Audi cars

2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

Audi is preparing to make a big step into the electrification of its lineup with the unveiling of its brand-new A3 e-tron. The model was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and will be put on sale in early 2014.

In case you have taken a little vacation under a rock for the last few years, Audi has been tossing around the e-tron designation since 2009. At the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, Audi unveiled the first e-tron concept in the form of the 308-horsepower 2010 R8 e-tron.

Audi again dropped an e-tron concept in 2010 at the Detroit Auto Show with the A4-based concept that was rumored to see life in 2014. In concept guise, this model pumped out 201 horsepower and hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. This model, codenamed the 9X1, is supposedly under development and will hit production in 2014.

The e-tron line carried on with the A1 e-tron at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, which produced 101 horsepower. Then, at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the 2011 e-tron Spyder stopped the show with its 296-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 TDI engine and 86-horsepower electric motors that sprinted the convertible to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.

At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, Audi finally unveiled the first production e-tron model, in the form of the 2013 A3 Sportback e-tron.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A3 e-tron.

2015 Audi R8 GT Plus

Audi recently refreshed the entire R8 lineup, with exception to the GT version - the most powerful variant. Now, our spy photographers have caught what appears to be a refreshed version of the R8 GT, or possibly even the R8 GT Plus, out testing. The car was caught at the Quattro GmbH engineers’ testing track and it looks meaner than ever.

Why do we think this could be the Plus version? Well, because it features some updates that clearly indicate this is no normal R8 GT. These features include: a new chin spoiler for added downforce up front; large brake calipers; and what look to be carbon-ceramic, cross-drilled brake rotors. Around back, we find yet another GT Plus tipoff: a huge wing that looks like it is built from carbon fiber.

On top of the GT Plus-like elements, this prototype also features front quarter panel winglets, like we see on the current R8 GT.

Under the hood, the next R8 GT Plus will get a 5.2-liter V-10 engine that produces somewhere between 575 and 600 horsepower.

Updated 06/17/2013: According to the British magazine AutoCar, the revised R8 GT will be unveiled at the Le Mans 24 Hours race set to take place this week-end, June 22-23.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi R8 GT Plus.

2014 Audi SQ5 TFSI

Back in July 2012, Audi announced the 2013 SQ5 TDI, which is the first S model in Audi’s history to bear a diesel engine. That’s all well and good, but what if you really want the new SQ5, but are not a big diesel fan? Well, then you will have to wait for the petrol version to debut. And it will next week at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

The new Audi SQ5 TFSI will be specially developed for markets like United States, Canada and China, while in Europe the only version available will be the TDI one.

The model will be offered with the same "S" model upgrades seen in the TDI version: standard 20" wheels in triple-spoke design, a platinum gray radiator grille and of course a quadruple exhaust tips. Despite this similarities, the new petrol version has the advantage if being a little bit more powerful than the previous TDI engine, so the American customers will enjoy an extra 40 horsepower.

Updated 06/17/2013: Audi USA announced today prices for the 2014 Audi SQ5 that will arrive in U.S. showrooms later this summer. Click past the jump to learn how much you have to pay for the first-ever S variant of any Audi Q model.

2013 Audi A4 by ABT Sportsline

The most powerful model in the Audi A4 lineup comes equipped with a 3.0 TFSI engine that delivers a total of 272 horsepower. Pretty good, but what if the A4 could do better?

ABT Sportsline had this question in mind and developed its new AS4 package that takes the output to an amazing 380 horsepower, which is even more impressive than the 333 horsepower that the S4 delivers. Peak torque was also increased to 369 pound-feet, which represents an increase of 74 pound-feet.

Customers interested can update any other version in the A4 lineup: the 1.8 engine can be increased to 211 horsepower and the 2.0 liter TFSI to 270 horsepower. If you drive a diesel car you can also opt for some improvements. The 2.0 TDI version can be tricked to deliver 205 horsepower and the 3.0 TDI 300 horsepower.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A4 by ABT Sportsline.

650-Horsepower Audi Quattro Concept to be Revealed in Frankfurt

At the 2010 Paris Auto Show, Audi unveiled a 402-horsepower Quattro Concept Car, which made quite an impression on the masses. Now, for the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi is preparing a successor for the concept.

Apparently this will be the next step made by the company in its attempt to resurrect the legendary Sport Quattro of 1984 and to add a new sports car to its lineup.

The new Quattro concept will feature a radical look and will be sharper and more sculpted than the previous version. It will be built on an A5 platform and will feature a lightweight body that will combine carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), aluminum and magnesium. This will keep the total weight down to about 2,800 pounds.

Under the hood, Audi will install a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine with an output of about 650 horsepower. Of course, permanent all-wheel drive is mandatory and the new concept should go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2011 Audi Quattro Concept.

2013 Audi A1

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show Audi expanded its lineup with the addition of a new small, city car: the A1. Initially offered in a three-door version, the model was soon followed by a five-door variant called the Sportback. Since then, the model remained basically unchanged, except the addition of some special editions, like the A1 Amplified.

The A1 measures less than 4 meters (157.5 inches) in length, making it the perfect car for today’s crowded cities. In fact, the A1 was already voted best-in-class by several German magazines. Despite its compact sizes, the A1 features powerful engines and an agile chassis making it the sportiest car in the segment. The A1 also offers enough interior room for five adults.

The A1 is offered with a choice of seven engines - four TFSI and three TDI units - all of them combined with start-stop system.

On the European market, the A1 is priced from €15,800 - roughly $21,000 at the current exchange rates. Unfortunately, the model is still not offered on the U.S. market.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A1.

2015 Audi A3 Sedan

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Audi unveiled the A3 Concept sedan, but the unveiling of the production version took longer than we expected. After we brought you a series of spy shots of the A3 prototypes, today the new A3 sedan made its world debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show.

The new A3 sedan retains much of the design elements we have seen in the concept version and adds numerous innovative features on the A-segment: signature Singleframe grille and available full-LED headlights.

The new Audi A3 sedan will go on sale on the U.S. market showrooms in the first quarter of 2014. European customers will be able to enjoy it starting this summer. In there the new A3 sedan will start at €25,000 - about $32,000 at the current exchange rates.

Updated 03/27/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.

Updated 06/12/2013: Audi unveiled a new video presenting the new A3 sedan in action on some public roads. Enjoy!

Hit the jump to read more about the new Audi A3 Sedan.

2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus

Last year, Audi has dropped the official details on its updated R8 family, and, much to everyone’s surprise, the company has added a new top model to the line-up: a new R8 V10 Plus.

Offering an increase of 25 horsepower over a base R8 V10 version, the new R8 V10 Plus is now also available in the U.S. This is, in fact, the second Plus model offered by Audi, after the German automaker announced the TT-RS Plus at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Compared to the rest of the R8 lineup, the new Plus version is distinguished by carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) additions from just about every angle of the sports car, including the front splitter, lateral air inlets, the huge rear diffuser, the lining in the engine compartment. The intense use of carbon fiber has helped drop the car’s total weight to an impressive 3,461 pounds.

In addition to these features, the vent louvers next to the rear window have been painted in matte black, while the dual round exhaust tailpipe trim sections have been finished in gloss black. The new R8 V10 Plus also features LED lights that illuminate the engine compartment.

Updated 06/10/2013: This review has been updated with all of the 2014 model year details.

Hit the jump to read more about the new Audi R8 V10 Plus.

2013 Audi R8 V10 by XXX Performance

Exactly one year ago, XXX Performance unveiled a tuning kit for the Audi R8 V10 version. Now, the tuner has turned its attention to the R8 one more time and came up with a new, extravagant and exclusive wide-body construction for the R8.

The tuner started by making a series of upgrades under the hood. It added a chip, a carbon air-box and a new exhaust system with valve control. These updates increased the V-10 engine’s output up to a stout 650 horsepower.

XXX Performance continued by adding an aggressive GT-X650 wide-body kit made in carbon fiber. The car was also wrapped in a very cool blue CFC chrome wrapping and place on a set of 20-inch, three-part GTR forged wheels wrapped in Hankook tires sized 235/30R20 up front and 325/25R20 on the rear.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi R8 V10 by XXX Performance.

2014 Audi R8 V10

Audi has finally let us in on its big secret regarding the 2014 R8. Audi had to tread very carefully with the redesign of the R8, as to not disturb the water too much and scare away the easily spooked sports car lovers. Many auto manufacturers have made the mistake of fully revamping a lineup, only to have traditionalists hate it (see: Toyota MR2 Spyder, Mazda RX-8, and Ford Mustang II).

Audi’s approach in this changeover seems more like a refresh than a complete redesign, as all of the changes to the R8 V10 coupe are minor nips and tucks here and there. Then again, we all know that a nip here and a tuck there can eventually turn into on gigantic facelift nightmare, so we need to really pull apart this refreshed R8 and see what’s doing and whether it can still hang with the likes of Porsche or if it will go the route of the Ford Mustang Pinto and be forever loathed, except by a few enthusiasts.

Updated 08/30/2012: Audi has unveiled today a new set of images for the facelift version of the R8 V10 sports car. Check the picture gallery to see them!

Click past the jump to have a look at the new Audi R8 V10 and see if it still stacks up to the competition.