Weekend Drive in California: Audi V10 S6 and Supercharged V6 A6

To car enthusiasts, Monterey Bay is one of the special places in Northern California. In addition to mesmerizing coast line roads, blue ocean, temperate climate, and mouth watering seafood, this place hosts many high speed and historic racing events. Laguna Seca circuit is located just a few miles west of Monterey Bay's sand dunes off Highway 1...

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Due to the rolling hills and valleys that make up the region's landscape, Laguna Seca circuit features the highly respected and challenging high speed turns, switchbacks, and hairpins. The elevation changes on the turns give the continuous 3D racing experience that is rather unique to this circuit. The famous corkscrew turn pushes not only the limit of the drivers but also to the engineering teams that build and tune the chassis, suspension, and brake...

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5.2 V10 S6

More momentum is generated when a heavier body of mass accelerates than the momentum generated by a lighter body of mass accelerating at the same rate. More momentum means more effort required to change the direction of motion. Given S6 blistering acceleration rate, 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, and its total curb weight of about 4500 pounds, engineers at Ingolstadt equipped S6 with special treatments in the similar manner `Q' upgraded the 007 car...

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To shave off speed at equally fast rate, S6 is equipped with oversized 15.2-inch ventilated rotors up front and 13-inch ventilated rotors in the back. The transfer of energy during acceleration, braking, and turning is optimized by installing sticky 265/35 R19 Z-rated wide rubbers on the flared corners. The chassis features lightweight aluminum construction and the targeted use of sheet steel to create a balance between rigidity and weight saving, hence reducing the unsprung mass. To provide precise handling and steering, the refined four-link front suspension and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension are designed and constructed to provide an extremely sporty kinematic behavior with superior directional stability and steering precision. Furthermore, Audi drive select systems offer three settings; automatic, comfort, and dynamic. This feature allows the driver to select the proper driving dynamic for different kinds of driving...

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3.0T V6 A6

The supercharged A6, on the other hand, I believe, is secretly designed so parents who do not want to give up their fun fast toys can still have a joyful grocery-getter family sedan. With 135 hp less power and 88 lbs-ft less torque than its brother, this A6, which is about 370 pound lighter, can still reach a well respected rate of acceleration. 0-60 mph is accomplished in 5.9 seconds; only less than a second slower than its big brother...

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The athletic performance of this A6 is brought by the combination of Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) and Roots-style supercharger. The supercharger is mounted between cylinder banks. Two water-to-air intercoolers are utilized to chill the air before it enters the supercharger. This supercharger is equipped with free-running blades which coast under low engine loads when supercharging is unnecessary...

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At 2500 rpm, the potent technologies combination above produces the maximum torque of 310 lbs-ft. And, this flat torque band spans up to 5100 rpm. Despite the relatively close 0-60 mph acceleration number to its big brother's, this 3.0T A6 can do 26 mpg on highway. In the aesthetic department, 2010 A6 features the integrated daylight driving LED's and the LED taillights. The newly designed widened taillights of 2010 A6 make the car look smaller than it really is. Combined with its assertive stance, sweeping lines, and single frame grill, this A6 radiates agility and prowess...

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In today's world, when our awareness on earth ecosystem's health is at all time high, the days of car manufacturers producing relatively high-volume production 5.2 V10 family cars, such as this S6, are numbered. Demand for this kind of cars will drop significantly as people participate more in the global effort to reduce energy consumption and dependency on fossil fuel. And this makes S6 an endangered species...

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No doubt the car companies will still produce them, but only in limited volume, and this make them unaffordable to many of us. Instead, they will produce hybrid, electric, natural gas, or even hydrogen cars that can match the performance of the current S6. However, this current V10 has many addictive attributes that smaller or alternative engines will not have; the unique sonorous sound, the distinct burble, the ample torque at low RPM, the fast action revving, and a few more things that cannot be described in words but we feel them. Due to these addictive attributes, the V10 S6 will always be a distinct, memorable, very fast and agile family car in the history of automobile. Collect one if your heart desires before it becomes extinct...

