further on the s6 and rs-series & miscellaneous stuff

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

autocar has a scoop on the s6 including a photo undergoing high-speed
testing @nardo.  it is apparently, based on the 3.7l v8 twin turbo'ed.
360hp and about 360lb ft.  it apparently has a getrag 6-speed transaxle with
"viscous couplings" whatever that means.... the s6 looks very stealthy and
the reason for this is, the article says, that audi is hard at work on the
rs line which will include everything from the rs3 to the rs8.  these cars
will be "the business" and be released at the frankfurt show apparently.
should be interesting.

closer to home, audi australia have released a tweaked a4 1.8tq with 132kw
(180hp).  full factory warranties and a good price.  audi in nz did a
similar thing last year.  the press ("motor" in this case) love it and
preferred it to 5 other cars including new lexus is200 (2nd), the alfa 156
(3rd), the 323i (thats 2.5litres) 4th, and saab 9-3ts 5th and mb c200
(last).  the bimmer was 10% more expensive than anything else on the list,
and refused to supply the 1.8 which was at the same price level.  the
article thought that they might be a little spooked by the is200.

i'll quote their summary "the laurels go to the elder statesman of the
class, the a4.  the transition audi has wrought with the engine upgrade has
turned out one of the best packages we've clapped eyes on for some time.
throw in the phenomenal grip of the quattro system and it makes for a
dickhead-proof device that really cooks on the sort of tight, twisty road we
all wake up remembering.  the a4 is the bollocks.  a wrx for grown-ups."

(are they saying quattro owners are dickheads?)  anyway, nice words for
those with modified 1.8tq's out there...

motor also drives and rates the s3 comparing it favourably to the wrx,
concluding that it is slighty slower and not quite as nimble, but much
better in the sophitication and nvh departments...

the magazine also covers the ttc very favourably, and the m3 evo anniversary
model.  also has an interesting article on the use, by the nsw police, of
imprezza wrx's for law enforcement.  apparently a number of sophisticated
gangs have cottoned onto the wrx and are using them to easily elude the
police's heavy v8 rwd holdens and fords....

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q
'61 mb fintail