Audi TT 2009 News

Hot on the heels of the Australian government's mandatory Takata airbag recall, Ford, Audi and Tesla have joined the list of carmakers to detail which of it's models are affected.

The popular Audi and Volkswagen tuning fest, Austria's Wörthersee Tour, will see a number of interesting vehicles presented this year, the highlight of which will be a lightweight Audi TT concept. Audi is believed to be planning a lightweight version of its next-generation TT sports car and many of the lightweight design elements of that future car are likely present on this new concept, which is based on the current generation of the TT. The concept is called the TT ultra quattro, with “ultra” being the name used by Audi for its lightweight construction methodology. The vehicle has a curb weight of just 1,111kg, despite it packing a turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive system. Peak output from the car’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is 228kW and 400Nm, which in the lightweight body sees the 0-96 km/h sprint take just 4.2 seconds (1.3 seconds faster than stock). Each of the car’s kilowatts has just 4.87kg to carry. To reduce weight, engineers stripped the car of some non-essentials and replaced parts of the structure using lighter materials in line with the automaker’s evolving multi-material construction techniques. Regular steel ended up being replaced with carbon fibre, magnesium and aluminium. Engineers also stuck with a regular manual transmission but swapped the TT’s seats for lightweight units from the R8 GT. Interestingly, air conditioning, electric window controls and an electromechanical parking brake are still fitted. One key difference is present, however. The exterior mirrors have been replaced by compact cameras that transfer the images directly into the digital cockpit. More than 23kg were saved in the engine alone, by replacing parts like the crankcase, crankshaft, balancer shafts, flywheel, oil sump and several nuts and bolts with lighter units. The suspension was also replaced with a lighter setup, some parts of which are made from fibreglass-reinforced plastic. More savings come from carbon ceramic brakes, a titanium system and wheels made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic and aluminium. Total weight savings add up to 300kg. Finally, engineers also worked to hone the handling of the TT. They have taken away weight from the ends of the car and moved it into the middle. The lithium-ion starter battery, for example, is now located in the interior under the driver’s seat. It is much smaller than a lead battery and weighs as little as 4kg The 2013 Wörthersee Tour will take place from May 8-11. Also on show will be the legendary Sport quattro S1, the latest RS line of cars and the race-winning R18 e-tron quattro. www.motorauthority.com

The spiced-up version of the Audi TT-RS that is on the dance card for Geneva may be on the cards for Australia. To be released overseas as both a coupe and roadster, the TT RS Plus boosts the TT's 2.5-litre turbo five- cylinder by 15kW of power to 265kW, and adds an extra 15Nm of torque for 465Nm.Buyers can self-shift with a six-speed manual or let a seven-speed dual-clutch do the work for them. The automatic is an attractive option when it comes with a launch control mode that can teleport the Plus Coupe to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds (the manual is only barely behind at 4.3 seconds) - and that's getting into Ferrari territory, friends. Top speed is limited to 280 km/h, and Audi claims the auto Ccoupe uses 8.5L/100km, with the Roadster at 8.6L. Style changes nose in with the black diamond-mesh of the single-frame grille, and tail out with a large fixed rear wing. The black accents carry through into five-spoke 19-in cast alloys -- with red rim flanges -- and black oval tailpipe trims, down the throat of which a 'reverber' amplifies the engine sound.The good news? Audi Australia is considering the TT RS Plus for local sales. “We don’t have a final date for launch overseas at this stage, but we are certainly looking at it with interest for the Australian line-up,” Audi general manager of corporate communications Anna Burgdorf says. Burgdorf says Audi wants to make sure they have a good business case for the TT RS Plus, but admits Australians are likely to warm to it.Audi steadily sold more than 35 TT variants per month over 2010 and 2011, and this year has started off with an average closer to 40 per month YTD. Sales have spiked when both  higher spec versions were introduced.“The TT has been a strong seller from the first day, the TT S on top of that was extremely well received, and the TT RS moved quickly – and for those who want a little more the TT RS Plus goes one step further,” Burgdorf says. “It is something that would be great to have in the range, but we want to make sure there is a market here for the car.“We may see it by the end of the year, but to say that at this stage would just be speculation – and so would any discussion of price. The current pricing of the TT RS is just shy of $140,000 and at the top end the TT RS Plus would be fairly loaded with spec, but our goal is to bring in the best value package we possibly can.”

