Tag Archives: Bang Olufsen

Geneva: Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition sparkles in silver

By Jeremy Korzeniewski

Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition

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The traditional gift, if someone has the longevity to celebrate a 100th anniversary of… well, anything, really, is a 10-carat diamond. In lieu of that, we’re going to recommend one of these Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition machines. After all, it’s nearly as sparkly as a diamond, and it’s probably a fair bit cheaper than a 10-carat diamond that’s got all four of its C’s in proper order.

The car’s exterior jewelry includes a graduated paint finish and solid sterling silver badges inlaid with enamel. Inside you’ll find Deep Soft Black leather (the same spec as used in the One-77) with contrasting silver stitching, embroidered headrests, and sterling silver sill plaques that are individually numbered (1-100, as only 100 models will be made).

If that’s not enough bling for your bucks, each car also comes with “a unique presentation box containing a number of exclusive gifts to mark the first 100 years of the company,” including “two glass keys, two bespoke key pouches made from leather matching the car’s interior trim, solid silver cufflinks featuring the Aston Martin script, solid silver Rollerball pen and high quality Bang & Olufsen headphones.”

Check out the complete press release below, but not before browsing our high-res image gallery above. Pricing is available by request, and remember, if you miss out on one of these, the automaker will also be offering Centenary Editions of its V8 Vantage, DB9 and Rapide.

Continue reading Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition sparkles in silver

Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition sparkles in silver originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Official: Aston Martin celebrates milestone with Centenary Vanquish

By Zach Bowman

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Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition

Aston Martin is marking its 100th anniversary with special edition versions of its V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and Vanquish. The automaker will only build 100 Centenary Edition versions of each car. The first of those is the Vanquish, which boasts a special graduated paint finish and sterling silver badges with a unique enamel inlay. Indoors, buyers can expect to find the same Deep Soft leather as used in the One-77, complete with contrast silver stitching and sterling silver sill plates bearing the car’s individual number.

Those who pony up the cash for the Centenary models will also receive a box packed full of exclusive “gifts,” including two glass keys, bespoke key pouches, silver cuff links, a silver Rollerball pen and a pair of Bang & Olufsen headphones. There’s a silver polishing cloth in there as well. Near as we can tell, the Centenary Editions will remain mechanically identical to their non-bejeweled counterparts. You can check out the full press release below and take a look at a slew of special models from the company’s first 100 years in the gallery.

Continue reading Aston Martin celebrates milestone with Centenary Vanquish

Aston Martin celebrates milestone with Centenary Vanquish originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

2014 Audi RS7 Sportback Debuts in Detroit with 560 Horsepower & 189 MPH Top Speed

By Darryl

Although there are many introductions and reveals of new vehicles during this year’s International Auto Auto Show in Detroit, not many of the vehicles on display come packing a coupe-look with 4 doors, a rear hatch and a potent 560 force-fed V8 engine under the hood – In the all-new 2014 Audi RS7.

The new Audi RS7 is aimed at taking the new BMW M6 Gran Coupe and Benz CLS63 AMG head on and has the goods to get the job done. The luxury hatchback features a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine with 560 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque taken directly from the larger Audi S8. The RS7 in its base form will reach an electronically limited top speed 155 mph but equipped with a dynamic plus package consumers can reach a dare-devil 189 mph.

The new Audi RS7 is not only poised in shear performance but it is also relatively efficient getting up to 25 mpg by means of a cylinder-on-demand system where the V8 engine deactivates up to 4 cylinders by closing corresponding valves.

We welcome you to hit up the images and full press release below to get more information on the new 2014 Audi RS7 due to launch later this year on US shores.

Audi RS 7 Sportback
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Audi RS 7 Sportback

Dynamics at their most beautiful – the Audi RS 7

Audi is expanding its RS model lineup: The RS 7 Sportback, which is making its debut at the North American International Auto Show 2013 in Detroit, stands for dynamics at their most beautiful. The large five-door coupe uses a 4.0 TFSI engine producing 412 kW (560 hp). The sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes just 3.9 seconds, and the speed governor can be deactivated upon customer request to permit a top speed of up to 305 km/h (189.52 mph). Despite this superior performance, the Audi RS 7 Sportback consumes on average just 9.8 liters of fuel per 100 km (24.00 US mpg).

