Audi A1 e-tron at Silvretta E-Auto 2011

Take a look at the triumphant A1 at Silvretta E-Auto 2011.

Milwaukee Audi Dealers

Automobile Magazine - 2012 Automobile of the Year: Audi A7

Sometimes, the Automobile of the Year is a dramatic about-face for its manufacturer. Other times, it is a car that breaks new ground technologically. Some years, it is a spectacular upgrade from its predecessor. This year, it's none of those things.

Automobile Magazine's 2012 Automobile of the Year, the Audi A7, does not represent a dramatic change of pace for its maker. Audi has been building handsome, fast, and rewarding luxury cars for some time now. Anchored by Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive, bristling with of-the-moment technologies, and surrounding its passengers with an artfully crafted interior, the A7 is exactly in keeping with the cars that this brand has been turning out. As editor-in-chief Jean Jennings said, "It's the culmination of everything Audi has promised."

The A7 may not usher in any major new technology, but the list of leading-edge features it does offer is impressive. Inputs to the navigation system can be made by drawing them on a touch pad with your finger (which requires less eyes-away-from-the-road time than more traditional methods), and the navigation also incorporates Google Earth imagery. The car can function as a mobile Wi-Fi hot spot. LED front accent lighting -- which was pioneered by Audi and has since been much copied -- is standard, and full-LED active headlamps are available. Audi's all-wheel-drive system isn't just a bad-weather security blanket; the rear torque bias provides the sportier, more responsive cornering of a rear-wheel-drive car with the ability to put more power to the ground.

The A7 cannot be a dramatic upgrade over its predecessor, because it has no direct predecessor. Slipped into the lineup between the A6 and the A8 sedans, the A7 is something new from Audi. True, as a swoopy, four-door "coupe," the A7 is thematically similar to the Mercedes-Benz CLS. But as a four-door hatchback, the A7 is something else again.

Still, we will admit that the A7 is a car that snuck up on us. It looks good in pictures, but it's much more striking in person. The front visage is both sleek and imposing; in the side view, the car appears elongated, as if tapered by the wind. Move around to the rear, and the A7 is simply captivating. Who ever thought a hatchback could be so sexy? The seduction was underway.

The closer you get to the A7, the better it looks. Slip inside, and it looks better still. The Audi-liscious interior does not disappoint. It's modern and luxurious yet cosseting and comfortable, mile after mile. Granted, things are more snug in the back seats than they are in a traditionally shaped sedan, and the center rear position has been sacrificed. But who wants to sit in the center position of a rear bench anyway? And the dramatic shape has a practical benefit. Under the enormous, power-operated rear liftgate is nearly twenty-five cubic feet of cargo space -- more if you fold the rear seatbacks. That's an almost SUV-like ability to tote luggage, but no SUV looks anything like this.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/awards/1201_2012_automobile_of_the_year_audi_a7/index.html#ixzz1dL0NLMby

2012 Audi A3

The idea of a premium entry in the small-wagon category seemed strange back in 2006, but the A3 makes sense to enough buyers to have stuck around all these years. The A3's continued existence is certain proof that there are enough places in the United States -- in large cities, for instance -- where space is at a premium and small but versatile cars make sense. Often, those urban buyers are wealthy enough to afford a vehicle like an Audi A3. Even now, when carmakers are adding more and more luxury features to their small cars, this upscale compact hatchback remains the only vehicle of its type.

The A3 is based on the last-generation Volkswagen Golf, which used to be its only competitor. Now, however, the Lexus CT200h has entered the ring, and its hybrid powertrain produces huge fuel economy numbers. The A3 is far quicker than the CT200h, though, whether equipped with the turbocharged gasoline engine or the turbo-diesel. Both engines are available with the VW Group's benchmark dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the turbo is also available with a six-speed manual. The ace in the A3's pocket is its available all-wheel-drive system, a feature no other car in this segment offers. And as nice as the Lexus is, we think the diesel-powered A3 is a more engaging, more luxurious way to break into the 40-mpg club.

Drive: Front-wheel, 4-wheel
Trim levels: 2.0T FWD, 2.0T Quattro, TDI
Body style: Wagon, 5-passenger
Engines: 2.0L turbo-diesel I-4, 140 hp, 236 lb-ft 2.0L turbo I-4, 200 hp, 207 lb-ft
Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
Passenger Volume: 89.0 cu ft
Cargo space: (rear seats up/down) 19.5/39.0 cu ft

Not much, actually. The A3 is unchanged for 2012, which means the small premium hatchback is now in its seventh year with only one minor face-lift. For many cars that would be a problem, but not in this case, because the A3 was a very good car to begin with.

ABS, front and side air bags, stability and traction control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system are standard.

All: 21-30 mpg city/28-42 mpg highway

• Fast and luxurious
• Diesel gets great mileage
• Available all-wheel drive

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/capsule_review/audi/a3/2012/capsule_review_2012_audi_a3/viewall.html#ixzz1ckzAqwvQ

Audi Dealers

Sibling Rivalry? Audi R4, Baby R8 Could Be A Reality

Liking the Audi R8 is as inevitable as feeling occasionally hungry during the day or sometimes sleepy late at night. Unfortunately the sexy supercar is something the vast majority of us can only ever drool over. The R8 5.2-liter was the third most selected car in the popular Forza 3 online video game, and to give you an idea, the Jaguar XKR-S was 99th. Now, according to the UK’s Auto Express, Audi may be planning a baby R8.

