Godzilla gets his Big Apple

[Virtual Bob <honge@creighton.edu>]

In other news/rumors (Audi and non-Audi)...

Audi A4 will be available with Sport package which includes tuned
suspension, 20mm lower, new 16" cast alloy wheels, and that 3-spoke
steering wheel.

Ssangyong plans old MB E-class with old MB straight-6 as its new executive
car. MB has yet to give permission to sell the car in Europe.

New A4s will get side impact air bags for front passengers. As for the
30-valve V6, it will propel non-q A4 to 60mph in 8.2 seconds. Audi claims
7.1 seconds for manual transmission. The q will be rated at 35.8mpg, and
non-q at 40.4mpg (unblievable figures, I must say). Car's test showed
26.4mpg overall with non-q auto.

Mitsubishi EVO IV GSR will become the last Group-A homologation car
available to the public. 2.0 liter, inline-4 producing 280bhp and
260ft-lb, it propells the all-wheel-driver to 60mph in 5.5 seconds and
tops out at 145mph (drag limited).

Alfa Romeo's Nuvola show-car hints at Alfa's renewed interest in AWD
platforms. The newest setup is 300bhp twin-turbo 2.5 liter V6, good for
60mph in under 5 seconds, Alfa reckons.

Audi is expected to build an assembly plant in America near BMW and MB's
respective plants by year 2000.

BMW was looking for "up-market" marque, just like VW had in 1969 when it
purchased Audi. BMW's target -- Rolls-Royce. Rolls' answer -- "They're
interested. But we ain't selling."

Audi plans to have twin-turbo S4 at the end of 1997, joining the only
(current) S, the S8. S3 will come sometime in '98, and S6 in '99.

Porsche plans 4x4 SUV with either 5-speed Tiptronic or 6-speed sequential
transmission. The AWD system is electronically controlled, a la MB's SUV
and Audi's 4th generation quattro --  that is, via ABS brakes. Porsche is
looking at either its own flat-6 transformed to a 8-cylinder at 4.5
liters, or Audi's 4.2 V8.

Italdesign Scighera, based on Alfa Romeo's 155 ITC tourer. Mid-mounted 3.0
V6 producing 400hp. Cool-looking Italdesign AWD coupe.

MB finally introduces its new 3.2 liter V6 18-valve in its E-class. The
3-valve per cylinder, twin-spark design engine's primary mission is to
combat the ever-stringent emission laws around the world. MB will also
re-introduce the 4-Matic. This time, it is a full-time system (vs. the
heavy, complex part-time system of the past) giving fixed 35/65 torque
split.

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