Blind buying seems to be a thing of the past, as people are now weighing the pros and cons of each and every investment. One spending choice that seems to give buyers the most trouble is deciding on a reliable car that won’t fall to pieces after just a few years. One debate in question, which is split between two passionate camps, is over whether European cars are better than American cars. While there are no easy answers to this debate, both camps provide a number of interesting and practical reasons to support why one type of car is better than the other.

Visual Aesthetics and Size
While looks aren’t everything, they can help to indicate the quality and craftsmanship of a motor vehicle. For sports cars, European car lovers are quick to dismiss American competitors, and point to the elegant beauty and artistry of the smaller European design. Truthfully, the European attention to detail is staggering, with many of their sports cars looking more like small sculptures than road vehicles. However, American car lovers can also point to many beautiful sports cars in the states, and also prefer the larger vehicle designs so popular in America. The difference in size between European cars and American cars comes from the roads that the vehicles are made for, with European roads being much smaller than those in America. Also, since European cars are so small, carpooling parties or large families would have difficult traveling together. With this in mind, consumers should probably look past visual aesthetics, and instead make their purchase choice based on other factors, including lifestyle.

Handling, Speed, and Brakes
Car buyers need a vehicle that can maneuver comfortably, maintain smooth and safe speeds, and stop suddenly with ease. For each one of these factors, European car lovers also point to the power and sensitivity of their vehicles of choice. Overall, according to car enthusiasts on both sides, more European cars can go faster and make tighter turns than American cars. However, once again, European cars are made for different conditions than those in America. Speed limits are much looser in Europe, with some areas allowing cars to legally reach speeds over 150 miles per hour. Combining this with smaller roads, it is obvious why European cars tend to go faster and handle tighter than American ones. If you are living in America, there’s no practical need to drive over the legal speed limit, and these speed restrictions prevent accidents, and can help to keep auto insurance rates lower since the less risky a car is considered to be, the lower the insurance rates. For American roads, most American cars provide adequate speed and handling, and can cost less money to purchase than European cars. When it comes to reliable handling and speed, consumers need to make their decision based on where they are driving, and what restrictions they will need to follow.

Do Your Own Research
Because there are so many opinions on the matter, one of the ways for consumers to decide between a European and American car is to test-drive them. A test drive can play an important part in determining what kind of car works best for a buyer. Personal preference will always vary between people, and when it comes to the most reliable car, research crash-test result of the cars you are interested in. Some European cars get higher results than certain American cars but that doesn’t always have to be case, depending on the different cars being compared.

Those Germans sure love playing around with the words ‘black’ and ‘white’. Hopefully this time, we won’t have any controversies of the kind that were created with the AVUS White Power RS6 Avant. But back to our story, German tuning firm Senner has released an array of upgrades for the Audi A5 Coupe. Starting from the outside, Senner Tuning offers a new bodykit with carbon fiber accessories that include a front lip spoiler, mirror housings, rear apron, side skirts and a rear spoiler.

The styling kit is complemented by a set of LED rear lights and 20-inch alloy wheels in massive 245/30 R20 tires at the front and 295/25 R20 at the rear.

Inside, the dashboard can be upgraded with a carbon fiber trim that is available in various finishes.

Performance goodies on Senner Tuning’s ‘Black and White’ menu include a fully adjustable Bilstein coilover suspension, a sport exhaust system and an power-kit for the 3.0-liter TDI diesel engine that boosts output to 300HP and 600Nm or 443-lbs/ft of torque in which case the A5 Coupe achieves a top speed of 280 km/h or 174mph

The Audi A3 has been a real success, one which re-defined the term “premium” for the compact car class. An extra portion of dynamism in the optics and the performance is offered by ABT Sportsline. The renowned vehicle turner of course also took on the facelifted version of the long-term best-seller from the Ingolstadt company - and thanks to the modified bonnet, grill, bumpers, fenders and LED light line from their product range the car has an even greater presence. It stands there as if it`s ready to attack, even more so with the ABT bodywork kit signalising extra power and sportiness: its front spoiler insert, side skirts, fender inserts as well as a rear apron have been tailor made for the cool body of the ABT AS3. Even the typical ABT 4-pipe exhaust unit blends into the sporty design perfectly. The Allgaeu company recommends mounting model AR or BR ABT Sports alloys, which are available in 18 and 19 inch, as an extravagant supplement to the optical package.

