Which polls?Thats funny because audi has won several polls in germany for most luxourious and sporty cars. Audi has been winning more awards than any other german manufacturer
Then provide them, don't just talk about them.
Have you ever been on inside of a top end XJ? The XJ incidentally has been voted luxury car of the year many times.
No one is arguing with any of that.Yes the drive might be flawed on the A4, and maybe the A6 but they are still up there behind BMW for us normal drivers (ie Evo magazine dont cater for the everyday man). Audis are a nice place to be, reliable, look good, hold their value, safe comfortable and easy to drive. Its because of that formula they sell so well. Unless 900,000 people and counting are wrong every year
So.Oh and Michael Shumacher has a RS6
The top diesel sedans comparison from Autobild. Translated as usual. :usa7uh:
V8-Diesel von Mercedes, Audi und BMW
Diesel ganz oben
Hoch über dem normalen Dieselvolk thronen die prächtigen Achtzylinder. S 420 CDI, A8 4.2 TDI, 745d: Wer ist König der Selbstzünder?
Von Jörg Maltzan: Der Stachel sitzt noch tief. Als die drei deutschen Luxusmarken Audi, BMW und Mercedes vor gut sieben Jahren ihre Luxus-Limousinen mit Achtzylinder-Diesel präsentierten, war der S 400 CDI Letzter. Zumindest was den Verkaufsstart betraf. Das Prestigerennen um den ersten Selbstzünder-V8 auf dem Markt machte der 740d, der ab Mitte 1999 bei den Händlern stand. Vier Monate später folgte der A8 3.3 TDI. Der Mercedes war erst im Juni 2000 zu haben. Nicht schlimm, aber doch irgendwie eine Niederlage beim Technikwettrüsten um die Dieselkrone. (In mid 1999, the BMW 740d debuted as the first premium V8 diesel on the German market - followed by Audi (A8 3.3 TDI) four months later. Mercedes came in last (also in sales) when they joined the party in June of 2000. Not bad, but at the same time, something of a loss in this race between technology and for the diesel crown.)
Eine Autogeneration später hat der deutsche Diesel-Dreikampf nichts an Dramatik verloren. Und wieder ist Mercedes der Nachzügler. Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro und BMW 745d sind schon länger im Angebot, der Mercedes S 420 CDI kommt erst jetzt dazu. Auf einen peinlichen PS-Wettlauf mit den Konkurrenten hat Mercedes verzichtet. Im Gegenteil: Mit 320 PS ist die S-Klasse das nominell schwächste Modell in diesem Vergleich. Der A8 hat sechs und der 7er zehn PS mehr Dampf unter der Haube. Auch beim Drehmoment setzt der Benz nicht den Maßstab, sondern der hubraumstärkere BMW. Eigentlich keine guten Voraussetzungen für einen Herausforderer, der zeigen will, dass er die beste Diesel-Limousine der Welt baut. Dass es ihm trotzdem gelingt, hat andere Ursachen. Vor allem beweist der Mercedes, dass Dieselantrieb und Luxusanspruch sehr gut zusammenpassen. (This time, the race between these three carmakers has not lost momentum - and again, Mercedes is last. The Audi A8 4.2 TDI and BMW 745d) have been on sale longer than the Mercedes S420 CDI, which now joins the party. Upping the horsepower was not a priority at Mercedes. In fact, the S420 CDI, with it's 320-horsepower, is the weakest car in this comparison: the A8 has 6 and the BMW has 10 more horsepower. Even in terms of torque, the Mercedes isn't the leader (the BMW is). Sounds like the Mercedes is in for a hard time, right? Not at all. The Mercedes proves that a diesel engine and luxury can smoothly go hand-in-hand.)