Aesthetic design, innovative technology and impressive sportiness: The RS 7 Sportback, the large five-door coupe from Audi, combines many strengths to produce a fascinating character. Its strong heart is the 4.0 TFSI, which takes Audi’s downsizing strategy to the high-end category. The twin-turbo V8 displaces 3,993 cc and develops awesome power, with 412 kW (560 hp) available between 5,700 and 6,700 rpm. A constant 750 Nm (553.17 lb-ft) of torque are available between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm.

Because the high-revving four-cylinder engine has been rigorously designed for low load-change and flow losses, it develops this power quickly and spontaneously. The cylinder heads have the exhaust side on the inside and the intake side on the outside. The two twin-scroll turbochargers, which produce up to 1.2 bars of relative boost pressure, are located together with the intercooler in the inside V of the cylinder banks. Consequently, the gas paths are very short and response very good. The RS-specific engine management and unthrottled intake system also contribute to the dynamic character of the twin-turbo V8. Switchable flaps in the exhaust system make the engine sound even fuller at the push of a button or under strong acceleration. Audi also offers an optional sport exhaust system.

The RS 7 Sportback sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 3.9 seconds. Audi limits the top speed in the standard configuration to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Top speed with the optional dynamic package is 280 km/h (173.98 mph) and
305 km/h (189.52 mph) with the dynamic package plus.

Yet the new top model of the model series consumes on average just 9.8 liters of fuel per 100 km (24.00 US mpg). This top value is due in part to the standard start-stop system and innovative thermal management.

The most innovative efficiency technology in the new Audi RS 7 Sportback is the cylinder on demand (COD) system. At low to medium loads and engine speeds, it deactivates cylinders 2, 3, 5 and 8 by closing their valves via electromechanical actuators. The 4.0 TFSI then runs as a four-cylinder engine until the driver accelerates more strongly again. The operating points in the active cylinders are displaced toward higher loads, increasing efficiency.

All of these operations take just a few hundredths of a second and occur so smoothly and quickly that they can hardly be felt or heard. Active engine bearings, another high-end solution from Audi, use out-of-phase counter-oscillations to compensate for the slight vibrations that occur during four-cylinder operation. The COD technology reduces NEDC fuel consumption by roughly five percent, and even greater savings of approximately 10 percent are possible when driving at moderate speeds.

The standard eight-speed tiptronic is specially tuned to the sporty character of the Audi RS 7 Sportback. Drivers can choose between the modes D and S or change gears themselves using the shift paddles on the steering wheel or the selector lever, which sports a unique RS design. While the lower gears of the tiptronic are closely spaced for sporty response, eighth gear is tall like an overdrive to reduce fuel consumption.

The Audi RS 7 Sportback comes standard with quattro permanent all-wheel drive for its decisive advantage in traction and driving safety compared with its two-wheel-drive competitors. At the heart of the quattro system is a center differential with a high locking rate and a separate oil cooler to regulate its temperature. It distributes the power as needed within a wide range between the front and rear axles. In the standard configuration, 60 percent flows to the rear and 40 percent to the front.

An intelligent software solution called torque vectoring supports the work of the differential at the cornering limit with minimal braking of the wheels that are under a reduced load. Audi also offers the optional sport differential for the rear axle, which uses two superposition gears to actively distribute the power between the wheels.

The Audi RS 7 Sportback comes standard with polished, 20-inch forged lightweight wheels in a seven twin-spoke design. The five-door high-performance coupe also rolls on optional 21-inch cast wheels in a choice of three designs.

Powerful brakes are located behind the large wheels. The four internally vented discs feature a weight-saving wave design and measure 390 millimeters (15.35 in) in diameter up front. Pins decouple the steel friction rings from the aluminum brake caps. Black painted six-piston calipers – optionally available in red – grip the discs. Audi also offers optional 420 millimeter (16.54 in) carbon fiber ceramic discs with anthracite gray calipers. The electronic stabilization control (ESC) has a Sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.

