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Thursday, May 26, 2011
2012 Audi Q3
2012 Audi Q3
With this VW Tiguan–based crossover, debuting at the Shanghai auto show, Audi again has raised the bar in terms of styling and refinement in a segment. The swoopy beltline is similar to that of the A5, and the greenhouse, with its coupe-like daylight opening, evokes the 2006 Roadjet concept. The headlights sport a super-clean shape, but the taillights, like those on the new A6, suffer from a severe case of overbite. Needle-like LED internal elements will make Q3s with the optional Xenon Plus package unmistakable on the road, although the standard head- and taillights look somewhat less dramatic.
Four Times Four—And Quattro, Too
Every engine in the lineup is a well-known 2.0-liter, turbocharged four. There are two TFSI gasoline engines with 170 and 211 hp; Audi says the latter will propel the Q3 from standstill to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 143 mph. The diesel lineup consists of 140- and 177-hp fours. A stop-start system will be standard on all engines, and, with the exception of the 140-hp diesel, every engine will be paired with standard all-wheel drive. The future could bring an SQ3 with around 270 hp and a top speed in excess of 150 mph to complement its remarkably clumsy name.
The less-powerful diesel and gasoline engines both will come with a six-speed manual, but a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will be obligatory on both of the uplevel engines. In addition to its wide ratio spread, this transmission has an interesting fuel-saving trick: If the driver takes his foot off the throttle with the shifter in Efficiency mode, the clutches disengage, allowing the Q3 to freewheel, thereby reducing fuel consumption. Efficiency mode will even take liberties with the air conditioning and cruise control to eke out maximum mpg. Alternatively, Dynamic mode will sharpen the Q3's reflexes considerably. The ESP system includes a function to increase agility with slight brake inputs that Audi swears will be virtually undetectable.
Keep it Light
Nobody likes dancing with a manatee, and Audi has gone to great lengths to keep the Q3's weight at acceptable levels. The hood and the gigantic, Q7-like tailgate are made of aluminum, and the body shell makes use of high-strength steel. The lightest Q3 will weigh about 3300 pounds—not bad in its competitive environment. With all five seats erected, it will hold 16 cubic feet of luggage; with the rears folded, capacity rises to 48 cubes.
The interior focuses clearly on the driver, and Audi will offer five different colors with four types of decor, including aluminum and open-pore larch wood inlays. The options list reads like one for a luxury sedan: LED ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, sport seats, and a number of driver-assistance systems. Order navigation, and a seven-inch screen rises from the dashboard. An optional Bose surround-sound system packs 14 speakers, with subwoofers that light up at night—perhaps a touch juvenile for our tastes. And a connectivity package turns the car into a WiFi hotspot.
An S-line package—pictured here—will be available, complete with fake front air intakes and a fake diffuser. If the monochromatic look is not for you, anthracite-gray tack-on fender trim will be available; with the contrasting trim, the Q3 looks slim and sporty even sans the S-line package. Wheels will range in size from 16 to 19 inches.
In Germany, the Q3 starts at €29,900, €100 less than a BMW X1. Audi isn’t saying yet whether or not the Q3 will come to the U.S., but, based on the success of the Q5, it might decide to add the Q3 to our roster after all.
With this VW Tiguan–based crossover, debuting at the Shanghai auto show, Audi again has raised the bar in terms of styling and refinement in a segment. The swoopy beltline is similar to that of the A5, and the greenhouse, with its coupe-like daylight opening, evokes the 2006 Roadjet concept. The headlights sport a super-clean shape, but the taillights, like those on the new A6, suffer from a severe case of overbite. Needle-like LED internal elements will make Q3s with the optional Xenon Plus package unmistakable on the road, although the standard head- and taillights look somewhat less dramatic.
Four Times Four—And Quattro, Too
Every engine in the lineup is a well-known 2.0-liter, turbocharged four. There are two TFSI gasoline engines with 170 and 211 hp; Audi says the latter will propel the Q3 from standstill to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 143 mph. The diesel lineup consists of 140- and 177-hp fours. A stop-start system will be standard on all engines, and, with the exception of the 140-hp diesel, every engine will be paired with standard all-wheel drive. The future could bring an SQ3 with around 270 hp and a top speed in excess of 150 mph to complement its remarkably clumsy name.