The hotter quattro all-wheel drive coupe is powered by a turbocharged direct injection 2.5-litre TFSI five-cylinder engine that can trace its origins back to Audi’s motorsport heritage and in recent years various Volkswagen commercial vehicles. The tweaked five-cylinder develops 250kW at 6500 revs and 450Nm from 1600 revs, allowing the car it hit 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and sail on to a governed top speed of 250km/h.However, buyers can option up the car with a $3900 carbon package that lifts top speed to 280km/h. The six-speed manual only coupe is priced at $133,700 and is squarely aimed at the Porsche Cayman S. Audi Australia expects to sell around 80 a year, according to managing director, Joerg Hofmann. “Our RS models, while niche, are always very popular for buyers wanting the ultimate in performance,” Hofmann says.The RS will make up just 5 per cent of overall TT sales, with the volume playing remaining the 2.0 TFSI. Audi product planning boss, John Roberts, says the TT RS would not replace the 3.2 TFSI TT. “There is room for both,” he says. “The 3.2 is still available and it will remain a part of the lineup.”Nor would Australia get a Roadster version of the TT RS, he says. “We have no plans for the Roadster version,” he says.The RS benefits from the newest generation TT’s larger, longer and lighter construction than the previous generation. The four-seater tips the scales at just 1450kg, thanks to its aluminum space frame body. The car uses 69 per cent alloy construction up front and steel at the back. It rides 10mm lower than the standard car and is coupled Audi Magnetic Ride to provide a more stable and dynamic ride while the car is specified with beefier brakes.Flick the sports button on the centre console and it will adjust the car’s acceleration response, exhaust note and firms up the ride.Visually it gets special RS-design elements including a specific diamond-look grille, large side air inlets and brushed alloy exterior mirrors, as well as a fixed rear wing spoiler, a striking diffuser insert and oval exhaust pipes. Australian-specification vehicles get 19-inch alloys, DVD-based navigation with glovebox-mounted CD changer, TTRS bucket seats in Nappa leather, short-shift, manual gearbox for lightning fast changes and a hill start assist.Apart from the $3900 carbon package, adaptive headlights are $780 and a premium Bose sound system costs $1377.The TT RS debuted at the Geneva Motor Show early this year. 

The Frankfurt Motor Show literally roared to life this morning when a classic BMW 507 roadster ran laps of a custom-built oval track inside the German carmaker's $30 million stand.

And the car industry is not immune from being saddled with these potentially damaging problems.Apart from Ford's recent problems with brake hoses and brake booster valves on E-Gas Falcons the other ‘big two’ carmakers have had their fair share of recalls.Holden has had five recalls for its VE Commodore and Statesman range since its introduction in 2006, involving things like fuel vapor lines, fuel lines and defective valves on LPG cars.ToyotaToyota had a range of recalls for its Camry, HiLux, RAV4, Yaris and LandCruiser over the past three years. Most, like a headlight dimmer switch on a Camry, have been minor. Others, like the potential fire hazard stemming from a poorly installed insulator pad on a Yaris, raised alarm bells among some customers.NissanLast week Nissan was forced to recall 11,743 Maximas and 4972 Muranos because of a vibrating air intake in the engine bay.AudiEven the luxury German brands are not immune. Last year Audi had to recall its TT for a piece of rear side trim in its cars that unless fixed, could potentially injure passengers.Mercedes-Benz This year Mercedes-Benz has recalled its M-Class off-roader for a possible glitch in its electric rear hatch. It was also forced to recall S-Class sedans fitted with active body control because of problems with the front lower ball joints on its suspension. On some high-mileage vehicles, the front suspension could fracture on rough roads. Faulty left and right windows in the Viano van also required the replacement.BMWOf the German carmakers, BMW has fared better. It has not had a official government recall since 2006.Volvo Volvo has had three recalls this year of its S80, XC70, V70 and new XC60 for engine cooling fan problems and windscreen wiper problems with the S80 and XC70.JaguarJaguar, once widely ridiculed for its poor quality cars, has come a long way over the past few years. Jaguars these days have no less, or no more, problems with recalls than some of the other luxury brands. Last year it experienced some minor problems with the XF range involving wiring and rear seatbelts.In all cases, recalls by carmakers are handled quickly and responsibly. If you want to check out whether your vehicle has had a recall, go to www.recalls.gov.au

