Mazda ASV-4 Advanced Safety Vehicle On Public Road Trials

We won't have flying cars any time soon, but Mazda is working to take us closer to the science-fiction "roads of tomorrow" nonetheless as on-road trials of its unassuming ASV-4 safety car begin in and around Hiroshima. It may not look like much, but the ASV-4 is a highly advanced bundle of technology. The Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) project is developing vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology that will allow a car to be aware of other cars in low-visibility situations. With a car that's able to warn the driver of other vehicles he or she might not see, the ASV-4 can help eliminate two-vehicle collisions.

Mazda plans to start testing the ASV-4 on public roads in Hiroshima this year. Sensors along the road can "talk" to the ASV-4 and inform the car of potential danger ahead. Mazda's trial is intended to explore the real-world feasibility of road-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

Mazda has not announced any plans beyond the public-road testing, but it's not a long step from a radar-based pre-collision system similar to those found in many luxury cars to a vehicle that can take over in an emergency and swerve away from an unexpected vehicle। The day when our cars can take action to avoid one another even when the driver isn't paying attention may be closer than you think.


Press Release

Mazda to Begin Public Road Trials of the Mazda ASV-4 Advanced Safety Vehicle
HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation will commence public road trials of its advanced safety vehicle, Mazda ASV-4, in the Hiroshima area on March 11, 2008. The trials are based on the Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) Promotion Plan that was introduced by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (MLIT) to promote the development, practical application and wider use of ASV technologies aimed at reducing the number of traffic accidents. During the ASV Project’s Phase Four trials, Mazda will forge ahead with development of a safe driving support system that employs vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

In collaboration with other ASV project members in the Hiroshima area*1, Mazda will collect and analyze data to promote development of a safe driving support system. The system deploys safety technologies which utilize vehicle-to-vehicle communications to alert drivers of oncoming vehicles at blind intersections or on twisting roads with limited visibility. By reducing driver oversight or error, the system aims to mitigate two vehicle collisions at blind intersections, rear-end collisions and accidents when a vehicle performs right turns. Mazda plans to begin testing the two vehicle blind collision avoidance system in fiscal year 2007. Road trials of the right-turn and rear-end collision avoidance systems are set to commence in fiscal 2008.

The ASV project has been promoting the spread of safe driving to reduce traffic accidents through advanced technologies for over fifteen years since its inception by the MLIT in 1991. Mazda’s test results from Phase One to Phase Three have already resulted in the successful development of various advanced safety technologies. These include: a rear vehicle monitoring system that detects vehicles approaching from behind at highway speeds; and Mazda’s Precrash Safety System, which uses milliwave radar to monitor for oncoming obstacles, then alerts the driver and automatically applies the brakes if necessary. The Mazda ASV-4, part of the project’s fourth phase (2006 to 2010), will participate in the effort to promote the spread of ASV technologies and develop and implement a telecommunications-based safe driving support system to help reduce traffic accidents.

In January 2008, Mazda began trials to validate a new Intelligent Transport System (ITS)*2 as part of a consortium of local government, academia and industry in the Hiroshima area. The ITS consists of safe driving support technologies that link sensors installed along roadways to vehicles (road-to-vehicle communications) in order to detect potentially dangerous situations that the driver cannot see. By conducting the ASV public road trials in the same area as the ITS experiments, Mazda intends to evaluate the compatibility of the road-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems.

Mazda is dedicated to leveraging these road trial results, and its own research and development initiatives, to establish ITS and ASV technologies that can assist in reducing the number of traffic accidents and decrease the environmental burden caused by road traffic. Going forward, Mazda will continue to develop and evolve safety technologies that are helping to promote a sustainable transport environment for the future.

*1 Mitsubishi Motors Japan and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
*2 A new traffic system that uses advanced telecommunications technology to create an information network between people, vehicles and the road infrastructure in order to solve transportation problems such as road accidents, traffic jams and damage to the environment.