Going under the R badge, the car would likely be the oft rumored R4, a car that will likely compete against the Porsche Boxster or Porsche Cayman, and be similarly priced. Initial images show a sharp looking Nissan 370Z-style body with a distinct Audi nose, similar to the TT. With the brand’s new focus on more efficient and smaller engines, the baby R8 would likely have a baby engine compared to the R8′s base 4.2-liter V-8, or remarkable 5.2-liter V-10 capable of producing 525 hp, the one that has video-game enthusiasts flocking to the R8, if only in the virtual world.

Much more likely, the R4 would have Audi’s very capable 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo 360-hp engine seen the in the TT RS, the highest performance TT model. In fact, it’s likely that the R4 could be greatly influenced by the TT RS. A hybrid version is also possible, and could come to fruition in the form of a manipulated Audi e-Tron Spyder. Regardless the R4 is likely to be developed as a convertible, requiring only a top to be added for a traditional coupe.

With a more accessible entry price, and some of the exquisite styling and luxurious, premium interiors we’ve seen from Audi, the R4 could be a huge success. Still, the car hasn’t been officially given the green light, which means at this point, we’re at least a few model years away from getting inside one.

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/sibling-rivalry-audi-r4-baby-r8-could-be-a-reality-62967.html#ixzz1c6iDA1tb

2013 Audi S1 / RS1 Spy Photos: Audi’s Small Hatch Gets Hotter

Beware, Mini: Audi is putting the European-market A1 hatchback on steroids. The smallest four-ringer, which shares its platform with the VW Polo, has just gone on sale, but the company is already testing performance variants.

The most powerful A1 in current production is powered by a 185-hp, super- and turbocharged 1.4-liter four. It’s equipped solely with a dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive. Before the end of the year, though, you’ll see a five-door version called the A1 Sportback, and Audi also plans to add an all-wheel-drive Quattro version of the three-door. The latter will pump out slightly more than 200 hp and be sold in limited numbers, but it won’t look much different from lesser A1 models.

That’s not to say there will be a dearth of aesthetically different A1s; we submit this new prototype, spotted at the Nürburgring, as proof. The test car sports wide rocker panels seemingly taken from Audi’s current “competition kit,” a massive roof spoiler, wide-set twin exhaust pipes, and a front bumper and air intake that look to be swiped from the Wörthersee Clubsport Quattro concept. (The Clubsport Quattro debuted at the Wörthersee, Austria, gathering of VW and Audi aficionados, and featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five. Its six-speed manual and engine—rated at an incredible 503 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque—were modified from TT RS pieces.)

It’s not clear if the model spied here is an S1 (see previous spy photos of a mule here) or something more powerful. Audi executives have confirmed that an S1 Quattro model will be offered in 2013; it will be powered by the brand’s turbocharged 2.0-liter EA888 four and could easily produce 230 hp or more. Whether Audi will offer a range-topping RS1 is still undecided. If an RS1 were to be engineered, it could be powered by a further-tweaked EA888, as the engine can reliably produce up to 300 hp, or the 2.5-liter turbo five.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-audi-s1-rs1-spy-photos-audi%E2%80%99s-small-hatch-gets-hotter/

Audi A3 joins Volkswagen Golf, Jetta in TDI recall for fire risk

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has added the 2010-2012 Audi A3 TDI to the previously announced 2010-2012 Volkswagen Golf and 2009-2012 VW Jetta and Jetta SportWagen recall. These diesel-powered cars are at risk for a potential fuel line leak that could lead to fire. The recall action now involves 168,275 cars.

In the common-rail diesel engine, the fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of an injector line, causing stress during certain driving conditions. Consequently, injector line number two can develop small cracks that may leak fuel.

The recall affects 159,884 Jetta TDI sedans and SportWagens manufactured from May 2008 through September 2011 and VW Golf TDIs manufactured from May 2009 through September 2011. The Audi A3s in question were manufactured from September 2009 through September 2011.

Audi and Volkswagen dealerships will install an improved fuel line for the injector at risk and a damper to quell the vibrations.

Both brands will contact owners, and the recall campaign will begin in November.

Given the severity of risk, and that VW itself has notified dealerships to temporarily halt sales on new models until a fix can be implemented, we recommend consumers considering buying one of these models wait. Current owners should contact their local dealership to schedule an immediate inspection, and ask for a loaner if necessary.

Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/10/audi-a3-joins-volkswagen-golf-jetta-in-tdi-recall-for-fire-risk.html

REVIEWS: Driven: 2012 Audi TT RS

Strange as Las Vegas is, it's not quite as strange as the Audi TT RS. With its hairy turbocharged five-cylinder, unglamorous VW Golf roots, and scorching performance, the TT RS has all of the right stuff to share the stage with a fire-breathing bearded lady. But damn if it doesn't entertain.

