The long wait is over: since last week, more precisely Tuesday 27th of August 2010 the Audi A1 has been available at dealers in Germany for test drives and obviously to buy. Deliveries will simultaneously begin in Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, followed by most other European markets from mid-September. With a starting price of €15,800, the A1 impresses with its progressive design, superb workmanship and state-of-the-art infotainment technologies. The new Audi offers a vast number of possibilities for customization and can be ordered in over 800 different exterior versions.

“Reports from our international dealers show us that interest in the A1 is exceeding our expectations considerably,” commented Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “We will therefore increase our production capacity by 20 percent.” Audi had previously expected average production volumes of 100,000 A1 units per year, primarily for the European market at first. However the new Audi will now also be launched in the Asia-Pacific region and in South America in early 2011. “And we are now also thinking about bringing this generation of the A1 to China,” added Schwarzenbauer. A total of 50,000 units are scheduled to roll off the production line in Brussels by the end of 2010.

The Audi A1 will be launched with three appealing engine options: the 1.2 TFSI, the 1.4 TFSI and the 1.6 TDI. Each engine features direct injection, turbocharging and a start-stop system with braking energy recovery. The A1 is the only car in its segment that has a start-stop system together with an automatic transmission.

Even in advance of its market launch, the new Audi has caused quite a sensation with more than 150,000 prospective customers worldwide having registered to receive information about its market launch and the latest campaigns. Audi has also received the renowned “red dot award” for its direct marketing campaign for the A1 introduction. At the heart of the cross-media campaign was the circulation of a magazine series, also available online, that focused on the new model.

The A1 commercial has been broadcast on television this week featuring music from the hot new band Torpedo. The exclusive song, called “An Invention”, was produced by A1 brand ambassador Justin Timberlake and can be downloaded for free at www.audi.de/a1.

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The week is coming to an end and so is our series of posts about Audi’s trailblazing logistics program. In case you missed the first two parts you can read them here: Audi’s Green Logistics Program Part 1 and Audi’s Green Logistics Program Part 2.

Intelligent – the energy supply

AUDI AG is also focused on resource efficiency when it comes to the supply of energy. Beginning in spring 2011, the use of waste heat from Ingolstadt’s waste utilization plant and from the Petroplus refinery will double from 60,000 to 120,000 megawatt hours per year. This represents potential CO2 savings of around 26,000 tons. A further expansion which will use 200,000 megawatt hours of waste heat is planned. The plant in Neckarsulm is also supplied with district heat.

In Ingolstadt, Audi has for years been producing roughly 100,000 megawatt hours of heat in its own highly efficient power-heat-cooling trigeneration plant, which also produces electricity and cooling energy. The remainder of the heat requirement is met using natural gas-fired boilers. Thermal wheels are used in many areas of the Company to recover heat; many hundreds of these units are deployed in Ingolstadt. The use of 19 heat recovery systems in the paint shop, for example, extracts approximately 35,000 megawatt hours per year, which corresponds to a CO2 reduction of around 7,000 tons.

Audi is also driving progress in the field of photovoltaics. The carmaker has made the roofs of numerous factory buildings at the Ingolstadt plant available to Munich-based Green City Energy. The photovoltaic modules installed there over an area of 11,600 square meters (124,900 square feet) produce more than 1,000 megawatt hours of electrical energy a year. An expansion of the photovoltaic surface area, including to the second German Audi site in Neckarsulm, is currently under review. And just a few months ago, Automobili Lamborghini, a subsidiary of the Audi Group, took a 17,000 square meter (183,000 square feet) solar power plant on line.

Beyond the factory gates – the Oak Forest research project

At Audi, environmental protection does not stop at the factory gates. In collaboration with the Bavarian State Forest Service and the Technical University of Munich, the Company has launched the “CO2 Reservoir Oak Forest” research project in the vicinity of the Ingolstadt plant. The project is focused on the scientific investigation of biological and ecological interrelationships. Audi planted roughly 36,000 Pendunculate Oaks for the project in 2008. A second trial site near the Györ production site in Hungary was planted with more than 13,000 oaks. Other sites are currently in planning.

The Company’s commitment is also manifest in the newly established Audi Environmental Foundation, which has been endowed with five million euros. The foundation’s aim is to protect the natural livelihood of people, animals and plants. It will fund measures and research activities that encourage the development of environmentally compatible non-automotive technologies, promote environmental education and contribute to a sustainable human/environment system.

