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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:

Audi R8 V10 gets tuned up by ABT

Bavarian tuners ABT have done another job on the Audi R8 V10, pumping up the 5.2-liter FSI V10 from 525 horsepower to 600 hp, and torque from 391 pound-feet to 406 lb-ft. With 50 more horsepower than the R8 V10 Plus - but not the extreme weight-loss scheme - ABT claims a 0-62 mile per hour run of 3.5 seconds, the same as the R8 V10 Plus, and a top speed for the mid-engined coupe of 198 miles per hour "is no problem at all."
Managing all that speed are the aero tweaks provided by a comprehensive body kit including a rear wing, a lowered and beefed-up suspension, a stainless steel exhaust and 19-inch wheels in two different designs.
The press release below has a few more bits of info on the matter. And while ABT hasn't put a price on the Audi upgrades, but it's safe to say that nearly 200 mph in an R8 won't come cheap.

2018 Buick Regal TourX vs. wagon competitors: How it compares on paper

To the great joy of auto enthusiasts nationwide, wagons are back! Well, at least there's a few more of them. The latest is the 2018 Buick Regal TourX, which we just had our first drive of and found to actually be quite good with pleasant handling, solid power and plenty of space. But, how does the TourX compare to other cladded wagons? Well, let's dive into the specs and fire up the ol' spreadsheet maker for Buick Regal TourX vs Subaru Outback vs Audi A4 Allroad vs VW Alltrack vs Volvo V60 Cross Country. True, some are from mainstream brands and others are from luxury marques, but Buick straddles both realms, so it's appropriate to look at them all. Of course, there's more to these cars than just the numbers, but they're still important, and in the case of this class of crossover-aping wagons, can vary more than you'd expect. So check out the specs in the chart below, which are followed by more analysis and photos of each. Discover and compare other wagons and crossovers with our Car Finder and Compare tools. Engines and Transmissions When comparing powertrains, the Buick is far-and-away the winner as far as torque is concerned, and is in a nearly three-way tie for horsepower. Its 295 pound-feet of torque is 22 lb-ft more twist than the next-most-grunty Audi A4 Allroad. And in regards to power, the Buick's 250-horsepower engine is only down 6 hp to the most-powerful Subaru and its optional naturally aspirated flat-six, and just 2 hp less than the Audi. At the bottom of the pack is the Subaru Outback with the standard naturally aspirated flat-four, which only makes 174 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. That may not seem too bad compared with the VW Golf Alltrack, which only makes 170 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque, but the VW is much lighter by between 200 and 300 pounds. Transmission-wise, there's quite a bit of variation in the group. The Regal TourX and the Volvo V60 Cross Country rely on eight-speed automatics, all Outbacks use CVTs, and the Alltrack and Allroad have dual-clutch automated manual transmissions with six and seven gears, respectively. But for people that want to shift for themselves, the only option is the Volkswagen, which offers a traditional six-speed manual transmission on the Golf Alltrack. Cargo and Interior Space One of the main reasons to buy a wagon is for the body style's large cargo capacity. And for the most space for things and stuff, you'll want to check out the Subaru and the Buick.