Autoblog

It is, of course, no secret that we here at Autoblog like our horsepower. But what we like even more than that is good automotive sense and a great driving experience. And if we're honest with ourselves, we can admit that those don't always require a 580-hp V10.

Audi appears to feel the same way when it comes to the next S4. For the next generation model due in 2010, Audi doesn't plan to boost the output of the current model's V8. Instead, a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 is supposed to be pulling this mule caught lapping the 'Ring in Germany.

Autocar's sources say that Audi wants the next car to be lighter and get better gas mileage, and be able to compete with the BMW 335i. A more frugal car that can still do the business when asked and has better handling thanks to its lighter weight represents the kind of goal we can really get behind. To keep the S4 distinct from the next RS4 due in 2011, the top shelf super sedan is expected to keep its V8 lump.

[Source: Autocar]

Click the A4 Avant for a high-res gallery

The A4 is Audi's bread-and-butter, representing half of the brand's volume in the US market. So, when the premium brand from the Volkswagen group introduces a new version of its volume leader, it's a big deal. That's why Audi invited a contingent of American media over to Europe this week to play with the new A4 -- first on its home turf in Deutschland and then bombing around the Spanish resort island of Ibiza. The completely redesigned B7-platform A4 debuted in sedan form last September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, while the Avant wagon dropped last month in Geneva.

As is typical for most German cars, European customers get a much wider array of powertrain choices than we Americans do. With the US dollar in free-fall against the Euro, brands like Audi have to cut costs in order to be able to sell their vehicles here at a competitive price point. A big part of that means simplifying the number of product combinations that get shipped over. That means US Audi dealers will get sedans with either a 2.0L TFSI four-cylinder or a 3.2L FSI V6. The wagons will only get the four banger. All models will use a new fast-shifting ZF six-speed autobox, and only the front-wheel-drive 2.0L will be available with a shift-it-yourself six-speed with a third pedal. The automatic will of course be equipped with paddle shifters for those inclined to pretend they are Dindo Cappello. Follow the jump to find out what's new about the latest A4 and what it's like to drive with some of the European engines that most Americans will never get to sample.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Audi A4 Avant.

Wagon lovers rejoice! Audi's new 2009 A4 Avant has made its official North American debut at the New York Auto Show. The press release, after the break, introduces us to the newest 2.0 liter TFSI four cylinder engine, variants of which have won "Engine of the Year" trophies three times. Coming in at 211 horsepower along with 258 lb.-ft. of torque, the A4's base engine is reportedly capable of propelling the car to sixty in 6.5 seconds.

The impressive output of Audi's new four-banger almost makes up for their decision not to offer the sedan's 3.2 liter FSI V6 in the Avant. That engine features the newest version of the patented Audi Valvelift Technology (AVS) and offers up 265 horsepower. Six-speed transmissions will be offered in both the A4 sedan and Avant -- no mention of Quattro systems or the new 7-speed DSG. It seems like Audi's been holding back the new A4 for so long that we can hardly believe that we'll see it in dealerships this October, but we'll continue to sate your appetites with pictures until then.



[Source: Audi]

Click image for a gallery of Abt's Essen roster

German tuning house Abt Sportsline brought everything and the kitchen sink to the Essen Motor Show, and rather than present it piecemeal, we figured we'd put the whole megillah out for you in one shot. From A4 to Touareg, the latest hardware from VW and Audi has been worked over with appearance and suspension mods. Most boast notable power upgrades as well. Yes, we'll even revisit the (unfortunately) red-and-green-trimmed Abt R8, which we first talked about last week. If you're looking for a Christmas-themed supercar, or if you're a really nostalgic New Jersey Devils fan, it might just fit the bill.

Follow the jump for the rundown on all things Abt at Essen.

[Source: Abt Sportsline]

There is awesomeness to the prefix "twin-turbo." It could be a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine (awesome in its own right) that you're talking about, but prepending any engine designation with the modifier "twin-turbo" can suck all of the air out of a room. Owners of lesser cars just nod in acknowledgment of their inferiority. Audi fans have lamented the evolution of the S4 from a twin-turbocharged V6 in the B5 version to V8 power for the two most recent iterations. Many feel that the V8 powerplant doesn't have the addictive frenetic nature of the old S4. For the next generation, Audi is returning the S4 to its roots as a more refined version of what you'll find in the Evo or the STi. The B8 S4 has reportedly been lapping the Nurburgring with a force-fed six-shooter underhood.

With the A5/S5 joining the lineup, the S4 doesn't have to worry as much about serving customers who'd rather have a GT than something more serious. Thus, an artificially-aspirated V6 displacing three liters and employing VW/Audi Group's FSI direct-injection technology and Audi's Valvelift actuation system can be parked in the S4 without fears that the hardcore nature of such a powerplant would be off-putting. Whether the external compressors are turbos or a supercharger is the subject of rumor. Also open to speculation is the horsepower output, but it'd be safe to bet that something slightly higher than the 300 HP packed into the BMW 335 can be expected. Also expect the S4 to employ Audi's Sport Differential to offer tweakable chassis attitude, as well as the obligatory styling tweaks and sumptuous cabin, too. Click the Read link below to view a couple renderings of what the next S4 might look like courtesy of Fourtitude.

