Audi - Repair and Service Redwood City - 2020 Audi A4 widens tech advantage with bigger screens, quicker brains - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

The refreshed 2020 Audi A4 family of Allroad wagons and A4/S4 sport sedans touches up its style and adopts new infotainment—just as the brand launches its first electric vehicle, the E-Tron.

Audi says it's placed a wider grille and thin air inlets on the A4's snout, and fits standard LED headlights on every model. A4 models with Quattro all-wheel drive add the S line trim package, with metallic trim on the grille and air intakes and five-spoke, 18-inch wheels. The S4 opts into black trim and five-spoke, 19-inch wheels.

The tech ladled on the new A4 family branches out into bedazzle mode. Optional LED matrix headlights come with animated turn-signal lighting and a light signature that plays when the vehicle's unlocked or locked.

 

2020 Audi S4

In the A4/S4/Allroad cabin, a new 10.1-inch touchscreen provides the interface for a new-generation Audi infotainment system called MIB 3 with quicker processors and higher output resolution. Its handwriting recognition gets more sophisticated, and audio feedback helps drivers keep their attention focused on the road, not on the screen. Audi taps Verizon for the 4G LTE signal piped into the 2020 A4 cars; it enables everything from music and podcast streaming to parking information.

The $38,395 2020 Audi A4 base car now comes with LED headlights, shift paddles, an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a power sunroof, and steering-wheel controls for infotainment. Options include a wider 12.3-inch infotainment screen, S line trim, a head-up display, Bang & Olufsen audio, and a phone box that boosts smartphone reception. The all-wheel-drive A4 sedan costs $41,895; Allroad prices start at $45,595, leaving room at the top for the $50,895 S4.

Note, similar updates also feature on the A5 family for 2020.

 source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1126725_2020-audi-a4-widens-tech-advantage-with-bigger-screens-quicker-brains

by Martin Padgett

 http://www.boscheuropean.com

Porsche - Repair and Service Redwood City - 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S has less than 200 miles of range - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000 - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Increase the performance, lower the range. That appears to be the rule in electric vehicles, and the Porsche Taycan is exhibit A.

Last month we learned that the 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo is rated at 201 miles by the EPA. That turned out to be a disappointing number, as the car's 93.4-kwh battery pack would suggest more range, especially given the Taycan's low stance and slippery shape (though it is heavy at more than 5,100 pounds).

Now we learn that the more-powerful Taycan Turbo S has just 192 miles of range and MPGe ratings of 67 city, 68 highway, and 68 combined. The 750-horsepower Taycan Turbo S has 9 fewer miles of range than the 626-hp Taycan Turbo.

By comparison, the 762-hp Tesla Model S Performance derives 348 miles of range from its 100-kwh battery pack.

 

2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S

Automakers other than Tesla have struggled to achieve high electric ranges under the EPA cycle. The Jaguar I-Pace is rated at 234 miles of range and the Audi E-Tron 204 miles. Both vehicles have battery packs with a capacity of 90 kwh or more.

The European WLTP cycle tends to produce higher range numbers, and the Taycan is no exception. The Taycan Turbo is rated at 278 miles and the Turbo S gets a rating of 256 miles.

Porsche hired independent test firm ACMI to test the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S. ACMI came up with ranges of 283 and 278 miles, respectively, for the Turbo and Turbo S in a mix of city and highway driving, numbers that are much closer to those of the WLTP cycle.

Like any vehicle, the Taycan will deliver more range the softer you go on the accelerator. While we believe ACMI came up with those figures, the temptation that is the pure power of the Taycan Turbo models with shorten their ranges with Motor Authority editors at the wheel. We'd be happy to reach the quoted EPA ranges. We've also found that even going easy on the Jaguar I-Pace resulted in considerable range anxiety.

Longer ranges will be one key to greater acceptance of electric vehicles. So far, the only automaker that has cracked that code is Tesla.

source:  https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1126750_2020-porsche-taycan-turbo-s-has-less-than-200-miles-of-range

by Kirk Bell

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Range Rover - Repair and Service Redwood City - Land Rover Classic dabbles in performance upgrades for original Defender - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Tired of the aftermarket stealing all the limelight when it comes to new parts for Land Rover's original Defender, the British firm has come up with its own parts designed to boost performance of the iconic off-roader.

The parts are designed to fit both the Defender 90 three-door and Defender 110 five-door, though only on models from select years. They include bespoke 18-inch wheels, upgrades to the brakes (new calipers, rotors and pads) and suspension (new dampers, anti-roll bars, links and bushes, plus revised spring rates), and tuning of the 2.2-liter turbocharged inline-4 diesel fitted to the Defender from 2012 on. The latter sees output jump 40 horsepower to a new total of 160 hp. Land Rover says the Defender with the power bump is able to hit 106 mph.

The parts were developed by Land Rover's own classic car department, Land Rover Classic, and were inspired by developments for last year's Defender Works V8, a limited-production V-8 conversion that featured Land Rover's own 5.0-liter V-8, albeit minus the supercharger normally attached to the engine.

Land Rover Defender 90 with Land Rover Classic upgrades

“In 2018, Land Rover’s 70th anniversary year, we saw unprecedented demand for the limited-edition Defender Works V8, which brought new levels of handling and performance to this iconic vehicle,” Land Rover Classic chief Calum McKechnie said. “Extending the range of fully engineered, tested and approved upgrades offered by Land Rover Classic underlines our commitment to supporting existing Defender owners, as we look forward to the new Defender’s world premiere later this year.”

Availability of the parts in the United States is yet to be announced.

As for the modern Defender currently in the works, it's expected to debut in September and has been confirmed to reach local dealerships in 2020. It is expected to be offered in Defender 90 and Defender 110 guises initially, with a new Defender 130 guise to join the fun shortly after the market launch. The latter is expected to offer seating for up to eight.

source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1124316_land-rover-classic-performance-upgrades-defender

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

http://www.boscheuropean.com