2002 Audi TT Roadster

2002 Audi TT Roadster

The TT's styling is regarded by many as a watershed moment in automobile design. From its introduction as a concept car in 1995, and as a production car in 1998, the design was regarded by many as bold, innovative, and evolutionary. While the car borrowed a few design elements from earlier vehicles, the overall design was considered by many to be truly unique.

With its distinctive, rounded bodywork, bold use of bare aluminum (actually anodized aluminum), and a lack of defined bumpers, the TT represented a departure from much of the styling that dominated the car market at that time.The success and popularity of the TT's iconic design gave many automotive designers (and manufacturers) greater latitude to experiment with bold, distinctive design.

The TT's influence can be seen in the design elements of many vehicles released after the TT.The TT is often regarded as the vehicle that made people take a second look at Audi. No longer just a second-tier European maker, Audi emerged as a serious competitor for the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The then-new B5-platform A4 model was a substantial improvement on its Audi 80 predecessor; these two models firmly secured Audi's position as a prestige marque.

2002 Audi TT Roadster

2002 Audi S6 Avant

Audi S6 Avant

In 1997, Audi introduced the second generation S6 models. It was a complete re-design, and a new S6 appeared a year later on the new platform. It was powered by a 4.2 L 40 valve V8 engine with 340 PS (335 hp/250 kW) at 7000 rpm and 420 N·m (310 ft·lbf) at 3400 rpm, a variation of the engine from the A8. The vehicle could now go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and from 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in just 21.7 seconds. The top speed was electronically governed to 250 km/h (155 mph). Quattro was again standard, as was a six speed manual gearboxwith the optional 5-speed Tiptronic. Other features included a 10mm lower body, aluminum hood and front side panels, aluminum subframes and 255/40 ZR tires riding on 17" cast aluminum wheels.The second generation S6 went out of production in 2003.A higher performance RS6 was also available, using a twin-turbo version of the 4.2 L V8 engine.

2002 Audi S6 Avant

2002 Audi S6

Audi S6 (1998-2003)

In 1997, Audi introduced the second generation A6 models. It was a complete re-design, and a new S6 appeared a year later on the new platform. It was powered by a 4.2 L 40 valve V8 engine with 340 PS (335 hp/250 kW) at 7000 rpm and 420 N·m (310 ft·lbf) at 3400 rpm, a variation of the engine from the A8. The vehicle could now go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and from 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in just 21.7 seconds. The top speed was electronically governed to 250 km/h (155 mph). Quattro was again standard, as was a six speed manual gearboxwith the optional 5-speed Tiptronic. Other features included a 10mm lower body, aluminum hood and front side panels, aluminum subframes and 255/40 ZR tires riding on 17" cast aluminum wheels.The second generation S6 went out of production in 2003.A higher performance RS6 was also available, using a twin-turbo version of the 4.2 L V8 engine.

2002 Audi S6

2002 Audi S4 Avant

Audi S4 Avant 2002

The third generation, B6 platform S4 debuted in mid-2003. Despite having moved to yet another entirely new platform, the S4's most publicized new feature was its engine. It became available in three bodystyles for the 2004 model year: the S4 sedan, the S4 Avant wagon and a convertible, the Audi S4 Cabriolet.Replacing the 2.7 L bi-turbo V6 engine of the previous generation S4 was a 4.2 L, 40-valve V8 based on the unit from the A8 and producing 344 PS (253 kW/340 hp), making it more potent than either the S6 Plus or RS2 and nearly as powerful as the B5 platform RS4.

With such abundant power on tap, the B6 S4 could accelerate quickly enough to meet or beat the times of most sports cars. Road tests conducted by American automotive magazines indicated that it could go from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, and make it to 200 km/h (124 mph) in slightly over 20 seconds.Like its predecessors, the model was standard with a six-speed manual and Quattro, the Tiptronic transmission remained an option. The B6 platform S4 was replaced by the B7 platform S4 in late-2005.

2002 Audi S4 Avant

2002 Audi S4

Audi S4 2002

The third generation, B6 platform S4 debuted in mid-2003. Despite having moved to yet another entirely new platform, the S4's most publicized new feature was its engine. It became available in three bodystyles for the 2004 model year: the S4 sedan, the S4 Avant wagon and a convertible, the Audi S4 Cabriolet.Replacing the 2.7 L bi-turbo V6 engine of the previous generation S4 was a 4.2 L, 40-valve V8 based on the unit from the A8 and producing 344 PS (253 kW/340 hp), making it more potent than either the S6 Plus or RS2 and nearly as powerful as the B5 platform RS4.

With such abundant power on tap, the B6 S4 could accelerate quickly enough to meet or beat the times of most sports cars. Road tests conducted by American automotive magazines indicated that it could go from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, and make it to 200 km/h (124 mph) in slightly over 20 seconds.Like its predecessors, the model was standard with a six-speed manual and Quattro, the Tiptronic transmission remained an option. The B6 platform S4 was replaced by the B7 platform S4 in late-2005.

2002 Audi S4

2002 Audi S3

2002 Audi S3 (8L)

The first generation S3 is built on the same A platform of the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf, Audi TT, SEAT León and Škoda Octavia. The straight-4 20V 1.8 L turbocharged petrol engine comes in two versions of power output: 210 bhp and 225 bhp. Early models (1999-2002) had 210 bhp which is said to be de-tuned Audi TT engine and was specifically reduced to lessen brand competition with the more powerful TT. Later models (2002-2003) had variable valve timing and 225 bhp. The engine provides a maximum 280 N•m of torque, most of which is available from 2200 through to 5500 rpm. This is the first time a small four-cylinder engine has been used in an Audi S-series car.Although dubbed Quattro, the S3 uses a different four-wheel drive system. The Haldex coupling adjusts the bias from the front to rear axle as grip changes - most of the time it operates as a front-wheel drive.With compact dimensions and a wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustments, piloting the S3 is hardly different to any other hot hatch. The S3 was sold in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, but was not officially marketed in the United States.The S3 was facelifted in 2001, where it was given one-piece headlights/indicator units, different front wings, rear lights clusters and some minor upgrades to interior trim (e.g. a digital clock and audio packages).

Equipment

Standard features include xenon HID headlamps with high pressure washers, front fog lamps, 17 in "Avus" alloy wheels with 225/45R17 tires, electrically adjustable Recaro leather seats, climate control, alarm and electronic traction control/stability program. Options include a Bose sound system, boot/trunk mounted 6 disc CD changer, metallic paint, 18 inch 9-spoke RSTT wheels, glass sunroof, centre arm rest, auto dipping rear view mirror, parking assist, luggage net, heated front seats, cruise control, aluminium door mirror casings and part leather/Alcantara (blue/silver/yellow) combination seat coverings.

2002 Audi S3

2002 Audi RS6 Sedan

Audi RS6 (1998-2003)

In 1997, Audi introduced the second generation A6 models. It was a complete re-design, and a new S6 appeared a year later on the new platform. It was powered by a 4.2 L 40 valve V8 engine with 340 PS (335 hp/250 kW) at 7000 rpm and 420 N·m (310 ft·lbf) at 3400 rpm, a variation of the engine from the A8. The vehicle could now go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and from 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in just 21.7 seconds. The top speed was electronically governed to 250 km/h (155 mph).

Quattro was again standard, as was a six speed manual gearboxwith the optional 5-speed Tiptronic. Other features included a 10mm lower body, aluminum hood and front side panels, aluminum subframes and 255/40 ZR tires riding on 17" cast aluminum wheels.The second generation S6 went out of production in 2003.A higher performance RS6 was also available, using a twin-turbo version of the 4.2 L V8 engine.

2002 Audi RS6 Sedan

2002 Audi RS6 Avant

2002 Audi RS6 Avant

The Audi RS6 Avant was a high-performance version of Audi's 2nd generation (1997-2005) A6, and was available as both a sedan and a wagon (called Avant by Audi). It was second at the top of the A6 lineup, above the A6 2.7T and 4.2 and the lesser S6, and was exceeded in power and price only by the RS6 Plus. It effectively replaced both the S6 4.2 and S6 Plus models of 1995.The RS6 featured a twin-turbocharged version of the corporate 4.2 Litre V8 engine tuned by Cosworth Technologies (Now known as Mahle Powertrain), which had originally been developed for the 1994 A8.

With the aid of the turbochargers, output rose to 444 hp (331 kW) and 415 ft·lbf (560 Nm) of torque. The combination of the V-8 and the turbochargers helped give the RS6 an exceptionally wide power band, with peak torque available from 1950 to 5600 RPMs.The RS6 was available only with Audi's Quattro All-Wheel Drive system and a 5-speed "Tiptronic" transmission, the same unit that was being used in the W12 powered A8, chosen because none of Audi's manual transmissions could cope with the RS6's high torque output.

The RS6 also served as the debut model for Audi's Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) system. The system is mainly mechanical, and uses a pump to keep pressure in the shock abosorbers during cornering to counteract rolling and pitching. The system is "intelligent", it is able to adjust the stiffness at each shock absorber constantly to maintain both a comfortable ride and high grip. However, DRC's main advantage is that it operates without the need for most of the complicated electronics required in similar systems from Mercedes Benz and other competitors.According to testing by Car and Driver magazine, the RS6 can accelerate from 0 - 60 mph (0 - 96.6 km/h) in just 4.4 seconds, 0 - 100 in 10.7 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), however the vehicle can reportedly hit 170 miles per hour or more in unlimited form. I

t can stop from 60 mph (96.6 to 0 km/h) in 118 feet (35.97m), thanks to its large 365/335 mm (14.4/13.2 in) front/rear brakes, and an uncommon eight-piston design in the front.There was also an RS6 Plus version of the car producing over 480 bhp and topping 180 mph. The car came only as an avant and was sold only in European markets. It lasted for just one model year but quickly sold out once it was released.New versions of the S6 and RS6 will soon be in development, based on the new A6 platform, which was introduced in 2005 for the 2006 model year.

While about 8000 RS6s were produced worldwide, approximately 1,200 units were sold in North America. A small community of RS6 owners exists in North America and some refer to the vehicle as "The Beast" or "The Lord of the Rings" (in reference to Audi's interlocking ring logo). RS stands for RennSport - Racing in German, fitting as the RS line of cars from Audi are the most performance oriented of all Audis.

Awards

The 4.2 V8 engine in its base configuration was named as one of the Ward’s Auto World "10 Best Engines for 2005".The RS6's combination of performance, handling (AWD), luxury and available space are unique and it was chosen over its closest competitors, the BMW M5, Jaguar S-Type R, and Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG by Car and Driver magazine.

2002 Audi RS6 Avant