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As the world gears up to gape at the wedding of one Kate Middleton into the barrel of jug-eared inbreds known as the British royal family, Audi has figured out a way to turn the royals into silent spokesmodels. More »
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Budget-minded enthusiasts like hatchbacks, mostly because they only get one car and they have to make it count. The Audi A3 Concept challenges this preference by dropping all that's lovable about the RS3 hatch into a sleek sedan. More »
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Audi has explored the possibility of adding a four-door sedan body style to the A3 range since time immemorial. Or at least for the past year or two. Yesterday the German automaker all about "aluminum und shteel" basically officially confirmed it, releasing the first official sketches of this A3 Concept ahead of its world premiere at next week's Geneva Motor Show. More »
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Manhattanite Peter Helfer found his Audi covered in ice from a broken water main. His car was on newspaper covers, on morning news shows, and all over the internet. Here's how it happened, in his own words. — Ed. More »
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Audi's U.S. arm told us last night they want to bring the next-generation A1 stateside, as well as a sedan version of the wagon-only A3. Why next-gen? So U.S. crash standards can be baked in, along with alternative power sources. More »
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Jonathan Bohren and his father drove from California to New York with a camera hitched to the back seat, taking a photo of the view through the windshield every 30 seconds. Here's 3,054 miles compressed to four minutes. More »
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According to InsideLine, Audi's looking to put the 2011 A8's new ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission into the rest of its lineup. That may include the entry-level A3 model — even when it's equipped with the 2.0T four-banger. Simplicity, FTL! [InsideLine] More »
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Audi's "Green Police" Super Bowl ad campaign features a fake police unit with the same name as one that hunted Jews during WWII. More »
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As a brand that has been building their image as a manufacturer of premium diesel engines, it comes as no surprise that Audi is reportedly considering bringing the A3 2.0 TDI to the US market. The A3's 2.0-liter diesel engine makes 140 HP and 236 lb-ft of torque, and is good for an average of 29 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway. Though there's also a 170 HP version, and we're sure there's plenty more power that can be squeezed out of the little oilburner with some aftermarket tuning. Sure, you could just get a VW Jetta TDI with the same powerplant, but we're sure there are a few people out there who would enjoy a more upmarket fuel-sipping small car. [via MotorAuthority] More »
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Someone in the know over at Audiblog.nl has spilled forth a detailed list of all Audi brand engines for all models through the 2011 calender year — and the release dates for new models. In addition to the big engine news, the leakers claim that we'll be seeing the rumored Audi A7 model in June of 2010, as well as an S7 version following that fall, and a return to form for the next generation Audi S4. Look below for a detail look at what's coming up for Audi in the next three years. More »
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So what's happening at the end of May in the Austrian province of Carinthia that Audi would care about? How about the 27th annual Lake Wörther Tour? Sure. What's that? Yeah, we've no idea. What we do know is that the four-ringed brand's revealing what they've buzz-worded "a sensational study" and what they've named the Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro. The concept features a two-liter TDI engine delivering 224 HP and 331.9 lb-ft of torque. That's sports car quality power from a form factor that — well, has a bit of booty in the back if you catch our drift. And the purported performance numbers are definitely performance quality — a 0-to-62 of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph. Nice. We like. Full speed ahead past the jump for the press release. More »
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Audi has released an entire lineup of its freshened 2009 A3 lineup — the 2009 Audi A3, A3 Sportback and the much-more-fun 2009 Audi S3, and S3 Sportback. We're in a bit of information overload here, with a ton of new information and photos on the slightly angrier, slightly more powerful and probably all-around better lineup. What does Audi expect, the new A3/S3 lineup sports eight engines, three transmissions, a new magnetic ride and handling control system, remodeled interiors and restyled exterior styling (most of that restyling budget's gone up front). Take a moment and feast your eyes on the pretty new 2009 Audi S3 with too much booty in the back right there in front of you and hit the jump for the huge data dump and galleries on all the rest of the A3/S3 lineup after the jump.