Beeindruckend: Der S 420 CDI vermittelt ein ähnlich erhabenes Fahrgefühl wie der Zwölfzylinder S 600. Wer dieseltypische Vibrationen herausspüren will, muss über seismografische Sensibilität verfügen. Hier zittert nichts. Zu hören ist auch nichts. Schon gar kein Selbstzünder-Nageln. Nur im Stand ist außen ein leises Wummern zu vernehmen, guter Motorkapselung sei Dank. Dieses Auto ist die Ruhe selbst. Vor allem durch seinen überlegenen Fahrkomfort schwebt der Mercedes buchstäblich über den Konkurrenzmodellen von Audi und BMW. Serienmäßige Luftfedern tilgen perfekt alle Stöße von der Fahrbahn. Ob kurze oder lange Bodenwellen, Gullydeckel oder Betonfugen, Kopfsteinpflaster oder Feldweg – die S-Klasse gleitet über alles mit größtmöglicher Souveränität. Eine glatte Eins. (Impressive: The Mercedes S420 CDI almost gives you the impression as if you were driving the 12-cylinder S600. If you want to feel diesel-typical vibrations, good luck trying to find them here. Nothing shakes or vibrates here. The V8 diesel engine can't be heard too - not even a diesel clatter. Only in idling can a little noise be heard, but it's very little thanks to engine noise isolation technology. The S-Class defines quietness here, especially also thanks to its suspension, which leaves Audi and BMW behind when it comes to driving comfort. The standard Airmatic suspension filters every rough section of the road out so that occupants don't feel a thing. We tried a number of roads, and the S-Class impressed on all. An A+ here.)
Gut dazu passt die Siebenstufen-Automatik. Sie hält die Drehzahlen niedrig und senkt so das Geräuschniveau. Bei 730 Newtonmeter Drehmoment verfügt der Achtzylinder in jeder Fahrstufe über ein derart üppiges Kraftreservoir, dass Runterschalten überflüssig wird. Sollte der Fahrer dies dennoch wünschen, um auf der Autobahn den lästigen Porsche-Piloten loszuwerden, ist das per Kickdown oder den Schaltknöpfen am Lenkrad jederzeit möglich. Dann wechselt der Automat kaum spürbar den Gang, und die S-Klasse stürmt mit gewaltigem Schub bis auf abgeregelte 250 km/h. (A good marriage here is the 7Gtronic transmission. This transmission keeps the RPM's low and keeps the engine noise down. In every gear, the S420 CDI has a ton of power - no wonder with 730 Nm of torque on tap. The driver can shift gears manually using the MB steering wheel button shifts. Shifts can hardly be felt, and the car trashes to 250 km/h with impressive power.)
Wie gut das Mercedes-Getriebe arbeitet, zeigt der direkte Vergleich mit dem BMW. Der ist zwar stärker und fast zwei Zentner leichter, beim Beschleunigen dennoch langsamer, weil mehr Wandlerschlupf die Antriebskraft reduziert. Bei höherem Tempo leidet der 7er zudem unter dem ungünstigeren cW-Wert von 0,29 (Audi und Mercedes jeweils 0,27). Die Handlichkeit anderer BMW-Modelle fehlt ihm. Der 7er ist nicht nur ein großes und massiges Auto, er fährt sich auch so. Mit 12,40 Meter hat er zudem den größten Wendekreis. Anders als Audi und Mercedes hat der BMW Stahlfedern, wird aber von elektronisch kontrollierten Dämpfern vor Fahrbahnstößen geschützt. Nur kurze Bodenwellen dringen spürbar in den Innenraum vor. Trotz der leicht schlechteren Fahrleistungen arbeitet im BMW dennoch ein bäriger Motor, der kaum vernehmbar ist, den 2,2-Tonner aber expressartig vorwärts schiebt. Auch für den 745d gilt: Der starke Diesel ist eine gute Alternative zum durstigen 760i. Denn selbst bei zügiger Fahrweise bleibt der Verbrauch bei zehn Liter. Der Zwölfzylinder-Benziner schluckt dann mehr als 16 Liter. (How good the Mercedes transmission is can be seen when we compared this car to the BMW 745d. Although the BMW has more power and weighs less, it's slower from 0-100 km/h because the transmission shifts slower. At higher speeds, the BMW's coefficiency of drag (0.29) doesn't help either (Audi and Mercedes = 0.27). Even the handling of other BMW models cannot be felt in this 7er. The BMW 7-Series is not only a big and heavy car, it drives like one too. Unlike Audi and Mercedes, the BMW uses a standard steel suspension that get's aided by an electronic dampening control system. For the most part, it works - even though some roads can be felt. Despite the un-BMW-like drive, the engine is superb. It's equally quiet and powerful too. Like the S420 CDI, the 745d is a good alternative to its 12-cylinder family member: the 760i. Even when driven hard, the BMW 745d will get around 10 L / 100 km: the 760i will need 16 L.)
