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Audi Sport Quattro Concept to race into Frankfurt

Audi has pulled the official wraps off its new Sport Quattro Concept, which will be debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The automaker is understandably keen to draw inspiration from its classic Quattro line of automobiles, specifically the original Ur-Quattro from 1980 and the short-wheelbase Sport Quattro that took part in rally racing and set a record at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1987. A massive dose of modernity comes courtesy of its 700-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain.
There is a clear link in the styling of the Sport Quattro Concept to Quattro coupes of the past, from the large flat surfaces that make up its C pillars to the blisters over the fenders and the basic headlamp shape (equipped as they are with Audi's Matrix LED technology). Pay special attention to the car's grille, which introduces a slightly new design language that is expected to be seen in the next generation of Audi's mainstream production models.
The interior of the Sport Quattro Concept is a refreshing departure from Audi's admittedly attractive and useable design, with sharp lines and lots of visible carbon fiber. There are seats for four occupants inside, along with a comparatively generous cargo area measuring 10.59 cubic feet.

VW confirms development of 10-speed dual clutch, 134-hp/liter diesel

Each year, the Vienna International Motor Symposium showcases some of the up-and-coming technologies automakers are engineering for the use in passenger cars, and Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn revealed some big developments VW is working on for its future products. Winterkorn discussed a multi-faceted approach that VW is looking to reduce its fleet fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
Some of the bigger news he discussed included a "high-performance" diesel engine that will produce 134 horsepower per liter and a 10-speed DSG automatic transmission. While no specific applications were mentioned, we can only hope this is for the Audi R4 we keep hearing about.
Another topic he touched on that caused us to perk up our ears was had to do with VW's plug-in hybrid technology. While we know the PHEV versions of the Audi A3 and Porsche Panamera are on the way, Winterkorn also said that these two models will be followed up by Golf, Passat, Audi A6 and Porsche Cayenne plug-in models. Scroll down for a press release highlighting the automaker's future fuel-saving initiatives.

Does faster charging make you want an Audi Q7 PHEV?

Don't let the image of a heavy diesel-powered plug-in hybrid SUV fool you. The Audi Q7 E-Tron will be a quick thing when it goes on sale in Europe this summer. And the SUV will be able to be recharged at a pretty good clip as well, says Automotive News Europe. A full charge of the Q7 E-Tron can provide a range of as much as 35 miles in all-electric mode, using lenient European specifications. One of the model's bells and whistles will be battery-recharging technology that allows the SUV to be recharged at up to 7.2 kilowatts. That means that the battery can be fully recharged in about two and a half hours. Not exactly Tesla Supercharger territory, but not bad. How much a faster recharging option impacts demand for a plug-in vehicle is open to interpretation. For instance, an Idaho National Laboratory study released late last year estimated that about 85 percent of the recharging activity for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in and Nissan Leaf EV happened at home, implying that how long it takes your plug-in to fill up may not be a huge factor. So, how much would this option of faster recharging sway your decision in buying a plug-in hybrid? The Q7 E-Tron's V6 diesel engine and electric motor, which operate in a parallel hybrid setup, combine to deliver 373 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. That combination can propel the SUV from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about six seconds. Of course, test that out a few times, and your all-electric range is likely to drop a bit. Audi is expanding its batch of E-Tron plug-in vehicles to better compete with German brethren BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Audi's first E-Tron, the A3, sold almost 12,000 units in Europe last year, about the same as BMW's all-electric and range-extender variants of the i3 in Europe combined, Automotive News says, citing JATO Dynamics. Audi will debut its Q5 E-Tron later this year and the A8 E-Tron in 2017. The Q7 E-Tron will be priced at about $88,000 in Europe. As for US sales of that model, questions remain about whether the SUV will have a diesel or gas-powered engine paired with the electric motor, but Americans should start getting access to it in either 2017 or 2018. Check out our Quick Spin here. Featured Gallery Audi Q7 E-Tron 3.0 TDI Quattro View 40 Photos News Source: Automotive News Europe-sub.req.Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Sebastian Blanco/AOL Green Audi Diesel Vehicles Hybrid PHEV e-tron