margin and adds the extra traction of the Audi quattro all-wheel drive system.

This sexy beast’s 3.0 litre TFSI V6 engine puts out 300 hp between 5,250-6,500 rpm and 440 Nm of torque from 2,900 rpm to 4,500 rpm. This is the same motor found in the flagship Audi A8L 3.0 TFSI. You might wonder why peak torque kicks in a little higher than normal compared to other TFSI engines – this is likely because Audi has elected to use a supercharger on this V6 engine instead of a turbo. The V6 engine also includes variable inlet camshaft timing and petrol direct injection.

From the crank, power travels to a 7-speed S-tronic twin clutch transmission, and finally to the quattro all-wheel drive system which sends power to all four wheels via a crown gear centre diffferential. The A6′s quattro also has torque vectoring.

A total of twelve colours are availalbe – Ibis White, Brilliant Black, Aviator Blue, Dakota Gray, Ice Silver, Havana Black, Moonlight Blue, Oolong Gray, Quartz Gray, Glacier White, Phantom Black and Garnet Red. The latter two colours are pearl effect colours which command an additional price premium of RM5,000.

Other than the pearl effect paint, the top of the range Malaysian spec 3.0 TFSI can still be specced up if your budget allows it – you can add LED headlamps for RM13,000, a Bang & Olufsen sound system for RM28,000, or a heads up display for RM6,000. For a sportier appeareance, RM30,000 gets you an S-line exterior package which adds sportier front and rear bumpers with a contrasting grey finish for the front lip and rear diffuser.

If you were wondering where the more affordable models are – Audi says they will be bringing the 2.0 TFSI to complement this model soon, so we’ll bring you more news on that when it is available. The normally aspirated 2.8 litre V6 will not be available for now. Look after the jump for a huge photo gallery of the new Audi A6.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Frankfurt: Production-ready Audi A8 L W12 concept

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:49:33 +0000

Yes, there is no typo in the title you see above. This Audi A8 L W12 Executive Concept is indeed a concept car as the name suggests but Audi has also confirmed its production at the same time, although only 50 units will be produced. This model is aimed at an “exclusive group of connoisseurs” and is being marketed under the “Audi exclusive concept” label.

Basically the car is a premium version of the A8 flagship with things like a bespoke interior. The seats are covered with Cognac-colored leather by the exclusive Italian manufacturer Poltrona Frau. The inlays are made from the wood olive ash along with a light gray-brown veneer that has fine grain. There is also a hint of silver in the pores that gives the wood’s appearance a refined look.

Power comes from a 6.3 litre W12 petrol engine with 493 hp and 625 Nm of torque. All 50 units will carry a plate marked with a designated serial number. Audi also confirmed that more models will be placed under the exclusive label.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Frankfurt: Audi presents the refreshed 444 hp / 430 Nm RS5

Harvinder Sidhu — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:07:14 +0000

Audi has unveiled the facelifted RS5 coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This update was pretty much expected since the A5 line-up has gone under the knife recently. Design cues have been carried over from the A5 although the RS5 is given a more aggressive look.

It is also 0.91 inches longer and 0.24 inches wider than the A5 coupe but it is 0.24 inches lower. The exterior also sports a retractable rear spoiler which will automatically extend at 120 km/h.

The interior is covered with a combination of black leather and Alcantara while Fine Nappa leather in a choice of black or lunar silver is also available as an option. There are also options for bucket seats with folding backrests or climate-controlled comfort seats with a ventilation function. In the list is also a new thick rim leather multifunction sport steering wheel with a flattened bottom. The ignition key and the shift lever knob have also been revised along with steering column stalks. There is also a lap timer and an oil thermometer in the driver information colour display system.

Other optional features include adaptive cruise control, Audi side assist, adaptive light, MMI navigation plus, the Bluetooth online car phone and the Bang & Olufsen sound system. Now on to the more interesting bits. The RS5 comes with a suspension system that is mostly made out of alluminium and it has a new speed-dependent power steering which is an electromechanical system with a direct steering ratio for a more precise road feel. Stopping power is provided by ventilated wave brake discs with the front measuring 365 mm in diameter. The reshaped steel friction rings in the brakes system offers savings in weight worth 3 kg.