Equipped with the air suspension, which harmonizes perfectly with the dynamic character of a sport coupe, the new RS 7 Sportback is sporty, yet still comfortable. The RS 7 adaptive air suspension lowers the body by 20 millimeters (0.79 in). Adaptive damping, another of the system’s features, adjusts the suspension’s response to the condition of the road, the driver’s style and the mode selected in the Audi drive select system, with which the driver can alter the function of key components in multiple steps.

Audi offers the taut sport suspension plus with dynamic ride control (DRC) as an alternative to the air suspension. It uses steel springs and three-stage adjustable dampers that are connected to one another via diagonal oil lines and a central valve. Another option, which can also be integrated into Audi drive select, is the dynamic steering with its steplessly variable steering boost and ratio. As with the standard electromechanical steering, its characteristics are specially tailored for the RS 7 Sportback.

The body of the Audi RS 7 Sportback includes up to 20 percent aluminum and includes many parts of high-strength and ultra high-strength steels. Its high rigidity is the foundation for the precise handling, excellent workmanship and quiet cabin free of intrusive noise.

The character of the Audi RS 7 Sportback is immediately obvious. A series of specific design details give a sporty edge to its flowing coupe design. These include the distinctive bumpers and high-gloss black protective grille with honeycomb structure at the front of the car as well as add-on parts in matt aluminum. At the rear of the car, which features a power extending spoiler, the diffuser and the two large, elliptical tailpipe trims of the exhaust system catch the eye.

The RS 7 Sportback is available in a choice of ten exterior colors, including the new shade Nardo gray and the exclusive finish Daytona gray, matt effect. Two styling packages – matt aluminum and carbon – further customize the appearance. With these, the front center air inlet also sports a quattro badge. With the carbon styling package, the front splitter and the diffuser are somewhat more boldly shaped. Other options include the exterior mirrors with exposed carbon housings and the all-LED headlights, whose designer trims are tinted for a unique look.

The elegant dynamics carry over to the cockpit of the Audi RS 7 Sportback. The dial instruments have black faces, white scales and red needles. A 3D RS 7 logo in the tachometer is a further accent. The key, the flat-bottomed, three-spoke leather steering wheel, the illuminated door entry sills and the displays for the MMI and driver information system also sport RS badges. The driver information system includes a shift light, which indicates when the rev limit is reached. Displays for boost pressure and oil temperature plus a lap timer round out the RS 7-specific menu.

Colors and materials provide for further differentiation. The footrest, pedals and soft keys in the standard MMI navigation plus terminal shine in an aluminum-look finish. The decorative trim below the retractable monitor sports a piano finish.
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Carbon inlays are standard, with four additional materials available as options. The headlining comes standard in black cloth, with options for lunar silver or black Alcantara. Of course, the Audi RS 7 Sportback can also be personalized using the Audi exclusive program.

RS sport seats with pronounced side bolsters, integrated head restraints and RS 7 logos are standard. They are covered in a combination of black Alcantara and leather, and the center sections feature diamond quilting. The seats can also be covered alternatively in high-grade, honeycomb-quilted Valcona leather in either black or lunar silver. Audi offers optional power-adjustable comfort seats with memory function. The two rear seats are powerfully contoured. Luggage capacity ranges from 535 to 1,390 liters (18.89 to 49.09 cu ft) depending on the position of the rear seat backs.

The Audi RS 7 Sportback comes with a generous list of standard equipment, including xenon plus headlights, a tire pressure monitoring system, the parking system plus, three-zone automatic air conditioning, cruise control and the Audi sound system in addition to features mentioned previously. High-end options include a head-up display, a comfort package, the dynamic package and the dynamic package plus.

The Bluetooth online car phone is an ideal complement to the standard MMI navigation plus. Its UMTS module delivers the tailored Audi connect services to the on-board monitor, and a WLAN hotspot connects the passengers’ mobile devices. Topping the range of audio modules is the Advanced Sound System from Bang & Olufsen.

The Audi RS 7 Sportback also leads the pack when it comes to driver assistance systems. One of these is the adaptive cruise control with stop & go function including Audi pre sense front. This keeps the powerful coupe at the proper distance from the car ahead and in many situations can help to avoid accidents or mitigate their consequences.

