Audi spend an enormous amount of time making sure our interiors are at the top or ahead of the curb for quality and standards, and over years seem to have built up a good reputation for it. Now it seems even GM is conscious of this fact. GM’s Vice President of Global Engineering, Karl Stracke is the one who has gone public with his viewpoints regarding the Audi interiors quality. As per Karl, GM is fast-improving the quality of its interiors but it is still to meet the benchmark set by Audi. Karl mentioned that he recently drove the Corvette Grand Sport and he did like the performance but what did not convince him were the interiors. !

Karl why not try our R8 V10 ? I think you’ll find its performance satisfactory and its interior up to scratch.

Main story via: Car Blog

Audi global have recently announced the new updated 2011 Audi TT. The main upgrades from the current TT are as follows:

• LED daytime running lights now standard for S line versions, new interior trim elements
• Engine efficiency improved by up to 14 per cent thanks in part to newly adopted energy recuperation technology – new 2.0 TFSI engine with 211PS featuring Audi valvelift technology offers significant economy gains
• TT Enhanced exterior design, new colours inside and out, xenon headlamps with Coupe 2.0 TFSI 211PS with manual transmission – 0-62mph 6.1 seconds (TT Coupe 2.0 TFSI 200PS 6.6 seconds), top speed 152mph (149mph), combined MPG 42.8 (36.7) , CO2 154g/km (183g/km)
• New sport button first seen in TT RS available as an option across the range – alters throttle response, steering servo assistance and engine note
• S tronic transmission option for TT RS due in 2010

The new range will be available in South Africa in the coming months. For more details or to book a test drive, call us on 021 409 2900. Click on the images to see larger versions.

Last week Audi Centre Cape Town welcomed members of the Western Cape branch of the Audi Club. After breakfast guests were given a tour of the workshop and some insight to the process flow of a top class Audi workshop. A lucky draw landed 2 excited Club members a spin in the R8 while 2 other lucky winners each received an advanced driving course worth R3000.  

Email Johann Bosman at johann@audiclubsa.org.za to become a member of the Audi Club or visit www.audiclubsa.org.za

We proudly present you the trailer of the stunning new movie "The next big thing" starring Justin Timberlake and Dania Ramirez. Over the next weeks we’ll present you six episodes on the Audi A1 Web special. Be prepared! Episode 1 will begin on 04-05-10.

To read more on the new Audi A1 click here.

Above is the first drive video of the new Audi RS5 coupe. The RS5 will be launched later this year and comes with a 4.2-liter V8 that produces 331 kW (444 hp / 450 PS) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to a seven-speed S tronic transmission, and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, before topping out at an electronically limited 250 km/h (155 mph). If that isn’t fast enough, upon request we can remove the speed limiter to enable the car to hit 280 km/h (174 mph). Despite this immense performance, the RS5 only consumes 10.8 liters of petrol per 100 km (21.78 US mpg)

A new crown-gear center differential is also available in the RS5 to ensure that the handling is as better as the engine. The self-locking crown-gear “can widely vary the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles to improve handling further.

” When extra traction isn’t required, the unit has a 40:60 rear-biased configuration. This new differential operates in conjunction with electronic torque vectoring, which affects all four wheels. If one of the inside wheels becomes imbalanced while the vehicle is at its operational limits, then the system slightly decelerates the wheel to obviate wheel spin. This results in terrific traction on the one hand while generating a yaw moment which aids cornering.”

The car comes as standard with 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels (20-inchers are optional). Other highlights include twin oval exhaust pipes (which are integrated in the rear bumper), a large diffuser, and a rear spoiler which automatically extends at 120 km/h (75 mph) and retracts at 80 km/h (50 mph)

Expect SA launch dates possibly in the 3rd quarter of 2010, call us to reserve your RS5 coupe now.

For the launch of  the new Audi A1 in Europe, Audi AG have created a specially constructed launch event stand called AreA1 (nice play on the lettering). The stand is currently touring throughout Europe and the above video from Audi TV shows footage from the start of the tour in sunny Barcelona.

Audi recently unveiled the new Audi A1 at the Geneva Motor Show. The A1 is a small hatchback and will be the new entry level Audi. The cars main competition will be the Mini, so Audi have made sure the A1 is Über refined and will also be offering a number of variants in the near future. The 2 main future variations will be the A1 S series, and an e-Tron version of the car (more on that at a later date).

