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From YourSITE.com Events Coverage
Just hours after the TT Roadster debuted on the stand in Los Angeles flanked by television celebrities, Audi unveiled a red S-line model of the drop-top flanked by celebrities more in-line with the German automotive enthusiast… namely Audi factory works drivers Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro, Marco Werner and Pierre Kaffer. For Audi, Essen has traditionally meant a more significant presence for quattro GmbH and Audi Accessories. Even with the new model introductions, these facets remain a strong part of Audi’s presentation at this German venue. For Audiphiles, simply mention the name of quattro GmbH and it’s enough to grab their attention. Audi’s in-house automotive customization arm, responsible for the building of the R8 and RS cars, brought out several very interesting and tailored examples of the best Ingolstadt has to offer.
Perhaps the most striking of these cars was an Susuka Gray RS 4 Avant with what can best be described as an RS 4 Titanium Package and Audi Ceramic brakes. While Avant versions sadly won’t make it stateside, don’t be surprised to see either a Titanium Package or carbon ceramic brakes as options on North American RS 4 models for 2008.
Also quite striking were two A3 Sportback models featuring custom colors and trim. The first was an A3 in Sprint Blue and outfitted with a body kit and wheels from Audi Accessories. The second, by quattro GmbH, was also Ibis White with a Titanium Package. As with the RS 4, we hear this Titanium Package could also see the light of day in America for 2008.
The quattro GmbH presence went even further with exclusive versions of the RS 4 Avant, A6 allroad, S3 and even a Q7 S-line painted in what appeared to be the Nimbus Gray shade taken from the previous generation TT color palette.
Fully separated from Volkswagen’s Votex line over a year ago, Audi Accessories has also shown its newfound strength. This year’s display included the aforementioned A3, a Q7 with off road package first seen last year at Essen, and a brand-new styling kit for the second-generation TT. Behind these cars, a large display showed the latest in accessory wheels available for Audi’s model range.
Motorsport being a strong part of the Audi brand, the Audi drivers helping launch the TT weren’t the only stars on the stand. Audi’s R10 TDI racecar and Tom Kristensen’s DTM A4 were also on hand. Elsewhere in the hall, the R8 racecar and a DTM Series TT Coupe safety car were also on display in a special historical motorsport exhibit joined by other significant racecars such as Porsche’s venerable 917.
Of course, Essen isn’t just about the Audi stand. It’s also about the rich and vigorous aftermarket, in which Audi is most thoroughly entrenched. Abt Sportsline Managing Audi’s DTM endeavours and with a favored son (Christian) who campaigns an Audi in that series, Abt Sportsline is not surprisingly a big player here at Essen. This German company also celebrates its 110th anniversary, though the most celebrated aspect of the company’s presence at Essen for enthusiasts was its, not one, but two supercharger applications shown for Audi models.
First was Abt’s AS7R, a Q7 with the company’s styling kit affixed and painted in a polished silver finish. Under the hood sat the company’s supercharger system for 4.2 FSI applications, capable of churning a generous 500 bhp.
Also of interest was the company’s TT-R coupe. This second-generation TT 3.2 featured a 310-bhp supercharger setup as well – a first of this type of application for Abt.
Hohenester Perhaps best known for their Enzo-stomping built Sport Quattro, German-based Alfons Hohenester has certainly established a cult name for himself. He continues to build the legend with his twin-turbo V6 B7 A5 HS650 Nardo – a car that will do 0-62mph runs in a measly 3.4 seconds.
MS Design Also known as an OEM source, Austrian-based MS-Design used Essen as a debut for its own TT styling kit. Painted in accenting dark silver, the kit looked impressive installed on a red TT Coupe.
Oettinger Like Abt, Oettinger boasts a long and storied history in the German aftermarket. After falling on tough financial times, Oettinger is back in force. The company put an exclamation point on that statement though the showing of numerous new products, highlighted by full new styling kits for the TT and the B7 A4/S4 model range.
Rieger German tuning house Rieger also had a strong presence at Essen. The company showed off a range of styling kits now available, for fitments including B6 and B7 A4 models, the new TT and the 3-door A3. Usually known for wilder-looking kits, these new Rieger offerings appeared to be more muscular applications of existing Audi design, making for a subtle-yet-aggressive look.
Zender Speaking of wild, the once super-dominant German styling house Zender, now known more for being an OEM source, showed off a super aggressive A3 body kit design. Featuring large aggressive aerodynamics, skirts and wings, the most striking part of the Zender A3 design has to have been the gaping frontal grille that makes the normal Audi nose look small in comparison.
Summary While the Essen Motor Show is open to the public and over 150,000 people attend each year, this event has remained a bit off the radar of American consumers. This can largely be attributed to the timing of the event, almost always coinciding with the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, the event goes on for about two weeks, and is less than a day’s drive from Audi’s European Delivery Program pickup point in Ingolstadt, making it worth considering as a side trip should you venture to Germany for the delivery of your new Audi.
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