World’s most fuel-efficient five-seater has 3.3-litre fuel consumption

The redesigned Polo BlueMotion that celebrated its world premiere at this year’s Geneva Motor Show can be ordered now. The world’s most fuel-efficient five-seater impresses with fuel consumption of just 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres. The second generation of the Polo BlueMotion can be had in Germany starting at 16,500 Euros.

Thanks to an advanced version of the three-cylinder TDI engine with 75 PS / 55 kW power and other BlueMotion-specific modifications, the new trendsetter’s fuel consumption was reduced by 22 percent (or 0.9 litre) compared to the conventional Polo with a 75 PS TDI. Accordingly, its CO2 emissions were also reduced from 109 to 87 g/km.

The Polo BlueMotion employs various detailed solutions and high-tech components to attain these top-notch low values. They include BlueMotion features such as the Stop-Start system and energy recovery by regenerative braking. In addition, the Polo BlueMotion, weighing in at just 1,150 kilograms, sports numerous modifications such as a nearly closed-off radiator grille and underbody panels designed according to aerodynamic principles and 15-inch ‘Greenland’ type alloy wheels with low rolling resistance tyres.

Standard features were extended in the new Polo BlueMotion to include a cruise control system, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshift grip, tyre pressure indicator, front fog lights, sporty styling of front and rear bumpers as well as outside mirror housings and door handles painted in body colour.

- Volkswagen

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Volkswagen has released a nice animation showing all the great technologies and gestures that make the Volkswagen Up! Lite. Combined fuel consumption: 2.44 l/100 km or 70 mpg/highway! Consisting of a TDI (turbo-diesel), electric motor and 7-speed DSG as well as a Cd value: 0.237, Volkswagen is driving CO2 emissions down to a sensational 65 g/km.

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Show also marks the North American debut of two hot new Porsche 911s

Today, at a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Porsche — a company known for creating light and highly efficient and desirable sports cars — took the wraps off one of its most nimble and sportiest mid-engine cars ever: the 2011 Boxster Spyder.

This new mid-engine Porsche represents the purist form of the roadster sports car, meaning it is agile, powerful, open and efficient. Weighing only 2,811 lbs. and delivering 320 horsepower, it goes on sale in February 2010 and will join the Boxster and Boxster S that made their world debut here last year.

This exciting new member of the Boxster family stands out among other versions of the company’s famous roadster. Almost reluctantly, Porsche’s engineers equipped it with a lightweight manual soft top meant for protection only; it is there to be deployed on those occasions when the elements absolutely demand it. This utilitarian top, when combined with extra-low side windows and two striking bulges on the single-piece rear lid, provides the Boxster Spyder with a sleek, low-slung silhouette reminiscent of the Carrera GT.

‘The new Boxster Spyder looks distinctly different from its Boxster siblings,’ said Klaus Berning, Porsche’s executive board member responsible for worldwide sales and marketing, speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show press conference today. ‘Our designers borrowed from the rich history of our mid-engine sports and race cars of the ’50s, but under the skin it has our most advanced technology so that its performance matches the Spyder’s looks, making it the quintessential purist Porsche.’

The Boxster Spyder features a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with Direct Fuel Injection upfront of the rear axle. Maximum output is 320 horsepower, 10 more than the Boxster S.

The combination of more horsepower, 176 lbs. less weight than the award-winning Boxster S, an all-new sport suspension that lowers the Boxster Spyder 20 mm, a lower center of gravity, a standard limited slip differential, and exclusive wheels provide the kind of driving dynamics that back up the unique look. Aluminum door skins and lightweight interior door panels from the 911 GT3 RS contribute to the weight reduction.

When equipped with Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission and the Sports Chrono Package, the new Spyder, using Launch Control, accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Top track speed is 166 mph — with the roof open.

Hot New 911s shown for the first time in the United States

Another press conference highlight was Porsche’s first North American presentation of its new 2010 911 Turbo, the flagship of the venerable 911 range, in both the Coupe and Cabriolet versions. The 911 Turbo features the first entirely new engine in the car’s storied 35-year history. The new flat-six boxer engine now delivers 500 horsepower, providing 0-60 mph acceleration (with the Sports Chrono Package) in 3.2 seconds and a top track speed of 194 mph.

The 911 Turbo has helped spearhead innovations throughout Porsche’s complete range of sports cars for decades. More than 80,000 911 Turbos have been delivered worldwide since it joined the 911 family in 1974.

The new 911 Turbo Coupe and Turbo Cabriolet go on sale in January with a MSRP of $132,800 and $143,800, respectively.

Premiering alongside the 911 Turbo is the asphalt-burning 911 GT3 RS, a race-bred 911 that is also at home on the street. The newest version delivers even more engine power, lower weight and shorter transmission ratios, as well as upgraded body and suspension components than all previous 911 GT3s.

Like all 911s, the heart of the new, uncompromising 911 GT3 RS is the powerplant. The naturally aspirated RS engine now displaces 3.8 liters and delivers more power, while revving up even faster to its 8,500 rpm redline. It now delivers 450 horsepower, 15 more than its 911 GT3 counterpart. Even with a specific output of more than 118 horsepower per liter from the six-cylinder boxer engine, this 911 GT3 RS engine remains fully suitable for everyday use.

The 2010 911 GT3 RS goes on sale in the United States in early spring 2010 with an MSRP of $132,800.

Panamera joins the Porsche family, and media drive the Cayenne S Hybrid

Also at today’s press conference, Porsche displayed its newest model, the 2010 Panamera Gran Turismo, which is the company’s first four-door sports car. The Panamera went on sale in the United States on October 17th of this year and is off to a strong start.

Providing a look into the near future, Porsche is showing a prototype of its upcoming Cayenne S Hybrid SUV that will go on sale in the U.S. and Europe next year. Porsche is also participating in this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show Green Cars Ride & Drive on Dec. 3, giving journalists a chance to test drive this prototype and experience a bit of Porsche spice in today’s hybrid stew.

- Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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The most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four-door automobile in the world

What was revealed at the climax of Bugatti’s centenary celebrations in September at its headquarters in Molsheim, was today presented to customers and opinion-makers in Los Angeles: the Bugatti 16C Galibier concept – designed as the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four-door automobile in the world. At the prestigious Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills, Bugatti’s Director of Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Alasdair Stewart, emphasised that the Galibier is just one of several concept studies that the company is considering for the future of the Bugatti marque.