Universal – environmental management at Audi

Sustainable business practices are an integral component of the Audi corporate strategy, in which environmental protection and innovation are linked. Audi has been awarded the European Union’s seal for outstanding environmental protection.

The Company is also involved within the framework of the 3rd Bavarian Environment Pact, which is dedicated to environment-friendly economic growth. Particularly high value is placed on the sharing of information with suppliers. The greater use of environmental protection strived for at the suppliers gives Audi greater influence on indirect environmental aspects by enabling the early development of holistic solutions.

The Audi Group is considered both in Germany and abroad to be one of the pioneers of site-specific environmental protection. EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme), the demanding environmental management system of the European Union that far exceeds standard requirements, was installed in Ingolstadt (1997), Neckarsulm (1995), Györ (1999), Brussels (2002) and Sant’Agata Bolognese (2009), and has been steadily optimized in the interest of continuous improvement.

The Ingolstadt, Györ, and Sant’Agata Bolognese sites are also certified to the global standard DIN EN ISO 14001, which ensures continuous improvement of environmental protection performance. Furthermore, the environmental management system at the Ingolstadt plant has been certified to the European standard DIN EN 16001. This stipulates particularly stringent requirements for the steady and systematic reduction of energy consumption. The Audi plant in Ingolstadt was the first automobile plant to be awarded this certificate.

To conserve water resources, Audi is making greater use of rainwater at the Ingolstadt plant, where it is gathered over an area of 450,000 square meters (4,843,800 square feet), collected in five retaining pools and two storage sewers and forwarded to a treatment plant. The pools supplied more than 235,000 cubic meters (8,298,900 cubic feet) of process water in 2009.

Innovative and efficient – the products
When it comes to the products, Audi is further expanding its Vorsprung durch Technik  with highly efficient TDI, FSI and TFSI engines and many new solutions from the modular efficiency platform. The lightweight construction of the Audi Space Frame reduces vehicle weight, and the aluminum bodies also enjoy major advantages in the overall energy balance and with recycling.

Audi is also concurrently hard at work on the development of alternative drive systems, with the Audi Q5 hybrid scheduled to debut next year. For a glimpse at the brand’s interpretation of the sustainable mobility of the future, one only need look at the Audi e-tron family, which features tailored concepts for each segment.

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Continuing from where we left on Tuesday, here is the second part of the series about Audi’s Green Logistics Proram. In case you missed first part please read Audi’s Green Logistics Program Part 1.

By train across Europe – efficient transport

Audi has relied on resource-efficient logistics for many years now. Up to 70 percent of all cars manufactured by the brand with the four rings arrive at their destinations by freight train. Many large components are also transported within the Volkswagen Group by rail.

Audi also uses the railroad for the high-volume traffic between the Ingolstadt and Györ sites. The painted bodies-in-white and add-on parts of the Audi TT depart Bavaria in closed, double-decker freight cars for assembly in northwestern Hungary. The finished cars then return to Ingolstadt over the same 610 kilometer long rail line, as do the engines assembled in Györ for the entire Audi model lineup.

Over the last 12 years, the trains have covered roughly ten million rail kilometers on the line between Györ and Ingolstadt, thus replacing more than 325,000 trips by truck. This represents an annual saving of 36,000 tons CO2. The high share of sustainably generated hydropower electricity in the Austrian rail system plays an important part in this good balance.

Where transport by truck is necessary, Audi pools shipments regionally within the Group network at so-called consolidation centers, so that the items can be transported to the plants with fully loaded trucks. This significantly reduces the number of road shipments and avoids unnecessary CO2 emissions.

The Logistics Center (GVZ), which houses numerous suppliers, was established in Ingolstadt in 1995. Key suppliers produce their assemblies there and deliver them directly to the assembly line according to the just-in-sequence principle. This close cooperation greatly reduces pollution due to the very short transport distances.

Less is more – resource-efficient Audi production

Audi places great value in all areas of the Company on maximum efficiency and resource conservation. In the logistics area, for example, the “PackAssistant” software ensures that the space in packing and containers is used optimally. The savings potential of up to 20 percent enables the elimination of numerous shipments from the supplier to the factory.

A major focus of Audi’s environmental activities is the reduction of energy consumption in car production. Taking the planned expansion of capacity into account, AUDI AG has stated the goal of reducing site- and company-specific CO2 emissions by 30 percent relative to 1990 by the year 2020. Overall energy consumption at the Audi Group has held steady for several years now, despite the significantly increased production volume.