The A1 is currently available with either a 1.2TFSI petrol engine, 1.4 TFSI petrol engine, or a 1.6 TDI diesel, these engines produce a 0-100 kmph time of approx 11.9 seconds, 9 seconds, and 10.6 seconds respectably.

Orders for the A1 open up in May, and first cars should be with customers in Europe by November (SA early next year TBC). Prices start from £13,145 going up to £18,280

For more pictures look at the Autosport A1 gallery by clicking here.

For more details from the official Audi UK micro site click here.

Above is our new commercial for the A3 TDI clean diesel (first aired at the 2010 Super Bowl game). The new A3 TDI is one of the latest of our clean diesel cars, following on from the Q7 TDI that launched last year. The A3 TDI was also recently awarded the Green Car of the year award in the USA and even beat cars like the Toyota Prius, along with the clean diesel VW Golf TDI. The A3 TDI gives up to a 50 percent fuel consumption improvement over the regular gasoline A3 variant, that makes the car very economical to operate with low relative CO2 emissions.

To read more about the Green car of the year award click here.

To find out more about the new A3 TDI clean diesel feel free to call us on 021 409 2900 or click here to read more online.

For more about our fun “Green Police” campaign have a look at our dedicated facebook page here (inc some exclusive downloads)

A fantastic day in Langebaan’s Club Mykonos saw most of the Team Audi athletes racing flat out for a place in the Western Province Triathlon Team. Based on the performances at this event, athletes are selected to represent WP at the South African triathlon champs which happen in JHB mid March.

Brendan Lowen, Nic Muhl and Carole Messham were on fire in the senior age-group category, with young Sebastian Kellermann doing some outstanding work to reel in the competition on the final 5km run discipline were he placed second junior for the day.

The entire team will be in action at the Xterra (off road triathlon) final in Grabouw (20 Feb)

The latest stunning Audi e-tron shown above at the Detroit motor show has been confirmed as Audi R4 preview.

“Destined to slot between the R8 and TT ranges, the R4/e-tron is expected to get a range of powertrains, not just electric power. The all-electric version will be the halo car of the model line, but the gasoline-powered version (or versions) will undoubtedly be the volume sellers.
We already know about the latest e-tron’s electric powertrain: 313 horsepower, 0-60 mph times of 5.9 seconds, top speed of 124 mph and a range of about 155 miles.”

To Have a look at the new official Audi micro site for screensavers, wallpapers and more on the new e-tron just click here.

Official press brief below

DETROIT, Mi., Jan 11, 2010 -  Audi is showing an uncompromising purist compact sports car with all-electric drive at the first major auto show of 2010. The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron is the name of this 3.93 meter (154.72 in) long and 1.78 meter (70.08 in) wide but just 1.22 meter (48.03 in) tall two-seater; just a few months after the debut of the Audi e-tron at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, this is now the second electric concept vehicle from the brand with the four rings.
Coupled with the Detroit showcar Audi e-tron’s low gross weight of around only 1,350 kilograms (2976.24 lb), high-torque power units driving the rear wheels guarantee commensurate road performance. Two electric motors with a combined output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 2,650 Nm (1954.54 lb-ft) accelerate the coupe with ASF-design aluminum body from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 5.9 seconds. The Audi e-tron accomplishes the sprint from 60 to 120 km/h (37.28 – 74.56 mph) in a mere 5.1 seconds.

The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron is able to distribute its electric motors’ high torque between the wheels entirely as required. Its “torque vectoring” is the key to a thrilling level of active precision and excellent traction. Thanks also to its low weight, short wheelbase and perfect weight distribution for dynamic handling, the Audi e-tron has all the drivability of a go-kart – agile, good on bends and neutral right up to the very high handling limit.
Lithium-ion batteries, located for an optimal center of gravity behind the passenger compartment and ahead of the rear axle, make an effective energy content of 45 kilowatt-hours available. This makes an operating range of up to 250 kilometers (155.34 miles) realistically possible.
As previously with the first e-tron concept car shown in Frankfurt, Audi again bases all components in this electric vehicle on an integral concept with many revolutionary details: a heat pump as an efficient means of heating up and maintaining the interior temperature. The drive system, power electronics and battery have innovative thermal management – crucial for maintaining a high operating range coupled with outstanding interior comfort.