Audi SQ5 SUV

The SQ5 is Audi’s first venture into the growing high-performance SUV segment.

The SQ5 is powered by a 3.0-litre TFSI V6 engine that it shares with the potent S4 sport sedan. The mill sends 354 horsepower and 346 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and the latest generation of Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel drive system.

SQ5 is considered to be one of the top cars in the luxury compact crossover segment- providing the features of a luxury compact Crossover/SUV while providing sports car performance.

The crossover sprints from zero to 100 kmh in 5.1 seconds and reaches a top speed that is electronically limited to 250 kmh.

The TFSI’s supercharger is mounted in between the cylinder banks and spun by a crankshaft-driven belt to almost 20,000 rpms. Two intercoolers keep the temperature in check even under the most extreme conditions.

Torque vectoring, a sport-tuned suspension and upgraded brakes on all four corners help the 4,400-pound SQ5 provide the driver with a fun and sure-footed driving experience.

The SQ5’s Q5 roots are instantly recognizable but the super SUV gains a specific radiator grille adorned by brushed aluminum trim and an aggressive body kit all around that consists of large air intakes integrated into the front bumper, side skirts and a discreet spoiler mounted on top of the hatch.

20-inch alloy wheels wrapped by low-profile tires and V6T badges on the fenders finish off the upmarket look.

The Audi SQ5 builds upon the Audi Q5, with the SQ5 adding more refinement features and levels of performance not seen in the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, or BMW X3 family range.

The range-topping Mercedes GLK350 is powered by a 3.5-litre V-6, and 302 hp; the BMW xDrive35i similarly gets 300 hp from its 3.0-litre V-6. Audi SQ5 cranks up power to 354 hp, and taking just 5.1 seconds to do the 0-100 kmh.

The SQ5 is equipped with a supercharged 3.0-litre V-6 motor and its only engine option. Fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters sending power to all four wheels using Audi’s ‘quattro all-wheel drive system’

The SQ5 offers a generous array of standard equipment.

The Audi SQ5 is an increasingly popular luxury compact crossover that currently has no equal.

Volkswagen Group’s other brand, the Porsche Macan crossover, recently launched could be a serious contender in the sales department.

If you’re looking for compact crossover utility, but still long for the performance aspects of your sports car, the Audi SQ5 is an obvious choice.

Audi Q3 SUV

The Audi Q3 is a compact premium SUV that competes with the likes of the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, Range Rover Evoque and Volkswagen Tiguan

The Audi feels the classiest of them all, though, thanks to its restrained styling and almost unmatched build quality.

The engine line-up is straightforward, with an emphasis on diesel. There is a petrol engine -a turbocharged 1.4-litre with either manual or automatic transmission.

The 2.0 litre diesel offers the best efficiency and pulling power. The Q3 isn’t a proper off-roader, so Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system is there to provide extra grip on slippery roads. However, it does come at the expense of fuel economy.

Equipment is generous, with even the basic SE having 17-inch alloy wheels, an infotainment system with a 6.5-inch display, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth phone connectivity, dual-zone climate control and rear parking sensors. At the other extreme, top-spec S line Plus brings front and rear parking assistance, 19-inch alloys, sat nav and leather seats.

Add four-wheel drive and it’s actually a lot of fun to drive. It’s safe, too, with a five-star crash-test rating from Euro NCAP.

What other Motoring Publications say:

1.    Auto Express

“Premium badge, classy interior and capable chassis, but conservative styling, pricey options and small model range.”

2.    Autocar

“This Q3 brings top-quality mechanical refinement, laudable build quality, rich and impressive cabin materials and proper premium brand desirability to the market for small 4x4s.”

3.    What Car?

“All engines in the Audi Q3 range are strong and refined, the ride is comfortable and the upmarket cabin is hard to fault.”

“If comfort and quality takes precedent over performance and involvement then this is your best choice.”

Audi A1 Quattro

This little car is the Audi S1 Sportback – a high-performance version of the Audi A1 Sportback.

More than just a pretty face, this S1 Sportback is fitted with the same 2-litre turbo-charged petrol engine found in the S3.

With 370Nm of torque the car is capable of doing 0-100 kmh in just 5.9 seconds, with a top speed (electronically limited) of 250 kmh.

And out on the open road, the A1 Quattro lives up to its impressive credentials- great fun to drive with phenomenal grip and incredibly quick acceleration.

The Audi A1 Quattro is pretty economical – with an official combined figure of 7.1 litres/100 kms.

