McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Audi News

Audi news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily with model reveals, first drives, technology launches and verified performance figures. Our coverage runs across the RS models and the expanding e-tron range, together with the road cars that sit beneath them. Audi is moving quickly on electrification, and we report each development as it is confirmed. Plenty of publications carry performance car news, but few carry it beside live inventory. Many of the Audis covered here appear on the duPont REGISTRY marketplace, so a review and a genuine asking price sit together. That combination is difficult to find anywhere else in luxury car news. For Audi news today, begin with the stories below.

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 29, 2022

Audi Group Shows Increased Revenue And Profit In The Firs...

The Audi Group stays strong while the auto industry struggles. The Audi Group, consisting of Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati, has good news to share when it comes to the financial numbers the group has achieved in the first half of the year. The group was able to deliver a total of 797,587 cars to customers in the first six months of the year, and while that’s down from 2021’s number of 986,567 number, that comes as a result of the ongoing semiconductor crisis and lockdowns still being in place in China. Despite this, both Lamborghini and Bentley increased sales. MUST READ: The New Netflix Movie, The Gray Man, Features Four Audi Models In The Action One of the most important parts of these results is the fact that electric vehicles continue to be a successful venture for Audi. 50,033 electric vehicles were delivered compared to 2021’s number for the same period, 32,775. The Audi Q4 e-tron grew significantly in sales, and now, electric vehicles account for 6.3 percent of Audi’s sales. Total revenues increased compared to the first half of 2021, with a total of €29.9 billion euros compared to €29.2 billion last year, and the consolidation of Bentley since January 1 contributed greatly to this. Along with that, the period’s operating profit of €4.933 billion marks a new all-time high for the group, representing a 58.5 percent increase compared to last year’s number of €3.113 billion. Based on these strong results, Audi Group plans on continuing its success and finishing the second half of the year strong, with total deliveries of 1.8 to 1.9 million vehicles, and with the amazing lineup of vehicles from Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley and Ducati, their success will mean exciting new cars on our roads. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

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By Tyler Rampersaud – July 26, 2022

After 20 Years and 4 Generations, The Audi RS 6 Still Dom...

20 years after the RS 6 was introduced, the RS 6 Avant comes stateside for the first time. The United States isn’t exactly known for wagons, but those who like them love them. And it’s that love that prompted Audi to bring one of the most iconic wagons in the luxury performance world to US customers for the first time ever: the RS 6 Avant. It’s a spacious, luxurious wagon with beastly amounts of power and performance, and while we’re seeing it here in the US for the first time ever, the car has a long history that dates all the way back to 2002. The Audi RS 6 was introduced after the brand ended up on the podium at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, and won the prestigious race the next three years in a row. MUST READ: The New 2022 Audi RS 7 Exclusive Edition Is Limited To Just 23 Units Complementing the RS 4, Audi decided to use its racing prowess to create a bigger, more powerful sports sedan, and the RS 6 came into the world as Audi’s roadgoing crown jewel, as no other Audi in the brand’s lineup was as powerful. Remember, at this point in time the roadgoing Audi R8 didn’t exist, rather the eponymous Audi R8 LMP race car was building the legacy that the R8 would eventually name itself after. The V8 engine in the first Audi RS 6 put out 444 horsepower and 428 lb/ft of torque, and that brought it to 60 mph in as little as 4.7 seconds. This generation of the Audi RS 6 briefly made it to the United States in sedan form in the 2003 model year, with only 860 units available. And until the 2021 model year, the United States never saw the RS 6 again. Meanwhile, in Europe, the second generation of the RS 6 received a V10 engine with wild performance in the name of 571 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque. With standard Quattro all-wheel-drive, the car rocketed to 60 mph in less than 4.6 seconds and sounded incredible while doing it. After that, the third generation of the car returned to a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, while the United States received the popular RS 7 Sportback. However, with the downsized engine came reduced weight, and the car went from 0-60 in less than 3.9 seconds and could climb to a top speed of 190 mph. It also featured the incredible technology of ceramic brakes and cylinder deactivation. The fourth and current generation of the car was introduced in 2019, and it boasts 592 horsepower and 590 lb/ft of torque. With a mild hybrid system that improves efficiency, the RS 6 has both brain and brawns, with a 0-60 sprint of fewer than 3.6 seconds. Now, this explosively powerful RS 6 comes to the United States as an Avant model for the first time, and American roads and drivers will get to experience its dominant performance, luxury, and practicality. View All Audi RS 6 For Sale Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 21, 2022

The New Netflix Movie, The Gray Man, Features Four Audi M...