While taking our first drive of the U.S.-spec TT RS in Sin City, we discovered that this compact coupe has emerged from humble origins to deliver sports car competence that we never thought was possible.

The five-cylinder freak

The TT's core DNA is still intact with the RS -- a transverse-mounted engine, a front-drive-based all-wheel-drive system, and a nose-heavy weight distribution -- but one key hardware change is enough to completely adjust this TT's attitude. That change is an engine swap from a boosted four-cylinder to a turbocharged five-cylinder that pumps out 360 hp at 5500 rpm. To realize the ridiculous power density of 144 hp per liter, the iron block is fortified with a forged crankshaft, forged connecting rods, and cast aluminum pistons.

Such big power from such a small engine typically results in an unhealthy amount of lag followed by an unmanageable wallop of thrust. Yet the TT RS exhibits neither of those traits. It boasts refinement and power delivery on par with that of the esteemed 2.0T. Responsive, potent, emotive, the TT RS is reaffirmation of the Volkswagen Group's expertise and consistency when it comes to building turbocharged engines. The 2.5-liter produces 343 lb-ft of torque over a wide band from 1650-5400 rpm. You won't experience the punch that quickly off idle, when the turbo needs more time to spool, but the car builds boost linearly and accelerates much like a normally aspirated car.

Audi claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 174 mph. Those numbers alone are enough to silence any errant "chick car" comments slow-pitched from the driver's seat of an automatic-transmission 3-series. The TT RS is anything but, not just because of how quick it is, but how competent it is when driven hard. As a reminder that is no ordinary TT, the spirited five-cylinder creates a soundtrack that can't be ignored. The RS steps off the line with the deep burble of a big rig and swells into a high-pitched hum with a subtle vibrato. From inside the cabin, it's an air-raid siren building into a wail. This is an enthusiast's car, through and through. While a dual-clutch automatic and roadster version are available in Europe, U.S. buyers can only have a six-speed-manual coupe. The overgrown aluminum shift knob fills your palm and adds to the satisfaction found in wonderfully short and crisp throws. The steering wheel is a sculpted, flat-bottom piece that's even better than what you get in an R8.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1109_2012_audi_tt_rs_driven/index.html#ixzz1ZwPlPc4U

Audi Planning to Bring Allroad Back to the U.S., This Time as A4

Allroads will lead to Rome (New York) once again, as Audi tells us that the Allroad, its jacked-up all-wheel-drive station wagon, will return to the U.S. The only Audi Allroad model offered in the U.S. was an A6, last seen here in 2005. Since then, Audi has canceled the A6 Avant here altogether, making a lower-volume upgrade trim like the Allroad pretty much unfeasible. But there are plans to bring Allroad back, albeit in a smaller travel size.

Because we do get the A4 Avant here, and because Audi apparently sees extra sales in that slot, the A4 Allroad is likely to be the model that brings the gray bumpers, wider track, and extra ground clearance back to our shores. In Europe, the A4 Allroad is available with the 2.0-liter turbo four we get in our A4, as well as 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter turbo-diesels. Bet on the 2.0T gas engine. Timing should coincide with the current A4′s mid-cycle refresh, which would logically come for the 2014 model year, following (and mirroring) the A5′s 2013 face lift.

For those wondering why we don’t get the larger A6 Avant or its Allroad version, the thinking is this: If the U.S. market is going to get low-volume products from Audi, they’re going to be fun, halo vehicles. Like the TT RS and RS5. So we’ll settle for that A4.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/audi-planning-to-bring-allroad-back-to-the-u-s-this-time-as-a4/

REVIEWS: Driven: 2012 Audi A7

Once the hero of the downsizing era, the hatchback had its heyday in the '70s and '80s, when gas prices spiked. As Americans rushed into small cars -- most for the first time ever -- hatchbacks allowed them to still bring along lots of stuff. But it was their very success back then, in cars like the Ford Pinto, the Datsun B210, the Plymouth Horizon, the Chevy Monza, and dozens of others, that today makes the body style an unhappy reminder of cheap economy cars past.

Europeans do not share this hang-up. Germans think we're ridiculous for choosing the VW Jetta sedan (there seen as an old-man's car) over the more practical Golf hatch. Europeans like hatchbacks. So it's not surprising that it is a German car company, Audi, whose latest offering, the A7, may be the best chance yet to reform the image of the hatchback in the United States. Why might the Audi A7 succeed where cars like the BMW 5-series Gran Turismo and the Honda Accord Crosstour failed? In a word: style.

Hatchbacks have always been more practical than sedans, but they've rarely been better looking. Good looks, though, are a key selling point for the A7. The A7 is essentially an A6 with lower, sleeker bodywork -- much in the same way that the Mercedes-Benz CLS is a rebodied version of the E-class. The original CLS wrote the book on this strategy: charging a premium for a higher-style, but less practical, variant of its mainstay midsize sedan. The A7 attempts to do the same thing. As its model designation suggests, it slips in between the A6 and the A8, pricewise. Compared to the CLS, however, Audi is charging a much smaller style premium. The A7 starts at a hair over $60,000 (about $9000 more than an equivalent A6), compared to more than $70,000 for a CLS.

