Tag Archives: MimboloveAudi

Is Audi’s RS e-tron GT Any Different To Drive Than Porsche’s Taycan?

Written by admin

The Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT share a lot of their technologies with the Porsche Taycan, but does that mean they drive just like their cousin from Zuffenhausen?

To find out, Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire jumped behind the wheel of both the standard e-tron GT and the flagship RS e-tron GT. Most of this review is focused on the RS model, which will probably be favored among shoppers looking for the most performance, but according to Farah, it doesn’t really feel all that different to drive compared to the standard model.

Watch Also: Porsche Taycan Turbo Vs. Audi RS e-tron GT – Which Of The German EVs Is Supreme?

The RS e-tron GT is paired by a pair of electric motors that combine to pump out 590 hp and 612 lb-ft (830 Nm) of torque, but with an Overboost function enabled off the line, that increases to 637 hp. That is a serious amount of grunt and allows the EV to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.1 seconds while powering through to a 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed, although Farah’s co-host says that the extraordinary pace does begin to taper off beyond 90 mph (145 km/h).

Farah notes that the lack of noticeable differences between the standard e-tron GT and the RS is a side effect of its electric powertrain. Whereas Audi’s lower-tier ICE models have four-cylinder engines, its most potent RS models have twin-turbocharged V8s, meaning they feel vastly different. By comparison, both the e-tron GT and the RS e-tron GT have a very similar electric powertrain and in everyday driving, feel very similar, despite their power and performance discrepancies.

[embedded content]

Battle Of The V10s: Audi R8 Spyder Drag Races Lamborghini Huracan

Written by admin

The Audi R8 and Lamborghini Huracan may share platforms and engines, but does that mean they have similar performance? YouTube channel Lovecars decided to find out by having the two face each other in a drag race.

Both the R8 and the Huracan are powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine producing 602 hp (610 PS / 449 kW). The Audi has 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque compared to the Lamborghini’s 413 lb-ft (560 Nm), and both cars come with all-wheel drive, ensuring their launches will be sufficiently quick.

Watch: Acura NSX Vs Audi R8 V10 Plus Results May Surprise You

That being said, whereas the R8 Spyder is rated at 3,900 lbs (1,770 kg), the Huracan is almost 500 lbs (227 kg) lighter, at 3,423 lbs (1,553 kg).

Moving on to the actual race, the R8 experiences somewhat of a stutter off the line, while the the Huracan wastes no time setting off. Thanks to the drone shots from above the runway, we get to see the Huracan take a considerable lead right off the bat, pulling a few car lengths ahead of the Audi before the race is even halfway done.

See Also: We Bet The Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder Can’t Hold A Candle To The McLaren P1

Unsurprisingly, the Huracan prevails, crossing the finish line in just 11.38 seconds at 115.1 mph (185.2 km/h), with the R8 Spyder coming in 0.39 seconds behind, running an 11.77 second time at 114.5 mph (184.3 km/h). However, it’s worth mentioning that these results could have been slightly different had the R8 gotten a better launch.

[embedded content]

BMW Wins U.S. Luxury Sales Crown By Less Than 4,000 Units

Written by admin

2020 was a year most automakers would like to forget and that’s especially true in the luxury segment as every single brand posted a decline in U.S. sales.

However, the luxury sales crown is a closely watched contest and only a few thousand units separated BMW, Mercedes and Lexus last year.

BMW took top honors as they sold 278,732 vehicles in the United States. That’s a drop of 17.5%, but it’s worth noting the automaker was fined $18 (£13.3 / €14.7) million by the Securities and Exchange Commission for inflating their sales between 2015 and 2019.

Also Read: 2020 Was Brutal For Automakers As Many Post Decline In Sales

Second place went to Lexus which sold 275,041 vehicles last year. That’s a decline of 7.7% and the drop can be partly attributed to weak sales of the ES and RX.

Rounding out the podium is Mercedes. They sold 274,916 passengers vehicles – excluding vans – for a drop of 13.0%. C-Class sales plummeted 46.5% for the year, while sales of the E-Class / CLS and S-Class were both off by more than 30%.

Over at Audi, sales dropped 17% to 186,620 units. Their big losers were the A4, A6 and A7 which all saw declines of between 31-42%. On the bright side, Q3 sales skyrocketed 84% for the year.

Acura came in fifth place with sales of 136,983 units. That’s a decline of 13.5% and that can be chalked up to weaker demand for the outgoing TLX and MDX.  However, both models are new for 2021.

The final two spots go to Cadillac and Lincoln. Cadillac sales were down 17.1% to 129,495 units, while Lincoln sales were off 6.1% at 105,410 units.

