Tag: Audi Corporate News

Audi RS Q e-tron Drifts Alongside Ducati DesertX in Italy

Audi RS Q e-tron

Audi and Ducati join forces to unveil a common design to emphasize the synergy between the brand groups. The Audi RS Q e-tron demonstrates its extraordinary capabilities drifting alongside the motorcycle.

The Volkswagen automotive group has many sub-brands under its umbrella. As our avid readers must already know, this includes the Ingolstadt brand. However, for those unfamiliar with the two-wheeler industry, VW’s Italian subsidiary Lamborghini is also the parent company of Ducati Motor Holding. A group of lucky journalists recently got the opportunity to drive an Audi RS Q e-tron racer alongside a Ducati DesertX motorcycle in Sardinia, Italy.

The event was also the first time that journalists got to test both vehicles simultaneously. Both offerings now share a common design language that highlights the synergy between the brand groups. The test was conducted under the expert supervision of motorsport professionals from Audi and Ducati. Danilo Petrucci from Ducati was present to demonstrate the potential of the bike manufacturer’s Testastretta motor.

Audi’s Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz, along with Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger and Emil Bergkvist, also displayed the capability of the RS Q e-tron’s advanced technology by drifting the Dakar racer drifting alongside the Italian two-wheeler on gravel tracks.

Audi RS Q e-tron

Audi factory driver Carlos Sainz shared his thoughts on the RS Q e-tron.

“What Audi has achieved with this concept is technically unique and a real benefit for us drivers,” explains Sainz. He further adds, “The event in Sardinia was great to communicate the benefits of the electric drive. All the media were impressed throughout.”

A high-voltage battery pack powers the Audi RS Q e-tron. The Dakar racer’s innovative electric drive setup uses an energy converter that offers a maximum charging power of 220 kilowatts. The converter consists of a TFSI engine and motor generator units derived from the automaker’s e-tron FE07 Formula E racer. The electrified off-roader can accelerate to 62 MPH from a complete standstill in just 4.5 seconds on loose surfaces. The Audi RS Q e-tron can also hit a top speed of 106 mph. With four stage victories, RS Q e-tron made an exciting debut.

Danilo Petrucci also offered his insights on the experience. “It’s a dream come true for me, because already as a child I was a fan of Carlos Sainz,” said the Italian. “You can’t describe the feeling in the cockpit. I didn’t expect the RS Q e-tron to be so fast off-road. Its technology shows the way to the future of the automobile.”

Image Source: Audi

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Audi Announces 2023 Model Year Updates For the US

2023 Model

The German automaker will be expanding its EV lineup later this year. Audi is now updating its US product portfolio for the 2023 model year.

The Ingolstadt brand is introducing the 2023 model year for the United States. Audi’s 2023 MY lineup will get a slew of minor and major updates across the company’s portfolio. Every single Audi model now gets additional standard and optional equipment. These include the entry-level Audi A3 and Q3 variants and the top-of-the-line A8 and Q8 offerings.

Audi will also be expanding its EV portfolio later this year. The automaker will add the Audi Q4 e-tron Q4 Sportback e-tron to its lineup. For now, the 40 and 45 variants of the 2023 Audi A4 get LED headlights with integrated LED DRLs. One will also find a Bang and Olufsen sound system in the Premium Plus trim of the nameplate, and the convenience package for the entire A4 range now gets the adaptive cruise control feature.

Audi is also updating the appearance options for the 2023 A4, including new wheels. In addition to a wide range of equipment, the Premium variant of Audi A6 and S7 now get adaptive cruise control as standard. As part of the Executive package, Audi now offers the 2023 RS7 with a remote park assist feature and a black Dinamica headliner.

Audi Announces 2023 Model Year Updates For the US

For its 2023 model year, the adaptive cruise control feature is standard across all Q5 and SQ5 variants.

