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What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 430, Acura RL, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Infiniti M35, Infiniti M45, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, Sedan

#8999 of 9933 Sales, Torque vectoring, engines, etc. by markcincinnati Jan 04, 2007 (6:33 am)
Replying to: dhamilton (Jan 03, 2007 8:03 pm) Sales (US):   "AUBURN HILLS, MI – Audi of America, Inc. set sales records during December 2006 and for the calendar year 2006, eclipsing the previous annual sales high set three years ago. Audi sold 11,897 vehicles in December, bringing the brand’s annual total sales to 90,116.   Audi’s December 2006 record sales were 34.6% ahead of year-ago sales. The calendar year sales represented an 8.5% increase over 2005."   Followed by:   "Audi A6 Is Number One in Germany - Sport and dynamics paired with high-quality functionality: that is the secret to success of the AUDI A6. This combination makes the Audi Germany’s best-selling vehicle for the first ten months of 2006 in its segment. Both with the new registrations in the over-all passenger car market in Germany the AUDI A6 has a nose in front of the competition as well as in fleet business in the executive-class category. 52,299 AUDI A6s were registered in the first ten months of 2006 in Germany."     Audi USA (and Audi generally) probably wishes for BMW and Mercedes (USA) numbers, but overall, I would assume Audi (here and there) execs are celebrating. Don't cry for me Argentina, er, or something like that.   Torque Vectoring:   I am ONLY a couple of paragraphs more (apparently) into reading about TVT than some other folks, so that makes my observation worth about $.02. But, the first MULE using the TVT is an Audi (the technology will be able to be purchased and installed in other mfgr's products, this is NOT solely an Audi thing, i.e.) The company's web site and all the press kit info I can find does not lead one to the conclusion that this is NOT a full time AWD system.   My interpretation is that it seems somewhat like the reverse of ESP in that ESP works mainly by braking one or more wheels and/or cutting power in an attempt to control yaw or rate of yaw. The TVT seems to be to be able to take quattro (et al) at least one or two steps better (again, kind of like what ESP did -- it took ABS a step or three better.) This means "active, anticipatory, instantaneous torque distribution" -- power is distributed to the wheels based on the driver's intentions as telegraphed and detected via hardware and software, etc. If I said any more at this point it would go from some speculation to a "lot" of speculation. The company's web site, written by an engineer apparently, does not, to me, suggest anything less than full AWD would be the consequence of Audi's adoption of TVT.   Engines:   The 3.6L is already putting out 280HP, my guess is that will be the smallest rating of this engine we will ever see in a (US bound, at least) Audi so equipped. I dunno about anything for sure for sure actually being turbo'd, I would just like to have the chance to buy a 3.2T FSI someday. Who knows?   Yep, 4" is the engine set back I have read about, too.   A better balanced Audi? That would seem to me to be very able to threaten the Munich guys, just a tad.
#9000 of 9933 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [merc1] by tayl0rd Jan 04, 2007 (7:25 am)
Replying to: merc1 (Jan 04, 2007 4:33 am) I'd say the new G's interior is actually better than the M's. Replies to this message: markcincinnati (Jan 04, 2007 8:50 am) lexusguy (Jan 04, 2007 10:54 am) merc1 (Jan 04, 2007 10:20 pm) ocim (Jan 13, 2007 8:20 am)
#9001 of 9933 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [tayl0rd] by markcincinnati Jan 04, 2007 (8:50 am)
Replying to: tayl0rd (Jan 04, 2007 7:25 am) I agree. The M's -- at the time when it was NEW -- used to be so much nicer than the G's (which was really kinda cheapo looking), now, not so much.   And the beat goes on.
