Audi have dominated the world of endurance racing for over a decade. The Germans have won the famous Le Mans 24 hour 12 times and it would have been 9 times in a row if it were not for pesky Peugeot in 2009. Audi want to retain their Le Mans crown but with strong competition from Toyota and now Porsche, their 2014 Audi R18 WEC has to be one of the most capable cars racing has ever seen.
Audi revealed to the world their new car in race trim complete with updated livery. However, they have decided to backtrack on a technology that regenerates energy lost through heat. The system, MGU-H, is just like that found on the 2014 specification Formula One cars, but the team will not use it as planned due to reliability issues. Instead they will stick with their tried and tested kinetic energy recovery system that can harvest 2 megajoules over a lap. Their competitors, and in particular Porsche, are expected to be recapturing 6 to 8MJ per lap. This potentially puts Audi at a disadvantage but they say that the increased reliability and fuel efficiency of their new turbocharged 4.0 litre V6 diesel engine will prevail.
The 2014 Audi R18 WEC reignited tradition as it was driven through the streets of Le Mans before being shown to the media.
At the 2014 Geneva motor show Audi unveiled the third generation model. This from the ground up is an all-new car despite being proportionally similar to the one that preceded it, but the Germans take a lot of pride in the engineering potential on their new chassis which is based upon VW’s MQB platform. To show just what the TT is capable of Audi has shown the world an extreme concept variation of their sports car.
Named the Audi TT Quattro Sport Concept, this pumped up model produces 414BHP and 332lb ft of torque from its 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine. That turbo now achieves 1.8bar of boost. The increase in power means that the Audi TT Quattro Sport Concept can get from 0-62MPH in 3.7 second. That is supercar territory! This Quattro Sport is all wheel drive and transfers its power to the ground through a six speed dual clutch gearbox. Now with a fixed rear wing and more aggressive body, let’s see someone call it a hairdressers car.
Inside this TT mimics the 2014 model but adds alcantara for a slightly sportier flare.
The Audi TT was a big success in its first generation with people from all over the automotive spectrum flocking to the coupe or convertible. Whilst that car was mainly about the looks, the following model was far from all show and no go. The second-gen TT looked much more grown up and had a chassis that made it very enjoyable to drive. Why am I briefly recalling the history of the TT? Because there is a new one of course! 2015 Audi TT revealed at Geneva motor show.
Audi’s third generation TT will go on sale late this year and promises to be the best incarnation yet. Although retaining similar design architecture and proportions to the car it replaces, this model is in fact all-new. The German’s new family face accompanies some harder shoulder lines to define the 2015 Audi TT. Its chrome grill and angled headlights produce a more masculine tone to what has been described in the past as a “hairdressers car.” Upon launch there will be two petrol variants of the machine, the TT and TT S. Both utilising the VW MBQ platform and a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine. The cars will produce 226BHP and 306BHP respectively. The TT S comes standard with all wheel drive and is capable of a 0-62MPH time of 4.7 seconds. This 2+2 is also set to get a 2.0 litre diesel engine in the TT 2.0 TDI claiming 67.3MPG.
The interior is thoroughly modern mimicking the design of the new Audi A3. As well as more space the car also boast an innovative digital instrument panel.
The hot hatchback wars are on! In this searing arena of exhaust popping, wheel arch flaring, bangs for your bucks manufacturers have really upped their game in order to be crowned king of the hill. Pocket rockets such as the Renault Clio RS, Seat Ibiza Cupra are boasting impressive numbers, But in our eyes at least, it is the Ford Fiesta ST that is the pick of the bunch. This ASBO inducer won our “2013 Car of the Year Award” for being great value for money and an absolute blast to drive. Looking to steal that crown is Audi and their new weapon of choice. This Audi S1 is a Miniature Monster.
To make its debut at the Geneva motor show, the Audi S1 sure is an angry looking hatch. The testosterone fuelled looks certainly score a big tick in the visuals box, but what about under the bonnet? Powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine, the Audi S1 produces 228BHP and 273lb ft of torque. Cog swapping is done via a six speed manual transmission that gets the power down to all four wheels. Available as a three-door or a Sportback model, the S1 will do 0-62MPH 5.8 seconds.
We all know what a Group-B rally car is. Etched into the minds of every petrol head are images of these 1980’s creations leaping, fire breathing, roaring beasts doing battle with some of the toughest terrain Mother Nature could throw in their path. These machines with close to 1,000BHP in some cases covered ground through snow, ice, gravel and dirt like nothing that came before them. The brave and highly skilled men who piloted now fabled nameplates such as quarto and 037 literally put their lives on the line in the pursuit of speed. Group-B died along with the many lives it took in 1986 and so closed the most deadly, yet exciting chapter of rally history. Or did it? A new class was being devised whilst Group-B was ongoing, a class that would focus on future technologies at the cutting edge of science and engineering. I speak of Group S rally cars, the forgotten class.