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Winter Driving Vacation with the Audi RS4

For those of you considering getting an Audi RS 4, forget about making an appointment to test drive this race-bred automobile at your favorite Audi dealer. The best way to test drive this car is to spend serious time in the cockpit crossing three countries connected by twisty, picturesque country roads and of course the Autobahn. My RS4 test drive route covered central and southwest Germany, Austria and Switzerland. There is no better place to experience the RS4 than driving through the Altmuehltal Nature Park, the Bavarian Alps, the Black Forest, and of course the German, Austrian and Swiss Autobahnen. Thanks to a pilot program offered at Audi Forum, Ingolstadt, I was able to realize one of my childhood dreams: driving an Audi race car in its birth place.

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This program enables Audi enthusiasts or anyone interested in Audi to experiencing Audi's history, culture, technology, and of course ts products. The program starts with an exciting exploration of the brand at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt, Audi's worldwide headquarters. The Audi Driver's Day program offers different packages depending on the number of days you would like to drive your dream car and where in Germany you would like to drive. The latest information about the packages can be found at www.audi.com/driver. For my dream driving vacation, I signed up for the Driver's Day combined with the Audi Winter Driving Experience in Seefeld, Austria. I also asked for an extension of my German driving experience past the usual two-day Twists and Turns package.

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After only a few minutes behind the wheel, I was surprised to find how easy it was to drive this powerful automobile. The six-speed transmission and the clutch were very easy to operate. Acceleration was more than exhilarating: in fact, it was something that can't be described in words. Push the accelerator firmly and one is instantly compressed into the sport bucket Recaro seat, which, by the way, is a bit of a hassle to get in and out of in contrast to the U.S. version S4 Recaro seat, but in return the European-spec seat holds the driver very firmly in place. And as I discovered, once I was seated, I didn't want to get out. The engine note was another aspect of this car that I fully appreciated. Throughout the journey, I rarely turned on the radio because I enjoyed so much listening to the melody of the 4.2 FSI V8.

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In my RS 4, the Audi Navigation Plus incorporated the Traffic Monitoring Control system. I was surprised to hear the navigation system warning me about traffic congestion near downtown Zurich. It directed me to an alternative, less crowded route. Downtown Zurich during rush hour was the perfect place to validate the handling of this 414 hp four-door sedan in stop-and-go traffic. The Audi engineers didn't want to build a raw muscle car that would only perform well in drag races, but instead, aimed at creating a confidence-inspiring automobile that can actually be driven on city streets but also provides total stability in corners and an insane straight-line speed. Thus, the RS4 has a muted exhaust note when it is operated in the "detuned" mode. At low speeds the car is whisper quit. Nonetheless, the stance of this car drew many onlookers in downtown Zurich who were not quite sure why this particular A4 looked so menacing.

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This RS4 was also equipped with adaptive headlights. I found this feature very useful when navigating the Black Forest's twisty roads with blind crests and corners. This was the stuff of quattro dreams, even at 10 pm, in pitch darkness and a snow storm. with the On the way back to Ingolstadt, I decided to focus my attention to the "S" button that was in the middle console. As soon as I pressed the "S" button, the RS4 perked up like a startled Doberman. The gas pedal became very sensitive, responsive and fast; the sound of the engine became louder and deeper as, according to the car documentation, some valves in the exhaust system were opened up to release more of the engine's potential and the driver's seat closed in on me to provide better side, upper and lower support. Even in sixth gear, it was quite an experience to feel the G forces as the car accelerated from 120 km/h to 220 km/h. There was very little drama, except for the scenery flying past the window like the view from the Millennium Falcon reaching the speed of light, and the horizon apparently deciding to come and meet the car halfway. This car gathered momentum so quickly that looking at the speedometer became a shocking experience.

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After this RS 4 test drive I am not sure if I still dream of owning a Ferrari. This tame and understated four-door sedan doesn't have an obnoxious badge on the front, and the sleeping giant underneath the hood can be woken up to transform the car into a very ferocious race car by a touch of a button at anytime one desires. I am definitely going to the RS4 Barcelona Track Driving Event in August 2006 to get training on how to control this high performance, yet practical, car on an international race way.

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How to Win at American Le Mans Series

This is it! The grand finale. The last race of the 2007 American Le Mans Series. Smells from smoking tires and glowing-red brakes fill the afternoon air of the undulating rolling hills of Monterey, California. LMP2 Acura ARX-01, GT2 Ferrari F430 GT, LMP2 Porsche GT3 RS Spyder, and GT1 Corvette C6.R burble thunderously as they brake and downshift in a packed formation to make turn four near the Yokohama foot-bridge at Laguna Seca raceway. In the middle of this pack is the mysteriously quiet Audi R10. The only thing I can hear from this engineering masterpiece is the whizzing noise of the cross-drilled carbon disc brake and occasionally the soft burble of the 650 hp 811 ft-lb V12 TDI engine...

