Free upgrade to Audi A6 with an A5?

Get a free upgrade to an Audi A6 when you buy an Audi A4. Or enjoy $500 worth of complimentary petrol vouchers. These are but two of the 10 anniversary promotions local Audi dealer, Premium Automobiles, is holding to celebrate a decade of being the exclusive Audi dealer in Singapore.

If you've ran out of places to visit with your entire family on the weekend, try bringing them down to Audi's showroom as well. There are free balloon sculptures for children, a mystery gift with each test drive and other activities. Plus there's a lucky draw for two pairs of Paddock Suite tickets for the Singapore GP with any purchase of an Audi.

After all that fun, exit the Leng Kee belt to Alexandra Road, where you can drool over the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe and saloon variants. Both were launched only this week. Mercedes-Benz is having an Open House for the public and more than 5,000 visitors are expected to pop by.

A few hundred metres more down the road, there is also Peugeot's spanking new 308CC, the only 1.6-litre four-seat coupe-cabriolet in Singapore. It was awarded the maximum five stars in the EuroNCAP test.

For those who're already looking to spend, there's the Kia Cerato Forte going from $45,999 with an ABS body kit and integrated GPS and reverse camera for an additional $2,000.

Although National Day's already over, the party's still ongoing. Mitsubishi is continuing its celebrations with $4,400 off any Mitsubishi car. But it's limited to the first 44 customers.

If you're the 45th customer, fret not. Suzuki is offering a $4,400 cash bonus as well. And it's throwing in free petrol vouchers, free servicing, free leather seats and 3M solar films.


For a perfect round-up of the weekend, you might want to check out the official version of the Nissan GT-R. The higher horsepower of 485bhp (no speed limiter as compared to the JDM version) will drown out those whispers of "finally". (Edit, to draft, Slurp)

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2010 Audi A5 2.0T S-Line

Were I a skeptic, I might believe Audi Canada first imports upmarket 3.2-litre V6 versions of its smaller cars — the A3, A4 and now the A5 — because it knows that as soon as the 2.0T version shows up, sales of the six-cylinder models are going to drop. Unique in the luxury segment — and probably in any segment — Audi’s little turbocharged four-banger, all 1,984 cubic centimetres of it, is the jewel within its lineup.

Somehow, every iteration I try is better — smoother than a four-cylinder has any right to be, sweeter-sounding than anything else with only four pistons and surprisingly powerful. This last invariably confuses first-time drivers as the 2.0T, thanks to its turbocharger and the engine’s variable valve timing, humbles many a V6 in the torque department, Audi’s own 3.2L notwithstanding. According to the company, the 2.0T produces 258 pound-feet of torque as low as 1,500 rpm. That’s 15 lb-ft more than the 3.2L (as well as kicking in 1,500 rpm lower on the rev band) and, unlike virtually every other small four — especially one powering a 1,640-kilogram, all-wheel-drive luxury car — it doesn’t need to be revved hard to blow off traffic.

The kicker is that, when you do decide to call for warp speed, the 2.0T is all sweetness and urge. I already noted that every new iteration of this engine is superior to

the last and this one is the sweetest-sounding yet.

Even revved past 6,000 rpm, the 2.0T never takes on any of the harshness common to most fours. The thing is so impossibly smooth, it could be passed off as an in-line six. Again, don’t bother upgrading to the 3.2L — you would just be cheating yourself.

Equally impressive is the A5’s handling. Audis tend to have excessive forward weight bias resulting in incipient oversteer. Depending on the car and its exact specification, this can be either a moderate or severe problem. In the A5, the 2.0T’s smaller block, two fewer pistons, connecting rods, etc., place less weight over the front end, resulting in more fluid and communicative steering.

The tester was further graced with Audi’s S-Line package, which threw in sportier P255/35R19 performance rubber and a firmer sport suspension. It’s still not quite as responsive as a BMW 3 Series coupe, but the gap is noticeably less than in other direct model-to-model comparisons, and the handling is especially capable for something with all-wheel drive.

