The Audi A4 is a luxury compact executive car produced since 1994. The successor to the 80 series, the A4 is a mid-range option that holds its own in the face of tough competition, mainly from the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class. Available as a four-door saloon, five-door estate and two-door convertible form, the Audi A4 was the first ever car from the Volkswagen Group to include the new 1.8 L 20V engine with five valves per cylinder.

TYPES

The A4 has been produced in three distinct generations since its inception. The first (1994 to 2001) was based on the Volkswagen B5 platform. It was introduced as a four-door saloon though the “Avant” estate version arrived the following year. The second generation (2001-2005) was based on the new Volkswagen B6 platform. Re-styled, the revised A4 had engine upgrades and the company introduced a continuously variable transmission (CVT) option. The third generation (2004 to 2008) saw many additions to the engine options. The company released the first official pictures of the brand new “B8″ series A4 in August 2007.

The Audi A4 range now includes 1.8, 2.0 TDI, 2.7 TDI, 3.0 TDI Quattro, 3.2 FSI Quattro and 3.2 V6 versions; a range of ten petrol and diesel engine options area available in total. It is available as a saloon or Avant estate version. Topping the petrol engine range is the 261bhp 3.2 V6 though “S4″ and “S4″ versions are planned. Topping the diesel range is a 237bhp 3.0 V6 that initially will be manual only.

Other executive cars from Audi range includes the Audi A6 and the Audi A8

Audi A4 Facts

• The Audi A4 reportedly accounts for half of all the vehicles the company makes at its Ingolstadt plant.
• The A4 S line 3.2 FSI has a top speed of 155 mph and accelerates from 0-62 mph in 6.2 seconds. Meanwhile, the slightly more sluggish A4 S line 2.0 TDI, can reach a top speed of a mere 134 mph, and only gets from 0-62 mph in 9.4 seconds, but then it can deliver 65.7 mpg on the extra urban cycle.
• The German newspaper “Bild am Sonntag” presented the “Golden Steering Wheel” award for the 2008 Audi A4.

By: Luke Scott

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The Audi A8 is a full-size luxury saloon car that combines Quattro four-wheel drive, the light but sturdy Audi Space Frame ASF aluminium body and adaptive air suspension. On top of this, there are numerous high-torque, powerful engines to choose from. Built by Audi to replace the V8 model as its flagship offering, two generations of the A8 have been produced in both short and long wheelbase form. The long wheelbase Audi A8 “L” combines performance with power, making it the most luxurious sports saloon in its class.
Other executive cars from Audi range includes the Audi A4 and the Audi A6

The A8 has been produced in two generations: from 1994-2003 and 2003-date. The first A8 used Audi’s D2 platform, an all-aluminium space frame to reduce weight without losing rigidity. The saloon included the A8L long-wheelbase version, adding five inches rear legroom. In 1997, six interior airbags were added, making it the first vehicle to be so equipped. The second generation was built on the D3 platform, with the main notable change being the unique single frame grille, now the signature style for the entire line of Audi automobiles.

TYPES

The current generation of A8s is available in a range of powerful diesel and petrol engine options including 2.8 V6, 3.2 V6, 4.2 V8, 3.0 TDI V6 and 4.2 litre TDI V8 with standard or long-wheelbase versions. The diesel versions all include semi-automatic Tiptronic gearboxes whilst Multitronic semi-automatic options are available for petrol engines. The 4.2 litre diesel V8 is the most powerful diesel engine Audi has ever produced in a car. It uses two turbochargers and two intercoolers, with each turbo functioning exclusively for one bank of four cylinders.

Audi A8 Facts

• The top of the range Audi A8 SE 4.2 FSI Quattro has a (limited) top speed of 155 mph and accelerates from 0-62 mph in 6.1 seconds, whilst the A8 SE 4.2 TDI Quattro - a diesel - has the same top speed but gets from 0-62 mph in just 5.9 seconds!
• Adaptive air suspension is available as an option in the A8. It is the first Audi sports suspension system to be based on the principle of air suspension which allows the driver to change the suspension as individually preferred. Both the damping characteristics and ride height can be adjusted in a single process via the MMI “CAR” menu system.

By: Luke Scott

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After years of making high-performance variants of its existing sedans, wagons and convertibles, Audi enters the super car market with its innovative R8. The sports car is named after Audi’s five-time Le Mans-winning racecar.

Like the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo with which it competes, the R8 has a mid-mounted engine. Featuring a weight-saving aluminum body and Quattro all-wheel drive, Audi says the R8 can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds and has a maximum speed of 185 mph.

The R8 has spectacular styling. The nose is low and wide. The body is stretched tightly over the chassis and the 19-inch wheels. The side blade behind the doors punctuates the R8’s design and is intended to be a visual break that makes the car look smaller. The blade on some R8s is a brightly contrasting color, but the black test car’s dark-gray blade was subtle.

In spite of its low wedge shape, the R8 has a unexpectedly roomy cabin. It is 75 inches wide, 49.3 inches tall and 174.5 inches long. The wheelbase is 104.3 inches.

The R8’s cabin is not only spacious but also marvelously designed. The gauges sit in individual pods, bordered by a single arch that is intended to imitate a single-seat racer. The seats offer excellent support.

Luggage space under the front hood is small, but it will hold a couple of duffel bags. There is also room behind the front seats for a briefcase or backpack.

The R8 feels comfortable and at home in city traffic. The suspension is firm, yet it is compliant enough to be comfortable on everyday roads. Audi uses adaptive shock absorbers with magnetic fluid, and they can change ride characteristics in milliseconds. The driver can choose standard or sport mode.

