After having a conversation with George from Fourtitude last night and a bit of digging it was discovered that North America will retain it’s 6MT options for the 2013 S4 and S5! Something Europeans will not have the luxury of choosing. Their only option will be the S-Tronic (DSG) transmissions.
In a move you don’t always see from Audi, we’ve stumbled across an interesting turn of events surrounding manual transmissions in next year’s facelifted S4 and S5. When a friend from Audi AG pointed out to us that he couldn’t get a manual transmission in a 3.0 TDI A5 Sportback and then another our friend Mike Juergens from QuattroWorld mentioned to us the lack of manual gearboxes for S4 and S5 on the latest configurator at http://www.audi.de, we’ll admit we were a bit distressed.
Of course the trend toward more S-tronic (a.k.a. DSG) transmissions by the logical Germans makes sense on paper. Faster shifting, better fuel economy and faster straight line performance makes the manual transmission obsolete… at least on paper. Even with these benefits though, enthusiasts most often choose the manual because for some it feels more engaging.
The story continues at Fourtitude
July 12, 2011 - Published By Mike -
in A5 and S5.
Audi is refreshing the A5 model series. Advanced technologies are being added to the Sportback, Coupé, Cabriolet and S5 models in the areas of the engine, quattro drive and infotainment for even more efficiency, sportiness and intelligence. The updated design visually underscores the technical expertise involved in these versions.
The A5 models are now more distinctive than ever. The rear lights and the headlights have been redesigned and are optionally available in xenon plus technology with homogenous LED daytime running lights. New colors and materials accentuate the interior, and many details of the operating concept have been fine-tuned.
Each of the four TDI diesel and three TFSI gasoline units in the new engine lineup include forced induction and direct fuel injection. The new 1.8 TFSI features a number of groundbreaking innovations. Fuel consumption has been reduced by 11 percent on average. The start-stop system and the recuperation system come standard with all engine-transmission configurations.
Each engine is matched with the ideal drivetrain – six-speed manual, multitronic, seven-speed S tronic, front-wheel drive or quattro drive. When combined with S tronic, the quattro drivetrain uses the crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring; the sport differential is the perfect complement. The chassis has been more finely tuned, with the optional Audi drive select system and dynamic steering making the A5 even more fun to drive. The electromechanical power steering is new to the A5 family.
The new A5 is a highly intelligent car. Its driver assistance systems have undergone intensive further development. The range of infotainment options now includes the Bluetooth online car phone, which delivers a number of special services and connects the A5 to the Internet.
Continue reading ‘Breaking: Beauty, power and efficiency – The New Audi A5/S5′
Turn10 has released some interesting stats to IGN about the top 100 cars most raced cars in our favorite racing sim Forza Motorsports 3. Audi has managed to secure 5 of the 100 spots with the R8 5.2 taking 3rd with 10,835,396 Races.
Released in October 2009, Forza Motorsport 3 has been a big hit for developer Turn 10. More than 400 million races have occurred in the past year-and-a-half, in a variety of cars. But which cars have been used the most?
- #3 Audi R8 5.2 – 10,835,396
- #31 Audi S5 – 3,185,55#60
- #8 Audi R10 TDI – 1,818,934
- #85 Audi R8 4.2 - 1,202,767
- #96 #2 Audi R10 TDI – 1,005,481
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Turn 10 handed IGN a list of the most raced cars in Forza 3. Check out the full list here |
Audi AG has posted an inside look at the testing involved with developing new vehicles. Audi Engineers put an immeasurable amount of time into each vehicles development cycle perfecting the things we take for granted. Most of these technologies will probably go unnoticed to most drivers and passengers but they are there protecting them from the worst case scenarios.
Test at the reference automotive electronics systems are used to an Audi through its paces to test. Employees of the Electronics Center analyze the functional effects of electrical system voltage fluctuations.
Continue reading ‘Vorsprung durch Technik: Research for the Future’
