Audi has had a long and successful career in the movie franchise with some of the biggest names in cinematic history, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Now, they’ve teamed up with Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios to create the first-ever Audi animated virtual concept car for the latest animated film, Spies in Disguise. (more…)
Audi’s future of electric is now further expanded with the launch of their second e-tron model line-up in the form of the 2020 Audi e-tron Sportback. Combining a dynamic SUV coupe with Audi’s signature electrification, the new Audi e-tron Sportback promises great clean range together with state-of-the-art features. (more…)
If you’re looking for something super classy but at the same time, produces muscle car-like power and torque, then the new 2020 Audi S8 might just be the perfect candidate for you. The latest generation S8 promises a combination of ‘progressive luxury with dynamic athleticism’. (more…)
What does it feel like to work with a virtual robot? Well, the employees over at Audi know the experience as they’re currently working hand in hand with virtual PC robots at their workstations. Their job is pretty simple but crucial to get it right every time; entering countless data and creating standardised reports faster and more efficiently without any errors. (more…)
Following the introduction of the four new Q models earlier in the year, Audi has added the all-new Q3 to represent the brand in the hotly-contested compact premium SUV segment. Now in its second generation, the new Q3 offers more roominess and versatility plus a digital operating and display concept and extensive infotainment solutions.
Sportier styling for new generation
The styling has gained sportiness, thanks to the striking Singleframe in octagon design which is divided up by vertical bars, along with the large air inlets. They characterize the masculine front-end with its intensive play of light and shadow. The narrow headlights run inwards with their wedge shape. For Malaysia, the headlights are full LED items, accentuating the dynamic design. The LED rear light clusters also feature dynamic indicators.
The side view epitomizes the balance of the exterior design with the symmetrical lighting graphics of the headlights and rear lights. The shoulder line formally connects them and, with strong muscles above the wheel wells, ensures an athletic overall impression.
The contours draw their inspiration from Audi’s quattro DNA and make the SUV seem even wider; the colour-contrasting wheel arch trims emphasize the off-road look. Supported by a long roof edge spoiler, which also flanks the rear window at the side, the steeply raked D pillars of the body line also create an appearance of forward thrust.
Driver-oriented interior
The interior mirrors the design cues of the exterior and also echoes, in various ways, the brand’s full-size models. Taut lines, three-dimensionally styled elements in the architecture harmonize perfectly with the new operating concept. Its central element is the MMI touch display with its high-gloss black glass-look surround. Together with the air conditioning controls underneath, it is tilted 10 degrees toward the driver.
Compared with its predecessor, the new Q3 has grown in virtually all dimensions with adoption of the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. It is 4484 mm long, 1849 mm wide and 1585 mm high (1616 mm with roof antenna). The wheelbase has been stretched by 77 mm, providing additional space for rear occupants who can move their seats fore/aft by 150 mm.
Their three-way split backrests in the ratio 40:20:40 can be tilted in 7 stages. Depending on the position of the rear seats and backrests, the luggage compartment capacity is between 530 and 1,525 litres. The loading floor can be adjusted in up to 3 levels and the parcel shelf can be stowed underneath the floor if not needed. The powered tailgate, which can be opened and closed with a kicking motion below the bumper, is standard for Malaysia.
Instrument panel fully digitalised
The operating and display concept no longer uses analogue instruments and takes reference from the brand’s top-most models like the A8 and Q8. Fitted as standard in Malaysia is the Audi virtual cockpit plus. The 12.3-inch screen is a further development of the innovative digital display concept that first debuted in the latest Audi TT. It offers more customization possibilities including two further views that the driver can set in the MMI (Multi Media Interface).
Also standard for the market is the top-of-the-line equipment MMI navigation plus. This features a 10.1-inch touch display in the middle of the dashboard. The intuitive operating concept with its flat menu structure is supplemented by natural-language voice control. It also understands freely structured wording. The ingenious dialog manager asks questions if necessary, allows corrections, offers choices and defers to the speaker when interrupted.
Intelligently connected
The infotainment system in the Q3 takes inspiration from the higher segments in Audi. The navigation system recognizes the driver’s preferences based on previous journeys, allowing it to generate suitable route suggestions. The Audi connect portfolio ideally supplements navigation guidance with traffic information online, the point-of-interest search and information on parking spaces and filling stations appearing directly in the navigation map.
The Audi smartphone interface links customers’ iOS and Android cellphones and places their Apple Car Play or Android Auto environment on the MMI display.
Agility on and off-road
The Q3 sold in Malaysia has one engine choice – a 1.4 TFSI petrol engine (150 bhp/250 Nm) and a fast-shifting 6-speed S tronic transmission as standard. Claimed 0 – 100 km/h time is 8.9 seconds with a top speed of 207 km/h. Even with the spirited performance, the fuel consumption is claimed to be up to 13.9 kms/litre.
As with other models, the driver can vary the characteristics of the Q3 depending on the driving situation, road conditions or personal preference using the Audi drive select dynamic handling system. Varying profiles adjust the performance from markedly comfortable through to extremely sporty.
Lucky draw for customers in November
The Q3 is priced from RM269,900 (without insurance) and if you buy one (or any other new Audi model from an authorized dealer) November 2 and 10 2019, you will qualify for an exclusive lucky draw with the following prizes – Exclusive Audi Driving Experience in Germany valued at RM40,000 (1st prize); shopping voucher for Audi Genuine Accessories valued at RM5,000 (2ne prize); and a Front Genuine Universal Traffic Recorder valued at RM2,500 (3rd prize).
There’s a new Audi Centre in town and it is located in Setia Alam, Selangor. Catering to the ever-growing Audi owners here in the central region, the new Audi 4S facility focuses on everything from sales, services, spare parts, body and paint shop for all of your Audi needs. (more…)
Audi has completed its quartet of visionary vehicles with an electric off-roader for the future of road transport with the AI:TRAIL quattro. The 4-seater concept car, which combines automated driving capability with competent off-road capabilities, joins the Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE concepts shown earlier.
With the AI:TRAIL, Audi is now opening up the potential applications for its visionary vehicles to include off-road terrain. The car is equipped with 4 electric motors, systems for assisted and automated driving and, of course, quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
There’s more than just the concept of sustainable drive systems and a body line that will run far into the future. The car also embodies an entirely new mobility concept for Audi. Unlike the cars of the present, such vehicles will no longer have to compromise between a wide range of uses and scenarios. Instead, it will be possible to design tomorrow’s cars for much more specific use cases. In the future, customers will be able to order any of these specialist Audi models from an Audi on demand vehicle pool to suit their personal preferences and requirements and to lease them for a limited period.
Technology that’s plain to see
With an exterior length of 4.15 metres and a width of 2.15 metres, the AI:TRAIL’s potential away from paved roads is immediately apparent. The roof height of 1.67 metres and the enormous 22-inch wheels with 850 mm tyres already hint at its superior off-road capabilities. With a ground clearance of an impressive 340 mm, it can drive across water more than half a metre deep.
The cabin itself is an extensively glazed space surrounded by polygonal shapes, with room for up to 4 people. With the electric drive system arranged around the axles and the battery in the floor, there is no need for overhanging sections or separate attachments for the motor or batteries.
Light weight and maximum body stiffness are, of course, important technical objectives for off-roaders in particular. That is why the body of the AI:TRAIL is made of a mixture of high-tech steel, aluminium and carbonfibre. As a result, it weighs just 1,750 kgs despite carrying a high-capacity battery.
Helicopter-style all-round visibility
The windshield wraps around the front of the vehicle like the cockpit of a helicopter. Passengers have an unobstructed view of the road or trail both in front and to the sides. Nor is it just the front and sides that are transparent and covered in glass. Almost the entire roof, from the top of the windshield to the rear spoiler, allows a clear view of the sky and the landscape. Even the vertical Singleframe is glazed, with only the four rings of the badge sitting in their customary position in what is otherwise a glass octagon.
Mobility and multifunctionality are features of the AI:TRAIL’s light sources as well. Instead of conventional headlights, self-contained light sources sit below the A-pillars and can shine both outward and inward. These LED elements are dimmable and adjustable and can be used as interior lighting as well as for lighting the vehicle’s path.
Audi Light Pathfinders
Instead of conventional low beams and high beams, the Audi AI:TRAIL is equipped with a total of five rotorless, triangular, electrically operated drones with integrated matrix LED elements. They are capable of landing on a roof rack or directly on the roof of the vehicle and docking onto the inductive charging elements.
The flying objects are Audi Light Pathfinders, which generate their lift in the same way as bladeless fans produce their air flow. Thanks to their markedly lightweight design, they can fly ahead of the AI:TRAIL, consuming comparably little energy in the process, and illuminate the path ahead, thereby replacing headlights entirely. If desired, the on-board cameras generate a video image that can be transmitted to the display in front of the driver via wifi, turning the Pathfinders into eyes in the sky.
“With the AI:TRAIL, we are showing an off-road concept with an emissions-free electric drive for an innovative driving experience away from paved roads. Consistent with this, we designed a monolithic basic vehicle body with maximum glazing to create an intense connection to the surroundings. A concept for sustainable mobility on demand,” said Marc Lichte, Audi’s Head of Design.
Audi has unveiled their latest 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant and its super-fast Avant concept has been further refined in the fourth-generation model. Powering this latest beast is a 4.0-litre TFSI twin-turbo V8 engine with mild hybrid technology that punches out a hefty 590hp and 800Nm of maximum torque. (more…)
Audi isn’t as active in Malaysia these days as it was some years ago but that has not stopped it from keeping its range reasonably up to date. Until it can come up with numbers that provide a business case for local assembly, it will have to be content with low numbers as its pricing cannot be competitive without the sort of incentives its rivals receive.
The offerings current available at 5 showrooms total nine models, four of which are SUVS. They cover the main segments, including the top end with the A8. Now the new A6, announced earlier, is finally in the showrooms in 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic form, retailing for RM589,900 (excluding insurance).
