All-wheel-drive makes for even stronger all-round appeal in the Audi TT with TDI engines.

All-wheel-drive makes for even stronger all-round appeal in TT TDI with appropriately sporting performance and uncommon economy

• All-wheel drive in Audi TT 2.0TDI with 184PS extends the range
• Strong performance and excellent traction combined with high efficiency
• Opens for UK ordering in early 2017 - UK pricing TBC -  first deliveries in spring

Fun, frugal and now driving all four wheels for optimal all-weather performance – the ever- popular TT 2.0 TDI with its blend of compelling pace and level-headed economy is now also available with the reassurance of quattro drive. 

Coupe and Roadster versions of the new TT 2.0 TDI quattro will become available for UK ordering early in 2017 and will reach their first customers here next spring.

The new quattro-equipped duo will complement the existing front-wheel-driven TT 2.0 TDI ultra models, which will continue alongside them. 

Where these are equipped exclusively with six-speed manual transmission, the new 2.0 TDI quattro variants use a six-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission without exception.

The quattro drive uses an electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch to distribute the torque to both axles. In many everyday driving situations, it will direct the engine’s power predominantly to the front wheels. Should traction decrease there, the clutch continuously redirects the torque to the rear within a few milliseconds.

At the limit, the quattro system operates in tandem with wheel-selective torque control, an intelligent software feature of the Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC). This makes handling even more fluid and stable thanks to targeted, accurately metered brake applications to the wheels on the inside of the bend. On low-friction surfaces, the permanent all-wheel drive system even allows safe, controlled drifts.

quattro integrated into Audi drive select

The clutch management is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamic handling system which is a standard feature of all UK specification TT models. This allows the driver to select Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency and Individual modes which modify the character of their TT. As well as governing the all-wheel-drive system, Audi drive select influences throttle response, steering assistance and S tronic transmission shift points. It also integrates several optional modules such as the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper control and the deluxe automatic air conditioning.

The compelling performance of the Audi TT stems from its combination of quattro drive and the refined flow of power from the four-cylinder diesel engine. Its 184PS output is combined with plentiful torque of 380 Nm (280.3 lb-ft) available between 1,750 and 3,250 rpm. The common rail system injects the fuel through eight-hole nozzles at up to 2,000 bar. 

The high pressure paves the way for fine atomisation, making the combustion process efficient and low on emissions. The intercooler is located in the intake manifold module. 

Along with the compact design, this arrangement achieves short gas paths, effective control processes and therefore instantaneous response coupled with high efficiency.

The TT Coupé 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 6.7 seconds and goes on to clock up a top speed of 145mph.

The Roadster accomplishes the standard sprint in 7.0 seconds and continues to a top speed of 142mph. In the Coupé, the 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic achieves fuel consumption of 54.3mpg according to the NEDC measuring method, which equates to 137 grams of CO₂ per kilometre. 

For the TT Roadster, the figures are 52.3mpg and 142 g CO₂ per kilometre.

Even before the introduction of the new 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic models, the world renowned quattro system was already the choice of one in every two Audi customers worldwide. Taking into account the newcomers the Audi TT portfolio now comprises seven engine/transmission variants, of which five are petrol versions. The many advantages of quattro drive can already be enjoyed in TT 2.0 TFSI 252PS and 310PS TTS models.

Alfa Romeo takes it upgraded MiTo and makes a piece if art, view the process and finished picture here.

• To launch the new Alfa MiTo in the UK, Alfa Romeo pushed the performance of its stylish three door supermini to the limit with a driving challenge with a twist
• A masked pro-driver used Alfa Romeo’s exclusive D.N.A driving mode selector to create a MiTo Work of Art, all captured using the new dual camera on the iPhone 7 Plus
• The new Alfa MiTo is available to order now from Alfa Romeo showrooms with prices starting from £12,960 OTR

Alfa Romeo put the stylish three door supermini, which features a new look and more technology, to the test in a unique video to show how the new Alfa MiTo’s urban style and strong personality puts fun back into drivers’ hands.

