2009 Audi A4 Avant Debuts In New York
Filed under: Audi, Auto Show Pictures, New York International Auto Show, Wagons/Estates
Tags: a4, avant, German
The 2009 Audi A4 Avant just debuted at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. The 2009 Audi A4 Avant will feature the 2.0 TFSI, a new high-powered four-cylinder turbocharged engine that has 211 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The current A4 Avant offers 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The 2009 A4 Sedan will also offer drivers the 2.0 TFSI or the option of a 3.2 FSI V6, with 265 hp and the patented Audi Valvelift Technology (AVS).
Enhancements to the V6 include considerably lower inner friction and a valve actuation system called the Audi Valvelift System which varies the stroke of the intake valves. The engines will improve performance, while reducing fuel consumption versus previous generations.
A number of transmission options are also available, including a six-speed manual and tiptronic transmission, which is optional for the 3.2 FSI.
The Avant’s proportions have been reconfigured significantly from the previous generation model to emphasize both sport and practicality. The front overhang has been shortened, while the hood and wheelbase have increased in size. The new A4 Avant measures 15.42 feet in length, making it 4.72 inches longer than its previous model. Its body is considerably more rigid and safer in build than its predecessor, while still being approximately 10 percent lighter. Those proportions yield the largest luggage capacity in its class, with up to 50.5 cubic feet of cargo space.
Other points of emphasis in the interior and exterior design are the xenon plus headlights, which consist of 14 white light-emitting diodes, and a driver-oriented cockpit that borrows many features from the larger A8, including an electro-mechanical parking brake that also comes standard on other Audi models.
Technology options for the new model include a complete range of high-tech systems. These include the Audi parking system (a parking aid and standard for the A4 Avant), Audi lane assist (the lane departure warning system) and Audi side assist (which warns of hazards when changing lanes). The adaptive cruise control option maintains the distance to the vehicle in front.
When it comes to multimedia, the Audi A4 Avant will meet every user’s needs. The Audi Music Interface (AMI) allows for iPod connectivity and control. The navigation systems with MMI Basic plus or with DVD including MMI are additional upgrade options. Bluetooth connectivity for cell phones is included, as well. The car audio system is by Bang & Olufsen. A 505 watt, ten-channel amplifier controls 14 speakers.
Video of the Audi TTS at the Detroit Auto Show
Filed under: 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Audi, Auto Show Videos, Sports Coupes
Tags: Detroit, German, TTS
Audi has added a top-of-the-line addition to their TT line, the TTS, available as both a coupe and roadster. The TTS will be in the showrooms in the early summer, so keep on the look out. Watch the video of the Audi TTS presentation at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show and let us know if you’ll be trading in your TT for the new TTS.
Click here for more on the Audi TTS.
Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept Unveiling Video
Filed under: 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Audi, Auto Show Videos, Concept Cars, Supercars
Tags: Detroit, German, R8, TDI, V12
Watch our video of the Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept debut. For more on the newest concept from Audi, click here. Stay tuned for more video premiers from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, they will be going up all this week.
Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept
Filed under: 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Audi, Auto Show Pictures, Concept Cars, Supercars
Tags: Detroit, German, R8, TDI, V12
Just when we thought the R8 couldn’t get any better, Audi introduced the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance roadgoing sports car at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. The V12 TDI with a displacement of six liters powers a concept car based on the Audi R8. This unit generates a huge 500 hp and 737.56 lb-ft of torque. 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 62 mph in just 4.2 seconds and its top speed is well over 186 mph. The peak torque, reached at only 1,750 rpm, paves the way for effortless acceleration that is unrivaled even at this level.
The dynamic character of a sports car depends not just on its performance and torque; the transmission ratios have to be right too. In keeping with the character of a high-performance sports car with unbeatable torque potential, the transmission in the R8 V12 TDI has six manually operated gears. The manual transmission is very compact in design. Together with the small-diameter double-plate clutch, this means it can be installed low down. The manual transmission has very short shift travel and utterly precise guiding of the shifter into the open gear lever gate.
Audi Shows TTS Coupe At 2008 Detroit Auto Show
Filed under: 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Audi, Auto Show Pictures, Sports Coupes
Tags: Detroit, German, TTS
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 200 kW (272 hp). This intense power propels the TTS Coupe to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) from a standstill in just 5.2 seconds and on to a governor-limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). 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 200 kW (272 hp), it is its peak torque of 350 Nm (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 8.0 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (29.375 mpg) in the Coupe when partnered by the six-speed manual transmission, while the figure for the roadster averages 8.2 l/100 km (28.659 mpg). These figures are improved by 0.1 and 0.2 l/100 km (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 100 km/h (62.14 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 10 millimeters (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 1,395 kilograms (3,075.45 lbs), which equates to a power-to-weight ratio of 5.1 kg/hp (11.24 lbs/hp).
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 TTS Roadster comes with an electrohydraulic drive for the soft top, a power wind deflector, plus, for added practicality, a load-through facility. The rear seats in the Coupe have a split-folding design, allowing luggage capacity to be increased from 290 to 700 liters (10.24 to 24.72 cubic ft.). The hard-top TTS is priced at 44,900 euros and the convertible version at 47,750 euros.
The unveiling of the TTS also marks something of an anniversary for Audi: It was 10 years ago that the TT Coupe first took to the road, swiftly acquiring the status of design icon. And the TT has stayed firmly in the fast lane ever since
Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept Photos
Filed under: 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, 4x4s/Off-roaders, Audi, Auto Show Pictures, Concept Cars, Convertibles, SUVs
Tags: Cross Cabriolet Quattro, German
The Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept debuted at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show. We’ve brought you video and written coverage from Audi’s Concept debut and now we have photos from the show for you to browse.
Click here to see more coverage on the Cross Cabriolet Concept.
Video of the Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept.
Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept Video
Filed under: 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, 4x4s/Off-roaders, Audi, Auto Show Videos, Concept Cars, Convertibles
Tags: Cross Cabriolet Quattro
Audi recently debuted their design experiment, the Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept, at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show and we were there to cover it. The Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept is the offspring of a SUV and cabriolet but with obvious Audi heritage. To see Audi’s American design statement, watch our video and let us know if this concept should go to production.
You can also watch the Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept Video on YouTube.
Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept Unveiled
Filed under: 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, 4x4s/Off-roaders, Audi, Auto Show Pictures, Concept Cars, Convertibles
Audi introduced a new vehicle segment with its presentation of the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept car at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The two-door, four-seater car measures 4.62 metres in length and combines the genes of a typical dynamic soft-top convertible from Audi with the all-round qualities of a fully fledged SUV. The muscular, powerful, but also elegant lines make no secret of this vehicle’s potential. The 240 bhp three-litre TDI engine with ultra-low emission technology delivers sporty driving dynamics with exhaust emissions on the level of the EU 6 limits. The quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system and high-tech chassis with electric ride height adjustment are a recipe for driving pleasure on all terrain and in any curve radius.
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