Arte – Forme – Technique: those are the brand values by which Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean oriented themselves in order to develop even more powerful engines and even more noble body designs for each new model, which were unequalled in quality, handling, speed and elegance. In the process, they experimented again and again with new materials; thus was Bugatti one of the first manufacturers to use aluminium parts for bodies, engine blocks and wheels.

Arte – Forme – Technique are also the brand values by which the design and engineering team at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. oriented themselves in the development of the Galibier. With this new four-door concept car, Bugatti assumes once again a leading role in the use of new material combinations. For example, the body is constructed of handmade carbon fibre parts coloured dark blue so that, when illuminated, the woven structure strikingly shimmers through. Carbon fibre not only possesses exceptionally great rigidity but is also especially light. The wings and doors are made out of polished aluminium.

The Galibier’s design masters the challenge of uniting sportiness with the comfort and elegance of a modern four-door saloon. The basic architecture picks up on the torpedo-like character of the Type 35, which was already revived in the Veyron, and reinterprets it. With the typical Bugatti radiator grille, unusual, round LED headlights and the clamshell running the length of the vehicle, which became synonymous with the brand identity under Jean Bugatti in the Type 57, this car transports the Bugatti genes into the modern world.

Beneath the bonnet, which folds back from both sides, resides a 16-cylinder, 8-litre engine with two-stage supercharging. What makes this engine so special is that it was developed as a flex-fuel engine and can optionally be run on ethanol. Four-wheel drive, specially developed ceramic brakes and a new suspension design enable the agile, always-sure handling of a saloon of this size.

The interior reflects the elemental design of the exterior. The dashboard has been reduced to the essential; two centrally located main instruments keep even the rear passengers constantly informed of the current speed and previous performance. Parmigiani, the Swiss maker of fine watches, created a removable tourbillion clock for the Galibier, which may be worn on the wrist thanks to a cleverly designed leather strap.

“Galibier” is not just the name of one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France but, in its time, was a version of the four-door Type 57, unequalled in sportiness and elegance.

- Bugatti

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With H20i landing on the same weekend as Petit Le Mans, we choose Petit. I shot George a note but he was headed to H20i. It was good choice as Petit was a wash and H20i had some amazing rides. Two of our favorites are below. Big wheels from other brands and a bagged stance have made the trip over to our shores. Head over and read the full report and immense galleries.

Autumn is coming. You can feel it. The crispness in the air and darkness encroaching into early evenings are signals of the end of the summer show season. And with this end comes that weekend on the calendar reserved for H20 International (H20i) in Ocean City, Maryland.

It’s hard to believe H20i has been going strong for twelve years, but it has. Year after year of consistency in beautiful and car show-friendly Ocean City have helped the event become one of the biggest in the American enthusiast scene and H20i remains quite unique.

- VWvortex

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We are loving this new concept from SEAT. It even looks like it could go straight to production!

• The shape of the forthcoming, family-friendly Ibiza is the third member of the range
• Sharp dynamic tensioned exterior combined with a functionally radiating interior design
• Sporty Spanish brand continues innovating through design and technology

SEAT is showcasing the stunning IBZ Concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The star of the SEAT stand in Germany previews a new, family-sized version that will make its appearance in showrooms across Europe towards the middle of next year, further increasing the company’s B segment line-up in the process.

The IBZ Concept marries flexible and functional packaging within a non-compromised exterior and interior design. It incarnates the brand parameters – young, design-driven and sporty.

Boasting a modern, tensioned silhouette, the IBZ Concept includes numerous distinctive exterior and interior design features, and benefits from cutting-edge technology for a gripping driving experience.

Once again, SEAT Design Director Luc Donckerwolke has applied his pragmatic design vision to create an attractive, yet tremendously functional car where comfort and roominess complement the traditional sports philosophy common to all SEAT models.

The world debut of the bold IBZ Concept is another significant stepping stone on the company’s path to extending its range line-up. The challenge it meets is to combine a larger family-sized chassis featuring greater load capacity with the distinct, feisty personality of the Ibiza.

Imposing front view

The front end of the IBZ Concept shows an evolution of SEAT’s now trademark Arrow Design. The bonnet features a running edge, splitting the car through its symmetry access, adding precision and sharpness to the known Ibiza face. The tensed eyebrows accentuate the headlights, whose diamond-shaped interior combines LED technology with light guides.

The new centre grille, with honeycomb slats and aluminium surround, is underlined by the same purist, rectangular air vents found on the Ibiza CUPRA. Another development at the front sees the usual arrow shape enhanced by a set of lines parallel to the headlights, finishing at the broad opening beneath the bumper. Two aluminium mouldings in this area round off the front end design.

Styled to stand out, the IBZ Concept boasts an attractive sweep created by the newly designed headlights complete with LED technology. Their pointed tips provide

continuity to the Dynamic Line that brushes over the wings and the middle of the front doors, while their novel interior structure mimics the facets of a diamond. One set generates the main beam, while the smaller LEDs generate the dipped beam. At the same time, a portion of the smaller facets at the top of the cluster serve as daytime driving lights, with the indicator LEDs at the bottom.

A truly sporty family car

This is nothing short of the perfect definition of the IBZ Concept presented by SEAT at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Its new dimensions and design create an ideal synergy between sporting intent, pragmatic functionality and spaciousness required to adapt to any need.

The exterior design of SEAT’s prototype is enhanced by its high gloss, eye-catching blue paint colour. After admiring the awesome front, take a look at the panoramic sunroof that floods the interior with light.

The LED indicator lights literally stand out, as they are built into the new streamlined door mirrors, each one mounted onto its doors with a pair of arms. The exterior arm which supports the mirror, and the mirror’s outer casing are both aluminium to match the other trim elements found on this model.

A side view reveals low profile 235/35 tyres on attractive, five double-spoke 19 inch alloy wheels, each with an embossed ‘S’ at the hub. Another tell-tale feature of the IBZ Concept is the León-concept rear passenger door handle, which is neatly integrated into the third side window.

