engine Archives - GERMAN CAR NEWS

2012 Geneva Motor Show: 2012 Audi TT RS Plus

March 12, 2012March 12, 2012 aliciaAudi

Question: How can you be one of the centers of attentions on the floor of 2012 Geneva Motor Show? It is easy because you have to make sure that you are in red and has sporty style in the maximum level. Yup… that is how you describe the 2012 Audi TT RS Plus where the Ingolstadt automaker revealed its toppest range of the lineup which covered in ferociously red and definitely looks threatening! But, if you don’t know that you are encountering the 2012 TT RS Plus, you might think that you are dealing with regular coupe sportscar that has body kit and red wheels.

If you can’t afford to buy Porsche Cayman R with its mid-mounted boxer engine or the Nissan GT-R with its V6 engine, the 2012 TT RS Plus is pretty much a deal for you as the performance is closes as perfect for mid-class coupe. The German coupe is powered by the 2.5L TFSI powerplant which able give total power output around 360 horsepower which is 20 horsepower more than the standard TT RS. Well, pretty much explains the “Plus” name, eh?

The particular engine under the hood of the 2012 Audi TT RS Plus is mated to S-Tronic transmission which easily delivers the German coupe sportscar from 0 to 100km/h 0r 62 mph in just 4.1 seconds. According to autoevolution.com, there automatic transmission comes as an option and it can sprint in 4.3 seconds which not much of difference, right? The basic Germany price tag for the 2012 TT RS Plus is €60,650 ($79,556) for the manual and the S-Tronic worth €62,800 ($82,377). The drop-top manual is going to cost you around €63,500 or €65,650 ($83,295-$86,115) which equips with auto box with launch control.

Special Report: Bentley Works on New W12 and Hybrid?

February 21, 2012February 21, 2012 aliciaBentley

We don’t know whether it is official or not, but the previous rumor suggested that Bentley opens up the possibility of power their luxury vehicles with hybrid engines. At the moment, what we know is that the luxury carmaker has been focusing their attention on its brand new twin-turbo V8 powerplant which is co-developed with Audi since these two brands are under the wing of VW Groups. Okay, does Bentley viciously ditched the popular and thirsty W12 engine and easily replaces it with the new V8?

It doesn’t work that way, folks. What Bentley wants is to offer more engine options for their customers and at the same time tries to keep up with the eco-obsessed era by developing “friendly” 6-liter units. Autoevolution.com reported that Ralf Frech – Bentley’s technical director leaked that the company is looking the same pathway for developing another engine choice as the new V8. He said that the W12 has the possibility to share the same upgrades as the new V8 with the primary goal to offer improvements in term of fuel economy and power where the luxury carmaker targets to reach 600 horsepower.

Still from our aforementioned source, new engine is not the only check list that Bentley current has because media has been reporting that the luxury car manufacturer is expanding their engine and performance upgrades by working on the new 8-speed automatic transmission that might replace the current 6-speed. No official statement about this one, but the technical director hinted that Bentley opens up with the hybrid possibilities as he stated, “We are looking at the possibility of a hybrid, particularly a plug-in hybrid, but we are waiting for the next generation of technologies because none of the current solutions work.”

Volkswagen Drops New Engine for US Market

November 24, 2011November 23, 2011 aliciaVolkswagen

The US customers are clearly said that there is no replacement or displacement, right? Sounds arrogant? Not really, but we think it is more like demanding. So, as the fairy Godmother, Volkswagen granted the wishes by proposing new engine. For all our beloved US reader, are you ready for your new engine option which specially designed by Das Auto?

Some of Volkswagen vehicles are powered by the 2.5L in-line 4-cylinder engine, right? Well, that is not the case anymore. Say goodbye for the aforementioned engine as VW has developed new engine for the US market in the form of 1.8L turbocharged TSI. Disappointed? Don’t be, let’s see what this powerplant has, shall we?

For comparison, the old 2.5L is naturally-aspirated engine unit which powered the affordable models of Volkswagen Jetta and Passat. This particular engine is able to deliver 172 horsepower with 177 lb-ft of peak torque. Sadly, this engine doesn’t equip with direct injection system and the fuel efficiency figures are almost the same with the 2.0L TSI with direct injection system and turbocharged with 30 horsepower less.

Okay, if Volkswagen proposes the 1.8L TSI engine for the US market, it means that they are synchronizing the US with European market. Could this be as global product movement by Das Auto? Just so you know, the aforementioned engine choice for the US market is currently powering some of VW units and Audi models on the European continent with 160 horsepower.

Official Photos of Audi A1 Sportback

November 22, 2011November 21, 2011 aliciaAudi

Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to another German mutation in the form of Audi A1 Sportback crossover. We have to choose the word mutation because it seems like Audi is always having last minute changing before the car design sends to the production floor. The A1 Sportback is supposed to be a superminis hatchback, but look what Audi have done, somehow they change the design in order to change the hatchback into crossover as the crossover promises more better sales figures.

As five-door crossover, the Audi A1 Sportback carries similar wheelbase and length to the A1 3dr. Perhaps Audi chose the A1 3dr to be the base platform for the latest A1 Sportback crossover. Before we bring you the technical specifications, we would like to share with you about the cosmetic parts. First of all the design which we think it is pretty cool for Audi to be able to pull that off. Creating mini crossover which we think has the same size with Suzuki SX4. There are 3 color choices: Red, White, and we don’t know about the last one as it is either Gold or Yellow.

Straight to the technical details, the Audi A1 Sportback is available in three petrol engines and three diesel engine units which all equipped with turbocharged. The first engine choice is the 1.2L TFSI which delivers 86 horsepower with fuel economy usage sets as 5.1L/100km and combined cycle at 46 mpg.

The second engine range is in the form of 1.4L TFSI that offers 122 or 185 horsepower. This kind of engine is able to deliver the Audi A1 Sportback for a sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100km/h) in 7 seconds with top speed up to 227 km/h (141 mph).

For the diesel engine choices, the A1 Sportback crossover is powered by 1.6 TDI for 90 or 105 ponies with fuel economy usage at 3.8L per 100km. Another diesel engine option is in the form of 2.0L TDI for 143 ponies. The Audi A1 Sportback will be ready for sale in spring 2012 with price tag sets at €16,950 for the 1.2 TFSI petrol and €19,050 for the 1.6 TDI diesel.