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...

Streets of San Francisco (2005 Audi S4 Avant)

Driving over the brow of Fillmore at Broadway hill, the glorious panoramic view of Marina district, Alcatraz, and Golden Gate Bridge fills my windshield. After many years conditioned in the technology way of life, I started to believe that this beauty could only be enjoyed and experienced by going to the IMAX theater, or by watching a Discovery Channel. But today, I experience this beauty from the comfort of my Recaro bucket seat while listening to the Audi Symphony Bose stereo system playing the Tony Bennett’s “I left my heart in San Francisco.”

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Due to the comfort of routines, the security of familiars, and the tranquility of repetitions, I took everything around me for granted; thinking that everything would always be there and stay the same. So I decided, today, I would slow down and smell the roses. I would roam around my beautiful town and hunt for the steepest roads of San Francisco in my beloved Audi S4 Avant...

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The Pacific Heights neighborhood is still waking up. The sonorous burble of the 4.2 liter V8 engine bounces of the houses on Fillmore Street as I scale down this steep hill. The Tiptronic transmission allows me to downshift to the first gear using the paddle shifter even though I have left the gear on D mode. The smart logic knows that I am performing engine braking, so it doesn’t shift up..

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Having the power of 340 Spartans under the hood makes driving around San Francisco a treasure hunting; searching for steepest road to climb. This Audi ignores the 25 to 31.5 percent gradient of the San Franciscan steepest roads. I put the gear on the S mode and I gun for the hill. My internal organs are squashed by the acceleration force. The sky is approaching at a very high speed. This must be the view observed by the Space Shuttle astronauts during lift-off...

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As I navigate my car towards the Financial District, I am comfortably cradled in the 12-way adjustable silk Napa leather Recaro bucket seat. The lowered sport suspension with the 235/35 18 inch wheels provides a comfortable precise ride despite the harsh and pimpled road surface. It is a wonder to me how the S4 Avant can have dual personalities...

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When I take this very same car to the Laguna Seca race track, this car makes me feel like Allan McNish navigating the Le Mans Audi R10 through the hairpins, switchbacks, and corkscrews at hugely fast speed with unwavering confident. Many tried and failed to combine performance and practicality. Only the passionate one can truly gain the combined mastery of engineering, craftsmanship and sportsmanship...

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The sky is clear blue, but there is a layer of fog covering the bottom part of the Golden Gate Bridge. Ten years I have been living in this town, only now I soak the city as it is meant to be. Driving my S4 on the streets of San Francisco gives me a new sense of appreciation for those white coat gear heads in Ingolstadt. This car doesn’t feel and go like an Audi because it is an Audi, which means it is always ready to thrill you in the seductive and naughty way and yet at the same time be practical and comfortable.
I just realize now that I am living the dream...

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Audi RS4 Driving Experience (Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona)

I am sitting in my silver RS4 waiting in queue in the pit area for my turn to go on the track solo. Finally, it is my turn. Sepp waves the checkered flag for me. I put the car on the first gear and, almost forgetting, I quickly press the S button on the F-1 style steering wheel, before I release the clutch. The bolster seat closes up to give me more support for the upcoming high G-force turns, the burble of the engine exhaust gets louder as the car releases its inhibition and makes all mighty raw 420 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque available to me. My body is pressed against the Recaro bucket sport seat as I am accelerating effortlessly the second I leave the pit area to 90 mph in no time. Shifting to second and third gears, I savor every second of this exhilarating launch; the moment I have been waiting eagerly since I arrived in Barcelona two days ago...

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After two laps pushing the limits of my driving skill, I am able to comfortably follow the suggested best line for this circuit cleanly. I am reaching 140 mph on the longest straight stretch in front of the main podium and pit before it is time to slow down for the chicane. All of the sudden as I am passing the finish line at this high speed, the gray clouds that have been hovering above the circuit on and off through out the day release their omnipotent force dropping giant droplets of water. I quickly perform the mental and brain calculation on how much I should slow down to enter the fast approaching and very wet chicane. As I am doing this, the rain pours harder, pounding the black asphalt. The water gushes down steady and thick from the now black clouds. When I see the giant water droplets pockmarking the sheet of water on the asphalt like pebbles, I know I am way too fast to come into the chicane. The black markings on the guard rails and the walls at the end of this long straight stretch remind me of the near death experiences that have occurred here...

