Audi

Audi inseamna in latina  “auzi”. Emblema formata din 4 inele reprezinta cele 4 marci care au format in 1932 concernul Audi GmbH. Totusi istoria firmei incepe acum mai bine de 100 de ani.

Firma infiintata in 1899 de catre August Horch (A. Horch & Cie) ajunge pana in 1909 sa fie controlata de catre o alta entitate, iar in urma conflictului dintre Horch si noua conducere, fostul proprietar decide sa paraseasca compania si sa-si infiinteze o noua firma. Pentru ca aceasta noua entitate nu se mai putea numea “Horch” (care in germana inseamna “auzi”), patronul decide sa-si intituleze noua firma “Audi” ( “Auzi” in latina).

In 1932 audi impreuna cu DKW , Horch si Wanderer Automobile formeaza concernul Audi AG, care va purta sigla cu cele 4 inele.

Intre anii 1964-1966 Volkswagen AG cumpara marca Audi AG de la Daimler-Benz. Grupul Volkswagen este si astazi proprietarul consortiului Audi.

Marca NSU intra in concernul Audi AG in 1969.

Firma Quattro GmbH este infiintata in 1983 si este detinuta in totalitate de Audi, avand scopul de a produce automobile sport.

Facilitatile de productie ale lui Audi sunt in Germania la Ingolstadt si Neckarsulm. Pe langa acestea Audi mai are fabrici la Gyor (Ungaria), Bratislava (Slovacia), Changchun (China), Bruxelles (Belgia) si Aurangabad (India).

Astazi, Audi este simbolul unei marci premium care se vinde excelent in lume, si ale unor inovatii care au stabilit si stabilesc in continuare noi standarde in lumea auto: quattro (primul sistem de tractiune integrala adaptat masinilor mici), TDI (1989-primul motor diesel din lume care foloseste injectie directa si management electronic al motorului; campion la LeMans cu un motor diesel) , FSI (Audi a fost unul dintre pionierii in acest domeniu), spaceframe, caroserie de aluminiu, etc.

[Via http://catalogauto.wordpress.com]

Audi E-Tron

Este oficial! Audi e-Tron a primit unda verde pentru a intra in productie. Presedintele Audi America, Johan de Nysschen, a declarat ca un vehicul electric bazat pe conceptul performant Audi e-Tron va ajunge pe piata in doi sau trei ani. Sportiva cu doua locuri a fost expusa la Salonul Auto de la Frankfurt luna trecuta, insa atunci Audi nu a confirmat planurile de a o produce. “Ma astept sa vedem primele exemplare de serie ruland pe strazi in urmatoarele 24 de luni”, a mai spus Nysschen.

Audi e-Tron este propulsat de patru motoare electrice, fiecare fiind plasat pe cate o roata. Producatorul spune ca masina are o autonomie de 250 km, acest lucru fiind posibil cu ajutorul unui set de baterii litiu-ion, pozitionate in spatele habitaclului.

Conceptul masoara 4267 de mm lungime, pozitionandu-se intre roadsterul Audi TT si sportiva Audi R8. Vehiculul a fost construit pe deja cunoscuta structura din aluminiu specifica Audi.

[Via http://lilseby.wordpress.com]

Yet another sign of the apocalypse: VW visits Nascar, Porsche dreams of what?

Much has been made of a visit by Hans Joachim Stuck, Volkswagen’s head of motor sport, to the final Nascar round at Homestead.   Possibly nothing more than another frozen German seeking a painful sunburn during the colder months.

Alternatively, Stuck’s visit suggested VW’s interest in Nascar, or Audi/Lamborghini’s interest in the Grand Am series.  Grand Am is run by the France family, which controls Nascar.  VW also controls Audi and Lambo.  Stuck downplayed his visit, but given Toyota’s entry into Nascar, it is not unthinkable that more foreign brands are evaluating Nascar.

