Karl on Cars
Audi
June 23, 2008
It's one of the hottest cars on the market right now. But unlike so many past and present "gotta-have" vehicles, the 2008 Audi R8 deserves it's "ultra-hip" hype. And as our newest long-term car, we getta-have this mid-engine V8 supercar for the next three months.
As a certified Ford GT addict there are very few performance cars that truly impress me, but this is one of them (the Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911 GT3 are the other two). Like the Ford and Ferrari it's got a mid-engine V8, but unlike those two F-cars the Audi offers all-wheel drive and an interior ambiance that makes the $132,000 as-tested price tag seem like a bargain (yes, the Ferrari has a good interior too, but at a starting price approaching $200,000 it doesn't strike me as a "deal").
The R8's soothing cabin is wrapped in sensual aluminum bodywork, giving the car an exotic appeal that further defies its (relatively) cheap price point. If you shop-by-spreadsheet the 911 Turbo looks like the "better" car in terms of pure performance numbers, but drive them back-to-back, ask yourself how often you actually need a sub-4 second zero-to-60 time versus how often you sit in your car's cabin and interact with its controls (I'm thinking the answers will be "almost never" and "every time I drive it" -- respectively). Do that and you'll likely leave the Porsche keys on the table.
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- Karl Brauer June 23, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Audi
April 9, 2008
Most 2008 Audi A6 shoppers probably won't use a second mortgage to buy one, but with a starting price of $57,000 (for the 4.2-liter V8 version) you wouldn't be out of order to consider that option. Just watch those loan terms, will ya?
Like every Audi from this century, the A6 marries sleek exterior design with sumptuous cabin accoutrements, and places it all on a stout-yet-supple achitecture driving all four wheels (the smaller, 3.1-liter V6 can be had in front-wheel drive). You'd think there's no getting around that 4,200-pound curb weight, but somehow the eggheads in Ingolstadt have imbued the A6 with a lithe manner, even when flinging it through my favorite set of twisties. I suspect the 350-horsepower V8, combined with all-wheel drive, gives it both the thrust and grip to counter that poundage.
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- Karl Brauer April 9, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Audi
March 25, 2008
I don't have one topic worthy of a full Talk Back Tuesday post, but I do have a few mini topics from the past week that, when added up, almost equate to one worthy discussion...hopefully. Here goes:
In the spirit of "perfect timing" comes a new Hummer H2 book: Yes, just as oil passes $100-a-barrel and gas hits $4-a-gallon we get a new book that, according to the press release:
"With unfolded centerfold the book reaches a width of 237 cm (94.5 inches), wider than the subject of the book, the HUMMER H2, itself. HUMMER H2 - KING SIZE AMERICA! is the biggest and most exclusive car book in the world and is published in a limited edition of just 999 sequentially numbered and signed copies. On 200 gloss-laminated pages German automobile journalist Hans-Jürgen Tücherer tells a great many entertaining and amusing stories that surround this spectacular American SUV. More than 270 fascinating pictures up to 43 x 237 centimeters (17 x 94.5 inches) in size depict the HUMMER H2 in all its glorious details and from many highly unusual perspectives. HUMMER H2 - KING SIZE AMERICA! is available for 999 Euros. The German edition is on sale now. The English version will be available online at www.h2book.com starting in April 2008."
Yes, for a mere $1,500 you too can pay proper homage to your H2 with a book as obnoxious as the vehicle itself! Better reserve your copy today!!
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- Karl Brauer March 25, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Audi, BMW, Bugatti, Hummer, Mazda, Talk Back Tuesday, Vehicle Awards
March 24, 2008
Awhile back I commented on what I feel is the definition of a "Great Car." In short, a great car (or truck, or SUV, or minivan) is a vehicle that can do at least two (or more) things really well. For example, the Jeep Wrangler is a very good vehicle for what it's supposed to do, but what it does well is pretty much one thing, so it isn't a great car in my opinion. Some could argue a great car has purity, so something like the Wrangler is a great car. Some could argue that, but not me.
Using this as a guideline, the 2008 Audi TT is a great car. I just drove a V6 version home and back, complete with DSG transmission, and this is a car that does many things really well.