The attention-grabbing new hatch naturally bears the SEAT logo, and when the rear hatch is open, its structure has a loading bay floor that sits flush with the number plate. Meanwhile, the broad rear window provides greater visibility at the rear. An elegant, high-mount roof spoiler houses the third brake light, at the same time underlining the car’s sporting intent.

The SEAT logo as usual doubles as the boot handle mechanism, and the prototype is easily identified by the ‘IBZ’ initials beneath the logo in the centre of the hatch.

The crisp rear section of the IBZ Concept is further enhanced by the addition of defined ‘shoulders’ that house the light clusters. As with the striking headlights, they feature LED technology on a raised surface. From bottom to top, the LEDs create the sidelights, brake, reverse and indicator lights.

The final highlights that round off the view of the rear are a new bumper, which has a built-in number plate, the number plate light at the bottom of the hatch, and split twin tailpipes, which each boast a stylish aluminium bezel.

Where space and style combine

The passenger compartment of the SEAT IBZ Concept offers space and style in equal measure, with fine detailing and functional innovations throughout.

The interior is structured by lightguide strips that run through the dashboard and the doors, integrating the radio/iPhone interface screen and providing atmospheric lighting at the same time.

The light airy tones of the creamy colour ‘Magnolia’ in the interior heighten the feeling of space inside this SEAT. The dashboard features the same colour, and a different texture is provided via the suede-clad soft pads. The instrument binnacle hood, door panels, pillars and ceiling are also finished in suede.

The newly designed seats and integrated headrests are upholstered with a combination of leather and suede in the same colour as the dashboard, with blue stitching to match the body colour.

In trademark sporty SEAT style, the steering wheel on the IBZ Concept is slightly flattened at the base. It is wrapped in leather and suede and has a four-spoke structure with dipped side grips, the SEAT ‘S’ in the centre and the letters ‘IBZ’ on the lower spoke, and a set of newly designed multi-functional controls on either side.

Naturally, the sporty design of the instrument panel is faithful to the brand’s identity. The large dial on the left is the rev counter, with a screen taking up the rest of the space. On the right is an analogue and digital speed display, with the navigation information, trip computer and remaining vehicle controls shown in the middle.

There are four circular air vents on the dashboard encased in aluminium. A special interior design concept features a striking combination of aluminium layered with a glossy black material that make up a line with recessed lighting that extends across the dashboard and continues onto the door panels. The centre houses a screen displaying radio and iPhone functions, and the centre console has a purpose-built iPhone slot.

The centre console also features a stylish climate control system with all the usual functions, the gear stick with a leather gaiter and a panel with buttons to activate the hazard lights, door locks and seat heaters, as well as several storage compartments. Close by is an electronic hand-brake and the central armrest, which is cloth upholstered with a handy storage compartment that can also be removed from the vehicle.

The newly designed door panels on the IBZ Concept echo the style of the dashboard, with the soft pad in suede and an aluminium insert beneath the armrest. The aluminium door handles and speaker frames are also new – the latter with a unique arrangement of square slats.

Practical, capacious boot

Beneath the rear hatch of the new SEAT IBZ Concept lies a spacious boot. Measuring an impressive 410 litres, it can be significantly extended when the rear seats are folded to leave a completely flat cargo space that stretches right to the back of the front seats. The car can be loaded up to the ceiling, either with the rear seats in place or folded down.

The boot’s low load height makes it easy to access, allowing heavy or bulky items to be carried simply. It also provides several solutions for keeping objects securely in place, such as side hooks or storage nets on either side of the wheel arches.

Another interesting feature lies beneath the floor of the boot. The second tier under the folding floor serves as a supplementary storage compartment. A cover leads to the spare wheel and tool box, so everything is kept neatly in place.

The detailing in the boot once again shows SEAT’s quality workmanship put into practice. The edges of the floor covering are finished with leather, and the soft pads on the side are in cream-coloured suede.

Third member of the Ibiza family

With the Ibiza Concept IBZ, SEAT is offering a preview of the future family-sized version of its most popular model. It will be on the market in 2010, as the company continues its new product offensive which is making the Spanish brand’s range the youngest on the market. In the year of the Ibiza’s 25th anniversary, the newest addition to the range underlines the car’s segment-leading quality, design and workmanship.

The chassis of the new IBZ Concept has the same compact dimensions, with a total length of 4.22 metres and the same height and width as the basic model, although greater access to the rear seats is provided by broader rear doors.

As with the rest of the SEAT range, the sporty, design-driven youthful style of the new IBZ Concept make it perfect for those who value space, practicality, comfort and loads of driving enjoyment.

- SEAT Auto

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Breathtakingly dynamic open-top driving

• Audi high-performance sports car with lightweight cloth top
• Distinctive styling, carbon fiber body parts
• Mid-mounted V10 engine producing 386 kW (525 hp) and exceptional performance

Exceptional performance and breathtaking dynamism coupled with the intense sensations of open-top driving: Audi presents the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. Its lightweight cloth top opens and closes fully automatically; several body parts are made of a carbon fiber composite material.

The V10 engine produces 386 kW (525 hp) and launches the open-top two-seater to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h (194.49 mph). Featuring technologies such as the Audi Space Frame (ASF), quattro permanent all-wheel drive, full-LED headlights and with an innovative seatbelt microphone available as an option, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro is the new top-of-the-range Audi.

Huge gallery after the jump w/ video shortly!

The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro makes a powerful statement. The sculptured lines of the emotion-packed, high-performance sports car are a fascinating and unique interpretation of its dynamism. Unlike the Coupé, the Spyder does not have sideblades behind the doors. The side panels and the large cover over the storage compartment for the cloth top are made of a carbon fiber composite. Two arched cowls, which extend to the spoiler lip and include large, integrated air vents, give the rear of the open-top two-seater a powerful profile.

Like every open-top Audi, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro has a cloth top – an uncompromising solution for a high-performance sports car. The soft top’s approximate weight is a mere 30 kilograms (66.14 lb); it thus keeps the vehicle’s total weight and center of gravity low. The top takes up little space when open and is a harmonious design element when closed. It tapers off to two slim fins extending to the trailing edge of the car, emphasizing the elongated silhouette.

The electrohydraulic soft top opens and closes in 19 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). When opened, it folds like a Z into its storage compartment over the V10 engine. The compartment cover opens and closes automatically. The heated glass window, which is separate from the cloth top, is lowered into the bulkhead. It can be independently raised and lowered at the press of a switch, with the top up or down. An additional net-like wind deflector comes standard and can be latched into the bulkhead behind the seats in two easy steps.

