the i5 returns??

["Dave Eaton" <Dave.Eaton@clear.net.nz>]

the latest "car" magazine (april) has a little titbit about the proposed
horsepower increase to the tt, for the tts (a tt 350hp vr6).  in that
paragraph, mention is made of a possible alternative power plant using a new
i5 motor on the drawing board "a 2-3l 25v straight 5 currently under
development.  a favourite format of ferdinand piech, the i5 could replace
the v5 and might be fitted to a facelifted version of the mk4 golf.  by
turbocharging it, audi could revive memories of the original 5-pot quattro
coupe."

the april issue also contains a georg kacher comparison of the bmw540i vs
the new a6 4.2v8.  the audi is slightly faster, sportier, more stable at
speed, has better handling (less body roll) and better brakes and has better
cabin quality ("narrowly edges the 540i and comfortably beats the e430..with
the exception of [ahem] the brash red instrument lighting, the a6 cockpit is
probably the best-looking and best-made this side of the bentley arnage"),
and is much better in the wet, but loses out to the bmw because of it's more
"passive" attitude at the limit, it is less "chuckable", and somewhat less
comfortable.

georg kacher interestingly talks of the a6qv8 torsen being "too defensive",
with a bias towards understeer.  kacher says that, with the haldex, the a6
quattro would win the contest hands down, due to the haldex's rearward bias
(in the tt).  it is somewhat ironical from this quarter, given all the heat
in the "torsen spider" argument, that we have a road tester finding the
torsen too safe, and looking for more the tail-out spice of the haldex......

"car" also continues it's "investigation of the rover mess, with a very
negative article about rover's appalling quality problems, using leaked
internal company papers to show serious and continuing problems on all
rover's products, including the new 75 (serious panel fit problems and
having handling, steering and electrical problems delaying it's launch by
months).  a rather sad report on a once proud company.  no wonder the board
pusch happened at bmw....

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q