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The paddock is hiving with activities too. Rows of truck trailers that have transformed into sophisticated portable car shops are packed in grid formation. A boxy plain trailer once unpacked becomes a car shop complete with the enclosing tent. This scene reminds me of the 18-wheeler Optimus Prime of the Transformer movie. A metallic hospital-sterile drawer is next to each race car keeping the tools organized. The wide door on the trailer’s side provide a view into the transparent Plexiglas closets that store turbochargers, exhaust pipes, cylinder heads, pistons, gearboxes, struts, and many other parts. The mechanics have everything they need to rebuild a race car in a few hours. Every car nut is ogling and drooling over these impressive portable shops wishing they have similar setup at home...

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Most people only see the cheering, the victory hugs, the high fives, the flashing cameras, the champagne, the glamorous models, and the winning drivers at the podium waving their giant trophies at the end of the race. Many fans don’t really see the back breaking efforts that the people behind the scene do to win the podium spots. These people are the backbone of the racing team. There are more than four dozen men and women who provide Capello, McNish, Rockenfeller, and Werner two reliable R10’s.To the outsiders, they are the nameless faces in red Audi Sport uniform performing various mechanical tasks at the pit and the portable shops. But there is more. There are overseas logisticians who ensure that parts, oil, and fuel from Germany arrive on time. There are transporters who ensure that the multi-million dollars prototype cars get to the next race track in one piece. There are caterers who ensure that the whole team is well fed with nutritious meals to maintain their peak performance. There are mechanics, composite fabricators, telemetry engineers, engine specialists, tire engineers, and fuel engineers who keep the R10’s in ready-to-race condition...

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Earlier this morning during the practice session, Team-two telemetry engineer noticed that car two was losing oil pressure. It was not an alarming situation, but he informed the car-two crew chief. After a brief deliberation, the crew chief radioed Rockenfeller to bring the car in on the next lap. He also asked Rockenfeller to set his engine map program to safe mode. The safe mode lowers the rev limiter, shifts gear at lower RPM, and set many other engine program nuances to minimize the risk of low oil pressure. The crew chief instructed the team to prepare for tire change and refuel so they could skip the next scheduled pit stop. Without wasting any seconds, as soon as the R10 came to complete stop before the lollipop man, seven team members jumped over the concrete barrier. Four of them carried four new tires to the four corners of the car and then they waited. One examined the car front end. Another person examined the car rear end. The fuel engineer plugged the large diameter fuel hose onto the R10. The fuel cap locking mechanism and the diameter of the fuel line are optimized to deliver as much fuel per second safely into the fuel tank. The fire man was on stand by nearby. LeMans regulations require refueling to be completed before any other service can be performed on the car. Additionally, only 4 engineers are permitted to work concurrently on the car at any given instance. So, all of the tasks had to be staggered in such a way so the team would not get penalized by the eagle-eye pit judges...

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The afternoon sun is beaming radiantly between the passing clouds. The pit is buzzing with activities. Spare tires, carbon fiber body shells, and Shells oil and fuel are being placed at strategic locations around the Audi pit for easy and fast access to minimize pit time. The telemetry team is ensuring the wireless connection to the cars. More than a dozen flat screen monitors are featuring camera feeds and telemetry data dashboards. Each team is having a quick huddle to go over one last time the strategy they worked out last night to service the cars during the four hour race. The crew chiefs are going over the pit strategy the way the Captain of the Space Shuttle Endeavour is going through the final liftoff checklist with the ground command control and his shuttle crews. The number of planned pit stops, the tasks for each pit stop, refueling schedules, tire change schedules, driver schedules, and many other details are being mentally rehearsed by the team members.Capello, McNish, Rockenfeller, Werner, and Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, the president of Audi AG Motorsport, are having causal and relaxing conversation with the pit crews. It is just another day at the pit for them. They have done this a thousand times and they are still enjoying every moment. Despite the late night preparation activities, they all look calm and confident. Every single person in the team does his function in a clock work manner. They work together in the manner of Swiss watch precision...