[Source: Fourtitude, Rendering: Fourtitude]

click above image to view 21 new pics of the all-new Audi A4

We've already been introduced to the new Audi A4 at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, and the updated car is a lot easier on the eyes than the current model. Incorporating similar styling cues to what you'll find on the A5 Coupe, the new A4 also features shorter overhangs thanks to its new platform that allows more wiggle room for engine placement. Though Audi gave us a smattering of images before the car debuted and we took a good number of our own in Frankfurt, the German automaker released an entirely new batch yesterday that we just had to share. The shots include a red 1.8T and white 3.2L model. We'll take ours with the 3.2L V6 please, as that engine remains one of our fave sixes currently on the market. Click below to see our updated gallery of the new Audi A4; the first 21 pics are all new.

[Source: Audi]

UPDATE: Audi has officially unveiled the new A4, though no new pics have been released. We've pasted the official press release after the jump.


click image to view more shots of Audi's new A4

It appears the damn is beginning to burst with news on the new Audi A4, as Motor Authority is hosting more images (watermarked, boo!) of the four-door sedan we showed you yesterday. Now we can see the new A4 (we think it will be a 2008 model, but you never know until Audi says so) from all angles, and it's apparent that while the sedan does take a few styling cues from the new A5, those do not include the coupe's undulating character line that bends up and over the fenders. The A4's character line runs straight down the car's sides and dips down to meet the headlights. Up front, however, the A4 will have a pair of lower grilles housing fog lamps, which make the front end look very similar to the A5. It also appears that the headlights may have optional LEDs, similar to the all-LED lamps of the R8.

Though the new A4 may look similar to the model it's replacing, some significant work has gone on underneath the sheetmetal to move the engine farther back, which both improves weight distribution and allowed the designer's to reduce the front overhang. Available engines will include a smattering of petrol and diesel options, the base motor being a 1.8TFSI and the top end mill a 265-hp 3.2L FSI V6. Transmission choices for now are limited to a six-speed manual, tiptronic auto and CVT, with the DSG expected to be made available later.

Meanwhile, the interior appears to be typical Audi, if you like that sort of thing. While no doubt impeccable to the touch, we're getting a bit tired of Audi's traditional interior design.

Click the Read link to visit Motor Authority for more details. We're going to wait until Audi releases the official details and images to go hog wild analyzing the new A4.

[Source: Audi]

click above image to enlarge

Though the new Audi A4 is supposed to debut next month in Frankfurt, a single shot of Ingolstadt's most important four-door has appeared on the web over at the AutoWeek.nl forums. It appears to be the very real deal, and is accompanied by some specific info, which we've done our best to translate and provide in easy to digest morsels below.

• Details on the new Audi A4
• 4.7 meters long, 1.83 meters wide
• .27 coeffcient of drag
• Base engine is 1.8L TFSI producing 160 hp
• 3.2L V6 FSI available producing 260 hp
• 2.0, 2.7 and 3.0L diesels available
• Six standard airbags
• Interior similar to A5, A6, and Q7

That's all the info we could glean from the Dutch text accompanying the pic, though we're sure Audi will have much more to reveal in a weeks at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Thanks for the tip, Tom!

[Source: AutoWeek.nl]

AudiWorld has confirmed with sources at Audi that the next generation A4 will indeed debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in about four months. Not surprisingly, the new A4 will share much of its look with the recently released A5 coupe. These renderings by Matt Daniels show what basically look like four-door versions of the A5. The cars have a charachter line along the side sheetmetal that bows upward over the slightly flared fenders. The line appears on the A5 and is one element that has certainly softened the Audi design language a bit, and we think it works just as well on the A4.

Just as the A5 benefitted from what Audi calls its Modular Longitudinal Platform, so too will the A4 be set atop a chassis that moves the engine and transmission farther back, allowing designers to push the front wheels out further and reduce Audi's infamous amount of front overhang. Thus, the A4's wheelbase will increase dramatically while the overall length budges only an inch. That extra wheelbase length will also add a much needed 1-inch improvement in rear legroom, as well. The new A4 will also get more LED lighting technology than any other Audi besides the trick R8. LED taillamps will be standard, while LED daytime running lights will be optional on some models and standard on the S4.

More can be found after the jump, and click the Read link to view more renderings of the 2009 Audi A4.

[Source: Audi World]

Sometimes news is just too good to keep to yourself. Just ask GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. With his company supposedly claiming 13 spots on Edmund's Consumers' Most Wanted list, Lutz just had to brag a bit on the corporate blog before the winners were made public.

And he should brag. Most other car of the year awards are chosen by us automotive writers who usually prefer horsepower over hip room. As the name implies, Edmund's CMW awards are chosen by the car-buying public. And despite not voting with their wallets, the car-buying public who visits Edmund's really like their GMs.

The GMC Acadia got Most Significant vehicle of the year, beating out Honda's Fit, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Ford Edge and the Toyota Tundra.

Click through to see Edmund's press release as well as the other category winners.

[Source: Edmunds, GM FastLane Blog]