Something About Me

The goal of this blog is to spread the love of Audi cars. My hope is that this will become a top resource for finding information about all things for Audi cars. From new models and racing news to restoration projects and opinions about Audi cars, this blog will attempt to touch on it all.

I hope you enjoy the blog and I welcome any comments about the site.


Produce by: Muhd Izzuddin B. Muhd Aminudin
Disclaimer: This blog is only for my class (E-Commerce) project purpose. Will continually update even after I finish E-Commerce

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Audi R8 GT Photoshoot

         What makes this R8 GT even more rare is the color – it was special ordered in Daytona Grey, an Audi Exclusive color. In my opinion, this could be the most perfect color combination for this car. The Daytona Grey compliments the matte carbon fiber so nicely, resulting in a subtle yet beautiful marriage of several shades of grey.

          The R8 GT takes the standard R8, subtracts weight, adds power, and improves aerodynamics through a number of ways. The result is a quicker, lighter, better sounding and better looking version of the R8 that only 333 owners worldwide will be fortunate enough to experience.

Let’s start with the aerodynamics…

The aerodynamic changes are both immediately noticeable and easy to overlook. Some changes, such as the rear wing, you’ll notice right away. Some things are more subtle, like the rear view mirrors - they are flat on the top (as opposed to standard R8 mirrors which are curved) to be more aerodynamic at high speeds:

The other aerodynamic pieces include front splitters, a front air dam, rear diffuser, rear wing, rear brake venting, and revised side intakes, just to name a few. Most of these pieces are also in carbon fiber, which make them all the more stunning.

Weight savings include the extensive use of carbon fiber throughout the car, a lighter battery, lighter carpeting, a carbon fiber reinforced plastic rear hatch, and even a lighter rear windshield, adding up to a total weight savings of 180 pounds in the US (and 220 lbs in Europe).

An added benefit of the carbon fiber diet is the sheer beauty of the carbon fiber Audi used – instead of a glossy finish, the carbon is in a matte finish for that authentic race car vibe:

Next, Audi added power – an additional 35 horsepower was achieved through a more free flowing, louder & more amazing sounding exhaust as well as a more aggressive tune on the engine, allowing that V10 FSI to really shine, especially since it has less weight to move around. The air intake system was also revised. The result is the sound of a truly exotic car.

To accommodate the extra power, the car’s aerodynamics help keep the car glued to the pavement, creating up to 6x more downforce than the regular R8. The car also has a different suspension that the standard R8, opting for an adjustable coilover setup that can be fine tuned & corner balanced to the owners preferences. Audi also equipped the R8 GT with massive Audi ceramic brakes, which match the GT fender emblem quite nicely:

Last but not least, I thought it was cool that the dealer had 7 R8s in stock, 6 of them within the showroom floor. I took a quick picture of what I would refer to as a little slice of R8 heaven:

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Coming Soon: The Audi R8 Limo – The Fastest Limousine in the World

              It’s no secret that one of the reasons Audi cars rank so highly as performance vehicles is their engines. In addition to being used in the Audi-branded vehicles we all know and love, however, the automaker’s powertrains have also been used in other performance cars over the years.

Among the interesting and exotic vehicles powered by Audi engines are the 1989 Zender Fact 4, a concept car that was fitted with the same 3.6-liter 4-valve-per-cylinder twin-cam V8 that was used in that year’s Quattro sedan, a German sports car known as the Gumpert Apollo (which also used a V8 engine, though this time it was a 4163 cc bi-turbo, intercooled version), and the Spyker C8 Aileron, which comes equipped with a 290 horsepower 4.2-liter V8.

This week, however, Audi engines – and Audi cars in general – made a leap in a different direction. The London-based corporation Limo Broker has announced the creation of the fastest limousine in the world, and it’s basically a super-powered, stretched out, Audi R8.