Models throughout the Audi lineup are adding another movie to their Hollywood resume. Audi has announced that it will be the official automotive brand of a film releasing June 22 on Netflix, The Gray Man. Starring Ryan Gosling as Sierra Six along with Ana de Armas, the film is a global action thriller that follows a CIA asset on the run after discovering secrets. Directed by the Russo brothers, the film involves a collaboration between them and Audi that goes further than just providing the vehicles, as the Russos picked out the cars that would be featured in the movie based on how their technology, performance, luxury, and style fit into the narrative. MUST READ: The New 2022 Audi RS 7 Exclusive Edition Is Limited To Just 23 Units The Audi RS e-tron GT will be driven by Ryan Gosling on screen, and the all-electric Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron will be driven by Ana de Armas’s character. She will also be behind the wheel of the Audi RS 7 Sportback, and the Audi R8 Coupé will be featured in a scene, as well. After the film launches on Netflix, Audi will release a short film that tells the story behind the Q4 Sportback e-tron, and how Ana de Armas’s character was first introduced to the vehicle. In 30 countries around the world, Audi and Netflix will celebrate their collaboration with premiere arrivals that display Audi’s fully-electric fleet as well as digital activities where fans can “immerse themselves in the world of The Gray Man.” The film releases worldwide on Netflix on Friday, July 22, and it’s full of Audi-powered action. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 08, 2022

The New 2022 Audi RS 7 Exclusive Edition Is Limited To Ju...

Luxurious, powerful, and exclusive: the new Audi RS 7 exclusive edition is all of that. The RS 7 is Audi’s high-performance luxury Sportback, and it’s loved for its performance potential, elegant looks, and luxurious comfort. Now, Audi has announced a new exclusive edition, limited to 23 examples, for the car that combines the exclusivity of a rare edition with the car’s other factors, and the result is quite the desirable performance Audi. It’s powered by the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that gives the RS 7 591 horsepower and 590 lb/ft of torque for a 0-60 time of just 3.5 seconds. This special edition of the RS 7 can reach speeds of 190 mph with 17-inch front and 14-inch rear Audi Ceramic brakes that feature blue calipers for the exclusive edition. MUST READ: 2022 Audi e-tron GT Review: Electric Grand Touring Done Right The most noticeable hallmark of the RS 7 exclusive edition is the exclusive look of the car. The Mamba Black pearl effect features undertones of blue for a striking and elegant look, and a carbon optics package along with Audi laser lights complement the futuristic and sophisticated look of the car. The interior continues this, with black leather and Dinamica throughout, and an extended leather package bringing the leather to the door armrests, center console, door panels, and dashboard, all with Sepang blue stitching. All this luxury and exclusivity won’t be easy to get your hands on, however. Not only does the RS 7 exclusive edition have an MSRP of $165,400, but it’s also limited to a small number of 23 units and it will be available late this summer. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

