2009 Audi A4 2.0t Quattro Premium Awd Auto Sunroof 26k Texas Direct Auto on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Five cylinders, no waiting | 2018 Audi TT RS First Drive

A five-cylinder engine is an odd duck in the modern automotive world, so why put it under the hood of a sophisticated sports car like the 2018 Audi TT RS? We're posing this question to an engineer when a loud, guttural sound interrupts the conversation. A TT RS blasts by, growling and percolating as it shoots down the front straight of the historic Circuito del Jarama in Spain. Oh, that's why. The RS treatment brings the sound and the fury to the TT, transforming a cute, sporty little car into a sports car with mettle. With 400 horsepower channeled to all four wheels, a stiffer suspension, and styling flourishes like organic LED taillights, the RS makes for a big-time upgrade over the 292-hp TT S and the mild-mannered 220-hp TT. Who wants a four-cylinder, anyway? We're considering the five-pot's potential as we mash the throttle and explode onto Jarama, an old Formula 1 course that still looks ready to host top-level racing. There's a couple of long straights and lots of curves and elevation changes. Sure, it's a bit trite to praise a sports car after a few laps in a controlled setting, but the TT RS has legit performance chops. The engine sounds just as good inside the car as it does to spectators, and it's more satisfying since we're the ones provoking the five cylinders to anger as we approach triple-digit speed. It's all real, too. There's no pumped-in sound or fake flatulent exhaust. "It's the unadulterated sound of the engine – we didn't change it," says Philipp Ade, Audi technical project manager for powertrain. Speaking trackside through an interpreter, he admits the exhaust system adds resonance but also filters out other noises to produce a clean engine note. Trust us, you'll want to tune in. The five-cylinder is not a glorified sound check. It's a new engine developed for Audi's smaller performance cars, though the TT RS is the only one confirmed for the United States. The 2.5-liter mill uses aluminum for its block and crankcase and magnesium for the oil sump. This all results in a 57-pound weight loss compared with the old five-cylinder, which was last sold in the US market in the previous-generation TT RS for the 2012-13 model years. That car was brought to the states after a Facebook campaign. This time there was no doubt Americans have an appetite for the hottest TT. A non-enthusiast will wonder: why the fuss over a five-cylinder engine? To Audi and its band of loyal followers, it's a defining element of performance.

Audi A3 E-Tron starts at $38,825

Audi has announced the pricing for the new A3 E-Tron plug-in hybrid, listing the five-door's base price at $38,825. Adding the mid-range Premium Plus elevates the price to $42,925, while the top-of-the-line Prestige will demand $47,725. Of course, like so many hybrids the A3 e-tron's price is not so simply explained. The PHEV will likely be eligible for a $4,168 federal tax credit, while additional state tax credits are also available depending on where you live. And, if Audi's announcement isn't exciting enough for fuel-sippers across the country, we have another piece of good news – the A3 e-tron's configurator is live. While it's no different than any of Audi's other online configurators, potential owners can get a great rundown of the A3 E-Tron's entire options sheet. There's the usual array of options ranging from an MMI package on the base model, to a Technology Package on the mid-grade model, and a Sport Pack on the Prestige trim. With just a bit of fiddling – and while staying out of the accessories catalog – we were able to run the A3 E-Tron's price up to $49,025. That's just shy of what the car starts at in Germany. You can check out the official press release on the E-tron MSRP announcement below, or just head over to Audi's US consumer website and have a go with the configurator. Audi of America announces pricing for the electrified 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron August 05, 2015 | HERNDON, Virginia The A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid is the first step towards an electrified future for Audi, combining a premium driving experience with the efficiency of an electric motor. The effective cost to buyers nationwide can be even lower with applicable federal and state incentive and tax credits. Vehicle is the first of many Audi e-tron models to come to the U.S. Audi announced U.S. prices for the all-new 2016 A3 Sportback e-tron® will begin at $37,900, and purchasing customers may qualify for applicable state and federal incentives and tax credits. As the first electrified Audi sold in the U.S., the plug-in hybrid electric A3 Sportback e-tron combines efficiency, innovative technology and performance for a premium driving experience. The A3 Sportback e-tron provides a comprehensive approach to sustainable mobility by combining the benefits of a hybrid with all-electric range. It is a package that makes the A3 Sportback e-tron a versatile choice for the full array of daily commuting challenges, some of which can be handled on battery power alone.

Audi design getting big overhaul?

Car and Driver has an update on the design shuffle in Ingolstadt that will ultimately bring more differentiation to Audi products. Last November, Audi design chief Wolfgang Egger spoke of the need to do "something new without breaking from tradition" in Audi design, but talk at the time centered on how the Crosslane Coupe Concept would influence the new looks of the brand's Q cars. The most recent moves appear focused on passenger cars, with designers from Volkswagen Group kin like Bentley and Seat moving to Audi, and outsiders from Alfa Romeo moving in.
While Egger decreed the end of "scalable design" to CD, last November's report said there would be more technology and "greater visual cohesion" between interior and exterior design. We still have no idea what all this means nor when we'll see visible changes in production, but at least we know there's something being done behind the scenes.