The top, which comprises an outer skin of a leakproof textile fabric and the headliner, is fully compatible with high-speed driving. When driving at moderate speeds with the top up, interior noise levels in the R8 Spyder are barely higher than in the Coupé. The bulkhead includes integrated rollover protection in the form of two strong, spring-tensioned plates. Head/thorax side bags in the backrests protect the passengers in the event of a side impact. Full-size airbags stand at the ready in the event of a head-on collision. In a rear-end collision, the integral head restraint system reduces the risk of whiplash injuries.

In the version with manual transmission, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro weighs only 1,720 kilograms thanks primarily to its aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) body. Despite reinforcements in the area of the sills, the center tunnel, the rear wall, the floor pan and the A- and B-pillars, the body weighs only 216 kilograms (476.2 lb) – just 6 kilograms (13.23 lb) more than that of the R8 Coupé. The high stiffness of the ASF body, which includes an integrated engine frame of ultra-lightweight magnesium, provides the foundation for the car’s dynamic handling and superior safety.

Close attention to detail: the design

Numerous details demonstrate that the Audi designers put their hearts into the design of the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The air inlets in the nose, which direct air across the three radiators, and the lip of the front skirt are painted high-gloss black. The struts in the broad, low, single-frame grille are finely coated with chrome. The standard full-LED headlights are technical works of art. Their reflectors resemble open mussel shells; the daytime running lights appear to be a homogeneous strip, but actually comprise 24 individual LEDs that form a curve at the lower edge of the headlight.

The full-LED headlights from Audi are unmatched by its international competitors. Light-emitting diodes are used for the low beams, the high beams, the daytime running lights and the turn signals. With a color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin, the LED light is very similar to daylight, making it easier on the eyes when driving at night. Additional strengths include excellent light distribution, long service life and extremely low energy consumption.

The side sills of the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro are broad and angular. V10 badges on the flanks allude to the power of the engine. A dark surface between the rear lights emphasizes the car’s width. The chambers of the lights are colored dark red, with LEDs generating a three-dimensional light pattern. The exhaust system ends in two large, oval tailpipes, and the fully lined underbody ends in an upturned diffuser. The rear spoiler extends automatically at higher speeds.

Audi offers the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro with a choice of three colors for the top. The body is available in eleven paint finishes, with metallic and pearl effect finishes standard. The windshield frame is coated with anodized aluminum.

Sporty luxury: the interior

The open-top two-seater from Audi features a generously spacious interior. The three-spoke leather multifunction sport steering wheel is flattened at the bottom as in a race car, and the low-mounted, electrically adjustable seats guide and support the body perfectly.

Quality of fit and finish is extraordinary and the controls are clear and logical. The standard driver information system includes a lap timer for recording lap times. The instruments and the gear lever knob feature red rings. The pedals, the footrests and the shift paddles of the optional R tronic are in aluminum look. Highlighting the list of standard equipment are a generous full-leather package featuring Fine Nappa leather, an excellent sound system from Bang & Olufsen, a deluxe automatic air conditioning system and heated seats. Six different interior colors are available.

Many additional fine features documents the top status of the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The leather for the seats are colored with pigments that reflect the infrared component of sunlight, which keeps the seats up to 20 degrees Celsius cooler.

Door sill strips coated with aluminum and adorned with black satin finish applications impart an air of luxurious sportiness. Three storage compartments are integrated into the rear bulkhead, one of which contains the optional CD changer or Audi music interface, if desired. There is a front compartment for 100 liters (3.53 cu ft) of luggage.

The latest version of the navigation system plus with MMI operating logic is also standard in the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. It features higher resolution and particularly fast route calculation. The system’s most visible new feature is the high-resolution, 6.5-inch display. The topographic view can be scrolled in any direction. The system can be combined optionally with a rearview camera that serves as a parking aid.

Audi offers custom extras, such as exclusive leather packages and special inlays. A worldwide first is the optional seatbelt microphone for the hands-free unit, which makes it possible to talk on the phone even with the top down on the highway. Three small, flat microphones are integrated into both seatbelts. At least one of them is ideally positioned relative to the speaker when the belt is on. There is a fourth microphone in the windshield frame.

Uncompromising power: the engine

The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro, which was developed in cooperation with quattro GmbH, dazzles with uncompromising performance. The V10 engine with the aluminum crankcase, much of which is hand-built, follows in the grand motorsports tradition at Audi. The normally aspirated engine produces 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm. Peak output of 386 kW (525 hp) is reached at 8,000 rpm, and the rev limit is not reached until 8,700 rpm. Specific power output is 100.9 hp per liter of displacement; each hp only needs to move 3.3 kilograms (7.28 lb) of weight.

Performance reflects this awesome potential: 0 – 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.1 seconds; 0 – 200 km/h (124.27 mph) in 12.7 seconds; top speed is 313 km/h (194.49 mph) with the six-speed manual transmission. As load and revs increase, the engine unfolds the rich, unmistakable Audi ten-cylinder sound – a powerful, throaty roar with musical undertones.

The 5.2-liter engine features FSI direct fuel injection. The high 12.5:1 compression ratio that this enables contributes to the high performance and good fuel efficiency. Equipped with a manual transmission, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro consumes an average of 14.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (15.79 US mpg) – a good figure given its power. With R tronic, this figure improves to 13.9 liters (16.92 US mpg). Dry sump lubrication, another motorsports technology, ensures that the supply of oil is maintained even at the maximum lateral acceleration of 1.2 g.

The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI is also available with an optional automatic six-speed transmission. The R tronic offers a normal and a sport program as well as a fully automatic and a manual mode. The manual mode allows the driver to make lightning-fast gear changes using the joystick on the center tunnel or with the paddles on the steering wheel. The open-air sports car also comes with ‘Launch Control’ – a program that manages engagement of the clutch perfectly to maximize acceleration at start.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive features a central viscous coupling and distributes power to all four wheels with a heavy rear bias. It works together with the locking differential on the rear axle to provide significantly greater traction, stability, cornering speed and precision. It is the superior technology – in particular for a high-performance sports car.

