Archive for Audi

The boys at Ingolstadt have officially unveiled the A5 Sportback, which goes on to join A5 family that also includes the Coupe and the Cabriolet. The five-door coupe measures 4,711 mm long, 1,854 mm wide, 1,391 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,810 mm. The front end which features Audi’s typical grille along with ellipsoidal halogen headlamps (for models below 190 horses while the rest get Xenon units as standard) and daytime LED running lights arranged in an arched strip.

The front looks alot like the outgoing Audi A4, while the gorgeous lines on the side profile, along with the ‘coupeish’ roof line and large 17-inch standard wheels gives it a very distinctive look (sizes up to 20-inches available as options). The rear also reminds you of the A4. This section of the vehicle is finished with LED taillights, a third brake light located on the upper edge of the rear window and a rear bumper that is flanked out with exhaust tailpipes at both ends (except for the 2.0 TDI model). Most importantly, the five-door coupe has a hatch, that is equipped with an electrically actuated lock.

The A5 Sportback is fitted with long doors, that open wide to facilitate entry and exit. Inside, the front and rear seats are mounted slightly lower. Again, typical Audi cabin design is apparent here, with the three-spoke leather steering wheel, two gauge instrument panel with an LCD display nestled in between, an MMI operating system and more.

Other features include a sliding center armrest with storage compartment and power outlets for the front and a another armrest for the rear seat, with an option to add two additional cup holders. As expected, the trunk space that offers 480 liters of space in standard configuration can be increased by simply folding the rear seat backs.

This brings the total storage space to a massive 980 liters. In this area, there are more features including hooks for hanging up shopping bags, lugs for securing larger loads and a fixed two-piece cover that shields the long luggage compartment from curious gazes.

The Audi A5 Sportback’s stiff chassis features a five-link axle front suspension, while the rear is treated to a trapezoidal link rear suspension, which is the same one used for both the front wheel drive and all wheel drive quattro versions.

Most of the front and rear suspensions parts are made of aluminum, to help reduce weight. More features include speed-sensitive Servotronic steering system (standard on the 211HP 2.0 liter TFSI and V6 models) and a braking system that is made up by 314 millimeter discs up front and 300 millimeter discs at the rear for the 2.0 liter TDI and the 2.0 liter TFSI (180HP) models, while the 211HP 2.0 liter TFSI and V6 models feature front discs measuring 320 millimeters in diameter, with lightweight brake calipers (made of composite material).

There is also the Audi drive select dynamic control system, that offers three driving modes, including comfort, auto and dynamic. There is a fourth mode, called individual which is only available if the potential buyer opts for the MMI system. In individual mode, drivers can customize their own settings, based on a large number of parameters.

Back to the suspension of the A5 Sportback. Audi also revealed that it can install sports suspension upon request. Three variants are available including a tauter setup with or without controlled dampers and an S line sports suspension that lowers the body by 10 millimeters. Furthermore, the electronic shock absorber control system uses CDC (continuous damping control) shock absorber with a fast controller that continuously analyzes the signals received from 14 sensors and calculates the optimal damping per wheel in extremely short intervals, by up to 1,000 times per second.

Engine wise, the A5 Sportback carries over powerplant options from the A4 and A5 range. In total, there are three TDI and three FSI engines, while three more powerplants will be launched by mid next year. The TDI family is made up by a 170HP 2.0 liter TDI with 350Nm of torque (5.2 liters of fuel per 100 km on average), a 190HP 2.7 liter V6 TDI with 400Nm of torque (6.0 liters of fuel per 100 km in the EU driving cycle) and a 240HP 3.0 liter V6 TDI with a massive 500Nm of torque (6.6 liters of fuel per 100 km on average).

