Audi Archives

Audi Hosts First-Ever “Tech Talk” For Its Customers

Located at the Audi Kuala Lumpur Service Centre, the Running Gear Competence Centre is a dedicated facility equipped with the latest technology used by Audi to ensure that the vehicle continues to deliver the best ride possible. Illustrating the brand’s commitment towards providing top notch service and access to latest technology, additions to the existing line-up of wheel alignment and brake line tester machines have been made. The Tech Talk agenda covered some of the brand new equipment within the Running Gear Competence Centre including the tyre warmers, tyre changers and wheel balancer.

Complementing the new hardware, the technicians at the service centre have been extensively trained by trainers from Audi Regional Technical Service Centre to ensure that they have the latest skills to deliver the top service level expected.

“This is the first-ever Tech Talk for customers conducted by specialists in technical training and product support for the South-East Asian region for Audi fans to get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at what Audi Top Service is really about. A sizeable investment by our partner, Euromobil, on the Running Gear Compet, prolonging wear, and maximizing fuel efficiency.” Daniel Watts, General Manager of Aftersales, Dealer Development & Training.

Participants at the Tech Talk were put through a series of interactive, hands-on stations involving the specialised equipment, under the helpful guidance of Audi experts. These included the Noise Analysis, Wheel Balancing and the Run-Out Assessment, which measures the hubs and brake rotors.

The Tech Talk and inauguration of the Running Gear Competence Centre reflect the commitment that the brand has towards delivering “Audi Top Service”. In addition, Audi continues to expand its offerings and solutions to customers through:

Training the team: Together with the investments in state-of-the-art equipment, Audi also invests in more than 4,500 training hours a year to equip the service team.
Audi Top Service Shuttles: Since 2017, Audi Top Service Shuttles have been deployed to chauffeur customers from the Service Centre to their desired locations after dropping off their vehicles. Vehicles used include the current duo of Audi A8 L and an Audi R8. This initiative is part of the premium customer experience that Audi Service insists on.
Service Clinics: Nationwide Service Clinics are conducted to offer complimentary vehicle inspection, consultation and promotions on service packages, among others.

Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe Competition Package 2018 – 10 unit sahaja!

Audi telah melancarkan sebuah model Audi R8 V10 yang berorientasikan prestasi paling tinggi di Amerika Syarikat iaitu Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe Competition Package 2018. Model Audi R8 yang telah disiap pasang dengan segala kelengkapan bahagian prestasi dari Audi Sport termasuk pakej aerodinamik lengkap yang dibina menggunakan gentian karbon. (more…)

FEATURE: Malaysians, Why Do You Hate Wagons So Much?! They’re Super-Cool! [+Videos]

Wagons. Estates. Stationwagons. Touringwagen. Sportwagen. Shooting Brake. Sports Wagons. Call them what you will, but they have never been popular here in Malaysia, and that folks is a crying shame, because wagons are uber cool.

To make matters worse for the dwindling wagon market, Volvo Car Malaysia recently announced that they will cease offering the incredible V90 T5 & T6 R-Design wagons locally solely due to poor demand. As can be seen from this recent 0% GST news release from VCM, all iterations of the V90 wagon are indeed already missing from their line-up…

This of course didn’t sit too well with many of us, seeing as how we (i.e. the Malaysian motoring media) absolutely adored the V90, to the point where when its wheels got stolen right-off the car at VCM’s own parking lot, many of us took it personally and proceeded to post notifications of the theft on our own personal social media pages (we were pissed!). For the record the wheels were never recovered and it cost VCM RM17k to replace them and subsequently de-fleet the said unit, so whoever you are (wheel thief and also buyer) I personally hope you rot in hell…

It’s the weirdest thing really; Malaysians won’t buy wagons new, but actively seek-out used ones voraciously. As such, a used Mercedes-Benz W124 wagon will typically cost at least three to four times more than its sedan counterpart in the second-hand car market, as would a Volvo 245, 850 T5 & 945 wagon, BMW E30, E34 & E39 wagon, etc. Even a Toyota KE70 wagon will cost at least three times more than a KE70 sedan. In fact any wagon from the same lineage will always cost more than its sedan counterpart, even a freaking Nissan Sunny. The Mercedes-Benz W123 wagon (below) now costs about seven times more than its sedan variant locally. No, really.

And that’s the greatest irony; if no one wants them in the first place when they’re new, how is it that they are able to command a much, much higher price in the used car market? They should be borderline un-sellable in the second-hand car market, since no one wants them even when they’re brand-spanking-new right? Speaking of brand new, here’s one that’s still available locally, the Mazda6 wagon…

Now tell me honestly that isn’t simply amazing looking. Look at the lines, simply gorgeous. Defy convention folks, thumb your nose at the norm, and buy a wagon, you won’t regret it. At the very least, you’ll know it’s going to be worth more in the second-hand market than its sedan sibling.

Now have a look at this video from Volvo and judge for yourself why wagons are so cool.

In addition to the Volvo V90 above, thanks to AutoExpressUK, here’s a look at some of the nicest, sportiest and most desirable wagons out there… but first, a bit more eye-candy on the Volvo V90, this time in the latest Cross-Country guise. And no, we won’t be getting it here… no demand, remember? – Chris Wee.

And now, the coolest wagons according to AutoExpressUK, starting with the…

Audi RS 4

Fans will moan about Audi replacing the 4.2-litre V8 engine used in the previous RS 4, with a less enjoyable 2.9-litre unit, but with 444bhp, 600Nm of torque and a top speed of 174mph (280kmh) in the new car, there are worse problems to have. The interior compliments a car that has a split personality between sensible and ludicrous, but lacks the sense of theatre that some of its rivals bring. At over £60,000 it is by no means cheap – not that that is untoward in present company.

Audi RS 6

The Audi RS 6 is one of the leading lights in the fast estate world. Partly thanks to its looks, but also helped a its 552bhp twin-turbocharged V8 which will rocket you and four other passengers from 0-100kmh in just 3.9 seconds, and on to a limited top speed of 155mph (250kmh). Prices start from just over £81,000, but for that you do get a comfortable, quiet cabin (most of the time) and 565-litres of boot capacity.

Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Some will argue the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso isn’t a ‘proper’ estate, but if you consider that it is just leaning a little harder on the left of the performance-practicality balance, it becomes easy to see why it made this list. The Ferrari has a 6.3-litre V12 under the bonnet which pumps out 681bhp and 697Nm of torque, which allows it to obliterate most of this list with a 0-100kmh time of 3.4 seconds and a claimed top speed of 208mph (335kmh).

Ford Focus ST

While the petrol version of the Focus ST wagon is a great fast estate, the 2.0 TDCi is our pick of the bunch. This is largely down to the delivery of the power, with the diesel’s get up and go being less unruly and easier to put down on UK roads, but that does not mean the diesel is a slouch – the performance stats of 182bhp, 400Nm of torque and a 0-100kmh time of 8.3secs proves as much. Add to this a claimed economy of 67.3mpg – high 40s low 50s are more realistic – and the diesel Focus ST estate becomes incredible alluring.

Mercedes-AMG C63

The Mercedes-AMG C63 is a full-blown muscle car. Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 which produces a thunderous 469bhp and 650Nm of torque (increasing to 503bhp and 700Nm if you opt for the S model). S or not, both models feel astonishingly quick and of course offer impressive levels of practicality, with the only real issue for everyday use being the firm ride. The interior is a comfortable place to be, even if it is not quite on the same level as the E-Class.

Mercedes-AMG E63

You are going to need deep pockets to drive away in an E63 estate as they start north of £84,000 – which is slightly more expensive than the starting price of the Audi RS 6. That said, the E63 is one of the fastest cars on the road, never mind estates. The latest generation is all-wheel drive and in S guise packs 604bhp and 850Nm of torque. Plus, owners get a drift mode. From a standing start it will hit 100kmh in just 3.6 seconds and go on to a limited top speed of 155mph (250kmh) – these figures change to 3.5 seconds and 186mph (300kmh) in the S version.

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

The Porsche Panamera is no longer the ugly duckling it once was, and the Sport Turismo is no exception. If you go for the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid, flat out you will be doing 193mph (310kmh)and 0-100kmh is over in a meger 3.4 seconds – wiping the floor with all but the Ferrari on this list. Even if you drop down to the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, the 6-cylinder turbocharged engine allows the big German to reach 160mph (257kmh)flat-out and sprint from rest to 100kmh in 5.5 seconds. While the performance is strong here, practicality is not. The rear is just about big enough to get two adults and a smaller human buckled in, and 520-litres of boot space is a tad underwhelming.

Volkswagen Golf R

The Golf R estate is related to both the Skoda and SEAT mentioned in the link below (but comes with four-wheel drive), and offers one of the finest all-round driving packages you can get for the money – the R starts at around £36k. Under the hood there is the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 296bhp as found in the Leon, but here it is only available with VW’s seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The exhaust note sounds good with a nice deep burble, which helps keep up the fun even when you aren’t exploiting the strong chassis.

For the FULL article from AutoExpress, which features a few more estates from brands unavailable here, click this link.

Wagon Photo Gallery (all images from AutoExpressUK)

New Audi A6 To Be Unveiled In Geneva [+Video]

In 1968, almost a half-century ago, the first Audi 100 was unveiled in Ingolstadt, Germany. As Audi’s first entry into the line of full-size business sedans, the Audi 100 was a successful model and the flagship of the brand at that time, providing a solid foundation for Audi’s premium positioning. Over the years, the Audi 100 would evolve into the Audi A6 (since midway through the fourth-generation), becoming one of the most successful Audi vehicle models and the leading character of the business class. Here’s a look at the new car, while paying homage to the original!

Now in its eighth-generation, the all-new Audi A6 continues to push and redefine the limits of what is possibly the most competitive segment; the Business Class.

With a stunning arsenal of modern technology set to revolutionise every aspect of the vehicle, whether it’s the dynamic all-wheel steering with mild-hybrid engine, all-digital MMI touch response system with Audi connect and a wider array of driver assistance systems, this is the future of business mobility.

For more intricate and full details on the new 2018 Audi A6, click this: Press Release – The All-New Audi A6, Upgrade in the Business Class

The new Audi A6 is due to roll-off the assembly line at the Audi Neckarsulm site and will launch on the German market in June 2018. The basic price as the Audi A6 Sedan 50 TDI Quattro is 58,050 Euros (approx RM280,000 before taxes).

2018 Audi A6 Photo Gallery…

Audi Q5 and Q7 earns top marks in crash tests

This may not be much of a surprise to many, but the Audi Q5 and Q7 have been awarded the 5-Star safety rating, the highest possible score for crash safety. The US’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the rating for it’s new car assessment programme. This figure is based on an overall score of frontal and side crash tests.

“Having the Q5 and Q7 earn the highest safety rating from NHTSA shows our commitment to make overall crash worthiness and superior driver assistance systems a top priority for our customers,” said Scott Keogh, president, Audi of America.

Both vehicles come equipped with Audi’s pre-sense safety systems that offer a slew of safety features. For instance, when an impact is imminent, the system shuts the windows and panoramic roof, then tightens the front seat belts to keep occupants in a secured position.

Adding to that, the system can apply braking pressure when it senses an impending collision. Sensors on the sides monitor the blind spots and warn drivers of the presence of other vehicles there. Working together, these systems ensure that both the Q5 and Q7 minimize the risk of collisions.

Like other German automakers, occupant safety is one of the highest priorities for Audi. Its current product line offer some of the best levels of safety. And the introduction of autonomous tech should improve safety standards even further and help reduce the severity of vehicle collisions.

Top 10 list of appreciating classics

Ever thought of buying a car for investment purposes? Most naysayers will have you believe that purchasing a vehicle with the sole intention of selling it on for a profit, is a waste of time. But in actual fact, not only is that possible, but certain enthusiasts have managed to turn the idea into a profitable business.

The key is to purchase a vehicle that has a certain value, the same value that may appreciate overtime. This depends on certain factors that include rarity, desirability and driving enjoyment. This is what hpi, a UK based automotive data company plans on accomplishing. They have listed 10 classic cars that may increase in value in the not so distant future.

Motoring expert Clive Owen has shortlisted these cars based on the following criteria: cheap to acquire, are holding their values and could potentially become future collectors’ items. The list of said vehicles are:

Vauxhall VX 220
Peugeot 205 GTi
Audi TT MKI 3.2
BMW Z3
Citroen C6
Rover Mini
Alfa Romeo GTV
Nissan Cube
Mazda RX8

Regarding the topic, Owen said, “Classic cars have shot up in value over the last few years and in many cases represent a great investment opportunity. Classics in particular are snapped up by collectors and enthusiasts, so prices are constantly on the rise.”

He added, “The trick is how best to spot trends before they take place and maybe even try to redefine what is actually recognized as a classic. Future classics don’t necessarily have to be decades old, luxurious or expensive to begin with.”

Apart from vehicular investment advice, hpi also offers online vehicle evaluations services allowing consumers the ability to buy and sell cars with confidence. Adding to that, it also provides potential buyers with ownership costs over a vehicle’s lifespan and precise depreciation figures.

Bugatti and Bentley get new CEOs, Winkelmann to head the former

Some changes are a foot at the Volkswagen Group according to an article by Top Gear UK. Bentley and Bugatti, two of its high performance sub-brands will each receive a new CEO. This news comes after Wolfgang Dürheimer who is currently the CEO of both brands, announced his retirement.

Instead of replacing Dürheimer with a single employee, VW has opted to separate both roles by picking Adrian Hallmark as the head honcho of Bentley and Stefan Winkelmann as the head of hypercar maker, Bugatti.

Hallmark previously held various top executive sales positions at Bentley, VW, Porsche and Saab. His appointment as CEO of Bentley is one of several major decisions that will take place over the course of the next few years. This is due to four Bentley board members, including Dürheimer, who are about to reach the retirement age at about the same time.

Stefan Winkelmann, who was elected to lead Audi Sport last year, will now be in charge of ensuring that Bugatti continues to dominate the high end market of luxury supercars. Prior to his appointment at Audi, Winkelmann was at the helm of Lamborghini for about 11 years.

During his tenure at the Italian manufacturer, Winkelmann helped to turn the company’s fortunes around from an ailing automaker into one that has a strong product portfolio and decent cash flow. He also saw the introduction of the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s most successful vehicle to date.

The car was also partly responsible for the Italian automaker’s financial health and relatively steady recovery. It shared quite a bit with Audi’s R8 supercar but was still unique enough to ensure that the essence of Lamborghini was not diluted in anyway.

Now, with the appointment of Winkelmann at Bugatti, the same magic that played a part in Lamborghini’s recovery, could work for the French automaker as well. If true, this would be the best time for it as the company looks to stave off attacks from Koenigsegg who seem hell bent on stealing the hypercar crown.

Source: Top Gear UK

Audi A7 Sportback comes loaded with AI technology

Audi’s new A7 Sportback sports improved looks, performance and is brimming with technology. It is said to combine the practicality of a station wagon with the svelte curves of a sedan. Featuring Audi’s new design language, the car has been fitted with the latest drivertrain and mild hybrid technologies.

At the front, the single-frame grille, narrower headlights and contoured air inlets provide the car, which is wider and lower than the A8, with a more elegant and more classy look. The design and arrangement of the 12 adjacent lighting segments that are separated by narrow spaces mimic that of the binary digits, 0 and 1.

