Re: What car is this?

["Linus D. Toy" <linust@interramp.com>]

At 12:44 AM 4/6/96 -0500, ScharfR@aol.com wrote:
>
>> actually would have been real simple to certify here in
>>the US too, 
>
>You are forgetting crash testing. This unique combination of powertrain,
>weight class and body structure would have required a number of
> more-or-less expensive homologation exercises. 

not certain to the exact procedures here, but i believe there are allowances
for various "families" to qualify as under a single test program.  so...it
is possible this combination was essentially tested here under the following:
-  20v turbo ('91 200q, S4/S6) in heavier cars (this is what counts, i
believe, though primarily for emissions testing)
-  20v engine in B-series body (90q-20v and 20v coupe).  could the addition
of the turbo make that much difference in crash-testing?  don't know.

>Add up the total cost, divide by the
>expected volume, figure out the cost of doing business.  In all 
>likelihood, the marginal benefit to Audi of this car in that time
>frame would have been trivial.

also remember that at the time, Audi was trying to figure out its image here
in the U.S:  sport sedan?  luxury car?  and still trying to recover their
sales, dissapointed in the way the first 80/90 did here (compared to
europe).  whatever, simple fact is, we never got that car (S2 and later RS2)
here.  bummer

--ldt
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* linus toy           email:  linust@interramp.com                   *
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