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Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans
10006 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 6:59 AM
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Replying to: cstiles (Oct 29, 2006 2:11 pm) Because of SH-AWD weight, RL is already sluggish with the big 3.5 engine. A smaller engine for Japan wouldn't do, plus Honda's engines tend to be low on torque. Lack of torque and excess weight is not good combination. Those are two of the problems RL has. What Audi does is offer FWD/AWD on all its cars. I think A6's in USA are all AWD, but can be FWD in other countries. Acura might consider doing the same thing.
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Replying to: mariner7 (Nov 03, 2006 11:33 am) Making FWD optional might save 200lbs or so and improve acceleration a bit, depending on the available grip. It also will make torque steer and massive understeer a big problem. I don't think the positives outweigh the negatives. |
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Replying to: mariner7 (Nov 03, 2006 11:33 am) Like Lexusguy said, going FWD presents its compromises. On the positive side, in addition to less weight, it also allows you to lower your transaction costs. And maybe offer a little more interior spacing. But torque steer is a potential deal killer with LPS cars unless managed with limited slip and electronic controls. But the more you inject the latter controls, the less steering feel and positive road handling. Bottom line, there is no good alternative to RWD, other than perhaps AWD. . |
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Well we have the 2007 A6's and 5's -- and here they come with 255 horsepower. I believe making these two Germans the weaklings on the beach where everyone else can just kick sand in their faces. But wait -- BMW has a 300HP 3 liter 6 and it sure makes that 5 series sweeeeet. Oh wait, it is available only in a 3 series sedan and coupe. And what's up with Audi? You got your 4 your 6 and your 8 and even your Veee-ten (and in the A6 in the US anyway only the "top o' the line" 255 6 and on up is imported.) The "3.2" FSI engine would certainly benefit from a mild bi-turbo blowing ever so gently, wouldn't it? Man, that engine would easily crank out 300 horses and pry-bar bending torque meanwhile sipping fuel. Look what has been done with the 2.0TFSI -- what is it now, 265HP, up from 200. Hmmm, now let's see, hey -- thats more than a 30% improvement. If the same were done to the Audi V6, carry the 3, hmmmm, dang! 331 HP. They'd have to do what BMW has reportedly done to their "335", and that is tone down the power to 300 to not provide too much competition for the V8. Now, having said this and wondering if the issue with the Acura, which even with the "restating" of the HP is able to better 255HP -- what is all this brouhaha about? I drove the new 335 BMW -- holy mule muffins batman, it was like, er, driving an Audi S4 stick (and there was an extra $7,000 and change in the glove box.) Ping pong? Audi goes turbo, BMW eschews it. Audi eschews it -- at least in the V6 and POW, BMW adopts it like it is the magic ability to pump power out of thin air? Meanwhile the Japanese keep upping their power routinely. In 2004 the A6 2.7T was what 265HP or was it 280 or was that figure the torque from about 2 rpm to redline or some impossibly broad band? In 2005 for about 5 grand more, the new A6 was emasculated down to 255 HP and 240 something pound feet over a much narrower range (but with a 6 speed.) 2006 ditto. 2007 ditto. The 2005 BMW 530 was killed in the bragging rights dept with 225 but it was the 240 HP Lexus that couldn't get no respect. There is a horsepower war on -- and yes, the German 8's 10's and 12's are awesome. But most of the cars actually sold here are the 6's, by far. The Germans are on a light, lively and lean kick? Next thing you know the new Audi A6 will come out with 250HP while everything from Nissan will START at 275 or higher. OK, Mercedes has a bit more juice and 7 speeds to choose from -- but even there, until you go to the outrageous zone money wise, the power remains relatively tame. Now I do love my 255HP A6, but the occasional visit to the M35 for a test drive does make me wonder why for 3+ thousand dollars more (speaking of the A6) the Audi can't come up with a 6 cylinder engine with, hmm, 295 HP and quit dinkin' or as my friend says about his kid "piddle dinkin'" around? 
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Nov 03, 2006 1:08 pm) None of this is really new. The Germans have always had big eights and small sixes, and fours that without forced induction would have horse-and-buggy levels of power. Japan has always had smaller eights than the Germans (expect for Audi), and bigger, more powerful sixes, and big naturally aspirated fours that have similar power to Germany's blown fours. When the Germans had 2.8L 200ish hp engines the Japanese had 3.0L 220ish hp engines. When Germany went to 3.0L and 220hp, Japan went to 3.5L and 260hp, then 280hp, and now 300hp. These boosts came within a few years, and the Germans just havent caught up yet. I'm sure that when the A6 and 5 series offer 300hp from six cylinder engines, the Japanese will be using 3.8s with 350hp.
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SALES OF LUXURY CAR BRANDS IN U.S. (in order of total sales) through October Lexus Sales in US 2005 = 242,060 2006 = 258,480 Change = +6.8% -------------------------------------- BMW BMW brand sales were up 2.2 percent year-to-date, to 220,885 vehicles compared to 216,063 vehicles sold in the same period in 2005. ----------------------------------------- Acura 2005 = 177,107 2006 = 164,967 Change = down - 6.9% ------------------------- Mercedes 2005 = 174,593 2006 = 197,599 Change = +13% ------------------------- Infiniti 2005 = 113,182 2006 = 97,652 Change = down -13.7% ----------------------------------------------- Audi Sales in US 2005 = 66,315 2006 = 69,010 Change = +4.1%
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Replying to: sfcharlie (Nov 03, 2006 11:25 pm)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 04, 2006 5:09 am) |
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Replying to: merc1 (Nov 02, 2006 10:18 pm)
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Replying to: drtravel (Nov 04, 2006 7:22 am) Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles posted 3,818 sales in September, up 31 percent from last September.
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