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Audi Q3 production begins in Spain

2012 Audi Q3 - Click above for high-res image gallery
It wasn't that long ago that Audi had no SUVs in its lineup - aside from the A6 Allroad Quattro - despite being known for its all-wheel-drive vehicles. But that's all changed, just as it has for BMW and Porsche. The Q7 was followed by the Q5, and now the Q3 has started production as well.
The first Q3 rolled off the assembly line today at the plant in Martorell, Spain. The facility belongs principally to Audi's sister-company Seat, but has gone through a considerable expansion - funded by both Audi and Seat - to prepare for the Q3's production.

Audi A8 could spawn Mercedes-Maybach S600 rival

Five years ago, there was no middle ground for big luxury sedans. You either bought a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, or BMW 7 Series, or you spent $225K on a twelve-cylinder Bentley Continental Flying Spur. But today, the market is changing. Bentley sells a V8-powered Flying Spur for around $200,000 and Mercedes is successfully selling a longer, twelve-cylinder, ultra-lux S-Class for $190,000. The middle ground is growing, and Audi wants in on the action. Audi is looking closely at the Mercedes-Maybach S600, according to Dr. Stefan Knirsch, the company's new technical leader. The company recently introduced a one-off A8 limo, shown above, although we'd imagine an S600 rival would be a more manageable size. "We are thinking about it," Knirsch told AutoExpress at the launch of the new SQ7. "The success of the extra-long version of the S-Class has got us wondering about whether there could be a business case for that in the future." Knirsch's comments raise a number of questions about a potential ultra-lux A8. Would it be longer than the A8L? The extra backseat space is a key part of the Maybach S600's appeal. What about the badge? Audi doesn't have a nameplate to rival Maybach to distinguish such an exclusive A8 from its more affordable siblings. Will the Audi offer more or fewer shades of black/silver than the S600? But the biggest question is what a bigger, more luxurious A8 could mean for the rest of the A8 range. As AE explains, Mercedes has done a remarkable job of fleshing out the S-Class range, with the normal sedan, Maybach, Coupe, Cabriolet, and their accompanying AMG variants. The Maybach S600 started that process – could an extra-large competitor kickstart Audi's full-size luxury expansion? The A8 has long been subject to gossip that it'd spawn an A9 Coupe (2014's Prologue Concept only fed that particular rumor mill), after all. Beyond hinting at a more luxurious A8, Knirsch expounded on another piece of exciting news: the next A8 will get Level 3 automation. That would mean full driverless ability "with the expectation that the human driver will respond appropriately to a request to intervene," according to the SAE's official definition. While Audi confirmed last year that the A8 could drive itself at speeds up to 37 miles per hour, Knirsch's more specific comments make it sound like the system could be even more advanced than originally thought. Related Video:

Hackenberg says next Audi A4 set for Frankfurt debut

The current Audi A4 is among the oldest vehicles in the brand's lineup. Having debuted back in 2008, it's long overdue for an update, and according to our friends at Indian Autos Blog, that'll happen in roughly six months. IAB spoke to Audi research and design chief Ulrich Hackenberg, who indicated that the fifth-generation A4 will be shown at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The new sedan will be unveiled in "a pre-presentation" before the auto show itself, Hackenberg told IAB, adding that "you'll be happy to see it." Information beyond that, though, remains sparse. Based on our previous spy photos, we expect the new A4 to ride on the Volkswagen Group's modular MLB Evo platform that's been stretched to accommodate a larger wheelbase. The styling, meanwhile, will be more evolutionary, inspired in part by the new TT. Expect more on the next-generation A4 as September approaches. Related Video: