New Audi R8 LMS Ultra Looks to Capture 2012 GT1 World Championship

The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT has its eyes set on the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship, and has begun gathering the proper winning tools by committing to a pair of new Audi R8 LMS Ultra race cars. The new R8 LMS Ultras will replace the pair of R8 LMS cars used during the 2011 season, and are built to GT3 class specifications. Additionally, 2012 will mark the first time that GT3 cars will compete for their own GT1 world title.

The Flénu, Belgium-based team is currently going on its third year of racing, and has seen success in the previous seasons. So far, the team has clinched overall victories in the grueling Spa (Belgium) and Zolder (Belgium) 24-hour endurance races, along with another victory in the Blancpain Endurance Series as well. The team plans on announcing its drivers for the season at a later date.

The 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship 10-race season fires up on April 8 with its first race in Nogaro, France.  The series will then make stops in Belgium, Spain, Portugal, China, Russia and the Netherlands before finishing the season in a location that is still to be determined.

In total, the FIA GT1 World Championship holds races in ten countries, with each event consisting of two races over a weekend. Each race holds of up to 24 cars and 48 drivers. Qualifying involves a knock-out system, in which three sessions are held and following each session, the slowest cars are eliminated and put into grid position. The first race of each weekend is a qualifying race, and determines the starting grid for the second race, which is where the points are earned. Additionally, each car is required to change tires and drivers at least once during each race. Only top ten finishers in the second race can earn points.

Audi Le Mans Prototype Cars Go Through Testing Before 2012 Season

Audi has been busy preparing for the 2012 racing season, evaluating its Le Mans Prototype race cars around Florida’s Sebring International Raceway. Also present were 2011 Le Mans winners Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer, each taking turns behind the wheel of the vehicles. In addition, 2008 Le Mans winners Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish were also present.

While the component tests have already started, Audi will not announce the details of the 2012 racing program, the driver line-up and the technical state of the development until a later date. But if Audi plans on keeping their exciting formula from 2011 unchanged in the LMP1 race cars, we can expect a  TDI 3.7 liter V6 turbodiesel, a mid-engined, longitudinally mounted setup surrounded by a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and a closed canopy.

In a wildcard moment, arch-rival Peugeot has pulled out of the 2012 season. However, coming in after a 13-year hiatus  is Toyota, whom has not seen LMS action since 1999. Toyota and Audi will do battle at Sebring on March 17th, which marks the official start of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and America Le Mans Series (ALMS) circuits.

Last year, Audi came in second to Peugeot in the 12 Hours of Sebring, but came away victorious after the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Audi’s 3.0L TFSI Supercharged V6 Makes Ward’s 10 Best Engines List For 2012

The engineers at Audi can proudly celebrate another accomplishment, as their supercharged 3.0L TFSI V6 engine made the cut for the prestigious Ward’s Auto 10 Best Engines list of 2012. This marks the third consecutive year that the engine has made the Ward’s 10 Best list. For 18 years, Ward’s Auto has been recognizing standout engines that are in the price range of most consumers, offer sufficient power, boast a great exhaust note, and integrates well with the vehicle the engine is featured in. 

The supercharged V6 can be found in both the Audi A6 sedan and the striking A7 four-door coupe. Consumers can also find the award-winning engine in the Q7 full-sized SUV, and the athletic S4 and S5 models. 

From a sheer power standpoint, the all-aluminum engine is good for a wholesome 310 horsepower and a substantial 325 lb-ft of torque, which peaks between 2,900 and 4,500 rpm. That’s nearly the kind of power found in a modern V8 engine, but because of its compact size, the TFSI supercharged 3.0L V6 is more efficient than an example with two more cylinders, and boasts a fuel economy rating of 19 mpg in the city 28 mpg on the highway (in the A6). And with Audi’s buttery Tiptronic transmission, you can listen to the engine’s fantastic exhaust note through eight smile-inducing gears. 

 

Audi Wins Six Awards Between the ALG Residual Value & KBB Best Resale Value Awards

Audi is proud to announce that it has taken home three Residual Value Awards from ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data, as well as three 2012 Best Resale Value Awards from Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com, the leading provider of new and used vehicle information.

The annual ALG Residual Value Awards recognizes automakers’ outstanding achievements in producing new vehicles that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period. The Audi A6, S5 and Q7 received recognition for the 2012 year.

The all-new 2012 A6 won the award in the Luxury Car category. One of the most innovative and technologically-advanced models to date, the A6 makes up to 2,000 decisions per second to assist the driver. In the Luxury Sports Car category, the 2012 Audi S5 took top honors for its iconic design and dynamic character. And the 2012 Audi Q7 won the award in the Luxury Fullsize Utility Vehicle category for its ability to blend Audi refinement with generous passenger capacity.