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Though not the next generation of the Audi A3 line which winked at us from the cover of Autobild, this shot of what appears to be the new Audi S3 Sportback sure does look good in a shrunken, well-powered wagon sort of way. Snapped somewhere in Germany behind the oppressive bars of what we're assuming to be some sort of Audi facility, the upgraded four-door hatch gets a set of 18 inch wheels and some aggressive body work. We're told to expect an engine to match that aggressive-looking exterior — specifically, a 265 HP 2.0-liter turbo four with a six speed manual or a flappy paddle shifter. We're happy to see the more powerful version is just around the corner, as one of the biggest complaints of the A3 is its relative lack of motivation for the price — though we suspect all that motivation will motivate Audi to command a meaty premium over the standard A3. [Audiblog via Carscoop] More »
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Autobild seems to have gotten their mitts on a picture of the new and improved Audi A3. We're not certain about the details of this new A3 and without the ability to see the all-important cargo area we can't actually confirm it is the A3. We can see that the new A3 gets the LED-accented headlights spreading across the Audi lineup. It also looks like the headlights and grille get slimmed down from the gaping maw we're used to seeing. More importantly the Deutsch-bags at GermanCarBlog even tell us to expect a notchback version. Theres a zoomed-in view of the sneaky leaking below the fold. More »
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Our man in Bologna snapped these shots of the brand new A3 in brilliant white, looking very much like what we saw earlier. It's so bright, the spokesmodel in the picture can hardly look at it. As a reminder, the A3 vert is getting a pair of gas engines and two diesels with a power range from 105 bhp to 200 bhp. They'll be dropping their tops in Germany like Bild girls starting February 2008. More »
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Luddite Week comes crashing to a halt....now! I went car-shopping with a friend of mine a couple of weeks back. He's convinced that the car for him is an Audi A3. A fine, solid choice in my opinion. Yes of course I explained to him that for the money, a pistonhead would be better served in a 4-door GTI (or a WRX wagon) but he can afford the premium and likes the status of owning an Audi, even the little baby Volkswagen one. So be it. I particularly liked the "Open Sky" option, which is corporate nonsense for not one but two sun roofs (er, one sun roof and one moon roof, but still: cool) as they collaborated to make the wee car feel quite roomy. But the killer app was found in the glove box. There, sitting in its own little cubbyhole, was an iPod dock. Plug and play and forget it's even there, as you can change songs via steering wheel buttons. The new STI best have that option. You hearing me Subaru? Anyhow, your thoughts? More »
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The Fans of Cars across the World have snagged themselves some new shots of the new Audi A3 cabrio set to debut next year at Geneva. As we've shown you last week, the entry-level Audi drop-top mini-fighter looks like it took the current A3's front end and then strapped the A5 on to the back. [via World Car Fans] More »
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Audi's coming smallest convertible was confirmed earlier this year, ahead of a reported launch for 2008 or 2009. Now, grainy shots of the Mini-fighting droptop found they way to us via a French magazine and a few ear-to-the-ground Eurobloggers. Rumors say it's coming to Frankfurt, though we're not convinced. Auto Titre via World Car Fans] More »
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The 2.0 TFSI engine from the knights of Bruce has already taken some serious metal in the "Best of" categories. Now Audi's using that technology to create a smaller version of the award-winning 2.0-liter engine, announcing a new, "ultra-modern" (we're pretty sure that's code for über-Bruce) 1.4-liter four-cylinder Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection (TFSI) engine. It's ready to be dropped right into the engine bay of the Audi A3 and A3 Sportback. With 125 HP at 5,000 RPM and a maximum torque of 148 lb-ft. The first A3's to get the new engine hit the streets in September of 2007. Full press release after the jump. (Hat tip to Turboner!) [via AudiWorld] More »
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German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reports Audi's A3 cabrio is a go. That means the coming 1-Series cabrio from BMW will have a partner for the cover story on small droptops you just know is forthcoming. Further word has it the S4 will come sans roof. Both are expected to launch in 2008 for the 2009 model year. AMuS artistes have also spec'ed out what the roofless hatch will look like, though still nothing on export plans. Looks like little sister will just have to wait to find out what her sweet sixteen present will be. – Mike Spinelli More »
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England is car hell. Let's forget about the expensively obvious for a moment (insane taxes, equally insane gas prices, doubly insane speed cameras on every corner and under your bed) and the plain daf (Clarkson thinks the Jaguar XK is cooler than the upcoming Dodge Challenger) and look at the cars themselves. They suck! Nine out of ten cars in Old Blighty are 1.9-Liter French diesels. The rest are Korean brands you don't even want to know about. (SsangYong Rexton II, anyone?) Sure, you will see an occasional large BMW "saloon," but closer inspection will reveal it to be a 520d SE with a 1995cc oil burner and tiny wheels (though, it does — slowly — get 41mpg). Audis sell pretty well in London, but the overwhelming majority of them are three-door A3s with puny engines. In other words, rebadged Golfs. (Jump baby, jump) More »
