Regardless of what the new owners will have in store for the Nürburgring when they takeover next year it’s clear the industry pool is still in full swing.
Here’s four videos thanks to Dale from Bridge to Gantry which show a Mercedes AMG GT, an Audi R8 of some description (possibly turbocharged), a Jaguar XE Saloon and a VW Golf R Wagon being put through their paces.
What a lovely way to spend an afternoon!
When we first saw the A3 clubsport quattro we became a wee bit excited. We wanted to think it was a bona fide RS3 preview, but some of its styling along with that staggering 386kW 2.5 TFSI are unlikely to make it down the production line.
However, Audi Australia spokesman Matthew Dale has told carsales.com.au that the concept model, currently on show at the Wörthersee festival, does paint a pretty good picture of the next RS3.
“The clubsport [concept] is a view into the future of the RS. The TT RS, RS Q3 and the previous RS 3 Sportback all use the 2.5 TFSI engine, and this [concept] shows you where it can go,” said Dale.
Although, it’s unlikely the concept’s headline stats of 386kW/600Nm will become reality. At the moment the best Audi has given us from the 2.5 TFSI is 265kW/465Nm found in the TT RS Plus. That said, we’d not be surprised to see the next-gen RS3 pony up 300kW or more.
Despite his earlier assertion, Dale also tempered expectations on the new RS3, before indicating Audi Australia would want the car. Of course, we’ve long expected the next RS3 will make it to Australia, but it’s still nice to see it now being openly discussed.
“We haven’t heard anything as yet—for any RS3 badged car,” he added. “But certainly if the factory was to come to us and say an RS3 Sportback or an RS3 sedan is available, we’d be the first ones to say yes.”
Hot diggety!
[Source: carsales | Thanks to John for the tip]
“We have pushed the limits in every respect with this show car: power, dynamics, sound, design.”
They’re the words of the impressively titled Prof Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi’s board member for Technical Development. The concept in question is this balls out A3 clubsport quattro. It will be on public display for the furst time at the annual Wörthersee show. And, yes, Audi has indeed pushed the limits.
It’s based on the S3 Sedan, although with those flared guards, aggressive body kit and growling 2.5 litre engine there’s not much of the S3 Sedan remaining.
As is Audi’s wont with its show cars that engine is far from standard. In this case the 2.5 litre five-pot we came to know and love from the TT RS has been reworked to produce a staggering 386kW (525hp). Five hundred and twenty-five horsepower!
According to Audi the concept weighs in at 1527kg and with its 7-speed S tronic and quattro system it can knock off 100km/h in 3.6 seconds.
This show car is likely to be a massive tease, although we can live in hope that the next RS3 may take some of the styling tweaks, if not a fair portion of its totally corrupting power.
Yep, we want one too.
Here’s a pretty simple video clip from French publication Motorsport Magazine comparing the Audi S3 and the Subaru WRX STi. It’s an acceleration run from 0–250km/h and it would seem that S tronic gives the S3 the edge. Although, they’re pretty slick gearchanges in the STi.
S3 Sportback: 221kW/380Nm, 6-speed S tronic, quattro all-wheel drive, 1445kg
WRX STi: 221kW/407Nm, 6-speed manual, symmetrical all-wheel drive, 1525kg
[Thanks to Tim for the tip]
The Audi S3 Sedan is now on sale in Australia. And while it may look like an S3 Sportback with a boot, Audi says not a single panel is shared between the two models. The price for that boot is $62,200, which is $2300 more than its hot hatch sibling.
Aside from the price and the body panels the two cars are pretty much identical.
Like the Sportback the S3 Sedan is well appointed and offers the S performance package for $4990. That gets you goodies like LED headlights, Bang & Olufsen stereo, 19″ alloys, leather seats with diamond stitching and pretty red brake calipers.
A 6-speed S tronic transmission is standard and with the 206kW/380Nm on tap the 1450kg sedan can reach 100km/h in 5.0 seconds.
Just like the Sportback.
Toyota has set itself up as the favourite for Le Mans after taking victory in the 6 Hours of Spa on the weekend. The #8 TS040 backed up its success at Silverstone with another win, while the #7 sister car came home third.
Splitting the two Toyotas was the #1 Audi R18, with all three cars completeing 171 laps of the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
The #14 Porsche 919, which started from pole position, started well and established a lead of over 10 seconds in the first stint before a few minor issues with the hybrid system required attention. In the end Porsche had to be satisfied with fourth place, one lap behind the leaders.
A pair of Audi R18s filled positions five and six, with the #3 car running in low downforce Le Mans trim—the only of the three LMP1 teams to do so. Audi will be heading to the Circuit de la Sarthe with a lot more work to do than it is used to. The challenge from Toyota appears very real this year.
The #20 Porsche 919 of Mark Webber, had problems throughout the race. First with the rear dampers and later with the front drive shaft. They were able to finish the race but were 23 laps behinf the winning Toyota.
The 2014 WEC season got off to the best possible start overnight after Toyota claimed a dominant 1–2 victory in a rain affected 6 Hours of Silverstone. Two laps behind the winning #8 Toyota TS040 (Davidson, Lapierre, Buemi) was the #20 Porsche 919 (Bernhard, Hartley, Webber). That result marks a promising return to the LMP1 category for Porsche.
“The team did a fantastic job all weekend,” said Anthony Davidson after the victory. “It looked like it would be an epic fight with Audi and Porsche if it had stayed dry, but we knew the rain was coming and we had set our car up for wet conditions.
“We made the right call on tyres, the strategy was just perfect; that’s how you win races.”
Defending champions Audi had a race to forget with both the R18s crashing out of contention. Luca di Grassi was at the wheel when the #1 R18 went out early in proceedings, while the #2 car lasted until mid-race distance having lost time due to a separate incident in the first hour.
