AL Nissan Dost undergoing final rounds of testing

The Ashok Leyland Dost that was unveiled to the public a couple of months back is significant in more ways than one. First of all, this is the first product to come out of the Leyland-Nissan Joint-Venture that was signed a couple of years back to make and sell Light Commercial Vehicles in India. Next, the Dost is yet another competitor to the super-successful Tata Ace that is still ruling the market even after the advent of a lot of competitors. Most importantly, it heralds the entry of Ashok Leyland into the LCV segment where it was conspicuous by its absence all these days.

The Dost has a lot of things going for it. The design is moderately attractive with the headlights with integrated indicators being the most impressive part. The protruding nose which gives the Dost slightly odd proportions takes some time getting used to though. With a 1.25 ton payload and bigger 14 inch radials, the Dost will be considerably bigger and ride better than the Ace and other sub-one ton LCVs. The cabin seems to be a nice place to be in and the company is even offering air-conditioning as an option in the top-end variant which is a first in the Commercial Vehicle segment.

The Dost will be powered by a 3 cylinder turbocharged common-rail diesel engine with a power output of 55 bhp. The company is planning to start full-fledged production of the Dost in the festive season after which the Dost will be available for sale through brand-new dealerships coming up across the country. Before the final launch however, the company is doing some final rounds of testing before pitching this all-important model in the market. This fully loaded test vehicle that looks alarmingly rear-heavy was spotted in the Chennai-Bangalore Highway a couple of weeks back.

Just like the U Truck did in the HCV segment and the Viking chassis did in the city bus segment, Ashok Leyland will be hoping that the Dost will create an impact and establish the brand in the LCV space. With more models from Nissan like the Atlas, Civilian and NV Series also being planned for launch in India, the success of Dost is extremely important for the very existence of this Joint-Venture between the two companies. From our side, here is wishing both the companies all success in their first endeavor. Maybe its time for Tata and the Ace family to roll up their sleeves further.

New VW Touareg and new variant of Polo seen testing

The German offensive in the Indian automotive market shows no signs of slowing down. With Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz continuing their relentless assault with new model launches one after the other, will Volkswagen prefer to sit behind and watch its peers in action? Close on the heels of launching the new Passat and the new Jetta in India, Volkswagen seems to be preparing itself for some busy times ahead. Need proof? A host of cars from the Volkswagen group including the new Touareg were seen testing together in Pune.

Like all the other cars in the group, the new Touareg was also without any camouflage indicating that the launch is not too far off. Up front, the new Touareg gets the now-familiar corporate look of Volkswagen that is seen on all its models starting from the Polo to the Passat. Horizontal slatted grilled with chrome strips flanked on either sides by clear trapezoidal headlights gives the new Touareg a more aggressive face compared to the rounded look of its predecessor. From the profile and rear, the Touareg remains largely unchanged except for the stylish new taillights.

Just like the Vento and Jetta, Volkswagen is likely to cash in on the diesel trend in India by plonking in its award-winning TDI technology into the Touareg. Being a Volkswagen, superb build quality and very high levels of fit and finish with a host of comfort and safety features can be expected. All these factors combined with its good macho looks and great off-roading capabilities gives the new Touareg the potential to lead it’s segment with the only dampener being Volkswagen’s lack of premium image compared to its rivals.

The Porsche Cayenne, widely considered by critics to be not quite as capable as the Touareg, comfortably outsells the latter in India due to the brand catchet of Porsche. Also, we all know the fate of Phaeton in India, the ultra-luxury sedan from Volkswagen which was in the news recently for being offered with a mind-boggling discount of 25 Lakhs. Will the new Touareg be in a position to do what the Phaeton didn’t and bring about a change in the perceived image of the brand? Let’s wait and see. The answer will be out in a few months.

Also seen on testing along with the new Touareg were many new variants of existing Volkswagen group models like the Polo and Vento and Skoda’s Fabia, Laura and Yeti. Though more details about these new variants could not be observed, one particular Polo even had steering mounted buttons in it indicating that the company is working to address the issue of Polo’s lack of features compared to the competition. With one of its major grouses all set to become history with this new variant, we can expect Polo’s sales to increase further.