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The team doesn’t exert any energy on worrying whether they will win on each race or whether the Porsche team completes the pit stop sooner than they do. Their minds are focus on the tasks at hand. They enjoy what they do and they do their best. They give their passion, love, and dedication to each other and the cars at every single second of the race. Getting the first position is definitely satisfying but they do this not because of the glamour of winning but because they just love what they do. And this how they win the races...

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After the last party light goes out and just before midnight, the team goes back to the portable shop. They go there not to continue the celebration. Instead, led by Rick and Jerome, the transportation logisticians, they meticulously organize the cars, the tools, and the spare parts such that, tomorrow, when they come back early, they can quickly prepare the cars for transport and they can pack their portable shop and pit in the similar way the Transformer Optimus Prime transforms itself back into an 18-wheeler truck. While the truck drivers are transporting the cars, the shops, and the kitchen to the next raceway, the race drivers, the mechanics, the engineers, the technical leads, the management team, the caterers have just a few days off to relax and spend time with their families before they go back to do what they love...

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A3 New Zealand Driving Experience

New Zealand is known as Middle Earth in many-Oscars-Academy-Awards-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy. The most captivating and magical settings for the world-class movie making are abundant here. Hobbiton, Mt. Doom, Eregion Hills and the pillars of Argonath were all filmed here. So, when I received an invitation to a wedding in Christchurch, New Zealand, I didn’t hesitate. I made the plan to attend the wedding and explore Middle Earth...

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As soon as I cleared Custom at Christchurch International Airport, I shopped for the suitable rental car. My eyes caught an advertisement in the Welcome to New Zealand brochure. There was a car rental company just outside the airport offering older European cars; Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. They happened to have only one European car left. It was a 2000 Audi A3. For relatively the same amount of money, I had to choose between a brand new Hyundai Accent and a 9-year old Audi A3. Slipping into the driver seat of this well maintained pre-sportback A3, I got a rush of De Ja Vu; the past memories of driving my 1990’s Audi 90S. The pneumatic door lock system, the large side-by-side red LED climate control displays, the Audi Symphony stereo system featuring the unique design of a single circular button in the center, and the scent of Audi interior from this generation transported me back into the 1990’s.This 20-valve engine idled smoothly as if it were brand new, despite the fact that the odometer glowed 155,700 km red digits. Putting the gear lever into D position, stepping on the accelerator slowly, and turning the 3 spoke steering wheel, I navigated my way out of the parking lot and began my Middle Earth driving. The inner child inside me woke up jubilantly...

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Christchurch, near the center of the east coast of the South Island, east of the Canterbury Plains, was the ideal place to start my exploration, not only because of its historic importance but also because of its attractive surroundings and activities for thrill-seeking tourists. Skiing and snowboarding on steepest mountains, whale watching, rafting, rock and ice climbing, and swimming with dolphins are all within a few hours drive from this English-style garden city with its many 19th century stone buildings. Christchurch has a special importance to car enthusiasts. Every February, Skope Classic, the Southern Festival of Speed, is held at Ruapuna Raceway. There won’t be any new lap record set at this race. Classic Allard’s, MG’s, Jaguar’s, and other vintage cars are raced to commemorate the glorious past and provide a family pass-time...

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Sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, New Zealand is a relatively active volcanic and seismic region. The mountains here may not be as high and colossal as the ones in the Himalayas. But the constant movement and collisions of Earth crustal plates create a very dynamic landscape. The peaks and valleys are intermingled in a fractal like formation, the bodies of water and the lands create mesmerizing collage. The changes in elevation were not dramatic, the twists and turns were not hair-raising. But this fit the sleepy morning ambience. The five speed Tiptronic transmission smoothly selected the appropriate gear for the different climb grade. The 1.8 engine provided more than ample thrust given that the relatively low weight of this subcompact car. It was a perfect morning drive...

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Arthur’s Pass is the highest pass over the Southern Alps. The Maori hunting parties used this route way before Arthur Dudley Dobson discovered it in 1864. In the old days, this pass was beyond treacherous. The only thing more dangerous than trying to cross this pass in the rain would be walking on a wire stretched from the top of two skyscrapers in Manhattan. Today, it is a spectacular sight of extreme civil engineering showcasing a giant viaduct, bridges, rock shelters, and man-guided waterfalls. The road beyond the entrance of Arthur’s Pass National Park climbed and wound at faster rate. This was where I unleashed the true spirit inside the 20-valve engine. How efficiently fuel could be burned in the cylinders was one of many obsessions possessed by Audi engineers...

