All-New Audi Q7

Even though the all-new Audi Q7 hasn't really become a hit with car enthusiasts around the world, it's still a very solid and innovative SUV that's sure to impress you once you start driving it.

The new Q7 has been working out. Or better yet, has been dieting while working out, and so it has dropped 325 kg (716 lbs), tipping the scales at just 1,995 kg (4,398 lbs) - which actually makes it a lighter car than the BMW X5.

Then you've got all the gizmos and gadgets on board such as Audi's new 12.3" TFT instrument display, latest generation MMI infotainment system, Audi-branded tablets for passengers sitting behind you and so on.

It is an impressive car, especially when looking at the e-tron version. Still, some people just can't get over the fact that it doesn't look at good as most of us were expecting.

Having said that, Audi Forum Neckarsulm thought to put this particular Florett Silver Q7 on display until May 16. It's packing a 3.0 TDI turbo-diesel engine, which has 272 HP and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque - good enough to get you from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.3 seconds.

That's more power and better performance than you get from a BMW X5 xDrive30d, which also happens to weigh almost 100 kg (220 lbs) more.

Overall, we don't mind the how this particular S-line model looks. We like the color, it's typical Audi. We also like the 21" '5-arm turbine' design wheels, but let's keep in mind that the Q7 has never wanted to be the one that puts the "Sports" in "Sports Utility Vehicle". It's a proper family SUV that doesn't try to be something it's not. Or at least that's one way to make up an excuse for the way it looks.

Plus, we're fine with letting BMW and Porsche have their way in trying to out-duel each other in this segment.

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Audi R8 Giving Birth To RS3 Sportback

It's not that we don't love the RS3, we do; it's just that, watching an R8 "give birth" to it in such an explicit way is really weird. Hard to believe somebody actually came up with this during a board meeting.

What we have here is basically a facelifted first generation Audi R8, struggling to give birth (slowly) to what is, at first, a gooey red RS3.

Again, we like the RS3, we even showed you a great looking Nardo Grey one yesterday, but this was more about recreating a scene from Aliens, than it was about showcasing it's 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time or 367 HP power output.

Obviously we understand what Audi meant to do when they came up with this, we get the general idea, but maybe they should have tried to make it less creepy. How about going all Transformers-like and create the RS3 out of the R8's engine or something like that? Just anything that doesn't involve turning our stomachs.

The one thing we do appreciate is the visuals...technically speaking. Audi did a great job bringing all this to life - no pun intended.

Though next time, we hope they come up with something different. And for a fun couple of minutes, feel free to browse through the video's comment section.

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Audi TT Gets 180PS 1.8 TFSI

Audi has announced a new engine version for the all-new TT family which will act as the entry-level model. 

From July, the Audi TT will be available with a new 1.8 TFSI engine producing 180PS (178hp) and 250Nm (184lb-ft) of torque from 1,250 to 5,000 rpm.

Performance remains respectable despite the power deficit compared to other TT versions. The Audi TT Coupé 1.8 TFSI with six‑speed manual transmission sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds (7.0 seconds with the optional six‑speed S tronic), while top speed is 241 km/h (150 mph).

The TT Roadster 1.8 TFSI with manual transmission needs 7.2 seconds to cover the 0-100 km/h sprint (7.3 seconds for the S tronic version), with a top speed of 237 km/h (147 mph).

In terms of fuel efficiency, the 1.8 TFSI Coupé averages as low as 7 l/100 km (33.6 mpg US), with corresponding CO2 emissions of 129 g/km. The TT Roadster 1.8 TFSI’s combined fuel consumption is 7.1 l/100 km (33.1 mpg US), with CO2 emissions of 132 g/km. 

Prices in Germany for the entry-level Audi TT start from €32,100 ($34,455) for the Coupé and €34,500 ($37,040) for the Roadster.

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Audi SQ7 with An Electrically Turbocharged V8 Diesel

Audi wants to offer a successor of the ice-cold cool Q7 V12 TDI according to a new report.

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi’s head of technical development told English car magazine Autoexpress that a faster SQ7 model is in the works, powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 diesel engine which uses a pair of electric turbos in order to wipe out the lag forever and ever.

The technology was first shown on the Audi RS5 TDI-e Concept, and uses “e-boost” electric motors to spin the turbos before the exhaust gases get in there. With this solution the turbochargers will offer their benefits without the usual lag in throttle response and Audi says that even a diesel will offer a sharp response. The electric motors spin the turbos up to 3,000rpm and then leave the exhaust gases on their own completely to continue compressing the air into the induction. 