November last year, the 2022 Audi A8 facelift made its world debut. As a result of this, the 2023 update now gets only minor updates across the range. Audi A8 customers opting for the German automaker’s Comfort Plus package will now get HD matrix design LED headlights. Audi will now offer the high-octane S8 version with a Valcona leather interior.

SUVs and crossovers are the best-selling body types in the market right now. Nevertheless, Audi did not refrain from updating its range for the 2023 model year. The automaker’s Q3 nameplate now gets a wireless phone charging pad and LED headlights with LED daytime running lights as standard across the lineup.

The company also offers an optional appearance package for the 40 and 45 variants of the Q3, which gets new wheel options. Perhaps one of the most significant changes for the 2023 model year is a new entry-level engine option for the Audi Q7. The SUV now gets a 2-liter four-cylinder motor which churns out 261 HP of maximum power.

Lastly, Audi’s flagship Q8 and SQ8 models also get HD matrix design LED headlights and headlight washers as standard for the 2023 model year.

Image source: Audi

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Audi Urbansphere Concept is a Futuristic Vision For Urban Travel

Urbansphere

Audi Urbansphere concept vehicle gets Audi’s PPE electric vehicle platform and charging (up to 270kW fast) capability.

Earlier in February, the Head of Audi Design Marc Lichte discussed the gorgeous Audi Skysphere concept. The car draws inspiration from the controversial and mysterious Horch 853. Even though Audi Skysphere is quite an eye-catching grand tourer concept, we were impatiently waiting for Audi’s take on a futuristic utility vehicle, since crossovers and SUVs are the most popular body types in the market. The wait is over as the Ingolstadt brand recently unveiled the all-new Audi Urbansphere concept.

Audi Urbansphere is the final installment of Audi’s next-generation concept cars. The Sphere concepts showcase how the Ingolstadt brand’s electric architecture will underpin its autonomous offerings in the future. The utility vehicle gets Level 4 autonomous driving features and is the largest Audi concept. For context, the Urbansphere is 500 mm longer than the Q7 SUV, which is the biggest product in Audi’s portfolio.

The powertrain of the Audi Urbansphere gets a dual electric motor setup. The EV’s 120 kWh battery pack can deliver 466 miles of range (WLTP) and also churns out 400 HP of maximum power and around 509 lb-ft of peak torque. Audi’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) vehicle architecture underpins the all-new Urbansphere concept. The vehicle rides on 24-inch wheels and comes complete with adaptive air suspension and rear-axle steering.

Urbansphere

“Audi Light Canvas” is an LED digital light surface that dominates the front end of the Urbansphere instead of a traditional grille.

Even with its imposing dimensions, Audi claims that it designed the new concept car for applications in megacities. In an official press release, the company also reveals that Audi is targeting the Chinese market with its Urbansphere concept. For the uninitiated, China happens to be the world’s largest electric vehicle market.

With the help of a “co-creation” approach, the teams at Audi’s design studios in Beijing were able to finalize the design of the Audi Urbansphere while accounting for the needs of customers across Beijing. Chairman of the Board Management at Audi AG, Markus Duesmann, shared his thoughts on the new Urbansphere concept. “To make e-mobility even more attractive, we think about it holistically and from the customer’s needs,” says Markus.

Image Source: Audi

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ABT Sportsline’s AUDI RS7-R Sportback is a 740 HP Mild Hybrid

ABT Sportsline’s AUDI RS7-R Sportback is a 740 HP Mild Hybrid

This 740 HP Audi RS7-R Sportback ABT can accelerate from 0 to 124 MPH in just 10.2 seconds.

ABT Sportsline knows how to push the envelope and assemble an exciting high-performance machine. We discussed the Tactical Green Audi RS6 Avant, which puts out 700 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque, earlier this month. More recently, the popular YouTube channel Auditography offered an in-depth and cinematic look at the extremely specced out 740 HP RS7-R Sportback ABT.

The company will only produce 125 examples of the high-performance RS7-R Sportback ABT. The car is a 2022 model and flaunts a beautiful Sand beige metallic paint job. The limited-edition RS7-R Sportback also gets a full ABT aerodynamic body kit which includes a wide range of carbon fiber add-ons.

These include the prominent diffuser that dominates the rear end of this 2022 RS7-R. The carbon fiber aero body kit also includes a new front splitter, canards, roof spoiler, and side skirts. The car rides on 22-inch HR High Performance ABT rims that sport a black finish. Continental SportContact 6 tires envelop the dark wheels, which offer a striking contrast to this stunning paint job.

RS7-R Sportback

This 2022 Audi RS7-R Sportback ABT also gets carbon fiber mirrors and a quad-tip ABT stainless steel exhaust.

Each tip is 102 mm wide, and the exhaust produces an intoxicating racket. Even more impressive is that the power comes from an electrified mill. Under the hood of this RS7-R Sportback ABT, we find a 4-liter twin-turbo mild-hybrid powerplant. The V8 motor produces 740 HP of maximum power and 679 lb-ft of peak torque.

Power is obviously sent to all four corners. The RS7-R Sportback ABT can accelerate to 62 MPH from a complete standstill in 3.1 seconds. Furthermore, the car can also achieve a top speed of 199 mph. The interior also gets ABT Sportline treatment, and we find ABT badging adorning the seats and the shifter of this RS7-R. Throughout the video, we are greeted by amazing shots as the Audi RS7-R ABT tears across the roads of Forggensee, Germany.

Image Source: Auditography

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OCT Tuning unveils its 800 HP Audi RS Q8 O.CT 800

RS Q8 O.CT 800

German outfit OCT Tuning unveiled the Audi RS Q8 O.CT 800, equipped with OCT Tuning’s new Stage 3 Power Enhancement.

Ever since its introduction, tuners have been designing packages to push the performance of Audi RS Q8’s motor to its absolute limit. The unspoken goal has always been to achieve performance similar to Lamborghini Urus. In October 2020, we discussed Kempten-based ABT Sportsline’s high octane version of the Audi RS Q8. More recently, Sant’Agata-based company OCT Tuning unveiled the RS Q8 O.CT 800 and three new performance tuning levels for Audi’s sporty SUV.

This murdered-out super-luxurious SUV is called Audi RS Q8 O.CT 800. Besides its menacing paint job, this particular offering is visually identical to the standard SUV. However, the car ditches its factory rims in favor of 23-inch aluminum forged alloys which are almost 17.6 lbs or 8 kg (per piece) lighter than the stock RS Q8 wheels.

In its most capable spec, the Stage 3 Power Enhancement package increases the power of the SUV to 802 HP and 760 lb-ft of torque. Under the hood of OCT Tuning’s Audi RS Q8 O.CT 800, we find the same 4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 591 HP in the standard model.

RS Q8 O.CT 800

As a result, to achieve the SUV’s impressive performance figures, the tuning company installed a turbo-back exhaust and modified intake manifold, which comes complete with new filters and pipes.

Lastly, an ECU flash unlocks a substantial chunk of the powerplant’s performance. Customers can also opt for the Stage 1 Power enhancement, and the company will increase the power output of the Audi RS Q8 to 690 HP and 664 lb-ft with the help of software optimization alone.

Finally, a Stage 2 Power enhancement is also available, including the ECU and intake manifold upgrade. So far, we do not have any information regarding the pricing of OCT Tuning’s performance upgrades. However, the company is already accepting orders for its new tuning packages.

The new set of alloys also gives OCT Tuning’s Audi RS Q8 O.CT 800 its eye-catching stance. Furthermore, the red brake calipers with Audi branding offer a striking contrast to the otherwise dark color scheme. Continental SportContact 6 295/35 ZR23 XL tires envelop the 11-inch wide lightweight wheels.

Image Source: OCT Tuning

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