Audi Mild Hybrid Technology
This is the eighth generation (C8) of the full-size sedan and it has a hybrid powertrain using the carmaker’s mild-hybrid technology. A key feature of this technology is the 48V main electrical system which incorporates two elements: a powerful lithium-ion battery and a belt alternator starter. With the V6 turbocharged petrol engine already generating a high output, total system output is 340 ps/500 Nm to give a claimed 0 to 100 km/h capability of 5.1 seconds. The top speed is higher than 250 km/h but Audi has chosen to limit it to that speed.
Fuel economy is maximized not just with the efficient 7-speed S tronic transmission but also the ability of the car to coast between 55 and 160 km/h. The start-stop function kicks in up to 22 km/h and the engine is restarted from standstill predictively as soon as the vehicle in front of the Audi A6 starts moving. During deceleration, the belt alternator starter (BAS) recovers up to 12 kW of energy. In real-world driving, the Audi technology is said to reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.7 litres per 100 kms.
The bodywork of the new A6, like the pioneering Audi 100 of the early 1980s, has advanced aerodynamics to minimize wind resistance. Thanks to sophisticated aeroacoustics, it also runs quietly, even at high speed.
A second important factor is high body rigidity which provide the high quality feel and sporty handling. Audi uses an intelligent mixed construction of steel and aluminium in the bodyshell. Components such as the front suspension strut dome are made of aluminium, as are the doors, bonnet/boot lids and fenders.
The lighting design – technology brought to life
The lighting design emphasizes the technical character of the A6 with the standard for Malaysia HD Matrix LED headlights best exemplifying the concept. This high-end lighting system features 5 horizontal lines form the daytime running light signature. They emphasize the width of the front. Above them are the dipped beam modules that look like pupils. The lighting signature of the taillights is made up of a single horizontal line and nine vertical segments for each unit; the brake light fills the areas in between.
The dynamic indicator is included with the top-of-the-line equipment. When unlocking and locking the doors, a pulsing coming and leaving home function brings to life the combination of design and technology that is the hallmark of Audi.
Class-leading interior space
The interior has increased space with key dimensions beating core competitors as well. The luggage compartment offers more loading width – two golf bags can be accommodated horizontally – even though the capacity remains unchanged at 530 litres.
MMI navigation plus
The new A6 offers an extensive range of connectivity solutions for superb safety, convenience and personalization. The standard specification for Malaysia is with the top-of-the-line MMI navigation plus – a media hub with a new design. The data transfer module uses the new LTE Advanced standard.
The MMI touch response system of the new A6 sets new standards in terms of intuitive operation and personalization. With extensive intelligent personalization options, the car is tailored to the driver. The all-digital operating system allows central vehicle functions to be placed in the required position in the MMI screen using drag-and-drop – similar to the user experience with smartphone apps. Shortcuts and favorites buttons form the ideal basis for individual preferences and superb ease-of-use.
Up to 7 drivers can store their preferred settings in individual user profiles and set up to 400 parameters. Thanks to its logical and flat menu structure, the system provides fast access to vehicle functions. The configurable favorites buttons help tailor the system to the user’s preferences.
The driver manages the infotainment on the top display, which has a 10.1-inch screen diagonal if MMI navigation plus has been specified. The bottom 8.6-inch display, located in the console in the center tunnel, is used for the climate control and for the convenience functions and text input; the driver’s wrist can sit on the selector lever of the automatic transmission.
In addition, the head-up display projects important information onto the windshield. MMI navigation plus also includes the Audi virtual cockpit with a 12.3-inch display.
Agile as a sportscar
The new A6 is claimed to be noticeably sportier than the previous one. The already sporty ratio of the standard progressive steering becomes even more direct as the steering angle increases; a new damping concept also conveys intensive, finally differentiated feedback from the road.
The dynamic all-wheel steering is a key component in this agility and maneuverability. It combines direct, sporty steering response with unshakable stability, resolving this classic conflict of aims. Depending on the speed, the steering ratio varies between 9.5:1 and 16.5:1. This is thanks to a strain wave gearing at the front.
At the rear axle, a spindle drive turns the wheels as much as 5 degrees. At low speed, the wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels, thus enhancing the agility of the A6 and reducing its turning circle by up to one metre to 11.1 metres. At high speed, the wheels turn in the same direction, thus optimizing stability when traveling in a straight line or changing lanes.
with the 3.0 TFSI engine.
Like the dynamic all-wheel steering and the controlled damping, the drivetrain settings are integrated into the control function of the electronic chassis platform. These systems are closely networked for innovative precision. The driver can select various driving profiles via the Audi drive select system – the widespread from comfort through sportiness is even more pronounced than in the outgoing model.
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The 2019 Audi A8 L flagship model has made its way here in Malaysia and it marks Audi’s future in the luxury class. Coming in hot with a new design language, the fourth generation Audi A8 is packed with top-of-the-line automated driving technology. (more…)
