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Report: Audi A3 sedan likely for U.S., Q3 crossover not in the cards (right now)

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Crossover, Audi

Audi A3 Sedan Concept

Audi A3 Sedan Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Audi A3 Sedan Concept may not have been the Volkswagen Group’s biggest show-stopper at the Geneva Motor Show, but it still garnered a lot of high praise from those in attendance. Automotive News reports that if produced, the A3 sedan would likely be sold here in the United States – a no-brainer, really, especially since the German automaker has long considered offering a four-door bodystyle of the A3 here in America.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi AG board member for sales and marketing, tells Automotive News that, “If you look at this specific segment around the world, you come to the conclusion that this car is designed – but it is not yet decided – with the U.S. and China in mind.” Schwarzenbauer further states that these are two markets where “the [sedan] segment is quite big.” The A3 sedan could come to the U.S. as early as 2013.

However, when it comes to the smaller Q3 crossover that’s currently being developed, Audi has not yet decided whether it will be sold in the CUV-hungry U.S. Automotive News reports that if the Q3 is given the green light, it would not arrive for another 12 to 15 months – even though the European-spec crossover is scheduled to go on sale this year.

Gallery: Audi A3 sedan concept: Geneva 2011

Audi A3 sedan concept: Geneva 2011

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Audi A3 sedan likely for U.S., Q3 crossover not in the cards (right now) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi confirms diesel A4, A6, A8, Q5 for U.S., first e-tron vehicle expected in 2013

Filed under: Sedan, Crossover, Audi, Diesel

Audi A3 TDI

Audi’s clean diesel initiative here in the United States started with the A3 TDI hatchback and Q7 TDI crossover, but in the coming years, we can expect the vast majority of the company’s volume models to offer oil-burning powerplants. This isn’t the first time the German automaker has spoke of expanding its diesel lineup here in the U.S., but during a press conference this morning, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen outlined exactly what we can expect to see over the next 24 to 30 months.

The first new implementations of TDI clean diesel will be in the A6 and A8 sedans, as well as the Q5 crossover. All three of these models are expected to have hybrid variants, as well, meaning customers will have a full range of powertrain options in the coming years.

As for the A4 – Audi’s highest-volume model – TDI power is still in the cards for U.S. consumption. Instead of offering a diesel engine in the current model, Audi will be waiting until the next-generation car arrives. The all-new A4 is expected to launch in 2015, or possibly even 2014.

Finally, de Nysschen stated that Audi’s first electric vehicle is expected to arrive in the U.S. by early 2013. The automaker’s e-tron EV technology has been displayed multiple times over the past few years, and while it’s unclear exactly what sort of electric vehicle will arrive in the U.S., our bet is on something R8-based to rival BMW’s new EfficientDynamics i8 sports car.

[Image: Drew Phillips/AOL]

Audi confirms diesel A4, A6, A8, Q5 for U.S., first e-tron vehicle expected in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokian tires claims it’s already beaten Bentley’s new ice speed record with Audi [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Europe, Videos, Audi

nokia tires ice speed record audi

Nokian Tires slides past Bentley’s Ice Speed Record – Click above to watch video after the jump

Nokian Tires was paying close attention to Bentley’s Ice Speed Record. If you don’t recall, Bentley used a Continental Supersports Convertible to dash across a stretch of ice last month at 205 miles per hour, 205.48 to be exact. Nokian strapped a set of its Hakkapeliitta 7 studded tires on to an Audi RS6 and decided to have its own icy blast. Thanks to the grippy rubber and aerodynamic mods (as well as a curious lack of detail regarding performance mods), the Nokian team and driver Janne Laitinen upped the ice-speed ante with a trap figure of 206.05 miles per hour.

The Nokian team previously set an Ice Speed Record using its Hakkapeliitta 5 tires. During that run, a Bentley was used, but this time Nokian preferred Four Rings, Quattro all-wheel-drive and its latest generation of studded snow tires. Click past the jump to watch the new record and Nokian’s previous 199.86 mile per hour record run. Thanks for the tip, Ville!

