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Audi adding 11 new models, focus on CUVs and fullsize luxury

A press release celebrating Audi's delivery of 1.5 million vehicles this year contains almost a passing reference to the future of its lineup: Audi will add 11 models, expanding from 49 models to 60. The news was delivered at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt during the handover of an A3 Sportback to its German buyer, as execs noted that the brand has hit its target of 1.5 million in annual sales two years earlier than planned.
CEO Rupert Stadler said Audi will "expand our product range from the current 49 to 60 models. We see a great deal of potential, particularly in the SUV segment and in the especially prestigious fullsize category." We have little idea of what kinds of cars that could entail right now, other than the Q1, but we'd like to think it could include an RS8, a production version of the Sport Quattro concept and even the Nanuk.
The model aggrandizement will be part of Audi's push to reach two million annual sales by 2020. You can get a few more details on it in the press release below.

Buick Envista, Mercedes C 43 and GLS, and Goodwood Revival | Autoblog Podcast #801

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor James Riswick. They begin the episode with the cars they've been driving, including the surprisingly compelling 2024 Buick Envista. They also review the 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 43 and Mercedes-Benz GLS 580. James recounts his experience at the 2023 Goodwood Revival, before they discuss the news, including rumored electric successors to the Audi R8 and Alfa Romeo 4C. Finally, they reach into the mailbag for an unexpected outcome to a listener's previous Spend My Money question. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #801 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2024 Buick Envista 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 43 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 2023 Goodwood Revival 249 reasons you want to go to Goodwood Revival Goodwood Revival Parking Lot Mega Gallery (yes, the parking lot!) Work on an electric Audi R8 successor said to be 'well under way' Alfa's upcoming EV sports car poised as a 4C Spider successor — the 4E? Spend My Money update Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: Green Podcasts Alfa Romeo Audi Buick Mercedes-Benz Convertible Coupe Crossover SUV Economy Cars Electric Luxury Performance Sedan

The 2017 Acura NSX will cost $156,000

Back in October, when our Editor-in-Chief Mike Austin drove the 2017 Acura NSX for the first time in the Bay Area and at Sonoma Raceway, we guessed that the hybrid supercar would start at around the $170,000 price point. We weren't that far off – it starts at $156,000, and tops out around $205,000. But now that we have a solid sense of what Acura thinks this car is worth, and we know what they benchmarked the NSX against, we can compare apples to apples. Let's be clear: we like this car. Austin described it as "makes you giggle" fast, everyday-comfortable, and chock full of impressive party tricks like seamless shifting – with only a few foibles, like numb steering, to spoil the illusion of perfection. Back to the benchmarked cars. Acura says the NSX will compete with the Audi R8, and was developed to compete with the now-superseded 458 Italia. Let's start with the 2017 R8 V10 Plus – pricing hasn't been released, and a direct Euro-to-USD conversion isn't the whole story, but it starts at the equivalent of $179,000 in Europe. For that, the R8 V10 Plus provides 610 horsepower, a seven-speed DCT, and a 3.2-second sprint to 60 mph. The 458's successor, the 488 GTB, should be more expensive than the $243,000 the old model started at, and provides 661 hp, a seven-speed dual-clutch, and a 0-60 time of around three seconds (official numbers haven't been released for acceleration). For less money than either of these cars, the NSX delivers ... less. Total system output is 573 hp. It has a slight edge in gear count, at nine speeds, and should beat the R8 to 60 mph. But there's no V10, let alone Ferrari's feral turbocharged V8. It'll be up to buyers to determine if the compromises involved are worth a few thousand dollars in savings, if no options are selected. It should also be noted that Acura describes this as its first "built-to-order" vehicle, but the limited external color options and interior schemes don't appear to be much different than the extent to which you can customize an Accord. The configurator goes live on February 25th, if you want to see for yourself. Lastly, in what now seems to be a necessary part of a new high-end car launch, Acura will auction off VIN 001, the first production NSX, at Barrett-Jackson in January. All proceeds from that auction will benefit two charities: the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground. Related Video: Acura Shares Details of Next-Generation Acura NSX Sales Plan - 2017 Acura NSX U.S.