RE: Gute Fahrt Magazine 11/98

["Browning David (TVCS)" <BrowningD@tce.com>]

Wouldn't it be neat to see a new Beetle in rallying.  It would kind of like
the old Mini Coopers.

dB


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Tom Nas [SMTP:tnas@euronet.nl]
> Sent:	Sunday, November 15, 1998 8:27 AM
> To:	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:	Gute Fahrt Magazine 11/98
> 
> OK, here's the news from this German monthly concentrating on VAG
> products-
> 
> -Their in-house artist has designed a proposal for an off-road VW. some
> Golf/Bora touches, looks like it's a finished model already. Nicely done.
> 
> -The new sensation in VW circles: the first conventional car to reach the
> magic (Greenpeace-suggested) 3 litre/km consumption mark- the VW Lupo
> 1.2TDI 3-cylinder. Tiptronic, alloy and magnesium everywhere, narrow tyres
> (155 section Eco) with 61 hp, 140 Nm (more torque than any other current
> Lupo engine) and a total weight of less than 800 kgs. It still looks
> groovy, though- with its instruments surrounded by a TT-like alu ring with
> torx bolts and the great-looking dash. Top speed 165 kph.
> 
> -They test the Passat V6 TDI Tiptronic, and find it superb, especially for
> long-distance driving.
> 
> -Not only does VW 'go green', but the loony Lupo GTI- 120 hp 1.6 16v, top
> speed over 200 kph, twin exhausts, lots of alu bits in the interior (even
> drilled alu door handles)
> 
> -An interview with Ferdinand Piech about the current and future affairs of
> VAG, the 3rd largest car maker in the world.
> 
> -The New Beetle is introduced in the true European version, with nice
> clear-glass headlights and news of a high-performance 150 hp V5 version
> with automatically-lifting rear spoiler above the rear screen (like on the
> 911)
> 
> -A test of the recently-introduced 180 hp A3 1.8T quattro. They consider
> its electronically-controlled power delivery a bit too muted to be
> sporting, but the overall impression is that it's a great car. This would
> be a nice one to go rallying in... The test car is in yellow, with the
> accompanying A3 sports seats (think of grey-upholstered seats with the
> centre panels in chequered yellow/grey, 'fading' in the backrest from
> yellow/grey into all grey via a 'Tetris' pattern). Very distinctive, if
> not
> exactly easy on the eyes in this combo. Looks much better in the darker
> red
> IMO.
> 
> -There's a test of the Bora 1.9TDI 90hp Highline, nice leather Recaros and
> 'Le Castellet' alloy wheels. Conclusion is: high quality, driver's car.
> Looks especially sporting in the black exterior of the car tested.
> 
> -There's a test of the Lupo 1.4 16v 75 hp. VW seems to have discovered
> screaming colours- this one's in retina-burning green. Nice car if you
> remember to don your shades, though.
> 
> -If you don't mind travelling to Norway and spending (at the very least)
> DM4350, there's an authentic Audi-organised driver training for winter
> driving in Feb '99. The training is done in A4s 2.8q (193 hp). Should be
> great fun!
> 
> -There's an article about repairing interior damage as done by the pros-
> burn holes in cloth, screw holes in the dash or console, scratches and
> tears in leather. Nice stuff, but it doesn't come cheaply.
> 
> -A test of the new Carrera 4 cabriolet- awesome car, lots of high-tech
> gadgets which make it impossible to have fun unless deactivated.
> 
> -An interview with AudiSport director Dr. Ullrich and pics of the Audi R8,
> looks incredible in matt black.
> 
> Tom
> 
>  _______________________________________________________________________
>  Tom Nas                                          Zeist, The Netherlands
>  tnas@euronet.nl
>  1987 Audi 90q 2.3E, Tizianrot metallic, 167,000km
> 
>                         ENGINEERING TERMINOLOGY
>        PHRASE: "Preliminary operational tests were inconclusive."
>      TRANSLATION: "The darn thing blew up when we threw the switch."
>