Dazzling performance: the chassis

The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro has a 2.65-meter (8.69-ft) wheelbase and a 43:57 axle load distribution. Like in a race car, there are double triangular wishbones made of aluminum at all four wheels. The hydraulic rack-and-pinion power steering conveys highly precise road contact.

The chassis is tuned for good comfort, thanks in part to standard Audi magnetic ride technology. This uses magnetic fields in the shock absorbers to adjust their response to road conditions within milliseconds and adapt to the driver’s style. The driver can choose between two base characteristics. A sports suspension with conventional shock absorbers is available as an option.

The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro rolls on 19-inch wheels of 10-spoke Y design. The front rims are shod with 235/35 tires, with 295/30 tires at the back. 305/30 tires are optionally available. The brakes offer impressive performance: The four discs are internally ventilated and perforated, with eight-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers at the back. Optionally available from Audi are oversized carbon fiber-ceramic discs that are extremely lightweight, robust and long-lived. The ESP stabilization system has a Sport mode and can also be completely deactivated. The brake system includes an assist function that facilitates starting on gradients.

The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro is built by quattro GmbH at the Neckarsulm plant. The vehicle, including the ASF, is largely hand-built. The open-top two-seater will be launched in Germany in the first quarter of 2010; sales will start in the coming days. Its base price will be 156,400 euros.

The equipment and data specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.

Click here for high-res gallery

- Audi AG

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• New Small Family with E-Motor
• E-Up! Concept – Outlook for the Beetle of the 21st Century
• World premiere: Volkswagen is presenting city specialist with electric motor

Winterkorn: We will launch a zero emissions Up! on the market in 2013

Volkswagen is presenting a pioneering fleet of new sustainable automobiles at the 63rd International Motor Show (IAA) – an update on the future. The range of IAA premieres extends from the world’s most fuel-efficient production passenger car (BlueMotion) to hybrid technology and an electric car developed from the ground up – the E-Up! that is being presented in a world premiere in Frankfurt.

Low + High-res galleries after the jump!

E-Motor plus TDI and TSI shape the future

Altogether, these Volkswagens are revising milestones on the timeline between present and future. “One of the basic milestones on this timeline,” says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group, “is the mass produced electric car. Yet, to be a genuine success such an electric car must be affordable to a broad customer base and must be uncompromisingly practical in everyday driving. Only then, in high volumes, and ideally on all continents, can one truly speak of the beginning of the electric age in automobiles and a perceptible reduction of their environmental impact.” The Group chief continues: “Nonetheless, until the production numbers of a purely electric car approach the success curve of a Polo, its schedule will indicate the year 2020 at the earliest. That is why our highly efficient TDI and TSI engines are the most important waypoints of the present. They will continue to be a dominant force for decades. And they are what allow us to make the step-by-step transition to the future. Cars with pure petrol and diesel engines – which in the foreseeable future will continue be unbeatable for mid- to long-range distances – will be supplemented by cars like the E-Up! in upcoming years, especially in the city. And that will happen starting in 2013. The concept car now being presented in Frankfurt very realistically shows how we envision such a Volkswagen with pure electric drive – technically, visually and with regard to a practical size.”

The zero-emissions concept car designed under the leadership of Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Brand, and Head of the Development business area, is based on modules of the New Small Family anticipated in the year 2011, but at a length of 3.19 meters it is even more compact. It also offers an innovative 3+1 seating concept. In its styling, the powerful and clearly drawn lines of the E-Up! body follow the new Volkswagen “design DNA” par excellence and show cult potential. That is because never before has an ultra-compact vehicle – which does not aim to be retro but forges new paths instead – brought such appealing, timeless, class-independent and dynamic qualities to light. Inside, the smallest Volkswagen ever also astonishes with its impressive space utilization.

Drive unit – battery and integral drive

The 135 km/h fast 3+1 seater is driven by an electric motor with a peak power output of 60 kW (continuous power: 40 kW). The motor of the front-wheel drive car, which is mounted in front, develops a maximum torque of 210 Newton-meters right from rest. The driver activates forward or reverse gear via a rotary knob in the centre console. The fact that the E-Up! will also quite clearly offer driving enjoyment is demonstrated by a look at the car’s classic 0 to 100-km/h sprint time: 11.3 seconds. The E-Up! develops even greater responsiveness in the intermediate sprint from 0 to 50 km/h in city driving: 3.5 seconds. This dynamic performance is based first on the electric motor’s excellent torque characteristic and second on the low curb weight of the E-Up!, which is just 1,085 kilograms.

Lithium-ion battery: The car’s low weight is quite astounding, given the fact that 240 kilograms are taken up by the lithium-ion battery. The implemented battery’s energy capacity of 18 kilowatt-hours (kWh) enables driving distances of up to 130 kilometres, depending on driving style – enough for the city and the drives of most commuters. The E-Up! will be “refueled” in the garage at home, in a parking structure or on the road at one of the future municipal recharging stations that will be enabled by chip card. Depending on the available charging infrastructure and the battery’s momentary charge state, the storage battery could be charged to up to 80 percent of its total capacity within an hour.

If the batteries are recharged in a home garage, for example, by plugging it into a 230-Volt household outlet, this would take a maximum of five hours. Generally, off-peak night-time electric rates are very inexpensive. So refueled at night the E-Up! could be driven 100 kilometres for just two Euros in electricity costs (about 14 Euro cents / kWh).

The batteries themselves are housed in the underbody of the E-Up! To optimally distribute the weight of the battery system, it is housed in a special, crash-protected tray in the underbody frame. Air cooling ensures a constant heat balance within the batteries. The fans and heat exchangers needed for this are housed in the front section of the underbody.

Integral drive: The teams of Concept Development (headed by Ralf-Gerhard Willner) and Engine Development (headed by Dr. Jens Hadler) integrated all important drive assemblies and auxiliary assemblies in the engine compartment at the front end. The design of an integrated form of the electric drive made a key contribution toward reducing weight and space requirements for the drive unit. Background: All components important to the power-train are unified in compact form in the so-called integral drive. In this unit, the electric motor, together with the transmission and differential, form the centerpiece of this drive. Energy is supplied via a high-power pulse-control inverter, which is combined with the 12-Volt electrical system DC/DC converter and the charger to form the compact integral drive. At 140 kilograms, the integral drive is also very lightweight. To summarize its advantages: low space requirement, ideal acoustic comfort, high torque and power development and strong driving performance in the city. So the system fulfills the requirements of an innovative electric drive in a nearly ideal way.