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The ABS clicking sound snaps me back from my brief trip in the memory lane. I am now hydroplaning towards the end of the runway. I have to turn now smoothly if I want to not miss the first apex. But I know I am too fast for any smooth turning and I am having images in my head of the car plowing through the gravel zone and scrapping the barrier because of understeer. Then, I remember the lesson from the previous day on how to induce oversteer on a all wheel-drive car. That´s the only safe option I can think of at this adrenaline pumping moment. And I hope that the ESP will help me correcting the oversteer. Since it is very wet, and I am still trying to slow my heartbeat down from the acrobatic act, and I don´t want to come into the next turn too hot again, I apply the accelerator half as much as I would have in dry condition. The 60/40 (rear/front) Quattro silently works its magic behind the scene to put the right amount of power on each wheel. The 4.2 V8 FSI burbles confidently. The sonorous and refined throaty sound announces how much power the engine has effortlessly applied to the wheels and how much more Herculean power I can have whenever I wish it without requiring me to look at the tachometer...

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After these adrenaline pumping maneuvers, I adjust my speed for this very slippery condition so that I can have my best line through the circuit. After two more laps through the long and short straight stretches, chicane, switchbacks, decreasing radius turns, sweeping half circle turns, and hairpin turns with elevation changes I gain more confident driving in this Quattro weather. Going through switchbacks and hairpins is a very sublime experience. The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) expands the outside suspensions and contracts the inside suspensions to keep the car level, tight, and confident in going through the abrupt changes in momentum. The rain has not let up. I progressively increase my speed and pull back slightly when I stray of my line. I learn from Audi Driving Experience that getting the fastest lap time is not about having the most power or being the most aggressive. It is about Zen, patient, balance, and smoothness. And of course never forgetting the laws of physics as no one on earth can defy them, just yet...

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We all come from many different background, but yet we feel that our passion for driving and Audi cars brought us together. The students are from America (California, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Colorado), Puerto Rico, and Latvia. The seasoned instructors (Altfrid Heger, Sepp Haider, Markus Fiechtl-Kerschner), the hard-working and caring mechanics (Alexander Heel, Helmut Schalk), and the attentive host (Alexandra Hase) are from Germany and Austria. Despite the short time we have together, our same passion brings us so close that many of us are making plans to meet again at other Audi Driving Experience events (Finland, Sweden, and Nurburgring), as well as to visit each other in different countries!

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I will remember the Barcelona RS4 Audi Driving Experience not only for its intoxicating and exhilarating track times, but also for the people I encountered, the places we visited and stayed, the food and culture I experienced. I joined this event to simulate the life of a DTM driver. Instead, through the Audi Driving Experience, I found the reality of genuine, fun, learning, social, and cultural experiences. It is also a lot more cost effective than the cryogenic procedure to preserve my body till 2256 for the holodeck experience...

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Audi A3 Cabrio Driving Vacation in Australia

Driving through the deserted lush Mt.Wilson rain forest, just 120 km northwest of Sydney of Route 40, I fall madly in love with this Cabrio. What a marvelous sound this Ibis white Audi A3 Cabrio 2.0T produces. When I upshift the S-tronic dual clutch gearbox, the RPM revs up briefly as the clutch disengages the second gear, and then the RPM goes down to synchronize with the third gear. During this lighting-speed sequence of precision events, the turbo has more pressure than the engine needs at lower RPM on the third gear...

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Mt. Wilson is a mountain range that spans for five kilometers north of the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park. The rich volcanic basalt soil makes this region a perfect location for many natural-appearing large scale English gardens .Passing the Kangaroo and Koala crossing road sign and coming into a blind chicane, I downshift the S-tronic to third and second, and the Cabrio burbles exotically. On accelerations, the blow off valve sound reverberates through my spine and bounces of the trees. As the engine speed rises, the baritone exhaust note ascends confidently. This is the similar sound the Audi R10 Le Mans produced when Emanuele Pirro accelerated on the long stretch in front of the Laguna Seca podium. Heading back towards Sydney at night, I pass the jagged rocky Mt. Tomah on route 40, Bells Line of Road. With the top and windows down, the pristine mountain air brushes my hair. This serene ambiance must be soaked in. The sun has set many minutes ago. The southern sky stars are appearing quickly. Cocooned in a magma red leather sport seat, I recline and enjoy the open sky and the galactic light show that’s about to begin. The white and red glow of the dashboard instruments produces the sense of space flight. No planetarium in the world can match this celestial experience...

