Category: Audi

Top 5 Upcoming Electric Super Cars

The Tesla Roadster, as one of the first electric super cars shook the automobile industry when it set its 0-60 mark at 1.9 seconds. Here is a car which is extremely fast, stylish, and it is electric. Probably the first time those three words have been used in the same sentence. Apart from its mind boggling acceleration, the Tesla Roadster has a top speed of over 250 mph and a range of 620 miles.

However, the arrival of the Tesla Roadster set a chain of events into motion. Each and every supercar maker is now in the race. Which out of these electric super cars will reach the finish line and that’s what counts! With Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar and Porsche in on it already, the stakes are already high! So here is our list of Top 5 upcoming electric cars which would be the dream of both an environmentalist and auto enthusiast.

Also Read: Why A Tesla Smartphone Could Be Revolutionary

Top Electric Super Cars:

1. Jaguar E-Type:

Yes, you read that right. Jaguar announced that it will be making an all electric production version of the E-Type. It all started in September 2017, when jaguar installed an electric engine inside the timeless classic. This was done to demonstrate what Jaguar believes to be a glimpse into their electric future. The E-Type Zero Concept then moved on to become a reality. According to Jaguar, they are “Future-proofing the enjoyment of Classic Cars”. With the shift to electric for the E-Type Jaguar aims to reach a range over a 170 miles and will be powered by a 40kWh battery. Jaguar plans to start delivery by early 2020 and will also offer the existing owners of the E-Type a switch to electric. Soon, we’ll have the world’s most beautiful car back on the roads again. Going electric will also make this the perfect car for a spy, stylish and stealthy.

2. Ferrari Electric Supercar:

Ferrari’s electric super cars are yet to be named, in fact nothing much is known about them. CEO Sergio Marchionne proclaimed that Ferrari would make sure their electric supercar hits the road before the Tesla Roadster in 2020. Speaking at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, he said, “If there is an electric supercar to be built, then Ferrari will be the first.” Marchionne further went on to say that he is not trying to undermine what Elon Musk has done, he’s just trying to prove that everyone can do it. While his statements are exciting, they come with the certainty that Ferrari will produce electric super cars . Its not too far in the future when we’ll see the iconic brand roll out its electric supercar .

3. Porsche Mission E:

“A sports car that covers over 300 miles with superb performance—but without a drop of gasoline? Welcome to the future: the Mission E electric concept car”. This is what the landing page of the Mission E’s website reads. Porsche’s ideology with this car is clear, electric, sustainable and powerful. The two motors in the Mission E produce a combined output of more than 600 hp (440 kW) and throw it from 0-60 in less than 3.5 seconds. Along with this, the battery only requires 15 minutes of charge to go another 250 miles. Porsche has made this remarkable achievement possible by doubling the standard charging voltage to 800. The Mission E also sets a benchmark when it comes to cutting edge design futuristic looks.

Combined with this is an entirely new and interactive cockpit for the driver. Five OLED panels surround the driver and adjust themselves to the driver’s movements to avoid parallax error. Along with this the new eye tracking technology ensures that the Mission E knows which instrument the driver is looking at and with the push of a single button, that particular instrument will be activated.

4. BMW i8 Roadster Electric:

The BMW i8 has been around for a long time. It went from a concept to production and then a roadster version of the hybrid car came up. Now, BMW is working on bringing a completely electric model of this Roadster variant of the iconic i8. As of now, the Roadster is powered by a Hybrid Synchronous Motor and a Three-Cylinder gasoline engine. BMW has already started working towards this as the new i8 roadster has an improved electric range. Slowly, they plan to make this so efficient that it becomes electric, through and through. even though a specific date hasn’t been fixed for it to come out, looks like it is not too far away.

5. Audi PB18 e-tron:

The PB18 e-tron has just been unveiled to the world. While most other cars might aim to be driven daily as well, the e-tron has one objective- dominate the race track. This can be seen with the driver’s seating position dead-centre in the car. Despite this, Audi does claim that it can be used for everyday purposes and can even accommodate a passenger. The PB18 e-tron looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

While its got looks to kill for, what it’s packing under the hood is also worth a look. Three motors, one in the front and two in the rear combine to give an output of more than 500 kW which can propel the car from 0-60 in just over 2 seconds. This impressive performance makes the e-tron a beast on the track. However, no one over at Audi would confirm as to when this car would go into production and join the league of electric super cars. Fortunately, they never denied it either, making sure the possibility still hangs around.