“It’s so comfortable you can run over anything up to a medium-sized fox and not even notice”

Jeremy Clarkson

If you think the R8 looks special, wait until you fire the engine. The normally-aspirated 4.2-litre V8 (proudly displayed under a glass engine cover, resembling a Ferrari) roars into life, and once on the move delivers impressive performance from 2,000rpm. At the far end of the rev counter, a red line of 8,250rpm is the key to its astonishing acceleration, accompanied by an addictive roar. It’s a proper performance engine. But be very careful with gearbox choice; the R Tronic paddleshift system is OK, but it distances you from the drive. The same can’t be said for the terrific six-speed manual, while the brakes are progressive, powerful and reassuring. The same applies to the handling, too. It’s an enormously capable and user-friendly machine, with scarcely believable amounts of grip. None of its rivals could keep pace on twisting roads during our tests. However, it doesn’t have quite the same involvement of the scalpel-sharp Porsche 911, and its responses are slightly insensitive in comparison.

However, this is a small price to pay for a car with such awesome body control and delightful steering, while the ride quality, if you select the £1,350 Magnetic Ride dampers, is little short of astonishing. Indeed, they are a must-have option for any R8 owner. Downsides of the R8? Only the limited view out and the wide 11.8-metre turning circle.
On Balance the car has an eye-catching design, and is extremely powerful. It is both Beauty and the Beast.

Written by mrfazee, exclusively for carscene.org

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One of the latest stretch limousines to hit the streets of London and Manchester is the Audi Q7 limo. Limo hire London has never seen anything so cool. The Audi Q7 limo can be hired in black, silver or white and is now found throughout the UK, including limo hire Edinburgh and Leeds. This stretch limousine car hire has definitely got the wow factor and has become a school prom favourite as well as being very popular for Asian weddings. The interior of the Audi Q7 limo is amazing, with not only flat screen TVs, DVD players and CD players but a disco floor that changes colour and a superb mirrored ceiling.

The Audi Q7 limousine is as famous as the hummer limo. It has only been around for a little time, but has the best reputation.

The Audi Q7 limousine is also a favourite for hen nights, stag nights, corporate events, airport transfers and birthdays. In fact the Audi Q7 limo is a crowd pleaser whatever the event. Only a few lucky people have ever travelled in one and it would certainly compliment any wedding day.
It just goes to show that any car can be stretched these days into a superb limousine and the Audi Q7 limo joins the BMW X5 limousine, Porsche Cayenne limo and the Range Rover limousine as the new wave of fantastic 4×4 limos for rental. The Hummer H2 limousine has definitely got competition with the new batch of European 4×4 limos it remains to be seen if they manage to overtake the Hummer limos in the popularity stakes.

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The cars in the Audi range today can trace a heritage back more than a century to the Horch Motorcar Company, named after the founder August Horch. However a mere eight years after the first Horch car was rolled out the founder was bought out of his own company. After a court case determining whether the founder could retain his family name for a new company, Horch was denied. It was at this point that Audi was born; horch meaning listen in German and Audi meaning listen in Latin.

The early stages of the Audi development saw a range of cars that excelled in the motor sport arena. Predominantly the cars relied upon six and four cylinder engines licensed from Peugeot. At the beginning of the Nazi period Audi formed a company made up from the original Horch manufacturer, DKW and Wanderer, naming it Auto Union. It was at this point that the four rings emblem that we see on the Audi range today was born. During the war the company was instrumental in the war effort manufacturing armoured cars and light transportation vehicles.

After the war Auto Union was broken up due to factories and headquarters lying in different parts of the now divided country. DKW became the most powerful of the four during the next decade until Volkswagen was able to buy out all four brands of the union. At this point an executive decision was made to forget the two stroke engines that were characteristic of the DKW range in preference for more comfortable and efficient four stroke engines. Part of this move meant forgetting the DKW brand in favour of Audi.

In the modern era Audi finally became the brand it is today, separating itself from the various mergers throughout its history. At this time (1970) the company was introduced to American shores with a range made up of small and saloon cars. The most important of this new generation was the Audi 50, a car that is seen as seminal by many due to its obvious likeness of the later Golf and Polo models produced by Volkswagen.

Audi are probably most famous however for producing a car that revolutionised drive systems and the world of rally racing. It was in 1980 that the Quattro was introduced to the range, a coupe that utilised a turbocharged engine and a unique four wheel drive system. This car was unbelievably successful in rally racing at a time when most competitors had discounted the benefits of a complicated all wheel drive system. The doubters were soon silenced however as the Quattro went on to dominate the rally world until the rest of the pack caught up with the technological developments.

Despite this the Audi range has consistently been labelled with a ‘grandfather image’. That was until the late nineties when a range of sporty models were developed. These cars captured a growing market for performance cars that could be used on a daily basis. The pursuit of performance however has not ceased since this time, the latest car to be developed by the company was the R8, an all out sports car of undeniable beauty and ability. This latest inception has been developed to compete with Aston martin, Porsche and other European manufacturers but at a price of almost sixty thousand pounds it is anything but affordable.

Audi today have advanced from humble beginnings to be one of the predominant car manufacturers in Europe. Predictions for this year estimate that more than one million cars will be sold showing that the company is going from strength to strength. Long considered to be the little brother of the German car manufacturing industry; this four ringed company has finally come into its own.

About the Author

Car industry expert Thomas Pretty looks into the development of the Audi range and the cars that have shaped the brand image.

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