Neither does the road holding come at the expense of ride or stability. I was constantly having to rein in the A5 as I kept nudging past a licence-suspending 160 kilometres an hour while cruising Highway 401.

Audi’s interiors are exemplary. The A5 is no exception. The S-Line package’s Alcantara leather seat inserts and perforated leather steering wheel add to what is already an exquisite cabin. Audi also makes much of its third-generation, MMI onboard computer with new features such as 3D mapping for the hard-drive-based navigation system.

Audi Sportback Concept A7 five door coupe

While BMW killed off the previously announced production version of the Concept CS, easily the best looking car it’s created since the same Henrik Fisker penned its Z8, Audi appears to be taking the plunge into the four-door coupe segment with the new Sportback Concept, shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and widely expected to be given the A7 designation when produced.

Audi A7 Sportback concept

Audi “appears” to be taking the plunge into the four-door coupe segment? Well, Audi hasn’t officially announced it for production yet so there’s still a chance it’ll remain a concept. More appearance-oriented is that the Sportback didn’t get its name for being a four-door coupe, but rather a five-door coupe. After all, that’s the name it gives its five-door A3. When thinking of a four-ringed five-door, however, I’m brought back to the first Avant I ever saw (or at least ever noticed), a five-door C3 Audi 100 Avant which was more of a five-door fastback than a traditional wagon. The Sportback concept hides its load carrying flexibility even more discretely, with a notchback design that will have most onlookers surprised when a liftback exposes an extremely useful cargo area.

The design is what you’d expect from Audi, a new interpretation of the now trademark horse-collar grille front and centre, with horizontal strakes instead of vertical, and LED eyebrows framing the top half of each beautifully shaped headlamp cluster, sitting atop deep-set aerodynamically designed air intakes that add to the car’s wide, solid stance.

Audi A7 Sportback Concept

Audi's 2nd China plant to start operations in Sept

Volkswagen's (VOWG.DE) Audi expects its 1 billion yuan ($146.3 million) second China plant to start operations in September, which will double its capacity in the country to 200,000 units, a company representative said on Monday.

The plant, jointly built by the Volkswagen premier brand and its China partner FAW Group, will make Audi A4L and Q5 at the plant, the company representative said.

A4L, a derivative of Audi's popular mid-size sedan that sports a longer wheelbase, is now made at Audi's first China plant, also based in the northeastern city of Changchun, she said.

China has been a bright spot for global automakers hit badly by a sharp industry downturn as government's stimulus measures have effectively lifted consumer confidence.

2010 Audi A3 TDI Manages 30/42 MPG - Eco-Friendly

The numbers are in: According to the EPA, the 2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI returns a substantial 30/42 mpg city/highway.

2010 Audi R8 Sport Limited Edition Supercar

The Audi R8 is quite a high performance machine and most automotive enthusiasts would agree that the four ring wearing super car is already quite appealing in standard trim.However that isn’t good enough for the automaker from Ingolstadt because it looks like they have decided to produce an even better looking version, at least that is what the latest spy shots are showing; a sharper and more refined track-focused R8.

2009 Audi A6 3.0T Quattro Review

2009 Audi A6 3.0T quattro

2009 Audi A6 3.0T

Need an example of excellence in a mid-sized luxury sedan? Look no further than the Audi A6. And in particular, look at the 2009 Audi A6 3.0T quattro.

The 3.0T quattro is a new addition to the A6 sedan lineup this year, fitting between the front-wheel drive 3.2 FSI and the V8-powered 4.2 FSI quattro models, "quattro" being Audi's performance-oriented full-time all-wheel drive system. The numeric designator denotes the engine capacity in liters, and why would a 3.0 be above a 3.2?

Notice that "T" after... which has meant "turbo", for Audi performance enhancement since the original Quattro rally car homologation special of the early 1980s. The smaller A3 and A4 have 2.0T models with 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder engines, so one might be thinking "misprint" when reading 3.0T. After all, a decade ago, the A6 used a 2.8-liter V6 with essentially the same horsepower as the current 2.0T.

