Audi A4 Avant Sportec - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Audi’s latest B8-generation Avant benefits from shared design elements with more overtly sensuous S5 coupe. Many cues from the low-slung two-door carry over such as the signature ‘tornado line’ crease in the sheetmetal. This trick bodily fold stretches from the edge of the car’s squinting LED daytime running lights, across the length of the car and carries over part of the taillight.

Audi A4 Avant Sportec - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Inside the lavishness of previous larger offerings from Ingolstadt carries over into the new A4. Audi’s latest level of interior design has been applied to the A4 and material quality continues to impress. The nautical-feel center console bedecked with MMI controls was once only for executive class Audis. An expansive two-paneled glass sunroof with sliding fore panel and power closing rear gate were both first seen in the Q7, now making the options list for the new Avant. There are the aluminum-tracked trunk storage accessories carried over from the latest A6, while the optional Bang & Olufsen audio system uses much of the same components as the S5. Useful equipment such as an optional plug-in socket for adapterless electrical supply, a trunk cargo blind that raises without retracting and a reversible luggage compartment floor with recessed easy-to-clean plastic surface on one side offer a new level of functionality.

Regular AUSmotive readers will know of my love for Euro wagons, a love nurtured by Audi’s über RS2 estate from the mid 90s. Having the keys to an RS4 Avant for 24 hours last year only strengthened these feelings of mine. To say I’m keen to check out the new A4 Avant would be an understatement. I know many don’t necessarily share my views about wagons, and if that’s you, well, you’re just wrong! One thing is certain, a Euro estate is a damn sight more cool than a new SUV-SAV-POS-whatever you want to call it. So, this new A4 number then, according to the press blurb, “it marries elegance with intelligent functionality”. Of course, I reckon Audi is bang on the money there.

At launch there will be two engine options on offer, the very sweet 118kW/250Nm 1.8-litre TFSI and the familiar 2-litre oil burner with 105kW/320Nm. Axle positioning has been shifted around a bit from the sedan to ensure the Avant keeps weight distribution under control. All the expected improvements in cabin and cargo space, along with increases saftey features, have been introduced over the previous model. You’re looking at an entry price of $56,400 for the 1.8 TFSI multitronic with no manual transmissions available at this stage.

If you’re looking for a stylish and convenient saloon that’s a bit more practical, then change your thinking and get on down to your local Audi dealer to check out their new A4 Avant. All the cool kids want one.

•Versatile, dynamic A4 Avant adds to successful range
•Two sophisticated direct injection engines
•Longer and wider, yet lighter
Audi’s dynamic, elegant and versatile new A4 Avant has been launched in Australia with a choice of two direct-injection engines.

Audi A4 Avant Sportec - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The most successful premium station wagon of its class offers excellent drivability, typically high Audi build quality and a range of storage solutions in its large, flexible load-carrying area.

It marries elegance with intelligent functionality, according to Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann.

“The new A4 Avant is both versatile and dynamic. The estate concept is a highly successful part of the Audi range and this new A4 Avant will follow in the footsteps of its popular predecessor, and will add to the success to-date of its sedan sibling,” Mr Hofmann said.

Based on the same technology layout as the sedan, the newly developed five-link front axle has been shifted further forward, ensuring that the axle loads are ideally-distributed and guaranteeing the highest precision and handling agility.

In Australia, Audi will launch the A4 Avant with two engines to start, including the 118kW 1.8 TFSI with 250Nm, and a 105kW 2.0 TDI with 320 Nm.

Both engines feature the brand’s seamless, continuously variable multitronic transmission as a standard feature.

The design of the new Audi A4 Avant is exciting and dynamic. Compared to the forerunner model, the proportions have been reconfigured in a new and even sportier design. The front overhang has been shortened, and the engine hood and the wheel base have gained considerably in length.

The flat D-posts and extended, aerodynamic roofline lend the Audi A4 Avant a sleek, coupe-like silhouette, while the rear design focuses on width, with powerful, horizontal lines.

The new A4 Avant measures 4.70 m in length, almost 12 cm longer than its forerunner model. Its body is considerably more rigid and safer in build than its predecessor, yet is around 10% lighter.

Both engines are extremely economical with just 7.4 litres/100km for the 1.8 TFSI and 6.0 litres/100km for the 2.0 TDI version.

The new headlight design is proving extremely popular and distinctive and the Avant comes with daytime running lights as a standard feature.

With up to 1,430 litres in volume, the latest addition to the Audi family has a capacious luggage area which is lined with high-quality carpet and features intelligent details as standard such as a reversible cargo floor and a convenient cargo cover that retracts at a touch. Audi also offers luxury features such as an electro-mechanical drive for the rear tailgate or tie-down eyelets for securing luggage.

Audi A4 Avant Sportec - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The ambience inside the new A4 Avant is light and spacious. The legroom in the rear measures 895 mm – the best figure in the premium midsize segment – as is the headroom of 971 mm. The interior reflects Audi’s traditional strengths – a noble impression, uncompromising quality of workmanship with attention to every detail, and logical, intuitive operation.

The cockpit is driver-oriented, with the centre console tilted by eight degrees to the left. In the design of a great many details, the A4 Avant has taken cues from the larger A8. The instruments bear the classic Audi look, but have been newly-developed.

Thanks to the new electro-mechanical parking brake, the manual parking brake lever was no longer necessary. Even the standard climate control system is a completely redesigned component. It supplies 10% more cooling capacity, yet operates 20% more efficiently than the previous system – thus saving up to 0.2 litres of fuel per 100 km.

When it comes to safety, Audi has raised the bar once again. The adaptive airbags and two-stage belt force limiters have been even more finely-tuned, providing better passenger protection.

As with its sedan sibling, the new A4 Avant is available with an exceptional range of options including Side Assist, Lane Assist, Audi hold assist and radar assisted Adaptive Cruise Control to name a few.

2006 Audi A4 Sportec RS300

Sportec made some of the nicer looking mods of the Audi A4. They tuned the 2.0 FSI and brought it to 300 bhp, delivering 410 Nm and accelerating in 6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h with a topspeed of 272 km/h.

2006 Audi A4 Sportec RS300

The design of the Sportec A4 RS300 betrays the character of an elegant and, at the same time, sporty vehicle. In spite of its aerodynamic efficiency, our engineers have managed to provide the vehicle with a characteristic appearance by means of modern materials and its technical design.

The sporty 4-cylinder engine spares the resources and, due to its low weight, guarantees the
car’s sporty handling. Strong 300hp and a substantial torque of about 400Nm guarantee a
speedy getaway – even at lower engine speeds.

2006 Audi A4 Sportec RS300

A classy interior, an optimised chassis, well-dimensioned brakes and a sports exhaust system
are in perfect harmony with the concept of sporty understatement.

Our Sportec RS 300 is a veritable appetiser for Audi drivers who do not want to do without the
sporty characteristics of a Bi-Turbo S and a RS4.

2006 Audi A4 Sportec RS300

Let us convince you that economy and performance may be happily married thanks to good
engineering.

(from Sportec Press Release)

A venture into a new segment: the Audi Shooting Brake Concept represents an entirely new departure in design terms. The styling of this coupé, measuring 4.18 m long by 1.84 m wide but standing just 1.35 m tall, singles it out unequivocally as a paragon of the latest Audi design, yet countless innovative elements demonstrate how this repository of shapes has taken a decisive evolutionary leap forward.

Even when seen in the rearview mirror, the Shooting Brake Concept reveals at first glance a front end that is characterised by the striking single-frame radiator grille with dominant horizontal slats in chrome. As on the Audi Le Mans quattro super sports car study, the four-ring brand emblem is located above the single-frame grille, the surface of which is not interrupted by the licence plate surround, either.

The tapered shape at the front – further accentuated by prominent air inlets at the sides – and the dynamic cut of the clear-glass headlights give the face its decidedly forceful, dynamic character. A presence that echoes the characteristic front-end design of the current A4 racing models in the DTM and refines the visionary Audi RSQ study. A further element adopted from motor sport, beneath the grille, is the aluminium diffuser, which guides the airflow beneath the car with precision.

Viewed side-on, convex and concave surfaces create a subtle interplay of light and shadow. The dynamic lines lower down the car’s body give the vehicle a particularly flat look. Typically for the current Audi design approach, the shoulder and dynamic line structure the volume of the vehicle body into a clearly defined, sporty architecture. The proportions of the large body panels and the flat window strip below the arching roof line are equally characteristic features of a sports car.

The clearly contoured wheel arches accentuate the powerful, road-centred proportions. The 19-inch double-spoke wheels originate from quattro GmbH and are a further developed version of the design created specifically for Audi’s current top sports car, the RS 4.

One new element in the portfolio of design features is the upward swoop behind the rear side window. This, together with the wide C-post, accentuates the prominent rear end. This is where the visual emphasis of the Shooting Brake Concept is to be found: the flat trapezoid of the rear window and the pronounced arching, convex panel shape are the opposite extreme to the flat nose end and give the vehicle a crouched appearance, as if ready to leap.

The horizontal rear lights, extending well round to the sides, in conjunction with the black line along the lower edge of the window, accentuate the horizontal divide across the rear end of the vehicle. The luggage compartment lid itself extends well up into the roof surface. This permits a wide opening angle and optimum access to the luggage compartment.

Beneath the flush, integral bumper there is a large-area diffuser as at the front, to channel the airflow beneath the vehicle such that drag is minimised and surface grip enhanced. The exhaust system’s two large tailpipes hint at the powerful engine inside the Shooting Brake Concept.

The interior

The interior design of the Audi Shooting Brake Concept exudes a decidedly sporty flair. This impression is conveyed by the low seat position, in typical sports car style, the high centre console and the clear, expansive composition of the instrument panel. The short sports-style gear lever with its tactile knob, together with the wide armrests in the doors and the pedals with aluminium-rubber surface, combine form and function with unprecedented ergonomic perfection.

The attractive appearance of the interior surfaces and of each individual detail is the result of select material quality and a perfect finish of the highest standard.
The large, clearly structured surfaces of the instrument panel, roof and door trims are clad in high-tech synthetic materials. The two grey shades and the surface structures provide a contrasting look and feel. On the other hand, the surface of the centre console, the inside door handles and the surrounds on the air outlets, like the body itself, have an “Electric White” pearl-effect finish.

The instrument cluster, as the driver’s focus of attention, is shielded by a semi-circular cover, an element that consciously echoes the design of other sporty Audi models. Two large analogue circular instrument dials display the engine speed and road speed, and the large-format display of the Driver Information System provides further information.

The multifunction steering wheel with flattened underside is a counterpart to the wheel installed in two of the most alluring Audi sports cars ever built – the Le Mans quattro study, and the RS 4.

Above the centre console angled discreetly towards the driver, two circular air outlets with star-pattern slats bracket a chronograph that can display information in either analogue or digital form, as preferred.

This technology uses an organic polymer material that appreciably improves presentation and ease of reading. Compared with the conventional liquid crystal displays (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) monitor is substantially easier to read, above all with the sun shining on it and when viewed at an angle. The content displayed on the monitor can still be made out from an angle of 170 degrees. Other advantages of OLED are its shallow installation depth and very short response times, as well as much lower energy consumption than LCD displays.

The MMI terminal of the DVD radio and navigation system plus, with optical and acoustic route guidance, has been redesigned. The ergonomically optimised architecture of keypad and display is inspired by the successful Multi Media Interface configuration in the Audi A8. Here, the system features an array of new functions such as innovative 3D screen navigation with touch screen monitor and character recognition that permits detailed inputs using a PAD pen.

Engine and transmission

Powerful and confident – the power unit of the Shooting Brake Concept is a transversally installed V6 six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3.2 litres, which has already thrilled many thousands of customers in currently the most sporty versions of the A3 and TT car lines.

The six-cylinder engine is equally suited to such a distinctly sporty vehicle as the Audi Shooting Brake Concept thanks to its outstanding torque and power characteristics.

Its maximum output is 184 kW (250 bhp) at 6,200 rpm, and the torque range is particularly impressive, peaking at 320 Nm between 2,500 and 3,000 rpm.

The ideal basis for forceful acceleration in all speed ranges and fleet-footed sprints is this engine in conjunction with the sporty, closely spaced 6-speed gearbox that paves the way for crisp, short gearshifts.

The performance figures of the Shooting Brake Concept 3.2 are correspondingly impressive: it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just six seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h (governed).

Throttle valve actuation is designed for an exceptionally agile, spontaneous engine response to accelerator pedal movements.

The dual-branch exhaust system both helps to cut emissions and makes a very presentable sound. Indeed, Audi’s acoustics specialists have created sonorous sound in this case, which, without being unpleasant or even obtrusive in any way at all, perfectly reflects the sporting potential of this very special power unit in acoustic terms.

The Shooting Brake Concept is equipped with quattro permanent four-wheel drive. A hydraulic multi-plate clutch varies the distribution of power between the front and rear wheels.

This technical solution is indeed particularly suitable for cars with the engine fitted transversely, incorporating all the well-known advantages of an Audi quattro.

Offering a permanent, situation-specific distribution of propulsive power between all four wheels, quattro drive guarantees maximum traction and, as a result, optimum acceleration at all times. At the same time there are still ample reserves for transmitting cornering forces in the interest of cornering safety and directional stability.

With the engine at the front and the four-wheel-drive multi-plate clutch at the rear, axle load distribution benefits accordingly. Indeed, this weight distribution is crucial to the excellent driving stability and good handling of the Audi Shooting Brake Concept.

The Shooting Brake Concept is powered by a transverse 3.2 litre V6 borrowed from the top spec Audi A3 and Audi TT models. Maximum power of 250 bhp is found at 6,200 rpm, and the torque peaks at 320 Nm between 2,500 and 3,000 rpm. Power is transferred to all 4 wheels through a close ratio 6-speed gearbox. This gives the Audi Shooting Brake concept a 0-60 mph time of just 6 seconds, and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Audi has also included some clever technology systems in the Shooting Brake, these include an adaptive magnetic damping system, an improved navigation system with touch screen monitor and character recognition, and new LED headlight technology.

The Shooting Brake, like the Audi Le Mans quattro super car concept, places the Audi emblem is above the large central grille, and the Shooting Brake’s clearly defined wheel arches exaggerate the overall muscular proportions of the car, similar to the arches of the Audi TT.

The interior of the Audi Shooting Brake Concept – in typical sports car fashion – is driver orientated and features a low seating position and high centre console. The stubby sports gear lever, sports steering wheel and simple two-dial instrument cluster adding to the effect.

The chassis

The second key to its excellent dynamics on the road is its highly effective suspension with McPherson strut layout at the front and the new four-link independent suspension at the rear. Large 19-inch wheels with size 245/40 R18 tyres promote driving fun and safety.

The dynamic suspension is designed for sporty, agile handling with a high standard of stability, and makes cornering a distinct pleasure. An additional forte is the high standard of ride comfort, as befits a car in a segment further up the range.

The Audi Shooting Brake Concept features ceramic brakes which ensure the appropriate braking performance. Compared with conventional steel discs, these not only last four times longer, but also offer high braking performance, even when driving at the limit, as well as maximum resistance to fading.

The significant reduction in weight also leads to advantages in terms of comfort and handling thanks to reduced unsprung masses.

The electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance is furthermore one of the keys to optimum handling. It combines optimum steering feedback with minimal sensitivity to excitation from the road surface, and operates on far less energy.

The particular strengths of the four-link suspension layout stem from the functional separation of longitudinal and transverse forces. This provides a high standard of lateral rigidity in the interests of optimum dynamics and driving safety and, at the same time, makes the suspension relatively soft lengthwise in order to improve the standard of ride comfort.

Separate springs and shock absorbers provide the necessary vertical support. The shock absorbers are fitted right next to the wheels, leaving space for a particularly generous through-loading width in the luggage compartment. A tubular anti-roll bar is secured to the axle beam by means of extremely stiff rubber-to-metal mounts; it reduces body roll effectively and has a positive influence on the amount of lateral force that can be absorbed and thus on the vehicle’s handling.

An innovative technology is used for the shock absorbers: Audi magnetic ride. Instead of the conventional damper fluid, a magnetorheological fluid is used – in other words, a fluid whose viscosity can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. This effect enables to damping characteristic to be influenced electronically at will by applying a voltage to the electromagnets.

Audi uses this property to supply the correct damping forces in every driving situation, thus optimising ride comfort and road behaviour. A computer equipped with sensor technology determines the prevailing driving situation in a matter of milliseconds. The driver can choose from two driving programs depending on whether they want to drive in a very sporty style – in which case the magnetorheological fluid exhibits high viscosity – or more with the accent on ride comfort.

Comfortably spacious

The Audi Shooting Brake Concept sets new standards in the compact sports vehicle segment in offering ample space for all occupants. Thanks to the special shape of the tail end, there is both more headroom for rear passengers and more space in the luggage compartment. The wide opening angle of the rear doors and the electric easy entry function for the front seats provide easy access to the rear seats. There is an astonishing amount of knee room at the rear thanks to the wheelbase of 2.47 m.

The luggage compartment of the Audi Shooting Brake Concept is quite sufficient even for substantial transport requirements, providing a capacity of 255 litres with the rear seat back upright and as much as 730 litres with the seat back folded down.

The steering column adjustable in reach and height as well as the driver’s seat with the same adjustment options ensure an optimum seating position for drivers of virtually any build.

The ergonomic design of the front seats in the Audi Shooting Brake Concept combines ample comfort with good lateral support. The shot-through textile upholstery in aero blue for the seat surface and seat back, flanked with contrasting grey hues on either side, provides a sporty, elegant accent.

Lighting design and electronics

Visible innovation is to be found beneath the covers of the headlights and rear lights of the Audi Shooting Brake Concept – this is where a fascinating formal idiom and trailblazing technology come together. The design of the lighting elements and the night design simultaneously give the overall appearance of Audi’s latest study car an utterly new visual accent.

The design of the decidedly three-dimensional main headlights, using LED technology, is particularly eye-catching. Bionics, in other words drawing design inspiration from nature, has been at work here. The light unit has a design reminiscent of an open pine cone. Reflector shells arranged concentrically one behind the other each concentrate the light from one diode, producing a high-luminosity, even form of driving light.

By contrast the high-beam headlights, located on the inside, are blossom-shaped. The indicator lights, in the form of narrow light strips, delineate the lower edge of the headlight housings and the exterior mirrors, providing prominent signals and original visual accents. The daytime running lights naturally also use LED technology, the merits of which include particularly low energy consumption, over and above their attractive design.

The rear lights of this study, recessed deep into the vehicle body, likewise have a highly innovative design. The transparent red covers again provide a clear view of the LED technology. The diodes actually cast their light forwards onto the reflector, which distributes it back to the rear through a mask in the shape of a double cloverleaf. This results in an unmistakable appearance for both the rear lights and the brake lights. The turn indicators again take the form of narrow horizontal strips.

New navigation system

There are electronic innovations in other areas of the vehicle, too. An enhanced version of the DVD screen-based navigation system plus offers special operating functions and a new screen presentation. Audi uses touch screen technology for the first time here. The driver can activate the basic architecture of the MMI screen directly by touching the function panels in the display.

The new system generation moreover permits operation of the navigation menu by direct input, e.g. of destinations, via the monitor. Instead of having to compose them one letter at a time from the menu, the driver can simply write them on the monitor with their finger. Alternatively, a remote control with pressure-sensitive surface can be used to make inputs, as on a PDA computer. The input monitor pops up out of a slot beneath the centre display at the push of a button.

The special feature is that the system is not only capable of reading in handwriting, but can also identify a wide variety of scripts. The computer is equally able to read the conventional Latin alphabet and Japanese characters.

Another new aspect is the scope provided for choosing between two different navigation modes. Those who prefer the “Tour” mode can view the route on the monitor from an appreciably enhanced, three-dimensional bird’s-eye perspective. The driver can take photos of destinations with a camera at the front of the car and store these as visual route markers.

Activating the “Sport” mode displays optical information above all via the central display in the instrument cluster. As well as spoken instructions, there are direction arrows to point the way. Again in the “Tour” mode, the driver can call up a further option that acts like an electronic rally co-pilot and makes the journey an end in itself: whenever the driver feels the urge to drive along a particularly challenging, winding route, they can call up an appropriate itinerary from the computer. While following the proposed route, as well as receiving directions they are then advised on the best gear to engage and the speed at which to take the next bend.

2008 Audi RS6 Avant - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Meet the most powerful wagon in the world. In fact, meet the most powerful Audi production car of all time. That’s right, the 2008 Audi RS6 Avant features a new 580-hp twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V10, and it comfortably outguns the spectacular 2008 Audi R8 sports car with its 420-hp 4.2-liter V8.
Factor in its storming in-gear performance and you’ll find the 2008 Audi RS6 Avant is a good deal faster in a straight line than the R8, too.

2008 Audi RS6 Avant - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Born With a Hatch
It is no real surprise that Audi’s latest, most outrageous performance showcase has been born as a wagon. No other carmaker in recent times has placed such an emphasis on producing elegant load-haulers, even if they are largely ignored by American buyers. A sedan version of the RS6 is possibly headed our way in America, but for the time being the new Audi will only be sold as a wagon, and the majority of sales are expected in Europe.

But if the new second-generation RS6 is to leave any lasting impression, it must prove itself to be something more than a rapid evolution of the S6, upon which it is largely based. It also needs to prove itself more oriented toward the driver than its one-dimensional predecessor, which didn’t much appeal to real enthusiasts, despite its 480-hp twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter V8. That car was quick — darn quick — but not a great deal of fun away from a wide, multilane highway.

2008 Audi RS6 Avant - www.robson.m3rlin.org

It is hard to think of a car that has been subjected to such a long list of mechanical and cosmetic modifications as this one. Somewhere beneath all that bulging bodywork lurks an ordinary Audi S6 Avant, but not as you know it. In fact, it’s best to think of this new Audi as an all-new model, such is the change in overall character from lesser siblings.

Personality Transplant
To start with, the RS6 is assembled at Quattro GmbH, Audi’s increasingly active performance division in Neckarsulm, a company created to take on the likes of BMW’s renowned M GmbH as well as Mercedes-Benz’s AMG skunkworks operation.

