Audi Compact Cars

Sam from ‘Sam CarLegion’ uploaded a video of an Audi S3 taking on a Mercedes-AMG A35 on his YouTube channel. Both the cars feature a four-pot turbo engine and an all-wheel-drive system, but the A35 is slightly more powerful on paper. Do you think this will play a role in the end result, or will the S3 be able to take down the A35?

The Audi SQ5 is already a significant upgrade over the base Q5. For example, customers in the States will get a significant upgrade of an extra 100 horsepower when choosing the SQ5 over the base Q5. In Europe, though, there are a lot of tuners that will find ways to make this difference even bigger. The last one to do so is ABT Sportsline, who is offering an upgrade kit for the SQ5 TDI - both standard and Sportback versions.

Following a previous spotting of a jacked-up A3, a new set of spy shots has essentially confirmed that Audi is, in fact, designing an A3 Allroad. Like the previously spotted model, this one was wearing a lot of camouflage on the lower body, meaty tires, and it clearly has elevated suspension – enough for at least 2-3 inches of extra ground clearance over that standard A3. Although the camo does a good job at concealing what’s underneath, if you look closely, you can make out cladding around the wheel arches, especially in the front. The side skirts don’t appear to be any beefier, but there’s a good chance that are plastic for added protection.

Beyond this, there will likely be more hard plastic all around to protect the car on mild off-road adventures. The rear doesn’t appear to be any different, though the front will likely take on a more rugged appearance. Little else is known about this specific car. It may not even be known as an Allroad as the Citycarver name – previously found on the jacked-up A1 – could also make a comeback. The A1 Citycarver actually had a taller suspension (about two inches), larger tires, some plastic cladding, and an overall more rugged appearance. This A3 could simply be a larger version of that, leaving the Allroad name for larger models.

When the Audi TT was released in America in the early 2000s, the styling and design were unlike anything we had seen before. It had a body that managed to be both futuristic and retro at the same time, not to mention it was one of the first examples of a manufacturer using headlights and taillights, not just as a necessity, but as a design feature.

It’s always interesting to see how different engine layouts compare to one another. It’s even more interesting when a high-performance SUV goes up against some of the best compact sports cars and a capable hot hatchback. This is exactly the case with this drag race from Carwow, where a Lamborghini Urus is being challenged by a Porsche Cayman GT4, Audi TT RS, and a Volkswagen Golf R.

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.

It’s rare to see YouTube channels that embody all virtues of quality content. Mighty Car Mods has been around since 2007 and while it started slow, it has now grown into one of the most entertaining and educational channels for automotive content. The two friends do not discriminate, when it comes to the type of cars and basically anything goes. Now, they are answering a question to which everyone wants the answer, but few needed to ask. How to build the ultimate hyper-hatchback?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

The Audi TT won’t die, as many have suggested for the better part of five years, but it won’t live on in its current form either. What has been for over 20 years a staple in the compact sports car market will soon morph into a low-slung, sporty crossover slated to be more compact than Audi’s Q3 and, more importantly, electrified.

Well-engineered, well put together, fast, and compact. These are the core ingredients that made the original TT a hit when it dropped over two decades ago. But, since then, the market has changed dramatically and people no longer want sporty coupes, even less so one with a $54,500 MSRP. Audi’s well aware of the sad state of its smallest two-door model and is ready to take action. Fans of the TT won’t be happy but Audi isn’t the first nor the last company to save a nameplate and then slap it to a new product that has nothing to do with the original, making us wish it’d killed it altogether.

At a time when wagons are slowly evolving from being family haulers to performance beasts, people in the U.S. are missing out on a lot of action. The Audi RS4 and the RS6 Avant give us the major #FOMO feels. Audi has told wagon-lovers in the U.S. not to give up hopes yet, as the company said, "We always look at potential new opportunities in the market. It’s a niche to explore. We keep holding discussions. Keep writing us letters.” That’s not a confirmation in any way, but it sounds like an assurance for the time being. Now, the company has finally unveiled the 2020 Audi RS4 Avant with aesthetic changes and a few changes inside the cabin. Is it better than the previous iteration?

Anyone who knows ABT Sportsline knows that the German tuner isn’t the type to roll out tuning programs that border on obscenity. It’s not Mansory. It’s not TopCar. Heck, it’s not even Brabus. ABT Sportsline sits on the more refined side of the tuning fence, but every so often, it’s not afraid to let it’s hair down and go stir crazy. Such episodes can result in something like this: a “1of1” wide-body Audi A1 that’s going to make Tony Stark blush with envy. There’s absolutely nothing that’s refined about this particular Audi A1. It’s the kind of program you’re more likely to see at SEMA than at the Geneva Motor Show. There’s nothing wrong about it, though, and, in some ways, it speaks to a wild side that ABT Sportsline rarely gets to show. Judging by how raunchy this A1 looks, we’re not opposed to seeing ABT Sportsline’s alter ego more often.

The Audi A1 citycarver — yep, no caps here — is living proof that automakers will go to any lengths to attach the words “crossover” or “SUV” to their models. The result is the creation of sub, sub-lines born out of sub-lines born out of main model lines. It’s confusing on a lot of levels, but that’s the nature of the beast in the auto biz these days. On the surface, the A1 citycarver looks like a more rugged version of the A1. While there is some truth to that, appearances can be deceiving, too. The A1 citycarver is slightly higher than the A1 and it also comes with suspension tweaks aimed to make it more appealing to rugged urbanites who are looking for more adventures with their A1s. Most of the bits though come directly from the A1, so it is classified as a different version of Audi’s hatchback, the A1 citycarver is just an A1 wrapped in tighter clothing. The Audi A1 citycarver goes on sale this month in Europe at a yet-to-be-determined price tag. There’s no word yet whether it makes the trek to America or not.