ALG winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance, and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies remain the key factors that affect ALG’s residual value forecasts.

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The annual Kelly Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards recognize vehicles expected to maintain the greatest proportion of their original list price after five years of ownership. The 2012 Audi Q7 received two awards and the 2012 Audi A5 also received recognition.

The 2012 Audi Q7 was named Best Resale Value in the Luxury Utility Vehicle class and was one of the Top 10 cars with Best Resale Value according to Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com. The seven-passenger Q7 exceeds driver and passenger expectations for functionality and comfort. The 2012 Audi A5 was named Best Resale Value in the Luxury Car class. The A5, available in Coupe and Cabriolet models, offers drivers and passengers exceptional performance and safety.

Kelly Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards are based on projections from the Kelly Blue Book® Official Residual Value Guide determined by a skilled staff of automotive analysts. Kelly Blue Book examines current vehicle data, sales data, market conditions for each vehicle, competition within vehicle segments and expectations for the future economy.

Drop by our dealership today to find out more about each award-winning vehicle. Our sales consultants would be happy to help you determine which vehicle best suits your needs.

Audi Challenges All Drivers to ‘Take the Pledge’ for Better, Safer Roads

Audi has announced a national initiative, challenging drivers to take a stand and champion responsible driving behavior by taking the ‘Driver’s Pledge.’ It is Audi’s mission to make the road a more intelligent place. By pledging to be a smarter, safer, more efficient driver, Audi hopes that this will make the road a more intelligent place and allow drivers everywhere to once again enjoy the road.

“Drivers daily face an unintelligent road. Frustrations, distractions, and deterrents bombard drivers as they go from place to place,” said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer of Audi of America. “Audi recognizes these conditions and is on a mission to find solutions that not only assist our drivers, but also help improve daily driving conditions across the nation. Now, starting today, Audi challenges drivers to join the movement and take the ‘Driver’s Pledge’ for a more intelligent road.”

As part of the pledge, participants promise to reduce their speed at yellow lights or refrain from texting or partaking in distracting behavior while driving, among other pledges to become more aware, safe and efficient drivers. By taking the ‘Driver’s Pledge,’ participants will be entered to win a grand prize trip for two to Audi Sportscar Experience Challenge at the Audi Forum Sonoma in Northern California.

The initiative debuted at the Emmy Awards in early September, with a special mention during Audi’s 30-second spot for the all-new Audi A6. The Audi A6 was recently awarded the IIHS Top Safety Award this year for incorporating the most innovative safety technology into a vehicle. The vehicle was engineered to combat today’s road, making 2,000 decisions per second to assist the driver. With thermal imaging camera with Night Vision Assist to highlight pedestrians it detects in front of the vehicle, Audi Pre-Sense Plus safety system that is able to minimize accidents by warning the driver and applying the brakes with increasing force in an emergency, and head-up display that projects navigation data as a hologram that hovers over the windshield, the A6 is designed to analyze the road, anticipate situations for the driver, prepare for incidents and enhance the driver’s experience.

Other leading technologies include MMI® Navigation with Google Earth – an industry first that combines 3-D terrain models with aerial views and a detailed street network to calculate routes seamlessly – MMI touch pad that recognizes handwriting in multiple languages, and factory-installed wireless internet that enables features such as Audi connect™ for real-time weather, traffic, news and live fuel prices, makes the Audi A6 one of the most intelligent vehicles on the road today.

For more information on the Audi A6, contact our sales consultants or download the A6 app for the iPad from the Apple iTunes Store. To support the pledge, visit www.driverspledge.com.

Audi Expands Engine Lineup: Introducing the New 4.0 TFSI

With the introduction of the new 4.0 TFSI, Audi adds to its engine lineup with a new, high-performance gas engine. Used in slightly different configurations in the S6, S6 Avant, S7 Sportback and S8, this new V8 develops between 309 kW (420 hp) and 382 kW (520 hp), and as much as 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) of torque. It also features a number of innovative solutions.

As the youngest member of the large Audi family of V engines, the 4.0 TFSI shares all of their typical characteristics. It has the classic 90 degree cylinder angle, the chain drive for the four camshafts and ancillary units is on the back to save space, and the cylinder case is a cast aluminum-silicon alloy. The eight-cylinder unit is light weight with a highly compact construction that now has a reduced length of 497 mm (19.57 in).

Fuel is channeled through Audi’s FSI direct injection system. Improved combustion is due to the switchable flaps in the intake ports that induce a rolling type of movement in the incoming air. Like almost every Audi engine, the new 4.0 TFSI also follows the principle of downsizing, where forced induction replaces displacement. One turbocharger per cylinder bank compresses the intake air which is known as twinscroll technology. The exhaust flows to the turbine wheel at high speed through two separate ports and enables torque to be developed extremely early, just above idle.

Rather than the usual location on the outside next to the crankcase, the two turbochargers and the intercooler are located in the inside V of the cylinder banks. The exhaust side is on the inside, the intake side is on the outside. This layout provides for compact dimensions and short gas paths with minimal flow losses. To stabilize the thermal conditions in the inside V, sophisticated insulation of the hot components were implemented, in particular for the exhaust manifold.

A key innovation is Audi’s cylinder management. In low to intermediate load and rev ranges, it deactivates two cylinders in each bank of the V8, which significantly reduces fuel consumption. Thanks to a comprehensive package of innovative measures, the engine remains smooth and quite during these phases. Shutting down of the cylinders is virtually imperceptible. This cylinder management function is possible due to the latest version of the Audi valvelift system that closes the intake and exhaust valves of the affected cylinders.

The 4.0 TFSI employs all the technologies from Audi’s modular efficiency platform. These include measures to reduce friction, the start-stop system and the recuperation system, and the innovative thermal management that deactivates the water pump during the warmup phase to quickly bring the oil up to temperature. The new regulated oil pump varies the oil pressure in two stages, and the oil jet cooling for the piston heads is characteristic-controlled.

The new 4.0 TFSI provides for powerful performance in all of the large S models while at the same time demonstrating its high efficiency potential. The equipment, data, and specifications outlined in this post refers to the model range offered in Germany. Continue to follow us on Twitter and check into our Facebook community to keep up to date on the latest news.

Audi Takes Home Two Awards at the 2011 Telematics Update Awards

Audi has won two awards at the 2011 Telematics Update Awards. Audi won the “Global OEM Infotainment Solution” award for Audi connect which is the solution that connects Audi vehicles to the internet, the driver, and nearby infrastructure. And Dr. Peter Steiner, head of Infotainment Development at Audi AG, won the “Telematic Leadership” award.

From the A1 and the brand-new Q3 to the A6, the A7 Sportback and the A8, Audi connect is now available in nearly all Audi models. You also have the option of networking these models via the UMTS module. Having the availability of fast data transfer enables the integration of pioneering online services such as navigation using Google Earth satellite images or extremely precise traffic congestion detection with Audi traffic information online. Both services offer tremendous practical benefits. Having navigation with content from Google Earth helps improve orientation, and the traffic information will help you enhance the reliability of route planning. And, as an added bonus, the current Audi connect portfolio also delivers weather and travel information or even news to to the automobile.

And to minimize distraction and maximize convenience, all connect services are integrated into the menu structure. Passengers can also take full advantage of the internet by connecting up to eight mobile devices, such as smartphones, to the WLAN hotspot integrated into the vehicle.

As a result, these technologies enables the Audi vehicle to be extensively networked. “A hallmark of the last decade was the internal networking of the vehicle. This decade, we are going to network the vehicle with its surroundings,” is how Ricky Hudi, head of Electrics/Electronics Development, describes these developments. One aspect of this is the intelligent link between the car and the owner’s smartphone. Audi will also be networking its future models more closely with the traffic infrastructure, such as traffic lights or parking garages, to better inform drivers and to protect them against hazards. A key element to this strategy is the networking of vehicles amongst themselves with the aim of developing swarm intelligence that can be used by all traffic participants.

These approaches and ideas are the reasons why Audi earned the prize in the Global OEM Infotainment Solution category at the Telematics Update Awards.

And the second award that Audi brings home goes to Dr. Peter Steiner, head of Infotainment Development at Audi AG who was honored as an expert in the Telematics Leadership category. Dr. Steiner obtained his PhD in engineering physics from the Technical University of Munich in 1996. He began his professional career at the firm Temic as head of Airbag Control Unit Development. He joined Audi AG in 2000, where he was responsible for the Convenience Electronics Development department. He has headed Infotainment Development since 2003. In that time, he has overseen the development of multimedia, navigation, audio and telephone systems for the Audi brand as well as the third generation MMI systems. A notable achievement under his leadership was the integration of Google Earth into an automotive navigation system as a world’s first. Audi and Google were honored for this online functionality with the prize for the “Best Embedded Telematics Navigation Product” at the 2010 Telematics Update Award.

Visit the dealership today if you would like to learn more about the infotainment features found in Audi vehicles. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions and our sales consultants would be more than happy to assist you.