Audi 100 Coupe S

In order to increase production volumes and to meet growing demand of VW Beetle model (also known as Käfer), Volkswagen corporation (hereinafter - VW) came into purchase-sales contract with Daimler-Benz in 1964 and acquired new factory in Ingolstadt as well as ownership of trademarks (Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer) of Auto Union GmbH. Since the "beetles" were stamped at a very high speed, working in one factory in several shifts, the main object of the mentioned contract was additional production line rather than increase of model line-up. On the contrary, VW boss Heinrich Nordhoff planned to discontinue further development of Audi and DKW, because the sales of DKW F102 and Audi F103 models were very low.

Dr. Ludwig Kraus held position of development director at Auto Union in those days. This man was initiator of development of new Audi model, which concept was unveiled for VW administration at the final stage only. Heinrich Nordhoff was fascinated by Audi future vision, and "blessed" developing model to see the day light. Since the model received 100 hp aggregate, the new Audi car was symbolically named as "100". Inside the company the model had C1 initials.

Dr. Ludwig Kraus is referred as to "dr. Audi" by some Audi fans, because they believe Audi could have been forgotten without efforts of this person. As the future will show, initiative of Ludwig Kraus inspired the appearance of one of the most successful Audi models ever built.

Closer look to Audi 100 Coupe S
Official debut of Audi 100 Coupe S (hereinafter - Coupe S) was held at International Frankurt Motorshow in 1969. The car featured four-speed manual gearbox and ventilated front disc brakes. These features were not unnecessary luxury components, since the car was able to make 185 km/h (115 mph) top speed what was high achievement at that time. The car also had wider tires, a variable-height steering wheel, tachometer, digital clock and upgraded interior equipment and trim. Power steering was available option from 1973. Though car specification showed Coupe S is a four-seater, the comfortable ride on the back seats was limited by car height (133 cm / 52,36'' ).

1 871 ccm, 4-cylinder engine (115 hp) with two carburetors was originally fitted into Audi 100 Coupe S. "Thanks" to carburetors, the appetite of the car was near 17 liters/ 100 km (13,84 mpg), while CO² emission didn't pass the standards set in certain countries. Starting from 1971, the same engine with one carburetor was offered, what affected lower fuel consumption and slight power decrease.

The car was in production till 1976 and 30 687 exemplars were built in total. The production was canceled due to low sales figures, what was influenced by price increase. Raising the prices was a must for Audi, since manufacture costs were constantly growing. The last Audi 100 Coupe S models were priced at 19.350 DM in Germany, what is ~ 4.000 DM more comparing to the prices in 1970.

Typical Audi 100 Coupe S problems
1,9 L engine does not require any serious investments up to 150 000 km (94 000 miles). Additional liter of engine oil may be necessary in-between changing periods from 100 000 km (62 000 miles); however this problem is solved after replacement of valve seals. The drivers should constantly check engine oil pressure. There were some accidents when the engine oil leaked out because the screws of oil pan got unscrewed. The engine is also sensitive to overheating.

Transmission is a weak point of the car. Synchronizer rings are often replaced within 100 000 km (62 000 miles). The very first sign of this defect is more difficult shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. It should be also taken care on brake master cylinder, which is prone to rust.

The body of Coupe S is Achilles heel. Typical places where rust can be found are: sills, beside the pillar A, metal part under the main console. Due to the moisture under the battery, which is located under the back seat, the floor often becomes rusty on that area.

1971-1973 models had sound insulating mat, which was fixed on the front side of the bulkhead between engine and cabin. After few tenths thousands of miles this mat "acted" as a bath sponge and reliably kept moisture, dirtiness. For this reason, the first work of restoration is the removal of this mat.

The rear axle of the car is also week in respect of corrosion. It is very likely that rust already done a great job and eaten all the mounting screws.

In accordance with the above stated, many technical defects can be removed at low costs, so the main focus should be on body condition.

About the value
About 90 percent of survived Audi 100 Coupe S can be found in Germany. Up to 100 exemplars belong to the owners from England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. Based on the existing offers in the end of 2011, mint condition Coupe S can be purchased for € 13.000-16.000 and model which require restoration are available for € 4.000-7.000.

Final word
This car undoubtedly brought Audi to the new level and when considering relatively low production volumes, current Coupe S owners may be proud of having the part of Audi history.

Mindaugas Musininkas, D&S Automobiles
http://www.dsautomobiles.com/

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe

Back in February 2011, Mercedes-Benz announced that they are re-introducing the C-Class Coupe and I am sure that I am not the first person to say that the new Mercedes Benz C-Class Coupe is 100x better looking than the prior iteration of the Coupe as seen in the picture below. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz also noted they will produce a high performance AMG version. Specifically, it will be a Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe and this time Mercedes' AMG division claims that it was purpose built from the ground up for performance. That said, yes every AMG model has solid performance figures, but the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, CL63 AMG or CLS63 AMG essentially had "bolt-on" performance modifications. The C63 AMG Black Series on the other hadwas crafted to encroach on BMW M territory.