Group S became tragic collateral damage when Group-B was abolished. The new class had its regulations laid out and manufacturers had already begun building prototype cars. These machines would never turn a wheel in anger as the governing body very much threw the baby out with the bath water. For Group S only 10 road going variants of a competing car had to be made in order for it to gain entry. Power was to be artificially restricted to around 300BHP, although each car was more than capable of 600BHP. This reduction in power was a bid to reduce the speed at which the cars were travelling, a big factor in how many accidents there were in Group-B. However, the loss in power was to be made up by innovative new materials to save weight and regain an impressive power-to-weight ratio. With new leads in aerodynamics and the use of carbon fibre, these cars after a few seasons of development had the potential to be just as quick as their banned big brothers.
As mentioned before, a handful of manufacturers had already started work on prototypes for Group S. Toyota were working on a mid-engine 2.1 litre car that resembled the MR2. This car was in development before the finished Group S rules were in place and so this turbocharged car actually produced 750BHP. Ford was working on a variation of the RS200 Group-B car as were Peugeot with their 205 T16. Audi planned to bring the Quattro into the new class and use the tier as platform to show-off what technologies the German company intended to filter down into future production cars. Lancia arguably had the most advanced prototype and would likely have been the favourites for the first Group S championship. Their Lancia ECV (Experimental Composites Vehicle) test car was powered by a 600BHP 1.8 litre twin-turbocharged engine. With a focus on reducing weight through the use of composite materials and an entirely carbon fibre chassis, the end result was a rally car weighing just 930KG.
This new breed of car had the potential to keep the excitement and adrenaline of the dangerous Group-B within the sport whilst introducing greater safety for drivers. Crash tests, power restrictions and the banning of flammable materials all factored into the rules. Alas, Group S was swept aside changing the destiny of rallying forever.
In 1994 something quite special happened that created a class of car that is a particular favourite of mine. “Sleepers” as I like to call them, are relatively ordinary and practical cars that most people wouldn’t look twice at. However, little do they know that these cars are in fact performance monsters in disguise. The Audi RS2, developed by Porsche with its 2.2 litre turbocharged engine and 311BHP was a real wolf in sheep’s clothing. 20 years on and a special edition relives the glory days. Audi RS4 Avant Nogaro Harks back to RS2.
Called the Audi RS4 Avant Nogaro, this car will make its debut at the Geneva motor show. Sporting the same signature blue paint as the RS2 it honours, the Nagaro also ditches its chrome trim for matte black. Powered by a 4.2 litre V8 engine that has an output of 444BHP and 317lb ft of torque. Inside the interior possesses black leather and blue alcantara along with Audi’s MMI infotainment system. As you would expect, special badging can be found dotted around the Nogaro.
Audi have not said if the RS4 Avant Nogaro will be coming to the UK, but when it goes on sale in Germany it will have a price tag of £72,500.
It is that time again for another dose of Inside Quattro from Drive. This week the YouTube show focuses on Audi Quattro tradition and goes deep into the origins of the four rings. From Auto Union to Audi, the first use of Quattro through to its rallying success, this instalment is an absolute petrol head geek-fest. Also you will learn about how Porsche got their teeth into the now legendary Audi RS2!
In the next episode of Drive’s “Inside Quattro” we journey into the factory and see how the brands flagship model is born. Have you ever wondered how to build an Audi R8 V10 Plus? Delving deep into the manufacturing process this program shows how one of the most capable supercars is brought to life, from subframe to final sign off. This rare insight is something of a treat for real petrol heads, so enjoy!
If you missed the first instalment of Inside Quattro where its illustrious history was highlighted, you can check it out HERE.
The team over at Drive produce some of the best car related videos on the internet. Be it Christ Harris burning through tyres like there is no tomorrow, or general car chat, it is good petrol-head entertainment. Today they have just launched a new series called “Inside Quattro” where they are to delve deep into the history of Audi’s all wheel drive brand both past and present. This fist video begins with the history of Quattro and is a real treat for those who love the rough and tumble of rallying.
Many car buyers today seek that feeling of security you get in an SUV. The high driving position that sits you above the traffic, the strong rugged design and of course the amount of car around you. These SUV characteristics have leaked into other segments forming various niches, or in some cases, booming new sectors such as the crossover. Some manufacturers are pursuing the idea of performance oriented crossovers for those who want all of the above but a bit more under the hood. Audi’s new Allroad Shooting Brake Concept car offers just that.
This concept car, whilst hinting at some styling traits for the up and coming Audi TT, is a high riding showcase of performance technology. Its hybrid drivetrain can achieve an impressive 149MPG and a potential 502 mile range. Ok, so its green… But what about that aforementioned speed potential? Well how does 400BHP and a 650Nm of torque sound? 0-62MPH is done and dusted in 4.6 seconds and the Audi Alllroad Shooting Brake Concept will go onto a top speed of 155MPH.
