new audi's

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

the 28th july "autocar" has a lot to interest audi fans.  information on the
new w12 (which is apparently exclusive to the lwb a8) has it looking very
impressive.  audi is continuing to build state-of-the-art n/a motors.  408hp
and 400lb ft from 5.6 litres are comfortably more than the bmw (5.4l
326hp/361lb ft) and mb (5.8l 367hp/391lb ft). a length of 510mm is also
highly impressive.  according to autocar, this should make the car
significanty faster than the s8.  we're talking under 6sec 0-60 times.
quattro only.  the a8w12 looks more bluff-fronted than the 4.2, and the w12
badge is just plain awfull (unclear whether the photo is a morph or not).

also autocar quotes audi insiders and gives details on the rs4.  motor will
be a 400hp tt based on a modified version of the s4 v6, and the chassis
designed to hardern the dynamics of the s4.

the magazine also drives the tt roadster in 225hp quattro form.  peter
robinson liked it immensely.  the engine has, according to him, become
smoother and more refined over the earlier versions (in the ttq), although
the exhaust note still disappoints.  cut-out is @6,800rpm.  the geachange
and clutch have also improved.  also evidence that audi have worked on the
reported nervousness of the tt on the limit (something i can attest to in
the fwd car - see my 'road test notes').  "the tt roadster is agile, the
steering direct, precise and pleasantly meaty in feel.  it is fun, very
secure, and fast.  you can sense the drive shifting backwards and forwards
between the front and rear axles and quickly learn that you can slide the
car at will, or simply adjust its attitude through a corner via the
throttle.  lift off suddenly, especially at speed, and it will oversteer,
through a series of small refinements have reduced this tendancy compared to
the early examples".  robinson says that audi claims to have 'only' softened
the dampers by 10%.  he clearly doesn't believe them.  in summary "the
roadster doesn'thave the all round dynamic talents of the boxster (robinson
is a boxster owner), but it's way ahead of the z3 and even the slk in terms
of driver appeal".

autocar also includes the tt in its "great moments in automotive design",
profiling the royal college of art.

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q
'88 mb 2.3-16