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Audi will show all-electric 'sporty SUV' in Frankfurt

Audi is launching a fully electric crossover in 2018, and the brand is finally giving the world a look at what to expect with the E-Tron Quattro concept at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Previewed ahead of the event in these five sketches, the vehicle packs a heap of cutting-edge tech, including beautiful matrix laser OLED headlights, to be as efficient as possible. Audi maintains that it offers a range of over 311 miles, too. For such a green model, the design is surprisingly aggressive with a upright grille in front and angular panels elsewhere. The rear sketch shows the design tapering at the back to improve aerodynamics, though. Active aero parts at the front, sides, and rear further let the E-Tron Quattro concept slice through the air. When combined with a flat underbody, the drag coefficient is claimed to be a segment-best 0.25 cd. Audi also asserts the length is between a Q5 and Q7, which lends credence to speculation that the production version might be called the Q6. Underneath the muscular design is Audi's MLB 2 platform from the latest Q7. Three electric motors provide the all-wheel drive propulsion: one at the front and two on the rear axle. Located underneath the passenger compartment is a lithium-ion battery that uses cells from LG Chem and Samsung SDI. The interior seats four, and the driver is nestled into a wrap-around cockpit with a high center console. The front displays use OLEDs with gesture controls, and the rear passengers also get their own infotainment systems. Related Video: Outlook on series production – the Audi e-tron quattro concept at the IAA 2015 • The latest battery technology and top aerodynamics ensure a range of more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) • Sporty SUV with all-electric drive in series production from 2018 Ingolstadt/Frankfurt am Main, August 19, 2015 – Electric driving at Audi is a pleasure, not a compromise. The brand is demonstrating this with the Audi e-tron quattro concept at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2015 in Frankfurt. The sporty SUV provides an outlook on the brand 's first large-series electric car. The Audi e-tron quattro concept is designed from the ground up as an electric car and proves to be pioneering in its segment at the very first glance. It follows the Audi "Aerosthetics" concept, combining technical measures for reducing aerodynamic drag with creative design solutions. Movable aerodynamic elements at the front, on the sides and at the rear improve the air flow around the car.

Jon Olsson's 1,000-hp Audi RS6 Avant stolen at gunpoint, burned

Swedish professional freeskier Jon Olsson loves some insanely modified vehicles, like his Rebellion R2K, but tragedy recently struck for one of his crazier former rides. The custom Audi RS6 Avant was a wild wagon with DTM-inspired bodywork and an engine tuned to a claimed 1,000 horsepower. Unfortunately, the machine was stolen in a brazen armed robbery. Making matters even worse, the crooks torched the car at the end of their joyride. Olsson drove the tuned RS6 in this year's Gumball 3000, and later sold it to a dealer in the Netherlands, according to Auto Evolution. Recently, the wagon was taking part in a photo shoot in Amsterdam. That's when two armed men showed up to steal the Audi. Somehow in the chaos, the robbers' van caught fire, and they got away with the RS6. The criminals weren't too clever, though, because they didn't think to grab the key from the owner's pocket, Car Throttle reported. That would have made the Audi much more difficult to start again, if they shut if off. Although, that apparently never became a problem. The crooks sped off and eventually dumped the car before police were ever able to get them. In a final act of destruction, the thieves also incinerated the one-of-a-kind RS6. An investigation is ongoing. Olsson's Instagram post below shows how little is left of this once incredibly cool wagon. "But now I am more motivated than ever to follow this build up with something just as good," Olsson wrote on his website. Poor poor #RS6DTM Such a sad sight! ??? Who would do such a thing! #hurtsmyheart A photo posted by Jonolsson1 (@jonolsson1) on Oct 15, 2015 at 8:03am PDT Related Video:

Audi stealthily tests RS4 Avant

With S3s, R8s and RS7s aplenty, Audi offers no shortage of performance models in North America. But one of our favorites is always kept just out of arm's reach. That of course is the RS4 Avant, and here we see Audi Quattro GmbH testing the latest version. Though it may look like a plain old S4 – and even wear S4 badges – the wider fenders and bigger wheels suggest that this is in fact a prototype for the upcoming RS4 Avant. For those unfamiliar, that nameplate connotes the best of all worlds within the A4 range: maximum power, maximum traction, and maximum luggage space. All the ingredients, in short, to make us wonder why anyone would rather drive a crossover. After the first-gen RS4 employed a twin-turbo V6, the subsequent two generations went with a 4.2-liter V8. This model, however, could adopt an electric turbocharger setup to give it all the power it needs (and then some) with a new form of hybrid setup that will soon be spreading across the industry. The bigger question on our mind, of course, is whether the new performance wagon will make the transatlantic voyage to North American showrooms. We're holding out hope that Ingolstadt may make a real run down American roads at the likes of the Mercedes-AMG C63 and BMW M3. Whether it brings the wagon body-style along with it is another matter entirely, but we can always dream. Related Video: