Audi Utility Vehicle Cars

Hennessey Performance is celebrating Christmas by delivering Christmas trees as fast as possible. The company’s previous sleigh, a Jeep Trackhawk, managed to deliver it by touching speeds of up 181 mph. But, this time, they want to get it done even faster. So, they’ve upgraded their sleigh to an Audi RS6 Avant that’s been tuned to make 800 reindeer; err., I mean 800 horses. They tried the same with a tuned Porsche 911 Turbo S recently, but it failed. But, the Audi RS6 Avant managed to break the record and is now officially Hennessey’s fastest Christmas tree transporter!

The first-gen Audi A1 was launched in 2010. Since then, the car has earned a reputation for getting better with tiny tweaks and additions added every now and then. Eight years later, the Audi A1 is back with an all-new iteration. It has improved in every aspect over the 2010 A1. The next-gen Audi A1 was revealed at the Paris Motor Show.

The E-tron Quattro is Audi’s first-ever all-electric SUV. It was previewed by a similar concept car back in 2015 and made its debut as a production model in 2018. Developed as a competitor for the Tesla Model X, the E-tron Quattro joins Audi’s existing range of hybrid models that also use an "e-tron" badge.

Smaller than the Q7 but notably bigger than the Q5, the E-tron created its very own niche in the Audi lineup. It’s not big enough to offer full-size capability, but it’s not too cramped either. At the same time, it’s the perfect compromise for urban driving, as it’s not as difficult to park as the company’s range-topping SUV. The big question is, does it have what it takes to give the Tesla Model X a run for its money? Audi has yet to unveil all essential information, which makes predictions difficult, but we still know enough to paint a fair picture. Find out more in the review below.

Updated 10/03/2018: We’ve added all the latest, straight from the 2018 Paris Motor Show!

High-riding vehicles, like crossovers and SUVs are at the height of popularity right now, but they’re not the only way to go if you want practicality and some off-road capability. Crossover style raised wagons are a great alternative and while they can still drive you over a rough field or rutted road with ease, they’re better to drive on road and actually pretty stylish.

They are essentially the wagon versions of different cars which have gained extra ride height and plastic cladding on the outside to protect them from scratches in their most vulnerable points. These vehicles usually have standard all-wheel drive and are usually a higher trim level, so they are not cheap (compared to the vehicle they’re based on) but they also come with a lot of equipment.

Here’s a list of the 13 coolest crossover-style wagons you can buy today.

We’re barely a week into seeing the all-new Audi Q3 in all its glory, and yet here we are, confused and intrigued about what looks to be a sportier derivative of the crossover that has found its way in patent form at the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The patent filing was made by Audi last month, but the design of the crossover doesn’t look like the all-new Q3. Could this be a sportier version of the Q3? Is that you, Audi SQ3?

The race for supremacy in the newly formed midsize luxury pickup segment is getting tense. Mercedes is fully committed to building a midsize pickup for the global market with the potential to become a luxury item for U.S. buyers. Tesla has announced plans to build an all-electric pickup and will come with all the Tesla tech we’ve come to love. GMC debuted the Canyon Denali for the 2017 model year and is the first to arrive in dealerships. Even BMW has hinted to “never say never.” So what other automakers might join the fray?

Audi has weighted glove it could dawn in this fight of the middleweights. It could easily rework the Volkswagen Amarok to become a high-class Audi pickup. Think about it. The concept is solid and the engineering needed would be mostly minimal.

To that end, we created a rendering of what an Audi pickup would look like. The idea is straight forward: take the Amarok pickup, badge engineer it to wear Audi’s latest corporate look, throw in a well-appointed interior, update the powertrain to be U.S. compliant, and boom, an Audi pickup.

Keep in mind, all this is pure speculation on our part. To our knowledge, Audi has neither released a statement nor made any hints to its stance on such a product. Still, that doesn’t make the proposition any less interesting.

Let’s have a look.

Continue reading for the full run-down.

