Mattias Ekström of Audi and EKS won the season opener at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship

The 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship could not have been off to a better start from Audi and EKS’s point of view. The season opener at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya saw Mattias Ekström triumph. In the final, the reigning world champion relegated Timo Scheider (D) and Andreas Bakkerud (N) to positions two and three. This victory immediately puts Ekström back at top of the drivers’ standings. In the teams’ classification, team world champions EKS are in the top spot tied on points with Team PSRX Volkswagen Sweden.

The start to the season’s first race weekend had ups and downs in store for Ekström and his teammates, Toomas Heikkinen (FIN) and Reinis Nitišs (LV). “Saturday was incredibly difficult,” says Ekström. “The weather situation kept changing – sun, rain, sun, rain … In rallycross with its many single races, that’s extremely complicated – at one time you have an advantage and others a disadvantage.” Ekström caught a rain shower in his second race and at the end of day one was only in position eleven of the overall classification. Heikkinen had better luck. The Finn did the best job of coping with the changeable conditions and was leading after day one.

On Sunday, the prerequisites changed. In bright sunshine and on a dry track, Ekström was able to fully use the strengths of his 560-HP Audi S1 EKS RX quattro and at the end of the four qualifying sessions was trailing Timo Scheider in second place. For the semi-finals of the twelve best drivers, Heikkinen (P7) and Nitišs (P10) qualified as well. However, both EKS campaigners were eliminated in the penultimate session. Ekström on the other hand dominated the action, took the top spot after having started from pole position and in the final prevailed with a lights-to-flag victory as well. “All in all, it was a terrific weekend,” says Ekström. “I won at Barcelona in 2016, and now I did it again. My whole team did a fantastic job and we scored important points for both classifications.”

EKS will be traveling from Barcelona some 1,000 kilometers to Montalegre in Portugal to prepare for round 2 of the World Rallycross Championship on April 21–23. Ekström still has a score to settle with the shortest track on the calendar. Last year, following a collision in the semi-final, the 38-year-old had to bury his hopes for victory early.

2017 FIA World RX – round 1, Barcelona – results of final

1 Mattias Ekström (S) 4m 32.260s
2 Timo Scheider (D) +0.362s
3 Andreas Bakkerud (N) +1.868s
4 Petter Solberg (N) +2.625s
5 Timmy Hansen (S) +3.251s
6 Johan Kristoffersson (S) +3.976s

Drivers’ standings, 2017 FIA World RX (after 1 of 12 rounds)

1 Mattias Ekström (S) 29 points
2 Timo Scheider (D) 26 points
3 Andreas Bakkerud (N) 22 points
4 Johan Kristoffersson (S) 21 points
5 Petter Solberg (N) 19 points
6 Timmy Hansen (S) 17 points

Reinis Nitišs (Audi S1 EKS RX quattro #15) in the FIA World Rallycross Championship

The fourth season of the FIA World Rallycross Championship is coming up. Twelve events on three continents are on the calendar this year, kicked off by the round at Barcelona on April 1 and 2, which marks a premiere in several respects. It will be the first race in which EKS receives factory support from Audi. The reigning world champion will be fielding three Audi S1 EKS RX quattro cars for the first time. Plus, Barcelona will be the venue of the season opener for the first time.

Mattias Ekström is looking forward to the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with confidence. “Last week, we did another three-day test in France and are entering the season superbly prepared,” says the Swede, who is both a driver and the team boss at EKS. “I’m very happy with the development work that was done in winter and our aim for this season is clear: we’d like to win the drivers’ and teams’ titles in the FIA World Rallycross Championship again this year.”

The rallycross track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is located in the stadium section of the circuit and includes two super-fast corners included in Formula 1 races as well – albeit in the opposite direction. It is one of the few tracks with very fast initial corners on tarmac, plus many flat-out sections. “Thinking about last year puts a grin on my face,” says Ekström. At Barcelona, the Swede celebrated his fourth victory of the season in 2016 and laid the foundation for his subsequent world championship win. The basis for the success has been the 560 hp Audi S1 EKS RX quattro, which was technically modified once again for this season.

The FIA World Rallycross Championship will be broadcast live in 180 countries. Each Sunday of the total of twelve events the channels are going to air a two-hour show with interviews, background reports and the highlights of all four qualifying sessions, plus live footage of the semi-finals and final. Coverage of the season opener at Barcelona will start on Sunday, April 2, at 14:00 CEST. A list of all TV channels is available at www.fiaworldrallycross.com/tv_listings. In selected markets a live stream of World RX will be available online at www.fiaworldrallycross.com/live. Images courtesy of AUDI AG.

Mattias Ekström (Audi S1 EKS RX quattro #1) in the FIA World Rallycross Championship

Toomas Heikkinen (Audi S1 EKS RX quattro #57) in the FIA World Rallycross Championship

The new PEUGEOT 3008 was named the 2017 Car of the Year

The new PEUGEOT 3008 was named the 2017 Car of the Year on Monday 6 March in Geneva by a judging panel comprising 58 European journalists. The judging panel acclaimed its style, interior design and performance. This prestigious trophy joins the twenty other prizes the new PEUGEOT 3008 has already won. The vehicle is the fifth PEUGEOT to win Car of the Year and the first SUV honoured in the history of the COTY prize.

Car of the Year 2017: the new Peugeot 3008 SUV arrived right on time! It appeals to choosy customers who want to stand out and have new experiences, aiming to become a major contender in the compact SUV category. The new PEUGEOT 3008 offers a unique blend of style, comfort and road handling. The spectacular PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® is state of the art and gives new meaning to being in the driver’s seat. It offers a more intuitive and intense driving experience, with a compact steering wheel, 12.3” head-up display and central capacitive touchscreen console with ergonomic piano keys to top it all off. The new PEUGEOT 3008 also offers a number of driving aids and other high-tech equipment, as well as seamless connectivity.

Nearly 100,000 customers have already placed orders in Europe. 84% chose Allure, GT Line or GT finish, contributing to an upgrade of the Lion brand. Manufactured in Sochaux, it received the Origine France Garantie (made in France) label.

PEUGEOT has received the prize for Car of the Year for the second time in three years. The new PEUGEOT 3008 IS the first SUV winner since the creation of the trophy in 1964. It is also the fifth PEUGEOT vehicle named Car of the Year, following the 308 in 2014, the 307 in 2002, the 405 in 1988 and the 504 in 1969.

The Car of the Year prize is awarded by a judging panel comprising 58 experienced journalists from 22 countries. Thirty models have been competing since early 2016. On 6 March 2017, on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, the new PEUGEOT 3008 won over the panel in the final vote.

“I am particularly proud and very pleased that the new PEUGEOT 3008 has just won the 2017 Car of the Year prize. This trophy is the culmination of five years of incredible work by the brand’s teams and our group.” Jean-Philippe Imparato, CEO of the PEUGEOT brand.

“Destined for a place beyond the stars, the Audi lunar quattro with its all-wheel-drive power distribution, piloted driving expertise and lightweight efficient technology will be assisting the crew of the Covenant. Can you spot the lunar quattro? #quattroThursdays #AlienCovenant

For more information about quattro please call our showroom at 244 2333 or follow us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/AudiBrunei/ and https://www.instagram.com/audibrunei/“

A prize for a pioneering achievement: Audi has won the Logistics Award for 2017 from the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) in recognition of its FTS driverless vehicle transport system. The autonomously operating system has been in production operation at the Ingolstadt site since the beginning of the year. The parking robot named Ray sorts up to 2,000 cars per day for loading onto railway freight cars. This application is the only one of its kind to date in the automotive industry.

“Driverless transport systems are one of the key technologies of the Smart Factory,” said Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl, Board Member for Production and Logistics at AUDI AG. “With their flexible navigation we are improving efficiency in vehicle transport as well. FTS Ray is now in production operation at the Ingolstadt plant. We will be transferring the concept to other processes and sites.” VDA President Matthias Wissmann emphasized: “Our industry thrives on innovative solutions like this. The digitalization and connection of production, and in fact of the entire value chain, is the biggest challenge for the industry. Concepts like that of the award-winner clearly demonstrate that the German automotive industry is on top here as well.”