By Gabriel Vega – July 05, 2022

2022 Audi e-tron GT Review: Electric Grand Touring Done R...

We're often overly consumed with range figures and charging times when talking about electric cars, especially online. I can't remember the last time I thought about how far a gas-powered vehicle could go. There's a good reason for this. We can't just top up an EV in a minute and be set for hours again. However, EVs are at a point where you can forget about range anxiety. On average, Americans drive about 29 miles per day, meaning that any electric car with at least 200 miles of range is suitable for a week of commuting. I bring this up at the top of the review for a good reason. The car I've been testing this week is a 2022 Audi e-tron GT. On paper, its EPA estimated 238 miles of range lag behind crucial competitors, especially new EV startups such as Rivian or Lucid. This is important as Audi claims it is its first electric grand tourer. However, aside from munching miles, the e-tron GT best delivers a driving experience that feels expensive. With an as-tested price of $118,740, it certainly needs to. Combine that with the best looks in the business, a cabin covered in premium materials, and you get not just one of the best EVs I've ever driven but one of my favorite cars, full stop. View All Audi e-tron GTs For Sale 2022 Audi e-tron GT Styling As much as I enjoy racking up miles in a six-figure Audi, I loved staring at it whenever I stopped for food or a charge. I'll be the first to admit that the e-tron GT's front end wasn't love at first sight. The gloss black trim in the front seemed more like a mouthguard than anything else. However, I was sold as soon as I saw my tester's Tactical Green metallic paint and how well it contrasted against the black. From there, you get 20-inch five-spoke wheels that are about an inch too small but still look quite elegant. Aldo Read: 2022 Hennessey VelociRaptor Review: Just The Right Amount Of Excess As your eye makes its way to the rear, you'll notice more glossy black on the roof and a sloping roofline towards the rear. The central part of the show, however, is this car's hips. I know we walk about cars with widened arches, but the e-tron manages to widen towards the rear elegantly. With not a sharp crease anywhere in sight, the e-tron looks sleek and elegant. A personal highlight is the wrap-around tail lights that seemingly hug its rear arches. Not only do they have an exciting light signature, but they help to widen the car visually. It also helps that they make a quirky dance as soon as you unlock the thing. I will add a caveat that the e-tron GT's good looks depend mainly on its color. Stick to a more executive-friendly shade of white, black, or silver, and you'll lose the magic sauce. This car is best suited for fun colors, of which Audi has plenty. If it were my money, Tango Red or Ascari Blue would be the best ways to go. 2022 Audi e-tron GT Performance/Handling It's easy to look at the photos of this Tactical Green e-tron GT and forget that it's technically the base model. Audi makes a hotter RS version for an additional $40,000. However, after spending time in both, it's hard to justify recommending the range-topping variant. It all comes down to the fact that the "base" e-tron GT is still wicked fast. It develops 469 horsepower and 464 foot-pounds of torque. With "Boost Mode" engaged, it'll pump out up to 522 hp for brief periods. Flat out, it'll hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds before continuing to a top speed of 152 mph. Sure, the RS is still relatively faster on paper, with 590 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque on tap and a run to 60 mph of 3.1 seconds. However, these differences aren't as significant as they seem in the real world. Around town, the e-tron GT and the RS model feel evenly matched, darting from stop lights and quickly dicing up traffic. The main differences come as you haul them well past the speed limit on a canyon road. For daily commuting, those $40,000 are better spent elsewhere. Unlike many other EVs, the e-tron GT has a two-speed transmission. This may not seem like a big deal, but it solves one of the biggest gripes of the current crop of EVs. Electric cars are quick off the line that we know. However, once you're at speed, they don't pick up the pace nearly as fast. This transmission solves that. The e-tron GT rockets forward, no matter the speed, making it feel faster than its figures would suggest in the real world. More Luxury Car Reviews When you show it some corners, the e-tron GT is more than willing to play. Its excellent handling prowess comes largely down to the fact that it has Porsche DNA. This "base" GT is equivalent to a Taycan 4S, meaning it may look like an Audi, but it handles vaguely like a Porsche. I say vaguely because it's sprung softer than its electric sibling. Sure, its limits aren't relatively as high on the canyons as it tends to roll a bit and understeer a lot. But around town, the e-tron is undoubtedly the more comfortable of the two and the one I'd personally pick to get into every day. So we know it's properly fast and it handles well, but the e-tron is not without fault. The two significant downsides of this car are its steering and its brakes. On the steering front, it's very Audi in the sense that while it's quick and direct, it lacks any feeling whatsoever. The first sign you're beginning to understeer will come from the noise you hear as the tires squeal, not communicative steering. The brakes are the opposite. The pedal feel is quite decent, and they're easy to modulate. The problem is that there just isn't enough braking power, especially in a car that weighs as much as a three-row SUV. 2022 Audi e-tron GT Range/Charging The e-tron GT has a bit of an ace up its sleeve in the range department. According to the EPA estimate, this car should be able to cover 238 miles on a full charge. However, during a road trip from Los Angeles to San Diego, I easily managed to squeeze over 250 miles. Speaking with other colleagues, their experience has largely been similar, so it seems those official figures are pretty conservative. Once you do need to stop and charge, however, it'll happen quickly. The e-tron GT has a 93 kWh battery pack and an 800-volt architecture. In short, this means that the GT should be able to keep up as charging speeds increase over the coming years. For now, it can charge up to 270 kW, giving you about 120 miles of range in 10 minutes or about 80 percent charge in a little over 20 minutes. In my experience driving it around Los Angeles, finding chargers wasn't a problem, and it seems Electrify America has made considerable strides in figuring out how to make its chargers work properly. 2022 Audi e-tron GT Interior/Tech Inside, the Audi e-tron GT is like a regular car. I highlight that it isn't trying to be overly futuristic. You won't find fixed air vents like on the Taycan or an omission of all physical buttons. I can't praise Audi enough for sticking to a standard cabin with this car. Everything is where you'd expect it to be and is easy to operate. In front of the driver, there's a 12.3-in digital instrument cluster supplemented by a 10.1-in screen in the dashboard. Audi's cluster is easily one of my favorites, the graphics are excellent, and all the information you could ever want is easily accessible and readable at a glance. Check Out: 2022 Maserati MC20 Review: A Fresh Take On A Winning Formula Up front, you get 14-way adjustable seats as standard with both cooling and heating. If you opt for the full leather interior option like my tester, you even get a massage option. These chairs were fantastic over my long drive down south, supporting my back in all the right places and delivering endless comfort. The same goes for the rest of the cabin. It's hushed on the highway. That is until you put your foot down and get Audi's added acceleration noise. It comes in smoothly, so it doesn't disrupt the overall comfort of the interior. 2022 Audi e-tron GT Pricing So it looks good, drives well, and is a luxurious place to be. As you might imagine, all of that comes at a cost, and the e-tron GT does, starting at $100,945, including a $1,045 destination charge. As tested, the car I've been driving comes in at $118,740 thanks to options such as the Performance Package for $6,000, Full Leather Interior for $4,000, and Prestige Package for $7,200. After spending a week behind the wheel, it's clear that this car delivers a driving experience fitting its price tag. At every turn, the e-tron GT feels expensive. However, my biggest recurring thought was how little I missed the RS. That as-tested price is still $40,000 below an equivalent RS; from where I'm standing, I can't justify it. Closing Thoughts The Audi e-tron GT is a car that nails the basics of what makes a great grand tourer. It's comfortable, fast, and wonderful to look at. However, it doesn't fall flat on its face once you take it up a canyon road. It's more than a willing dance partner through the corners. While it may be softer than its Porsche sibling, it's more comfortable around town. Couple that with a world-class interior, and you get an EV that may not be the best on paper but might be in the real world where it truly matters. View All Audi e-tron GTs For Sale

