Tag Archives: usa

Audi A1 Configurator!

You can now configure the A1 to different specs!  Interestingly enough the A1 microsite also offers customizing abilities to North American customers! Is this a sign the car is coming to the US? Or is this to gauge interest? Either way, play around with it and imagine throwing a little Audi around the city!

There’s also a competition on the microsite, for designing the A1.

LINK: http://microsites.audi.com/a1onlinespecial/html/popup.html#/customize/customizer/

thanks to Fourtitude for the heads up and the photo!

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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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Death to the Prius! Toyota fighting new safety problems

As you know, over the past year or so—-IEDEI has posted several articles speaking against the most irritating, useless, and crappy car on sale today: the Toyota Prius.

Through all this Toyota recall business going on, i’ve been secretly hoping the Prius gets involved in the hooplah, somehow destroying its squeaky clean image and ruining its mojo.  Well it’s finally happening!

Some Toyota cars accelerate too much……some just cannot stop.  The Prius cannot stop. RECALL pending! Phase I of the Prius Destruction Program initiated.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/global/04prius.html?hp

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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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eBay eye: ’71 Lancia Fulvia Zagato.

Definitely don’t see many of these on sale in the US market…and this one looks pretty great…if only I had some loot burning a whole in my pocket, i’d get in on one of my all-time favourite Lancias.

fulvia_zagato_1

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AUCTION —

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320445395824&viewitem=#v4-36

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auctionwatch: Lancia Fulvia 1.3s

 

lanciafulvia

Ahhhhh, if I only had the $$$—-i’d be ALL OVER THIS!  A beautiful example of a 1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S and what the owner is calling the “Monte Carlo Edition”.

Check out the auction for more pictures and information

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150384040959&viewitem=#ht_500wt_924

 

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rendering of a new Lancia Delta HF

luis_camino_lancia_delta_hf_render-02The original Lancia Delta Integrale was a beast of a car.  Obviously we never recieved it imported to the USA, so it was added to the mental list of “yes i want but i cannot have” and put aside into the closet.

Lately there’s been some talk of Chryslers being sold here as rebadged Lancia Deltas (see article http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1036481_chrysler-lancia-to-share-products-delta-could-come-to-u-s ).

Could this mean that if a Delta Integrale or Delta HF is produced, then we might see one? Maybe as an ‘SRT’ model?  Dodge Delta HF?  Sounds funny i know…but it would be fantastic!

I can’t tell you what the article says, because i don’t know spanish.  But the photos are great!

Thanks to Colla Verglas for the info: http://collaverglas.net/2009/10/17/per-somiar-que-no-quedi-lancia-delta-hf-per-luis-camino/

 

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The car FIAT (Alfa Romeo) needs to bring to the USA…

Well, it’s been years of keeping fingers crossed for Alfa Romeos and Fiats to start coming to the USA.  Every few months, I see a ‘new’ article stating FIAT’s intent or specific predictions of import plans, or ‘new’ ideas of how FIAT will support bringing their italian-bred machinery back to the US market.

ALFA ROMEO 149 GTA (Milano)

Alfa Romeo 149 GTA

So it’s too late to ask for a 147 GTA as it is being soon discontinued in favour of the new 149.  Which is why we are gonna ask for that!  A lower priced, italian hatchback with some guts and style is EXACTLY what Alfa Romeo should bring to the US market upon their return.  I really hope they don’t blur clear thoughts and think that all they need to bring back are ‘luxury’ cars….Alfa needs to bring cars with SOUL.  Small cars that feel more expensive, perform well, and are fun to own.  I can’t think of anything better than a GTA hatchback for the resurrection of the Alfa Romeo brand in the USA.

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Audi Quattro IMSA-Trans Am racing….

LOVE this video.  It was so badass of Audi to pop a Quattro car onto those races and circuits….and win it all…..fantastic.

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a $60,000+ Hyundai coming to the US?

Firstly, whatever drugs and illusionary potions the Hyundai personnel are taking must be working tremendously.  I think the press led you on to believe that your Genesis sedan and coupe were worthwhile options in the luxury sedan and coupe segments.  Sure….be happy and think you made a solid product.  The coupe is nothing more than a cut-rate Infiniti G37 (which isn’t a good thing!) and the sedan is a virtual rear end of a BMW E60 5-series and a Lexus LS (which is also not a good thing).

I thought (and still think) it’s pretty funny that Hyundai are selling a $40,000+ car in the Genesis sedan; i certainly wouldn’t buy one even if a kimchi covered gun was pointed to my head.  But hilariously enough, they’ve decided to launch a $60,000 sedan known as the Equus.  It will surely handle worse than 5-series, not have the majesty of an MB E-Class or S-Class, not be as modern of stylish as an Audi A6, and will be less reliable and more boring than an Lexus LS.  So do we want one?

NO THANKS, Hyundai!  Oh the horror….the horror.

2010-hyundai-equus-front-side.jpg

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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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Google & BBC working on international iPlayer?

clarkson_iplayer

Why do we care? Because F1 races are broadcasted live in BBCs iPlayer.  The problem currently is that outside of the UK, it is very difficult to gain access to UK-only, restricted programming.  

Could this mean, that it might be possible for people to watch BBC broadcasting of F1 over BBC instead of the dismal, depressing SPEED channel broadcasts?  I’d say chances are slim that the BBC will screw SPEED over, but hey if they do i’m sure there will be plenty of US F1 fans cheering!

LINK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/5406851/BBC-and-Google-in-talks-to-launch-international-iPlayer-site.html

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Watch F1 LIVE online!

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Lots of people come up with lots of theories about how to watch F1 races LIVE online. SpeedTV generally has terrible commentating, requires cable tv, and is on the whole a terrible option for F1-deprived US viewers. This year, BBC has taken over the F1 broadcast in the UK and they will surely do an amazing job at broadcasting the races. Still, these broadcasts are NOT available in the USA…..til now….

So where can you watch the race? on BBC? I’ve got the answer.

http://www.justin.tv (go into sports section, look for the F1 stuff at the time of the race, and enjoy excellent streaming….LIVE!)

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