1997 97 Audi Quattro Awd Runs Great No Reserve Great Tires on 2040-cars

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What the Volkswagen I.D. concept tells us about the post-TDI future

If you've been paying attention, 2016 hasn't been a great year for Volkswagen. The TDI scandal removed VW's last crutch between our internal combustion present and the electric future, and so the company found itself scrambling to shift resources to show what's next right now. It's naive to assume that this is truly the sort of fairytale comeback story that VW's spin doctors would have us all believe, but it's notable that instead of flinching or pointing fingers, the engineers got to work. What they've produced is the I.D. concept, the third wave in VW's volume car history after the Beetle and Golf. The transaxle Golf was more than simply an updated Beetle, and likewise the I.D. is more than an electrified Golf. VW says the I.D. won't replace the Golf, but they said the same thing about that car replacing the Beetle. It's only a matter of time. VW says the I.D. won't replace the Golf, but they said the same thing about that car replacing the Beetle. It's only a matter of time. The I.D. approach is refreshingly simple: no carbon fiber chassis, no exotic battery chemistry, no outrageous concept car styling. The MEB chassis (the German acronym for modular electric platform) is made out of a traditional mix of high-strength steel grades to save costs and utilize existing factories. The battery is integral, not swappable, to reduce complexity and increase structural rigidity. It's also uses lithium-ion chemistry because of a proven track record and an existing (albeit deficient) supply chain. Contrast that with the e-Golf, which shares its chassis with the conventional internal-combustion cars. Fitting the battery and its ancillary systems became complicated and expensive. The skateboard installation in the I.D. will allow the pack to be optimized for the space available, reducing costs. As we've already reported, MEB will be shared across all VW Group brands to achieve an economy of scale, and the modular platform can be stretched to the size of roughly a Passat and down to a car slightly smaller than the I.D. It can be given all-wheel drive, although VW's e-mobility chief Christian Senger is quick to point out that the standard rear-drive configuration provides plenty of traction because of optimal weight distribution achieved with battery in the middle of the chassis. It makes all-wheel drive more of a bonus rather than a necessity in bad weather.

Audi goes out of this world to sell R8 at the Super Bowl

Audi lets the new R8 V10 Plus blast off in the German brand's space-themed Super Bowl ad titled The Commander. The touching commercial puts a forlorn, retired astronaut behind the supercar's wheel, and he gets to relive the experience of leaving the bonds of Earth. Plus, David Bowie's Starman is the perfect choice for the score. Audi's ad makes the clever decision to link the supercar's rapid acceleration to a rocket launch in in viewers' minds. The spot also resonates emotionally because the retired astronaut only experiences the R8's performance because his son is worried about him. While not as humorous, we think the new spot does a better job of selling the R8's capabilities than the company's famous The Godfather Super Bowl commercial. The 60-second version of The Commander (above) will air during the game's first quarter. You can watch a 90-second cut below to enjoy a little more of the R8 and Bowie. SHOOTING FOR THE MOON, AUDI DEBUTS BIG GAME SPOT CALLED THE COMMANDER 60-second spot to air in first quarter of the big game Feb. 7 "The Commander" to feature the next-generation Audi R8, arriving in U.S. showrooms in Spring 2016 2016 marks return and eighth year for the brand as a big-game advertiser February 03, 2016 - HERNDON, Virginia -- Audi of America returns to the biggest night in football with a 60-second commercial titled "The Commander." A 90-second extended version of the spot is now live on the Audi YouTube channel. Featuring the all-new Audi R8 V10 plus, "The Commander" will air on Sunday, Feb. 7 during the first quarter of the Big Game. San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners created the commercial. "The Commander" tells the story of a retired astronaut who rediscovers his lust for life. Viewers watch as the man, surrounded by memories of the golden age of space exploration, sits solemnly, deep in reflection. When his son hands over the keys to a new Audi R8 V10 plus, he gets behind the wheel and relives the thrill of a rocket-like ride under the stars. Viewers watch as newfound life stirs within the Commander. Audi reminds us that amazing things happen when we shoot for the moon. The 2017 R8 is the fastest and most powerful Audi of all time. In its second generation, the all-new Audi R8 V10 plus has a top speed of 205 mph with a 3.2-second 0-60 mph time for "rocket-like" performance.

2013 Audi S3

Coming Soon To Our Shores With Two More Doors And A Trunk
The Audi S3 is not exactly a sales juggernaut, despite it being a bit of a legend for passionate fans of the small German premium genre. In most markets outside of Europe, people may consider such setups as the S3 three-door tested here, look at the price, and then think maybe they should just get a nice A4 sedan with greater practicality for similar cash. That certainly has been one reason Audi has never officially brought the S3 hatchback to the United States. And the 335-horsepower RS3 Sportback? Forget about it nearly everywhere but in Germanic regions, Switzerland and the UK.
All of which automatically turns the new S3 hatchback into an unattainable object of desire for many fans of the four-ringed brand. The good news, of course, for many markets not on the three-door or S3's dance card is that most of us will get a shot at buying the new S3 sedan that will be powered by the same drivetrain tested here. We reported heavily on the sedan version from the recent New York Auto Show and are convinced that there is much for North American shoppers to like.