2012 Audi A7 Review: Elegant Performer ?

Image by M 93 via Flickr

Automakers seem to have become smitten with the practice of slicing and dicing new-car segments into smaller niches in recent years like so many soft-drink varieties.

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Sebring 12 Hours Looks Like a NASCAR Race

Ferrari 458 crash at 2011 12 Hours of Sebring
Photo by Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Race winning Peugeot 908 at 2011 12 Hours of Sebring

Maaco Fremont watched the 59th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring on ESPN.  We thought we were watching a NASCAR event instead of American Le Mans. Endurance racing used to be tough enough without worring about other racers hitting you on purpose. No longer. Drivers bumped & grinded all 12 hours. Cars were destroyed, carried back to the pits, rebuilt and went back out on the track. Favorites from Audi & Ferrari were totaled allowing Peugeot to win overall for the 2nd year in a row and BMW to win the GT2 class.

Here's footage from one of the big crashes that took out the Ferrari 458:

Audi A7

Audi A7

Recently, the car manufacturer Audi launched the Audi A7 series which has received positive responses from his fans. Because in addition to type sedan, this car is well suited to the needs for fast car enthusiasts but still elegant.
Behind the wheel, you get a sense that the 310-horsepower supercharged V-6 is almost a perfect analogue for the V-8s of just a few years ago. It pulls like a superlux bullet train, willingly ripping through the gears on its way to a 5.4-second 0-60 mph time. Unfortunately, the fuel economy is also roughly analogous to the V-8s of a few years ago: I observed an average in the mid-16 mpg range over the course of a week, and frequently dipped into the 12-14 mpg range on spirited trips. That's the first of the things I don't particularly like about the A7, but it's one I could live with considering the car's positive traits from a driver's perspective.

Audi A7

There's a lot to like about the A7 from a passenger's perspective, too, including a roomier-than-expected rear seat. It's not a long-wheelbase executive limo sort of roominess, but even those a few inches over six feet have space to relax. Up front, the comfort is almost limitless thanks to the highly adjustable seats, except for one small detail, likely an artifact of side-impact crash requirements: the driver's seat isn't centered on the steering wheel.
With the convenience and the genius of this car, it is hoped all interested persons can quickly change and use the beauty of this car. So the Audi lovers will soon be entertained and enjoy the grandeur and comfort soon.

Audi A7

Audi A7

Audi A7 Interior

Audi RS5

Audi RS5

The Audi A5 is the most beautiful car he has ever designed: “It’s elegant and powerful, yet free of aggression and arrogance.” But no one would accuse the A5’s hot-rod brother, the new RS5, of a lack of aggression or arrogance—this coupe clearly means business. Wheels as large as 20 inches squat in the wheel wells, a trick automatic spoiler rises from the rear deck, and huge air intakes up front suck in vast tracts of atmosphere while fat, R8-style exhaust pipes shoot the air back out again, burned up and spent. Sounds fantastic, right? Prepare your checkbook, as the RS5 will be sold in the U.S., a fact recently confirmed to Car and Driver by Audi CEO Rupert Stadler.

“To us, the RS5 is the legitimate successor of the second-generation RS4 of 2005 and its successful package,” says Cornelius Fröhlich, responsible for marketing the new hell raiser. We hope this doesn’t mean there won’t be another RS4. Otherwise, it’s good news. The last RS4 was a monster in family-sedan clothing, a four-door with extraordinary power, designed for head-to-head battles with Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M division. The RS4 triumphed against the E46 M3 and C55 AMG in an uninstrumented—and thus technically unofficial—comparo, and although it finished third out of three cars in its final shootout appearance, it trailed the second-place C63 AMG by only four points and the champion E92 M3 by 11. With the RS5, we’d say a rematch is in order.

Audi RS5

High-Revving Horsepower, Computer-Controlled Shifting
The RS5 keeps the RS4’s high-revving, naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V-8, but now it’s stronger by 30 hp, for a total of 450. The compression ratio is 12.3:1. High-revving in this case means up to an 8300-rpm redline, so long as the oil is up to temperature; the engine is protected by a 6000-rpm limiter otherwise. It’s no secret that with this engine Audi wanted to show BMW that Munich isn’t the only German town capable of building high-revving V-8s.