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Audi tuning shop B&B turned its attention toward the late-model A3, cranking the nutter dial up to 362 hp. The company is intent on turning hardware from Ingolstadt into Porsche beaters, and its new hatch, in the highest stage of tune, gets to 62 mph in just 4.9 seconds and on up to nearly 171 mph. The mods include a new chip, a larger turbo, sport exhaust system with high-performance catalyst, a bespoke air intake system and tweaked intercooler and oil cooler. A sport-tuned suspension and six-piston brakes keep all that mayhem under human command. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Germany's AutoBild reports on Audi's new crop of cabrios on its way from Ingolstadt. Talk has been circulating about the company's R8 supercar being offered in a Gallardo-like spider version, and the Bild talks about that car as if it's a done deal, though they've yet to put imagery-meister Huckfeld on the case. They're also schreiben about the Audi A3 cabrio, which is expected to hit in 2007, possibly at the same time as the TT roadster. It's all a matter of "fresh wind" breaking from the Audi drawing boards, Bild says — though it's possible Google Translate may be overstating the case. More »
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Vogtland Autosport's latest project car, an Audi A3, is a lesson in safe tuning, meaning it covers itself in latex stickers before penetrating the autobahn. Actually, it means everything's done to quality spec and certified by T V, Germany's driving-safety group. It's got adjustible coil-over suspension (lowered 50 mm), six-pot brakes from ITS, spoiler kit from Rieger, 19" titanium chrome wheels from ITS, Toyo tires, Sebring-Twister exhaust and Clarion multimedia system. Sure, it's basically a cosmetics and handling package, but you know what they say. Speed kills. How safe would that be? More »
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Hans Lehman and his spyboys say they've caught sight of Audi's new S3, possibly at a commercial shoot ahead of its debut at the Paris show this coming September. According to those who say they know, the all-wheel-drive hot hatch will get a worked-over version of the corporate 2.0-liter TFSi four producing 260 hp, or thereabouts. Whether this particular porker is the S3, or an A3 tarted up in S-line parts is a question for better Munichers than we. More »
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It's official, says the blog of cars that are German. Audi will launch the new S-series version of its A3, the (wait for it) S3, in the fall of 2006. That means we'll likely get our first look at the Paris show in late September. V-dub watchers wonder how the $40,000 hatch will stack up against the upcoming, similarly powered VW Golf R36 (reportedly), which will likely cost a few grand less in the States. Maybe Audi will just bypass the US altogether, as it did with the previous version. Maybe that's for the best. More »
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Why you should buy this car: The A3 has the world s best gearbox, and it isn t afraid to use it. More »
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Exterior Design: ** More »
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The manual transmission is dead. Long live DSG. Yes folks, it s true: the Direct Sequential Gearbox is ready to turn tripedalists into I remember when you had to coordinate your hands and feet like a flamenco dancer to drive to the record store old fogies. The last time I checked Audi s clever two-clutch paddle shifting jobbie, I was wearing the 04 Audi TT. It was a reasonably righteous cog swapper attached to an engine that wouldn t get out of bed for anything less than 3000 revs — and then had a straight-to-the-redline hissy fit. If only the DSG had a companion that could torque a good game. Or so I thought. More »
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350hp in an A3? We're so there that even Oakland could be there with a heapin' helping of there there. (Apologies to Gertrude Stein.) The RS3's on its way kids, to England, at least. And y'know? It's only thirty-five-thousand pounds. Uh, wait. That's a lot of scratch for a hatch, even a premium one. Is it worth it? We dunno. Hand it over, Audi. We wanna know. More »
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One of our readers in San Francisco — a confirmed early adopter whose current car is a Passat W8 —has been waiting patiently for the arrival of the Audi A3 3.2 he has on order. Over the weekend, as he reports, the dealership just received the first two specimens, which he got a chance to flog one of them mercilessly test-drive one. The car doesn't have all the toys he ordered, but he's willing to wait for his confirmed delivery in December. Thanks, Matt. (Full account after the jump.) More »
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The German Car Blog checks in with an announcement from Audi that will please hot hatchback fans from Maine to Texarkana and beyond. The company confirmed it would be bringing the Audi A3 3.2 to the states beginning in early 2006. All we know is that it'll be fitted with Audi's DSG autoshift box; the company mentioned a manual option (our guess is, forget it). In the A4, the 3.2-liter V6 produces 255hp at 6,500 RPM and 243 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 RPM, though the A3 is around 100lbs lighter. No word on price yet. More »
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