At this point, it should be more than obvious that if you want a car with utility and space for at least five people, but don’t wanna join the crowd of crossovers you see crammed onto the roads, your best option is to get your hands on a wagon. Once a steadfast bastion of the practical, wagons have seen a sharp decline in popularity over the last few decades, the result of an all-out assault from the tall-bodied insanity of the current SUV craze. But fear not – the wagon hasn’t gone gently into that good night, at least not yet, and we’ve assembled five top-shelf options right here for your perusal and approval.

Rather than limiting ourselves to what’s currently available, we decided to look ahead in anticipation of what’ll be in dealers in the next year or so, including both existing offerings and those that have yet to be released. As it turns out, there are a few very strong entries barreling down the pipeline right now, which means buyers will have a nice selection of premium wagons when shopping in 2017.

So what’s topping the menu? Read on to find out.

Continue reading to learn more about TopSpeed’s Top 5 Premium Wagons for 2017.

If you’re in the market for something that combines comfort, practicality, and a little off-road capability, odds are you’re combing through a seemingly endless number of crossover models. But while the crossover’s popularity is unrivaled in the U.S., its jack-of-all-trades disposition is far from perfect, especially when it comes to things like maneuverability, ride quality, and driving dynamics. So what if you want all the advantages of a crossover, but in a decidedly more car-like package? Audi has the answer, and it’s called the 2017 A4 Allroad. Unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, this next-gen vehicle brings a revamped drivetrain, revised suspension, and even more features for the occasional jaunt into the rough stuff, making it a real alternative in a sea of CUVs.

Audi first offered the A4 Allroad in 2009, but the philosophy hasn’t changed – take the style and familiarity of a wagon, and infuse it with maximum functionality. To that end, Audi starts with the A4 Avant (a model that’s sadly reserved only for non-U.S. customers) and adds new styling cues and beefier hard bits. The result is something that keeps the easy-driving, good-looking wagon stuff, but adds a little extra for ski runs or traversing the dirt path to that hidden trailhead.

It’s a tempting combination, but is it enough to entice buyers away from the crossover status quo?

Updated 07/26/2016: Audi just released info on the U.S.-spec A4 Allroad Quattro, so we’ve updated the Drivetrain and Prices sections with the latest.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Audi A4 Allroad.

The Q7 is a child of the SUV craze that began picking up momentum in the mid-2000s. No longer were SUV constrained to automakers like Chevrolet or Ford. Sure, Mercedes had a couple SUVs in its lineup, but Merc already had a long history of building G-Wagens and such. Audi, like Porsche and BMW, shocked the industry with the arrival of three-row people haulers.

Audi pulled the covers off the Q7 for the 2006 model year. Thanks to its parent company Volkswagen, costs were shared between the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne thanks to a common chassis. Still, each of the three played to buyers in different segments.

The first-generation Q7 underwent its only major updating for the 2009 model year. A new face, updated rear end, and a redesigned dashboard helped the Q7 keep up with the times. And while you can still buy a first-generation 2015 Q7 in the U.S., Audi has an all-new model waiting to cross the pond.

The completely redesigned 2017 Q7 raises the bar several notches in one swoop. A handsome new design with sharpened angles and a more aggressive stance greats onlookers, while occupants inside are treated to what is likely one of Audi’s finest interiors. An all-digital gauge cluster, extensive aluminum trim, and a minimalistic design propel the Q7 into the latter half of the decade.

But the updated Q7 is still months away. Should customers hold off buying a wait for the swanky new SUV, or does the current 2015 Q7 still earnestly compete? To find out, I spent a week behind the wheel of a 2015 model, fitted with the 3.0-liter TDI V-6, quattro AWD, and an economy car’s MSRP worth of options and extras.

Continue reading for the full driven review

ABT Sportsline has released an updated program for the Audi SQ5 made up of some of the company’s famous aerodynamic kits and improvements on its existing engine modification for the crossover. Back in 2013, ABT Sportsline released a similar kit for the SQ5 that featured many of the same components included in the new program. It may be recycled from a technical standpoint, but since the SQ5 has undergone stylistic changes of its own, this new kit is all about giving the SUV a different and a more up-to-the-times presentation than its predecessor.