You can say bye-bye to the crisp six-speed manual transmission of the RS4, as the RS5’s power is shunted only through a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual. When we asked whether there would be a standard gearbox offered in the future, Fröhlich told us, sadly, that “the majority of customers in this segment are used to automatic transmissions.” In its favor, the dual-clutch unit—Audi calls it S tronic—allows the driver to include transmission setup as part of the configurability offered by the optional Audi Drive Select (ADS) adjustable chassis system. It also helps that the S tronic box is good. In the RS5, shifts occur without any hesitation, and the quickness produces some sweet burbles and overrun from those twin exhaust cannons out back.

The all-wheel-drive system is upgraded with Audi’s first use of a self-locking crown-gear center differential, and it helps cut nearly seven pounds out of the drivetrain. The new center diff will make its way into other Quattro models as well, and it can direct up to 85 percent of the power to the rear wheels or up to 70 percent to the fronts as grip dictates. Under normal driving, the power distribution is split 40 percent to the front and 60 percent to the rear.

Audi RS5

For the first time in an all-wheel-drive car, Audi has added a software-based, wheel-selective pseudo-torque-vectoring system. Based on inputs from the vehicle’s ESP system, it slightly applies the brakes to the inner front wheel during cornering to effectively curb understeer, a behavior long associated with Audis that was mitigated a bit by the more rearward position of the engine in the company’s latest longitudinal modular platform. Torque vectoring at the rear is handled mechanically by Audi’s optional sport differential, a heavy piece of hardware that nevertheless makes the car feel more light on its feet, shifting power from left to right in search of more grip and balance.

Audi Drive Select sharpens responses even more, and it controls settings for the suspension, sport differential, steering, transmission, throttle response, and exhaust sound. At its hardest-core setting, dynamic, it can virtually eliminate body roll, while normal and comfort modes progressively soften things up. (There’s also a mode that allows drivers to program the various chassis elements individually.) Carbon-ceramic front brakes are available, and they bite right now.

To further tighten body motions, Audi will fit its Dynamic Ride Control system, whereby each set of diagonally opposed shocks is connected via hydraulic lines that incorporate a central valve. During cornering, the valve allows fluid to flow to the outboard front shock almost immediately, reducing lateral roll. The system works in concert with Audi Drive Select’s variable suspension settings.

Audi RS5 Interior

Electronic Magic Makes for a Fine Drive
We were able to sample all of this on the 26-turn Ascari racetrack near Marbella, Spain, and can attest that the RS5’s electronic firepower and mechanical mumbo jumbo translate into an extremely responsive car that feels much lighter than its estimated 3900 pounds. The torquey V-8 has a wide range of usable power, and no one is going to miss a turbo. As the revs rise, a subdued rumble hardens into an aggressive snarl—especially if you push the right button on the ADS. Flip from comfort to dynamic, and the difference in sound is clearly audible even at idle.

Audi says the RS5 will cover 0 to 62 mph in about 4.6 seconds, which is quick but nothing earth shattering; we’ve tested the automatic-only C63 AMG at 3.9 seconds to 60 mph and a dual-clutch-equipped M3 at 4.1. Our guess is that the RS5 will cover the 0-to-60 sprint in 4.4 seconds. But the complicated nature of the RS5 means you won’t be able to tease more speed and power from it without investing big bucks, so you’re best served to avoid straight-line drag races against those German sleds and your neighbor’s modified Supra or GT-R.

The Audi will put up a tougher fight on the track or on back roads. The car feels as agile as it does planted to the road, and the load changes aren’t very pronounced. You’re able to induce easily controllable oversteer, but if you don’t push it, the RS5 will stay neutral seemingly forever. The handling is definitely what one would call forgiving, and at the limit, you appreciate the improvement from the more nose-heavy Audis of yore. We won’t say whether the RS5 will trump the benchmark BMW M3 just yet, but we think it’s going to be one hell of a fight.