It goes without saying that the AS3 does not just look fast, but is fast too. This is because ABT POWER also brings the engines up to speed: with it the 1.4 TSI, for example, brings a brisk 160HP (118kW) to the road instead of the series-standard 125HP (92kW). With the next largest unit, the 1.8 TSI 160HP (118kW) achieves an everyday 210HP (154kW). And the largest petrol engine, the 2.0 TSI, provides 240HP (177kW) with ABT as opposed to 200HP (147kW) in the basic version. In spite of the HP boost the fuel consumption does not increase and the reliability of the engines remains the same. ABT also offers performance increases for the two-litre turbo diesel: depending on the starting power output either 170HP (125kW) or 190HP (140kW) is achieved - and both bring plenty of torque with them.

In order to utilise the well-trained “ABT horses” in the best possible way on the road, ABT Performance Springs are recommended. Thanks to the lowering of the car`s centre of gravity by around 35 millimetres the agility of the AS3 is improved, which makes itself felt especially at corners. The ABT braking unit with its disc diameter of 345 millimetres provides the best deceleration values, even in borderline areas. All components have been tuned to the AS3, making the compact ABT a real sports car, both on the inside and outside.

Audi is once again producing a five-cylinder engine – and a very special one at that. Arriving at dealerships this summer, the TT RS has a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with direct gasoline injection; it produces 250 kW (340 bhp) and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque. The blazing five-cylinder engine enables the TT RS to perform extraordinary feats. In conjunction with quattro permanent all-wheel drive and a high-performance chassis, the engine makes the compact Audi TT RS a top-notch sports car – available as a coupé or roadster.

Sporty five-cylinder gasoline engines have a long legacy at Audi. The most famous is arguably the turbocharged 2.1-liter engine in the Audi quattro. The first version, which was launched in 1980, offered an impressive 147 kW (200 bhp). And the Sport quattro from 1984, directly inspired by motorsport, delivered a whopping 225 kW (306 bhp). For 25 years, turbochargers and quattro have been a dynamic formula for success.

Audi has resumed using this recipe. Designed from scratch, the five-cylinder engine combines a turbocharger with FSI direct gasoline injection to elevate the TT RS to a high-performance sports car. The TFSI delivers 250 kW (340 bhp) from a displacement of 2,480 cc (151.34 cu in): a specific output of 100.8 kW (137.1 bhp) per liter.

The power-to-weight ratio is also outstanding. In the case of the Coupé, which weighs in at a mere 1,450 kilograms (3,196.70 pounds), the power-to-weight ratio is just 4.3 kilograms per bhp. The Roadster has a weight of 1,510 kilograms (3,328.98 pounds) and a power-to-weight ratio of 4.4 kilograms per bhp – thanks to its extremely lightweight and largely aluminum body constructed as per the Audi Space Frame principle.

The TT RS Coupé rockets from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.14 mph) in 4.6 seconds; the Roadster needs just a tenth of a second longer. The limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph) is merely the official figure for both versions; as an option, Audi can increase it to 280 km/h (173.98 mph).

Almost even more impressive is the aggressive pulling power. The maximum torque of 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) is always available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm. In addition, the TT RS overtakes without the slightest effort. Last but not least, its engine makes passengers’ skin tingle time and again thanks to its speedy and powerful response, its inspiring free-revving character, and its unmistakably guttural tailpipes: five-cylinder classical music by Audi!