One would be wrong. The 3.0-liter V6 engine uses forced induction, but in place of the twin turbos found in the 2.7-liter V6 used in the S6, allroad, and other models earlier in the decade is found a single supercharger. It's simpler, with much more efficient packaging than twin turbos, and allied with a high compression ratio made possible by Audi's FSI direct fuel injection system gives an even 300 horsepower -- instantly, without turbo lag and without the fuel consumption expected from a high-output engine. A 22-mpg average for a week of spirited driving is nothing to be ashamed of for a car of the A6's size and performance capability.

External appearance and the interior environment are also important to the luxury experience, and Audi shines in both areas. Seemingly small changes to the front end integrate the large "single frame" Audi grille into the bodywork better than ever. New headlights feature what is quickly becoming an Audi specialty, a row of small, bright LED daytime running lights as an option. Greater use of aluminum accents inside improves the already-benchmark interior. Revisions to the suspension improve comfort, especially on poorly-surfaced roads, with no detriment to handling.

In an industry in turmoil, Audi is gaining market share. No surprise there, especially after my week with a well-equipped A6 3.0T. The $5000 "Prestige" package adds nearly all of the high-tech features expected in a contemporary luxury car -- navigation system with voice recognition, self-leveling adaptive bi-xenon headlights, cornering lights, backup camera, and more -- and a radar-based side-assistance system is also available. In some luxury cars, the gadgets are the stars, adding flash to an otherwise humdrum vehicle. The A6 really doesn't need any of that. Here, the car is the star, thanks to its elegantly understated style, fine chassis tuning, benchmark interior design and execution, and the fine 3.0T engine. And, as good as each individual piece is, the overall result is still greater than the sum of the parts. Depending on the driver's desire at the moment, it can be a first-class luxury sedan with a great amount of reserve power or it can be a fine all-wheel drive sport-touring sedan.

APPEARANCE: The massive grille that makes an Audi instantly recognizable is a tribute to the ancestral Auto Union Grand Prix cars of the 1930s. That grille design has been developing toward the new style, as seen at the front of the 2009 A6, for a few years now. First there was a dual-level grille, bisected by the front bumper. Then there was the original "single frame" grille, with the bumper mostly integrated in its center. Now the bumper is hidden behind the grille, and revisions to the foglamps, faux brake ducts, and headlights blend well to create a distinctive look. The shape of the lower bumper fascia hints at the splitters at the front of a race car, like Audi's R15 TDI endurance racer. The optional LED running lights, under the main headlights, are the finishing touch. At the rear, the sedan gets LED taillights. The rest of the elegantly neo-Bauhaus lines are mostly untouched, and no complaint there.

COMFORT: For the past decade, the A6 has set standards in the mid-luxury class for interior styling and materials that have been emulated but not equalled by many other manufacturers. The old saying about imitation and flattery comes to mind... but Audi still does it the best. Interior colors and trim materials depend on exterior color, but count on elegance in design and high levels of driver and passenger comfort. Power operation of windows, mirrors, and front seats is expected, and done, with all windows one-touch up and down. Seats are leather, with the fronts heated, and comfort is first-rate, even in the rear. The two outboard rear positions offer very good head and leg room, and width; the high central tunnel makes the rear center a short-term proposition. The rear seat can fold down with a 60/40 split for those times when cargo needs exceed trunk capacity, but those times will likely be few. The trunk is large enough -- even with a full-size spare tire and the battery under its floor. LEDs in the outside mirrors light the area around the front doors at night. Inside, instruments are easily visible, with higher-resolution graphics. Audio includes AM, FM, and Sirius satellite radio, plus a CD changer and MP3/iPod interface in the locking glove box. The audio and optional navigation system are controlled through the MMI (Multi Media Interface) button-based system; the dual-zone climate-control system is operated with standard rotary controls.