The continuous improvement of the energy efficiency of the production facilities is very important in this context. Audi accomplishes this with new technologies, such as more efficient robots and new welding tongs, and with a large number of intelligent solutions. When engines are tested on the engine test rigs at the Neckarsulm site, for instance, generators are used to produce electricity, which is fed into the plant’s grid. The Company’s latest project is a particularly lightweight die for the body shop featuring carbon fiber composites in many areas. Developed in-house by Audi Toolmaking, it saves 43 percent electricity versus a conventional unit.

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This is the first of a series of posts about Audi’s newest traiblaizing logistics standards. Once again Audi has innovated and developed a logistics program relying on renewable energy for rail transport.

AUDI AG is setting new standards in logistics: The carmaker is using trains powered by green electricity to transport its cars from Ingolstadt to the North Sea loading port of Emden, making it the first company in Germany to use green electricity in this way. This innovative logistics concept is a trailblazing step for the car industry and an important element of Audi’s strategy of ensuring that production is sustainable in all areas.

“CO2-free rail transport is an important element of our environmental efforts and is of great interest to us,” says Ernst-Hermann Krog, Head of Audi Brand Logistics. Beginning August 1, 2010, the carmaker is operating its transport trains on the Ingolstadt – Emden route with electricity from renewable energy sources. This allows Audi to eliminate the emission of around 5,250 tons of CO2 per year, more than 35 kilograms (77 lb) per car transported. The line to the North Sea loading port, the hub for overseas exports, is the brand’s most important transport route. Three trains loaded with Audi models travel this route each day and carry roughly 150,000 cars a year.

The CO2-free rail freight transport concept Eco Plus is a new offer from DB Schenker, the logistics area of German railway operator Deutsche Bahn. For transport within the domestic rail network, the energy required is replaced entirely by renewable energy from Germany. The electricity is bought in additionally by Deutsche Bahn, meaning that emissions are avoided right from the start. Eco Plus from DB Schenker and the energy supply are approved by TÜV SÜD.

The additional costs incurred compared to conventional electricity are borne by Audi; DB Schenker uses a portion of these for targeted projects in the field of renewable energies. Green electricity only comprises around 18.5 percent of the German rail electricity mix, with conventional energy sources in the form of coal-fired, nuclear and natural gas-fired power plants currently dominating. The green electricity required for transport is an additional component fed into the grid for Eco Plus from DB Schenker, thus the share of green electricity in Germany will increase.

Audi is the trailblazer in the car industry when it comes to the use of green electricity in rail freight. The premium manufacturer is working with DB Schenker as an early adopter and development partner. “The switch to CO2-free transport underscores our progressive character and sustainable mindset,” adds Ernst-Hermann Krog.

The highly anticipated Audi RS3 is soon to become a reality. After years of speculations and spy shots we can now confirm that the Audi RS3 will hit Audi dealers across the globe some time next year.

Audi headquarters have made no official announcement yet on the matter but recent and more convincing spy shots took at Audi’s official testing ground, the Nurburgring racing track, leave us with no doubt that Audi is running the final tests on what is set to be the fastest and most powerful Audi A3 to date.

Like every other Audi wearing the RS badge the Audi RS3 is being developed by Quattro GmbH. As afore mentioned, no official data has been published yet but it is known that the RS3 will be propelled by a 2.5 litre 5-cylinder turbo engine from the Audi TT RS capable of delivering a staggering 335bhp output.

Our sources in Ingolstadt suggest the RS3 can charge to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds, before heading on to a 175mph top speed (where derestricted).

- We could clearly hear that it was the new RS3 as it sped past – reported a spy photographer of Pro-Street.dk.

These latest spy shots confirm that the RS3 will incorporate the Sportback concept in its design with robust front bumpers and larger air intakes.

There will also be stiffer suspension, up-rated brakes and bigger wheels, while the twin pipes on the prototype are expected to be swapped for the typical twin RS oval exhausts. Prices for the RS3 are expected to start at over £32,000.

Images sourced from: http://www.autoweek.nl/autonieuws/14699/Komst-Audi-RS3-nabij & http://ekstrabladet.dk/biler/bil_nyheder/article1377188.ece

Equipped with a manual transmission, the R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro weighs only 1,735 kilograms (3,825 lb) (including driver), and just five kilograms (11 lb) more with the R tronic. The decisive factor for this low weight is the aluminum body, which features an Audi Space Frame (ASF) design.