Ähnlich sparsam ist der A8 4.2 TDI. Er ist dynamischer ausgerichtet als 745d und S 420 CDI, trägt aber auch seinen Diesel-Charakter zur Schau. Feines Lenkradzittern und das Verbrennungsgeräusch kennzeichnen ihn als Selbstzünder. Selbst in der Einstellung "Comfort" federt das Luftfeder-Fahrwerk auf schlechten Straßen straff. Gegenüber 7er und S-Klasse wirkt der A8 enger. Seine Fondkopfstützen sind fest montiert, beeinträchtigen so die Rundumsicht. Bei unruhigem Gasfuß neigt der Audi zudem zu ruckartigen Gangwechseln. Sportlich betrachtet macht er aber alles richtig. Beim Beschleunigen lässt er BMW und Benz hinter sich. Deutlich sogar. Trotz offizieller 250-km/h-Abregelung spurtete unser Diesel-A8 auf Tacho 280. (Equally fuel efficient is the Audi A8. It's more dynamic than the BMW and Mercedes and the engine is equally quiet and refined. On the downside, the "Comfort" setting makes the cars suspension harder, which on poor quality roads doesn't translate well. It also appears smaller on the inside than the BMW or Mercedes. The rear seat headrests can't be folded down, which hinders rear vision when parking for example. The Audi transmission shifts feel a little nervous, and they can be felt. From a sporty point of view, the car does everything right. 0-100 km/h is faster than the BMW and Mercedes. Despite a supposed 250 km/h limit, our Audi didn't stop at that but took us all the way up to 280 km/h!)
Auch beim Kurvenfahren wirkt der Audi leichtfüßiger. Der Grund für seine Agilität liegt auf der Hand. Dank Alukarosserie ist der Audi fast eine Vierteltonne leichter als der Mercedes. Dadurch ist er nicht nur schnell und sparsam, sondern glänzt auch mit 530 Kilogramm Zuladung. Außerdem hat der A8 als einziger Allradantrieb, was ihm Traktionsvorteile auf nassen Straßen verschafft. (Thanks to its light weight, the Audi A8 handles very nicely in curves. The light weight also means that the Audi can carry a wonderful 530 kg of extra weight (luggage etc.). Also, the A8 is the only car here with AWD, so good traction on wet roads is a plus.)
Größer als bei den sehr ähnlichen Fahreigenschaften der drei Diesel-Dampfer sind die Unterschiede bei den Ausstattungsmöglichkeiten. So sind sie zwar optional mit Tür-Zuziehhilfen sowie elektrischen Heckdeckelbetätigungen auszustatten, doch bei Audi lässt deren Funktion zu wünschen übrig. Die Kofferraumklappe schließt und öffnet nur widerwillig. Steht der Wagen einseitig auf einem Bordstein, schließt sie überhaupt nicht. Das passt so gar nicht zum hohen Qualitätsanspruch der Marke. Hier besteht dringender Verbesserungsbedarf. (All three cars come with different options and extras. Standard for example on all are electronic-door-closing-aids. On the Audi, we noticed the trunk would not close if the car was parked with one half of it on a sidewalk. This doesn't fit the quality image of Audi and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.)