There is also an ESP system which can be completely switched off. The RS5 also has the Audi drive select driving dynamics system which allows the driver to select between three modes including Comfort, Auto and Dynamic. A fourth mode is available, if the car is equipped with the Audi MMI navigation system and this mode called Individual is customizable by the driver. Audi drive select can also modulate the sound of the exhaust system, double-clutching when downshifting in dynamic mode.

There is also the optional carbon fiber-ceramic discs for the front. The sport suspension plus with DRC dynamic ride control which is optional offers dynamic damping along with a 3-stage system. The facelifted RS5 maintains the 4.2 FSI V8 with 444 hp and 430 Nm between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. Naught to 100 km/h takes 4.6 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h but it can be increased to 280 km/h upon request by the buyer.

All that power is sent to all wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission and via Audi’s Quattro all wheel drive system. The crown-gear centre differential can vary the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles. Up to 70% can be sent the front or as much as 85% to the rear.

Continue reading to view a high-res image gallery and to watch a static shot footage. You can also hear the roar of the 4.2 FSI

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Frankfurt preview: Gallery of the Audi A2 Concept released

Danny Tan — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:39:28 +0000

An oddity elsewhere, the Audi A2 is not an unusual sight on European streets, a lightweight and space efficient aluminium bodied small car that was probably ahead of its time. It didn’t do very well, sales wise – only 176,377 A2s were sold from 1999 to 2005. But Ingolstadt has plans to revive the A2, and will debut the electric powered A2 Concept at IAA Frankfurt.

We’ve seen the sketches and read the details already, but here are some proper official pics of the show car. Sharing underpinnings with the baby A1, the A2 Concept is 3,800 mm long, 1,690 mm wide and 1,490 mm tall, measurements that are 26 mm shorter, 17mm wider and 63 mm lower than the original car. And although the original A2′s distinctive shape is retained, it looks thoroughly modern.

It’s a spacious four-seater with individual seats and clever packaging – there’s room between the rear seats for a city bicycle with its front wheel removed, for instance.

Audi is famous for its LED DRLs, and the A2 Concept previews the next phase in LED tech. Called a matrix beam, this is a package of LEDs and micro-reflectors generating a high-res and non-glaring high-beam light. Daytime running light-fibres frame the LED low-beam light module. Meanwhile, the rear fog light, which is produced by laser diodes, is seen as a beam of light in fog and projects a red triangle onto the road as a warning.

No news on the drivetrain yet. Hi res gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi A2 Concept – plenty of premium-standard space

Anthony Lim — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:59:13 +0000

Another debutant in Frankfurt will be Audi’s A2 Concept all-electric – the company says the technical study will offer premium-standard space with plenty of room for four people in a vehicle that’s just 3.80m long.

Features include four individual seats, a dark glass roof that switches to transparency with the push of a button and a flat interior floorboard. Interior design cues include a centre console that’s attached to the driver’s seat, while the rear console extends forward between the two rear seats.

Storage space is to be had under the fold-up seat cushions, and there’s room between the rear seats for a city bicycle with its front wheel removed. The load area has two levels, with a frame with functional nets creating the upper level.

The colours and materials chosen for the interior help the impression of lightness and space along. Aluminium elements are to be found as highlights, and the large areas from the door top shoulders to the floor wear a new and innovative covering material made of polyurethane with a neoprene surface feel, and a ribbed material made from recycled polyester covers the central floor area.

The driver manages many important features via touch-control areas on the inside of the steering wheel. Two additional control surfaces fold up at the driver’s right when starting the vehicle. An open profile serves as the steering column, with a seven-inch display and two secondary displays located at its end.

Aside from the impressions of space and tech, the A2 Concept also works a fair bit of lighting into the scheme of things. There’s dynamic lighting, which runs below the edge of the window from the front to the rear of the car, essentially a band of light that contains a multitude of innovative, dynamic light functions.