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- Karl Brauer March 24, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Audi
March 7, 2008
It's rare for me to get into a specific test vehicle more than once, unless it's a long-term car (and sometimes even those cars spend 12 months here and I only drive them two or three times). But in the past four months I've driven the 2008 Audi S5 three times (this is a short-term car that we only get for two weeks at a time; the S5 is on its second trip to the Edmunds offices). The first time was in November, and I was immediately smitten with its combination of sleek body lines and Detroit-like V8 muscle.
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- Karl Brauer March 7, 2008, 7:00 AM
- Categories:
- Audi, Infiniti
November 19, 2007
Like so many Audis (and, really, so many modern luxury cars) you can't think too carefully about the price tag when considering the new 2008 S5 coupe. At a starting price of $50K, and a finishing price closer to $60K once you add a few choice items like nav and adaptive headlights, this car is pricey -- plain and simple. It's 354hp V8 gives it a leg up on BMW's 335i, as does quattro all-wheel drive (it does zero-to-60 in 4.9 seconds), but those factors alone don't justify the increased coinage. Of course it's cheaper than a $75,000 BMW 650i and quicker than that two-door as well, so maybe it's a bargain?
However, to possibly understand the S5 you have to step beyond spec sheets and price points and feature content. This sleek coupe has taken Audi's gift for gorgeous to a new level, with sweeping exterior lines and passionate interior panels that belie it's Teutonic heritage. A warm and welcoming cabin, with organic shapes to match its rich materials? What a concept!
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- Karl Brauer November 19, 2007, 7:00 AM
- Categories:
- Audi, BMW
November 1, 2007
Because you just can't drive too many "RS" models (certainly I know I can't), I spent last night with Audi's superb RS4 Cabriolet. This is the third performance Audi product I've driven in the past two weeks (after the RS4 sedan and S4 Avant), and, perhaps to no one's surprise, it's my favorite one so far. The same 420-horsepower V8 provides the same killer thrust, and the same quattro all-wheel-drive system offers the same cornering grip you'll find in the four-door.
I also finally figured out why these cars are so damn easy to heel-and-toe. Basically, the throttle is extremely responsive. Some on staff have described tip-in as overly aggressive, but I never found it objectionable in regular driving, and it makes blipping the throttle with the edge of your foot a snap while setting up your entry speed. So as with the RS4 sedan, I found the Cabrio as confident as anything I've driven on Mulholland (even if high-end sports cars and exotics would be faster under race-track conditions).
I was fully sold on the RS4 Carbriolet, then I looked up the price...
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- Karl Brauer November 1, 2007, 7:00 AM
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- Audi
October 17, 2007
How do you wreck the potential fun of driving Audi's S4 Avant? Drive it right after experiencing Audi's RS4 sedan. I made that mistake, and for the first 10 minutes of my commute I had to keep reminding myself, "Okay, there's not a 420-pound V8 engine under that hood. There's not a specially tweaked quattro system and highly tuned suspension underneath me. And there aren't 19-inch tires at each corner. Oh, and there's not a $70,000-plus MSRP on the window."
It really takes driving the Audi RS4 to overshadow the otherwise stellar S4 Avant. For about $20,000 less you lose 80 horsepower, meaning the S4 commands "only" 340 horsepower. But it still offers that rapid-fire, six-speed manual with perfect pedal placement for heel-and-toe downshifts. And it still rockets through corners with just a hint of body roll before the suspension sets and the quattro system bites down for a confident throttle-on exit.
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- Karl Brauer October 17, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Audi
October 15, 2007
It's been eight months since I last drove an Audi RS4, but the thrill of unleashing 420 horsepower through its all-wheel drive system hasn't diminished. In fact, this 2007 Audi RS4 was even more fun. Last time I was stuck driving it in the rain, which was great for maximizing the advantages of all-wheel drive, but not for maximizing the car's total performance package.
This time it was nice and dry on Mulholland, and thus maximum dry weather Gs were achieved. So were a string of perfectly executed heel-and-toe downshifts (love the shifter and pedal placement), along with full-throttle corner exits and chest compressing braking excercises. Just to be clear -- this thing is FAST! Our own testing had it doing zero-to-60 in 4.3 seconds. Yet it's also stable, predictable and easily flung between corners.