Covering over 4,900 kilometers (3,044 miles) in three days, driving specialist Gerhard Plattner is gearing up for his next record-breaking attempt as the first driver to reach three continents in just three days. On June 8, Plattner and his co-pilot Franz Doppler will depart from Rabat, Morocco, in an Audi A3 1.9 TDI e with the goal of reaching the Asian side of Istanbul no more than 72 hours later. Today’s presentation of the vehicle at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt marks the beginning of a phase of intense preparation for the team of drivers.

Gerhard Plattner has already circled the globe seven times in attempts to set new records. Now the passionate motorist is seeking to set his latest world record by reaching three continents in just three days, covering over 4,900 kilometers (3,044 miles) from the Moroccan capital of Rabat to the Asian side of Istanbul, crossing Europe and a total of 13 countries – in just 72 hours. The route will present an enormous challenge to the team’s endurance, driving skill and physical fitness.

Extreme conditions on the record-breaking drive will also serve as a tough test of the vehicle’s safety, efficiency and comfort on long-distance routes.

Plattner and his co-pilot Franz Doppler therefore chose a standard Audi A3 1.9 TDI e with an output of 77 kW (105 hp) to help them successfully complete the difficult journey. “The A3 has ideal characteristics for all three continents. Nevertheless, any attempt to break a record also requires a lot of good luck, especially regarding the weather and traffic,” said Gerhard Plattner during the presentation of the vehicle at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt.

The two driving specialists plan to start their journey on June 8 from the royal mausoleum in Rabat, later crossing to Tarifa in Spain with the high-speed ferry. Plattner and Doppler will then drive along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, France and Italy. After crossing the Alps and a brief stop in Munich, Plattner will pilot the A3 through the Balkan States, arriving in Istanbul and crossing the Bosporus to reach the finish line in Asia on June 11, after no more than 72 hours of total driving time. However, the driving specialist is not just interested in a new entry in the record books. Plattner plans on returning to Ingolstadt with a photographic document containing precisely 100 commemorative photos – the passionate driver’s way of wishing the Audi brand a happy 100th birthday.

The Guinness Book of World Records has dubbed Gerhard Plattner “the most versatile driver in the world.” To date, the journalist from Tyrol has covered just under 7 million kilometers (4.3 million miles) by car, setting numerous world records for speed, efficiency and endurance in the process. In 1991, Plattner completed the fastest round-the-world drive in an Audi S2, a record that still stands today. Plattner also set a record for the most efficient round-the-world journey in a car from the brand with the four rings, an Audi 80 TDI. In 1992, the record-breaking driver piloted an Audi duo, the world’s first standard hybrid vehicle, from Ingolstadt to the World’s Fair in Seville.

ABT Sportline, the German tuning house that has an appetite for VW Group products, has applied its tuning skills to the new Audi A5 Convertible. Similar to the A5 Coupe, ABT’s AS5 tuning package offers power upgrades for most of the engines available in the A5 Convertible’s engine range, with the 2.0-liter TFSIs producing 275HP instead of the factory models’ 180HP and 211HP, the 2.7-liter TDI diesel 230HP, up from 190HP and the 3.0-liter, 282HP, or with a new ABT turbocharger, 310HP and 610Nm of torque, up from the stock engine’s 240HP.

To harness the extra power, the tuning firm also offers an array of suspension and brake system upgrades.

Of course, no tuning package can be complete without visual enhancements. For the A5 Convertible, ABT has readied an aero kit that bundles a distinctive front apron, ABT’s black grille, side skirts and a rear apron housing a quad-pipe exhaust system. Customers can also equip their car with a set of BR alloy wheels available in two sizes, 19- and 20-inches.

Audi is consistently pressing forward to improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Starting in the second quarter of 2009, the modular efficiency platform will benefit from additional new technologies: The on-board computer with the efficiency program and the start-stop system will raise the efficiency and convenience of the Audi models to a new level. By 2012 the fuel consumption of the Audi model range should drop by 20 percent.