There are now twelve parking robots in use at Audi’s main plant in Ingolstadt. They autonomously transport Audi models after production for railway loading. For this, one of the roughly six meter long and three meter wide robots uses laser sensors to determine the position and dimensions of a car and adjusts itself accordingly. Then the robot carefully lifts the car up to ten centimeters. A central, autonomous control system assigns a space to the robot where the robot can park it via the shortest route. Once a sufficient number of cars have accumulated for the same transport destination, a robot prepares them for loading on to the railway freight cars.

The driverless transport systems complete up to 8,000 movements per day this way, while covering about 500 kilometers (310.7 miles). They even change their own batteries: When the charge status is low, the robots promptly dock themselves onto the automated changing station and specially designed robots change out the batteries within a few minutes. The system operates reliably around the clock – on an open parking deck and at outdoor temperatures up to minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit). It thus improves both efficiency and ergonomics for employees: They now have significantly shorter distances to walk and are exposed to fewer extreme weather conditions.

The Ray driverless transport system was created in partnership with Serva Transport Systems in Grabenstätt am Chiemsee. The parking robots are continuously being developed further – their weather resistance, for example. In the first quarter of 2017, a total of 18 parking robots are already sorting ready-to-transport cars in Audi railway loading within an area of 20,000 square meters (215,278.2 sq ft). Additional opportunities for their use in the Ingolstadt plant have already been identified.

The new Audi A3 Sedan

Sedan redefined- the new Audi A3.

Audi launched the Audi A3 at the 1996 Paris Motor Show. The car was developed on the Golf IV platform, which followed in 1997. From the very first generation, the Audi A3 has boasted innovations and quality features from its bigger siblings, making it the founder of the premium compact class. The A3 initially was available exclusively as a three-door hatchback in three trim lines. Seventeen years later, the A3 Sedan was unveiled at the 2013 New York Auto Show.

In 2014, TCY Motors Sdn Bhd as the sole Audi dealer/importer successfully launched the A3 Sedan locally and it went on to become the top selling Audi for Brunei the following year.

To coincide with the recent 20th anniversary of the A3 model family, the new updated A3 Sedan is now available for Brunei.

Media on for a test drive.

You can check out the Audi A3 at their showroom

The success model from Audi has become even more attractive: the new A3 Sedan approaches the starting line with a new 1.2 TFSI engine as well as newly designed headlights and taillights.

Updates feature a more sharply contoured and wider Singleframe grill and new headlight design. Now with full LED headlights with dynamic turn signals and cornering lights complimented by new rear light design.

The interior of the sporty four-door features a light and clean design. The 425-liter (15.0 cu ft) cargo space can be expanded by folding down the rear seat backs. Equipped with the new 1.2 TFSI engine, the sedan has a curb weight of just 1,280 kg (2822 lb).

Audi Brunei will offer the updated A3 Sedan with a new powerful and highly efficient 1.2 TFSI engine with power output of 81 kW (109 hp) and 175 Nm. S tronic dual-clutch transmission will remain a standard for the model. Exclusive 17-inch wheels will compliment the package.

The new Audi A3 Sedan will be offered at a competitive pricing of $41,489.00.

For more information and a test drive of the new Audi A3, please call the Audi Brunei Showroom at 244 2333 or follow them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/AudiBrunei/ and https://www.instagram.com/audibrunei/

Audi factory driver Lucas di Grassi on clinching third place in Buenos Aires (Argentina) maintained his second place in the Formula E standings. His teammate Daniel Abt in race three of the fully electric racing series shone with a comeback drive from grid position 16 to seventh place

Lucas di Grassi already gave Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport reason to cheer in qualifying. For the first time, the Brazilian clinched the top spot on the grid in Formula E and, as a result, scored three extra points. In the race, with temperatures of nearly 30 degrees centigrade in the shade, things initially did not go as expected. Di Grassi was struggling with heavy oversteer and dropped to position five. Following the car change halfway through the race, the Brazilian was able to attack again and to claim third place on the podium.