Like the CLS, the A7 is significantly lower than its more mundane sibling, and its back seat is strictly for two. Despite the dramatically sloping roofline, there is room enough in back for adult-sized passengers although the rear cushion is low. Again like the Mercedes, frameless door glass is part of the program, but unlike the Benz, the stubby rear deck of the Audi opens together with the huge rear glass to give wide-open access to a generous 24.5 cubic feet of luggage space -- more if you fold down the rear seatbacks. Interestingly, the rear parcel shelf is attached to the hatch rather than suspended from it.

The interior is very close to the new A6 (which launches in the States this fall), and can be had with Audi's very latest in-car electronics, including a touch-pad that allows one to finger-draw letters and numbers for input into the navigation system, maps that incorporate Google earth imagery, and the ability for the car to be a mobile internet hot spot. Unfortunately, the navigation system in my test car wasn't terribly useful, as it had a strange fixation with Port Jervis, New York. It stubbornly insisted on showing Port Jervis on the map, even though we never went there but instead traveled to a destination 150 miles away, Saratoga Springs. We took the A7 up to Saratoga for the horse races, as it seemed like a good going-to-the-track kind of car: suitably plush, fast, and a little flashy. Aside from its obstinate nav system, the A7 did not disappoint. On lumpy two-lane roads, the A7 delivered a ride of near-glassy smoothness, rather remarkable given its high-fashion twenty-inch wheels with their low-sidewall 35-series tires. Pushing fast through the curves as I hustled to make the first race post time, the A7 was an eager and adept companion. The supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 is the only engine offered. (It also powers the A6, although the base 2012 A6 will get Audi's 2.0T turbo four.) If the New York State Thruway were an unlimited-speed autobahn -- Governor Cuomo, are you listening? -- the supercharged six might have come into its own, as it can power the A7 to 60 mph in only 5.4 seconds.

As it was, it had to content itself with only the occasional flexing of its considerable muscles (310 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque) on all-too-brief on-ramp blasts and passing occasions. As smooth and impressive as it was in those moments, however, its supercharger whine is not the sexiest sound. The eight-speed automatic, however, cannot be faulted, and it helped this speedy sedan returned an indicated 25 mpg in four days of mostly highway driving (against EPA estimates of 18 city/28 highway). Returning home on the narrow, winding Taconic State Parkway, the A7's precise steering was confidence-inspiring as we aimed for precise placement between inattentive lane wanderers on our right and a battered center guardrail on the left. In the gathering darkness, the ambient lighting cast a glow about the interior and the adaptive xenon headlamps did a great job illuminating curvy country roads. Both features are part of a raft of equipment that comes with the top-tier, Prestige, trim package, which adds $6330 to the bottom line.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1108_2012_audi_a7_driven/index.html

Audi Reveals More Urban Concept Pics Ahead Of Frankfurt Show

It seems that Audi just can't contain itself with its latest concept cars, the two-seater Urban Concepts.

Three weeks ago some spy videos trickled onto the internet showing the camoflaged electric car being driven around in the center of Berlin. The very next day Audi revealed its first sketches of the concept vehicle, and since then we've also had a rather content-light video and further sketches of an open-top version of the car.

Now Audi has teased us further, ahead of the concept's official unveiling at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month.

The new computer-generated images give us a better impression of the concept's styling, which actually looks more radical than the vehicle we first saw in the Berlin videos. As with the sketches, the styling is dominated by the large wheel housings sprouting from each corner of the vehicle, under which sit large 21-inch diameter wheels.

The traditional Audi grille leaves you in no doubt as to what make of car the Urban Concept is, and the large red stripe has echoes of the Audi R8's side air intakes.

In concept, the vehicle isn't dissimilar from the old Messerschmitt bubble cars sold during the 1950s, with a relatively narrow cabin width and a wheel at each corner. However, interior space (and comfort) should be up to typical Audi standards, and to improve the feeling of space the seats are side by side, but offset. The controls have a strong resemblance to the Volkswagen XL1 concept previewed earlier this year.

According to U.K. magazine Autocar, the Urban Concepts use a 15kW electric motor and lithium ion battery pack, and Audi claims a top speed of 62mph, with range of only 37 miles - so the concepts really are meant exclusively for an urban environment.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1065530_audi-reveals-more-urban-concept-pics-ahead-of-frankfurt-show

Euro-Only Audi A8 Hybrid for 2012 Revealed, Four-Cylinder and Electric Motor Combine for 245 hp

Audi showed off a seemingly production-ready A8 hybrid “concept” at last year’s Geneva auto show, and now it has announced the production specs for the big Euro-market sedan. The A8 hybrid’s dirty bits are nearly identical to those of the concept, meaning the car will combine a 211-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with a 54-hp electric motor that replaces the eight-speed automatic’s torque converter. Audi claims the A8 hybrid is good for 37 mpg on the Euro combined cycle, and that it can motivate itself to 62 mph in 7.7 seconds.

