Most Popular Car Audi TT RS

Five-cylinder engines are in Audi’s DNA. The company is once again building such an engine – this time a high-performance engine. The Audi TT RS, developed by quattro GmbH, sports a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with FSI direct gasoline injection under the hood that produces 250 kW (340 hp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque, yet consumes only 9.2 liters/100 km (25.57 US mpg). In conjunction with quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the powerful five-cylinder model offers explosive performance, making the compact Audi TT RS – whether the Coupé or the Roadster – a purist driving machine.

Potent five-cylinder gasoline engines enjoy a long tradition at Audi, powering cars like the “Ur-quattro” (original quattro) to the head of the pack. Audi has resumed using this recipe. The newly developed engine combines a turbocharger with FSI direct gasoline injection to make the TT RS an uncompromising sports car.

The TFSI delivers 250 kW (340 hp) from a displacement of 2,480 cc: an output of 137.1 hp per liter. Weighing only 1,450 kilograms (3,197 lb), the Coupé boasts a power-to-weight ratio of only 4.3 kilograms (9.5 lb) per hp. For the Roadster (1,510 kilograms (3,329 lb)) this figure is 4.4 kilograms (9.7 lb) – the low values are made possible by the extremely lightweight bodies utilizing the Audi Space Frame (ASF). They are made of aluminum up front and steel sheet at the rear.

The TT RS Coupé rockets from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.6 seconds, the Roadster in 4.7 seconds. The governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) is merely the official figure for both versions; as an option, it can be increased to 280 km/h (174 mph). Peak torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) is available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm, providing tremendous pulling power. The TT RS Coupé requires only 9.2 liters of fuel per 100 km (25.57 US mpg), while the Roadster consumes just 9.5 l/100 km (24.76 US mpg) – another example of how Audi combines dynamics and efficiency.

The powerful five-cylinder unit is very compact and particularly lightweight. Its large turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of relative boost pressure. At full load, the intercooler reduces the temperature of the compressed air and achieves an efficiency of more than 80 percent. When the driver pushes the standard Sport button on the center tunnel, a flap installed in the left exhaust tailpipe renders the exhaust noise even more intense while making engine response more direct.

Purist character: drivetrain and suspension
A manual six-speed transmission characterized by high efficiency and tightly spaced gears of a sporty nature distributes the tremendous power of the five-cylinder engine to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, which gives the TT RS enormous traction, superb dynamics and supreme stability.

The innovative mix of materials in the body provides of an exquisitely balanced axle load distribution and outstanding rigidity. This rigidity is the basis for the car’s precise handling. The standard sports suspension lowers the body by 10 millimeters. Available as an option is the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping system, which offers two basic characteristics: Comfort and Sport.

The Audi TT RS rolls on 18-inch tires shod with 245/40 tires. The internally ventilated brake disks measure 370 millimeters in diameter up front and 310 millimeters at the rear. The front friction rings are perforated. They are connected by hollow pins to the aluminum brake disks, which are encircled by black four-piston brake calipers bearing RS logos. The ESP stabilization system has a Sport mode and can be completely deactivated.

The full potential of the Audi TT RS driving machine is obvious at first glance. The front and rear skirts and the side of the car have been distinctively modified. A stationary rear spoiler is standard, though customers can opt for one which automatically extends and retracts.

The dynamic image of the TT RS carries over into the all-black interior. Standard equipment includes heated sport seats with leather and Alcantara surfaces, brushed aluminum inlays, a flat-bottomed leather multifunction sports steering wheel, a boost pressure indicator, an oil temperature gauge, a lap timer, automatic air conditioning, the concert audio system and xenon plus headlamps with LED daytime running lights. The Roadster also includes an electrohydraulic top and a power wind deflector.

Delivery of the TT RS begins this summer, with the Coupé priced at €55,800 and the Roadster at €58,650.

Read more »

New BMW M3 Edition

Powerful, aesthetic design, supreme performance and exclusive style – the unique characteristics of the BMW M3 are now available in highly attractive Edition Models focusing on the most outstanding highlights of these outstanding cars.

