24hcar: Audi

Showing posts with label Audi. Show all posts

Audi S5 Sportback Grand Prix with 375HP by ST

Posted by Mr Dung Friday, June 18, 2010

[Senner Tuning]

ST has unveiled a new performance package for the Audi S5 Sportback.

Designed to give the engine a healthy kick in the pants, the package consists of a revised ECU, a sport air filter, and a stainless steel exhaust system. Thanks to these modifications, the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 produces 375 hp (280 kW / 380 PS) and 495 Nm (365 lb-ft) of torque - increase of 42 hp (31 kW / 43 PS) and 55 Nm (41 lb-ft). While the company declined to release performance specifications, they stated the V-Max limiter is also removed as part of the conversion.

On the styling front, Senner decided to play it safe and not equipped the S5 with a body kit. Instead, they offer lowering springs (which reduce ride height 35-40mm) and 20-inch T1S Work VARA Diamond alloy wheels. Inside, the only change is the addition of carbon fiber trim around the instrument cluster.

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Audi runs R8 e-Tron prototype at 24h of Le Mans

Posted by Mr Dung Monday, June 14, 2010

Fans of the 24 Hour Le Mans race got to see a prototype of the Audi e-tron electric supercar first hand when it opened the race with a demonstration run this past weekend. The car was driven by racing legend Frank Biela and is meant to showcase Audi's future direction in terms of fuel sources and performance.

Its battery sits behind the passenger cabin to optimise its centre of gravity, thus achieving a 42:58 weight distribution.4 motors drive the front and rear axles and maximum power is quoted at 230 kW (308 bhp/ 313 PS), while peak torque is an astounding 4,500Nm (3,319 lb-ft). About 70% of power goes to the rear. Audi says the R8-based e-tron will accelerate from 0 - 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

Its face is dominated by the single-frame grille with its two unneeded large air intakes on the flanks. It measures 4.4 metres (14.53 ft) long, 1.90m (6.23 ft) wide, 1.25m (4.1 ft) high and has a wheelbase of 2.65m (8.69 ft).

The battery can be recharged via normal household sockets putting out 230 volts in about 6 to 8 hours. Alternatively it will get partly recharged during driving using the car's energy recuperation system.

A combination of luxury and racing feelings are evoked by the interior atmosphere which features things like a graphic display to show the driving mode.[WCF]

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Audi announces further Travolution project developments

Posted by Mr Dung Thursday, June 3, 2010

[Audi]

Audi has announced plans to expand their Travolution project which studies how cars and traffic lights can communicate to reduce emissions.

The new phase will include 15 test vehicles and 25 traffic lights, in Danube, which can communicate using wireless LAN and UMTS links. When a test vehicle approaches a traffic light, a signal is sent to the car telling the driver what speed to travel "so that the next traffic light changes to green before the car reaches it."

If the car is coming to a red or yellow light, the driver is warned visually and audibly. When a car is stopped at a red light, the signal tells the driver how long they have to wait before the light changes green.

According to Audi, "When the car is part of a network in this way, the driver can reduce the amount of time spent at a standstill and cut fuel consumption by 0.02 of a liter for every traffic-light stop and subsequent acceleration phase that can be avoided." This means that, if this new technology were applied throughout Germany, CO2 emissions would be cut by two million tonnes annually.

The system also allows drivers to make payments (for gas / parking) without leaving their vehicle. When the car is at a device (parking meter / gas pump) which supports this feature, the driver is prompted with payment instructions on the MMI screen. All they have to do is confirm their data and drive away.

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Xenatec Shows Off its "Dream Cars": Bentley SUV, BMW 6-Series Sedan and More

Posted by Mr Dung Sunday, May 23, 2010

[Xenatecgroup]

Now that their limited production Maybach 57S Coupe has made the rounds, here are some of the other proposals from Xenatec. Since the company's specialty is chassis modification (and the necessary body work thereafter), they've got some ideas for a lengthened (and shortened) "dream cars".
Have a look at the gallery below and see what tickles your fancy. The SUV limos are a bit much, but the rag-top conversions don't look too bad (especially the CLS and 300).

Other winners include the standard limo conversions (like the Flying Spur and 300C), while big-time no-no's include that ridiculous 7-Series with the bubble top and the extended R8 and Carrera.
For those of you who thought the Porsche TranSport pickup (next post) was interesting, have a look at what Xenatec would do with the Cayenne to create a sport truck. Still want a Porsche truck?

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Audi confirms again, no A1 for U.S.

Posted by Mr Dung Saturday, May 22, 2010

[freep.com]

Audi has again ruled out bringing the A1 to the U.S. market.

In March, global sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said in an interview with Automotive News that the A1 wouldn't be making to the U.S. because the brand wasn't well established enough to be selling small cars in a market that greatly favors larger models.

The latest confirmation came with news from Audi that orders for the A1 may go beyond the planned production of 50,000 units for the first year. Plans are for Audi to build 80,000 units in 2011 and 100,000 per year after that.

The A1 goes on sale in Europe this summer. Prices will begin at €15,800 ($19,382) for the base model with the 86 PS (63 kW) 1.2-liter TFSI engine. That engine could be considered too weak for a U.S. market offering.

US dealers were hoping to have the A1 with a price tag of around $18,000 or $19,000 but that may not be enough of a margin for Audi if sales volumes were to be too low.

As Schwarzenbauer said in the interview with Automotive News:

"...if you look at the real numbers [MINI and Smart sales in the US], it's not huge volumes. I'm not so sure yet we really see a trend to small cars in the United States."

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Audi A9 Hybrid Sports Sedan Concept by Daniel Garcia

Posted by Mr Dung Friday, May 21, 2010

[Diseno-Art]

This is the A9 sports sedan study, a look at BMW's Vision concept through Audi's eyes (unofficially of course) that was created by independent designer Daniel Garcia from Spain.

Just as BMW tried to invent a new market with its 5-Series GT, the Audi A9 would aim to be in a league of its own: over-styled (in a good way) über-luxury hybrid sports saloons. A technologically-advanced Panamera killer.
Garcia says some of the lines were inspired by architect Santiago Calatrava's buildings in Valencia. As for that opaque front wind-ceiling, it's made of "as-yet undiscovered nanotechnology material" that can fix itself and be color/tint adjusted.

By the time a market for something like this existed, it's very likely that Audi could have the gasoline engine / in-wheel electric motors Garcia is suggesting.
The only thing I'd rectify is that Insight-y front end.