The highly emotional total package offered by the new Audi RS 3 is rooted in its legendary five-cylinder high-performance engine. In the latest generation of the compact sports car, the 2.5 TFSI, boasting 400 hp and 500 Nm, is more powerful than ever. The RS 3 Sportback and the RS 3 Sedan both sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. Equipped with the RS dynamics package plus, which includes an adaptive suspension with damper control and ceramic brakes, its top speed hits 290 km/h. This makes the Audi RS 3 the best in its class in terms of acceleration and top speed.

A question of preference: the new RS 3 driving modes

The torque splitter, equipped in an Audi for the first time, enables fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels. An electronically controlled multiple disc clutch is used on each of the drive shafts for this purpose. During dynamic driving, the torque splitter increases the drive torque to the outer rear wheel with the higher wheel load. Due to the difference in propulsive forces, the car turns into the curve even better and follows the steering angle more precisely. This results in optimal stability and maximum agility – especially when cornering at high speeds. The new technology also makes controlled drifts on closed-off tracks possible – in this case, the torque splitter directs all of the power to only one of the rear wheels, with up to 1,750 newton meters per wheel possible. Audi even developed a driving mode specifically for the RS 3 for this purpose – “RS Torque Rear” – as a drift mode with its own characteristic curve for the torque splitter.

When the newly developed RS Performance driving mode is activated, the torque splitter minimizes understeering and oversteering, thereby delivering a particularly dynamic, sporty ride along the longitudinal axis. This results in earlier acceleration out of corners and thus faster lap times. The RS Performance mode is specially calibrated to the Pirelli P Zero “Trofeo R” semi-slick tires, which are optionally available factory-mounted for the first time. In its standard configuration, the RS 3 sports 19-inch wheels in a 10-Y spoke design with 265/30 tires at the front and 245/35 tires at the rear.

Highly customizable: new exterior and interior colors available

The new RS 3 models offer a wide range of colors. In addition to Kyalami Green and Turbo Blue, customers can select from the metallic finishes Kemora Gray, Mythos Black, Glacier White, Tangor Red, and Python Yellow as well as the Daytona Gray pearlescent finish. The roof of the Audi RS 3 Sedan can also be ordered in the contrasting color Brilliant Black for the first time.

In the interior, the carbon-fiber trim in the instrument panel and RS sport seats with RS embossing and diamond quilting add to the racing feel. The seat upholstery is optionally available in fine Nappa leather with RS honeycomb stitching and glossy black, red, or, for the first time, green contrast stitching. RS Design packages in red and green are available to match. They include special floor mats with contrast stitching and RS embroidery as well as seatbelts with colored edges. The Design package plus includes seat corners in red or green and colored accents on the 

air vents.

First Audi with head-up display featuring blinking shift indicator

In the interior, the driver gazes upon the Audi virtual cockpit plus, featuring the RS Runway design for the first time. This setting displays RPMs in the opposite direction in a manner that visually resembles an airplane runway – the highest number of rotations in the foreground and the lowest in the background. In addition, the Audi virtual cockpit plus includes displays for g-forces, lap times, and acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h, 0 – 200 km/h, quarter mile, and eighth of a mile. The 10.1-inch touch display in the center console also displays the temperatures of the coolant, engine oil, and transmission oil, as well as the pressure of all four tires. Also available for the first time for the Audi RS 3 is a head-up display that projects relevant information onto the windshield in the driver’s direct line of sight in addition to a blinking shift indicator.

Articke source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

The birth of the slogan

1969 saw the merger of Auto Union GmbH, headquartered in Ingolstadt, and Neckarsulmer NSU Motorenwerke to form Audi NSU Auto Union AG at the Neckarsulm location. The new company’s range of models spanned from the air-cooled engines of the rear-wheel drive NSU Prinz series and the water-cooled four-cylinder engines of the front-wheel drive Audi 60 and Audi 100 to the rotary engine of the futuristic-looking NSU Ro 80. The idea to communicate this technological diversity as a competitive advantage came in 1970 from Hans Bauer. The employee in the Audi NSI advertising department devised the slogan that people around the world would come to recognize: “Vorsprung durch Technik.”

The new slogan made its first appearance in a large-sized ad in January of 1971. Soon, customers also saw it in Audi NSU brochures. Audi 100, Audi 100 Coupé S, Audi 80 or Audi 50 – they all now represented “Vorsprung durch Technik.” The slogan was adapted over the years in many ways, including “Audi. A nice bit of technology.” or “Audi. Relaxed driving with perfect technology,” but the company soon returned to the catchy original. With the introduction of the Audi quattro in 1980, the slogan was used more frequently in advertising. The largest illuminated advertisement in Europe at the time was installed on a high-rise along the A9 Autobahn at the exit for Ingolstadt-Nord: the reddish brown Audi oval with the slogan “Vorsprung durch Technik.” The slogan became a clear part of the Audi Corporate Identity by October 1986, when it was also used in the sales brochures for the Audi 80. Today, fifty years later, it’s synonymous with the company.

Changing technology

In a new special exhibit titled “50 Years of Vorsprung durch Technik” Audi will show visitors to the Audi Forum Neckarsulm its passion for technology throughout the years. 

