Filed under: Audi

Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen recently went on the record about future product plans via the forums at enthusiast site Fourtitude. In addition to clarifying the big news regarding Audi’s diesel initiative in the United States, de Nysschen let some other product plans slip out.

First, he confirmed that the next-generation A3 will be sold as a sedan in the United States. The sportback will be discontinued, but the A3 Cabriolet may join the U.S. lineup. The new A3 will be a 2013 model, but might not be available right at the beginning of the model year. All we can say is, we hope it looks exactly like the stunning concept car that bowed in Geneva.

As for performance models, de Nysschen says that an S variant of every car in the automaker’s lineup is likely, and hinted at the S7 being offered here. The RS5 is still slated to arrive next year, though it will benefit from the A5/S5 facelift that’ll introduced in the U.S. over the winter.

Fourtitude’s interview re-confirmed that clean diesel versions of the Q5, A6 and A8 are in the cards, presumably with the 3.0-liter TDI V6. The A4 is also expected to gain a TDI variant, though it will likely be powered by a 2.0-liter four. The Q5 crossover will also spawn a hybrid variant, which will be on sale sometime in 2012.

Head over to Fourtitude’s forums to read the whole interview.

Audi’s Johan De Nysschen talks future product at Fourtitude originally appeared on AudiMobiles 5.0 on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Audi, Luxury

It’s been several months since Audi unveiled its latest A8 flagship sedan, and you know what that means, boys and girls: that’s right, a new S8 is almost upon us.

The performance version of the luxury limousine has been spied undergoing what looks like final testing, given a lack of camouflage or body cladding on the test mule snapped in our high-res image gallery. The face looks more aggressive than the stock A8 but rather subtle and still tastefully elegant, with bigger wheels filling the wells and larger brakes in turn filling the wheels.

But, of course you want to know what’s under the hood. Don’t we all. Following a similar trajectory to arch-rival BMW’s latest M5, word on the street is that the Lamborghini-derived V10 from the previous S8 will be replaced by the new twin-turbo V8 expected to find its way as well into the new S6, S7 and Bentley Continental GT. Output and efficiency are expected to increase, however, with power ratings mooted in the 500 horsepower range.

That’s a lot of beef, and if we had to guess, we’d say we’ll probably be scoping it out in person come September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

2012 Audi S8 brings genteel muscle originally appeared on AudiMobiles 5.0 on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Audi

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2012 Audi TT RS has officially landed in the United States. And there was much rejoicing.

Audi has announced that one Don Istook has purchased the very first American-spec TT RS from Fort Worth Audi in Texas. Istook is a longtime Audi enthusiast, having raced Quattro coupes in the mid-1980s, and in more recent times, S4 and TT models.

The 2012 Audi TT RS is priced from $56,580 (excluding $875 for destination), and it marks the return of the automaker’s RS performance line to Yankeeland. The last RS model available on these shores was the RS4 (rest in peace, you stunner). The TT RS will no doubt continue the tradition of Audi’s performance monsters, boasting 360 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque from its 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine. Follow the jump for the official press blast.

Continue reading First 2012 Audi TT RS delivered in Texas

First 2012 Audi TT RS delivered in Texas originally appeared on AudiMobiles 5.0 on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Audi, Luxury

Just when we thought the four-year drama of a U.S. factory for Audi might be clearing up, we’re back to the muddy. Not even two weeks after a Detroit outlet reported that the decision has already been made to build an Audi plant in the States, German Manager Magazin quotes Audi boss Rupert Stadler as saying he’d like a factory in Mexico for production of the Q5.

According to Manager, that has resulted in blowback from Volkswagen honchos who want Audi to take advantage of the VW factory in Chattanooga. Remember, Automobile magazine hinted in February that an expansion at the Tennessee location could be used to build crossovers for Audi and Porsche.