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- Karl Brauer October 15, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Audi
September 28, 2007
Rumor has it Audi is working on their own Mini competitor. Apparently they are mad as hell at seeing all the fun (and money) BMW is garnering with Mini, and they're not going to take it anymore. I think it's a good idea, and the A3 proves why. Until Audi's official Mini competitor arrives this is as close as you can get to a Mini with interlocking rings in the grille. But the Europeans do small cars well, and with gas prices and social pressures targeting any car over 250 horsepower and 170 inches long it seems the rise of the small car is inevitable (at least to a degree not seen in three decades in this country).
With the A3 you get the best of Audi (plush interior, sporty dynamics, clean and attractive styling) in a package that provides adequate passenger space and even some practical cargo capacity (almost 20 cubic feet behind the second-row seat). The starting price is not bad at $25,340, for which you get a 2.0-liter, 200 horsepower turbo four, six-speed manual and 17-inch wheels. You also get some choice luxury features like dual zone, automatic climate control, cruise control and dual power outlets in the center console. But like any German car, start adding options and the price skyrockets faster than you can say "Warum so Teuer?!"
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- Karl Brauer September 28, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Audi
September 17, 2007
Mark Audi's new 2008 R8 down as "number 3" -- as in the third car to make my list of "If someone stole my GT in the middle of the night and left one of these in its place I wouldn't cry too much." The first two are the Ferrari F430 and the Porsche 911 GT3.
Audi's mid-engine exotic is simultaneously an all-new take on the automaker's vehicle offering and a faithful expression of "Audi-ism." The steering is perhaps a tad heavier at low speeds than I would ultimately want, but we're talking tiny degrees of imperfection here. The interior materials are supple and inviting, if a bit stark by U.S. standards. The tactile feel of the interior controls conveys both confidence and luxury in a manner most other automakers can only aspire to. Even with its unconventional exterior design and mid-engine layout there's a clear message before your rump even hits the superbly supportive driver's seat -- this is an Audi.
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- Karl Brauer September 17, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Audi
September 11, 2007
In our ongoing series of future product plan coverage let's take a look at what will be coming across the Atlantic in the coming years. Glancing through the Automotive News analysis it would appear Europe's focus will be on crossovers, small cars and increased fuel efficiency. Who'd a thunk it? But a return of Alfa Romeo and a "cheap" Rolls Royce should keep things interesting. I'm only covering half of the European brands today because, well, there's a lot of them!
Alfa Romeo: After years of hints and innuendos it appears Alfa Romeo may really be coming to America in 2009. Look for the 8C Competizione (rear-drive coupe with 450hp V8), the 159 sedan (front- or all-wheel drive), the Brea (a 2+2 coupe) and the Spider (a two-seat convertible based off the Brea platform). Momma-mia!
Aston Martin: The DBS is debuting this week in Frankfurt, and it looks to be a worthy successor to the Vanquish. But the real test of Aston Martin's future will come with the launch of it high-end, high-performance sedan, the Rapide (in 2009). With new ownership and a new product direction the future could be very bright for this British brand.
Audi: The redesigned A4 is practically here, and the redesigned A6 follows next year. But the big news for 2009 is a sleek new A7 sedan that goes up against the CLS, plus not one but two new crossovers (one of which is the Q5, pictured). An A5 convertible and redesigned A8 round out the fun in 2010.
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- Karl Brauer September 11, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Aston Martin, Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Bentley, Ferrari, Future Vehicles, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Land Rover
June 11, 2007
You want to experience culture shock? Try driving the new Chrysler Sebring convertible home one night and the new Audi TT convertible home the next . If someone out there knows of a larger disparity in interior quality across the 2008 model year please share it with the rest of us. In fact, in the past I have given Audi's TT credit for single-handedly re-setting the industry bar on interior design and quality. It was really this car that reminded both consumers and competitors, "Hey! You know what? Interiors can make a powerful statement too! Who'd a thunk?" The knock-offs came fast and furious after the TT was shown around the auto show circuit and announced for production. I remember driving the new Eclipse in 2000 (same year the TT debuted, but I know Mitsu was influenced by the Audi) and seeing all sorts of mechanical shapes throughout the Eclipse's interior design. Only problem was, on the Audi these styling cues were made of brushed aluminum, in the Mitsu they were hard plastic. Oh well...
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- Karl Brauer June 11, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Audi
February 2, 2007
Sorry about the parade of Audis guys. It wasn't planned this way, but sometimes the combination of long-term vehicle rotation and short term test car scheduling results in three cars from the same brand being driven in a row. I'm not complaining by any means, because in recent years I've found Audi to be rivaling BMW in terms of overall execution. BMW still has the advantage in traits like steering feel and pure driving dynamics, but Audi is right behind them in these areas, and they are better in everything from exterior design to interior design to ergonomics (I remain strong in my committment to iDrive hatred). I know plenty of people have yelled about Audi (and VW) quality since about 2000, but we had a certified used 1998 Passat, a 2002 A4 and a 2005 A4 in our long-term fleet, and our mechanical problems were minimal (the only thing I can remember is the Passat's right taillight had a recurring bad connection...). We didn't even have any ignition coil problems with our 2002 A4. And none of these cars were manufacturer-supplied, so please don't go the "Well, yeah, but Edmunds got specially prepared cars" route. We bought them all from dealers, just like everyone else.
But let's talk S8:
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- Karl Brauer February 2, 2007, 7:06 AM
- Categories:
- Audi
February 1, 2007
This is one of those cars with powers that border on ludicrous. It's not the 420 horsepower, 4.5 second zero-to-60 time or .89Gs of lateral grip that make it nonsensical, it's the ability to do all this while carrying four passengers, weighing almost 4,000 lbs and providing all-wheel-grip during inclement weather. I happen to be driving it during the latter, which initially had me quite frustrated. Then I realized that driving the car during varying levels of rainfall was the best possible environment for uncovering its advantages over comparable sport sedans. Sure enough, I was soon piloting the car nearly as aggressively as I would on bone dry pavement (how many other sport sedans can I say that about?).
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- Karl Brauer February 1, 2007, 6:59 AM
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- Audi
January 31, 2007
Just drove our new long-term 2007 Audi Q7 home and back. I'm going to pull out that most powerful of adjectives and call this car "nice" because that's what I kept saying as I explored the car's traits and capabilities. I mean, the interior design and quality is nice. The 4.2-liter V8 with direct injection and 350 horsepower is nice...
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- Karl Brauer January 31, 2007, 7:27 AM
- Categories:
- Audi
January 26, 2007
Our Editorial Director, Kevin Smith, just drove the 2008 Audi R8 at the press event in Las Vegas. I don't know about you guys, but I consider this one of the more exciting cars on the horizon. Of course I'm a mid-engine maniac, so right there the R8 has my full attention. But the fact that Audi is making this one only adds to the anticipation, as I feel they've been leading the German "Big 3" in terms of design since around the turn of the century. As Kevin confirmed upon his return from Sin City, the car stirs the soul not through boyracer gimmicks or flaymboyant excess, but with a high-class, elegant approach to style and design. Both the interior and exterior are beautifully executed, though anyone who has seen the car in person likely already knew that.
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- Karl Brauer January 26, 2007, 7:19 AM
- Categories:
- Audi, Future Vehicles
July 24, 2006
I guess I'm just getting old, but a $60,000 mid-size sedan -- even a luxury sedan with a great interior -- is just too expensive. Don't worry, I'm an equal-opportunity geezer when it comes to pricing, thus I don't understand $40,000 Tahoes or Odysseys, either. If you can get past the price, the A6 S-line is a fine automobile. I was appropriately impressed with everything from the interior materials to its drivetrain refinement...
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- Karl Brauer July 24, 2006, 12:06 PM
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- Audi
February 21, 2006
I spent the weekend with our long-term Audi A4 and was left with two strong impressions.
1. This is an extremely well-executed car. Everything from steering feel to seat comfort to ride quality and interior materials is superb...
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- Karl Brauer February 21, 2006, 6:33 PM
- Categories:
- Audi, BMW