The same report says that the engine will be based on the 4.2-litre TDI unit used in the Cayenne Diesel S and might have a slightly smaller capacity. The engine is also going to be used in the Bentley Bentayga which is based on the same MLB-evo platform the Q7 uses. The power is expected to reach over 400hp with a torque figure to match its super-diesel credentials and be able to move the earth. 

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Transporter Refueled Official Trailer with Indestructible Audi S8

Here's one 'Transporter' movie where everyone knows what the deal is with the car, yet nobody has a clue as to who the actual driver is.

Well, here's who Ed Skrein is for those of you who don't recognize him - and we don't blame you. He played the gallant Daario Naharis on the epic Game of Thrones TV Show. Still don't remember him? Long hair, kept trying to get in Khaleesi's robe until she actually gave in.

Yeah, that guy.

Well, since he's so used to playing 2nd fiddle on a show where there are so many other, more important characters, what could be more fun for Ed than taking a "backseat" while sitting in the front seat of a brand newAudi S8?

If all you want to see is mindless "car porn", then this might be a movie worth checking out. However if you're into realism, you better check those expectations at the door way before you step into the theater. From what we can tell, this movie looks more like an Audi S8 commercial, with the car doing superhuman things such as bumping into certain objects and not even having a scratch to show for it.

And of course somehow it's always looking like it's just been washed despite Frank (that's the character's name) driving like a maniac, plus lots of other questionable offenses that we're not even going to get into.

That last scene from the trailer speaks volumes about what type of movie this is. Ridiculous.

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Audi Prologue Avant

The Prologue Avant Concept from Audi gives us an idea of how the brand's new styling language can be applied on a more practical five-door body that blurs the lines between hatchbacks and estates. Mercedes would call this body style a Shooting Brake, in case you were wondering. 

To be revealed at next week's Geneva Motor Show, the Prologue Avant study is a follow up to last year's Prologue Coupe from the LA Motor Show, with both models featuring the same design and similar footprint. 

Speaking of dimensions, at 5,110mm (201.2 in) long, 1,970mm (77.6 in) wide and 1,400mm (55.1 in) tall, the Prologue Avant is only a tad longer (10mm or 0.4 in), wider (20mm or 0.8 in) and taller (10mm or 0.4 in) than the Coupe, with which it shares a 2,990mm (117.8 in) wheelbase. 

“With our show car for Geneva, we now translate the design language of the Audi prologue into a new, dynamic and stretched form. We are merging it with a concept of high variability”, said Audi Board Member Ulrich Hackenberg. 

Inside, the Avant has individual seats for four passengers and sports a modern dashboard design that does away with button-clutter featuring a new control concept with three touch displays. 

Under the sheetmetal, Audi continues to experiment with different powertrains for the Prologue series. Whereas the LA show car had a 605PS (597hp) 4.0-liter turbo V8 and the following updated grey-colored versionof the coupe a 677PS (668hp) hybrid drivetrain combining the same V8 turbo with an electric motor, the Avant borrows the plug‑in hybrid drive from the Q7 e‑tron quattro.

This production unit pairs a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 TDI diesel to an electric motor to produce a system output of 455PS (449hp) allowing the Avant Concept to sprint to 100km/h (62mph) in 5.1 seconds. 

According to the NEDC standard for plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Prologue Avant consumers 1.6 l/100km (147.0 US mpg) corresponding to 43g/km of CO2. Audi says the lithium-ion battery pack in the rear offers a pure electric driving range of 54 kilometers or about 34 miles. 

Elsewhere, the chassis features an air suspension with adaptive dampers and Audi's dynamic all‑wheel‑drive steering system. 

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2017 Audi A7 Sportback

Marc Lichte joined Audi from VW earlier this year and has already completed the design work on the second-generation A7 Sportback model, expected to arrive in 2017.

Lichte spoke with Autocar magazine and confirmed that the new A7 will feature design elements that have already been seen in the recent Prologue concept at the Los Angeles Motor Show. However, the Prologue previews not just the 2017 A7 Sportback but also the 2016 A8 as well as the 2017 A6 - with all three designs having been already signed off for.

Out of the three models, the A7 will feature the most radical styling, according to Lichte, which is music to our ears since the A7 Sportback is already a very sleek looking car.

The 2017 Audi A7 Sportback will be based on the second-generation MLB platform, while its engine range will probably be hand picked from underneath the 2016 A8's hood.

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