Category: Audi (Page 5 of 5)

The Audi A6 and Audi A7 models and the S model are entering the 2024 model year with a striking, high-end appearance. In addition to newly designed equipment lines with independent front and rear design elements, the luxury-class models now feature bold interior and exterior colors, new wheel designs, and upgraded standard equipment. The updated Audi A6 models will be available to order from June 1. Continue reading

INGOLSTADT (May 2, 2023) – In the mid-1990s, the Audi A8 luxury model elevated the Audi brand to a higher position and gradually led to the renaming of the model series: The Audi 80 became the Audi A4, and the Audi 100 was dubbed the Audi A6. Introduced in 1994, the Audi A4 was the first model to embody Audi’s new design language. Next was the Audi A3 premium compact car, launched in 1996, and the second generation of the Audi A6, introduced in 1997. In the course of emotionalizing the brand through a fresh, progressive design, American designer Freeman Thomas, under the then Head of Design Peter Schreyer, created a puristic sports car in the Audi TT Coupé. Audi presented the study to an enthusiastic trade show audience at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1995. The model name “TT” is reminiscent of the legendary Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, one of the oldest motorsports events in the world and one where NSU and DKW celebrated great successes with their motorcycles. The name “TT” also recalls the sporty NSU TT of the 1960s. The Audi TT Coupé’s deliberate departure from the usual Audi nomenclature underscored the complete novelty of the model.

Designer Wenzel: “In the Audi TT, every shape has a clear function”
In December 1995, the decision was made to mass-produce the Audi TT Coupé. Torsten Wenzel, the exterior designer at Audi who helped introduce the study to series production, recalls: “To us, the greatest praise was when the trade press noted appreciatively that not much had changed from the study to series model, although we did, of course, have to adapt many details due to the technical specifications for the series version, including the proportions.” Most noticeable was the integration of a rear side window, which elongated the car’s profile and increased the sports car’s dynamics. For Wenzel, the Audi TT remains “a driving sculpture, with highest-quality surfaces and lines.” The body of the Audi TT appears to be made from one piece, he says, and the front end without traditional bumper overhangs emphasizes its clear form. 

Another design element contributes to the unmistakable silhouette of the Audi TT Coupé: the circle – “the perfect graphic shape,” as Wenzel describes it. Numerous circular elements inspired the sports car’s exterior and interior design. Inspired by Bauhaus, every line in the Audi TT has a purpose, every shape a function. “At Audi Design, we always follow the philosophy of ‘less is more’. Bringing out the Audi TT Coupé’s unique character by reducing it to the essentials was a challenging and special undertaking for us designers.”

Two anniversaries in one year: Audi Hungaria celebrates alongside the Audi TT
In 1998, series production of the Audi TT Coupé began. One year later, Audi launched the TT Roadster. Like the show car and the Audi A3 launched in 1996, the sports car was based on the transverse engine platform of the VW Golf IV. From the outset, the TT was produced by Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. in Hungary. The painted TT bodies were transported overnight by rail from Ingolstadt to Győr, where the final assembly took place. This method of cross-site production between Ingolstadt and Győr was unique in the automotive industry at the time. Audi Hungaria, a wholly owned subsidiary of AUDI AG, is also celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023. Founded in February 1993, originally as an engine manufacturing plant only, Audi Hungaria took over the assembly of the Audi TT in 1998 in cooperation with the Ingolstadt plant. In 2013, the company evolved into a full-fledged automotive plant. Since its foundation, Audi Hungaria has built more than 43 million engines and nearly two million vehicles.

The range of engines in the first-generation Audi TT was broad and naturally always sporty. The first-generation TT, for example, came with four-cylinder turbo engines with a power spectrum from 150 to 225 PS and a V6 unit with 250 PS. A highlight of the engine range was the four-cylinder in the Audi TT quattro Sport which was boosted to 240 PS, and 1,168 units were delivered. First-generation TT customers had plenty of choices when it came to selecting special equipment. In addition to exclusive colors such as Papaya Orange or Nogaro Blue, customers could equip the TT with factory-fitted special accessories. For example, the “baseball glove” design for the leather seats in the Audi TT Roadster, originally an eye-catcher in the show car, transitioned to series production. Over eight production years, 178,765 first-generation Audi TT Coupés (Type 8N) rolled off the production line by mid-2006. Exactly 90,733 Audi TT Roadsters were built between 1999 and 2006.

TT portfolio expands to include RS versions in the second generation
In the following two generations, the designers held to “reduction to the essentials” as the dominant design principle, which is made evident, for example, in the minimalist design of the exterior and the sleek, driver-oriented interior. The round shape, and the circular motif, remained typical of the TT portfolio and were unifying elements in the exterior and interior design. For example, in the aluminum fuel tank cap, the round air vents, the gearshift edging, and the distinctive gear knob. 

