The new Audi A8 hybrid version will be on display at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, but in the meantime here is the A8 commercial. The standard Audi A8 is available on the market with a 4.2-litre V8 TFSI Quattro with 372 hp and a 4.2-litre V8 TDI with 350 hp. The Audi A8 hybrid appears at the Geneva show with the new Audi Q5 hybrid at a standa which will also feature the Audi A1 premium compact car.

Continue reading: New Audi A8 commercial: A8 hybrid on show at Geneva

Following the Audi Q5 hybrid will be the new Audi A8 hybrid, to be presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. The announcement of the new A8 hybrid was made at the Detroit auto show by Audi America president Johan de Nysschen, and is part of Audi’s ambitious target of selling one million models in the year 2010.

The same man famous for describing the Chevrolet Volt as a stupid car, has confirmed that Audi intends on saying no to those technologies which don’t represent real progress, and will therefore only focus on “full hybrid” cars, and not “mild hybrids” as in the case of the Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-Series, for example. It seems the US is fast catching on to Europe’s focus on the environment, and it’s interesting to see the Q5 as the first Audi hybrid choice.

Continue reading: Audi A8 hybrid at 2010 Geneva Motor Show

The Audi Q5 hybrid has been confirmed and will be presented most likely at the 2010 Paris motor show, with production starting for a market appearance at the beginning of 2011. The Q5 will be the first Audi hybrid model to be produced, and will be one of the significant models presented in 2010, along with the new Audi A1 and Audi A7.

No technical details of the Q5 hybrid have been released, although it should include the 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine combined with lithium ion batteries. The new hybrid model will contribute to the 42 model line-up planned for 2015, increased from Audi’s current line up of 34 models. 7.3 billion euros are being invested in the development of new models to achieve this aim.

Continue reading: Audi Q5 hybrid to enter production

Drive magazine has taken a look at some of the best vehicles for the snow, but which have enough city and off-road features to keep people happy, and looking good in both urban and and off-road settings.

Some of the usual “lifestyle” vehicles and faux off-road models such as the Audi Q5, Renault Koleos, Land Rover Freelander or Volvo XC60 may suit for snow and ice driving condictions. Audi and Volvo often come across with some of the best AWD options, having sedans, hatchbacks, wagons and offroads throughout the range which can give you all the four wheel effect you want.

But which are the cars that really stand out? There are a few surprises in the list, which includes: the Mazda3 (for its stability control), the Nissan Dualis, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Subaru Liberty/Outback. In fact, given Subaru has all wheel drive across its range, any old one will do. The Audi A6 allroad wagon gets itself on the list, as does the Volvo XC60 and the Lexus RX350.

For full details, see Drive.com.au.

Continue reading: Take off the chains: AWDs are the best cars for the snow

After the Audi Q5 Custom Concept pics, here’s the Q5 concept video, to take a closer look at the SUV with its V6 three-litre engine. A power-step version at 408 hp and 500 Nm was presented at teh Worthersee Tour 2009., after work on the aspiration system which now guarantees greater air being brought to the compressor. The exhuast also got an overhaul, which makes itself heard in the video after the jump.

Continue reading: Audi Q5 Custom Concept vidoes

Audi has released new official pics of the Q5 Custom Concept prior to the prototype’s presentation at the Worthersee Tour 2009 next weekend. The prototype is not so interesting for its look, but for the engine that they’ve put under the bonnet.

Currently absent from the Q5 range, the V6 3.0 litre TFSI is that of the Audi S4, brought from 333 to 408 hp for the occasion. This power will be managed by the S-Tronic seven-speed transmission, and the whole proposal has fans a-flutter.

The model proves that the possibility of an “S” version in the Audi SUV range is not so fantastical. This could also be a preview to the next RS4, currently oscillating between a V6 and V8. And given the closer relationships among the VAG cars, we could even see this engine on Volkswagen or Porsche models.

