Re: Audi USA plans for 1998-2000

[Elliott Potter <epotter@abraxis.com>]

Wow!  Makes me wish I had money :)

Thanks for the great post Steve!  It's nice to see these things
presented as "the prez of AoA says..." and not "it's rumored that..."
-- 
Elliott

"There are two major products to come out of Berkeley:  LSD and UNIX. 
We don't believe this to be a coincidence."
	-- Unknown


> Stephen Pitts wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone...
> 
> I have been reading the list for the last several weeks... and have
> seen these posts concerning Audi's product plans, etc...
> 
> Here is what I know.. from a source who spoke directly with the
> President of Audi of America a few weeks ago...
> 
> Audi will be launching new products every 4 months:
> 
> THIS SUMMER:
> 
> A6 avant
> no pearl white for all of 1998.... problem with pearl paint in the
> front bumper area where there is
> a large curve.  Paint changes color with the bend.
> 
> THIS FALL:
> 
> 1999 Audi S4
> 1999 Audi 1.8t comes with 180 hp standard
> 1999 1.8t Avant (avant 1.8t either fall or next spring)
> 
> Spring 1999:
> 
> TT
> 
> Summer 1999:
> 
> A6 and A6Avant STANDARD engine becomes the 2.7 liter twin-turbo at
> 265hp!  5-speed or tip...   I think that he is mistaken and that it
> will be the light pressure at 235, but he insists that this is
> correct.  Doesn't matter though, as we can turn the boost from
> whatever up to 325! (Wetterauer America).  I do know that the
> difference between the light pressure 2.7 twin turbo and the S4 engine
> is boost pressure only.
> 
> 1.8t stays 180hp
> 
> A4 30v stays 190hp
> 
> 
> Fall 1999:
> 
> S6, 340hp V8 six speed.
> 
> --------
> 
> It appears to me, that if these events unfold as I have described
> above, that Audi will lay to rest, this issue of underperformance vs.
> bmw.  If the A6 comes with 265hp next year, it will be close to a 540i
> for $15k less...
> 
> The S4 will outperform the US spec M3 by a significant margin... early
> reports state that Audi has reworked torque for the US market, to keep
> well ahead of the M3
> 
> Please don't pin me down on all of this info.. I don't know it to be
> 100% accurate... it's only what I know to date, and I thought that you
> would appreciate my sharing it with you.
> 
> Stephen Pitts
> President - Wetterauer America
> 
> [...]