Gallery: Nokian Tyres sets new Ice Speed Record

[Source: Nokian Tires]

Continue reading Nokian tires claims it’s already beaten Bentley’s new ice speed record with Audi [w/video]

Nokian tires claims it’s already beaten Bentley’s new ice speed record with Audi [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: 2012 Audi RS3 Sportback; R S is begging for seat time

Filed under: Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi

2012 Audi RS3 Sportback

2012 Audi RS3 Sportback – Click above for high-res image gallery

In the land of Four Rings, anything with an ‘A’ at the start of its model name means it’s a fairly standard model. Should you see an ‘S,’ get excited, because that means the fun factor has been ratcheted up a notch. However, if the alpahnumeric starts with ‘RS,’ then it’s time to put on your best steel-eyed gaze, because that particular Audi means business. The RS moniker has been used throughout the German automaker’s family, and now it is landing on the A3’s hatch lid, transforming the mild-mannered five-door into the 2012 Audi RS3 Sportback.

Audi has taken its 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five engine and forced it to work a little harder. Adding more boost (now running over 17 psi, in fact), the mill in the RS3 pumps out 340 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. That power is routed through a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission and out to all four wheels, which helps pull the 2012 Audi RS3 from 0-62 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds. If you feel like 60 mph is too slow for your liking, then hold down the gas and you’ll eventually bump against 155 mph.

There’s no word yet on whether this juiced-up hot hatch will make its way Stateside, but we won’t be holding our breath, as the bog-standard A3 is already plenty expensive for U.S. tastes. Either way, the RS3 goes on sale in Europe sometime during the first half of 2011.

Gallery: 2012 Audi RS3 Sportback: Geneva 2011

2012 Audi RS3 Sportback: Geneva 2011

Gallery: 2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback

Continue reading Geneva 2011: 2012 Audi RS3 Sportback; R S is begging for seat time

Geneva 2011: 2012 Audi RS3 Sportback; R S is begging for seat time originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Audi A3 sedan concept opens the show in style

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Audi

Audi A3 sedan concept

Audi A3 sedan concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

As promised, Audi trotted out its A3 sedan concept at the Geneva Motor Show, and it’s a lovely bit of compact, Teutonic hotness. A ton of carbon fiber bits and pieces litter the shapely sheetmetal, all enclosing a very Germanic four-seat interior.

Naturally, we’re just as interested in the five-cylinder engine that uses turbocharging and FSI to pump out 408 horsepower. Peak torque measures 368 pound feet, and all that power is available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm. Audi claims its A3 concept can hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and is electronically governed to a top speed of 155 mph. Impressively fuel mileage is estimated at 25.85 U.S. miles per gallon.

A seven-speed dual clutch gearbox handles shifting duties, and naturally, is naturally sent to all four wheels via Quattro all-wheel-drive. We’re rather intrigued by the 20-inch wheels that are molded from carbon fiber and aluminum, which should save weight in the most crucial area. Full details can be found in the press release after the break, and you can check out live images from the floor in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Audi A3 sedan concept: Geneva 2011

Audi A3 sedan concept: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Audi A3 sedan concept

Audi A3 sedan concept

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Audi A3 sedan concept opens the show in style

Geneva 2011: Audi A3 sedan concept opens the show in style originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi developing super lightweight R8 codenamed NF

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi, Rumormill

2014 Audi R8 NF

Audi R8 NF prototype – Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi has hinted that it’s in the process of developing an ultra-lightweight version of the R8 codenamed NF. Revealed during a technology demonstration at its lightweight materials facility in Germany, the NF is tipped to debut around 2014.

While there are no photos of the car available, Motor Trend reports that Audi showed off an R8 V10 that had several body panels replaced with carbon fiber units that may well be related to the NF’s development. When the NF breaks cover, it is expected to sport a carbon-fiber passenger compartment, with a full cf bulkhead between the occupants and the engine compartment.

Apparently, the NF will incorporate not only its own technology, but pieces from the R8 Spyder, limited-edition R8GT and E-Tron concept. Audi said the prototype at the demonstration was 20 percent lighter than the current aluminum-bodied R8, yet it maintains its structural integrity and crash worthiness. To prove their point, Audi engineers showed off a crash-tested R8 that sported cf roof rails.

Gallery: 2014 Audi R8 NF concept

Audi R8 NF side distance Audi R8 NF Carbon fiber drop test Audi R8 NF Interior

[Source: Motor Trend | Images: Audi]

Report: Audi developing super lightweight R8 codenamed NF originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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777-horsepower MTM Audi R8 making Geneva debut

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Audi, Specialty

2011 MTM Audi R8 BiTurbo

2011 MTM Audi R8 BiTurbo – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s a strong possibility that German tuning house MTM’s booth at the Geneva Motor Show will be visibile from space. The boys from Wettstetten are bringing their paint-free polished-aluminum Audi R8 BiTurbo to Hall 5 at Geneva. The company is mum on exactly how they removed all that paint, but they do allow that it took 700 hours of polishing to get the car where it is now.

If the gleaming bodywork isn’t enough to snag your gaze, MTM packed its latest R8 with 777 twin-turbocharged horsepower just to let everyone know they weren’t fooling around. The result is good for a claimed top speed of more than 217 mph, making this the fastest R8 on the block.

If the turbo R8 doesn’t whet your appetite, MTM is also hauling its 472-hp, 195-mph Audi TT RS to the show. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 MTM Audi R8 BiTurbo

2011 MTM Audi R8 BiTurbo fron three quarter 2011 MTM Audi R8 BiTurbo front low 2011 MTM Audi R8 BiTurbo rear three quarter 2011 MTM Audi R8 BiTurbo, 2011 MTM Audi TTRS

[Source: MTM]

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777-horsepower MTM Audi R8 making Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Audi A8

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Audi, Reviews, Luxury

A Plus-Sized S4 With World-Beating Tech

2011 Audi A8

2011 Audi A8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

“Holy #&%*@^% $#^@!”

I have to admit losing track of how many times my hapless copilot uttered this – and countless other unpublishable phrases – from the passenger seat during our drive. But if I’m being honest, it doesn’t hold a candle to the endless string of explicatives running through my own mind.

The reason? I’m piloting a 2011 Audi A8 through a particularly tortuous stretch of California tarmac running between the Monterey Valley and the Pacific Coast, and for the better part of 20 miles, the driver of the tuned BMW 335i in the lead hasn’t seen anything other than the A8’s massive slatted grille in his rearview mirror. Just as impressive – if not more so – is the pair of worked-over E36 M3s that are having a hard time keeping up. And these guys are locals. They’ve been running this road for over a decade, only to have me show and spoil their ragtag rally in Audi’s latest luxo-bruiser.

I’d like to think that my hairpin heroics and high-speed capers are a testament to my own skills, but I’m not that deluded. I’ve been equipped with the standard auto journo-issued hamfists, and to think otherwise is to fall prey to motoring delusion and insult the work of Ingolstadt’s magicians. Audi’s new A8 is just that good, and the steer is just the half of it.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Audi A8…

Gallery: 2011 Audi A8: Review

2011 Audi A8 2011 Audi A8 front 3/4 view 2011 Audi A8 rear 3/4 view 2011 Audi A8 side view

Continue reading Review: 2011 Audi A8

Review: 2011 Audi A8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Audi A6 Avant plays in the snow

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Audi

Audi A6 Avant spy shots

Audi A6 Avant spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve just had out first stint behind the wheel of the new-for-2012 Audi A6 sedan, destined to arrive on North American soil this fall. And while Audi is moving forward on the hybrid version of its stylish new four-door, the German automaker has been spotted testing the trusty wagon variant that will likely be revealed later this year (Frankfurt Motor Show sounds about right).

We’re eager to see how the new A6’s new styling works with the larger hind quarters, though it appears that Audi is using a more rakish rear hatch design (limiting the cargo area’s usefulness?). Expect interior and powertrain fittings to be carried over unchanged from the sedan.

Audi has always offered the A6 Avant here in the United States, so we don’t have much reason to doubt that this new iteration will also be sold Stateside. Granted, the wagon hasn’t exactly sold in great volumes here in the U.S., but if there wasn’t a business case for it on our shores, the automaker would have likely canned the current model by now.

Scroll through our high-res gallery below to see the A6 Avant prototype frolicking in the snow.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Audi A6 Avant

Audi A6 Avant spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Audi A6 Avant plays in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi sketches 408-hp A3 sedan concept ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Audi, Luxury

Audi A3 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi has released a few sketches of its Geneva-bound A3 concept, and in keeping with previous reports, the automaker is intent on bringing a sedan version of its smallest model to market.

Audi describes the A3 concept as a “four-seater notchback sedan” and measures in at 174.84-inches long – about six inches longer than the current five-door model. The front fascia is a further evolution of Audi’s more aggressive snout, complete with full LED headlamps and new trapezoidal grille. The greenhouse is suitably squat, with an arching roofline that terminates in a thin, low-slung C-pillar to give it the de riguer “four-door coupe” shape.

More intriguingly, the powertrain is comprised of a turbocharged five-cylinder engine – likely pulled from the TT-RS – outputting 408 horsepower through Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. We’ll have a full report from the show floor in less than two weeks, but in the meantime, get the full details in the press blast below the fold.

Gallery: Audi A3 Concept

[Source: Audi]

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Audi sketches 408-hp A3 sedan concept ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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