Audi’s modular efficiency platform combines reduced consumption with great driveability and outstanding sportiness. And now Audi is bringing two additional efficiency technologies up to the starting line: the start-stop system and the on-board computer with efficiency program. These complement the energy recovery system, which already belongs to the standard specification of many Audi models and feeds energy back into the vehicle’s electrical system during deceleration phases.

The start-stop system realizes its efficiency potential especially in urban traffic, significantly reducing consumption while relieving the driver: The system shuts down the engine once the car has come to a stop, the gear lever stands at idle and the driver releases the clutch pedal. Operating the clutch then starts up the engine again. The start-stop system is extremely quiet, convenient to operate, and fast: The engine returns to idle speed while the driver is shifting gears.

Audi combines the start-stop system with efficient battery technology and sophisticated energy management, to maintain functioning even at low temperatures. The system is inactive during the warm-up phase of the engine, so that the engine oil becomes warmer and the exhaust gas cleaning systems reach their operating temperature faster. The driver can also switch off the start-stop system at any time by pressing a button.

In the standardized driving cycle the start-stop system lowers fuel consumption by about 0.2 liters per 100 km, and therefore reduces CO2 emissions by around 5 g/km. The new system is being used for the first time in the Audi A3 1.4 TFSI with manual transmission and in the Audi A4 and A5 with two-liter engines and manual gearshift. Numerous other models will follow this year.

The second newcomer in the modular efficiency platform is the on-board computer with the efficiency program, an addition to the Audi Driver Information System. All consumption-related data appear in the center display, with recommendations for efficient driving – after all, up to 30 percent of fuel consumption depends on the individual driving style. The efficiency program continuously analyzes the energy consumption in the vehicle and gives the driver up-to-date tips for saving fuel, depending on the driving situation and driving style.

The newly designed gearshift indicator signals to the driver when to shift, for optimal fuel economy: A large and color-coded display indicates whether the right gear is engaged, or whether shifting would be practical for the sake of efficiency. Comfort features like air conditioning and seat heating also increase fuel consumption. A specially developed display in the efficiency program identifies the systems requiring extra energy and indicates their share in fuel consumption.

The energy recovery system already uses deceleration phases to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy. When the car accelerates again, the battery directs the temporarily stored energy back into the vehicle, to relieve the alternator and thereby save fuel. The energy recovery system is already standard equipment on the Audi A3 1.4 TFSI with manual transmission, the Audi A4, A5 Coupé and A5 Cabriolet with two-liter engine and manual transmission, the A6 and the Audi Q5 and Q7.

From innovative powertrain technologies to highly efficient air conditioning, the goal of the modular efficiency platform is to improve the entire vehicle’s energy management. And Audi’s efficiency technologies are systematically geared to the driver’s needs.

The modular efficiency platform focuses on the further development of powertrain and transmission technologies, and the recovery and storage of mechanical, thermal and electrical energy. Audi also employs a host of measures to minimize driving resistance and optimize aerodynamics. These benefits are made tangible for the driver by a range of innovative assistance systems, with the standard specification of many current Audi models already featuring numerous efficiency technologies such as the Audi valvelift system, high-efficiency transmission and tires with optimized rolling resistance.

By 2012 Audi plans to lower the fuel consumption of its model range by 20 percent compared with the 2007 level. The brand will then have further enhanced its sporty and progressive profile, for efficiency and sportiness are inextricably linked at Audi.

IT’s the all-new Audi that claims to pick up where the original Mini left off! This is the E1 – an ultra-efficient city car from the German firm and a model which is being hailed as a spiritual successor to Alec Issigonis’ masterpiece.

Sharing its platform with VW’s forthcoming up!, the newcomer takes Audi firmly into new territory. It’s designed to sit below the Polo-based A1 – due next year – as the entry point into its model line-up, and is aimed at the likes of the new Fiat Topolino and MINI Spirit (revealed in Issue 1,056). Signifying the launch of a new wave of hi-tech Audis, the E1 goes on sale in 2011 and will be the first car from the company to wear the ‘E’ tag.

It will be closely followed by a full range of E-badged models over the next five years. And with a hybrid version of the A1 due shortly after the standard supermini’s 2010 launch, Audi is clearly readying itself for an assault on the eco-friendly small-car market.

However, despite its diminutive size, the E1 will remain a premium product that fits in with the brand. Although its proportions are reminiscent of those of the VW up!, the familiar mesh-styled grille, short overhangs and huge front badge make the electric three-door instantly recognisable as an Audi. Futuristic front and rear LED light clusters, large alloys and a sharply rising waistline that meets a neatly kicked-up C-pillar complete the E1’s look.

Inside, buyers can anticipate more of the same, with a cabin that boasts the usual premium levels of material quality but with a more creative design. As previewed on the A1, the E1 will get a development of Audi’s new mobile device – essentially a hand-held portable sat-nav, phone and MP3 player with touchscreen display. The gadget replaces the key and plugs into the centre console.

The E1 will be packaged similarly to Toyota’s iQ, which means customers can expect a 2+1 layout with plenty of room up front and enough space in the back for luggage or one small passenger.

A variety of engines will be offered, although the star of the show will be an electric powerplant. It incorporates lightweight lithium-polymer batteries and a punchy electric motor driving the front wheels.

So the small, agile car will be ideal for city motoring, delivering 0-60mph in around 10 seconds. And with a full charge providing enough energy to travel up to 100 miles helped by regenerative braking, the plug-in machine will have real all-round ability.

In addition to the electric variant, there will be petrol and diesel versions, using new 600cc two-cylinder turbo units. These will aim to offer sub-100g/km CO2 emissions and economy of 94mpg. A 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol is under consideration, too.

The E1 will be built at VW’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, alongside the up! as well as Skoda and SEAT variants. Audi’s version will carry a price tag of around £12,000, which will pitch it against rivals such as Smart’s electric ForTwo and Fiat’s forthcoming hybrid 500.

The electric E1 will be eligible for a Government grant worth up to £5,000 which will be made available to all buyers of electric cars and hybrids from 2011.

Styling/image
Take an SE-spec A4 quattro Avant and raise the ride height by 37millimetres, giving it just 20 millimetres less ground clearance than the more rugged Q5. Then add utilitarian plastic wheel arches and rugged bumpers and you have a car with all the road presence of an SUV, but the silhouette of an executive estate car.

Interior/practicality
The A4 allroad offers a beautifully built cabin, plus plenty of equipment. We particularly liked the dash mounted colour LCD screen and new eco driving display. Rear seats offer decent leg room, while the boot is spacious. 70:30 Split and fold seats are easy to operate.

Engine/performance
The 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine offers 211bhp combined with low fuel consumption. 2.0 and punchy 2.7-litre diesel engines are also offered. Equipped with diesel particulate filters, all A4 engines already comply with the strict Euro 5 emissions standard, while the new 2.0-litre TDI also offers stop and start.

Driving experience
The allroad’s raised ride height allows the suspension more travel, making the ride a softer and more supple. Quite simply it’s the best riding A4 you can buy.
And when you turn off the roads and hit the tracks, the allroad doesn’t disgrace itself either. It’s no proper SUV, but the offroad ESP system, as featured in the Q5, works well at keeping you moving in slippy conditions and it won’t bottom out unless the terrain gets really tricky.

Ownership costs
A standard A4 Avant SE costs £26,000, whereas this 2.0-litre TDI allroad costs nearer the £30,000 mark. Audi also expects most customers add around £9,000 worth of options, so don’t expect much change from £40,000 when ordering flagship models… However slow depreciation and reasonable servicing costs mean cost of ownership is not as high as rivals.