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Audi is the first automobile manufacturer to bring the five valves per cylinder engine into the mass. With five valves, the engine can breathe better and faster resulting in an increase torque and power. Additionally, fuel consumption and exhaust emission are reduced. The ingenuity the engineers at Ingolstadt produced a remarkable cylinder head casting techniques and a very compact design of valve actuators. The performance of this smart design produced the subsequent more powerful turbo engine that earned, for the very first time in the world, the Ultra Light Emission Vehicle status (ULEV)...

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Looking outside through the window of the Air New Zealand flight heading to Melbourne, I could see the dynamic Middle Earth created by the Pacific Ring of Fire below. Remembering my Four Rings driving experience, I concluded that the place below me was definitely a world away from the hustle and bustle of modern daily chores. New Zealand, for me, was a place where the pace of life slowed down almost to a glacial pace, and yet everything felt just right. The beauties, the magic of nature, and the friendliness of the people I encountered gave me a splash of elixir of life...

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The A3 heightened my driving experience. This car was not a mega horsepower car that would require 10 computers to make it safe on the road. It was not even a flashy looker type. But yet, surprisingly, many brand new and sexy cars I had rented failed to instill the emotion and the thrill that this nine year old y Audi could. Despite the lack of mind bending specifications, this car made me aware of the family tree it came from. It gave the sense of man and machine in a perfect harmony. The engineering, the craftsmanship, and the quality control Audi had dedicated made this car a timeless driving machine that outperforms many brand new cars in its class...

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Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI Andalusian Driving Experience

Buddhist philosophers say that I should be aware of my attachments and detach the self from the the objects of desires to avoid suffering. For this time, I go against their suggestion. I buckled and accepted my weakness. I searched and rented an Audi to end my suffering. And, I picked the right place to drive this car; the Andalusian region of Spain. It has the complete package of up and down panoramic mountain and winding scenic coastal roads. To top this, Europcar rental company in Sevilla has the 5 month young, recently added to the fleet Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI with sport seats and Michellin 225/45 17 tires! I am all sorted!

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I am driving on route A-376 leaving Sevilla, aiming towards Ronda in the Serrania de Ronda region. The road is twisty 2-lane 2-way undivided highway with ample emergency lanes on both sides. The mountain tops in this region reach around 1500 meter. When the climb is long, the climbing side has an additional 2 to 5 km, that would be my guess, passing lane, plenty of road to pass many turtles I come across. I am soaking in the mesmerizing panoramic view of the mountains and valleys before me...

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A-372 passes the breathtaking and picturesque Sierra de Grazalema region; more so than the views I soaked this morning before the rest stop. It is 2-way 2-lane road but it has the total width that is half the width of the A-376. And there is no dividing line. Fortunately, there is a lot less traffic on this road. Practically no one is here. On the way up, I can see the road serpenting the contour of the rolling mountains. This road is full of hairpins, zig zag, switchbacks, and elevation changes. As the elevation gets higher, the views on my left and beyond blind turns are rather scary. An Empire State building would fit nicely in this abysmal cliff. On the right side is the mountain wall. No guard rail on the cliff side. They use blocks of concrete spaced evenly painted in white giving the look of the zipper teeth...

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Marbella has the remains of the old Muslim walls, Marbella's casco antiguo. The old town has a maze of picturesque winding streets and charming little plazas, with plenty of outdoor bars where you can sample typical Andalusian cuisine. At the center of this intricate pattern of alleyways is Plaza de los Naranjos, with the 3 to 4 century old town hall and fountain. Getting lost in this maze is the best way to experience this historic town. Marbella also has the modern and opulent section called Puerto Banus, where all kinds of multi-million dollar yachts are docked along with the accompanying rows of parked Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Porsches, and Aston Martins. Elegance and glamor are everywhere in this section. The coast from Puerto Banus to Malaga is gorgous, filled with rolling hills and the long stretches of Mediterranean sandy beaches with the cobalt blue, clear ocean water. I can't swallow, breath, and soak in fast enough...