The four-cylinder and electric motor are good for a combined 245 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, slightly higher than Audi claimed for the concept. The production A8 hybrid can also accelerate up to 62 mph and travel 1.86 miles on electric power alone, both improvements compared with the 40-mph and 1-mile figures quoted for the concept. As we reported from the A8 hybrid’s Geneva reveal, the car won’t make it to the U.S., despite such natural competitors as the Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid and Lexus LS600h. Audi sells the A8 in small volumes here, and there isn’t much justification for sending over an even smaller-volume model such as the hybrid.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/euro-only-audi-a8-hybrid-for-2012-revealed-four-cylinder-and-electric-motor-combine-for-245-hp/

2012 Audi A7 3.0T Quattro - Comparison Tests

The A7 is what the Porsche Panamera should have been. It certainly looks less improvised, more of-a-piece, and unlike the Porsche’s shotgun marriage of  brand-identity markers to interior dimensional requirements. While the Panamera has sold well, luxury hatchbacks are still rare enough to be an untested novelty, so Audi deserves—and here receives—credit for ditching caution and winging it with a beguiling departure from the routine.

Unlike the Benz, the A7’s intriguing lines only enhance its practicality. Its 1.1-inch advantage in wheelbase widens the rear door openings and opens up legroom for the back passengers. As in the CLS, artistic shaping of the headliner leaves adequate head clearance for six-footers in back, but the A7’s cargo area, accessed through the powered hatch, is 67 percent larger than the CLS’s trunk. Fold the seats using the releases on the seatbacks if you need to haul not just golf clubs but one or two sand traps as well.

The skeletal stiffness in the A7 is amazing despite the gaping hole in the rear body. Without visible crossbracing, you’d expect some flex, some extra flutter through the floor and doors from the harder impacts, but the A7 absorbs it all. Steering column isolation is likewise wondrous.

In the chassis tests, including our new slalom exercise, the A7 takes the pennant, especially on the skidpad, with 0.93 g worth of grip. Audi opted for a lighter steering heft than Mercedes, which helps hasten quick inputs, but suffused it with progressive loading and responsiveness. Neither car threatens a BMW M3 on steering charm, but both supply the satisfaction suggested by their flamboyant designs.

Pitch and roll are likewise thoroughly dampened in the A7—the four suspension/throttle modes are triggered through the data screen—and we judged the ride, though fairly unyielding on the optional 20s and sport suspension, superior overall. The Benz steps more heavily into potholes and with a greater shock through the rafters. Still, over rough surfaces, the Audi booms and slaps its tires more audibly.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q3/2012_audi_a7_3.0t_quattro_vs._2012_mercedes-benz_cls550-comparison_tests/2012_audi_a7_3.0t_quattro_page_3

2011 Audi Urban Concept official teaser video

This is a teaser video for the new 2011 Audi Urban Concept that will be officially revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in September. However, you can see the new concept in our exclusive spy shots by following the link below.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1064689_audi-urban-concept-2011-frankfurt-...

2012 Audi A6 Avant TDI Diesel - First Drive Review

Redesigned for 2012, Audi’s A6 lineup is halfway back to full strength with the introduction of the Avant station wagon. The high-powered S6 and RS 6 versions still are waiting in the wings—as is a hybrid model designed mostly with our market in mind, even if U.S. availability is as-yet unconfirmed—but already this is an impressive family of vehicles. In Europe, though, where a diesel-powered station wagon is the stereotypical executive car, the Avant is the most critical of all A6s.

Audi just made the executive-wagon segment a lot more interesting, with a twin-turbocharged variation of its 3.0-liter TDI turning out 313 hp and an even more impressive 479 lb-ft of torque. Not only is it a powerful mill, but this diesel also has attitude. Many oil burners are impressive in their power delivery and massive torque but lack soul. The 3.0-liter TDI, on the other hand, fires up with an impressive growl, and the sound gets better as you push it through the gears. Its voice is reminiscent of an old-fashioned V-8’s, a sound that is clearly audible inside and out. Think we’re crazy? Wait until you hear how Audi did it: The company stuffed an extremely durable speaker into the exhaust system that allows it to alter the engine note. It can even be adjusted on the move.

Going Right to Ludicrous Speed

Driving the A6 Avant is even better than listening to it. The all-wheel-drive chassis copes well with the TDI’s grunt. The rear differential distributes power for maximum agility, and it takes a heavy misstep to throw the Avant off course. The car should need just 5.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Top speed is a governed 155 mph, a speed the Avant reaches with ease. On unlimited stretches of autobahn, the twin-turbo TDI’s sheer grunt at velocities of 130 mph and above is remarkable.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q3/2012_audi_a6_avant_tdi_diesel-first_drive_review

New Audi A1 Street View Advertisement

The campaign was created to further the 'Big idea condensed' campaign that ran last year for the Audi A1 in print and posters. But to take it into Cinema. After making the longest ad in it's history Audi have now made their shortest. Five condensed 10 second commercials. Created by BBH.

Car and Driver: 2012 Audi A5 / S5 - Car News

The Audi A5 coupe and cabriolet, as well as their powerful S5 derivatives, are among the most beautiful cars on the road today, and they still look fresh more than four years after their debut. Yet it’s time for a mid-cycle face lift that freshens not only the cars’ styling, but also their technology.