The less-powerful diesel and gasoline engines both will come with a six-speed manual, but a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will be obligatory on both of the uplevel engines. In addition to its wide ratio spread, this transmission has an interesting fuel-saving trick: If the driver takes his foot off the throttle with the shifter in Efficiency mode, the clutches disengage, allowing the Q3 to freewheel, thereby reducing fuel consumption. Efficiency mode will even take liberties with the air conditioning and cruise control to eke out maximum mpg. Alternatively, Dynamic mode will sharpen the Q3's reflexes considerably. The ESP system includes a function to increase agility with slight brake inputs that Audi swears will be virtually undetectable.
Keep it Light
Nobody likes dancing with a manatee, and Audi has gone to great lengths to keep the Q3's weight at acceptable levels. The hood and the gigantic, Q7-like tailgate are made of aluminum, and the body shell makes use of high-strength steel. The lightest Q3 will weigh about 3300 pounds—not bad in its competitive environment. With all five seats erected, it will hold 16 cubic feet of luggage; with the rears folded, capacity rises to 48 cubes.
The interior focuses clearly on the driver, and Audi will offer five different colors with four types of decor, including aluminum and open-pore larch wood inlays. The options list reads like one for a luxury sedan: LED ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, sport seats, and a number of driver-assistance systems. Order navigation, and a seven-inch screen rises from the dashboard. An optional Bose surround-sound system packs 14 speakers, with subwoofers that light up at night—perhaps a touch juvenile for our tastes. And a connectivity package turns the car into a WiFi hotspot.
An S-line package—pictured here—will be available, complete with fake front air intakes and a fake diffuser. If the monochromatic look is not for you, anthracite-gray tack-on fender trim will be available; with the contrasting trim, the Q3 looks slim and sporty even sans the S-line package. Wheels will range in size from 16 to 19 inches.
In Germany, the Q3 starts at €29,900, €100 less than a BMW X1. Audi isn’t saying yet whether or not the Q3 will come to the U.S., but, based on the success of the Q5, it might decide to add the Q3 to our roster after all.
2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe, Mercedes-Benz
2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe, Mercedes-Benz
Even in the realm of high-performance rock-star cars, few can rival the profane, knock-your-teeth-out mayhem that is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Yes, the phenomenal BMW M3 offers a more cohesive all-around experience than the Benz, but the Merc is no slouch dynamically, and besides, its soundtrack is pure aural sex. And now you can get that same goodness in the newest addition to the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the C-class coupe. The two-door C63 AMG will debut at the New York auto show in April.
Like Sedan, Like Coupe
If you read our story on the recently updated Mercedes C63 AMG sedan, the coupe’s specs will sound familiar—the powertrain is the same, regardless of door count. As in the four-door, the rear-wheel-drive C63 coupe’s naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 pumps out 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque; the optional Development package increases horsepower to 481 (torque remains the same). For 2012, the coupe joins the sedan in featuring Benz’s seven-speed MCT automatic transmission, which swaps in a single wet clutch where the torque converter would normally go. Drivers can select from an Efficiency mode, or turn up the volume to Sport, Sport+, or Manual, modes in which gears are held onto for longer and downshifts are rev-matched. In the E63 AMG, where this transmission also finds a home, we found the gearchanges to be near-instantaneous, so we have high hopes for its performance in the already-no-slouch C63.
Let’s talk about that performance. Mercedes estimates that the C63 coupe, like the new C63 sedan, will take care of a 0-to-60 sprint in 4.4 seconds (4.3 with the Development pack). We think that’s just conservative Teutonic nonsense. The last two C63 sedans we clocked each ripped off 3.9-second 0-to-60 runs. One had the Development pack and the other didn’t, but both used the older-style automatic gearbox that’s now been replaced. It’s possible that the new MCT transmission could shave another tenth of a second off the 0-to-60 time, especially with its Race Start launch-control function, but we’ll find out for sure when we can load it with test gear and hit the track. When we do, we’ll also see about keeping Benz honest on its claim of an electronically limited 174-mph top speed for the Development pack version.