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I commute to work through George St. from my hotel in Darling Harbor neighborhood. It is one of my favorite streets in Sydney downtown. This Cabrio allows the stimuli to enter my eyes, my ears and my nose uncensored. It makes the George St. experience very vivid. After crossing back the Harbor Bridge from the North Sydney, I drive through Prince Albert Road off the Circular Quay’s Macquarie St. This road takes me to the entrance of the Sydney Botanical garden. Suddenly a dark cloud formation comes rapidly disturbing the calm atmosphere. It brings an afternoon flash rain that drenches the road. Marble size raindrops splash and tiny drops bounce in the air. I quickly push a button on the center console. This single button automatically synchronizes the windows during the opening and closing of the top. The Z-shape origami engineering ingenuity makes the front hard section of the top acting as a cover that rests flush with the car body when the top is open. It creates a very clean design that dramatically differentiates this Cabrio from other convertibles in a very subtle way...

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Driving around Sydney could be very expensive had I not have a portable GPS with speed and traffic light radar data. This Cabrio is not equipped with the Sat Nav option. Police is barely seen on the highways or roads around or outside town. But my GPS warns me almost at every two blocks about the existence of such devices. They are everywhere like Starbucks in Seattle. No wonder, Australians are law abiding citizens when they are on the roads. There are barely any SUV’s in Australia. Instead, UTE’s are everywhere. It is a sedan married to a pickup bed. Australians love their tricked out cars. Ford and Holden are in fierce rivalry in producing muscle UTE’s and sedans. Where can Australians enjoy their modified UTE’s and sedans given so many speed traps around? I may have found the answer. The 132 square kilometers Royal National Park is 30 kilometers south of Sydney, of the Princes Highway South toward Wollongong. It is a relatively unspoiled hilly bush land hosting rainforest, heath, waterfalls, and creeks...

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I had a prejudice about any convertible because my experiences before this Cabrio were limited to the convertible from Hertz. It didn’t take long for me to start disliking convertibles. They twisted like pretzel on the highway cloverleaf interchanges, even worse on zigzags. So it is a stark revelation for me to experience this Cabrio because the experience this car gives is nothing like the other convertibles do. The inventor of Audi Space Frame has brought yet another innovative technique to ensure the most optimum car stiffness. Combining the uses of high-strength, ultra-high-strength, and hot-formed steels with the V-pattern steel profiles and the box-shape structure, Audi engineers brings the DTM-car-inspired torsional rigidity and crash protection into this Cabrio. This car comes with the sport package featuring a renewed McPherson design with triangulated lower wishbones and four-link rear suspension. The electromechanical speed-dependent power assist steering system provides precise and confidence driving. 17-inch light weight aluminum wheels wrapped by 225/45 Michelin performance tires ensure that the kinetic energy is transferred in the most efficient way to the road. The super-sized ventilated disc brakes along with the anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic differential lock (EDL), and Brake Assist can stop the car in the way that makes me more nervous about the cars behind than the objects I am avoiding in front. Coming out of the lush part of the bush land, we arrive at Bald Hill vista point. The glistening ocean beacons many riders and drivers to sit and relish the breathtaking sweeping view of the crescent shoreline and sharp cliffs.

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When I visit a place, an impression is formed inside me. Often time, the impression can’t be explained logically. It can’t be broken into different categories nor be assigned weighted values. It is just is. In this regard, Sydney is very inviting and welcoming. Driving through Blue Mountain World Heritage Park, Mt. Wilson, Sydney downtown streets, and the Royal National Park, I discover what’s in the mind of Audi designers and engineers when they created this diamond-like perfection. They built this car so that the driver can enjoy the machine and the nature as one holistic experience...

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Q5 Under The Tuscan Sun

For car enthusiasts, this region has another importance. Some say that the babies born here are very special. They are born with the need for speed. It is hard to argue with that statement knowing that this place has Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Pagani Zonda, and Dallara...

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I had a chance to go to Lamborghini factory museum. The factory museum is located in the modern glass building featuring gleaming vintage, racing, and concept cars. One can admire the legendary Countach's, the curvaceous Miura's, the spartan F1's, the menacing Diablo's, the unconventional Espada's, the jet fighter Reventon, and other historic 350's, 400 GT's, Islero's, and Jarama's. In one afternoon, one can learn the Lamborghini genealogy and heritage...

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Packed with the computing power that is superior to the one in the Apollo 13, this Q5 features many drive assist programs for all kinds of driving. The ones that were very useful to us this afternoon were the 40/60 front/rear biased Quattro, the hill decent assist program, the dynamic electronic stabilization program, and the seven speed S-tronic...