Unfortunately, in this renewal, the S5 coupe gets a new engine. The previous 354-hp, naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V-8 goes away, making room for the 333-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 already found in the S5 cabrio. Torque stands pat at 325 lb-ft. This swap comes as no surprise, and will improve fuel economy significantly. While the supercharged six is a great engine, we will miss the marvelous sound of the V-8.

A splendid 211-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder remains the base engine in the A5, which is fine with us. For those who lament the passing of the V-8–powered S5, Audi offers special consolation with the upcoming RS5. This model—on sale in Europe already—is powered by a thoroughly reworked version of the 4.2-liter V-8 producing an awesome 450 hp. We hear that the RS5 will arrive in the U.S. in early 2012. Meanwhile, the S5 receives an upgraded Quattro all-wheel-drive system with a crown-gear center differential that allows for variable torque splits.

You Probably Didn’t Want These Anyway

Other markets, of course, get a wider range of choices. Gas options for overseas A5s include a detuned version of the supercharged V-6 rated at 272 hp and an entry-level 1.8-liter turbo four with 170 horses. There are no less than four turbo-diesels: a 177-hp, 2.0-liter four and three 3.0-liter V-6s. One six makes 204 hp, another 245, and the third is said to be a “clean diesel” version—and here we thought these were all clean diesels—although its power output remains undisclosed. We also miss out on the A5 and S5 Sportbacks, the beautiful hatchback derivatives, although their big brother, the A7, is sold here.

Look, and Then Only Touch Lightly

Which brings us to styling: The most obvious changes include a reshaped grille and new headlights with updated internals. Also new: the fog lights, the lower air intakes, and the taillights. The infotainment system is upgraded and now features fewer keys but more functions, and the steering wheel, column stalks, wood or aluminum trim, and obligatory chrome décor are all new to the A5/S5 line.

Is it enough to being the pair into the present? Stylistically, we’re not sure the competition from BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, and Mercedes-Benz had caught up to begin with. We’d call that a nice head start to a pretty successful update.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q2/2012_audi_a5_s5-car_news

Chicago Audi

GreenCarReports.com - 2011 Audi A3

Given the premium positioning of the 2011 Audi A3 compact hatchback, you won't be cross-shopping it against mass-market Asian brands. But as a refined, versatile German import, the A3 offers both brand cachet and a feature few other compacts have: a fuel-efficient clean diesel TDI engine.

The A3 TDI is rated at 30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway, with a combined 34-mpg rating that is likely lower than what owners will actually achieve. Its 140-horsepower, 2.0-liter diesel four is paired with an excellent S-tronic six-speed automated manual transmission, reprogrammed specifically for the TDI's low speeds and prodigious torque.

At the other end of the gas-mileage graph is the A3 Quattro, one of the few all-wheel-drive compact hatchbacks that doesn't say Subaru on the back. It is rated at 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, for a relatively dismal combined 24 mpg. If you want all-wheel-drive, by the way, you have to get the 200-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine and S-tronic gearbox.

In between those two extremes are the front-wheel-drive A3s with the gasoline engine, either with the S-tronic automatic or a six-speed manual gearbox. The performance of the diesel and gasoline engines is remarkably similar, though the diesel pulls while the turbo gas engine revs.

The A3 is now an old car, due for replacement within a couple of years, so the styling is hardly cutting edge. The big alloy wheels give it a nice stance, and the lines are timeless for a five-door hatch (the only body style). The A3 still looks good; it's just not crisp any longer.

The 2011 Audi A3 is as comfortable and stable at speed on the highway as it is crisp and direct pottering around town. If you add the magnetic suspension option, the ride quality improves from stiff to supple. The electric power steering lacks feedback, though.

The A3's interior shows its age far less than the styling. It's simple, well-made, and surprisingly intuitive. Interior room isn't the biggest in the class, and the black interior doesn't add much of an open feel, but the materials are first-rate and feel luxurious in a car this small.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/review/1062121_2011-audi-a3

Audi Dealers

Audi e-tron Spyder Diesel Plug-In Hybrid Turns Up At Le Mans

In recent years at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race there is an event called the Le Mans vers le Futur that takes place before the actual race in which a number of vehicles showcasing future automotive technology takes to the famous Circuit de la Sarthe for a couple of demonstration laps.

Last year we saw the R8 e-tron supercar take to the track and this year another Audi e-tron has made its presence felt at Le Mans, the seductively stylish e-tron Spyder concept car first revealed at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

As its name suggests, there’s an electrified drivetrain under the pretty mix of sheet metal and carbon fiber. This particular e-tron concept packs an advanced diesel-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain, which the automaker says is good for a fuel economy of about 107 mpg on the European combined cycle.

The setup consists of a 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel engine rated at 300 horsepower driving the rear wheels and two electric motors rated at 63 kW (85) each that drive the front wheels. A lithium-ion battery, located in the front section of the car, stores up to 9.1 kWh of energy. With 400 volts of three-phase alternating current, the battery takes about one hour to charge up at an electrical outlet.