Source: Mazda

Honda's Swindon factory celebrates 2 millionth car

The British motor industry was once the envy of the developed world. The first three quarters of the 20th century was a hugely exciting period in the industry. British manufacturers such as Austin and Morris produced bread and butter transport for the masses, while marques such as Rolls Royce, Bentley and Jaguar were building motor cars for the worlds rich and famous.

That era has long passed, the Germans own Rolls Royce and Bentley and Jaguar is being sold off to the Indians. Much of the development and engineering is still conducted in the UK but the Brit’s just don’t own any off it anymore. But alas, there is still something to be very proud of if you are a patriotic British car enthusiast. Britain has a burgeoning car manufacturing industry. Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Jaguar and Landrover all build cars in the UK, to name but a few. In fact some of the most efficient manufacturing facilities in Europe are on British terra firma.

So it should come as no surprise to learn that Honda will build its two millionth car at its Swindon based UK manufacturing facility on the 21st of February। The plant, which has been building cars since 1992 is in for a substantial upgrade as Honda have committed around £80 million for improvements. This will ensure that the Brit’s will be making Japanese cars for many years to come. Read on for more details.




Press Release

HONDA CELEBRATES ONE IN TWO MILLION

£80m investment tops day of achievement

This week marks Honda's celebration of the 2 millionth car from its Swindon car production facility. The silver CR-V is scheduled for production tomorrow evening (21st February, 2008) nearly 16 years after car manufacturing began in October 1992. Today the company announced substantial new investment, showing further commitment to its UK manufacturing operations.

Building on its 22 year history, Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd. (HUM) is investing a further £80 million to upgrade and improve manufacturing processes. This includes:

• £20 million into Plastic Operations which started mass production in January 2008
- capable of moulding and painting 1300 sets of bumpers for Civic and CR-V each day
• £16 million into a new casting facility employing the Honda patented process of ASCT (advanced semi-solid casting technology). This unique new process will enable HUM to independently cast diesel blocks, a process which, until now, has only been carried out at Honda in Japan
• A further £50 million being invested in welding and paint production technology, increasing efficiency and production flexibility.

Honda's Swindon plant has shown a 25% increase in production volume over the last 18 months, with the company's UK sales operation breaking through the 100,000 sales barrier for the first time in 2007. Currently just under 30% of Swindon production goes to the UK market. In 2007, HUM produced 237,783 cars.

David Hodgetts, Director at HUM, stated that "We are extremely proud of our workforce here in Swindon. This major milestone demonstrates the scale of our achievement since our operations began nearly 22 years ago. This fresh investment will enable Honda to improve overall competitiveness and increase the level of localised manufacture in Swindon. "

Ken Keir, Senior Vice President of Honda Motor Europe, said "The fact that there are over two million happy customers driving Swindon built Honda cars is testament to our Associates' commitment and is a great accomplishment."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd. (HUM) : Key Facts

1) HUM Vehicle Production History

• Accord 4 Door (1992~2002 ) 280,432
• Accord 5 Door (1999~2002) 46,418
• Civic Aerodeck (1998~2000) 48,064
• Civic 3 Door (2001~Present) 213,810
• Civic 5 Door (1994~Present) 777,850
• CR-V (2000~Present) 633,426

Total 2,000,000


2) HUM Profile

• Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd (HUM) is a fully integrated car manufacturing facility, producing the total car (Casting, Engine, Pressing, Painting and Assembly) on one site in Swindon, Wiltshire.
• 370 acre site (1.5million m2)
• Honda has invested £1.38 billion in its manufacturing operation in Swindon
• Total 5,000 Associates
• HUM built CR-V and Civic models exported to 60 Countries Worldwide