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The most awe-inspiring, spine-tingling, and hair-raising roads of Andalusian, in my opinion, is the A-4130 in Las Alpujarras. To find this road, look for a village named Travelez in Las Alpujarras. Head east from that village on the only main road, A-4129. The A-4130 will be on the right hand side not too far from the village.If you are a roller coaster junkie, you know about the Boulder Dash, Raven, Shivering Timbers, GhostRider, and Cyclone. Those are in the top 10 best roller coasters list compiled by the junkies. I am not a roller coaster junkie, but I think the experience I have on this road is equivalent to riding those roller coasters. Every hairpin, zig zag, switchback, and blind curve on this road are G-force producing turns...

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Another road worth driving on, in this region, is the road that leads to Sierra Nevada from Granada, A-395. I climb all the way to 2500 meter where I arrive at a rest stop with restaurants where bus loads of tourists are enjoying the 280 degree sweeping view of the pastoral beauty of rolling mountains and valleys. At 3000 m, there is an observatory and a mountain pass that would take me to the Las Alpujarras, but the pass is closed when I get there. This road is similar to the A-376 from Sevilla to Ronda and Marbella as far the beauty and the technicality...

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Time to go back, as my train leaves the station, I can't help reflecting on my driving vacation. After 8 days driving A3 in Andalusian I feel refreshed and satisfied. It was a great way to finish my one month stay in Spain providing the frosting to my fulfilling time in Madrid and Barcelona. I met many kind and fun loving travelers and residents, drivers and non-drivers, during my last 30 days. Memories I will treasure greatly, friends I will keep in touch...

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Exploring Beijing by Audi A4L

A quick glance will not note anything special about this white 2010 A4L. The extra 2.36 inches leg room for the back passengers doesn’t impact the dynamic roof line and the original well proportioned sporty silhouette. Unless there is a standard A4 next to it, most people will not even notice the difference. However, once we sit in the back, the extra leg room is greatly appreciated. Since 2000, Audi has been very successful in selling A6L in China. A4L is definitely following its brother’s footstep. For 22 years, Audi has been the number one premium brand in China. In 2007, China became the largest Audi export market surpassing UK and US. In 2009, there are about a total of 600,000 Audi cars. Based on the increasing number of yearly sales, China is poised to become the largest Audi export market in the world…

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It doesn’t take market research or a special inquiry to the Audi country office to learn which model is the best selling. Just look around the highways and city streets—we cannot go for a mile without running into at least one black A6L. It is very common to see a wedding procession that consists of over a dozen black A6Ls and some black A8Ls on weekends. In recent years, people in China started to desire other models such as Q5, A4L, and TT. Foreign or international driving licenses are not recognized in China. A foreigner must apply for a local permit to drive. So, for this trip, I am being chauffeured around instead. Being a passenger in an Audi, which I rarely do, gives me a different perspective…

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It doesn’t take market research or a special inquiry to the Audi country office to learn which model is the best selling. Just look around the highways and city streets—we cannot go for a mile without running into at least one black A6L. It is very common to see a wedding procession that consists of over a dozen black A6Ls and some black A8Ls on weekends. In recent years, people in China started to desire other models such as Q5, A4L, and TT. Foreign or international driving licenses are not recognized in China. A foreigner must apply for a local permit to drive. So, for this trip, I am being chauffeured around instead. Being a passenger in an Audi, which I rarely do, gives me a different perspective…

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Following the morning exploration of the city center, we head out of town in the northeast direction. After about one hour drive (60km), through some elevated city highways and ring roads, Jingcheng Express way, and local access roads towards Huairou city, we follow the sign for Mutianyu through a winding mountain road. There are several villages with narrow and uneven gravel roads to pass. The longer wheelbase and the customized chassis and suspension for the Chinese roads make this ride very comfortable. And despite the fact the suspension is tuned for comfort, when driven through the switchbacks, this A4L feels very confident. The 2.0 TFSI produces ample power to give us some exhilarating ride on the highways and mountain roads…

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For Audi enthusiasts, a visit to Beijing will not be complete without visiting Audi Forum in Beijing. From the Tiananmen gate, the Forum is three (large) city blocks to the east. Located in one of the most prestigious shopping malls in Beijing, Oriental Plaza, this Forum attracts the most visitors among Audi Forums in the world. Over 1000 people stop by the Forum daily. In the evening, the Forum also hosts many events covering a variety of topics; health, wine, jewelry, charity, music, and others. A white menacing Audi R8 V10 greets visitors at the main entrance. Other cars that are displayed here are A8 W12, S8, RS6, Q5, Q7 and the upcoming A1. One main attraction that is unique to this Audi Forum is the large sinuous multimedia wall. The dynamic and engaging multimedia program displays short video clips on racing history, design and manufacturing processes, and lifestyles…