Empfehlenswert ist für alle drei Modelle der adaptive Tempomat, der den Abstand zum Vordermann automatisch reguliert. Mercedes geht noch einen Schritt weiter und bietet "Distronic Plus" an (2737 Euro). Das System bremst die S-Klasse bei Bedarf sogar bis zum Stillstand ab. Nachtsichtassistenten gibt es nur für 745d und S 420 CDI. In Sachen Infotainment hat BMW einen Vorteil. Als einziger in der Luxusliga bieten die Münchner einen automobilen Online-Zugang, mit dem man sich aktuelle dpa-Nachrichten, Börsenkurse, Wetterberichte, Kinoprogramme und Reisetipps in den 745d holen kann – ein tolles Extra für die verwöhnte Kundschaft. (For all cars, we recommend an adapative cruise control system which automatically slows or speeds up your car depending on the preset distance between you and the car infront. Mercedes takes this a step further and offers Distronic Plus, which will slow the car down to a halt if necessary. Night View systems are only available on the BMW and Mercedes. In terms of Infotainment, the BMW has the edge. It offers internet access.)
Das beste Gesamtkonzept allerdings bietet einmal mehr der Luxus-Diesel aus Stuttgart. Daran hat sich also nichts geändert. Schon im ersten AUTO BILD-Vergleichstest 2001 siegte der Mercedes. Damals hatte er übrigens den stärksten Motor: 250 PS und 560 Newtonmeter. Aus heutiger Sicht fast schon etwas schwächlich. Und das Wettrüsten geht weiter. Audis Q7 läuft schon mit dem 500 PS starken V12-TDI in der Erprobung, und es dürfte nur eine Frage der Zeit sein, bis er auch im A8 auftauchen wird. (The best overall performance comes from the luxury diesel from Stuttgart: the Mercedes. Nothing has changed. When we first compared the these cars in 2001, the Mercedes won. Back then however, it had the most powerful engine: 250-hp and 560 Nm of torque. When we look back, these figures almost appear "underpowered" by today's standards. And the diesel race continues: the Audi Q7 12 TDI is being tested - and it is a matter of time before the A8 might get one...)
Fazit von AUTO BILD-Redakteur Jörg Maltzan:
Gravierende Schwächen zeigt keiner der Luxus-Diesel. Bis auf Mercedes. Ausgerechnet der Sieger stolpert über eine viel zu geringe Zuladung. Hier zeigt sich die Kehrseite einer Vollausstattung – die wiegt eben viel. Ansonsten bleibt als wichtigste Erkenntnis: Diese Autos machen die durstigen Benziner überflüssig. Ihr Geräuschniveau ist ähnlich niedrig, Spurtvermögen und vor allem Elastizität ebenbürtig. Auf wen die Wahl fällt, ist letztlich Geschmacksache. Einzig der nicht mehr taufrische BMW verliert etwas den Anschluss. (SUMMARY: None of these cars shows a weakness - except the Mercedes. Funny how the winner of this comparison test can't take onboard more weight - a problem caused by the many standard features and heavy weight of the car. That said, these cars make thirsty gasoline cars appear outdated. These diesels are quiet - just as quiet as their gasoline counterparts and have power (especially midrange power). What car to pick here is up to you, a matter of taste.)
THE RANKINGS
1st Place: Mercedes-Benz S420 CDI 487/600
2nd Place: Audi A8 4.2 TDI Quattro 479/600
3rd Place: BMW 745d 468/600
Technical Data
Performance
Prices
Just got my latest Auto Motor und Sport. A good comparison between two of the best luxury cars in this segment. No need to translate the whole thing, the Fazit's below explain everything to the point. :t-cheers:
1st Place: Mercedes S450 4Matic (512/650)
An excellent luxury car with incredible comfort, handling, power, refinement and safety. Traction through 4Matic is excellent. Price and maintenance costs are very expensive though.
2nd Place: Audi A8 4.2 FSI Quattro (501/650)
The A8 has a much sportier character, which explains the harder suspension and aggressive sounding engine. The A8 is more fuel efficient, easier to use (cockpit controls) but falls behind in the comfort department.
Technical Data
Ratings
THE SCANS
Also in this months issue:
Test: Audi TT 3.2 vs Porsche Cayman (the Audi trashes the Porsche)
Test: BMW X5 4.8i (Will scan this ASAP)
Test: Honda CR-V
Test: Opel Antara
Test: Subaru Impreza 1.5
Care to expand? It's faster, cheaper, and more powerful. Oh, and I forgot to mention: better balanced than the S8, too. 54/46 versus 58/42. Car and Driver thought it was better than the M-B CLS55.
Here's the comparison, as promised.
The objective of this comparison was to see which engine would be most fuel efficient: a gasoline V8, a diesel V8, or a gasoline V6 coupled to an electric motor that produces the power of a V8.
1st Place: Mercedes-Benz E420 CDI (507/600)
Best all-rounder. Sporty, yet comfortable (almost as comfortable as an S-Class) and frugal with fuel. The V8 diesel engine isn't the best companion when it comes to sporty driving.
2nd Place: Audi A6 4.2 V8 Quattro (492/600)
An overall competent car. Good handling qualities coupled to a fun V8 engine. The only downside is the high fuel consumption.
3rd Place: Lexus GS450h (467/600)
The hybrid drive is convincing, but mainly in the city. The suspension is hard and uncomfortable and the luggage compartment is virtually non-existant.
This is the first AMS review I've seen where a car got a "0". In this case, the Lexus got slammed for having practically no luggage compartment, which diminishes its practicality big time.
Technical Data, Performance and Fuel Economy Results
Ratings
The little article below examines the fuel efficiency of the three cars under different situations. In the city, the Lexus wins the fuel economy test by a mile, even the diesel Mercedes can't touch it. However, out in the countryside or on the Autobahn, the Mercedes E420 CDI achieves the best fuel economy. The Audi A6 V8 was never really a contender because a gasoline V8 engine is simply thirsty.
The STS-V posts better skidpad numbers than the S8 (0.90 g versus 0.89g). Like it or not, the Cadillac chassis development is just as good, if not better, than anything the Germans can do.weight distributions isnt an end all to how a car handles, as many cars have better weight distribution than audis yet audis are still much much better
Lotus weight distribution is all over the place just like audi
STS doesnt do corners, and doesnt have an up to par interior. Simple as that really.
We were talking about the STS-V. But since you bring it up, the CTS-V lapped Nelson Ledges Road Course quicker than an Audi S4 (it's competitor) as well as a M-B C55 AMG. I think there are some corners there.
Now Im a audi fanboy, but I dont even try to tell people that audi chassies are better than that of BMW never mind someone trying to say caddillac make chassies to beat the germans.
The CTS-V was a porker (and thats a more competent car than the sts-v), and as most american cars they have the straight line speed but it all falls apart when they reach a corner and the european and japanese competetion leave them behind.
As usual, any evidence that goes against your argument is deemed irrelevant. The fact that a S8 scrubs its tires around a 300 foot circle at 0.89 g has nothing to do with it's handling, apparently?
So, which chassis development team was exercising better design: the one that originally used the Delphi system, or the one that decided it might be a good idea four years later and after sinking plenty of cash trying to develop their own?Last I checked it was the delphi system, and also last I checked GM uses a ton of BOSH products just like the germans do
You need a stronger argument.
Or possibly it is because our lousy government does not fix the roads. Either way, thats a big reason stiffly sprung Audis do not sell in the US.
So, in summary, get the S8 if you have money to waste. If you are being practical, get the STS-V.
That's the most sensible thing you've said all thread. However, the bottom line is, the XJ has won car of the year, several years, by different sources. Can you show me where the A8 has?
No one is going to argue the RS4 isn't a good car, youve just blatantly tried to add another levle to this debate, something that has nothing at all to do with what is being discussed. The RS4 is a good car, is it the best in it's class, I don't think so, neither do a lot of other people. But that isn't what's being debated here. Nor are Michael Schumachers personal reasons for buying the RS4, which none of us are aware of.
I actually said I like Audi's, the way I worded it was quite easy to understand - Me -Audis are good, I like Audi's. However, not a bone in my body will allow me to say that spec for spec, the A8 is better than the XJ. Not at all.
You don't read what other people type do you? What awards has the A6 won though? Judging the A6 v the S-Type is probably a lot harder than judging the XJ over the A8 because both are probably beaten by the 5 series.