The body in white consists of three wrought components: Extruded aluminum sections comprise 75 percent; vacuum-cast nodes 8 percent; and the aluminum panels that are integrated into this skeleton with friction connections make up the remaining 17 percent. The body is largely assembled by hand with the utmost precision.

The open superstructure features special reinforcements in the area of the sills, the center tunnel, the rear bulkhead, the floor and both the A and B pillars, yet still only weighs 216 kilograms (476 lb). The high stiffness of the ASF body, which includes a co-supporting engine frame of ultra-lightweight magnesium, provides the foundation for the dynamic handling, superior crash safety and high vibrational comfort of the Audi R8 Spyder. The body tops its segment in terms of lightweight quality – the relationship between weight, size and torsional stiffness.

The side panels of the open-top two-seater are made of ultra-lightweight carbon fiber composite material (CFRP), as is the large cover over the roof compartment. They are produced using a new method called resin transfer molding (RTM). In addition to being faster and more energy-efficient than conventional production in an autoclave, RTM also yields superior surface quality. The use of carbon fiber composite enables weight savings of up to 60 percent over conventional steel components and also permits greater design freedom.
Lightweight and convenient: the cloth roof

The R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro has a cloth roof – a classic feature typical of Audi and without compromise for a high-performance sports car. The soft top’s approximate weight is a mere 42 kilograms (93 lb); it thus keeps the vehicle’s 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 long, slim fins that extend to the trailing edge of the car and have an elongated contour similar to the fixed roof of the R8 Coupé.

The outer skin of the top is a leakproof textile fabric. A headliner covers the frame, which is made primarily of die-cast magnesium and aluminum. The soft top is fully suitable for 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 cloth top has an electrohydraulic drive that uses a system of actuators, hinges and hooks to open and close the top within 19 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). When opened, the 1.7 square meters (18.30 sq ft) of fabric folds in a Z-shape into its storage compartment over the engine. The CFRP compartment cover moves on two seven-joint hinges. The precise mechanical interaction of the two components is a pleasure to watch.

The heated glass window, which is separate from the cloth top, is lowered into the bulkhead between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment. It can be raised and lowered at the press of a switch, with the soft top up or down. An additional wind deflector comes standard. It latches into the bulkhead behind the seats in two steps and keeps the cabin nearly draft-free at speeds of up to roughly 200 km/h (124.27 mph).

The top with its rear-window module, the storage compartment, the cover and the rollover protection system forms a premounted assembly. It is inserted into the ASF body at the manufacturing plant at Audi’s Neckarsulm site, where the R8 Spyder is built, lending the body additional stiffness.

Located in the bulkhead is a rollover protection system comprising two strong, spring-loaded sections that shoot up within 0.2 seconds when needed. In the event of a side impact, head/thorax side airbags in the backrests protect the passengers. Full-size airbags stand at the ready in the event of a head-on collision. In a rear-end collision, the integral Audi head restraint system reduces the risk of whiplash injuries.
Technical expertise: the chassis

Mesmerizing emotions embedded in perfect technical expertise – the R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro is an integrated system of speed. It steers spontaneously, almost reflexively, into corners and takes them with stoic composure. The limit is very high and easily controlled. The hydraulic rack-and-pinion power steering connects the driver intimately with the road. With a steering ratio of 16:1, it is sporty and direct, but never nervous in its response.

The R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro has a wheelbase of 2.65 meters (8.69 ft). Its axle load distribution is 43:57 percent; the track measures 1.64 meters (5.38 ft) up front and 1.60 meters (5.25 ft) at the rear. Forged aluminum double wishbones – a principle borrowed from race car construction – locate the wheels. Their rubber-metal bearings divert the lateral forces precisely into the body while at the same time ensuring high longitudinal elasticity. The setup provides for surprisingly good comfort in everyday driving. A dedicated sports suspension is available as an option.

Another option for the R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI is Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping. The system uses magnetic fields in the hydraulic shock absorbers to adjust their response to road conditions within milliseconds and adapt to the driver’s style. There is a choice of two basic characteristics. During fast cornering and when braking, the control unit reduces body pitch and roll through the targeted increase of damping force at the individual wheels.

The R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro rolls on 18-inch wheels shod with 235/40 tires up front and 285/35 tires in the rear. A tire pressure indicator is standard. Audi offers optional 19-inch wheels in a variety of designs – monochrome or two colors, polished or in titanium look.