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Traffic during commute hours in Beijing can be very tiring. Long waits and bumper to bumper cars moving at a snail’s pace are daily occurrences. The weather in Beijing can be draining to its inhabitants. Bone-chilling temperatures with arctic wind chill factor in the early spring can be made worse by a sand storm coming from the desert. Thankfully, in this apocalyptic weather, our A4L isolates us from the nature’s wrath. The front and back silky-smooth leather seats, the extra leg room in the back, the noise reduction material used in the car interior, and the concert-hall quality audio system create a tranquil oasis for us. The rear passengers can adjust the rear temperature separately from the front by adjusting the controls found just behind the middle front-passenger hand rest. Being driven in an A4L, I experience what the Chinese market wants; exceptional comforts, abundant interior space, superb quality, unparallel luxury, and dynamic design…

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Audi R8 Driving Experience at Infineon Raceway

I see Stephen Verdier’s R8 in front of me braking hard as he enters the braking zone before the carousel turn, I do the same to maintain the three car distance. I feel the awesome stopping power of the 8-piston calipers pressing hard against the cross drilled ceramic discs slowing down the R8 in a few eye blinks. I push the clutch and shift the gear lever to the third slot. The car revs up performing engine braking, I ease the brake entered the apex and start to accelerate as I fixed my eyes toward my exit point – the technique that they’ve been teaching us all morning- that will carry me at the fastest possible speed through this G-force producing turn at the Infineon raceway...

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Infineon raceway is where international champions are born and breakthrough technologies are proven. During the race, high-adrenaline actions happen at the chicanes, decreasing radius turns, hairpins, and switchbacks. Competition runs high. Everyone in the battle field is fighting for the first place. At the end of the day, racing teams and spectators are celebrating and sharing motor-racing passion with friends and families...

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In the six piece Jazz orchestra, there are multiple sounds playing in their corresponding tracks making a harmonious melody. The firm Aluminum Space Frame (ASF) and the magnetic ride damper suspension system of the R8 inspire the confidence in me. The low center of gravity, the balanced weight distribution of this mid-mounted engine R8, the legendary Quattro, and the race-car steering enable me to be one with the car and feel the tarmac underneath me. Like Jazz, the sum of the R8 mechanical parts makes a harmonious ensemble. I am dancing and the Infineon raceway is my dance floor. And the two banks of four provide the harmonious melody to dance to. At this moment, all expectations that had been built up by auto journalists and Audi marketing department become reality for me. They are no longer words. They are experiences. Better than best!

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I followed the “Registration” sign which took me to the brand new red metal hangar structure. The exterior and interior are contemporary in design; it embodies the engineering spirit and the human endeavor for progress. This building hosts the Audi Driving Experience hospitality, registration, and driving instruction centers for Northern California. The other centers are Homestead Miami Speedway, Florida, Autobahn Country Club, Illinois, Pocono Raceway, Philadelphia, and California Speedway, California. I am always a big fan of the Audi Driving Experience. I’ve attended some of the most popular European programs; the Audi Winter Driving Experience in Seefeld, Austria, and the Audi RS4 Circuit de Catalunya Experience in Barcelona, Spain. It is a nice surprise that Audi brings this widely successful program to this side of the pond.

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Many compare the R8 to exotic cars. When I see exotic cars driving down the Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, I am reminded of super models walking down the catwalk; glamorous, nothing more and nothing less. When I see the R8 driving down the same road, I see a beautiful and toned athlete who has accomplished what most people consider the impossible...

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I will definitely remember the R8 for a very long time because this magnificent and extraordinary car wakes up the child in me. It allows me to dream fun and magical things again. The R8 is not just an engineering master piece, but it is also a magnificent arts. Furthermore, an object that can wake your senses and inspire you to dream must have a soul. An inspiring soul, the R8 has.