As usual, ABT Sportsline focused its attention on three things: the body, engine, and the suspension of the SQ5. Each section of the crossover received its own upgrades. The body, for instance, gets an aero kit that improves the SQ5’s appearance. Likewise, improvements on the suspension provides enhanced driving dynamics. Even the crossover’s new 3.0-liter TDI diesel engine has its own engine modification that pushes its power output past the tuner’s previous modification for the SQ5.

All together, the new tuning kit puts the SQ5 in a totally different light. It may still be Audi’s resident high-performance diesel crossover, but all the aftermarket add-ons given to it by ABT Sportsline shows that there are still enough ways to bring more out of the SQ5. The kit itself isn’t going to turn the crossover into something radically different or out of its character, but with all the pieces in place, that might as well have been the reason for the kit.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi SQ5 By ABT Sportsline.

One of the truisms of consumer technology is that it usually starts out in the industrial or military sectors, and stays there until it’s small and cheap enough for normal people to buy. Or, at least, until the market demands that it be made small or cheap enough to buy. That’s been true of internal combustion engines, computers, GPS and whole drive systems — drive systems like those used in one of the oldest forms of motorized transportation on Earth.

Diesel-electric hybrid systems have been known performers in locomotives for almost a century now. Apart from the fact that diesels are more efficient than gas engines to begin with, they make much better generator engines. Gas engines are usually most efficient at or near wide-open throttle. Diesels are just the opposite, consuming fuel most efficiently while idling. Locomotive engineers figured out a long time ago that coupling a diesel generator to an electric powertrain was the cheapest way to burn hydrocarbons; and yours truly has been waiting on this for years. Finally, predictably, it was Audi (my favorite major car company) that brought to market a "solution" painfully obvious even in Ferdinand Porsche’s time. Or, if not then, at least when Audi itself used a diesel-electric car to win LeMans several times.

Yes, the "e-tron" Q7 is upon us — finally .

Continue reading to learn more about Audi’s future electric car.

The Tesla Model X isn’t in production yet, nor has a production model even been revealed, but the all-electric SUV continues to be the focal point of many discussions. One of the latest comes from seekingalpha, a research website for investors (that requires an email subscription), in which a recent article suggests that Audi’s launch of the 2016 Q7 e-tron quattro plug-In hybrid could put Tesla’s third production vehicle in a hole.

This argument is centered on the waiting list where an estimated 23,000 potential buyers have laid down their refundable $5,000 deposits. The author seems to think that if the Q7 and its combination of a diesel engine and a plug-in hybrid powertrain arrive before the Model X, people will opt for the seven-passenger hybrid over the seven-passenger electric vehicle. More so, he believes that the price difference between the two vehicles, which he estimates to be around $35,000, people will buy the Q7 PHEV now as well as the proposed $35,000 Tesla Model III that is scheduled to debut in 2017.

Only time will tell if this theory plays out, but our best guess is this will not be the case. Sure, there might be a handful of customers who put their name on the list just looking for an efficient, three-row SUV, but at the same time, most of these people are probably looking for a fully electric vehicle rather than just the 35 miles of electric range the Q7 diesel PHEV is expected to deliver. On top of that, it would seem that Tesla buyers are willing to stay on their “invisible leash” (aka Tesla’s Supercharger) in order to enjoy zero-emission driving.

Regardless of which scenario plays out for the Tesla Model X, this is definitely an exciting time for SUV drivers where a variety of advanced plug-in utility vehicles are preparing to hit the market.

Click past the jump to read more about Audi’s future Q7 Plug-in Hybrid.

Hopefully everyone enjoyed the show. We had a great time putting it on, and maybe it will brighten up your day when you hear it. As always, we appreciate anyone and everyone who listens and watches. Don’t forget to leave us your questions and Own, Drive, Burn suggestions below in the comments.