The #14 Porsche 919 also went off-track briefly, although no major damage was done. However, its race came to an end early in the second hour due to a “technical problem”. This highlights how valuable the third place for the #20 car was, enabling the team to gather valuable track time and experience in addition to championship points.
In a three horse race, with two established rivals and a new kid on the block, this set of results builds anticipation for the 6 Hours of Spa in two weeks.
The Audis have shown they have raw pace, setting the fastest single lap in both qualifying and the race, and with multiple championships behind them they’re unlikely to repeat the double blunder we saw here at Silverstone.
Toyota has built on its LMP1 experience and this result will give them confidence to carry its momentum to Spa. While Porsche has shown it can have the reliability it needs to keep its more fancied rivals honest.
“It’s been a brilliant day for us,” Mark Webber siad post-race. “I’m happy to have played a small role in the effort that’s gone in from the team and everyone back at the factory to get to this point.
“Timo and Brendon drove exceptionally as well. It was unfortunate for the other car, but it wasn’t their day. It was a tough race for all the drivers with tricky conditions, and drizzle on slick tyres is never easy. We managed to dodge a few bullets and survived some of the tricky phases.
“It was a great experience for me, I learnt so much today in the race. We were spot on with the pit stops in terms of the tyre strategy.”
Official race reports and photos from Toyota, Porsche and Audi can be viewed after the break.
The 21st century Audi S1 is a car that interests us very much. For starters we’ve always quite liked the look of the A1. And the idea of sticking what is essentially the S3 drivetrain into its more fashion conscious little brother is one we wholehearetedly approve of.
That said, the real S1 deserves its place in motorsport folklore. Any attempts by Audi to try and fool us into believing there is a genuine link between a trumped up A-segment shopping trolley and a group B rally icon should be spared. If not for our embarrassment, then at least for Audi’s.
It’s better to just accept Audi’s current nomenclature and rationalise the name of the S1 that way, rather treating us like fools.
Now that we’ve cleared that up we’re pleased to see the S1 doing the media rounds. Although, as this review from Evo shows, you’ll be left wanting for more. And in the case of the feisty S1, perhaps that’s no bad thing.
[Thanks to John for the tip]
The 8V Audi A3 has been named the 2014 World Car of the Year, beating a field of 24 finalists which had been narrowed down to three and included the BMW 4 Series and the Mazda3.
On awarding the A3 the grand prize the judges noted: “It might borrow styling hints from its bigger brothers, but the A3 still offers classic, chiseled contours and even better interior trim levels. With a superb choice of engines and 4 body styles, the A3 range packs a hefty premium punch in the small luxury segment.
“Audi should be complimented for making this A3 ride like no other A3. All the old shimmer over rough surfaces has gone, replaced by a silky smooth ride that approaches limousine quality.”
The WCOTY awards are in just their tenth year and Volkswagen Group cars have won the main award six times, including: Audi A6 (2005), Golf VI (2009), Polo V (2010), up! (2012), and Golf VII (2013).
Now that the new Golf R has been launched in Australia it’s timely to check out this video from Dutch car mag Auto Week. Up against the Volkswagen are the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG and VW stablemate the Audi S3.
Remember, all three cars are all-wheel drive and all three use a Haldex-based system.
When watching the video make sure you turn on the English subtitles, otherwise it’ll just be a series of crackles and farts, plus a trio of double-clutch hot hatces.
[Thanks to John for the tip]
The Porsche 919 Hybrid headed the field after the WEC’s official two-day Prologue test at Paul Ricard on the weekend. The #20 car of Mark Webber went fastest during the Friday evening session when Brendon Hartley posted a lap time of 1:41.289.
Hartley’s teammates, Timo Bernhard and Webber, also broke the 1:42 barrier on the first day of testing. The #2 Audi R18 with Andre Lotterer at the wheel set the next best time of the weekend when he went 1:42.073 on Friday afternoon.
Romain Dumas, driving the #14 919, recorded the third quickest lap with a best time of 1:42.126. Toyota’s fastest lap in the TS040 of 1:42.356 came during the Friday afternoon session.
There were two sessions run on Saturday, which were slower overall. The best times were in the 1:43s and were set by the #1 and #2 Audi R18s of Tom Kristensen and Marcel Fassler.
With the more open nature of the new LMP1 regulations it’s difficult to compare like with like. Aside from the different engine configurations found in the three factory LMP1 teams the Audi R18 can use up to 2MJ of recovered energy per lap, while the Porsche 919 and Toyota TS040 can use up to 6MJ. This means the regulations employ a complex measure of how much fuel each car can use per lap in order to try and keep performance as even as possible.
It’s probably best just to worry about which car is fastest against the clock and, if you care enough, then start looking into the reasons why. Needless to say all three teams were claiming success after the Prologue, saying that testing went to their pre-arranged schedules. It seems everyone’s a winner. For now.
The real winner will be known in a few weeks when the flag drops and the bullshit stops when racing begins in earnest at the 6 Hours of Silverstone on 20 April.
Speaking after the Prologue Mark Webber explained just getting through the team’s program was a bonus for Porsche: “This test here was a big milestone. To enter two cars for the first time was a tremendous amount of hard work for the crew on the operational side.
“Smooth running was a well-deserved award and a good tonic for the guys after a long week. Every day we run we find more areas to improve, which is very encouraging. The track lay-out at Paul Ricard seems to suit our car very well. I’m curious to find out how we can perform in Silverstone.”
Like us you probably haven’t had a chance to duck over to Europe to check out the Geneva Motor Show. So here’s the first of a two part series bringing you a selection of the cars on show. Here we start with Alfa Romeo and go through to Lexus.