Audi 04/2015 - PDF

Audi Magazine
N° 04/2015
www.audi.com.sg
SINGAPORE EDITION
The Audi heartbeat: What lies at the
v e r y c o r e o f V o r s p r u n g d u r c h Te c h n i k
A revelation: The Audi e-tron quattro concept
causes a sensation at the Frankfurt Motor Show
A special gift for Singapore:
Presenting the Audi SG50 Time Machine
editorial
E xperiencing Vorsprung
Welcome to the Audi Magazine Singapore edition.
The world is constantly evolving and so is Audi. More than any
other brand, Audi stands for progress. We are driven by the desire to
build cars that are ahead of their time.
The Audi e-tron quattro concept on page 16 starred at the
Frankfurt Motor Show (IA A). It is a progressive combination
of advanced aerodynamics, innovative lighting technology and
high-performance electric drive. This is our vision of the future and
it is closer than you think.
Audi is leading the way in the world of autonomous driving.
We call it piloted driving. Our driving concept car, Robby, is the
latest prototype to push the envelope of driverless cars. Find out
more on page 52.
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Also in this issue, we catch up with the winners of the Audi
quattro Cup held at the Sentosa Golf Club before they set off
for the World Final. Ms Ng Chiang Ling and Mr Atsushi Yoshimura
were the best of the 200 plus golfers that competed that day. Now
they will have to take their best game to Los Cabos, Mexico, to battle
against winners from the other 55 countries and 750 qualifying
tournaments to bring home the honours. We wish them the very best.
Yours,
Jeff Mannering
Managing Director, Audi Singapore
Audi Magazine
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Contents
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move
0 0 6 Immerse yourself in the world of
Audi, and discover the latest news and
highlights from the brand.
0 5 2 Fast-track development
Audi is pioneering piloted driving. In
Sonoma, California, this forward-looking
technology’s performance was put to
the test.
drive
0 6 2 Big in China
The Audi Summer Tour 2015 took
FC Bayern Munich to China. And David Alaba
to the Shanghai International Circuit.
0 1 6 The future now
With its combination of state-of-theart aerodynamics, cutting-edge lighting
technology and powerful electric drive, the
Audi e-tron quattro concept dazzles at the
recent Frankfurt Motor Show.
0 2 9 The heart that beats in every Audi
Vorsprung durch Technik is more than just a
catchy slogan—it is the driving force behind
everything that Audi does.
inspire
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0 7 0 Blast to the past
Audi Singapore presented its gift for
the nation’s Golden Jubilee, the SG50
Time Machine.
0 7 8 Always at your service
In the first of our four-part Meet The
Team series on Audi Service, we talk to
Daniel Watts about how to keep your Audi
in top condition.
0 8 0 It figures
The numbers to pay attention to when it
comes to your Audi.
0 5 0 A two-wheeled wonder
We look at one of the surprising stars of the
upcoming Singapore Motorshow.
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Giving it
their best shot
Audi quattro Cup Singapore winners Ng Chiang Ling
a n d A t s u s h i Yo s h i m u r a w i l l n o w r e p r e s e n t S i n g a p o r e
at the World Final in Mexico.
Siti Rohani (copy)
Atsushi Yoshimura keeps an eagle eye on the prize—the chance
to compete at the World Final of the Audi quattro Cup.
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Audi Magazine
Ng Chiang Ling keeps her focus on the game.
On a September day at the Sentosa Golf Club, Ng Chiang Ling
and her husband Atsushi Yoshimura fended off fierce competition
to emerge as the winners of the Audi quattro Cup Singapore 2015.
To the couple, who won at the Tanjong course, it was very close as
they played till the evening. “We really enjoy the game format and
it gives us a good excuse to step out of our usual routine,” says Ng, a
fund management director.
With their win, Ng and Yoshimura will head to Los Cabos,
Mexico at the end of November to represent Singapore at the
World Final. “It was the first time that we felt our adrenaline soar
so high in a golf game,” says Ng, when asked to recall a memorable
moment during the competition.
The duo will join teams from around the world at the Cabo del
Sol Ocean Course from 29 November to 3 December to battle it out
for the Audi quattro Cup. Now in its 25th year, the Audi quattro Cup
is the most prestigious amateur golf tournament in the world.
The 42-year-old Ng and 54-year-old Yoshimura have competed
in this tournament four times but this win marks their first triumph.
Audi Magazine
“The win was completely unexpected,” says Ng. “We were just
there to have a good time. We never thought we would ever come
out tops.”
The couple started playing together in 2004, but took the
sport more seriously when they moved to Singapore in 2008.
However, with two little girls at home, Ng admits that this doesn’t
leave them with a lot of time for golf.
To prepare for the World Final in Mexico, she shares that
their focus will be on getting more practice on their weak areas, a
task which has proved challenging due to the haze that shrouded
Singapore in September and October.
When asked to reveal their winning strategy for that
triumphant September day, Ng, who shares an Audi RS 4 with her
private investor husband, said: “Focus on the game, hole by hole.
Don’t be greedy, and choose the safest and most reliable option.”
It looks like slow and steady really does win the race. We wish
them all the best in Mexico.
>>
007
start
A day of friendly
competition
At the 18-hole tournament at Sentosa Golf Club, 208 Audi
customers took a swing at the chance to play at the Audi
quattro Cup World Final 2015 in Mexico. The Singapore leg was
exclusively organised for Audi owners and their invited guests,
who also played with the hopes of winning $1 million worth
of prizes on and off the course.
Kicking off the tournament was professional golfer and
Audi Singapore Brand Ambassador Quincy Quek, who led a golf
clinic with demonstrations and plenty of tips for Audi customers
to perfect their game. Audi Singapore also offered two “Holein-One” car prizes—the new A7 Sportback and the new Audi TT
Coupé—at both the Tanjong and Serapong courses. Customers
caught an exclusive preview of the all-new Audi Q7, the great
quattro, too.
After the competition finished, Audi customers and their
guests adjourned to dinner, hosted by Audi Singapore Brand
Ambassador and Mediacorp Class 95FM DJ Yasminne Cheng.
They sated their appetites with food and drink, and took part in
table games with special prizes up for grabs.
Said Jef f Mannering, Managing Director of Audi
Singapore: “This is the eighth Audi quattro Cup competition to
be played here at Sentosa. The quattro Cup is the most prestigious
amateur golf competition in this country. It is also an important
part of the myAudiworld programme, which is the best customer
benefits programme offered by any company. This year, the
quattro Cup will be played by more than 100,000 golfers in
800 tournaments in 55 countries around the world, making it
//
the largest amateur golf tournament on the planet.”
All smiles and anticipation on the golf course.
Jeff Mannering (left), Managing Director of
Audi Singapore, with Yoshimura, Ng and Audi
Brand Ambassador and Mediacorp Class 95FM
DJ Yasminne Cheng.
Jeff Mannering (centre) with David Gartrell, Colin Clark,
Ng and Yoshimura. In the background is the all-new
Audi Q7, which participants had an exclusive preview of.
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Audi Magazine
Masthead
With editions in 44 languages, an appearance in
74 countries and an annual print run of 9.2 million copies,
the Audi Magazine is a worldwide success story.
AUDI MAGAZINE (INTERNATIONAL EDITION)
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Project Director
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Tel. 07222/952-0, [email protected]
MediaCorp DJ Mike Kasem takes a swing
at Sentosa Golf Course.
AUDI MAGAZINE SINGAPORE
Responsible for AUDI SG
Anna Bory
Project Manager
Geraldine Guo
Publisher
Edipresse Media Singapore Pte Ltd
14 Kung Chong Road #06-02 Lum Chang Building,
Singapore 159150
Editor-in-Chief
Jane Ngiam
Editor
Denyse Yeo
Sub-Editor
Charmaine Chan
Writers
Sabina-Leah Fernandez, Angus Frazer, Laura Hamdorf, Lee Nian Tjoe,
Low Ka Wei, Low Shi Ping, Patrick Morda, Hermann J. Müller &
Siti Rohani
Professional golfer and Audi Brand Ambassador
Quincy Quek was on hand to dish out golf tips.
Taking the perfect shot.
Photography
Andy Wong/Rave Photography, GT Gan, Robert Grischek,
Christian Hagemann, Lionel Lai, Mierswa-Kluska
Layout
Cheryl Hong
Advertising Sales
Daniel Chan (Advertisement Director)
Christine Sipin (Account Manager)
Tel. +65 6323 1606, [email protected]
Production
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Times Printers Private Limited
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Tel. +65 3611 2888
No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited manuscripts and photos received.
Despite careful selection of sources, no responsibility can be taken for accuracy.
No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without
written permission. 2015 Audi Magazine. All rights reserved. MCI(P) 161/04/2015
A well-deserved toast after a good game on the course.
Audi Magazine
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start
Tee off to a
better game
Professional golfers Lip Ooi and Quincy Quek
offer their top tips on how to overcome the
most common problems on the golf course.
Low Shi Ping (copy), Andy Wong/Rave Photography (photos)
Problem with your golf technique? Take a swing at the expert
advice from professional golfers Lip Ooi and Quincy Quek, who
regularly hold golf clinics for myAudiworld members. The two Audi
Brand Ambassadors understand the biggest challenges faced by
golfers on the course.
It is important to resolve these problems, advises Ooi, who
is also the head golf coach of Singapore Sports School. “It can
cause mental disruption, especially during the pre-shot routine.”
Allowing them to persist can lead to negative thoughts: “You
might end up with a severe lack of confidence and a poor score.”
Here, the pair share some of the common problems
encountered and offer practical solutions.
Problem 1
Inconsistent golf swing
Solution: Everyone has a favourite shot-shape, so play the one
that you are most comfortable with. For example, working the ball
left-to-right means you do not have to worry about the left side
of the course. You will also become more aware of how each shot
will turn out, rather than go in blind and hope for the best. “At
the end of the day, the golf swing is a really unnatural movement.
We want to minimise swing thoughts, keep things simple and just
enjoy the game,” adds Quek.
Problem 2
Scoring better at the range
Solution: Impose pressure on yourself while practising at the
driving range to simulate the conditions of the golf course. Play
a par 3, 4 or 5. Start with a driver, then a 5-wood and wedge to a
specific target. “At the range, you only work on swing mechanics
but on the course, there is only one chance to hit the fateful shot,”
says Ooi. This causes stress to build up in the latter venue and
might affect your score negatively.
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Audi Magazine
Problem 3
High scores only at certain holes
Solution: Understand that golf is not a perfect game. “There
will be bad shots. The key is to control your emotions, focus and
get your ball back into play,” says Ooi, who suggests incorporating
slow deep-breathing exercises into your pre-shot routine to keep a
lid on the adrenaline and emotions.
Problem 4
Inability to hit the ball for
a long distance
Solution: Make solid contact with the ball when the club hits it.
“The sweet spot is located in the middle of the club face, so hitting
the ball off the middle will result in the optimum transfer of energy
and a greater distance travelled,” says Quek. He advises putting in
85 to 90 per cent of effort, feeling the weight of the club in your
hands, and maintaining a good balance throughout the swing.