Audi active lane assist helps the driver to keep the RS 7 Sportback on course. The park assist handles the steering when parking. The night vision assistant with highlighting of detected persons reduces the stress of driving in the dark. Audi side assist and the speed limit display round out the list.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

CES Highlight #3: Autos

By John Ellett, Contributor One of the big changes at CES this year was the arrival of the major auto makers. Given the amount of technology in cars today and increasingly tomorrow, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Of course there were amazing advances in in-car entertainment. Audi partnered with Bang & Olufsen to showcase […]
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Official: Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gains 4Matic grip, still barking mad

By Jonathon Ramsey

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Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic in both sedan and wagon variants. It’s best to get right to business, that being the numbers produced by the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 located in the engine bay of one of the fastest sedans in the world. The ‘base’ model gets a boost of 32 horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque for a final output of 550 hp and 531 lb-ft. A high performance S-Model – the US-market wagon will only be an S-Model – gets even more besides, putting out 577 hp and 590 lb-ft.

The standard sedan gets from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds, the S-Model sedan taking a tenth off.

All that power gets to the ground through the AMG Speedshift MCT dual-clutch transmission with Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Manual modes. The juice is then routed through the permanent “performance-oriented” all-wheel drive signified by the 4Matic moniker, which is biased 33/67 front-to-rear. The AWD system adds just 154 pounds to the car’s weight.

Not that you’d know it, nor mind. Put to use, the standard sedan gets from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds, the S-Model sedan taking a tenth off that time, the S-Model wagon matching it at 3.6 seconds. Top speed for the 550-hp sedan is an electronically-limited 155 mph, while the AMG Performance Package boosts that to an electronically-limited 186 mph. All models come with the AMG adaptive sports suspension – steel in front, air suspension in back – and electronically controlled damping and Torque Vectoring Brake system, the S-Model also gets a limited-slip rear differential.

Turning to other visceral matters, the new front face features all-LED headlights flanking the AMG twin-blade grille, those placed above the “A-wing” design element forming the lower intakes. The standard model rides on 10-spoke, 19-inch titanium gray alloys, the S-Model getting high-sheen rim flanges to set it apart. Other ways to tell the models with the extra power are their red brake calipers, high-gloss treatment on the A-wing and “S” badge on the trunk. Inside, one finds a black interior set off by contrasting gray stitching throughout, silver seat belts, flat-topped and flat-bottomed Nappa leather steering wheel with Alcantara inserts, and a 1,200-watt, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.

We’ll have more on it from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show. For now, amuse yourself with the detailed press release below and the high-res galleries of the E-Class AMG in its two flavors.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gains 4Matic grip, still barking mad

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gains 4Matic grip, still barking mad originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Audi at CES: Driverless Auto Parking, Matrix LED Headlamps, Next-Gen Infotainment, 3D Audio [2013 CES]

By Alexander Stoklosa

Audi virtual cockpit concept

Audi’s display stand at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show hosted a veritable cornucopia of new technologies ranging from new LED lighting to autonomous-driving capability, but all fell under a central theme: “electronics trends over the next decade.” Audi thinks all of the stuff it brought to CES will be available to customers within that time frame. Some of the tech is arriving this year, but the company’s driver-less features probably won’t arrive until much later. We’ve broken down Audi’s CES announcements by category:  

Audi Matrix LED headlight demo

LED Lighting Advancements

Audi is the manufacturer that brought LED accent lighting into vogue, and it plans to take things to the next level with what it’s calling the Matrix LED high-beam headlight. Even though it might look like a regular full-LED headlight unit, the Matrix has several tricks up its sleeve. It’s linked with a camera, which allows it to detect other cars and pedestrians. This allows the lights to automatically default to a brighter high-beam function; if other traffic or pedestrians are detected, the system can selectively shut off individual LEDs in the headlights to leave a break in the lights’ forward beam. This creates what can only be described as dynamic, choreographed shadows that “follows” the object or objects in front of the car until they are no longer in the path of the beam so as not to blind them. This same individualized LED manipulation affords Audi adaptive front lighting capability sans any mechanical swiveling hardware; the appropriate LEDs in the headlight clusters illuminate in sequence to create an aimed beam of light around corners. It’s all extremely trick, and even more compellingly, will make its production debut this year on the A8.

