In the News

2005 Audi A6 Coupe
Maybe we’re jumping the gun a little, but the rumor in Germany is that, come 2005, Audi will offer a coupe version of its sixth-generation A6. The coupe will more than likely offer the same engine options that the sixth-gen four-door A6 will—a 2.7L with 180 hp, a 3.0L with 240 hp, or a 4.2L offering a whopping 300 hp. The sedan will make its rounds at the car shows in late 2003, probably as an ’04 model. We anticipate the sixth-generation A6 Avant will be released sometime in 2004, and a new S6 will be released in 2005 as an ’06 model. There is no word yet on the engine chosen to power the S6. If there is going to be an RS6, Audi is doing a good job keeping it under wraps.

Corrections Department
Oops, we ran the wrong 1.8T Stage III image for APR’s kit in the May issue. Although we don’t have an image of the finished kit on a transverse 1.8T, we can describe how the parts look: stock. If you weren’t well versed with the 1.8T powerplant and you took a quick gander at a car equipped with APR’s Stage III 1.8T kit, you’d probably just walk on by. The kit doesn’t involve a blue valvecover or pipes running anywhere other than where they ran from the factory. In fact, one of the only clues that the car has an APR Stage III installed is when you get your ass handed to you at the track and you see a tiny “APR” sticker on the rear decklid of the car that just beat you.

Fast Lap at Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Thanks to the wonderful folks at Brembo North America (which, incidentally, supplies the brakes for nearly the entire CART lineup), we had a very cool experience at this year’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. While we normally sit in a paddock and watch the weekend’s races on closed-circuit television, this year we managed to get somewhat more involved. CART has a program called the Fast Lap. The Fast Lap involves the official pace-car team of CART strapping unsuspecting guests into the passenger seats of the cars and heading around the track at breakneck speeds. Granted, senior editor Phil only got to ride in an RSX Type-S, but the sensation was, as he says, “Pretty cool.” We’d like to thank Brembo for having us along for the ride, and we’d also like to let Brembo know that we felt plenty safe in the pace car, since it was equipped with four-piston Brembo front brakes.

The Italian Job Remake
According to Variety, the Mini Cooper is set to revive its roll in the remake of The Italian Job. The producers responsible for Bridget Jones’s Diary and Four Weddings and a Funeral are planning a remake of the 1969 classic, The Italian Job. Don’t hold their previous producing jobs against them, however, since they have already cast Mark Wahlberg in the leading roll, which was originally played by Michael Caine. The remake will apparently start in Italy, but the plot then shifts to Los Angeles, where Charlie Croker (Wahlberg’s character) creates the largest traffic jam in LA’s history as a cover for a robbery. Croker’s crew then use New Minis to escape the law by driving on pavements and through the subway system. Filming is set to begin in August, and the movie may be released in the summer of 2003.

Project Scirocco Update
Things don’t always go as planned. This month’s installment of Project Scirocco was supposed to include wheels, tires, dampers, and sway bars, but alas, that didn’t happen. What did happen was a hole in the radiator and a leaky coolant pipe. After tracking down a performance radiator in a catalog you would have never thought would have a Scirocco radiator, we installed it and went on our way…almost. While installing the radiator, we also decided to replace the fan shroud with a trick dual-fan setup. Check back in upcoming issues, when we’ll cover the replacement of the radiator and fan as well as the suspension, wheels, tires, and lots more.

SATCAR Formula Street Racing
Sports and Touring Car Racing, or SATCAR, has created a new method of track racing called Formula Street. Instead of requiring people to bring race-prepped cars, or pitting modified cars against stock cars, SATCAR has developed a method of evening the playing field by offering handicaps to the faster cars. According to SATCAR, this new method of lap timing will ultimately show who is the better driver, not who has the most money. The best we can figure, it’s somewhat similar to SCCA Solo 2 racing divisions without the actual divisions—only completely different. SATCAR’s Formula Street races will be touring the States, so log on to www.satcarracing.com to find an event near you.

Rumor Has It

ABD is taking on two new project vehicles, a Passat W8 and a Mini. Our source anticipates ABD to have Mini products finished as soon as next month. Passat W8–specific products may be available now. nMarch 22 marked the first day the new Mini went on sale in America. In the nine days following that date, Mini sold 787 Minis. 716 of those were the 115hp Cooper. Mini is also rumored to be the car of choice in the upcoming Austin Powers 3 movie.

VW’s GTI 337 Edition is coming to America. The GTI will be equipped with 18-inch BBS RC wheels, a 3-inch chromed exhaust tip, 12.3-inch front rotors, a six-speed MQ350 tranny, a custom interior and body pieces, and a 180hp 1.8T engine. Price is set to start at $22,225, with only 1,500 entering the States.

We heard that a PETA representative ordered a Mercedes-Benz, which aren’t offered with a leather substitute, then cut all the leather off the seats and sent the leather back to M-B requesting that it be reused on another vehicle. Some people are crazy. nAPR is developing a Stage III kit for the 225hp TT motor. The kit is rumored to be released early 2003, and it should offer well over 300 hp on pump gas.

Dubwar ’02
Sunday, August 18—that’s all you need to know. Last year, Dubwar offered a car show, burnout competition, ¼-mile drag race, autocross, 3-mile open track, and sound off…all in a one-day event. This year, the ante has been upped with over $5,000 in raffles, an above-ground dyno, and gobs of vendors. Check out www.dubwar.net to get a more in-depth look at what is going to go down, and while you’re there, you may want to register. While you’re registering, you’ll also want to remember that the folks who put on Dubwar are enthusiasts that like to show their VWs and Audis as well as race them. Because of this, they are designing the show to allow everyone to race and not miss the judging. No more excuses.