Other solutions include building physical strength and hiring
an experienced coach to analyse your game, says Ooi. He prefers to
focus on his students’ swing tempo: “By slowing it down, they will
instantly feel more relaxed, which allows them to strike the ball
more consistently, translating into it travelling a longer distance.”
Problem 5
Not taking proper aim
Solution: Stand behind the ball and draw an imaginary line
from the target to the ball using the club shaft as a ruler. Line up
the club face one foot in front of the ball and take your stance. If
the club face is square to the spot, it will be square to the target.
“The process does not take long, so everyone can do it without
causing any delay in play,” says Quek.
Look out for the next golf clinic with either Lip Ooi or Quincy Quek at www.myaudiworld.sg
Audi Magazine
011
start
The great escape
Get away from it all with exclusive travel privileges,
Luxe Collection (main photo)
specially handpicked for myAudiworld members.
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Audi Magazine
Explore stunning landscapes with
Out of Africa Travel & Golf
This tailored 10-day itinerary takes in some of Africa’s best travel
experiences, from golf and safari to culture and wine. Your adventure
includes five rounds of golf on championship courses, such as Sun City’s
Gary Player Golf Course, the Serengeti Golf Course, and the private
Steenberg Golf Club, set in the Constantia Valley behind Table Mountain.
You’ll also enjoy a full-day safari game drive in Botswana’s Chobe
National Park, guided sight-seeing tours and five-star accommodation.
Among the highlights is a visit to the magnificent Victoria Falls, and a
stopover in Cape Town (right) that takes in the sights of Table Mountain,
the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the Cape of Good Hope.
myAudiworld privileges
Packages start from $6,135 and include:
•Sharingatwinordoubleroomatfive-starluxuryaccommodation
•Johannesburg—Livingstonereturnflights(EconomyClass)
•Johannesburg—CapeTownone-wayflight(EconomyClass)
•SafariGameDrive
•Privatetransfersthroughout
•Excludes:FlightbetweenSingaporeandSouthAfrica
Party like a star at
Hard Rock Hotel Bali
The beautiful white sand of Kuta Beach, where the Hard Rock Hotel Bali is
located, is arguably the best beachfront in Bali. The hotel is a fun rock ‘n’ roll
retreat for couples, families and singles, as it features 418 tribute rooms
and suites fit for a rock star. The walls are adorned with iconic memorabilia
reflecting the revolution that changed the face of music, fashion and the
arts and celebrating artistes from the ’50s to the late ’90s.
myAudiworld privileges
Enjoy complimentary daily breakfast buffet and exclusive rates for the
booking of Deluxe Rooms, valid till 31 March 2016. Special deluxe room
rates start from US$150 nett per night (retail rate is US$200 nett per
night) during low season (27 July to 20 December 2015; 6 January to
4 February 2016; 14 February to 31 March 2016).
Relax in luxury at Song Saa
Private Island, Cambodia
Just 30 minutes by boat from Sihanoukville port, this jewel on Cambodia’s
south coast is a pristine and private paradise in the stunning Gulf of
Thailand. Song Saa Private Island is an award-winning, luxury all-inclusive
(except for spa treatments and motorised water-sports) resort that spans
the islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong. This island getaway has 27 fivestar jungle, overwater and ocean view villas—each with expansive terraces
and private swimming pools. While you’re there, rejuvenate yourself at
the world-class spa, with its outdoor salas and treatment villas in the
lush rainforest.
myAudiworld privileges
Mention “myAudiworld Song Saa Private Island Privilege” and enjoy
myAudiworld member privileges including:
•Aspecial4for3nightratestartingfromUS$5,332fortwopeople.
•Complimentary60-minutemassagefortwopersons,onceduringstay
(valued at US$280).
•Complimentary service to assist in booking of domestic flights on
Cambodia Angkor Air, from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville and back.
Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.myAudiworld.com.sg for details and more information on exclusive luxury travel privileges for myAudiworld members.
Audi Magazine
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dossier
Right as rain
Weather-proof your Audi this rainy season.
The north-east monsoon season is upon us once
again. Although the rain spells cooler, more enjoyable
weather, it also means that your vehicle may experience
some wet-weather problems, such as smeared foot
pedals, stained interior carpets and soiled boot trays.
To make sure that your Audi looks and drives at
its best, here are three weather-proofing items for a
wide range of Audi models that are on promotion now*.
Pedal caps
These pedal caps give better grip, especially
during wet weather, making your driving
experience safer and giving you peace of mind.
From $100 with GST and installation (retail
price: from $162 with GST and installation).
Boot tray
The lip around the boot tray protects the boot floor
from soiling. The non-slip pattern also reduces the
chance of items in the boot slipping. Plus, the tray can
be easily stowed away and takes up little space. From
$70 with GST (retail price: from $89 with GST).
Rubber floor mats (front and rear)
These exact-fit mats fit to a tee and better protect
against heavy soiling. The mats are attached to the
vehicle by means of fastening points that are fitted
on the vehicle floor. From $100 with GST (retail price:
from $124 with GST).
Visit the Audi Centre Singapore at 281 Alexandra Road, or the Audi Service Centre at 55 Ubi Road 1 or call 6388 2323 to find out more and
make your purchase. *Prices may vary. Terms and conditions apply. Promotion valid until 31 December 2015.
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The gift edit
Stuck for holiday gift ideas?
Here are three perfect presents for
that special someone on your list.
For the man about town
When it comes to inking deals, nothing shows your standing better
than a solid yet stylish writing instrument. This made-in-Germany
Chrome-plated Pen doesn’t sacrifice flair for performance, much
like the Audi brand itself. With its grooved surface and the Audi logo
embossed on the clip, this is a ballpoint pen to make your mark with.
Retail price: $101.65 (with GST), myAudiworld price: $81.35 (with GST).
For the luxe lover
If her tastes lean toward the bold and the beautiful, consider
treating her to the Audi Sport Women’s Handbag, in red. This
sleek accessory is made of high-quality grained cowhide leather,
and comes with fitted diamond-shaped metal rivets, a practical
shoulder strap and roomy inner pockets. Look out for the subtle
Audi rings embossed at the side as well as the Audi Sport logo
on the inner leather base. Made in Germany. Dimensions: 28.5 x
25-27.5 x 13.5 cm.
Retail price: $701.90 (with GST), myAudiworld price: $561.50
(with GST).
For the budding thrill-seeker
Start the little ones early with a small dose of action in the Junior
quattro motor sport. The kids will love the sense of real-world
driving offered by its sleek black body, cool rims and Audi Sport
design. Thanks to fully-functioning LED daytime running lights,
touch-sensitive on-off button in the cockpit and LED lights on the
switch that indicate the light status, this fun and dynamic ride
will make even the grownups look on in envy. Batteries included.
Retail price: $374.50 (with GST), myAudiworld price: $299.60
(with GST).
For details, call 6366 2323 or e-mail [email protected].
Audi Magazine
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drive
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The future now
Its shape was created in a dialogue between aerodynamics
and design, the 320 kW electric drive
corresponds to the e-quattro concept.
The Audi e-tron quattro concept embodies a
c o m p l e t e l y n e w s t y l e o f s p o r t y , i n n o v a t i v e S U V.
Hermann J. Müller (copy), Mierswa-Kluska (photos)
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drive
One of a kind: OLED stands for “organic light emitting diode”. In contrast to point
light sources such as LEDs, OLEDs are flat light sources. The light they produce reaches
a new level of homogeneity and can be dimmed continuously. It casts no shadow and
does not require reflectors, light guides or other similar optical components—making
OLEDs very efficient and lightweight.
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drive
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Energy-efficient: The solar panel is the longest ever integrated into a car, with a
length of 198 centimetres. With a peak output of around 400 watts, it effectively
supports the car’s energy balance, adding up to 720 kilometres of range per year.
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drive
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Streamlined: Thanks to its powerful, muscular body, flat cabin and tapered rear, the
show car looks more like an elegant coupé than an SUV when viewed from the side.
The body tapers to the rear, approaching the ideal aerodynamic shape of a teardrop.
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drive
Groundbreaking: The interior is light and airy, with taut lines and sinewy surfaces.
The pronounced three-dimensional control panel architecture in the performance
SUV is focused clearly on the driver, who is kept informed of all vehicle functions by
means of innovative OLED displays.
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drive
Show cars are a highly exclusive species. Created under a
cloak of secrecy, the futuristically styled one-offs are crafted by
hand down to the tiniest detail and with a huge outlay, making them
astronomically expensive. Work on them usually carries on until the
eve of their unveiling, but then they form the icing on the cake at
motor shows in Frankfurt, Geneva, Los Angeles or Shanghai. For
Audi, these exhibitions do not usually set the stage for showcasing
fantasies. Its show cars have very concrete similarities, technically
and visually, with future production models. The eye-catcher at
the Audi booth at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show is no different.
According to Dr. Volker Kaese, head of innovation management
product, the Audi e-tron quattro concept will be “the best Audi show
car of all time”: a 4.8-metre-long, all-electric powered sporty SUV
standing on 22-inch tyres, with a range of more than 500 kilometres.
Audi head of design Marc Lichte sees in the imposing vehicle
“the harbinger of a new era,” referring not just to its wind tunneldeveloped aerodynamic qualities, but also to highlights such as
the visualisation of the quattro drive: wide flared fenders, a sporty
wasp-like waist, and clear-cut lines from the headlights to the rear
lights emphasising the broad shoulders of the show car. Then there
are the numerous technical innovations in the large SUV. The stated
aim of the developers was to present efficiency and sportiness
in a completely new form—and both attributes are instantly
recognisable in the Audi e-tron quattro concept. In terms of formal
design, the concept car was created under the “aerosthetics”
motto—the aesthetics of aerodynamics. The four rings’ approach
is to bring unconventional design into sync with the requirements
of aerodynamics. In close inter-departmental teamwork, what
many see as the age-old conflict between aerodynamics and
design has for the first time been resolved.
Thanks to its relatively powerful, muscular body, flat cabin
and tapered rear, the show car looks more like an elegant coupé
than an SUV when viewed side-on. The body tapers to the rear,
approaching the ideal aerodynamic shape of a teardrop. The
distinctive front end with the octagonal Singleframe grille
emphasises the width of the vehicle and gives it an unmistakable
presence on the road. Hidden at the bottom behind a tinted
sensor rack are the sensors for piloted driving and driver assist
systems. The cooling air for the electric motor flows exclusively
through a narrow slit at the bottom to the radiator and escapes
from the engine compartment, not downward in the usual
way but upward through a louver on the front hood, avoiding
unwanted turbulence under the floor of the car. Aerodynamics
have been optimised even in places you can’t see—the entire
underbody is fully encapsulated to minimise drag. To make it even
more streamlined, its middle section has a drag-reducing microriblet film as on the Le Mans prototypes and the outer sections also
have a bionic microstructure.
The taut headlights are less for aerodynamic than for
distinct visual effect. For the first time, they use innovative
Matrix Laser technology to produce low and high beam light.