By Gabriel Vega – June 21, 2022

Exhaust Sound Battle: 2022 Audi RS 3 vs. Audi R8 Spyder R...

Which sounds better to you? Every so often, the auto journalism gods will throw me a unique opportunity for an unplanned test. That’s precisely what happened this week, thanks to the kind folks over at Audi for sending me the new 2022 RS 3 while I was already driving their R8 V10 Spyder RWD. Pairing a small sedan with a convertible supercar may seem strange on paper, but not once you hear them. Powering the R8 is a 5.2-liter V10 out of the Lamborghini Huracan. The RS 3, on the other hand, counts on a 2.5-liter inline-five cylinder engine. That’s almost half the displacement and cylinder count as its supercar sibling. However, because a V10 is essentially just two I5s connected to a common crankshaft, they deliver power similarly and, more importantly, have a very similar engine note. This is why Audi’s five-cylinder cars are often referred to as “mini V10s.” The new RS 3 is no different. Make sure to check out the video embedded above to see a real-world comparison of the two. As I write this, I’ve just finished my first canyon run in Audi’s latest hot sedan, and initial impressions are great. Hoping out of the R8 and into the RS 3 does not feel like a downgrade in the slightest. This RS 3 punches way above its weight class. I’ll put in a few more hundred miles and follow up with a full written review and video for our YouTube channel so make sure you subscribe! View All Audi R8s For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 03, 2022

Audi's New "SocAIty" Study Dispels 8 Self-Driving Myths

The concept of self driving cars is tough to wrap your head around. Luckily, Audi is here to help. Self-driving cars are becoming a reality quicker than ever, and when they eventually become mainstream, they’re undoubtedly going to change the world of transportation. However, the ins and outs of self-driving cars are still wrapped in a lot of mystery for many, and where there is mystery, there’s skepticism. Audi consulted with experts on the subject and conducted a study dubbed “SocAIty” with the goal of shedding light on the subject and dispelling myths that hold people back from embracing this new innovation. MUST READ: Audi’s Q1 2022 Shows Increased Profit And Dramatically Increased EV Sales The first myth that is addressed is that self-driving cars are going to look and feel the same way as the cars of today. This is not true, because the advent of self-driving will allow the interior design of future cars to focus on passenger comfort, meaning seats can face in different directions, and controls that would normally be used for manual driving can be retracted. The second myth alleges that autonomous cars will be able to drive anywhere when the software is made. This isn’t true, because the infrastructure in cities has to be developed and made more intelligent to accommodate self-driving technology. One of the most important myths to us car enthusiasts is that self-driving cars are going to take away our own ability to drive, and SocAIty concludes that this is untrue because of the fact that it will always be a choice for the driver to manually drive their car, and hand control over to the self-driving technology when they don’t feel like driving. Another concern for many people is that self-driving cars can be hacked. While self-driving cars aren’t any more vulnerable to hacking than any other car, the implications of a self-driving car being hacked are more severe. With this in mind, manufacturers are doing extra work to maintain cybersecurity in self-driving cars to make sure they are safe in this regard. Some believe that self-driving cars will require less parking space, and while this isn’t true, vehicle density has the potential to be reduced if vehicle sharing systems are created and promoted, especially since it’s shown that many personal cars are only used for 1 hour a day. Another myth is that technology is developing faster than the applicable legislation, and while this is true in some parts of the world, other countries and regions like Germany have already laid out a legal framework for autonomous driving, hopefully setting a precedent for the rest of the world. Often, you will hear people say that self-driving creates an ethical consideration in which a self-driving system is asked to make a life-and-death decision. However, if you take a step back, you realize that the system only understands what its programmers have taught it, and therefore, in these situations, it rather relies on the ethics of its programmers and doesn’t create its own consideration of what to do. The final myth Audi addressed is that self-driving cars will remain a luxury for the elite only to enjoy, and as with any technology, this will be true in the short term, but as the cost of development is amortized and the technology becomes more common, it will become more accessible for everyone to be able to afford, repair, and insure. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

