The Audi A3 Concept shown live at Geneva shows the new compact sedan model developed by the company. It’s appearing at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show together with the Audi RS3 series model and the Q5 Hybrid. The A3 Concept has the difficult task of updating the Audi image and refreshing the A3 range which has long relied on its hatchback model.

The new A3 sedan is 4.44 metres long and sports the usual sloping roof line we’re seeing on all sedan models to give them that coupé look. The difficulty will be to continue the improved design phase Audi is currently enjoying, but to distinguish between the various models which are slowly taking on an awfully homogeneous look.

The A3 Concept gets a renewed front end but still in keeping with Audi tradition, and we can see new elements being experimented with including new door handles and striking pillars. The interior has gone pared back, providing a minimalist and essential environment. Audi is concentrating on the new focus in lightweight models and the A3 Concept weighs a total of 1,540 kg. It is equipped with a five-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbo TFSI engine with 300 kW and 530 Nm of torque. The transmission is a seven-speed S Tronic and Quattro all-wheel drive is also included on the prototype.

Audi A3 Concept live at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Continue reading: Audi A3 Concept live pics from 2011 Geneva Motor Show

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The Audi Q5 hybrid will get its official release at the upcoming Los Angeles show and here are some pics and videos (after the jump) of the new hybrid SUV. According to Autoblog.nl, the Q5 hybrid is equipped with a 2.0 TFSI engine with 200 hp, with another 45 hp produced by the electric motor. Torque is said to be at about 480 Nm and top speed 222 km/hr. Acceleration to 100 km/hr takes place in 7.1 seconds and CO2 emissions are about 170 g/km

The Q5 Hybrid can run on pure electric power up to a speed of 100 km/hr but for a distance of only three kilometres (average speed of 60 km/hr meaning you won’t get very far if you are actually doing the 100 mentioned). Both the electronic motor and lithium ion batteries are placed in the rear, meaning the Q5 Hybrid has a smaller boot capacity, down from 540 to 480 litres.

The hybrid function is controlled by an MMI system which gets a new display unit in the Q5 cabin. Not much else changes in terms of style, either. The Audi Q5 Hybrid will appear on the market some time in 2011 and will be followed by the Audi A8 Hybrid. The latter was presented as a concept car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and so we expect the production version to turn up soon. The Audi Q7 will not be available as a hybrid model.

Continue reading: Audi Q5 hybrid pics and videos before LA debut

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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.

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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.

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