Audi Diesel Cars

It was just back in April of 2021 that Audi launched the A6 E-Tron concept – a car that was originally thought to replace the fuel-drinking A6. As it turned out, the A6 E-Tron won’t replace the regular A6, but it will be the A6’s EV counterpart. About a month after it was released, I sat down to make a case for how the A6 E-Tron could become the electric wagon – or Avant in Audi talk – that 2025 needs. If the latest reports are true, I could have been right, except that Audi might be moving quicker than I anticipated.

Audi is in the advanced stages of testing an all-electric version of its Q2 crossover, the smallest high riding vehicle it currently sells. The Q2 e-Tron (which is what it will most likely be called) will complete the Q2 lineup that also includes the SQ2 performance model, as well as an extended wheelbase Q2 destined for the Chinese market. The Q2 EV won’t differ much visually from other models in the range, but with a careful look, you will be able to spot that it is the battery powered model. The camouflaged prototype snagged by our spies has no exhaust pipe, for instance, and it’s bound to have additional small exterior giveaways as to what it is. It’s also been suggested that the Q2 e-Tron might use the lengthened platform of the Chinese-market model, but at the moment we really cannot make a definitive judgment on that based solely on this batch of spy shots. Furthermore, the Q2 e-Tron may only be sold in China, although there is a good chance it will reach Europe as well - this would represent the first sale of a long-wheelbase Chinese-market Audi model in Europe.

Update 4/2/2019:Our spy photographers caught the Audi Q2 doing some last minute, cold-weather testing. Check out the latest shots in our spy shots section below.

Audi released the new 2019 Audi SQ5 TDI, and it will showcase the brute at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. Yet, before I get into all the “what’s new” jazz, let me give you some perspective here, right in the introduction. The 2015 Ford Mustang GT comes with a V-8 with 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque and can accelerate to 60 in 4.4 seconds. The 2016 Chevy Camaro SS comes with a V-8 with 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque and can accelerate to 60 in 4.3 seconds. The 2018 Durango SRT comes with a V-8 with 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque and can accelerate to 60 in 4.4 seconds. Now, the new Audi SQ5 TDI isn’t as quick. It will accelerate to 60 mph in 5 seconds. So, around half a second slower, but not far off.

So, why the hell am I mentioning American muscle cars here? Well, unlike them, Audi doesn’t run on gasoline, it does not have a V-8, and its engine is around 25-percent smaller in terms of displacement compared to any of the cars listed here. Ladies and gentlemen, I know that comparing a compact SUV with muscle cars and a massive SUV like the Dodge Durango is, basically, blasphemy, but the Audi SQ5 is that insane, amazing, and incredible. In its newest iteration it is, by far, the most amazing diesel-powered performance SUV I know of. Yes, Alpina does have that mad

based XD3 with 388 horsepower, but I consider that to be an aftermarket offering despite the car being produced on the same production line as the regular X3.

Rupert Stadler, Audi CEO since 2010, has been arrested in his home in Munich following a diesel emission probe which links him to the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal. His arrest was instructed by prosecutors who had reason to suspect that Stadler might try to destroy or suppress evidence pending the investigation.

The Audi TT entered its third generation for 2016 and is built upon Volkswagen’s MQB platform. At Launch it was available with the choice of a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that delivered 230 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, or 310 horsepower and 280 pound-feet in TTS form. There was also a 2.0-liter TDI with 184 horsepower and 280 pound-feet but, unlike the TFSI unit that could be equipped with Quattro all-wheel- drive, the TDI was only available in front-wheel drive. In terms of design, the third-gen model changed very little and looked quite similar to the second-gen model it replaced. It did get the updated Audi grille design to go with a restyled side profile and mildly redesign fascias. On the inside, the biggest news was the addition of Audi’s virtual cockpit as standard equipment, but aside from a few nips and tucks, that was it.

This isn’t the first time that Audi has given the TDI an all-wheel drive configuration. Back in 2008, the second-gen model got its own 2.0 TDI Quattro variant, but it wasn’t quite as powerful as the new third-gen TDI Quattro model. But, it’s not all gravy when it comes to the TDI Quattro. See, those who remember and fell in love with the second-gen TDI Quattro will tell you that it came standard with a six-speed manual transmission for that row-your-own goodness that is oh so fun. This model, however, is only available with the six-speed dual clutch transmission. Sure, the dual-clutch unit has been found to offer better performance and fuel economy, and there are paddle shifters, but it’s just not the same. If you really want the six-speed manual, you can still get it in the front-wheel-drive TT TDI, but who really wants front-wheel drive when you can have Quattro?

Regardless of being stuck with the six-speed dual clutch, the third-gen TT TDI has finally gotten the Quattro drive system it deserves, so let’s dive on in and talk a little more about it.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi TT 2.0 TDI Quattro.

Last week, it was announced Volkswagen must pony up a whopping $14.7 billion to settle claims stemming from last year’s Dieselgate scandal. The settlement applies to nearly a half million U.S. passenger vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” that enable “cheating” in emissions tests (for an overview of Dieselgate, click here). Included in the settlement are options for vehicle buybacks, lease termination, and equipment modification, plus hefty cash restitution (between $5,100 and $10,000). We’ve put together a comprehensive synopsis of the settlement proposal, including how to get paid if you own or lease an affected car.

The settlement covers 2009 to 2015 model year Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, including: 2013 – 2015 VW Beetle, 2010 – 2015 VW Golf, 2009 – 2015 VW Jetta, 2012 – 2015 VW Passat, 2010 – 2013 Audi A3, and 2015 Audi A3. It’s the largest auto-related class-action settlement in history, affecting roughly 15 percent of all new VW and Audi models sold in the U.S. during the relevant six-year timespan (475,000 of 3,099,678 total units sold, source: Wikipedia).

To make matters worse for VW, the settlement only applies to models equipped with a 2.0-liter diesel engine. The 80,000 or so vehicles equipped with a cheating 3.0-liter engine will be settled separately.

At the moment, the settlement proposal is still pending, with a preliminary approval court hearing scheduled for July 26. However, it looks more than likely the plan will go through, in which case notices will be mailed to inform owners and lessees of the settlement terms.

Read on for a breakdown of who is entitled to compensation, the options on the table, how much money you might get, and how to get it.

Continue reading to learn more about the massive VW settlement.

It has been over a year since we saw the new Audi Q7 debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, and we’ve been waiting to see the new SQ7 makes its debut. We saw the spy shots of the SQ7 testing in April of last year with almost no camo, but since then the SQ7 has faded away into the back of our minds. We thought the wait was going to last forever since we didn’t the SQ7 debut during the first press days of the 2016 Geneva Auto Show, but as it turns out, Audi decided to skip bringing it to the show. Instead, Audi pulled the sheet off of its new SQ7 at its headquarters in Ingolstadt.

At first, you might think Audi was a little lazy with the SQ7 – it does look almost identical to the Q7 that debuted last year. But, it has its own little differences on the outside, some new engine technology under the hood, and can be optioned as a five-seater or seven-seater. On top of that, this is the first time Audi is throwing the “S” treatment at its largest SUV, so it is something to be excited about.

So, now that Audi has finally released details about its largest S model let’s take a closer look at it. We have lots of details to cover – especially in the drivetrain department – so you might want to get comfortable.

Updated 03/03/2016: Audi dropped the official details on the new SQ7 TDI.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2017 Audi SQ7.

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.

Having won seven drivers’ championships and four constructors’ titles between 2002 and 2015, Audi has plenty of reasons to be proud of its recent DTM campaigns. And even though 2015 was a rather disappointing season, it didn’t stop the Germans from creating a special-edition model that celebrates the A5’s efforts in the racing series.

Meet the A5 DTM Selection, a limited-edition coupe that carries the spirit of Audi’s DTM-spec coupe from the race track to the road.

Limited to only 50 units and priced at €74,540 (about $84,700) in Germany, the A5 DTM Selection is Audi’s third road car to wear the DTM badge. The first one came in 2005 as the A4 DTM Edition only a few months after Audi had won all three titles in the series. The second one was the 2014 A5 DTM Champion that celebrated Mike Rockenfeller’s 2013 victory.

Though Ingolstadt has nothing to celebrate in 2015 with Mercedes-Benz and BMW only one round away from winning the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championship, respectively, Audi decided that the current-generation A5 deserves another DTM special-edition before it goes out of production.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi A5 DTM Selection Limited-Edition.

Though the 2008 Audi Q5 arrived in 2008, it took Audi nearly five years to offer a performance version of the crossover. Launched in 2013, the 2013 Audi SQ5 received both gasoline and diesel versions with outputs in excess of 300 horsepower. Only two years have passed since then and Audi is already working on updated variants of the SQ5, based on the second-generation 2017 Audi Q5 that’s set to arrive in 2016. Until then, however, Ingolstadt updated the current SQ5 TDI to Plus specifications, giving it more power and torque and a number of exclusive features inside and out.

Before you get too excited, the SQ5 TDI isn’t available in the United States, which means the Plus model won’t cross the pond here either.

The SQ5 is the fifth Audi to receive the Plus badge. The company’s Plus line goes back to 2004, when the RS6 Plus was launched as a limited-edition model. Since then, Audi introduced the 2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus and 2012 Audi TT RS Plus in 2012, as well as the 2016 Audi S8 Plus in 2015. Also, the SQ5 is the first diesel model to gain the Plus package two years after it became the first diesel-powered S model in the Audi lineup.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi SQ5 TDI Plus.

The redesigned 2016 Audi A4, scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in 2016 as a 2017 model, will cross the pond with a diesel engine alongside the familiar 2.0-liter TSFI unit. The oil burner will also be a 2.0-liter four-banger, rated at 190 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The new A4 also has a 3.0-liter V-6 with up to 268 horses and 443 pound-feet, but it seems six-cylinder models won’t be sold here.

The diesel mill joins the revised 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline engine producing 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of twist. It replaces the previous four-pot rated at 220 horses and 258 pound-feet. Both engines will be available with either front-wheel-drive or quattro, as well as Audi’s seven-speed S tronic transmission, according to Motor Authority. Fuel economy estimates aren’t yet available, but the Germans said efficiency has been improved by up to 21 percent.

The redesigned sedan is scheduled to go on sale next March. Pricing will be revealed closer to launch, but it shouldn’t be significantly more expensive than the current model, priced from $35,500. Don’t expect the Avant to come to the U.S., though an updated version of the Allroad will be launched in a couple of years.

Continue reading for the full story.

Audi and the RAC (a U.K.-based automotive services company) have set a new official Guinness World Record by driving a diesel-powered A6 TDI Ultra to 14 different countries on a single tank of gas.

The A6 was unmodified for the journey, exceeding its factory-rated 67 mpg with an impressive average of 75.9 mpg, seeing a total of 1,158.9 miles before requiring a fill-up. The car comes standard with low rolling-resistance tires and a 73-liter (19.28-gallon) fuel tank.

At the helm was auto journalist Andrew Frankel and British racing driver Rebecca Jackson, who collaborated to set the new record in a 28-hour non-stop journey across Europe. The pair started in the Netherlands on June 9th at 9:48 AM (GMT) and ended in Hungary on June 10th at 12:44 PM (GMT), passing through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia in the process. The route was planned by the RAC to avoid things like mountain gradients and congested urban areas.

However, the trip wasn’t without its challenges, with several unplanned detours required due to heavy traffic caused by an accident and a closed tunnel.

Frankel said he was delighted to be part of the effort, and that he hopes the new record will stand for some time to come. However, the challenge was much harder than he expected, requiring a constant attention to the car’s velocity, with max efficiency available at an average speed of 50 mph. “In order to do this you have to be fully aware of what’s going on around you and anticipate what could happen with the traffic ahead,” he said.

For Jackson, the stint was a diversion from her normal gig as a flat-out performance driver, but she thought it was nonetheless something that the RAC and Audi should be proud of. “This was an amazing event and a very different long-distance driving challenge to what I’m doing next year when I compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2016,” she said.

Continue reading for the full story.