To capture the new Alfa MiTo’s dynamic spirit and driving capabilities when it comes to performance and agility, the Italian manufacturer placed the spirited supermini in the hands of a masked pro-driver to tackle a warehouse course of colourful powder and paint, and ultimately create an Alfa MiTo work of art. 

In an industry first, the video was captured using the new dual camera feature on the water resistant new iPhone 7 Plus and compatible accessories.

The new Alfa MiTo is equipped with Alfa Romeo’s unique D.N.A system, a driving mode selector which adapts the vehicle’s performance to suit the driver’s style and road conditions.

Starting in Dynamic mode, the new Alfa MiTo blasted through the powder circuit with ease, showing off its sporty performance and stylish new look.

Once the All-Weather mode was selected, the slippery paint also proved no challenge to the new Alfa MiTo thanks to the mode’s improved control and handling in adverse weather conditions. The paint stage also put the iPhone 7’s new water resistant handset to the test.

Damien Dally, Alfa Romeo UK Country Manager said, “This demonstration of the new Alfa MiTo’s agility and performance shows the quality of the technology at play in our cars and highlights how the stylish, dynamic new Alfa MiTo can be ready for anything at the flick of a switch.”

The new Alfa MiTo has a stand-out style with a new sports grille, new alloy wheel designs and new badging emulating the style of the highly anticipated Alfa Romeo Giulia. The new range consists of four trim levels (MiTo, Super, Speciale and the range-topping Veloce) with interior updates including enhanced detailing, new upholsteries and improved technologies.

The range becomes even more tempting with the introduction of an updated 1.3-litre JTDM-2 diesel with increased output of 95hp and lower emissions of just 89g/km. 

The new Alfa MiTo is available to order now from Alfa Romeo showrooms, priced from £12,960 OTR. For more information on the full Alfa Romeo range or to book a test drive, visit alfaromeo.co.uk.

The most powerful Audi TT RS ever made is set to open the order books in the UK from the end of the month.

Much loved five-cylinder configuration is retained in the latest Audi Sport flagship delivering supercar-style pace with quattro adhesion

• Most powerful TT ever to enter series production set to open for UK order in late September – Coupé priced at £51,800 OTR, Roadster at £53,550 OTR
• Five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI linked to a seven-speed S tronic transmission produces 400PS and 480Nm between 1,700 and 5,850rpm
• Power-to-weight 277PS per ton, 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds (Roadster 3.9 seconds), potential top speed of 174mph (with optional package), up to 34.4mpg, CO₂ from 187g/km
• TT RS is the first series production Audi available with OLED rear lights

Character-building five-cylinder power continues to be the lifeblood of the Audi TT RS, which can be ordered in the UK from late September in all-new, 400PS form priced from £51,800 OTR and will touch down here in November. 

Available as before in Coupé and Roadster form, the most powerful series production TT to date merits comparison with the supercar elite with its sub-four-second acceleration capability and potential 174mph top speed, and offers a similarly exclusive specification that fittingly also brings the option of new Audi Matrix OLED lighting technology on stream for the first time.

Lighter than its predecessor by 26kg, thanks in large part to the integration of an aluminium crankcase, the newly developed five-cylinder, 2.5-litre TFSI engine with dual injection and Audi Valvelift technology brings to bear a 17 per cent increase in performance in the latest TT RS.

The considerable uplift in power and torque - from 340PS in the outgoing ‘standard’ car to 400PS and from 450Nm to 480Nm - facilitates a searing 0-62mph sprint time of 3.7 seconds (Roadster 3.9 seconds) on the way to a governed top speed of 155mph.

This peak can be raised to 174mph if the optional Dynamic Package Plus is specified. 

The cost-effective package also includes a sports exhaust system which helps to further distil the very essence of this car, namely its addictively offbeat five-cylinder engine note.  