Operating without any mechanical components, the system is
able to precisely mask out individual elements such as pedestrians
or oncoming vehicles. Then there is the new Audi e-tron light
signature: Five horizontal and four vertical OLED elements
in each headlight emitting a homogeneous blue can produce
different light scenarios. OLED stands for “organic light emitting
diode.” In each OLED unit, two electrodes—of which at least one
must be transparent—enclose numerous thin layers of organic semiconductor material.
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A low DC voltage, three to four volts, activates the layers,
each of which is less than one-thousandth of a millimetre thick,
to light them. The colour depends on the molecular composition
of the light source. In contrast to point light sources such as
LEDs, which are made of semi-conductor crystals, OLEDs are
flat light sources. The light they produce reaches a new level of
homogeneity and can be dimmed continuously. It casts no shadow
and does not require reflectors, light guides or other similar
optical components—making OLEDs very efficient and light. In
addition, they require very little cooling. This is the first time they
have been implemented in this form.
Another world first adorns the stretched roof of the
Audi e-tron quattro concept: Measuring 198 centimetres in length,
this is the longest solar panel ever integrated into a car. Its peak
output of around 400 watts effectively supports the car’s energy
balance. When the Audi e-tron quattro concept is in the sun, the
solar cells feed electricity into the batteries and can contribute up
to 720 kilometres of range per year. But it’s even more desirable
not to consume energy in the first place—for this, the developers
have given the show car numerous other aerodynamic features.
Instead of conventional door mirrors, tiny cameras deliver images
for virtual mirrors in the interior. The aerodynamically optimised
wheels and small air outlets behind the front wheel cutouts
reduce turbulence in the wheel arches. Or take, for instance, the
door handles that lie flush with the body, light up when the driver
approaches and then slide out electrically. The same applies to
the end segments of the rocker panels, which extend outward
by 50 millimetres when the car is travelling at higher speeds and
so guide the airstream smoothly past the rear wheel cutouts. To
minimise turbulence at the rear, the roof edge spoiler extends
by 120 millimetres and the diffusor by 80 millimetres at high
speeds. Together, these measures make the Audi e-tron quattro
concept an icon of aerodynamic efficiency in its class: With a drag
coefficient of 0.25, the big car puts even supposedly streamlined
mid-size sedans in the shade.
The show car also raises the bar when it comes to the drive
system, with three power units guaranteeing refined performance.
Dr. Volker Kaese says: “When all three electric motors are working
together, they provide 370 kW of power and 800 Nm of torque
in boost mode—allowing the car to accelerate from 0 to 100
km/h in 4.6 seconds and rapidly reach its electronically limited
top speed of 210 km/h.” A control unit continuously determines
the optimum constellation between highest efficiency and
maximum performance. At low loads, the front axle power unit
propels the car on its own, but when more power is needed the
show car becomes an electric quattro®, with the two motors on
the rear axle cutting in automatically. The drive control unit with
its intelligent control strategy distributes the torque actively and
at lightning speed between the two wheels as required, providing
maximum performance and stability in every driving situation.
The energy required for this is stored in a large block of lithiumion batteries with an energy capacity of 95 kW/h. Bolted to the
underbody between the axles under the passenger cell, this also
performs a structural function. When driving, the Audi e-tron
quattro concept recuperates a high degree of energy: In light
to moderate braking manoeuvres, it decelerates exclusively via
the electric motors, recuperating energy. It’s only during hard
braking that the hydraulic brake system springs into action—
yet another factor contributing to the car’s range of more than
>>
500 kilometres on a full charge.
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drive
Just as innovative as the body and drive is the interior, its
taut lines and sinewy surfaces creating a light and airy feel. It has
a floating console and additional storage compartments made
possible by the absence of a centre tunnel. The pronounced three
dimensional control panel architecture of the performance SUV is
focused clearly on the driver, who is kept informed of all vehicle
functions by means of innovative OLED displays. With its brilliant
display and curvature, the central Audi virtual cockpit guarantees
optimum readability. Its basic menu presents information on speed,
battery charge status and current range. To the left and right of it
are two touch displays that control the light functions, the systems
for piloted driving as well as media lists and navigation maps. Two
further displays are located on the centre tunnel console. One of
them is embedded in the console and shows the current status of
the drive system, while the other visualises the air conditioning
system, which is controlled by virtual sliders. Each of the displays
extends all the way to the edge of the screen, utilising every square
centimetre. Another two displays are integrated in the front of
the door trim panels. They act as digital door mirrors, displaying
bright, high-contrast and glare-free images from the cameras
on the doors even under poor light conditions. Passengers also
benefit from numerous innovations. Despite the car’s extremely
sporty shape, there is still sufficient headroom in the rear,
and the feel-good factor is enhanced by a new air-conditioning
feature: Air vents integrated in the front seats provide diffuse
and hence very comfortable ventilation for rear-seat passengers.
The high-tech sophistication is also echoed in the chassis
of the Audi e-tron quattro concept. The adaptive air suspension
sport system, adjustable via Audi drive select, lowers the body by
up to 30 millimetres in two stages and thus likewise reduces drag.
Newly developed ceramic brake disks on the front and rear axles
provide outstanding deceleration. An Audi dynamic steering system
ensures optimum agility and stability. With steering angles of up to
five degrees on the rear wheels, it enhances manoeuvring in city
traffic and on country roads while guaranteeing refined steering
behavior on the highway. This may all sound a little like tomorrow’s
world, but the future is already at the door. “In early 2018, we
will introduce a battery-powered sporty SUV in the luxury class
segment,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of
Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG, adding: “The
Audi e-tron quattro concept gives us a tangible preview of what it will
look like.”
//
More information:
The Audi e-tron quattro concept is just one of the brand’s highlights
at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The exhibition opened its
doors to visitors from around the world from September 19 to 27.
www.audi.com
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To anyone who
knows scant little
about cars, the three
simple German words
“Vorsprung durch
Technik” means Audi.
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Audi Magazine
Literally meaning “advancement through technology”, Vorsprung
durch Technik underscores the importance that Audi places on
sportiness, progressiveness and sophistication. Indeed, this
progressive spirit is the very heartbeat of Audi. It fuels Audi to
innovate and to improve people’s lives. These qualities are most
clearly seen in Audi’s technologically advanced and innovative
products that are distinguished for their sophisticated design, highcalibre materials and build quality.
Audi applies solid engineering know-how in the creation of
every single Audi vehicle, past and present. And the dogged pursuit
of knowledge in industrial applications has led to a myriad of inhouse innovations.
For instance, the use of lightweight aluminium in the 1930s
and the adoption of Audi Spaceframe construction in 1993, both of
which are still utilised in Audi cars for unparalleled performance and
fuel efficiency. Or the use of all-wheel drive in racing in the 1980s
with the original Audi quattro rally car.
Audi Magazine
Having taken the motorsports world by storm, the relentless
grip of quattro now makes Audi cars the safest and the most fun
to drive even in the most challenging road conditions.
The insistence on mastering science renders Audi cars the
most advanced in the market, like the driving assistance systems
that are being continually developed and rolled out throughout
its model range. These take over the mundane parts of driving,
improving comfort and enhancing safety. It is also what moves Audi
to research sustainable vehicles for tomorrow: the no-compromise
electric car, the Audi e-tron, and even the ongoing moon rover
project, the Audi lunar quattro.
All of these innovations are wrapped up in the sleekest of
sheet metal and kitted out with the finest interiors, built to the
highest standards. Vorsprung durch Technik is the joy of the
challenge. It is the courage to realise the imaginable. It is the will
to break away from the ordinary. Vorsprung durch Technik is in our
>>
genes and in our hearts.
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Technology:
LEDs are lighting
your way
In 2008, Audi revolutionised vehicle lighting with the first fullLED headlamps. Today, every Audi model uses LED lighting in some
form or another. And we bestow on our iconic models, like the Audi
TT Roadster, some of the most advanced headlamps ever: Audi Matrix
LED headlights.
LED lighting is found in most cars and boast many advantages
over halogen or xenon bulbs. They represent daylight best, which
means your eyes perceive the clearest contrast and suffer the least
strain. They react very quickly, expressing their full brightness ten
times faster than conventional ones. At a speed of 100 km/h, this
means an extra braking distance of nine valuable metres for the car
behind. And they are extremely energy-efficient; cars equipped with
Audi LED running light technology saved about 25,000 metric tons
of carbon dioxide in their first year of operation.
But sometimes LEDs can be too much of a good thing: in full
beam mode, such headlamps potentially dazzle on-coming traffic.
Which is why Audi invented the Audi Matrix LED headlights. The high
beam of each headlight is divided into LED clusters, each with its own
reflector. When the headlights are set in automatic mode, a camera
in the car constantly scans for other vehicles. Once another car is
detected, the system will instantly dim the LEDs that would otherwise
shine on it while continuing to illuminate the spaces in between. It
recognises up to six cars simultaneously, at speeds above 30 km/h
and 60 km/h outside built-up areas and in cities, respectively. This
technique only works with LEDs because they are not one monolithic
light source like a traditional bulb, but are instead made up of tiny
individual ones one-square millimetre in size.
Apart from safety, these tiny LEDs enable Audi to design
attractive headlights. These little marvels combine in infinite ways
to create varied shapes and arrangements, giving each vehicle a
look that’s distinct yet unmistakably Audi, like the smart double-L
design on the Audi TT Roadster. And Audi is not stopping at LEDs.
Already, Audi has the next-generation lighting system on our
R8 supercar—laser lights—that promises an even more precise highbeam with twice the range. At Audi, the future is bright.
>>
Pioneering technologies such as innovative 3D
light design can be seen in the LED rear lights of
the Audi TT Roadster.
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Audi Magazine
Audi Matrix LED headlights, like those in the Audi TT Roadster,
are controlled by a camera and software that assess the course
of the road and the position of other road users. The resulting
illumination is close to the quality of daylight and is achieved
with specially configured, dimmable LEDs.
Audi TT Roadster fuel consumption combined: 6.7 l/100km. CO2 emissions combined: 154g/km.
Audi Magazine
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Technology:
Driving assistance systems herald
the future of mobility
As most keen drivers will tell you, driving can be an exhilarating
experience. But what about the more routine—even bothersome—
parts of your drive, like navigating your daily commute in a traffic
jam or when you’re rushing for a meeting and thinking of other
matters? This is where the host of Audi driver assistance systems
step in to help—giving you peace of mind during your journey and
getting you to where you want to go safely.
At the heart of the Audi driver assistance systems is a
complement of ultrasonic sensors, radars and sensors found at
the front, side and rear of our cars. These feed information to a
computer, which then sends instructions to various control parts
of the car such as the engine, steering and brakes to improve the
driving experience as well as prevent accidents.
Take Park assist, for example. Available on all models of the
Audi A6, the system, when activated via a button, will detect a
suitable parking space—both perpendicular and parallel—as you
cruise through a car park. Once it has identified a space, it will alert
you of the fact. If you choose to accept, it will manipulate the steering
while you operate the brake pedal for the perfect manoeuvre.
A wide range of driving assistance options is available in the A6.