This performance car is the only one to feature an all-wheel drive system, which means there’s a huge amount of grip available.

Available as a three or five door – dubbed hatchback or Sportback respectively.

The A1 Quattro is a great looking car with added sporty appeal thanks to Audi’s optional extras. Exterior styling package consists of larger wheels in matte black along with a split roof spoiler, red inserts in the headlights and red brake callipers.

Audi A1 quattro is the top-of-the-range in the very successful A1 model series.

Its two-litre (1,984 cc, four-cylinder) turbo-charged engine produces 188 kW delivered to all four wheels.

Every detail of this sporty four-cylinder engine has been optimised for high performance and low fuel consumption. Fuel injection, and turbo-charger with an intercooler and a regulated oil pump are just a few examples.

The TFSI motor delivers its power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system via a precise shifting six-speed transmission. The heart of this system is an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch whose package of plates rotates in an oil bath.

One look is all it takes to see that the Audi A1 quattro is a very special vehicle. It is available only in Glacier White metallic, and its roof is painted high-gloss black. The front bumper is muscular, the frame and grate of the single-frame grille are high-gloss black. The curved bars in the headlights – the wings – are red. The grille, the roof arch and the rear hatch sport quattro badges.

Cool, sporty black dominates the interior of the Audi A1 quattro. The seats and the armrests on the doors are covered in Silk Nappa leather.

Audi S6

What distinguishes the S6 from its humbler A6 sibling?

The big difference is what lies under the bonnet. The A6 uses four- and six-cylinder engines, but the S6 is fitted with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre that can propel the sport sedan from zero to 100 kmh 4.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 kmh.

The V8 id equipped with a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic that provides smooth but rapid shifts that can be controlled manually using steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and this combined with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system helps the S6 in difficult weather conditions and improved handling.

The S6 is not a gas guzzler due to a cylinder deactivation system that turns the engine into a V4 in low-throttle highway driving.

The S6 also rides on a full air suspension with adaptive dampers, which can be adjusted to suit the driver’s preferences and a ‘Drive Select’ system controlling throttle response, steering effort and shift calibration.

Interiorly the cabin features organic lines in rich soft-touch materials with fine wood and metal trim. Sports seats are wrapped in cross-stitched leather, a three-sport multi-function steering wheel and a S-line instrument cluster.

The S6 is equipped with MMI which includes an eight-inch pop-up display, a five-inch information LCD display and an optional heads-up display for the windshield.

The S6 comes standard with Audi connect.

The S6 is offered in two trim levels called Premium Plus and Prestige, respectively.

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Audi A7 Sedan

D2Forged Audi A7 CV2

The Audi A7 is visually pleasing both inside and out and the rear-end of the car is its stand-out feature-long and low, just like a coupe, but there’s as much space as a luxury saloon in the back.

Powered by a limited selection of 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines with the option of Audi’s ‘Quattro Four-Wheel-Drive System. According to the majority of test drivers and reviewers the 3.0-litre diesel model is the choice: not only does it return the best fuel economy in the range, but its performance is also impressive.

The A7 comes in three main specifications: entry-level SE Executive, mid-range S line and range-topping Black Edition. They all offer an adequate amount of standard equipment, including four-zone climate control, cruise control, a power-operated boot-lid, sat nav and keyless entry.

Boot-space is excellent- the rear seats can be folded down, and the hatchback tailgate is a real bonus to load and carry odd-shaped items. The A7 is strictly a four-seater.

Those choosing the Audi A7 3.0-litre TDI Ultra in SE Executive trim which is economical and practical four-seater executive transporter. Buyers should specify the reversing camera, because of its length which can make it difficult to park.

Observations

·         All versions offer impressive economy – especially the Audi A7 Ultra

·         Despite its bulky size, the Audi A7 Sportback corners very well

·         The Audi A7 is comfortable and stylish – but there’s only room for four inside

·         The shallow boot in the Audi A7 is easy to access

Comments from International Motoring Websites

1.    Auto Express

“The distinctive tapered rear end borrows its retractable spoiler from the Audi TT coupe, making the A7 sporty as well as attractive. Where the A7 really excels though, is inside, where you’ll find high-quality switchgear and a sleek design.”

2.    What Car?

“The Audi A7 Sportback is a super-stylish executive hatch that’s a tech-lover’s dream. It’s also economical, and the good looks extend to the beautifully made and well equipped cabin.”

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Audi RS3

If you’re in the market for the fastest compact five-door available, then the Audi RS3 Sportback should be your only choice.