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Similarly, Audi would not have been able to produce a car as dynamic as Q5 had it not for the Audi 100 years of tradition and Vorsprung durch Technik. Like the people born in Tuscany, many past generations of Audi designers and engineers passed their wisdom to the new ones so, today, we can enjoy our spine tingling Audi's...

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Driving in Singapore - Audi A5 3.0 TDI

Demsey Hill was once an army base. Now, many one-story white wooden buildings with red wavy clay roof tiles are housing chic and trendy restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, and boutiques. This is now a lifestyle hangout where you can find Balinese and Burmese teak furniture, European painting, Italian espresso, American breakfast, and Asian designer clothing. The founding team members of Audi Club Singapore suggested this place to meet.

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The temperature today is 82 Fahrenheit and humid. We sit outdoor at Olio Dome Asia-meet-West fusion restaurant. Just in front of the restaurant, our Audis - A4, A5, RS6, TTR - are parked in a military formation. The number of highways in this 270 square-mile island country is small and the speed limit is fully enforced by speed cameras and police force in Subaru WRX's. So, Audi Club Singapore organizes track events and social driving vacations to the neighboring country, Malaysia. Social gatherings are held frequently at different venues around town. Additionally, the club organizes European driving vacations and Audi factory tours. Over tropical drinks and fusion appetizers, we exchange our Audi driving experiences. It is a perfect way to complement our 3 day Singapore exploration by car...

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Singapore traffic is heavily congested during commute hours. To discourage drivers from driving into congested areas, Singapore government deployed an automatic variable toll system. Cars in Singapore are equipped with standardized wireless toll collectors. Depending on the hour of day, money is deducted from the account linked to the transponder in a car at different rates as the car travels through heavily congested areas. To avoid traffics as much as we can, my friend and I set out at nights and at dawns to enjoy Audi A5 3.0 TDI S-line.Style is the epitome of Orchard Road. Audi A5 with its curvy side lines, bold front grill, and racing inspired bumpers fits this surrounding perfectly. The A5's dynamic exterior shape, accentuated by the alluring front and back LED's, catches the attention of the fashion-crazed people walking on this road. The longer wheelbase and wide track design of A5 radiates the stance of an Olympic Gold medalist...

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The A5 interior cabin is not just a luxurious and comfortable passenger space, but it is also an efficient interface between the driver and the machine. The ergonomic design and functionality, materials' exceptional quality, and craftsmanship support various driving experiences that A5 is designed for. The accessibility of various controls, the tactile response of the buttons, and the shape of the instruments are designed such that the machine fits the driver, not the other way around. All of these heighten the driving experience that is unique to Audi...

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Temporary barriers were constructed along the five kilometers of city streets to make up the F-1 circuit. Over 1500 light projectors were used to turn night into day on the track, providing clear views for the drivers and over 100,000 spectators. The route went across the man-made harbor and then went back into the city entertainment district. Like Monte Carlo, the Singapore circuit had many 90 degree turns and a few long stretches with top speed of 300 km/h. The F-1 drivers had to slow down to about 100 km/h at the Fullerton corner and then they accelerated out towards top speed again. The smells of burning brake pads and tires, the sound of revving engines, and the sight of dueling drivers seen from the Sky Lounge balcony accentuated the Audi event...

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At sundown, Smith Street is closed and hawker stalls spring to life. This is the best place to find local flavors in a historic ambience. Navigating through the pedestrian-packed narrow streets of Chinatown is not an easy task. Thankfully at appropriate times, the A5 proximity system switches the MMI display to show how close the different corners of the car are with the surrounding objects. In addition to visual cues, the proximity system produces beeping sound at the specific speaker in the car to represent the location of the obstacle. Additionally, The A5 front sports suspension, steering, and front axle are mounted ahead of the engine. This setup improves steering response with better turn-in characteristics and cornering performance, hence it allows me to turn with confidence through these very narrow streets...

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As the road opens, we get a taste of the beast under the hood. Previously, in the crowded urban jungle traffic, we experienced the benefits of having the fuel efficient TDI engine. This diesel engine only sips 7.1 liters / 100 kms (about 33 mpg) during our city driving. On this highway, we experience the 237 bhp and 369 lb ft torque available from 1,500 rpm. As soon as the turbo kicks in, our backs are pressed firmly against the sport bucket leather seats. And the car picks up speed rapidly; too rapid for Singaporean highways (0 - 100 km/h in 5.9 secs).Thanks to the large dimension brakes that are designed to match the car's hair raising acceleration, I can slow the car down quickly as I am approaching a wall of traffic. A clever program automatically modulates the braking, and the kinematics of the new rear suspension minimizes the braking dive effect...

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