Based on the BMW M3 Coupé, the M3 Edition Models offer a choice of no less than four highly individual cars boasting perfectly harmonised modifications in body design and interior features as well as special light-alloy wheels and an even lower chassis.

The BMW M3 Edition Models will be entering the market worldwide in July 2009 in Alpine White, Black, Dakar Yellow, and Monte Carlo Blue. In the interest of supreme exclusivity their production period is limited to just six months.

Individual highlights both outside and inside.

On the BMW M3 Edition Models the exterior paintwork and interior design are individually matched to one another. Depending on the respective Edition model, the body comes either in Alpine White Non-Metallic, Black Non-Metallic, Dakar Yellow Non-Metallic or Monte Carlo Blue Metallic. The combination with BMW Individual High-Gloss Satin Chrome accentuates the truly sophisticated character of the Edition Models.

The openings on the engine compartment lid on all models are finished in black, the BMW kidney grille, the side gills and the dual tailpipes on the exhaust system come in dark eloxy-plated chrome. The caps on the special BMW M exterior mirrors are likewise finished in black and are connected to the A-pillars by dual arms extending out of the mirror base finished in body colour.

Special colour highlights add an individual touch also to the interior of the BMW M3 Edition Models. The surfaces on the centre armrest, the centre console and the armrests on the door panels are finished in White on the Alpine White and Black models. At the same time these Edition Models come with interior trim in Carbon Structure Leather with white contrasting seams. The seats in Black Novillo Leather feature bespoke contrasting seams as well as vertical trim stripes on the upper section of the backrest and at the front of the legrest. On the Alpine White and Black models, these features come in white, on the Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue models they are in the appropriate exterior colour.

As a further feature the armrests and door closing handles at the inside on the Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue models come with yellow and, respectively, blue contrasting seams. And last but certainly not least, entry trim bars in Checkered Flag Design bearing the “M3“ model designation give all Edition Models yet another highlight.

Special rim design and lowered suspension.
To optimise the looks of the car, all four Edition Models come with specially designed light-alloy rims and a unique suspension: On all models the 19-inch forged M light-alloy rims in double-spoke design are available either in black or in the classic rim colour. And on the Alpine White, Black and Monte Carlo Blue models, the same rims are also available in a special white contrasting colour with polished spokes.

Wallpaper : BMW M3

Read more »

Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009

2009 is a year in which Mercedes-Benz celebrates several anniversaries in the safety field: in August 1939 the safety pioneer Béla Barényi started his work in Sindelfingen. He invented for example the principle of the crumple zone, a trailblazing innovation which entered series production at Mercedes-Benz in 1959.

With the help of its in-house accident research function, which was founded in 1969, Mercedes engineers in the following years have developed several groundbreaking innovations in passenger car safety. Now it is time for a look behind the scenes, and in this anniversary year, Mercedes-Benz is using the ESF 2009 research vehicle to reveal what its safety spe-cialists are currently working on – with a time horizon that often extends well into the future. The ESF 2009 is the first Experimental Safety Vehicle to be built by Mercedes-Benz since 1974. Like its historic predecessors, it illustrates trail-blazing innovations in the field of safety and makes the progress achieved clearly visible.

These amazing but by no means crazy ideas include inflatable me-tallic sections which give more stability to structural components within frac-tions of a second, as well as the so-called “Braking Bag”. This airbag housed within the vehicle floor is deployed when a crash is deemed to be unavoidable, and uses a friction coating to support the vehicle against the road surface. The ESF 2009 will be premiered on 15 June 2009, at the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) Conference in Stuttgart.

“Safety is a central element of the Mercedes-Benz brand. In this respect we have been setting the pace in the market for almost 70 years. For the benefit of our customers and for road users in general. The ESF 2009 shows that we still have plenty of ideas and the absolute will, to lead the automobile in-dustry in this field even in future”, says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

The ESF 2009 was developed and built completely in the test vehicle work-shops in Sindelfingen. This safety research vehicle based on the Mercedes S 400 HYBRID features more than a dozen safety innovations, most of which are fully functioning in demonstration mode. “With the ESF 2009, we have chosen this particular time to clearly demonstrate the innovative strength of Daimler. Anybody examining the ESF 2009 in detail will recog-nise that more safety and improved energy efficiency are not necessarily a contradiction in terms. We want to make progress in both fields with new, trailblazing ideas “, says Dr. Tho-mas Weber, the member of the Daimler Executive Board responsible for corpo-rate research and development at Mercedes-Benz Cars.

