Audi releases cars to US one year later
- Thread starter raaizin
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My guess? Production capacity is limited and new models that sell well will go to countries where Audi has a higher profit margin.
We pay a good deal less for an Audi here in the USA than they do in Germany. Yes, the Euro Audi A4 might have a few more things a North American one lacks, but still.
We pay a good deal less for an Audi here in the USA than they do in Germany. Yes, the Euro Audi A4 might have a few more things a North American one lacks, but still.
VAG is in some ways worse about bringing things to the U.S. than other companies. I'm not surprised Audi is that way.
The new MK7 golf was on sale quite a while in Europe before they finally released it here in the U.S.
The new MK7 golf was on sale quite a while in Europe before they finally released it here in the U.S.
Originally Posted By: raaizin
Any idea why audi releases models to US one year later than europe.
Because North America is a large, fickle market that is extremely price competitive. One wrong move can cause a decade of poor sales, and Audi is no stranger to that.
Any idea why audi releases models to US one year later than europe.
Because North America is a large, fickle market that is extremely price competitive. One wrong move can cause a decade of poor sales, and Audi is no stranger to that.
Originally Posted By: raaizin
Any idea why audi releases models to US one year later than europe. I am pretty sure they are made on same assembly line so wouldnt this make assembly more difficult.
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards, so the cars do have to be designed and built differently for the different markets. Maybe they prioritize the European market versions.
Any idea why audi releases models to US one year later than europe. I am pretty sure they are made on same assembly line so wouldnt this make assembly more difficult.
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards, so the cars do have to be designed and built differently for the different markets. Maybe they prioritize the European market versions.
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards,
And then there are also different emissions standards that require development and testing of different ECU programming.
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards,
And then there are also different emissions standards that require development and testing of different ECU programming.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards,
And then there are also different emissions standards that require development and testing of different ECU programming.
Yes, and sometimes even reprogramming the ECU isn't enough.
Sometimes an air pump, an EGR valve, pre-cat, or some other device is added to an existing engine to meet California smog.
Cams are sometimes different as well.
The other limiting factor is that all gasoline cars have to be compatible with 91 (or lower) octane gasoline and 10% ethanol. In Europe the fuel may have a higher octane level and lower ethanol content. Diesel fuel may also be different between the USA and Europe.
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards,
And then there are also different emissions standards that require development and testing of different ECU programming.
Yes, and sometimes even reprogramming the ECU isn't enough.
Sometimes an air pump, an EGR valve, pre-cat, or some other device is added to an existing engine to meet California smog.
Cams are sometimes different as well.
The other limiting factor is that all gasoline cars have to be compatible with 91 (or lower) octane gasoline and 10% ethanol. In Europe the fuel may have a higher octane level and lower ethanol content. Diesel fuel may also be different between the USA and Europe.
European fuel really isn't all that much higher, if at all. We simply use a different measure. Just like the Imperial vs Metric differences. A meter is still a meter, even if we insist on measuring it in feet.
Ditto for gasoline, here in the US we use the (RON+MON)/2 measure. Or in other words, the average of the Research Octane Number and the Motor Octane Number. This is known as the Anti-Knock Index.
Most of the rest of the world displays the RON figure. AKI is about 5-6 points lower than RON for most fuels. So something that is listed as 99 RON in Europe would be the same as 93 AKI you see on our pumps here.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards,
And then there are also different emissions standards that require development and testing of different ECU programming.
Yes, and sometimes even reprogramming the ECU isn't enough.
Sometimes an air pump, an EGR valve, pre-cat, or some other device is added to an existing engine to meet California smog.
Cams are sometimes different as well.
The other limiting factor is that all gasoline cars have to be compatible with 91 (or lower) octane gasoline and 10% ethanol. In Europe the fuel may have a higher octane level and lower ethanol content. Diesel fuel may also be different between the USA and Europe.
Ditto for gasoline, here in the US we use the (RON+MON)/2 measure. Or in other words, the average of the Research Octane Number and the Motor Octane Number. This is known as the Anti-Knock Index.
Most of the rest of the world displays the RON figure. AKI is about 5-6 points lower than RON for most fuels. So something that is listed as 99 RON in Europe would be the same as 93 AKI you see on our pumps here.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
The US doesn't recognize European safety standards,
And then there are also different emissions standards that require development and testing of different ECU programming.
Yes, and sometimes even reprogramming the ECU isn't enough.
Sometimes an air pump, an EGR valve, pre-cat, or some other device is added to an existing engine to meet California smog.
Cams are sometimes different as well.
The other limiting factor is that all gasoline cars have to be compatible with 91 (or lower) octane gasoline and 10% ethanol. In Europe the fuel may have a higher octane level and lower ethanol content. Diesel fuel may also be different between the USA and Europe.
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