And like other AMGs with the 63 badge, this Mercedes Benz has the 6.3-liter V-8. However, unlike the other AMGs, this engine shares the same pistons, crankshaft and connecting rods from the SLS AMG and as a result the Black Series produces 510 horsepower. This represents a ~12% increase in horsepower compared to the C63 AMG Coupe (non-Black Series) which has a modest 457 horsepower engine. The improvement in torque is a more modest 3% to 457 lb-ft in the Black Series from 443 lb-ft in the C63 AMG Coupe. And to make this model more "track-friendly", AMG optimized the engine oil cooling system giving the oil cooler a cooling surface which is 50% larger.

To transfer all of the power to the rear tires, this Black Series has the innovative AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission which has 4 transmission modes, a double-declutching function and a "Race Start"function.In the "Sport Plus" and "Manual" transmission modes the gear changes take a mere 100 milliseconds.

The front tires are 255/35 R 19 while the rear tires are a little wider at 285/30 R 19. These tires are mounted on 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels. These are vast improvements in size over C63 AMG which in the front has 235/40 R 18 and in the rear 255/35 R 18. These wider tires transfer power to the tarmac and allow the Black Series to reach 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and help the car maintain grip around tight corners.

The Black Series' party piece is its adjustable coil-over suspension system. The track width of the axles has been widened by 1.6 at the front and 3.1 inches at the rear and the system offers numerous setting options allowing the driver to create his/her own personal set-up. That said, this model is said to have better grip and a low roll angle which makes it feel more like a sports car rather than a luxury car that Mercedes-Benz is known for.

This Mercedes will give BMW's M division a run for its money. I personally love the look of this Black Series. I love the wider more aggressive stance, the 19-inch AMG wheels, the interior styling and all of the performance bells and whistles. That said, I would strongly consider purchasing this if I was in the market. This C63 AMG Black Series will surely give BMW's M Division a run for its money.

For more articles, visit http://www.carnecks.com/.

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Big Performance - The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

The Genesis Coupe is a true performance car, with power and handling to meet the needs of the driving enthusiast. The base engine is a 16 valve DOHC 2.0 litre turbocharged intercooled 4-cylinder that delivers 210 hp and 223 lb/ft of torque at a low 2,000 rpm.

The appearance of the Genesis puts it in a different league. It's wide body, powerful curves and tapered greenhouse are a nod to the more expensive Infinity G37 Coupe. One or the premium cars it was benchmarked against. It is easily the most attractive vehicle in the Hyundai lineup.

The base Coupe comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission (add $1500 for the optional automatic), along with 18-inch alloys and a full suite of safety and handling technologies that include six airbags, front active headrests, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control and traction control. The GT model enhances this capable coupe with such features as a Brembo braking package with red four piston calipers. 13.4 inch ventilated rotors in front and 13.0 inch in rear. GT calibrated suspension, front strut tower brace and big 19 inch aluminum alloys.

On the inside, you get air conditioning, six-speaker AM/FM/XM/CE/MP3 audio system with iPod and USB/aux input; Bluetooth hands free system with steering wheel controls; keyless entry; leather wrapped steering wheel with controls for audio, Bluetooth and cruise; power windows and locks, and more.

Exterior features include power heated mirrors, fog lights and wiper deicer... a lot of content for the money.

The 2.0 litre Coupe offers four more trim levels adding comfort, convenience and performance items.

Genesis is rear wheel drive, like a performance car should be!

The 3.8 Manual, the entry level for the V6 powered Genesis Coupe, offers some serious grunt performance. A six-speed manual transmission, the base unit, provides all the standard features found in the 2.0T Manual, and adds automatic climate control, black leather seats (heated in front), upgraded 10 speaker Infinity AM/FM/XM/MP3 audio system with 6-CD changer, smart key with push button start, auto leveling HID headlights, mirror mounted turn signals and power sunroof. You also get a touch screen navigation system with 6.5 inch display. For those who appreciate the performance of an Automatic Transmission, you can add the six speed automatic, paddle shifter. This controls the difficulty of trying to handle the clutch versus torque challenge. The traction control system is effective at keeping the wheels in check, bit it can be disabled at the push of a button for on-demand wheel-spin... or a little drifting around corners

The base unit also gets a Torsen (torque sensing) limited slip rear differential to better handle the power generated by it's all aluminum COHC 3.8 litre, 24 valve V6. It delivers an impressive 306 hp and 266 lb/ft of torque and can run on regular fuel.

Suspension for all Genesis Coupes is dual link Macpherson gas charged struts and stabilizer bar in rear.

First and foremost, this is a performance car... and as you would expect, gives flat corners, precise steering and considerable stiffness in it's ride.