In the interest of performance the weight of the seven-speed S tronic transmission which deftly manages the engine’s formidable output has also been reduced by around 2kg thanks to a new angle drive to the prop shaft. 

Its shift characteristics can be tailored to the driver’s requirements via the Audi Drive Select adaptive dynamics system, which offers Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual modes. 

These also have a bearing on the operating parameters of the RS-specific progressive steering, the throttle, the exhaust flaps and the quattro all-wheel drive system.

In the TT RS quattro takes the form of a multi-plate clutch-based system capable of freely distributing power between the axles for incisive, high-grip handling. 

It works with wheel-selective torque control which also favours agility, and with an elaborate suspension configuration that firmly affixes the car to the road without compromising its innate adjustability.

Optional Audi magnetic ride

The body of the TT RS sits ten millimetres lower than the entry level TT, and this also applies when the Dynamic Package incorporating RS sport suspension plus with Audi magnetic ride is specified. 

Employing special dampersfilled with synthetic oil in which magnetic particles that can be influenced by a magnetic field are suspended, Audi magnetic ride is able to adapt the damper’s operating characteristic to the profile of the road and style of the driver at millisecond intervals. 

It is another feature that can be modulated using the onboard Audi Drive Select system.

The lowered body ensures that the standard 19-inch cast wheels with their five-arm polygon design fill their arches even more amply. 

They are available in either silver, matt titanium look or gloss anthracite black finishes, as are the 20-inch 7-spoke rotor design alternatives which are exclusively available on the TT RS as an option.

Within the impactful wheels are fittingly forceful brakes, the front internally ventilated, perforated steel discs with eight-piston calipers measuring 370 millimetres in diameter and the monobloc discs at the rear 310mm. 

Stainless steel pins join the friction ring to the aluminium brake disc chambers to dissipate the heat quickly. Carbon ceramic front discs which are particularly abrasion-resistant and light are available as an option for especially committed drivers.

Assertively aerodynamic

The intense concentration of power that all these features help to harness warrants a raft of special exterior applications which clearly define the TT RS as the front-runner in the TT line-up, and also help the car to cleanly pierce the air with an impressive 0.32 or 0.33 c_d value depending on version. 

Standout features include the large air inlets, a Singleframe grille with a newly designed honeycomb lattice and quattro logo, aerodynamically-shaped side sills and of course a fixed rear wing sitting on two thin double struts. 

Owners keen to play down the performance potential at their disposal can swap this for the automatically extending spoiler familiar from the ‘mainstream’ TT models if required. 

Beneath this is a striking bumper with a strongly profiled diffuser insert with four vertical fins flanked by the large bore elliptical tailpipes of the RS exhaust system.

The stocky body can be specified in a choice of nine ‘standard’ colours, including the RS-specific tones Nardo grey and Catalunya red, metallic. In addition to this, numerous customised paint finishes are available through the Audi exclusive programme. 

All can be combined with optional matt aluminium and gloss black styling packages which soften or darken the look of the Singleframe grille surround, RS rear spoiler blade and diffuser insert.

Inside, the super sports seats upholstered in Fine Nappa leather and the TT RS sport leather and Alcantara steering wheel with its new integral ‘satellite’ buttons for engine start/stop and Audi Drive Select functions are the first to grab attention.

From the comfort of the driving seat the fully digital Audi virtual cockpit with its 12.3-inch high definition also quickly makes its presence felt – it provides a choice of three views, including a special RS screen that highlights the rev counter and provides additional performance data plus a shift light which informs the driver when the rev limit has been reached. 

Upon request, the RS screen can also display individual tyre pressures.

The virtual cockpit displays mapping from the MMI navigation plus system which is standard for UK TT RS models in full ‘wide screen’ format. 

It also serves as the interface for the Audi Connect online services which are included as standard on a three-year subscription basis and can be extended at the end of the term.  

Highlights of Audi Connect include Google Earth mapping and Google Street View, online weather updates, travel information and news, access to Twitter and integration of a Wi-Fi hotspot for in-car web browsing on personal devices.