Alfa Romeo Updates Giulietta with Twin-Clutch Transmission

The…freshly painted version of the 4C sports coupe concept will be joined at Alfa Romeo's Frankfurt Motor Show stand by the updated variants of the Giulietta and Mito hatchbacks.
The Giulietta gains Alfa Romeo's new double-clutch TCT transmission that will be offered on the 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir gasoline engine and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel, both of which have a maximum output of 170HP.
With the TCT, average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on the petrol model fall to 5.2 lt/100 km (45.2 mpg US) and 121g/km respectively, and on the diesel to 4.5 lt/100 km (52.3 mpg US) and 119 g/km respectively.
And that’s without sacrificing performance. In fact, the 1.4 MultiAir’s time for the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint is 7.7 seconds and its top speed reaches 218 km/h (135.4 mph). Likewise, in the 2.0 JTDM the TCT brings the Giulietta to the top of its class, with a 7.9 seconds time for the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint.
Alfa’s smallest model, the 3-door MiTo, will also show something new to visitors of the Frankfurt Motor Show: the new 0.9-liter, turbocharged two-cylinder TwinAir engine that we first saw at the Fiat 500 and which won the coveted “International Engine of the Year 2011” award. The two-cylinder unit develops 85HP and, depending on the DNA program, 110-145Nm of torque.
According to the Italians, its MultiAir technology and the auto Stop-Start system enable the new version of the MiTo to consume up to 30% less fuel than engines with comparable performance and at the same time achieve a best-in-class CO2 emissions figure of just 98 g/km.
In addition, the new MiTo MultiAir will be offered in a new “Nero Ametista” body color along with new-design alloy wheels and a two-tone black dashboard and mesh seat trim.
Last, but not least, the MiTo will soon get a new 1.3-liter JTDM turbodiesel engine with variable turbocharger technology and Start-Stop technology as standard. Like its petrol counterpart, this second generation Multijet engine has an output of 85HP and is Euro5 compliant. It emits 90 g of CO2 per km, its average consumption is only 3.5 lt/100 km (67.2 mpg US) falling to much as 2.9 lt/100 km (81.1 mpg) on the highway.


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Bentley Motors to Auction Unique Collector's Items

An array of one-off items created by artisans from the tooling, woodshop and styling teams at Bentley Motors are heading to the auction block to raise money for The Prince’s Trust, which is a youth charity that provides practical and financial support to 14 to 30-year-olds.
The graduates from Bentley Motors have handcrafted a variety of collector's items ranging from display objects such as a chess-set with pieces tooled from aluminium set on a veneered board, to an impressive table created from a polished V8 engine from the Mulsanne and a cutlery-set engraved with the Bentley emblemcommissioned by Robert Welch.
Bentley says that around twenty different pieces will go on sale, with all of them, aside from the Robert Welch cutlery set, having been designed and assembled on-site at the Bentley factory in Crewe.
Michael Straughan, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing commented: “The design brief for the auction was to create a unique and desirable item based upon the core materials, parts and processes that are used to build cars such as the Mulsanne and the Continental GT."
All items will be auctioned online at www.bentleybespokeauction.com with bidding to commence on September 1.


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2011 Ford Pickup Truck

Ford is a big car companies, including the type of pickup truck. And Ford has recently withdrew its 1.1 million pickup trucks that indicated danger of fuel tank fires. Might be due to the fuel tank on a Ford truck has not met the standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website Monday that the metal straps holding the tank can rust, allowing them to fall, break and burn. Guilt has been charged with eight fires, three of which spread to the rest of the car. One person was injured, suffering burns of first and second, spokesman Wes Sherwood said Ford.
2011 Ford Pickup Truck
 2011 Ford Pickup Truck
 2011 Ford Pickup Truck
 2011 Ford Pickup Truck

2011 Ford F-150 Pickup

According to figures provided by Ford, on the road the F-150 2011 equipped with an engine of 3.7 liter V6 has a consumption of 23 miles per gallon (10.2 liters per 100 kilometers) while equipped with the most powerful 5-liter V8 uses 21 miles per gallon (11.2 liters per 100 kilometers). In the city, and 4×2 configuration, the use of the F-150 2011 increased to 16 miles per gallon (14.7 liters per 100 kilometers) to the model with the 3.7-liter engine and 15 miles per gallon ( 15.6 liters per 100 kilometers) for 5 liters.