Styling – the Beetle of the 21st Century

The E-Up! emphatically demonstrates that emission-free Volkswagens will be anything but lacking in emotion. Responsible for this, once again, is the team led by Group Chief Designer Walter de Silva. Together with Klaus Bischoff (Chief Designer, Volkswagen Brand) and Flavio Manzoni (Head of Creative Design, Volkswagen Group), he developed a layout for the E-Up! that reflects the visual bandwidth of the future New Small Family. The E-Up! bears a resemblance to previously presented concept vehicles of this new model series – the Up! (city specialist), Space-Up! (microvan) and Space-Up Blue! (fuel cell powered van) – it represents a design stage that reflects the future production car even more closely.

“The E-Up!”, says Klaus Bischoff, “is characterized by a reduced, very clear and yet highly emotional design.” And that is certainly no coincidence. The car’s lines consistently follow Volkswagen’s new era “design DNA” that was developed by de Silva, Bischoff and Manzoni. Its key stylistic traits: Simplicity, purity, durability and perfection of its technologies and quality. Bischoff: “The new concept is therefore very much in harmony with its stylistic ‘siblings’ of the New Small Family, the Roadster BlueSport and the new Polo.” Dimensions of the E-Up! are 3.19 meters (length) x 1.64 meters (width) x 1.47 meters (height). Its wheelbase is 2.19 meters.

Front end: Although E-Up! styling was developed from the Up!, the electric car differs from conventionally powered models in the new model series. Consider the front end: It fits in perfectly with the brand’s new family face, yet at the same time it refers back to one of the greatest icons in automotive history in the area of the engine bonnet: the Beetle. Nonetheless, the E-Up! does not reveal the slightest hint of retro styling; instead, designers created new and unmistakable styling tools that would carry the small Volkswagen far into the future.

Fitting in with this image are the headlights with their facet-like lenses – cut like diamonds – that extend over the entire width of the lens cover. Another interesting detail: the fog lights. At first glance they can hardly be recognized as such. The designers have configured them as C-shaped, chrome-trimmed elements in the headlight housings. Also style-defining is the black line running in a circular pattern in the bumper – a typical characteristic of the New Small Family. “In the interplay of all elements, the bumper, headlights and engine bonnet,” explains Klaus Bischoff, “the E-Up! really appears to smile. And that is how it should be.” Conspicuous: There are hardly any openings at the front end, since there is no need for separate cooling of the drive unit.

The VW logo on the V-shaped engine bonnet of the E-Up! is more than just an homage to the Beetle. Hidden behind the folding logo is the integrated port for charging the batteries. The advantage of positioning the plug port here is that it makes it easier to recharge the E-Up! from stations on either the left or right sides of the street or directly in front of the car.

Side profile: “In keeping with Volkswagen’s “design DNA” the side sections also exhibit a high level of stylistic purity, following the Bauhaus principle created in the 1920s in Germany that ‘less is more’,” says Flavio Manzoni. This car’s visual identity is very intentionally created by just a few graphic elements that blend together to form a new unit in the classic Bauhaus approach to creative art and innovative technology. These defining elements of the E-Up! side profile include its side glass and shoulder styling line above the door handles known as the tornado line. The side profile styling is further defined by the car’s short body overhangs, the confident outward shaping of the wheel housings and unique C-pillar. Flavio Manzoni explains the special presence of the C-pillar: “Visually, the vertically aligned C-pillar is positioned above the rear wheel, which conveys a feeling of balance and solidity. These properties are indispensable for a Volkswagen. Last but not least, the prominent and powerful wheel styling gives the car a perfect ‘demeanour’”.

Rear end: The basic graphic forms of the tailgate and rear bumper follow those of the very first Up! However, the once again completely glazed tailgate now exhibits significantly larger taillights in dark smoked glass look. Running through the taillights is a line trimmed in chrome that extends across the tailgate. The circular chrome line unites the two taillights in a vertical direction. These accents are also reflected in the matching graphic element of the front and rear bumpers.

Solar roof: The roof of the E-Up! is equipped with solar cells over an area measuring 1.4 square meters. This area – between the rear part of the roof edge spoiler and the front windscreen – can be enlarged to 1.7 square meters in total by folding down the sun visors that are also equipped with solar cells. The solar cells continuously supply energy to the car’s electrical system, and while the vehicle is parked they help to cool the interior by supplying energy to the car’s ventilation system.

Interior I – Instruments and controls

Flavio Manzoni: “The interior was designed in complete harmony with the car’s exterior styling, and it exhibits a similar aesthetic with a technical-purist influence.” To improve the electric car’s energy economy by avoiding unnecessary loads, actuators such as mirror adjustment and window lifts were designed to be manually operated. Nonetheless, the highly innovative E-Up! makes its appearance with an impressive array of future generation high-tech displays and controls. They are all quite self-explanatory, and the car’s controls are intuitive, making driving and life with this Volkswagen as simple and stress-free as possible.

HMI: The concept car has a touch-screen based HMI (Human Machine Interface) with intelligent E-Up! specific indicators and assistance functions. During navigation, the system continually monitors the momentary load state of the batteries, for example, as well as activated energy consumers such as lights and air conditioner, momentary traffic data, elevation profiles of potential routes and the locations of available charging stations. The driver can display these “filling stations” at any time; available charging stations may be reserved within a defined reservation time period.

The charging process can also be precisely planned to the minute via the HMI. This lets users charge the E-Up! during a specific time period in which electricity is available at special low rates. The charging process can be activated at any time via an intuitively operated application installed on an iPhone or similar mobile device, even from outside of the vehicle. Even more: From the application users can query the momentary charge status and vehicle location (the latter via map display) or simply check whether the car is locked. Moreover, to preserve vehicle battery power the program lets users pre-condition the E-Up! interior. This involves cooling or heating the car’s interior as long as the car is still connected to the charging station and is drawing its electrical power from the electrical grid.