When might there be some clarity about this matter? What’s German for “Who knows?” Last month, Stadler apparently said a decision would be made in 12 months, the recent Detroit article claimed a decision would come in 36 months, and an Audi spokesman responding to this latest Mexico news said “before 2015.” What we know for sure is that Audis will be built somewhere in North American at some point in the near-ish future. That much is crystal clear. Maybe.

Audi would rather build its own plant in Mexico than double-up with VW originally appeared on AudiMobiles 5.0 on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Audi

The paint is still drying on the 2011 Audi A8, but the Four-Ring automaker is already ready to roll out its 2012 lineup. A8 fans can now say hello a familiar variant of the flagship sedan which was missing upon launch of the launch of its redesign. The 2012 Audi A8 L will now be offered with a W12 engine under its hood and a $133,500 starting price on the window sticker. For that, you get a dozen cylinders giving 500 horsepower and 463 pound-feet of torque – enough to launch Audi’s Big Daddy to 60 mph in a scant 4.4 seconds.

Any other items of note for the 2012 model year? Yes, we’re glad you asked.

The sporty 2012 Audi TT-RS can be yours if you have $56,850 to spare. The redesigned 2012 A6 sedan starts at $41,700 for the front-wheel-drive 2.0T and $49,900 for the 3.0T with Quattro all-wheel-drive. Finally, the Audi R8 GT, if you haven’t already heard, will run you $196,800. Still no word on when the Spyder derivative will arrive to add a $200,000 car to Audi’s lineup.

*Prices do not include taxes or destination and handling.

Continue reading Big Daddy Audi A8 L W12 priced from $133,500*

Big Daddy Audi A8 L W12 priced from $133,500* originally appeared on AudiMobiles 5.0 on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Europe, Audi, Racing

The big news which touring car racing fans were waiting for this weekend came when BMW unveiled its new M3 DTM concept that will spearhead the marque’s return to the series next year. But don’t think for one minute that returning manufacturers Audi and Mercedes-Benz are about to let their Bavarian rival simply waltz in unchallenged.

Audi, for one, is planning to switch from its current A4 DTM to a new A5-based touring car, previewed in the renderings you see here. Like the stock cars we see racing around American super-speedways, DTM racers are only loosely based on their production counterparts, so the change in body shell – adopting the revised face of the new production A5 – is more aesthetic than anything.

But while the existing DTM drivetrain – consisting of a 460-horsepower V8 and six-speed transmission – is set to carry over largely unchanged, Audi’s new racer (internally dubbed R17) is expected to herald some significant changes over the car it replaces, complying to new lower-cost regulations and side-impact stringencies that will see the fuel cells integrated into the carbon-fiber monocoque.

Rival manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, for its part, has yet to announce any prospective changes to its four-door C-Class touring car, but likely will before the start of next season. In the meantime you can check out the renderings of the A5 DTM in our high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Audi prepares to fend off BMW with new A5 DTM

Audi prepares to fend off BMW with new A5 DTM originally appeared on AudiMobiles 5.0 on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the 2012 Audi A7, 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550, and 2011 Jaguar XJ — the automotive equivalent of haute couture.

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Wagon, Europe, Audi, Luxury

While crossovers dominate the American highway, that role is taken up overseas by estate wagons. And few are as enticing as the Audi S6 Avant.

Offering all the creature comforts of the Audi A6, the S6 Avant ups the ante with all the cargo space you’d expect in a crossover with a rip-roarin’ engine under the hood. In the case of the new model, we’re expecting an all-new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 driving some 450 horsepower to all four corners through an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive.

In other words, that Porsche driver will never know what hit him, but with this latest batch of spy shots, we now do. It’s the clearest look we’ve had at the upcoming new model yet, revealing the quad exhaust tips, full aero body kit, big-boy wheels and no cladding. All it needs are a set of S6 badges and it’s off for a record-setting school run. Check it out in our high-res gallery for a closer look.

Audi S6 Avant looks ready to smoke your crossover originally appeared on AudiMobiles 5.0 on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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