SAFETY: The current A6 has been named an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" for the past three years for its performance in crash testing. It meets or exceeds worldwide standards. For 2009, a no-maintenance passive tire-pressure monitoring system is standard, and a radar-based side monitoring system available.

RIDE AND HANDLING: It's not quite a "sports sedan", as it's too comfort-oriented and may seem a bit soft, but the A6 is perfect for the everyday world, even it that should involve high-speed travel on tight, twisting mountain roads and open highways. Call it "sport-touring", in the manner of motorcycles that are too large, heavy, and comfortable for track days but excel in German-type road conditions. Although the basic design of the four-link front, trapezoidal-link rear suspension is unchanged, ride height has been lowered a little less than an inch and the springs and shocks have been revised. The result is a fine combination of quiet luxury comfort, even on less than optimally-surfaced roads, with the kind of tenacious cornering that only a well set-up chassis and quattro all-wheel drive traction can provide. It's no rally car replica, but the A6 has plenty of rally and race heritage.

PERFORMANCE: Supercharging was first used by Audi progenitor Auto Union in its Grand Prix cars of the 1930s, but turbochargers have been the norm for forced induction from Ingolstadt in recent years. Audi returns to supercharging in the A6 3.0-liter V6 3.0T, with excellent results. 300 horsepower, between 5100 and 6800 rpm, with 310 lb-ft of torque between 2500 and 5100 rpm, matched to a six-speed multi-mode automatic transmission means smooth, instantaneous power just about anywhere, any time, with plenty of reserve in "D", for a proper luxury car experience. In "S", the torque-converter automatic holds gears longer, usually stays in a lower gear to keep the engine in the power sweet spot, and downshifts during deceleration -- it does a very credible job of emulating a performance-oriented human. Full manual control is available in "Tiptronic" manual shift mode, using either the shift lever on the console or the paddles behind the steering wheel. The American-spec is electronically governed to a 130-mph top speed, no problem here. More importantly, it can go from a standstill to 60 mph in well under six seconds, for peace of mind on short, vicious highway on-ramps. EPA fuel economy ratings are 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 overall. I got 22 during my week, mostly in D as that suited the drivertrain just fine. Direct fuel injection, like Audi's FSI, allows a high compression ratio, for increased efficiency. And increased power output, with forced or natural induction. Good deal!

CONCLUSIONS: Audi has another gem in the A6 3.0T

SPECIFICATIONS
2009 Audi A6 3.0T

Base Price   $ 50,100
Price As Tested   $ 56,025
Engine Type   dohc 24-valve aluminum alloy supercharge
                               and intercooled V6
Engine Size   3.0 liters / 183 cu. in.
Horsepower   300 @ 5100-6800 rpm
Torque (lb-ft)   310 @ 2500-5100 rpm
Transmission                    6-speed multi-mode automatic with
                               manual-shift mode
Wheelbase / Length  111.9 in. / 193.5 in.
Curb Weight   4123 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower  13.7
Fuel Capacity   21.1 gal.
Fuel Requirement  91 octane premium unleaded gasoline
Tires    P245/45 R18 97H Continental Conti Pro Contact
Brakes, front/rear  vented disc / solid disc, ABS, ESP standard
Suspension, front/rear  independent 4-link /
     independent trapezoidal link
Drivetrain   longitudinal front engine,
     permanent all-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
   city / highway / observed  18 / 26 / 22
0 to 60 mph    5.9  sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Prestige model - includes:
 Audi navigation system, Bose sound system,
 18-inch wheels, all-season tires, bi-xenon plus
 headlights, LED daytime running lights,
 adaptive self-leveling headlights, cornering lights,
 Audi Advanced Key, rearview parking camera,
 shift paddles, voice recognition, power-adjustable
 steering column, driver's-side seat memory,
 auto-dimming interior mirror with compass,
 heated auto-dimming exterior mirrors with memory,
 aluminum window trim and door sills, trip
 computer in color     $ 5,100
Destination charge     $ 
Brilliant Black 2009 Audi A6 3.0T quattro Sedan with Amaretto/Black interior