These include Audi active lane assist, which senses if you’re drifting
out of your lane and applies corrective counter steering measures to
keep you going straight ahead.
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Or the adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, a
boon for highway congestion. This feature tracks the car in front
of you while cruise control is activated and automatically adjusts
your speed to maintain the correct gap, down to a complete stop.
Once traffic starts moving, a tap of the resume button or a prod of
the accelerator will bring you up to speed again.
Our cars are getting smarter and smarter—and thus safer and
safer. The long-term objective: a vehicle that totally avoids accidents.
The seeds of tomorrow are already being planted. At Audi, today’s
driving assistance systems are the foundations of piloted driving,
which will make its production debut before long since it is already
being developed in the next-generation Audi A8 cars. The future of
mobility is near.
>>
Audi A6 Sedan fuel consumption combined: 5.7-7.6l/100km.
CO2 emissions combined: 133-177g/km.
Audi Magazine
Thanks to ultrasonic sensors, Park assist
shows suitable parking space along the
road, and even helps drivers manoeuvre
in and out of parking spaces with nearautonomous steering actions.
The reversing camera captures the image of the area
behind the car on the MMI screen.
Audi Magazine
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Luxury:
The quintessence
of Vorsprung
durch Technik
For Audi, design means more than just style. Design embodies
the expression of the Vorsprung durch Technik values—sportiness,
progressiveness and sophistication—even in the tiniest of details,
from the paintwork options to the interior materials.
That is true luxury.
From exquisite inlays and the extended range of interior
colours to comfort seats in superior quality leather, the interior of
an Audi is where you can experience true craftsmanship as well as
innovative technology.
Take the Audi A8, for instance. Whether it is standing still
or moving at speed, the Audi A8 creates a powerful presence. The
look of the A8 is unmistakable. Its low, broad stance is purposeful
and athletic, embodying the indomitable spirit of the brand:
prestigious, distinctive, elegant and sporty. At the front, the
imposing Singleframe grille, with its angled corners and chromed
flourishes, creates a striking contrast to the sweeping hood and
Matrix LED headlights.
Inside, the increased legroom in the rear means even
more relaxed travel as you make your journey. And the finest
materials are used to create an interior that’s at once luxurious
and contemporary. Here, quality knows no compromise: all the
elements in the new A8 are carefully chosen and precisely worked,
like the single piece of precious wood used to create all the wood
decor elements.
Like the fine grain brown-silver poplar and fine grain natural
gold-brown ash woods, which have tiny pores that are filled with
small amounts of silver and gold, respectively.
There are other signs that the Audi A8 is a labour of love,
like the gaps invisible to the human eye in the two-piece inlays,
or the soft upholstery and trim in premium Unicum leather. This
luxurious material is beautifully soft yet water- and dirt-repellent.
It is tanned without the use of chromium, dyed through, and
treated with non-fading colour pigments.
Equipment packages such as the Audi design selection
allow you to customise a lust-worthy interior design with
exclusive materials, colours and comfort-oriented equipment.
Think combinations of fine woods or brushed aluminium along
with leather seats that feature elegant contrasting stitching.
Even the ambient lighting is a sign that this is luxury in
a new light, with anti-glare background lighting, passenger
compartment lighting in LED technology and brightness that can
be adjusted in four zones, each with 20 dimming stages and a
choice of three colour moods.
An inspired study of progressive design, the Audi A8 is a
curation of ideas and technologies that results in a shift of the
luxury paradigm.
>>
The Audi design selection for the Audi A8 offers exclusive materials
and colours, such as balao brown. The selector lever in leather sits
softly in the hand, while the multifunction leather steering wheel,
with shift paddles, feels luxurious and comfortable.
Audi A8 fuel consumption, combined: 7.9-9.2l/100km.
CO2 emission figures, combined: 184-216g/km.
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Audi Magazine
The luxurious roomy interior of the Audi A8 also includes comfort leather
seats. These can be specially customised in terms of coordinated colour
shades and beautifully accented inlays, along with comfort features such
as seat ventilation and massage for total relaxation.
The Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System ensures surround sound
reproduction thanks to not one, not two, but 19 loudspeakers, each
with its own amplifier channel. This gives excellent sound performance
in any seat.
The Audi A8 is a powerful show of
elegance both inside and out.
Audi Magazine
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Design:
Progressive
interpretation
At every step in the creation of an Audi, Vorsprung durch Technik
is the number one consideration. So before the designers commit
pen to paper, making all that technology visible in their sketches
is what it’s all about.
The Audi Singleframe found on each and every of its models,
for example, represents a confident expression of the powerful
engine that lies behind the grille. And our distinctive LED headlights
with their unique graphics not only identify our cars as signature
Audi, but also show off their superior lighting capabilities in terms
of their adaptability and brightness.
Want a glimpse of what Audi cars of the future would look
like? Our design studio is always coming up with concepts, and while
they are invariably on the cutting edge, they are not just fanciful
imaginations: most of our prototypes become reality.
The Audi A7 Sportback is just one example of clear-eyed vision
that has been brought to glorious life. It bears a shape that’s unique
to Audi: no other car possesses the combination of the sexy lines
of a coupé, the practicality of an Avant and the luxury of a sedan.
The design of the Sportback began simply enough with a
blank piece of paper. There were only two lines initially: the long
roof and the boat-tail shaped sill. The pair sweeps from the front
to the back and meet in the rear. Then comes the next important
line: the shoulder line. It takes its power from the engine, and then
sensuously sinks slightly to the rear, merging beautifully into the
tail, thus creating a harmonious unity.
Audi continues to redefine design with the A7 Sportback,
which elegantly combines the lines of a saloon, an Avant
and a coupé.
038
From these tentative sketches, the rest of the car takes shape.
The long front end, the muscular wheel arches and the sculpted
rear end, all bear the marks of a classic sports coupé.
Zooming in, we encounter further delightful details: the
C-pillar that flows assertively towards the rear and into the shoulder;
the redesigned Singleframe grille that is made to appear wider
with crisper corners and chrome struts that add emphasis to the
horizontal dimension; and flat and trapezoidal tailpipes, enclosed
in a broad black rear diffuser, that underscore the width of the car.
Everything about the Audi A7 Sportback oozes understated
luxury. Like the Audi A8 sedan, it is appointed with finest quality
interior, but with the added utility of a tailgate. Coupled with rear
seats that fold down, this leads to a class-beating space for up to
1,390 litres of luggage: perfect for all the essentials for a long road
trip, or for lugging home a chance find at the antiques market. It is
indeed the car for those who suffer no compromises. It is the car
for those who want it all.
At Audi, design is enhanced through extraordinary details. In the
Audi A7 Sportback, the Audi Singleframe with horizontal chrome
struts gives the LED headlights a look of strength and power.
Audi A7 Sportback fuel consumption, combined: 5.9-7.6l/100km.
CO2 emissions, combined: 137-176g/km.
Audi Magazine
Design:
Changing everything
(Above) The striking,
sporty design of the
Audi A3 Cabriolet includes
distinctive wheel housings
that can house larger
optional wheels.
(Left) Functional design
includes sport leather
steering wheel in 3-spoke
design and a driver
information system with
colour display.
Audi A3 Cabriolet fuel consumption, combined: 5.1 l/100km.
CO2 emissions combined: 117g/km.
Audi Magazine
Bold. Dynamic. Savvy. Traits that define not just the Audi A3 Cabriolet,
but also the driver behind its wheel. The car is fascination at first sight.
The deep lines that run across the entire side of the car are the key to its
dynamic proportions, making it sporty even when stationary. Compared to
its predecessor, it is longer, wider but shorter, making this the most elegant
compact four-seat Audi convertible ever.
Yet, the A3 Cabriolet enjoys the premium fixtures of its bigger siblings,
like Milano leather seats and a soft top that’s insulated from heat and
noise. The free-spirited will not be caught out by a storm, because the fully
automatic hood can be opened even when driving at up to 50 km/h. And it
comes in three colours to match your paintwork—and your personality. Other
customisation opportunities abound: 14 colours for the paint, including
solid, metallic and pearl effect hues, and more than a dozen different wheel
designs in sizes ranging from 16- to 19-inches.
Our S line packages further emphasise the sporty character of the
car, accentuating the dynamic bodyline and lending the interior even more
expression, and make a true athlete out of the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
The S line ex terior package adds front and rear bumpers and
side sill trims in a striking design. The radiator grille is finished in
a high-gloss black, f lanked by front fog lights with surrounds in
the same material, while the dif fuser insert is painted in platinum
grey w ith a r acing honeycomb grid. E xhaus t t ailpipes recei ve a
chrome-plated treatment. Finally, doorsill trims with aluminium
inlay and S line logo remind you that you’re in a ver y special car.
Further S line enhancements can be ordered, including bigger wheels and
special upholstery.
>>
The Audi range has a host of custom design options, and the
Audi A3 Cabriolet is no exception. For instance, the S line sport
package includes S line logos on the front wings and door sill trims.
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The Audi Quattro A2 driven by Michele Mouton, the first
woman driver to win a World Rally Championship in 1983.
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Audi Magazine
quattro:
Riding on rails
As cars become more and more powerful, the factor
that limits performance is no longer about how much
horsepower an engine can put out; it’s about how to
transfer all that grunt from the wheels to the road.
Simply put, this is why a car driven on all four
wheels is better than one driven by only two wheels:
each wheel bears a smaller share of transmitted power
and thus, reduces the opportunity for the tyres to slip.
The Audi quattro all-wheel drive is a permanent
system that splits power between the front and rear
wheels for optimum and safe traction in slippery conditions.
So when the going gets tough, Audi quattro-equipped
cars get going.
Born to win
The quat tro stor y began in March 1980, when we
unveiled the first Audi quattro at the Geneva Auto
Show. That boxy coupe, now referred to as the Ur-quattro
(“Ur-” is a German prefix that means “original”), looks
unassuming but was a performance beast: its turbo
charged engine produced 200 hp, massive for that era.
The car was subsequently entered into the World
Rally Championships as the series’ first all-wheel drive
vehicle. It won the championships year af ter year,
Audi Magazine
proving the mettle of quattro over the most challenging
of terrain.
But quattro isn’t a niche technology to Audi. Early
on, it had already identified the utility of widespread
application of quattro. Starting in 1982, the technology
gradually made its way into all of the Audi model lines.
And throughout the years, the technology evolved with the
times. This has resulted in a wide variety of innovations,
spanning the classic manually locking centre differential in
the Ur-quattro to the latest crown-gear centre differential
equipped in certain RS models from quattro GmbH.
And Audi is not stopping there. Nearing release
is a hybrid form of quattro in the Audi Q7 e-tron quattro,
which uses a combination of diesel engine and electric
motors to power all four wheels.
Today, after 35 years of quattro, Audi has built
more than seven million cars fitted with the system,
making it the world’s most successful manufacturer
of premium cars with permanent all-wheel drive.
From compact superminis and saloons to sport utility
vehicles and supercars, quattro is a name synonymous
with traction, deft handling and a unique brand of
driving pleasure.