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Audi Driver's Day: My Second Visit (2007 S8 and 2007 TT 3.2Q DSG)

Do you ever wonder about the difference between driving an Audi Space Frame (ASF) car and driving a traditional body-chassis car? I do. Thanks to the Audi Driver's Day Program at Ingolstadt, my brother - Leo, and I have secured the Daytona Grey Pearl Effect 5.2 V10 S8 and "der neu" Light Silver Metallic 3.2Q DSG TT for 5 days...

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We both feel the heightened appreciation of these two ASF cars in our first day in the mountain range, we also attended the half day aluminum weight-saving program at the Neckarsulm factory. Neckarsulm site covers 2 miles from the south to the north occupying 168 acres. Historically, this was the original NSU factory. NSU was one of the brand the four brands that made up the Auto Union. Aluminum construction is not new to Audi. Horsch created the first aluminum engine in 1899 in Koln! This site builds A6s, A8s, and the highly anticipated R8s. 850 A6s are built in 24 hours in 3 shifts and 180 A8s are built in 24 hours in 2 shift. About 25 R8s will be built in 24 hours here in building B14. This factory consumes 500 tons of steel and 60 tons of aluminum daily. What's unique about the Neckarsulm factory compared to any car factories in the world is the advanced steel-aluminum and aluminum bonding technologies. Full Drilling Screw (FDS), Riveting with epoxy glue, Metal Inert Gas (M16), and laser welding are a few examples of aluminum bonding technologies that are mastered and perfected at this advanced manufacturing site since the first all aluminum A8 car rolled out of this factory in 1988...

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The Alps have mesmerizing views of jagged bare mountain tops. The lushes green pine trees carpet the lower three quarter of the mountains. At the bottom of the valley, we are surrounded by these magnificent rocks. A small town, Muhlbach am Hockkonig - a ski resort in the winter - populated by Alpine houses with vibrant color flower boxes on the balconies adds to the already uplifting and serene atmosphere. A couple riding bicycles with their groceries from the farmer's market at the town center take notice of the five Audi cars parked in a row; the two of them are the cars we are driving, the others are red Audi 90, green metallic Audi 100, and charcoal grey Audi A4 B6. People in this town love their Audis...

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A red Ferrari F430 passes me while I am doing 200 km/h on the sixth gear on the Autobahn heading towards Munich from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. I unleash the reserved raw power of the V10 and I see the needle passing 220, 240, 260 effortlessly. At 270 km/h, I comfortably keep a constant safe distance from the Ferrari. This surprises me a bit since the car documentation says that the S8 top speed is electornically limited to 250 km/h. The road curves and occasional traffic prevent us from going faster than this extraordinary speed. At this speed, the S8 feels very solid and confident. The aerodynamics of the car generates plenty of down force at this speed that I feel completely in control. I follow the Ferrari at a constant distance for 40 minutes or so till the driver slows down and turns his turning signal on heading for an exit. He waves at me and smile. I give him the same respecting gesture as I blast by him. This car awes me. A family sedan is able to keep up, at least on the Autobahn, with the legendary Ferrari that costs 3 to 4 times more and carries less passengers and luggages...

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The S8 may look like a Wallstreet executive limo. Surely, the size and the interior make the car look like one. But when unleashed, the soronous burbly almighty V10, the magnetic active suspension, and the "vorsprung dur technik" ASF transform this car into a menacing spirited Le Mans R8 LP1 inspired race car. The glamour, the beautiful skin, the ergonomic luxurios interior, and the race-car performance are found in one package; this begs belief!

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I enjoy the rides and experiences in the top of the line S8 and "der neu" TT with the latest innovations in sporty driving dynamics, but I also get to know the record-breaking racing histories, the driven people, the strive-for-excellence culture, the perfected manufacturing processes, and the leading-edge aluminium weight-saving technologies that produce these engineering marvels that we often take for granted. Audi Driver's Day program shows me how the Soul of an Audi is born!

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I enjoy the rides and experiences in the top of the line S8 and "der neu" TT with the latest innovations in sporty driving dynamics, but I also get to know the record-breaking racing histories, the driven people, the strive-for-excellence culture, the perfected manufacturing processes, and the leading-edge aluminium weight-saving technologies that produce these engineering marvels that we often take for granted. Audi Driver's Day program shows me how the Soul of an Audi is born!

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For those who are interested, please visit http://www.audi.com/driver microsite. This Audi Forum site provides the details about the program and how to participate. You will love it...