Luxury doesnt come light, and neither does 4WD. Its really amazing that audi can beat their competetiors then isnt it
Or maybe you get what you pay for. If you were really being practical you would buy a 70mpg car
Audi S8 wins Best New Prestige Car of the Year Award
Audi Canada is celebrating following the 2007 Audi S8 being named Best New Prestige Car by the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada (AJAC). Diego Ramos, Head of Audi Canada was on hand to accept the award on November 21, 2006.
The S8 is the latest version of the highly regarded A8 series introduced as a 2004 model year vehicle. The award culminates a program to revitalize the top end of Audi’s line up in Canada as the previous generations of A8 failed to mount a serious sales challenge to established brands in this rarified and coveted segment.
In addition to the full slate of luxury features, the S8 features an aluminum 5.2L V10 FSI direct injection engine producing 450 HP which is connected to the now legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The power plant used in the S8 is based on Lamborghini's 513 HP, 5.0L used in the Gallardo exotic sports car. Audi also owns the Lamborghini brand.
The Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) awards program was created by journalist members of AJAC, to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.
This year's competition included 195 new 2007 vehicles and was conducted in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario from October 25 – 27, 2007. This annual event is known in the industry as “TestFest”. Audi had been competing in four categories this year and finished amongst the top three in every category in which we competed.
AJAC’s three consumer surveys show that winning an AJAC Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) award is increasingly important for potential buyers of new cars. For example, a survey of 2004 Canadian Car of the Year buyers confirmed an influence of 58.4%. In 2002 that influence was 47.5%; in 1999 the influence was 44.5%.
The overall Canadian Car of the Year, as well as the Canadian Truck of the Year will all be announced on February 14th, 2007, at the 2007 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario. The 2007 Best New Design and Best New Technology winners will also be declared at that time. Audi is competing with two technology entries.
Source: http://www.autoreviewsonline.com/news/article/?article=112216143
That's a load of ****.
So we can safely say, then, that Cadillac are in the same league with Audi when it comes to handling. Better handling is no excuse for the S8 to cost $17,000 more than the STS-V.
What really amazes me is how they can make an all-aluminum car with AWD and luxury features which have no appreciable edge over much cheaper steel cars with RWD and similar luxury featuresLuxury doesnt come light, and neither does 4WD. Its really amazing that audi can beat their competetiors then isnt it
So what is the skid pad measuring then?Skid pads are irrelevant. There are everyday cars that get better figures than supercars. You gonna tell me they handle better because they got better figures?
How many American cars have you driven? Or have you just heard Clarkson's biased and often inaccurate ranting? I've powerslid in a midsize American SUV--a car that most definitely does not look good on paper.
Um, where is the point here? I guess Audi is not too clever if they still haven't given up on the inferior and complex hydraulic system! Profit per car has noting to do with the relative refinement of the the STS-V and S8 chassis.Audi still use their own system.So, Which car manufacturer is better, the one that makes good cars, or the one that makes lousy cars?
Is GM even making a profit yet? No? Didnt think they were, they should maybe make some more profitable chassies.
Because BMW also offers softer suspension packages for less hardcore enthusiasts.
You would think. If you get what you pay for, what is the extra $17,000 you pay for a S8 getting you over the STS-V? A slower, less powerful car, with chassis calibration that is arguably worse for typical US roads?Or maybe you get what you pay for. If you were really being practical you would buy a 70mpg car
A3, A6 and Audi Q7 Winners in Auto Motor und Sport
Audi has recorded a triple success in the “auto motor und sport” readers’ poll: readers of the popular car magazine voted the A3, A6 and Audi Q7 into first place in their respective classes, crowning them with “Best Cars” titles for 2007. This continues Audi’s history of success in one of the most important readers’ polls in the automotive industry.
This was the first time that the Audi Q7 has taken part in the poll, and despite fierce competition it was awarded the most votes. It represents a new standard in the SUV segment. The Audi brand’s first SUV stands out thanks to its outstanding on-road performance, good off-road characteristics, expressive design and the quality characteristic of Audi. And it is not just readers of auto motor und sport who hold these properties in high esteem; the Q7 has also enjoyed great success with customers.
The winner in the executive class, the Audi A6, has been the market leader in its segment in Germany for two years now. The elegant and sporty A6 is available as both a saloon and an Avant. In 2006, Audi added the sporty S6 and the A6 allroad quattro to this successful model line.
