Offical Audi S4 (B8) Thread

[ACE]

Originally Posted by martinbo

Also, we've now seen that the N54 engine is easily good for 245 kW and 440 Nm in the new F01 740i so the output figures are clearly very carefully controlled by electronics and not actual mechanical physics.

I'd like to know the fuel consumption figures for a 245kW N54 in the E90 and compare them to the (independently verified!) B8 S4 figures.

Originally Posted by martinbo

It is interesting to note that the Audi engineers (read marketing dept ) have made the comment around the vast superiority of mechanical charging vs turbocharging whilst all the while:
- employing turbocharging in many of their other vehicles
- having turbocharging as a tradition in their stable
- just about every other manufacturer eschewing supercharging for its drawbacks and moving toward turbocharging.

If you read their marketing spiel carefully you will see that they only refer to the superiority of mechanical charging in the case of this V6. Also note how they mention the word "packaging". The plumbing and space required for twin scroll turbos on a V configuration block that already sits as far back as they can push it (given the quattro transmission) probably makes their marketing hype (at least partially) true! ... but that doesn't say what would be best for a |6 or any of their other engines.

You don't need to tell me to be cynical of marketing. I am not one of those people who doesn't realise that these companies exist for the sole purpose of making their shareholders wealthier. They definitely don't exist to impress enthusiasts on internet forums.

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by warot

Anyone else think that Martin deserves his own sub-forum? That was a serious question btw.

Not enough. He has enough knowledge to build himself a car. I'm a geek myself and regret that I didn't pursue an academic education in mechanical engineering.

[dr Dunkel]

Originally Posted by ACE

I'd like to know the fuel consumption figures for a 245kW N54 in the E90 and compare them to the (independently verified!) B8 S4 figures.

Do we even have independently verified figures for the S4?

[warot]

Originally Posted by Centurion

Not enough. He has enough knowledge to build himself a car. I'm a geek myself and regret that I didn't pursue an academic education in mechanical engineering.

What do you mean not enough?

I am a mechanical engineer and I can tell you that it is absolutely not a pre-requisite to being in the car industry. Sure it'll move you up the list and get you more noticed when you are trying to get in, but there are many ways to start this career.

I know tons of people that work here with a business degree.

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by warot

What do you mean not enough?

I am a mechanical engineer and I can tell you that it is absolutely not a pre-requisite to being in the car industry. Sure it'll move you up the list and get you more noticed when you are trying to get in, but there are many ways to start this career.

I know tons of people that work here with a business degree.

A business degree can surely not be enough to get you into R&D, or is it?

[dr Dunkel]

Originally Posted by Centurion

A business degree can surely not be enough to get you into R&D, or is it?

Who do you think controls all of those crazy engineers?

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by dr Dunkel

Who do you think controls all of those crazy engineers?

Other fellow engineers. All the CEOs behind BMW, Mercedes, Mclaren, VAG and Porsche all have sick degrees in engineering. Ferdinard Pierch, Wendelin Wiedeking and Martin Winterkorn are all engineering demons and are the driving forces behind cars like the Veyron and R8, CGT, Cayman and GT3. Don't kid yourself folks these guys are not people with an irrelevant business degree.

[dr Dunkel]

Originally Posted by Centurion

Other fellow engineers. All the CEOs behind BMW, Mercedes, Mclaren, VAG and Porsche all have sick degrees in engineering. Ferdinard Pierch, Wendelin Wiedeking and Martin Winterkorn are all engineering demons and are the driving forces behind cars like the Veyron and R8, CGT, Cayman and GT3. Don't kid yourself folks these guys are not people with an irrelevant business degree.

They have engineering degrees allright, but do they do engineering? No. Not at all. Degrees and titles mean everything in Germany. I often have to pull rank in discussions with my german colleagues just because we in Sweden does not show our degrees openly and because they refuse to take the opinion of someone without a degree...

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by dr Dunkel

They have engineering degrees allright, but do they do engineering? No. Not at all.

They actually do which is what has allowed them to climb ranks. Obviously they don't leave their work with dirty engine oil between their fingers any longer since they're past that stage, now they delegate. On the other hand, they do lead the orchestra of major projects and give their input on matter.

[warot]

Originally Posted by Centurion

A business degree can surely not be enough to get you into R&D, or is it?

Originally Posted by Centurion

Other fellow engineers. All the CEOs behind BMW, Mercedes, Mclaren, VAG and Porsche all have sick degrees in engineering. Ferdinard Pierch, Wendelin Wiedeking and Martin Winterkorn are all engineering demons and are the driving forces behind cars like the Veyron and R8, CGT, Cayman and GT3. Don't kid yourself folks these guys are not people with an irrelevant business degree.

Why wouldn't it be my friend? Look, maybe your expectations are just a TAD too high. Those CEOs are: probably engineers and German. We are neither of those. Not to mention there's a 99 percent chance they have a doctorate degree (most likely in business actually!)

But a business degree is more than enough to get you into R&D. You just work your way up. In my case, I'm in quality assurance and I'm using maybe 10% of the engineering stuff I learned in college. I was more interested in QA just because it's very very hands on. You work directly with these cars... I get to drive X5's and X6's almost on a daily basis, couldn't be any happier.

I can see a million ways to reach your goal:
1. Start at the "bottom". You could be the one actually testing the car as a test driver? There are TONS of people that were in my dept with a business degree. Hell some didn't even finish college! They worked in the assembly line for years and moved... they know more than I do most the time

2. It might be possible to start in another dept that's more business related... then gradually work towards an engineering dept like mine. It's not like it's a prerequisite for you to be an engineer to be a manager of my section I don't think. Just gotta prove yourself

These are just a few examples. The only hard part is to get yourself noticed in the first place. I made it because I was an ME plus I had internships with BMW before. Don't let your degree limit you on what you really want to do in real life!

PM me if you have anymore questions.