http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?u=140009 VWvortex – A leading Discussion and News Forum for Volkswagen, Audi, European Automobiles and the Enthusiasts that drive them. en Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:06:38 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.mwerks.com/images/vmg/misc/rss.jpg http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?u=140009 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1013 Thu, 10 May 2012 17:28:48 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/blog/ti24iiposter.jpg We were at Audi headquarters yesterday finalizing several details about our upcoming Audi...

We were at Audi headquarters yesterday finalizing several details about our upcoming Audi Weekend in Carlisle PA May 18-20. Still more activities and announcements are pending but for now I can confirm some exciting details.

Truth in 24 II Posters for RSVPed Guests
First, we've procured enough Truth in 24 II movie posters to cover everyone on our RSVP list. If you are planning on attending and haven't RSVPed ( R18TDI2@fourtitude.com) or were on the fence but are looking for a reason to go, this would be a good reason to let us know you're coming. Extra posters will be given out to other guests who attend that were not on the RSVP list but first priority will go to those on the list.

Mark Fruechtnicht of Audi of America Product Planning To Attend
Another representative from Audi will be attending, this time from the product planning department. If you've got product questions, Mark is a great resource and is the same person who brought the German-spec Audi A1 last year.

Looking for more information about the Carlisle weekend? You can find it here.

Audi Weekend at Carlisle including:
• Truth in 24 II Screening
•*Audi Owner Breakfast at Audi Mechanicsburg
•*Carlisle Import Auto Show with Audi Club Presence ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1013 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1012 Thu, 10 May 2012 13:36:22 GMT

Earlier this week we'd posted a story linking a Volkswagen Group chassis architecture guide published last week by Georg Kacher over at Automobile. Kacher's submitted another piece this week about the Porsche 551 - the so-called "Baby Boxster" that was slated to be a corporate cousin of the proposed Audi R5.

Kacher's got new details on 551, including confirmation of scaled down MSB-M (MSB Mid) architecture and a timeframe pushed out from 2014 to 2017 based on Porsche's own full plate of projects that would sell more cars and earn more money for Stuttgart.

The article confirms what we already knew, that Volkswagen and Audi have both cooled on the idea of building their own versions of such a car, although Kacher seems to think that Audi's problem is more that the car would be developed by Porsche.

The article didn't officially say R5 was done for, but it did say Porsche was willing to go it alone on 551, even without VW or Audi. Apparently by basing the car on MSB Porsche can still achieve enough economies of scale with components shared from other MSB-based products (Porsches, Lamborghinis, etc.) that the model will likely still work.

So what do you think? Is Audi better off with no R5 than with a Porsche-developed R5?

Full Story - Automobile Magazine ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1012 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1011 Thu, 10 May 2012 13:15:53 GMT

If you've ever thought about joining a club like the Audi Club of North America and weren't sure why, here's one very good reason. quattro de Mayo is an event that combines your favorite German car with the legendary Tail of the Dragon and many, many more like-minded owners. This year's event (the eighth on record) just went down and writer Elaine Bak filed a report and gallery over at QuattroWorld.com. We'd suggests you check it out and also consider joining the club via the links below.

Full Story - quattro de Mayo Event Report

More Info - Audi Club North America ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1011 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1010 Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:32 GMT Image:...

Media Post recently had an interesting conversation with Audi of America chief marketing officer Scott Keogh and has published that conversation online. Keogh, a planned guest at this month's Truth in 24 II Screening as Part of the Carlisle Import Auto Show in PA, is not only Audi's head of marketing. He also oversees product planning for North America. This always makes Scott a very interesting person to talk to about the state of Audi's North American business.

The conversation covers a number of interesting topics, from the state of the business and shortage of high demand product to launch details about the new A3 sedan. Keogh also summarizes his thoughts on the competition with a humorous line on which the piece closes so make sure not to miss it.

Full Story ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1010 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1009 Tue, 08 May 2012 13:45:30 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/blog/r8-hit-and-run.jpg Have you heard about one of the latest videos going viral on Youtube involving a Russian...

