Infiniti reaffirms its commitment to the success of the Renault Formula One race team.

• INFINITI reaffirmed its long-term technical partnership with Renault Sport Formula One at the Team’s new race car unveil today.
• The all-new R.S.17 incorporates for the first time the INFINITI co-developed second generation Energy Recovery System.
• INFINITI also provides the Renault Sport Formula One Team with new and diverse talent through its highly successful INFINITI Engineering Academy.

INFINITI has reaffirmed once again its long-term technical partnership with the Renault Sport Formula One Team at the team’s 2017 race car unveil and driver line up presentation in London today.

Following the successful debut of the INFINITI and Renault Sport Racing collaboration in 2016, the newly launched R.S.17 introduces for the first time the INFINITI co-developed second generation Energy Recovery System (ERS).

This new generation ERS has been developed by the team together with a group of INFINITI Performance Hybrid technology engineers based at the Renault Sport Racing powertrain R&D facilities in Viry-Châtillon (France), and will be in use from the upcoming 2017 season.

“Performance Hybrid technology is one of INFINITI’s major strengths,” said Tommaso Volpe, INFINITI Global Motorsport Director. “We launched our first performance hybrid car in 2011 and we were the first car manufacturer to use this technology to boost performance rather than to reduce consumption; so when the Renault Sport Formula One Team decided to develop their ERS technology in-house, INFINITI emerged as the perfect partner to support them, as part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

“We are gaining invaluable experience in Performance Hybrid technology as a result of the collaboration with the Team, and this experience is being transferred back to our core business to improve future technology.”

Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director of the Renault Sport Formula One Team, also commented: “The Energy Recovery System element of our Formula 1 Power Unit is extremely complex and INFINITI has brought significant experience and expertise in hybrid technology to the team. The INFINITI engineers based in our facilities are working very closely with our engineering team and playing a key role in extracting the maximum possible performance from our ERS.”

In addition to its expertise in Performance Hybrid technology, INFINITI also brings an international diversity of young, fresh-thinking engineering talent to the Renault Sport Formula One Team through its highly successful INFINITI Engineering Academy.

The 2017 will be the fourth edition of this global recruitment program that offers engineering students from all over the world a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a unique automotive-to-Formula 1 placement, thanks to the technical partnership and collaboration between the two companies. In fact, a key pillar of the INFINITI Engineering Academy is exploring crossover opportunities and the sharing of technology between INFINITI road car and Renault Sport Formula One Team race car projects.

“For INFINITI this is very strategic collaboration: we are part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance and with this partnership we extend the important technical synergy of the Alliance also to Formula 1, generating together R&D on hybrid technology”, concluded Volpe.

The 2nd Generation Aston Martin Vanquish S, just gets better and better, and is now the ultimate in sporting beauty.

• Power of naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre V12 engine increased to 600PS  
• Suspension set-up honed to deliver greater poise and precision
• Exterior features new exposed carbon fibre splitter and diffuser, plus striking new quad exhaust outlets

Aston Martin has turned up the heat on it’s ultimate Super GT to create the new Vanquish S. Sharper styling, greater potency and increased athleticism define this latest evolution of an illustrious model line. 

One that originated from Aston Martin’s legendary Works in Newport Pagnell and has proudly served as standard bearer for the marque’s sporting and stylistic values since 2001.

In this, the second generation Vanquish’s evolution to S specification, careful attention has been paid to the engine, chassis and aerodynamics to create a machine honed to deliver more intense thrills and even more scintillating performance.

Central to this is the naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre V12 engine, which now produces up to 600PS (up from 573PS) and enjoys sensational throttle response, thanks to a revised, freer-breathing intake system. These larger volume inlet manifolds allow a greater volume of air to flow into the engine at high revs, creating a relentless power delivery and a stronger feel all the way to the redline.

Building on this increased intensity, the calibration of the 8-speed Touchtronic III transmission has been revised to deliver faster gearshifts and greater refinement at low speeds for a greater sense of precision and immediacy.

Likewise, the suspension, damper internals, spring rates and anti-roll bar bushes have also been re-tuned to give the Vanquish S a keener edge in the more sporting suspension modes, without compromising its ability to deliver supple ride quality on demand.

Visually the Vanquish S can be readily distinguished by a new aerodynamic package. Fashioned from exposed carbon fibre, this revised front splitter and rear diffuser combine to deliver a meaningful reduction in frontal lift with a minimal penalty in additional drag. Combined with visually striking new quad exhaust outlets the Vanquish S has more aggressive appearance, entirely fitting for Aston Martin’s most overtly sporting GT production model.

This look can be further enhanced with a range of new options. These include carbon fibre bonnet louvres, new forged 5-spoke diamond turned wheels and a choice of striking painted graphics packs. A new Vanquish S badge sits proudly on the tailgate as the perfect piece of jewellery.

Inside, the Vanquish S can be further personalised with a choice of spectacular new ‘Filograph’ quilted leather and the use of new materials and finishes, such as the Satin Chopped Carbon Fibre fascia panel. Sumptuous Bridge of Weir Caithness leather offers an added touch of luxury and tactility, while Vanquish S embroidery on the headrests provides a crafted finishing detail.

Dr. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President & CEO said: “From the moment the original Vanquish was launched it became a modern icon. It propelled Aston Martin from an era of hand-built cars to one where craftsmanship and technology combined to create a new kind of great British GT.

“In its second generation the Vanquish maintained that momentum with huge engineering advances such as its all-carbon fibre bodywork and compelling, contemporary styling. Now, the Vanquish S takes things a step further, confidently asserting itself within the Aston Martin range and distinguishing itself from the new DB11. A spectacular machine in every sense, the Vanquish S is a magnificent addition to our range.”   

Vanquish S is available in both Coupe and Volante and recommended retail price starts from £199,950 in the UK, €262,950 in Germany and $294,950 in the US. Deliveries will commence in December 2016.

Audi launches the second generation A5 and S5, with improved looks, technology and responsive power plants.

• Classic design details, such as the power dome and wave-design shoulder line, have been reimagined for the second generation
• The athleticism of the all-new Audi A5 design is matched by two new engines, a 252 horsepower TFSI® four-cylinder engine on the A5 and a 354 hp TFSI® V6 on the S5
• Full suite of standard and available driver assistance systems including Audi pre sense® city and adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, helps drivers navigate the road and traffic with increased confidence

The all-new 2018 Audi A5 and S5 Coupe build upon the heritage and success of the first generation, while bringing reimagined design details to the new A5 family of vehicles. 

The A5’s design is backed by two powerful new engines to deliver a full range of driving experiences from efficient refinement to dynamic power.

New for 2018, the elegant and athletic two-door coupe delivers even more impressive technology such as the available Audi virtual cockpit and MMI® touch and driver assistance systems including standard Audi pre sense® city and available adaptive cruise control with stop & go and traffic jam assist.

The exterior of the A5 and S5 coupe has been redesigned to feature more dramatic shapes and sharp lines. Classic design details such as the hood power dome, strong shoulder line and pronounced wheel arches add elegance and emotion to the already sporty character of the vehicle. Slim, yet sculptural three-dimensional LED taillights offer a distinctly powerful look and emphasize vehicle width.

Featuring a completely new powertrain, the A5 coupe comes standard equipped with a 2.0-liter TFSI® four-cylinder engine and, for the first time, a seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch transmission, which melds efficiency with dynamic shifting characteristics to help optimize fuel consumption. In addition, a newly designed turbocharged 3.0-liter TFSI® V6 engine offers S5 customers more horsepower, torque.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

DESIGN

For 2018, the exterior design of the A5 family vehicles feature a wider horizontal architecture and lower stance to enhance the vehicle’s athletic appeal. Sophisticated interior details, including the Audi brand’s hallmark wing-design wrap-around dashboard, underscore the progressive nature of the A5.

Exterior design highlights include:

• Wider, flatter Singleframe® grille and longer, lower hood lines create a dome that highlights the powerful engines of the new A5 and S5
• Wave-design shoulder line and pronounced wheel arches provide cues to the standard quattro® all-wheel drive and a strong link to the iconic design of the first generation A5
• Standard Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights or available full LED headlights; standard LED taillights with dynamic rear turn signals
• Standard 18” 10-spoke-dynamic design wheels with all-season tires or available 19” multi-spoke design wheels with contrasting gray/polished finish on A5 models
• A5 Coupe models with the available s-line package come standard equipped with 18” 5-arm star design wheels or optional 19” 5-parallel-spoke design wheels
• Standard 18” Audi Sport® 5-double-spoke-star design wheels with summer performance tires or available 19” 5-spoke-Cavo design wheels with contrasting gray/polished finish on S5 models

Interior design highlights include:

• Three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles; three-spoke multifunction flat-bottom sport steering wheel with shift paddles on S5 models
• Standard three-zone automatic climate control with wing-design wrap-around dashboard and diffuser air vent helps recreate natural airflow
• Standard eight-way power front seats with four-way power lumbar adjustment for the driver on A5 models; standard S sport seats with contrast diamond stitching, pneumatic side bolsters and massage function on S5 models
• Standard panoramic sunroof adds light to the cabin
• Standard ambient LED lighting or available ambient LED lighting plus package with 30 color settings
• Standard Aluminum Trimaran inlays, available High-gloss Dark Brown Walnut Wood or Natural Gray Oak inlays on A5 models; standard Aluminum matte brushed or available Carbon Atlas inlays on S5 models
• Folding and sliding front-center armrest with height adjustment

POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE

Powerful and efficient, the A5 Coupe models are equipped with a 2.0-liter TFSI® four-cylinder engine, coupled with either a seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission, to produce 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds for the S tronic and 5.7 seconds for the manual.

The S5 Coupe models receive a completely new 3.0 TFSI V6 engine that produces an impressive 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque and sprints from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The 2018 S5 is also newly equipped with an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission that is well suited for the low-end torque of the new 3.0-liter TFSI engine.

Every Audi A5 is standard-equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive, offering enhanced agility through electronic torque vectoring. A5 models equipped with the S tronic® transmission and S5 models with the Tiptronic® automatic transmission command drive torque through a self-locking center differential, with a basic ratio of 40:60 front to rear, and wheel-selective torque control.

New for 2018, A5 models equipped with the six-speed manual offer the new quattro® with ultra® technology. The technology utilizes an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch along with a decoupling rear axle differential to achieve fully variable torque distribution. This quattro system with ultra technology allows for intelligent, proactive control of the all-wheel drive system to help predictively modify the torque application as the driver demands or the road conditions require.

As part of the S sport package, the S5 with quattro® sport differential can offer an even more dynamic driving experience by actively spliting torque between the wheels of the rear axle, with the ability to direct nearly all torque to one wheel, helping maximize driving dynamics.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL	ENGINE	TRANSMISSION	HORSEPOWER	TORQUE
A5 Coupe	2.0 TFSI® quattro ultra AWD	Six-speed manual	252 hp @ 5,000-6,000 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
A5 Coupe	2.0 TFSI® quattro AWD	Seven-speed S tronic®	252 hp @ 5,000-6,000 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
S5 Coupe	3.0 TFSI® quattro AWD	Eight-speed Tiptronic®	354 hp @ 5,400-6,400 rpm	369 lb-ft @ 1,370-4,500 rpm

CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION

For 2018, the newly developed standard front and rear suspension for the A5 model line allows for both a sporty driving experience and more comfortable ride for long distances. The redesigned front five-link suspension with lightweight construction offers greater steering precision and excellent handling through optimized steering-rack placement direct at wheel centers. Handling and comfort enhancements have also improved through the reduced unsprung weight of lightweight aluminum control-arm components and revised elastokinematic attributes.

Chassis and suspension features include

• Standard Audi drive select with four different modes – comfort, auto, dynamic and individual – allows the driver to change gear shift points, steering, and available damper control and adaptive cruise control adjustments.
• Available sport suspension (A5 models) lowers ride height by approximately 23 mm and utilizes different tubular anti-roll bars, dampers, and linear-rate springs.
• Available comfort adaptive damping suspension (A5 models) lowers ride height by 10 mm and uses continuous electronic damper control to enable the various suspension and damping combinations that make up the Audi drive select modes.
• Similar to the previous generation, S5 models offer available sport adaptive damping suspension with a new suspension control unit. This unit houses the software for suspension and damping control plus the sensors for measuring acceleration and yaw rates.
• Availabe dynamic steering (S5 models only) offers a variable steering ratio that adjusts based on vehicle speed and the Audi drive select setting.

TECHNOLOGY

Offering benchmark infotainment and technology features, the A5 family includes a host of standard and available equipment for the new model year including the  Audi virtual cockpit, a full-color head-up display and Audi connect® packages.

Technology features include:

• Available Audi virtual cockpit features a 12.3-inch display that delivers vibrant color at 60 frames per second with NVIDIA® quad core processing power. The virtual cockpit helps to enhance the infotainment viewing and navigating experience via the large Google Earth™ images (requires Audi connect PRIME) supported with 4G LTE (where available).
• Available full-color head-up display projects relevant driving information directly in the driver’s field of vision.
• Available for the first time in the A5 model line, MMI® touch® with handwriting-recognition technology includes a simplified function-key layout with two touch-keys for horizontal menu control logic.
• Standard Audi smartphone interface provides Apple CarPlay™ and Google™ Android Auto integration via USB connection, making smartphone interactions easier and more seamless for the driver.
• The available 19 speaker, 755 watt Bang & Olufsen® sound system with 3D sound creates almost true-to-life surround sound reproduction.

Audi connect®

Audi connect packages together all applications that help connect the vehicle with the internet, the owner and the surrounding infrastructure (active subscription required). Improved functions include online traffic info, weather updates, fuel prices, Apple Siri® Eyes Free integration for compatible devices, internet radio streaming as well as picture navigation, read-aloud personalized news headlines and Twitter® alerts, among other features.

Supported by 4G LTE (where available), available in-car Audi connect® CARE features include:

• Vehicle services such as vehicle status report, online roadside assistance and service interval notification
• Automatic Crash Notification (SOS)
• Manual Emergency Call (SOS)
• Stolen Vehicle Locator

The Audi connect mobile application has also been updated to support new remote services designed for the US market which include Curfew, Speed, and Valet Alerts, remote lock and unlock capability and online car finder.

ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS

The A5 model line incorporates many advanced driver assistance systems that are designed to help drivers navigate the road and traffic with confidence.

Driver assistance features:

• In the case of an impending collision, standard Audi pre sense® basic can intervene to help prepare the vehicle for impact. This process includes beginning to close the side windows and panoramic sunroof, pretensioning the front safety belts.
• Standard Audi pre sense city helps detects cornering and stationary vehicles as well as pedestrians, at speeds of up to 52 mph and can initiate full braking when a potential collision is detected.
• Audi side assist (standard on Premium Plus and Prestige trims) provides blind spot monitoring via LED indicators on the exterior mirror housings at speeds above 9 mph.
• Audi pre sense rear (standard on Premium Plus and Prestige) helps monitor the traffic following the vehicle and takes similar actions to Audi pre sense basic.
• Vehicle exit assist (as part of Audi side assist) can help prevent incidents with a side assist warning light, which blinks and helps alert the driver when vehicles or cyclists are approaching from behind as the vehicle doors are opened.
• Rear cross traffic assist (as part of Audi side assist) supports the driver when reversing out of a perpendicular parking space. Indicator arrows in the MMI® display can inform the driver of approaching vehicles, and in critical situations, a warning tone and brake jolt can be applied, prompting the driver to stop the vehicle.
• Available Adaptive cruise control with stop & go and traffic jam assist helps maintain set distance from the vehicle in front, including braking and accelerating as needed. Between 0-40 mph, traffic jam assist combines acceleration, braking and steering guidance, which can reduce the stress of driving in congested traffic.
• Available traffic sign recognition (as part of the Driver assistance package) including vehicle speed warning can detect speed limits and displays the information in the Audi virtual cockpit or driver information system. Additionally, the system helps evaluate various driving conditions, no passing zones and school and construction zones.
• Available Audi active lane assist observes lane markings and can provide gentle steering wheel warning vibrations if it is determined that the vehicle is approaching the edge of the lane without signaling.
• Turn assist (as part of the Driver Assistance package) can detect the approach of oncoming traffic, when making a left-hand turn at an intersection (when the vehicle is traveling above 1 mph and below 7 mph and turn signal is activated).