This top of the line diesel accelerates the Sportback to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds, and will go on to reach 247 km/h. For the above diesel powerplants, all are mated to a manual transmissions, except for the 3.0 liter V6 which is offered with the 7 speed dual clucth S tronic cog box, coupled with the quattro all wheel drive system. Audi also mentioned that the quattro system for the 2.0 liter TDI and a multitronic tranny for the 2.7 liter TDI will arrive by fall, along with a manual tranny for the 3.0 liter V6. At the same time, the auto maker will also launch a 143HP 2.0 liter TDI version with 320Nm of torque. This engine will be offered with a multitronic transmission.

The petrol family starts off with the 180HP 2.0 liter TFSI with 320Nm of torque, paired with a multitronic transmission while a manual version will come next year. There is also a 211HP version of the same engine, with 350Nm of pulling power that is mated to a 7 speed S tronic transmission and the quattro permanent all wheel drive system. It has an average fuel consumption figure of 7.4 liters of fuel per 100 km. Three additional variants will be introduced during the course of the year including a quattro all-wheel drive with manual transmission and front-wheel drive with multitronic or 6 speed manual transmissions.

Lastly, there is the 265HP 3.2-liter V6 FSI, that is also good for 330Nm of torque. It is couple with an S tronic cog box, with the quattro system. It sips 9.3 liters of fuel for every 100 km, on average. 0 – 100 km/h takes 6.6 seconds, and will go to deliver a top speed of 250 km/h.

All engine options benefit from Audi’s energy regeneration system that makes use of the kinetic energy during deceleration. The alternator will then convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy that is stored temporarily in the battery. There is also the engine start-stop system that is offered with any of the three 2.0-liter engines with the manual transmission. According to the auto maker, it can help to reduce fuel consumption by 0.2 liters per 100 km.

There are also two S Line packages to choose from, including the S Line sport package and the S Line exterior package. The former features a tauter suspension setup and lowered body with larger wheels. Interior extras include sport seats covered in cloth and leather, a special leather sport steering wheel, a leather shift lever knob, inlays in brushed aluminum and color-coordinated floor mats. S line badges adorn the fenders, the door sill trims and many interior parts.

The latter on the other hand comes with unique bumpers and distinctive features on the side air intakes, on the diffuser and on the tailpipes, side sill trims painted in the body color and S line badges on the door sill trims and the front fenders.

In Germany, the Audi A5 Sportback is priced at:

2.0 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission: 36,050 euros
2.7 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission: 39,300 euros
3.0 TDI quattro with 7-speed S tronic: 47,950 euros
2.0 TFSI (132 kW / 180 hp) with 6-speed manual transmission: 33,650 euros
2.0 TFSI (155 kW / 211 hp) quattro with 7-speed S tronic: 42,150 euros
3.2 FSI quattro with S tronic: 47,000 euros

The Audi A5 Sportback will hit dealerships by September, and Audi has also announced that an entry-level model will arrive in 2010. Look after the jump for a full photo gallery of the A5.

Click here to read the rest of Audi launches the A5 Sportback: full details!

The Caractere kit for the Audi Q5 is now out. No doubt there will be many Q5 owners here in Malaysia who’ll opt for an Abt kit because of the presence and marketing of Cartrade-Abt but for those who want something a little more different (as if having a Q5 is not different already), you can look for the Caractere kit. Caractere kits are generally quite good looking and I think the one for the Q5 looks less overdone compared to the Abt version. Look after the jump for 4 different shots of the Caractere Audi Q5, and also check out the Caractere kit for the Audi A4 and the VW Tiguan.

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Abt has unveiled a new engine tuning kit for the V12-powered turbodiesel Audi Q7. The standard 500 horsepower and 1000Nm of torque that the 6.0 liter turbodiesel V12 produces is pumped up to 560 horses and 1,200Nm of torque. That must be one really strongly-built 6-speed automatic that’s mated to the V12, having to handle so much twisting power. Abt also has upgrade kits for the other engines that come with the Q7:

• Audi Q7 4.2 FSI 350hp – up to 500hp and 550Nm via chip tuning and a supercharger.
• Audi Q7 4.2 TDI 326hp – up to 365hp and 780Nm of torque via chip tuning.
• Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 240hp – up to 282hp and 560Nm via chip tuning with the Abt Power kit, or 310hp and 610Nm via chip tuning and an uprated turbocharger with the Abt Power S Kit.

The Q7 has started becoming popular in the parallel import scene. It’s big, hulking, looks impressive and most importantly looks expensive. Those that want a little more out of their 4.2 liter V8 given the amount of road tax that they’re paying each year may take a look at slapping on the 500hp kit.

Audi have released a teaser image and a sketch of the upcoming Audi A5 Sportback, a 4-door version of the A4/A5 with a coupe-like roofline. This brings Audi’s C-segment contender bodystyle count up to a total of 5 – sedan and touring for the A4, and coupe, convertible and now this new 4-door sportsback for the A5.

The A5 Sportsback is referred to by Audi as a large hatchback. Audi’s interpretation of the 4-door coupe form is executed pretty well in my opinion, but we’ve already seen a preview of what such an Audi would look like with the Sportback concept early this year. It differs from the A4 – a roofline that is lower by 36mm, frameless doors, but the hatch looks to be conventional with no funky twindoor-like design.

At launch time, 5 engines will be offered, with 3 of them oil burners. The petrol engines will be either the 2.0 TFSI putting out 211hp and 350Nm, or a 3.2 liter V6 with quattro putting out 265hp. Both have Audi valvelift. The oil burners range from a 2.0 TDI to a 2.7 TDI V6 and finally a 3.0 TDI V6 which churns out the most torque – 500Nm to complement the 240 horses it produces.

The A5 Sportback has 480 liters of storage volume and interestingly this is just 10 liters less than the A4 Avant’s 490 liters. This can be increased to 980 liters with the rear seatbacks folded down.

Look after the jump for a video of Audi Group Head of Design Wolfgang Egger explaining and sketching the Audi A5 Sportback.

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Audi has prepared a really tuned up Audi Q5 called the Audi Q5 custom concept, what handy timing for them to showcase this car right after the launch of the Q5 in Malaysia. Lucky owners with deep pockets even after shelling out RM300k or more for the SUV can head on right to shops like Next Level Customz with photos of this new Q5 concept in hand.

But the Audi Q5 custom concept is really more than just a Q5 with an aggressive bodykit. Under the hood is the supercharged 3.0 TFSI V6 from the Audi S4, but tuned up from the standard levels of 333 horses and 440Nm of torque up to 408 PS between 6k to 7k rpm and 500Nm of torque from 3k rpm up to 5.5k rpm.

0 to 100km/h in this body takes only 4.4 seconds. If a future new RS4 is ever going to dump its delicious-sounding V8 for a supercharged V6, expect this kind of power levels. In fact we could actually be looking at a future Q5-S if Audi wants to take it up a notch, but there is no plans for a GLK AMG or X3-M so far. Power is channeled to all wheels via quattro and a quick-shifting 7-speed S-tronic twin clutch transmission.

The aesthetic modifications have also widened the modded Q5’s track by 90mm and ride height lowered by 60mm. Those wheels that look like 7 spokes of steel stained with blood are 21 inches in size.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery.

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An all-new Audi A8 is set to be unveiled in November this year for the 2010 model year, something that I am quite eagerly awaiting to see, as most car manufacturers put most of their best stuff in their flagship models.

The current A8 has been soldiering on since 2003 and a full model change is quite timely with German luxo-marque’s typical 7 year model lifecycles. The S-Class received a mid-life facelift this year and Munich’s offering got an all-new model change last year, with the flagship just announced, chock full of 12 cylinders, 2 turbochargers and 8 forward ratios.

It’ll be interesting to see what the flagship motor of the Audi A8 will be this time – in the last installment it was the massive 6.0 liter W12, putting out 443 PS and 580Nm, taking the monster up to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds. I won’t be surprised if the flagship is a diesel this time!

Look after the jump to check our a previously posted trailer of the movie Transporter 3, which features the Audi A8 that we will be soon saying goodbye to.

Click here to read the rest of 2010 Audi A8 to get November debut?

The new Audi Q5 is here in Malaysia, available in two models – the regular version priced at RM299,000 or the S-Line priced at RM325,000, both prices without insurance. Both models come with the very nice 2.0 liter TFSI engine with Valvelift putting out 211 horses and 350Nm of torque between 1,500 to 4,200rpm, and is mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic twin clutch transmission.

The S-Line package includes an S-Line exterior bodykit, Milano leather for the front seats and black headlining. On top of that you can also spec some other niceties including a B&O sound system for RM6k, a panoramic glass roof for RM10k and an electrical tailgate for RM6.5k. This should mean a fully loaded up Q5 should cost you RM347.5k!

Although there are plenty of platform sharing going on between Volkswagen and Audi and the Q7 has many technical and platform similiarities to the Cayenne and the Touareg, the Q5 is no rebadged Tiguan. The Q5 is more of a SUV-ized Audi A4 and uses the A4’s MLP architecture, which means a longitudinal engine layout instead of the Tiguan’s transverse engine layout.

Also, the Tiguan’s transverse edition of the engine puts out less power and torque – only 200 horses and 280Nm over 1,700 to 5,000rpm. The Tiguan also uses a regular torque converter 6-speed auto, while this Q5 has a DSG.

Its competitors in Malaysia is the new Land Rover Freelander 2 which goes for RM272k with a 2.2 liter turbodiesel engine, the Tiguan 2.0 TFSI which goes for about RM250k, the X3 which goes for RM320k (this model has even disappeared from bmw.com.my) and the RAV4 which comes in the cheapest at RM204k. Internationally there is also the Mercedes-Benz GLK but Malaysia will not see this model offered officially as Stuttgart has decided to build it in left hand drive only.

Look after the jump for a full gallery and video of the Q5.

Click here to read the rest of Audi Q5 in Malaysia: RM299k to RM325k!

BMW’s formula of taking a boot onto the 1-Series and creating a coupe out of it sparked an idea in the Volkswagen AG stables. The American market while in a slump is still of significance to car manufacturers, and they love stuff with boots not hatches, so Audi is apparently going to launch the next generation Audi A3 with a boot, basically Audi’s equivalent to the Volkswagen Jetta. Autocar UK also reports that the new A3 will not be based on the Mk6 GTI platform (largely a rehashed Mk5), but a next generation platform. The A3 will also have the adaptive damping system also found on the A4.

It seems that Audi will be unveiling a new model to celebrate its 100th birthday on the 16th of July 2009. There has been completely no details released on this model, and it’s probably not likely to be some of the other more “normal” cars that Audi are scheduled to release either, with the new Q3 being one.

The fact that the Q3 is only scheduled for a 2011 production start makes it a little too early to showcase it this year, perhaps only next year. What else could it be? A new Audi A7 (previewed in concept form as the 2009 Audi Sportback Concept) would definitely be a feast for the eyes, but there’s over 2 months to go so we’ll watch out for any other indicators coming in the future.

Click to enlarge image

The Audi Q3, a third addition to the Audi Q range of SUVs will begin manufacturing in Spain in 2011. Currently none of the Q range share a plant – the Q7 is built in Slovakia while the Q5 is built in Audi’s homeland of Ingolstadt.

The new compact Audi Q3 has yet to be revealed in production or close to production form yet, but Audi has given us some teasers in the form of the Audi Cross Coupe and Cross Cabriolet concepts last year, with the Cross Coupe being a 4-door SUV with a fastback roofline, and the latter being a 2-door cabriolet with SUV styling and ride height. In fact Audi has said the new Q3 will have a coupe-like roofline, which points to the aforementioned concepts.