Audi Piloted Driving simulator

Piloted Driving

Second to car-app integration, this year’s auto-related CES news also focuses on self-driving cars. Lexus showed off an autonomous LS sedan, and Audi brought along news of its plans to introduce a traffic-jam assistance feature with low-speed (less than 37 mph) autonomous capability and a fully automated self-parking system that enables the car to go seek out a parking space sans driver or occupants. Audi also announced that it is the first automaker to get a license from the state of Nevada allowing it to test autonomous vehicles on public roads.

The traffic-jam assist feature was demonstrated with a simulator (seen above) and essentially mashes together Audi’s currently available adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, thereby steering to hold lanes as well as accelerating and braking the car to and from a stop. The system only will work if it thinks you’re in a traffic-heavy situation; if traffic disperses, it relinquishes control back to the driver.

Audi Piloted Driving self-parking function

As mentioned, the autonomous parking function will allow drivers to exit their vehicle before instructing the car to find and park itself in a roadside or garage space. Unlike Audi’s currently available self-parking feature, which manipulates the steering while drivers handle acceleration, braking, and shifting, the Piloted Driving parking (Piloted Parking?) feature turns the car into its own valet. For underground parking garages, Audi predicts the parking facilities themselves will need to contribute some info to the car to assist in finding a space; this is accomplished via WLAN-equipped garages . . . of the future. Or maybe the present—Audi currently is working to thus equip a parking garage in Ingolstadt. Either way, the intention is that the car will then drive itself out of the parking spot and back to its owner when called upon.

So how close to reality are Audi’s Piloted Driving functions? Not far off—Audi showed off the compact laser scanner it plans to put in production (it takes the place of the large robotic-looking tower seen on autonomous cars from Google and Lexus) and stated it’s nearly ready for manufacture. The company tentatively said to expect traffic-jam assist to arrive with its next-generation vehicles. The self-parking system could be implemented within only a few years, although we think reluctance on the part of parking-lot owners to spend cash to upfit their facilities as necessary may hold this one up some.



Cabin Technologies

Audi also debuted a host of fresh cabin technologies, ranging from the addition of 4G LTE connectivity for Audi Connect (coming this year, though to which markets isn’t yet clear) to display concepts like (glasses-free) 3D rear-seat entertainment screens and an OLED, camera-based rearview mirror that could soon show up in production cars. The automaker is already working on the second generation of the VW Group’s modular infotainment platform that debuted in the all-new A3 hatchback, and this new system (dubbed MIB 2) will incorporate an the even hotter NVIDIA-sourced Tegra 3 processor. (The A3′s system uses the Tegra 2.)

Finally, Audi demonstrated a prototype 3D audio system co-developed with Bang & Olufsen in a diesel Q7 crossover. Unlike 5.1 surround-sound or stereo, the 23-speaker, 1400-watt system (with four 3D loudspeakers) actually recreates three-dimensional sound. We briefly sampled the setup and can confirm that it is both hugely loud and hugely good at reproducing realistic sound qualities. The bumpin’ sound system will debut on a yet-unspecified Audi model next year.

2013 Consumer Electronics Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

B&O Play unleashes new speakers and TVs you probably can't afford

LAS VEGAS—Let’s just get this part out of the way—B&O Play products are expensive. And they also happen to look and sounds pretty great. The sister company to Bang & Olufsen brought some fancy new toys with it to CES this year, including a new HDTV and some lovely in-wall speakers

BeoVision 11

The BeoVision 11 is the follow up to last year’s BeoPlay V1, an HDTV that pays as much attention to its looks and built-in audio as it does to the video.

The 240Hz LED-based LCD screen supports 2D and 3D content, and a 360-degree Automatic Picture Control feature uses an ambient light sensor to adjust brightness and contrast based on light levels on all sides of the TV. The smart TV also supports DLNA media streaming and even has a dedicated cubby in the back to house an Apple TV. And Android users can take advantage of YouTube’s new Send to TV.

BeoVision 11

On the audio side, the BeoVision 11 features dual 3-way speakers, powered by six amplifiers with 32 watts of power each. You can also add multiple additional speakers, and the company’s TrueImage technology adapts the sound to the number of speakers you have (there were 10 extra speakers hooked up around the room for my demo), as well as assign speaker groups for different purposes.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld