2008 Audi Q7 S Line 2010

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.

 

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.

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.

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Audi TT Modification

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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Audi Metroproject Quattro

Tokyo Motor Show – Audi is unveiling the metroproject quattro, an original, characteristically Audi design study for the sub-compact segment. The three-door four-seater car blends dynamic styling with exemplary economy of space and supreme quality in trailblazing fashion. At the same time, a series of visionary technical solutions take efficiency, dynamism and motoring pleasure into new territory as only Audi knows how.

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.

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Audi A8L W12

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.

 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.

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

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Used Car Audi A6

If you have $40,000-plus to spend on a luxury sedan, there are plenty to choose from. Why consider the A6? With its incredibly detailed cabin, a choice of two strong engines and good crash-test scores, it’s an appealing alternative to more expensive offerings from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

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.

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

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Audi A44 Avant

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.

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.

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.

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