Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi, Electric, Racing

Audi is letting the mighty e-tron out to play with the other kids, taking its EV concept to the Silvretta E-Auto Rally in Austria. The competition is designed to pit the latest and greatest of the electric vehicle world against each other over 10 special stages that cover a total of 104 miles. The company has picked Michael Dick, a member of its board for technical development, and Lukas Luhr, a factory race driver, to helm the machine throughout the event.

If you rack your brain a bit, you just might recall that the e-tron uses a total of four electric motors to put power to the ground. The company is still standing by its claim that the machine puts out a total of 3,319 pound-feet of torque, even though it was eventually settled that the figure came from torque at the wheels, not at the output shaft. Even so, it should be plenty quick with the joy of all-wheel drive and a little over 300 horsepower to scoot the car around.

Look for the car and its crew to show up at the race starting this weekend. Click the jump for the press release.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi R8 e-tron entered in road rally

Audi R8 e-tron entered in road rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2025 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, Rumormill, Electric

The original, all-aluminum Audi A2 was a unique beast, which Heinrich Timm, Audi’s head of lightweight design, maintains was ahead of its time. However, the rumored 2012 A2 is likely to utilize a steel unibody platform, and the latest reports indicate that Audi’s mini-lux will have a new reason for being special.

Autocar quotes anonymous sources who say the next A2 could be Audi’s first electric-only vehicle. While the UK rag doesn’t go into detail, Audi has dropped hints that a variant of the A2 could utilize the extended-range EV hardware under the hood of the A1 e-tron concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show. The e-tron utilized a 60 horsepower electric motor paired to a 330-pound lithium ion battery pack. The “extended range” part of the A1 e-tron concept comes courtesy of a small, powerful rotary engine that would work as a generator whenever the battery pack was depleted. Audi quotes the EV range of the A1 e-tron concept at about 33 miles per charge.

Do we think the A2 will be electric-only? Our magic eight-ball says “ask again later,” so we’re thinking the earliest we’ll know anything is this September at the Paris Motor Show.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Audi A2 could be electric only, or not originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2026 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Diesel, Luxury

According to Autocar in the UK, which is citing unknown “high-ranking Audi insiders in Ingolstadt,” the future of the Audi R4, Volkswagen BlueSport and possibly an unnamed entry-level model from Porsche (we vote 914) are currently being mulled by the three-headed German automaker. The major stumbling block? Whether or not a stamped steel architecture or Audi’s familiar aluminum spaceframe chassis should be used.

Naturally, we’d argue for the light weight of aluminum, which seems more appropriate for a line of sportscars… but at the price point afforded by the much less expensive steel. Decisions, decisions. In any case, the British mag continues to suggest that the R4 would presumably get two turbocharged gasoline engines (1.4-liters and 1.6-liters) along with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel mill in lieu of the all-electric powertrain shown off in concept form.

Volkswagen, parent company of both Audi and Porsche, is said to get the final say in the development of all three machines, but some sort of production seems likely. Says the unnamed insider, “Scale is important to a project like this… But with three different car makers working to a common goal, the chances [of it getting the go-ahead] look good.”

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Manufacturing questions standing in the way of Audi R4 production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 May 2026 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Audi, Rumormill

With its lightweight aluminum spaceframe and miniature luxury aspirations, the first generation Audi A2 was a vehicle a bit ahead of its time. That would make the little Audi a revolutionary vehicle were it not for the fact that customers weren’t all that interested with the price premium that comes with expensive spaceframe technology, and it could be argued that the A2 wasn’t all that attractive, either. See above and decide for yourselves.

In any case, Autocar reports that the four-ringed automaker will make a second go at the A2 in 2012, but this time the innovative and expensive spaceframe won’t be part of the package. The British site claims that the next A2 will inherit a version of the traditional steel unibody layout from the A1, giving Audi more cost leverage when competing with the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the small front drive near-lux segment.

Audi chairman Rupert Stadler reportedly stated that an EV variant is a possibility for the upcoming A2, with hardware not unlike that of the A1 e-tron concept. Regardless of the variant of A2 Audi is considering, we’re not too hopeful that the little German will ever make its way Stateside.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Audi A2 coming back in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2026 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Audi, Misc. Auto Shows, Luxury

Starting April 9, the world will get its first peek at next year’s Audi TT at AMI Lepzig. So far, details are iffy on exactly what we can expect from the 2011 coupe and roadster, but the car is due for a mild facelift. We’re guessing new front and rear fascias and a revised wheel program are likely to find their way into the soup de jour.

While the reworked TT models will be the highlight of the show, Audi has also promised to bring along a slew of its other products. Nestled among the 25 production models and two show cars will be the freshly-minted A1 compact as well as at least one of the e-Tron show cars. AMI Lepzig will run from April 9-18. Follow the jump for the press release.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi announces updated 2011 TT models headed to AMI Leipzig

Audi announces updated 2011 TT models headed to AMI Leipzig originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2026 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Crossover, Audi, Electric

Thanks to the Volkswagen Group’s strategy to be the leading player in the alternative-powertrain market within the next decade, Audi has announced a rapid expansion of hybrid and electric vehicles over the next few years. The German automaker wants to improve efficiency of its internal combustion engines (both gasoline and diesel) by 30 percent - and it wants five percent of the brand’s model line to be electric. “In the future, our customers will be able to choose from an increasingly broad range of driveline technologies,” said Audi CEO Rupert Stadler.

Report: More hybrids, EVs coming from Audi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2026 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already know that Audi plans to fit the standard R8′s 420-hp, 4.2-liter V8 into its all-new Spyder variant early next year, and now comes word that at least one more version of the R8 is in the pipeline and that the R tronic sequential automatic might not be long for this world.

According to company insiders speaking with Car and Driver, the herky-jerky gearbox will likely be dispatched in favor of Audi’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There’s no word on the amount of torque the DCT can handle, but considering how much better the R8 V10 performed with the standard sequential tranny, we’d suspect that the dual-clutch setup will make its way onto the V8 models only. And if you’re worried about the gated six-speed manual being nixed from the options list, don’t be - it will continue to be available on all models.

C&D also reports that a sportier version of the R8, inspired by the LMS model, could be in the cards, packing more power (think: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera) and a not-so-insignificant weight reduction thanks to the liberal use of carbon fiber.

Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, Rumormill, Electric

Seeing the Audi A1 and A1 e-tron concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show provides proof that the quad-ring automaker is putting a much larger focus on its small car offerings. With that in mind, new rumors are cropping up about a possible successor to the A2 - the quirky little hatch that never came to the U.S. and only had minor success in Europe.

“There’s clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1,” Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told AutoWeek during the Geneva Motor Show. The new A2 would likely be A1-based and use an electric powertrain, possibly sourced from the A1 e-tron concept. European media has reported that the A2 successor is expected to debut by 2014, and no word has been given about a possible U.S.-spec version. However, with Audi keeping the A1 away from American soil, it’s likely that the A2 would be a Europe-only affair, as well.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Audi working on successor to A2? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2026 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No, Wankel is not really a verb. At least, not that we know of. But it is the last name of the man who designed the rotary engine, and we think our man Felix would be more than pleased with the latest application of his barrel-shaped internal combustion powerplant. In case you missed it before, that would be as the range-extender buried inside Audi‘s new A1 e-tron electric vehicle, which is currently on display at the Geneva Motor Show.

As we told you before, Audi’s smallest e-tron features a 12-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack that feeds a steady stream of electrons to a front-mounted electric motor with 102 peak horsepower. The aforementioned Wankel rotary engine features one lone rotor, displaces 254cc and sits just aft of the battery pack under the rear seat. Why a Wankel? Audi says the complete package weighs in at just 154 pounds and puts out a nice, steady stream of power at a constant 5,000 RPM.

Geneva is bringing some crazy to the table this year. Porsche has revealed the 918 Spyder Concept, Audi officially debuts the A1, but also, show off an A1 E-Tron concep, and Lamborghini brings us the LP570-4. That’s all today on Fast Lane Daily