            While it’s not yet available for actual use, the Audi R8 limousine will be built to street-legal specifications, sporting the same 5.2-liter, 525 horsepower V-10 engine in the standard R8, which is said to accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in a mere 3.9 seconds, and reach a top speed of 197 mph. The stretch limo doesn’t yet have any official test results, but it seems likely that it will break the current speed record (held by a Ferrari limousine) of 0-60 mph acceleration in 6 seconds, with little trouble.

Speed, of course, is just one aspect of the Audi R8 stretch limousine. Inside, there is room for eight passengers, seated in three rows of red-upholstered bucket seats that face forward. Other features include gull-wing doors (reminiscent of retro DeLoreans) for the second and third rows of seats, with conventional doors for rows one and four. The limo will likely be fitted with the same R-tronic automated manual transmission system found in conventional Audi R8s, but there is no final word on whether it will also have the Quattro all-wheel drive.

        Who had the bright idea to build this super-limousine? According to Limo Broker, which says at least one stretch R8 should be available to rent in about three months, it’s being manufactured by Carbonyte UK, the very same automaker that built the Ferrari 360 limousine mentioned above.

We’re not sure if more than one stretch R8 will be constructed, but we do know that finding cheap car insurance for such a unique vehicle is likely to be a challenge.

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Audi TT-RS Photoshoot Feature

This may be my favorite photoshoots that I’ve published here yet – not only are these super cool cars, but the colors just absolutely “pop” and photograph nicely together. Both cars are 2012 Audi TT-RSs – one in Sepang Blue and one in Suzuka Grey, both owned locally here in Phoenix. We started the day at a nearby watering hole named the “TT Roadhouse” as we thought the sign would make a cool backdrop, although I struggled a bit to get the photos to turn out as well as I would have liked. We then moved to an abandoned car dealership for the second round of photos which turned out REALLY cool with lighting that was a little more photography-friendly. I’ll share more photos as well as background on the cars as you read on after the jump…

If you aren’t familiar with the TT-RS, it’s an amazing car that we almost didn’t get in the US. After a Facebook Petition demonstrated sufficient demand here in the States, Audi decided to import ~1,000 models of the TT-RS over the course of 2012-2013. With a 0-60 time that rivals that of an R8 (3.6 seconds) and a price tag less than half of an R8, this is a true enthusiasts car.

What’s super cool about the TT-RS is that not only is a performance bargain, but simple modifications can really push the envelope with this engine. The car shipped to the US with 360 hp and 332 ft-lbs or torque; but the blue one was tuned and given water-meth injection to bump those numbers to 415 horsepower and 463 torque! You can view more information about these mods and see the dyno sheets on theGoodSpeed blog. Couple that power with the famous Quattro drivetrain, a large set of brakes and a great chassis, and you’ve got a recipe for fun.

Besides the unique (and powerful) Inline 5 engine, the Audi TT-RS got special body work to distinguish it from the base TT and TT-S models. Although the layman may not recognize the difference, a much more aggressive front facia along with 19″ wheels, big brakes, and a revised rear bumper & spoiler tip off Audi fans that is is no ordinary TT. The Suzuka Grey TT-RS in these pictures went one step further to customize the exterior of the car with red Audi rings, a black roof & trunk, and an OSIR carbon fiber rear spoiler, while the blue TT-RS removed some of the badging to make his car more of a sleeper. When you look inside these cars you’ll see that the interior also got special treatment over a base TT, such as a nicer steering wheel, alcantara seats, stainless steel pedals, and perforated air leather throughout. The TT-RS was only imported as a manual transmission car to the US, another indication that this is an enthusiasts car.

While I had the Suzuka Grey (which comes off white-ish in certain lighting) and the Sepang Blue cars together, I decided to throw my car in for a few photos to get the “red while and blue” scheme going for some patriotic shots. German cars in American colors.