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With the legendary quattro all-wheel drive system,
Audi models offer agile handling and superb steering
confidence, giving models such as the new Audi Q7
excellent driving dynamics.
The ultimate goal for a sport utility vehicle is for it to drive and
handle like a sports sedan on the road, while being able to take any
terrain thrown at it while off-road.
Enter the ultimate sport utility vehicle, then: the all-new Audi
Q7. Up to 240 kilograms lighter than its predecessor—that’s like
unloading an entire baby grand piano from the cargo area—it has
the road completely under control regardless of road condition,
thanks to permanent distribution of the drive force to all four wheels.
Under normal driving conditions, the self-locking centre differential
that forms the heart of the quattro all-wheel drive system divvies up
the power between the front and rear axle in a rear-biased 40:60 ratio
for confident and sporty handling. But should the system detect any
slippage, it can transfer as much as 70 per cent of the power to the
front and 85 per cent to the rear without any delay. These are higher
lock-up values than those of its predecessor model, allowing even
more grip under a wider variety of conditions.
Complementing the quattro system is an intelligent software
feature called torque vectoring. This detects whether an inside wheel
is slipping when you taking a corner, and automatically applies
a minimal but precise braking intervention on that wheel, allowing
the otherwise-wasted power to be applied on the other wheels.
This has the effect of steering the car more confidently into the
corner. Handling becomes more precise, agile and stable, and traction
becomes stronger. In other words, a large seven-seater sport utility
vehicle that behaves like a much smaller car.
For a more compact sport utility vehicle that still benefits
from quattro, there is the sporty yet sensible Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI
with 165 kW that takes you from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds
when combined with the 8-speed tiptronic.
Or consider the Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI, the ultimate off-roader for
the urban warrior. It comes with all the benefits of all-wheel drive,
in a smaller package perfect for exploring the nooks and crannies
of an inner city environment. Indeed, you’ll find that quattro is available
in most of the Audi model variants, such as the A4, A5, A6 and A8,
and is standard on S and RS models.
>>
Audi Q3 2.0 fuel consumption: 6.7 l/100km.C02 emission: 155g/km.
Audi Q5 2.0 fuel consumption: 7.9 l/100km. CO2 emission: 184g/km.
Audi Q7 fuel consumption combined: 7.4-7.9 l/100km. CO2 emissions combined: 172-183g/km.
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Powerful TFSI engines and sporty touches add to
the stellar line-up of S models.
Performance:
A tradition
of expertise
Intense power yet understated, with ample features and a high degree of
everyday practicality—all these strengths come together in the Audi S models.
Their progressive looks hint at their raw capabilities. With TFSI engines,
lightning-fast shifting transmissions and Audi quattro all-wheel drive, the
S models make up an impressive line-up of race-calibre machines.
After all, the Audi S models have a tradition of expertise that blends
advanced technology, performance, design and comfort—par excellence.
Agile handling is assured, yet the suspension is never so hard that your back
protests, neither is the engine so revved up that your ears ring.
The granddaddy of the Audi S models was the 1985 S1, the last and
technically most advanced evolution model of the rally competition car.
Only 224 of the road version—the Sport quattro with Kevlar body and more
than 300 bhp output—were built. In 1991, the first S model made for public
roads entered the equation: the Coupé S2, the successor to the “Ur-quattro”
(original quattro), came equipped with permanent four-wheel drive. Inspired
by its success, the S model family grew.
Today, the S models still apply their power to the road with quattro
permanent all-wheel drive. All retain those same dynamic driving capabilities
and sporty outlook, embodying performance for everyday practicality.
Take the Audi S5 Coupé. A development of the already strong A5 model, it
is powered by a supercharged V6 TFSI engine. A gentle prod of the gas pedal
releases 245 kW of raw power and 440 Nm of sheer, tarmac-twisting torque.
A novel mechanically-driven supercharger system with intercooling is
used to rouse the 2,995 cc engine. Yet it teases out austere fuel consumption
of 7.7 litres/100 km on the EU cycle—a more-than-20 per cent improvement
over the V8 engine found on the previous S5. In a car of this calibre, top speed
is 250 km/h while the century sprint is dispatched in a scant 4.9 seconds.
044
Coupled with a responsive seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch
transmission, the car puts its wide torque range—90 per cent of the
maximum is available from 2,900 to 5,300 rpm—to good use, no
matter what speed you’re travelling at.
Stronger stabilisers, stiffer spring and damper tuning, and
quattro all-wheel drive with torque distribution work together to
offer outstanding handling and traction. An electromechanical power
steering system reacts instantly to driver input. The S5 Coupé behaves
as the driver intends, no matter how spirited they drive.
Then there is the S3 Sportback. The ultimate hot hatch, the S3
possesses an attractive but understated appearance, but under the
hood lies a powerhouse waiting to be awakened. Challenge it at
your own peril.
Just how potent is this car? Try 210 kW of power and 380 Nm
of torque, available throughout an engine speed of 1,800 to
5,200 rpm—or virtually on tap at any time. Top speed and acceleration
is identical to its bigger brother, the S5: 250 km/h (governed) and
4.9 seconds. The 2.0-litre engine benefits from new technology that
brings TFSI even further, like dual injection through the Audi
valvelift system and an exhaust manifold integrated within the
cylinder head. Despite its massive performance, the motor sips
petrol at a rate of just 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres.
Equipped with Audi drive select, the driver can customise various
control units to their liking, like throttle response of the electronic
gas pedal, shift points of the S tronic transmission and the steering
ratio for progressive piloting. It even enhances the sound of the
engine should the driver so desire.
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Audi Magazine
More power and more sportiness simply mean better
driving enjoyment, such as offered by the S5 Coupé.
The TFSI engine
Audi was the first manufacturer in the world to create the TFSI petrol engine, bringing
together turbocharging and direct injection into series production. The result: downsized
engines boasting the same power and torque once reserved for larger motors. TFSI combines
gasoline direc t injec tion with forced induc tion and solves a perennial problem with
turbocharging, which is the huge amount of heat produced that limits how much designers can
increase compression and hence power. There are other benefits of right-sized engines. Being
more compact, they fit into smaller engine bays. Being lighter, they improve handling with less
inertia at the front to pull the car off track when cornering. Today, all of Audi’s 3-, 4-, 5-, 6and 8-cyclinder petrol engines—from the 1.0-litre all the way to the 4.0-litre—deploy TFSI
technology. Additionally, some have cylinder-on-demand technology, which shuts down half the
number of pistons under gentle driving conditions, to save fuel and lower emissions further.
Audi S3 Sportback fuel consumption: 6.9l/100km. CO2 emissions: 159g/km.
Audi S5 Coupé combined fuel consumption: 7.7 l/100km. CO2 emission figures combined: 179g/km.
Audi Magazine
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Motorsports:
Transferring
racing
technology
In 1934, Audi invented the mid-mounted engine.
Its perfect weight balance ensures that it is still the
standard in racing today. Three years later, Audi took the
motorsports world by storm once again, this time using
lightweight aluminium in the cars. On 18 June 2006,
Audi took pole position at the legendary 24 Hours of Le
Mans—remarkable, for this was the first victory achieved
by a diesel vehicle.
Whether it ’s at Le Mans, in the World Rally
Championships or in the DTM German Touring Car Masters,
competitive racing remains a driving force behind the
Audi brand and in everything that we learn from pitting
our cars against the world’s best filters right down to
the road cars that you drive.
At Audi, the expertise and technologies from
motor racing are transferred to the road for a
superb performance and a heady adrenaline rush.
This means high performance for everyday driving.
The perfect examples are the RS models, which are the
highest-performing cars in the Audi range. They are
supercars dressed in the discreet sheet metal of our
standard models. But that appearance is deceptive,
because a bigger engine is not simply shoehorned into
the bay when an Audi RS is made. Its creation requires a
complete overhaul of every system in order for it to qualify
for the coveted badge. It’s an intensive task, keeping RS
membership exclusive with only four cars in the line-up.
A lighter car is a more agile car. That’s why Audi
has taken out the V10 in the outgoing RS 6 and replaced
it with a lighter, but more powerful V8 biturbo in the
new RS 6 Avant. This 4.0 TFSI produces an astounding
412 kW of power and 700 Nm of torque. Top speed
is 305 km/h with the limiter removed on request, while
100 km/h comes up in 3.9 seconds.
But the RS 6 Avant is not just fast; it’s efficient
as well. Audi cylinder-on-demand switches off half the
pistons when they are not needed in such a refined way
that you will never notice the transition. Fuel consumption
is a 6-cylinder-like 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres.
There’s a lot more going under the RS 6 Avant:
quattro all-wheel drive with a centre differential. A
sport-tuned eight-speed tiptronic gearbox. And an
RS adaptive air suspension that can lower the body by
20 millimetres for an even more planted feel. You can
further specif y fade-free carbon-fibre ceramic disc
brakes—a race-inspired technology.
The RS 6 Avant, then, is a true supercar without
the supercar compromises. After all, which supercar
comes with a cargo hold large enough to transport your
Labrador Retriever at 300 km/h?
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The Audi RS 6 Avant is the epitome of excellent performance:
inspiring power, impressive attractiveness and intelligent Audi
lightweight engineering in one sleek package.
Audi RS 6 Avant fuel consumption, combined: 9.6 l/100km. CO2 emissions, combined: 223g/km.
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Motorsports:
Know-how
acquired through
decades of racing
After bagging more than 100 victories at Le Mans
and other long-distance racing series by Audi Le
Mans protot ypes, Audi has learnt a thing or t wo
about making the ultimate road-going supercar.
Meet the second-generation Audi R8. It weighs
just 1,454 kilograms, thanks to its novel Audi Space
Frame multi-material construc tion consisting of
featherweight aluminium and carbon-fibre reinforced
plastic. The entire underbody is covered with a smooth
coating while the airflow exits via a large diffuser to
create downforce—just like in a race car.
The competition-inspired touches continue into
the cabin, where the focus is squarely on the driver.
Key information is presented at a glance via the Audi
virtual cockpit, configurable to display, for instance, a
l ar ge r ev counter and au x il iar y gauges f or t y r e
temperature and torque output. The steering wheel,
instrument cluster and road all line up along one central
visual axis: the driver’s eyes stay on the road.
The range-topping Audi R8 V10 Coupé is one of the
fastest vehicles that Audi has ever produced: the naturally
aspirated engine produces 449 kW and brings the car
from standstill to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds.
Yet, while its sporting credentials cannot be denied,
the Audi R8 is also a supercar you can live with every
day, thanks to the Audi drive select handling system
that offers four basic modes, allowing you to alter the
car’s character depending on whether you’re attacking
corners on the track or cruising down a highway.
And that’s one feature we’re glad to say isn’t all
//
about racing.
The high-rev concept in the V10 mid-engine of the Audi R8—
seen beneath the rear window of the Audi R8 Coupé (top)—is
geared toward pure driving enjoyment.
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Naturally, the design of the Audi R8 makes a
clear statement of its motor-racing origins. This
is, simply, a performance-oriented sports car.
