Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Audi, First Drive, Luxury

If there’s to be a singular automotive theme guiding us into this second decade of the 21st century, it’s downsizing. If not in dimensions, then in displacement. Automakers, forced to adhere to higher government-mandated fuel economy standards and lower CO2 emissions, are beginning to collectively reduce engine size while attempting to maintain the thrust consumers demand.

The newest posterchild for this movement comes in an unlikely wrapper: the 2011 Audi Q7. Packing the same supercharged 3.0-liter V6 found in the S4 sports sedan, Audi bids adieu (or is that Auf Wiedersehen?) to the 3.6-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 for the 2011 model year and brings with it the 2011 A8′s eight-speed automatic transmission. We tackled the congested highways and byways in and around Ingolstadt to see if the revised Q7 has the goods to placate both bureaucrats and buyers, while taking a deeper look into Audi’s new powertrain strategy. Click through to the jump to see if we can make sense of it all.

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Audi Q7 downsizes with an upside

First Drive: 2011 Audi Q7 downsizes with an upside originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2025 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, Technology, Crossover, Audi, Luxury

The all-new A8 and updated Q7 won’t be the only vehicles in Audi’s line-up to benefit from the automaker’s new eight-speed gearbox. According to dealer order guides released for the 2011 model year, the octo-cog-swapper is set to proliferate throughout the Audi line-up in the next year, with the automaker aiming for around 70% of it U.S. sales volume to come equipped with the new gearbox.

For the 2011 model year, the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro sedan and Avant will come packing the eight-speed tranny, along with the A5 2.0 TFSI quattro coupe and cabriolet (the manual six-speed will only be available on the coupe). In addition, the revised Q7, with its new high- and low-output 3.0-liter supercharged V6s (cribbed from the S4 and A6), will replace the 3.6-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 for the 2011 model year. Both engines, along with the new 3.0-liter TDI, will come equipped with the eight-speed auto.

Finally, Audi quietly revealed the 2.0 TFSI inline-four-equipped Q5 at the New York Auto Show, and part of the new package will also include the eight-speed ‘box.

Sales of the eight-speed automatic-equipped models will begin this fall, each delivering improved fuel economy, quicker downshifts and, thanks to its compact packaging, no additional weight gain over the standard six-speed tiptronic.

Eight-speed automatic transmission available on A4, A5 and Q5 this fall originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 May 2026 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Audi

There are good problems and there are bad problems. Audi dealers across the U.S. are having trouble selling vehicles, but not because of uncompetitive product or industry-wide sales woes. Automotive News reports the reason for Audi’s sales troubles have everything to do with a supply shortage that stems from strong first quarter sales. Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen reportedly told AN that U.S. dealers are “short of everything,” with Q5 and Q7 supplies running especially low.

Last year, Audi cut U.S. deliveries by 6,000 units due to weak sales here in the States, but the German luxury automaker saw brisk sales in December followed by a first quarter that bested the first three months of 2009 by 35 percent. Audi now has a 29 day supply of product for U.S. dealers; about half the typical 60 day reserve and a third of the 88 day supply of March, 2009. De Nysschen says Audi has allotted an additional 3,000 vehicles to the U.S. for 2010, which should help dealers a bit. That said, we’re thinking Audi isn’t looking to beef up inventories too much considering the fact that the Four-Ringed automaker managed to keep incentives in check at a time when other automakers are dumping truckloads of cash on the hood to boost their sales.

Photos by Dan Roth / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Audi U.S. sales suffering due to supply shortage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2026 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, SUV, Crossover, Audi, Rumormill

Once upon a time the in-house performance studios of Germany’s finest automakers wouldn’t have anything to do with crossovers and SUVs. But several Mercedes-Benz G55 AMGs and BMW X6 Ms later, Audi‘s quattro GmbH is reportedly looking to join the fold with a pair of super-tuned Q5s.

The reports claim that Audi is preparing an SQ5 and an RSQ5, both backed by versions of the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 found in the latest S4 sedan, offering 333 horsepower in the SQ5 and as much as 408 in the RSQ5. Along with the engine upgrades, we could expect commensurate chassis, brakes and appearance enhancements as well.

For better or worse, these appear to be simple rumors at the time, but we’ll be keeping our eyes open for more info, so stay tuned.

[Source: L'Automobile Magazine]

Rumormill: Audi working on high-performance Q5? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2026 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Crossover, Audi, BMW, Canada

When Audi launched the TT RS, we were initially told that the automaker had no plans to bring it to the States. And while rumors have cropped up that suggest otherwise, we still don’t have the official word from Audi about whether we’ll ever get the chance to experience the 335-horsepower TT. However, our friends to the north can apparently rejoice - Audi will reportedly be bringing the TT RS to Canada, albeit in very limited numbers (250 units, to be exact). It is not yet clear whether those 250 units will be in coupe or convertible form - or both.

Additionally, Monvolant reports that Canadian consumers will be able to spec a rear-wheel drive BMW X1 when the crossover goes on sale next year - a configuration that will not be available in the States. Canada is likely to only receive X1s equipped with BMW’s 3.0-liter inline-six, good for around 260 horsepower.

We aren’t very upset about the fact that U.S.-spec X1s will only have all-wheel drive. However, if Audi is going to tease us by bringing 250 examples of the too-hot TT to this continent, the least it could do is spec a few for U.S. (or just Autoblog) consumption. Thanks for the tip, Martin!

[Source: Monvolant (translated)]

Report: Audi TT RS headed to Canada in limited numbers, as is rear-drive BMW X1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2026 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Crossover, Audi, Electric

Thanks to the Volkswagen Group’s strategy to be the leading player in the alternative-powertrain market within the next decade, Audi has announced a rapid expansion of hybrid and electric vehicles over the next few years. The German automaker wants to improve efficiency of its internal combustion engines (both gasoline and diesel) by 30 percent - and it wants five percent of the brand’s model line to be electric. “In the future, our customers will be able to choose from an increasingly broad range of driveline technologies,” said Audi CEO Rupert Stadler.

Report: More hybrids, EVs coming from Audi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2026 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, SUV, Etc., Safety, Technology, Crossover, Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Luxury, Off-Road

“Don’t hold back.”

Three words I’ve never heard before at a press event and three words that are running through my mind as I tramp down on the throttle and wheelspin my way towards the gray horizon.

Don’t hold back.

Ahead of me lies a three-quarter-mile stretch of perfectly groomed snow sitting atop a thick layer of ice, with over 300 feet of desolation on either side.

Don’t hold back.

From a standing start, the well-worn BMW X6 grapples with a lack of traction and then finally grips through the slush to propel me past 20… 30… 40… 50 mph. Then I slam on the stoppers. The ABS system pulses through the brake pedal and the coupe-shaped ‘ute grinds to a squeaky, squawky halt. Let’s try that again.

Don’t hold back.

This time I get up to 60 mph, lay on the brakes and it’s the same result. Now I’m bored, so it’s time to experiment with a few emergency lane change maneuvers. I get up to 30 mph, stab at the brake, yank the wheel to the right, then back to the left and straighten up. Nothing. No drama. No hesitation. No tail wagging. I do it again, this time at 40 mph with the traction control off. Same result. Then 50 mph. Same result. Then 60 mph. And then I promptly stuff myself into an six-foot-tall snow bank.

Didn’t hold back.

Follow the jump to read about our experience at Acura’s cold weather testing facility in Minnesota.

Continue reading Cold Weather Testing in Minnesota: Where Acura beats on one of the best AWD systems in the business

Cold Weather Testing in Minnesota: Where Acura beats on one of the best AWD systems in the business originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Feb 2026 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you read AutoblogGreen regularly, then you already know that Volkswagen and Stanford University have taken their relationship that began with developing autonomous vehicles to compete in the government-sponsored DARPA Grand Challenge competitions to the next level. VW has committed over $5 million to open the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Lab on Stanford’s campus with the intent of taking their research further regardless of whether the government is offering a carrot or not.

The two organizations are kicking off their new commitment to autonomous vehicles in a big way. Already under development is a the third-gen autonomous vehicle will make past DARPA Grand Challenge winners Stanley and Junior look obsolete by comparison. Based on an Audi TT-S, the new vehicle eschews all the outwardly visible hardware and has one expressed purpose: to tackle the Pikes Peak Hill Climb just like a real rally driver, four wheel drifts and all.

While still in the early stages, the team of researchers from Stanford have already performed tests with the autonomous TT-S at the Bonneville Salt Flats where the car was free to roam while being driving at the limit without a driver. They’ve also reportedly visited Pikes Peak with the car and ran it up the hill, albeit slowly.

Follow the jump to check out video of Stanford’s autonomous TT-S being tested, including a nifty little trick where it traces Audi’s corporate logo in the salt. It’s just a teaser for now, but we gotta admit the idea of watching an empty TT-S tackle Pikes Peak is tantamount to finally getting that flying car we were promised.