3) HUM Production Milestones

1985 HUM established
1986 Pre-Delivery Inspection begins
1989 Engine Plant production begins
1992 Car manufacturing begins in Car Plant 1 - Accord Model
Second Engine Line installed
1994 Civic production begins
1995 Press Facility established
1996 10th Anniversary of Operation
1998 1 Million Engines
¼ Million Civics
1999 ½ Million cars
10th anniversary of Engine production
¼ Million Accords
2000 CR-V production begins
2001 Car Plant 2 begins production
Civic 3-Door production begins
Civic Type-R exported to Japan
2002 10th anniversary of Car production
Press Facility expansion
End of Accord production
CR-V exported to North America
2003 1 Million Cars
1½ Million Engines
2004 ¼ Million CR-Vs
15th Anniversary of Engine Production
Plastic Operations established
2005 2 Million Engines produced
¾ Million Civics
Diesel engine assembly begins
1.5 millionth car produced
2006 20th Anniversary of Operation
½ Million CR-Vs
2007 ‘07 Civic Type-R Production begins
Plant-2 Two Shift Operation begins
Civic Type-R export to Australia
1 Million Civics
CR-V export to South Africa
2008 Plastic Operations expansion
2 Million Cars
Source: Honda



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JJAD Project 001: Affordable, Light and Powerful Sports Car

Jim Dowle, a British designer and developer of vehicles such as the Caparo T1 or the legendary McLaren F1, has decided he needs to build a car of his own and, with the help of the Mexican designer Alejandro Loya Iturralde, who has created the images you see it this article, he came up with the so far called Project 001।

Although the name of the car seems not to have been defined yet, Project would be a nice way to call it, since its goals are very impressive: 200 hp, 870 kg and a tag list of £ 35,000, or about € 46,400। You may say that is not exactly cheap, but the car’s sport capabilities will probably make it very good value for money, and one of the cheapest high performance cars of the world.


If the engineers manage to reach the desired figures, the JJAD Project will become one of the most interesting cars to drive on the road, probably challenging the Elise and other Lotus vehicles।


The JJAD will be a two-seater with centrally mounted engine, an aluminium chassis and carbon fibre body। You can expect for more information of the car as soon as we manage to talk to Mr. Dowle and to Mr. Iturralde in order to obtain more images and news about this good-looking vehicle.



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First Official Image Released:Bolwell Nagari

Many may have not ever heard of the Bolwell Car Company, but now they will. The company will present the new Nagari (nothing to do with Mazda’s concept car) at the Melbourne Motor Show in February 29 and, though the company has not stated officially which engine will power the car, Campbell Bolwell, the founder of the company, writes at the homepage of Bolwell’s website that he has built his first V8 sports car at 16. Since it was his dream to construct a V8 sports car, this is very likely to be his beauty’s powerplant. We will just have to find out which V8.

Meanwhile, Bolwell has release this first image and given hints on the rest of the car in its official website. The press release claims the “four headlight front end echoes the legendary McLaren F1”, but the overall appearance of the sporty vehicle resembles much more another myth on wheels, the Ferrari F40. In an indirect way, Bolwell recognises the influence and makes reference to the “best Italian mid-engined exotics”.

No technical details have been released so far, but the press release also states that the Nagari’s design “also pays homage to the original Nagari of the 1970’s”. The elements that make the connection between the two cars are the rising hip line and the tunnel-back rear window (not disclosed so far). We’ll bring you the pictures and the technical specs as soon as they are disclosed.




Press Release

Bolwell's New Nagari Revealed

Bolwell Car Company has revealed the fully finished beauty of its new Nagari sports car.

A single frontal image reveals sleek, low-slung lines with generous glass areas and classic mid-engined sports car styling.

The faired-in, four-headlight front end echoes the legendary McLaren F1, while other elements capture the spirit of the best Italian mid-engined exotics.

As intended by its creator Campbell Bolwell, the styling also pays homage to the original Nagari of the 1970s, particularly in the rising, curvaceous hip line and the tunnel-back rear window.

Bolwell will give the public its first look at the complete car when the Motor Show opens its doors next week at 5pm on Friday 29 February.

Melbourne International Motor Show is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).



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Webasto's Innovative Car Roofs Hit Geneva

If you can’t stand the heat, as the saying goes, leave the kitchen. In this case, better call Webasto. Possibly what some might label a very boring company – let’s face it, car roofs and air conditioning systems aren’t exactly fire under our bellies – yet Webasto is the leader in roof mechanisms for some of the world’s most stylish convertibles. They are behind MINI’s innovative convertible roof, as well as VW’s quiet 5-piece Eos hard-top, with all those complex hydraulic systems.