Integrated approach sensors detect the owner and unlock the doors via gesture control. While driving, the dynamic light functions as a continuous side marker light. If the car’s indicator is activated, light impulses run throughout the entire band of light, and when braking, you get a red bar of light from the tail lights.

There’s also the utilisation of the next phase in LED technology, called a matrix beam; this is a package of LEDs and micro-reflectors generating a high-resolution and non-glaring high-beam light. Daytime running light-fibres frame the LED low-beam light module. Meanwhile, the rear fog light, which is produced by laser diodes, is seen as a beam of light in fog and projects a red triangle onto the road as a warning.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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Audi S6, S7, S8 gets new twin turbo 4.0L V8 TFSI engine

Paul Tan — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:17:47 +0000

Another big displacement normally aspirated engine bites the dust – this time it’s the normally aspirated 5.2 litre V10 FSI engine found in models like the Audi S6 and S8.

Audi will be replacing it with a new twin turbocharged 4.0 litre V8, making 420 PS and 550Nm of torque from as low as 1,400rpm all the way to 5,300rpm. This tune of the engine will be installed in the S6 and the S7. This engine is mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic dual clutch transmission. The S6 and S7 also comes with adaptive air suspension to improve the cars’ versatility in providing both comfort and handling.

In the S8, the same 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 is tuned to produce more power – 520 PS and 650Nm of torque from between 1,700rpm to 5,500rpm. This should be an absolutely cracker to drive! In the S8, the engine is mated to a regular automatic transmission instead of a dual clutch, which should provide a smoother drive. The auto has a total of 8 gears.

Other than your usual direct injection and turbocharger technology, the new 4.0 litre V8 also has cylinder deactivation where four cylinders can be shut off under part load to conserve fuel. To keep the engine sounding good under the cylinder shut-off mode, Audi uses Active Noise Cancellation where four microphones integrated into the headlining record the noise in the cabin and cancels out any intrusive sound elements using an anti phase broadcast through the car’s speaker system.

I wonder if Audi will extend the use of this new engine to the Audi R8 as well. Will Audi put this new 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 into the Audi R8 V10′s engine bay?

These new range of Audi S cars will be exhibited to the public for the first time at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. This year’s Frankfurt show looks like it’s going to be seriously busy – it’s going to keep us on our toes for sure! Enjoy a small gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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2012 Audi A8 Hybrid powered by 2.0L TFSI inline-4

Paul Tan — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:20:51 +0000

Audi will add a hybrid variant to its flagship Audi A8 for production 2012, using a hybrid drivetrain that mates Audi’s 2.0 litre TFSI engine to a disc-shaped electric motor.

The inline-4 turbo engine (modified for hybrid use) makes 211 PS and 350Nm of torque on its own, but with the help of the 40kW and 210Nm electric motor, the Audi A8 Hybrid makes a total combined output of 245 PS and 480Nm, which is less horsepower but more torque than the A8 3.0 TFSI’s 290hp and 420Nm supercharged V6.

The hybrid system’s disc-shaped motor basically replaces the Audi A8 automatic gearbox’s torque converter and sits in between the engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission. A multi-plate clutch that operates in an oil bath connects or disconnects the electric motor and the TFSI engine, and does so ultra-precisely and gently in all situations.

The electric motor is powered by a 36.7kg lithium-ion battery located in a crash-proofed area in the boot, providing 1.3 kWh of nominal energy and up to 40 kW of power. The battery is air-cooled two different ways depending on need. Air is either blown from the passenger compartment by a fan or via a separate cooling circuit coupled to the automatic air conditioning system. The electric motor itself and the control electronics are water cooled.

According to the provisional figures generated by early-stage tests, the 2012 Audi A8 Hybrid will be able to reach 100km/h in 7.7 seconds and continue to a top speed of 235km/h while consuming less than 6.42 litres per 100km in the EU combined cycle test, along with CO2 emissions of less than 148 g/km.

The hybrid luxury sedan will be able to hit 100km/h on electric power alone, and can cruise on electric power for up to 3km at a constant 60km/h. The driver can choose between three modes – an EV mode which tries to run on electric power as often as possible, a D option which allows the car to automatically choose when to use what power source, and an S mode which emphasizes on the best possible acceleration.

Of course, if the fact that your A8 Hybrid can silently roll into a hotel lobby with nary a sound isn’t enough to let people know you’re not driving any regular A8, Audi has also given the A8 Hybrid some unique identification externally – turbine blade 18 or 19 inch wheels, hybrid badging and an exclusive Arctic Silver paint.

You know what’s the most interesting thing about this A8 Hybrid in Malaysian context? Because the internal combustion engine component of the hybrid system has an engine displacement of less than 2,000cc – it actually fulfills the engine displacement rule of hybrid car tax exemptions in Malaysia! BMW and Mercedes-Benz have hybrid cars but the electric motors are all paired with giant engines. This is sort of the first German hybrid luxury sedan with an engine size that actually makes sense.

Wonder if Euromobil will use this to their advantage and bring the Audi A8 Hybrid in. In terms of luxury brands, Porsche already has the Cayenne Hybrid and customers are paying full tax on that as it doesn’t qualify for exemptions. Lexus has three hybrid cars for sale and only one – the CT 200h – qualifies for the tax exemption.

But then again bear in mind the tax exemptions are due to expire by the end of this year and there has been no word from the government so far on whether the exemptions will be extended.

Look after the jump for some photos of the new A8 Hybrid.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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2012 Audi A5 facelift range gets various technical updates

Paul Tan — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:42:24 +0000

In the never-ending quest to satisfy the needs of both consumer and policymaker demands for fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, Audi has revised their engine line-up for the 2012 model year, with the changes reflected with the latest model to be updated – the facelifted Audi A5 range. We’ve already covered some of these changes on the surface in our earlier story – here we go into a little more detail.

1.8L TFSI upgraded to 170 PS to replace 180 PS 2.0L

The baseline 1.8 litre TFSI inline-4 engine has been given a complete redesign, and these changes should later be implemented in the other four cylinder engine sizes, such as the fun 2.0 litre TFSI used in various VAG cars. Power is now up from 160 PS to 170 PS, and this engine now replaces the 180 PS tune of the 2.0 litre TFSI engine.

Something new with the engine is an upgraded fuel delivery system which now features a higher rail pressure (200 bar up from 150 bar) and both FSI direct injection as well as conventional indirect injection. Some carmakers have dabbled with this idea in the past, such as the Toyota/Lexus D-4S system, which also features both injector types.

Under part-load conditions, the system injects fuel at the end of the intake manifold, where it is mixed with air. This is said to help reduce both fuel consumption and particulate emissions, and plays a part in helping the engine meet Euro 6 emissions standards.

Normally aspirated 3.2L V6 replaced with supercharged 3.0L

The normally aspirated 3.2 litre V6 engine has been replaced with a lower output version of the supercharged 3.0 litre V6 TFSI engine, producing 272 PS instead of the original 333 PS tune it was unveiled with.

Normally aspirated 4.2L V8 replaced with supercharged 3.0L

The screaming 4.2 litre V8 in the S5 Coupe has been replaced with the higher output version of the 3.0 litre supercharged V6 engine, making 333 PS. This is an expected mode, considering the different body styles of the S5 like the drop top version have already had the V8 replaced with the blown V6, so now it’s finally the Coupe’s turn to get the more efficient engine.

A more advanced Quattro system

The 2012 model year A5 gets a more advanced quattro all wheel drive system using a crown gear center differential, which first made its debut on the RS5. It also has torque vectoring for more effective torque distribution.

New efficiency mode for Audi drive select

A new mode called ‘efficiency’ has been added to the current range of ‘dynamic’, ‘auto’, and ‘comfort’ modes in Audi drive select. In this mode, various variable systems like the power steering, throttle response, transmission shift point and even the air conditioning system will be adjusted for minimal power consumption.

We expect all of these changes to eventually reach the rest of the Audi range wherever applicable.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:29:53 +0000.

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