Have you heard about one of the latest videos going viral on Youtube involving a Russian hit and run by an Audi R8? Filmed near Moscow State University, a common spot for street racers and drifting, the short clip shows a white Audi R8 go into a wide drift on a cross street and sideswiping a Lada sedan as it re-enters traffic.

There's talk amongst critics that the film may have been staged as the camera man doesn't seem too surprised when the impact happened. The cameraman also begins the video zeroed in on the R8 when he's more than a block away, like he knew what was going to go down and knew the Audi driver. The person in the Lada seems to exit the car and disappear as well from what we can tell in the short video. Given there's an Aimersoft logo across all of the action makes us wonder if this isn't some sort of play for publicity... putting something shocking on YouTube and hoping it goes viral.

If it's legit, then we're glad it appears the person in the Lada exited the car okay and shame on the R8 owner for fleeing the scene. On the upside, we're thoroughly impressed by the R8's ability to side swipe the Lada hard enough to send it tumbling and still be visually minimally damaged and drivable.

So what do you think? Staged? Real? And what should they do with the R8 owner if they catch him?

Watch below and once you do, let us know your take. Staged? Real? And what should they do with the R8 owner if they catch him?

Thanks Jalopnik for the tip.

]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1009 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1008 Mon, 07 May 2012 16:21:49 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/emAlbum/albums/Design/Renders/Achorn,%20George/R5%20(Type%20MSS)/audi_r5_mss_001.jpg On again. Off again. On...

On again. Off again. On again. Off again. When last we heard intel on the much-rumored and much-lusted-for mid-engine Audi R5 (rendered above and proposed baby brother to the R8), the project was dead... done... kaput. Now the often extremely well connected Georg Kacher has published his latest Deep Dive column in Automobile Magazine and the piece says otherwise.

In the piece, Kacher outlines the major platform sets and the products they'll spawn... MQB (transverse engine cars like TT, A3, etc.), MLB (longitudinal engine cars such as A4, Q5, A8, etc.) and MLB (mid-engine front, mid-engine rear and rear engine cars). Under MSB Kacher still lists the R5 along with proposed siblings from Porsche and VW (Bluesport).

So What Do We Think?
Our most recent intel on R5 came from quattro GmbH product boss Stephan Reil. At the Geneva Motor Show, Reil told those of us at a journalist roundtable that the car wouldn't be built because there wasn't enough room between the TT RS and the R8 to make it work. When we pointed out that there is the difference of a second TT RS in between a highly optioned TT RS and a base R8, Reil clarified that the lack of space in between is based upon performance and not price. It's a known fact that the stock TT RS is nearly as fast as an R8 4.2 and with chip tuning it might very well be faster. Point made.

So why is Kacher still mentioning the car? We're guessing this is a political struggle. The VW Bluesport concept, which the R5 was envisioned to share components with, was based on an MQB derived mid-engine transverse layout. Most components were pulled from the MQB component set that was then in development in order to keep costs down.

Since that time, Porsche has been more thoroughly integrated and has been given development control over MSB - a mid-engine configuration that thus far has been suggested to be longitudinal only and with front engine (Bentley, Porsche Panamera, etc.), mid-engine (Boxster, Cayman, third-generation R8, etc.) and rear-engine (next full generation 911). By moving the higher volume R5, Bluesport and "baby Boxster" to MSB, Porsche developers will be able to realize better economies of scale on parts acquisition so long as the platform proves flexible enough to shrink to the presumably smaller size and low-cost parameters needed to make the price targets planned on something as low-priced as a Miata fighter from VW.

From the outside it looks like the second-generation R8 and Gallardo (believed MSS component set) will be once and done on this architecture and then quickly move to the MSB that has been gathering momentum internally.

Will the R5 happen? This depends upon the political winners and whether or not the car's proponents have there wherewithal to bring it forward. Frankly, we hope it does. We love the TT and its most potent TT RS iteration but this is more of a small GT (read baby brother to RS 5) than it is a baby exotic. An R5 might very well be identical to the TT RS in performance but we still think it could command a price premium due to the expected exotic nature, lower volume and more on-the-edge driving dynamic we'd expect from something more akin to an R8 than a TT.

Read more of the Kacher Deep Dive after the jump.

Georg Kacher Deep Dive on Volkswagen Group Platforms at Automobile Magazine ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1008 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1007 Mon, 07 May 2012 16:03:35 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/emAlbum/albums/Corporate/Events/2010/02-04-2010%20-%20Super%20Bowl/audi_super_bowl_xliv_party_006.jpg Actress...

Actress Jessica Alba was recently caught by paparazzi in Santa Monica exiting her grey Audi Q7. As a mom of two, the car is probably a very good choice and Jessica's not new to Audi, as we've spotted her before at events like the 2010 Audi Super Bowl party (see photo above).

The shots were posted at JustJared.com and we've linked that below. If you're against paparazzi shots then just trust us on the Q7. We like to provide an alternative link for these sorts of posts and since we're not readily finding an official JessicaAlba website (plenty of fan sites though), we have found the actress is quite open at posting about her personal life on her Twitter and Facebook pages. You can also find more about her at these sites and we've also linked them below.

Jessica Alba on Facebook
Jessica Alba on Twitter
Jessica Alba Audi Q7 Photo Set on JustJared.com ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1007 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1006 Mon, 07 May 2012 15:33:06 GMT

Here's an interesting take on the next-generation (MQB) RS 3 as rendered by Theophilus Chin. This image, based on a 3-door A3, takes elements from the recent Audi RS Q3 Concept and less recent Audi A1 quattro to make for one very mean-looking render. We love what we see here.

So How Accurate Is It?
From our experience with Audi, this isn't very accurate... no matter how cool we think it is. Why? For one, the A3 doesn't use the crossover-looking fender flares from the RS Q3. The look of the kit (colored carbon on the concept, matte black here) is very 1980s Euro, like an unpainted body kit you would have seen on European market Volkswagens and the like. It works on the crossover in the way it is integrated, but we highly doubt Audi Design will go with that sort of look on the actual production RS 3.

The next item we love in the render but we highly doubt will see use on an RS 3 is the wheel design from the A1 quattro. As cool as these wheels are, they're not consistent with the RS sub-brand. While wheel designs can move from RS cars to normal Audis, we've never seen the move happen in the opposite direction. These wheels, while uber cool, are from a non quattro GmbH car and as such we doubt they'd go backward onto an RS.

So how will the RS 3 really look? We'd guess it'll borrow more heavily from the design of current production RS cars such as the RS 4 and RS 5. We took our own stab at an RS 3 sedan render that we included in our RS 3 and S3 for America Intel Report. While we'd thoroughly love to own either of these cars, we suspect our sedan is closer to the production look of the car.

Check out more shots (including a rear view) of Theophilus Chin's RS 3 3-door render after the jump. Thanks Hans for the tip.

Full Story

So what do you think? Do you think the RS 3 will look like the RS 3, and if you don't do you think that Audi should make an RS 3 more like Chin's work? ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1006 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1005 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:17:10 GMT Image:...

Audi Germany has just passed the 500,000 fans mark on Facebook and to celebrate they've made a cool new video starring Dindo Capello and an Audi R8 coupe. If the drifting and spinning of tires of an Audi sportscar floats your boat, then please do watch below or follow Audi Germany of Facebook HERE.

]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1005 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1004 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:59:59 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/blog/ti24-2-live.jpg The eagle-eyed Audi motorsport fans over at the * Audi Motorsport Bog *...

The eagle-eyed Audi motorsport fans over at the Audi Motorsport Bog must have been checking daily, because they were first to break the story that the Truth in 24 II website is now live and feature laden. Linked below, the site includes a trailer for the movie as well as a regular flow of details about the movie's launch.

We will have a longer feature of the behind-the-scenes story about the decision to make this second feature movie very soon, but for now we can confirm that the movie premieres this week, including a very exclusive event in L.A. and the event Audi plans for the Audi Forum NYC on Saturday to which they offered passes to our readers earlier this week.

We're also aware that DVDs are shipping to Audi partners as a dealer contact of ours posted photographic proof on our Facebook page just yesterday. It won't be long now and, good news for those outside America, we hear there are plans for international distribution via iTunes.

We'll have more on all of this soon, but for now check out the Truth in 24 II website and also the Audi Motorsport Blog as a great source for news about Audi in racing. Thanks to Johan for the tip.

Truth in 24 II Website

Audi Motorsport Blog ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1004 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1003 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:52:10 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/gallery/albums//Features/On%20Location/2012/04-25%20Papaya%20Orange%20Audi%20RS%204%20in%20Ingolstadt/001.jpg ...

Our contact in Ingolstadt spotted another very interesting car parked in a top executive spot at building A50 on the piazza of the Audi Forum Ingolstadt today. Painted the very eye-catching Glut Orange, the car also features other special details such as ceramic brakes and an Audi Exclusive interior with orange stitching and even orange seatbelts.

Near as we can tell, this is the first RS 4 we've seen that's not been painted red and just the second we've seen in the wild.

Editor's Note: Yes, we know the photos say Papaya Orange. Our original intel on the car suggested this but we've confirmed the color with quattro GmbH directly (who hasn't built a whole lot of these yet) and we're told it's Glut for all you Audi Exclusive watchers out there.

See the other photos below.







]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1003 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1002 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:22:11 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/gallery/albums//Audi/Q5/2013%20Refresh/(EU)/007.jpg The Audi Q5 facelift (or P.I. for product improvement) has...

The Audi Q5 facelift (or P.I. for product improvement) has been revealed in a collection of marketing photos discovered today. We noticed a few shots posted this evening by Audi Deutschland on Facebook and have since dug around for a larger mix of shots. We've gathered them all in our photo gallery section and have grouped them into known Q5 product variants including the Q5, Q5 hybrid, Q5 S-line and Q5 with Exterior Optics Package (off-road look).

Below is a selection of photos with itemization of what we're seeing in the photos. At the bottom is a link to our photo gallery and more.

First, above, is the headlight of the Q5 facelift. You'll catch the top corner of the re-shaped signature Audi grille along with the new solid-look LED daytime running light headlight design.



This blue example looks like a standard spec Q5 offering. The aforementioned grille and headlight changes are most easily identifiable but we see a few more changes. Note the subtly changed sideskirt and the new lower front air intakes (right and left) design.



At the rear, the most obvious change in the design is that of the taillight. While the basic shape does not appear to have changed, the visual LED light display appears to be changed considerably.



This interior shot shows some other subtle changes. Like the A4 and A5 B8 platform mates, interior changes are subtle. Most notable is the new steering wheel design.



This side shot shows a good-looking new wheel design that was also visible on a photo originating in the German press this week that leaked the facelifted Q5 first.



Carefully examining this collection of Q5 photos, this is the only shot that we believe depicts the S-line package. Note the nose with slightly more aggressive lower lip and different intake designs at either side. The look is very consistent we've seen of the front end design on Audi R8 facelift test mules.



The pre-facelift version of the exterior optics package you see here was called the 'Exterior Optics Package'. Essentially this fairly rare body package for the Q5 gives the crossover more of an Audi allroad inspired look with fender flares and aluminum brightwork.



Four shots in the mix depict the Q5 hybrid. Audi of America waited for the facelift to introduce the 2.0 TFSI-powered Q5 hybrid into the market. With the updated Q5 due in the American market by August, expect the hybrid to follow not long behind petrol offerings like 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TFSI.

See the remaining photos in our photo gallery.