The car’s long and sleek bonnet, short overhangs and muscular stance makes the A7 Sportback a very good looking car. As for its dimensions, the car is 4,969 millimeters long, has a wheelbase of 2,926 millimeters and is 1,908 millimeters wide, but is only 1,422 millimeters high.

https://youtu.be/rwbYr6Mzb7Y

Audi’s tapered rear design is retained for the new car with its larger rear harch terminating with a curved lip and an integrated rear spoiler that rises at high speeds. The animated rear lights turn on when locking and unlocking the car – its a sight to behold as are the turn signals.

Inside, Audi’s meticulous attention to detail has allowed for a neat layout of the array of switchgear. The 10.1-inch upper display that is titled toward the driver features black panel optics and a graphite grey aluminium clasp. It is operated by the MMI touch interface system that replaces the older rotary push button setup.

At the bottom of that, there’s a second 8.6-inch display that is used to access the climate control system, comfort functions and text input. Available as optional extras are a head-up display system and a more sophisticated 12.3-inch display that offers virtual switch gear instead of physical ones.

This MMI package will be made available with a choice of two sound system upgrades with the noteworthy onr being the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System capable of delivering advanced 3D sound.

AI or artifical intelligence is at the heart of the A7 Sportback, and by pushing the AI button, drivers will be able to active the remote parking pilot and remote garage pilot systems. They allow the vehicle to maneuver in and out of parking spaces autonomously.The driver can even get out of the car and activate the system via the MyAudi app and allow the car to do the rest.

Monitoring the car’s autonomous activity is the central driver assistance controller (zFAS) that merges the data from a sophisticated set of sensors to continually compute an image of the surroundings. Depending the upgrades that are chosen, the A7 Sportback can come with as many as five radar sensors, five cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner.

This generation of the car is equipped with a new mild hybrid system that consises of a V6 engine and a 48-volt primary electrical system. A belt alternator starter (BAS) recuperates energy under braking, which can be up to 12kW of power, and stores it within a lithium-ion battery.

The V6 engine is a 3.0-litre TFSI turbo engine that produces close to 340bhp and 500Nm of torque. Coupled with a 7-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox, it allows the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 5.3 seconds. The quattro drivetrain which consists of a clever all-wheel drive and steering systems allow for better maneuverability and stability.

At cruising speeds, the A7 Sportback is able to coast in freewheeling mode with the engine shut off but then restarts it via the BAS, once more power is required. Adding to that, the new start-stop function uses a front mounted camera that can anticipate when the vehicle in front is about to move, and activates or shuts off the engine accordingly.

Audi says that the new A7 Sportback will be in showrooms in places like the UK as early as the beginning of next year. Built in Neckarsulm, Germany, the car should hit markets worldwide sometime next year, though the exact details haven’t been revealed yet.

Audi unveils new electric racer that will compete in the 2017/18 Formula E championship

Audi will be fielding its first ever factory-backed Formula E racer this coming season. The car adorns a livery that has a white, metallic green and black paint scheme. Due to the restrictive nature of the sport, there’s very little that teams can do with regards to the design.

Teams and manufacturers are only allowed to develop the motor, transmission, parts of the suspension and their respective software. Audi claims its motor-generator unit, that is the heart of its e-tron FE04 racer, has been engineered to deliver greater efficiency. Transmitting power to the wheels is a high-efficiency transmission with only one gear that should lower power loses.

This year’s Formula E championship winner, Lucas di Grassi, will be piloting the new Audi e-tron FE04 and his teammate for the upcoming season will be a youngster named Daniel Abt. Lucas di Grassi will be driving the car with a number ‘1’ badge while his teammate gets ’66’ on his with additional red colored markings to enable spectators to differentiate between both cars.

“After nearly 40 years of being successfully active in Motorsport on the highest level, Audi now becomes the first German automobile manufacturer to compete in Formula E in order to test and advance the development of new technologies for production,” says Peter Mertens, Member of the Board of Management, Technical Development, AUDI AG.