Interior II – 3+1 seating concept

The generous space implemented over a total vehicle area of just 5.1 square meters is absolutely astounding. Several factors are responsible for this clever packaging. First, there is the reduced size of the instrument panel, which was shifted further forward than usual toward the engine compartment. This was enabled, among other things, by optimizing the components within the instrument panel. Second, the small Volkswagen is a 3+1 seater. This means that the front passenger seat is located 50 millimeters forward, thanks to the instruments being shifted further forward. This layout increases leg room in the rear behind the front passenger tremendously. As a result, two adults can sit comfortably on the passenger’s side. Stepping into the vehicle is also simplified by an Easy-Entry feature, which allows the front passenger’s seat to be pushed up to 270 millimeters away from the rear bench. There is less leg room behind the “normally” positioned driver’s seat; the space here was designed as a spare seat.

Additional freedom of movement is provided to rear passengers by lowering the centre tunnel in front of the rear bench seat; it serves as an additional footrest. This enables use of an electric handbrake in the style of the Passat, so that no lever mechanism obstructs the footwell.

Cargo area: The clever packaging solutions do not end there: To optimize comfort in the rear, the rear seat backrest is split 40/60. When the backrest on the driver’s seat is folded down (40 percent section), stowage capacity is increased from 85 to 180 litres (with loading to the upper edge of the front seat backrest). This stowage space can be enclosed by a load barrier that folds down out from the folded backrest. When the entire rear seating backrest is folded down, a stowage capacity of 320 litres is created. It is even 520 litres when loaded to the roofliner. To transport long objects, the front passenger’s backrest can also be folded to a pass-through position. In this configuration, the E-Up! can handle objects up to two metres in length.

This high degree of variability will also certainly characterize the affordable production version of an Up! powered by an electric motor. That is because electric cars, as Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn insists and therefore wrote into the specification for this future Volkswagen, must be truly affordable and offer uncompromising everyday practicality.

Micro-mobility in the city – made by Volkswagen

Volkswagen is comprehensively addressing implementation of this everyday practicality. These efforts not only encompass the vehicle itself, but the entire environment around the car driver. In the city, for example, this includes the realization that after parking the E-Up! people will want to cover shorter distances without a car – from the job to lunch, to the fitness studio, another meeting, whatever is on the day’s schedule. For these shorter trips, the Volkswagen “Micro-mobility in the city” concept team has invented clever zero-emission micro-vehicles. The Kickstep, for example, which is an ultra-compact folding scooter. And the electrically powered Microbully, a scooter that also fits easily in the E-Up! load space. There is also the ped-tric, a folding bike with electric motors built into the wheel hubs that could also make the trip to the city aboard the E-Up! And even the VW_1M, a large electric moped – the size of a carry-on case when not in use – that could be stowed in the E-Up! without even needing to fold down the rear bench seat. Such micro-mobility solutions were created at the Volkswagen Design Center in Potsdam. So the E-Up! will be putting many things into motion. In 2013 this will become a reality for the first time.

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Note:
TDI, TSI, DSG and Twincharger are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or other companies of the Volkswagen Group in Germany and other countries.

- Volkswagen AG

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Bentley Motors will preview an exciting new design direction for the company’s Continental GT and GTC models at the 2009 Frankfurt Show.

Bentley Motors will preview an exciting new design direction for the company’s Continental GT and GTC models at the 2009 Frankfurt Show. The Series 51 Continental models represent Bentley exterior and interior styling at its most vibrant and will enable customers to order ‘off the peg’ from an exclusive range created by Dirk van Braeckel’s renowned team of Crewe-based designers.

Series 51 is named after the year that the first official styling department was established in Crewe by the gifted John Blatchley, who shaped the original and iconic 1950s Bentley Continentals. Every Series 51 car will feature a highly-distinctive interior colour palette and unique exterior design cues.

Bentley’s Colour and Trim team, managed by Melinda – June Jenkins, have designed some bespoke three-tone interiors which demonstrate the full potential of leather hide colours and showcase the creative application of contrast stitching and piping. The first example of their work will be the Continental GTC displayed at Frankfurt which features Imperial Blue as a main and secondary hide, Linen seat and door inserts and Newmarket Tan as the accent colour.

Series 51 cars will also feature several unique interior details including the use of non-indented hide for diamond quilting, contrast piping for the seats and doors as well as bespoke Series 51 treadplates.

Bentley’s designers have also selected a range of premium-quality materials for the dashboard and centre console to complement the three-tone interiors. The Dark and Bright ‘Engine Spin’ aluminum options provide a striking contrast with darker and lighter hide colour choices and a special, limited-edition Amboyna veneer reserved for Series 51.

A belief that even the smallest detail presents an opportunity to delight and surprise customers has always be a key element of the Bentley design story. Series 51 follows this principle, where even the overmats and boot carpets are now colour matched and given contrast binding.

Both the Continental GT and GTC offer a powerful road presence and the Series 51 cars further accentuate these sporting credentials with some eye-catching exterior styling. A 20’ 14-spoke polished Diamond wheel with a dark centre cap provides Series 51 cars with a purposeful and stylish appearance. The cars will be further distinguished by a signature ‘51’ badge on the front wings.

To further enhance and personalize the Continental GT a new two-tone paint can be commissioned which complements the contrasting interior configuration. This highly distinctive colour split (with one colour running over the bonnet, roof and flowing down to the boot) is a classic design used on many sporting Bentleys of the past.

Detailed information about all of the available three-tone interior designs and further additional options and accessories are available at www.bentleymotors.com. The new Series 51 models can be ordered from 1st September 2009.”

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We quote, “Along with the Audi S5 Sportback, for example, there will be the Audi R8 Spyder (the open version of the mid-engine sports car).”

• A celebration of 100 years of Audi with five world premieres in Frankfurt
• Brand provides insights into electric mobility of tomorrow
• 34 Audi vehicles across 6,000 square meters in Hall 3.0

For Annkatrin Hentsch, it is akin to ‘time-lapse construction of a house.’ A project manager at AUDI AG, she oversees the setting-up of Audi’s stand at the 63rd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Following a year of preparations and some 55,000 hours of planning, her IAA team requires just 25 days of setting up to execute a stroke of genius both organizational and logistical in nature: As per a stringent schedule, 90 trucks transport several hundred metric tons of material to Frankfurt, where 300 fitters assemble everything.

