Just around the corner

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Just around the corner

Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
30 Jun 2006


AlfaRomeowill release its 159 sports wagon in September. It is expected to be up to $6000 more than the 159 Sedan, which has its base model priced at $49,990.



Theconvertible version of Alfa’s Brera, the Alfa Spider, will reach our shores in November and while official pricing has not been confirmed, AlfaRomeospokesman EdwardRowesays it is expected to be about $10,000 more than its equivalent Brera model. AUDI



Audi is keeping information on its upcoming models close to home. TheQ7will be launched in September, followed by theRS 4 Avant andA84.2 FSI in October.



Thenext additions to Audi’s line-up will be towards the end of the year, with the S6 due in November and the S8 in December. No pricing or specifications have been released. BMW



BMWwill launch the 3 Series coupe and the Z4 coupe in October. Prices for the 3 Series will be announced closer to launch.



TheZ4 coupe will start at $87,900 for the 3.0-litre and reach $127,200 for theMversion coupe. TheZ4 produces 195kW of power and 315Nmor torque. BMWhas also unveiled itsM6 convertible powered by a 5.0-litre V10 engine producing animpressive 373kW of power. It is expected to cost $290,000-$295,000 and... read more...

Also blogged by Automobile World

A beauty is transformed

A beauty is transformed

Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
30 Jun 2006


There are enough changes underneath the skin mechanically, dimensionally and chassis-wise to put the new Audi TT on a higher plain than its older brother. Some are proclaiming that the TT is



Totally Transformed’’. Expect prices to range from $70,000-$90,000 when it arrives late this year.



The new car has massive differences in the driving behaviour of two variants sampled on a 250km trip through the Grossglockner Alpine region of Austria last week.



The V6 gains the S-tronic transmission for Australia as standard and that driveline marriage seems a happy one.



The S-tronic is really a variation of stablemate Volkswagen’s DSG in that it is essentially two three-gear transmissions each with their own clutch.



It seems to fire the TT along sufficiently although there were traces of driveline snatch through some of the early gears in sequential mode and also when tramping along in drive or sixth.



This quattro tracks much nicer than the original due to a conspiracy of evolutionary reasons, none more telling than the fact that it is 44mm wider across the bow and fatter by 53mm at the stern, so it has lifted its game in terms of cornering prowess.



There is also the addition of the magnetic ride the continuous damping technology sharpening up gear shifts and a stiffer ride for more spirited driving. It will come standard on all Australian-spec TTs.



At the press of a button the car’s behaviour changes instantly from one which is soft and comfy to one which wants to explore more with a quicker shift pattern and a suspension shift to benefit more performance-orientated driving. The 3.2 V6 quattro develops 184kW of power and320Nm of twist and can be accessed sweetly through a refined modular throttle feel. A lot of work has been done to deliver a better exhaust note and this TT definitely has a ... read more...