Key technology options include the Audi phone box, which enables compatible mobile phones to be charged inductively and paired with the onboard antennae for optimal reception, and the new Audi smartphone interface displaying selected apps from a user’s handset directly in the Audi virtual cockpit. 

The Bang & Olufsen sound system is another highlight for fans of excellent acoustics.

New feature: Matrix OLED lights

Another milestone technological development is also available to enhance the exterior of the TT RS. It can be specified with Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) rear lights which make their Audi series production debut here. 

These advanced new lamps in 3D design comprise four wafer-thin units, the largest of which bears the TT logo and the four Audi rings. 

They emit an extremely homogeneous, high-contrast light which can be continuously dimmed, does not cast any shadows and does not require any reflectors, making them both efficient and visually impressive.

The new Matrix OLED units are available as an alternative to the ‘standard’ LED rear lamps with their dynamic rear indicators, and in a similar vein the standard LED headlights can also be replaced on request by Matrix LED lamps containing 12 separate controllable LEDs which form the high beam and can be individually shut off when sensors detect traffic ahead or approaching, to ‘divert’ their beam around other road users.

GLOHH, the specialist automotive lighting manufacturers, has designed new tail lights for the 2005-2013 Range Rover Sport.

• September 2016 marks the official worldwide launch of the GL-3 Dynamic taillight.

GLOHH, the specialist automotive lighting manufacturers, have given one of their most sought-after lighting products an exciting facelift. 

After the global success of the original GL-3 taillight, the team at GLOHH are once again introducing a world first for the Range Rover Sport with the release of the GL-3 Dynamic. Designed exclusively for the L320 2005-2013 models, the new-look GL-3 taillight features the innovative Dynamic Flow Indicator. 

Incorporating both precision engineering and sleek aesthetics, the new GL-3 Dynamic is primed to become the universal must-have lighting accessory for Range Rover Sport owners.

For maximum visual impact, the GL-3 Dynamic features an innovative flow indicator consisting of a strip of LEDs. The 24 LEDs are aligned in blocks of four and programmed to light up in succession each time the indicator or hazard warning lights are in use. 

Controlled by a microprocessor, the sequence of light lasting 350ms flows in the direction of intended travel. The 20% increase in length from the previous model, delivers a fluid stream of light improving visibility of your vehicle even in low-light conditions and over long distances. 

The addition of the dynamic indicator offers a sophisticated and technologically advanced lighting solution for the Range Rover Sport, enhancing safety credentials and satisfying high demand for distinctive products that fuse style and function.

Azhar Ahmad, Glohh’s Marketing Manager said “The original GL-3 taillight was never just a fashion accessory for Range Rover Sport drivers - this intuitive rear light cluster provided users with a sleek look, improved power efficiency and an easy plug and play installation. 

It was only natural to us that our new edition should evolve further. Incorporating the dynamic indicator feature adds an additional layer of safety and the new fog lights offer greater visibility when you need it most. 

Fine adjustments have also been made to the outer lens, brake light and the three glowing elements making the GL-3 Dynamic essentially uncompromised”.

GLOHH creates products that fulfil the desire to be unique, keeping the leading edge through combining strong aesthetics with high performance, safety and efficiency. Behind the scenes, engineers are developing products including an innovative taillight design for the new Range Rover Sport L494 which was released in 2013. 

As with its predecessors, this future release promises to deliver powerful visual impact through masterful engineering.

Merfyn Williams, Head of Product Communications at Glohh adds, “Innovation is in our DNA. We are always looking to develop products that reflect our customers’ quest for the extraordinary. By fusing the latest in light technology with the distinctive GLOHH design, we are confident that buyers and fans alike will fall in love with the avant-garde GL-3 Dynamic.”

For now, the GL-3 Dynamic will officially launch worldwide this summer and will be making its debut in the UK where demand for the first generation GL-3 taillight was particularly high. 

