I like to see the mechanical heart of the beast and revel in its engineering beauty. I don't want to see some plastic place card. An engine without any kind of cover is getting to be a rare sight. No, our Audi isn't 100% bare bones, but at least you can see enough "real" engine bits to make it pretty. You can see bolts, cables, filters and reservoirs.
The worst offender of the plastic place card I've seen recently was the Lexus IS-F. It had a heart of a lion under the hood. I know because I was there on the track
when this thing was shredding tires, screaming around corners and causing havoc in general. Then I looked under the hood:
What a visual let down. I was so disappointed. When a vehicle has performance, not only do I want to hear it and feel it, but I want to see it too.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 19,530
What a visual let down. I was so disappointed. When a vehicle has performance, not only do I want to hear it and feel it, but I want to see it too.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 19,530
opfreak says:
10:58 AM, 10/29/07
lexus runs on magic
crowb says:
11:09 AM, 10/29/07
Yah, the "F" stands for Fairie Dust.
tackepj says:
11:10 AM, 10/29/07
Agreed on the visual engine. Some of the most advanced, cutting edge technology usually lies under 39 cents of cheap plastic with a logo on it. The Audi's engine looks fantastic.
Remember the Taurus SHO? That Yamaha top end looked absolutely amazing under the hood (or, as Conan O'Brien called it, "the ranch--'cause that's where my 220 horses live.")
jr1m90 says:
02:35 PM, 10/29/07
Well, having driven a 2000 Taurus SE (boasting a whopping 155 horsepower from its completely uncovered 3 liter pushrod V6), some engines SHOULD be hidden from view!
SubyTrojan says:
03:38 PM, 10/29/07
tackepj, Ford really should hook Conan up with a GT or something for all the "advertising" he does for them.
stovt001 says:
03:59 PM, 10/29/07
I definitely agree on the engine cover point. I'm fine with my Cobalt having a plastic engine cover, because really who cares about that 2.2L under the hood. It is a fine engine, plenty of pep for its class, but not exactly the heart and soul of the car. However, if I had a car with a nice V8 or performance V6 under the hood, I'd want to see it. Thats why I love my Oldsmobile. I pop open the hood, and bam, there the engine is in all its iron V8 glory, and being a 1970 it only has the mild beginnings of ugly smog control systems. I hope when the new Camaro (my next car) comes out it stays true to the concept and goes without an engine cover.
benson2175 says:
04:33 PM, 10/29/07
Do engine covers serve a purpose? Do they reduce noise or something or are they purely cosmetic? 'Cause if they're purely cosmetic that's ugly lame.
estreka says:
07:22 PM, 10/29/07
benson - They're intended to keep tuners out of warranty-covered vehicles. Some covers have specific keyholes that require a specific key that only the dealerships have. Still others use tamper seals. Just another way for the auto industry to cripple the aftermarket industry.
esf says:
08:40 PM, 10/29/07
Audi makes some of the most beautiful V8s ever... not just in sound and performance, but in looks. The RS4 and R8's are just beyond words; the one in my S4 is also pretty awesome. I open it once in awhile, just to stare...
08lr3 says:
02:16 PM, 10/31/07
where is the rest of the story??? forget Lexus.
hondacura4 says:
11:32 AM, 11/ 3/07
This just further validates Audis attention to detail. Its an Audi signature.