Nother CarGuy

Hot on the heels of last week’s Q4 e-tron and the e-tron GT from earlier this year, Audi has unveiled the A6 e-tron concept at the 2022 Shanghai Motor show. It’s said that the only thing this concept shares with the “traditional” A6 is its dimensions, measuring 4.96 m (195.3 in) long, 1.96 m (77.2 in) wide, and 1.44 m (56.7 in) high. It’s a bold statement from a company that intends to offer more electric vehicles to US consumers than any other luxury brand by the end of 2021. The A6 e-tron concept previews the first Audi to be built on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) platform. Others expected to join in 2022 will be the Q5 e-tron and Q6 e-tron. The platform has been developed together with Porsche and will also support the next generation electric Macan. Audi says they will unveil the first production vehicles based on the PPE platform in the second half of 2022. The concept’s design looks like it’ll stick around largely unchanged for a production version. Although this is dubbed ...

Audi has taken the wraps off two new additions to the e-tron family: the Q4 e-Tron and its slopped roof sibling, the Q4 e-Tron Sportback. With these compact electric SUV offerings, Audi hopes to expand their line-up, with the aim of offering more EVs in the US market than any other luxury manufacturer by the end of the year.  The Q4 e-Tron represents the smallest Audi EV as yet. Unlike the larger e-tron SUV which is based on the ICE-centered MLB Evo architecture, the Q4 e-tron is built upon Volkswagen’s new MEB platform. The MEB platform also underpins the ID.4, and is dedicated to EVs.  Both the regular Q4 e-tron and the Sportback will be offered in the US in a single battery/motor configuration but with two different performance variants. The 77 kWh battery is standard, while other markets such as Europe will see a smaller (and cheaper) 52 kWh version. Prices in the US will start at under $45,000 before incentives.  The Q4 e-tron looks fairly different from the existing...

Audi has just shown off their latest addition to a growing range of electric-only models: a sleek four-door performance sedan with a low roofline and coupe-like lines. The e-tron GT is undoubtedly one of the most striking Audi designs we’ve seen in years, and sits towards the top of the luxury car maker’s model hierarchy — both in terms of pricing and new tech. With the e-tron GT, Audi aims to balance everyday usability with sports performance, as the brand aims to offer a prime competitor to both the Tesla Model S, and the Porsche Taycan. It sits on the VW Group’s high-end J1 Performance Platform designed by Porsche with the e-tron GT sharing its building blocks with the Taycan. Available in two models, regular and the extreme performance RS in the US from launch, It’s one of Audi’s most powerful production cars. All models feature a dual-motor all-electric set-up with a two-speed transmission to aid performance. It incorporates Audi’s new 800V electrical architecture which allows eve...

Presented online at a streaming press conference that should have taken place at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, the fourth generation A3 retains the familiar shape from previous generations, but has embraced more characterful if not convoluted design language and lines. The front end follows the themes from Audi’s latest models sporting sharper headlights with LED DRLs, a more muscular bonnet that ends in a straight line above the new honeycomb grille, and prominent side air intakes. The front fenders have been narrowed but the rear shoulderline is bulkier, ending with the bumper that incorporates air outakes and slimmer taillights. The diffuser is now more discreet and doesn’t hold on to the tailpipes anymore, as these are hidden away. The car has similar overall proportions and the boot has a capacity of 380-1,200 liters (13.4-42.4 cu-ft), depending on the position of the rear seats. Opening the door reveals a completely new dashboard panel, with air vents on the driver’s si...

Audi has revised its RS5 Coupe and Sportback models, giving them a more aggressive appearance and new MMI touch technology. The 444 HP 2.9-liter TFSI twin turbo V6 unit however remains the same. The exterior of the two RS5 models now features a wider and flatter Singleframe grille, following in the footsteps of the latest RS6 and RS7. Meanwhile, the implied air vents above the grille take us back to the iconic Audi Sport quattro from the 80s. “The revision of the RS5 Coupe and RS5 Sportback marks the successful conclusion of our 25th anniversary and the renewal of our model range,” said Audi Sport exec Oliver Hoffmann. “Thanks to the standard permanent quattro drive, they occupy a special position in their segment.” The 1.6 inch (40 mm) wider wheel arches and darkened matrix LED headlight bezels serve to further differentiate these new RS5 models from their regular A5 counterparts. Also new are the contoured air inlets that now feature a pentagonal cut, as well as the redes...

The new Audi RS Q8 has arrived at the Los Angeles Auto Show as the brand’s most powerful SUV and brings with it a host of eye-popping figures and an equally-as-evocative design. Sitting atop Audi’s Q family of SUVs, the RS Q8 is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 pumping out 591 HP (441kW / 600 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque between 2,200 rpm and 4,500 rpm. Audi quotes a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of just 3.8 seconds while the sprint to 200 km/h (124.3 mph) is dealt with in 13.7 seconds. The RS Q8 will continue to accelerate through to a 250 km/h (155 mph) electronically limited top speed, but should customers opt for the Dynamic package, that figure rises to 305 km/h (190 mph). Like the engine used by the latest Audi RS6 Avant, the RS Q8’s powertrain is based on a 48-volt main electrical system and is therefore a mild-hybrid. During deceleration and braking, the powertrain can recover up to 12 kW of power and store it in its compact lithium-ion battery. Should t...

Electric crossovers are becoming a staple of the Los Angeles Auto Show and Audi has used the event to unveil the new e-tron Sportback. Essentially a sportier version of the standard e-tron, the Sportback is a stylish crossover coupe with an electric powertrain. The front end is instantly recognizable and features a prominent Singleframe grille with a light platinum gray finish. It is flanked by sporty air intakes and newly available digital matrix LED headlights. The latter are a first for a mass-production vehicle and the light projected from them is broken down into tiny pixels which can be controlled with “exceptional precision.” Audi says the headlights each feature a micromirror that can be tilted up to 5,000 times per second. This allows them to illuminate or mask out areas with amazing accuracy. More interestingly, they can project animations on the wall or ground and effectively turn the area in front of the car into an “illuminated stage.” Of course, the Sportbac...

The rear-wheel drive Audi R8, which was introduced a couple of years ago, has returned for the 2020MY, albeit with a few changes and a new moniker, as it’s now named the V10 RWD instead of the RWS. More importantly, though, it’s not a limited edition anymore, as it joins the R8 family as a production-series model. Available in both body styles, Coupe and Spyder, it will launch in European markets early next year, priced from €144,000 ($159,875) and €157,000 ($174,310) in Germany, respectively. The new R8 RWD sports a few visual updates on the outside that allow it to fly under the radar – well, as much as it can with that shape, anyway. These, according to Audi, include the front splitter, air inlets and air outlet grille at the rear that have become broader. Moreover, the diffuser has moved upwards and incorporates two oval tailpipes, and the side blades further hint at the nature of the car: the top one is finished in glossy black, whereas the bottom blade is painted in t...