#9002 of 9933 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [tayl0rd] by lexusguy Jan 04, 2007 (10:54 am)
Replying to: tayl0rd (Jan 04, 2007 7:25 am) 'd say the new G's interior is actually better than the M's.   You may be right about that. The M has almost all of its secondary controls on the top panel, which isn't really ideal. The G has just the NAV buttons on the little panel below the NAV screen, with the audio and climate controls where they should be. The new VW-ish gauges are also much better than the old orange ones. I think the G and 3 series currently have the best in class interiors, while the M's is somewhere in the middle.
#9003 of 9933 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [lexusguy] by laurasdada Jan 04, 2007 (11:27 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 03, 2007 11:24 pm) I'll respectfully disagree re: G vs TL interiors. One of the reasons I chose the '05 TL (non-nav. Yes, it is just slightly less graceful sans the nav-screen. Plain, but functional) over the '05 G was the interior. I found the TL to be of higher quality materials and more ergonomically and stylistically pleasing. I do wish the TL had a couple of the Gs interior features, notably the adjustable steering wheel/instrument pod and moreso the driver's seat ingress/egress feature (my Chrysler 300M had that!). The Gs seat may have been a bit better padded, too, but not enough to sway me. I'm not a fan of the TL "plood," hence my interior choice included the faux carbon fiber (with real aluminum).   Exterior too. I find the TL to be a very handsome, agressive design. Especially for a Honda!!!   New G, big improvement. If the '08 CTS is anything like the '07 SRX, big improvement (I love nicely styled analog clocks!). And yes, Audi and Lexus interiors can be things of beauty. But I don't think the TL interior is wildly outclassed by any of 'em. Especially the BMW 3. Quality materials but a bit of a depressing presentation.   YMMV and does... Replies to this message: lexusguy (Jan 04, 2007 2:32 pm) markcincinnati (Jan 05, 2007 6:21 am) lexusguy (Jan 05, 2007 10:12 am) laurasdada (Jan 05, 2007 11:31 am)
#9004 of 9933 A5 by dhamilton Jan 04, 2007 (1:04 pm)
Well here it is and it sounds yummy.http://www.autospies.com/news/Official-Audi-A5-to-Be-Unveiled-in-Geneva-11- 232
#9005 of 9933 well by dhamilton Jan 04, 2007 (1:08 pm)
I suck at posting links, sorry. It says that the A5 will be introduced at the Geneva show. The suspension/setup will have selections for understeer, or oversteer. I guess done electronically, via a switch?   Anyway, cool car. Can't wait to read about. Anyone else excited, Mark?
#9006 of 9933 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [laurasdada] by lexusguy Jan 04, 2007 (2:32 pm)
Replying to: laurasdada (Jan 04, 2007 11:27 am) Especially the BMW 3. Quality materials but a bit of a depressing presentation.   I only like the 3 series in tan leather with the natural wood finish. I'm not a fan of the black\black\black combo of many recent BMWs, its like a cave.
#9007 of 9933 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [tayl0rd] by merc1 Jan 04, 2007 (10:20 pm)
Replying to: tayl0rd (Jan 04, 2007 7:25 am) I'd say the new G's interior is actually better than the M's.   It definitely is from a styling standpoint, I haven't been in the new G to see if the materials are. They got rid of the big ATM buttons for one thing.   M Replies to this message: ocim (Jan 13, 2007 8:20 am)
#9008 of 9933 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [laurasdada] by markcincinnati Jan 05, 2007 (6:21 am)
Replying to: laurasdada (Jan 04, 2007 11:27 am) I may be wrong, but I think the praise for the G interior is for the new, refreshed for '07 iteration.   I would agree, the '05 G wasn't exactly in the near LPS league. And, were it not for the torque steer (my wife and I had tested a fully optioned manual transmission version of the Acura -- on a rainy day) well the Acura probably would have been a contender, even without AWD.   The thing had torque steer second only to an old Saab Aero we tested -- the steering wheel simply made "suggestions" to the front end. Sometimes it took the suggestion, on a rain slicked road, not so much. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Jan 05, 2007 10:12 am) laurasdada (Jan 05, 2007 11:31 am)

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