Much of the attention has been devoted to the engine. This is a development of the naturally aspirated 5,204cc V10 previously seen in the S6, but while it retains an 84.5mm bore, the 89.0mm stroke is significantly shorter, resulting in an overall displacement of 4,991cc. It delivers a strapping 580 hp between 6,250 rpm and 6,700 rpm, and there’s a thumping 479 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 rpm all the way to 6,250 rpm.

2008 Audi RS6 Avant - www.robson.m3rlin.org

There are plenty of internal modifications to bring such power within reach, the most significant of which is the addition of two IHI turbochargers and a matching pair of intercoolers. Turbo boost maxes out at 10 psi, and it adds up to 116 hp/liter. This is not the highest figure Audi has ever achieved in a road car — the 2000 RS4 with its twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 put out a staggering 145 hp per liter — but it is still enough to provide the RS6 with a stonking 145 hp more than the already seriously rapid S6.

Looks to Match
Such power alone should be enough to make people sit up and take notice. But Audi has also tweaked the looks of the RS6, making it one of the most aggressive four-door cars on the road today.

The shape of the front end has been determined largely by the need to get as much cooling air as possible into the engine bay and to the front brakes. There’s a new deep front bumper with large intake ducts and a downforce-producing aero splitter. To afford as much space for intake air as possible, the foglights have been incorporated into the main headlamps.

2008 Audi RS6 Avant - www.robson.m3rlin.org

A honeycomb grille can be had either in black or satin-finish aluminum, and it further dramatizes the flared front fenders and big rocker-sill extensions. The rear features a subtle rooftop spoiler and a bumper that incorporates both a large aero diffuser and two whopping oval exhaust tips.

This test car’s optional 20-inch wheels with 275/35R20 tires perfectly fill out the flared wheel arches, and don’t be surprised if they ultimately prove more popular than the standard 19-inch wheels with 255/40R19 rubber.

The RS6 Avant has special brakes tailored to its prodigious weight of 4,464 pounds, with rotors measuring 15.4 inches in front and 14.0 inches in the rear. For those who choose the 20.0-inch wheels, there’s an optional package of carbon-ceramic brake rotors that measure a mammoth 16.5 inches in front with six-piston calipers and 14.0-inch discs at the back. The carbon-ceramic discs also help reduce unsprung weight by 26.5 pounds.

Yes, It Hauls
Forget that the RS6 is capable of carrying up to five adults and a sizable load of luggage. This is a brutally fast car by any standards. There’s no magic trick to extracting the performance in a straight line. You simply lay your right foot down against the heavily sprung accelerator pedal and hang on firmly to the lovely flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel. The rest is taken care of by the standard six-speed automatic gearbox with remote shift paddles and Audi’s traditional four-wheel-drive system.

Given the most unsympathetic of techniques for a standing start — slotting the gearlever across into manual mode, winding the engine revs up and side-stepping the brakes — there is a sickening mechanical thud back through the driveline, followed by a momentary squeal from the tires as they scramble to contain all the torque being transferred to the bitumen before you are flung up the road.

Audi claims 100 km/h (62 mph) comes up in 4.6 seconds, with 200 km/h (124 mph) arriving in 14.9 seconds. Top speed is electronically capped at 155 mph, although Audi offers RS6 owners an opportunity to extend it to 174 mph. You’ll be glad to know that Stephan Reil, the RS6’s development boss, says he saw 205 mph during final prototype testing on a secret section of autobahn late last Audi’s RS6 Avant super wagon has been out for nearly a year but a sedan will soon join the Avant’s ranks at October’s Paris Motor Show. Audi’s entire A6 line will undergo an update for the 2009 model year, keeping the 5-Series rival fresh until the an all-new A6 arrives in 2011.

The RS6 uses a twin-turbocharged direct injection version of the S6’s 5.2 liter V10. In RS6 guise, the engine produces 580 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, capable of launching the car to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The sprint from zero to 124 mph takes 14.9 seconds for the wagon version — a figure the sedan should be able to match or exceedyear.

The engine really steals the show. There is meaningful boost from little more than 1,000 rpm and from then on, the floodgates open. Midrange power is one maddening thrust toward the horizon, with the power laid on at a barely believable rate. It is rare for a turbocharged engine to feel as strong at the top end as it does down low, but the RS6’s V10 is still hammering hard with a deep baritone blare when the rev limiter cuts in abruptly at 6,800 rpm.

Simply Fast
Look upon the RS6 as an extremely fast car with colossal all-weather traction, with no real ambition as a lithe sports car with whip-crack response. Though it feels more at home in a straight line, it also manages to devour twisting roads with an impressive turn of speed. The tires grip well beyond what is safely achievable on the road, and the suspension boasts the sort of hardware that allows you to not only control the ride quality in three distinct levels — Comfort, Dynamic and Sport — but also ensure body movements are always well in check as you throw the car into a corner.

The four-wheel-drive system has been reworked to provide a nominal 40 percent front/60 percent rear torque split. It ensures massive purchase, yet the car handles with neutral poise even at high cornering speeds. The steering is quick at 2.2 turns lock to lock and it has more on-center feel than the S6’s steering thanks to a revised hydraulic pump. The brakes are beyond reproach, and they still feel strong even after being hammered lap after lap on a racetrack.

The last word on the new über-Audi’s handling, though, should go to Stephan Reil, who says it will turn a lap of the Nürburgring in 8:09, some 20 seconds faster than the previous-generation RS6.

Serious Seats for a Serious Wagon
With a sumptuous combination of leather, aluminum accents and carbon-fiber trim, the RS6 is no stripped-down road racer. As you’d expect, its interior offers a luxurious driving environment like that of the normally aspirated V10-powered S6.

The front seats, however, are new. They’re hulking hard-shell items that deliver loads of support. Audi also added a stop/start button between the front seats to fire the car’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V10 and went to work on the wagon’s steering wheel. It’s been resized and is flat-bottomed motorsports style. At first it feels a bit odd passing through your fingers, but you get used to it.

Overall interior spaciousness is the same as that of the S6, meaning generous room for four adults. The sedan offers 19.3 cubic feet of luggage space, while the wagon has 20 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second seat and 58.6 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down.

This is the first time that such sensors have been fitted on any engine in the world, claimed Audi. No CO, figure has been released for the engine, but it is understood that Audi may try to raise the  injection pressure even further, which would bring potential CO, and fuel consumption benefits.

Audi will be able to market its clean direct-injection diesels across the world even into U.S. states with the most stringent emissions limits-including California, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont. Starting this year, the new technology will be available across a broadening spectrum of car and power classes. Audi announced at L.A. that, by 2012, it would have reduced the CO, emission of its models by about 20%.

Series production of the new TDI is slated to begin in mid-2008, and first application will be in the Q7, followed by the A4. Installed in the Q7, the engine will return 550 N/m (406 Ib/ft), with 500 N/m (369 Ib/ft) for the A4. An oxidation catalytic converter and particulate filter are both part of the standard
exhaust system of the new engine. “Now, to reduce nitric oxide emissions to a minimum, stage three has been added,” said Zaccheo Giovanni Pamio, the company’s exhaust gas after treatment specialist.

This involves the use of Ad Blue. A 32.5% water-based solution, it is injected into the gas flow after it has passed through the particulate filter. Ammonia is released into the hot exhaust system,  converting the nitric oxides into nitrogen and oxygen in the subsequent DeNox converter.

“Two additional NOx sensors monitor the process and are used by the engine and system anagement to control the amount of Ad Blue injected,” explained Pamio. The NOx sensors are new to an Audi engine. They measure the NOx concentration before the diesel particulate filter and after the DeNox converter to compute the necessary injection volume of Ad Blue. Pressure and temperature sensors monitor the operation of the exhaust gas after treatment system.

Optimal distribution of the requires the solution to be injected in pulses. Released ammonia is used by the downstream catalytic converter, which ; converts NOx into nitrogen and water. For a high rate of conversion, it is important that both the ammonia and gas flow are evenly distributed across the area of the converter inlet. The various sensors play an important part in regulating the Ad Blue injection and in tuning the complete system of the engine and exhaust gas after treatment.

Although fine details of the new Audi engine-including those concerning cylinder pressure control-are limited at present, it represents a significant development, permitting models to undercut the U.S. Bin 5 standard for all states and the limits likely to constitute Euro 6 which will not come into effect until 2014.

Audi says the TDI engine offers a fuel saving of as much as 35% compared to the average fleet consumption of gas-line engines typically fitted in the U.S. As  a consequence, company officials believe that the diesel technology can make a greater contribution to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases than any other form of propulsion currently available.

The latest TDI engine is part of an integrated solution to reduce fuel consumption and emission that underpins Audis new “E” model. To be introduced across much of this range. The cars will have optimized rolling resistance, a reduction in aerodynamic drag, customized gear rations, and redeveloped ancillary units.

The current A3 TDI e achieves 4.505 l/100km in the combined cycle and a CO, emission level  of 119 g/km (192g/km). Other technologies to complement engine efficiency are in development.

On the Cross gearbox mapping are switched to a more economical program in “efficiency” mode, with the power draw of the main consumers and comfort modules restricted. There is also a slight reduction in engine power.

2008 Audi Q7 S Line - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The new Audi Q7 represents a new superlative in the SUV (Sport Utility Vehicles) segment. It produces the performance of a sports car on the road, while redefining the boundaries of a vehicle in this category off-road. The sporty characteristics of the Audi Q7 are further enhanced by the equipment package “S line sports package plus”: sports suspension, sports seats and cast aluminium wheels up to 21 inches in size turn the performance SUV into an athlete. The “S line exterior package” is the new sporty custom-made outfit for the Audi Q7 that adds attractive visual touches on the outside. The two equipment packages from quattro GmbH can be ordered separately or together from the middle of 2006. The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro and the Audi Q7 4.2 FSI quattro will be launched in Germany at the start of March 2006.

S line sports package plus

The new “S line sports package plus” for the Audi Q7 from quattro GmbH gives the performance SUV an even more emotional and sporty character. With its dynamic spring/shock absorber settings, the S line sports suspension conveys pure driving pleasure. The vehicle is lowered by 10 millimetres compared with models fitted with the standard suspension. 9Jx20 cast aluminium wheels of 5 spoke design with size 275/45 R 20 tyres give the vehicle its athletic appearance. S line logos on the front left and right wings and on the door sill trims are further distinguishing features of the Audi Q7 S line.

Inside the vehicle, electrically adjustable front sports seats in a combination of Alcantara/Leather and with an embossed S line logo on the backrests provide excellent lateral support. The 3-spoke leather multifunction sports steering wheel with S line emblem and the gear lever gaiter are covered in smooth black leather, the gear knob in perforated leather.

The black trimmed interior and headlining contrast with the matt brushed S line aluminium inlays to produce additional sporty touches. Fine grain birch wood grey inlays can be ordered as an alternative. The Audi driver information system is also part of the package.

20-inch cast aluminium wheels of 20-spoke design or 21-inch cast aluminium wheels of 7 twin-spoke design are available as an option. Thanks to the optionally available shift paddles on the leather multifunction steering wheel, the driver can also change the gears of the 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission manually, without taking his or her hands off the steering wheel. In addition to the standard colours, the exclusive exterior colours Daytona Grey, pearl effect and Mugello Blue, pearl effect are offered as options.

2008 Audi Q7 S Line - www.robson.m3rlin.org

S line exterior package

The “S line exterior package” for the Audi Q7 comprises particularly attractive components. The front bumper, the side cooling grilles, the lower door trims and the diffuser insert all have a striking sporty design. The lower sections of the front and rear bumpers, the lower door trims and the diffuser insert are all painted in the body colour, the radiator grille is painted Brilliant Black. The package includes S line logos on the front wings and the door sill trims as well as a headlight washer system.

2008 Audi Q7 S Line - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Prices

The “S line sports package plus” costs €5,290 for the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro and €2,980 for the Audi Q7 4.2 FSI quattro. The “S line exterior package” costs €1,900 for both models. A price discount of €200 is offered if the “S line exterior package” is ordered in conjunction with the “S line sports package plus”.

New kit for the Q7 includes an adaptive package for the cruise control that uses short-wave radar to maintain a preset speed and distance from the car in front by braking and accelerating. This operates from a standstill to 124mph and will also warn if the vehicle is too close to the car in front by pulsing the brake pedal. It is probably just about worth the extra £1,225.

2008 Audi Q7 S Line - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The side radar, though, isn’t worth £450. This warns of a hazard in the rear-three-quarter blind spot. It’s for people too lazy to look over their shoulder before changing lanes and it didn’t seem to work very well. On one occasion, a motorcycle was riding alongside us, invisible in the mirrors and undetected by the system.

The whole cabin is finished with a cast-iron craft and zeal. The Q7 defies fashion, but embodies style. Audi can be a pompous company, but it makes interiors that look as good today as they will when your grandchildren are dropping hints that you should surrender your licence.

Audi allowed a few journalists to drive the car in Germany last month, but the main press corps was flown at vast expense to Phoenix, Arizona to experience the car in temperatures, road conditions and at gastropodic, rigidly police-enforced speeds entirely alien to frozen Europe.

So we fired up the diesel and trundled out of the risqué end of this desert state’s capital. Past Camelback Mountain and the local traders: Smoking Lingerie, Divorce Care and Recovery and Zorba Adultshop. The 3.0-litre V6 sizzles like bacon and eggs as it pulls away from the lights.

2008 Audi Q7 S Line - www.robson.m3rlin.org

It is well suited to the six-speed auto ‘box, seldom stuck for a ratio, with a purposeful growl and lots of oomph, at least up to 70mph, where the weight and aerodynamics of the leviathan sap the performance. It is not economical, though, and with an around-town fuel consumption of less than 20mpg, the Q7 is never going to be cheap to run.

It certainly won’t be if you opt for the 4.2-litre V8 petrol, which is also impressively growly and quick, but which slurps fuel at a frightening rate of 20.8mpg overall, 14.5mpg Urban. The narrow-angle 3.2-litre V6 option, which is from the Phaeton and Golf R32, saves a bit in consumption, but it is very vocal to drive and seems to work hard even cruising at 70mph.

The air suspension has three separate settings for off-road, comfort and dynamic driving. Each one has its own calibrations for springs, dampers, ride height and the electronic stability program. There is also a can’t-be-bothered automatic setting and another to increase the ride height for clambering.

At low speeds, the ride is unpleasantly harsh, with the big tyres ricocheting off cat’s eyes and broken surfaces. I wasn’t the only person to think: “We’ll switch to comfort mode – oh, it is in comfort mode.” Speed up and the ride evens out a little, while the more sporting dynamic mode restricts body roll, rather than just hardening up the damping and making your teeth ache.

The body control is uncanny. Drive the Audi as hard as you can and it never flops or flaps about, remaining positive, well damped, propped up and shipshape. The steering is superbly weighted, accurate to a fault and almost pointlessly competent considering that for 99.9 per cent of owners the main point of owning a Q7 will be the cup holders and the ability to see into other people’s gardens.

Off-road the Q7 is all hat and no cattle. The four-wheel-drive system is about traction on the road diverting power between wheels to ensure stable progress in slippery conditions: ice and gravel, rather than bogs and mountains.

The extra ground clearance and hill-descent control allow a little more freedom to roam, but there is no transfer box to reduce speeds and multiply torque, so the Q7 is quite limited in its abilities. For the launch, Audi craned a Q7 into a precarious position on the side of a mountain. Close inspection revealed that in expert hands and with a bit of sly winching, you could probably have driven a Land Rover Defender up there.

As with all Audis, the Q7 looks quite good value, but if you dally too long at the options list you will feel as if you have been plundered by the pirates of the Caribbean. Choose any colour but black and you will pay another £650, which is disgraceful.

Quite what the Q7 is for is another matter entirely. When the post-oil-age history of the world is written, students will shake their head in wonder at machines such as this. The rich, it seems, don’t have to worry about diminishing resources.

So when you are left wobbling in the wake of this latest German SUV, don’t bother waving your fist at its occupants. They’re going to end up in a place that even Hieronymus Bosch couldn’t dream up.

There are long Qs forming outside Audi dealerships, and not everyone is asking for a brand new TT. They’ve got something bigger on their minds – the firm’s first-ever SUV, the Q7. Auto Express took to the road to see how it shapes up. First impressions are that the Q7 is certainly a big and brash-looking off-roader and, inside, there’s plenty of space with seating for seven. Our test car boasted a 345bhp 4.2-litre FSI V8 engine, which provides thrilling if thirsty performance while through corners the Q7 feels just as nimble as a BMW X5. At £48,625 for the range-topping S line model tested here, it’s not cheap, but it is sure to keep Audi’s salesmen busy this summer.

2006 Audi S6 - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The Audi S6 is a high-performance version of the Audi A6, an executive car produced by German automaker Audi. It went on sale in 1994, shortly after the “A6″ designation was introduced, replacing the “100″ nameplate. The original S6 was largely the same car as the outgoing, original Audi S4, with the only visible differences being new body-cladding and badging.

The S6, like all Audi “S” models, is fitted as standard with Audi’s trademark quattro four-wheel drive (4WD) system, the S6 using the Torsen-based permanent 4WD.

2006 Audi S6 - www.robson.m3rlin.org

A refined flow of power in conjunction with superlative comfort and an elegantly understated appearance: this is the new Audi S6 / S6 Avant. It is the sporty top model in the luxury-class family of models comprising the Audi A6 saloon and A6 Avant, which took the market by storm following their launch in 2004 and have since garnered countless accolades worldwide from both customers and experts within the trade.
The S6, the latest product to result from the systematic application of Audi’s philosophy of sportiness, will go on sale in the spring of 2006. Its appearance will coincide with the launch of the S6 Avant, the estate-car version that combines the exemplary versatility and variability of an Avant with the decidedly sporty character of the new Audi S6.

In response to the challenge to deliver supreme performance that always remains perfectly under control, the new Audi S6 will be powered by a completely new ten-cylinder V-configuration engine. This engine, a virtually identical version of which is likewise fitted in the new Audi S8, makes maximum use of its resources: with a displacement of 5.2 litres, it mobilises an output of 420 bhp (309 kW) at 6,800 rpm. It reaches its peak torque of 540 Nm between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm. Between 2,500 and 5,500 rpm, torque of over 500 Nm is available. This engine, weighing only 220 kilograms, is thus able to guarantee superior pulling power in every driving situation.

2006 Audi S6 - www.robson.m3rlin.org

FSI petrol direct injection, a principle that has proved its worth in the most successful racing car ever built, the Le Mans winning Audi R8, plays an instrumental role in this model’s refined flow of power. The saloon is capable of racing from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds (S6 Avant: 5.3 seconds); the top speed is electronically governed to 250 km/h.

Both the driveline and the steering and suspension have been modified to reflect the immense power potential of the new Audi S6. The six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, supplied as standard, accomplishes swifter gear changes; the steel-spring suspension is configured for greater agility and a more direct response, as is the servotronic steering. The latest-generation quattro permanent four-wheel drive with a 40:60 torque split naturally ensures optimum propulsion in all conditions. Thanks to this concept, the new Audi S6 sets itself apart as the progressive alternative to all its competitors.

One of the key requirements in the development of the Audi S6 was to provide a high standard of comfort in every situation, for all its sporty emphasis. This vehicle consequently also demonstrates over long distances that there is no inherent contradiction between refined power and the scope for the driver and passengers to enjoy a highly relaxing form of travel.

The interior offers a luxurious atmosphere. It features, for instance, new sports seats complete with integral head restraints, exclusive leather/Alcantara upholstery on all five seats and deluxe automatic air conditioning plus, with separate temperature distribution for the driver’s and front passenger’s sides.

For all the uncompromising and methodical nature of the technical concept, the external appearance of the Audi S6 is decidedly understated and elegant. The
S6 saloon is characterised by such features as 19-inch wheels, subtly flared front wheel arches, the striking single-frame grille with vertical double struts and a harmoniously integrated rear spoiler, and the Avant has a modified roof spoiler.

The two daytime running light strips, each comprising five LEDs, are both a trendsetting safety element and an innovative masterstroke of design; they are integrated into the front bumper and, when switched on, serve as an unmistakable distinguishing feature of the S6.

Engine

Newly developed V10 with FSI technology and ample torque characteristic

Ten-cylinder petrol engines have long been regarded as a particularly sporty type of power unit. In the form of a V-engine they are short, compact and correspondingly light. The number of moving parts required for ten cylinders is moreover relatively low, bringing the added bonus of low friction losses. It is no coincidence that the Gallardo super sports car built by Lamborghini – an Audi subsidiary – is driven by a widely acclaimed V10 engine. The V10 in the new Audi S6 is a completely new engine which first appeared in the Audi S8 and has now been specifically retuned for use in the top model of Audi’s luxury class.

Its ten cylinders are divided into two cylinder banks arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to each other, and each with two overhead camshafts (DOHC principle); the spacing between cylinder centres is 90 millimetres – one of the reasons why this 220-kilogram, four-valve engine is so compact. A special intermediate frame reinforces the cast aluminium crankcase.

The bore is 84.5 millimetres and the stroke 92.8 millimetres, producing a swept volume of 5,204 cc. With its crankpin offset of 18 degrees, the V10 fires at an ideal spacing of 72 degrees crankshaft angle. A balancing shaft located between the cylinder banks eliminates the free inertial forces of the first degree and contributes equally towards the engine’s notable refinement.

All four camshafts are adjusted continuously through 40 degrees crankshaft angle depending on load and engine speed, thus optimising filling of the combustion chambers and consequently enhancing the power output. The camshafts are driven by no-maintenance chains and actuate the total of 40 valves via roller cam followers. The task of engine management is handled by two separate control units.

The V10 in the new Audi S6 uses FSI petrol direct injection. This permits a high compression ratio of up to 12.5:1 and therefore a highly efficient combustion process. The injection system delivers the fuel directly into the combustion chambers in precisely metered amounts, at a pressure of up to 100 bar.

The two-stage magnesium variable intake manifold incorporates electronically controlled tumble flaps; these induce a swirling movement in the air drawn in.

Innovative FSI technology has impressively demonstrated its potential in motor sport – the R8 racing car equipped with it participated five times in the Le Mans 24 Hours for Audi, winning the race on four of those occasions.

The powerful ten-cylinder engine is designed not simply with power in mind, but to an even greater extent for impressive torque. It achieves 420 bhp at 6,800 rpm, but delivers the peak torque of 540 Nm at engine speeds ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 rpm. Over 500 Nm of torque is on tap between 2,500 and 5,500 rpm. The engine exhibits spontaneous throttle response and very refined running, and under load it also produces sonorous acoustics, as befits this dynamic car.