The Audi A3 was voted top of the compact class for the third time. Audi demonstrates with the A3 how it is possible to perfectly unite premium standards with compact dimensions in a smaller vehicle class. The A3 is available in three-door and Sportback versions, and also in the shape of the S3.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/best-c...-winners-in-auto-motor-und-sport-ar26388.html
More Details: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/auto_-_produkte/hxcms_article_501678_14194.hbs
Audi Space Frame winner of the EuroCarBody AWARD
Audi is the winner of the EuroCarBody AWARD from the Automotive Circle International for the innovative body concept of the Audi TT, Audi Space Frame (ASF).
In the new TT, Audi has further developed ASF technology, and added high-strength steel to the material mix. Aluminium accounts for 69 percent of the total body weight. Steel components are used at the rear of the floor assembly. The doors and boot lid are also made of steel. This provides an optimum distribution of axle loads, making for superior handling.
The TT body-in-white weighs 206 kg, of which 140 kg is aluminium and 66 kg is steel; as an all-steel construction it would be 48 percent heavier. The aluminium components of the ASF comprise 63 kg of sheet, 45 kg of castings and 32 kg of extruded sections.
The new form of ASF developed for the Audi TT has qualities that are perfect for a sports car. The static torsional stiffness of the Coupé is roughly 50 percent higher that that of its predecessor; on the Roadster the increase is an incredible 128 percent.
Source: http://www.technologynewsdaily.com/node/5341
EVO
Source - http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/30591/gt3.htmlEVO
Source - http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/19708/fall_of_the_m_power.htmlEVO
You posted ONE review that had the Jag in it, ONE and as Scaff pointed out anyone who has time to waste can play that game. The main reason most comparisons don't have the Jag and are between the Audi, Merc and BMW is because the Jag holds a far smaller market share than the other three. The bottom line is the Jag XJ is has been voted the best car in it's class several year by different sources. Like Skip said earlier, you just shrug off anything that dissagree with you just like you tried to then.L4S, so the jag won a award or two, but it has got beaten by the audi by every comparo I posted, and didnt even feature in most of the others. If it was that good it would be compared to the new s-class each and every time, instead of the A8
I apologise if I came across brash or rude that wasnt my intention
]
Another award for Audi, and this is a big one! The Automobile Club of Germany declared Audi as the best automotive brand in terms of reliability, customer satisfaction, market strength, product strength, car quality, advertising spendings and car registrations.
Second place went to VW, followed by Mercedes. BMW only scored 4th, followed by Porsche.
Great news from Germany here! Congrats to Ingolstadt.
Source: AutoWelt via GermanCarBlog
Four ‘Auto Trophy’ Prizes For Audi
A total of four Audi models came top of their class in the “Auto Trophy 2006” poll based on the readers’ vote of the motoring magazine “Auto Zeitung”. The Audi A3, A6, A8 and R8 picked up four of the year’s most coveted awards in the readers’ poll. The Audi Q7, TT and Audi A4 finished as runners-up in their categories.
Readers were able to choose from a total of 347 models in 27 categories this year. Journalists at the “Auto Zeitung” magazine,which is published in Cologne, counted more than 93,800 votes submitted.
The Audi A8 picked up 35.7 percent of votes in the luxury class, almost twice as many as the runner-up. The rest of the high-quality field of competitors finished a considerable way behind. The A8 managed to book its fourth Auto Trophy victory in succession.
An even higher percentage of the vote went to the A6, which finished top of the executive class for the third year in a row: 41.8 percent of all voters chose it as their favourite. The runner-up in this category finished almost 23 percentage points behind the A6. The new R8 was another clear winner – this time in the super sports car category – capturing a sensational 41.6 percent of the vote even before its market launch, a clear lead of 18 percentage points ahead of the runner-up.
30.7 percent of the vote made the Audi A3 the undisputed winner in its class, with a lead of more than 12 percentage points to the runner-up.
The Audi brand has now won the coveted prize of the Auto Trophy 33 times in the 19-year history of these awards.
Source: Audi
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