Audi quits power race
 

Audi’s S and RS ranges will no longer offer more power than the equivalent models from AMG or BMW M-Power. Stephan Reil, the General Manager of Development at Quattro Gmbh, the company responsible for Audi’s RS models, claimed that, ‘continuing to increase the power outputs is not the way forward. With more power the car normally gets heavier and then you need more power again.’

Taking a sideswipe at AMG, which recently launched the 603bhp S65 AMG, Reil said ‘with a rear-wheel-drive car, all you succeed in doing is lighting up the yellow traction control sign. Our drivetrain allows us to transfer the power to the road.’

Reil said the Quattro Gmbh brand will develop cars that combined high power outputs with ‘outstanding driving dynamics and road handling.’ Audi is planning to adopt a new naming structure (SQ3 to SW8) for its sporting models.

from AUTOCAR

............so?

That's the same route BMW's M division took when they produced the new M5. I totally agree.

This is exactly why there still isn't a car that can dethrone the McLaren F1, because that car was about properly balancing weight, power, and aerodynamics.

the lambo and ferrari do have the chassis to cope with the power.... MB arguarbly dont. But i do agree, porsche and BMW have much better ethics with regards to power and handling. Dont get me wrong, MB and Audi are very refined but their "sports" models are all power and no chassis

Theoretically, there actually is no limit to a chassis ability to handle power, but certain things will have to be compromised, most notably the driver's overall control of the vehicle, and ride quality. Ferrari and Lambo don't masquerade their cars as being comfortable - its a sports car, it'll be harsh, take it or leave it. Which is why they can keep pumping up the power, and with continuous improvements to aerodynamics, actually keep it on the road.

The sedan makers on the other hand, don't have that luxury. Imagine being able to make something that is spacious yet compact, fast but accessible, quick but controllable, has seating for at least 4, gracious headroom and legroom, a big boot, be reasonably quiet, supremely comfortable, complete with all the modern amenities, AND should be able to take on corners with the finesse of an olympic ice skater, even when its going at seemingly silly speeds.

Its a massive task of engineering, and I think the engineers have finally realized that you can't compute against physics. Something that weighs the heavier side of 2 tonnes, with 5 passengers, and a full boot, might not be able to take that 60mph corner. Hence the need to properly balance weight, power, and aerodynamics.

Which means that at this rate, Mercedes's engineers will realize this after... oh... 10 more years? :)

I thought at the rate the manufactures are doing....by the time...say 10yrs later all cars would have an average of over 400hp hehe. I guess they are trying to be realistic.

Indeed

Good.

It's about time someone stopped the foolishness that Mercedes has been going on with for the past few years with AMG. Cars need to be losing weight, not gaining power (well, they can have more power...) while packing on 100s of kg! 8)

Thats a wise step from Audi. I totally agree with them. Why do you need a car with 600+hp (At least normal people don´t :wink: )? I think the next RS6 will have about 500hp. Nobody actually needs more. Where will it end when each new model has to be stronger than the previous one or the new one from another company? Instead the companys should rather concentrate on building lighter cars so that they won´t have to increase the power to get a faster car :!:

The way I see it, BMW is still leading the race because they've had this philosophy for longer than MB and Audi.

pppppffffffff, you're all pussies, that's the beauty of Mercedes-Benz, having power you will never use, just to know that you have more then the other guy is enough.

But still my lifegoal is to work with MB, and I'll take your remarks as suggestions.




lol(I hope)

Or everyone could lower weight, up the horsepower, and get a stronger chassis! :P

J/k

ahahhahahahahahahahahahahahaha, 1001 HP :wink:

For me the german brands have some complete different points of view.......for instance the BMW Motorsport models aim has been always to get a very efficient cars in every kind of roads.....such as twisty roads, motorways...as a result.....the car has to have some good handling, some good traction, to be the car driveable on wet.......whereas audis new aim goes in a similar way...just to have well balanced cars, and get the same importance to the power as for the handling

On the other hand....the last and famous merc AMGs aim has been complete a different one....just to get the fastest and most powerful cars on the motorways and street line....at the end of the day........just for the straight line the power of the car is the most important thing regardless other aspects.....and other aspects such as the handling, the traction, etc.......arent just so important for the AMG division

Possibly in a straight line, thanks to their use of turbos. Poor ol' BMW insists on doing it the hard way by going through the natural aspirated route... imagine if they "cheated" like Audi... ;)

On a serious note: Audi beat BMW? No. Plain and simple. There are countless of M3's being raced the world over, and Brands Hatch on a family weekend is a clear example. You will see about 5-15 M3's on a good day (lots of visitors) at the track, and not a single RS4 or S4... those are usually kept at the parking lot. ;)