Million dollar extravagance alongside budget buggies, runaway horsepower side-by-side with eco warriors. Its the eclectic mix that makes the Geneva one of the most anticipated events on the annual motor show circuit.As major car manufacturers battle for survival in the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression, its all spit, polish and business as usual inside the Palexpo complex in the world's banking capital.Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and Maybach spruiked their million-dollar babies alongside a tiny Smart, Chrysler's European debut for its vision of an electric future and a full range of real-world hybrid and dual-fuel models.There were the wild and wacky concepts — fewer than in the halcyon days, an acknowledgement that times are tough — and a mix of models that will grace showrooms in the coming year.Also fighting for attention were the usual array of specialists like Brabus, Startech and Zagato adding even greater gloss and performance to mainstream models as well as tiny Euro operations producing outlandish stars of their own imagining — badges such as Sbarro, Gumpert, Spyker and Koenigsegg.So, what were the stars of the 2009 Geneva Show?Ask a hundred people and you will probably get 100 different answers, but from a purely personal point of view here is one version of a Top 10. Citroen DS Inside Concept: A concept in name only, the little Mini rival will spearhead Citroen's new DS naming convention when it launches next year. Sleek, stylish and boasting a hybrid-diesel powertrain, the DS (the manufacturer says that stands for different spirit) caught the eye and the imagination with emotional, if not styling, hints of the truly radical DS on the 1950s.Hyundai ix-onic concept: Gone are the days when you looked on a Korean concept with a sense of synmpathy. While the ix-onic is clearly an exaggeration of the marques next SUV generation there is enough about it to whet the appetite. As important as the styling is the news that the ix-onic carries DSG gearbox and stop/start eco-technology. Look for for it all in the next generation of Tucson compact SUV next year.Pagani Zonda Cinque: A personal favourite. Not so much a car as a piece of very, very fast art. The latest offering from designer Horatio Pagani uses the company's own bespoke carbon-titanium material to shape a truly gorgeous body — and it goes. Zero to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and back to zero in 2.1. Enough sauid. Chevrolet Spark: Far more super-realistic than super-car, the little Spark is none-the-less an excellent example of its kind. Developed from the General Motors Beat concept shown in New York two years ago, the Spark is a bright rendition of a city car which, despite its name, is not electric nor even hybrid. On sale in Europe this year, don't be surprised if it comes under serious consideration for life with a Holden badge.Mercedes E-Class Coupe: The outstanding model from the new E-Class range. While the sedan version of the new generation E-Class had been seen in Detroit in January this was the Coupe's first outing — and well worth the wait. A really pretty rendition of a true coupe style.Audi TT RS: There was no shortage of new Audis in Geneva with the A5 and S5 Cabriolets on show but they were put in the shade by this hot version of the cool TT. What really sets this one apart is the use of a rorty 5-cylinder engine which is a hint to a wider future use of the powerplant behind the four-rings badge.Maybach Zeppelin: Outrageous, outlandish and unapologetically designed to shout "look what I've got that you don't", the latest Maybach earns its spot in the top 10 for offering a stone interior as an option. The high-tech process for bending Indian granite around complex surfaces is more Jetsons than Flintstones and about as left-field as anything seen in a production car. Aston Martin One-77: Another conspicuous statement of wealth, this super-exclusive super-car — only 77 are being made — exudes power and style. Everything about this car is special, right through to the unique 7.3-litre V12 massaged out of the company's standard 6.0-litre unit by Cosworth. It is believed at least one of these beauties is heading for Australia.Jaguar XFR: It has been a little while coming but Jaguar has put some real bite into its award-winning XF range with the arrival of the high-performance R version. Without over-burdoning the car with fancy, garish aero bits there is little doubt the XFR looks the biz. The 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet doesn't hurt, either. Fiat 500C convertible: Not really a convertible in the contempory sense of the word, this latest rendition of the insufferably cute Fiat 500 is a must-have fashion accessory. The rollback sot top is true to the style of the original 1950s car with the centre of the roof rolling back to open the passengers to the skies without the complicated engineering of removing roof rails or C-pillars.

