The new Audi S7 Sportback takes to the streets of Munich for the first time

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , Audi , BMW , Mercedes-Benz , Luxury A report by the Center of Automotive Research at the university of Duisburg-Essen in Germany has revealed that Mercedes-Benz , currently the number three luxury carmaker, could move up to number two in 2015, Automotive News reported . Mercedes owned the second slot until last year, when Audi overtook it. BMW has held the lead in the luxury market since 2005

Filed under: Motorsports , Videos , Audi Three years ago, Audi released the documentary Truth in 24 highlighting its three-car effort at the 24 Hours of Le Mans . Despite the Four Ring’s success at the race in the last decade, they were undoubtedly the underdogs to the much faster Peugeot teams that year, making for a Hollywood-like ending when Audi managed to take home the victory with teamwork and a little help from the weather. The first film was such a success that Audi announced earlier this year that they would release Truth in 24 II , once again featuring their three-car team battling Peugeot at the world’s most famous endurance race.

Filed under: Concept Cars , Performance , China , Crossover , Audi , Beijing Motor Show , Design/Style , Luxury Audi has just unveiled a special concept version of the company’s Q3 at this week’s 2012 Beijing Motor Show to commemorate the year of the dragon. The 2012 Q3 Jinlong Yufeng, or “Golden Dragon In The Wind,” caters to the kite surfers of the world thanks to its two roof-mounted carbon-fiber reinforced polymer boards and a clever kite pouch that can also be used to hold wet articles of clothing or serve as a beach umbrella. Designers have also thrown in a set of removable, wireless video cameras that can easily be attached to a sail bar or helmet

Filed under: Concept Cars , Hybrid , Sedan , China , Technology , Audi , Beijing Motor Show , Design/Style , Electric , Luxury Audi has finally spread its plug-in hybrid technology to the A6 L . The German automaker unveiled the A6 L e-Tron technology study on Monday at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show , complete with an all-electric driving range of nearly 50 miles at 37 mph. Liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries power the 95-horsepower electric motor, though a 211-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder can step in at any time for more acceleration or additional range

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , Audi , Volkswagen No surprises here . On a day in which Audi has dominated the news – by buying Ducati and unveiling a new concept for the Beijing auto show – it completes the hat trick by announcing that its new factory will be built in Mexico.

Filed under: Audi , Earnings/Financials , Motorcycle There aren’t a lot of automakers that also make motorcycles: Peugeot , Honda , Suzuki , and perhaps most pertinently, BMW . And now Audi is getting in the game – not with its own four-ringed motorbikes, but with today’s acquisition of Ducati . In the announcement just released , Audi confirmed the deal but stopped short of confirming the reported purchase price of $1.1B

Filed under: Concept Cars , Performance , China , Crossover , Audi , Beijing Motor Show Audi is hot in China right now, and the four-ringed automaker will show its appreciation by unveiling this hot-to-trot RS Q3 concept at the Beijing Motor Show later this month. Any RS vehicle worthy of the label begins with an outstanding powertrain. In this case, the RS Q3 features the same 2.5-liter TFSI turbocharged five-cylinder that is available in the TT RS , with 360 horsepower and a zero to 62 time pegged at just 5.2 seconds

Filed under: Spy Photos , Performance , Wagon , Europe , Audi When a company like Audi debuts a new model line, enthusiasts know it brings with it the promise of a high-performance muscle-beast to follow. And so is the case with the A6 leading to the RS6

Filed under: Performance , Europe , Audi , Earnings/Financials , Motorcycle Automotive News is reporting that Audi is set to lay down $1.1 billion to purchase Ducati from the motorcycle manufacturer’s current owner, Investindustrial. The news comes courtesy of a source “familiar with the matter,” though neither Audi nor Investindustrial have officially commented on whether that price is accurate. As Automotive News points out, the price is around seven times what Ducati earned last year before interest, taxes and depreciation – even after subtracting any debt Ducati holds.