source: Audi AG
Innovative partnership for zFAS: PACE award for Audi
The central driver assistance controller (zFAS) from Audi is not just a high-tech component. Its development in collaboration with systems supplier Aptiv also set new standards. In recognition of this, Audi received the PACE award in the category “Innovative Partnership” on April 8, 2019. The prizes, awarded by the US magazine Automotive New to honor technical innovations in the automotive industry, were presented at an event in Detroit, Michigan.
The zFAS bundles the management of numerous driver assistance systems in a central, highly integrated domain architecture. The board continuously renders an exact model of the vehicle surroundings from the signals provided by the car’s sensors. From adaptive cruise control to the 360 degree cameras to the intersection assist, systems from all three functional areas – driving, parking and safety – have access to the fused data. This enables them to react precisely and early to the respective situation. The zFAS debuted in 2017 in the Audi A8 and is now used in many of the brand’s full-size models. Thanks to the scalable architecture, Audi can deploy different configurations of its high-end controller depending on the vehicle model and installed equipment. There is still no competitor offering a technology with such a wide scope of functions.
During development of the zFAS, Audi was responsible for the system and sensor data fusion. The American company Aptiv served as system partner and later as system supplier. The modular board, which is roughly the size of a small tablet computer, is equipped with processors from the leading system-on-chip specialists NVIDIA, Infineon, Altera and Mobileye. In collaboration with TTTech, a total of 35 software packages from 15 partners worldwide were integrated into the zFAS. This was a mammoth task in terms of both system technology and processes, which for Audi has ultimately proved to be an important driver of key competence for automated driving. Successful collaboration between numerous development partners under the leadership and system responsibility of the OEM will continue to characterize such projects in the future.
(April 2019)
Best family SUV: the Audi Q7
The American news magazine U.S. News & World Report has named the Audi Q7 the “Best Luxury 3-Row SUV for Families”. The judges found the model to be the best choice for families preferring an uncompromising SUV. They praised the large rear seat with optional third row, the rear USB ports, the 360 degree cameras, the sensor-controlled tailgate and the sunblinds for the rear windows and rear side windows. The interior reflects the high quality materials and craftsmanship for which Audi is known. Innovative infotainment abounds with such features as MMI navigation plus, the Audi virtual cockpit, head-up display, Audi smartphone interface and Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 3D sound. A wide range of assist systems, from the standard Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense city to the optional lane change assist provide additional convenience and safety. The Audi Q7 also shined in terms of driving dynamics thanks largely to the standard quattro drive.
(March 2019)
Top Safety Pick 2019: Audi A6 and Audi Q8
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognized the new Audi A6 and the Audi Q8 for their high safety standards. The Audi A6 was named Top Safety Pick+, the top honor from the IIHS, for its Matrix LED and HD Matrix LED headlights. The latter are also available for the Audi Q8, which therefore was awarded the title Top Safety Pick. Both models received good ratings in all six IIHS crash tests as well as the top scores for frontal protection thanks to numerous assist systems. Both the A6 and the Q8 come standard with Audi pre sens front. It can warn of impending collisions and initiate appropriate braking depending on the situation and speed. Pedestrians and cyclists can be detected while the vehicle is traveling at up to around 85 km/h (52.8 mph), and other vehicles can be detected when the vehicle is moving at speeds of up to 250 km/h (155.3 mph).
(March 2019)
Twin wins in India: Audi Q5 and Audi RS 5 Coupé
The automotive magazine Car India has named the Audi Q5 Luxury SUV of the Year. The honor was part of the Car India & Bike Awards 2019. A panel of automotive and business journalists put the cars entered in the competition through exhaustive test drives.
Taking the title of Performance Car of the Year in the eleventh edition of the Times Auto Awards was the Audi RS 5 Coupé (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.1 – 9.0* (25.8 – 26.1 US mpg); combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 206* (331.5 g/mi). The editorial team of BBC TopGear India was particularly impressed by the dynamics and power of the sporty, top-end model. Awards were presented in a total of 22 categories based on such criteria as ride quality, dynamics and affordability.