Audi Q5 Custom Concept

Continue reading: Audi Q5 Custom Concept pics

The message that we imagine Audi is getting across in these Audi Q5 commercials is that in a world of SUVs that are all the same, and all grey (and all possibly Lexus models), a compact and elegant SUV like the Q5 is the solution for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd.

The small Audi SUV is certainly a lovely car, and it’s already enjoying some sales success. But Audi probably isn’t at the cutting edge of originality in design in the SUV market. Whatever the case, we like the car but the commercials, particularly the second one, are slightly hit and miss.

Continue reading: Audi Q5 commercials: Audi SUV design

The Audi Q5 hybrid project has been dancing around a bit, in a one step forward and two steps back kind of rhythm, but Auto Week reports that the Q5 hybrid should debut in February 2010. This is after reports that Audi had cancelled its hybrid plans, or at least postponed them indefinitely.

There are still mixed messages coming from Audi, though, with its powertrain development manager, Wolfgang Hatz, saying that with the advantages, especially in cost, of diesel, any petrol/electric technology will have to be more efficient and convenient in order to compete with diesel.

There’s not much to be gleaned from Hatz’s statements, if only that Audi needs to include hybrid options in its range - a necessary path to follow for manufacturers to compete. The Q5 should provide a better option than the Q7 for hybrid technology in the European market.

Source | World Car Fans

Continue reading: Audi Q5 hybrid for 2010

The Motor Show in Bologna, starting on December 3, will host a series of important news from the Volkswagen Group, with the presentation of the new Golf Plus, that will see its international debut at the show.

Next to her we will see the Golf and the Golf GTI that were presented at the Paris show in October.

Audi, however, will be showing the world its A1 Sportback Concept, the S4 sedan and S4 Avant, also seen at the Paris show, and the new Q5. For the opening Sunday of the show, the company has organised an event featuring Emanuele Pirro, Dindo Capello and the R10 TDI, winner of the last three editions of the 24-hour Le Mans.

Continue reading: Bologna 2008 Volkswagen line-up

The official “mini-site” of the Audi Q5, next generation SUV, has officially arrived online. The important German off-road will be revealed in a world preview on the 19th of April.

With a superior graphic kaleidoscope on the site, it’s possible to register and win a preview test drive. According to Ingolstadt the Q5 will be “efficient but fun”, “sporty but not irrational” and will combine new technology with traditional company values.

All this will be needed: it’s useless to underline that in this sector, it will be given a run for its money…

Via | GermanCarBlog

Continue reading: Audi Q5, mini-site debuted: presentation April 19

It is by now almost certain that the debut of the new Audi Q5 will be in Beijing, in about a month from now. The German company’s new medium SUV, ready to challenge the BMW X3 and the Mercedes GLK, should debut with a hybrid version and new S-Tronic trasmission, double-clutch and seven speeds, which will manage an engine of 550Nm of torque and 8500 rpm . Expectations of the final physical aspects of the Q5 have been reduced, given that spy photos have been circulating for some time.

Via | Worldcarfans.com

Continue reading: Audi Q5: ready for the Beijing show

In an interview with Automotive News, Joel Weinberger, head of Audi’s dealer council, revealed some interesting information about the next Audi Q5. When questioned about the position of the market in the USA he replied, “The Q7 is a really big vehicle. Just size-wise you have to look at the (Lexus) RX 330 as your target. The Q5 will fit into that niche and it should not
cannibalize the Q7. It will be bigger than the (BMW) X3 and (Acura) RDX. Smaller SUVs tend to be more female-oriented.”

Other interesting news on the engine front: in the American market the hybrid variant will arrive first and only afterwards will the diesel version be released, “The Q5 will go hybrid first and not diesel. Audi has told me the unit cost of a diesel is $4,000 more but they realize they cannot sell it for $4,000 more - the premium will be half of that. We’ll sell them if they can keep pricing in line.”

Continue reading: Audi Q5 - first a hybrid version then a diesel for the US