Tag: a3

Audi 80 Is the Pioneer that Defined a New Segment

Audi 80

Half a century ago, Audi 80 established the compact sedan segment. The Ingolstadt brand recently revisited the iconic 1973 “Car of the Year.”

With its spacious front-wheel-drive offerings, Audi established itself as a successful automaker by 1972. German engineer Ludwig Kraus was responsible for advancing the brand to the next level with the legendary Audi 80 B1. Recently, the Ingolstadt brand celebrated the 50th anniversary of this iconic nameplate by highlighting all the milestones that the 80 achieved in its day.

Audi 80 made its debut in July 1972 with unibody construction. At the time, most automakers were still offering sedans with body-on-frame configurations. As a result, the entry-level two-door variant of the 80 only weighed only 1841 lbs. Race cars of the era were the inspiration behind the lightweight construction of the 80. Even though it was an engineering masterpiece, the car didn’t sell in large numbers initially.

Nevertheless, Audi 80 defined a new segment: the compact sedan. With a 97.2-inch wheelbase, the 80 was only 164.6 inches long, making it ideal for the European market. Member of the Board of Management of Audi AG for Technical Development Oliver Hoffman shared his appreciation for his predecessor’s work.

Audi 80

“In an impressive way, the Audi 80 demonstrates that Vorsprung durch Technik is a tradition at Audi,” shares Hoffman.

The Audi 80 could deliver impressive fuel efficiency with its on-head camshaft motor. The popularity of the 80 was skyrocketing during the first oil crisis. The car was finally a sales hit in the USA, where it was sold under the moniker “Fox.” In addition to the entry-level 1.3-liter version of the EA 827 engine, the 80 was also available with a 1.6-liter powerplant. The more capable motor could churn out 98 HP of maximum power in its factory tune.

Initially, customers had to settle for a four-speed manual gearbox, but Audi soon offered 80 with the option of a three-speed automatic transmission. With its diagonal breaking diagram, the Audi 80 was much safer than its rivals at the time. The stopping power came from disc brakes up front and drums at the rear. This was one of the reasons why the 80 received the “Car of the Year” award in 1973.

Image Source: Audi

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This 700 HP Audi RS3 Delivers Awesome Performance

700 HP Audi RS3

Zack Klapman from TheSmokingTire gets behind the wheel of a 700 HP Audi RS3, which can complete the quarter-mile in just 9.9 seconds.

A glance at this 2019 Audi RS3 makes it obvious that this sedan is not for the faint-hearted. One can judge the capabilities of this car by its giant air intakes at the front and the huge tailpipes at the rear. In a recent TheSmokingTire video, Zack Klapman got a chance to get behind the wheel of a 700 HP Audi RS3.

This 2019 model might not be as lean as thoroughbred supercars. Nevertheless, This dark horse can give Ferrari Pista a run for its money. In its factory spec, the 2019 Audi RS3’s 2.5-liter turbo 5-cylinder motor produced 396 HP of maximum power and 354 lb-ft of peak torque and ran to 60 in just 4 seconds. But this RS 3 isn’t stock.

In the video, Klapman also highlights the impressive features of this 700 HP Audi RS3. “With a little push of the button to go to the dynamic mode, this now has 700 horsepower at the wheels, and on the right tires is capable of running a 9.9-second quarter-mile,” reveals Klapman. He further adds, “I swear, I mean these days with modern turbo cars, you can basically have oligarch levels of power for summer job money.”

700 HP Audi RS3

This 700 HP Audi RS3 sports an all-black paint job and rides on a set of alloy wheels that also flaunt a matching black finish.

The owner of this RS3, Chris, joins Klapman and offers a complete breakdown of all the performance upgrades responsible for this car’s awesome performance. In addition to a mid-pipe and down-pipe tune, an ECU map and a larger turbocharger are also responsible for this RS3’s power bump.

Chris also reveals that his Audi RS3 retains its original transmission and axles. Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system sends power to all four corners. This 2019 RS3 proves that its 5-cylinder motor has plenty of untapped potential.

Image Source: TheSmokingTire

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Manhart RS3 500 Upgrade Helps 2022 Audi RS3 Churn Out 493 HP

Manhart RS3 500

The Manhart RS3 500 tuning kit is available for four-door sedan and five-door hatchback versions of the 2022 Audi RS3.

Manhart Performance is a German tuner that has souped-up everything from thoroughbred Italian supercars to futuristic electric vehicles. The company recently unveiled an exciting creation based on the all-new 2022 Audi RS3. The tuner’s latest project is the all-new Manhart RS3 500, which will be available for Sportback and sedan versions of the 2022 Audi RS3.

A 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbo motor powers the all-new RS3. The powerplant churns out 394 HP of maximum power in its euro spec, which bumps up to 401 HP in the US. Manhart RS3 500’s performance upgrades include an MHtronik Powerbox tuning module, and the new mapping allows the tuner to increase the power output up to 493 HP.

The engine now hooks up to a stainless steel exhaust system which gets electronically controlled valves. The Wuppertal-based company announced the new tuning kit via its social media channels. Unfortunately, the company has not revealed many details about the tuning kit, including the new torque figure.

Manhart RS3 500

Like the horsepower, we reckon the Manhart RS3 500 upgrade will also substantially increase the torque figures of the new RS3.

As our avid readers must already know, the new RS3 produces 369 lb-ft of peak torque in its factory tune. The Manhart RS3 500 flaunts a gorgeous gloss black paint job in the teaser images, which is offset by gold accents. RS3 500 and Manhart decals adorn the front doors. Furthermore, we also find the same badging on the trunk lid flaunting a vibrant gold finish.

The performance upgrade is available for both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback versions. As part of the Manhart treatment, this 2022 Audi RS3 also ditches its stock wheels in favor of 20-inch rims which sport golden rim stripes. Manhart’s 20-inch Concave One double-spoke alloys fit snugly in the wheel arches because of a set of lowering springs.

Pirelli high-performance tires envelop the ominous alloys. The Manhart RS3 500 also gets gold brake calipers that complement the racing stripes and decals of the ensemble. So far, we do not have any information regarding the pricing of the new tuning kit.

Image Source: Manhart Performance

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Audi Announces 2023 Model Year Updates For the US

2023 Model

The German automaker will be expanding its EV lineup later this year. Audi is now updating its US product portfolio for the 2023 model year.

The Ingolstadt brand is introducing the 2023 model year for the United States. Audi’s 2023 MY lineup will get a slew of minor and major updates across the company’s portfolio. Every single Audi model now gets additional standard and optional equipment. These include the entry-level Audi A3 and Q3 variants and the top-of-the-line A8 and Q8 offerings.

Audi will also be expanding its EV portfolio later this year. The automaker will add the Audi Q4 e-tron Q4 Sportback e-tron to its lineup. For now, the 40 and 45 variants of the 2023 Audi A4 get LED headlights with integrated LED DRLs. One will also find a Bang and Olufsen sound system in the Premium Plus trim of the nameplate, and the convenience package for the entire A4 range now gets the adaptive cruise control feature.

Audi is also updating the appearance options for the 2023 A4, including new wheels. In addition to a wide range of equipment, the Premium variant of Audi A6 and S7 now get adaptive cruise control as standard. As part of the Executive package, Audi now offers the 2023 RS7 with a remote park assist feature and a black Dinamica headliner.

Audi Announces 2023 Model Year Updates For the US

For its 2023 model year, the adaptive cruise control feature is standard across all Q5 and SQ5 variants.

November last year, the 2022 Audi A8 facelift made its world debut. As a result of this, the 2023 update now gets only minor updates across the range. Audi A8 customers opting for the German automaker’s Comfort Plus package will now get HD matrix design LED headlights. Audi will now offer the high-octane S8 version with a Valcona leather interior.

SUVs and crossovers are the best-selling body types in the market right now. Nevertheless, Audi did not refrain from updating its range for the 2023 model year. The automaker’s Q3 nameplate now gets a wireless phone charging pad and LED headlights with LED daytime running lights as standard across the lineup.

The company also offers an optional appearance package for the 40 and 45 variants of the Q3, which gets new wheel options. Perhaps one of the most significant changes for the 2023 model year is a new entry-level engine option for the Audi Q7. The SUV now gets a 2-liter four-cylinder motor which churns out 261 HP of maximum power.

Lastly, Audi’s flagship Q8 and SQ8 models also get HD matrix design LED headlights and headlight washers as standard for the 2023 model year.

Image source: Audi

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Must Watch: The Heartwarming Journey of Reviving a Wrecked Audi S3

wrecked Audi S3

YouTuber Mat Armstrong rebuilds a wrecked Audi S3 and demonstrates that you don’t have to be an experienced mechanic to go out there and find a great deal on your favorite performance machine.

In one of his recent videos, Mat Armstrong chronicles the completion of an elaborate revival of a wrecked Audi S3. It is satisfying to see a written-off performance machine get a new lease on life. What’s even more heartwarming is that Mat is restoring the S3 for his friend Liam who had a run of bad luck with his cars in the past.

Another fun fact for our readers, Mat is not a mechanic but an enthusiast who tries to learn as he goes along. Luckily for Mat, the S3 shares its parts with Golf R, which he is familiar with. So, I reckon this series can motivate even the most skeptical builders amongst us to go out there and find a great deal. The damage to the car was quite extensive.

Safe to say, Mat had his work cut out for him seeing how the rebuild took almost three months to complete. Mat decided against starting the engine because of a crack in the inlet manifold. The YouTuber suspected that there might be plastic in the inlet manifold, which could destroy the engine. There was also no damage to the car’s suspension.

wrecked Audi S3

Mat also had to replace the battery of the wrecked S3 before repairing the front chassis damage, which bent the chassis at the front.

He also installs a new front-end that comes complete with a new intercooler. In the series, Mat also shares the motivation behind this S3 project. “This YouTube stuff has basically allowed me to live my dream life rebuilding, modifying, and driving cars that I never thought I’d ever own, and now I feel like it’s time to rebuild cars not just for my own pleasure, shares Mat.
He further adds,” The S3 has come such a long way in such a short amount of time. You only have to take a look at what it first looked like when I first bought it to what it looks like now.”

With the used car prices skyrocketing right now, restoring/repairing these modern classics is sustainable and a necessity of the time. Lastly, this restoration series is one of the most engaging and entertaining build stories on YouTube. Mat doesn’t dilly-dally and covers a big chunk of the project in every video without wasting any time, which will appeal to every gearhead.

Images Source: Mat Armstrong

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