(February/March 2019)
Study by Focus Money: Audi with highest customer loyalty
Of the major car manufacturers in the German market, Audi and Skoda have the most loyal customers. That was the finding of a study conducted by the magazine Focus Money in collaboration with its sub-brand Deutschland Test and the analysis company Service Value. Between December 2018 and January 2019, more than 500,000 customers in Germany were asked online whether after buying a certain product they would choose the same supplier again. The survey included 1,869 companies from 199 sectors. Among the carmakers, Audi and Skoda each received 64 percent “Yes” votes, which garnered them the Highest Customer Loyalty title.
(February 2019)
Car and Driver: five buying recommendations for Audi models
The prestigious US magazine Car and Driver tested nearly 500 vehicles and selected five Audi models as 2019 Editor’s Choice. Four of these recommended buys are classified according to US standards as compact, mid-size and full-size sedans. The A5 Sportback was praised for its strong powertrain, high quality and large rear hatch, which makes loading easy. Dominating the Mid-Size Sedan category were the Audi A6, which stood out in particular for its strong performance, acoustic comfort and upscale instrument panel, and the A7 Sportback with its sophisticated styling, cohesive operation and top technologies. Speaking for the Audi A8 were the excellent ride comfort and the quiet, first-class interior. Rounding out the success of the four rings brand was the Audi Q7, which was named a recommended buy among the Mid-Size Crossovers and SUVs thanks to the high flexibility afforded by the third row of seats, its attractive design and remarkable ride quality.
(February 2019)
Three wins for Audi in Spain: the Best Cars 2019 Awards
Audi emerged as the most successful brand from Best Cars 2019 Awards readers’ poll in Spain. The premium manufacturer won three of eleven categories with the Audi A1, the Audi A7 Sportback and the Audi Q8. The Best Cars 2019 Awards are presented by the magazines Autopista, Coche Actual, Autovia and Automóvil as well as the website www.autopista.es. The magazines are published by Motopress Ibérica and appear in ten European countries plus China, Brazil and Mexico. More than 105,000 readers participated in the poll.
(February 2019)
Car of the Year 2019 at Sina Auto: the Audi A8 L
The Audi A8 L (combined fuel economy in l/100 km: 7.9 – 5.6* (29.8 – 42.0 US mpg); combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 181 – 148* (291.3 – 238.2 g/mi) garnered two honors at the Sina Auto Festival in Heikou City in the Chinese province Hainan: Car of the Year 2019 and Import Sedan of the Year 2019. Event organizer Sina Auto is one of the country’s major automobile portals. 39 new models were considered at this year’s festival, the 16th overall. The results were based on the decision of a 35-member panel, test results and online voting.
(January 2019)
Top resale value in the USA: the Audi A7 Sportback
According to a panel of judges from Kelley Blue Book, a leading market observer in the USA, the Audi A7 Sportback is the luxury model with the highest resale value. The Kelly Blue Book Best Resale Value Award, which was presented for the 17th time, is based on extensive market data and broad-based expertise. The Blue Book team cited the powerful 3.0 TFSI engine, the sporty, yet balanced suspension and the extremely quiet interior of the A7 Sportback.
(January 2019)
Top 10 World Transmission winner: the S tronic in the Audi Q5
The China Automobile Evaluation Academy has honored the s tronic transmission from Audi with the Top 10 World Transmission award. The Audi dual-clutch transmission with the designation DL382-7A, which is designed to be mounted longitudinally, was installed in a Q5 L quattro ultra 2.0 TFSI. It impressed the jury primarily with its efficiency, ease of gear change, dynamics and good acoustics. The test field comprised 20 cars with different transmissions from national and international manufacturers. In 2018, over 200,000 units of this transmission were produced and installed in Audi models in China, corresponding to a share of 30 percent. Last year Audi won an award with the s tronic DQ500 in the dynamic RS3 compact model.
(January 2019)
Successes in England Audi Q7 and Audi A5 honored
The British automotive magazine What Car? honored two Audi models in its annual Best Choice awards. The Audi Q7 was named Luxury SUV of the Year, winning the category for the third year in a row. The Audi A5 claimed the title Coupé of the Year, succeeding the Audi TT, which had won the title an astounding 16 years in a row. Supplementing the two overall wins were an additional five What Car? awards for the brand with the four rings: The A1, A3 Sedan, A3 Cabriolet, Q5 and A8 L were each named the best buy in their price class.
(January 2019)
