2007 Audi Rs4 on 2040-cars

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Upcoming Audi Q1 rumored to get high-performance SQ1 variant

The Audi Q1 isn't due for another two or three years, yet Auto Bild reports already that it will come in RS and SQ1 trims. According to the report, the RS Q1 will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder putting out 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, putting it about 70 hp and 8 lb-ft beyond the next-most-powerful gasoline engine in the standard range.
Depending on how you like your gumption served, however, the first SQ1 - like its European SQ5 sibling - go the diesel route with a 2.0-liter TDI fitted with twin turbos for 231 hp and 368 pound-feet of torque. That's an improvement of 47 hp and 88 lb-ft over the most powerful diesel engine said to be offered on the regular Q1.
The report goes on to say that there should be g-tron (natural gas) and e-tron versions of the Q1, and buyers will get a deep toy chest of assistance packages to equip it with. Starting price in Europe is expected to be around 25,000 euros, which, if correct, would make it 4,000 euros less dear than the Q3 in Germany.

Audi eyes factory-backed Formula E racecar for 2017/2018 season

Audi is going all-in into the world of electric vehicles, both on and off the race track. After announcing plans to create a Tesla-fighting all-electric car, the German automaker set its sights onto increasing its involvement in Formula E. Audi recently announced plans to further its involvement with the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport Formula E Team for the 2016 and 2017 season. In addition to furthering its involvement with the ABT Team, the automaker planned to introduce its own factory-backed car for the 2017 and 2018 season. The plan to enter Formula E, the first fully-electric racing series, reveals just how serious Audi is about electric cars. Audi to become involved in #FormulaE #LeagueofPerformance pic.twitter.com/AeJf534UnH — Audi Sport (@audisport) September 2, 2016 Last year, Audi announced that it wanted one out of every four vehicles in its lineup to have a plug by 2025. Entering Formula E would help Audi engineer electric components for its road-going vehicles. Audi's current involvement with the ABT Team is on a technical basis as the Formula E team narrowly missed out on titles in two seasons in the all-electric series. For the 2016/2017 season, Team ABT will benefit from technical and financial input from Audi, before the automaker unveils its own factory team. Audi will join other automakers like Jaguar, Mahindra, Renault, and Faraday Future on the grid in Formula E's fourth season. Jaguar recently entered the Formula E scene with a race car of its own for the third season of the all-electric series, which will start on October 9 in Hong Kong. Related Video: News Source: Formula EImage Credit: Daniel Abt / Twitter Green Motorsports Audi Electric Racing Vehicles Special and Limited Editions Performance Formula E abt

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet

When my 758-mile journey on the A3 TDI Challenge came to an end in Boulevard, CA, Audi had a very nice consolation prize waiting for me: the 2015 A3 Cabriolet you see here. And with miles left to drive before reaching my hotel in Coronado (just outside of San Diego), what better way to celebrate my personal victory of achieving nearly 60 miles per gallon in the TDI than to run the rest of the route in couple of turbocharged A3 droptops? After all, the efficiency part of my drive was done, so it was time to have some fun. The A3 Cabriolet comes to market just as the sun sets on another four-seat convertible from the Volkswagen Group stable: the Eos. That car, often criticized as being too expensive, is technically replaced by the Beetle Convertible as far as VW-badged products go. But for those who still prefer something a bit more upmarket, the A3 Cabriolet will fill the void nicely, and with more style and grace than the Eos ever had. Driving Notes The A3 Cabriolet arrives with a choice of engines. On the base end lives a 1.8-liter turbo-four with 170 horsepower, 200 pound-feet of torque and front-wheel drive, or you can pony up for the 2.0T with 220 hp, 258 lb-ft and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. Regardless of engine, the only transmission available in the A3 Cab is Audi's six-speed S-tronic dual-clutch unit. This is a fine cog-swapper, with quick shifts regardless of chosen powertrain, and steering wheel-mounted paddles that offer plenty of fun from behind the wheel. That said, I found it best to just leave the transmission alone, no matter the engine. The paddles are entertaining, sure, but slick the gear selector into Sport and the A3 will instinctively hold gears through turns and always have you right in the heart of the powerband. The 1.8T's 170 hp and 200 lb-ft are more than adequate for duty in the 3,373-pound A3 Cabriolet. I was never bothered by a lack of power, especially with the engine on boil with the transmission in its sport setting. Hitting 60 miles per hour takes 7.4 seconds, en route to an electronically limited top end of 130 miles per hour. If speed is your thing, though, the 2.0T certainly delivers quite a punch. That same 0-60 sprint takes just 5.9 seconds with the more potent powerplant, and you can really feel the stronger rush of power right off the line, even with the quicker A3's 210-pound weight penalty.