“The range of new engines for Ford F-150 2011 is focused on providing the matters to most consumers, the most powerful in its class, capacity, reliability and lower consumption,” said a Vice President of Engineering at Ford Motor Plant. The automaker said that 70% of the owners of the F-150 stated that they would most like to see improved in the vehicle’s fuel consumption. The F-150 2011 will also be available with a new 6.2-liter engine V8 and a 3.5-liter EcoBoost. The latter will be available in early 2011 while the other versions will be available at dealerships later this year.

Ford F-150 Red Pickup

The Ford F-150 is perhaps the most popular of all the cars to have been manufactured by Ford. It comes in a wide range of models – however, each model has a highly balanced suspension, making the drive extremely enjoyable and giving a comfortable, good design to the car. The 2007 model is part of the eleventh generation of the pick-up truck – the twelfth generation is now in production. The six different variants of the F-150 offer to cater to the different needs of the owners – three cab choices, three bed styles, three bed lengths and the option of power trains are all included.

The Ford F-150 is renowned for its durability, strength and cargo capacity, and the 2007 model also offers comfort and a stylish interior design. The different facets of the car show that the manufacturers have given attention to detail. The 2007 model of the F-150 has an option of a 5.4 litre V8 engine, or a 4.6 litre V8 engine, or even a 4.2 litre V6 engine. The 2007 model also received a tweak for its 3-valve, 5.4 litre engine a flex-fuel version was available with it. The engine has a rating of 300 HP and 365 lb-ft of torque. The mileage is pretty reasonable considering the size of the pick-up – at 15 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on the road.

Ford F-150 Black Pick Up

 
The F-150 is undoubtedly the most popular among the F-Series – a series of pick-up trucks from the stables of Ford Motor Company. The F-150 happens to be the best-selling truck in the United States of America for over three decades. The F-series alone made up half of the profits of the Ford Motor Company in recent years. The F-150 was launched in 1975 – it was also called the heavy half ton by people. The eleventh generation of the F-series encompasses the 2006 model of the Ford F-150. The F-150 had been redesigned in 2004 with the new P2 platform.

The 2006 model of the F-150 has a 4.6 litre Triton V8 engine – some of the newer trucks also have 3-valve, 5.4 litre 3V Triton V8 engines. The 2006 F-150 comes equipped with a four speed automatic transmission, along with a five speed manual transmission and the truck produces a whopping 300 HP. The pick-up is available both as a two door and a four door truck, and its side windows have an appearance similar to that of the Ford Super-Duty – the "Y" dip towards the front of the door. The F-150 also has a large closed loop design in its front tow hook, and can pull over 14,000 kg with just one hook.

MPV on eurobippu style cars

catch-up some big ride on vipstyle..those people don't really care much of their ride on lowride the comfortness, what they really need is the stance and fitness their spirit in modification..that's reall dope guys

Cosworth Tuned Subaru WRX STI info

Cosworth Impreza STI CS400


Legendary tuner Cosworth has collaborated with Japanese car maker Subaru to develop the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 based on the Impreza WRX STI 'hot-hatch'.

The first genuine Cosworth-developed road car since 1996, the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 is powered by a heavily tweaked 2.5-litre turbocharged ‘Boxer’ engine that produces 33 per cent more power than the donor car. Ddrawing heavily on Cosworth’s extensive Formula 1 experience, the engine, which drives all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, boasts an impressive 294 kW and a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.7 seconds, making it one of the world's most accelerative hatchbacks. The quarter mile is covered in a brisk 12.75 seconds at a terminal speed of 172 km/h. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

Cosworth Impreza STI CS400


The Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 features an extensive range of Cosworth-engineered components in the engine, turbo system, exhaust, suspension, brakes and wheels, plus subtle improvements to the exterior and interior styling to create a truly distinctive high performance car with everyday hatchback practicality.

