Our Peeping Tom spy photographers normally catch prototypes while they’re out and about on the street, but sometimes they catch a peek inside automakers’ development studios from the street, snagging shots of test mules before their tires even touch the ground. This is one such case, and though these photos aren’t clear as day, it’s no secret that Audi’s new Q3 crossover, based on the Volkswagen Tiguan, is what’s being prepped behind closed doors (but not behind closed blinds).

We’ve known that Audi would be creating a CUV smaller than the Q5 for quite some time now, and while the baby soft-roader relies heavily on Tiguan underpinnings, we’re sure that the quad-rung crossover will be much more shapely. Here, we see the sloping roofline and more rakish hatch, giving the Q3 a sportier stance than its VW-badged kin. Set to compete head-on with the BMW X1, the Q3 should make its debut sometime in 2011 with the first production models hitting dealers later that year.

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

In reaction to news that Audi put up an online petition to bring the TT RS to the U.S., a number of commenters opined that they’d rather have the S3. Well, you’re no closer to getting it, but you can see its even hotter brother, the RS3, in spy shots taken in Austria.

Almost all of the work seems to have taken place up front, where the hottest Audi hatch gets new headlights and gaping intakes. Even though there’s an S3 badge on the front and standard exhaust outlets in back (not the oval units reserved for Audi’s RS models), this isn’t your standard S model. The shooter claims the redline on the mule is 6,500 rpm, where as the normal S3’s redline is 6,000 rpm. And we’d be remiss not to mention these earlier spy shots of an Audi RS3 testing at the ‘Ring, wearing the same S3 badges as well.

Not that it matters - we won’t get either of them, although a hotted up A3 sedan could come someday. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start your own online petition to convince Audi otherwise. Get to work…

[Source: Autoliefhebber (translated)]

Spy Shots: Audi RS3 does Austria’s Gloßglockner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy shots of a new Corvette from the upcoming Transformers 3 movie. On this week’s Road Testament, Alex and JF discuss future production and concept cars in movies - Are car manufacturers playing a new marketing game?

Spy shots of a new Corvette from the upcoming Transformers 3 movie. On this week’s Road Testament, Alex and JF discuss future production and concept cars in movies - Are car manufacturers playing a new marketing game?

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

The 2011 A8 is the harbinger of things to come from Audi’s award winning interiors, and the release of an additional spy shot of the S7’s insides proves that the new navigation screen found in the automaker’s flagship is set to proliferate throughout the Audi line-up.

As you can see in the image above, the seven-inch display that rises from the dash is fitted to the recently spied S7, and will also be included on the standard A7 when it goes on sale next year. The MMI Touch Pad, which also debuted on the all-new A8 and allows user to draw letters and numbers to control the navigation, phone and other systems, is likely to be an option on the A7/S7, along with the new A6. And speaking of the A6…

Audi’s mid-sizer has been around since 2004, with an updated model bowing two years later, so it stands to reason that an all-new A6 is coming soon. Judging by the automaker’s product cycles, we’re expecting the 2012 A6 to bow in Detroit or as early as the Paris Motor Show and go on sale sometime towards the middle of 2011.

Audi bringing new nav display, optional Touch Pad to 2012 A6 and A7/S7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Audi

Even though we won’t see the production version of the standard Audi A7 until this year’s Paris Motor Show, the men and women in Ingolstadt are already prepping a hotted-up version of the swoopy four-door coupe (we still aren’t used to typing that), as seen here in this latest set of spy shots. Rumors have stated that a RS7 Sportback might debut alongside the A7 in Paris, complete with a 580-horsepower V10, and it would certainly be show-stopping if Audi could pull off having all three variants of the A7 range on hand.

As for the car spied here, we spot larger air intakes, a more robust wheel/tire package, bigger brakes and quad exhaust pipes, seemingly proving that this A7 will definitely arrive wearing an S badge. However, the camouflaged beast isn’t as muscular as Audi’s RS models, which leads us to believe that the mid-range S7 is what’s under all of the swirly paper. As for what’s housed beneath the hood, your guess is as good as ours, but something along the lines of Audi’s new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 or the free-breathing 4.2-liter V8 could be in order. Scroll through the gallery below to see the S7 prototype from all angles.

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: First look at Audi S7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

When the Audi S8 was nixed from the automaker’s lineup late last year, the news produced a collective sigh around Autoblog Towers. Audi’s largest, most powerful sedan held a special place in our hearts, but redemption appears to be right around corner - the N

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

Check out what a very cold spy photographer snapped some pictures of. This car could very well be the upcoming Audi S8. Of course, as the car in the photos is totally unmarked, this could just be another variant of the big Audi. We’ve suspected for some time that a new S8 is coming, and we hear that it’s most likely headed over to our shores. However, we’ve know next to nothing about what type of terror resides under the hood. Until today.

Unlike the last (frankly underpowered) S8, this new big-fast sedan is dropping the choked-off, Lamborghini-derived V10 in favor of a new twin-turbo V8. The good folks at Car and Driver are claiming the unit will displace 4.0-liters. Our source at Audi wouldn’t confirm that displacement explicitly, but did say that C/D is, “on the right path.” This same source noted that BMW’s been using a smallish displacement twin-turbo V8 (4.4-liters) in the 7 Series for the past year and that Audi intends to stay competitive.

Our Audi source also noted that the new V8 will be offered in many flavors, and will allow Audi to meet all the emissions and mileage standards coming down the pike in the next five years. We’re told to expect a wide range of configurations, similar to what Audi/Lamborghini did with their shared V10. That means different states of tune for different cars, as well as naturally aspirated and force inducted version. As for power, our source once again confirmed that Car and Driver knows what they’re printing. Meaning that the 450 horsepower/450 pound-feet of torque neighborhood isn’t a bad guess, though the final numbers could be higher.

Back to the car in the heavily cropped photograph (check out Autocar for the complete set of pics), we’re still not 100-percent sure it’s the S8. First of all, there are no visual cues to distinguish this black car from a regular A8, save for the requisite four tailpipes. However, as Autocar notes, the new S8 is said to have bold new bodywork to set it apart from the standard car. Also, examine the brakes. They appear to be larger diameter than the standard brakes, yet they aren’t drilled or slotted. One would think (and we would agree with him) that an S vehicle would have a more serious set of stoppers. After all, even the A8 Hybrid “Concept” has fancier discs. Of course, maybe these are just placeholders used during cold weather testing. Yeah, we’re pretty sure this is the new Audi S8.

[Sources: Autocar, Car and Driver]

Spy Shots: Are you the next Audi S8? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi

Audi has gone the typical swirly exterior applique route with its upcoming new Mini-fighting A1 hatchback, but our intrepid spy photographers still managed to snap off a series of shots that show the premium little city car out and about undergoing shake-down testing.

Judging from these photos, it’s clear that Audi’s smallest vehicle will retain the German automaker’s trademark headlights and their bottom row of LED highlights, along with its customary gaping grille and fascia. We’re also a wee bit intrigued to see why Audi was so careful in concealing the area behind the side windows.

We’ll see the rest of the A1 in all its minicar glory early next month at the Geneva Motor Show, but until then, these are the best spy shots of the car that we’re likely to see. Check ‘em out for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

[Images: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Audi A1 about as naked as its gonna get originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Camouflaged prototypes of the 2011 Audi A8 have been caught running the Nurburgring, and accompanying these newest shots comes word that Audi’s reworked flagship will be available with a host of new powerplants.

According to reports, Audi’s range-topper will continue to be available with a W12, but it’s expected to grow from 6.1- to 6.5-liters and exceed 500 horsepower — 50 hp more than the outgoing twelve. Stepping down from that would be a supercharged V8 with more than 400 horsepower and a cylinder management system that could shut down up to four cylinders.

To really get the gas mileage going, however, Audi is reportedly working on a new 2.0-liter diesel with two turbos that pumps out more than 200 horsepower. If the new powerplant comes to market, it would match Mercedes-Benz’ BlueEfficiency four-cylinder in the S-Class. The new A8 is expected to debut at the Detroit Auto Show this January, with sales beginning in late 2010.