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PRESS | 2008 Audi Sportscar Experience
Audi Launches the 2008 Audi Sportscar Experience
• Program based at Audi Forum Sonoma in Northern California
• Special half-day program added for drivers to test all new Audi “S” models
• Experience designed and executed with strategic partner Emotive
SONOMA, Calif., April 29, 2008 – Audi of America, Inc. today announced the launch of the 2008 Audi Sportscar Experience based at the Audi Forum Sonoma at Infineon Raceway in California. Created by Audi and its strategic partner, Emotive, the Audi Sportscar Experience is a hands-on driving experience designed especially for performance car enthusiasts – consumers who love to drive and experience exceptionally engineered vehicles. The 2008 Audi Sportscar Experience will feature the new Audi R8 sportscar and the Audi RS 4 high-performance sedan.
The Audi Sportscar Experience features a special half-day program allowing drivers to experience the true performance of Audi’s newest “S” models — including the sporty S4, the new and powerful S5 coupe, and the luxurious and commanding 450-horsepower S8. Additionally, participants will have access to highly-acclaimed, limited-volume new products from Audi.
“This program was developed on the pillars of the Audi brand – performance and technology,” said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer, Audi of America. “The Audi Sportcar Experience allows participants to test and sharpen their driving skills and push our cars in a controlled environment. There is no better way to demonstrate the foundation of this company than behind the wheel and on the track.”
The Audi Sportscar Experience operates year-round from the Audi Forum Sonoma, located trackside at Turn 1 of Infineon Raceway in beautiful Sonoma Valley. Using a variety of vehicles from among the Audi R, RS, and S model lines, the Audi Sportscar Experience takes drivers through a rigorous, behind-the-wheel instructional driving program at one of the most exciting racing circuits in the world. With its 160-foot elevation changes, challenging corners and breathtaking scenery, the 2.5-mile Infineon course has been aptly described as a small Nurburgring.
“We’ve created an unmatched experience for avid car enthusiasts,” said Chip Pankow, president of Emotive Group. “We’ll help drivers develop the skills necessary to extract optimal performance from these exceptionally engineered vehicles on a real speedway – all set in the beautiful locale of Sonoma’s world-class wine country.”
The Audi Sportscar Experience includes both one- and two-day programs. A complete schedule of events can be found at www.audidrivingexperience.com. Programs include:
RS 4 One-Day Program
Bred from motorsport dominance, the 2008 Audi RS 4 delivers a blend of exceptional luxury and pulse-pounding performance. The one-day program is designed to develop driving fundamentals, including braking, accident avoidance, car control and slalom. Drivers develop their skills in a controlled manner and put themselves to the test on the slalom course. ($1,295)
RS 4 Two-Day Program
Building on the foundation from the one-day program, the two-day program adds track lapping on Infineon Raceway, Northern California’s premier speedway. Drivers will test the remarkable capabilities of the RS 4 while racing on one of the most exciting tracks in the world – just like a race car driver! ($2,495)
R8 One-Day Program
The amazing Audi R8 sports car was just named the 2008 World Performance Car of the Year at the 2008 New York Auto Show. The race-ready R8 epitomizes Audi’s quest for perfection and is the industry leader in innovation, technology, design and performance. Drivers will utilize the R8 to hone their driving skills on the paddock and then take the R8 where it really wants to be – on the 2.52-mile road racing course at Infineon Raceway. ($1,895)
R8 Two-Day Program
This program also builds on the essentials of the one-day program and incorporates more track time in the R8. Progressive sessions in the R8 ensure that drivers will responsibly approach the limits of the R8 at Infineon Raceway. Drivers will enjoy ample seat time and instruction from professional drivers who are experts in their fields. ($3,495)
S Model Half-Day Introductory Program
“S” denotes sport in the world of Audi. In the S-Model Half-Day Introductory Program, drivers will get a taste for racing in the S4, the new S5, and the 450-bhp S8. This program covers the fundamentals of driving followed by laps on the speedway. The experience culminates in a handling course competition where drivers can compete in the team category and for individual best time. ($695)
PRESS RELEASE (Source: Audi via Autoblog)
Auto Gallery | 2009 Audi A4 Avant (Geneva Preview)
Photo Update (Source: The Car Connection)
PRESS | Land Rover LRX Hybrid Concept unveiled
(openPR) - Land Rover unveiled a vision of its future recently (January 13, 2008) at the North American International Auto Show (Detroit Auto Show) with the world debut of the LRX hybrid concept - a bold evolution of Land Rover design that indicates the brand’s progressive shift into new areas of the market while remaining true to its core values. As the company prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary during 2008, the three-door LRX, with its more compact size, lighter weight and sustainability-focused technologies, clearly addresses the needs of a changing world and offers the potential of 120 g/km CO2 emissions.
