ABT Audi TT RS Review

What the ABT Sportsline engineers have done to this Audi TT RS is really breathtaking. An optimised engine management and the use of a self-developed ABT air-to-air intercooler and an ABT turbocharger turn a solid 340 hp (250 kW) into up to 470 hp (346 kW). Torque is increased from 450 to a gigantic 630 Nm. The ABT TT RS is very powerful in all speed ranges. The chic sports car only needs 3.9 seconds to get from 0 to 100 kph. Its top speed is 285 kph. To put this ABT POWER on the road in the right design, a visually attractive rear spoiler for both the coupé and roadster has been developed which harmonises with the TT’s dynamic silhouette and underscores its superiority. And thanks to the ABT suspension springs the car’s CoG is lowered by another 30mm. An optimised carbon footprint and better sound is seen to by the ABT stainless steel exhaust system (middle and rear silencer). The ABT sport brake system will remain cool even in critical situations.

We also recommend the CR, DR and ER sport-type wheels in 19 or 20 inches to go with the TT. It’s up to you which wheel you choose, of course, but the wheels were consistently weight-reduced and optimised. The unsprung masses were kept as small as possible, which improves the car’s road and damping behaviour a lot. The ABT wheel highlight is certainly the new high-performance wheel ER with its ten spokes and a dynamic bent. For the TT RS, the wheel is available as a cast version, ER-C, and as an extravagant, forged version, ER-F. It goes without saying that all wheels can be bought in combination with high-performance tires. After all, “Really Sporty” starts with those.

Photo Credit: © ABT Sportsline

2015 Audi R8 LMX Review

The Audi R8 (14,9 – 12,4 l/100 km [15.8 – 19.0 US mpg]; 349 – 289 g CO2 per km [561.7 – 465.1 g/mile]) is the dynamic, top-of-the-line Audi model. Its high-revving, mid-mounted engine, double wishbone suspension and ASF (Audi Space Frame) aluminum body are closely based on racing. The Audi R8 LMX is available as a coupe with a production run limited to 99 vehicles. With 419 kW (570 hp) and 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque, its 5.2 liter, V10 engine accelerates the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in just 3.4 seconds. Top speed is 320 km/h (198.8 mph), and average consumption is 12.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (299 grams CO2 per kilometer) [18.2 US mpg/481.2 g/mile]. A compact, seven-speed S tronic transfers the power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. 19-inch wheels are combined with carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs, which up front measure 380 millimeters (15.0 in) in diameter. Red anodized brake calipers shine behind the exclusive designer wheels. The R8 LMX is shod with 235/35 R 19 tires up front and 305/30 R 19 tires at the rear.

With the new laser high beams, one laser module per headlight generates a cone of light with twice the range of the all-LED headlight. Each module comprises four high-power laser diodes. With a diameter of just 300 micrometers, these generate a blue laser beam with a wavelength of 450 nanometers. A phosphor converter transforms this into roadworthy white light with a color temperature of 5,500 Kelvin – ideal conditions for the human eye that enable the driver to recognize contrast more easily and help prevent fatigue. The laser spot, which is active at speeds of 60 km/h (37.3 mph) and above, supplements the LED high beam in the R8 LMX and greatly enhances visibility and safety. An intelligent camera-based sensor system detects other road users and actively adjusts the light pattern to exclude them.

The Audi R8 LMX will take to the streets this summer. The base price in Germany is €210,000.

Photo Credit: © Audi

2014 Audi RS 4 Avant Nogaro Review

Under the hood of the Audi RS 4 Avant Nogaro selection operates a high-revving V8 naturally aspirated engine with a displacement of 4,163 cc. The 4.2 FSI delivers 331 kW (450 hp) of power output at 8,250 rpm, with peak torque of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. The resonant eight-cylinder engine accelerates the anniversary model from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.7 seconds and takes it to a governed top speed of 280 km/h (173.98 mph). Its combined fuel consumption is 10.7 liters per 100 kilometers (21.98 US mpg) – for a CO2 equivalent of 249 grams per kilometer (400.73 g/mile).

With its high efficiency and tall top gear, the standard seven-speed S tronic also contributes to fuel efficiency. The driver can let the lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission shift operate automatically or change gears themselves using the selector lever or the steering wheel paddles.

The core of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive is the self-locking crown gear center differential. The compact and lightweight component distributes torque at a default ratio of 40:60 between the front and rear axles. This ratio can be broadly varied as required – with up to 70 per cent of the power going to the front and a maximum of 85 per cent to the rear. The crown gear center differential cooperates with the wheel-selective torque control, which makes handling at curve limits even more dynamic through selective, small brake impulses. Audi offers the sport differential as an optional addition that actively distributes the power between the rear wheels.

The standard equipment of the Audi RS 4 Avant Nogaro selection also includes the Audi drive select dynamic driving system. This system allows variation between three modes – comfort, auto and dynamic – for the characteristics of the electromechanical power steering, the seven-speed S tronic, the accelerator and the RS sport exhaust system. And if the car is equipped with Audi MMI navigation, there is also a fourth mode – individual – that can be configured by the driver.

