Audi News

Audi launched its China-only fully-electric E5 Sportpack this week and took more 10,000 orders within the first 30 minutes of it becoming available.

Mercedes-Benz design boss Gorden Wagener didn’t hold back.In an interview with Top Gear at this week’s Munich motor show, Wagener gave his frank opinions of the latest work from his German rivals at BMW and Audi. The German took specific aim at the interior design of both the new Audi Concept C and the BMW iX3.“That interior looks like it was designed in 1995,” Wagener was quoted as saying. “It is a little bit too known, and there is too little tech. I have always claimed that I am a big fan of hyper-analogue things, but you cannot ignore a screen. When you have a small screen, you automatically send the message ‘congratulations, you are sitting in a small car’.”As for the BMW, which not only had a large central screen but also a narrow screen that wraps around the lower edge of the windscreen, well, Wagener wasn’t a fan of that either.“What the other manufacturer did? I mean, they showed the concept a couple of years ago with the information across the bottom of the windscreen. I have to say I'm not a big fan of that because it's so far away it’s hard to read. Everything will appear smaller so it’s distracting, and you need a device to operate it because it’s too far away to be touch-sensitive, so you have to put a touchscreen in there which they did. So it’s a pretty conventional solution, and actually a complicated one because you have information on different levels and I don't think that's intuitive.”It’s always good to get honest comments from anyone you interview, but Wagener may want to look up the phrase ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’ because, to be blunt, Mercedes’ design has been… hit and miss in recent years (to put it politely).I will acknowledge at this point that design is subjective and each individual will look at any car through their own eyes and form a unique opinion. But as someone who drives a wide variety of cars for a living, so I get up close to them, I have to say the latest era of German luxury design doesn’t make sense to me.Let’s do this alphabetically and start with the Audi. The Concept C is meant to preview the next-generation of design for the four-ring brand, ushering in a new ethos of ‘radical simplicity’, according to the brand’s design boss, Massimo Frascella.The new design, with a new vertical grille and a sloping tail is a clear call back to the brand’s iconic Auto Union racing cars of the 1930s. Nobody loves Auto Union racing cars more than me (just ask the poor Audi Australia folks who accidentally brought it up once at a dinner and I proceed to bore them for the next 45 minutes with non-stop history of such things), but the new look just doesn’t work in my eyes. The ‘vertical grille’ looks more rectangular to me, which looks very much like it came direct from the 1930s, before the car industry learnt to make radiators in all different shapes and sizes so cars could stop having rectangular, vertical grilles.Personally, I like the interior, but I also happen to think Wagener’s right that most customers will want bigger screens — even though, personally, I think a lot of brands are pushing the limits of how big in-car screens should be.Overall, I think Audi has arguably the best-looking and most consistent design themes of the three German luxury brands, so it is a huge risk to change it. Personally, I can’t see this design language transferring nicely to the same variety of cars the current styling does.Moving on to BMW, the all-new iX3 is also meant to herald the start of something radically different for the Bavarian brand. The so-called ‘Neue Klasse’ design theme is going to proliferate across the brand in the coming years, whether you like it or not.Again, the looks are subjective, but what bothers me about the iX3 design is it is yet another huge change for the brand and its once signature ‘kidney grille’ look. Ever since the controversial ‘flame surfacing’ design era, BMW has taken its long-running kidney grille and distorted it into all sorts of different shapes and sizes. So much so that what was once an easily recognisable design element has now become something completely random. On one model it might be small squares, on another giant, gaping holes and now the iX3 a throwback to the tall, slender version of decades ago.What is the point of a ‘signature look’ if it constantly changes?Finally there’s Mercedes, and the car Wagener will have personally overseen, the new GLC EV. This replaces the EQC SUV, the brand’s first mainstream electric model, which vanished without fanfare after clearly underwhelming the market.Maybe Wagener was lashing out at his rivals after the current EQ range of electric models has received ‘mixed’ reviews for their looks. Mercedes tried to clearly differentiate the looks of its electric models from its conventionally-powered range, but that has also been met with ‘mixed’ reviews and the new GLC attempts to correct course.Unfortunately, in an attempt to make the electric SUV look more like a traditional Mercedes that appears to have copied a design from the 1980s, when the grille was huge and rectangular, and added an array of bling to it.Personally, it’s not my taste, but for Mercedes’ sake I hope there are buyers lining up for the SUV with the big chrome face.I certainly don’t envy Wagener and his colleagues and the task they have at the moment, trying to integrate modern technology while retaining a distinctive look and needing to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. But, to be blunt, if what was on display at the Munich motor show is any guide, then we may be entering a controversial period for all three brands.

Audi has added its 'Sportback' coupe bodystyle to its Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron electric SUV line-up, which the brand says offers more than just sleeker looks.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has published ratings for several new cars after crash testing new SUVs, a ute and a sedan.

Less than 24 hours after images of it leaked online, Audi has officially unveiled its Concept C sports car study in Milan.

Audi's upcoming Porsche 718-based TT leaked ahead of its official reveal.

Audi has revealed the new-generation version of its Q3 Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV ahead of its Australian arrival in early 2026.

I’m okay with picking pattern progressions, but begin to fall short when the pressure of upper level IQ testing starts to bring me undone. That said, even I could detect the clear sequence of super performance carmakers following one another into the world of the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8.A slew of British, German and Italian brands using the same performance vs consumption vs emissions equation to propel their exotic machines towards the horizon at warp speed with maximum efficiency.So, why did white-coated boffins from all points of the automotive globe come up with the same engine configuration, capacity and induction answer?Well, at the recent global launch of the Lamborghini Temerario (a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 hybrid) we asked Lambo’s Chief Technical Officer (and drift king) Dr. Rouven Mohr exactly that.He confirmed the broadly accepted answer that an individual cylinder volume of 500cc is the magic number.That’s right, the capacity that took the ‘Wollongong Whiz’ Wayne Gardner and ‘The Master of going Faster’ Mick Doohan to 500cc World Motorcycle Championship glory is the Goldilocks zone for an individual engine cylinder. And that’s because a cylinder of that size, ideally undersquare (with a stroke length exceeding its bore diameter), optimises the combustion process thanks to a relatively small internal surface to volume ratio (as the piston nears top dead centre) which helps improve fuel efficiency while producing optimum power and minimising C02 and NOx emissions.So, 500 times eight equals 4000, which, with the benefit of forced induction pushes the golden ratio to its maximum.And Lamborghini should know because the all-new (L411) unit it developed for the Temerario produces 588kW on its own, before a trio of electric motors tips in another 89kW for a total output of 677kW (920hp).Two turbos producing 2.5 bar located in the engine’s ‘hot vee’ optimise packaging and thermal management; titanium conrods reduce rotating mass; a flat plane crank delivers an even firing order and super hard finger followers in the valvetrain allow more aggressive cam profiles. The result? A 10,000rpm rev ceiling, which is… nuts.Other brands within the Volkswagen Group portfolio are on the same train, like Audi’s SQ7 and SQ8 with Bentley and Porsche directly sharing engine tech.And what about Mercedes-AMG with the GT63 and SL63 or McLaren just about matching Lambo for specific power output with its 750S rocketship?But hands up those who remember JLR’s ‘Ingenium’ modular engine family. Three-, four- and six-cylinder units built around 500cc cylinders. BMW Group with its triple, four- and six-cylinder engines, along with many others have also struck on the 500cc formula. But maybe Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann has the most compelling reason for joining the club.While acknowledging the capacity of the cylinder premise - “Six cylinder is usually three litres, eight is four and 12 is six” - he lets slip that the 4.0L thing “is also a matter of taxation in a lot of countries”. So, follow engine efficiency or follow the money, the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 answer is the same.

Petrol power is returning to the Porsche Macan

Audi’s third-generation Q5 and sporty SQ5 hit showrooms next month and have been priced aggressively and specified generously with the aim of putting a dent in the market share of its premium German mid-size SUV rivals, the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC, while getting closer to the lower-priced, segment-leading Lexus NX.Starting at $81,000, before on-road costs, the all-new Q5 undercuts the BMW X3 (from $86,100) and Mercedes-Benz GLC (from $89,000) while dipping down to put some pressure on the Lexus NX (from $63,400).The new Q5 line-up starts with the entry-grade TFSI, powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine sending 150kW/340Nm to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. That combination receives mild-hybrid support from an integrated powertrain generator tipping in up to 18kW/230Nm and allowing low-speed pure EV propulsion for short distances.A redesigned interior features an 11.9-inch digital dash display and 14.5-inch multimedia screen with a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen available as part of a ‘Tech pro’ option package.Other standard features include 19-inch alloy rims, matrix LED headlights, leather-appointed upholstery, power front seats (with heating and memory), three-zone climate control, colour ambient lighting, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and eight-speaker audio (including digital radio).The TDI quattro ($87,600 BOC) offers an almost identical standard specification but swaps out the TFSI’s petrol engine for a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel unit, this time sending 150kW/400Nm to all four wheels via the same seven-speed auto and an on-demand version of Audi’s quattro AWD system. It also features the mild-hybrid support system.Next, the TDI quattro Sport ($94,100 BOC) retains the same diesel powertrain but adds 20-inch alloys, a panoramic tinted glass sunroof, sports front seats, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel, black headlining, stainless steel pedal covers and more.Step into the even more focused world of the SQ5 and power is bumped up to a 3.0-litre, turbo-petrol V6 engine pushing 270kW/550Nm through the seven-speed auto and quattro AWD system. With a revised suspension tune and 4.5-second 0-100km/h acceleration Audi positions it as the fastest SQ5 so far.From local launch, a limited SQ5 edition one model ($106,400 BOC) will be available for a “short period”, featuring gloss-black roof rails, mirror caps and window trims, anthracite grey badges, dark tailpipe trims and privacy glass. It also boasts 20-inch Audi Sport black metallic alloy rims and red brake calipers.Inside, the leather-appointed seats feature S embossing and a flat-top and bottom multi-function steering wheel is added.The ongoing SQ5 variant ($122,400 BOC) retains the edition one’s powertrain but switches its black elements for bright and brushed metal pieces while adding acoustic front door glass, premium diamond-stitched leather trim, additional massage and ventilation functions for the front seats, dynamic ambient interior lighting, a head-up display, top-shelf Bang & Olufsen audio and more.Underpinned by Audi’s ‘Premium Platform Combustion’ (PPC) platform the new Q5/SQ5 features progressive rate steering and ‘Frequency Selective’ dampers (using a valve to adjust damping force based on the vibration frequency) are standard across the line-up.Safety is comprehensive with a full ADAS suite including auto emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, speed sign recognition, ‘Audi Side Assist’, park assist plus and a 360-degree camera view standard. The airbag count runs to nine.Audi Australia has confirmed these five initial models will be joined by Q5 and SQ5 Sportback variants later this year.2026 Audi Q5 / SQ5