Come Geneva Motor Show 2008, Webasto will be under the spotlight, so to speak, as the unveil their newest products, the Webasto LigHT Concept, which is an innovative roof concept featuring a hybrid top with a new material mix. This will be shown on a roadster design study for demo purposes. Then there is the Liquid Heat Generator, a new heat-generating auxiliary system. Remember that Webasto developed the solar sunroof that runs a blower located inside the car to cool it when the engine is off while it’s blazing hot outside. Clever this, using the sun to cool things down in the car’s interior. No more sunburn at the parking lot outside the mall on Saturday.

Something Webasto calls “The roof of the future” will also make its appearance at Geneva. Touted as a fantasy concept, designers were given the brief to go wild and go beyond the classic convertible roof we are used to.



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F1 License Plate sold for GBP 440,625

New record

Everybody thought that GBP 331,000 would be the ultimate record for the M1 UK license plate, topping Russian gazillionaire and Chelsea owner Abramovich's GBP 281,000 bid for the VIP1 plate. But today we can officially report a new record, set by Afzal Kahn from Project Kahn who paid an astounding GBP 375,000 for the 'F1' UK number plate (that's GBP 440,625 including taxes, almost 600,000 Euro or USD 875,000).

The F1 number plate was sold by the Essex County Council who has been in possession of the plate ever since 1904. Lord Hanningfield, the current leader of the authority, said: "It will be with some sadness that we will be losing this little piece of Essex history.”

Afzal Kahn, President of Project Kahn, said “I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious marque. I am extremely happy the money raised from the sale will help improve road safety and through the training of young drivers.”

For now the F1 license plates is used for a Mercedes SLR McLaren, but in a few weeks time it will move to Kahn latest, a Range Rover Cosworth. Stay tuned for that!

Press Release

“F1” Sold!

The UK’s most expensive ever number plate has been sold for £440,625 Inc. The F1 plate, previously owned by Essex County Council has been sold to automotive designer and entrepreneur Afzal Kahn from Project Kahn LTD.

Essex County Council Leader Lord Hanningfield and an Essex advanced trained young driver will hand over the most prized ID in Britain to its new owner on January 21st 2008 at North Weald Airfield, Near Epping, Essex.

The “F1” number plate was sold for £109,625 more than the previous record holder, the “M1” plate, sold at Bonhams recently for £331,000. The record sale also eclipses the sale of VIP 1, reputedly sold to Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich for £285,000.

The money raised from the sale will go to the education and training of young drivers. Hundreds of young and recently passed drivers will be given help to take the Pass Plus test, which gives advanced training in driving techniques. The test, designed by the Driver Standards Agency, gives youngsters knowledge of how to drive on motorways and in poor weather conditions. The test is recognised by many car insurance companies, lowering insurance premiums and also by many employers.

F1 was first registered in the Essex County Register of Motors in 1904 as belonging to the County Surveyor of Essex. It was the official car of the first Chairman of Essex County Council, Andrew Johnston, and has remained in the county council’s possession ever since, having had pride of place on the Chairman’s car until recently when it was replaced with the plate, “ECC1”.

Council Leader - Lord Hanningfield said “It will be with a little sadness that we will be losing this little piece of Essex history but I am pleased to say the money raised will help improve the safety of our roads through the training of young drivers. I believe we have got an excellent for Essex in selling this asset. I congratulate Mr Kahn on his purchase”

Afzal Kahn, President of Project Kahn, said “I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious marque. I am extremely happy the money raised from the sale will help improve road safety and through the training of young drivers such as James. The training of young drivers is a very important issue and I am privileged to have contributed to such a worthy cause.

“I look forward to The F1 number plate being placed on the groundbreaking Range Rover Cosworth that we will be launching in the coming weeks.”

Tesla Roadster Receives U.S. FMVSS Certification

The green-minded enthusiasts who have put down deposits on Teslas have one less concern weighing on their minds today. In the wake of recent organizational upheaval, Tesla Motors released some good news for those eagerly awaiting the electric sports car's pending introduction. After a final round of crash tests, the Tesla now meets U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). With that hurdle cleared, the car officially meets DOT and EPA requirements to be sold in the United States. Production is scheduled to begin March 17 of this year.