The engine gives the Audi S6 the road performance of a high-calibre Gran Turismo. The Audi S6 saloon is capable of racing from 0 to 100 km/h in
5.2 seconds, and the S6 Avant takes a mere one-tenth of a second longer. The speed is not governed electronically until the needle reaches 250 km/h.

The engine consumes an average of approx. 13.4 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres.

The S6 weighs 1,910 kilograms (S6 Avant: 1,970 kg), including the dynamic, sure-footed quattro permanent four-wheel drive. Every horsepower consequently has to propel just 4.55 kilograms (S6 Avant: 4.69 kg) – the power-to-weight ratio of a top-notch sports car.

2006 Audi S6 - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Drivetrain

More direct for even greater dynamism

The entire drivetrain of the Audi S6 has been designed from scratch. The engine’s power on the S6 is translated into locomotion by a six-speed tiptronic as standard, which adapts to the driver’s style by means of an intelligent feature. The software program that controls this automatic transmission electronically has been optimised to deliver more dynamic gear changes compared with other Audi models; the gear changes are noticeably swifter.

The driver can call up the transmission’s ‘S’ sport mode via the selector lever – it still performs upshifts even at relatively high engine speeds. And it is possible to change gear manually in both modes by means of the aluminium-look shift paddles mounted to the steering wheel. The selector lever has an aluminium look and – like the steering wheel – is trimmed in smooth leather.

The servotronic steering with its variable ratio has a more direct response than in the A6. This, too, results in even more agile handling.

Power and control

Typically for an Audi, the new Audi S6 likewise takes quattro permanent four-wheel drive as its basis. Its virtues are already widely acknowledged: superior traction in all driving conditions. More than a quarter of a century of expertise acquired in this domain by the Ingolstadt-based brand has led to the development of a new quattro generation with asymmetric/dynamic torque split – further evidence of Audi’s guiding principle of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’.

A centre differential, installed longitudinally in the driveline, distributes power between the front and rear wheels, always according to the prevailing situation. The split in the basic setting is 40 percent to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear. This slightly rear-biased torque split has been chosen to place even greater emphasis on the sporty, dynamic character of the Audi S6.

If the surface conditions change – for instance if they are wet or slippery, or if the car is driven onto a different type of road surface – the purely mechanical differential responds without any delay; depending on the road situation at any given moment, it can divert up to 85 percent of power to the rear wheels or as much as 65 percent to the front wheels. If a wheel on one axle spins (wheel slip), it is moreover brought under control by the Electronic Differential Lock EDL, which applies the brakes.

The electronic stabilisation program (ESP) shuts down in two stages: when the ESP button is pressed once, only the ASR traction control system is deactivated; ESP remains active, to stabilise the car if needed. The instrument cluster briefly displays ‘ASR off’ and the ESP symbol remains permanently lit. This mode stays active in the S6 until ASR is switched back on by pressing the ESP button a further time. On the S6, ASR does not cut in automatically once a defined speed is exceeded (as is the case on the A6 / A6 Avant). If the ESP button is pressed for longer than three seconds, all ESP functions are switched off. Only the electronic differential lock EDL and ABS remain active. Pressing the ESP button a further time switches all ESP functions on again. As a result, the desired degree of electronic assistance can be determined by the driver via the ESP button. Without ASR traction control, the degree of stability can, within certain limits, be determined by the driver via the accelerator pedal. This permits a decidedly sporty driving style if desired.

The drivetrain concept of the new S6 always ensures that the enormous forces generated by the V10 engine can genuinely provide efficient, minimal-loss propulsion, something that vehicles with one driven axle only rarely achieve. It is consequently able to develop and use high levels of power all the time.

Chassis

Firmer and more spontaneous

The dynamic suspension layout of the new Audi S6 is based on a technology that has already demonstrated its sports calibre in the most challenging of conditions: the refined four-link front suspension acknowledged as a typical Audi feature and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension carried over from the Audi A8. This combination gives the S6 one of the most complex and efficient rear suspension layouts currently available. In terms of its kinematic behaviour, this technical treat already provides a foretaste of the sporty, active characteristics of the Audi A8 – measures that enhance directional stability, steering precision and handling convenience. The entire layout is designed in such a way as to produce a neutral response with a moderate tendency to understeer when the very high limits of handling are approached.

The principal components of the chassis feature lightweight aluminium construction, resulting in decisively lower unsprung masses. The targeted use of sheet steel, on the other hand, achieves optimum rigidity wherever it is required. In selecting specific materials and manufacturing methods for each individual suspension link, Audi’s engineers have been able to ensure that the chassis represents an optimum blend of low weight, high rigidity and safety.

As a reflection of its explicitly sporty character, the suspension settings of the S6 have been made firmer, even compared with the A6 sports suspension, and at the same time assures a high standard of comfort for long-distance driving. As the elastokinematics have likewise undergone comprehensive modifications, the
Audi S6 is always noticeably more agile; meanwhile, driving stability and traction have been further optimised.

The Audi S6 is equipped ex works with 19-inch cast aluminium wheels of a 5-arm wing design. The wide tyres are of size 265/35 R19. An 18-inch brake system assures supreme braking performance and is resistant to fading even under high loads.

Its four large discs are ventilated, the discs on the front wheels measuring
385 millimetres in diameter and those at the rear measuring 335 mm. The brake calipers are painted black, and are adorned with an exclusive S6 badge at the front.

Design

Supremely athletic presence

The models in Audi’s S range have traditionally epitomised systematic sports appeal. This applies in equal measure to the new S6, which now dynamically hones the visual impact made by the A6. These models are renowned for their inherently light and elegant character – their very distinctive aesthetic appeal reflects their exceptional status as sports models in the luxury class.

The S6 cuts an even more supremely athletic figure out on the roads – but without even the slightest hint of aggression. The most striking differences are to be found at the front end. The eye-catching single-frame grille displays the S6 emblem, and its vertical aluminium-look struts are of a double design by way of further differentiation. There is an air inlet beneath the grille. A spoiler lip at the front end of the car provides an additional sporty highlight.

Another innovation in the front bumper is a pioneering development in terms of both safety and style: the separate LED daytime running lights, each of which consists of five white light-emitting diodes and consumes only a minimal amount of energy. When these light strips are switched on, the effect is utterly distinctive: they make it incredibly easy to identify the new Audi S6, and the low-down position of the daytime running lights gives the car a dynamically flat appearance. To accommodate this concept, the fog lights have been incorporated into the main headlights, the covers of which are tinted grey. Xenon plus headlights are provided as standard; Audi adaptive light with dynamic cornering light is optional. The rear light units incorporate LED brake lights as standard, and the
S6 Avant in addition has tail lights using LED technology.

The front wheel arches are flared by 14 millimetres. The door trim strips are likewise wider, to accentuate the ‘S’ characteristics, and are painted in the body colour. Other striking differentiating features are door sill trims bearing the
S6 logo at all four doors, the rear spoiler integrated subtly into the luggage compartment lid – whereas the S6 Avant has a roof spoiler – aluminium-look exterior mirrors, the V10 emblem at the front beneath the side turn indicators, and an S6 logo on the rear end. The vehicle’s tail end also displays a colour-contrasting diffuser in the bumper and the four ellipsoidal tailpipes of the exhaust system, with its notably sporty acoustics.

Interior

Luxury and refinement in detail

In the same way as the body’s styling, the interior of the new Audi S6, too, reflects a character of dynamic elegance and high quality – from the architecture of the driving area that surrounds the driver to the Audi MMI user interface (Multi Media Interface), which remains unequalled by any competitor thanks to its logical, intuitive operating principle.

The luxurious interior of the S6 features specific highlights. For instance, there is a new generation of sports seats. They have integral head restraints and pronounced lateral supports, and are upholstered in Alcantara/Leather; Silk Nappa leather is available as an option. The front seats are electrically adjustable in multiple directions as standard, and include a lumbar support. The three rear seats, which display the same material, are equipped with L-shape head restraints which afford a better view to the rear.

The three-spoke multifunction leather sports steering wheel with the S logo is a typical example of the hand-crafted character that Audi so often achieves in its attention to detail: it is trimmed in smooth leather and displays a colour-contrasting double seam with a special seam pattern.

The shift paddles, which are mounted to the steering wheel (in other words, they move as it is turned), have an aluminium-look finish. The selector lever, too, has an aluminium look and is trimmed in smooth leather.

Carbon fibre is used as the material for the applications. The material on the instrument panel represents a further innovation in the S6: it goes by the name of ‘Flexmetallic’ and correspondingly exhibits an anthracite-coloured metallic surface characteristic. Anthracite is also the predominant colour featured on the other sections of the instrument panel. The centre console, on the other hand, is in black.

The instrument needles and numbers are in white, using characteristic S-style italics; the dials are in dark grey.

The standard Driver Information System DIS has an additional digital speedometer in the new S6. The Audi MMI with 7-inch monitor in the cockpit is likewise included as standard. There is a welcome screen customised specifically to the S6. The MMI furthermore integrates the extended-specification radio system with double tuner and the DSP sound system with ten speakers and a
CD changer in the glove box. The optional tyre pressure monitoring system displays the pressure and temperature of each tyre individually in the S6.

Audi is likewise innovative when it comes to phoning in the car: the new optional telephone system combines all the advantages of a built-in phone with those of the mobile phone preparation. The mobile phone is connected up to the vehicle’s own GSM module by means of Bluetooth interface. This renders an adaptor-type connection unnecessary and the driver can leave their mobile phone in their pocket while on the move. Operation of the Bluetooth car phone is likewise via the MMI system. A handset in the centre armrest can also be supplied as an option.

Safety

Whereas the high standard of active safety of the new Audi S6 stems principally from its superior engine power, pioneering quattro four-wheel drive and ESP, the sporty range-topping model also boasts a full complement of passive safety systems. This model comes complete with a package of restraint systems that are perfectly matched to the highly rigid aluminium body, including two full-size front airbags, side airbags for the front seats and large-area Audi sideguard curtain head airbags. Side airbags for the rear seats are available as an optional extra. All five three-point belts in the Audi S6 are of course fitted with belt force limiters; belt tensioners are fitted on the front seats as standard.

*  Competes with: BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, Cadillac STS-V
* Looks like: An Audi A6, on which it’s based
* Drivetrain: 420-horsepower, 5.2-liter V-10 with six-speed-automatic transmission with manual shifting; all-wheel drive
* Hits dealerships: Fall 2006

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

With its Abt-Audi TT-R, Abt Sportsline has won the title in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), which was the biggest success in the history of the company. And according to the corporate motto “From the race track to the street”, the world’s leading tuning company for makes of the Volkswagen-concern has created a new highlight off the track as well: the Abt TT-limited II. “We want to give people the pure motorsport feeling for road use”, says managing director and DTM-driver Christian Abt. The result incorporates pure passion with 195 kW (265 hp), quattro drive and a fascinating sport package.

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The Abt TT-limited already turned out to be a bestseller in the portfolio of the company from the Allgäu-region. For the current special edition from Kempten, Abt Sportsline not only chose a striking red, but also an optical package with an absolute eye-catcher: the TT-limited II has been equipped with the Abt SP1 sports wheel including DTM Champion wheel rim covers. The black covers with inscription commemorate Laurent Aiello’s title-winning campaign in the 2002 DTM-season. Underneath the bonnet, there is a real sportsman’s heart at work: the 1.8 litre turbo engine not only has 30 kW (40 hp) more performance than the 165 kW (225 hp) strong production engine, but with 360 Nm instead of 280 Nm significantly more torque as well.

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The DTM-connection can’t remain unnoticed. With the front section and the famous Abt logo on the radiator, the sporty provenance of the TT-limited II becomes clear at first sight. The connection becomes even more apparent at the back: the Abt rear wing, derived from the DTM-winning Abt-Audi TT-R, provides the best possible downforce. Below that, the rear cover including carbon diffuser and four-pipe exhaust silencer refers to pure motorsport power. “Our experience from the race track provided the ideal basis for our TT-limited II”, says Christian Abt.

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Quattro drive and a height-adjustable Abt sport suspension, set up by Christian Abt himself, ensure the best possible transfer of the 195 kW (265 hp). The sport braking system with red-coloured brake callipers bites within fractions of a second, when it is necessary. The complete wheels with widened track, fitted with the new Abt SP1 sports wheel in the dimension 8.5 x 19 inch ensure the best possible contact with the asphalt. This representative of the new Abt SP wheel range is making its own mark, significantly standing out from other types with its flat wheel rim, declining to the inside. The super sports car comes with the appropriate Continental 235/35-19 tyres.

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The thoroughbred line continues in the interior of the TT-limited II. As soon as you slide across the red doorsteps with the TT-limited II-logo into the red-painted buckets of the leather sport seats, you will soon discover the attention to detail of the designers from Kempten. A gearshift lever knob and ring of aluminium, floor mats with embroidered Abt logo, the sporty one-arm windscreen wiper and the red leather steering wheel are rounding off the perfect appearance of the super sports car.

Audi TT DTM - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Fitting for the performance, Abt Sportsline has chosen the appropriate wheels for the most powerful vehicle in its line-up. The Abt sports wheel SP2, cast in one piece in the dimension 9 x 20 inch and fitted with 255/30 R20 ContiSportContact2 tyres ensures the best possible contact between the quattro-drive and the asphalt. The new Champion wheel rim covers are the pinnacle of wheel design from Kempten. The silver-coloured covers with black inscription commemorate Laurent Aiello’s title-winning campaign in the 2002 DTM-season.

With so much power, the performance of the brakes is especially important. Therefore, Abt Sportsline has mounted its sport braking system to the front and the rear axle of the RS6. Apart from the looks, the double-ventilated brake disks with the dimension 380 x 32 millimetres (front) and 322 x 32 millimetres (rear) ensure more safety and lighter handling of the super sports car. Larger pistons result into more braking power, the disks provide more stability and increased durability.

Debut in Detroit: Audi is taking the wraps off a study car by the name of Roadjet Concept at the North American International Automobile Show. A vehicle that blends the latest evolutionary stage of Audi’s formal idiom with an entirely new space concept. The drive technology, too, represents a new departure: on the 300 bhp 3.2 FSI engine, innovative concepts produce an unprecedented synthesis of performance, liveliness and efficiency. In conjunction with a longitudinally installed engine, the Audi Roadjet Concept is moreover the first model to feature the sporty 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.

The study car furthermore serves as a technology demonstrator of innovative electronic systems that will be finding their way into production models in the next few years.

The introduction of a new cross-manufacturer standard for car-to-car communication opens up a new dimension in safety and service. Important parameters such as safety, the traffic flow and therefore obviously also fuel economy and emissions can be influenced positively by information exchanged directly between vehicles in moving traffic. A car-to-car communication standard furthermore opens up countless new possibilities in the domains of service and comfort.

One particular innovation that enhances driving fun is Audi drive select: this system enables the driver to preselect several entirely independent vehicle characteristics at the push of a button.

Three modes – “comfort”, “dynamic” and “sport” – alter the steering, damping and transmission response, as well as the engine map. Audi drive select thus provides access to highly distinct driving experiences that can be realised by a single vehicle, entirely as the driver sees fit.

The exterior

The styling of this four-door fastback saloon is a new, distinctive interpretation of Audi design. Measuring 4.70 m in length and 1.85 m in width, the Audi Roadjet Concept respects the standard dimensions of a B-segment vehicle. However, its height of 1.55 m and the wheelbase of 2.85 m result in substantially greater spaciousness, and also give this car fundamentally new basic proportions.

The decidedly short overhangs at the front and rear give the Roadjet Concept an utterly new flavour of sporting flair.

The characteristic features of the front end are the dynamic tapered shape with the characteristic Audi integral single-frame grille and the large air inlets below the bumpers. Vertical slats in the single-frame grille support the prominently three-dimensional Audi badge. Concave surfaces around the highly sculpted wheel arches lend the nose extra width. Beneath the clear-glass covers of both the headlights and the rear lights, LED light units create an unmistakeable visual impact both in daylight and after dark.

The high shoulders that lend the vehicle an air of power and safety are also typically Audi. The Audi Roadjet Concept moreover has a large window area, reinforcing the impression of light and spaciousness inside the vehicle.

Slim roof posts and the raked rear window combine with the coupé-like roof line in producing a highly dynamic silhouette. A roof spoiler above the large rear window helps to maintain good surface contact, while visually extending the arc of the roof even further to the rear.

The dynamic line above the sill, as well as the shoulder line, defines clearly horizontal overall proportions that are emphatically road-centred. A new element to Audi is the arched capping line, extending between the front and rear wheel arches.

Together with the shoulder line, it produces an invigorating interplay of convex and concave surfaces.

The handles are integrated flush into the door surfaces; they are extended when touched, to allow convenient opening of the doors.

The impression created by the rear end, too, is decidedly dynamic: wide wheel arches, the trapezoidal tailgate and the diffuser below the bumper emphasise the sporty character of the Audi Roadjet Concept. The stepped rear lights extending well round into the sides echo this car’s closest relations in design terms within Audi’s current production range: the Avant models and the Sportback. The tailgate beneath the windows likewise extends well round into the sides, thus acting as a visual bridge between the rear and sides. The exhaust system’s wide twin tailpipes, integrated into the striking diffuser, are another new element.

THE INTERIOR

Modernity and functionality, dynamic elegance and open perspectives: this is the most immediate impression of the Audi Roadjet Concept’s interior. Warm, subdued earth colours contrasting with the light grey of precision metal applications create an atmosphere pitched somewhere between elegant functionality and emotional appeal. This impression is enhanced by the combining of purely functional materials such as Neoprene, at floor level, with exclusive leather.

This vehicle interprets the architecture of the Audi interior in a novel way. The characteristic features include the stimulating interplay of proportions and dynamism. The instrument panel envelops the driver’s and front passenger’s seats in a wide, horizontally split arc. The controls and displays in the dash panel and on the centre console come across on the one hand as organically integrated and on the other as neatly structured and functional.

The four individual seat pans, almost filigree in appearance and featuring integral head restraints, divide up the interior into four separate zones. Between the rear seats there is a system of rails that can accommodate options that include a storage box with centre armrest, an espresso machine or a baby carrier facing to the rear.

The rear seats themselves can be adjusted along diagonal rails; when opened out into their frontmost position, a centre child’s seat can be installed obliquely behind the rear seats if required. This centre child’s seat is guided on rails on the movable luggage compartment floor. It can be folded over and easily removed to the rear.

The load area can be further enlarged by folding the rear seat backs forward. The electrically operated movable load area floor pivots automatically to the rear, beyond the bumper, appreciably facilitating loading of the vehicle. The rail system integrated into the load area floor incorporates lashing points that can be used to secure the child seat or lash down items being carried, before the load area floor is moved forward again electrically, back into the vehicle.

The convenience function on the remote control enables the driver to extend the load area floor at the same time as the tailgate is opened.

The load area floor can be set to two positions inside the vehicle. Its lower position produces the maximum load area capacity; its normal level results in a level load area.

Both the comfortable, relatively upright seat position with ample legroom and the ample shoulder room and headroom at all four individual seats set new standards.

But superlative comfort in the Audi Roadjet Concept is not merely the result of the generous amount of space available. The deluxe automatic air conditioning with a newly developed air vent principle provides draught-free, individually variable climate control for every occupant.

A Bang & Olufsen sound system purpose-developed for the Roadjet Concept provides an audio quality worthy of the concert hall. As on the A8, 14 speakers – including the extendable tweeters on the instrument panel – and an amplifier output of more than 1,000 watts produce an acoustic experience that is without equal in the automotive world. If desired, the front and rear passengers can also listen to music via Bluetooth headphones.

The audio system also supports a new function that allows the occupants to converse without needing to raise their voices even when the car is travelling at high speeds. A technology by the name of Digital Voice Support (DVS) picks up the occupants’ voices via microphones and reproduces them via the amplifier and speakers. Reproduction is controlled to take account of both the relative position inside the car of the person speaking and the general level of noise being generated by the vehicle.

The Multi Media Interface MMI has been reconfigured in the Audi Roadjet Concept. In addition to the central 10-inch display in the instrument cluster, there are separate displays and operating units for the front and rear passengers – including a 7-inch display on the backs of the front seats for the rear passengers. An entirely new technology makes its debut here: the front passenger views information on a back-projection display on the instrument panel, which also allows them to watch TV while the car is moving. To avoid distracting the driver, this display is screened off by a shield that extends automatically out of the instrument panel.

The range of functions is moreover tailored to individual requirements. Functions that classify directly as vehicle operation – such as the car setup menu – can be operated exclusively by the driver. On the other hand, the passengers can control both the infotainment system and the navigation, so that they can assist the driver with route suggestions, for instance.

The Roadjet Concept does not have traditional sun visors; instead, this function is performed by the use of Vari-Light technology along the upper edge of the windscreen: the degree of transparency of the glass – and therefore of light screening – can be varied electrically, thus enabling the driver to prevent any undesirable glare.

There is a further convenience feature in the rear centre armrest. On the Detroit showcar, it incorporates an espresso machine complete with water reservoir, stable cup holders for four cups and accessories. The occupants can now always enjoy a fresh cup of coffee whenever they wish, for instance during a break or while sitting in a tailback – an enticing alternative to lukewarm beverages out of a flask, and one that is bound to appeal not just to coffee connoisseurs.

DRIVETRAIN

Typically for an Audi study, the Roadjet Concept too is powered by an engine that heralds the shape of things to come with its innovative technology. This applies in equal measure to the 300 bhp evolutionary version of the 3.2 six-cylinder FSI engine and the sporty Direct Shift Gearbox in conjunction with quattro permanent four-wheel drive.

The 3.2 FSI V6 with Audi valvelift system

The 3.2 V6 FSI – which features as a basic engine with an output of 255 bhp in the Audi A8, A6 and A4 – displays all the characteristics of an ultramodern petrol engine: FSI petrol direct injection with demand-controlled fuel supply, four valves per cylinder and highly effective exhaust emission control.

FSI engines develop superior power and dynamism to conventional units with indirect manifold injection – and they do so with a very high stand-ard of fuel economy. With this remarkable achievement, Audi is opening up a new dimension in the efficiency of standard petrol engines, demonstrating once again the brand’s proverbial “Vorsprung durch Technik”.