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Black Window Trim – Audi A4/S4 Guide

I’m not a fan of chrome – in fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve eliminated all of it from my car, except for a few stainless/brushed accents like the mirror caps (an S4 trademark), the lip protector rings of my BBS, and the inner housing of my headlights (still debating blacking those out). I blacked out my grilles almost immediately, removed chrome badges, and also paint matched the trunk trim as some of my first mods. One of the hardest parts to black out; however, is the window trim. Those with the “Titanium Edition” B7 Audi A4, S4 or RS4 don’t have this problem, but the majority of B7s have chrome window trim. This post contains the options you have to black out your window trim, and explains why I ultimately with having a body shop professionally paint my trim.

Option 1 – Vinyl (DIY or Professional)

Vinyl is easy to remove and fairly cheap. I used vinyl to black out the window trim on my Acura TSX a long time ago. The downside is that it’s excruciatingly hard to install – tales around the internet (as well as my personal experience) indicate it takes about four hours of meticulously stretching, cutting, shaping, etc. Even after the 4 hours of tedious vinyl application, you’re bound to have some imperfections, bubbles, and edges where the vinyl had to be cut. To me, vinyl can be a good option but it’s just a lot of labor and will never come out perfect unless a professional does it – and if you’re going to go through the expense of a professional, I think there are better options for the money.

Option 2 – Plasti-dip (DIY)

Plasti-dip is another option – the pros are much like vinyl in that you can DIY it, it’s removable, and it’s pretty cheap. Another advantage over vinyl is that there are no edges to cut or bubbling to worry about, as it sprays on smooth. The downside is durability – the chrome window trim isn’t very sticky for the plasti-dip, so it’s fairly easy to peel off – almost too easy, as I’ve seen several reports of it peeling off accidentally after a few washes or several months of wear-and-tear. It’s a good temporary solution, but you may find yourself reapplying & touching up quite often depending on how thick you put it on and how often you wash your car. I wash my car weekly, so I didn’t think this would be a good option for me.

Option 3 – Order Titanium Trim from Audi

This is a totally viable option, except that new window trim cost about $880 plus installation. The primary reason for this is that you have to replace the rear triangle shaped window, as the only way to remove the trim is to break that window. If you want to do it 100% OEM this is your only option, but it’s an absurdly expensive one that may not be the best use of your money in my humble opinion.

Option 4 – Paint (Professional) – My Preferred Method

I ultimately went with paint here. I have a body shop I trust (thanks Phoenix Collision & Custom Paint) and that charges reasonable prices. And nearly six months later, the finish is still flawless. They chose a semi-gloss black to match my grilles and wheels, and it looks 100% OEM. There are no bubbles, edges, or other problems like vinyl. It’s withstood heat, washing, dirt, etc. with no problems unlike Plasti-dip. The downside is cost – I think I paid about $400 for this, but to me that was well worth it. The trim didn’t have to be removed to paint (they simply masked the car off and painted while installed, so no replacing glass or spending hours disassembling the car. It’s still far less than half the cost of replacing the window trim with OEM titanium trim, plus I could choose a matte or semi-gloss finish instead of the gloss finish of the titanium package. It’s holding up well and looking great, so that’s the method I advocate.

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B7 Audi A4/S4 Front Bumper Options

           A popular question I get asked is about front bumper “body kits” for the B7 Audi A4 (2005.5-2008). Unlike the Honda Civic, your options are a bit more limited in this arena, and generally more expensive too. Luckily for everyone, the front bumpers that do exist are all very nice looking and great options if you’re tired of the look of your car – pictured above is the Deval RS4 kit (more on this below), for instance. The most common swap is for people with the standard A4 without the S-line package, as that bumper is probably the least desirable. In this post we’ll review the various options out there and give an idea of cost & effort involved.

S-line/S4 Bumper

Converting a non-sline front bumper to an S-line or S4 front bumper is one of the most common options. This method uses all OEM parts and is pretty “plug and play” in terms of a front bumper swap. You need more than just the front bumper cover however – the bumper uses a different grille and sidemarkers, as well as some accessory pieces. You can view more pics of an S4 front bumper by checking out my car here. Here is the full list of parts you’ll need for the bumper cover without washer covers (if your car is equipped with headlight washers, you’ll need a different part number for the bumper cover, 8E0-807-105-J-GRU, which has holes cut out for the washers, as well as the washer covers, 8E0-955-101-E left and 8E0-955-102-F right). Part list:

8E0807105MGRU – front bumper cover (S-line/S4)
8E0807681F01C – Cooling air grill left
8E0807682F01C – Cooling air grill right
8E0945071B – Reflector left
8E0945072B – Reflector right
8E0853651M1QP – Radiator grille
8E0807287C1QP – Plate filler




Deval RS4 Bumper

The Deval bumper features an RS4-look. I have heard mixed things about the fitment, with most owners saying that their body shop spent a lot of time to get it look good. The bumper is fiberglass so it can be adjusted to fit well, but nearly every owner I’ve talked to said they wouldn’t do it over again if they had the choice. If you’re okay with spending extra money to get it to fit right, or okay if it doesn’t fit 100% correctly, this may be a good choice for you. You can check out more pictures of the Deval RS4 Front Bumper here. You may also get lucky and have a bumper that fits better than average. You can buy the Deval bumper from Eurogear.

Hofele RS4 Front Bumper

Hofele’s RS4 front bumper is supposed to fit a lot better than the Deval one, and they look nearly identical. The only downside is that the Hofele bumper is also much more expensive. Damir’s A4 has this bumper, and you can check out his feature for more pics of it. The only vendor I’ve seen selling this bumper is LLTek or you can contact Hofele directly if interested. I’ve seen a few of these in person and they fit great. You can buy this kit from LLtek.

Oettinger Bumper

The Oettinger bumper is rare – I think I’ve only seen two or three Audis with it on the internet, and none in person. Oettinger is a great brand and the fitment is supposed to be quality as well. The downside is that it’s expensive and hard to find. It also has a very aggressive look, so I wouldn’t recommend this unless the rest of your car is pretty modified too. Here is another pic of the Oettinger front bumper on a show car that was at SEMA last year.

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Audi Body Design

            The Audi design language and philosophy will focus on a strong link between technology and design. Egger’s credo: “Only when design and technology mesh perfectly does an automobile make a statement for the Audi brand.”

Technology will therefore no longer be enclosed, but rather exposed. For the first time, the union of technology and design will emphasize internal technical elements so strongly that it will create a new dimension of product authenticity.

Pure technology and innovative combinations of materials are reflected in the design of the Audi crosslane coupé.

          In particular the Multimaterial Space Frame – a joint development of designers and lightweight construction experts– is visible at multiple locations in the show car: in the single-frame grille, through intakes in the engine hood, at the sills when opening the door, at the A-pillar and as a load-bearing element in the form of a functional carbon strip in the cockpit.

         Thanks to the holistic design, the interior and exterior of future model generations are more closely intertwined than ever to create a seamless unity that makes it easier to distinguish the models by their interiors as well.

This additional differentiation further accentuates the unique character of each model in the cabin. The stronger link between the exterior and interior is also visible from behind the wheel of the crosslane coupé.

                

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Why Audi?

              In the ongoing race for supremacy in the premium car market, Audi has emerged as a major contender. Once seen by luxury market leaders like BMW and Mercedes as a company destined to remain a dust-eating also ran, Audi’s shrewd and aggressive marketing strategies have effectively repositioned the brand from the rearview mirror to the passing lane. Here are 5 of the best reasons why Audi is riding high in the quest for automotive dominance.

1. A bold marketing strategy: In 2007, after 9 years of sustained growth, punctuated by a very successful 2006 in which Audi saw sales and profits that exceeded projections, Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG made the following statement: “This puts us well on our way to becoming the most successful premium car manufacturer in the world by 2015.” No doubt this very bold proclamation had a two-fold purpose, the first being to infuse Audi with a new level of enthusiasm about what had been and could yet be achieved, and the second being to send a message to the major players in the premium car market that the status quo was about to change. Over the last 4 years since Stadler announced this aggressive strategy, Audi’s steadily increasing market share suggests that the claim might not have been as outlandish as it seemed.