In Germany, you can order your RS5 beginning in May, with deliveries starting in June. On its home turf, the RS5’s price list starts at €77,700 (about $106,000), some €5000 more than a BMW M3 coupe with a dual-clutch transmission. U.S. pricing should be somewhat more accommodating—we expect a base sticker somewhere around $70,000—and an Audi rep tells us we can expect all the chassis technology to make it across the Atlantic, although it’s not yet decided what will be standard or optional. Based on our initial impressions, whatever Audi charges may well be justified.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q2/2011_audi_rs5-first_drive_review

Audi Q3 SUV Baby Ready to Roll ?

Image via Wikipedia

Author: chadieAFTER released a sketch depicting the figure of the latest crossover Audi Q3 some time ago, now their turn to display the form in full before the vehicle was seen by the public official at the Shanghai Motor Show 2011 next week.

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Audi Q3 SUV Baby Ready to Roll ?

Author: chadieAFTER released a sketch depicting the figure of the latest crossover Audi Q3 some time ago, now their turn to display the form in full before the vehicle was seen by the public official at the Shanghai Motor Show 2011 next week.
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Audi Car 2011

2011 audi auto union of luxury with the future design

Audi Auto Union Type C is representative of the birth of the Audi, and recently the company discovered a version of the E-tron of the classical model. 2011 Audi Auto Union Type C E-tron is the concept of a small study, which was released by Audi at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. Audi Auto Union Type C E-tron is a prototype electric car that can drive the maximum speed of 30 km / h (18.64 mph).
2011 audi auto union Rear 2011 audi auto union of luxury with the future design
2011 audi auto union interior 2011 audi auto union of luxury with the future design
The brand with the four rings has a unique style that is as innovative as it is unique for its 75 square feet (807.29 meters square) stand – Audi Auto Union Type C E-tron. This is based on the limited edition pedal car sold by quattro GmbH, a subsidiary of Audi AG. The body of hand-finished sole is made of aluminum material and look at carbon and is suitable for children and adults up to 1.80 meters (5’11 “) tall. 01:02 full study is 2.32 meters (7.61 meters) long and 97 centimeters (38.19 inches) wide.
Electric motor drives the rear wheels, is charged by a lithium-ion battery, rated at 1.5 hp, reaches a torque of 40 Nm (£ 29.50 m) – and for a moment to 60 Nm (44 pounds, 25 m). This allows the car reaches a top speed of 30 km / h (18.64 mph). The study also has a reverse gear. Depending on how it works, and a small Audi E-tron has a range of about 25 miles (15.53 km). Can then be loaded into a standard household 230 volt outlets.

Audi TT RS

A supercar manufactured by Audi,the Audi TT RS is to be officially revealed at next month’s Geneva Motor Show but the power of the internet again prevails as we now have official shots and an audio clip of the TT RS.This supercar will be powered by a 2.5-liter five cylinder turbocharged powerplant. Officially Ingolstadt’s hottest ever TT model, it is also a tribute to the spirit of the original Quattro model of the 80’s.

The new addition to the RS line up is good for some very impressive numbers - 340hp and a max torque of 450Nm, 0-100 in under five seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. All that power is channel to all four wheels - or Quattro all wheel drive system in Audi lingo - through a six speed manual gearbox.

On the outside, the TT RS gets a rather subtle treatment over the 272HP TT S model that includes slightly larger front air vents, a distinctive rear diffuser, a fixed boot spoiler and twin-spoke alloy wheels. Inside, there’s a leather multifunction sports steering wheel and sports seats in a combination of Alcantara and leather. Check out the gallery below, more details on this next week.

Audi r8 spyder

The latest Audi R8 V10 Spyder. The American tuner adds up its ain supercharger to the 5.2 litre V10 powerhouse as a total output signal of 710 PS (700 bhp / 522 kilowatt) – up well by the series’ 525 PS (518 bhp / 386 kilowatt).Torque are also chanced up by a making noise 140 lb-ft (190 Nm). That attains the Audi R8 V10 Spyder at once do the 0 to 60 miles per hour (96 kilometres per hour) dash in 3.1 seconds equated to the standard model’s 3.7. STaSIS directing also does some elevating of the break on improved dampers and springs and agrees the Audi R8 V10 Spyder on larger wheels. for more latest car you can view........