Bonus: Mercedes Benz EQ Silver Arrow

Mercedes Benz unveiled its EQ Silver Arrow concept at the Monterey Car Week. The electric super car is a tribute to the record-breaking W 125 car from 1937. The Silver Arrow series of Mercedes Benz prides itself in using the best in design to deliver top speeds. Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer at Daimler AG, said ” Over 80 years ago, the historic Silver Arrows demonstrated that Mercedes-Benz was a pioneer when it came to speed thanks, among other things, to their streamlined shape.”

The impressive machine packs a 80 kWh battery which gives it a range of 400 km. The powerful electric motors provide an output of 550 kW ( 750 hp). The Mercedes Benz EQ Silver Arrow is a visual extravaganza, with unique features such as a single seater cockpit which can be folded forwards. Bringing in design elements form the past and the best of technology, it can never cease to impress. Despite the fact that it is a concept car, we hope that Mercedes Benz might consider making a production variant of the same to compete with all the other electric super cars out there.

The Future is here:

While electric super cars are the way to the future and sustainability, nothing excites us more than the fact that iconic companies are slowly pushing their efforts towards this. While most people might be excited about the electric part, lets not forget that each of these cars will come in strong and fast, trying to set new records, making our hearts race harder than before.

August 27, 2018
Luxury Car price hike inevitable, thanks to Rupee devaluation

Luxury cars have always been something we love thanks to the comfort, quality and class they provide. But soon, one would have to pay more than before in order to own any luxury machine in Indian market.

Even after seeing a robust increase in sales on the back of new product launches, Mercedes is all set to increase prices on its models to offset the impact of rupee depreciation.

Price hike is inevitable. We can’t cover (rupee depreciation) and part of it (increase) would have to be passed on to customers,” said Eberhard Kern, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

The company would take a call on the hike and the quantum within the next few weeks. This comes close on the heels of other German luxury carmakers BMW and Audi announcing 4%-5% increase in prices.The rupee has tumbled by about 12% since the beginning of May.

“We are getting future-ready. India is on our strategic roadmap and is one of the strategic markets,” Kern said. Bookings for the newly-launched GL class luxury SUV (sports utility vehicle) has been good and the diesel version of the B-class has a two-month waiting list, he said.

Mercedes GL Class

While sedans will continue to be an important part of Mercedes-Benz’s product portfolio, SUVs and compact cars will grow and expand, he said. The luxury car segment, which accounted for just 1.2% of the overall market for cars in 2012, would grow to 4% by 2020 when the Indian market is expected to produce 7 million cars, Kern said.

Not only Mercedes other manufactures like Audi, which has increased price last month by 4% across its model range available in India. It led to an increase of 1.52 lakh on the Q5 price and the price of Audi A6 sedan increasing by 1.80 lakh. While the top-end Audi R8 price increased by about 4.42 lakh.

Market conditions are challenging, but luxury segment has seen some propelled demand due to fresh launches. A depreciating rupee and the rise in input costs have made increase the prices of the entire range, though we are offering customised and innovative finance options from Audi Finance to make the purchase more attractive for our customers,” said Michael Perschke, head, Audi India.

While, BMW India has not decided the quantum of the hike. “Following a path of sustainable growth, BMW Group India has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. We are making price decisions with all due care and consideration ensuring that they pay off in the long-run and the real quantum would be announced in next few days,” Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India, said.

BMW

We will have to see if price hike can be something that decreases sales for these giant manufacturers. However, considering the new launches and the increase of luxury cars on Indian roads we don’t think that 4-5% of price hike would stop anyone to buy the car they admire.

August 10, 2013
2013 Audi S6 now for sale in India for Rs. 85.9 lakhs

Its been a long wait, but Audi has finally realised that a demand for sports sedans does exist in the growing Indian market. After launching the S4, the German automaker has now launched the S6, which is of course the ‘hot’ variant of the A6 executive sedan.

The S6 is propelled by a big 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 putting out some serious power, 415 bhp to be precise. An impressive 56kgm of torque is produced and A 7-speed S-Tronic DSG transfers power to all four wheels thanks to the Audi’s iconic ‘Quattro’ all-wheel drive system. Audi claims the S6 can go form a standstill to a 100 kmph in 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 248 kmph. The S6 also packs Cylinder on Demand technology, which shuts off four cylinders during low load conditions, due to which it has a claimed fuel efficiency of 9.7 liters per 100km (10.3km/l).

Since the S6 is based on the A6, the styling is mostly similar, except for a few aggressive upgrades which help distinguish the sporty variant. Chrome and aluminium accents find their way to the front grille and a small rear spoiler is also added to the mix. The S6 gets larger wheels wearing lower profile tyres and a stiffer suspension setup, in tune with the more powerful engine.

Directly in competition with the extremely capable BMW M5, the Jaguar XFR and soon to be launched Merecedes Benz E63 AMG, the Audi S6 finds itself in a highly competitive segment. However, a relatively cheaper price, at Rs. 85.99 lakhs may work in its favour.

July 12, 2013
2013 Audi RS5 launched in India, priced at Rs. 96.81 lakh

Audi has launched the 2013 RS5 coupe in India at a price of Rs. 96.81 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The high performance version of the A5 sedan, was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and will replace the current RS5, which has been on sale in the Indian market since 2011. The 2013 model was unveiled by Aditya Patel, Audi racecar driver in the presence of Michael Perschke, head of Audi India in Mumbai.

The 2013 RS5 gets its power from the same 4.2-litre V8 motor mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox, which puts out 444bhp at 8250rpm and 43.82kgm of torque at 4000-6000rpm. It goes from a standstill to 100 kmph in 4.5 seconds. Power is sent to all wheels courtesy of Audi’s legendary ‘quattro’ AWD system.

The new RS5 has performance upgrades in the form of upgraded dampers and springs in the front suspension, as well as improved throttle response. It rides lower than before helping in reduction of body roll and features a new electric power-steering (EPS) setup which replaces the engine-driven hydraulic assist. Audi has also fitted the RS 5 with its recuperation system fuel saving technologies.

Cosmetically, the 2013 RS5 puts on a revised front grille, modified bonnet styling and new Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) which are now typical of an Audi. A retractable rear spoiler exclusive to this model and a blacked-out trapezoidal grille with matching lower intakes are present as well, apart from updated LED tail-lamps and new bumpers. The interiors include Bluetooth connectivity for the stereo and minor cosmetic updates. Red cam covers and a carbon-fibre intake manifold find their way onto the new RS5 as well.

In terms of optional equipment, the RS5 can be equipped with heated and cooled seats, piano black trim, 20-inch graphite-coloured wheels, a sport exhaust system with black finishers, a Bang and Olufsen sound system, a sports suspension with dynamic ride control and variable damping and Audi’s Drive Select driving dynamic system.

The Audi RS5 will be sold as a CBU costing Rs 95.28 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra) and Rs. 96.81 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

July 2, 2013
Cheaper Audi Q3 Sport variant coming soon to India

While BMW and Mercedes Benz are busy attracting customers with high-end hot hatchbacks, Audi has devised a clever plan of its own to take its share of the market. Instead of rivalling the BMW 1-series and Mercedes Benz A-Class with its A3 Sportback or its A1 supermini, Audi is taking on the BMW X1 and Mercedes Benz B-Class with a cheaper, lower-spec variant of the Q3 called the Q3 Sport.

The Q3 Sport will be assembled in India as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) unit at Audi’s assembly facility in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The Q3 Sport loses a lot of features in order to keep the price relatively low. It comes with a downgraded 2.0 TDI engine, producing 140 bhp and 320 Nm of torque instead of the 177 bhp and 380 Nm of torque put out by the 2.0 TDI in the standard Q3. The Q3 Sport will have to do without the more common 7-speed dual clutch auto transmission, and the all-wheel drive Audi Quattro system. Instead, the front wheels will be driven through a six-speed manual. Also missing on the ‘budget’ baby SUV, will be the daytime running LED lamps which have come to be a symbol of brand recognition for the German auto giant.

However, Audi knows the business well enough to offer all the kit which one expects from a luxury car. Creature comforts such as leather seats, cruise control, voice dialog system, climate control, MMI with Bluetooth connectivity and 18-inch alloy wheels amongst others, will be standard on the Audi Q3 Sport.

The entry level Q3 is expected to be priced at around Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) courtesy of the toned down performance and the CKD assembly. At this price, the Q3 Sport will be cheapest Audi to be sold in India, and should give the Merccedes-Benz B-Class and the BMW X1 a run for their money.

June 25, 2013
Audi fires head of R&D, Wolfgang Dürheimer

Audi’s highly regarded head of R&D, Wolfgang Dürheimer, has been fired by the German manufacturer, ahead of the revered 24 hour of Le Mans race this weekend. The story was broken by German magazine Der Spiegel and has been corroborated by several high-ranking Volkswagen Group sources.

Dürheimer had been appointed Audi’s R&D boss in September 2012 following a management shakeup within the Volkswagen Group in mid-2012. Prior to then, he had served as the head for Bentley, restructuring the brand and spearheading their effort to bring an SUV to the market. He has also held the same position at Bugatti, and was formerly the development chief at Porsche (where he is credited with helping get the original Cayenne into production, ushering in a new era of profitability for the company).