Audi R8 Coupe tech specs to be confirmed.
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inspire
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Audi Magazine
Amid all the muscular engines and digital gadgetry
on display at the upcoming Singapore Motorshow
2016 in January, a sleek, two-wheeled creation
could well be the event’s surprise star.
That’s because the Audi Sport Racing Bike
is one of the most sophisticated road bikes ever
made. Inspired by ultra-light forms of motoring, it
weighs a mere 5.8 kilograms. Yet, it retains worldclass levels of structural rigidity as a result of its
carbon fibre frame. Indeed, the bike was made
using similar techniques for manufacturing carbon
vehicle parts.
Technology flows through the sexy form of
this two-wheeler. An innovative electronic gearshift
that is activated by touching a button results in an
almost seamless gear shift, making this bike a cinch
to ride on hilly terrain. Professional racing drivers
have described this state-of-the-art bike as the
Audi R8 of the cycling world—in terms of speed,
efficiency and handling.
It even uses the same fine nappa leather seat
cover found in the Audi R8, ensuring a high level of
comfort as you zip around bends and hurtle down
straights. Meanwhile, a colour palette that was
developed by Audi concept design enhances the bike’s
sporty aesthetic.
The Audi Sport Racing Bike is a project between
Audi’s quattro GmbH department and German bike
specialists Lightweight, who are behind some of the
lightest and most expensive carbon-fibre wheels in the
world. Available in five different size frames, only 50 of
these bikes have been produced.
Ride it and feel the joy of handling one of the
planet’s most advanced road bikes.
//
$28,888 (with GST). To view the Audi Sport Racing Bike,
head down to the Singapore Motorshow at Suntec City
Convention Hall from 14 January 2016.
The wheels are fitted with sleek and lightweight spokes.
Weighing in at only 5.8 kilograms, the Audi Sport Racing Bike
is a fine specimen of product engineering.
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Fast-track development
Audi is working intensively on developing piloted driving.
T h e A u d i R S 7 p i l o t e d d r i v i n g c o n c e p t , d u b b e d Ro b b y, b e a r s
testimony to the company’s progress.
Laura Hamdor f (copy), Angus Frazer (inter view)
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The Audi piloted driving concept cars handle all the driving functions autonomously and
with maximum precision: Robby, the Audi RS 7 piloted driving concept car, has an output of
412 kilowatts and is 400 kilograms lighter than its predecessor. On the Sonoma Raceway in
California, it reached lap times that beat those of some experienced pro racers.
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In the next few years, Audi will be gradually integrating this key technology into series
production. Indeed, the assistance systems featured in the new Audi A4 and Audi Q7 today are
a good indication of what this technology will be capable of.
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All the piloted driving concept test vehicles have nicknames. The latest specimen is called
Robby, referencing its lineage to the Audi RS 7 prototype named Bobby that raced around
the Hockenheimring in the fall of 2014 without a driver. And the Audi A7 dubbed Jack
used many production-based solutions to drive 900 kilometres from Silicon Valley to
Las Vegas autonomously.
Sonoma Raceway is anything but an ordinary circuit.
Carved into the hills in California, the course is a four-kilometre
rollercoaster ride of blind bends. Back in 2004, Marco Werner
and his Audi R8 LMP set the record for the fastest racing lap here,
with an average time of 178.06 kilometres per hour.
There’s nothing ordinary about Robby, either. The nextgeneration Audi RS 7 piloted driving concept is a test car on the
road to getting the technology ready for series production. In
July, it set new standards on the Sonoma Raceway. Admittedly,
it didn’t break Marco Werner’s record, but that wasn’t the point.
Robby took its laps at an average of around 120 kilometres per
hour—with absolute precision and nobody at the wheel. Its lap times
were impressive: At 2:01.01 minutes, the Audi RS 7 piloted driving
>>
concept was faster than many pro racers.
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Because the systems have become more advanced, it is
about 400 kilograms lighter than Bobby, which significantly
improves performance.
Audi has been testing piloted driving for several years
now, under all kinds of conditions. In October 2014, an Audi
RS 7 piloted driving concept named Bobby drove laps on the
Hockenheimring in Germany at up to 240 kilometres per hour
with no driver. Early 2015 saw the Audi A7 Sportback piloted
driving concept called Jack drive autonomously from Silicon Valley
to Las Vegas on its way to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Jack has also performed test drives on the German autobahn,
hitting up to 130 kilometres per hour.
Piloted driving ranks among the key technologies of future
car generations. The benefits are obvious: Piloted driving stands
for safety, time savings, efficiency and convenience. Especially
if the driver faces conditions presenting too many or too few
challenges, the system can make a valuable contribution to
safety. This forward-looking technology makes driving even more
efficient, reduces stress and boosts convenience by taking over
the tasks for a while. Audi is working on the final touches to get
this key technology ready for everyday use. It is based on state-ofthe-art developments in sensors, data processing, vehicle control
and stabilisation.
Some piloted driving functions will appear in the nextgeneration Audi A8, which is scheduled to hit the market in
2017. This will be the first series-production model to feature
components of piloted driving: it can, when activated, handle
the braking and accelerating involved in stop-and-go traffic at
up to 60 kilometres per hour. It also boasts cameras and image
processing software that register other cars passing or entering
the lane and adapt the driving style to the situation.
In the next few years, Audi will be gradually integrating this
key technology into series production. Even now, the assistance
systems in the new Audi A4 and Audi Q7—both of which feature
optional adaptive cruise control (ACC) Stop&Go including the
traffic jam assistant—are an indication of what this technology is
capable of. In addition to automatically maintaining the desired
distance from the car ahead, it also helps the driver stay in lane at
speeds of up to 65 kilometres per hour.
The coming developments in piloted driving are explained
by Audi engineer Peter Bergmiller.
Audi Magazine: Mr. Bergmiller, what is the difference between
the traffic jam assistant in the new Audi A4 or Audi Q7 and
piloted driving?
Peter Bergmiller: As its name says, the traffic jam assistant
literally assists the driver—who, however, still has to steer to keep
the car from drifting sideways. Piloted driving doesn’t just help
the driver; it goes a step further.
Is piloted driving synonymous with autonomous driving?
No. Autonomous driving means that the car makes decisions
on its own and does not require any intervention on the part of the
driver. At Audi, however, we are concentrating on piloted driving.
That means that under certain conditions and within a certain
time frame, the car takes over the driving completely. But the
driver must always be prepared to resume active driving.
Does piloted driving even work in the middle of the desert, for
example, far from radio signals or any Internet connection?
Basically, our system doesn’t need any external information
to move ahead safely. However, it only works in the environment
the carmaker prepared it for. That means a system that was
developed for the highway will only work on the highway.
Otherwise it can’t be activated.
Could a piloted race car beat one driven manually?
Our goal is to remain just under the limit. We are developing
a technology for series production. In addition to convenience,
//
safety is our highest priority.
More information:
At Audi, piloted driving will remain one of the top innovation drivers
over the years to come and is seen as a logical step in automotive
development. We have been working on turning this vision into a
reality for the past decade and a half. With assistance systems such
as adaptive cruise control including traffic jam assistant and active
lane assist, the groundwork for piloted driving has been laid.
www.audi.com
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Big
in
China
T h e A u d i S u m m e r To u r 2 0 1 5 t o o k F C B a y e r n M u n i c h a l l t h r o u g h C h i n a .
The star-studded lineup included David Alaba, of course.
N o t o n l y i s h e c o n s i d e re d o n e o f t h e m o s t v e r s a t i l e p l ay e r s i n t h e g a m e t o d ay,
he also demonstrates considerable skill on the racetrack.
Patrick Morda (copy), Rober t Grischek (photos)
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Fuel consumption and CO 2 emission figures for the Audi RS 7 Sportback, Audi S1 and
Audi RS 3 Sportback can be found on page 69.
Audi Magazine
01 Boomtown: Shanghai is reputed to be the largest, wealthiest and most modern city in
China. The view from the Shanghai World Financial Center offers a sweeping panorama of
the metropolis—weather conditions and air quality permitting. 02 After a few fast laps
around the track, it was all about the fans. And then, of course, there was the job the team
had come to do: play some serious football.
02
Star of the South, the official club anthem of the Bundesliga record champions FC
Bayern Munich, is running on a continuous loop, booming out of six-foot speakers. On top of
that, chants of “Super Bayern, Super Bayern… hey, hey!” can be heard, accompanied by the
muffled rumble of rhythmic clapping. This would be an everyday scene in the Allianz Arena
in Munich, but today it’s playing out in Shanghai—or, to be more precise, at the Shanghai
International Circuit, the Formula 1 track on the outskirts of the city an estimated 15
million people call home. If you count the outer districts, it’s more like 25 million. That’s
on a par with Europe’s largest metropolitan regions, London and Paris, added together.
The context puts an entirely different spin on the soundtrack to this show.
The Audi Summer Tour 2015 pitted the German record champions against Inter Milan
in a test game in Shanghai. A day ahead of the contest, the pros had the opportunity to
get a feel for China and its people. In the case of Bayern Munich player David Alaba, that
also included one of its racetracks. “The atmosphere here is certainly impressive. I never
expected to get such a reception, or that we had so many fans here.” Bayern’s fan base in
China is thought to number around 90 million, about the entire population of Germany
plus a couple of million more. “Bist deppert!”—which translates roughly as “You have to be
kidding!”—is Alaba’s comment in his Austrian dialect.
He only sees the tip of the iceberg, of course. Bayern Munich’s travel itinerary is
packed with the usual practice sessions, games and press events. It all runs like clockwork.
This trip is, after all, a key element in the preparations for the coming season. Unless the
Chinese authorities throw a wrench in the works, such as the delay of several hours as the
Bayern squad sat on the runway in Beijing before their flight to Shanghai. China’s capital
had been the setting for the tour’s kick-off game against Valencia CF, which lost 4-1 to
a formidable Bayern. Despite their delayed arrival, Bayern Munich received a frenetic
welcome in Shanghai from the fans, who were waiting at the team’s hotel. The passion of
football fandom runs deep in China these days, and its favourite colours are red and white. >>
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01 David Alaba visibly enjoying his fast lap in the Audi TT. 02 Easing off: Speeds of up to
300 kilometres per hour are possible at the end of the long straight track. Good brakes and
a masterful grip on the asphalt are essential. Measuring nearly 5.5 kilometers, this course
is very fast and deceptively wide—but that means there’s plenty of room to make mistakes.
01
In the media lounge at the Shanghai racetrack, Alaba tries to block out the hubbub
around him. Before joining the fans, more than 100 of whom are privileged to be part
of this exclusive event and are responsible for the loud cheers, he has to concentrate
on braking, cornering and shifting gears. He listens intently as Harald Büttner, the Audi
driving experience instructor, explains what it takes to complete as clean and fast a lap as
possible on the Formula 1 course in an Audi TT. And that is the minimum target Alaba has
set himself. What he really wants is to achieve the perfect lap. Whatever he does, Alaba
always aims to win.
