Audi Family Car reviews

The Audi RS Q8, without any doubt whatsoever, is a downright technological marvel. What Audi managed to extract from this hunchback SUV in terms of performance and practicality is worthy of all praise.

The RS Q8 packs a 4.0-liter V-8, two-axle steering, 10-piston brake calipers that bite into ceramic rotors, optional 23-inch wheels, and a mean electromechanical active roll stabilization system that makes the 5,103-pound mammoth drive like it’s on rails. Most of us couldn’t simply ask more from the souped-up SUV. Most of us, however, aren’t ABT Sportsline.

Audi’s RS-badged models, especially of the Avant ilk (read wagon), have mesmerized petrolheads ever since the RS2 came in 1992, which was in equal measures an Audi and a Porsche. The engine was Porsche, just like the tweaked gearbox, brakes, and wheels.

Fast-forward to 2020 and the RS-badged lineup has extended to include the RS 4, RS 7, and even the RS Q8 SUV.

In the past 20 to 25 years, automotive executives have been looking at ways to activate new areas of the public by coming up with weird niches, some more successful than others. The Audi A7 is a proud flag-bearer of the four-door coupe segment that’s managed to keep its head above the water as consumers flock to buy the latest crossover SUV. Get behind the wheel of Audi’s sleek answer to the Mercedes-Benz CLS and it’s easy to see why as this might just be one of the best models Audi currently sales Stateside.

Introduced back in 2017, the second-generation Audi A7 set about fixing just about everything that was wrong with the original luxury four-door coupe from Ingolstadt. Broadly speaking, the Germans have managed to tick all the boxes while also improving in areas that didn’t really need improving such as the design - one of Audi’s undeniable strengths despite what you may consider as an overly aggressive brand recognition strategy that ended up making all of Audi’s products look alike. Still, the A7 manages to stand out from the crowd with the single-piece rear light cluster and it looks sportier than ever, the muscular vibe given by the exterior being bolstered by its handling and performance. While not new on the market, we jumped at the opportunity of driving the A7 right away to see if there’s any wind left in the sails of this quirky niche.

The Audi SQ8 isn’t the most violent version of Audi’s Q8 SUV lineup. That spot is reserved for the RS Q8. But the SQ8 TDI is potent enough in its own way, and when you get the involvement of noted Audi tuner ABT Sportsline, the result is a face-mashing performance SUV that produces enough torque to make the range-topping RS Q8 feel redundant. The German tuner’s new program for the SQ8 SUV is a masterclass in the art of tuning upgrades. It comes with subtle but important exterior and interior upgrades that complement the power and performance gains that also come with the whole package. The tuning kit is specced specifically for the SQ8 TDI so if that’s your thing, you shouldn’t miss out on this program. If you prefer the gas-powered version that lacks the low revs and fake exhausts, you might as well just wait for the Audi RS Q8 to arrive towards the end of the year. Either way, it’s a can’t-lose proposition.

The 2020 Audi RS7 is the second generation of the company’s range-topping four-door coupe. Based on the latest A7, the 2020 RS7 features a far more aggressive exterior design, a completely new interior packed with premium features, state-of-the-art technology, and a powerful drivetrain. The latter combines a revised version of Audi’s 4.0-liter V-8 and a 48-volt system that improves fuel efficiency. The 2020 Audi RS7 arrives just in time to take on the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe and the upcoming BMW M8 Gran Coupe.

The 2020 Audi RS7 will join the standard A7 and the mid-range S7 in the U.S., where it will cost in excess of $100,000. Estimates put it at around $120,000, which will make it slightly more affordable that the competition. The 2020 RS7 is one of the many new Audis to feature mild hybrid drivetrains as the German firm is moving more and more toward electrification.

At a time when wagons are slowly evolving from being family haulers to performance beasts, people in the U.S. are missing out on a lot of action. The Audi RS4 and the RS6 Avant give us the major #FOMO feels. Audi has told wagon-lovers in the U.S. not to give up hopes yet, as the company said, "We always look at potential new opportunities in the market. It’s a niche to explore. We keep holding discussions. Keep writing us letters.” That’s not a confirmation in any way, but it sounds like an assurance for the time being. Now, the company has finally unveiled the 2020 Audi RS4 Avant with aesthetic changes and a few changes inside the cabin. Is it better than the previous iteration?

An all-new 2020 Audi A5 Sportback is nearing its introduction. While we are still months away from the reveal, numerous spy shots of A5 Sportback prototypes provide us with a unique glimpse into the future of the popular Audi fastback sedan.

Captured somewhere in Scandinavia earlier this year, and lately, in Germany and Spain, the 2020 Audi A5 Sportback prototype shows new light clusters in the back, new tailpipes, and even some mods on the bumpers. The car is likely to assume the technology from the latest Audi A4, and it will remain as one of the most alluring small executive sedans on the U.S. market.

LUMMA may not be as popular as ABT, Brabus, or AC Schnitzer, but this German tuning house sure knows how to grab attention. The LUMMA Design team has laid its hands on arguably the most premium-feel SUV available on the market today, the Audi Q8, and has gone berserk with it. The bold exterior design that the team has given to this rather smart-looking SUV will definitely draw polarizing opinions. Under the CLR 8S moniker, LUMMA has recreated this flagship SUV from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ in a way that is making it difficult for us to comprehend. Do we like it? Definitely not. Do we hate it? Well, let’s talk about that.

The Audi A1 citycarver — yep, no caps here — is living proof that automakers will go to any lengths to attach the words “crossover” or “SUV” to their models. The result is the creation of sub, sub-lines born out of sub-lines born out of main model lines. It’s confusing on a lot of levels, but that’s the nature of the beast in the auto biz these days. On the surface, the A1 citycarver looks like a more rugged version of the A1. While there is some truth to that, appearances can be deceiving, too. The A1 citycarver is slightly higher than the A1 and it also comes with suspension tweaks aimed to make it more appealing to rugged urbanites who are looking for more adventures with their A1s. Most of the bits though come directly from the A1, so it is classified as a different version of Audi’s hatchback, the A1 citycarver is just an A1 wrapped in tighter clothing. The Audi A1 citycarver goes on sale this month in Europe at a yet-to-be-determined price tag. There’s no word yet whether it makes the trek to America or not.

Eight years ago, Audi unveiled the RS3 to a lot of fanfare. It was Ingolstadt’s contribution to the growing popularity of hot hatches that has since taken on a life of its own. Now, it’s 2019 and the RS3 continues to hold the fort for Audi as a 400-horsepower ”Pocket Hercules.” But suppose there was a way to give this Hercules more muscle? Would that be something you’d be interested in? If your answer is “yes,” then might I introduce you to ABT Sportsline’s latest work of art, a performance-centric tuning program designed to give the RS3’s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine more power than what it’s already capable of producing. In a segment where a model like the Mercedes-AMG A 45 can roll out a 416-horsepower four-banger fresh from the production line, the current RS3 is going to need as much help as it can get to stave off the competition. ABT Sportsline, as it turns out, is here to save the day.

Armored cars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but rarely do they come with a 202-mph top speed. This particular Audi RS7 is one such example, and it’s probably the coolest Audi you’ll ever see. Such platitudes come with a great deal of expectation, but you won’t have to worry about this particular RS7 meeting — and exceeding — those expectations. It’s called the AddArmor APR RS7, and it was built to withstand heavy artillery and embarrass any fool who thinks they can take this car on in a drag race.

The AddArmor APR RS7 is the brainchild of Wisconsin-based specialty car builder AddArmor. As the company’s name so obviously implies, AddArmore specializes in comprehensive armor upgrades for vehicles. Every so often, though, the specialist goes the extra mile by enlisting the help of a performance tuner to truly spice up its creations. The result of this ambitious endeavor is the AddArmor APR RS7, one of the few cars in the world that can withstand a heavy artillery assault, look oh-so fine doing it, and blast off to 202 mph without breaking much of a sweat.

After six years of rumors that began when Audi trademarked the Q8 name in 2012, the German company finally unveiled its proposition against the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. It’s called the Audi Q8, and it’s heavily based on a concept car that the Germans introduced in 2018. It’s modern, aggressive, it packs Audi’s latest technology, and promises to give the BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, and the Porsche Cayenne Coupe a good run for their money.

When BMW introduced the X6 in 2009, a new segment was born. But although the crossover BMW describes as a Sports Activity Coupe proved somewhat popular with SUV enthusiasts, the trend didn’t catch on with other automakers until 2013. That’s when Mercedes-Benz revealed plans to develop a coupe-like crossover based on the M-Class. Shortly after, rumors of a Cayenne Coupe emerged, signaling that Germany’s finest automakers finally pay more attention to this niche. Come 2018 and Audi joined the battle with the prettiest SUV it has created in recent years.

The 2020 Audi A4 has arrived with a fresh look, new technologies, and enough engine options to make your head spin. While it’s technically a mid-cycle refresh of the same generation model that launched in 2016, the 2020 A4 looks and feels more than just a refresh. You can call it an all-new model because that’s what it actually is. The updates are significant across the board, so much that it’s hard to look at the 2020 A4 as a continuation of the current-generation A4 B9 model. Audi’s new compact luxury sedan looks every bit like the winner we all hoped it would be. Now it’s time for the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class to stand up and take notice. The 2020 Audi A4 is coming, and it’s coming with a vengeance. U.S. availability and pricing of the 2020 A4 have yet to be announced, but those details should come soon, ahead of the sedan’s scheduled launch later this year.

Audi’s current sedan lineup consists of the A8, the A7, and the A6, followed by the A4 taking up the smallest slot of them all. Among these four-door nameplates, Audi also offers a variety of wagon iterations for added practicality. The A4 Avant takes up that space in the A4 family, and with the arrival of the 2020 A4 Avant, we finally get a good look at Audi’s new entry-level wagon in all its glory. Updates for the new wagon come everywhere, whether it’s the fresh exterior styling or the cleaner center console in the interior. The 2020 A4 Avant also benefits from the latest in Audi technology, not to mention a lineup of gas- and diesel-powered engines — with mild hybrid assist — that should cater to the whims and preferences of all the customers in markets where the A4 Avant is available. The 2020 Audi A4 Avant will be available sometime in the latter half of the year. Unfortunately, the U.S. market isn’t getting the 2020 A4 Avant, as has been the case for a long time.

Audi promised a significant redesign of the A4 and, like clockwork, that promise finally materialized with the debut of the 2020 A4. The German automaker didn’t just stop with the new A4, either. The entire family of models attached to the luxury sedan also arrived, including the S4 Avant, the high-performance wagon that has remained a forbidden fruit for customers in the U.S. Just like the A4, the S4 Avant is arriving in style. It still traces its roots to the current B9 generation of the A4 that dates back to 2016, but you wouldn’t know it once you get a good look at it. Most of the changes are cosmetic, though there are also a handful of technological updates that gives the punchy wagon an all-new model vibe. Unless Audi has a change of heart, it doesn’t look like we’ll get to see the updated S4 Avant in the U.S. anytime soon. Years have passed, and the S4 Avant is still out of their reach.

Audi’s crossover and SUV lineup is already mighty stout, but that isn’t stopping the Four Rings from adding yet another high-rider to the list. The latest will take the name Q4, and as you might expect, it’ll squeeze in between the Q3 and Q5 within Audi’s stable. Alternatively, the new crossover could also carry the name Q3 Sportback. Either way, the fresh ‘ute will offer a more coupe-like roofline compared to the standard Q3, but carry over the current Q3’s interior appointment, engine, and drivetrain, plus all the options.

Update 5/22/2019: The Audi Q4 was just caught during more prototype testing, this time in warmer weather. With cold weather testing out of the way and warm-weather testing now taking place, is a debut imminent? Check out the spy shots section below for details!