Audi Announces TT-S Pricing

MSRP for the TT-S Coupe will start at $45,500 and $47,500 for the TT-S Roadster.



The 2.0 litre FSI engine will have 265 hp @ 6000 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. @2500-5000 rpm.
Judging by this pricing the newer TT-RS Coupe might not make it here and ft it does, will face the same dilemma Audi faced in which to bring the Audi S3 over or not.

Judging from Market conditions the TT-RS will probably face the same demise of the RS6.

Finally a pic of Audis new UP! Concept Metrocar

Two engines are being developed right now for this platform a diesel and petrol version. It is unknown if Audi plans to bring the supersubcompact to the US with the A1 Metro expecting to be a Mini Contender, the UP! Market would be against the ubersmall Smart ForFour now on sale in the US. While the Smart only gets 34mpg the rumour is the UP! choices of engine are trying to eye a conservative 95mpg.

Novice R8 driver slams into barrier

Todays Lesson:
Liftoff-Oversteer

Virginia International Raceway

Audi Design Center in Californias R25 Concept Rendering

The R25 is designed to utilize and excel in this new racing system with features such as:

1. The new Dynamic Space Frame, allowing much greater degree of flexibility, integration of circuits and rigidity


2. Algae bio fuel for endurance and electric motor capability through Wireless power transfer technology


3. Audi Design: Staying true to the “Form is Function” philosophy, there is not an ounce of needless element in the R25, which incorporates advanced technique and efficient form management into one.
The car also uses: active micro-control surfaces which optimize airflow during the race; Man Machine Interface, which inputs all vehicle data output into the driver’s helmet visor; all-around vehicle dynamic sensors and integrated on-board HD cameras with real-time data links to allow for spectator interaction, allowing fans to virtually “sit” and experience the race in any racecar through monitors and virtual reality booths.

Audi S4 supercharger sourced from Eatons Poland plant

With Volkswagen sourcing a supercharger for its twincharged Golf GT,
Audi has done the same and sourced its upcoming S4 sport sedans supercharger
from Eaton's facility in Tczew, Poland with production already ramped up to supply with demand anticipated from Audi.

Audi trumped by Honda Accord 2.2 litre Diesel engine

After just finishing its Mileage marathon Audi has announced real world mpg in its A3, A4, Q5 diesel powered engines. The best Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro had an average fuel consumption of 5.3 liters per 100 kilometers (44.38 US mpg); the new Audi Q5 3.0 TDI performance SUV finished the test with a convincing 6.1 l/100 km (38.56 US mpg).
In its first tough road test since it was announced, the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI with ultra low emission system performed outstandingly well: the world’s cleanest diesel scored a best average fuel consumption of 7.1 l/100 km (33.13 US mpg).
The lowest consumption of all the cars taking part was the 4.7 l/100 km (50.04 US mpg) achieved by the Audi A3 2.0 TDI.


Hot on the heels of this completion Honda has announced its newer road tested 2.2 litre Diesel engine is headed to the US in Acura guise offered in the TSX andas a newer Accord engine option which gets 53 miles a gallon on the highway, 34 in the city and 44 in combined driving.

The engine, a 4cylinder diesel at 2.2 liters & producing 140 horsepower/250 pound-feet of torque. The engine will be using a new system developed with Bosch exclusively for the diesel market. The engine will meet 50state emission standards with out a need to carry an on board dillution of urea, to scrub smog nitrogen oxides from exhaust output. Honda’s patented pollution system can generate its own ammonia for the same purpose.

With Audi finally deciding to bring over a 2.0 litre turbo Diesel option and the Honda engine naturally apsirated only making 30 less hp and 8 ilbs ft less torque Audi has some serious competition now in the 4 cylinder diesel game.

Competition heats up for future LMP1 category

With an almost win by Peugeot, Audi now has Honda, & GM who are considering entering LMP1/ GM would enter a chassis running a LS7 and turbocharger setup. So far with the economic crisis GM has not stated if and/or when it would have an entry ready. Porsche and Acura are already in the LMP2 category for ALMS, Audi with its newer R15 has quite the competition mounting.

Porsche, Audi looking into IRL

The IndyCar series had invited a number of engine suppliers, along with current supplier Honda, to work on developing a four cylinders- inline - turbocharged engine for the series to be used starting in 2011.

Rumours that the meeting was held secretly are false, as reported in a past issue of RaceCar Engineering Audi, Porsche, Lola, and Alfa Romeo were invited to give feedback to the IRL for future engine development.

Porsche competed in CART in both 1989 and 1990 campaigns, even managing a victory with Teo fabi in '89 but the German Manufacturer quit after it ran into controversy with the other teams when it constructed its own carbon fibre car.

Alfa Romeo, had also a go at CART in 1990 and 1991 but it also ended abruptly after it was unable to develop a proper engine due to the fact that the engine designer started out from an old Ferrari engine that they tried to convert to no avail.

Audi, owned by Volkswagen, is the only engine supplier who has never participated in either CART or IRL series. Still, the German manufacturer has had tremendous success in the Le Mans 24H and in the American Le Mans series. Although Volkswagen has supplied engines for F3 the old 1.8T producing 200bhp which was more than enough for these lightweight cars similiar to Formua Ford in design.

Audi technology helps drivers avoid red lights

The German carmaker Audi is testing technology that lets computers inside traffic lights talk to computers inside cars. This exchange allows cars to calculate which driving speeds will minimize the number of red lights they encounter.

Better still, according to an article in Wired, if enough cars start using the technology, the lights could start inferring traffic volume and changing their timing to minimize delays.

The concept is interesting, but I place little faith in concepts that require massive infrastructure upgrades in order to work. Given that almost no American cities even spend the money to pave their roads properly, I doubt that any big city will spend millions of dollars to upgrade traffic lights.

Automotive technologies -- to be practical -- have to be self-contained. We are much more likely to see lane-management systems that rely on in-car cameras than we are to see lane-management systems that rely on sensors embedded inside the roads.

Of course, things are different in Germany, where Audi is based. I'm not sure they'll spend the money to upgrade their traffic lights, but at least they keep their roads paved beautifully.

4 New Audi subcompacts US only getting 2

The A1 and S1 will be available in Europe and other markets, but are deemed too small for American buyers. Bringing the cars to the U.S. in a few years' time isn't beyond the pale, but there are no plans to do so at Audi as yet, reports Car and Driver. The A1 has recently been previewed in the form of the A1 Sportback Hybrid concept and last year with the A1 Metroproject. The A1 had been cast as a competitor to Toyota's iQ, but with the recent hints that the iQ might be marketed as a Scion in the U.S., that comparison is unlikely to hold.

The Q1 is at least 4.5 years out and Audi's member of the board for management and technical development Michael Dick, can't be certain if it will make it to North America, though he says it's "conceivable". So far there are noplans to bring the Q to the UnitedStates.

Pricing in Europe can be aggressive but still allow for adequate margins, whereas the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar makes aggressive pricing a losing battle, with volume coming only at the cost of profit. Latest reports indicate the Q1 will measure approximately 3.95m in length and will feature a coupe-styled body with just two-doors and a rear hatch. Power is expected to come from a 1.4L TFSI four-cylinder engine producing 125hp (93kW) or a TSI unit with 150hp (111kW). Diesel fans will be able to pick from a 1.2L TDI with 80hp (59kW) or a 1.6L TDI with 119hp (88kW).

Audi signs deal with Alcoa for Durabright Technology

Alcoa , a company engaged in the production and management of primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina combined, declared on 10 October that it has entered into an agreement with Audi AG to supply its 18 inch forged aluminium wheels with Dura-Bright technology surface treatment for the new 2009 Audi A6.

The DuraBright technology has been reported as the companys latest innovation in aluminium. The technology lowers maintenance efforts and enhances the image of the vehicle and the ownership experience by making the wheels easy to clean while protecting against corrosion.
The proprietary Dura-Bright technology surface treatment was launched by Alcoa into the automotive marketplace in 2007. Fitment on the Audi A6 signals the first application of Dura-Bright technology for a European luxury sedan.
In addition, all Dura-Bright technology wheels are produced by Alcoa's forged engineering expertise. Alcoa forged aluminium wheels provide increased strength and durability gains and are typically twice as strong as a comparable cast aluminium wheel in crush tests, according to the

Audi Sees Green...

The Audi Q7 luxury sport-utility
vehicle earned the highest rating in its category under a new consumer
sentiment index aimed at identifying the smartest "green" choices available to
U.S. consumers.

This is the first year for the SmartGreen Index(SM), or SGI(SM), tabulated
by the San Diego-based marketing research firm Strategic Vision. The index is
based on actual customer experiences with perceived quality, overall value
(the "Smart" components) and performance on environmental measures, such as
fuel economy (the "Green" component). Strategic Vision weighs customer
responses to find trends that would best predict customer advocacy, owner
satisfaction, brand loyalty and, in the end, model and nameplate sales.


The Audi Q7 stood out in those measures among all 2008-model and 2009-
model luxury SUVs.


"This recognition provides further proof that Audi vehicles overall, and
the Audi Q7 in particular, offer exceptional satisfaction and long-term
value," said Audi of America Executive Vice President Johan de Nysschen. "It
also clearly reinforces Audi's commitment to provide environmentally sensitive
vehicle choices throughout our model lineup."


