Tag Archives: US market

Audi S3 Sedan: undecided.

2015-Audi-S3-Sedan-front

The jury is out.  I really still don’t know what i think of this new 2015 Audi S3 Sedan which debut’d last week in NYC.  Let me just tell you that I actually have a deposit down to be one of the first US buyers for an S3 Sedan (a deposit i put down last year when the S3 Sportback was first introduced) —-however i am fairly disappointed in the S3 Sedan itself.  The design is nowhere near as interesting as the Concept or as I was hoping.  It is a beautifully spec’d package with 300hp, 0-60 in 4.7s, quattro, and some beautifully trimmed interior and exterior bits—but somehow i feel like Audi has entered a ‘comfort zone’…in which designing a car has become too easy for them.

Don’t get me wrong.  It is a good looking car.  I’m certain it’s a fantastic car, as most Audis are.  I just wish it was a Sportback….OR that it was a bit more unique.  OR I wish that it didn’t look like ‘Audi-by-the-numbers’.

2015-Audi-A3-Sedan-front-grille

2015-Audi-S3-Sedan-rear

2015-Audi-S3-interior

Promo Video:

NYC debut photos from: MT

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commercial(s) of the day. Strada & Brava (US).

“designed by computer modeling”!!!!!  Fiat responded to the VW Golf/Rabbit with this monstrosity…

The Brava, on the other hand…looked alright, but had the integrity of a pair of flip flops.  I love how the whole ad is filmed in a suburban neighbourhood somewhere in middle US soil! how tactical…..

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foto of the day. TT-RS official debut in the USA!

the Audi TT-RS has just made its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show as an official Audi USA product for this market.  And what a car……360hp ugraded 2.5L 5-cylinder which howls like nothing else on the market at the moment….i know, because i saw one in person last summer at VW Waterfest.   As an Audi fan, i’m always listening to some of the Audi corporate news feeds, and apparently the US market will ONLY get a manual transmission; however they are saying that the DSG version of the car does 0-60 in 3.6 seconds.  3.6 seconds!!!! BRUTAL!  and with style that only the TT can have…..price? $60k.  superb.

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a question…

which weirdo french photographer forgot to remove the can of something (cleaner? paint?) from the lower aspect of this promo photo for the glorious (err…no) Renault Fuego Turbo? Le incompetence!

I still remember how much AMC/Renault hyped this car when it was introduced into the US market.  I was a little kid, and remember thinking it was great—–however as i grew older, things changed….

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Fiat 500 USA configurator now up.

This car is exciting me.  $15.5k base…..cool, small, and a Fiat back in the US market!

http://www.fiatusa.com/en/build_your_own.html

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MTM Horchaus gives up on trying to import RS6s, etc….

Previously, IEDEI had broken the story about how Canadian importer MTM Horchaus was attempting to import certain Audi models unsold in North America legally into this hemisphere. Back then I had spoken to the people at the company and had been told there was steady and sure progress…..however here’s the current statement by Horchaus:

“With regards to our project of bringing European models to Canada, we have to admit that we did not succeed.

We did not manage to work our way through the regulatory commissions to ensure that the cars indeed meet all North American regulations.

We had a strategy that we thought was appealing in importing pre-owned vehicles to a very competitive price but we could not finalize the legalization of these vehicles here without the appropriate collaborators.

We are very disapointed and humbly apologize for false hopes that the leak to the internet might have caused.

As a key player in Canada’s tuning and performance industry, we maintain our strong commitment to bringing you sophisticated, high-performance German engineering and personalized services to help you create the most memorable driving experience time and time again.”

i guess IEDEI was the “leak to the internet”….OOPS!

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EXCLUSIVE: MTM Horchaus bringing C6 Audi RS6s (and more) to North America!

Well i’ve been gathering information about this for a few days, straight from Francois over at Horchaus (Official Canadian distributor of MTM (V.A.G. tuning company).

It seems that they have worked out a plan with Audi of Germany to be able to bring Audi RS6s (C6, current) as well as B7 RS4 Avants and R8s to North America directly from Germany! To any other Audi afficianados such as myself—this is HUGE news.  For a very long time, we’ve been stranded by the products being provided to the US market when it comes to ‘special’ Audis.  We did receive the previous generation C5 RS6, but only in sedan form (NO Avant in North America).  We also received the B7 RS4 sedan (NO Avant in North America).  We are not going to receive the C6 RS6 at all——until NOW!

After creating a working agreement with Audi of Germany in Ingolstadt, Francois and Horchaus have found a way for certain cars such as the current RS6 to be modified according to US Spec BY Audi themselves!  After these modifications, the cars are imported into North America (Canada OR the United States) and undergo customs, duty, etc….and are brought here as legal, street-ready versions of these European cars.  Since Horchaus is working directly with Audi to ensure the modifications are done to North American spec, this is a whole new way of getting these cars into the United States legally and safely.  The OEM spec cars will have an AUDI WARRANTY, since they are brand new from the factory.

The prices of these cars vary, however If someone really wants a brand new C6 Generation Audi RS6 Avant, it’s gonna cost them $115,000 CAD (Canadian dollars) and $125,000 CAD with the 730hp MTM upgrade (including  all import, shipping and duty fees).

******As of right now, they have already brought TWO C6 RS6s successfully; one into the US and another into Canada******

At the moment, they have another 4 cars on the way.  one R8 (sold), a B7 RS4 Avant (sold), and one C6 RS6 Avant and a C6 RS6 Sedan; which are both available to purchase.

A further reason to be excited, is that Horchaus is currently also evaluating the possibility of bringing other Audis in the same manner; cars such as the current Audi TT-RS and Audi S3.  Really exciting stuff, and groundbreaking progress in the world of importing Audis.

Stay tuned to IEDEI for further updates about this as I get more information.  So far I only have the pricing for RS6s, when I receive further information about pricing for others I will pass them along! Meanwhile, if you are interested in these cars, follow the link to the MTM/Horchaus website for more information and contact info.

UPDATE: B7 RS4 Avants are CEO company cars, and will be titled as 2nd hand.  They are $70,000 CAD (Canadian dollars) and the R8 V10 is $105,000 CAD (Canadian dollars) which is amazingly good pricing….the R8 V10 turns out to much less than a comparably ordered US version.

UPDATE 2: Some people have been asking “well why wouldn’t Audi bring these cars in the first place????”…..the answer was explained to me by Francois. Audi of Germany wants them to go everywhere, the reason why these cars don’t come to the US or Canada is simple; Audi of America and Audi of Canada don’t believe they have a market and do not readily import them here.

Horchaus Website: http://www.horchaus.com/Car_imports.html

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Saab 9-3X now on order sheet at US Saab dealers…

Amidst the soap opera of what has become SAAB, The SAAB-Spyker deal seems to be building confidence in its conclusion.  The latest positive sign seems to be that after over a year of US market dormancy, the SAAB 9-3X has been added to US dealer order lists!  It will be months til customers get their orders filled, and maybe this is a way for the company to gauge interest in products after all the hooplah….but it seems that the 9-3X would nicely fill the gap that the Audi Allroad’s absence in the US market has created; an upscale, european wagon with AWD.

To all those people who have been rooting for SAAB to be rescued, this is your time to walk the walk and place your order for a pretty cool AWD wagon.  Good decision SAAB, now back up all this talk with some kick ass new products, and success will be yours!!

more info:

http://www.saabhistory.com/2010/02/03/saab-9-3x-now-available-to-order-in-the-united-states

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editorial: Honda, Toyota & the US market.

How Honda and Toyota took over the U.S. market.

In the past fifty years, the US auto market has declined tremendously.  With the recent bankruptcy and unsteady industry forecasts, Americans feel uneasy giving their hard earned money to a faltering establishment.  As a result, foreign auto makers like Honda and Toyota are capitalizing on the prospect, raking in all of the U.S. auto business.  In addition, Honda and Toyota continue to break the barrier of new technologies which astound the industry time and time again.

Honda has enjoyed much success in the U.S. auto markets.  With the introduction of the Civic in 1975, Honda’s popularity rose with each passing year.  The new, lighter Honda Civic rivaled its U.S. competition with its low weight and small exterior.  Furthermore, the EPA, in order to reduce emissions, required the addition of expensive catalytic converters in all cars manufactured for the United States auto industry.  As a result, sticker prices rose while consumer demand plummeted.

As American auto makers rebuilt their exhaust systems, Honda busied themselves with the creation of the new CVCC stratified charge engine.   Cars built with these new engines passed the required emissions tests without the need for expensive catalytic converters.  This charge engine technology burst onto the scene with the 1975 Honda Civic, a car met with extreme consumer demand.  With the rising costs of gas and auto insurance, Americans turned their focus to the Japanese auto maker to save money.

Continue reading

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Alfa Romeo 149 to the USA

alfa-149-2010.jpg

Since Fiat is on its way back to the US market, using Chrysler like human traffic to do so—i’m more excited about the return of Alfa Romeo.  FOR YEARS now, we’ve been hearing rumours about Alfa’s return to the US.  Since 2006 or so, we’ve been holding our breath….but now it seems it would be practical with a foundation built to support the return of Alfa.

The 8C has already been on sale here for several months, but what else will they bring?  The latest sources are saying the 149 (replacement for the Alfa 147) will also be making a move stateside, possibly renamed as the Milano.

I think that would be THE wisest car to bring to the US market.  Affordable, classy, and a true competitor to the VW Golf, Audi A3, and the next BMW 1-series (out in 2010/2011 probably).  If they price it in the low $20k range, keep the styling as shown in the above photo rendering, and bring the old-school Alfa Romeo attitude with it—-i’m pretty sure Alfa Romeo can bounce back in a very positive way in the US market.

COME ON ALFA! Bring it….

(photo sourced from: http://www.clubalfa149.it/en/)

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