This is a road-legal missile and the undisputed speed king of fast five-door hatchbacks.

Delivering a powerful punch to its competitors is the most powerful of Audi’s famed five-cylinder engine.

Turbo-charged to increase performance, the 2.5-litre petrol unit produces 362bhp and is electronically governed to 250kmh – though 280kmh is possible from a de-restriction at an additional cost. What is more impressive is the Audi’s 0 to 100 kmh at just 4.3 seconds.

Delivering this speed is a seven-speed S-tronic automatic gearbox and Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system. Both have been tuned to be more responsive, theoretically delivering more fun behind the wheel.

While official efficiency figures of 8.1 litres/100 kms and 189g/km of CO2 best the previous-generation RS3’s 9.1 litres/100 kms and 212g/km statistics.

The quattro system is designed in such a way as to minimize the ‘pushing wide’ into corners with understeer. Wider tires at the front than the back play their part here too, and while the rear wheels can have up to 100 percent of the power sent to them to keep cornering lines in check, seldom does this actually happen.

Sending proportionally more power to the ‘outside’ wheels of a corner now also helps tighten the RS3’s trajectory. Audi’s Drive Select function, switching between different driving modes, impacts the steering, throttle response, gear change points and, where fitted, the adaptive suspension’s compliance.

The RS3 Sportback remains largely unchanged visually- a honeycomb-pattern grille, and gaping chasms cut into the outer edges of the front bumper feed in additional cool air, a rear diffuser with enlarged oval exhaust pipes emerging from either side, and a unique design of 19-inch alloy wheels. Standard LED headlights and 25mm lower suspension are evident.

The RS3 maintains its classiness and solidity, and Audi have no plans to launch a three-door RS3 but has hinted a four-door saloon may eventually go on sale.

The Audi TT coupe

The Audi TT coupe is a two-door sports car that can accommodate 4 people.

It rivals a range of cars ranging from the cheaper Volkswagen Scirocco and Peugeot RCZ right up to more premium models like the BMW 4 Series coupe and Porsche Cayman. It has kept its stylish looks as with the first-generation TT. It has a keenly styled exterior design and a well-built interior that some rivals find hard to match.

The Audi TT is still a great car to drive, and provides complete comfort on a long journey.

The 2.0-litre TFSI S line with S tronic and Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system is fast and handles corners with ease thanks to the 4 wheel drive system.

All TT models are fitted with Audi’s very clever ‘Virtual Cockpit’ system, which allows you to switch between a conventional speedometer, to stereo, phone or navigation controls on a crystal-clear 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel.

Leather seats, DAB digital radio and climate control are standard on all models, and all models are equipped with excellent safety equipment.

The rear seats aren’t hugely spacious and are better suited for golf clubs rather than children.

Comments from Reviewers

·         The Audi TT coupe offers more driving fun than ever, but can still cover long distances in comfort

·         The rear seats in the Audi TT are only for occasional use, but fold them flat and there’s a decent boot

Comments from International Motoring Websites

1.    Auto Express

“With distinctive styling and one of the best quality cabins you’ll ever experience the TT is a desirable and classy coupe that rivals cars like the Volkswagen Scirroco, BMW 4 Series and Peugeot RCZ.”

2.    What Car?

“Turn in to a corner and the light, accurate steering gives you a good sense of what the front wheels are doing, so it’s easy to judge wwhether you need to back off a bit.”

Audi’s Limited-Edition A8 L Chauffeur Japanese Edition

Audi’s Japanese division have produced a limited-edition version of the A8 L flagship christened ‘Chauffeur Edition’ to cater for the growing needs of chauffeur driven cars in Japan.

It is very difficult to distinquish the Chauffeur Edition apart from the normal A8 L.  The inside tells a different story.

·         Rear seated passengers are treated to a pair of adjustable LED reading lights and individual power-adjustable seats upholstered in luxurious marble gray upholstery.

·         Passenger are provided with a specially chilled drinks compartment which is integrated into the panel between the rear seat back rests.

·         Two Audi Exclusive-branded glasses are stored in a small purpose-designed cabinet built into the center console, allowing the rear passengers to have a drink on the go.

The Chauffeur Edition is powered by a standard A8 L-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged TFSI engine that provides 435 horsepower and 444 lb-ft. of torque and is fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission that powers all four wheels. The 8-cylinder car is also no slouch and can do the 0-100 kmh sprint in under four seconds.

Audi will build 5 examples of the A8 L Chauffeur Edition with a price tag of USD 131,000.