Really, we doubt VW would ever enter Nascar. Nascar is a spec silhouette series where race cars bear only a passing resemblance to actual road cars. Nascar doesn’t afford VW the opportunity to showcase its technology and styling, both selling points for the brand.   VW’s motorsport marketing usually relates to a road model; Carlos Sainz driving a Touareg on the Dakar Rally, as one example.  VW also supplies F3 engines, although, candidly, we don’t see any reason for that project.

A crafty marketing department would use Nascar as a launching pad to make VW as common in North America as the Camry.  VW is known for clever advertising.  We see bold design as a way to boost brand presence in the US.   Sadly, we know this won’t happen.

The Audi/Lambo entry into Grand Am is more realistic. Porsche and Lexus supply engines to the Grand Am, which relies on a spec chassis sold to privateers.  File VW’s participation in Grand Am in the category of “definite maybe”.  If it happens, the likely candidate is Lamborghini.  Audi has competed in LeMans and the ALMS for many years, and that series is a direct rival to the Grand Am series.  An Audi switch to Grand Am would shock.

The real elephant in the paddock is Porsche, which is now controlled by VW.  Porsche’s investment in VW went the wrong way and Porsche has announced enormous losses on its manipulation of VW stock.  Could Porsche be looking at revenue-raising options?  Porsche is not racing in any major series, other than to supply GT3s. The beautiful Porsche Spyder LMP2 is no longer a factory effort in the ALMS.

We want what you want. We want Porsche back into open wheel and prototype racing.  We know that Porsche gains little from an investment in F1 or top-end endurance racing, and it stands to lose big it if fails.  But we also remember TAG Porsche McLarens, 802’s, and 917s.  We say that Porsche is racing; like Ferrari; racing is in Porsche’s DNA.  You have to constantly back that up with ridiculously fast cars in order to maintain that perception.  It isn’t accomplished with sedans and SUVs.

Put “Porche returning to open-wheel racing” at the top of our Christmas list.

[Via http://onthelimit.wordpress.com]

Skoda begins production of new engine with Audi, Seat, VW

Skoda has commenced production of a new four-cylinder engine which will be shared between itself, Audi, Volkswagen and Seat.

The all-new 1.2-litre design is a supercharged, direct fuel injection unit capable of producing 77kW and will carry the TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection) family name.

Skoda BOD chairman, Reinhard Jung, said the engine was designed specifically to minimise CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

“This brand new TSI engine provides a unique opportunity of combining environmental friendliness with a well-balanced driving performance.

“With substantially lower CO2 figures, this new engine needs to be seen as a contribution to a significant reduction of average emission volumes in our cars,” he said.

The new engine has forced the expansion of Skoda’s manufacturing plant in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic, which yesterday celebrated 110 years of constant engine production.

Skoda’s head of engine manufacturing, Milan Stanek, was delighted with the decision to produce the new TSI at Mladá Boleslav, a site that made more than 270,000 engines and half a million transmissions last year.

“This new unit is going to be one of the most important engines for the company, and we are indeed pleased that it is our plant that is going to manufacture it.”

November 18 marked the 110th anniversary of the first official ride on a Laurin & Klement motorbike produced at Mladá Boleslav in 1899.

Skoda Works acquired the engine plant in 1925 which later went on to become the Skoda Auto we know today.

by Tim Beissmann

Video: cu leopardul la plimbare in Audi TT

Leopardul in Audi TT

Acest filmulet face parte din categoria “trebuie sa vezi ca sa crezi!”. Serios acum, daca ar veni un prieten si ti-ar spune ca a vazut un leopard intr-o masina, stand linistit cu capul pe geam in timp ce stapanul isi vedea de treaba la volanul unui Audi TT, l-ai crede?

Mai mult ca sigur ca nu.

Filmarea a fost facuta in…

Vezi filmul cu leopardul in Audi TT pe auto.ro.

From Small Things, Big Things Come...

Here at College Cars Online, we pride ourselves on bringing our Dear Readers (that’d be you) the most interesting automotive news, information and reviews in our own definitive style. As part of that commitment to you, we’d like to take a minute to let you know about some of the exciting events coming down the line in the near future.

The biggest news is – we’re moving! Well, not physically. Our butts will remain glued to the same office chairs they always have, here in the office. But in the next couple of weeks, we’ll be transitioning from our current WordPress.com address to the one we’ve been lusting after all along – http://www.collegecarsonline.com.

Now, it’s not ready as of this posting, so if you head there you won’t see anything yet. But within the next couple weeks, we’ll be mating our BRAND NEW WEBSITE to said address, so you can add that bookmark already.

As for our BRAND NEW WEBSITE, we’re going to be using Squarespace instead of WordPress, so things will be shifting around a bit. We haven’t settled on a final format yet, but rest assured, it’ll be pretty sweet. As George Foreman used to say, “I guarantee it!”

Secondly, we’ve got several more reviews coming down the pipe. This week, we’ve got an Arrest-Me-Red Mazdaspeed 3 sitting in our garage; in a couple of weeks, we’ll be driving the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback, then over the holidays we’ll be kicking snow and taking names in an Audi S4. We’ll also be reviewing the popular car-sharing service Zipcar, to see how it stands up to owning or renting a car; that’ll be coming along in the next few weeks as well.

We’re also going to try to convince you to follow our Twitter feed, @collegecars, by offering real-time posts while testing out our vehicles. (Okay, we won’t be Tweeting while driving, because that’s just stupid. We’ll park first, then Tweet – and so should you. Don’t Tweet and Drive!)

(Now we know!)

(And knowing is half the battle. G.I. Joe!!)

Sorry about that.

Anyway, please bear with us, stay tuned, and keep watching this space! (Well, until we move.)

Deal of the Week: Mitsubishi Endeavor

Did you forget about the Endeavor? Don’t feel bad, most people have. In fact, Mitsubishi even forgot to offer a 2009 model. But that doesn’t mean you should forget to look at the Endeavor if you are in the market for a mid-sized CUV.

Back in 2003, the then new Endeavor beat out heavy hitters like the Nissan Murano, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot in an Edmunds comparison test. It won that comparison test not by outright dominating, but by being consistently competent.

Though little changed since then, the core features that helped take the top slot in that comparison test are still present today. Edmunds editors noted the Endeavor’s well-balanced ride and handling dynamics, a gutsy V6, a roomy, comfortable cabin and solid build quality.

But time waits for no CUV, and the losers in that comparison have all been redesigned since then, while the Endeavor has soldiered on without an update and with few changes. So in the absence of a redesign, Mitsubishi is endeavoring to sell more of their mid-sized CUV by offering up some attractive incentives. Read about them after the jump.

Now through the end of September, customers can choose between $3500 cash back or 0% financing for up to 48 months and 1.9% financing for up to 60 months. If you can still find a 2008 model on dealer lots, there is $4000 dealer cash available, but no special finance rates.

While the Endeavor doesn’t offer some of the latest wiz-bang features, it does offer a package that is safe, roomy and comfortable. With these latest incentives, it is also more affordable. For many, that is all they ask for in their vehicle.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2009/09/deal-of-the-week-mitsubishi-endeavor.html

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AUDI : VICTIME DE FACEBOOK

Un concours bidon circule présentement sur le populaire site de réseautage. Aussitôt que j’ai reçu une invitation pour me joindre à un groupe nommé : ”Une Audi TT pour un membre de Facebook”, je me suis demandé qui pouvait bien tomber dans le panneau. Et bien il semble que plus de 2500 personnes y croient à l’heure actuelle et le nombre ne cesse de croître.

La réclame va comme suit: ” Audi, qui éprouve de la difficulté à écouler ses stocks, offre une TT à un membre de Facebook pour publiciser la marque…” et on peut lire les commentaires de chacune des personnes ayant joint le groupe en croyant avoir une chance de gagner une voiture.

Audi le confirme, il s’agit bel et bien d’un canular. Si la marque aux anneaux n’a aucune difficulté à vendre ses voitures, cet événement démontre aussi qu’un grand nombre de personnes rêvent d’en posséder une. La vigilence est toutefos de mise et plus que jamais lorsque cela semble trop beau pour être vrai.