For more details contact Island Lincoln Mercury Jaguar Land Rover, the leading dealership for new and pre-owned Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles at Merritt Island, Florida (FL). Visit www.luxurychallenge.com or call 866-415-9833.
“The LRX concept delivers the powerful message that we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles,” Land Rover’s Managing Director Phil Popham said. “LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it’s a very different Land Rover”.
LRX is described as a cross-coupé and dramatically extends the scope of what Land Rover represents. LRX has been conceived as a premium vehicle, designed to appeal to new customers in the luxury and executive sector – those who want many of the benefits of an SUV and the presence of a larger vehicle, but in a more compact package.
Its compact size is one of its greatest assets, which will appeal to anyone who wants the versatile ability of an agile SUV with the cachet of the Land Rover name. In addition, its lower weight and the reduced aerodynamic drag resulting from the smaller frontal area would help give significant gains in fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.
LRX is conceived as a highly fuel-efficient, U.S. Federal-specification, 2.0-liter, turbodiesel hybrid, capable of running on bio-diesel. In combination with other Land Rover technologies, this powertrain could reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent compared with other SUVs of comparable size, and reduce emissions to approximately 120 g/km.
The design of LRX was developed entirely in-house by Gerry McGovern’s team, driven by a passion to create a vehicle that truly represents Land Rover’s future thinking. The interior of the LRX concept clearly demonstrates how a compact Land Rover can still be roomy, practical, versatile – and sophisticated. Although LRX is compact, clever use of space makes it impressively roomy, and many neat design touches maximize its practicality.
For more details contact Island Lincoln Mercury Jaguar Land Rover, the leading dealership for new and pre-owned Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in Merritt Island, Florida (FL). Island Lincoln Mercury Jaguar Land Rover offers several features at its dealership, such as Finance Specials, Weekend Specials, New and Used Vehicle Specials, Pre Owned Specials and Lease Specials. Please visit the website at www.luxurychallenge.com for more details.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: openPR)
PRESS | Tata Motors unveils the People’s Car
Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, today unveiled the Tata ‘NANO’, the People’s Car from Tata Motors that India and the world have been looking forward to. A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People’s Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families. The People’s Car will be launched in India later in 2008.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, Mr. Ratan N. Tata said, “I observed families riding on two-wheelers – the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family. Tata Motors’ engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”
Stylish, comfortable
The People’s Car, designed with a family in mind, has a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room. It can comfortably seat four persons. Four doors with high seating position make ingress and egress easy.
Yet with a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas. Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and manoeuvrability, which will set a new benchmark among small cars.
When launched, the car will be available in both standard and deluxe versions. Both versions will offer a wide range of body colours, and other accessories so that the car can be customised to an individual’s preferences.
Fuel-efficient engine
The People’s Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.
Meets all safety requirements
The People’s Car’s safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements. With an all sheet-metal body, it has a strong passenger compartment, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tubeless tyres further enhance safety.
Environment-friendly
The People’s Car’s tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint.
(For more information: www.tatanano.com )
PRESS RELEASE (Source: Tata Motors)
PRESS | Carlsson CD32 - a mass of class
(openPR) - For all off-road enthusiasts the famous Mercedes-Benz tuner Carlsson is offering a complete tuning package, which clearly, if tastefully, underlines the modern features of the M-Class. Big, voluminous yet still sporty, with its performance tweaked to 269 bhp and a potent torque, and combining this with a touch of luxury, the CD 32 based on the ML 320 CDI always cuts a fine figure both in the countryside and in the metropolitan jungle.
Carlsson performance Kit C-Tronic® Diesel POWER
It is easy to be seen that this SUV needs plenty of power. In other words, there is a lot of weight that has to be moved. Hence, drivers of the ML 320 CDI will certainly appreciate the power of 269 bhp/198 kW. According to Carlsson, a maximum torque of 612 Nm is generated at 1800 rpm.
Carlsson attaches great importance to safety and reliability: correction maps ensure that reserves of the engine are only used when the temperature is in the safe operating zone. The straight-forward installation of the supplementary control unit, which is possible through Carlsson´s adapter system, is also interesting for the customer to avoid long waiting times. Thanks to the plug-and-play capability, it can be installed quite quickly and, if required, can also be rebuilt.
Stainless steel silencers with twin oval tailpipes each
The rear view of the CD32 is dominated by the four tailpipes of the Carlsson sports rear silencers, which not only give out an impressive, sonorous, sporty sound, but are also optimised, in comparison with the standard version, in terms of exhaust back pressure and gas conduction, and thus contribute to the achievement of greater torque and improved performance. The design of the tailpipes offers a significant practical advantage: they are double-walled, i.e. thermally insulated and, in addition, optimised in terms of air flow, thus guaranteeing less external dirt.
Electronic suspension lowering C-Tronic® SUSPENSION
Greater ride comfort in all situations
By means of the electronic lowering system C-Tronic® SUSPENSION, the centre of gravity of the vehicle is lowered by up to 40 mm. This results in a sporty look and better handling of the vehicle because of the limitation of roll. A further advantage of the improved aerodynamics, which are achieved by the lowering of the suspension, is the reduction in the front profile of the vehicle. This results in a higher top speed and better fuel consumption, particularly in the case of off-road vehicles. Whilst usual lowering systems for vehicles with electronic suspension confine themselves to lowering the centre of gravity of the vehicle, the innovative technology of the C-Tronic® SUSPENSION allows for automatic intelligent interaction with road conditions. On poor road surfaces and in response to the persistent spring deflection, which they cause, the lowering effect is automatically attenuated in order to ensure the appropriate spring travel required for the most comfortable ride.
Elegance for the adventurous
Even in its unmodified form, the ML 320 CDI is visually impressive with its interplay of strongly contoured panels and taut lines. The Carlsson design of the aerodynamic components lends support to the sovereign character of the new M-Class but at the same time gives it a sportier feel. The front spoiler and the lip on the rear skirt appear with the characteristic Carlsson ‘diffuser look’.
Wheel 1/11 Evo Brilliant Edition
The design of the Carlsson 1/11 Evo BE is a further development of the tried, tested and popular 1/11 BE wheel. With the new wheel, Carlsson has once again confirmed that the company’s claim that a wheel should not only have a visual impact but also offer technical benefits, e.g., that it is as light as possible.
For the ML-Class, Carlsson offers its 11-spoke wheel 1/11 Evo BE in the dimensions 11×22“ with Dunlop SP Sport 9000 285/30 R22 tyres.
Luxurious interior ambience
The interior design also fulfils the expectations aroused by the CD32 when approaching the car. Only the very best materials have been used for the interior appointments of the CD32. A combination of Alcantara and leather make the passenger compartment an inviting and pleasant place to be, even on very long journeys. With the ergonomic Carlsson sports steering wheel in leather / Alcantara or leather / wood, the driver can be sure of always having the car under control in a particularly pleasant way. Pedals made from aluminium add a sporty touch. Illuminated door exit lights show the way into a world of luxury and genuine atmosphere. Naturally, there are no limits on customer wishes when it comes to individual fittings and appointments for the car.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: openPR)