Despite all the technology, the whole thing weighs in at around 3,200 pounds. This relatively light curb weight (for a hybrid) was achieved thanks to an aluminum body built around Audi’s spaceframe principle. A number of elements are also made of carbon fiber to help shed further weight.

According to Audi, the e-tron Spyder will do 31 miles on electricity alone, although in this mode top speed is limited to a paltry 37 mph. With all systems go, however, the concept car will accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 4.4 seconds and easily reach a limited top speed of 155 mph. The estimated driving range is 620 miles, though this is with a mix of spirited and conservative driving.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1061452_audi-e-tron-spyder-diesel-plug-in-hybrid-turns-up-at-le-mans

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FEATURES: Deep Dive: 2014 Audi A9

Audi continues to pull out all the stops to achieve its goal of becoming the world's leading premium carmaker by 2015. Pending additions to the range include the aluminum-bodied A2, the subcompact Q1 and coupe-like Q6, the mid-engined R5, and now, a brand-new flagship model likely to be called the A9.

Ten years ago, Audi showed the A8 Avantissimo concept, which was meant to become a mega-Avant for the rich. Although that proposal was shot down, a more coupe-like A8 Avant was nearly given the go in 2004. After that, Audi toyed with the idea of making the A7 its new halo car, complete with a four-door convertible version. As we all know, the actual production A7 has a much less ambitious mission as a slightly more upscale companion to the A6.

Never taking "No" for an answer, brand chief Rupert Stadler is about to embark on yet another variation of the SuperAudi theme. This time, Stadler and R&D chief Michael Dick are zeroing in on a full-size two-door flagship that will in all likelihood be based on the current A8. Known internally as A9, the high-end four-seater gets a unique exterior and an evolution of the benchmark-setting A8 interior. To be built in Neckarsulm alongside the A8 and the R8, the A9 could appear as early as 2014 in coupe form. A soft-top version should hit the market in 2015, six months before the Mercedes-Benz CL cabriolet. The A9 will be positioned above the BMW 6-series but below the CL.

The provisional engine lineup includes naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of Audi's 3.0-liter V-6 (that's right, turbocharged, not supercharged as in the S4), as well as a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8. That V-8 will put out some 420 hp but is clearly capable of more -- expect a 520-hp S9. No Audi is complete without diesels (including in the United States, where the brand is planning another big oil-burner push). The A9 will offer the familiar 3.0 V-6 TDI and a 4.2-liter V-8 TDI. Quattro is standard, as is an eight-speed automatic.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1104_2014_audi_a9_deep_dive/index.html

Audi A3 e-tron Concept Packs Plug-In Hybrid Drivetrain

After sticking to diesel for a long time as its sole green strategy, Audi is now storming ahead into smaller, hybrid, and electric cars with a fierce vengeance, seemingly determined to make up for lost time.

Today the automaker’s green onslaught has gone up another notch with the unveiling of the A3 e-tron Concept at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. That makes it three new e-tron prototypes or concepts from Audi in the last three weeks alone (the previous being the A5 e-tron quattro and A3 e-tron prototype).

Unlike the aforementioned A3 e-tron prototype, the new concept features the design of the next-generation 2013 Audi A3 body built around an advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain rather than the straightforward battery-powered electric drivetrain.

The setup consists of a turbocharged 1.4-liter TFSI gasoline engine putting out 211 horsepower and matched to a lightweight electric motor. This electric motor only gets a 20 kW (27 horsepower) rating but Audi claims it’s enough to power the hefty 3,792 pound concept for a distance of up to 34 miles, emissions free. It’s powered by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery that can be charged using a regular household power outlet.

Working together, the gasoline engine and electric motor accelerate the concept to 62 mph from rest in 6.8 seconds and see it reach a top speed of 144 mph.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1058594_audi-a3-e-tron-concept-packs-plug-in-hybrid-drivetrain

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2012 Audi S8 – Feature

What it is: The sportiest version of the Audi A8. While the previous S8 had a Lamborghini-based 5.2-liter V-10, the new S8 has a twin-turbo V-8.

Why it matters: Audi’s last S8 didn’t exactly wow us, and this one has a bunch of new competitors. But, based on our experience with the new A8, things look promising for the top Audi sedan.

Platform: The latest A8’s aluminum space frame and body.

Powertrain: A 520-hp, 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8.

Competition: Aston Martin Rapide, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, Porsche Panamera.

What might go wrong: Very little. This will be the most fun-to-drive A8 by far, and big sales volumes are not what Audi is going for.

Estimated arrival and price: We expect it to hit dealerships in 2012, at a cost of more than $100,000.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/11q1/2012_audi_s8-feature

Audi Powers Onward With Clean-Diesel Lineup For U.S. Buyers

While Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are the long-term diesel stalwarts in the States, relative newcomer Audi has ambitious plans.

During a lengthy teleconference yesterday, Audi confirmed that it would add TDI clean-diesel models to every car it offers in the U.S. market by 2015.

Audi has frequently touted the strong sales of its two current TDI models, the 2011 Audi Q7 TDI large sport utility vehicle and the compact (but aging) Audi A3 TDI hatchback.

The A3 TDI is by far the more affordable of Audi's first U.S. diesels, and the company scored a coup when it was named Green Car of the Year for 2010, its first year on sale.

But neither the A3 nor the Q7 is a high-volume model for Audi, so the high diesel sales percentage only adds up to small numbers. In 2009, for instance, Audi sold 5,200 clean diesels here, or just 6.3 percent of its total sales of 82,716. Last year, it sold roughly 3,480 A3 TDI models out of a total of 101,629 sales, and a like number of Q7 TDIs.

Audi's best-selling model in the States, the midsize A4 sports sedan, will get a TDI option when it's next redesigned. That model, which managed 53 mpg on the European test cycle, will likely be launched in 2014 or so.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1056518_audi-powers-onward-with-clean-diesel-lineup-for-u-s-buyers

AUTO SHOWS: First Look: Audi A3 Concept Sedan

With its Audi 3 concept for the 2011 Geneva auto show, the German automaker is not only showcasing the future of the A3, but it is also revealing that the long-awaited A3 sedan will eventually become a part of the car's lineup. And if it looks anything like these drawings, we can't wait to see more.

At roughly 175 inches long, 72.5 inches wide and 54.7 inches high, it's more than 6-inches longer, some 3-inches wider and more than an inch lower than the present A3 five-door. According to Audi, the concept's 'proportions emphasize the dynamism of the car's appearance.' Among the concept's top design features are what Audi refers to as a 'flowing roof dome and a coupe-like, low C-pillar' (heaven knows it wouldn't be a sedan these days without a coupe-like greenhouse), a new take on the brand's single-frame grille, and updated LED lightbanks.

Even more dynamism can be found under the hood, where the A3 Concept will feature a version of Audi's inline 2.5-liter five-cylinder boosted to as much as 408 horsepower, mated to Audi's seven-speed S tronic gearbox. Of course, quattro will drive all four wheels.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/geneva/2011/1102_audi_a3_concept_sedan/index.html

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Due To Record Sales, BMW and Audi to Expand Factories This Year

According to Bloomberg, BMW, Mercedes and Audi AG, the world’s three largest luxury-car makers, will expand factories this year to ease capacity constraints driven by record demand for their vehicles.

Volkswagen AG’s Audi is aiming to overthrown BMW as the world’s bigger maker of premium vehicles by 2015, and plans to increase production for cars and SUV to more than the 1.15 million produced in 2010.
BMW and Mercedes have similar plants with increased production at the Leipzig and respectively Stuttgart plant.

“The top three are poised for further growth,” said Juergen Pieper, a Frankfurt-based analyst with Bankhaus Metzler who recommends buying VW, Daimler and BMW shares. “The momentum in luxury markets will continue this year and also in 2012. It’s a necessity for manufacturers to take steps to address this.”

The increase in automobiles sales is a direct link to the expanding Chinese market which became one of the two largest auto markets in the world. United States continues to remain the largest one. Audi plans to spend 11.6 billion euros ($15.7 billion) through 2015 on plants and new models. BMW has spent 1.5 billion euros alone on its German plants since 2009, while Daimler is building an 800 million-euro small-car plant in Hungary.

While BMW plans over 20 new models in the next five years, Audi said will roll out a total of 13 new models and upgraded vehicles this year.

The VW unit will spend more than 5 billion euros at two German factories in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, where the A6 will be built. Audi also said it will begin work this year to expand a factory in Gyor, Hungary, to increase capacity to 125,000 cars.

Read More: http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/01/21/due-to-record-sales-bmw-and-audi-to-expand-factories-this-year/

2011 Detroit Auto Show: 2012 Audi A6 Hybrid

Audi loves clean diesels, but the German automaker certainly hasn't stacked its entire deck with them. In addition to the upcoming 2012 Audi Q5 Hybrid and the brand's e-Tron electric sports cars in the pipeline, it's now taking hybrids and electric cars seriously, too.

And one of Audi's best options for green-conscious U.S. luxury shoppers might end up being the 2012 A6 Hybrid. The front-wheel-drive, not quattro, sedan will combine the brand's ubiquitous—but efficient and responsive—direct-injected and turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine with a strong electric motor (45 hp, 155 pound-feet of torque) mounted ahead of the eight-speed automatic transmission.

The trunk-mounted lithium-ion battery pack allows a peak 39 kW but despite a small 1.3 kWh the A6 Hybrid can go for up to two miles on electric power alone and can run at up to 62 mph without the gasoline engine on.

Like the rest of the 2012 Audi A6 line, the new Hybrid has an all-new structure combining aluminum and high-strength steel, with extensive hydraulic damping to keep the interior experience especially smooth.

And just as in the mainstream A6 models, Audi looks to its all-new infotainment systems, incorporating the latest-generation MMI interface, with Bang & Olufsen sound and Google Maps–based displays, as a centerpiece of the A6 interior. Audi also shows off its knack for beautiful interiors with a hand-crafted interior look that includes real wood veneers, ambient lighting, and a look that takes after that of the larger A8.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1053488_2011-detroit-auto-show-2012-audi-a6-hybrid

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