New Audi Quattro Life Again

The name of the Audi Quattro rally ever formations in the world arena in the era of the 1980s. In fact, HP's 550-powered car driven by motion of four-wheel racer French woman, Michele Mouton, had seized the world's runner-up position in 1985. However, entering the 1990s, Audi disappeared from the scene of the rally.

Reportedly, the German car manufacturer wanted to produce the Audi Quattro. Concept car was exhibited at the Paris Motor Show 2010. However, according to some information, the Audi Quattro will be built by Audi S5 platform.

The designers and engineers have demonstrated the concept to Audi board Audi. The company reportedly is ready to give the green light to the production phase, although there has been no confirmation of when it will be announced. However, Autocar Audi Quattro leaking information that will be marketed in 2013.

In terms of design, appearance of the Audi Quattro is very cool and has a very strong impression that sport. The lines are a strong feature of the Audi Quattro longer appear on the front, except for double headlights hidden in the bumper above, plus a hood that there is a kind of thin air cavity.

SR Auto Upgrade Package Audi R8 Supercar Valkyrie

SR Auto Group is trying to add some dark style with the Audi R8 and released a special upgrade package for the supercar called Valkyrie. On the exterior, SR Auto Audi R8 Valkyrie receives carbon fiber body from the PPI Razor body kit that includes a new front air dam, side skirts, rear diffuser and new front and rear air vents.
New eye catching look dark improved by installing a matte black wrap front and tail, smoked, and sidelight. Finishing touches to the car’s exterior is to install a set of new 20 “alloy wheels One ADV7.1 Advance with a matte / gloss black lips.
SR Auto Audi R8 also received the new Valkyrie lowering springs from H & R that brought him closer to the ground. Inside, people from all over the cockpit of SR Auto adjusted by upholstering in a mixture of black leather and Alcantara with red contrast stitching and carbon fiber trim.

ABT Audi R8, 2008

ABT Audi R8, 2008

The Abt R8: Sports car in perfection

There are cars and dream cars. The latter includes Lamborghini's Gallardo, Ferrari's F430 or Porsche's 911 Turbo. These cars make your heart beat faster and show the perfected magic of speed on the roads. Abt Sportsline's R8 will also be among these outstanding super sports cars and is getting ready to overtake them in the prestige duel.

The design studies already show the first impressions of Abt's sportiest creation - and prove that the Kempten-based tuner manages to perfect an excellent serial model like the R8 to detail and accentuate its racing genes already in the drawing. The front of the Bavarian R8 shows the marked Abt face. Together with the unique and beautiful rear with its four inclined arranged exhaust end pipes, the rear diffuser and the extravagant rear wing, the front of the Abt R8 is part of an overall concept that brings about phenomenal roadholding. The add-on parts of the super sports cars from the Allgäu-region improve downforce and ensure perfect balance of the front and rear axis. This is especially notable in speed ranges reserved for only a few cars. The sideblades which were developed especially for the Abt R8 and the Abt side skirts give the Abt R8 a new and individual design besides aerodynamical advantages. The aerodynamically efficient Abt body kit, which also includes carbon-fibre parts, is a real eye catcher but also shows the state-of-the-art Bavarian precision work. With the ingenious construction, which also includes a carbon-fibre bonnet, not only a maximum reduction in weight is achieved but it also ensures optimized weight distribution of the Abt R8 - the pure presence of the model athlete already shows this.

The technology and the design milestones do not only come from Maranello or Sant'Agata-Bolognese but also from Kempten. The Abt R8 will be a gorgeous dream car with the genes of a top-class race car. This special automobile will belong to one of the fastest among the fastest; the Abt R8 will also challenge the Lamborghinis and Porsches. With regards to the anticipated performance data the Bavarians are traditionally discreet. But this data already amazes sports car fans and makes them want to spur the hot-blooded Bavarian horses. 530 HP (390 kW) are to be drawn from the 4.2 litre-V8 thanks to the Abt supercharger. Compared with the serial model which already shows impressive performance data this means an increase of 110 HP (81 kW). The brand new Abt 20-inch BR wheels stylishly transfer this power onto the asphalt. The all-wheel-drive dream car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h. These values are synonymous with magic and this extraordinary super sports car desperately wants to be driven. By means of the Abt suspension which is adjustable in height, pressure and rebound, the performance and driving comfort of the super sports car can be adapted perfectly to the requirements of its driver.