“Following quattro, TFSI, TDI, hybrid drive and many other innovations, our first single-seater race car is a portent of our product offensive in the field of electric mobility that we are ringing in with the Audi e-tron in 2018,” he later added.

Called Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffle, the factory-backed Formula E team will be lead by team principle, Allan McNish. It’s a name that needs no introduction, McNish is veteran when it comes to Motorsports and was involved in number of racing disciplines that included Formula 1.

He has been an Audi factory driver for many years and is a celebrated three-time Le Mans winner. McNish, brings a significant amount of knowledge of racing to the team, which should give it a considerable advantage during the new season.

The Audi e-tron FE04 will make its racing debut at the Formula E season opener in Hong Kong on December 2, 2017. That said, Audi will be readying the car for test sessions within the coming days. First, the car’s abilities will be put on display by Daniel Abt during the E-Mobility Play Days at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

Then, the team heads to Valencia, Spain, which is the official venue of the Formula E pre-season tests. Audi will be putting both cars and drivers through their paces as they gear up for the upcoming 2017/2018 Formula E season.

Princess Diana’s Audi to be sold at auction

Princess Diana ‘s 1994 Audi Cabriolet will go under the hammer at Coys auction at Blenheim Palace on the 15th of July. This is only fitting considering that the location was also the birthplace of Winston Churchill and is also considered a World Heritage site.

This particular Audi is expected to sell between RM 193,288 to RM 220,900 due to the fact that the car was previously driven by, arguably, one of the most influential female figures of the 1990s. It was loaned to Princess Diana for personal use by Dovercourt Audi of St Johns Wood and is now up for sale just a few days after another Audi, also used by her, went under the hammer.

The car is still registered as L541 GJD and has been storage for many years. In 2004, the car was purchased by the current owner and used as a daily driver to ferry the family around until 2009. Once he discovered the importance and significance of the Audi, the car was promptly kept away in storage, to preserve it until it was put up for sale.

It was been featured in several media images showing the Princess stepping in and out of the car with the number plate clearly visible. Despite the Audi’s relative importance, it will probably be overshadowed by the likes of the 1926 Bugatti Type 37 that will also go under the hammer during the auction. It is said that the car might fetch RM 2,209,000 to RM 3,313,500 because it is considered as one of three Type 37s supplied in 1926 to Bugatti agent and world speed record holder Malcolm Campbell.

How well both cars do remains to be seen. So, stay tuned and we will let you know later on, how much these cherished vehicles are sold for at the auction.

Piston.my

Audi

Audi Hosts First-Ever “Tech Talk” For Its Customers

Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe Competition Package 2018 – 10 unit sahaja!

FEATURE: Malaysians, Why Do You Hate Wagons So Much?! They’re Super-Cool! [+Videos]

Audi RS 4

Audi RS 6

Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Ford Focus ST

Mercedes-AMG C63

Mercedes-AMG E63

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Volkswagen Golf R

New Audi A6 To Be Unveiled In Geneva [+Video]

Audi Q5 and Q7 earns top marks in crash tests

Top 10 list of appreciating classics

Bugatti and Bentley get new CEOs, Winkelmann to head the former

Audi A7 Sportback comes loaded with AI technology

Audi unveils new electric racer that will compete in the 2017/18 Formula E championship

Princess Diana’s Audi to be sold at auction

Audi Hosts First-Ever “Tech Talk” For Its Customers

Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe Competition Package 2018 – 10 unit sahaja!

FEATURE: Malaysians, Why Do You Hate Wagons So Much?! They’re Super-Cool! [+Videos]

New Audi A6 To Be Unveiled In Geneva [+Video]

Audi Q5 and Q7 earns top marks in crash tests

Top 10 list of appreciating classics

Bugatti and Bentley get new CEOs, Winkelmann to head the former

Audi A7 Sportback comes loaded with AI technology

Audi unveils new electric racer that will compete in the 2017/18 Formula E championship

Princess Diana’s Audi to be sold at auction

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