Audi factory driver Loïc Duval in the team of Dragon Racing finished in position six. Daniel Abt, following contact with the wall in qualifying, had to settle for grid position 16. With a strong race and a good strategy of the team the young German went on to battle his way forward to position seven, securing important points for the teams’ classification as a result.

Formula E will continue in Mexico City on April 1.

Stand a chance to win this book

Enrich your life with #VorsprungdurchTechnik and tag a friend in the comments from @audibrunei post (based on the video below) for a chance to win The Book of Challenges! It’s 45 pages of Audi innovation that packs in even more than what you see in this video. 7 winners will be randomly selected by lucky draw when the giveaway ends next Thursday (23rd February 2017). #quattroThursdays

Tag and comment on the IG post and stand a chance to win a 45 page book of Audi innovation

The new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV featuring the latest generation PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®

Press release. The new PEUGEOT 3008 has won the Grand Prix award for best interior of 2016 at the 32nd International Automobile Festival. Gilles Vidal, Head of Styling at PEUGEOT, received the trophy at the ceremony which took place on 31 January at the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris.

The Grand Prix award for best interior of the year is the seventeenth award won by the new PEUGEOT 3008. Since its launch in mid-October 2016, more than 60,000 customers world-wide have already admired its interior design.

The passenger compartment of the the new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV is unique, featuring the latest generation PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®. It comes with a compact steering wheel and a 12 inch “heads-up” digital display as standard. Beneath a large touch screen, intuitive piano-key toggle switches give easy access to the main control functions. The new PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® is the hallmark of the brand’s more recent creations. With its advanced technology, it sets new standards in cockpit design.

“The interior design of the new PEUGEOT 3008 SUV strikes a balance between the technology of digital displays and the natural oak or fabric. The cockpit can be customised to suit the driver’s needs with configurable ambience and graphics.” Gilles Vidal, Head of Styling at PEUGEOT.

Each year the International Automobile Festival rewards the most attractive automotive designs. The architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte leads a jury of experts drawn from the worlds of automobile, fashion, culture and design.

Stay tuned to more exciting news and offers.

The all-new Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Engine 107

Check out the new Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Engine which was showcased at the Harley-Davidson Brunei showroom at Sri Sentosa Sdn Bhd in Berakas last weekend. The latest model just arrived recently and guess what? Two of the units have been sold already and now the Brunei dealer can make prior arrangement should you be interested to get one for yourself.

The difference between the previous model is the engine itself. It delivers more power, more torque and it gives a much more improved motorcycling experience. Expect a purer sound too and a smoother ride on the road. The Milwaukee-Eight Engine will be an eye catcher for all bike lovers.

“The guiding principle behind the Milwaukee-Eight engine was the customer research we did in every region of the world,” said Scott Miller, Harley-Davidson Vice-President of Styling and Product Development Strategy.

“Riders asked us to create a new engine designed to enhance their motorcycle touring experience in every way. Those same voices also demanded that we stay true to our legacy and respect the defining elements of a Harley-Davidson V-Twin. It was a big challenge, but one we’ve met. With the Milwaukee-Eight, a new era of Harley-Davidson power, performance and innovation has been forged,” he added.

Can I pull it off as a biker? 😀

There’s even a USB socket

Harley-Davidson Softail

The new Milwaukee-Eight engines will power every 2017 Harley-Davidson Touring and Trike motorcycle model, and will be offered in two displacements and three variations – the Milwaukee-Eight 107 (107 CID, 1745cc) featuring precision oil-cooled cylinder heads for the Street Glide Special, Road Glide Special, Road King and Freewheeler models; the Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 107 (107 CID, 1745cc) featuring liquid-cooled cylinder heads for the Ultra Limited/Ultra Limited Low, Road Glide Ultra and Tri Glide Ultra Models, and the Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114 (114 CID, 1870cc) featuring liquid-cooled cylinder heads for the CVO Street Glide models.

There are other models that are being showcased at the showroom. For now, you won’t be able to check out the Milwaukee-Eight as both units are taken by the new owners.