The FSI petrol direct injection system confirmed its unique potential in what must be the most challenging endurance test in the world: a power unit with FSI direct injection drove the Audi R8 to victory on four occasions in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The evolutionary version that powers the Roadjet Concept includes two technologies that double the specific advantage of FSI technology. Because with a fixed intake manifold together with integral vacuum reservoir – as opposed to the variable intake manifold of the production version – the 3.2 FSI can be configured systematically as a sports engine.

The six-cylinder engine in addition features a new valve control principle by the name of Audi valvelift system. In the form of two-stage cam lift adjustment, it is able to vary the degree of valve opening according to load and engine speeds.

What this means in practice is that in flowing traffic, the engine produces a decidedly smooth, relaxing response to only moderate use of the accelerator pedal, with impressive pulling power in reserve that results in outstandingly low fuel consumption.

But as soon as the driver ups the tempo, the 3.2 engine reveals its qualities as a highly talented athlete. It responds with bite to even minimal movements of the accelerator and moves fleet-footedly right up to the speed dictated by the limiter, which only cuts in at 7,500 rpm. What is particularly remarkable is that the power output rises constantly virtually all the way up to that point.

This V6 engine delivers its maximum output of 220 kW (300 bhp) at 7,000 rpm; its peak torque of 330 Nm is available at 4,500 rpm. The Roadjet Concept 3.2 FSI accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, and its top speed is electronically governed at 250 km/h.

No less astonishing is the average fuel consumption of this evolutionary concept: the Roadjet Concept covers 100 kilometres on just 10.4 litres of Super Plus – despite the Roadjet Concept’s higher weight and larger frontal area, this figure is a few tenths of a litre better than its production counterpart in the A4 3.2 quattro, which develops 45 bhp less!

The combination of FSI and Audi valvelift system unquestionably demonstrates how much potential Audi’s petrol engines of the future will still be capable of mobilising, with a view to delivering even more driving fun and efficiency. And that future is not far off: the underlying technology is already so mature that it could start finding its way into production in a few months’ time.

The sporty 7-gear Direct Shift Gearbox

The Audi Roadjet Concept is the first Audi model to feature a sporty Direct Shift Gearbox with twin clutch in conjunction with a longitudinally installed engine. It combines the advantages of a 7-speed manual gearbox with the qualities of a modern automatic transmission, thus providing a drive concept superior in every respect. The driver benefits from supreme agility and driving pleasure combined with harmonious and dynamic acceleration without interruptions to the flow of power from the engine.

This is coupled with good economy thanks to low fuel consumption, and convenient operation.

The basis for this new development is a three-shaft 7-speed manual gearbox which offers considerable variability in the selection of the transmission ratio. Thanks to the use of a twin multi-plate clutch with ingenious electro-hydraulic control, two gears can be engaged at the same time.

So how does the Direct Shift Gearbox work? During dynamic operation of the car, one gear is engaged. When the next gearshift point is approached, the appropriate gear is pre-selected but its clutch kept disengaged. The gearshift process opens the clutch of the activated gear and closes the other clutch at the same time with a certain overlap. The gear change consequently takes place under load, with the result that a permanent flow of power is maintained.

Incorporating optimum gearshift strategies, the control logic integrated in the transmission provides instantaneous, comfortable and smooth gearshifts that are virtually free of any jolts or judder. And by moving the gearshift lever in the manual gate or operating the standard-fit paddles behind the steering wheel, as on a racing car, the driver can actively influence the choice of gears and the gearshift point at any time.

Quattro permanent four-wheel drive

Quattro permanent four-wheel drive is a typical feature of all high-performance Audi models. Since revolutionising the car world when first unveiled 26 years ago, permanent four-wheel drive has long since found its way into virtually all vehicle categories – and not just at Audi. Almost one in three Audi cars sold is currently a quattro; by the end of 2005, around 2.5 million Audi vehicles with quattro permanent four-wheel drive had been built.
quattro ensures excellent traction and lateral stability and minimises the effect of propulsive power on the vehicle’s self-steering properties. This is a precondition of the car’s tremendous cornering speeds and high dynamic stability.

A Torsen differential in the new Audi Roadjet Concept – with its longitudinally installed engine – automatically ensures the optimum distribution of power between all four wheels.

The name Torsen is a combination of the terms “torque” and “sensing”. The Torsen differential is a self-locking worm gear.

The advantage of this is that the locking action is only prompted by the driveline. Yet this type of differential accommodates differences in speed when the brakes are applied and when cornering. The power is normally split 40:60 between the front and rear axles, producing particularly dynamic self-steering behaviour. In extreme cases, up to 80 percent of the propulsive power can be diverted to one pair of wheels if slip is encountered.

CHASSIS

The Audi dynamic suspension layout of the Roadjet Concept is based on proven sports technology: the refined four-link front suspension acknowledged as a typical Audi feature, and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension carried over from the Audi A8 and A6. The 20-inch wheels with size 245/45 R20 tyres are an impressive feature.

All this results in a driving performance that stands up to any comparison in respect of dynamism and which sets the standard with regard to ease of control, even on rough terrain. This is also due in no small measure to the speed-dependent servotronic power steering featured as standard, supplementing the precise handling of the Roadjet Concept with even more sensitive steering precision.

Audi dynamic steering makes its first appearance on an Audi car; this superimposed steering system adjusts the steering ratio as a function of road speed. It affords a smoother ride at high motorway speeds in the form of a more indirect ratio, coupled with directional stability that is resistant to slight movements. When the Roadjet Concept is driven sportily on winding roads, on the other hand, a more direct ratio that permits high steering precision and a swifter response by the driver represents the optimum.

Another new feature is the electronically adjustable dampers that cover a variety of characteristics ranging from comfortably soft to sportily firm.

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

As a technology demonstrator, the Audi Roadjet Concept embodies the proverbial “Vorsprung durch Technik” not merely in its drivetrain. It comes complete with a raft of other systems that will be finding their way into series production in a few years’ time, thus paving the way for driving fun, safety and comfort.

Audi drive select

Only a minority of car owners can afford the luxury of having three cars parked in front of their house to give them maximum flexibility in choosing the right car for every occasion, depending on whether comfort, manoeuvrability or dynamic behaviour is what they require. The Audi Roadjet Concept fulfils all these requirements in a single car. Because Audi drive select allows the driver to preselect three highly distinctive configurations for the engine, transmission characteristic, steering and shock absorbers. The result is a car that can be enjoyed in three utterly different ways.

The basic setting is the “dynamic” mode; it is activated automatically at the start of every journey, and its overall concept reflects the expectations that Audi drivers typically have of what their car should feel like to drive in terms of both dynamism and comfort. The driver is informed which mode is currently active via the centre display in the instrument cluster.

If the driver selects the “comfort” mode by pressing the button on the control in the steering wheel, the shock absorbers adopt noticeably softer settings in order to filter out bumpiness in the road surface even more effectively. The Servotronic requires lower steering forces, and dynamic steering establishes a more indirect spectrum of ratios. The engine and transmission respond gently to use of the accelerator. This setting is perfect for relaxed driving over long distances, above all on straight roads such as motorways.

The “sport” mode, on the other hand, lends the Audi Roadjet Concept a decidedly sporty driving feel. The shock absorbers now adopt a firm response and the steering ratio is direct. The engine responds more spontaneously to the throttle and the transmission’s shift points move higher up the engine speed range: the ideal basis for active driving pleasure on winding roads.

Over and above the three basic configurations, Audi drive select provides scope for varying individual parameters between the levels dynamic, sport and comfort. It is for instance entirely possible to combine sporty shock absorber settings with a relaxed, easy-action steering response.

Car-to-car communication

The electronics developers have focused on safety and traffic control in the Audi Roadjet Concept, as well as on driving pleasure. It features a prototype of a future generation of information-processing systems that herald in a new era in road traffic networking specifically in countries with high volumes of traffic.

At the heart of this concept is car-to-car communication, meaning the direct exchange of information within the flow of traffic. Unlike the telematics systems of the recent past, no central service is now needed to consolidate and process the information swiftly and effectively.

The progress that has been achieved in the areas of computing power and software development have made this application possible; even though they occupy very little space and consume very little energy, future systems will be capable of processing an array of data into practical, easily digested information for the driver that moreover paves the way for a very high standard of safety.

The reality of road traffic means that the car-to-car network can of course only be activated with a certain lead time. This hurdle is, however, manageable because virtually all vehicle manufacturers in Europe, the USA and Japan have agreed in parallel to develop a common standard for the hardware and software.

Applications have also been submitted to the authorities to use standard radio frequencies on an international scale, thus assuring the system’s proper functioning when driving abroad.

Once all new vehicles in a market are being factory-fitted with this new technology, a functioning network of car-based transmitters will be created within a few months, at least in conurbations.

Many new areas of application can then be exploited in practice. The following three examples are intended merely as illustrations of what scope car-to-car communication offers:

Example 1 – safety. A vehicle has skidded on a slippery surface on a blind bend and is hanging half in a ditch, at right-angles to the flow of traffic. It is now unable to move unassisted. Other vehicles are swiftly approaching the obstruction but their drivers are unable to see it. With the new communication technology, the stranded vehicle will transmit a warning signal which – thanks to the network established with the vehicle’s on-board navigation system – also indicates the location of the hazard. A corresponding warning simultaneously appears on the navigation screens of the approaching vehicles, indicating the location of the accident – the risk of a collision is thus substantially reduced.

Example 2 – traffic flow. Lines of vehicles are moving between sets of traffic lights on a multi-lane arterial road. The cars accelerate, only to have to brake again when the lights turn red. Such a driving style is not only fatiguing for the individual driver, but also means that thousands of litres of fuel are wasted along every kilometre of such roads in the long term, by the traffic as a whole; it furthermore significantly inflates exhaust emissions in conurbations.

Car-to-car technology means that the cars are not only able to establish a network with each other, but also pick up information from static transmitters such as the traffic lights’ control systems.

The phases of each set of traffic lights can thus be transmitted, giving drivers an opportunity to anticipate more accurately how much acceleration is necessary or appropriate. The same applies to impending congestion: using data from cars further ahead, the systems can recommend what speeds drivers should adopt in order to keep the traffic flowing.

Example 3 – service. When driving through a city centre, a driver has selected the local shopping centre as the destination for the navigation system. There is a chronic shortage of parking spaces around that destination. Here too, the new technology is able to help: the mobile system uses the coordinates for the destination to link up with the parking spaces management system for the area around the destination. If a nearby vacant parking space is reported by static facilities, such as at a multi-storey car park, the navigation system can automatically take this into account and simultaneously reserve the space in that car park. The driver is guided to their destination by the shortest and most convenient route, instead of having to drive round in circles endlessly hunting for that elusive parking space.

The number of variations on these examples is almost limitless, illustrating the huge potential of the new technology in promoting safety, flexibility and efficiency as the volume of traffic on our roads increases.

Audi is showed the Nuvolari quattro concept study at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show –the vision of an elegant, powerful Gran Turismo for tomorrow. The Nuvolari quattro is a synthesis of progressive technology, the road dynamics of a high-powered GT and typical Audi design architecture. With their Nuvolari quattro, Audi’s designers have created a two-door coupé with 2 + 2 seating and classic GT proportions: its body is 4.80 metres long, 1.92 metres wide and 1.41 metres high with a wheelbase of 2.89 metres. With its low outline, long front section, potent-looking rear end and extremely short overhangs, the Nuvolari shows its potential even when not in motion.

Power and torque are delivered to the wheels according to traction needs via a six-speed automatic transmission using shift-by-wire technology. The driver can also select the gears manually at paddles on the steering wheel. As a matter of course, an Audi as powerful as this features quattro permanent four-wheel drive and a motor-sport brake system with appropriately large, drilled brake discs which catch the eye behind the 9-arm wheels.

The aluminium suspension on the Nuvolari quattro also satisfies all the requirements of a high-powered Gran Turismo car. The four-link front axle, the trapezoidal-link rear axle and the adaptive air suspension are the key to excellent handling and typical sports-car liveliness. The air suspension improves the Nuvolari quattro’s ride comfort and confirms its role as genuine long-distance transport.

Innovative technology can be found everywhere in this vehicle. A few examples: the electro-mechanical parking brake and the shift lever for the six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission operate ‘by wire’, without any mechanical links. The powerful headlights and the rear lights use an LED light source and the rear lights have adaptive infrared control which adjusts the brightness of the LED diodes to match visibility and weather conditions. The Nuvolari features the groundbreaking MMI Multi Media Interface for infotainment and vehicle system communication. This system has received praise from throughout the trade press for its advanced ergonomics and intuitive operating concept.

After the debut of the Pikes Peak quattro crossover study at the Detroit Motor Show, the Nuvolari is the second car in 2003 that reveals the future path that the Audi brand will take: a future notable for systematic sporting character, highly advanced technology, unique design and an emphasis on exclusiveness.

The name of the Audi study pays homage to a racing legend: Tazio Nuvolari, who on September 3, 1939 in Belgrade was the last driver to win a Grand Prix in an Auto Union car. Nuvolari was born in Mantua, Italy, in 1892 and died there in 1953; he wrote motor racing history as scarcely anyone else did in the first half of the last century. His trademarks were his daring, spectacular driving style and the yellow pullover he always wore in the car.

General specifications
Country of origin     Germany
Numbers built     N/A (Prototype)
Produced in     2003
Introduced at     2003 Geneva Motorshow

Engine
Configuration     90º V 10
Location     Mid, longitudinally mounted
Displacement     4.961 liter / 302.7 cu in
Bore / Stroke     82.5 mm (3.2 in) / 92.8 mm (3.7 in)
Valvetrain     4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed     FSI Direct fuel injection
Aspiration     Twin Turbo

Drivetrain
Chassis/body     aluminum monocoque
Front suspension     four link type, air suspension, electronically controlled hydraulic shock absorbers, level control
Rear suspension     trapezium link type, air suspension, electronically controlled hydraulic shock absorbers, level control
Brakes     vented and cross drilled discs, all-round, ABS
Gearbox     6 speed Automatic
Drive     All wheel drive

Dimensions
Length / Width / Height     4800 mm (189 in) / 1920 mm (75.6 in) / N/A
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r)     2890 mm (113.8 in) / N/A / N/A

Performance figures
Power     600 bhp / 448 KW
Torque     750 Nm / 553 ft lbs @ 2000 rpm
BHP/Liter     121 bhp / liter
Top Speed     250 km/h / 155 mph
0-60 mph     4.0 s

Resources
Useful links

* Official Audi site
* Other cars by Audi
* Suggest a site

Audi attains a weight savings of 50 percent by crafting the body of its A8L W12 from aluminum instead of steel. Then it adds a 450-hp V12 engine, which further complicates the auto’s anatomy. This high-line version of the A8 has all-wheel drive, and its adaptive air suspension system places sophisticated mechanisms at the sedan’s four corners to change its height and spring stiffness according to road conditions and driving style. Adaptive cruise control, a $2,100 option, relies on expensive sensors mounted in the car’s front end. Replacing them even after a minor head-on collision can cost a bundle.

Of all the cars here, Audi’s aluminum A8L is palpably the most sporting interpretation. From its flat ride to its meaty steering feel to its blipped-throttle downshifts in manumatic mode, the Audi is infused with a boldness that belies its stretched-limo appearance. Yet if you were picked up by your driver one evening, from the moment you ducked inside the leather-lined, wood-trimmed compartment and settled into one of the supportive seats, the experience would feel first-class.

We scored the Audi’s rear-seat comfort the same as that of the Lexus, which is only surprising until you notice that the Audi is almost an inch wider and 1.6 inches longer. It simply doesn’t look like the larger of the two. Nor does it drive like a particularly large car. For the gearheads at this magazine, the integration of size and maneuverability was seductive, and the A8L trailed the Benz by just one point when the votes were tallied.

Indeed, the Audi needs the more powerful engine that it got for 2007. Although the 4.2-liter V-8 pulls steadily with a linear increase in urgency and a mellifluous exhaust note, it can’t match the accelerative prowess of its rivals. This may matter on the straights, but the Audi is another animal altogether when the road gets all wrinkly.

Despite its damped responses in the lane-change test, where even large inputs fail to upset the chassis, the A8L takes to the twisties with an agile precision, cleaving to the driver’s lines and resisting spurious body motions. The controls feel right in tune with what the driver is doing, and the paddle switches for the manumatic produce fast, crisp shifts, with rousing throttle blips during downshifts to synchronize all rotating components.

It’s a heady combination, helped quite a bit by tasteful interior design and good ergonomics. Audi’s Multi Media Interface is easier to use than BMW’s iDrive or Mercedes-Benz’s new knob-controlled COMAND device, even though MMI operates on the same principle. The charm of the car lies mainly in its engaging persona.

The clean, classic design of the car’s interior was designed to not only offer its occupants the very best in luxury, but also to guarantee its passengers the highest level of comfort. The superb craftsmanship of the A8’s interior is apparent at first glance. From its genuine real wood inlays to its beautiful Valcona leather seats and high center console, the interior design is the perfect combination of luxury and sportiness.

All five passengers enjoy unequaled seating comfort (or for more exclusive comfort, the A8 L W12 is designed to accommodate four in supreme luxury) Driver and front passenger are enveloped in ergonomic power seats that can be adjusted 16-ways and were designed for superior body contouring. Front seat heating, cooling, electrically adjusting lumbar support and front massage functions are optional. The rear seats can be optioned with electrically adjusting lumbar support as well.

An automatic four-zone heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system offering a separate control for all four outboard passengers is optional. The HVAC system incorporates indirect ventilation that provides a continuous exchange of cabin air yet prevents drafts. To be certain all this climate-controlled comfort is delivered efficiently and unobtrusively, the HVAC operating system itself has been engineered with refined acoustic properties.

Between the front seats is the first of two main components of the Audi Multi Media Interface, the MMI.TM The Audi MMI is an intuitive electronics control system that consists of a turn-and-push control knob surrounded by eight function keys, as well as an seven-inch retractable color screen. Audi MMI provides operation, adjustment, and control of onboard electronics — everything from the sound system, and driver-selected suspension set up to the navigation system.

The MMI command center is set in the center console behind the shift selector and forward of the center armrest within easy, comfortable reach. Atop the center console near the dash is a seven-inch retractable color monitor for easy reference of MMI operations. A three-inch monitor in the center of the instrument panel displays basic operating information.

All 2006 Audi A8 models are equipped with the Bluetooth® interface for mobile telephones, which can be operated through the multifunction steering wheel or the MMI system. The standard voice recognition system can also control the Bluetooth interface, as well as, the CD player, radio and navigation system.

Riding on Air

Audi engineers have given the 2006 A8 a suspension system that resolves the classic conflict between luxury and sport suspensions — luxury being too soft for sport, and sport too stiff for luxury. A fully pneumatic suspension system gives the A8 an unrivaled combination of ride and handling performance.

The Audi Adaptive Air Suspension system starts with an aluminum four-link front axle layout and a trapezoidal-link rear axle for responsive handling and precise steering. Air spring struts at all four wheels, with sensors to continually monitor and infinitely adjust the air strut damping, instantly and perfectly match the suspension response to ever- changing road and driving conditions.

The Audi Adaptive Air Suspension system also affords driver selection of varying ground clearance and damping rate to match the suspension set-up to road conditions and driving style. Self-leveling helps keep the A8 in steady equilibrium regardless of load.

Engine

The unique design of the W12 engine is the result of joining two narrow-angle V6 engines at the crankshaft with a 72-degree angle between the banks. Advantages of this engine design are three-fold; stronger rigidity, shorter length, and shorter height as compared to conventional V12 engines. The smaller dimensions of this engine allowed designers enough room for Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive system. The principle is simple: in the same way that four brakes ensure better deceleration, four driven wheels enable better acceleration and cornering stability. Audi quattro all-wheel drive is the systematic application of this basic physical principle. The results of all this engineering are a staggering 450 horsepower at 6200 revolutions per minute and 428 lbs. ft of torque between 4000-4700 rpm. More than 95% of the engine’s peak torque is available between 2300 and 5300 rpm. All of this power – along with a six-speed Tiptronic? automatic transmission, quattro all-wheel drive, and the car’s lightweight aluminum construction – allows the A8 L W12 to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in a mere 5.0 seconds.

Drivetrain

The six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission found in every A8 offers a choice of operating and driving styles. For fully automatic convenience, simply place the gear selector in Drive (“D”). For added performance, a Sport mode (“S”) delays the automatic up-shifts for higher revs and a more spirited acceleration, while automatic downshifts occur faster during deceleration for added control with engine-brake and low-end torque. Whichever shift mode is selected, a Direct Shift Program (DSP) monitors and “learns” the primary operator’s driving style and then automatically selects from among 200 programmed shift patterns to optimize the gear changes for any given driving behavior, resulting in a nearly personalized transmission mode.

For drivers who prefer to manually select gears, the shift selector can be moved to the Tiptronic shift gate to the right of “D.” In this position, the driver can move the gear selector forward for up shifts and backward for downshifts. For an even sportier feel, the 2006 A8 can be equipped with shift paddles on the steering wheel when the optional four- spoke segmented wood/ leather steering wheel is selected.

Adding to the stability, traction and performance of the 2006 A8 is the legendary Audi quattro® permanent all-wheel drive system and rack-and-pinion steering with Servotronic®. The quattro system uses a Torsen® center differential and transfers power front-to-back and side-to-side to maintain the best traction, while Servotronic vehicle speed-sensitive power steering assist delivers a consistent feel and excellent driving control.

Safety

Dual front airbags incorporate two-stage, dual threshold activation for greater safety with reduced force. Three-point front and rear seat belts with automatic pretensioning take up slack just before a collision to ensure proper belt positioning and optimum restraint. Front seat belt force limiters ease off the restraining pressure as forward momentum is slowed. Active front head restraints pivot forward to reduce the risk of head and neck injury in a rear collision.

In the event of a side collision, front and rear seat mounted side-impact airbag supplemental restraints provide additional protection for outboard occupants. The Audi SideguardTM airbag curtain supplemental restraint covers the side windows from front to back to provide additional protection for outboard passenger head and chest areas and to reduce the chance of shattered glass flying into the cabin and injuring passengers. Additional protection for front seat riders is provided by knee airbags.

Six crash sensors — two each in front, on each side and in the rear of the car — improve airbag deployment rate and timing. Additionally, these sensors can switch on hazard lights, shut off the engine and fuel pumps, unlock the doors, and switch on interior lighting.

An Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP®) integrates an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Anti Slip Regulation (ASR) traction control, Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and hydraulic brake assist for improved vehicle control under various emergency or potentially dangerous situations.

Additional safety features include the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system to assist in the proper installation of child safety seats in the rear outboard seating positions, and three-point safety belts and head restraints for all five seating positions. LED lighting technology used in the taillights increases visibility from the rear while standard equipment Bi-Xenon high intensity low- and high-beam headlights with automatic self-leveling illuminate the roadway ahead. Two front and two rear fog lights add to illumination and visibility in inclement weather.

Exquisitely Equipped

The A8 L W12 offers an extensive range of amenities that customers in this segment have come to expect. Standard luxury features consist of a Bose? 12-speaker surround-sound system with six-disk CD player, DVD-based navigation, Audi phone preparation with Bluetooth and voice control for phone, radio, CD and navigation, dual paned security glass, Advanced Key keyless entry and engine start system, four-zone automatic climate control, front and rear Parktronic? Acoustic Parking System, power side door and trunk lid closers, electric side and rear window sun shades, and rain sensing windshield wipers . The A8 L W12 now includes a wood-segment steering wheel in its standard equipment.

Traveling in the rear of the A8 L W12 promises to be an even more relaxing affair. Developed by quattro GmbH, the standard Rear Seat Entertainment system combines two 6.5” LCD monitors in the headrests of the driver and front passenger seats, and a remote- controlled 6-disc DVD changer in the luggage compartment. This supremely equipped sedan can thus be transformed into a mobile multimedia center.

General Information

Vehicle Type: 4-door sedan,
production car
Price: $118,900
Fuel Mileage: Unavailable
Drivetrain
Configuration: Front Engine/AWD
Engine: W12
Displacement: 5998 cc
Horsepower: 450 bhp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 428 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Max RPM: Unavailable
Transmission: 6-Speed Tiptronic

Dimensions
Weight: Unavailable
Height: Unavailable
Length: Unavailable
Width: Unavailable
Wheelbase:  Unavailable
Track (f/r): Unavailable

Performance
0-60 mph: 5.0 sec
0-100 mph: Unavailable
¼ mile: Unavailable
Top Speed: 155 mph (limited)
Lateral acceleration: Unavailable
Braking 60-0 mph: Unavailable

Audi is launching a fascinating new model series for its entry into a highly emotionally charged segment of the market: the A5 successfully unites the acclaimed Audi design language and thrilling dynamic driving performance, and combines generous refinement with the brand’s characteristic quality and sophistication. Its progressive design gives the new coupé an appearance that is both elegant and dynamic. With its muscular FSI and TDI engines, its entirely newly developed high-precision running gear, and a raft of innovative, luxury-class equipment features, the Audi A5 has been crafted to be a modern grand tourer, a touring coupé in the best tradition.

The Audi S5 is an extra sporty offering to complete the new series. A powerful V8 FSI engine gives the S5 a dynamic edge, which underscores its athletically accentuated design. The A5 and S5 are available to order from 6 March 2007 with the first vehicles due for delivery from June.

The Nuvolari quattro concept car of 2003 gave a first taste of Audi’s vision for a powerful and expertly styled coupé with a high performance potential and a progressive, sophisticated design – a bold step into the future.

Many elements from the Nuvolari have been adopted in the Audi A5. The new coupé is a clear and unique statement of sportiness and elegance. At the same time, the A5 offers a driving experience characterised by exhilarating dynamic performance and excellent comfort over long distances.

With a length of 4.63 m, the Audi A5 clearly belongs to a superior class of coupé. Four comfortable seats and a load volume of 455 litres make this car a comfortable long-distance tourer. The dynamic performance is supplied by FSI and TDI engines with rated power ranging from 125 to 195 kW (170 to 265 bhp). All engines share highly eco-friendly and efficient characteristics.

The engines’ power can be transmitted by either front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The running gear developed for the A5 is entirely new and combines agile handling with the utmost driving safety.

The design

For coupé buyers, emotion plays a major role in their choice of car; the most important reason to buy, in the case of a sporty two-door car, is the design. And on that point the Audi A5 genuinely speaks for itself – its design takes Audi’s progressive and stylish design language to new heights. The sporty silhouette, the precisely drawn lines, which gracefully interplay with the powerful surfaces, the expressive front face, and the equally distinctive tail end yield a wholly desirable coupé. ‘The Audi A5 is the most beautiful car I have ever designed’, says Walter de’Silva, Head of Volkswagen Group Design, with absolute conviction.

Sportiness, elegance and dynamic performance are characteristics common to all of today’s Audi models. Naturally the A5 is particularly rich in these elements of the Audi ‘genetic code’, and the design makes that immediately clear: the coupé’s proportions, for instance, are characterised by a very wide and low stance, a short front overhang and a long, flowing transition from the C pillar to the tail end.

Lines and surfaces play with light and shadows

An expression of determination characterises the features of the front end: the face bears the hallmark of the new Audi in the form of the single-frame grille, and its right-angled headlights and large air inlets reinforce the architectural impression of breadth in the car’s face-on outline. The same holds true for the rear: the distinct horizontal lines and wide, powerfully styled tail lights, which seem to push outwards, underscore the sporting intent of the A5.

The side line is dominated by the mighty trapezoidal C pillar. This not only emphasises the car’s sporty appeal, but also creates a look reminiscent of the legendary Audi Ur-quattro.

A second stylistic tribute to Audi’s four-wheel drive pioneer model can be found in the marked outline of the wheel arches, with their curving contours drawn into the wide shoulder line. The lines and surfaces of the Audi A5 play with light and shadows, bringing its shape to life and endowing the body with the sculpted intensity that makes Audi design unique.

Audi’s customary devotion to detail is particularly evident in the headlights: their elaborate styling perfectly reflects precision and high-tech engineering. The daytime running lights, comprising a strip of eight LEDs on each side, make the A5’s xenon plus headlights absolutely unmistakeable.

The interior,the luxurious perfection of an Audi

The interior, the interface between person and vehicle, is characterised by ergonomic design and functionality, and equally by the exclusiveness of the materials selected and Audi’s typically superb build quality. An atmosphere in which you feel perfectly at ease, even on long journeys – that is the key feature of the A5 interior.

Making interior design a high-quality tactile experience

The entire cockpit architecture is clearly focused on the driver and brings together the instruments and the centre console to form one unit. The animated shapes, the precision of the workmanship, and the sophisticated design of the controls – these represent a visual delight that is also a joy to touch. The interior design provides a high-quality tactile experience each time you drive the Audi A5. One example of the all-encompassing design approach can be found in the door panel trim, where the controls, inlays, armrest and stowage compartment combine to form one visually harmonious unit.

The instrument panel, with the characteristic droplet-shaped surrounds for the speedometer and rev counter, does feature typical Audi styling elements, but in all its details has been developed as a new design.

The A5 also has the screen of the MMI operating system positioned at an ergonomically perfect high position in the cockpit. A new advanced version of the acclaimed intuitive MMI operating logic makes the wide range of functions easy to understand.

Key with a sharp memory

The new key is another design item that also provides sophisticated functionality. With its soft contours and pleasant surfaces it sits beautifully in the hand. But above all, the innovative key dispenses with the conventional key bit. This is possible because it communicates electronically with the vehicle’s electrical system as soon as it is inserted into the cockpit. It can also store important information, such as the vehicle’s current mileage or warning messages from the Audi A5’s driver information system. The data are always up-to-date and available to allow after-sales staff at a dealership to receive the vehicle for servicing quickly and easily.

The engines

A coupé with a distinctly sporty character requires powerful and highly efficient engines. For the Audi A5, power is provided by innovative technologies across the board. All engines supplied for the new model series feature direct fuel injection, for which the petrol engines employ the FSI concept and the diesels are equipped with common rail TDI. This gives all engines a thrilling free-revving character, allowing them to effortlessly unwind their generous torque with optimum energy efficiency. The refined TDI engines with their outstanding sporting talents suit the A5 just as well as the petrol units. Which type to go for is entirely a question of the driver’s personal preference. All of the engines impressively demonstrate that efficiency and driving pleasure are by no means mutually exclusive.

FSI – The high-tech engine with variable valve lift

The top-of-the-range petrol engine in the Audi A5 is a new 3.2-litre FSI with innovative valve gear comprising the Audi valvelift system. This innovation varies the valve lift between two levels. To achieve this, sets of sliding cams are mounted directly on the intake camshafts. These feature two sets of adjacent cam contours for small and large valve lift. Which cam is used to open the intake valves depends on the power demand at any one time.

The effect is an appreciable increase in engine efficiency. The driver benefits from greater power and improved driveability, while enjoying a marked reduction in fuel consumption. At the wheel of an Audi A5 3.2 FSI there is a whole 195 kW (265 bhp) of power output available and a superb torque of 330 Nm in a broad rev band of 3,000 to 5,000 rpm, ensuring blistering acceleration at all times. Within 6.1 seconds the 3.2 FSI quattro with manual six-speed gearbox sprints from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h. Despite this thrilling performance potential the car’s fuel consumption is only 8.7 litres per 100 kilometers (3.2 FSI multitronic).

The all-new high-tech four-cylinder unit in the Audi A5 also does full justice to Audi’s reputation for leading engine technology. The 1.8 TFSI, delivering 125 kW (170 bhp), will be available from autumn 2007. It combines turbocharger technology with petrol direct injection and provides a burst of acceleration and pulling power unrivalled in its class from virtually every rev band. Just as it did with its TDI engines, Audi has accomplished a pioneering feat of engineering with its turbocharged petrol units, taking spark-ignition engines to a new dimension in fuel consumption and driveability.

Thanks to a whole raft of technical innovations in the petrol engines, their fuel economy has been significantly improved, thus yielding a marked reduction in CO2 emissions.

TDI – Impressive performance combined with exemplary eco-friendliness

The V6 TDI units from Audi set the standards in their segment. Their copious torque and outstanding fuel economy accompanied by superb refinement mean that they score highly on all counts. In addition to all this, they offer eco-friendly performance that is hard to beat. The TDI engines fitted in the Audi A5, for instance, are equipped with a diesel particulate filter as standard.

The sporty top-of-the-range TDI in the new Audi coupé is the thoroughly revised 3.0-litre engine. It now delivers a power output of 176 kW (240 bhp) and its maximum torque is an immense 500 Nm. But that is not all: with its supreme 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h, the Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro is one of the sportiest vehicles of its kind. Added to this, it also offers an average fuel consumption of just 7.2 litres per 100 km!

The second TDI engine in the Audi A5 range offers even better fuel economy. The 2.7-litre V6 engine delivers 140 kW (190 bhp) and is an ideal complement to the multitronic gearbox for the comfort-minded coupé driver. Nevertheless, its performance figures are more than impressive: it offers a top speed of 232 km/h with an average fuel economy of 6.7 litres per 100 km. On top of that, its acceleration time of just 7.6 seconds confirms the sporty credentials of this version of the Audi A5.

The Audi A5 2.7 TDI multitronic is equipped with front-wheel drive, while the 3-litre TDI with manual gearbox constantly supplies power to all four wheels. As in numerous other Audi models, the quattro permanent four-wheel drive in the Audi A5 enhances driving dynamics by distributing 40 percent of engine power to the front axle and 60 percent to the rear axle at its basic setting. The system adjusts the power distribution depending on the situation and road surface grip.

In the standard specification, the Audi A5 powertrain features a six-speed manual gearbox with sporty ratios. This gearbox offers uniform short gear lever travel and smooth, easy gear changes.

The continuously variable multitronic automatic gearbox, which offers unparalleled power transmission comfort, is available in conjunction with the 3.2 FSI and the 2.7 TDI engines. At the same time its high efficiency and tall maximum transmission ratio make it very economical on fuel, since it operates in the most efficient range at all times. Whenever the driver prefers a more sporty driving style, the gearbox can be switched to a manual mode with eight set speeds.

Precise instruments for agile handling

Even when stationary, the Audi A5 makes a dynamic impression: the wide track, large wheels and short overhangs not only characterise its muscular appearance, they also form part of the formula that produces its peerless active driving feel. The Audi A5 coupé defines the new standard in its class for precise steering response, outstanding directional stability and superb agility, while also offering first-class ride comfort.

The Audi engineers have achieved this with a completely new design of running gear: the front wheels are located by a five-link suspension arrangement with upper and lower wishbones. The wishbones are mounted on a subframe, which is firmly bolted to the body for high rigidity. Another completely reengineered component is the rack and pinion steering. It is located in front of the front axle close to the wheel centre line, and enhances the car’s very agile handling by its direct transmission of the steering forces.


Long wheelbase, short overhang

Overall, the front axle is located a long way forward for a longitudinal engine configuration with front- and four-wheel drive. This new vehicle architecture makes it possible to have a long wheelbase with a short front overhang, and to optimise the axle load distribution. These are all additional elements that enhance the supreme handling qualities of the new Audi A5. To accomplish this special design, the engineers used a trick adopted from the Audi A8: the front axle differential is located in front of the clutch.

A key element of the rear running gear is its trapezoidal-link rear suspension with completely new kinematics. It provides a high degree of ride comfort combined with excellent directional stability. At both the front and rear, the main components of the suspension are made of aluminium. The generous dimensions of the brakes are designed to match the car’s high performance ratings. The braking force can be precisely modulated and the kinematics of the new rear suspension significantly reduce the so-called braking dive effect.

The standard electromechanical parking brake, familiar from the A8 and A6, is activated via a button next to the gear lever. The A5 is also available with the option of Audi hold assist: this ensures that the car cannot accidentally roll back after stopping on a hill.

The body

The Audi A5 is nothing if not generous to its driver and passengers. Its generosity begins with its luxurious spaciousness – not just for the front row. On the rear seats, too, the A5 is a full-size touring car. Likewise, with a luggage compartment volume of 455 litres, there is always space left over for a bit of extra shopping, even on a long tour. The loading width of one metre allows easy stowage of large items of luggage, and even well-filled golf bags will fit widthways into the Audi A5 boot. The rear seat folds in two separate sections, and can be released conveniently from the boot.

The extremely high bodyshell rigidity, typical of an Audi, provides the basis both for the car’s crisp handling and its agreeable feeling of solidness and comfort. In the development of the A5 the engineers have successfully combined supreme sporty performance and agility with outstanding vibrational comfort. Its lightweight body construction was achieved using the latest technologies, such as metal plates with varying wall thicknesses (tailored blanks), combined spot welded and bonded joints, and the use of aluminium, for example, in the front wings.

The smooth surfaces of the additional underbody panel enhance the Audi A5’s inherently good aerodynamics. One small but typical example of the extensive high-precision work carried out in the wind tunnel can be seen in the spoilers moulded into the sides of the tail lights.

Luxury class high-tech features

Where equipment is concerned, the Audi A5 is characterised by a comprehensive standard specification. This includes 17-inch alloy wheels along with automatic air conditioning, the MMI information and operating system, an audio system with CD player and separate screen, and the automatically opening boot lid. The new comfort key and the electromechanical parking brake are also among the items included in the standard package.

The list of options offers even more luxury class high-tech: Audi adaptive light combines bi-xenon headlights with the dynamic cornering light system and the LED strip of daytime running lights. Keyless access for the doors and boot and keyless engine starting are all features of the advanced key system. The deluxe automatic air conditioning system with three temperature zones allows the passengers to adjust the climate for their individual comfort. The extra-large panoramic tilting roof lends the A5 an especially generous feeling of open space. The Audi parking system advanced features a rearview camera, helping to make tricky parking in cramped multi-storeys easily negotiable.

The infotainment system is a special highlight of the options range. Alongside the navigation system with DVD including MMI, DAB digital radio reception and DVB TV reception, this system also offers pure delight for the ears: the premium sound system for the Audi A5 is supplied by the Danish hi-fi specialist Bang & Olufsen. It comprises 14 speakers, 500 watts of music output, surround sound, active driving noise compensation and, above all, the expertise of a worldwide renowned specialist for high-end audio equipment, making every drive in the Audi A5 a delightful acoustic experience.

Customisation

The decision to drive a coupé is always a very emotional one. That makes it all the more important for a coupé to reflect the personal wishes and express the ideas of it owner. If any coupé can fulfil special requests, it is the Audi A5: how about seat side sections in stone blue Valcona leather, accompanied by seat centre sections in star silver leather, with matching interior headlining also in star silver? To go with that, you can add aluminium hologram inlays or maybe rather laurel wood? The customer has the choice: in terms of design variety, the Audi A5 is luxury class in the full sense of the word, with two types of cloth, two leather varieties, the combination of leather and Alcantara, five different inlays and a wide range of interior colour schemes. Above and beyond that, the Audi exclusive programme from quattro GmbH can fulfil virtually every individual wish.

For those looking for an even stronger sporting intent in the A5, the Audi S line offers an extra-dynamic look. The S line exterior package comprises, for example, more distinctive bumpers at the front and rear. The S line sports package includes items such as sports seats, steering wheel and gear lever in perforated leather, black headlining, and special inlays. Even here, there is scope for individual choice between matt aluminium, piano finish black or Vavona wood assam grey. The 18-inch alloy wheels and exclusive paint finishes underscore the look of the S line sports package, while the sports suspension provides a distinct driving feel.

Geneva 2007: Audi A5 – Click here for the most popular videos

The Audi S5 is a unique competitor among high-performance coupés, thanks to its combination of V8 FSI technology and quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The eight-cylinder engine with its superb power delivery has worthy counterparts in the specially tuned sports suspension and high-performance brakes. Subtle, but clear design elements inside and out serve to distinguish this coupé as a high performance athlete in a league of its own. The Audi S5 goes on sale with the launch of the Audi A5 series.

Engine and running gear

Fascination no figures can express

The figures alone are fascinating enough, but they only hint at the impressive driving experience the S5 offers. The eight-cylinder engine has a rated power output of 260 kW (354 bhp). Its peak torque is 440 Nm, which it already delivers at 3,500 rpm. Within just 5.1 seconds the Audi S5 can sprint to 100 km/h. But no figures can adequately describe the supreme free-revving character, the spontaneous response, the continuous power build-up, or the thrilling sound of this eight-cylinder engine. The V8 naturally derives its enormous power potential from the innovative FSI direct injection technology with high compression and optimum fuel mixture formation.

The six-speed manual gearbox with its very precise guiding of the gear lever and short throw action makes every gear change a pleasure. The quattro permanent four-wheel drive of course provides perfect traction with variable torque distribution from its basic setting of 40 percent to the front and 60 percent to the rear axle. Within a fraction of a second, the dynamic drivetrain system adapts to the current driving conditions and constantly delivers the ideal distribution of drive torque.

The Audi S5’s sports suspension is tuned to enhance the coupé’s performance with particularly dynamic handling. The special high-performance brakes, recognisable by their black painted brake calipers, always ensure precise deceleration. And finally, the ESP electronic stabilisation programme can be deactivated in two stages whenever the driver wishes to exploit the potential of the Audi S5 to the full on a suitable stretch of road.

Design and interiors

While the design of the Audi A5 forms a balanced synthesis of sportiness and elegance, the Audi S5 displays the more vigorous features of a powerfully built athlete: the radiator grille possesses the specific look of an Audi S model – painted in platinum grey and fitted with vertical chrome inlays. The front and rear bumpers have a more pronounced outline and the air inlet grilles are more striking. The aluminium-look exterior mirror housings make an overtly sporty impression, as do the colour-keyed door sill trim and the dual-branch exhaust system with four oval tailpipes. Nevertheless, the model’s sporty attributes always have a functional aspect: for instance, the more pronounced spoiler in the boot lid yields additional aerodynamic downforce.

However, true strength comes from within and the interior design of the Audi A5 thoroughly underscores its athletic character. The sports seats, sports steering wheel, instruments with grey dials and aluminium door sill plates provide a dynamic and refined atmosphere. The programme does, of course, provide ample scope to fulfil individual interior design wishes: the inlays are one example – here the choice is between carbon, aluminium, stainless steel or wood. After all, the Audi S5 should perfectly match its owner’s individual ideas and expectations.

Alongside the coupé’s 18-inch wheels with the new S design and 245/40 R 18 tyres, the standard equipment specification for the S5 features items such as xenon plus headlights with impressive daytime running lights in the form of an LED light strip, or sports seats with electronic adjustment.

Audi is taking the wraps off a new sports car – the Audi TTS, the top of the TT model line. It will be coming to dealer showrooms in the early summer. Under its hood lies a two-liter TFSI high-performance engine delivering a mighty 272 bhp. This intense power propels the TTS Coupe to 60 mph from a standstill in just 5 seconds and on to a governor-limited top speed of 155. The Audi TTS is available as both a 2 + 2-seater coupe and as a roadster.

Designed to appeal to a young and dynamic clientele, the TTS represents the Audi brand’s Vorsprung durch Technik (“advancement through technology”) in its very latest form. The TFSI engine in the TTS takes the two Audi technologies of gasoline direct injection and turbocharging and blends them to form a perfect partnership. Aside from its output of 272 bhp, it is its peak torque of
258.15 lb-ft, which is constantly on tap between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm, that makes the compact and lightweight four-cylinder unit so impressive.

Compared to the engine it was derived from, the two-liter power unit has been reengineered and strengthened in a number of key areas to ready it for operation in the TTS. Thanks to its excellent efficiency, the sporty-sounding TFSI has an average fuel consumption of just 29.375 mpg in the Coupe when partnered by the six-speed manual transmission, while the figure for the roadster averages 28.659 mpg. These figures are improved by 0.372 and 0.716 mpg, respectively, if the optional S tronic dual-clutch transmission is fitted.

S tronic, which deploys two clutches, is capable of performing extremely quick gear shifts at high engine loads and rev speeds; consequently, the time taken to sprint from zero to 60 mph is cut by a further two-tenths of a second in both the Coupe and Roadster. Loss-free transfer of power to the road is the task of the standard quattro permanent all-wheel drive that enables the TTS to accelerate quicker and with greater stability than its rivals. At the heart of this system is a hydraulic multi-plate clutch that works faster than ever thanks to a new pressure reservoir.