Behind the wheels are powerful disc brakes measuring 365 millimeters (14.37 in) in diameter up front and 356 millimeters (14.02 in) in the back. To quickly dissipate the heat, they are internally ventilated, perforated and composed of two pieces – stainless steel pins connect the steel friction rings to the aluminum caps.

Black, eight-piston calipers grab the front discs, with four-piston calipers used in the rear. The 19-inch wheels are optionally available with perforated carbon fiber-ceramic discs that are extremely lightweight, robust, long-lived and corrosion-free.

The open high-performance sports car has a specially configured stability system on board. With the touch of a button, the driver can activate a sport mode that permits exciting but safe oversteer when the gas is applied while exiting a corner. The ESP together with the anti-slip control can also be deactivated completely for dynamic driving.
Luxury and dynamics: The interior and equipment

Three strengths characterize the interior of the Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro: the uncompromising quality with respect to the use and finish of the materials; the generous amount of room; and the high degree of practicality.

Drivers and passengers of any size find an ideal seating position in the sport seats with their pronounced side bolsters. The ring of the leather multifunction sport steering wheel is flattened. Visibility is good, with narrow A-pillars ensuring a large diagonal view to the front. Another advantage in everyday driving is the luggage compartment – there is space under the front hatch for 100 liters (3.53 cu ft). A storage box with three bins is located behind the seats.

A large arch, the “monoposto”, encircles the interior, which is distinctly oriented toward the driver. The controls are clearly and logically structured; the standard automatic air conditioning system is specially matched to the needs of open-top driving. The driver information system integrates a lap timer for recording circuit times. Most of the interior is a sportily cool black; many controls shine in aluminum look.

Among the highlights of the standard equipment are seats covered with Fine Nappa leather, the aluminum door sills, the concert radio system with seven speakers, the xenon plus headlights, the LED tail lights, the automatic air conditioning system, the alarm system, the automatic top, the rollover protection system and the wind deflector. Metallic paint and heated seats are also standard.

Audi also offers an array of fine options – power seats, an interior lighting package, hill hold assist, cruise control, deluxe automatic air conditioning, a storage package and the high-beam assistant. All leather for the seats is colored with pigments that reflect the infrared component of sunlight, greatly reducing the heating of the interior.

Multimedia options include an excellent sound system from Bang & Olufsen with 450 watts of power, the Audi music interface for easily connecting an external player and a Bluetooth cell phone preparation. The navigation system plus is characterized by its MMI operating logic and a high-resolution 6.5-inch display. It can be combined with a reversing camera.

An enticing innovation from Audi is the seatbelt microphone for the hands-free unit and the speech dialogue system, which makes it possible to talk on the phone even with the top down on the highway. Both seatbelts house three small, flat microphones. 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.

Extreme individualists can choose from a wealth of exclusive options, the lion’s share of which are provided by quattro GmbH. These include leather seat coverings in a wide variety of colors and grades, aluminum-look pedals, the carbon package for the exterior, inlays in carbon and piano finish black, Alcantara for the headliner and the luggage compartment lining and the custom luggage set.

The R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro will be rolling into UK showrooms in the third quarter of 2010. Sales will be starting soon.

The 2.5-liter unit in the Audi TT RS features both turbocharging and FSI direct gasoline injection technology, two of Audi’s core technologies, and marked a return to five cylinder engines for the brand with the four rings. With a displacement of 2,480 cubic centimeters, this engine produces 250 kW (340 hp) between 5,400 and 6,500 rpm and peak torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) from 1,600 to 5,300 rpm.

International Engine of the Year jury members felt that the 2.5-liter engine in the TT RS is: “Torque, power, a beautiful sound – this engine has it all. This is five-cylinder architecture at its best”.

This powerful five-cylinder engine is also surprisingly frugal, requiring an average of just 30.7 mpg in the Coupé, while the Roadster needs only 29.73 mpg.

The engine’s low weight of only 183 kilograms (403.45 lb) is also a top figure. It helps keep the total weight of the TT RS low and also offers significant advantages for the distribution of axle loads and thus for the car’s handling.

Developed by quattro GmbH, the Audi TT RS was launched in the summer of 2009. The Coupé can sprint from zero to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds and from zero to 124 mph in 15.9 seconds. It has an optional top speed 174 mph.

This is the sixth category win in a row at the International Engine of the Year Awards for Audi TFSI technology. For the last five years, the Audi 2.0-liter TFSI engine has won the award in the 1.8 to 2.0-liter category. FSI direct gasoline injection and turbocharging are two of Audi’s core technologies.