Besides the sport differential, two further optional elements are available for Audi drive select. The dynamic steering varies the steering ratio depending on the speed and countersteers with small impulses at curve limits. The RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) equalizes the roll and pitch for the firmly sprung suspension by strictly mechanical means.

The Audi RS 4 Avant Nogaro selection rides on 265/30 series tires. Behind the gloss turned finish 20-inch wheels in 5-V-spoke design gleam red-painted brake calipers bearing RS emblems. The brake discs featuring a wave design are internally ventilated, perforated and joined to the aluminum brake disc chambers by pins. Audi installs carbon-fiber-ceramic discs at the front axle on request. The Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) offers a sport mode and can also be entirely deactivated as required.

Photo Credit: © Audi

2014 Audi A8 L Security Review

At 5.27 meters (17.29 ft) long and with a 3.12 meter (10.24 ft) wheelbase, the new Audi A8 L Security is a representative sedan that is, visually, barely distinguishable from the production version. And like its mainstream counterpart, its sporty, elegant design is now even more expressive: The hood, the Singleframe grille and the bumper have acquired sharper contours. The headlights have been made flatter and the LED rear lights have been modified too. The exhaust system is terminated by two large trapezoidal tailpipe trims on both sides of the tail end.

LED headlights are part of the standard specification in conjunction with the V8 engine; the W12 comes with Audi’s innovative Matrix LED technology. With these headlights, the high-beam comprises 25 small, individual light-emitting diodes per unit that can be switched on and off or dimmed individually as needed. The headlight system can very precisely mask other road users out of the cone of light, without significantly reducing illumination of the road.

The new Audi A8 L Security has been officially certified by the German Ballistics Testing Center in Munich; it complies with the requirements of the class VR 7 ballistic protection standard in accordance with the BRV 2009 guideline. BRV stands for “Bullet Resistant Vehicles”. Class VR 7 imposes the strictest criteria on civilian high-security sedans: The body panels and glazing of the passenger cell must withstand firing with NATO sub-caliber ammunition. In certain areas, the armor plating on the A8 L Security even complies with the criteria for the classes VR 9 and VR 10. Resistance to explosives is tested in accordance with the ERV 2010 guideline (Explosion Resistant Vehicles).

The interior of the new Audi A8 L Security is an elegantly styled relaxation zone offering a bespoke-standard build quality. There are two electrically adjustable individual seats in the rear. The front comfort seats, with an equally wide range of adjustment options, can also be supplied with massage and ventilation functions.

There is a choice of two high-end engines for the new A8 L Security – the 4.0 TFSI and the W12 FSI; both are to Euro 6 emission standard. The eight-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3,993 cc develops 320 kW (435 hp), 11 kW (15 hp) more than in its predecessor. It delivers a 600 Nm (442.54 lb-ft) of torque to the crankshaft between 1,500 and 5,000 rpm. It accelerates the new A8 L Security from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.5 seconds. Its average fuel consumption is a modest 10.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (21.58 US mpg).

The high-tech character of the V8 biturbo is manifested in numerous details, such as the twin-scroll turbo chargers that provide for the early and rapid development of torque, in the innovative thermal management and in the layout of the cylinder heads. Their intake end is on the outside and the exhaust end on the inside. The turbos and their intercooler are located in the inner V. This layout results in short gas flow paths with minimal flow losses and spontaneous response.

The twelve-cylinder engine in the new Audi A8 L Security is a naturally-aspirated power unit. Developing 368 kW (500 hp) and 625 Nm of torque (460.98 lb-ft), it propels the large high-security sedan from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.1 seconds. Its top speed is governed to 210 km/h (130.49 mph). The W12 averages 13.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (17.42 US mpg). Like the eight-cylinder version, that is the best performance among its direct field of competitors.

The W12 engine, with a displacement of 6,299 cc, is notable for its extremely compact layout. Its crankcase consists of four rows of three cylinders. Two rows face each other, offset by 15 degrees, and combine to form a single, wide bank. The two cylinder banks are arranged at an angle of 72 degrees. The crankshaft has a crankpin offset of 12 degrees so that the twelve cylinders ignite in the ideal interval of 60 degrees.

Photo Credit: © Audi

MTM Audi S6 Review

MTM has unveiled a power pack for the Audi S6 with power output 555 hp instead of the standard 420 hp and a torque of about 700 Nm instead of the standard 550 Nm. MTM united the M-Cantronic with the V-Cantronic in one box and set up the control in the MMI practically at the touch of a button: That’s so speed is available when you need it – up to 290 km/h after all. Whoever would like to take advantage of this boost occasionally – or permanently – can buy the option for roughly 3,700 Euro. A 4-pipe stainless steel exhaust system developed by MTM and fine-tuned on their own test stand complements the powerful ensemble for a price of 4,300 EUR including installation.

There’s no such thing as a car from MTM without visual accents where they work best. For the Audi S6 C7 4.0 TFSI quattro by MTM, therefore, there are four MTM-bimoto sets of rims to choose from – depending on your taste, at prices between 2,100 and 5,300 EUR. Behind all this there’s a braking system that was expressly designed according to two guiding principles: braking comfort just like in the series model, but the braking power adapted to the engine and driving performance.

Photo Credit: © MTM