ABT Audi TT-R, 2007

ABT Audi TT-R, 2007

 

   

The Abt TT-R

The real racer from the exclusive Kempten-based tuning company bears the letter "R" in its name - of course the powerful version of the TT performing incredible 355 HP (262 kW) does, too. In a flash, namely 5.1 seconds, the sportscar reaches the 100 km/h threshold.

The cockpit of the TT-R has a lot to offer its ambitious driver.
With its dynamical design it harmonizes perfectly with the sporty vehicle character - steering wheel, gear shift knob and centre console are kept in exclusive carbon-leather optics.
The magical three letters that convert a beautiful Coupé into a race car can also be found in the car interior again, as everybody driving a TT-R cannot get enough of this exclusive model.

Audi Q7, 2006

Audi Q7, 2006

 

The Q7 is the large Audi for sporty individualists, for people who are seeking a vehicle that will take them anywhere they want to go for sports, recreation, and business. Its dynamic proportions and distinctive lines express this character, and subtle modifications endow its styling with even more elegance.

The design: The language of dynamics
At the front end, the large single-frame radiator grille has been redesigned. Vertical chrome bars contrast with its black high-gloss finish. The bumpers too have been restyled. Their lower section is now painted in a contrasting black or gray, depending on the body color. The newly integrated underbody protection in the center section of the bumper has a distinctive ribbed design.

The interior: Room to spare
Thanks to its luxurious 300-centimeter (118.11-inch) wheelbase within an overall length of 5.09 meters (16.70 feet), the Audi Q7 has interior room to spare, and the interior flexibility is unrivalled. The seatbacks in the second row are divided into three fold-down sections to provide a level cargo floor.

This increases the luggage space from a volume of 775 liters (27.37 cubic feet) to 2,035 liters (71.87 cubic feet). With the leather upholstery option, the middle seat now has an even more comfortable contour.

Two very useful features are optionally available: either a longitudinally displaceable second seat row or individual comfort seats that are separately displaceable. Another available option is a third row for passengers no taller than 1.60 meters (5.25 feet), combined with an improved easy entry function.

A multitude of detailed improvements in the interior enhance the elegance and the sense of well-being. The instrument cluster has been redesigned: the large, round, easily readable instruments are encircled by metallic frames. Interior lights in the door linings and an inlay on the passenger side enhance the interior styling. Many details of the control elements have been restyled and also enhanced by chrome elements.

The selection of interior colors and materials is also new. Upholstery fabrics are available in black and light gray; leather upholstery additionally also in Para Brown, Savannah Beige and Cardamon Beige. Standard inlays are finished in matt black. In optional design packages, aluminum and wood finishes are used.

The power train: Performance and efficiency
The Audi Q7 is available with six powerful and highly efficient direct injection engines, two of them gasoline-powered and four diesel engines, including the world's most powerful diesel SUV, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI. Their power is transmitted via a convenient and fast-shifting six-speed tiptronic to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, which distributes it between the axles with slightly more than half to the rear.

The 3.0 TDI puts out 176 kW (240 bhp) and delivers as much as 550 Nm between 2,000 and 2,250 rpm, yet on the EU cycle it consumes only 9.1 liters / 100 km (25.85 US mpg). The optionally available 3.0 TDI clean diesel even consumes 0.2 liters (0.05 US gallons) less.

Despite highly complex exhaust gas recirculation and the resulting world's cleanest diesel technology, it consumes just 8.9 liters/100 km (26.43 US mpg). It meets the strict LEV II Bin 5 US standard and already complies with the Euro 6 limits announced for 2014.

The technology of the TDI clean diesel is highly complex. An advanced version of the common rail injection system with 2,000 bars of pressure, new combustion chamber sensors and a high-performance exhaust recirculating system ensure a highly efficient combustion process. An innovative DeNOx catalytic converter reduces the remaining nitrogen oxides. Just upstream of it, a pump injects an additive named AdBlue into the hot exhaust flow, where this solution decomposes into ammonia, which splits the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water. Audi partners replenish the additive during regular maintenance servicing.