The C63 coupe features an AMG sports suspension with retuned springs and shocks and larger anti-roll bars; the layout is multiple links all around. The track is wider than the regular coupe’s by 4.3 inches up front and 3.2 in the rear; yes, the track increases are huge, but a wickedly modified front suspension and fat rear tires will do that. The brakes also are, naturally, upgraded from those you’d find on a non-AMG C-class coupe. The hot two-door has 14.2-inch rotors up front and 13.0-inchers in the rear.
Sizzle to Go with the Steak
If the bacchanalia exhaust burble isn’t enough to alert onlookers that the C63 coupe is, in fact, harboring a dynamite-testing facility under the hood, Mercedes has made alterations to the two-door’s exterior as well. Up front, the AMG coupe sports a special blacked-out lower air intake, while the horizontal strips of LEDs on the lower side air outlets are repositioned from their spots on the non-AMG coupe. A new aluminum hood features two lengthwise bulges, and to cap off the front-end face lift, the standard C-class coupe’s two-wing grille is swapped for a blacked-out piece with a thin chrome line stretching across.
Despite the engine’s 6.2 liters of displacement, the front fenders are festooned with the now-familiar “6.3 AMG” badge that nods to Benzes past. Around back, the C63 has a black air diffuser and quad, chrome-finished exhaust pipes. The standard wheels are 18-inch alloys painted titanium grey—they’re not the wheels shown on this car—but hedonists will be able to upgrade to something bigger. On cars with the Development pack, a carbon-fiber spoiler tops the trunklid and brake calipers are painted red.
Based on these initial manufacturer shots, we certainly like the look of the C63 coupe, but its styling enhancements over the normal C-class coupe are almost too stealth. A car like this should look nasty—perhaps the rumored C63 AMG Black Series will remedy this—but of course, final judgment will be reserved until we can see the AMG-tweaked coupe up close.
Okay, Fine, Creature Comforts
The C63 AMG coupe is well equipped, coming standard with a panorama sunroof, heavily bolstered sport seats, a 4.5-inch color instrument cluster display, automatic headlamps, and the usual suite of iPod, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, Benz’s updated-for-2012 COMAND nav system is an extra-cost option. In addition to the power-boosting Development pack, other add-ons will include a variety of the company’s latest safety gadgets, like Adaptive Highbeam Assist and active curve illumination, blind-spot sensors, and a lane-drift monitor. Buyers can also spend their cash on keyless go and, for an actual performance gain, a limited-slip differential.
For the fashion-sensitive, carbon fiber or several types of wood can be optioned in place of the standard aluminum trim in the interior, and various one- and two-tone leather seat colors are available, too.
The C63 AMG coupe hits dealers in September. The company should release pricing before then; for now we expect it to come in slightly higher than the sedan, which hasn’t yet been priced for 2012, but stickered at $61,175 last year. That’s far from chump change, but a lot less painful than having your teeth knocked out.
We’ll also add that now might be a good time to prepare yourself for another comparo involving the M3 coupe. Just sayin’.
Even in the realm of high-performance rock-star cars, few can rival the profane, knock-your-teeth-out mayhem that is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Yes, the phenomenal BMW M3 offers a more cohesive all-around experience than the Benz, but the Merc is no slouch dynamically, and besides, its soundtrack is pure aural sex. And now you can get that same goodness in the newest addition to the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the C-class coupe. The two-door C63 AMG will debut at the New York auto show in April.
Like Sedan, Like Coupe
If you read our story on the recently updated Mercedes C63 AMG sedan, the coupe’s specs will sound familiar—the powertrain is the same, regardless of door count. As in the four-door, the rear-wheel-drive C63 coupe’s naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 pumps out 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque; the optional Development package increases horsepower to 481 (torque remains the same). For 2012, the coupe joins the sedan in featuring Benz’s seven-speed MCT automatic transmission, which swaps in a single wet clutch where the torque converter would normally go. Drivers can select from an Efficiency mode, or turn up the volume to Sport, Sport+, or Manual, modes in which gears are held onto for longer and downshifts are rev-matched. In the E63 AMG, where this transmission also finds a home, we found the gearchanges to be near-instantaneous, so we have high hopes for its performance in the already-no-slouch C63.
Let’s talk about that performance. Mercedes estimates that the C63 coupe, like the new C63 sedan, will take care of a 0-to-60 sprint in 4.4 seconds (4.3 with the Development pack). We think that’s just conservative Teutonic nonsense. The last two C63 sedans we clocked each ripped off 3.9-second 0-to-60 runs. One had the Development pack and the other didn’t, but both used the older-style automatic gearbox that’s now been replaced. It’s possible that the new MCT transmission could shave another tenth of a second off the 0-to-60 time, especially with its Race Start launch-control function, but we’ll find out for sure when we can load it with test gear and hit the track. When we do, we’ll also see about keeping Benz honest on its claim of an electronically limited 174-mph top speed for the Development pack version.
The C63 coupe features an AMG sports suspension with retuned springs and shocks and larger anti-roll bars; the layout is multiple links all around. The track is wider than the regular coupe’s by 4.3 inches up front and 3.2 in the rear; yes, the track increases are huge, but a wickedly modified front suspension and fat rear tires will do that. The brakes also are, naturally, upgraded from those you’d find on a non-AMG C-class coupe. The hot two-door has 14.2-inch rotors up front and 13.0-inchers in the rear.
Sizzle to Go with the Steak
If the bacchanalia exhaust burble isn’t enough to alert onlookers that the C63 coupe is, in fact, harboring a dynamite-testing facility under the hood, Mercedes has made alterations to the two-door’s exterior as well. Up front, the AMG coupe sports a special blacked-out lower air intake, while the horizontal strips of LEDs on the lower side air outlets are repositioned from their spots on the non-AMG coupe. A new aluminum hood features two lengthwise bulges, and to cap off the front-end face lift, the standard C-class coupe’s two-wing grille is swapped for a blacked-out piece with a thin chrome line stretching across.
Despite the engine’s 6.2 liters of displacement, the front fenders are festooned with the now-familiar “6.3 AMG” badge that nods to Benzes past. Around back, the C63 has a black air diffuser and quad, chrome-finished exhaust pipes. The standard wheels are 18-inch alloys painted titanium grey—they’re not the wheels shown on this car—but hedonists will be able to upgrade to something bigger. On cars with the Development pack, a carbon-fiber spoiler tops the trunklid and brake calipers are painted red.
Based on these initial manufacturer shots, we certainly like the look of the C63 coupe, but its styling enhancements over the normal C-class coupe are almost too stealth. A car like this should look nasty—perhaps the rumored C63 AMG Black Series will remedy this—but of course, final judgment will be reserved until we can see the AMG-tweaked coupe up close.
Okay, Fine, Creature Comforts
The C63 AMG coupe is well equipped, coming standard with a panorama sunroof, heavily bolstered sport seats, a 4.5-inch color instrument cluster display, automatic headlamps, and the usual suite of iPod, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, Benz’s updated-for-2012 COMAND nav system is an extra-cost option. In addition to the power-boosting Development pack, other add-ons will include a variety of the company’s latest safety gadgets, like Adaptive Highbeam Assist and active curve illumination, blind-spot sensors, and a lane-drift monitor. Buyers can also spend their cash on keyless go and, for an actual performance gain, a limited-slip differential.
For the fashion-sensitive, carbon fiber or several types of wood can be optioned in place of the standard aluminum trim in the interior, and various one- and two-tone leather seat colors are available, too.
The C63 AMG coupe hits dealers in September. The company should release pricing before then; for now we expect it to come in slightly higher than the sedan, which hasn’t yet been priced for 2012, but stickered at $61,175 last year. That’s far from chump change, but a lot less painful than having your teeth knocked out.
We’ll also add that now might be a good time to prepare yourself for another comparo involving the M3 coupe. Just sayin’.
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