Available in a choice of three exterior colours - Spark Silver, Dark Grey and San Remo Red - the Cosworth Impreza STI is, quite sadly, for the UK market only and is priced from £49,995 (AU$86,727). Only 75 units will be produced.


Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 interior


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
New Cosworth Impreza STI CS400

Body and Chassis
Five-door, five-seat hatchback, with all-steel unitary construction body shell. Longitudinally-mounted petrol boxer engines driving the front and rear wheels (AWD) via a six-speed manual transmission.

Engine
STI 2.5-litre / 400 PS
Name – Subaru Boxer
Type – DOHC, horizontally opposed ‘flat four’
Capacity – 2.5-litres, 2457 cc
Bore & Stroke – 99.5 x 79.0 mm
Compression ratio – 8.2:1
Max power – 400 PS (295 kW) @ 5,750 rpm
Max torque – 542 Nm (400 lb.ft) @ 3,950 rpm
Valves – 16 (4-per-cylinder) with Dual AVCS
Fuel system – Multi-point injection
Construction – Aluminium cylinder block and heads
Emissions class – Euro Stage 5

Transmission
Manual, Six-speed

Gear Ratios
1 – 3.636:1
2 – 2.235:1
3 – 1.590:1
4 – 1.137:1
5 – 0.891:1
6 – 0.707:1
Reverse – 3.545:1
Final Drive (rear) – 3.900:1

Drivetrains
Full-time all-wheel drive with centre differential and viscous coupling, plus Vehicle Dynamics Control, Rear limited-slip differential, Front limited-slip differential and Si-Drive adjustable centre differential

Suspension & Damping
Front – Fully independent subframe-mounted MacPherson Struts, with Eibach coil springs and gas-filled Bilstein shock absorbers. Anti-roll stabiliser bar
Rear – Fully independent subframe-mounted Multi-Link, Eibach coil springs and Bilstein gas-filled shock absorbers (adjustable) anti-roll bar

Steering
Type – Electric power-assisted rack & pinion
Gearing – 2.5 turns lock-to-lock
Turning circle (m) – 11.0

Brakes
Front – 355 x 32 mm ventilated discs with 6-pot callipers
Rear – 316 x 20 mm vented discs with single-pot callipers
ABS – Four-Channel anti-lock system with EBD

Wheels & Tyres
Alloy 18 x 8.5 inch, with 245 / 40 R18 directional tyres

Dimensions (mm)

Exterior
Overall length – 4,415
Overall width – 1,795*
Overall height – 1,475
Wheelbase – 2,625
Front track – 1,530
Rear track – 1,540
Ground clearance – 140
*excluding door mirrors

Interior (all models)
Headroom – 1,024 front / 951 rear
Legroom – 1,091 front / 960 rear
Shoulder room – 1,430 front / 1,426 rear
Hip room – 1,384 front / 1,370 rear

Capacities (all models)
Fuel tank – 60 litres
Luggage (VDA) – 301 litres (rear seats up) / 1,216 litres (rear seats down)

Weights (kg)
Curb weight (min.) – 1,505
Gross weight – 1,980

Performance
Top speed / mph – 155 (electronically limited
0-to-62 mph / sec – 3.7

Fuel Economy (mpg)
Combined cycle – [tbc]
CO2 g/km – [tbc]

Audi to present the S6, S7 Sportback and S8 high performance models at IAA 2011



2012 Audi S6


  • Audi presents the S6, S7 Sportback and S8 high performance models

  • Newly-developed 4.0-Liter V8 with up to 520 horsepower

  • Ground-breaking efficiency with systems such as “cylinder on demand”

INGILSTADT : August 31, 2011 - Audi will present its new S models for the first time at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA). These models are characterized by power combined with appropriately low fuel consumption. The engine down-sizing strategy of the brand with the four rings has reduced the fuel consumption of the S6 by as much as 25 percent whilst offering sportier driving performance.







2012 Audi S6


THE AUDI S6 and S6 AVANT



Athletic character, quiet understatement and richly appointed – Audi is remaking the S6 and S6 Avant. Both models are sports cars for everyday use, offering uncompromising practicality. Their new engine, a four-liter, twin-turbo V8, combines ample power with low fuel consumption in keeping with the times.



Drive



The S6 and S6 Avant use the 309 kW (420 hp) version of the new 4.0 TFSI. The twin-turbo V8 provides a constant 550 Nm (405.66 lb-ft) of torque from 1,400 to 5,300 rpm. It accelerates the S6 from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.8 seconds and the S6 Avant in 4.9 seconds. With both models, the electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph) is just a formality.



The 4.0 TFSI brings Audi’s downsizing strategy to the high-performance class. Compared to the engine in the previous model, the free-breathing, 5.2-liter V10, it offers even sportier performance while reducing fuel consumption by as much as 25 percent. Average fuel consumption is just 9.7 liters per 100 km (24.25 US mpg) in the S6 and 9.8 liters (24.0 US mpg) in the S6 Avant, well below that of the competition.



A number of technologies contribute to this top result, including the recuperation and start-stop systems as well as the new “cylinder on demand” cylinder management system. When the V8 deactivates four cylinders under part load, the Active Noise Cancellation system (ANC) is activated. Four microphones integrated into the headlining record the noise in the cabin, which is then analyzed by a computer. If the computer detects intrusive sound elements, it broadcasts an antiphase sound through the speakers of the sound system. This sound combines with the intrusive sound and largely cancels it out.



Independent of this, active, electronically controlled engine bearings use targeted counterpulses to attenuate low-frequency vibrations. A sound actuator, flaps in the exhaust system, the engine shroud and a newly developed two-mass flywheel with a centrifugal force pendulum in the seven-speed S tronic also contribute to the sonorous sound and smoothness of the engine.



When it comes to power transmission, the S6 and S6 Avant further extend Audi’s Vorsprung durch Technik. The engine power flows through a fast-shifting, seven-speed S tronic transmission. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system uses the self-locking center differential and torque vectoring. If desired, Audi complements quattro with the optional sport differential, which actively distributes the power between the rear wheels.



Chassis



The two new S models come standard with the adaptive air suspension sport. The tautly tuned air suspension with variable damping lowers the body by 10 millimeters (0.39 in). It provides for highly precise handling without compromising comfort. The powerful disc brakes, internally ventilated front and rear, have matt black calipers with S6 logos. Audi offers carbon fiber-ceramic discs as an option.



The S6 and S6 Avant come standard with cast aluminum wheels in a unique five parallel-spoke design. The 8.5 J x 19 wheels are shod with 255/40-series tires. Seven different 19- or 20-inch wheels, four of them from quattro GmbH, are available as options. The 20-inch titanium-look wheels with a five-arm rotor design impart a particularly exclusive appearance.



The Audi drive select driving dynamics system comes standard in the two new S models. Among others, it modifies the characteristic of the gas pedal, the shift points of the S tronic, the servo boost of the electromechanical steering and the characteristic of the adaptive air suspension. The driver can adjust the operation of these systems in five stages. The optional sport differential and the dynamic steering, which varies its ratio as a function of speed, can also be integrated into the system.





2012 Audi S6 Avant


The car bodies play a large part in the dynamics of the Audi S6 and S6 Avant. They are unusually lightweight because they are roughly 20 percent aluminum. The Audi S6 has a curb weight of just 1,895 kilograms (4,177.76 lb), the S6 Avant 1,950 kilograms (4,299.01 lb). Both are much lighter than their direct rivals.



At 4,931 millimeters (16.18 ft), the S6 is 16 millimeters (0.63 in) longer than the A6; with the 4,634-millimeter (15.2 ft) S6 Avant, the difference is 8 millimeters (0.31 in). Their single-frame grille sports aluminum applications and chromed horizontal double bars. Another chrome strip adorns the front bumper. The exterior mirrors feature aluminum-look housings, and the side sills are distinctively shaped.



The S6 sedan has a spoiler on the trunk; the Avant has a roof spoiler. With both models, the diffuser on the rear bumper is platinum gray with an aluminum-look offset edge. The four chrome-tipped tailpipes are elliptical. The S models are available in a choice of eight colors, including the exclusive shades Estoril Blue, crystal effect and Prism Silver, crystal effect. The body is decorated with S6 and V8T badges.



Interior



The interior of the S6 and S6 Avant is also characterized by sporty elegance. There are S6 badges on the key, the leather sport steering wheel with colored stitching and aluminum shift paddles as well as the instruments. The illuminated door sill trims and both displays (MMI and driver information system) greet the driver with the S6 logo. A red ring adorns the start-stop button, an aluminum clasp the selector lever. The footrest, the pedals and the soft keys of the MMI operating system shine in an aluminum-look finish.







Body and design



Decorative inlays are available in a choice of four materials. Matt brushed aluminum is standard, with carbon, fine grain ash natural brown or layered Beaufort oak as options. Customers can choose from three colors – black, lunar silver and goa beige (only for the seat upholstery) – for the headlining, instrument panel, carpet and seats. The standard seat upholstery is a mix of Pearl Nappa leather and Alcantara, with Milano and Valcona available as options.



Height-adjustable sport seats with power lumbar supports and embossed S logos are standard. Audi offers two other versions as options: the power-adjustable comfort seats with memory function and the power-adjustable S sport seats with integrated head restraints. These also are embossed with the S logo.



Equipment



The new Audi S6 and S6 Avant will be rolling into dealer showrooms with a generous list of standard equipment in spring 2012. This includes xenon plus headlights with an all-weather light, LED rear lights, an electromechanical parking brake and the driver information system with color display. The MMI radio plus includes a Bluetooth interface, and the Audi sound system has ten speakers.



All of the high-end options in the model series are also available for the new S models. These include LED headlights, adaptive light, the ambient lighting package, convenience key, head-up display, the parking system plus with 360° camera, power rear hatch, optionally with sensor control, and climate-controlled deluxe seats with massage function.



The list of options for the Avant, which offers up to 1,680 liters (59.33 cu ft) of luggage space, also includes the panoramic glass roof.



The tightly networked driver assistance systems are all state-of-the-art. These are the various versions of the Audi pre sense safety system, adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, Audi side assist, active lane assist, the speed limit display and the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians.



Topping the range of infotainment systems is MMI navigation plus, which features a large hard drive, an eight-inch monitor and the groundbreaking MMI touch input system. The system can be combined with the Bluetooth online car phone, which brings special Internet services to the car and features WLAN connectivity for mobile devices. The 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System impresses with its excellent sound.





2012 Audi S7 Sportback


THE AUDI S7 SPORTBACK



The Audi S7 Sportback uses the same engine as the S6 and S6 Avant, the new 4.0 TFSI with 309 kW (420 hp) and 550 Nm (405.66 lb-ft) of torque. The twin-turbo V8 accelerates the five-door coupe from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.9 seconds, and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). The cultivated eight-cylinder, which uses Audi’s “cylinder on demand” technology under part load, consumes on average just 9.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (24.25 US mpg).



Much of this groundbreaking efficiency can be attributed to the lightweight body. A hybrid aluminum construction, it weighs roughly 15 percent less than a comparable all-steel body. Lightweight components include the long rear hatch that opens and closes electrically as standard. Beneath it is a luggage compartment with a volume of 535 liters (18.89 cu ft), which increases to 1,390 liters (49.09 cu ft) with the rear seat backs folded down.



Drivetrain and chassis



Power transmission in the Audi S7 Sportback is provided by the dynamic seven-speed S tronic and the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with a self-locking center differential and torque vectoring. The optional sport differential from Audi distributes the power in variable proportions between the rear wheels.



The S7 Sportback comes standard with the adaptive air suspension sport and the Audi drive select dynamics system. Mounted behind the 19-inch wheels are large, internally ventilated disc brakes front and rear. Their matt black calipers sport S7 logos up front. Carbon fiber-ceramic discs are available as an option.



Other chassis options include 19- and 20-inch wheels and dynamic steering, which varies its ratio as a function of speed.



Body and design



The design of the Audi S7 Sportback is seamless. The long engine hood, the long wheelbase and the short overhangs create perfect proportions. The low, dynamically tensioned roof line gives the five-door model the character of a coupe. At highway speeds, a rear spoiler extends from the rear hatch to improve stability.



Subtle yet eye-catching details signal the top position in the model series occupied by the 4,980-millimeter (16.34 ft) S7 Sportback. These can be found at the single-frame grille, the front bumper, the side mirrors, the sills, the rear bumper, the diffuser and the tailpipes. Nine exterior colors are available, including the exclusive shades Estoril Blue, crystal effect and Prism Silver, crystal effect. The body is decorated with S and V8 T badges.





Interior



The S7 Sportback shows its sporty character in the interior, too. This can be seen in numerous details – the S badges, the red ring on the start-stop button, the S7 logo in the illuminated door sill trims, the aluminum strip on the S tronic selector lever and the aluminum shift paddles. The footrest and the pedals are made of stainless steel, and the soft keys of the MMI operating system are in an aluminum-look finish.



Customers can choose decorative inlays in standard aluminum, carbon, natural fine grain ash and layered Beaufort oak. Black, lunar silver and goa beige (only for the seat upholstery) comprise the color palette for the headlining, instrument panel, carpet and seats. The standard seat upholstery is a combination of Pearl Nappa leather and Alcantara, with the leather grades Milano and Valcona available as options.



Audi equips the S7 Sportback with height-adjustable S sport seats with power lumbar supports as standard. Comfort seats and regular seats are available as options. The backrests of the S sport seats are embossed with S logos.



Equipment



Delivery of the S7 Sportback is scheduled to begin in spring 2012. Among the standard equipment highlights are the xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights, the driver information system with color display and the versatile MMI radio plus audio and operating system. Both information hubs are easy to operate.



The S7 Sportback can be optionally equipped with all of the high-end extras of the model series. Moreover, all driver assistance and infotainment systems are available, including the Bluetooth online car phone that connects the S7 Sportback with the Internet.





2012 Audi S8


THE AUDI S8



The Audi S8, which will be launched on the market in spring 2012, is the new head of the Audi S model family – a large, luxurious sedan of supreme power. The new 4.0 TFSI in the S8 generates no less than 382 kW (520 hp) and delivers a constant 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) of torque to the crankshaft between 1,700 and 5,500 rpm. The result is outstanding performance: The sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes just 4.2 seconds, and top speed is electronically capped at 250 km/h (155.34 mph).



This makes the fuel consumption of the sonorous and smooth twin-turbo V8 all the more amazing: It averages just 10.2 liters per 100 km (23.06 US mpg), much less than its competitors. The free-breathing, 5.2-liter V10 in the previous model consumed an average of 13.2 liters per 100 km (17.82 US mpg). Fuel consumption decreased by nearly 23 percent despite a 51 kW (70 hp) increase in output.



Behind the top value for the new Audi S8 are the combined technologies of the Audi modular efficiency platform, including the recuperation and start-stop systems. The newly developed “cylinder on demand” technology plays a particularly large role. Under part load, it deactivates four of the eight cylinders for an efficiency gain that is particularly pronounced at moderate highway speeds. A package of acoustic measures including the Active Noise Cancellation system suppresses possible intrusive noise and vibrations.



The eight-speed tiptronic in the S8 also unites sportiness and efficiency. It uses tall gears at low revs whenever possible, but downshifts quickly and comfortably when requested by the driver. The tiptronic delivers the power to a quattro drivetrain combining a self-locking center differential with the sport differential at the rear axle. During dynamic driving, the lion’s share of the power flows to the outside wheel to literally push the large sedan into the corner.



Chassis



The new Audi S8 also pulls out all the stops when it comes to the chassis. One of its features is a specially tuned adaptive air suspension with variable damping, which can vary the ride height of the body between three levels and thus ensures a wide-ranging driving experience. It harmonizes perfectly with the dynamic steering, also standard, that adapts its steering ratio and boost to the vehicle’s speed. It uses slight, nearly imperceptible steering corrections to stabilize handling at the cornering limit.



The Audi drive select dynamics system encompasses these two systems as well as engine management, the eight-speed tiptronic and the sport differential. The driver can determine the function of these components by choosing between the five modes comfort, auto, dynamic, individual and efficiency.



The standard, S-specific wheels measure 9 J x 20 and are shod with 265/40-series tires. Audi offers five additional wheels as options, four of which have a 21-inch diagonal. The four internally ventilated disc brakes measure 400 millimeters (15.75 in) in diameter up front and 365 millimeters (14.37 in) at the rear. The matt black calipers up front bear S8 logos. Each of the optional carbon fiber-ceramic discs saves over five kilograms (11 lb) of weight. Their calipers are anthracite gray. The ESP stabilization program includes a sport mode, in which engine output is determined solely by the position of the pedals.



Body and design



A decisive advantage of the S8 is the comparatively low weight of 1,975 kilograms (4,354.13 lb). The luxury sedan’s ASF (Audi Space Frame) body is made almost entirely of aluminum. Only the B-pillars are made of ultra high-strength steel. The body weighs just 231 kilograms (509.27 lb); a conventional steel construction would be around 100 kilograms (220.46 lb) heavier. The Audi ultra-lightweight construction allows weight to be reduced in other areas as well, such as the chassis.



Fine design details signal the special position that the 5.15 meter-long (16.90 ft) S8 occupies in the Audi range. The single-frame grille is platinum gray and its eight double bars are covered in chrome. An aluminum-look blade makes the bumper appear sharper, and there are high-gloss black slats and aluminum-look ribs in the side air intakes.



On the sides, body color trim strips on the sills, door handles with strips of aluminum and polished aluminum-look mirror housings catch the eye. The diffuser insert at the back of the car includes a blade with a two-layer aluminum-look finish offset with parts in platinum gray. The exhaust system ends in two oval dual tailpipes in a chrome-look finish.



S8 or V8 T badges can be found in the front, on the back and on the sides. The color range includes 13 shades, two of which – Daytona Gray and Prism Silver – are reserved for the S8.



Interior



The interior shines with craftsman-like fit and finish and small yet effective accents. The multi-way, power-adjustable comfort sport seats have been designed exclusively for the S8. They are optionally available with exclusive seat upholstery in quilted lunar silver. The stitching and piping are in contrasting steel gray, while the upper inlays on the instrument panel and tiptronic selector lever present the material Carbon Atlas.



The leather multifunction sport steering wheel has color-contrasting stitching and an S8 emblem, which can also be found on the instruments. Typical of the Audi S models, these have gray dials with white needles – a design which is repeated in the classic analogue clock. The illuminated door sill trims with the S8 logo are a further eye-catcher. The display of the driver information system and the MMI monitor greet the driver with special S8 screens. The shift paddles and pedals are in an aluminum-look finish; a red ring frames the start button.



The S8 offers a wide selection of interior colors, inlays and seat upholstery. These include particularly soft Valcona leather and seats with ventilation and massage functions. The leather package, a DVD changer, the convenience key with sensor-controlled lock for the trunk and the ambient lighting package round out the list of standard interior equipment. The Audi S8 is also equipped with the innovative LED headlights and double glazing.



Equipment



Beyond the generous standard equipment, Audi makes all of the high-end options from the A8 series available in the new S8. The driver assistance systems, which are closely networked with one another and the navigation system, are particularly innovative.



The core of these is the adaptive cruise control system with stop & go function; others include Audi side assist, Audi lane assist, the speed limit display and the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians.



Supplementing these technologies is the safety system Audi pre sense, which is available in a number of versions. A new break recommendation function uses steering motions and additional parameters to detect if the driver is getting tired and issues an appropriate warning.



New to the A8 family is the parking system with 360° camera. Four small cameras record images of the sedan’s immediate surroundings and a computer splices them together. The driver can call up a variety of views on the MMI monitor, including a virtual top-down view. The system enhances safety while maneuvering and in narrow driveways. Special views allow the driver to see cross-traffic.



The MMI navigation plus, which comes standard, represents the state-of-the-art in infotainment systems. It includes the groundbreaking MMI touch input system, a large hard drive and a high-resolution 8-inch display. The high-end system can be combined with the likewise standard Bluetooth online car phone, which brings special Internet services to the car and provides WLAN connectivity for mobile devices.



The Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with its 1,400 watt amplifiers and 19 speakers impresses with its amazing sound.





Images : 2012/2013 Audi S6, S6 Avant, S7 Sportback and S8


    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

 


[Source : AUDI]