The GL-3 Dynamic will be available from the GLOHH website for just $898.00USD, €849.00 and £649.00GBP. To celebrate the official launch of the GL-3 Dynamic taillight, Glohh is exclusively offering free shipping to all buyers who purchase viawww.glohh.com in the month of September 2016. 

Most powerful Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic joins 2017 line up with Semi-autonomous driving features

• Most powerful Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic joins 2017 line up
• Semi-autonomous driving features and connected-car technology
• Innovative off-road and towing systems
• On sale from Q4 2016, with prices starting from £76,350 for the TDV6 Vogue with SVAutobiography Dynamic starting from £132,800

For 2017, Range Rover, the world’s most successful luxury SUV with over a million sales worldwide receives a suite of advanced semi-autonomous driving technologies and the introduction of the new Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic.

Epitomising Range Rover luxury and performance, the new SVAutobiography Dynamic model is the most powerful, most dynamic production Range Rover to date. 

The SVAutobiography Dynamic marries the finest attention to detail with elegant and luxurious materials including diamond quilted leather seats, contrast stitching and a knurled finish rotary shift controller and pedals.

Powered by a 550HP V8 supercharged engine, the SVAutobiography Dynamic, through specially configured suspension, delivers the ultimate combination of performance and handling without compromising Range Rover’s peerless comfort and refinement delivering a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds.

2017 Range Rover technologies in detail:

Range Rover continues to cement its peerless all-terrain capability through a host of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Standard driver assistance technologies include Rear Park Distance Control, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, Lane Departure Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). 

This intelligent technology uses a forward facing camera to detect a risk of collision and warn the driver initiating full emergency braking if the driver fails to respond.

The additional ‘Drive Pack’ includes existing features such as Blind Spot Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition and Reverse 

Traffic Detection, and new technology including Intelligent Speed Limiter, which uses the Traffic Sign Recognition hardware to automatically adjust the vehicle speed to meet the prevailing speed limit.

Also included in the Drive Pack is Driver Condition Monitor which analyses data such as steering inputs and road speed, as well as taking account of the time of day, to warn against driver fatigue.

The ‘Drive Pro Pack’ takes the features of the Drive Pack and adds Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and Intelligent Emergency Braking. 

Range Rovers fitted with Drive Pro Pack also benefit from Blind Spot Assist which automatically applies counter steering if the driver begins to change lane into the path of a following vehicle, and Lane Keep Assist which provides gentle, corrective steering input if it detects the vehicle is drifting across the white lines.

Advanced Tow Assist takes any anxiety out of the difficult task of reversing while towing a trailer. Using the vehicle’s existing Surround Camera System, this technology enables drivers to guide a trailer into position with minimal effort. 

By following the trajectory lines overlaid on an image from the rear-facing camera displayed on the central touchscreen, Advanced Tow Assist is able to automatically steer the vehicle to follow the path selected by the driver using the dash-mounted rotary Terrain Response selector.

Low Traction Launch is a manually selectable driving mode designed to assist drivers when pulling away from a standstill on slippery surfaces such as wet grass, snow or ice. By controlling the amount of torque that can be applied by the driver, the system reduces the likelihood of wheelspin to maintain traction and ensure smooth acceleration.

The feature can be accessed independently through the central touchscreen and the driver is prompted to engage Low Traction Launch whenever Grass/Gravel/Snow mode is selected using Terrain Response 2. The system remains active until the vehicle reaches 30km/h.

The introduction of Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘InControl Touch Pro’ infotainment system delivers improved satellite navigation functionality and connectivity. 

The fast, intuitive operation is augmented by the new larger 10-inch dual-view* touchscreen display, alternatively users can choose to enhance their view of the navigation system by selecting to convert the digital display behind the steering wheel to a full-screen view of their route and map, increasing visibility and minimising distraction from the road ahead.

As part of an ‘InControl Connect Pro’ pack, InControl Touch Pro incorporates a series of new app services to Range Rover. 

InControl Remote Premium allows customers to remotely control vehicle functions such as activating the climate control to cool or heat the car ready for departure, set and deactivate the alarm, and even start the engine. 