Safety/environment
Based on the NCAP five star Audi A4, the allroad offers front, side and curtain airbags for all occupants. Add to that the car’s efficient diesel engines, and clean turbo petrol powerplants, and it’s easy to see why Audi says that this is the greenest way of going off road currently on offer.

Customers who want to avoid that their neighbours suddenly shows up with the same car, are now given a guarantee by MTM that this will certainly not happen. The new programme MTM individual meets all customer wishes and creates a unique automobile. Therefore, MTM allows an individualisation of the car, as far as the ideas of the customer reach. Nothing can top this exclusivity.

Motoren Technik Mayer (MTM) now shows what the individualisation programme offers. Following customer requirements, the automobile manufacturer from the Upper Bavarian town Wettstetten has modified the Audi R8 to such an extent that a unique sports machine has been created and there is no second car like that.

The most striking novelty of the middle-engine super sports car with the aluminium body is the garish green paint. “Porsche 2D8“ is the exact name of this brash colour which became famous on the Porsche GT3. With this work, MTM confirms its love for details. As apart from the large-scale paint of the aluminium body, the internationally successful car refiner also painted areas in the engine compartment and has left further accents all over the car. Therefore, not only the colouring is unique, but also the manufacture.

On all four black brake callipers and on the black fuel cap, there is a green “R8” nameplate. The ultra-light MTM Bimoto light alloy wheels measuring 9×20 and 11×20 inches in glossy black, show the green nameplate “MTM forged” on one spoke per wheel and therefore refer to the high-quality forged technology of the rim. In the interior, the exciting car colour repeats at the seams of the suede MTM steering wheel and the “Quattro” nameplate on the glove department flap. Also, the “R8” logo on the gear-shift shines in green.

But the striking colour does not reduce MTM´s own stylishness. Therefore, Motoren Technik Mayer sticks to the characteristic two-colour paint which is typical for the Audi R8. Behind the doors an area measuring 12 inches and painted in glossy black renders a contrast and gives the car a distinctive R8-appearance.

MTM-Compressor confers the V8-engine with 560 hp

And MTM would not be MTM when they settled with a new paint. Therefore, they also offer a significant performance enhancement. The especially developed compressor technology which made MTM famous all over the world, propels the performance of the V8-engine with 4.2 litres cubic capacity from 420 hp (313 kW) by a third up to breathtaking 560 hp (418 kW). Also the maximum torque increases by 34 percent from 430 to 580 Newton metres. MTM also offers this enormous power improvement for the Audi R8 with the V10-engine. By exchanging the motor electronics, the performance of the latter then increases from 520 hp (388 kW) to 560 hp (418 kW) as well.

The right sound is rendered by the new exhaust system with valve control which leads into four black ceramic-coated end pipes. Re-engineered side-blades which direct the airflow from behind the doors right into the middle engine provide the necessary air supply.

In order to transfer the newly gained power on the road, an extensive aerodynamics package renders the necessary downthrust. At the front, the splitter made of carbon fibre which is painted green on the top and matt black on the bottom thrusts the automobile on the tarmac. The side skirts and the rear diffuser, both also entirely made of green varnished carbon fibre hold the rear axle of this 4WD automobile on the road. Therefore, the MTM R8 achieves top speeds on the race track. In order to avoid hitting the ground on road bumps or garage exits, MTM added its Lift-up-System. This optionally elevates the front- or rear axle by 40 millimetres and enables the driver to master all everyday chicanes.

With the Audi R8 makeover, the world-wide renowned automobile manufacturer confirms that there are no limits to individual cars from MTM. This leads to exclusive automobiles in the highest production quality, precisely designed according to the wishes of the customer.

For more information about the extensive individualisation programme by MTM and all about tuning and technology, please visit the web site www.MTM–online.de or do not hesitate to contact us +49(0)841/98188-88.