Strategic Vision said the 2008 index digs into consumer data to find the
few models that provide "a meaningful emotional connection" with U.S.
consumers. Simply claiming the best fuel-efficiency numbers, a hybrid power
plant or strong customer-satisfaction scores isn't enough, Strategic Vision
officials explained.

The End of Manual Gearboxes in Audis...

Audi is considering doing away with manual gearboxes and implementing a complete DSG lineup for all models.

In the trannny department, Audi engineers have stated that DSG gearboxes will be the transmission of the future, though traditional smanuals may also be offered for a while. CVTs may last a bit longer but the DSG system can handlehigher torque & Audi thinks customers prefer paddle shifts.

So expect to see seven speed DSG boxes in most RS vehicles, While keeping 6 gear DSG systems in the rest of the Audi Lineup including newer hybrids coming to market.

Audi says No!

Audi has announced the RS6 will not be coming stateside leaving enthusiasts like US who have supported and remade Audis image in the dark.

"The volume just doesn't justify it," said Jeff Kuhlman, Audi's chief communications officer. Audi only expects to build 8,000 RS6 sedans and wagons throughout its run.

Certifying the RS6 for U.S. sales would likely increase its cost basis above and beyond the already unfavorable exchange rate. The RS6 starts at €105,550 in Germany.

The 572-horsepower super sedan made its official debut at the 08 Moscow Autoshow. The RS6 Quattro features a 5.0-liter, twin-turbo V10 and Audi claims it will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds.

Audi confident it can achieve 2008 goals

Audi is optimistic it can achieve its full-year targets for revenue and earnings to rise in line with unit sales as the company is poised to break the 1 million car barrier in 2008.

"We have been surprised in the last few weeks day-by-day by a dramatic downturn in banking systems. End of December we know exactly where we are," Audi Chief Executive Rupert Stadler said on Wednesday at the Reuters Auto Summit in Paris.

"Nevertheless looking at the environment for Audi, I feel quite confident we can reach and achieve this."

In the first nine months through September, sales rose 2.8 percent to 761,500 vehicles.

Stadler said Audi is making money exporting to the U.S. market at current exchange rates, but since he believes the dollar will stabilize between $1.40-$1.50 in the coming years he reaffirmed the company was committed to manufacturing Audis in the United States, with a final decision expected next year.

For the moment, Stadler said Audi was "well hedged" against all major currencies for the next one to two years.

Stadler dismissed media speculation that Porsche SE's two management board members, Wendelin Wiedeking and Holger Haerter, who sit on the Audi supervisory board are intervening in its product strategy in order to prevent competition for their own luxury sports car business. Audi is also in talks with Porsche to supply it diesel engines for the Cayenne SUV, but thanks to a boardroom defeat dealt by VW unions hostile to Wiedeking the group's largest shareholder needs to seek approval before entering into any business with Audi.

"All things are based on win-win situation. We have good business relations with Porsche for years. If there are opportunities we will try to take them and diesel would be a good example," he said.

Audi plans to launch a purely electric vehicle by 2012 at the latest, when the company wants to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent.

This could possibly be a version of its upcoming subcompact that is due to launch at the beginning of 2009 or the start of the next year and which will be built in Brussels.

"The A1 would not be a bad solution. It would fit very well," he said.

-Source: Reuters

VAG outlook uncertain Winterkorn says...

October 2 (Bloomberg) -- Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn talked yesterday with Bloomberg's Andreas Cremer at the Paris Motor Show about the outlook for annual earnings and the possible impact of a global economic slump on 2009 car sales.

Europe's biggest carmaker said its focus on smaller, more frugal models will help it post full-year earnings growth even as the industry suffers a global slump.

New PreProduction Minifighter the Audi Metro A1

After a year since the release of the A1 Metro concept in Tokyo, Audi now has the preprodution model unveiled during the Paris motorshow now known as the A1 Sportback. It has a 148bhp 1.4-litre TSI twincharge -(super/turbocharged) petrol engine driving the front wheels through a seven-speed S-tronic gearbox and a 27bhp electric motor which supplements or takes over from the engine when necessary.

0-62 time of 7.9 seconds and a 124mph topspeed. Audi is saying it can get upto 72.4mpgwith the 1.4 litre engine. Other features include a magnetic suspension like on the RS4, R8 and new TT models and Drive Select, which provides efficiency and sport modes for the drivetrain, suspension and gearchanges, and a system to be used as a navigation system or audio/video player which allow suitably-equipped mobile phones to act as a GPS unit.

Still considered an AWD subcompact actual road performance has yet to be determined and I'm sure Topgear and FifthGear will be all over this one. With the competition being the Suzuki Swift Sport, Mini Cooper, Renault Clio sub hot eco hatches are sure to be the rage within the next couple of years.