The app will alert owners if their vehicle alarm has been triggered.

Additional InControl Touch Pro Services include live apps that can be downloaded to provide information such as headline news, weather reporting and flight tracking.

InControl Touch Pro also features ‘door-to-door routing’, an intelligent, multi-device system that navigates users to their destination whether they be on foot or behind the wheel, thanks to a Land Rover-dedicated smartphone Route Planner app.

‘Commute mode’ automatically learns frequently-used routes and recommends the most efficient route dependent on live traffic data, then shares the driver’s destination, arrival time and current location with friends, family and colleagues via a live messaging system through the driver’s smartphone.

Additional Engine Choice

In addition to the existing engine line-up, UK customers will have the option of specifying Jaguar Land Rover's 3.0 litre V6 supercharged petrol engine. The V6 achieves 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque combined with CO₂emissions of 248g/km. Effortless acceleration and power delivery produces a 0-60 time of 7.1s. 

The 3.0 litre V6 engine features lightweight all-aluminium construction and combines supercharging with direct-injection and variable intake, and exhaust valve timing to deliver exceptional throttle response, linear power delivery and a unique soundtrack. A single balancer shaft enhances smooth-running and refinement befitting the Range Rover badge.

Unique colours and finishes:

The level of personalisation available for 2017 Model Year Range Rover is taken to new heights with the introduction of new exterior finishes available through Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division.

19 new colours give customers more choice of metallic and pearlescent colours, widely available in either gloss or satin matte finishes. The additional palette ranges from traditional shades to bolder, more contemporary choices.

New SVAutobiography Dynamic in detail:

The SVAutobiography Dynamic is the most powerful production Range Rover to date. Its potent 550HP 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine is shared with the acclaimed Range Rover Sport SVR. 

The engine has been specifically calibrated and delivers 680Nm of torque, powering the SVAutobiography Dynamic from 0-60mph in only 5.1 seconds with a top speed of a 140mph. 

It is paired with ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission for seamless gear changes and supreme performance.

Mark Stanton, Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, said: “The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic has been specially developed by the Special Vehicle Operations team to deliver a more engaging driving experience. It delivers the ultimate combination of performance and Range Rover luxury, befitting its unique position in the portfolio.”

Jaguar Land Rover’s SVO division has fine-tuned the suspension to achieve the optimum combination of performance and comfort. Revisions to the knuckles, links, springs and dampers provide a lower ride height (8mm lower than standard) and more immediate responses.

SVAutobiography Dynamic also features two driver-focused technologies designed to deliver improved body control and agility. 

Dynamic Response improves vehicle handling and occupant comfort by reducing the amount of body lean during cornering. The system controls the front and rear axles independently, delivering increased low-speed agility, superior high-speed stability and greater steering precision. 

Adaptive Dynamics monitors vehicle movements up to 500 times a second, reacting to driver inputs and changes in the road surface to provide greater control without compromising Range Rover’s peerless refinement.

The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is identified by a series of unique exterior features. 

The side vents, bonnet finisher, grille, front bumper accents, ‘Range Rover’ script and tailgate finisher are all finished in Graphite Atlas. Customers have a choice of 21 and 22-inch alloy wheel designs, as well as three unique finishes. 

The SVAutobiography Dynamic is also the first Range Rover available with eye-catching red brake calipers and Brembo brake technology.

The interior takes Range Rover to new heights of desirability and refinement. Diamond quilted leather seats with contrast stitching are available in four exclusive colourways, offset by Grand Black veneer front fascia and door casings and flashes of red to interior details and paddle shifters to denote its dynamic characteristics.  

In addition, key features, such as the rotary shift controller, start stop button and pedals have a knurled finish.

In keeping with its more purposeful character, the SVAutobiography Dynamic features bright chrome quad tailpipes that have been optimised to enhance its distinctive V8 soundtrack.

*Dual-view features on Vogue SE models and upwards