2009 Audi TTS Roadster

In the past, it was more than a stretch for us to call Audi’s TT a sports car. Fun? Yes. Stylish? Absolutely. But it wasn’t until our recent experiences with the 2009 TTS that we began to consider the little coupe/roadster a willing partner for back-road shenanigans.

Our tests have shown the TTS coupe capable of hitting 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, covering the quarter-mile in 13.5 at 104 mph, and clawing around the skidpad at 0.95 g. The droptop TTS flexed its sporting mettle in our recent $50K roadster comparison test, finishing a very close third behind the more expensive and more powerful Porsche Boxster S and BMW Z4 sDrive35i. (A distant fourth went to the Chevrolet Corvette convertible.)

Noted in that test were the TTS roadster’s unflappable composure and excellent ride-and-handling balance, but the little Audi was way,waaaay short of the other competitors in a straight line. Sixty mph came in 5.6 seconds and the quarter-mile took 14.2 seconds at 99 mph; the next slowest car in the comparo, the Z4, hit 60 in 4.8 seconds and ran the quarter in 13.5 @ 106. You’ll notice the TTS’s numbers also seriously lag behind its fixed-roof sibling. A coupe outperforming its convertible variant is not unusual, but we thought the comparo TTS might have been a little lame, and so we scheduled a retest on our home turf.

Keep Reading: 2009 Audi TTS Roadster - Short Take Road Test

2009 Audi Q5 gets Top Safety Pick award from IIHS

The new 2009 Audi Q5 crossover has just earned the Top Safety Pick award for 2009 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2009 Q5 received a rating of “good” in side impact, offset frontal and rear impact tests.

The 2009 Audi Q5 also received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA for frontal, side and rear crash tests.

“Audi engineers place unwavering emphasis on the protection of motorists and their passengers,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “These outstanding ratings for the Audi Q5 confirm our intent to meet the most rigorous safety standards found anywhere in the world.”

The 2009 Q5 joins the A3, A4, A6 and Q7 as Audi models that have merited IIHS Top Safety Pick designation.

Audi's Die Geschichte der Audi Markenzeichen

In the book Die Geschichte der Audi Markenzeichen, AUDI AG presents an overview of this wealth of signs, badges and symbols for the very first time.

Audi growth in Asia-Pacific region

Audi reported increasing sales in May in the Asia-Pacific region as well as in important European markets. The brand with the four rings also registered its third consecutive record month in China.

New ABT AS3 based on Audi A3 Facelift Revealed

ABT has released a tuning kit for the facelift Audi A3. The tuner calls it AS3 and it’s more than just a cosmetic surgery. Getting into the exterior detail first we see that ABT has modified a few components such as the front grille, the bonnet, the fenders and the front bumpers. Even the front LED lights have changed shape form the standard bulbs.

The rest of the bodywork is made up of new side skirts, a front spoiler insert, fender inserts and a rear apron. ABT’s recognisable four tailpipe unit gives the cars more presence. ABT AR or BR alloy wheels measuring 18 or 19-inch are recommended for the AS3. The suspension has been lowered by 35mm to improve handling and agility.

Audi engineers focus on cutting weight to improve handling and performance

While Audi plans the next-generation of its lineup, the German automaker is completely rethinking the way it engineers it cars with a focus on cutting weight. According to Audi’s director of technical development Michael Dick “hybrid and electric powertrains and lightweight construction” are priority for the next-generation version of Audi’s MLP (or modular longitudinal platform).

Weight reduction is very important, Dick said. It will be the ”basis for the electrification of the car.” He said that dramatic weight-saving technologies will also be applied to Audi’s conventionally powered vehicles since it allows them improved handling and better performance.

The first prototype of Audi’s MLP program is a S5 coupe that is 400kg (880 lbs) lighter than the current production model.

Dick said that even though the experimental S5 is powered by a 230-hp 4-cylinder, it lapped the Nurburgring a whole 8 seconds faster than its V8 sibling.

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Source: AutoCar

Audi R15 TDI's Le Mans début

Logical lightweight construction, downsizing, efficiency and the best possible aerodynamics the same subjects which currently occupy the brains of the automobile industry development departments are also key elements in the 24 Hours of Le Mans held for the 77th time on the weekend of June 13/14.