The TTS rolls off the production line equipped with yet another high-tech module – the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping system. This gives the driver the choice of two characteristic settings: “Standard” mode is designed for a well-balanced, comfortable ride, whereas in the “Sport” setting the TTS harnesses all of the potential of its sports suspension – which lowers the body by 0.39 in. – to deliver uncompromisingly dynamic handling. Its front suspension is mainly made of aluminum, while the efficient technology of the precision electromechanical steering also helps to improve fuel consumption considerably. The sports car is safely brought to a standstill by the high-performance braking system with its 17-inch discs.

Yet another factor in the supreme performance of the TTS is the hybrid construction of its body. Steel is used at the rear end, while the front and center sections of the body are built from lightweight aluminum. ASF (Audi Space Frame) technology optimizes axle load distribution and reduces the overall weight. The manual Coupe weighs just 3,075.45 lbs, which equates to a power-to-weight ratio of 11.24 lbs/bhp.

Powerful Looks

The Audi TTS instantly stands out as the dynamic flagship of the TT model line. The standard 18-inch aluminum wheels are a highlight of the exterior design, as are the headlights, comprising newly designed bi-xenon units with LED daytime running lights. Inside, passengers are welcomed by deep-set sports seats trimmed in a mixture of leather and Alcantara, with Silk Nappa leather seat upholstery in four different color combinations available as an option. The gray instrument panel as well as the multifunctional steering wheel add further styling touches.

The Interior

Awaiting the passengers inside are deep-set sports seats featuring seat heating and height adjustment. They come as standard with leather/Alcantara seat covers in either black or black and silver, plus silver-colored contrast stitching. The sports seats are optionally available in Silk Nappa leather upholstery. There is also the option of the Impulse leather package, comprising black trim with silver stitching in the Coupe or chennai brown trim with espresso-colored contrast stitching in the Roadster.

The cockpit in the TTS is molded around the driver like a sleek-fitting suit. Its clean-cut, sporty design and uncompromising quality of construction is another Audi trademark. Instruments with a gray background and white needles, metal pedals, aluminum trim panels, plus a multifunctional leather sports steering wheel with a rim that’s flattened at the bottom add further styling touches.

Specifications
Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R:     ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Driveline:     All Wheel Drive
Tires F-R:     R18
Engine
Displacement cu in (cc):     122 (1984)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM:     272(200) / n.a.
Redline at RPM:     n.a.
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM:     258(350) / 2500-5000
Type:     Turbocharged Inline-4
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in:     165.3 × 72.5 × 53
Weight lb (kg):     3075 (1395)
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s:     5
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km):     29 (7.9)
Top Speed mph (km/h):     155 (250) – electronically limited

Audi is presenting a revolution in the top class at the Detroit Auto Show 2008 – the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance roadgoing sports car. The V12 TDI with a displacement of six liters powers a concept car based on the Audi R8. This unit generates a huge 500 bhp and 737.56 lb-ft of torque. Audi is writing a new chapter in diesel technology with this power unit. Equipped with the expertise that Audi has built up through its motor sport activities, the R8 V12 TDI in matt “Grace Silver” embodies superb road handling, pioneering technology and fascinating design.

The V12 TDI is closely related to the engine in the Audi R10, the two-time Le Mans winner – so it catapults the Audi R8 into supercar terrain concerning performance too. It sprints from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and its top speed is well over 186.41 mph. The peak torque, reached at only 1,750 rpm, paves the way for effortless acceleration that is unrivaled even at this level.

The Genes of the Winner

Thanks to their high performance and pulling power, all Audi TDI engines are ultra-dynamic sources of power. The brand has often enough demonstrated its sporty character in its production cars, especially the six- and eight-cylinder 3.0 TDI and 4.2 TDI. Audi has also been writing a new chapter in its success story on the racetrack since 2006. The diesel engine in the R10 sports prototype won its very first endurance race at Sebring, Florida, when it was pitted against an entire field of gasoline-engined challengers. But its most crucial victories were surely in 2006 and 2007 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, when it simply outclassed the international elite.

The V12 TDI race engine in the R10 produces over 650 bhp from a displacement of 5.5 liters, giving it the potential for a top speed as high as 205.05 mph depending on the gear ratios. Its power and sturdiness immediately impressed both fans and experts, who were impressed by its restrained noise level. Unusual for a race engine, this powerful Audi diesel makes barely more than a whisper.

The Drivetrain

Audi’s engineers were in an ideal position to use their experience building the racing engine to develop the road version. Like the other power units in this range, the distance between cylinder bore axes on the V12 TDI is 90 mm (3.54 in.). Yet its included angle is 60 degrees, not 90 degrees. This means no free inertial forces or mass moments of inertia can occur with the V12. The results are refined in every respect.

The two turbochargers, which generate up to 2.6 bar of boost pressure, play a crucial role in producing the huge torque of 737.56 lb-ft that the V12 TDI maintains from 1,750 rpm to 3,000 rpm. In developing 500 bhp, the diesel achieves a specific output of 84.3 bhp per liter displacement.

Two large intercoolers reduce the temperature of the compressed air. The V12 has a twin-pipe exhaust system with two particulate filters. The intake system is similar in structure with one air cleaner per cylinder bank, with an airflow meter behind it. Two control units, sharing the workload in a master/slave principle, manage events in the engine.

The Design

The R8 V12 TDI concept with matt “Grace Silver” bodywork looks even wider and more resolute than the core model. It shows its potential through its muscular proportions, accentuated wheel arches and even larger air apertures. The rhombuspattern cover on the air inlets and outlets is the hallmark of Audi’s sporty top models and a familiar feature of the current RS generation.

Typical of the side view of the R8 is the sideblade. Much wider in the bottom third, it visually accentuates the engine’s position as well as acting as an enlarged air deflector.

The continuous aluminum spoiler lip that connects the front and rear diffusers with side air baffles below the enlarged sills also pays tribute to this version’s highly developed dynamic talents.

Ergonomic and Elegant Interior

The interior’s design is as sporty and exclusive as the exterior: the characteristic element here is the monoposto – an expansive arc running around the steering wheel and instruments, connecting the driver to the car. The interior consequently picks up on the dynamism of the R8 V12 TDI concept and gives it tactile expression in a form that is accessible the moment you climb in.

The start/stop button for the engine and the Drive Select switch with the Dynamic/Sport/Race settings are arranged on the steering wheel. The latter controls the engine and transmission electronics as well as the magnetic ride dampeners in each of three different modes.

In Race mode, the instrument lighting changes from white to red. The navigation system shows a combined display with lap timer and navigation information for the racetrack being driven. Or supplementary information such as centrifugal force and boost pressure can be called up.

There are those who would criticize the Audi RS4 Cabriolet, saying the big V-8 engine in its nose only amplifies the under steering tendencies of its Quattro all-wheel-drive system; that it costs a truckload of cash; and that a cloth top couldn’t be as good as a folding metal roof—like most convertibles du jour. To which the only reply can be: fie, pish, and pshaw!

As V-8s go, this one is at the top of the timing chain. You may know this power-plant from such vehicles as the much-lauded R8 supercar. It’s an all-aluminum 4.2-liter that uses direct fuel injection to cook up 420 horsepower at 7800 rpm and 317 pound-feet of torque at 5500 rpm. That is an impressive output of 100 horsepower per liter—without forced induction. So no turbo lag, just eager throttle response. And 90 percent of maximum torque is on tap from 2250 to 7600 rpm.

Small cars for big bucks is not usually the rule of thumb automobile manufacturers employ to lure customers into their dealers’ showrooms.

But, most rules have their exceptions and German manufacturer Audi has a few of them for sale right now. The car I’m talking about is the Audi RS 4, the most potent offspring of its bread-and-butter A4 sedan.
Most people, understandably, will find it hard to comprehend why anyone would spend $70,000 or more on a car whose usefulness can be duplicated for half that price, or less.

But for a few well-to-do driving enthusiasts with an appreciation of excellence, a need for some real-world practicality and a passion for a world-class driving experience, this Audi might just make the most sense of all. Developed by Audi’s tuning division, the Quattro GmbH is a closer relative to Audi’s exoticar – the voluptuous two-seat R8 coupe – than it is to the look-alike A4 sedans that cart commuters and small families from place to place.

And, “look-alike” should not be confused with “looks the same.” The RS 4 sits 1.2 inches lower than its counterpart, the front wheels are spread 1.5 inches further apart, the rear wheels are nearly two inches further apart, and there are numerous subtle trim differences.

In addition, practically every mechanical part of the RS 4 has been upgraded, strengthened or revised to make it a sports sedan of nearly unparalleled competence.
A sharp-eyed driver behind the Audi RS 4 might notice the larger tires on the car. The cozy interior is packed with everything a performance driver could desire.

The RS 4’s kinship to the vaunted R8 is in the engine compartments, where the two seemingly dissimilar vehicles house identical versions of Audi’s most spectacular V-8 engine, An almost completely re-engineered and strengthened version of the 4.2-liter powerplant found in several other Audi models, it features direct fuel injection, two double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder.

The result is 420 horsepower, 317 pounds-feet of torque, a redline of 8,250 rpm and 0-60 times of less than five seconds. Sounds like a high-strung, unfriendly brute fit more for the racetrack than the daily commute, right? Wrong!
With maximum torque available throughout most of its power band, this V-8 will pull the two-ton Audi sedan along just as willingly at 25 mph in 6th gear as it will race eagerly to its rev limiter.

Nearly every mechanical part of the Audi RS 4 has been upgraded, strengthened or revised.
From inside the car, it never sounds as if it’s working hard. But, stand by the side of the road as it streaks past in “sport” mode and you’ll hear, even feel, its powerful forces at work. Heck, it’s even able to return 20-plus miles per gallon of premium fuel when handled gently.

For the record, the EPA estimates fuel mileage at 14 per gallon around town and 21 on the highway and that qualifies the RS 4 for a stiff gas-guzzler tax.
A six-speed manual transmission, the only one available, is the perfect partner for the engine, with gears precisely spaced to extract the most the engine has to offer and a short-throw shifter that snicks effortlessly from cog to cog. The clutch, too, is light, with a smooth uptake.

The specially tuned aluminum sport suspension, featuring a four-link setup at the front wheels and double wishbones in back, is primarily responsible for the twin responsibilities of agility and a comfortable ride. But it has help.
With the engine forward of the front axle, the RS4 has a weight bias that would normally give the sedan a fair amount of under steer.
Thanks to Audi’s Dynamic Ride Control, which reduces body roll and pitch, the car handles neutrally in most circumstances.

In addition, Audi’s trademark Quattro all-wheel-drive system directs 40 percent of the power to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear in normal driving situations to enhance the car’s handling ability. When conditions require, it automatically assigns power to the wheels with the most traction.

The car is also equipped with stability control, which will intervene to help keep it on its intended path if an overzealous driver heads into a corner too fast. Expert drivers who can find a time and a place to explore the RS 4 at its limits can turn the system off.

A powerful car needs powerful brakes, so the engineers have attached pizza-sized discs and cooling ducts to the 19-inch wheels in a system originally developed for race cars.
Finally, the power-assisted steering offers strong directional stability and plenty of feedback.

With all of the emphasis on all-out performance, one might expect the RS 4 to have at least a few rough edges. Not so. It is also a luxury car in the truest sense of the word, with Silk Nappa leathery upholstery and all the comfort and convenience accessories one would expect to find in one of Audi’s limousine-like A8 sedans. It also comes with a full complement of safety features.

You can take mom on a leisurely Sunday drive and she’ll never suspect that you actually spent all of that money to satisfy the wannabe racer that lurks inside all driving enthusiasts.
Audi understands the limited appeal of this high-priced small sedan, no matter how intoxicating its qualities, so it ships them to the United States in extremely limited numbers. Still, for 2008, it is offering an extra treat to about 300 well-to-do Americans – the RS 4 cabriolet.

Nearly every mechanical part of the Audi RS 4 has been upgraded, strengthened or revised.
While the RS 4 comes at a base price of about $70,000, including that $2,100 gas-guzzler tax and $775 destination charge, the convertible arrives fully loaded for $85,500.

If you want one of these cars, you better hurry. The RS 4 will go on vacation for an unspecified amount of time when the redesigned A4 is introduced for the 2009 model year.
Those who can’t quite afford the RS 4 can take heart, too.

Audi also sells an S4. It’s a closer relative to the A4, but it has a spirited, 340-horsepower V-8 engine, is also lots of fun, and comes with a starting price of $48,610 for a manual-transmission model. At $1,700, the gas-guzzler tax is lower, too.
Throw in some extra cash and it can also be purchased in station wagon or convertible form. An automatic transmission is an option.
Not only will the S4 save you up to $20,000, your mom still won’t have to know what you’re really up to.

Buy a Toyota Prius and you get a backup camera, keyless ignition, iPod integration and travel over 50 miles for every gallon of gas poured therein. Buy an Audi RS4 and you don’t even get self-dimming mirrors, and you can only drive 11 miles per gallon of dead dinos (EPA notwithstanding). The Prius will set you back $25k. The RS4 costs three Prii. At freeway speeds, the Toyota is a near silent and comfortable cruiser, whereas the Audi sounds and feels like a volcano making love to an avalanche.

I only tell you this because the moment I saw the RS4 a Toyota angel appeared on my left shoulder and an Audi demon manifested itself on my right. And then I drove the RS4 and the demon kicked the snot out of the angel.

Allow me to dispense with the unimportant stuff. The RS4 looks like Shawne Merriman in a tight blue shirt, its mirrors are too small and the interior is stereotypically Audi-perfect minus the ugly, useless strip of tacky carbon fiber trim half-circling the dash. The stereo sounds tinny and the back seats are a joke. Got it? Good.

Most buff books clock the RS4’s 0-60 time at 4.6 seconds. That’s stupid fast indeed, just ahead of its main competition, the M3. However, what they leave out is that the RS4 can do 0-110 in 4.7 seconds. Or at least it feels like it can.

Blindfolded, you would swear the Audi is being launched from a trebuchet. Sitting forward of the front wheels is an all-aluminum, 317lbs., 4.2-liter miracle of human imagination. Yes, it makes 420hp, but so does a Dodge SRT-8. While fun, the Dodge Boys’ 6.1-liter Hemi is far from miraculous. The RS4’s V8 is nothing short of a revelation.

Let’s say you’re cruising at 80mph in sixth-gear and the engine is doing 3,000rpm, the mechanical equivalent of sipping a latte. You downshift to fifth and the engine quickly and smoothly spins up to 4,000rpm. In most cars, the engine would slow you down; the RS4 just screams louder and burns more gas. Your velocity remains unchanged.

More proof? In first gear, release the clutch without touching the go-pedal. You won’t stall. You’ll go. Also, a V8 with an 8,250rpm redline is mechanical heroin.

Fine, so the engine is a torque-tastic beast, but they put it in an Audi so it’s nothing more than a bloated understeerer totally devoid of road feel and reflexes, right? Dead wrong. I have a turgid, secret back road I use to evaluate the handling prowess of my testers.

Until this week, Porsche’s Boxster was the champ. I could whip it through the turns at 70mph. For comparison’s sake, the nearly-as-nifty handling Miata could “only” do the twists at about 60mph. The RS4 dominated the two-mile stretch at 100mph, and if I wasn’t so ham-fisted it could have gone faster. Much faster.

Audi used every trick in the playbook to get the RS4 – with 58% of its weight over the front wheels – to handle near-on perfectly. Credit the DRC (Dynamic Ride Control) which hydraulically links the diagonal suspension bits to each other. As the front wheels read the road, the rear shocks preemptively (and correctly) react. This setup works so well the WRC just banned it.

The engineers also made sure every body panel in front of the doors is composed of kilogram saving aluminum. And the 19″ Pirellis are fantastic. While the initial turn in isn’t as effortless and eager as say an EVO, this two-ton all-wheel driver can safely carry more speed through a corner than you can handle. After the apex, the RS4 can blast sideways with such force that you will swear you are piloting violence.
And that’s before you push the innocuous little button marked “S.” Normally, the RS4 is faster than whatever car you are driving next to, sounds bonkers and has a devastatingly punishing ride. Push the button though, and three things happen.

First, the throttle control is remapped so that the rev-happy mill will crank faster with less input. Second, valves open in the mufflers changing the sound from Howard Dean’s scream to Gunnery Sgt. Hartman showing Joker his war face. Lastly, the shocks get firmer and the ride goes from mercilessly painful to f-you. I absolutely love it. Forget violence, you are now driving war.

There aren’t enough superlatives (or space) to properly describe the vulgar joy of driving an RS4. For instance, I haven’t even mentioned that the brakes are stolen from Lamborghini’s Gallardo. Nor did I tell you that while normally quite brave and stupid, I was too frightened to turn off the handling nanny. In short, if you have the means, the RS4 is your end. Right. Now excuse me. I’ve got some sinning to do before the Audi man comes and it’s time to repent.

The Audi Nero is part of a design challenge sponsored by the LA auto show.

The challenge invited designers from 10 of the top design studios to come up with future transport concepts for 10, 20 and 30 years into the future.

Audi’s Nero concept is meant as the ultimate vehicle to go nightclubbing in.
The Nero’s sinister lines and elongated dimensions make for a batmobile-esq appearance, no doubt impressive in the flesh.

The Audi Nero’s covered wheel arches are similar to the ones used on the Audi RSQ concept featured in the movie ‘I, robot’

This concept is an homage to the legendary streamlined record-breaking racers Auto Union developed in the 1930’s.  An image of motion: clean, sleek, and powerful.

The aerodynamic surfaces, covered wheels, and low ground clearance create a stealthy modern interpretation of its inspirational ancestors.

The sinister carbon black color was chosen to reflect the mood of L.A. at night. Its strong silhouette is punctuated with compelling technical details.

The aggressive front end is followed by a translucent hood that showcases an engine which is a work of art in its own right. This super coupe is an expression of pure power, speed, and style that is sure to turn any night on the town into an adventure.

The Audi A4 3.2 Quattro (Auto) last had a manufacturer update on 11/14/2007. The A4 returns for 2008 with several improvements, both mechanically and technologically. Revisions include a new four-link front suspension, a retooled AWD system, and modified powertrain configurations. Roadjet technology has also been added certain interior features, including the seats and sound system.

Standard luxury amenities across the board include automatic climate control, alloy wheels, an alarm system, keyless entry remote, and a stereo system with a six-disc CD changer. Available options on the A4 include Bluetooth Wireless technology, a DVD-based navigation system, unique interior wood trim, and rear side impact airbags. The optional Sound Package includes a Bose AudioPilot sound system and a Sirius radio feature. The Audi A4 3.2 Quattro (Auto) saw minor changes in 2005, and is expected to be redesigned in 2009.

IntelliChoice releases its annual analysis each January. For current information you may wish to view All BOVY winners for the current model year.

Here’s what’s certain. The next-gen A4 is bigger than the current car, as well as its German rivals. The wheelbase has been stretched 6.3 inches to 110.6, overall length extends 4.6 inches to 185.2, and width increases by 2.1 inches to 71.9. Only the height—56.2 inches—is unchanged.

The net of all this expansion is the roomiest sedan among the Germanic trio, says Audi, as well as slick styling (0.27 Cd) with reduced front overhang. Audi also claims the size increase does not entail a corresponding increase in mass, thanks in part to the use of aluminum for the multilink front suspension.

Audi lists curb weight for the A4 3.2 FSI Quattro—it will be the first to reach U.S. showrooms in the fall, to be followed by a 2.0-liter turbo four—at 3500 pounds, a total that includes a six-speed Tiptronic automatic and is about 150 fewer pounds than the claim for the outgoing car. Less weight should mean more go. Audi forecasts 0-to-62 mph in 6.2 seconds. An ’05 V-6 A4 Quattro test car managed 60 mph in a tepid 7.5.

This is the most technically sophisticated A4 yet, with a new automatic damping system, a clever new variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering system, and variable timing and lift in the valvetrain, raising output of the V-6 from 255 horsepower to 265 and, according to Audi, increasing fuel economy by 12 percent.

The dynamic elements noted here—variable damping, variable steering ratio, and variable transmission shift points—fall under the heading of Audi drive select, an option that gives the driver three modes, ranging from boulevard comfort to back-road action.

We won’t know what the bottom line is until September. Audi hopes to hold the line on pricing, but that, like the sportiest saloon claim, remains to be seen.

Some people may be tempted to dismiss Audi’s R8 mid-engined supercar as a reskinned Lamborghini Gallardo. The format is just so similar, and Audi already makes the Gallardo’s body in one of its aluminum-space-frame facilities. Besides, with a history of intelligent platform sharing under its belt, why wouldn’t Audi simply indulge in a little badge engineering?

The answer is simple: Audi is a company on a mission. Remember — this carmaker revolutionized rallying with its Quattro and then later turned the 24 Hours of Le Mans into a company picnic, with five victories scored by this new car’s namesake. Audi also kick-started a design renaissance with the first TT and prompted an entire industry to look at vehicle interiors in a different light. What’s left to do? Well, Audi would love to steal a larger share of the luxury-sedan market, and it would certainly like to stick it to Ferrari and Porsche in the segments those companies rule.

That’s a tough objective, but if the R8 is anything to go by, don’t dismiss the idea as pie in the sky. For one thing, the R8’s versatile nature reminds us more of Ferrari’s F430 than it does the more-or-less relentlessly severe Gallardo. This is not a car that gets in your face the whole time you’re in it. When equipped with the stock suspension or the optional adjustable magnetic shocks, the R8 will cruise the freeway with as little ride disruption and mechanical commotion as an A4.

Yet at speed the R8 gathers itself into a tautly controlled crouch, heading where it’s pointed with remarkable precision and exhibiting none of the propensity for snap rotation that some mid-engined cars have made famous. Some of its stability is from the unequal tire sizes, and some, no doubt, is from the Quattro all-wheel-drive system that has a default rear-wheel torque bias of 90 percent. The viscous-coupling center differential will never furnish more than 35 percent of available power to the front axle when it detects slip at the rear, preserving a strong rear-drive character in almost all circumstances.

This leaves the flat-bottomed steering wheel calm and nearly free of front-drive contamination. Sure, there’s enough load increase in turns to inform the driver of events at the front wheels, but the leather rim is almost devoid of vibration and kickback shock. It’s so good that we’ll undoubtedly hear criticism aimed at the mechanism for being isolated and uninvolved. It really is not. The steering on this car is for the finely tuned driver rather than those who require feedback at 7.6 on the Richter scale.

But don’t mistake this for a luxury coupe. The mid-mounted, direct-injected V-8 is borrowed from the heavy-breathing RS 4, but with dry-sump lubrication for its new low-slung duty. Mounted so that its throttle-body intakes face rearward, meeting ducts that loop around from big intake slots ahead of the R8’s signature “side blades,” the V-8 is actually offset from the center line to package the all-wheel drivetrain.

The transmission mounts behind the rear axle, and a shaft runs forward through the engine’s sump to power the front axle. Audi needed space for that arrangement. But Audi has camouflaged the offset effect carefully with engine-bay hardware that makes the view through the glass hatch appear symmetrical. You need to check the position of the four-ring insignia on the car’s tail to confirm that the engine is shaded to the right.

No one should doubt that the direct-injection V-8 is intended to be on display to passersby, and there is even LED lighting in the engine bay to enhance the effect at night. Ferrari makes a big deal of its F430 engine, too, particularly with the Spider version. Coincidence? Not likely, given that Audi’s V-8 is as much aluminum sculpture as it is machine, and it is dressed accordingly, with considerable attention paid to its dual role as window model.

The attention to detail is evident in the cabin, too, where there is a so-called monoposto dashboard catering mainly to the driver. Some of us felt the stylized angles and planes in the interior were a little studied, but it’s a model of ergonomic rationality, and you couldn’t wish for clearer gauges. There’s plenty of space, too — enough for exceptionally tall drivers to get comfortably situated — and Audi claims there’s adequate room behind the seats to accommodate two golf bags. It didn’t look that big, but Audi supplied photographic evidence, so unless someone made scaled-down golf bags, it has to be possible.

European buyers can choose a pair of aggressive sport seats as an option, but they don’t meet U.S. airbag regulations, so we get the standard ones, with less-prominent hip bolsters. This driver, for one, is grateful. The standard seats already suspend big-framed drivers from the hips, producing joint pain within 100 miles. But they’re nicely supportive and should prove comfortable for average-size occupants.

Audi chose to forgo the keyless ignition nonsense for a conventional steering-column-mounted switch. The effect is nonetheless pretty amazing, as the engine spins to life with vehement energy, blurting a baritone roar before settling to a pulsing idle. Throttle response off idle is instant and muscular, making rev-matching exercises easy for those who choose the metal-gated six-speed Graziano box over Audi’s paddle-shifted R tronic servo-manual. Which, of course, does all that stuff for you.

We tested an R tronic model at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada, and managed to achieve the benchmark 0-to-60-mph sprint in 4.0 seconds. Audi claims a 0-to-62-mph (100 km/h) time of 4.6 seconds, which sounds decidedly conservative compared with our data. The drill for maximum performance is to engage the launch-control function by braking and selecting the R tronic sport setting. This allows the engine to rev up to about 5000 rpm before you release the brake and it dumps the clutch. This produces brief wheelspin at all four corners before the car regains traction and rockets off to a quarter-mile time of 12.6 seconds at 113 mph.

We expect the manual-gearbox car to equal this performance, but the driver’s technique will need to be similar to the program used by R tronic. As usual with these things, R tronic provides the sort of convenience you expect from an automatic transmission. Unfortunately, R tronic uses a single clutch, not the double clutch of the stellar Audi S tronic automated manual (known as DSG at VW) and is therefore not as smooth. Shove the selector to the left, and the transmission goes into automatic mode, but a nudge at the paddles or the selector lever itself quickly reasserts manual control. Since the steering-wheel paddles rotate with the wheel, making them difficult to differentiate when all crossed up in a mountain switchback, we found the console selector to be a handy alternative.

However, it was less intuitive when making quick three-point turns. Because you need your foot on the brake to engage a forward gear after shifting out of reverse, the transition sometimes had us revving fruitlessly in neutral while trying to get out of the way of oncoming traffic.

It doesn’t happen that often, and perhaps increasing familiarity with the car would inculcate the correct operating habits. But given the smooth and precise way the manual shifter navigates its artfully convex metal maze, that option might be a better solution. We certainly preferred the stick when circulating a handling track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where having to do one’s own footwork provided a clear idea of this car’s formidable integration.

The Quattro drivetrain and the limited-slip rear diff work transparently when the car is running hard, balancing the control sense between quick directional response and adequate yaw damping. A lack of mass on the nose lets this car dig in harder than you might expect when turning, and it was only on one fast, opening-radius turn that hard acceleration had the front wheels pushing into mild understeer.

But don’t just take our word for it. Audi had race driver Jacky Ickx on hand to show us how it’s done. He’s in his early 60s now, and this six-time Le Mans winner and 25-time Formula 1 podium finisher hasn’t forgotten a thing on the track. As he launched the car into Audi’s cone-lined autocross course at the Vegas track, it was as if he were back in a race car, eager for one more podium waltz. He was at full throttle off the line, the 4.2-liter V-8 behind us issuing a staccato snarl. After that it was rapidly alternating surges of big power or crushing deceleration as he braked hard for the turns. This intense activity was accompanied by emphatic and decisive inputs at the steering wheel and with continual tiny sawing corrections as he felt for grip.

It remains to be seen whether cars shipped to the U.S. will have, as standard equipment, the 19-inch wheels and Pirelli P Zero tires that are options elsewhere or come standard with 18-inchers. It also remains to be seen whether the forecast base price of $110,000 will pertain. If it does, the R8 will compete directly against the Porsche 911 GT3 rather than the 911 Carrera S we have posed as its iconic target. That’s tough company, but we bet Audi relishes the contest.

High horsepower and low quarter-mile times are great and all, but in an era when speed comes cheaper than ever, any manufacturer that expects to launch a successful six-figure sports car out of the blue had better bring something unique to the table. The midengine 2008 Audi R8 could be just the thing.

Certain design aspects of the R8 might bring to mind a Porsche, a Corvette or the late Acura NSX, but because the R8 carries a 4.2-liter V8 in its midsection, sends 420 hp to all four wheels, offers two transmissions and wraps it all in an aluminum space frame, this Audi clearly has its own attitude. The only car coming close to that description wears the name Lamborghini Gallardo — no surprise, as that midengine exotic provided the basic blueprints for this one. Audi’s $70-grand-lower price tag ensures the competition will be minimal, as does the R8’s two fewer cylinders and 100 fewer horsepower.

Yet the R8 is undoubtedly fast. Sixty miles per hour comes up in 4.4 seconds, a quoted top speed of 187 mph arrives not much later, and tire grip approaches a full g — all par for this potent class. Among the bigger differences: the R8 lets its driver exploit that speed through a six-speed manual or “R tronic” transmission (Audi’s newest take on the clutchless manual); Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive allows hard driving with an extra degree of confidence; and perhaps above all, the R8 incorporates Audi’s usual concessions to comfort rather than raw performance. Consider its advanced, ride-friendly electromagnetic shock absorbers, for instance.

When one looks at what Audi has done with its R8 and the focus on performance and everyday comfort, it’s pretty obvious that the intended target is Porsche’s 911. Impressively, the 2008 Audi R8 stands tall in just about every possible measure, and it’s more controllable at the limit than the rear-engined Porsche. However, pricing is such that the R8 competes against some true exotics, such as the 911 Turbo, the Aston Martin V8 and the new Maserati GranTurismo. Among this group, the R8’s drawbacks include less steering feel and a lack of possible customization through the factory. Still, to those who prefer the “middle ground” of driving sports cars, appreciate all-wheel drive and have an eye for Audi’s innovative interiors, the R8 stands as the obvious choice.

Performance
From Audi comes the all-new R8. Race inspired and derived from the Le Mans dominating R8 machine. With it’s mid-engine design and high-revving 4.2 liter V8 with FSI® Direct Injection technology, the new R8 is the ultimate execution of Audi.

Engine
The mid-mounted V8 engine with 4.2 liter displacement and four-valve FSI® technology produces 420 hp and accelerates the Audi R8 to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds. The maximum torque of 317 lb-ft delivers breathtaking thrust. The top speed is 187 mph. But ultimately these numbers merely prepare the ground for something that is impossible to express in numbers: the supreme driving experience.

R tronic transmission
An automated 6-speed manual gearbox combines the sportiness of a manual gearbox with the advantages of an automatic. Shifting is performed with the joystick gear lever or with manual shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. A sport mode shift program further accentuated this motorsport oriented gear-shifting.

Four-link suspension
The four-link independent suspension at both sets of wheels allows for the functional separation of the cushioning of longitudinal and transverse forces. Not only is comfort enhanced, but directional stability and a sporty road behavior are fully maintained.

Manual 6-speed transmission
The gearing of the mechanical 6-speed manual gearbox with a dry double plate clutch is matched exactly to the engine and driving performance of the Audi R8. This allows for the engine’s torque to be transmitted to the wheels over almost the entire range of gear ratios and engine speeds

The 2008 Audi A5 is powered by a 265-horsepower 3.2-liter FSI V6 engine. Power is delivered through a 6-speed manual transmission and Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel-drive system, with a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic optional. During normal conditions, quattro distributes torque 40 percent to the front and 60 percent to the rear, but can adjust the distribution to deliver more torque to the wheels with the most available traction. Technology includes partial LED lighting, an electromechanical parking brake, an all-plastic key and three-zone climate control.

For a start, this car is indeed “all new.” Its platform will underpin the next A4, though that car won’t necessarily be as wide as this one. A new transaxle design places the differential ahead of the clutch or torque converter, so that the front-axle centerline is now just 1.7 inches behind the engine (the A8 and Bentley Continental have a similar layout, but their axles are almost an inch farther aft). This arrangement extends the wheelbase for improved ride and reduces the front weight bias for crisper handling (S5 quattro models scale in at 54/46 percent front/rear).

The A5’s direct-injected 3.2-liter FSI engine launches a novel new variable valve-lift system (see sidebar) to produce 265 horsepower with improved fuel efficiency. The S5’s 4.2-liter FSI V-8 is derived from those in the RS4 and R8 and tuned for 353 horsepower. Chassis highlights include a new braking system, with automatic hill-holding and electronic parking-brake application, and a change to a front-mounted steering rack positioned near the height of the wheel centers for improved steering feel. An electronic novelty-the so-called Smart Key-stores vital information about the car every time it’s used, including the odometer reading and any fault codes to expedite the service-writer’s job at the dealership.

But chassis dimensions, electronic gizmos, and valvetrain gimmicks don’t inspire buyers to drop big bucks on a personal luxury coupe. This is an emotional right-brain decision driven by irrational aesthetic concerns, and toward that end Audi’s Italian-born former design chief Walter de’Silva has penned a mighty appealing shape here. Seen first as the Nuvolari concept in 2003, the production version looks even better from all angles-less massive, more graceful, and not at all like a super-size TT.

One particularly delectable design flourish is the strip of white LEDs that underlines each headlight, serving as daytime running lights (drawing 40 percent less power than halogen DRLs). The only aesthetic trick the new car misses is the pillarless hardtop greenhouse, and given that a cabrio version is expected to join the lineup it could’ve been accomplished easily, but the underbody reinforcements needed for side-impact protection would’ve added too much weight. S5s are distinguished by more aggressive fascias, quad instead of dual tailpipes, a lowered suspension, aluminum mirror housings, and standard 18-inch wheels, up from the A5’s 17s (though 19s are available on either model).

On our brief drive of the A5 and S5, both with manual transmissions, we were thrilled. Audi’s 0-to-60-mph acceleration claims of 6.1 seconds for the A5 and 5.1 for the S5 are more than believable. Adding to the fun was the S5’s exhaust note, which was alarmingly (and addictively) loud, bellowing its song at a volume no one would expect from a car so well dressed (maybe it could teach the RS 4 to sing).

Even better, the engine’s longitudinal orientation and relocation farther back in the chassis optimize weight distribution, resulting in markedly better behavior than offered by the current nose-heavy A4/S4 sedans. Interestingly, however, in spite of its stickier tires and larger wheels, the heavier S5 seems to push a touch more in corners. Moreover, the standard-fare A5 surprised us with a more satisfying steering effort than provided by its more powerful brother, which is somewhat lighter than we’d like at any given speed. Brakes, as expected in any car of this caliber, are entirely competent and exhibited not a trace of fade along northern Italy’s twisty declines, where many an ancient Alfa (or lumbering livestock) might be asserting its God-given right to park itself in the middle of the road around any given bend.

The A5 will be priced around $45,000, plus options, when it lands next year. If you absolutely have to have one by the end of the year, prepare to shell out well over $50,000 for an S5, which, frankly, is a bargain for such a high-level combination of speed, style, luxury, and sex appeal.

This is very orginal desiner and very fantastic concept car.
Combining sportiness with a respect for the environment, the Audi R-Zéro illustrates that extreme performance and reason are not contradictory. If anyone thinks that an electric car is deprived of elegance and dynamism, Audi R-Zéro is a battery-driven vehicle that can fulfill dreams and arouse desires.

As oil prices continue to increase and the Protocol of Kyoto enters application, the bio-energies face serious limitations. Our energy future does not depend only on crude oil reserves. In the face of climatic change and its ecological and human cost, the consumption of hydrocarbons cannot continue at the current pace. It is necessary to decrease and diversify our consumption. Transport is the principal source of air pollution and oil consumption to a total value of 50%.

The initial purpose for the elaboration of this concept was to create a machine with demonic sensations by avoiding the immoderation and the inconveniences that we know of the current supercars, mainly in term of pollution. A concept with the image of a muscular sports car, the Audi TT, and with performance equivalent to that of the Bugatti Veyron, the whole works in harmony with our environment and must join the perspective of 2010.

Aside from the production of the batteries themselves, this car is respectful of the environment mainly due to its electric motorization. The system of electric motorization transmits the fabulous power and reactivity of the engine. It is in harmony with the ecological challenge and meets the needs of the present without compromising the capacity to satisfy the needs of the future generations.

The R-Zero is an exceptional supercar benefiting from an outstanding architecture. The electric motorization allows an original hierarchical organization of the streams of air in order to to control the behavior of the airflow around and inside the car. The structure of the aerodynamic flow optimizes cooling of the motor and the brakes, as well as generating steady aerodynamic support, all of which is synonymous for performance.

The “Back single frame” is not a free aesthetic subtlety nor deprived of functionality … An airstream connecting the 2 single frames (back and front) is present inside in the car : This structural column thus traverses the total length of the machine. Technique drove the design and the technical constraints were not subject to stylistic demands that, aside from the “Back single frame”, we have created a product which forms part of the lineage of explosive motor vehicles. And in the end, we have an electric motor car which does not look like an electric car.

This concept represents a future prospect coming from students of the International School of Design, ISD France.

This is very paintfull !!!!!!!!!!

The drive unit for the metroproject quattro showcases a fully independent, innovative hybrid technology. At work under the bonnet is a 1.4.litre TFSI engine developing 110 kW (150 bhp), whose power is directed to the front wheels by means of the S-tronic Direct Shift Gearbox. A 30 kW (41 bhp) electric motor positioned on the rear axle is able to deliver up to an additional 200 Nm of torque when the vehicle is accelerating. When boosting, in other words driving the vehicle simultaneously by TFSI and electric motor to achieve a dynamic driving style, the study is transformed from a front-wheel-drive car to a quattro, and power is transferred to the road in the most effective way possible.

The electric motor is furthermore capable of powering the vehicle alone for zero-emission driving in residential areas, for instance. The capacity of the lithium-ion batteries gives the vehicle a range of up to 100 km in pure electric mode; the motor can be recharged from any power socket. The automatic start/stop facility, energy regeneration and phases of purely electrical operation reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of the Audi metroproject quattro by around 15 percent compared to when it is running exclusively on the combustion engine. Despite its sporty performance (0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds, top speed of 201 km/h), the study uses just 4.9 litres of premium fuel for every 100 km, while CO2 emissions average a mere 112 g/km.

The concept car’s styling is simple and coherent, making it look as if it has been cast from a single mould. The basic proportions, with a high vehicle body and a flat window area bordered by a coupé-like roof line, produce a virtually classic look for a vehicle bearing the four rings. Tracing the roof’s silhouette are two striking, sturdy aluminium arches which run along the top edge of the windows to connect the A and C-posts, further emphasising the dynamic appeal of the powerfully built, compact vehicle body. The tail is rounded off by a spoiler integrated into the rear window.

The side-on view presents another typical coupé attribute in the form of doors with frameless windows and no visible B-pillar. The bold segmentation of the study’s side panelling with its gently rising shoulder line accentuates the styling.

The shoulder line of the Audi metroproject quattro with its Racing Red paint finish is a new interpretation of yet another trademark feature of the current Audi design. Here, the prominent double lines continue around the entire vehicle as a curvaceous band that links the front end – from which it seems to emerge – with the vehicle’s tail, that rises to create a slightly wedge-shaped effect. At the front, the metroproject quattro’s lowered bonnet that is virtually embedded into the shoulder line forms a novel styling element.

The single-frame grille with its chequered-flag look and four interlinking rings leaves no doubt as to the study’s sporty temperament, an impression that is further underlined by the aluminium finish on elements such as the grille, mirror housings, door handles, fuel filler cap and tailpipes.

The design of the three-dimensional main headlights in innovative LED technology is especially eye-catching. The reflectors focus the light emitted by each diode to create a powerful, uniform beam whose white light colour barely places any strain on the driver’s eyes, even when driving for long distances at night.

The daytime running lights are also based on LED technology, which promises extra-low energy consumption in addition to its design benefits.

The two-tone multipiece wheels that have been embellished by the addition of V-shaped polished aluminium elements lend further emphasis to the vehicle’s sportiness and exclusiveness.

The wraparound tailgate joins the sides with the tail. The sculpture-like tail lights with their three-dimensional glass lens design extend far into the vehicle’s flanks. When the tailgate is opened, the discreetly illuminated electric motor can be viewed through a glass panel, in similar fashion to the R8’s engine. The luggage compartment itself holds a respectable 240 litres.

The body of the Audi metroproject quattro makes optimum use of the modest-sized footprint of a premium compact-class car. Measuring 3.91 m long and 1.75 m wide with a wheelbase of 2.46 m, it succeeds in combining sporty looks with impressive economy of space thanks to its short overhangs. The transverse installation of the engine also has a significant role to play in this respect. Meanwhile, the vehicle’s height of 1.40 m means there is plenty of headroom in the rear too.

The interior, with its four individual seats and a surprisingly generous amount of spaciousness for this class, has a tidy, no-frills appearance. The curving wrap-around element merges the doors and the sporty cockpit into a single whole. The dashboard and centre console are designed entirely around the driver. Ergonomics and aesthetics unite to create an ambience of clear-cut architecture and high-class appeal. This impression is further enhanced by the two-tone colour concept. The instrument cluster shroud, the wraparound and the centre console are trimmed in a contrasting colour to inject the interior with added dynamism. Details such as the air vents and air conditioning controls seem to be straight out of a jet plane. This same thinking was behind the soft finish of the interior’s surfaces. The round dials and the air vents, which are also circular, are reminiscent of a classic sports car cockpit à la Audi TT.

The aluminium insert in the centre console comprises the Audi mobile device as well as the start/stop button behind the gear lever. In the rear portion of the centre console can be found a thermos flask featuring an innovative cooling and heating system.

The sporty seats with integrated head restraints offer levels of comfort and ergonomics that far exceed the customary standards in the sub-compact class and live up to the expectations of a typical Audi.

The materials used for both the seat upholstery and the interior trim appeal with their high-class looks and feel. The contrasting colour scheme featuring dark panels and red stitching adds substance to the car’s overall sporty character.

Characteristic Audi sportiness plus a whole new dimension in efficiency – it is all down to the novel combination of a state-of-the-art turbocharged FSI engine with an electric motor and innovative control electronics.

Under the bonnet of the Audi metroproject quattro sits a four-cylinder TFSI with a capacity of 1.4 litres and a turbocharger. This engine is an advanced version of the unit that made its series production debut in the Audi A3 only a few months ago. Whereas the 1.4 TFSI musters 92 kW (125 bhp) in the A3, it delivers 110 kW (150 bhp) at 5,500 rpm in the study. Its peak torque of 240 Nm is on tap over a broad rev band from 1,600 – 4,000 rpm.

The Audi engineers have long since proven the performance potential of turbocharged FSI technology, both on race tracks around the world and out on the road. Indeed, a jury of experts awarded the accolade of “Engine of the Year” to the 2.0 TFSI for the third year in succession in 2007.

The new 1.4 TFSI builds on this very same concept in order to maximise efficiency on the one hand and performance on the other. Multi-hole injectors result in very homogeneous mixture formation and extremely efficient combustion. This is also an effective means of helping to cut pollutant emissions. The integrated turbocharger promises optimised responsiveness and even more harmonious torque build-up. 80 percent of peak torque can be summoned up from as low down as 1,250 rpm, in other words barely above idling speed. And despite its power, the 1.4 TFSI sets new benchmark standards in its class for its acoustic output too.

Power transmission to the front wheels is the task of the sporty Audi S-tronic Direct Shift Gearbox. It allows drivers to make lightning-fast gear changes, without a clutch pedal and without any interruption in the power flow. Gearshifts can also be fully automated if desired. If drivers wish to change gear manually, they can do so by using the shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. Reverse and Park, meanwhile, are engaged using the shift lever knob on the centre console.

When running on the combustion engine alone, drive power is delivered to the study’s front wheels. If it is being propelled purely by the electric motor, on the other hand, the vehicle is transformed into a rear-wheel-drive car. The 30 kW (41 bhp) electric motor transmits its power directly to the rear wheels; the differential compensates for any slip on one side.

When the two drive units are working in unison, however, the Audi metroproject is transformed into a genuine quattro and can count on all the benefits of four-wheel-drive system. This ensures that the high torque of 440 Newton metres in total – 240 Nm from the 1.4 TFSI plus an extra 200 Nm from the electric motor – is transformed into the required level of tractive power when accelerating.

Overrun, or the regeneration phase as it is known, is one of this vehicle concept’s most important instruments for optimising efficiency: the braking energy released during deceleration phases is transformed back into electrical energy instead of it being released as heat and wasted.

The Audi metroproject quattro can in principle run self-sufficiently, using mixed operation of the combustion engine and electric motor. Thanks to intelligent control of the two drive units, energy regeneration as well as the automatic start/stop facility, fuel consumption drops by around 16 percent compared to a vehicle running on the petrol engine alone. Although the components of the electric motor add around 70 kilograms to the overall weight, the study still only burns 4.9 litres of premium fuel per 100 km in mixed mode, while CO2 emissions average just 112 g/km.

Pure electrical operation over shorter distances, however, is a particularly attractive alternative offered by this vehicle that benefits the environment and the owner’s wallet alike – all the more so considering that the performance achieved in this mode and the range of over 100 kilometres are perfectly satisfactory. “Refuelling” the Audi metroproject quattro from power sockets alone, therefore, produces an unequivocal result: even allowing for the relatively high domestic electricity costs in Germany, it is still possible to achieve a saving of around €6.50 for every 100 km – or 70 percent – compared to the price of premium fuel.

The Audi metroproject quattro is equipped with the same Audi drive select system that can be ordered as an option for the current generation of the bestselling Audi A4. This enables the driver to pre-select one of two specially adapted configurations for the drivetrain, shift characteristics and magnetic ride shock absorbers.

The default setting is the “efficiency” mode, which is automatically activated every time the engine is started. In this mode, the engine and transmission respond gently to use of the accelerator and shift paddles. This setting is ideal for a relaxed driving style, as well as offering tremendous potential for effectively lowering fuel consumption, and therefore emissions too.

In the “efficiency” mode, the electric motor is not deployed as a source of additional torque; instead it is run selectively as the sole power source to bring about a tangible reduction in consumption. For this purpose, the system makes use of a host of parameters which can be fed to it via the navigation system.

Thanks to the navigation system’s ability to detect differences in altitude along the route, regeneration phases as well as the increase in energy requirements on inclines can be computed before the journey has even started. This also makes for particularly efficient vehicle operation by harnessing the electric motor to optimum effect.

On predefined routes with access to a mains power socket at the destination, the Audi metroproject quattro can cover distances of up to 100 kilometres running purely on electrical power – and swiftly too: it is capable of reaching a speed of considerably more than 100 km/h. The combustion engine only cuts in again once battery capacity has dropped to below 20 percent of maximum.

The “efficiency” mode also flashes up messages in the central display advising the driver to deactivate energy-intensive systems, such as the automatic air conditioning’s compressor, or close any open windows.

The dynamic mode is designed to produce the dynamic yet comfortable driving sensation that is so typical of the brand and that Audi drivers have come to expect of their car. In this mode, the vehicle’s electronics also harness the torque available from the electric motor to achieve extra-sporty acceleration along with excellent lateral dynamics.

The second fundamental ingredient for outstanding handling dynamics is supplied by the sophisticated chassis design, comprising McPherson front suspension and four-link independent rear suspension. Large 18-inch wheels with size 225/35 R18 tyres boost both driving pleasure and safety.

The dynamic chassis is tuned for sporty, agile handling combined with excellent stability, and makes cornering a particular delight. What’s more, the chassis excels with a level of ride comfort befitting of higher vehicle classes.

The braking system with its large-diameter discs (measuring 312 mm across at the front wheels) is more than a match for the drive power. Bred on the racetrack, the system promises outstanding, fade-free stopping power.

The electromechanical steering with speed-sensitive power assistance is also a boon for agile handling. The system boasts optimum steering feel combined with low sensitivity to road surface excitation and a considerable reduction in energy consumption.

The specific strengths of the four-link suspension stem from the way in which it splits the functions for absorbing longitudinal and lateral forces. This permits a high level of lateral rigidity on the one hand for optimum dynamism and driving safety, while offering a great degree of longitudinal flexibility on the other to improve ride comfort.

The shock absorbers deploy a highly innovative technology in the form of Audi magnetic ride, which has already made its mark in the Audi R8 high-performance sports car and in the TT. Here, the conventional shock absorber fluid is replaced by a magneto-rheological fluid whose viscosity can be controlled by means of an electromagnetic field. This effect allows the damping characteristics to be adapted electronically at any time by energising the electromagnets.

Audi magnetic ride capitalises on this quality to make the appropriate damping forces available in any driving situation, thereby optimising both ride comfort and performance dynamics. A computer linked up to a system of sensors interprets the current driving situation with split-second speed. At the same time, drivers are able to choose between two different drive modes, depending on whether they wish to have a distinctly sporty drive – with the magneto-rheological fluid at a low viscosity – or a more comfort-oriented ride.

Foreshadowed two years ago in the Q7 Hybrid Concept, Audi has announced today its first hybrid system will be introduced on its largest vehicle in select markets towards the end of 2008.

Flowing through Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive transmission, the in-line or “full” hybrid system using Audi’s 280hp 3.6-liter FSI petrol engine with an electric motor makes several major improvements over the standard 3.6-liter FSI. The electric motor which is powered by a 288-volt nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery is good for an additional 51hp. Acceleration from 0-62 mph improves by 0.6 seconds to 8.5 seconds. Power rises from 233hp to 240hp, delivered at 4,000rpm, and the standard 3.6 FSI engine with its 375 Nm of torque, gets complimented by the electric motor contributing its own 285 Nm. But most importantly, this hybrid model reduces fuel consumption and C02 emissions by approximately 23 percent.

The hybrid system operates in three modes. Either petrol engine or electric motor can operate independently as the drive unit or the vehicle can combine the power of the two for acceleration. Capable of operating alone up to speeds of 30mph the electric motor is able to recharge the battery through kinetic energy generated when the vehicle is braked or coasting. During this operation, known as recuperation, the electric motor reverses its function to become an alternator.

The battery capacity allows the vehicle to be driven up to 1.2 miles on electric power only. When the battery capacity has reached it operting limit the petrol engine kicks in to recharge it. Meanwhile, coasting or regenerative braking also have the ability to recharge the battery.

From the press release below, “If the Audi Q7 hybrid is coasting without the accelerator pedal being depressed, the combustion engine is switched off – this is possible at speeds up to 74mph. It is also switched off if the vehicle remains stationary for more than three seconds. To continue the journey, all the driver has to do is to remove his foot from the brake and to depress the accelerator pedal again.”

AUDI Q7 CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF CUTTING EMISSIONS

Petrol/electric hybrid Audi SUV waits in the wings as new cleaner, more economical TDI engine joins the range

* Updated TDI engine first seen in A5 coupe is adopted by Q7, bringing reduced emissions, increased power and torque and improved performance
* Revised Q7 3.0 TDI quattro available to order now in standard, SE and S line trim priced from £38,075 OTR to £41,475 OTR
* 240PS@4,000rpm, 550Nm from 1,750rpm to 2,750rpm, 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds, top speed 134mph, 34.9mpg, CO2 260g/km
* Working Q7 petrol/electric hybrid prototype reduces consumption and emissions by over 20 per cent – production version is expected to go on sale in certain markets towards the end of 2008.

The seven-seat Audi Q7 SUV benefits from a ‘win-win’ upgrade this week courtesy of a new version of its 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine which brings lower emissions, higher power and torque and improved performance and fuel economy.

The even more efficient 2008 Model Year Q7 3.0 TDI quattro, which is also now equipped with an exhaust-cleansing Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), is available for order in standard, SE and S line trim priced from £38,075 OTR. It forms part of a Q7 development programme which also includes petrol/electric hybrid versions that slash fuel consumption and emissions by over 20 per cent.

Featuring an advanced common rail direct fuel injection system using sophisticated piezoelectric quartz crystal technology, the upgraded V6 TDI engine benefits from enhancements that boost combined cycle fuel economy in the Q7 3.0 TDI quattro from 33.6mpg to 34.9mpg, reduce CO2 output from 279g/km to 260g/km and bring down the 0-62mph time by 0.6 seconds to 8.5 seconds. Power rises from 233PS to 240PS, delivered at 4,000rpm, and torque increases from 500Nm to an even healthier 550Nm, available from just 1,750rpm.

Diesel is of course far from the only source of responsibly delivered power to be championed by the Vorsprung durch Technik brand. As well as exploring the possibilities opened up by second generation ‘future fuels’ such as the biomass-to-liquid (BTL) SunFuel, Audi is also testing fully operational prototypes running on bioethanol (E85), CNG (compressed natural gas) and petrol/electric hybrid power.

Q7 hybrid reduces consumption and emissions by over 20 per cent
The Q7 hybrid is expected to go on sale in its first markets towards the end of 2008, combining its familiar 280PS 3.6-litre FSI petrol engine with an electric motor situated in the drivetrain powered by a 288-volt nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery, which adds a further 51PS. The Q7 hybrid reduces fuel consumption, and therefore C02 output, by approximately 23 per cent compared with the Q7 3.6 FSI as we know it today.

Designed in a parallel configuration in which all major assemblies are arranged in line, helping to reduce weight and energy loss, the 3.6-litre FSI V6 with its 375 Nm torque peak is boosted by up to 285Nm by the electric motor. Channelled via a six-speed tiptronic gearbox and through the quattro four-wheel-drive system with asymmetric 40% front / 60% rear torque split, this joint output enables a 0-62mph acceleration time of just 7.6 seconds (standard Q7 3.6 FSI 8.5 seconds) and combined fuel consumption of 28.8mpg (standard Q7 3.6 FSI 22.2mpg). The Q7 3.6 FSI’s 309g/km output is reduced to 237g/km thanks to the electric motor and a number of revisions to ancillaries such as the power steering pump.

Fundamentally, three driving modes are possible. The FSI engine and the electric motor can each work on their own as the drive unit, or the vehicle can combine the power of the two for acceleration. In this mode, the petrol engine is responsible for basic operation, whereby it also needs to supply energy to the battery.

The electric motor on the other hand can operate independently and almost inaudibly at speeds of up to 30mph, considerably reducing exhaust and noise emissions in built up areas. It is also able to feed kinetic energy back into the system and so recharge the battery when the vehicle is braked or coasting. During this operation, known as recuperation, the motor reverses its function to become an alternator.

The capacity of the NiMH battery allows the vehicle to be driven up to 1.2 miles on purely electrical power – coasting and braking feed additional energy into the system. When the capacity limit of the battery has been reached, the combustion engine is activated to recharge the battery. Through regeneration measures such as these, the Audi Q7 hybrid recuperates about 720 kWh of energy a year – approximately a sixth of what a four-person household uses – based on an average of 12,000 miles per annum.

If the Audi Q7 hybrid is coasting without the accelerator pedal being depressed, the combustion engine is switched off – this is possible at speeds up to 74mph. It is also switched off if the vehicle remains stationary for more than three seconds. To continue the journey, all the driver has to do is to remove his foot from the brake and to depress the accelerator pedal again.

Like the standard Q7, the hybrid also has space for three rows of seats and a large luggage compartment. The battery system that supplies energy to the electric motor is located in the spare wheel recess at the rear of the vehicle. Compared to earlier generations of hybrid vehicles, the electric motor and the battery are extremely lightweight. The battery weighs 69 kg and the hybrid module with the electric motor 40 kg.

Inside, sports seats with an electrically adjustable lumbar support provide a secure seating position for spirited driving. The seats are upholstered in a cloth/leather combination or in Fine Nappa leather, both of which feature an embossed S line logo. Available for the first time in the A5 is the new perforated Alcantara/leather upholstery, with the perforations in the seat centre section backed in contrasting silver.

Other typical S line items in the A5 include: the S line 3-spoke leather-covered sports steering wheel, inlays in matt brushed aluminum, and the S line logo on the door sill trims and front wings. Exclusive exterior colors include Misano Red and Avus Silver.

Characteristic features of the S line exterior package are distinctive front and rear bumpers and side ventilation grilles at the front. The diffuser insert at the rear and the central bar on the lower side of the front bumper are finished in platinum grey.

Rarely does one get to step back from the practicality and market demands of the automotive industry to create something purely out of passion and desire. It is a realm typically reserved for artists. And a method that has resulted in another milestone in our celebrated history: the all-new Audi A5.

A performance coupe that defies the strict rules governed by the conventional world of two-door design.

Pricing
Prices for a manual transmission A5 will start $39,900 with the automatic transmission option raising the sticker to $41,200. The A5 hits U.S. shores in the spring of 2008.

Built on the next-generation A4 platform, dubbed B8, the A5 and S5 are long and wide, with a coupelike roofline and—what’s this?—a coupelike door count! Thank you, Audi, for reminding us of something that Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and certain others seem to have forgotten: coupes are cars with only two doors, period. As such, “duoportes” such as the A5 appeal only to specific types of people whose lifestyles do not include carpooling and who do not slog such things as other peoples’ kids, slobbering St. Bernards, or corn-fed colleagues. Coupes are for one person or one pair, and seldom more. They are personal and intimate; a reward, not an appliance.

Emotional creatures that they are, coupes tend to be stylish first, and the A5 is no exception. It is breathtaking in pictures, but even more so on the road. Walter de’Silva’s talented team has tastefully advanced Audi’s passenger-car design beyond the current level that most already consider as tasteful and advanced as any in the automotive world. Gone is the semicircular roofline we’ve come to expect for the past decade, replaced by one with a more formal treatment for the rear-quarter glass (necessary to accommodate the heads of the rearmost pair of the A5’s infrequent quartet of passengers). The design departure on the roofline is somewhat of a surprise. That it is so gracefully applied is not.

The new nose—complete with soon-to-be-ubiquitous LED running lamps—is blunt and broad yet as sultry as Angelina Jolie 30 seconds after her wake-up call. On the A5, Audi’s single-frame grille finally seems natural, either because we’ve become accustomed to it, or because Audi’s other new coupes, the 2008 R8 and the 2008 TT, have made it look so good. The S5, of course, is a bit snootier in appearance with its egg-crate detailing and squared-off air intakes.

All that said, what is most distinctive on the new coupes is the character line that rises over the fenders to accentuate the big wheels, which measure 18 inches on the A5, 19 on the S5. The longer wheelbase and the longitudinal engine mounting allow for proportions nearly as correct as, say, those of the new Jaguar XK, only with tidy, BMW 3-series–like dimensions. And its unexpected width—something also likely to characterize the next A4—is quite evident from behind, where horizontal lamps and wide-set tailpipes accentuate the car’s girth. From every angle, it works. Very, very well.

For a start, this car is indeed “all new.” Its platform will underpin the next A4, though that car won’t necessarily be as wide as this one. A new transaxle design places the differential ahead of the clutch or torque converter, so that the front-axle centerline is now just 1.7 inches behind the engine (the A8 and Bentley Continental have a similar layout, but their axles are almost an inch farther aft). This arrangement extends the wheelbase for improved ride and reduces the front weight bias for crisper handling (S5 quattro models scale in at 54/46 percent front/rear). The A5’s direct-injected 3.2-liter FSI engine launches a novel new variable valve-lift system (see sidebar) to produce 265 horsepower with improved fuel efficiency. The S5’s 4.2-liter FSI V-8 is derived from those in the RS4 and R8 and tuned for 353 horsepower. Chassis highlights include a new braking system, with automatic hill-holding and electronic parking-brake application, and a change to a front-mounted steering rack positioned near the height of the wheel centers for improved steering feel. An electronic novelty-the so-called Smart Key-stores vital information about the car every time it’s used, including the odometer reading and any fault codes to expedite the service-writer’s job at the dealership.

But chassis dimensions, electronic gizmos, and valvetrain gimmicks don’t inspire buyers to drop big bucks on a personal luxury coupe. This is an emotional right-brain decision driven by irrational aesthetic concerns, and toward that end Audi’s Italian-born former design chief Walter de’Silva has penned a mighty appealing shape here. Seen first as the Nuvolari concept in 2003, the production version looks even better from all angles-less massive, more graceful, and not at all like a super-size TT. One particularly delectable design flourish is the strip of white LEDs that underlines each headlight, serving as daytime running lights (drawing 40 percent less power than halogen DRLs). The only aesthetic trick the new car misses is the pillarless hardtop greenhouse, and given that a cabrio version is expected to join the lineup it could’ve been accomplished easily, but the underbody reinforcements needed for side-impact protection would’ve added too much weight. S5s are distinguished by more aggressive fascias, quad instead of dual tailpipes, a lowered suspension, aluminum mirror housings, and standard 18-inch wheels, up from the A5’s 17

Aside from its large snoutlike grille, Audi hasn’t taken many gambles with the A6’s exterior styling, which has a reserved but classy look to it from many angles. The sedan has an aggressively raked C-pillar that flows into the short rear deck lid, which is flanked by LED taillights. If you don’t want to attract a lot of attention when you drive, this car fits the bill.

A number of different wheels are offered. Front-wheel-drive A6s have standard 16-inch alloy rims, while Quattro all-wheel-drive versions get 17-inch wheels. Even larger 18- and 19-inch wheels are optional.

A conventional steel suspension and an optional adaptive suspension that uses air springs are available, and a sport version of the steel suspension that’s firmer and lower is included with the S Line package. Other S Line performance modifications include a choice of either 18- or 19-inch wheels. My test car had the S Line package with 19-inch wheels and summer tires.

The A6 with the S Line package rides wonderfully on smooth pavement, as most cars do. On anything but perfect roads, the experience is a bit less pleasant; every pothole, highway expansion joint, bump and pavement crack is transmitted back to cabin occupants through the sport suspension and the super-low-profile P255/35ZR19 tires. In exchange for tolerating the punishing ride, you’re rewarded with a car that exhibits very little body roll when flung into a corner. For a potentially less-brittle driving experience, consider the less-aggressive tires and the non-sport suspension.

When you take into account the performance focus of the S Line’s suspension, it’s hard to understand why the steering wheel doesn’t engage the driver — there’s little sense of what the tires are doing at the pavement, and the lack of effort needed to turn the wheel doesn’t encourage sporty driving.

The A6 can have either a 3.1-liter V-6 or a 4.2-liter V-8 that gains 15 horsepower for 2007. The base, front-wheel-drive A6 with the V-6 engine uses a continuously variable transmission that can simulate gear changes by switching between predetermined ratios. V-6 and V-8 models with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system get a six-speed automatic transmission with a clutchless-manual mode for driver-initiated shifting.

Though it lacks the rush of the V-8, the gutsy V-6 moves this two-ton sedan easily and pulls strongly when accelerating on the highway. For all but the power-obsessed, the V-6 should be fine.

The six-speed automatic’s shifts are almost imperceptible during leisurely driving, but become appropriately firm when the car is driven hard. Kickdowns happen in an acceptably short time frame when the gear selector is left in D, but dropping it down to S makes the transmission more responsive and the engine controller rev the engine before a downshift so that the S mode’s more aggressive gear changes are smoother. I wasn’t expecting this from the transmission, and it was a nice surprise. Steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles are included with an optional four-spoke wood and leather steering wheel, and also come with the S Line package.

The A6’s all-disc brakes provide strong, uneventful stopping performance. They’re not as easy to modulate as some cars’, but they’re tolerable.

Everywhere you look in the A6 there’s unexpected detailing. The bottoms of the front door pockets are carpeted like the floor of the cabin, and the car includes two vanity mirrors on each front sun visor, one of which provides an extreme close-up of your face. All the power windows have an auto up/down feature. It’s these details — along with Audi’s characteristically good materials and tight-fitting trim pieces — that make the A6’s cabin so inviting.

Power-adjustable front seats with leather seating surfaces are standard. The optional front sport seats are comfortable and supportive. They feature pronounced side bolsters, and the driver’s-side seat cushion can be manually extended for more thigh support, which I found useful. The rear seats have firm cushioning and the backrest is relatively upright, but there’s adequate room for two.

Believe it or not, the A6 has a switch on the dashboard that releases the glove box door. If the point were to prevent the driver from having to reach across the center console to open the glove box, I might be on board with something like this. However, pressing the button again doesn’t close the glove box, and wouldn’t you have to reach across the console to get at whatever you want anyway? The glove box also holds the standard six-CD changer, which takes up space and isn’t as convenient as more contemporary in-dash changers.

Audi’s Multi Media Interface system is standard. MMI controls vehicle systems like navigation and the stereo via buttons and a control knob on the center console; manipulating the knob and pressing the buttons change settings displayed on the 7-inch color dash display.

I spent a lot of time earlier this fall with an MMI-equipped Q7 SUV, and the good news for buyers who’ll have to live with the system on a daily basis is that it gets easier to use with time. Still, too many features that are needed on a frequent basis — like the air conditioning settings — are controlled by MMI when a simple switch would suffice. I’m sure there are some technocrats out there who’ll enjoy learning the intricacies of MMI, but there are probably an equal number of potential buyers who’ll cool to the A6 because of it. I don’t qualify as an expert user yet, as MMI kept me happily occupied while creeping through a congested section of tollway under construction.

The A6 received the highest overall score, Good, in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests, and an Acceptable score for rear crash protection.

Antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, an electronic stability system, a tire pressure monitoring system and a first-aid kit are standard. Rear-seat side-impact airbags and a rearview camera are optional.

The A6 comes standard with a 60/40-split, folding rear bench seat that features lockable latches to limit unwanted access to the trunk from the passenger compartment (think valet). Many competitors don’t offer this feature, or make it optional. Folding these seats expands the sedan’s already large 15.9-cubic-foot trunk. The A6 is not rated for towing a trailer.

A sunroof and heated front seats are included with the Premium Package. The Convenience Package features bi-xenon adaptive headlights that swivel in the direction of a turn to better illuminate the road, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, Bose audio, dimming and power-folding exterior mirrors, and driver memory. (Features from both of these packages are standard on the top-of-the-line A6 4.2.)

The available Technology Package includes a DVD-based navigation system, Sirius Satellite Radio, keyless access and start, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. Audi also offers a Cold Weather Package that has heated rear seats, headlamp washers and a ski sack to protect the interior from wet skis poking through the trunk pass-thru.

Noteworthy stand-alone options include a power rear sunshade, manual sunshades for the rear side windows, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control.

Unlike the BMW 5 Series, Infiniti M and Mercedes-Benz E-Class with which it competes, the A6 doesn’t fit neatly in either the performance-luxury or the comfort-luxury subgroup; it has characteristics of both, but the end result is a car that isn’t likely to fully satisfy either camp. While the attention to detail on the inside is a big plus for me, I can’t help but be concerned about the A6’s troubled reliability record and what it might mean for a 2007 A6 owner a few years from now.

Audi A6 Engines
3.1-liter V-6 4.2-liter V-8
Horsepower (@ rpm) 255 @ 6,500 350 @ 6,800
Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm) 243 @ 3,250 325 @ 3,500
Required fuel Regular unleaded (87 octane) Premium unleaded (91 octane)
EPA-estimated
gas mileage
(city/highway, mpg) 21/29 (FWD)
19/27 (AWD) 18/25 (AWD)
Source: Manufacturer