Done only the way Jezzer can do it...and Sabina Schmidt vs The Stig
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Audi to show off new Safe/Green Technology
Audi will have demonstrations at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems meeting in NY this week. Showing off cutting-edge emissions reduction technology from its Audi Clean Air initiative. The group is working to create connected, intelligent vehicles that are capable of collaborating with their users and with each other to preserve the environment.
Environmentally friendly navigation lets drivers choose the most energy efficient route.
Smart engines use traffic information and advanced topography to consume less fuel. On-board cameras allow vehicles to act as smart moving traffic nodes and share traffic information with other traffic nodes and data sources. And vibration energy harvesting provides a clean energy source to power vehicle sensors.
Monday, November 17, 2008
VW "not happy" with Audi R4 project
After a heated dispute between the VW chairman, and former Audi/Porsche engineering boss, Ferdinand Piech and his cousin Wolfgang over a clause the Wolfsburg firm tried to instate to prevent a formal collaboration between Audi and Porsche without VW’s consent, things appear to have concluded amicably. This means a joint-effort between the two companies is not impossible.
Porsche certainly seems keen to re-establish its ties with Audi, if a recent interview with Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking is anything to go by. Wiedeking said he was puzzled that Audi had not continued working with Porsche after the success of the RS2, and that such a project was something Porsche would have been keen to continue.
Audi S3 Sportback
Audi has announced that the S3 Sportback will come in two flavors S-Tronic (DSG) and 6 Speed manual. What makes this even more exciting is Audi now has the option to bring the S3 Sportback over to the US, which they stated hatchbacks wouldn't sell here in the states but it seems as though this is a great compromise although the cost quite possibly could put it at $44,289.93 USD. With a base 265hp would put it $10k above the VW R32, 15hp more and a possible 100ilbs less weight. The tuning advantage goes to the S3 which tuners are getting 300+ from a reflash and a turbo upgrade/reflash can net you 350+. Will Audi decide to bring this over since VW has axed plans for the R36? We can only hope..
...
Sunday, November 16, 2008
LMP1 class to ban V10/V12 engines
In order to slow speeds the ACO has made it official that engines with no more than 4 litres and 8 cylinders can enter the LMP1 class by 2011 and LMP2 class will use production engines, which means either a move to LMP1 or using modified production engines which Porsche has already been developing a Directinjection V8 which saw its way in cars running in ALMS last yr.
This means Audi will have to go back to design a V8 Diesel no bigger than 4.0 litres. These rules will go into effect in 2011 and Hybrids such as 
Peugeots will be able to run this years LeMans but a class will be created next year for Hybrids and Electric LMP's.
If Audi decides to run LMP1 past 2011 this means Audi quite possibly will have a high performance V8 Diesel to put in a few selected Audis such as the RS4 and R8.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
EU to take legal action vs Germany on VW law
The European Commission said on Thursday it would take legal action against Germany by the end of the year over a law governing carmaker Volkswagen that it says violates EU rules on the free flow of capital.
The European Union's highest court last year struck down a 48-year old German law that shields Volkswagen from takeover, forcing Berlin to come up with alternative legislation.
On Thursday, Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament approved a revised law which addresses some of the EU's concerns but not all of them.
For example, the new legislation keeps a rule that gives the state of Lower Saxony, which holds just over 20 percent of Volkswagen shares, an effective blocking minority in the firm. The EU has said explicitly that Germany must scrap the rule. The highly profitable Porsche holding company says it currently controls 42.6 per cent of voting shares at the bigger Volkswagen. The new legislation, an amendment of the long-standing "Volkswagen Law," gives Lower Saxony veto rights at shareholder meetings. Porsche will own just under 75 per cent of the giant car manufacturer when options fall due next year.
"We will move ahead with the case in the next few weeks. The Commission certainly hopes to reach a decision on the next stage before Christmas," a Commission spokesman said.
The law allows Lower Saxony, the region where Volkswagen is based, to block strategic decisions taken by the company's largest shareholder, Stuttgart-based sports carmaker Porsche.
Porsche has lobbied vigorously for the law to be overturned but encountered robust opposition from the German government and Volkswagen workers. Porsche chief executive Wendelin Wiedeking wrote to legislators, predicting that law would cause future problems for Berlin.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a speech in September at Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg that she believed the new legislation met EU demands and vowed to defend the blocking minority clause in Brussels.
A solid majority of legislators in Berlin backed the bill, which is popular because the state is seen as a guarantor of jobs at the company, the biggest industrial enterprise in Lower Saxony.
Thousands of VW workers have demonstrated in support of the law, which is also backed by Lower Saxony premier Christian Wulff, an influential member of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU). But the labour leader at Volkswagen, Bernd Osterloh, applauded the law as a "grand signal" and said it fully met provisions of European Union law.
The European Union is expected to challenge the legislation in court, arguing that it distorts European corporate law.
Audi China Business To Be Headquartered In Beijing
A German newspaper reported that the would-be plant construction is an important measure for Audi to expand business in the Chinese market. Audi China to be established will explore new business independently, including sourcing in China and building a test centre particularly for the Chinese market. 
Audi president Rupert Stadler indicated that new Audi China division will be closer to the Chinese market and help with local production of Audi A3, which will share the platform with the upcoming sixth-generation VW Golf.
Last May, Rupert Stadler announced the code-named "Route 15" plan, which aimed to sell 1.5 million Audis by 2015, over BMW and Mercedes-Benz to be the number one luxury brand. Audi China sales will target 200,000 units by then, almost double than 100,888 in 2007.
By 2015, the Audi models will be added up to 40, most of which will also be introduced to China as it is the largest overseas market for Audi. "To meet 200,000 sales by 2015 is achievable," said Johannes Thammer, general manager of FAW-VW Audi sales division.
Also optimistic about the Chinese market is Voggenreiter, who said Audi sales forecast in China hasn't decreased though faced with financial crisis.
-Source: The Auto Channel
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Audi R4 Unleashed
Once again Porsche & Audi have collabed again producing the baby R8, the Audi R4. The chassis will be in the R4 and the upcoming Porsche Boxster/Cayman vehicles also. Weight reduction with aluminum body paneling and Audis newer 40/60 torque split should make this a thrill to drive considering the engine options. Even though Audi has stated it will do away with manual gearboxes this should be availble with Audi's 6 Speed gearbox and a 7 speed DSG option.
Possible Engines:
- 335bhp 2.5 litre TFSI 5 cylinder
- 200bhp 2.0 litre TFSI 4 cylinder
- 300bhp 3.6 litre FSI V6
- 225bhp 2.0 litre TDI common rail injection 4 cylinder
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