The second-generation TT was launched in 2006 (Coupé) and 2007 (Roadster) and was based on the platform of the second-generation Audi A3. Adaptive dampers with Audi magnetic ride were used for the first time. Available as an option, this technology continuously adapts the shock absorbers to the profile of the road and the driver’s individual style. In 2008, the TTS sports model was launched with a 2-liter turbo engine and 272 PS, followed a year later by the TT RS with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine with 340 PS and 360 PS in the Audi TT RS plus. In 2008, the brand with the four rings launched the TT 2.0 TDI quattro – the world’s first production sports car to run on a diesel engine.

The third generation of the Audi TT was launched in 2014 – and once again, Audi used the new generation to reduce its weight. The TT Coupé, with a 2.0 TFSI¹ engine and manual transmission, weighed only 1,230 kilograms, up to 50 kilograms lighter than before. For the new TT and TT RS^{2, 3}, the designers reinterpreted the unmistakable lines of the original TT from 1998 for the modern age. They enriched them with numerous dynamic facets, while the round fuel tank cap with typical TT lettering remained true across the generations. Many profile details also deliberately recalled the first-generation design classic. In technical terms, the third-generation TT offered several innovations. For example, this model marked the debut of the Audi virtual cockpit, a fully digital instrument panel with highly detailed, versatile displays that replaced analog instruments and the MMI monitor. In 2016, a new era for automotive lighting technology began in the Audi TT RS, when Audi used organic LEDs, known as OLED technology, for the first time. The sports car’s engine range is also impressive: The top model was initially the Audi TTS⁴ with a 2-liter turbo engine and 310 PS, followed in 2016 by the TT RS^{2, 3} with the 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine, one of the most emotional units the brand with the four rings has to offer. With its 400 PS, this engine boasted a sporty sound and, on top of that, was named “International Engine of the Year” nine times in a row. With the special Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition⁵ model, which comes in Nardo Gray and is limited to 100 units, Audi is bringing together the design and technology highlights from a quarter of a century of the Audi TT to celebrate this anniversary year of 2023. 

1. Audi TT Coupé: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.2-6.6(28.7-35.6 US mpg); combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 185-151 (297.7-243 g/mi)

2. Audi TT RS Coupé: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.2–8.8; combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 208–201

3. Audi TT RS Roadster: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.3–9.2; combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 210–208

4. Audi TTS: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.6-8.2 (27.4-28.7 US mpg); combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 195-187 (313.8-300.9 g/mi)

5. Audi TT RS Coupé 2.5 TFSI: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.2–8.8; combined CO₂ emissions in g/km: 208–201

Consumption and emission values are only available according to WLTP and not according to NEDC for these vehicles. Information on fuel/power consumption and CO₂ emission figures given in ranges are dependent on the chosen vehicle specification.

INGOLSTADT/SHANGHAI (April 18, 2023) – Under the motto “F1 Power made in Germany” the company is preparing to enter the top class of motorsport. From 2026, Audi will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with its own factory team and a power unit developed in Germany. “Motorsport is an integral part of our DNA,” said Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, at Auto Shanghai. “We are convinced that our Formula 1 commitment will strengthen Audi’s sporting focus. The racing series is continuously increasing its global reach, especially among young target groups and in our most important sales market: China.” The Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit could not take place for a fourth consecutive time due to the pandemic, and this makes him even happier to give Chinese Formula 1 fans a preview of Audi’s future involvement in the top class of motorsport. 

“The Audi Formula 1 project has really taken off in recent months. In the ongoing concept phase of the power unit, the foundation of our drivetrain for 2026 is being laid today. We attach great importance to detail work, for example on materials or manufacturing technologies, and we also focus on topics such as the energy management of the hybrid drivetrain. After all, efficiency is a key success factor for Formula 1 and the mobility of the future, these approaches will advance both worlds.”

Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG

Valuable insights in the development, for the test bench setup and validation of the measuring instruments are provided by a single-cylinder engine that has been tested since the end of 2022. The first full hybrid drivetrain unit, consisting of the combustion engine, electric motor, battery and electronic control unit, is scheduled to run on the test bench before the end of this year and will form the basis for the future vehicle concept. On top of that, the dynamic development simulator in Neuburg will be brought up to Formula 1 standards and will further advance the development of the Audi power unit.

Meanwhile, the build-up of the team at the facility in Neuburg a. d. Donau under the umbrella of the specially founded Audi Formula Racing GmbH is in full swing. More than 260 specialists are already on board. The core of the development team consists of experienced Audi Sport and Audi employees with many years of diverse expertise in electric motorsport. They are joined by specialists with Formula 1 expertise who have been sourced externally and will strengthen the team in a targeted manner. By the end of the year, the hiring of staff should be completed, and the team will consist of more than 300 employees.

At the same time, the Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg will be expanded for the Formula 1 project. From the second half of the year, additional test rigs for power unit development will be installed in a new building with a floor area of around 3,000 square meters. A modular design will allow the state-of-the-art test rigs to be put into operation even before the building is fully completed in early 2024. The electricity and heat supply in Neuburg is already CO₂-neutral: The facility is supplied with district heating from industrial waste heat and green electricity from hydroelectric power plants. The FIA, the world governing body, has awarded the facility its three-star environmental seal of approval, the highest distinction for environmental conservation and sustainability. Audi’s goal is to continue to provide CO₂-neutral energy for the Formula 1 project in Neuburg and to establish a regenerative energy supply at the facility.

