Audi surprised us today, by introducing the A3 Sportsback G-Tron, an A3 powered by the CO2-neutral fuel Audi e-gas that is set to debut towards the end of this year. We certainly are in an era, during which carmakers fight over who will offer a sustainable hybrid vehicle, and Audi has certainly promised much with the e-tron series of concept cars. But this idea of alternative fuel is something totally different, as the idea of using CNG as a fuel is not new, with a variety of independent specialists offering plug-in systems for almost any car on the market now, and MB having produced a number of CNG powered B-Class, yet we are very excited to see Audi offering something similar.

The A3 G-Tron comes with the same lightweight technology, infotainment and driver assistance systems as any other A3, yet under the luggage compartment floor can be found two tanks, each holding 7kg of CNG at a maximum pressure of 200bar and weighting only 27kg. This new type of tank consists of an inner layer of gas-impermeable polyamide polymer, a second layer of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) for high-strength and a third layer of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) for protection against damage from the outside. The three layers are bonded together with a high-strength epoxy resin.

An electronic gas pressure regulator is used to reduce the pressure to around five to nine bar in two stages at the injector valves depending on the engine load. According to Audi, if the pressure in the tank drops below ten bar, the engine management system automatically switches over to gasoline operation. It has to be noted that the A3 G-Tron is fully bivalent, as its performance figures are identical in CNG and gasoline modes. The CNG range is about 400km with the gasoline providing another 900km.

Finally, the engine is based on the new 1.4 TFSI with the modifications being focused on the cylinder head, turbocharging, injection system, and the catalytic converter. Developing 81 kW (110 hp) and 200 Nm of torque, the Audi A3 Sportback g-tron has a top speed of 190 km/h (118.06 mph), with 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) taking eleven seconds, while the average fuel consumption is less than 3.5 kilograms per 100 km of CNG or Audi e-gas.

Click more to see our photo gallery and Audi’s press release. You can also join our official thread (link) and discuss the A3 G-Tron with us!

Source: [Audi AG]

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Posted in: Audi

The man starring in the above video, undeniably fits perfectly with the Concept i3, BMW’s feature urban electric vehicle. The battery status and the satellite navigation are controlled with the owner’s smartphone, under the sound of Beth Ditto’s Perfect World. Compact in dimensions while stunning in looks, the i3 fits perfectly in any urban environment.

Most of the hardcore BMW fans, most automotive enthusiasts actually, have a hard time understanding and accepting the BMWi line-up of electric and hybrid-electric cars, since they are exactly the opposite of what we are used to see coming from Munich. Yet, the fact that all i vehicles will come with a CFRP monocoque chassis, with BMW actually making a profit, means that BMWi will be quite exciting. Until more details are published, the above video explains the lifestyle aspect of the i3 quite nicely.

Source: [YouTube]

Posted in: BMW, Videos

The world is constantly changing, but sometimes it’s changing too fast. This new concept from BMW is such an example. BMW took a 180 degrees turn away from high revving N/A engines, now declaring that the future is written with an “i”, as in the new sub-brand, “BMW i”. The future models of this sub-brand will all be either pure electric or hybrid, with a 1.5 3 cylinder diesel engine (called B37), that was actually announced about two months ago.

As far as the Concept i3 Coupe is concerned, it’s an evolution of the i3 Concept that was shown last year, as a part of a wider marketing effort to attract attention to BMW’s new sub-brand. Our sadness for BMW’s change of focus aside, the fact that the i3 will be the first truly sustainable city car to feature a monocoque chassis made of CFRP is nothing short of amazing.

Measuring only 3,964 millimetres in length, the i3 is expected to be offered with up to 125 kW/170 hp and peak torque of 250 Newton metres, making it actually quite agile on the road, apart from very friendly to the environment. This power will come from an electric motor developed by the BMW Group, which will channel its instantaneous power delivery to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. Energy will come from the lithium-ion storage cells under the floor, rather than old fashioned gasoline or diesel fuel and will be enough for a 160km range.

Worth mentioning is BMW’s Connected Drive technology, too. Thanks to the BMW i ConnectedDrive services, the driver will receive realistic estimates of his vehicle’s current range and further assistance with his mobility requirements. The i3 Coupe Concept will be on display at the 2012 Los Angeles Motor Show, yet it won’t reach the dealers in a production form, until 2014.

You can read BMW’s press release after the jump. (Photo gallery is comming up shortly). Please join our forum discussion and share your opinion with us here.

Source: [BMW]

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Posted in: BMW

Audi surprised us three times with this year’s Paris Auto Salon. At first they showed the A3 Sportsback, the 5 door version of the A3. Then, they said “it’s not enough” and they debuted the S3, that features a 2.0TFSI engine with 300hp, that uses both direct and multi-point injection. And it was still not enough, which is the reason we are presenting, today, the Audi Crosslane Coupe Concept.