According to Malcolm Powell, Vice President of Vehicle Integration with Tesla, crash testing was only part of the gauntlet of tests the Tesla had to pass: windshield defrosting, mirror coverage and EPA Clean Air Act requirements were also necessary. Specific details of how well the carbon-fiber-bodied Tesla crashed haven't been released, but the company announced that it did pass and that the car has been approved for U.S. sale, thereby keeping the company on track to begin delivering cars as scheduled. Currently, the only mechanical change to the Tesla is a one-speed transmission that will be used on early production models. Acceleration is limited, from the blistering 4.0 second 0-60mph time promised to a more sedate 5.7 seconds, but the single-speed gearbox is reportedly more durable than the two-speed transmission that was originally planned. Tesla is in the process of developing the faster transmission for production but plans to begin limited production on schedule with the interim transmission.

Press Release

First production 2008 Tesla Roadster Imported – Series Production Begins in March

0. Tesla Motors has received all regulatory approvals to import the first production Tesla Roadster (“P1”) for sale. This includes all necessary EPA and DOT approvals, including completion of all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS.)
0. P1 will arrive at Tesla Motors headquarters next week for delivery to customer Elon Musk, Chairman of Tesla Motors.
0. Series production of the Tesla Roadster is scheduled to begin March 17th, 2008.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
0. As communicated previously, early production units will be equipped with an interim transmission that meets durability requirements but limits acceleration to 5.7 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.
0. Separately, Tesla Motors engineers have designed a permanent solution for mass production that supports the original specification of 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds.
0. The planned solution has some very positive benefits for our customers. Instead of a complex 2-speed transmission design, Tesla will achieve the original performance goals with a simpler one-speed unit mated to a higher rated Power Electronics Module (PEM.) The existing motor will be modified to have advanced cooling capabilities to handle the additional power. The permanent transmission unit will be engineered to handle the higher torque of the powertrain.
0. The planned solution reduces program risk, provides better efficiency, lower weight, equal or better range, better thermal performance and quicker quarter mile acceleration due to the elimination of the need to shift gears.
0. The planned solution incorporates the latest developments of our powertrain team which has been continually improving on Tesla’s core technology.
0. Early production will proceed at a limited rate and then ramp up to full production when the permanent powertrain solution is production ready later this year.
The upgrade from the interim solution to the higher power, permanent solution will be provided to our customers free of charge when available later this year.

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Bertone Reveals First Rescue Plans

Bertone Group’s fate has been given a direction last January 23, 2008, when Lilli Bertone and Domenico Reviglio, owner of the Gruppo Prototipo and turnaround specialist, finally signed a contract that will put Stile Bertone S.p.A., Bertone S.p.A. and Carrozzeria Bertone S.p.A under Reviglio’s control. According to the statement Bertone has released yesterday, 35% of the shares will remain in Ms. Bertone’s hands, while the other 65% will be assigned to Reviglio.

“I am fully satisfied with this agreement,” said Lilli Bertone: “It represents a fundamental starting point on the basis of which our work to kick start all our activities, from styling to production, can begin. I have fought long and hard for this result, and I have had to steer my way round a veritable obstacle course in the form of people pursuing interests that have nothing to do with the company’s industrial mission, completely ignoring the interests of the workforce, stirring up controversy for instrumental purposes, and exploiting the incomprehensible willingness of certain newspapers to publish falsehoods”, said Bertone’s matriarch.

“Fought” is not a mere way she found to express herself. Barbara Bertone, Lilli’s daughter, was the general director of the company and has been suspended from her functions little before the companies were sold. According to Automotive News, Barbara and her sister, Marie Jeanne, claim their mother did not own all the shares she sold to Reviglio. They also intend to take legal action against the sale.

Among the recovery measures Reviglio intends to take is the production of electric vehicles, just like Pininfarina has announced. He expects the Bertone Group to generate € 39.1 million in revenue in 2008 and € 62.2 million in 2009, according to Automotive News.

