Car and Driver has done a very nice comparison test incl. video of the Audi quattro concept and the Audi Ur-quattro. A must see!
These days, Audi is a lit skyrocket. The Volkswagen Group has poured cash and technical resources into its upscale brand during the past decade with the intention of moving it in line with BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the hearts of its primarily German, American, and Chinese customers. Having recently delighted in the new A8 and in selecting the aging A6 over its competitors in a comparison test [August 2010], we’d say the Ingolstadt boys are succeeding.
The plainly named Quattro Concept began as sketches two years ago but was built in just four months, says the man described as its father, Wolfgang Egger, head of Audi Group Design. Egger bristles at the suggestion that the Concept is retro, saying the idea was to “look back but also look forward” by cribbing certain unmistakable cues from the original Quattro Coupe (1980–1991), such as the chopped tail and triangular C-pillars, but experiment with a new face and more sophisticated surfaces. The guiding principles of the design, according to Audi, were that it be a compact two-seater with a curb weight less than 3000 pounds, use a downsized but high-output engine consistent with current powertrain trends, and, of course, feature Quattro technology.
As with many auto-show stage queens, the one-off Quattro Concept rides on a donor production chassis, namely that of an A5-based RS5 supercoupe. Audi Quattro GmbH, the Neckarsulm-based Audi skunkworks responsible for engineering the high-performance RS models as well as the mid-engine R8, worked on the Concept’s dirty parts.
If you didn’t want to uglify the dashboard in your classic Porsche with one of those modern satellite navigations, then Porsche has the perfect solution for you now: a sat nav which fits into the radio slot. How sweet is that?!
Starting in October 2010, owners will be able to retrofit their cars with the Porsche Classic Radio Navigation System (Part # 911 645 910 00), which packages a display screen fitted into a form factor that is an exact fit for the original factory radio’s location. Round knobs keep appearances in line with that classic Porsche aesthetic, but the technology is purely 21st century.
The unit will retail for €595,00 plus VAT (around $776 USD before taxes at current exchange rates).
Bentley has launched a really cool Visualiser for the new 2011 Bentley Continental GT. This is your chance to style your ultimate dream version of the Continental GT.
With a whole range of colour choices and a trio of 20- and 21-inch alloys, there’s a look for almost anybody. Inside, you can change the primary and secondary “hide” or leather colour, the veneer, and add or subtract features.
Fisker has released a new promotional video for the Karma hybrid.
The beautiful hybrid sedan features two electric motors that produce 300 kW (402 bhp). They are powered by a 200kW lithium-ion battery pack, which allows the car to travel up to 80.5 km (50 miles) before a GM-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine takes over to recharge it.
The car accelerates from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in approximately six seconds, hits a top speed of 201 km/h (125 mph) and as an estimated combined fuel consumption rating of 2L/100km (117.6 mpg US).
The Karma was originally scheduled to go on sale last year, but was delayed for unspecified reasons. It is now expected to launch in 2011.
German Mercedes tuner Brabus has unveiled an Apple themed Mercedes S-Class iBusiness edition.
Designed to be the ultimate executive sedan, the iBusiness has a revised front fascia, aggressive side skirts (with integrated lighting), a sport exhaust system, and Monoblock light-alloy wheels (available in sizes from 19 to 21 inches).
As you can imagine, the cabin is outfitted with all the latest Apple technology. The gadgets include two iPads with Bluetooth keyboards (which can control the Mercedes COMAND system), a Mac Mini, a 64GB iPod touch, a 15.2-inch TFT display, and internet connectivity via UMTS / HSDPA. In addition, one can relax on premium leather seats, with power-operated rear privacy curtains. The interior is made complete with yachting wood trim, illuminated scuff plates, a sport steering wheel, and anodized aluminum pedals.
This special model features a 6.3-liter SV12 R Biturbo 750 12-cylinder engine with 740 bhp under the bonnet. This powerhouse allows the luxury sedan to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.0 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph).
The iBusiness package is available on any S-Class engine variant from the S350 to the S65 AMG. Customers can pick and choose their options.
[ Source: Brabus ]
-> Please find the Press Release after the break, for all the info..
There are already some cars in America that offer in-car Wifi, and now Subaru can be added to that list. The Japanese automaker has put WiFi on the options list of the 2011 Subaru Outback for the fairly standard price of $499 as a dealer-installed option. You’ll receive an encrypted connection good within 150 feet of the car, and it can be used while the car is in motion. The subscription is $29 per month after that, and Subaru is gracious enough to even pick up the first three months for you. Follow the jump for the full press release.
Porsche will be introducing a new sports exhaust for use on the 911 Carrera and the Targa 4 models. The new system will be available as an option on new vehicle purchases beginning in February.
The new exhaust is stainless-steel, with a unique quad-pipe outlet at the back. Exhaust flaps on the back are fully adjustable, the sport exhaust lets the 911 customer tweak everything, including the car’s sound. Working by push button, the throaty sounding exhaust can be manipulated by the driver at any time. Located within the center console, the button is conveniently placed for the driver. - Read the Press Release after the break -
Audi is going big in the US with an exclusive sponsorship of the inauguration of the next President of the United States. There are a couple reasons why the German car manufacturer has decided to do this. Firstly, Audi had its best sales year to date in 2008, delivering over one million units worldwide in 2008. Second, it is Audi’s 100th Anniversary of automobile production. And third, which is perhaps the most important reason, apparently the marketing folks at Audi saw quite a bit of synergy between Obama’s call for change and their own focus on progress. After all, their tagline is Vorsprung Durch Technik, or advancement/progress through technology.
Audi is making possible limited advertising on ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts during Obama’s inauguration next Tuesday. They’re also doing an 8-page (!) “Progress is Beautiful” newspaper insert in the USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Boston Globe. They’re doing Web promotions such as bringing the inauguration speech live online as the exclusive sponsor of streaming broadcasts on ABCNews.com, CBSNews.com, Msnbc.com, and WashingtonPost.com. Finally, they will be buying full-day sponsorships of Slate.com and sole sponsorship of TheAtlantic.com on January 20th. All told, their web efforts should bring inaugural coverage to over 30 million individuals in real time.
Panasonic is announcing their HD-PLC system, first revealed at CES in 2004, will have new features. Next to allowing you to talk to each other over a house’s electrical lines, the PLC system will now be able to communicate with the electric car charging in your garage. This would supposedly have a security function, as Panasonic claims owners can view video from an in-car camera to make sure their EV is charging safe and sound.
The HD-PLC magazine also says that by connecting the in-vehicle camera to the indoor intercom system you could prevent someone from breaking into or vandalizing your car. We have our questions about how that could work, but it will all be shown at the HD-PLC Alliance exhibit booth during the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show (CES).
In addition, though unofficially, The Earth Times suggests the networking system would allow you to transfer music and other data from your home computer to the in-car system while charging.
It has now been admitted that nearly half of all speed cameras are switched off. Many cameras installed in the UK during the 1990s failed to meet the new guidelines of 2001 and were switched off. However, the empty boxes were left along the roads to deter motorists from speeding.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that 323 Gatsos - named after their inventor Maurice Gatsonides - were inactive but remained in place. A spokesman for the Met said: “In 2007-08, 323 speed safety camera housings were not subject to enforcement deployment. They are there but there is no camera inside, or they are turned off. However inactive sites continue to play a role in deterring speeding.”
Motorist groups demand to have the inactive devices removed, citing them as a dangerous roadside distraction. The Government’s transport advisers, however, come with an even more drastic report, which says that cars should be fitted with speed-limiting devices.