2. Better brand recognition: Spotted an Audi lately? With sleek European looks and definitive front grills set off by dotted lines of LED’s that hug the lower curves of the headlights, Audi engineers have succeeded in making their cars recognizable, long before the iconic four-ring logo comes into view. The same holds true for Audi’s cutting edge commercials and billboards. And with more and more models being introduced with an emphasis on quality and performance, the Audi brand has begun to cast its own distinctive shadow in a spotlight once shared by BMW, Mercedes and Lexus.

3. Targeting the competition: While increased competition in the premium car market has given rise to new and clever ways for car companies to assert their superiority, Audi’s current approach, as seen on commercials, billboards and print ads has been far from subtle. With the lofty goal of market domination by 2015 looming ahead, Audi has chosen to cut to the chase and take on the competition directly—a strategy that seems to be working. One of the reasons it’s working is that Audi has been perceived as the underdog for so long it has been able to capitalize on the complacency of its competitors. When large corporations have dominated a market for a long time, they tend to let their guard down, creating a window of opportunity which a hungrier and more aggressive company can capitalize upon to gain market share. Seizing the opportunity, Audi went for the jugular with a series of commercials designed to portray BMW and Mercedes as the stodgy producers of the kinds of cars that might appeal to parents or grandparents. The irony of it all is that Audi was once thought of by consumers as the “European Buick.”

4. Leveraging Social Media: When a Los Angeles billboard featuring the image of a new Audi A4 with the caption “Your Move BMW” prompted a retaliatory response from BMW with a billboard baring the picture of an M5 and the word “Checkmate”, Audi seized a golden opportunity to cash in on the ensuing “billboard war” through Social Media. Announcing a contest for Facebook users to submit billboard rebuttals to the Beemer ad, Audi succeeded in creating a viral brand buzz that leveraged the billboard ad into the stratosphere. Audi is continuing to promote greater brand awareness through the clever use of Social Media that encourages interaction.

5. Turning up the cool factor: When it comes to high-end automobiles, after all is said and done in terms of styling and engineering, it’s often that intangible component known as the “cool factor” that determines which cars are driven off the lot. Audi engineers refer to the “cool factor” as the soul of an automobile. While the leading luxury automobile companies have been adept at producing cool factor cars, Audi is getting better and better at finding the right blend of power, performance and passion to potentially propel it to the forefront of the premium car market in the coming years.

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Audi or Porche could join F1?

I’m not sure if the noses on F1 cars are wide enough to hold all four Audi rings without rendering them miniscule, so it has to be Porsche with the scalable badge. F1 makes more sense for supercar makers so Porsche also makes sense that way. Like you said, Porsche v Ferrari. Bugatti and Lambo are the only other two VW entities that really make sense. Audi generally is a more sensible make so put them in Prototype which looks more like a regular car (kind of). Audi also has the recent Prototype pedigree. Porsche can still run the GT classes which are probably actually a better ad for the street cars anyway. VW makes most sense as an engine maker because via the VW Group you could basically aggregate some great engine people from a variety of their badges, eg, Lambo, Bugatti, Porsche.

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Can Audi beat Ferrari

           So many people didnt expect that Audi cars can beat Ferrari cars by split seconds. So in order to prove this, researcher have conduct their experiment by using Audi RS4 to overcome Ferrari Suderia. So does this experiment succeed? I've include the prove of Audi beat Ferrari. Lets watch!!

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Does Audi R8 better than Nissan GT-R?

British magazine Autocar has recently put two rather incomparable cars in a head-to-head battle. Why are they incomparable? Because one is the almighty Nissan GT-R, and the other is a tiny Audi A1 Quattro.


The Nissan, as you know, is powered by a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 with more than 500 horsepower; the Audi meanwhile packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 256 horsepower, which is half of the GT-R’s total output.


Don’t underestimate the little A1 Quattro’s capabilities, because it was actually able to beat the GT-R on the wet track. We don’t know what kind of tires both cars were using, but there is something odd about the final result.

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