Audi Compact Cars

The 2022 Audi RS3 sets a new record at the Nordschleife. The new best time for a lap around the famed 12.9-mile German circuit, in the compact car class now stands at 7:40.748 minutes. It beat the previous record-holder, the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R by more than 4.5 seconds.

In 2021 alone, Audi has flipped the script, fully embracing electrification without thinking twice about it. What started with the E-Tron GT quickly led to the release of the Q4 E-Tron and Q4 E-Tron Sportback. And, just when you thought that was enough, Audi hit us with that cool-as-hell A6 E-Tron concept. Now, we’re learning that Audi is planning to stir up the pond even more, and this time it’s the RS4 that’s in the crosshairs, and you’re probably going to think this is really good news.

Shortly after Audi celebrated the TT’s 20th anniversary in January of 2019 (yes it’s been more than two decades, now), word came down that the Audi TT could, in fact, be retired and more recently the Q4 E-tron and Q4 E-Tron Sportback made their global reveal. Does this mean the TT might live on as an all-electric sports car given Audi’s strong push into the EV Segment? If it does, this concept rendering gives us a good idea of what it could look like.

Audi has jumped into one of the most popular segments today with two new electric offerings, the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron. These compact SUVs could be a game-changer for Audi and bring in huge volumes once launched. Both of them are essentially the same vehicle other than the sloping roofline on the Sportback, which seems to be quite a popular option these days. For now, the company has revealed the Euro-spec models and trim details, but we can expect pretty much the same stuff Stateside, too.

Audi is one of the most proactive brands in the electric market today. The company has added two more models based on the Q4 in its e-tron lineup today – the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron. Sportbacks seem to be big sellers for automakers these days and this has prompted the German automaker to come up with the sloping roofline version as well as the conventional SUV body style for its Q4-based e-tron.

Both the models have the same specs and features. The biggest differentiating factors are the shape at the rear and the pricing. With stuff like 300+ mile-range, dual-motor setup on offer, and many tech features, can the Q4 e-tron twins bring huge sales volumes for the company?

For the folks who like their SUVs with coupè-like sloping rooflines, here’s Audi’s latest product – the Q5 Sportback. Audi calls them Crossover Utility Vehicles, and the Q5 Sportback is the third product in this lineup, following the Q3 Sportback and the e-tron Sportback. The Q5 Sportback is Audi’s take on the BMW X4 and the Mercedes GLC Coupe. The Q5 Sportback commands a premium of $4,500 over the SUV style for mainly an exterior appearance package, sleeker looks, and some other minor aesthetic upgrades. Is it worth it? Well, you tell us.

Audi is looking to keep European customers entertained with another special edition for its TT sportscar. The treatment targets the TTS, which is essentially the bridge that gaps the regular TT and the hooligan TT RS, with more power and new, albeit subtle design elements.

The facelifted SQ2 won’t make the trip to the U.S. as it remains an EU-only affair, but at least it looks sharper than the car we saw take a bow two years ago, so that might mean something for prospective customers from Europe.

Mind you, the makeover is strictly of a cosmetic nature, so power and torque gains are off the table.

Audi’s Q2 was brought to life to do battle against the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, Mini Countryman and to some extent, Volkswagen T-Roc. Four years after its inception, Audi is improving the recipe with more gear and extra technology.

Created to do battle against the likes of BMW M135i, Mercedes-AMG A45, and to some extent, the VW Golf R, Audi’s squeaky-new S3 Sportback (and Sedan) debuts two decades after the original S3 hit the shelves. And we like what we’re seeing.

On paper, the stock Audi TT RS is no match to the Audi R8 V-10 Plus. One car is powered by a 2.5-liter TFSI engine that produces 394 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the other car packs a 5.2-liter FSI V-10 engine that produces 610 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque.

You can’t dispute those figures, especially when you race both Audis against each other. So why did Carwow bother to race a TT RS against an R8 V10 Plus? The answer is the TT RS-R, the heavily modified version of the sports coupe.

The Volkswagen Group has made some phenomenal strides in recent times. From being caught in Dieselgate a few years back to running a few of the most proactive brands in electrification today, the German group has come a long way. One of its most prominent brands, Audi, also has a few electric models in the works. The automaker’s next electric vehicle will be the Q4 e-tron, which was previewed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.

Audi recently revealed that the SUV will launch at the end of 2020 and is set to go on sale in 2021. Although it might be the brand’s fifth EV, there are a lot of eyes on it since it will be the first four-ringed electric vehicle to be pinned on Volkswagen’s MEB architecture. It was recently spotted performing cold-weather tests in Northern Sweden.

Update 7-6-2020: The Audi Q4 E-tron has finally be spied out on public roads and, unlike the mule we saw earlier this year, this baby is looking pretty close to production ready. Check it out in the spy shots section below.

BMW has the X4 M and X3 M. Mercedes-AMG concocted the GLC 63. Alfa Romeo has the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. And so far, Audi didn’t come with a its own soldier to fight these competitors, but if recent details hold any truth, that’s about to change.

