Audi TT S-LINE, page #16

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How Audi keeps it fresh in the design department

Audi was, even very recently, seen as a near-luxury brand, on par with niche if specific European automakers like Saab and Volvo. But early in the 21 st century, the four-ringed circus from Ingolstadt found a way to elevate itself to the level of its aspirational German rivals at Mercedes and BMW. While these brands were immersed in what we like to refer to as their Baroquecoco Period – a moment in which the exteriors of their cars gained bulges and, ahem, bangles, and their interiors failed to keep pace with the march of technology – Audi kept it simple. Its designs avoided the imperious Faberge gilding of Benz, or the Ghery-esque swoop and swoon of Bimmer. Instead, they were clean inside and out, with simple and elegant lines, comprehensible ergonomics, and subtle new signatures that were recognizable without being in any way overwrought. Customers, alienated by their rivals, flocked. Sales rocketed. And Audi became known as a formal/functional design leader – the Mid-Century Modern Architecture of the luxury vehicle world. But now BMW and Mercedes have taken note and corrected course. Both brands have discarded their dalliance with carbuncularity and are now, debatably, near the top of their game design-wise. Benz is delivering handsome stolidity not seen since the Bruno Sacco era of the Seventies and Eighties, and BMW has regained a grip on the kind of elegant sportiness characterized by Paul Bracq during the same time period. And the interiors of both brands are consistently on a level of craftsmanship, attention to detail, delight, and material selection and innovation once reserved for Bentley and Rolls. View 17 Photos This puts Audi in something of a design double-bind. First, its transaction price has escalated to the point where it lives in the same set as BMW and Mercedes. But now that those brands have caught up with (or perhaps even surpassed) the crisp Auto Union sensibility, how does it differentiate itself? "You have to have a clear design theme," says Frank Lamberty, Audi's exterior design director. "We define this as Quattro, because this is unique for Audi, this is our tradition. And Quattro means we have all the wheels powered, so we want to show that in our design. And this is different from a rear-wheel-drive car. We are coming from a front-wheel-drive platform, so everything is more balanced. Everything is in the middle, rather than leaned back. That is a clear proportion thing.

2018 Audi A8 caught without camo

The last time we saw the redesigned Audi A8, it was still wearing a bit of camo. Today, though, our spies have caught the luxury sedan naked but for a few small pieces of tape. Its wider single-frame grille is more imposing, the profile looks slightly sleeker, and its lighting elements are updated. It looks to be more of an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary update, but it's attractive nonetheless. The biggest changes, though, aren't seen on the outside. The 2018 Audi A8 will feature semi-autonomous technology, which will allow the car to drive itself at speeds up to 37 miles per hour, depending on the conditions. Its body will also feature construction that combines a number of materials, including steel, aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber. It should help make the car about 24 percent stiffer, but it will also add a few pounds to the package. The new A8 is scheduled to be unveiled on July 11. We can likely expect a plug-in hybrid version to follow soon after. Related Video:

Audi Q4 crossover starts production in 2019, Q8 in 2018

Audi's crossover line-up will be expanding in the next couple of years. The company announced production dates both for the already announced Q8 flagship, as well as its less-publicized Q4 compact. The Q8 will begin production next year at a plant in Slovakia that currently builds the Q7. The Q4 will start production in 2019 at a plant in Hungary that will also build the Q3. Audi has shown us concepts of the Q8 already, and we've seen prototypes undergoing testing. But Audi hasn't said much about the Q4 until now, and we haven't seen camouflaged examples running around yet. Audi says the Q4 will have a "coupe-style silhouette" and "be positioned between the Audi Q3 and Q5." Of course that second part you probably figured out based on the name. The description of its looks leads us to believe that this will be the production version of the Audi TT Offroad concept, pictured above, from a few years ago. However, don't expect the concept's 408-horsepower hybrid powertrain to be offered, at least not at the start. It's been a long time coming for this crossover. The TT Offroad was reportedly confirmed for production back in 2015. And last year, Audi secured the trademark for Q4 from Fiat Chrysler. With production starting in 2019, it will probably still be a while before we get a glimpse at the new SUV. Odds are, we'll see a concept early next year at the soonest, followed by the production model at the end of 2018. As for the Q8, we would expect to see the production model revealed at the end of this year, or possibly early next year. Related Video:

Believing in evolution | 2018 Audi S4 and S5 Second Drive

Sales figures for cars in America have plummeted. In a robust overall market, where vehicle purchases have reached record-setting levels, car sales fell by an incredible 9 percent last year alone. SUVs and crossovers are drinking their milkshake, now accounting for nearly two in every three purchases, a profound shift from cars' majority dominance as recently as 2012. Audi's all-new A4 sedan was a bright spot in the brand's car portfolio in 2016, increasing by 16 percent, but A6 and A8 sales fell 18 and 17 percent respectively, and the A5 coupe's sales tanked by a shocking 35 percent. Mitsubishi sold more than three times as many Outlanders last year as Audi did A5s. Were you even aware that Mitsubishi still sold vehicles in America? This trend is expected to continue, perhaps even escalate. But Audi refuses to give up on sedans and coupes. Credit the Teutonic monomania that requires a tit-for-tat escalation and diversification into every existing and invented market segment in which its rivals from BMW and Mercedes compete or don't. (An eminently sales-resistant five-door hatchback, the A5 Sportback, joins Audi's US car lineup in a couple months.) Whatever the instigation, we appreciate it. Cars are an intrinsically more efficient, and more fun, way to move people and goods around compared to SUVs. And Audi's new S4 sedan and S5 coupe prove that we live in a golden age of cars, especially enthusiast cars. At first glance, you might not notice much of a difference between the outgoing cars and these all-new models. Part of this is because the design is extremely evolutionary – though when you start with a pair of models that so elegantly nailed their respective categories, it makes sense not to smash the mold. Closer examination will reveal additional facets, creases, and muscularity in the revised designs. It will also reveal greater differentiation between the related pair, especially around the headlamps, grille, and hood, all of which are meant to be more sporting and exclusive on the two-door, a play to fit with its more sporting and exclusive nature. You might place your faith in other more magical ideas, but we're believers in evolution. The interiors of the cars are similarly evolutionary, and also far more similar. This is not a bad thing. Audi continues to excel in cockpit innovation. We credit it with reinventing the dashboard with the amorphously shaped LCD-screened Virtual Cockpit.

The 2018 Audi RS3 sedan priced above the BMW M2 and Mercedes CLA45 AMG

Today, Audi finally released pricing for the 2018 RS3 sedan and it's not quite the performance bargain you may have been hoping for. The RS3 sedan, available for the first time in the US, will start at $55,875 when it hits dealer lots later this year. That's thousands more than the competition from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, though it's not quite a straight one-to-one comparison. View 23 Photos For reference, a BMW M2 starts at $53,495 while a Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG will set you back at least $50,875. With an all-new 400 horsepower inline-5 under the hood, the RS3 is packing more punch than its German rivals, and, unlike the M2, sends power to all four wheels. Standard features include LED lighting, Audi pre sense basic, and blind-spot monitoring. Other standard equipment hasn't been announced yet, so it's difficult to make a straight comparison to the M2 and CLA45 AMG. The RS3 sedan will make its North American debut next week in New York. While the car will hit full production for the 2018 model year, there will be a limited number of 2017 RS3s produced. At $55,450, the 2017 model is slightly less expensive than the 2018 RS3. That small batch will be preconfigured with carbon trim, Audi virtual cockpit with MMI Navigation plus, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, 19-inch, five-arm-blade design wheels, red brake calipers, and the RS sport exhaust system with black tips. Sounds like a good deal if you've already got your heart set on the latest from Audi Sport. Related Video:

Porsche, Audi team up for tech: autonomy, EVs, hybrids and more

Porsche and Audi have been working on a number of important technologies for future vehicles. The two luxury automakers, both part of the Volkswagen Group, have mostly appeared to guard the space between their brands despite some shared engines and a platform. While their goals may not always overlap – Porsche has shied away from fully autonomous driving, for instance ­– the two brands have decided they could move more quickly into their respective futures by putting their heads together. In that spirit, Audi and Porsche are partnering up for a "shared vehicle architecture strategy of the future." This collaboration will focus on future mobility, including the development electrification, digitization, and autonomous driving technology. And the teams have knowledge and resources to share with one another. Porsche is moving fast with electrification, adding more hybrid systems to its models and preparing to launch the ultra-fast-charging Mission E electric car. Audi has been pursuing autonomous driving, connected vehicle and V2X tech, and Shared Fleet programs. Combining the best and brightest of both companies should help accelerate R&D. Even if one or the other company doesn't put all of the co-developed technologies into its vehicles, they'll both be learning the lessons, and sharing resources should help keep costs in check. "We will cooperate wherever it makes sense," says Porsche Board of Management Chairman Oliver Blume. "But we will also be very careful to maintain the differentiation between our brands. A Porsche is always a Porsche, and that will remain so in the future." Detail are still scarce, but Audi and Porsche will pin down a more a more specific sharing strategy as they develop their plan through 2025. While the cars continue to look and drive differently, expect Porsche and Audi to share more components and digital capabilities moving forward. Related Video:

2018 Audi Q8 tears up the Nurburgring

Audi took to the Nurburgring to test the upcoming Q8, showing off the attractive yet minimalist shape we've seen on the international auto-show circuit this year. One thing that's not understated: the massive grille that's blacked-out in these spy shots. We expect the 2018 Q8 to go on sale about a year from now. The coupe-like styling belies a roomy SUV, one that has space in back and is expected to seat five comfortably. Using Volkswagen Group's MLB platform, the Q8 would slot in as the sportier counterpart to the Q7, which seats seven and has a more traditional design. The Q8 will take aim at the Mercedes GLE Coupe, BMW X6, Maserati Levante, and others. So what will be under the hood? Some rumors suggest the Q8 RS version will get the same twin-turbo V8 engine as the Lamborghini Urus (a VW Group sibling). The concept at the Detroit Auto Show was a high-powered turbocharged plug-in hybrid, while the Geneva concept, called the Q8 Sport, used an electric supercharger to augment its hybrid powertrain. The vehicle on the 'Ring looks near-production-ready with the roofline a little less dramatically chopped than the concepts. The strong lines and creases continue, however, and the Q8 is poised to be a head-turner when it arrives in production trim. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Audi Q8 Spy Shots View 10 Photos Spy Photos Audi Crossover SUV

Audi unions demand to build EV, don't want to be left behind

They want an electric built at main plant in Germany.

Meet the first of four Audi A4s coming to our long-term fleet

Yes, you read that right, this is the first of a quartet of A4s we'll be looking at over the course of the year. We're kicking things off with an Audi A4 Premium Plus sedan, and we'll be looking at other iterations of the A4 line later on: the A4 Prestige, Allroad, and S4. What we hope to do is provide you with a thorough examination of each variation, and hopefully give you some guidance on what's worthwhile and what isn't. But first, let's introduce you to the A4 Premium Plus. What we got The A4 Premium Plus is the middle child of the standard A4 line, fitting between the entry-level Premium and the top level Prestige. Stepping up to the Premium Plus adds 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an S Line body kit, Bang & Olufsen sound system, parking sensors, aluminum window trim, and heated power seats with memory. The model we received from Audi has a number of upgrades that bring it quite close to the Prestige trim level. Most notable is the Technology package, which adds the Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument panel, which replaces the physical gauges with a big LCD screen. It also comes with rear cross traffic alert. A First Edition package was added, too, which adds cooled sport seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, and unique wheels and aluminum interior trim. Our favorite part, is the sport package, which adds sportier suspension, a black headliner, and the aforementioned sport seats. What we skipped Really, we didn't skip much here – this particular A4 Premium Plus is pretty loaded. The only packages not included were the Cold Weather package, which includes heated rear seats and steering wheel, and wheel and tire options. The heated steering wheel isn't necessary since winter is almost over (at least we hope). The cost of these packages added up fast, too. Moving up to the Premium Plus trim over the standard Premium added $3,800. The Technology package was $3,250, the First Edition package was $1,100, and the Sport package tacked on $750. Along with the white paint at $575, our Audi has over $9,000 in options. That brought our tester up to $49,825 from a base MSRP of $40,350. We like everything that's been added. If we were to pick packages we could live without, though, we'd probably pick the Technology and the First Edition packages. As slick as the LCD instrument panel is, there's nothing wrong with physical needles and dials.

Audi's fastest cars won't catch your drift

"I don't like them. I do not see the reason for them. We do not see the sense in sitting there burning the back tires. It's not fast." – Stephan Reil Drift modes are popping up in sports cars all over the world, but Audi Sport development boss Stephan Reil refuses to have anything to do with them, insisting they're a waste of time and tires. So if you want to show off with a wild-looking, tire-smoking, perfectly controlled drift in an Audi Sport model, you will have to brush up on your car control, not your button pushing. "No drift mode. Not in the R8, not in the RS3, not in the RS6, not in the RS4," Reil said. "I don't like them. I do not see the reason for them. We do not see the sense in sitting there burning the back tires. It's not fast." That seems a bit like Reil and his team are missing a trick that is proving popular with enthusiast buyers and isn't technically difficult to do. It's also a whole lot safer than holding down the skid-control button for long enough to switch off all the electronic safety nets, which Audi Sport will actually let you do. "You can do it yourself [drifting] with the ESP off, if you hold it [the button] for three seconds," Reil challenged. "Then it will not intervene for you even when it [the car] is fully out of control, because that's what you asked it not to do. "You wanted the full control by pushing that button. You got it." Almost every fast car, from Ford to Ferrari, now comes with (or soon will) a drift mode so drivers can just stomp on the gas and turn the wheel to instantly look like rally stars. The dangers of do-it-yourself drift control (which our forefathers used to call "driving") make up most of the moral defense for the companies that use the computer-controlled versions. While critics have called drift modes irresponsible, proponents argue that it is far safer than switching off all the safety nets, because there is still a level of skid-control safety behind it. "Drift control is a lot safer than just turning everything off," BMW M chief Franciscus van Meel said during the launch of the M550i xDrive. "The drivers can enjoy the car on a track but it still has another level of safety to catch them if they make a mistake." View 23 Photos But is that extra level of safety actually for the common good? Critics note there is no way to restrict drivers using drift modes on suburban streets.