Lincoln sales will likely drop again this year as the brand has axed the MKZ and Continental. While they were Lincoln’s slowest selling vehicles, aside from the MKT, they still contributed 17,780 units to the bottom line last year.

Lastly, Infiniti sales were down 32.5% to 79,502 units. The drop was largely due to a decline in Q50 and QX60 sales which were off 36.4% and 47.0%, respectively.

2020 Audi RS4 Avant Quicker At The Track Than The Aston Martin DB11, Mercedes-AMG E63 S And Alfa Giulia QV

Written by admin

The latest Audi RS4 Avant is not only a great daily driver, but also a proper track tool, as proved in this video that shows it going for a fast lap at a lesser known racetrack in Germany: the Mendig.

At the end of the run, the super estate posted a 1:54.45, which puts it one tenth of a second ahead of the Aston Martin DB11 and almost three tenths of a second in front of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Other cars that were slower than the 2020 RS4 Avant, according to AutoMotorUndSport’s video description, are the Lotus Exige S, Mercedes-AMG E63 S, Lexus RC F, BMW M2, Alpine A110, Ford Mustang GT, Renault Megane RS Trophy and Alfa Romeo 4C.

Review: The 2020 Audi RS4 Avant Will Rock Your World

The BMW M2 Competition, Jaguar F-Type R and Porsche Boxster Spyder, on the other hand, completed the course a bit quicker than the RS4. The fastest production car on the Mendig is the Ferrari 488 Pista, with 1:41.00, followed by the McLaren 720S and Porsche 911 GT2 RS, with 1:42.10 and 1:42.29 respectively.

The 2020 RS4 Avant uses a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 which drives the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system through an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission. It pumps out 444 HP (450 PS / 331 kW) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, enabling a 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) of 4.1 seconds and a 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed, or 174 mph (280 km/h) with the speed limiter removed.

While the RS4 Avant is not available in the States, its bigger and more powerful sibling, the RS6 Avant, is. It starts at $109,000 and packs a 592 HP 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8, and it needs just 3.5 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h).

[embedded content]

Mega Hatch Combat: BMW M2 CS Vs. Audi RS3 Vs. Mercedes-AMG A45 S

Written by admin

While new electric vehicles are coming thick and fast, there are still heaps of driver-focused ICE performance cars on the market and they come in all shapes and sizes. In the compact category, for instance, you can get your kicks by choosing the BMW M2 CS, the Audi RS3, or the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S.

Sure, these cars are out of the price range of many people, but they all deliver excellent performance. CarWow recently pitted them against each other to see which is the quickest.

As standard, it is the M2 CS that has the advantage over the other two. Its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six is good for 444 hp and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque and is coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sending power to the rear wheels.

Watch Also: BMW M2 CS And Jaguar F-Type Are Two Unlikely Rivals

The Mercedes-AMG A45 S has the smallest engine of the bunch, in the form of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 415 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. It is also all-wheel drive and has an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

As for the Audi RS3 tested, it is actually a 2016 model and has been equipped with some modifications so it now produces 450 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque.

Off the line, it comes as no surprise that the all-wheel drive Audi and Mercedes-AMG have the advantage. However, as the speeds start to increase, the BMW claws its way back and speeds past the Mercedes-AMG and is only narrowly defeated by the tuned Audi, while in a rolling drag race, the M2 CS easily defeated both the RS3 and the A 45 S.

[embedded content]

Audi S8 And Bentley Flying Spur Do Donuts, Drag Race Each Other

Written by admin

It is highly unusual to see flagship limos such as the Audi S8 and Bentley Flying Spur warm up their tires by doing donuts before engaging in a series of races, but that’s exactly what they did here.

The fourth-gen A8 is based on the MLB Evo platform, which is also used in the Lamborghini Urus and Volkswagen Touareg, to name but two, while the third-gen Flying Spur uses the MSB architecture which it shares with the Continental GT and Porsche Panamera.

Watch Also: 2020 Audi S8 And BMW M760i Are For Millionaires Who Like Driving

With a starting price of £170,000 ($216,595) in the UK, where this video was shot, the Flying Spur is powered by a twin-turbo, 6.0-liter W12 engine that delivers 626 HP (635 PS / 467 kW) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, weighs around 5,500 pounds (2.5 tons), needs 3.8 seconds to sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill and reaches a maximum speed of 207 mph (333 km/h).

The S8 can be bought from £100,000 ($127,410) in Great Britain and is approximately 440 lbs (200 kg) lighter than the Bentley. It is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 563 HP (571 PS / 420 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm), directed to the quattro all-wheel drive system through an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. This enables a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration of under 4 seconds and a top speed that’s electronically restricted to 155 mph (250 km/h).

The two limos raced each other both from a standing and a rolling start, in Comfort and Sport driving modes, and also performed a brake test. So, which one do you think came out on top?

[embedded content]

Of Course China Gets A 2021 Audi Q5L Sportback LWB Variant

Written by admin

With Audi choosing the 2020 Beijing Auto Show for the world debut of the Q5 Sportback, it was inevitable that the stand also included a market-specific variant.

That would be the Q5L Sportback long-wheelbase model, a China-exclusive variant built locally by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. Based on the existing Q5L SUV, the Q5L Sportback has a 2,908-mm (114.5-in) wheelbase – 89-mm (3.5-in) longer than the global model.

Overall, it measures 4,778 mm (188.1 in) in length, 1,892 mm (74.5 in) in width, and 1,666 mm (65.6 in) in height. Visually, the stretched wheelbase is easy to notice when looking at the longer rear doors, which give the Q5L Sportback a more flowing profile than the standard car.

See Also: 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback Debuts As The Regular Q5’s Trendier Sibling

The extended wheelbase also contributes to a roomier interior for rear seat passengers, especially when it comes to knee room and legroom. We imagine headroom also stands to gain a little bit since the roofline is slightly less sloping towards the back.

Elsewhere, the Audi Q5L Sportback looks identical to the global model. Mind you, the engine lineup is tailored for the Chinese market and includes only two turbocharged gasoline units labeled the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI. Both have a 2.0-liter displacement and produce 187 PS (184 HP) and 220 PS (217 PS), respectively. There’s no mention of an SQ5L Sportback performance model and it’s unlikely to happen, since the SQ5 SUV is not available in long-wheelbase guise.

FAW-Volkswagen will build the Q5L Sportback at its plant in Changchun, China, with the market launch expected in the first quarter of next year. Prices will be announced closer to the model’s debut in China.

more photos…

Rented Audi R8 Splits In Half After Hitting 13 Cars, Suspected Driver Posts Video On Social Media

Written by admin

A rented Audi R8 Spyder hit no less than 13 parked vehicles in the western Paris suburb Nanterre this past Sunday, with the German supercar cut in half and the driver reportedly on the run.

Thankfully the crash didn’t claim any victims and the Audi R8, which was rented for marriage together with a Porsche 911 according to Parisien, had the entire rear end torn off completely by the time it stopped hitting other cars.

Watch Also: One-Off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Slams Into A Bunch Of Hay Bales

The V10 powertrain ended up several yards away from the destroyed supercar and went up in flames after the crash.

[embedded content]

The weird part of the story is about one of the videos that were posted on social media, shot by a shirtless man with his face uncovered in what looks like moments after the incident saying: “We folded it but everything is fine,” among other things (French-speaking readers, feel free to chime in).

The unnamed man was not present when police arrived at the scene of the accident, with authorities launching an investigation to determine who was seating behind the wheel of the German supercar at the time of the accident.

One of the area’s residents said that they’ve been hearing loud engine noises for some time before the accident, adding that the R8 was driven by more than one driver during the night of the accident. A police source confirmed this, saying that “the car passed from hand to hand. We need to identify the driver.”

At least five owners of vehicles involved in the crash have filed a complaint and the search for the driver of the rented Audi R8 continues.

[embedded content]

Audi’s RS4 Avant Can Easily Outperform The BMW M340i Touring, Right?

Written by admin

Logic would dictate that the Audi RS4 Avant is significantly faster than the BMW M340i Touring in a straight line. However, official figures oftentimes only tell half of the story and there’s nothing like real-world testing in order to reach a verdict.

Until the latest-generation BMW M3 hits showroom floors, the German brand is without a direct rival to the Audi RS4 and, for now, the mid-tier M340i is the next best thing. And while it is not a fully-fledged M model, it is still capable of some proper performance.

Driving the M340i sedan and Touring models is a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine pumping out 369 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. Coupled to this engine is an eight-speed Steptronic transmission powering all four wheels through BMW’s xDrive system. BMW’s official claim is that the car can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in a mere 4.4 seconds and continue through to a 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed.

Watch Also: Is The BMW M340i Touring The Best Current 3-Series You Can Get?

By comparison, the Audi RS4 Avant features a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at 444 hp and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. In a recent test, CarWow recorded a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of just 3.6 seconds in it.

However, in the first of three drag races held between the BMW and the Audi, it was the M340i that got a better launch and retained its lead down the quarter-mile. Maybe that was a one-time thing, though, so did the more powerful RS4 Avant manage to beat the BMW in the subsequent races from a standstill, the rolling races and braking tests?

[embedded content]