The result: a gleaming white stand — 6,000 square meters in size (4,000 at ground level and 2,000 one storey up) — with a dazzling design to showcase 34 perfectly situated Audi vehicles. And this stand truly has a huge heart: In a ventricle not only illuminated via red and white LEDs but also 40 meters long and up to ten meters wide, several exhibits emphasize key Audi innovations such as TDI technology, lightweight design/construction, and Audi history. A chrome-polished R8 will get visitors’ hearts pumping even faster.

Audi’s appearance this year is certainly characterized by its centennial milestone. 55 Audi employees as well as 85 event hostesses/hosts will eagerly provide details to all interested visitors. Five world premieres await guests at the Audi stand. Along with the Audi S5 Sportback, for example, there will be the Audi R8 Spyder (the open version of the mid-engine sports car). The third highlight will be a preview of tomorrow’s electric mobility. Additional pioneering vehicles to be unveiled at Frankfurt’s IAA will be the Audi A4 3.0 TDI clean diesel and the Audi A3 1.2 TFSI.

The Audi stand spans 86 meters in length and 46 meters in width. Some 67 kilometers of cable ensure that everything is properly powered. The lighting truss weighs 39 metric tons and is 8.45 meters above the stand; 1,400 spotlights are suspended from it.

This puts each and every one of the 34 exhibition vehicles in the best possible light. Audi’s trade-show specialists begin planning the configuration of spotlights months in advance and down to the millimeter so that no unwelcome reflections arise and that every perfectly positioned Audi’s colors and contours are perfectly accentuated.

The same applies to the stand’s steel structures, which weigh many tons and are precisely positioned by surveyors who use laser measurements. Everything must be 100 percent perfect. This is due to reasons of not only time but also safety: some 750,000 people are expected to visit the 2009 IAA! Stands must therefore be indisputably sound in design and execution.

Specialists toil night and day on Audi’s IAA stand to adhere to the timetable. For Annkatrin Hentsch and her team, logistics constitute a particularly formidable challenge.

Several hundred metric tons of material must be transported to Frankfurt. And because a vast number of automotive manufacturers are all simultaneously setting up stands in the hall, all deliveries must be meticulously planned. It is precisely stipulated who may deliver what where and when.

Many of the materials required, from Audi pylons to waste baskets, are supplied by Audi’s very own 17,000-square-meter trade-show warehouse in Ingolstadt. Everything that arrives at Hall 3.0 in Frankfurt must be immediately incorporated. There is no place to temporarily store anything. If just one truck arrives late, then the entire timetable is thrown into utter chaos.

Spanning 18,600 square meters, Hall 3.0 will allow all Volkswagen Group brands to present themselves under one roof. Audi’s tastefully austere stand embodies Audi’s brand values: sporty, progressive, and sophisticated. The brand with the four rings achieves this thanks to an IAA approach which is every bit efficient as it is award-winning.

Audi has nevertheless managed to execute a trade-show strategy which costs far less than that of its strategic competitors. A considerable amount of the materials Audi uses at a trade show, for example, will not simply be discarded, but rather re-used at future automotive exhibitions. It could be said that Audi relies on a modular trade-show framework — an assembly concept of sorts.

Audi’s IAA Stand: Specs and Facts

6,000 square meters of overall floor space
4,000 m2 on ground floor; 900 m2 of elevated surfaces/ceilings
2,000 m2 upper floor
34 exhibition vehicles (5 of them world premieres)
2 vehicle lounges (quattro Lounge: 162 m², A5 Sportback Lounge: 85 m²)
3 catered lounges (309 m² altogether) with 150 seats
12 months of planning; 55,000 hours of planning
90 truck loads
300 people on set-up team
24/7 set-up
25 days of setting-up
560 m2 glass façade
230 metric tons of steel
67 km of cables
39 metric tons suspended from the Hall’s ceiling
8.45 meters: height of the lighting truss’s lower edge
3 km of truss crossbeams
1,400 spotlights
2,000 KW power output
Highlight LED: 14 meters wide and up to 4.70 m high
Highlight LED with 2,101,248 Surface-Mount Devices (pixels)
Heart of Audi: 40 meters long and up to 10 m wide
Heart of Audi with approx. 1,500 LED panels (á 16x16 LED points)
19 different exhibits, incl. 2 cutaway engines
Various floor coverings: laminate, genuine wood veneer, aluminum, anodized-aluminum panels, concrete scrap, glass, carpet
95 meters of leather-covered seating in Heart of Audi; 7 staircases
25 offices and conference rooms
16 climate-control units
85 event hostesses/hosts
55 Audi employees

Philosophy of the Stand

In 2009, as in the past, Audi will present itself in gleaming white in Hall 3.0 at the Frankfurt Exhibition Grounds. Audi’s IAA stand is divided into two solitary carcasses, with a multilane road in the middle.

Visitors can access the stand via one of two routes. Visitors who opt for the road will encounter — prominently displayed in the white center lane — a milestone in Audi’s 100-year history: a streamlined Auto Union C racing car. This historic vehicle sets the stage for Audi’s sporty S models. Visitors are guided through the stand by a track of red LEDs with steles, which bring to life one highlight after another from Audi’s celebrated history by means of integrated vehicles and films.

Alternatively, visitors can traverse the stupendous Heart of Audi — which beats red, then white, then red again. The Heart is a perfect stage, with a chrome-polished R8 up and off to the left. In the rather enclosed right side, Audi underpins its brand essence, Vorsprung durch Technik (‘progress through technology’), with Heart exhibits: quattro, TDI Engine Technology, Lightweight Design/Construction, and Heritage. The lighting and the Audi heartbeat integrated into the stand’s overall acoustics constitute a readily perceptible driving force throughout the entire stand.

This portal offers visitors an excellent vantage point over the road to the stunning highlight stage, where the R8 Spyder and this year’s show car will be unveiled. These two world premieres will be illuminated by an LED wall — 15 meters in length and up to 5 meters in height, and evocative of an R8’s headlights — which will symbolize Audi’s lighting-design superiority.

The path takes visitors past both world premieres via a public gallery with seats and the efficiency park up to the technology park, in which the Audi brand’s focus on tomorrow is illustrated by means of exhibits and films. The adjacent catered lounges featuring different designs offer clear views of the entire stand and Audi’s spectacular fleet.

- Audi AG

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