This week we have Justin back, and he has a new car for Weekly Wheels, so we let him start things off with a look at the Acura ILX. After that I get to talk about how the new 2015 Subaru Outback is a great SUV, but a terrible Subaru. Mark finishes us off with a look at the new Audi A3. Small spoiler, I like it more than he does, even if it is missing a door.

For the news segment of the show I spend some time talking about my new review for Forza Horizon 2. I think that is the only important part of our whole show really, but the other two figured that we should cover other news as well. In the end we talked about the Lamborghini Asterion, the death of the Lotus Evora, and Infiniti’s desire to build a car that it kind of already makes. We also have some truck talk with Mark as we discuss the fuel economy ratings of the new Canyon and Colorado trucks before we all get angry at GM’s latest “sport truck.”

We didn’t have any questions from last week’s show to answer, so we skipped the Question and Answer section to head straight to Own, Drive, Burn. Our own Ciprian provided us with a trio of the worst cars Ferrari ever made to choose from. I’ll be honest; it wasn’t a super great or entertaining ODB. Sorry about that.

As always, we all hope that everyone has a super great Friday and a wonderful weekend. We will be back next Thursday with another awesome episode. See you guys then.

The Audi Q5 and Q7 understandably get all the love among Audi’s roster of crossovers and SUVs. But let’s not forget about the Q3. This little brother got some spunk and it definitely deserves a path on the back, or in the case of German tuner MTM, a dedicated aftermarket program.

We’re all familiar with Audi’s packaging of the Q3. It’s an economic crossover that has plenty of sweet features combined with Audi’s fabulous technical engineering. Then there’s the RS Q3 - the subject of this program - that breathes a little more fire as a more performance-oriented model of the Q3. But still, even something "good" has a chance to be "better", and that’s what MTM set out to accomplish with its new tuning kit for the RS Q3 2.5 TFSI quattro.

As a performance-heavy update, MTM is charging quite a lot for this program. The cost of the engine tune is €3,357, which is about $4,500 based on current exchange rates. Meanwhile, the new exhaust system and the carbon fiber rear diffuser will set you back €4,699, right around $6,400.

Then again, you can just opt for getting everything, car and tuning kit together. For that, you’re gonna have to pay €76,650, or about $104,150 in American money.

That might be a steep a price to pay, but what you can get out of it is pretty awesome in its own right.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi Q3 RS 2.5 TFSI Quattro By MTM.

Until the new, lighter Audi Q7 hits showrooms, the British market gets to enjoy a new special-edition version of the current Q7. The new Q7 S Line Style Edition is built on the S line Plus trim and, despite tons of updates, it only includes a £1,500 ($2,500) price hike.

The new S Line Style Edition is offered with 21-inch wheels in a five-arm rotor design and painted a matte-titanium color. The model is further distinguished by stainless-steel underbody protectors and extended wheel arches, special bumpers with modified lower sections.

Customers can choose between seven exterior colors: Night black, Teak brown, Lava grey, Orca black, Graphite grey, Daytona grey or Scuba blue.

The new Audi Q7 S Line Style Edition is priced from £52,975 (about $88,000 at the current exchange rates) for the 245-horsepower model and up to £62,600 ($104,000) for the 340-horsepower version.

Click past the jump to read more about the standard Audi Q7.

Quite frankly, we can’t wait to see what the new and lighter Audi Q7 is going to look like. But until then, we’re going to have to settle with these special-edition models that the German company has just released for the UK market.

In addition to the Q7 S Line Style Edition, the other "unique" model is the Q7 S Line Sport Edition, which comes with its own unique set of upgrades that standard Q7s don’t offer. Among the modifications you’ll see in the S Line Sport Edition include body-colored wheel arch extensions, which adds more width to the full-sized SUV.

Enlarged front air intakes with high gloss slats, lower bumper spoilers, a stainless steel underbody protection, and dual oval exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear bumper are also part of the package, all of which add character and performance enhancements to the SUV. The changes may not be all that evident at first glance, but they’re there, and Audi put them in there for a reason.

A full slate of paint finishes are also offered for the Q7 S Line Sport Edition. There are 13 choices in all with varying paint effects, including solid, metallic and pearl.

Both S Line models come with "standard equipment" that are unique to both of ’em, if that even makes sense. Privacy glass from the B-pillar rearward, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, fancy Verano leather upholstery and stainless-steel side running boards are among the features list, as is a powered tailgate operation, an HDD satellite navigation, the Audi parking system advanced with visual and acoustic guidance, the Audi Music Interface, Audi connect, adaptive air suspension, and double glazing.

That’s a lot of features, fellas, and maybe a big reason why Audi is touting both these full-sized models to its customers.

Anybody interested in the Q7 S Line Sport Edition will have to spend anywhere from £52,975 ($72,462) to £64,100 ($87,,679).

Click past the jump to read about the Audi Q7

Usually, future product offensive and market strategy is a close a guarded secret in any organization. However, there are ways to dig out information that could give us some idea as what goes on behind closed doors. Autocar recently got access to trademark applications filed by Audi which clearly reveal some of the models that could enter production in the near future.

The documents show a few SUVs that Audi plans to introduce into the market. Starting with the much talked about Q2, Audi wants to launch a high performance version based on the Q2, dubbed "SQ2". The company has already committed to a Range Rover Evoque rivaling Q4 and SQ4 on the aforementioned lines.

In recent times, the market has seen increased demand for luxury SUVs. Audi sees this as an opportunity to spread its wings. The company has trademarked the name "Q9" for a future large SUV. They also have plans to offer fuel-cell technology in their road cars. Hence the name "f-tron" pops up onto the trademarks list.

Click past the jump to read more about Audi’s SUVs and hybrid-electric models

Seeing a line of pristine Carrera White Audi’s from across the paddock at Autobahn Country Club was almost enough to make a guy start jogging to get the first seat time. The brand-new S Q5 was on the pre-event list of attendees, and the new grille finish of the Q5 in brilliant white was very promising.

Within closer range, the “TDI clean diesel” script was visible on the side of almost all ten Audi’s on offer for the car writers to sample. The A7 and A8 were common sights leaving the club gates, but at least one car writer was mildly disappointed.

Not only was the S Q5 not present, but diesel engines all around? Eek. One bright spot was visible: a gigantic white Q7 with some snazzy fender flares on anthracite grey alloys.

Also... a diesel, but this was more TopSpeed style.

A quick blast up to my gravel road photo spot was enough time to fall head-over-heels for the big Q7, even as its replacement is firmly on the horizon for 2014 or 2015.

This Audi is a creamy beast with torque for days even in the 3.0-liter TDI specification. The real clue to its fresher-than-average looks is the S-line trim worn by the tester, which brings along a host of sporty programming options and décor inside as well.

When a Cayenne is too bouncy, and an Escalade is too soft, look no farther than the Q7 TDI S-line for a seven seats and a ride that is ’juuusst riight’.

Click past the jump for all the beautiful sunny photos of the 2014 Audi Q7 TDI S-line, plus some first-hand observations on how the small-capacity diesel engine performs.

We have known for a quite some time now that Audi has been hard at work on the second-generation Q7 SUV. To date, all we have seen testing were just mules of the next model. However, now an actual Q7 prototype was caught testing somewhere on the roads of Germany.

The next Q7 will move to a new platform that it will share with the next-generation Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and of course the upcoming Bentley SUV. Thanks to this new platform and to the intense use of lightweight materials like aluminum, the next Q7 will be about 880 pounds lighter than the current model. Despite this huge weight loss, rumors point to the next Q7 being larger than both the Touareg and Cayenne.

Under the hood, Audi will work on offering smaller engines, with its focus being on improving fuel economy and on reducing CO2 emissions. A hybrid version was also rumored.

Expect the next Audi Q7 to be unveiled in September 2014 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and to hit the market in late 2014.

Audi is already developing the next-generation Q7 SUV, but it looks like the company is preparing one more surprise before that in the form of an e-tron version for the large SUV. Audi Australia managing director, Andrew Doyle, confirmed to Car Advice that the "e-tron will be rolled out across all the models now."

This news comes as a huge surprise, considering the company just recently dropped the R8 e-tron. Doyle said that the R8 e-tron wasn’t a major thing for the Australian market, but that the e-tron line will launch "down under" with the A3 and Q7 models. He also confirmed that the Q7 e-tron will be offered for this generation, not the upcoming one set to arrive in 2015.

One thing he refused to comment about was what hybrid powertrain will the Q7 e-tron use. We know the A3 e-tron will combine a 147-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a 75kW electric motor. We can almost guarantee that drivetrain will not make its way into the Q7, as it is way too underpowered to drive the large SUV.

There was also no confirmation on just how far the Q7 e-tron will make it around the world, particularly to the U.S.

Click past the jump to read more about the standard Audi Q7.

Audi announced plans to expand its SUV lineup with the unveiling of the Cross Coupe quattro concept at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show. Ever since that unveiling, it has been pretty clear that the company is preparing a compact premium sports car with the spaciousness and versatility of a four-seat SUV.

When the Q3 finally arrived in production form at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show, it offered no big surprises, as its exterior language remained nearly identical to the concept. The Q3 is built on the same A5 (PQ35) platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan and at launch, Audi was offered with a choice of three engines, with a fourth engine – diesel one – coming at a later date.

The Q3 was put on sale in Europe in June 2011 and it received no updates since then, except the recent addition of the most powerful version in the lineup: the Q3 RS.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi Q3 SUV.

Back in July 2012, Audi announced the 2013 SQ5 TDI, which is the first S model in Audi’s history to bear a diesel engine. That’s all well and good, but what if you really want the new SQ5, but are not a big diesel fan? Well, then you will have to wait for the petrol version to debut. And it will next week at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

The new Audi SQ5 TFSI will be specially developed for markets like United States, Canada and China, while in Europe the only version available will be the TDI one.

The model will be offered with the same "S" model upgrades seen in the TDI version: standard 20" wheels in triple-spoke design, a platinum gray radiator grille and of course a quadruple exhaust tips. Despite this similarities, the new petrol version has the advantage if being a little bit more powerful than the previous TDI engine, so the American customers will enjoy an extra 40 horsepower.

Updated 06/17/2013: Audi USA announced today prices for the 2014 Audi SQ5 that will arrive in U.S. showrooms later this summer. Click past the jump to learn how much you have to pay for the first-ever S variant of any Audi Q model.

Until Audi drops the next-generation Q7 SUV onto the market, the guys over at Hofele Design have unveiled an awesome tuning kit based on the 2011 and 2012 Q7. The kit is called Strator GT 780 and can be yours if you have an extra €6,900 ($9,300 at the current exchange rates) in your pocket.

The Strator GT 780 kit includes a new front bumper with bigger air intakes and four additional lamps, more pronounced wheel arch extensions, a wide rear apron diffuser and a new exhaust system with four oval tailpipes. For the interior, the tuner adds a bi-color leather treatment on the seats, the door elements, the front and rear armrests and the steering wheel.

The kit also includes a set of 20-inch wheels combined with an electrical lowering module that can lower the car’s ride by 40 mm (1.57 inches). Once the SUV hits 80 km/h (49.7 mph), the lowering module lifts the Q7 back to its normal ride height to retain its normal ride and safety.

If you have extra money in your pocket you can also opt for some engine updates. Hofele offers up tuning packages for all five engines that the Q7 has available, which includes the 3.0 TDI, 3.6 V6 FSI, 4.2 V8 FSI, 4.2 TDI and 6.0 V12 TDI. From the factory, these engines crank out 240 horsepower, 280 horsepower, 350 horsepower, 340 horsepower and 500 horsepower, respectively. With the Hofele engine updates, these engines get bumped up to 275 horsepower, 305 horsepower, 375 horsepower, 370 horsepower and 555 horsepower, respectively.

Regardless of whether you want only aesthetics or a little pep to go along with the show, Hofele has the right kit for you.