Beijing 2014: Audi TT offroad concept unveiled

The Audi TT offroad concept is claimed to "combine the sportiness of a coupé with the lifestyle and utility of a compact SUV"

Audi TT offroad concept.

Audi has revealed its new Audi TT offroad concept car in China, prior to the Beijing motor show.

"The Audi TT offroad concept provides a glimpse of how we might imagine a new model in the future TT family," said Audi technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg. "It will be the peak sporting SUV in its class.

"We chose to present the Audi TT offroad concept in China, our second domestic market, because it represents the urban mobility of tomorrow: It is sustainable, dynamic, intelligent and connected".

A production version could reach the market in some two years' time but Hackenberg says that it will take six months for Audi to reach a decision on whether to give the model a green light.

The new concept is a four-door compact SUV that utilises a plug-in hybrid drive system. It's likely that the car, if it were to go into production, would directly rival the Range Rover Evoque, Porsche Macan and BMW X4.

At the front is a turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine that produces 288bhp and 280lb ft. It sends power to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission that features an integrated electric motor, rated at 40kw.

Mounted on the back axle is a second electric motor that outputs 85kW. An all-electric range of 50.05 km is possible, with the total range for the new concept claimed to be 879km. Electric power comes from a 12kWh battery mounted in front of the rear axle.

It's claimed that the system, which produces 402bhp allows the to be capable of 0-62kph in 5.2sec and has a limited top speed of 250kph. CO2 emissions are rated at 45g/km.

Audi's concept additionally features wireless charging, allowing the car to simply be parked over a plate to receive a charge. The manufacturer states that it takes "about as long as charging via a cable" and that the technology is around 90 per cent efficient.

In pure EV mode only the rear electric motor functions, propelling the concept up to 80.8mph. In hybrid mode all three drives work together, while a 'Sport' mode is offered for maximum system output. With both front and rear drives operational, the concept effectively functions as an 'e-tron quattro'.

Underpinning the TT offroad concept is the Volkswagen Audi Group's versatile MQB platform, and the car has similar dimensions to the recently revealed third-gen Audi TT.

Externally the TT offroad concept features 21-inch alloy wheels, Audi's new 'Singleframe' grille and 'Matrix' LED headlights. Many cues are also taken from the previous Allroad Shooting Brake concept, seen in January at the Detroit motor show.

Inside the cabin shares the majority of its architecture with that of the new Audi TT. There is seating for four, heavily bolstered front seats with integrated head restraints and myriad practical touches including a multifunction steering wheel and numerous storage points.

One of the highlights is the addition of Audi's new virtual cockpit, a 12.3-inch TFT display that is customisable to display information desired by the driver, such as navigation instructions.

Rear passengers are catered for with Audi's new 'Smart Displays', which can stream live TV, access route planning and other media functions.

Additional new features include a junction merging assistant and a traffic light system that can display the remaining light time at upcoming lights.

Audi had previously previewed the new concept in a series of design sketches.

Courtesy: AutoCarIndia dot com

Audi clocks sales of over 10,000 cars in FY 2013-14

Audi becomes first luxury carmaker in India to reach milestone.

Luxury carmaker Audi, after recently taking the top spot in the luxury segment in India, has now reached another milestone. The manufacturer has announced that it registered sales of 10,126 cars across the last financial year, becoming the first luxury carmaker in India to sell over 10,000 across a fiscal.

Audi had also managed to sell over 10,000 units across the last calendar year, 2013. The carmaker also clocked best sales in March 2014 (1,404 units) and across the first quarter of this year (2,740 units).

Audi is the only luxury manufacturer that doesn't have a hatchback on offer in India to rival BMW's 1-series, Mercedes-Benz's A-class or Volvo's V40. That's because the carmaker is looking to take competition a step further by introducing the A3 sedan as the most affordable Audi in India this year.

Given the perception of Indian car buyers viewing sedans as a more premium buy, especially in the luxury segment, the new entry-level model could play a crucial role in maintaining the company's current momentum.

Courtesy: AutoCarIndia dot com

Porsche’s New baby SUV in Diesel

Porsche’s new baby SUV in diesel guise offers up refinement and sporting prowess, coupled to impressive economy and plenty of desirability.

Introduction:

This is the diesel version of the excellent new Porsche Macan SUV . It produces 255bhp – alongside a whopping 59kgm of torque from just 1,750rpm – and can hit 100kph in just 6.3sec as a result.

This makes the Macan S Diesel by far the most sporting of the various diesel-engined mid-size luxury SUVs on sale at the moment, but it also gives Porsche’s new ‘junior Cayenne’ range genuine depth.

At the top of the tree sits the 400bhp, 265kph Turbo; in the middle sits a less powerful petrol V6, also turbocharged (somewhat confusingly) but known simply as the Macan S; and alongside that car sits this one, the 230kph S Diesel that also happens to be capable of a claimed 16kpl overall.

Although all three Macans are based unashamedly on Audi’s Q5 platform, Porsche insists that less than a third of the moving parts and almost none of the dynamic qualities are shared between the two cars. So while the basic architecture of Q5 and Macan is similar, the way they look and drive is entirely different, says Porsche.

Technical stuff and performance:

The suspension, for instance, is steel as standard (optional air suspension is available on all three versions) and features struts at the front with a multi-link arrangement at the rear, much like that of the Q5. But in its detail and tuning, the Macan’s suspension and chassis (and its steering, brakes and gearbox) are all bespoke.

The gearbox is a seven-speed PDK, while the brakes and dampers have both been tuned to provide the Macan S Diesel with far sharper responses than a Q5. The driving position is also much lower than in the Q5, while the cabin itself bears little or no resemblance to what you’ll find in the equivalent Audi.

The emphasis with the Macan, inside as well as out, is all about delivering as sporting a driving experience as possible, even when there’s a cast-iron, common-rail turbodiesel engine pumping away beneath its new bonnet.

So, what is it like? In one word refined. In two words, supremely refined. And in four words supremely refined and quick.

There are all sorts of things about the Macan S Diesel that will impress you in the first few kilometres of your first journey in it – the precision and accuracy of its steering, the effortless power of its brakes, the apparent high quality of its ride and the feeling of sitting inside a compact but expensive automobile being just four such examples.

But it’s the smoothness and potency of the power delivery that will most likely leave the biggest impression, long after you’ve climbed out and walked way. That and the creamy interaction with the engine of the quite brilliant PDK gearbox. Combined, these attributes elevate the Macan S Diesel to a completely different level dynamically compared with any car in this class.

Admittedly I only drove it on mostly smooth German roads, and around Porsche’s test track at Leipzig where the car is built, but the overwhelming impression I came away with was that of a supremely well-resolved car. Not perhaps the full blown ‘sports car’ that Porsche would have you believe, but something pretty close all the same. Call it the world’s most practical four-wheel-drive fast hatchback and you wouldn’t be all that far away.

It feels in a different league from the Q5s and BMW X3s of this world when it comes to pure driver appeal, yet the compromise it demands in refinement and comfort don’t really seem to exist. The Macan is as fast as it is refined, as roomy as it is agile, and as sporting as it is comfortable, which gives it a unique breadth of appeal.

It won’t come cheap though, and we hear that the price will be lower than a Cayenne’s, but not by much when it goes on sale. However, if you want the best sporting compact SUV that’s currently made on your driveway, one that boasts a suitably exclusive badge to match, you should definitely consider buying a Macan once Porsche launches it in India.

Audi Vs BMW Markets in India

The battle of the Teutons just got interesting even as Audi India edged passed competitor and compatriot BMW India in the June 2012 sales. Audi managed to sell 759 cars amidst difficult market conditions even as BMW could manage only 750 units, 9 units lesser than that of Audi India. The Volkswagen group owned car maker Audi is fast catching up with BMW in terms of sales in the Indian car market on the back of new launches and aggressive price positioning. While Audi aims to displace BMW from the top perch in India by 2014, the sales momentum currently seems to heavily be in Audi’s favor to achieve that feat much earlier.

2012 Audi Q3 Crossover SUV

Market Rumors flow about 2012 Mercedez Benz B-Class

Mercedes Benz India has made no bones about the fact that it intends to capture back market share that it has lost to competitors and compatriots, Audi and BMW over the past couple of years or so, with a slew of product launches aiming to bring in big volumes. The first car in this new crop of Mercs will be the 2012 B-Class Sports Tourer, which could break cover as early as July 2012, according to a report carried by our friends over at Overdrive. The 2012 B-Class sport tourer will be Mercedes Benz India’s entry level product, competing in the same price range as that of the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 crossovers.

2012 Mercedes Benz B-Class Sports Tourer

Catchy Images of 2013 Audi SQ5 Crossover

Audi has gone sporty with the Q5 crossover and the SQ5 is the result of that. Unveiled on the eve of the 2012 LeMans 24 hours endurance race in France, the Q5 is the first diesel engined car from Audi to get the S moniker. Talking of which, twin turbo power is the reason for the S credentials for the burly Audi Q5. Twin turbochargers employed on the 3 Liter, V6 common rail diesel engine has resulted in peak power going up to 313 Bhp with the real stuff that matters of diesel engines, the torque, coming in at a massive 650 Nm.

2013 Audi SQ5 High Performance Diesel Crossover

2012 Audi Q3 Crossover

It seems like the consistent big growth has emboldened Volkswagen group owned German luxury car brand Audi, for the car maker hopes to displace current market leader BMW India by 2014, a year ahead of schedule. Previously, Audi aimed to emerge as the top luxury car brand in India by 2015. However, the recent success that the brand has been seeing in India has prompted the automaker to revise forecasts. Audi India recently moved past Mercedes Benz to emerge as the second largest luxury car maker in the Indian market despite being the youngest of the German trio to begin doing business in India.

2012 Audi Q3 Crossover

2012 Audi Q5 Crossover

German luxury car maker Audi will debut the 3 Liter TDI V6 turbo diesel engine with twin turbo power later today, at the LeMans racing circuit at France. The engine, which is essentially a 3 Liter TDI V6 common rail turbo diesel unit that forms the staple engine offering on a range of Audi and Volkswagen car models gets twin turbochargers that pump up power and torque output by quite a bit. Sample this, the peak power produced by the Twin Turbo equipped 3 Liter TDI engine now goes up to 309 Bhp while peak torque comes in at 640 Nm.

2013 Audi Q5 Crossover used as an illustration

Audi A3 Sedan Indian Launch expected in 2013

Audi’s entry level product aimed at attracting a new crop of younger buyers, the A3 sedan, is all set to hit international markets across the globe by the end of 2012. This very car will arrive into India too, sometime in 2013, even as arch rival Mercedes Benz has two entry level products lined up for the Indian market in 2012-13. In late 2012, we will have the Mercedes Benz B-Class sports tourer being launched while 2013 will see the A-Class sports hatchback. Both these cars are expected to be entry level models launched at highly competitive price tags.

2014 Audi A3 Sedan

Audi Q3 Crossover's music video challenging BMW X1

Days ago, in a low key launch, Audi India launched its entry level, high volume product for the Indian car market, the Q3 Crossover. While the launch happened amidst low fanfare, with an emailed press release announcing the Q3 going on sale in the Indian car market, the crossover in itself is one of the most important products in the Volkswagen group owned German luxury car maker’s Indian portfolio. So, Audi India is going all out to ensure that the Q3 gets enough visibility for traction at the hustings. Here is a little music video in the form of an anthem that Audi has out put out for the Q3.

Bollywood actor John Abraham in the 2012 Audi Q3 Crossover Music Video

Launch of Audi 2012 Q3 Crossover in India with a Starting price ranging INR 26.21 LACS (Maharashtra ex-showroom)

Audi India has launched the hotly anticipated Q3 crossover in the Indian car market. While the launch was quite restrained with merely a press release signifying the Q3′s arrival into India, the automaker has definitely managed to price the Q3 extremely competitively. The 2012 Audi Q3 crossover is available for a base price of INR 26.21 lakhs for the base variant while the fully loaded top end version will sell for INR 31.49 lakhs. Both prices reflect ex-showroom Maharashtra figures and the Q3 will be available initially only in diesel guise.

2012 Audi Q3 Crossover SUV