But at Audi, a lot of his decisions did not go down well with VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn, leading to personal tension between the two. He reportedly quickly put a stop to costly projects such as the R8 E-Tron and the rotary range-extender engine for the A1 E-Tron, and shuffled the reporting structure within the brand’s design department. Winterkorn strongly disapproved of Dürheimer’s conservative E-mobility strategy, and apparently disagreed with Dürheimer several times on the styling direction for the brand as well.

Dürheimer’s future within the Volkswagen Group is unclear at this time, and his position at Audi will currently be filled by the Group’s R&D chief, Ulrich Hackenberg.

June 21, 2013
Audi Set to Launch the A9 in 2016 based on the Next Gen Q7

Rumors that Audi is working on the A9 have been around for quite some time, but it looks like the German Auto giant is readying production to make available the car for 2016 launch. German auto-motor-und-sport reports that the car will be based on the next generation Q7 platform and will take its styling cues from A7 and form a complete new segment.

This will result in better handling, suspension and Stainless Steel undercarriage, making the vehicle excellent for countries like India, where Audi is selling extremely well. It is likely that the car will be offered with a selection of engines including a V8 powerplant pumping out at least 500hp. The 2016 Audi A9 could debut with a semi-autonomous driving system which can drive and park the car without any inputs needed from the driver.

The new Audi A9 will supposedly be 5 meter long and will come with a 4WD option from the beginning of Sale se in early 2016.

[VIA]

May 6, 2013
2013 Audi R8 V10 Plus Driven At Audi Sportscar Experience 2013

The Audi Sportscar Experience 2013 was held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) this past weekend, and the newly launched Audi R8 V10 Plus was easily the main attraction for everyone present on hand.

The session on Sunday consisted of 3 stages namely, the slalom, the ABS test and hot laps with assisted driving meant to provide a first hand experience of track driving. The drivers got a chance to sample the TT and the S4 apart from the absurdly fast R8 V10 Plus.

Jatin Dahiya, an engineering student from Delhi, was one of the lucky few who got to try their hands on the R8 V10 Plus. He had the following to say about the experience,

The S4 and TT are brilliant machines but they’re incomparable to the new R8. The acceleration is absolutely brutal, and even though there’s so much power, you never feel like you’re losing control. The amount of grip is unbelievable when you’re going around corners, I had no trouble cornering at speeds above 110 kmph. I was pretty confident of the car’s braking abilities after the ABS test, so I managed to touch 230 kmph on the long straight without much fear. Altogether, it was an amazing experience.

The Audi Sportscar Experience is a fully-guided driving program meant to hone one’s track skills and is held at the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) in Chennai apart from the BIC. The complete lineup of cars now consists of the S4, TT, RS5, R8 V10 Coupe, R8 V10 Convertible & the R8 V10 Plus. Prices have dropped too, with packages available from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 98,000 depending on the whether you opt for basic or advanced training.

Audi RS5

April 9, 2013
Autogyaan: Audi R8 V10 Plus Launched

German luxury car maker Audi has launched the R8 V10 Plus model in India at a price of Rs. 2.05 Crore (ex-showroom). It’s powered by the same 5.2-litre V10 Lamborghini engine as the Audi R8 V10, but manages to churn out 542 BHP and 540Nm of torque. Featuring a 7-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox, the R8 V10 Plus goes from 0-100 kmph in 3.5 seconds and onto a claimed top speed of 317 kmph.

These performance figures are helped to no end by extensive use of carbon fibre, helping the supercar achieve a very impressive power to weight ratio of 345 BHP per ton. The new front splitter, mirror housings, lateral air inlets, side blades, rear diffusor and engine compartment lining are all done with carbon fiber.

Speaking at the launch of the R8 V10 Plus, Michael Perschke, managing director, Audi India, said,

With its sporty and powerful identity, spontaneous responsiveness and extraordinarily high revving, this new member of the R8 family, the V10 plus is the ideal high performance coupé which truly embodies progressiveness and superior performance. With this second addition to the R8 family in 2013, after the launch of new Audi R8 V10 in January, Audi now offers a whole range of R8 options in India. I’m confident that this high performance super sportscar will allow us to further build upon our leadership position in the super sportscar segment in India and maintain the iconic position of the R8 in India.

April 5, 2013
Autogyaan: Audi A3 & S3 Revealed

Audi has brought excitement to the New York Auto Show by unveiling the 2014 A3 at the New York Auto Show on press eve. Directly competing with Mercedes Benz’s new CLA sedan, the new A3 reminds us a lot of the first generation A4 of the mid-nineties in size.

The Audi A3 will go on sale in Europe before the United States and will offer 3 four-cylinder engines on launch; 138bhp 1.4 TFSI and 178bhp 1.8 TFSI petrols, and a 148bhp 2.0 TDI diesel. It will not go on sale in the US until 2015 and will make its official world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show next month.

The A3 features very typical Audi styling. Full LED headlamps as well as a number of subtle enhancements are optional to try and keep the base price reasonable. Wheels will range from 16-inches to 18-inches to help maintain the sporty look and premium placement of the small sedan. The interior offers everything one could realistically need, including a driver display system utilising 3D graphics, a revised MMI system and a 705 watt, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Audi also announced the 2014 S3 sedan, also to be officially unveiled at Shanghai next month. Powered by a potent 2.0-liter TFSI engine producing 296bhp, the sedan should reach 100km/h in 4.7 seconds with the six-speed S-tronic gearbox. Quattro-all wheel drive is standard on the American S3, as are 18-inch wheels, full leather interiors and the three-spoke sport steering wheel with shift paddles.

The Audi A3/S3 are a whole 6.7 inches shorter than the Mercedes Benz CLA/CLA 45AMG. With public opinion still divided when it comes to the traditional rivals’ hotly awaited cars, expect this battle to go down to the wire.

March 29, 2013
2013 Audi R8 Launched In India At Rs 1.34 Crore
The Audi R8 has to be among the most popular supercars of recent times. The R8 has been in market since about half a decade now and sometime earlier, Audi felt that the car has aged a fair bit and came out with a mid life facelift to keep the car fresh.

For the 2013 Audi R8, Audi has replaced the R-Tronic Transmission with a 7-Speed S-Tronic Transmission that enables faster and smoother playing between the gear ratios. For those who won’t settle for anything but a manual, Audi also offers a 6-Speed Manual transmission.

The high end variants of the Audi supercar line up are powered by a 5.2-liter V10 that pumps out 522 HP of power and 540 Nm of torque. The Entry level Coupe variant however, comes equipped with a 425bhp V8 engine.

On the outside, the car gets styling revisions at the lights, bumpers, grille and diffuser. The tail pipes are now circular in shape. The interiors get new seats and revised console. However, the nature of changes is such that only the purists would be able to spot the difference between the new and outgoing editions of the car.

Audi had a very successful 2012 in India, selling 9003 cars, and hopes to cross the 10,000 figure in sales in 2013. It is also targeting the number one slot, as it closed 2012 at second place, just about 300 units shy of BMW India’s sales.

2013 Audi R8 prices in India (ex-showroom, Delhi)
- Audi R8 V8 Coupe – 13,455,000 rupees (430hp 4.2L engine)
- Audi R8 V10 Coupe – 15,788,000 rupees (525hp 5.2L engine)
- Audi R8 V10 Convertible – 17,355,000 rupees (the top opens and closes electrohydraulically in 19 seconds up to 50kph)
[Motoroids]
January 21, 2013
Audi Q7 Production Starts In Aurangabad

German car maker Audi has started production of the Q7 luxury-class SUV at its plant here with plans to supply 1,000 units annually in the Indian market, a company official said here Thursday.

“Local production of Audi Q7 is part of our long-term growth strategy in India, one of the most promising auto markets in the world,” said Frank Dreves, Audi board member for production.

Dreves said a good plant infrastructure, efficient working processes, a qualified workforce and a well-developed logistics environment along with the surging growth of the Indian market were the factors which motivated Audi Group to expand operations at the Aurangabad plant.

Mid-2013, the company plans to start production of Audi Q3 from the facility, which would be the third Q model to be built locally after Q5 and Q7.

[quote]”This would reduce the waiting time for the customers besides enabling us offer a wider range of versions in the Indian market,” explained Michael Perschke, Audi India head.[/quote]

He added that the growing demand for Audi Q3, Q5, Q7 SUV models has had a major impact on the brand’s growth in India.

“During the first ten months of this year, we increased sales in the Indian market by 55 percent to 7,273 vehicles, surpassing its last year’s record sales of 5,511 cars,” Perschke said.

Audi Group is presently selling A4, A6, A7 Sportback, A8L, Q3, Q5, Q7, S4, RS5 Coupe and TT Coupe and supercars Audi R8 and R8 Spyder.

[Daily Pioneer]

November 8, 2012