RE: Audi N.A./Lambroghini 1999 - AP wire...

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	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Sargent Schutt [SMTP:sargent@novagate.com]
	Sent:	Wednesday, August 12, 1998 4:47 PM
	To:	Quattro List
	Subject:	Audi N.A./Lambroghini 1999 - AP wire...

	From the AP news wire...

	Audi AG, new parent to Italian exotic car manufacturer Lambroghini,
has
	released the following statement regarding model changes to its 1999
lineup:

	"In a move to increase market share, starting in 1999 all new
Lambroghini
	products destined for the North American market will undergo the
following
	equipment changes:

	In an effort to make the cars useful year-around, all Diablos will
have a 15"
	wheel option for snow tires. 16" wheels are standard. The brakes
will be
	re-sized as appropriate to accommodate a 15" wheel throughout the
model range.

	In order to differentiate Lambroghini from other performance car
makers, we
	will be offering a powerful all-aluminum five valve V8 engine mated
to an
	automatic quattro IV homologation in automatic form only. Tiptronic
will be
	standard. Our power-sapping automatic will hurt accelleration, but
we feel no
	need to keep up with the Joneses, or the Bimmers for that matter. It
will
	definitely help to set us apart in this market, which is our
objective.
	Americans love automatics, so we expect this change to be met with
warm
	reviews. 

	We have also made further safety advancements to protect against
'unintended
	acceleration'. Our attorneys are still trying to figure out what
happened, but
	our engineers have found a fool-proof solution: The car now may not
be shifted
	from park without both hands on the wheel and both feet on the brake
pedal.
	Our engineers feel this will absolve us of any liabilty from the
mis-selection
	of gears or the misapplication of pedals. The credit for this new
feature goes
	to Team Doorhandle. 

	In order to keep the kickbacks coming from Goodyear, we will be
fitting all
	future Lambroghinis with Goodyear Eagle LS tires, size 195/60/15
front,
	205/55/15 rear, unless Goodyear has something cheaper and older that
they need
	to get rid of, which would also be acceptable. We will try to keep
them in
	matching sets. (Speed rated tires will not be necessary, as the
governor will
	limit top speed in the US to 130 mph, as with the rest of our cars.)
This will
	help keep the car neutral and predictable in corners, obviating the
need for
	expensive stability control equipment, and further helping to keep
prices competitive.

	Sport Seats may be available as an option, but they will only be
available in
	pseudo-leather as focus group testing indicates the seats need be
easy to
	clean after drivers discover the true meaning of 'brake fade'.

	Lighting development is still underway at this time, though it does
look like
	Mrs. Johnson's first grade class has the lead on lense design.
Diamond-blue
	bulbs will be offered as a no-cost option. HID will not be
available, as
	Americans do not drive fast enough to need them.

	European models will still be available with standard transmissions,
real
	brakes, good headlights, and sticky tires. All other markets will
receive the
	European spec cars, not to worry. 

	Final pricing has yet to be determined, but with these
market-specific
	refinements we expect to command a premium price over more
traditional sports
	cars like the Ferrari, given our consumer-friendly adaptation of
this beastial
	car to the U.S. market. At the same time, our production costs will
be lower,
	so we expect a very healthy bottom line. We expect this will be a
big hit with
	US customers. We feel we are now one giant step closer to
understanding them."

	End of report...