Beautiful 2008 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro Cabriolet, Loaded, Navigation, Just Serviced on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Audi Prologue Avant puts new styling focus on wagons

As much as we loved the Audi Prologue Concept that debuted late last year at the LA Auto Show – and, suffice it to say, we liked the first Prologue a lot – this new Prologue Avant from the German automaker may just rock our socks that much further off our feet. We have very little by way of actual, concrete details on what's under the angular wagon-shaped skin of the Prologue Avant, but we'd be perfectly content if it kept the previous two-door's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in place underhood, augmented as it was when it was again shown at CES last month with a hybrid-assist system that put total system horsepower at 677, along with a meaty 701 pound-feet of torque. With all that power routed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, the 0-60 time of just 3.5 seconds strikes us as plenty quick. The powertrain details hardly seem the point of this new concept from Audi, in any case. Clearly, the big deal is the new bodywork, which builds upon the beautiful foundation of the original Prologue coupe with an elongated wagon shell and three additional doors (two rear doors and a rear hatch). The attractive body sits low to the ground on exaggerated 22-inch wheels, according to Auto Express. We note high-tech lighting elements front and rear and a modified front fascia with a bit more brightwork than the previous version. Assuming there's a bit of future reality baked into the Prologue Avant – which we believe is likely, considering that the coupe we salivated over in LA was said to point the way forward for the brand – it's safe to say we're in eager anticipation of the next several years at Audi. Have a good look at the images that have so far been released, and feel free to let us know what you think. We're sure Audi is interested in hearing your opinions, too. Related Video: News Source: Audi via Auto Express Design/Style Geneva Motor Show Audi Wagon Concept Cars Future Vehicles Hybrid Luxury Performance 2015 Geneva Motor Show

2017 Audi Q7 First Drive

Automotive evolution rarely makes a great leap, instead creeping along from new model to new model at a predictable pace. Audi's new Q7, though, is like handing a Bic lighter to a Cro-Mangon man smashing rocks. In Europe the new version drops 700 pounds, almost enough to reclassify its species. Audi's fire-machine will arrive in America in early 2016, as a 2017 lighter model. We spent some time in the Swiss Alps flicking the 2017 Audi Q7. As far as revolutions go, the 2017 Q7 certainly looks new. It resembles a tall station wagon more than ever, at least in European trim. A little tweaking of the design wand has left the rear end boxy and angular. Our test models use an adaptive air suspension, and the the "all-road" setting lifts the Q7 about an inch, to the normal ride height for US models. Thus raised, the big Q looks more like an SUV. This Q7 represents the first of the Volkswagen Group's MLB-platform cars. Lighter and said to be more dynamic, MLB will underpin everything from the next-gen A4 to performance and luxury SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne, and Bentley Bentayga. With the structural improvements comes a diet heavy in aluminum, the prime reason for the previously-mentioned weight savings. When outfitted for our content and crash-safety specification, US-bound models will still be about 500 pounds lighter than before. But dramatic weight-savings isn't the Q7's only trick. The adaptive air suspension significantly changes the character of the Q7, especially in the sportiest Dynamic model. There's an optional all-wheel steering feature that improves turning radius, and helps with high-speed stability. This is not to be confused with Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive, which along with a panoramic sunroof and seven seats, comes standard on all stateside models. Under the hood, things aren't so different. Both available engines are reworked but largely the same. The supercharged 3.0-liter gas engine still makes 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, but it's not as thirsty as it used to be. Expect a two or three mile-per-gallon bump once official EPA ratings arrive. That engine, as well as Audi's reworked 3.0-liter V6 TDI – good for 260 hp and 443 lb-ft once outfitted for the US – are mated to the ubiquitous ZF eight-speed transmission. The Q7's driving character greatly depends on where it is pulling power from. While the diesel model is capable, turbo lag cuts back on the satisfaction we normally derive from oil burners.

Audi Q7 E-Tron Quattro TDI Quick Spin

The operating word is quiet. This refers both to the sound inside the cabin of the upcoming Audi Q7 E-Tron Quattro TDI – even with the diesel engine running – and the company's public statements about its plan for this powertrain in the United States. Basically, while Europe is getting the diesel plug-in sometime next spring (a bit of a delay), all we know for sure right now is that the US will be getting the Q7 E-Tron, probably in 2018, and it will have either a 3.0-liter turbodiesel or 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine. You may now place your bets as to which one you think the public (or, more likely, CARB) will go for. We're guessing 2.0T. Despite not knowing if we'll ever see this E-Tron TDI on our side of the Atlantic, we recently spent an enjoyable morning tooling around the hills outside Madrid, Spain. As we said, this beast is seriously quiet, and impressively so. Driving Notes The Q7 is a big vehicle, but with powertrain that combines electric motors and diesel thrust, there's a ton of low-end torque. The official 0-62 time is 6.0 seconds, which is basically the same as the 6.1 seconds of the non-PHEV Q7. The Q7 E-Tron is about 500 pounds heavier than the already-4,700-pound Q7, but because of its trick powertrain, never felt sluggish in the hills of Spain. This Q7 E-Tron is a parallel hybrid, with the 3.0-liter TDI diesel engine and the 94-kW disc motor both able to drive the wheels. Overall, they provide 373 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Despite the parallel system, the not-quite-powerful-enough electric motor doesn't provide the complete electric drive experience that EV fans might be looking for. For example, the Q7 E-Tron has a top speed of 139.8 mph, but that's only in hybrid mode. In EV mode, its top speed is just 78 mph. Audi's Virtual Cockpit display, first seen in the TT, remains an ideal way to give you a wealth of information in an easy-to-see format. It's just as slick in the Q7, where you can toggle the size of the gauges and then pick what you want the screen to focus on, whether that's speed limits, infotainment information, powertrain usage, speed, or navigation.