The following five innovations on the basis of the S 400 Hybrid are among the highlights of the ESF 2009:

PRE-SAFE Structure: The inflatable metal structures save weight or increase the stability of structural components. When at rest, the metal section is in a folded state to save space. If its protective effect is re-quired, a gas generator builds up an internal pressure of 10 to 20 bar within fractions of a second, causing the section to unfold for signifi-cantly more stability.

Braking Bag: This auxiliary brake accommodated in the vehicle floor is a new type of PRE-SAFE® component. If the sensor system con-cludes that an impact is unavoidable, the Braking Bag is deployed shortly before the crash and stabilises the car on the road surface by means of a friction coating. The vehicle’s vertical acceleration in-creases the friction, and helps to decelerate the vehicle before the im-pact occurs.

Interactive Vehicle Communication: The ESF 2009 is able to com-municate directly with other vehicles, or via relay stations. Using “ad hoc” networks and WLAN radio technology, it is e.g. able to receive and transmit warnings of bad weather or obstacles in the road.

PRE-SAFE Pulse: This further development of PRE-SAFE® is able to reduce the forces acting on the torsos of the occupants during a lateral collision by around one third. It does this by moving them towards the centre of the vehicle by up to 50 millimetres as a precautionary measure. As an ac-tive restraint system, it uses the air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests.

Spotlight lighting function: This partial LED main beam specifically illuminates potential hazards. If the infrared camera of Night View As-sist PLUS e.g. detects deer at the roadside or pedestrians on the road, these can be briefly illuminated beyond the normal area covered by the main beams, as if by a spotlight.

Mercedes-Benz is also presenting an innovative PRE-SAFE Demonstrator at the 21st ESV Conference. For the first time this simulator uses a linear motor for this purpose, in order to accelerate the vehicle cabin to up to 16 km/h within a distance of four metres before the impact occurs. The linear drive system, which is similar to that used by the Transrapid train, is freely programmable and also works in the opposite direction. This enables various acceleration profiles and also a rear-end collision to be demonstrated.

The special feature of this sys-tem is that the ‘vehicle occupants’ experience the effect of the PRE-SAFE® functions live, e.g. belt pretensioning, NECK-PRO and the inflatable side bolsters of the seats. Mercedes-Benz is continuing a longstanding tradition with the ESF 2009: for the ESV Safety Conferences held in 1971 to 1975, the safety experts in Stuttgart built more than 30 experimental vehicles and subjected them to crash tests to satisfy the visionary safety requirements of that time. Four of these ESFs (Experimental Safety Vehicles) were presented to the public, and many of the revolutionary ideas such as ABS or the airbag first entered series production at Mercedes-Benz.

Wallpaper : Mercedes-Benz

Source : babez.de

Read more »

Auto News - Porsche considering Audi TTS engine for cheaper Boxster

Porsche, the once unassailable leader in the sports car segment, has proven that it is not completely shielded from the current economic crisis sweeping the globe. In an official statement, Porsche revealed back in March that its sales have been struggling and earlier in the year the company reported a 27% decline in sales. Hit hardest was the Boxster mid-engined roadster, which despite a recent facelift has experienced a sales decline of almost 60%.

To overcome this, European media is reporting that Porsche is looking to expand its Boxster range with a cheaper base model. If the reports are true then Porsche is strongly considering a new Boxster model powered by the same engine found in the Audi TTS.

Currently, the base Boxster features a flat-six engine that outputs 255hp (190kW) and 213lb-ft (290Nm) of torque. Introducing the new TTS engine as it is found in the Audi model would give the Boxster an additional 20hp (15kW) and 44lb-ft (60Nm) of extra torque, as well as allowing the car to be sold for a cheaper price.

According to Auto Motor and Sport, the idea of putting the TTS engine into Boxster has already been discussed by a joint Audi-Porsche product planning committee, and if Porsche decides to go ahead with the plan then we might see a raft of new Boxster owners swayed by the cheaper price tag. In Europe, the cheapest Boxster runs for around €46,500 ($64,000), but with a TTS engine in place it has been estimated this figure could go down to €40,000 ($55,000).

However, some obstacles may stand in the way of a Porsche-Audi tie-up, especially the issue of brand cannibalization between the two. There is also the issue that many Porsche purists will have with an Audi engine, rather than a Porsche engine, sitting under their bonnet.

Read more »

Auto News - Audi releases first details and new teaser for A5 Sportback

Audi will be releasing a host of models in coming years to expand into new segments as it attempts to topple BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the quest to sell more than a 1.5 million vehicles by 2015. Some of the cars in the pipeline include the A1 premium hatch, A7 four-door coupe and a Sportback version of the current A5 Coupe.

Today, Audi has released the first details for the new A5 Sportback, which is set to go on sale in Europe following a debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Pricing in Europe will start at €36,050 (approximately $49,855) for the base 2.0L TDI model, however, Audi has confirmed that an even cheaper model will arrive in the middle of next year.

Described as offering the practicality of an Avant wagon with the elegant styling of a coupe, the new A5 Sportback features a five door body with an elongated profile. This coupe-like silhouette is the result of a roof section with a long, tapering roofline that is 36mm lower than the A4 Sedan and of the short overhangs at the front and rear as well as the long wheelbase of 2,810mm.

Inside, there’s 980L of storage available with the rear seats are folded and generous space for four adults.

Initially the A5 Sportback will be available with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines. The two petrol versions, the 2.0 TFSI quattro with an output of 211hp (155kW) and 258lb-ft (350Nm) of torque and the 3.2L V6 quattro generating 265hp (195kW) are both equipped with the Audi valvelift system. This feature can produce more power and higher torque as well as lower fuel consumption.

The following engines are also available right from the start: the 2.0L TDI with 170hp (125kW) and 258lb-ft (350Nm) of torque, a 6-speed manual gearbox and start/stop system, the 2.7 TDI with 190hp (140kW) and 295lb-ft (400Nm) of torque, and the 3.0L V6 TDI with 240hp (170kW) plus an enormous 369lb-ft (500Nm) of maximum torque and quattro all-wheel drive.

To ensure optimal handling performance the A5 Sportback comes with a newly developed electronic stability program with an electronic differential lock on the front axle. The car also comes with the Audi drive select dynamic driving system, which allows the driver to choose between three different modes which influences the throttle response characteristics, the shift points for the seven-speed S tronic or multitronic transmissions, and supports the servotronic steering. If the vehicle is equipped with the MMI operating system, a fourth, freely programmable level is also available.

Read more »

Audi nixes V8-powered R8 Spyder, delays A8 Sedan

While many carmakers adjust their product lineups and launch schedules to accommodate the worst global economy in recent memory, Audi is adjusting too - but to take competitive advantage rather than just to play catch-up.

Or at least that's how Audi is explaining its decision to launch the R8 Spyder with only the 5.2L V10 engine found in the R8 V10, skipping right over the 4.2L V8 found in the base R8. The smaller engine could be added later, according to the reports, but so far the V10 is expected to ride out the rest of the current R8's product cycle as the only option for the Spyder.

Another move to push product cycles to a more advantageous position is the delay of the A8. Both changes in product were dug up by Car and Driver, and while the specifics aren't official, the reasoning makes sense.

Pushing the launch of the A8 back to after the Frankfurt Motor Show, where it was previously scheduled to debut, puts the car in prime time for the Detroit Auto Show where it will be able to take advantage of minimal competition for the spotlight due to decreased manufacturer attendance.

The delay also lets the current A8 get the remaining sales it can, since the rate of purchase has slowed across the market.

Read more »