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Top 3 Things About The 2018 Audi PB18 E-Tron Concept
The prototype for the 2018 Audi PB18 E-Tron concept was revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The concept car blended both functionality and a dynamic style that’s nothing like we saw in an Audi. The best thing about the E-Tron concept, at least for traditional car enthusiasts, is that there is no hint of autonomous tech assistance here.
Exterior
The exterior design is a mixture of the layout of a coupe, the shape of a hatchback, and the profile of an exotic vehicle. Up front, you might see some similarities with Audi’s current supercar, the R8. The Singleframe grille was made prominent because of its hexagon shape. The headlights are made of ultra-thin units that has laser-high beams and are integrated with digital matrix technology.
The PB18 measures 4.53 meters (14.5 feet) long, 2 meters (6.4 feet) wide, and 1.15 meters (4.6 tall), so it’s not exactly a small car.
Interior
The cabin of the PB18 concept car can either be a two-person layout or a single-passenger layout, the latter will likely put the driver in the middle of the cockpit, much like the Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow concept. The windshield is not just a simple glass. It’s an augmented reality system that displays information about the road ahead. Because of the hatchback layout of the concept car, it actually has quite a reasonable amount of cabin space—16.6 cubic feet to be exact.
Drivetrain
The concept car uses three different electric motors—one in the front axle and two in the rear axle. Each of the electric motors can produce 201 horsepower. Combining all three will amount to a whopping 604 horsepower, which can increase to 671 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque during normal driving sessions. There’s a temporary boost that allows the engine to make 764 horsepower, which is enough to help the PB18 accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just over two seconds.
2019 Audi A4 and A5 Lose Manual Transmission
Audi has confirmed that its A4 and A5 will drop the manual transmission option for the 2019 model year. The company cited low sales as the reason for killing the stick-shift option.
Since it debuted in 2017, the A4 had a six-speed manual transmission but Audi has experienced a slump in sales and customer satisfaction rating that even its A5 coupe lost the manual gearbox. This means that Audi’s lineup would be completely manual-free in the United States.
Only a handful of Americans, about 5 percent, chose the A4’s manual transmission over its seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. This is enough reason for the company to pull out the manual option from the sedan, of course. Car experts are certainly disappointed because the manual transmission made the cars more powerful and it provided an increased level of performance.
During a test, a manual A4 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, a tenth of a second quicker than an A4 that runs on a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
It did make sense for Audi to finally pull out all the manual transmission options from its lineup as it moves toward a more “electrified” future. The shift to electric cars by virtually every carmaker in the world is another consideration that must have come into play in Audi’s decision.
If you still want a manual Audi, you can go to dealerships nationwide as some of the 2018 models are still available. Provided that the six-speed manual transmission was only offered with Quattro all-wheel drive and the standard 252-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four, owning one of these last remaining manual cars is still cool.
The 2019 model year should be available in dealerships later this year for $36,975, so go get your hands on those manual cars while you still can.
2019 Audi A8 Reveals Starting Price Of $84,795
The last time we have seen the 2019 Audi A8 flagship luxury sedan was more than a year ago, so we’re excited to get our hands on it this year. Audi revealed that the sedan will go on sale this fall with a starting price of $84,795.
To put it into perspective, that’s $150 more than the base rear-drive BMW 7 Series and about $3,000 less than the all-wheel-drive version. It’s also $6,000 less than the base rear-drive Mercedes S-Class.
If you think about it, the Audi A8 has quite a lot of value in terms of price. Its competitions from other countries are priced lower than it but once the taxes are measured and added, the amount could be staggering. The Lexus LS starts at under $80,000 while every version of the Cadillac CT6 is priced less than the Audi except for the CT6 Platinum, which is $85,290.
This base price refers to just one body style—the long wheelbase model. It is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. This is the only available engine for the A8 for now. If you want more power, a V8 version is coming next year.
The American version of the A8 will have a number of high-tech optional features, particularly a suspension that can raise and lower each wheel preemptively to better handle bumps, four-wheel steering, and an adaptive cruise control that can handle acceleration, braking, and steering at low speeds.
The adaptive cruise control is a hands-on system. This is not the same as the Level 3 semi-autonomous technology that the company used when it previewed the car. Because of legal issues, Audi is not yet ready to offer that system in the US.
Facelift Of 2019 Audi TTS Leaked
We all know that Audi has been working on an upgraded version of the TT RS, but we were not sure that there will be some tweaks on the lower trim levels too. The leaked images from Autoblog of the mid-level Audi TTS showed that it will get revised front and rear fascias. Does it mean that we’ll see a whole new look for the lower trim TTS?
Up front, the most recognizable difference is the new grille insert. It now houses a mesh of oval-shaped openings instead of the multitude of slates we have seen in the regular models. Another element that has been changed is the addition of large silver scoops, which blend to the silver chin spoiler, to the outboard grilles.
At the back, the Audi TTS now have a pair of vents placed below the taillights. The crease that separates the bumper section now blends into the edges of the vents and the rear diffuser has been restyled, though it remains to have the same size as the current model. To add more shape to the car and better emphasize the changes in the diffuser section, Audi also added new silver accents. These also create a more unified and dynamic look as they blend with the silver-accented front fascia.
The leaked photos are official images from Audi, which gives us a slight hint when we will see the launching of this upgraded Audi TTS. Perhaps, during an auto show this fall? Based on what we have seen on the leaked photos, everything is superficial for now, which means we’re not expecting any earth-shattering changes for the interior and the powertrains.
Just like the TT RS we have seen testing, there’s a good chance that Audi will give this TTS a few more horsepower. Of course, any tweaks mean an increase in price and probably, availability? Let’s find out soon.
3 Things To Know About The 2019 Audi SQ8
The latest Audi Q8 was introduced back in June 2018. It is the company’s latest SUV offering and competes with a market dominated by BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, and the Porsche Cayenne. Now that the regular Q8 is ready to hit dealerships, Audi is looking at expanding its existing lineup with a performance-oriented SQ8.
Exterior
In terms of design, it would take a truly Audi expert to notice the difference between the Q8 and the SQ8. There isn’t as much chrome as on the regular model while the grille inserts are black. But any difference stops there. The SQ8 has the same wide Singleframe grille with sharp corners, slender headlamps with LED technology, and the same bumper with massive vents on the sides. The engine hood remains the same though the Q8 has a sporty hood that fits the character of the SQ8 quite well.
On the sides, the only differences are the all-black mirror caps, the black roof rails, and twin five-spoke wheels with the beefed-up brake calipers behind it. At the back, the skid plate has been replaced by a diffuser-like element and there were four oval tips instead of the rectangular exhaust outlets.
Interior
The insides of the SQ8 speaks premium material, though it will have the same layout as the regular Q8. A continuous air vent strip will run at the top of the dashboard while the lower section, finished in gloss black, will house the infotainment display. There are two different screens—a 10.1-inch screen in the center stack and the smaller 8.6-inch screen above the center console.
The seats will be wrapped in fine leather with a diamond-quilt pattern, though there might be an option for sportier seats in the SQ8. Technology included are the LTE Advanced data transfer, Wi-Fi hotspot, a navigation system with intelligent suggestions, and Car-to-X services for traffic and hazard information as standard. There will be an optional Audi Connect key that will allow you to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle from an Android smartphone.
Drivetrain
We don’t have the exact details yet about the engines, but we believe that the SQ8 can use the same engine as the SQ7—a turbodiesel V8 engine that produces 435 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to take on the X6 M50d.
Photo Source: Motor Authority
Audi e-tron EV’s Interior Is Out Of This World
Ten years ago, the auto industry was so simple. There is a single screen on the dashboard that shows the gauge, temperature, speedometer, fuel levels, etc. There’s a radio that can play songs from your phone via a jack. There’s a dial for the aircon and the light could be switched on and off.
Those days are gone. Now, we’ve got two screens on the dashboard (both possible touchscreen), the seats are heated, there’s a parking assistance system, and the temperature is controlled by pre-programmed driver settings. The Audi e-tron EV’s interior is just another example of how times have changed.
The company has given us a glimpse of the in-car side-view screens (mirrors) that are attached to rear-facing exterior cameras. These officially replaced the traditional side-view mirrors.
The cameras’ views are going to be transmitted to 7.0-inch OLED screens mounted on the forward edge of each door panel (the driver’s side and the passenger’s side). The view can be switched to different settings when turning, parking, and highway driving. Drivers can also zoom in and out. This technology, of course, will only be available to markets outside the United States because the US does not allow such uber coolness.
The SUV will also come standard with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit display that replaced the traditional gauges with a large customizable screen. The infotainment system can be viewed on two stacked landscape-oriented screens on the center console.
There’s a floating L-shaped hand rest that protrudes from the passenger side of the center console. It houses the “shift gear,” which uses a thumb slider to select drive, reverse, and neutral. There’s a different button for park.
The rest of the car’s interior is typical Audi—from the layers of real brushed aluminum to the Valcona leather to the other soft-touch materials. There’s also a 16-speaker 705-watt Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system and an optional ambient-lighting package add to the premium vibe.
Coming Soon: The 2019 Audi A6 Allroad
At first, the prototype for the new Audi A6 Allroad looks like an old test mule for the Audi A6 Avant, but the higher stance makes us believe we’re looking at the new A6 Allroad, which is slated to arrive in dealerships early next year.
The prototype is heavily camouflaged, so it’s hard to make out details from that. Though there’s no official word yet from Audi, the A6 Allroad looks to be riding on a higher stance than the standard A6 Avant. Look at the photos more closely, and you’ll notice that the A6 Allroad has more space between the car and the road.
The A6 Allroad shares the same aesthetics as the standard A6 Avant. They have the same headlamps and front grille combo, though the bumper, the fenders, and the side sills are wider and more flared than the Avant.
As far as the interior is concerned, the new A6 Allroad should share similarities with the Avant. The deep panels would showcase itself again on the Allroad, as well as the dashboard and center console configuration. It should also have the new seats with its ventilation and massage functions.
The instrument cluster will feature the new Virtual Cockpit by Audi. It will house a 12.3-inch digital readout that will provide all the important information and details about the car. Drivers would have to get used to the new cockpit, but this has the potential to become one of the most important features in an Audi vehicle.
There’s nothing new on the powertrain front, unless Audi has a surprise for us. The A6 Allroad will likely feature the same engine options as the standard Avant, except for the four-cylinder units. That being said, this means that the base model would come off a 3.0-liter TFSI V-6 engine that can produce 340 horses and 369 pound-feet of torque. Of course, Audi could tune up the output for the engine. The V-6 engine would most likely be paired with a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission.
The Audi A6 Allroad should be revealed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, and would be available in dealerships sometime in 2019.
4 Things To Know About The New 2019 Audi S6
The 2019 Audi S6 will soon be unveiled and launched, but we already know a lot of details about it, particularly how it would be more aggressive in styling and it will have a more powerful drivetrain. The upcoming S6 is an important step for Audi towards dominating this segment that Mercedes-Benz and BMW are competing over.
1. Exterior
Based on the spy shots of TopSpeed, the most important exterior styling of the S6 is the new A8-style grille, whose wider element is highlighted by the sharper edges. The grille has three horizontal bars on the upper section, three in the middle section, and on the last section. It seems to us that the S6 is heavenly influenced by the A8—the headlamps are based on the A8 and it also has a more angular design.
The headlights, in particular, are slimmer and have a more angular and wider stance. Overall, the S6 has a sportier and more aggressive look than its predecessors.
2. Interior
The insides will be very similar to the A6, though this one on the S6 is headed by the all-new 12.3-inch diagonal display that replaced the traditional and analog dials on the dashboard. The display will provide information on speed and navigation. The other display in the dash will measure 10.1 inches and will include the latest MMI system with navigation. There’s another screen below—an 8.6-inch screen that has access to climate system, text input, and many other things.
The S6 will also be roomier with improvements on rear-seat legroom, headroom, and shoulder room. The trunk space will be unchanged at 18.7 cubic feet.
3. Powertrain
The current S6 is powered by a 4.0-liter V-8, which is rated at 450 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. However, Audi’s decision to downsize some engines could impact the S6. This means that the V8 could possibly be replaced by a 2.9-liter V-6. That could crank out, at best, is 450 horses and 442 pound-feet of torque.
4. Pricing
The base model would likely be priced around $73,000 to $74,ooo, depending on the options chosen. In the United States, Volvo’s current sedan is priced at $71,900.
3 Things To Expect From The 2020 Audi SQ3
The Audi SQ3 is the sporty and level-up version of Audi’s second-generation Q3 crossover, which will be unveiled in late July. The SQ3 will come with the trademark aggressive S styling treatment and four exhaust pipes.
This performance version of the Q3 will match the power output of the outgoing RS Q3, which will have a new iteration of Audi’s turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five that produces at least 400 horsepower later on. The RS Q3 was not released to the American market, making the SQ3 much more in demand and anticipated.
1. Platform
Like the base model Q3, the Audi SQ3 will use the Volkswagen Group’s MQB modular-transverse platform that is being used by a wide range of vehicles—from the small VW Polo to the Atlas SUV. The SQ3 will be similar in size to the current model, but the suspension will be tuned aggressively for minimum roll and sporty handling characteristics.
2. Powertrain
The Audi SQ3 will have the same EA888 turbocharged 2.0-liter four engine that can now be found in the Audi S3 and the Volkswagen Golf R. It can produce around 300 horsepower and can go from complete stop to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. It will have a top speed of 155 mph. The engine will come standard with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and Quattro all-wheel drive. We don’t have information on other powertrains available for higher-end versions.
3. Estimated Arrival and Price
The Audi SQ3 is expected to arrive in the United States in 2019 as a 2020 model. There is no information yet about the prices, but it will have a starting price of $45,000. Other variants will go north of that range with the available options offered to the vehicle.
The 2020 Audi SQ3 is competing directly with the BMW X2 and the Mercedes-AMG GLA45.
Spy Shots
Here are some spy shots of the Audi SQ3 from CarAndDriver:
Next-Gen Audi S8 To Be Available This Year
Reports are suggesting that the next-generation Audi S8 will become available later this year. Based on the information currently available, it looks like the new S8 will be using a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the same one found under the hood of the Porsche Panamera Turbo.
The newest Audi S8, however, will not get to enjoy the same power that V8 is bringing to the Panamera Turbo. Instead, it will make 535 horses, seven fewer horsepower that the same engine makes in the Porsche. On the upside, it does have 22 horsepower more than the last standard S8.
This information from Autoblog revealed and might have confirmed one thing: Audi is effectively ditching the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that it designed together with Bentley and used in the current D4 S8. The present S8 can produce 597 horses, making the possible 535 horsepower such a plummeting dive for Audi. Why then would it decide to go this route?
Just to remind you, this new-generation S8 is a standard S8. The current one in the market is the S8 Plus. This sounds awfully like mobile phones right now, huh? The S8 Plus was introduced in 2016 as a replacement for the then-current engine—a 513-horsepower-churning machine. It looks like this next-generation S8, which will probably come off as a 2020 model, is going to be measured against that first car.
A separate report, however, indicated that there will be another version of the S8 Plus. The Panamera was created to exist alongside Audi’s A8, as well as the S series. The models agreed to share parts. And since the Panamera has a hybrid powertrain in the form of the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, experts believe that this would also be present in the upcoming Audi S8.
Instead of wearing the S8 Plus badge again, it will be more than likely that the new vehicle will carry the name of S8 E-Tron. Presumably, it will be able to produce 621 horses, down 49 horsepower from the Panamera counterpart.
Now, the question would be if Audi would sell both versions or simply replace the standard version with the E-Tron? Let’s wait and see.