Even at the tender age of 23, Alaba has already played key roles in plenty of victories
on the football field. “I’ve been with Bayern Munich since 2008, and even in the youth
teams the drive to win is instilled in you.” And you learn to handle the pressure. Because the
constant desire to win really means the constant need to win. Bundesliga, DFB Cup, UEFA
Champions League—Bayern Munich is always among the front-runners, having worked
their way up to being perhaps the top squad on the planet. And Alaba is an important
part of this ensemble, firmly established as a key player. Last year, it was reported that
Carlo Ancelotti, then star coach of powerhouse club Real Madrid, tried to lure him to Spain
with vast sums of money and praise as one of the world’s best players. Pep Guardiola,
Alaba’s current coach, would certainly have never let him go. He calls Alaba “a huge, huge
gift for Bayern Munich”, which likely refers to the degree of perfection and stoic calm the
young Austrian displays on the field. He is football’s equivalent of a magic bullet, and can
switch among a variety of positions and tasks on the field during the season, sometimes
even during a single game. He’s almost frighteningly effective at all of them. “Of course,
I always try to make as few mistakes as possible, that goes without saying. It may well be
that I seem very calm on the field, but off it I’m different.”
As soon as the topic turns to cars, you can see what he means. It soon becomes
obvious that he has no intention of taking the laps he’s about to drive in the Audi TT on the
Shanghai International Circuit at a leisurely pace. “I have an Audi RS 7, an Audi S1 and an
R8 GT,” Alaba says, detailing his fleet. The R8 GT is his hands-down favourite, he says, and
he’s in the process of trading in his Audi S1 for a new Audi RS 3. In short, he knows what
performance means in a car and what it feels like. “I like driving a sporty car, when you
feel every bump and can take the curves dynamically.” In the same breath, however, he
says he enjoys playing backgammon, which offsets all the feverish activity. Almost like
yin and yang.
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01
Staying grounded is important to Alaba, whose parents
come from Nigeria and the Philippines. Even when he was young,
his family encouraged him in his goal of becoming a professional
football player. “It was my childhood dream. That was what I
always wanted.” Following stints at other clubs, including Austria
Vienna, he finally joined the Bavarian side.
With Bayern, David Olatukunbo Alaba became the youngest
professional player that the club has ever put on the field in the
DFB Cup and the UEFA Champions League. In Austria, he became
the youngest-ever Football Player of the Year in 2011. Since then,
he has won the award three more times. All the same, he still keeps
in touch with the friends he used to kick the ball around with on
the streets of the Vienna suburb where he grew up. There’s always
something going on at home, he says. Either the family is visiting
or friends from Vienna—or everybody at the same time.
The air-conditioning in the media room is putting up a
brave fight against the summer temperatures on China’s coast.
Outside, the early afternoon heat is up to 40°C. You could cut
the smog-laden air with a knife—in fact, it’s so humid you could
almost drink it. The Vegas Yellow Audi TT that Alaba climbs into
has been parked in the shade as long as possible. Harald Büttner
offers a few extra tips. The Formula 1 circuit in Shanghai is tricky,
despite its wide course and generous run-off areas—or maybe
because of them. “Very fast, nasty bends that stretch out longer
and longer and then suddenly close. You really have to be careful.”
Circuit designer Hermann Tilke built the so-called snail turn here.
Following a similar curve to that of a snail shell, its radius gets
tighter and tighter as it goes. The instructor isn’t worried, though.
“In my experience, professional athletes can handle our cars very
well. It’s a good fit,” Büttner says with a grin.
The practical test bears this out. Via radio, Alaba asks
the instructor to speed up a bit. “I can take a little more,”
rasps the voice over the mike. There isn’t a prize for this race,
except the satisfaction of beating his teammate Mario Götze,
who has joined Alaba as they fly around the track behind
Büttner. The instructor gives both players top scores. It’s a tie.
But a good tie, as observers would say: more like 4-4 than 0-0.
Neither of them would stand a chance against Büttner, nor would
any Bayern star. At the end, Büttner switches places with Alaba
for a professional hot lap. Afterwards, when asked if there was a
difference, Alaba replies in Austrian fashion, “It was fine.” But his
//
charming grin speaks volumes.
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01 With two victories and one loss in the penalty shootout,
Bayern Munich played a very successful Audi Summer Tour 2015.
02 The Audi driving experience welcomed David Alaba and the
other Bayern stars to the Shanghai International Circuit.
More information:
The Audi Summer Tour was a complete success for Bayern Munich,
and not just on the field. Audi brought world class football to China
for the second time since 2012. The Munich squad beat Valencia
CF 4-1 at the Olympic stadium known as the Bird’s Nest in Beijing,
and bested Inter Milan 1-0 in Shanghai two days later. It wasn’t
until the final match in Guangzhou, the last stage of their trip, that
Bayern lost 4-5 to the local team Evergrande in the penalty shootout. David Alaba played in all three matches. And by the way: The
last time Bayern went to China with Audi, they won the treble—
victory in their three key competitions, Bundesliga, DFB Cup and
Champions League—the following season. Could this be an omen?
www.facebook.com/audi.football
Audi RS 7 Sportback fuel consumption urban/extra-urban/combined (in l/100 km): 13.2/7.0/9.3. CO 2 emissions combined (in g/km): 220.
Audi S1 fuel consumption urban/extra-urban/combined (in l/100 km): 9.2-9.1/5.9-5.8/7.2-7.0. CO 2 emissions combined (in g/km): 166-162.
Audi RS 3 Sportback fuel consumption urban/extra-urban/combined (in l/100 km): 11.4-11.2/6.5-6.3/8.3-8.1. CO 2 emissions combined
(in g/km): 194-189. Where stated in ranges, fuel consumption, CO 2 emissions and efficiency classes depend on tires/wheels used.
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Blast to
the past
Audi Singapore transports you into the past with
its gift to the nation, the SG50 Time Machine.
Low Ka Wei (copy)
Singapore is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and Audi Singapore
has brought along the most fitting gift: the SG50 Time Machine
smartphone app. Launched on October 14, the app takes users on a
virtual reality heritage tour of the Civic District as it stood in 1965,
highlighting the huge strides in progress the nation has made in the
intervening half-century.
The VIP preview event saw more than 200 personalities from
TV, radio, society and business gathered at Post Bar in The Fullerton
Hotel Singapore to grace the launch of the app and take part in—
quite literally—the joyride of a lifetime.
After a welcome speech by Audi Singapore managing director
Jeff Mannering, guests were chauffeured in a fleet of Audi A6 sedans
on a 15-minute round trip that took them from the venerable hotel
across the Singapore River, around the Padang and back. Along the
way, they passed by many a storied building such as Victoria Theatre
and Concert Hall, old Supreme Court (soon to reopen as the National
Gallery Singapore), City Hall, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Raffles Hotel,
and War Memorial Park.
Ensconced in the comfortable back seat of the Audi A6, guests
donned a specially designed headset equipped with the LG G4
smartphone running the SG50 Time Machine app. It enables them
to see what the landscape looked like 50 years ago while enjoying
a running commentary voiced by singer-songwriter and Audi
Singapore Brand Ambassador Dick Lee.
Returning to Post Bar, guests received a goodie bag and enjoyed
a sumptuous buffet spread featuring local delicacies that included
satay, nonya laksa and sup kambing. A special photo wall mimicking
the DJ console of a radio station of yore was also a hit among
selfie fans.
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Jon Yongfook Cockle peers into the past with the SG50
Time Machine at the VIP preview event.
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MediaCorp artistes Romeo Tan and Seraph Sun
Audi brand ambassador Dick Lee is the voice of the SG50 Time Machine app.
Members of the public can’t wait to hop on for their
trip in the SG50 Time Machine.
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MediaCorp artistes Shaun Chen and Zhang Zhen Huan
with Georgina Chang.
After lunch, they mingled with glamorous MediaCorp
celebrities Shaun Chen, Georgina Chang, Zhang Zhen Huan, Romeo
Tan and Seraph Sun, among others.
Says Mr Mannering: “Whether it is about a thriving country
or whether it is about fantastic cars, both Singapore and Audi are
focused on defining the next chapters in our respective success
stories. With this in mind, we thought the ideal gift for Singapore is
to celebrate where it all began. To be able to compare what it was like
50 years ago with the present, I think it’s a fantastic gift.”
The event was later opened to Audi customers on 17 and 18
October, and to the general public from 17 to 25 October. More
than 5,000 people attended these two events, including participant
Valencia Tan, who had signed up for the event. She remarked with
a grin: “I like that we were driven around in comfort and I like Dick
Lee’s narration. It felt familiar, like we were home.”
>>
Audi Magazine
MediaCorp artistes Nick Teo and Paige Chua
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The pioneer drive
Audi Singapore also took some of Singapore’s pioneer generation
for an exclusive preview. Four of them share their fondest memories
of the historic Civic District.
67, retiree
He remembers bustling Boat Quay and
the hawker food.
“In 1965, I was 17 years old. I worked
as an office boy in a private company in Boat
Quay. At that time, it was bustling with activity
in the day. The water was not as clean as it is
now, and it was crammed with boats. Tugboats
ferrying goods like flour, rubber, chilli, rice…
everything you can think of. There were threewheeler hawker carts selling food. My parents
liked to eat satay, so we went to the Satay
Club every Saturday. Satay was two sticks for
50 cents, but today, you can’t find even one
stick for $1! The Audi drive really showed that
everything is different now. I will definitely
tell my grandchildren to remember to create
good memories of Singapore.”
Prema Sagaram &
Krishnan Padma
(Jacob)
65, special needs teacher / 71, F&B
consultant
The husband and wife remember watching
his hockey matches on the Padang.
She says: “When we were courting,
h e w a s alw a y s t al k in g a b o u t h o c ke y.
I knew that he loved the game, so when he
invited me to watch him play hockey on the
Padang I was so excited. He was a goalkeeper
and his team—the Ceylon Sports Club—was
ver y good, so the opposing team didn’t
even have the chance to make any goals.
But I didn’t really understand the game so
all I could think was how come he didn’t
touch the ball at all! I didn’t want to hurt
his feelings so later when we went for
dinner at Shenton Way and he asked if I
enjoyed it I said: ‘Yah, yah, yah, I loved it!’ ”
He says: “The drive back in time was so
nostalgic for us in remembering the past. The
places were so vivid!”
Bill Teo
81, part-time actor and retired Senior
Police Officer
He remembers his old office, his former
boss and receiving a medal on the first
National Day Parade at the Padang.
“I got my medal for the Battle for Merger
from the early 1960s. It was announced at
the first National Day Parade in 1966. When
my director told me, I was shocked because
I thought I was going to get the sack. He had
caught me doing something without permission
that was of value to the department. After
lecturing me that I should not have acted
on my own, I thought, ‘Oh no, my poor wife
and kids.’ Then he said quietly: ‘In any case,
tomorrow, the first National Day, you’re getting
a medal.’ If you could have photographed my
face at that moment… I was stunned. I was
very proud to be honoured as one of the best.
The SG50 Time Machine was fun; I enjoyed it.