Sustainability also plays an important role in the top class of motorsport. The regulations, which will apply from 2026, focus on greater electrification, the electric drivetrain (MGU-K) will then have almost as much power as the combustion engine. The highly efficient 1.6-liter turbocharged engines will be powered by sustainable synthetic fuel. Thanks to open competition, Formula 1 thus serves as a technology driver for both electromobility and sustainable e-fuels. In addition, Formula 1 has set itself the goal of being carbon neutral¹ as a racing series by 2030.

The focus on sustainability and cost efficiency in the form of a budget cap, the so-called “cost cap”, were important factors for Audi’s entry into Formula 1 , which was officially announced at the end of August 2022. Audi has selected the experienced Swiss racing team Sauber as its strategic partner for the deployment of an Audi factory team in Formula 1 from 2026.

¹ Audi understands net-zero carbon emissions to mean a situation in which, after other possible reduction measures have been exhausted, the company offsets the carbon emitted by Audi’s products or activities and/or the carbon emissions that currently cannot be avoided in the supply chain, manufacturing, and recycling of Audi vehicles through voluntary offsetting projects carried out worldwide. In this context, carbon emissions generated during a vehicle’s utilization stage, i.e., from the time it is delivered to the customer, are not considered.

HERNDON, Va. (March 30, 2023) – Providing the most sophisticated and seamless electrification experience within the Audi portfolio, the new 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron has been refined with increased driving range, higher-power and faster charging capabilities, and improved driving dynamics compared to the prior model^1,2. The latest iteration of Audi’s flagship electric SUV – the Q8 e-tron – delivers quicker acceleration with sprints to 60 mph in as little as 5.3 seconds for the Q8 Sportback e-tron with ultra package³, as well as efficiency gains through aerodynamic advancements and improvements to both battery cell chemistry and packaging⁴; increasing the capacity of the battery pack. The Q8 e-tron also benefits from two years of DC fast charging included at no additional cost via the Electrify America network⁵; true customer conveniences such as Plug & Charge⁶, which eliminates the need to present a separate payment card at select charging stations across the country; and one week of complimentary Audi on demand rental benefit through the Always Audi program⁷. Continue reading

INGOLSTADT (March 16, 2023) – The close-to-production Audi Q6 e-tron is just the beginning of the largest model offensive in the history of the brand with the four rings. Audi will introduce more than 20 new models by 2025 – more than 10 of which will be electric. The future Q6 e-tron model series marks the inauguration of e-mobility at the Ingolstadt headquarters. An in-house battery assembly facility underpins Audi’s commitment to electric mobility.

Curves and corners in the cold: Audi is currently putting the production-oriented Q6 e-tron prototype through its paces in the far north of Europe under strict safety regulations. The future model series is the first to be built on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) technology platform. With its 800-volt electrical system, powerful and efficient electric motors, an innovative battery and charging management system, and a newly developed electronics architecture, the production-oriented Q6 e-tron prototype marks the next major step in the electrification and digitalization of Audi’s model range.

The upcoming Q6 e-tron model series, which comes in SUV and Sportback body variants, represents sustainable production, the upskilling of the workforce at the Ingolstadt site, and the electric future of the company. Audi is transforming at an increasing pace into a leading provider of connected, fully electric premium mobility. And it is doing so on strong economic foundations: The Audi Group closed the 2022 fiscal year with record results.

“Our Vorsprung 2030 strategy provides the right answers, even in times of multiple crises. We are completely focused on sustainability and systematically advancing the digitalization and electrification of our products.”

Markus Duesmann, CEO of AUDI AG

HERNDON, Va. (March 15, 2023) – Today, Audi of America announced a limited offering of just 75 units of the 2023 Audi RS e-tron GT project_513/2. Developed in collaboration between Audi of America and Audi exclusive, customers now have the opportunity to drive a version of the e-tron GT that most closely resembles the prototype car. This limited edition leverages the original design used for global prototype testing with “e-tron” camouflage script on both the exterior and interior, and is exclusive to the U.S. market. Continue reading

INGOLSTADT (January 26, 2023) – As the fourth model in the series, the Audi activesphere concept marks the culmination of sphere concept vehicles by the brand with the four rings. Following on from the Audi skysphere roadster in 2021, and both the Audi grandsphere saloon, and the Audi urbansphere space concept in April 2022, a four-door crossover coupé with an astonishingly versatile body design is now making its debut. Standing 4.98 meters long, the highly elegant car is more than a mere luxury-class sports car, with impressive ground clearance, and large 22-inch wheels announcing its off-road talent. The Sportback rear of the activesphere can turn into an open cargo bed (“active back”) at the touch of a button – perfect for carrying recreational equipment such as e-bikes or water and winter sports gear. Continue reading