Automotive in Blog

New Rumor : German Tuner Avus Performance Recreates the Audi Ur-Quattro from TT-RS

2009-10-11T05:02:00.001-07:00

The Audi TT-RS is one mean machine already, but Avus Performance saw an opportunity to recreate the famous Audi Ur-Quattro starting with a TT-RS and couldn’t pass it up.

Avus Performance started with the stock TT-RS which produces 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. From there, Avus modifies the turbocharger, reprograms the ECU, and adds a new exhaust to the car to increase the horsepower by 110 and torque by 140 lb-ft. This brings the TT-RS Ur-Quattro’s total output from the 2.5-liter five-cylinder to 450 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque.

With these impressive power increases, Avus says the 0 to 60 mph time drops from 4.6 seconds for the stock TT-RS down to 3.8 seconds for the Ur-Quattro. Top speed is also increased accordingly. It goes from a mere 174 mph to 194 mph.

The modifications made to recreate the Ur-Quattro don’t stop with just the engine. Avus added adjustable coil-over shocks to better the TT-RS’s cornering abilities and to lower the ride height. Additionally, the car has been painted matte-black with a matching set of black 20-inch Sportec Mono aluminum alloy wheels shod with Hankook S1 Evo tires. Avus also has interior accessories available to make your Ur-Quattro look special inside, too.

All these modifications will cost an undisclosed amount of money as Avus Performance asks for serious buyers to contact them for engine modification pricing. Ordering the suspension, wheels/tires, and paint upgrades will cost around €12,000 ($18,000) and each can be ordered individually. Unfortunately for us in the States, the TT-RS isn’t available so neither is Avus Performance’s modern Ur-Quattro.

New 2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI: 30 MPG City; 42 MPG Highway

2009-08-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

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

Those figures are a dead ringer for a Volkswagen Jetta TDI with the DSG gearbox--not surprising, considering the A3 shares its underpinnings and powertrain with the VW. Although the diesel-powered Jetta comes with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the A3 TDI will only be offered with the dual-clutch (or "S-tronic" in Audi-speak) unit.

The A3 TDI will reach dealers in North America this December, and is expected to carry a base price under $30,000. Given the A3’s content levels and Audi’s brand image, perhaps it could give the Lexus HS 250h some competition in the “eco-friendly luxury” segment.

Specs 2009 Audi A3

2009-06-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Turbo compressor
1,984 cc 2.0 liters in-line 4 front engine with 82.5 mm bore, 92.8 mm stroke, 10.3 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
Premium unleaded fuel 91
Gasoline direct injection fuel system
14.5 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 12.1
Power: 149 kW , 200 HP SAE @ 5,100 rpm; 207 ft lb , 281 Nm @ 1,800 rpm

Profile : Audi Company

2009-06-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

The first Audi was manufactured in 1910. Named after the Latin version of founder's August Horch's last name (Horch means 'Hark!' in German), the company later merged with DKW, Horch (whom August originally founded and was later ousted), and Wanderer to form the Auto Union. Audi's now well-known "interlinking rings" represents those companies.

In the mid 1960s, Daimler-Benz obtained controlling shares of Auto Union which it sold to Volkswagen. Today's Audi AG would emerge in 1969, when Auto Union merged with NSU, a motorcycle manufacturer, to form "Audi NSU Auto Union AG". The company would later drop the Auto Union and NSU from its official moniker. (Volkswagen continues to be the parent company.)

The Audi 100 was the new company's first cars sold to the masses. Later cars included the Audi 80 and Audi 50. A report on CBS on the 100 (renamed the Audi 5000 in the U.S.), temporarily damaged the brand's reputation. Audi was seriously considering leaving the U.S. until rising sales in the Nineties changed its mind. Today, the brand is one of Europe's strongest with sedans such as the A4, A6, A8 and roadsters such as the TT. The brand is also associated with all-wheel drive through its quattro system which it developed in the '80s. The S4, S6, and S8, which are more powerful versions of the A4, 6, and 8, respectively, use quattro.

In 2006, Audi introduced the Q7, its first full-sized SUV. Audi's latest "supercar", the R8, goes on sale in 2008.