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By Tyler Rampersaud – May 17, 2022

The 2023 Audi RS 5's New Competition Package Raises Top S...

The Audi RS 5 gets more serious than ever when it comes to performance. Audi’s RS 5 is known for being a car with the luxury and stateliness Audi is known for, and combining those things with world-class performance and the ability to dominate the road and the track. The 2023 Audi RS 5 will be the greatest RS 5 yet, with 444 horsepower and 442 lb/ft of torque coming from its twin-turbocharged V6 engine, a 0-60 time of just 3.8 seconds, and a new Competition Package that brings performance for the RS 5 to an entirely new level. MUST READ: The New Audi RS3 Is The Fastest Compact Car Around The Nürburgring With the Competition Package equipped, the RS 5 reaches the highest top speed it can, at 180 mph. This is 25 mph above the standard 155, and 6 mph above the Dynamic Plus Package’s 174. The Competition Package also includes matte black exhaust pipes that improve the sound and decrease the car’s weight by 18 pounds, as well as a unique virtual cockpit layout and an exclusive exterior color: Sebring Black crystal effect, which can be selected for both the Coupe and Sportback body styles. Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires and ceramic front brakes make for a dynamic driving experience that’s well-rounded and competent in any sport driving situation. Starting at $75,900 for the Coupe and $76,200 for the Sportback with a $16,100 Competition package option, the Audi RS 5 is truly better than ever. Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 06, 2022

Audi's Q1 2022 Shows Increased Profit And Dramatically In...

Audi and its brands stay successful in a tough environment. The results are in, and the Audi Group, which consists of Audi, Lamborghini, Ducati, and Bentley, was able to grow operating profit to €3.5 billion in the first quarter, and Audi says that the group is on track to deliver nearly 2 million vehicles this year with an operating margin of 9 to 11 percent. MUST READ: The New Audi RS3 Is The Fastest Compact Car Around The Nürburgring Vehicle deliveries struggled while the pandemic and supply chain crises still plague much of the world, but in better news, fully electric vehicle deliveries increased by over 66 percent compared to Q1 2021, going from 14,583 to 24,236 fully electric vehicles delivered worldwide. With Bentley being the group’s newest member, revenue increased to nearly €14.3 billion, with an operating return on sales at 24.3 percent, over double the 10 percent of Q1 2021. With Lamborghini, Ducati, and Bentley all experiencing similar success, Audi is on track to meet and possibly surpass the great expectations it set out for 2022, and with a portfolio full of amazing cars, it’s far from impossible to achieve them. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 04, 2022

The New Audi RS3 Is The Fastest Compact Car Around The Nü...

Audi reminds us yet again that big performance can come in a small package. The Audi RS3 is one of the most iconic performance models in the brand’s lineup. It’s small, but it’s mighty with performance and spirit that carries the legacy of rally and track racing. One of the most unique features about the Audi RS3 is its unique 5-cylinder engine, and to answer the most important question, the new 2022 Audi RS3 keeps the 5-cylinder, and it’s one of the most powerful engines that Audi has on offer. The Audi 5-cylinder is known for its use in Group B rally cars and the 24-hour Nürburgring race, and with its 1-2-4-5-3 firing order, it creates a sound that’s been known and loved for years. MUST READ: The New Audi urbansphere Concept Perfects Luxury City Driving In the new RS3, it produces 401 horsepower and 369 lb/ft of torque, which combines with Quattro all-wheel-drive and the RS3’s new torque splitter, which allows torque to be distributed between the rear wheels for stability and fast cornering to achieve 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, and a blistering Nürburgring time that set the lap record for compact cars of just 7 minutes and 40.748 seconds. The model is going to come on sale this summer, and with four rings and five cylinders, what’s not to love about the new Audi RS3? Source: Audi

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