Press Release

BERTONE - REVIGLIO: AGREEMENT SIGNED

This morning Lilli Bertone and Domenico Reviglio put their signatures to a contract to purchase shares in Stile Bertone S.p.A., Bertone S.p.A. and Carrozzeria Bertone S.p.A with the aim of injecting new industrial life into the Bertone Group. The agreement executes the terms of the purchase option presented by Dott. Reviglio and confirms that a new company will be set up in which 35% of the shares are assigned to Ms Lilli Bertone and 65% to Dott Domenico Reviglio.

“I am fully satisfied with this agreement,” said Lilli Bertone: “It represents a fundamental starting point on the basis of which our work to kick start all our activities, from styling to production, can begin. I have fought long and hard for this result, and I have had to steer my way round a veritable obstacle course in the form of people pursuing interests that have nothing to do with the company’s industrial mission, completely ignoring the interests of the workforce, stirring up controversy for instrumental purposes, and exploiting the incomprehensible willingness of certain newspapers to publish falsehoods. Now is the time to turn over a new leaf. The new Bertone begins today. For me this is a personal commitment and I intend to accompany this prestigious Italian brand towards its one hundredth anniversary, restoring it to its rightful place among the great brands of the world.”



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New 1.8TFSI Engine For Audi A4 & Audi A5

As we revealed back in September, Audi had been making plans to bring a 1.8 TFSI engine to the market. The engine is now ready to go, with the German car company placing it as a candidate for the Audi A4 and Audi A5.

The new turbocharged engine generates 120 horsepower in the A4, and 170 hp in the A5. A5 owners can get the engine paired with a continuously variable multitronic transmission, while A4 owners get the manual transmission. Maximum torque exceeded expectations at nearly 170 lb-ft, with required engine speed needed to reach that potential at just 1500 to 3650 rpm. With the new engine, the A4 goes 0-100 kmh in 10.5 seconds, topping out at 208 kmh. The A5 improves on that significantly with a 0-100 time of 8.6 seconds, and a top speed of 218kmh.

Each vehicle has decent fuel economy, with the A4 burning 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers, and the A5 using 7.4 liters.

Both cars are now available for order. Starting price for the Audi A4 1.8 TFSI is listed as €25,900, with the Audi A5 1.8 TFSI climbing to €34,900.

Press Release

New engine versions for Audi A4 and A5

* 1.8 TFSI with various performance levels * High efficiency and sporty performance * Entry-level version for the Audi A4 line

Audi continues to expand its successful A4 and A5 model lines. The new entry-level units add to the range of available engines. The 1.8 TFSI engine is available for the Audi A4, where it generates 88 k (120 hp) in combination with a manual transmission, and for the A5, where it develops 125 kW (170 hp) in combination with the continuously variable multitronic transmission.

With a power output of 88 kW (120 hp), the 1.8 TFSI in the Audi A4 has proven to be an especially efficient version. The four-cylinder engine, which combines the technologies of turbocharging and gasoline direct injection, is offered with manual six-speed transmission and front-wheel drive. Maximum torque of 230 Nm (169.64 lb-ft), meanwhile, is reached at just 1,500 to 3,650 rpm. This enables fuel-efficient driving with fewer gearshifts.

The Audi A4 1.8 TFSI accelerates to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 208 km/h (129.25 mph). Its average fuel consumption of 7.1 liters per 100 km (33.13 mpg) makes the four-cylinder unit an efficient engine. The Audi A4 1.8 TFSI can now be ordered starting at €25,900 (Attraction).

The Audi A5 is also offered now with either the 1.8 TFSI with manual gearshift or the continuously variable multitronic transmission. The maximum torque of 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft) is available between 1,500 and 4,800 rpm. The high-revving gasoline engine handles the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 8.6 seconds and can achieve speeds of up to 218 km/h (135.46 mph).

The Audi A5 1.8 TFSI, with its continuously variable automatic multitronic transmission, unites ride comfort with superior driving performance and low fuel consumption – using an average of 7.4 liters per 100 km (31.79 mpg). The Audi A5 1.8 TFSI with multitronic starts at €34,900.