PHOTO GALLERY: Audi Q5 Facelift

For more information on the facelifted Q5, see more materials now live at the German market Audi website linked below.

Audi.de ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1002 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1001 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:29:29 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/gallery/albums//Audi/R8/2013%20Refresh/Test%20Mules%20-%20e-tron/004.jpg Our spy photographer sources have just...

Our spy photographer sources have just sent us over a new set of shots of the R8 e-tron test mule of which a few photos surfaced yesterday. Photographers tell us this mule rounded the Ring quite quietly though we're checking to see if it was employing any of the e-sound elements that Audi defined recently.

Obvious e-tron design cues such as those on earlier e-tron prototypes on display at the Frankfurt IAA last September can be easily seen. Lack of exhaust pipes, the split-ventilated rear window segmentation, vented hood and plenty of vinyl signage make no secret of this car's specification and we expect a full production R8 e-tron to hit showrooms by next year.

Also interesting to our eyes were design changes that are new to this prototype and likely cues from the upcoming R8 facelift expected to be revealed this September at the Paris Motor Show. We've got a much larger gallery (linked at the bottom) but have picked a few photos shown here to help describe what we're seeing.



This detailed low-speed profile shot shows a few notable differences. This car wears the side sill of the R8 V10, something we're thinking may go line wide with the refresh. Note also the more protruded rear lip spoiler/crease as well as two new-looking mis-matched wheels that likely indicate a newer and lighter wheel design that will go with the refresh.



This tight crop on one of the frontal photos in our collection shows more changes. Note the more hexagonal shaped grille. The grille itself has horizontal chrome slats that may or may not be e-tron spec when the car hits production... but we've no doubt that little "e-tron" badge instead of the usual "quattro" badge will be a production detail for Audi's first "ur e-tron" model. That lower vent with the border the whole way around is expected to be a design cue on all facelifted R8s however the headlights (and taillights) are expected to change.

Also seen here are R8 GT-shaped mirrors. We're guessing this mirror body design will replace the old setup for all R8s because we've also heard that other facelift elements will be GT inspired including round exhaust tips on V8 and V10 models.

Check out more photos in our gallery and let us know if you spot any details we've missed.

PHOTO GALLERY: R8 e-tron Test Mule at Nurburgring ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1001 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1000 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:14:10 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/gallery/albums//Events/Beijing%20Motorshow/2012/01%20Event%20Photos%20-%20Audi/002.jpg This week Audi and its...

This week Audi and its subsidiary Lamborghini continued their rollout of even more concept cars and design studies at AutoChina 2012 in Beijing. Highlights included the Audi RS Q3 Concept, the Audi A6L e-tron Concept, , the Audi Q3 jinlong yufeng Design Study and the Lamborghini Urus crossover concept. . We've now run all PR materials on these new releases (linked above) and have just added a new photo gallery from the event itself (linked below) including shots from the Volkswagen Group Night reveals.

PHOTO GALLERY: 2012 AutoChina, Beijing ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=1000 http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=999 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:39:41 GMT Image: http://www.fourtitude.com/pgallery/upload/2011/10/06/pwg_high/20111006165512-670b8f4f.jpg Just an FYI to our most ardent readers and Audi...

Just an FYI to our most ardent readers and Audi fans, Audi will he holding an exclusive invitation only event this weekend at the Audi Forum New York at Park and 47th in Manhattan. We've got a number of invitations blocked for Fourtitude with the intention to share with our readers.

What's the event? We have it on good word that this will mark a premier of the new 'Truth in 24' sequel. The event runs from 5-8 pm on Saturday April 28.

Want more details? Drop us a note. HOWEVER, please do not request an invitation if you can not attend. Space is limited and so we only want to make sure we're giving the invitations to those who will use them.

Interested? Drop me an email to George(at)Fourtitude.com and let me know the number of people you plan to bring with you. I'll send you an invitation with which you can RSVP to the event. ]]> George@Fourtitude http://forums.mwerks.com/blog.php?b=999