The unusual engine design was the heart of the original Quattro that revolutionised performance motoring in the 1980s, as well as dominating the World Rally Championship. Now the feisty five is coming back for a fast-car pacesetter called the TT RS. It won't be spitting flames or roaring through an open exhaust like the engines used in the Quattro coupes which convinced the world that all-wheel drive was the best way to put big power on the ground, but Audi is promising more than 225kW to turn the go-faster TT into something special. "It will be a sensation little rocketship," claims the spokesperson for Audi Australia, Anna Burgdorf. The final figures will not be revealed until the TT RS makes its public debut in a fortnight at the Geneva Motor Show, but Audi is hinting at a four-second sprint to 100km/h and a potential top speed well beyond its electronically-limited 250km/h. The TT RS will be built as both a coupe and convertible, with a bunch of body tweaking work to reflect the muscular potential of the 2.5- litre engine hooked to its quattro drive system. The bad news is a price-tag beyond $100,000, based on today's TT S at $98,900. But the good news is that car TT RS will definitely come to Australia. It will be sold as a coupe only - the convertible is considered too limiting - and the timing is around six months after the first deliveries in Europe. "The car will come to Australia. It will definitely come in 2010 but it's very hard to tie down a date at this stage," says Burgdorf. She cannot comment on details, including the move away from inline fours and V6s to the new five, but says the TT RS is definitely not a show car or a limited-edition tease. "It is a production car. What will be shown on the stand at Geneva is the production car," she says. "We don't know the answer on production numbers, but it is a regular production model. And the engine is a new one that allows the TT to perform extremely well with good fuel economy."   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...  

This global financial crisis thing is half in the mind, asserts Audi Australia managing director Joerg Hofmann, who has vowed to increase the resurgent marque’s market share in 2009

Audi says the 2.0 TDI quattro coupe and roadster are the first production sports cars in the world to be powered by diesel engines. And it's quite a powerplant, if the numbers are any indication - the two-litre, four-cylinder offers 125kW of power and a decent 350Nm of torque. That's enough for a 0-100km/h sprint of 7.5 seconds and a 226km/h top speed for the 1370kg Coupe, or 7.7 seconds for the 1415kg Roadster, which claims a 223km/h top speed. The TDI engine comes into its own on thirst. A fuel consumption figure claimed by Audi is just 5.3 litres/100km. Both are built with what Audi calls “hybrid design.” It uses an aluminium forward structure and a steel rear end, which the company says aids weight distribution. The TDI version of the TT is on Audi Australia's wish list and was described as “likely” as the company wants to develop its turbodiesel presence in Australia. The TT range also will be expanded on the petrol engine front, with the introduction of a model with more performance than that provided by the 1.8-litre turbo four or the 3.2-litre V6. A TTS quattro will soon be added to the shopping list, with a two-litre TFSI direct-injection turbocharged engine producing 200kW and 350Nm, which will be available from 2500rpm through to 5000rpm. The two-litre powerplant has been strengthened and re-engineered to offer higher performance in the TTS quattro, with work done on the head, block, rods and pistons, with the turbocharger boost up to as much as 1.2 bar and an upgraded intercooler. The intake and exhaust systems have also been revamped to provide better breathing. Although the torque figure is identical to the new TDI model, having 200kW of power on tap helps get the TTS to 100km/h in a claimed 5.2 seconds when driving through the optional dual-clutch S tronic gearbox, on the way to a top speed of 250km/h. The TTS also is fitted with a magnetic ride adaptive damping system, which Audi says will provide a decent ride quality in standard mode. Opt for the “Sport” setting and the TTS drops its sports suspension ride height by 10mm and delivers dynamic handling, according to the German manufacturer. Aluminium is used extensively in the front suspension construction and high-performance brakes sit behind the 18in alloy wheels. The TTS models are expected in Australian Audi showrooms from next month; June 2008.