понедельник, 27 августа 2007 г.

2007 - 2008 Audi Lineup

The latest Audi models are numerous, including the A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, Q7, Allroad Quattro, RS4, R8, S4, S5, S6, S8 or the TT. The Audi A8 is one of the current full size luxury models made by this famous subsidiary of Volkswagen. The model was launched in 1994 and has been a great success. It was meant to replace the V8 and one of the most amazing features is the all wheel drive. Ever since its launch, the A8 has been improved and the Second Generation of A8 appeared in 2004. It is available in a 4 door sedan as well as in the coupe model.

The Audi S8 resembles the Mercedes Benz AMG models, but shares many common features with the Audi V8 engine and some A8 features. The S8 was introduced in 2001, while the Second Generation came in 2006. The Second Generation S8s feature a Volkswagen D3 platform, have a 6 speed transmission and have a four wheel drive layout. The magazine reviews of the S8 have praised this model

The newest racing models include the Sport Quattro, R8 and the R10. The R10 is the trendiest racing car launched by Audi. It was presented to the audience in late 2005 and has won many races in 2006 such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of le Mans, followed by many other races in 2007. The car is diesel powered and had a TDI turbo diesel engine. The R10 has a more developed technology so as to make the car more suitable for a competition and to make it a sure winner. It surpasses the possibilities and of the R8, while the size of the engine is smaller. The aerodynamic style makes this racing car more up to date with the latest racing trends. And did you know that it is said that the R10 can reach the speed of 354 kilometers per hour?

The prototypes and concept cars from Audi encounter for the A7, the Allroad Quattro Concept, the Avantissimo, the Avus Quatro, the Le Mans Quattro, Nuvolari Quattro, Pikes Peak Quattro, Q3, Q5, the Roadjet, the RSQ, the Shooting Brake and last but not least the Audi R Zero. Audi has the ambition to surpass BMW and Mercedes Benz in terms of luxury and safety and hopes to achieve this by 2015.

Michelle Mouton Reunites with her 1985 Pikes Peak HillClimb Winning Audi Sport Quattro

Michelle Mouton, one of the most successful and best-known female rally drivers of all time, will open Race Retro at the International Historic Motorsports Show at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry on Saturday, March 24, 2007 and will make a rare visit to Britain next weekend to be reunited with her 1985 Pikes Peak Hillclimb winning Audi Sport Quattro.

The 55 year-old French lady driver still remains to be the only woman to win a round of the World Rally Championship, sweeping the Audi to a record time of 11 minutes 25.39 seconds in Colorado. The World Rally held in Colorado was a 12.42 mile course that featured over 150 corners and climbed almost 5,000 ft. in elevation.

According to Michelle Mouton, “I was very pleased to win the race for myself—it was the first outright victory ever scored by a woman – and proud for Audi as it was the first time a European manufacturer’s rally car had won—it was something very special to beat the Americans on their home ‘soil’.”

The famous 1985 Pikes Peak near 500 bhp Audi Sport Quattro after 22 years was restored to its original glory not really by following the Volkswagen repair manuals that goes with the Quattro but through the relentless effort of the rally Quattro specialist John Hanlon. According to Hanlon, “The car has been stripped back to a bare metal body shell and fully rebuilt over the last nine weeks. Every component has been re-furbished to Audi Sport specification and we have imported the original BBS split rim wheels which the car competed on at Pikes Peak in 1985. The car will be in its authentic livery and technical specification at Stoneleigh. The fact that this actual car competed in the very last Group B WRC round (1986 Olympus Rally) is a huge factor of its appeal.”

Mouton said, “I was used to driving this Audi but the problem was the altitude. It starts at almost 9,500 ft above sea level ands we had to make adjustments to the electronic gearbox and turbocharger. The Hillclimb itself was very difficult as it’s very fast and quite narrow with no markers and sheer drops off the side—the event’s ‘Race to the Clouds’ title is very true—and I think it was probably the toughest challenge in my career.”

She also added, “There had been problems in testing which meant I wasn’t allowed to drive my car to the start, mechanics instead pushing me to the line, which made me mad and very determined. I really wanted to win, so I pushed very hard—sometimes almost too hard.”

It was in the year 1981 in Sweden that Hannu Mikkola scored Audi’s first World Rally Championship while Mouton won the San Remo Rally later that year and claim the first World Rally Championship for a lady driver. The Audi Quattro was also the first car with the four-wheel-drive and turbocharged engine to compete in the World Rally Championship.

A year after, in 1982, Mouton achieved an outright WRC wins in Portugal, Greece--- wherein the Acropolis Rally was held-- and also in Brazil where she was able to win a second place in the Driver’s WRC and contested 50 WRCs between 1974 to 1986. Audi won the Manufacturers’ World Championship in 1982 and 1984. Hannu Mikkola and Stig Blomqvist both win the Drivers’ titles with Audi for years 1983 and 1984 respectively.

John Hanlon purchased the Audi last March from a private collector in America, aside from Mouton the Audi Sport Quattro was also driven by Walter Rohrl for the 1985 Corsica WRC and afterwards was taken hold by John Buffum who has successfully campaigned in North America.

At present Audi is leading the way in creating the technology in diesel-engined sportscars in endurance racing and made history last year when it won the Le Mans 24 Hours with its diesel Audi R10 TDI.

The Audi S5

Less than twenty four hours after the first photos of Audi A5 coupe has spread in the internet came more photos but this time revealing its S5 performance sibling. Although there is still no news as to when the S5 will be launched - whether it will be presented before the A5 or whether it will have the upgrade version of Audi’s 4.2 including the FSI and the new Valvelift technology that would give it more power. All these remain as theories for the time being.

But basing on the photos spreading on the net, you can see that the S5 sports a more aggressive front fascia and S-car trademark grey grille. Also new to S-car is what appears to be an aluminum segment mounted on the center of the chin spoiler which could also be an optical illusion due to the fact that the car is silver. However the segment appears to be of accenting aluminum which is likened to elements seen on the allroad.

Photos showing the front of the car reveal for the first time the lit LED daytime running lights which are much inspired by those on the R8. The rounded bars of light redefine the shape of the lights when they are activated. The quad exhaust tips that the S5 have together wit its corresponding center aluminum segment help it further at the rear.

The interior of the S5 also showcase several new design elements like for instance the RS 4 inspired shift knob which is similar to the one seen in A5 photos although it has white stitching on the steering wheel and shift boot which are likened to those of the S6 and S8.

Likewise, the two-material trim style at the belt of the S5 looks as if they are inspired by the interior of the A6 which is made even more prominent by its aluminum and carbon fiber mix which are not that close in appearance and feel to those found on the S6. The carbon fiber trim that can be seen on the S5 is found at the center console accent and on the left of the interior where it is fitted to the driver’s side door. There is also a start button on the center console that is seen on the A5 seems to be replaced with an equivalent silver aluminum version for the S5.

Other new features that are going to be seen on the S5 is the dash-mounted MMI controls which are positioned to the center console just below the shifter for cars with Navigation and the optional in-dash CD changer.

And speaking of sports coupe, Volkswagen owner of Audi brand has launched a sporty hatchback from 1974 through 1992 the Volkswagen Scirocco. The model was very successful and helped in boosting Volkswagen’s reputation. Although the production of the Scircocco coupe has stopped in 1992 but production of Volkswagen Scirocco parts has continued. As a fact, Europe’s largest is planning to revive its Scirocco with a third generation model in 2008 and that of course would mean production of new lines of Volkswagen Scirocco parts.

Audi A6: Sporting the Good Effects of Surgery

It has been said that a person undergoing medical procedures like plastic surgery would have a price to pay. It could be, literally, a huge amount of money to spend, or it could also be meant figuratively. It could mean that there could be some kind of complications during or after the procedure, or a person could get some unwanted side effects, or that the procedure would only make the situation grave or much worse. However, looking on the positive light, there is also a good effect as per undergoing plastic surgery and medical procedures. One could look better and much more attractive. And just like a person who has undergone a medical procedure and plastic surgery, the Audi A6 took that kind of chance and risk.

The new Audi A6 now sports huge improvements as well as taking in a little addition to its size. It provides leaping improvements in handling as well as in its ride result. There also has been an increase in chassis stiffness, as well as a lengthening of the Audi A6’s wheelbase which was an additional 3.3 inches. The weight has also been redistributed.

The Audi A6 is an executive luxury car. This is sold under the brand Audi which is produced and manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen company. This vehicle has been made available in two trim levels which comprise of the sedan and the station wagon which is more known as the Audi A6 Avant. In the automobile market, it has been said that its main competitors include the Mercedes Benz E Class, the BMW 5 Series, the Alfa Romeo 166, the Jaguar S-Type, the Lexus GS, and the Volvo S80.

The newly restyled Audi A6 has had a new trapezoidal grille which is very much similar to the grille that was introduced and used early on by another vehicle that was marketed in Europe only. This new grille provided much talk in the automobile world and that is exactly what Audi wanted. The interior also shows some of the best designs that Audi has done over the years. It is very much comfortable and at the same time convenient. High technology equipments and instruments has also been mounted as part of the whole package. It now holds the i-drive type control button which has been formatted from the Audi A8. Now this control button works very well and could be easily manipulated and controlled by those people who have the stocked knowledge on computers. As for space and roominess, the Audi A6 surely did not want to be left behind for it has allowed and allocated a generosity of these. The cabin is very much capable of preventing any kind of wind noise, road noise, or any external noise for that matter, to come inside.

Like Audi, the car brand whose foremost concern is fulfilling the needs of its customers worldwide, Auto Parts Fast is strongly committed to the utmost satisfaction of its customer base. In stock are quality Audi rims, hubcaps, wheels and many more. At present, it is one of the leading Audi parts suppliers in the United States.

Audi S5 Reviewed In Fast autos

A completely new model, the Audi S5 is the top of the 5 Series, a brand new range which is filled out with the A5 models. All look very similar, and provide good performance in a neat package. Stiff competition for the BMW 3 series coupe, but can it compete with the BMW 650i, Jaguar XK or Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG? Possibly.

In any event, the Audi S5 is a sleek looking coupe, with a front end reminiscent of the R8, and a semi-fastback roof line, and just discernible swept lines up and over the front and rear wheels. It is a smart looking car, and one that will blend in well at the country club. Like almost all Audi designs, the S5 and A5 are smart, balanced designs with some neat features, but there is nothing shocking, nothing very exciting about the shape.

V-8 power, 354 bhp

But what about performance? Well, Audi has picked its V-8 to give enough power to see off many competitors, although this is not the most powerful version of this superb engine. For the S5 it is rated at 354 bhp at 7,000 rpm, with 325 lb ft (440 Nm) torque at 3,500 rpm, against the 420 bhp of the RS4.

So it is not as fast as it might be, but still packs plenty of oomph, taking the S5 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, which is true supercar territory, while top speed is limited to 155 mph. This really puts it up with some heavy metal, although it is nowhere as quick as the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG, which has 480 bhp on tap from a massive 6.2 liter engine.

On the other hand, the straightline performance of the Audi A5 is slightly better than that of the BMW 650i and Jaguar XK, and up there with the likes of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Porsche 911 Carrera.

The V-8 is coupled to a six-speed manual box in the S5. More important, Audi has adopted a front:rear torque split of 40:60% for the center differential. This means that in the normal state the car will not understeer strongly like the front-biased split of some Audi quattros. This means the car will handle nearer neutral, which is good.

Also new is the double-wishbone front suspension and trapezoidal multi-link rear suspension which will ensure good tracking and handling.

Audi A4: Bringing in More Power

It is the first convertible bearing four seats that Audi, the automobile manufacturer, has created long after the Audi Cabriolet. And this is the new 2006 Audi A4. This vehicle is a totally solid vehicle and a good companion. Audi has marketed this vehicle as the type of car that you would want to bring to different occasions and locations for it is elegant, smart, and will not embarrass you. The 2006 Audi A4 is only offered with a front wheel drive along with an automatic transmission. It is totally supreme for it has a restrained appearance unlike other vehicles on the road. This vehicle swamped the automobile market early last year, 2005.

The 2006 Audi A4 is good to use for it has the capacity to transport its driver and passengers through long distances yet still give them excellent comfort. The convertible’s sports seats have a wide range of electrical position adjustments. Also, there is the option of utilizing leather upholstery, lumbar support and an adjustable thigh support. This vehicle is totally stylish and has a very sporty body. It holds a bumper that has large air inlets. Its xenon headlights have a titanium-colored surround behind the glass. And it also contains outside mirror housings that has been provided and sprayed over with an aluminum finish. Taking a view at the 2006 Audi A4’s rear, one can find out the power exhaust tailpipes on both sides – this is quite typical for the Audi S models.

Far from being just a vehicle that has just been given a new skin, the 2006 Audi A4 convertible sports changes other than that. This vehicle now holds a substantially upgraded suspension. Under its hood lie two new direct-injection gasoline engines. Also, the engine has also gained some power. This vehicle now has the capacity to produce some 200 horsepower and around 207 pound feet of torque.

This 2006 Audi A4 also brags about a new steering wheel as well as a new navigation system although most critics have found that it is not that remarkable so it should not be something to brag about.

This convertible from Audi sports features like tinted glass, power outside mirrors that contain a defogger, an aluminum trim around its side windows, polycarbonate covers for its aerodynamic ellipsoid halogen projector headlights, heated windshield washer nozzles, fog lights for the front and the rear, an anti-lock brake system with vaccump ower assist, Sideguard™ head protection airbags for front and rear occupants, dual-stage and dual-threshold airbag supplemental restraints with occupant sensors, front and rear passenger safety belts, active driver and front passenger head restraints, and a power locking system with a safety unlock feature in the case that the airbag deploys.

As Audi keeps producing cars with innovative changes, Auto Parts Deal maintains its lead on product excellence by its continuous supply of top grade Audi parts. Auto Parts Deal offers a vast array of performance parts, replacement parts, aftermarket parts and accessories. This online store offers new and used Audi auto parts that include fenders, hoods, and radiators among anything else. Audi owners and enthusiasts can shop freely for Audi parts with Auto Parts Deal’s secured website.

Audi unveils V12 TDI, Expands Product Portfolio in India

Audi has unveiled its new V12 TDI turbodiesel at the 2007 North American Auto Show in Detroit. The V12 which Audi calls the “majestic” has aroused various reactions from the crowd. Most of the people present at the Auto Show think that majestic is not an accurate description of the 6L diesel that cranks 500HP and 737 lb-ft of torque power. The great power of the V12 TDI is produced through a pair of variable-vane turbochargers that apply 1.6 bar (24PSI) of pressure to the intercooled intake charge. The direct injection system of the TDI which employs piezoelectric injectors to spray fuel together with the multiple pre and post combustion events at an amazing 2000 bar (30,000 PSI) also helps in powering up the TDI. Audi has also made sure that the TDI meets up with the 2010 Euro-5 standard by means of its heavy use of exhaust gas circulation that keeps emission level down. The power produced by the TDI is then fed to its all-wheel-drive system that maintains a 40:60 front-rear balance that gives this car the “slightly tail-heavy, sporty handling characteristics.” And to bring this monster car to a halt, Audi has equipped it with a set of monstrous disc brakes that are specially fitted for the TDI. Its interior is trimmed with white leather and light-colored carbon filter. The V12 TDI turbodiesel is not the only new in Audi for 2007. The German luxury car manufacturer is also planning to expand its product portfolio for this year in India and it would start by introducing four new variants of vehicles to add to their eleven existing variants. The said new models of vehicles are to be introduced in a phased manner--- so far this is the only info available since Rahil Ansari, Country Manager of Audi for India have refused to divulge any details of the said plan.Audi, manufacturer of quality A4 tie rods is also planning of getting head to head with Mercedes-Benz in the selling luxury model most especially in the E-segment in which Mercedes is currently dominating. Audi has decided to launch their 2.7 liter petrol and diesel variants and have it priced in par with that of the Mercedes-Benz E-280 of the same variant. Audi’s existing fleet under the E-segment is the A4 3-litre offered in both petrol and diesel variant but cost Rs 5 lakh higher than the cost of Mercedes-Benz E-class range costing only Rs 48 to 50 lakh. Audi is also planning to introduce its 3.2 litre V6 engine variant and priced it within the bracket of Rs 40 lakh plus. And according to industry sources the German automaker may offer it in limited number only. At present there are eight dealerships in India: one in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore and five other new dealerships across the country. Audi is also considering the possibility of setting up a manufacturing facility in India.