But which milestones laid the foundation for the fact that “Vorsprung durch Technik” continues to represent the drive for innovation at Audi and that the slogan is still used in all Audi advertising? Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Technical Development: “The most important milestone for me is quattro technology. Not only was it the foundation for our rally successes, it also represents the transfer of our experience from racing into serial production. Since then, quattro and Audi go hand-in-hand. Equally important was the first Audi A8 with Audi Space Fram technology in 1194, which helps us finally cement our place in the premium segment.”

The “decade of Audi” was kicked off in Le Mans in the early 2000s. With new technologies such as FSI, Turbo-FSI, laser light, Ultra technology and hybrids, the Four Rings dominated the renowned long-distance race as the unparalleled serial winner. The aluminum compact A2 1.2 TDI also made its debut: It was the first and, to this day, only four-door three-liter car.

The company made the next quantum leap in 2018 with the introduction of the Audi e-tron, the first fully electric Audi vehicle to go into serial production, boasting a range of 400 kilometers and blazing the trail for premium electromobility. Three years later came the market launch of the Audi e-tron GT, revolutionary in its design and proof that the future of e-mobility will be exciting. The new brand campaign “Future is an Attitude” underlines the future-oriented approach of Audi to continually question age-old views of mobility.

“The new evolution meets the needs of our customers even more,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “The majority of the innovations reflect the wishes that the teams have expressed to us.” Audi Sport has optimized the R8 LMS in five areas: aerodynamics, engine characteristics, air conditioning, suspension and traction control. In a global GT3 competition environment of up to ten brands, Audi Sport is thus ideally positioned. Audi Sport customer racing will contest the car’s first races still in 2021 to conclude testing of the model.

At a price of 429,000 euros (plus VAT), customers subsequently receive a race car whose characteristics are even better suited to amateur racing. Aerodynamically, the Audi R8 LMS presents itself more insensitive because a larger part of its downforce than before is now generated by the new rear wing instead of by the floor. The engine features a new intake system with improved torque characteristics. The suspension is optimized by four-way adjustable dampers for the first time. The traction control system allows further adjustments with new functionalities. Finally, the interior climate control improves comfort. Better concentration and more consistent lap times, especially over longer distances and at higher outside temperatures, are the result.

Teams can order the new technology package for the 2022 season as a complete vehicle or upgrade kit for retrofitting to existing models. The new race car will be on display in the paddock for the first time at the Spa 24 Hours.

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

“Tradition meets innovation: premium offerings, progressive concepts, and strong roots connect Audi and the Salzburg Festival. For the 25th anniversary of this strong partnership, we are presenting a look forward into the future of our in-car entertainment via virtual time travel back to milestones in the festival’s history. Just as the festival surprises and inspires its audience anew each year, Audi is also continuously creating advancement’ that excites its customers,” says Hildegard Wortmann, Audi Board member for Sales and Marketing.

In the Audi e-tron, passengers experience historical scenes from the festival’s past via VR glasses. Musical milestones are at the center of the three-dimensional animated VR journey through Salzburg. This virtual time travel also includes a look into the future. The immersive technology combines the indicated content in real time with relevant data points from the car, like acceleration and steering as well as navigation information on the travel route and time. This not only responds to the passenger's visual and acoustic senses, but the driving dynamics and the car’s acceleration are also integrated into the experience.

More opportunities for learning and working are in progress

Audi initiated the development of innovative VR technology and tech entertainment startup holoride pushed it forward. In the future, the increasing automation of car travel will not only make new forms of entertainment offerings possible while driving – it will also open up more possibilities for learning and working along the way.

Additionally, the movement-synchronized journey through virtual worlds reduces the motion sickness that often accompanies conventional consumption of visual media in the car. holoride has set its sights on establishing this technology as a new, sustainable entertainment format, together with partners from the automotive and media industries. Audi is one of holoride’s co-founders.

With the further expansion of car-to-X infrastructure, traffic events could also become part of the experience over the long term: stops at traffic lights would be unexpected obstacles in the plot or educational software would be interrupted with a short quiz.

Audi provides the festival’s fleet

Creativity and advancement push the Salzburg Festival and Audi forward. Their lasting, vibrant partnership has existed since 1995. As a leading sponsor, the company helps the festival to offer art one a world-class level. Audi also provides the festival’s fleet of cars that take artists to rehearsals and performances. Additionally, about 2,500 guests use Audi’s shuttle service every year during the festival, which has already consisted of fully electric models in years past. This year, festival visitors can choose between the Audi e-tron Sportback, the Audi RS e-tron GT1, and the Audi Q4 e-tron.

Audi has a strong tradition of cultural commitment. With the establishment of the Audi Wind Philharmonic by employees more than 50 years ago, Audi became aware of the need to promote cultural activities in the long term, thereby fulfilling its social responsibility. Audi's cultural program includes its own formats such as the Audi Summer Concerts or the Audi Youth Choir Academy, as well as sponsorship of high-caliber cultural institutions such as the Salzburg Festival Games. Culture at Audi stands for creative dialogue with classical music, theater, jazz, electro, pop or the visual arts. This self-image is brought to life individually at all Audi locations.

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com