Fuel consumption and emission data:
Audi TT RS
Fuel consumption, combined: 30.7-29.73 l/100 km
CO2 emissions, combined: 214-221 g/km

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The readers of Sport Auto, a German automotive magazine, declared the Audi R8 Spyder best in its class in the “Sportiest Cars of 2010” survey. All in all, Audi took eight awards.

The Audi R8 Spyder left its category’s competitors in the rear-view mirror by capturing 17.3 percent of readers’ votes. This high-performance sports car featuring a lightweight soft top dazzles thanks to the synergy of its technologies – such as an ASF body made of aluminum and carbon fiber; quattro permanent all-wheel drive; LED headlights; and an innovative seat-belt microphone.

In addition, three Audi models finished in second place. The Audi A5 Coupé 3.0 TDI quattro, the TT RS Roadster and the Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro all won silver medals in their respective classes. Further impressive achievements: the Audi S3 2.0 TFSI, the RS 6, the TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI and the Audi TTS Coupé 2.0 TFSI came in third, respectively.

In the “Sportiest Cars of 2010” survey, 8,674 sport auto readers chose their favorites in 15 categories of series-production vehicles and ten tuning classes.

Source: Audi Worldwide News

Audi vehicles are well known for their efficiency, performance and state-of-the-art interiors designed and equipped with the latest trends and gadgets. Speaking of interiors Audi is developing the ultimate audio experience using 62 speakers inside an Audi Q7.

The prototype was named Audi Q7 WFS (wave field synthesis). Once again Audi teamed with Bang & Olufsen to create the supreme sound experience inside a car. The sound system has 52 midrange speakers, 4 woofers, 5 tweeters, 1 sub-woofer. Each one of those speakers is individually driven by an advanced computer to create a universal audio sweet spot in the cabin.

This innovative audio concept was developed by the Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT) who labelled the technology Wave Field Synthesis (WFS). Each speaker can individually delay impulses to keep the sound in check, creating a personalised stereo experience no matter where the listener is sitting inside the vehicle.

More about Wave Field Synthesis
Source: Wikipedia

Wave field synthesis (WFS) is a spatial audio rendering technique, characterized by creation of virtual acoustic environments. It produces “artificial” wave fronts synthesized by a large number of individually driven speakers. Such wave fronts seem to originate from a virtual starting point, the virtual source or notional source. Contrary to traditional spatialization techniques such as stereo, the localization of virtual sources in WFS does not depend on or change with the listener’s position.

The wave field tech has been applied to the Linden Lichtspiele Cinema with an epic 192-speaker system. The only downside is that neither movie companies nor the recording industry are creating material with wave field encoding.

For Audi Q7 Lease or Audi Q7 contract hire for company cars contact Audi Nationwide.

Audi range insurance premiums are lowest of the ‘Big Three’. Award winning security measures and competitive repair costs cut insurance premiums for Audi drivers

Audi drivers can expect to pay considerably less to insure their cars than owners of equivalent models from the German premium sector brands, according to data sourced from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) group ratings database.

Managed by the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham on behalf of the ABI and Lloyds Syndicates, the insurance group ratings database has been updated monthly with new car insurance rating data since the 1980s, and includes all trim levels, variants, body styles and engine types. This data has been used to calculate average insurance group ratings for Audi models and their equivalents wherever applicable from German premium sector competitors. In virtually every range, Audi models post considerably lower average ratings than competitors, meaning that owners will generally pay lower insurance premiums.

These ratings are defined using a system which allocates penalty points to each vehicle based on a number of factors, including the purchase price, the cost of key parts and the ease, and cost, of repair following an independent crash test undertaken by the Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR).

The higher the outright purchase price or parts and labour charges, and the more costly and labour intensive the crash repair, the higher the points tally, and consequently the higher the insurance group rating.

Crucial security performance
Security performance is of course also a critical factor in determining each rating, and four British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards and three What Car? Magazine Security Awards for ‘Best Overall Manufacturer’ attest to Audi expertise in this area. Held by Audi for four consecutive years since 2006, the top BIVSA award for ‘Best Overall Manufacturer’ highlights the fact that the brand offers more ranges in which every variant has achieved the maximum five star rating for ‘theft of’ security and of at least four stars for ‘theft from’ security than any other entrant.

Award-winning security protection is achieved right across the Audi range through features including Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser technology with interior ultrasonic protection and anti-tow sensors, Thatcham Category 4 locking wheel bolts and extensive covert and overt marked parts.

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