ABT and Audi kind of go together like peanut butter and jelly. Just this year alone, we’ve seen a handful of ABT-tuned Audis, like the bonkers RS6-R Avant, the RS Q8, and the RS6 Avant. Now, ABT has managed to take the Audi Q5 55 TFSIe, one of Audi’s latest plug-in hybrids, and give it a healthy dose of extra grunt that pushes it well beyond its original specification.

Audi has just introduced the next-gen, 2021 A3 Sedan, and with it comes a new, sporty exterior appearance with a revised grille, new exterior lights, and more aggressive body lines. The interior is now more driver-focused than ever and now features a more angular appearance than ever before. There’s an updated 10.1-inch MMI infotainment system and a revised 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (Audi digital cockpit) that has three different views to choose from. The interior now features a little extra headroom up front thanks to the lower seat position and Car-to-X services are available in areas adequately equipped. The new A3 is offered with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline or diesel engine. Both engines provide 150 horsepower, but the diesel delivers 265.5 pound-feet while the gasoline puts down just 184.4 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy ranges between 47 and 50 mpg on the gasoline model and 60-65 mpg for the diesel, based on the current European scale, so don’t expect that much in the States. Pricing starts that EUR 27,700 or $30,006 at current exchange rates.

Slow Demand put the Audi A3 Sportback in a tight spot, but it’s still popular enough to come back for a fourth-generation in one way or another. This time, however, it will only be offered with five doors, and there’s no hope of the three-door model ever making a comeback. But, that’s okay, as the fourth-gen A3 just looks right in this configuration, and we’re pretty sure the S3 will look even hotter. Changes for 2021 include a revised exterior look, larger footprint, better aerodynamics, a set of engines pulled from other MQB-supported compact cars in VAG’s group of companies. Want more specifics? Keep Reading!

Range anxiety is the biggest con of any EV today. Even though companies are constantly improving range figures and charging times, the fear of a depleting battery is still one of the biggest reasons why people are apprehensive to make the shift.

Things get worse when it comes to hauling and towing stuff. Since towing or hauling anything puts extra stress on the powertrain, the range is bound to take a hit; and Audi’s recent experiment just proved the same. So, as far as utility is concerned, EVs still have a long way to go until they replace internal combustion engined SUVs and trucks in all senses.

If there’s anything we’ve all been itching to see from Audi, it’s a hotter version of the A1 Sportback – an RS1 to be exact. With the second generation kicking of in 2018, we were hoping that after being fully established on the market, Audi’s resident supermini would finally get the hot hatch treatment that it deserves. Unfortunately, Audi has come right out and said that, despite the fact that it’s going to go all out on RS-badging its SUV lineup, the A1 will always be an A1. There won’t be a warmer S1, and there definitely won’t be a hotter RS1.

Audi updated the TT-RS for the 2019 model year, and after just a year on the market, we finally managed to get our hands on one. To our surprise, we found that the updated front and rear designs actually give the TT-RS a more dynamic, yet aggressive look. That is thanks to, at least in part, the new honeycomb grille up front that’s paired with the contrasted front spoiler lip.

Further emphasizing the sporty appearance of our TT-RS tester were the black mirror caps, the black accents on the rear spoiler, and the black diffuser-like elements in the rear fascia. Most people wouldn’t recognize some of the smaller bits, but those black legs for the spoiler, for instance, really stand out with the black accents on the rear decklid and the taillights.

The interior design of the TT-RS just screams performance and, at times, we almost felt like we were driving a Porsche. Maybe it’s the honeycomb inserts on the seats, the low seating position, or the material on the flat-bottom steering wheel. Honestly, it was probably a combination of all three, but we were so mesmerized by the crispness of the Audi virtual cockpit it was hard to look away.

Under the hood sits Audi’s classic 2.5-liter inline-five with 400 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. We really wish we had a six-speed manual, but unfortunately, the best we could ask for was the seven-speed automatic. The AWD was nice and, despite Audi’s claims of a 3.7-second sprint to 60 mph, we actually clocked the same run somewhere in the high-3.5 to low-3.6 range on multiple occasions. If we had tried a top speed run, we would have been limited to 155 mph (we didn’t break the highway speed limit, though) however, if you’re willing to pay for it, you could get that limit raised to 174 mph. Pricing for our tester, as you see it here, was $77,490.

Seven years old as of late 2019, the third-generation Audi A3 is a bit long in the tooth and a fourth-gen model is underway. Alongside the familiar hatchback, Audi is also working on a new sedan model, including a higher performance S3 version. The latest prototype was spotted cold-weather testing in Sweden and the bodywork suggests that the compact four-door is ready to go into production. The A3 wasn’t wearing any camouflage, but it was hidden under a cover. Our paparazzi managed to grab some shots as Audi employees were removing the cover, so we can get a good look at the A3’s front end.

Audi posted some fun renderings of an Audi Q3 with a unicorn horn on social media, and it got so much attention that the German company decided to bring the “Qnicorn” to life and cruise around the streets of Washington DC. It’s certainly an interesting take on Halloween costumes, and at least the company didn’t get burned like BMW did when it tried to troll Mercedes.