This Car is yet another example of how far Hyundai has come in the past couple of decades...from building stout, value priced vehicles that blend in with the competition to those like the Genesis Coupe, that people are attracted to own.

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BMW Spicup Convertible Coupe Auctioned for 612 K Dollars

In 1969, at the Geneva motorshow Bertone and BMW have launched the world unique Spicup Convertible Coupe Concept. This legendary classic car was preserved perfectly and recently was on display at the Villa d'Este design contest and in the BMW museum. In these circumstances is understandable that the Spicup concept generated big waves of interest when it was put up for auction by the famous auction house Bonham during a special event named "Power by BMW". Although many might be tempted to believe that this is just a car made to be displayed, Spicup Convertible Coupe was initially meant to be a street car.

During the 1960s BMW enjoyed a close relationship with Carrozzeria Bertone, whose star designer Giorgetto Giugiaro had been responsible for the 3200CS coupé, so when the Italian coachbuilder wanted to showcase engineer Enzo Cingolani's idea for a retractable roof, it was to the German firm that they turned. The 'Spicup' (Spider/Coupé) was the result. BMW's E3 saloon platform was chosen, the example supplied to Bertone having the 2.8-litre version of the SOHC straight-six engine installed. The chassis was numbered 'V. 0010' - the V standing for Versuchswagen (experimental car). Its futuristic appearance notwithstanding, the Spicup's main talking point was its novel roof, which consisted of stainless steel panels that retracted into the hefty roll bar. Although the idea never made it to production, it did influence the lines of Bertone's Targa-top FIAT X1/9. With Giugiaro off to Carrozzeria Ghia, it was left to Marcello Gandini to finish the Spicup, incorporating what for a time was his signature front end with its part-concealed headlamps, seen also in the Alfa Romeo Montreal and Lamborghini Jarama.

All the factors together made this car to be sold today on the auction for a price of 612,000 dollars. After 1969, Spicup concept was sold to a Dutch guy that displeased by the original green color decide to paint the car in an orange shade. Also he used this BMW daily for some time of grand total 60,000 miles and without meaning he broke a world record this car becoming the only car made in only one exemplary and to be used so much. This car brought back to light after 20 years of anonymity got restored, got back the original color and the engine was also restored. All this restoration and stuff brought up the price a lot. BMW Spicup Convertible Coupe was build on the platform of the old 2000CS and its powered by 2.5 Liter six cylinder engine. At this auction where this unique BMW was sold also less unique BMW's were sold like: BMW 3.0CSL (73')- 466,000 dollars, BMW M1 Pro-Car - 666,000 dollars and last but not least BMW 328 Roadster ('37) - 666,000 dollars.

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Porsce Coupe - New Porsche Carrera 911 - 991

 Porsche has officially launched a new addition to its family of iconic coupes, the Porsche 911 (991) Carrera. It introduces a completely new generation to the iconic coupes Porsche is widely known and commended for since its launch in 1963.

The new Porsche 911 (991) exudes the power, elegance and sophistication unique to the Porsche 911 family. The distinctive silhouette is still very eye catching with the integration of new exciting contours and specifically designed details; a 100mm longer wheelbase for enhanced stability and bigger interior space; front and rear overhangs are shorter, maintaining the compact footprint that has been a longstanding 911 attribute; the sporting stance is accentuated by the lower roof line and a wider front track increases on-road presence further still while raising the renowned chassis dynamics.

The rear-mounted, flat six cylinder engine is an equally symbolic component of the 911 identity; and behind the rear axle of the new car lies an up rated range of powerful, efficient and evocative 'boxer' engines. The Porsche 911 Carrera is powered by a new 3.4-litre engine developing 350 hp, and the Carrera S features a 400 hp version of the familiar 3.8-litre. The engines have been enhances to an all new engine which offers improved performance for both models. The 3.4-litre Carrera with PDK accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.6 sec, 0.1 sec quicker than the prior model. Pressing the Sport Plus button on the optional Sport Chrono Pack cuts that to 4.4 sec. The 3.8-litre Carrera S with PDK can accelerate from 0- 62 mph in 4.3 sec (Sport Plus 4.1 sec), 0.2sec quicker than its predecessor.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera will be available from 17 December 2011; standard equipment on all models is leather interior, sports seats, automatic climate control, Bi-Xenon headlights, 7-inch colour touch-screen Porsche Communication Management with satellite navigation, a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity, Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and a three year warranty. The Carrera S adds 20-inch alloy wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with rear limited slip differential, in addition to the power advantage of the larger 3.8-litre engine.

Every Porsche 911 comes fitted with Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard and Porsche will be giving their customers the opportunity to discover the potential of their new car by taking part in a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone.

For car aficionados who are excited about this latest addition to the Porsche Family, information about the leasing rates for the new Porsche 911 Carrera is now available at here.

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