From the first glimpse of it, we distinguish a few design cues that are unique to Audi. The new vertical lights and the new grill for example, with the whole concept featuring a very sharp rectangular shape and lines, compared to the soft and round shapes that the current line-up consist of. The interior design, on the other hand, is on the same page as the latest of Audi’s interior designs, like the one of the new A3. Apparently, this concept previews the design language of the future Q models.

The next step from the ASF (Audi’s Aluminum Space Frame) is called MSF (Multimaterial Space Frame) and it’s the type of chassis this concept is based on. It’s an evolutionary idea and it will most probably reach production under Audi’s lightweight construction principle. MSF is comprised of three materials – aluminum, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP). The concept car has an unladen weight of about 1,390 kg (3,064.43 lb), including the large lithium-ion battery.

Under the hood, a 1.5TFSI 3 cylinder engine with two electric motors can be found. The combined power is 130 kW (177 hp), which results in 8.6 seconds for the zero to 100km/h while having a fuel consumption of only 1.1 liters per 100 km (213.81 US mpg) and CO2 emissions of just 26 grams per km (41.84 grams per mile). Another thing that caught our attention is the Audi Matrix LED headlight technology.According to the press release, “small, individually controllable light-emitting diodes generate all lighting functions, and microreflectors enable their precise positioning”.

You can find Audi’s full press release and photo gallery after the jump and then you can join our forum discussion here: Audi Crosslane Coupe Concept

Source: [Audi]

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Posted in: Audi

Coming a few months later than its coupe brother, the RS5 cabrio facelift is finally revealed. Under the hood there is the already familiar 4.2 TFSI engine with 331kW/450hp at 8250 rpm and 430Nm between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm, making the RS5 capable of reaching 100km/h from still in just 4.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h, though it can be increased to 280km/h at customer request. Power is being transmitted to all four wheels through Audi’s S Tronic 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox with a launch control function. Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is ensuring the best traction and stability possible, under all weather conditions. In normal driving operation, it distributes torque between the front and rear axles at a 40:60 ratio, yet it can direct up to 70% to the front or a maximum of 85 percent to the rear. As an option, Audi can install a sport differential that actively distributes power between the rear wheels via two superposition gears.

As far as the suspension is concerned, many components of the five-link front suspension and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension are made of aluminum. Also, a speed-dependent power steering system and massive 365mm front discs (internally ventilated and perforated) come as standard, as are a variety of electronic stability and suspension and ECU/throttle mapping controls. The only differences between the RS5 coupe and cabrio are the fact that the cabrio’s body sits 20mm lower than the coupe, while having stiffer mounts and larger and stronger anti-roll bars.

Visually, the RS5 cabrio comes with the same details as the coupe. That means brushed aluminum details like the frame that surrounds the hexagonal single-frame grille and the door mirror housings. First deliveries of the Audi RS 5 Cabriolet begin in early 2013 in Germany, with the base price in the home market being 88,500 euros. For more details, please check our photo gallery and Audi’s complete press release after the jump!

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Posted in: Audi

This is the latest from our famous industry insider, Scott27:

Chasing
The
Tiger…
The BMW X4M.
With Porsche about to introduce a new performance niche based on the highly successful Cayenne Concept with the more compact and volume friendly Macan.
BMW and BMW M. Are in the process of developing a significant competitor that when it comes to the market in 2015. It meets the Macan with a roar rather than a whimper.
Both the Macan and X4 are significant to their parent companies fortunes. The success of both the Cayenne in its two generations and the X6 has led to demand for smaller similar highly focused concepts embodying the style , image and similar performance level in a much more compact and price effective package.
The success of the BMW X6M has taken BMW by surprise which in some markets and in this case key strategic growth markets X6M outsells the M3 and M5. M Consider the X6M as a “volume” model, although it does not sell in the usual quantities of BMW’s volume models. The amounts of X6M models that have been sold globally are considered “volume” by M. standards. Given the market reaction to the BMW X6 and BMW X6M. BMW has investigated the prospect of a further Sport Activity Concept in regards to the global market for the X6 which has surpassed initial BMW Expectations by tripling its sales projection since introduction in early 2008.
The success of the X6 has also pushed other manufacturers into developing similar concepts by combining sporty dynamic looks with luxury and high performance. The next phase of the luxury market and further expansion of luxury SUV vehicles.
BMW got there first.
Investigation into an X4 concept was further buoyed when it was revealed that the pre-owned market for the X6 was also extremely buoyant especially in markets where the X6 reigned.
The BMW X4 Concept was inevitable.

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Posted in: BMW