TFL Today: 2018 Audi RS 3 Walkaround, Audi R3 LMS Racecar Revealed, Name That Prototype, TFL Joins AVA

Audi’s New 4-door Street Missile

The good folks at Audi flew TFL’s Roman Mica to Lime Rock raceway in Connecticut to check out the new $54,900 2018 RS 3. In this video Roman chats with Audi’s product manager as he takes Roman over all the attributes that make an RS 3 an RS 3. The list includes:

  • An all-new 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder turbo paired with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission
  • Quattro all-wheel-drive
  • Horsepower: 400 / Torque: 354 lb-ft. at 1,700-5,850 rpm
  • 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds (Audi’s rep claims in ideal conditions it’ll hit 3.7 seconds)
  • Top speed of 155 mph, or 174 mph with the optional Dynamic plus package
  • Other cool features: Torque and g-Force gauges, tune-able steering and exhaust note

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Get it Now! A $135,000 Factory-Built Racecar from Audi [Video]

$135K buys you this race-ready Audi. [photo:TFL]
At the same event in Lime Rock, Roman got to check out the Audi’s turnkey racecar on sale now, the R3 3 LMS. The speed machine is built in the factory complete with a VIN number and built to the current specifications of the Pirelli World Challenge racing series. So what do you get for $135,000? Two front seats (’cause you want your instructor with you in the car, right?), working headlights in case you want to chase your 24-hour racing dreams, integrated roll cage, safety features, four working doors, even an electric-powered driver’s side window.

Audi’s hot rocket can be yours in three easy steps:

  1. Go to driving school at one of the Audi Driving Experience schools to learn about the race car and how to drive the car.
  2. Buy the car for $135,000 direct from Audi.
  3. Drive it on the track.

Check out Roman’s walk around to learn more about this racer.

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Help TFL’s Prototype Hunters I.D. this SUV! [Video]

Here at TFL we know a lot about cars and trucks, but even after years of Prototype Hunting in the Colorado Rockies, there are still manufacturers’ camo jobs that leave us flummoxed. Take a look at the video Andre and Nathan shot earlier this week and let us know what you think in the Comments section below. So far the crowd is trending toward a new Acura MDX.

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TFL joins Automotive Video Association [Press Release]

TFLcar-founder Roman Mica is a founding member of the new AVA network created to showcase the breadth, depth, and power of independent automotive video producers. Here’s what Roman has to say about the partnership:

“I’m thrilled to be a founding member of the AVA’s. TFL has always been in the forefront of online automotive news, views and reviews. With the Automotive Video Association’s Awards TFL takes the next step in bringing the most exciting new cars to TFLcar readers and viewers. By working with a great team of video reviewers and presenters, we will work together to both spotlight and highlight some of most interesting and some of the best cars being built today.”

The full press-release follows:

AUTO INDUSTRY VIDEO JOURNALISTS COME TOGETHER TO CREATE THE AUTOMOTIVE VIDEO ASSOCIATION (AVA): ALL-NEW NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WILL PROMOTE THE VIDEO AND DIGITAL SIDE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY

–AVA Kicks-Off Formation of Group by Announcing the First-Ever AVA Awards–

LOS ANGELES (July 15, 2017) – Today, a group of automotive video journalists, that represent nearly 500 million unique viewers per year, announced the formation of the Automotive Video Association (AVA). While announcing the AVA as a new media association, the AVA also announced it will host the first-ever AVA (automotive video) awards that will take place in the fall of 2017.

The AVA has been formed by video media outlets that span the country and represents the auto industry’s first-ever national media organization. The AVA was established to provide media outlets that specialize in video content the ability to promote their industry, which is the fastest growing segment within the spectrum of automotive media. The organization is made up of some of the most prominent and most followed automotive outlets in the country.

The current media association landscape is based on regions, but the AVA has no boundaries and its content spans the globe. The new coalition helps promote the video aspect of covering the greater auto industry. The organization also isn’t limited to just card carrying journalists. The AVA has members that have a variety of backgrounds. The unifying nature is video and all video content is owned by its members.

The overarching goal of the AVA is to promote video as the primary outlet for content, but is also aimed at auto makers as well to showcase the power of video. Consumers today, look to video for their news. The combined bandwidth of the AVA is in the millions for monthly unique views. This is something no traditional media outlet can do.

To ensure the successful launch of the AVA, the organization was founded by seven key video outlet principals and the organization will not accept members until the first two AVA awards are completed. This will ensure the proper foundation is seeded and ready to accommodate a growing membership.

The AVA is made of the following founding members and these seven members will serve as the jurors for the first AVA awards.

  • Nik Miles (OurAutoExpert.com) – Northwest
  • Roman Mica (The Fastlane Car) – Midwest
  • Alex Dykes (AlexOnAutos) – Northern Cal
  • Kyle Lindsey (SaabKyle) – North Carolina
  • Sofyan Bey (Redline Reviews) – DC
  • Jason Fenske (Engineering Explained) – Idaho
  • Matt Maranowski (subaruwrxfan) – Pennsylvania

The AVA will host a variety of events throughout the course of the year, but he AVA awards will capture and garner more exposure than any other automotive award program to date. The first AVA award program will be hosted Saturday, September 23rd, 2017. Titled “The Mountain Run” the event will be hosted at the Resort of the Mountain in Welches, Oregon.

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