It showed me views of old scenes I definitely
have seen before. My colleagues and I used
to walk down past that way every day to go
for lunch.”
The route taken on A Drive Back In
Time started from The Fullerton Hotel
Singapore, then past the Singapore
River, the Old Supreme Court, City Hall,
the Padang, St Andrew’s Cathedral,
Raffles Hotel and War Memorial Park.
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Sabina-Leah Fernandez (interviews)
J A Halim
Partners in time
Just for the special event, Audi Singapore found
two synergistic partners that represented the best of
old-world hospitality and new-age technology: The
Fullerton Hotel and LG Electronics Singapore.
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, recently gazetted as
a national monument, is the ideal location to start the
tour. Situated near the mouth of the Singapore River—the
nation’s commercial epicentre since its beginnings—
the magnificent building used to house the city-state’s
General Post Office. It is an edifice so important that
distances along major roads used to be measured by the
milestones that radiated from there.
Says Giovanni Viterale, General Manager of The
Fullerton Heritage: ”Having Audi’s guests embark on
the journey from The Fullerton Hotel is especially
significant. As a landmark on the city’s skyline since
1928, the Fullerton Building, with its illustrious history
and legacy, has witnessed Singapore’s progress to the
metropolis it is today. We are thrilled to have been a
Audi Magazine
part of Audi Singapore’s initiative in bringing Singapore’s
history to life, and the partnership has demonstrated
our common passion to showcase our nation’s heritage,
culture and legacy.”
Meanwhile, the cutting-edge software used in the
SG50 Time Machine app requires a similarly advanced
platform to run on. Enter the LG G4 smartphone (right),
which is mounted inside the virtual reality headset used
for the tour.
Explains Scott Jung, managing director of LG
Electronics Singapore: “The LG G4 is a natural fit for
the SG50 Time Machine as its Quad HD IPS Quantum
Display, which is optimised to the Digital Cinema
Initiative (DCI) standards (colour expression standards
used by film-makers), is essential to bring out the
realism of the journey.
“‘A Drive Back in Time’ is a timely initiative as LG
gets to join the nation in celebrating Singapore’s Jubilee
and honoring her in a meaningful and innovative way.” >>
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It took months of hard work for the teams at Audi and
Publicis Singapore to create the SG50 Time Machine.
Taking a look
behind the
scenes
The concept for the SG50 Time Machine
app is simple: to remind Singaporeans that
their country has come a long way in a short
50 years. After all, many today only remember
1965 from old films and faded photos. So the
idea is to take users back in time on a virtual
reality journey that will touch hearts and minds.
But it took months of hard work to bring
the app to fruition. It began with a pitch by
Publicis, Audi Singapore’s agency of record,
which worked with a local tech company to
develop the SG50 Time Machine. Along the
way, Audi Singapore also received support from
the National Heritage Board, the Singapore
Tourism Board and the National Archives.
In the end, everything came together
beautifully. Quite simply, the SG50 Time
Machine is a multi-sensory virtual reality
heritage tour that uses the latest virtual reality
technology for an immersive 3D experience.
Says Publicis’ Sidhaesh Subrah: “Progress
has always been one of Audi’s key tenets. With
2015 being Singapore’s 50th anniversary of
independence, we knew it was an opportunity
to do something meaningful to commemorate
the occasion, and demonstrate the Audi brand
philosophy at the same time.
“We worked with a team that really
knows the ins and outs of virtual reality
technology, and it’s been mind-blowing.”
The SG50 Time Machine allows one to
wander in the Padang area and take in the
sights and sounds of 1965. Delightful details
abound, such as the virtual interior of an Audi
TT Roadster from which the tour takes place.
At one point near the Raffles Hotel,
the tour leads one out into the sea. This isn’t
a programming error; it is to remind us of
the original coastline 50 years ago before
land reclamation.
As Jeff Mannering, managing director
of Audi Singapore, puts it: “Singapore has
made tremendous progress in the 50 years
since its independence. Audi will take you
back in time to see how far Singapore has
developed. This is Audi’s gift to Singapore
for the jubilee celebration.”
The special SG50 Time Machine
headset that was used at the VIP
preview event.
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Audi Magazine
Voicing the journey
GT Gan (photo of Dick Lee)
Dick Lee’s songs are among the best known for a local
artiste, whether they are the hits from his 1989 breakout album
The Mad Chinaman, or the numerous theme tunes for the National
Day Parade—in which he was creative director four times—such as
2015’s “Our Singapore” or the perennial favourite “We Will Get
There” and “Home”.
His musicals have also transformed our theatre scene,
entertaining generations of Singaporeans with Beauty World, Fried
Rice Paradise and Hotpants, among many others. The younger
ones will definitely remember him as a judge for Singapore Idol,
where his kind advice gave encouragement to many star-aspirants.
The multi-talented, Cultural Medallion winner, however,
found himself in a decidedly different role for the SG50 Time
Machine smartphone app: that of a tour guide.
Here, the Audi Singapore Brand Ambassador lends his dulcet
tones to a voiceover as he takes one on a heritage excursion through
the Civic District. In the clearest terms he explains, for instance,
the significance of the Singapore River, which used to be a bustling
cargo hub but has since been cleaned up and gentrified.
“I am a walking time machine myself,” quipped Lee of being
a virtual tour guide. “I was really thrilled when I was invited to
be the voiceover for this experience. In other words, get used to
my voice because you’re going to hear it in the car! I actually have
been there myself, having been around in 1965. There’s a lot that
jogged my memory, and those of you of a certain age are going
to love this experience.”
Added Audi Singapore managing director Jeff Mannering,
referring to Lee: “Without him, the time machine just wouldn’t
be the same. I couldn’t think of anybody else better to do that
than Dick.”
//
Download
the App
The gift continues as you can experience
this celebration of Singapore’s progress by
downloading the Audi SG50 Time Machine
app. The free app is available on iOS and
Android platforms.
There are two modes of the experience
in the app. If you have a Drive Back in Time
headset, you can select the “with headset”
option and use your smartphone with the
headset to be fully immersed in 1965.
Alternatively, you can select the “without
headset” option to enjoy this virtual reality
tour of the iconic Civic District in full screen
on your smartphone.
Audi Magazine
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Always at
your service
Bringing you exclusive insights into Audi Service
f e a t u r i n g a f o u r - p a r t s e r i e s , M e e t T h e Te a m .
Kristie Soon (text) / Lionel Lai (main photo)
You love the powerful and yet smooth drive, the luxurious feel
and the looks of envy you get on the road. But how can you make
sure your Audi stays in prime condition? That’s where Audi Service
comes in. Let’s meet the first Audi Service expert in our series. Daniel
Watts is the General Manager for Aftersales, Dealer Development
and Training at Audi Singapore Pte Ltd.
Daniel has always had a passion for horsepower. He eventually
made the decision to pursue this love for engines by entering the
automotive trade as an apprentice technician. He joined Audi right
after high school and has spent 14 years learning about the business
from the ground up. He has progressed through all areas of the
Aftersales business in Australia and the Middle East, and knows all
there is to know about Audi Service.
Today, Daniel brings this wealth of invaluable insights from his
past experiences to Singapore. He understands the importance of
caring for your Audi, yet he knows that it is not just about servicing
a car. He believes that the automotive industry places too little
emphasis on the service experience. He says: “At Audi, we’re changing
this by continually exploring opportunities to delight customers.”
Daniel and his team have embarked on a challenge to create
lasting memories for Audi customers. The Audi Service Shuttle
programme, for instance, takes customers on a chauffeured ride
to their preferred destination in Audi flagship models, such as the
Audi R8, A8 or the RS 4 Avant, when they book their vehicles in for
a service appointment. Tech Talk events also let enthusiasts gain
technical insights into how Audi vehicles are extensively engineered
and developed to feature the best technologies incorporating the
genetics of Vorsprung durch Technik.
“Audi is Sporty, Sophisticated and Progressive—and our owners
are no different,” explains Daniel. “They enjoy the finer things life
has to offer, and are dynamic and driven.”
The bar is set high with what is known as the Audi Difference.
He says: “We always endeavour to make being part of the Audi family
full of great experiences, enabling us to touch base on a personal
level with our loyal customers.”
Daniel reveals that there are some exciting new developments
to enhance the Audi Service experience that will be unveiled in 2016.
“Our customers are our inspiration. I’ve always believed that our
Service Team is the most crucial element to success and our most
important asset,” he says.
It is why, since 2015, Audi is committing at least 3,000 hours
of training annually to equip all service staff with superior customer
service and technical expertise. Frequent on-the-job training also
takes place at the dealership in Singapore. From Flying Technicians to
Behavioural Coaches, Audi employees are equipped with knowledge
from the nuts and bolts of the product, to customer handling and
stress management. All these ensure that the Service Team is up
078
At one of the Tech Talk events, Daniel Watts shows an attentive
crowd how an engine compression test is carried out.
to date on the product, repair procedures and processes. Audi also
takes great care of their personal development.
Daniel says: “Audi Service in Singapore sets high standards to
surpass customers’ expectations by providing a seamless experience
for them at every touchpoint. A dedicated Service Advisor for each
customer, mobility options and a one-stop shop where customers
can get anything they need are just some of the benefits that an
Audi owner can experience. We ensure the right tool for the right job
because we know that Audi owners expect the best for their Audi.
This is all part of The Audi Difference”.
//
For each edition of Meet The Team, Audi Service experts share
their best tips to keep your Audi in tip-top condition.
Daniel Watts: “Correct and timely service and maintenance
is key. Follow the recommended schedules, and make sure
that only Audi Genuine Parts, inclusive of a two-year warranty,
are used. Also ensure that you regularly keep your vehicle
clean inside-out using the correct cleaning materials, as
indicated in the owners’ manual. With these simple tips, you
can be sure that you will get the most out of your Audi
ownership whilst giving yourself the best opportunity of
improved resale value.”
Audi Magazine
“We always
endeavour to make
being part of the
Audi family full of
great experiences.”
Audi Magazine
079
by the numbers
It figures
When it comes to your Audi, these are the
numbers you should pay attention to.
The first
5,000km
Engine oil consumption is higher at this stage, so it’s important
to get levels checked regularly during this time.
% 12,628
square metres
10
That’s how much more fuel
your car could consume if it has
a poorly maintained engine.
The floor space at the Audi
Service Centre (Ubi), one of the
largest workshops in Singapore.
The workshop houses four direct
reception bays and is a mere 12
minutes away from the CBD.
2
The number of times in a month
that you should check your car
tyres. Tread helps the tyres adhere
to the road, especially during wet
conditions, and sufficient tread
depth is important for a safe drive.
1.6 13football
pitches
The minimum tread depth of
your tyres, as recommended
by Audi.
That’s the total area covered by the windscreen wiper cycles in the
first six months of vehicle use.
1,500
kilometres
The recommended distance required
before your new car’s engine is fully
run in.
More information can be found in the owner’s manual.
080
Audi Magazine
Siti Rohani (copy)
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De Dietrich
Asia
De Dietrich
Asia Official
De Dietrich
Asia
De Dietrich
Asia
De Dietrich
Asia