Audi has revealed the A8 Hybrid, at Geneva today, showcasing a new petrol-electric hybrid powerplant that is expected to be added to the A8 range in 2011.

The Audi A8 hybrid will be powered by a 2.0 TFSI engine and an electric motor, both of which are linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi says the A8 Hybrid has the same performance figures as a model powered by a large-capacity conventional six-cylinder engine. The petrol part of the power equation comes from Audi’s 2,0-litre turbocharged engine producing 155 kW and 350 N.m of torque, while the electric motor puts out 33 kW and a healthy 211 N.m of torque. When both are operating simultaneously, a total of 180 kW and 480 N.m are available.

Electric drive power is supplied by a lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the rear of the car, and ancillaries such as the power steering, air-conditioner compressor and brake vacuum are now electrically-run rather than engine-driven. The battery pack does intrude into boot space, however a full 400 litres of cargo volume is still available.

Despite weighing in excess of 1 800 kg, the A8 Hybrid is still capable of accelerating from 0 – 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and running up to a top speed of 235 km/h – thanks to the 2,0-litre TSFI engine. Average fuel consumption is claimed to be just 6.2 l/100km on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 144g/km, and city traffic sees the A8 Hybrid using 20 percent less fuel than a petrol-engined model. Fully-electric operation can be sustained for over two kilometres at speeds up to 65km/h, and regenerative braking enables the battery to be topped up while on the move. When coasting or at rest, the petrol engine shuts down to conserve fuel.

Audi has yet to announce precise launch dates for a production version of the A8 Hybrid, but the German automaker acknowledges the hybrid design study is “near-production” and industry pundits expect it to go on sale in Europe and the USA by late 2011. So far there’s no indication on a South African release for the A8 Hybrid, and the car will likely be built in left-hand drive only.

Much of the technology showcased in the A8 Hybrid will transfer to Audi’s upcoming Q5 Hybrid mid-size SUV, which was confirmed for a 2011 debut late last year and will be sold almost exclusively in the United States. Specific details on the Q5 Hybrid have yet to be released, but expect much of its tech specs to echo those of the A8 Hybrid concept.

Adapted from TheMotorReport

The countdown has begun in preparation for the 2010 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) and Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY) awards ceremony that will be taking place on April 1 at the 2010 New York Auto Show.

A total of 31 cars made up the original list of candidates for the 2010 World Car category, while 15 cars made up the list for the 2010 Performance Car category, but now these lists have been whittled down to just ten finalists.

Now in their seventh year, the World and Performance Car of the Year awards are an independent global accreditation to name the best new car on the market, as selected by a voter group made up of established automotive journalists from around the globe.

To be eligible, a car has to be in production and sold in at least five countries and on two continents, which meant many American manufactured cars didn’t make the list. The final winners will be picked by a team of 59 judges and announced during April’s New York event, however, the list will be whittled down even further to just three finalists in both categories at next month’s 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Also running once again for this year’s event are the additional World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year awards. Last year, the Volkswagen Golf 6 drove off with the World Car title, while the mighty Nissan GT-R supercar took top honours in the Performance Car segment.

2010 World Car of the Year top ten finalists:

• Audi Q5
• BMW X1
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Kia Soul
• Mazda3
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Opel/Vauxhall Insignia / Buick Regal
• Porsche Panamera
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Polo

2010 Performance Car of the Year top ten finalists:

• Aston Martin V12 Vantage
• Audi R8 V10
• Audi TT RS Coupé / Roadster
• BMW Z4
• Ferrari California
• Jaguar XFR
• Lotus Evora
• Mercedes-Ben z E 63 AMG
• Nissan 370 Z
• Porsche 911 GT3
• Porsche Boxster / Cayman

Adapted from MotorAuthority

A6? S8? No, this is the new Audi A7, a hatchback version of the next-generation A6 and Ingolstadt’s answer to the Mercedes CLS. Caught on test ahead of its 2010 debut, the new A7 will carry a price premium over its saloon sibling, and be marketed as a posher, sleeker A6, in much the same way that the A5 Sportback is positioned slightly above the A4 saloon.

The question is, does Audi really need an A6, A7, and A8? Apparently so, but don’t mock them: Mercedes has the E-class, CLS and S-class and no one complains about its bulging model range. So while the A4 and A6 are more mass-market, mainstream saloons, the A5 Sportback and A7 are designed to offer sexier (and less practical) alternatives; the A7 will be available with four seats, and a fifth may not even be offered as an option.

The A6 and A7 share their steel-reinforced aluminium platforms, and it’s the A7 that will arrive first – an unveiling is scheduled for mid-2010, with the new A6 saloon to follow in early 2011.

High-end models will come first with standard air suspension and there’ll be a choice of petrols (2.8 V6 FSI, supercharged 3.0 V6, 4.2 V8) and diesels (2.7 V6, 3.0 V6 with one or two turbos), mated to manual, automatic or dual-clutch gearboxes.

A hybrid version will reportedly follow in 2011, using the same electric motor and Sanyo battery pack that will appear on the Q5 hybrid next year. An S7 model is also on the cards, we may get an RS7, but there won’t be any four-cylinder variants unless Audi can hit its sales target of selling 40 000 A7’s per year.

Expect both the interior and exterior styling to mimic the Sportback concept that was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit auto show, the latest tech lifted from the new A8, and a £2 000 premium over the A6 when UK sales start towards the end of 2010. The A7 should be unveiled late next summer, and first appear at the Paris motor show, though there may be a surprise unveiling at the Moscow show.

Adapted from Car

“The Audi Q5 is the sports car of the SUV landscape, and the perfect vehicle for an active lifestyle – it is progressive and dynamic, spacious, multifunctional and comfortable.” This is what Audi had to say when they launched their Q5 SUV earlier this year. We covered over 600km in Audi’s Q5 3.0 TDI Quattro S tronic to decide for ourselves.

Exterior
Chunky, bold and solid. These are the words that come to mind when we look at the Audi Q5. Huge 20-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, high shoulder line, large single-frame front grille and stubby rear-end, define the Q5’s presence on the road. The LED day-time running lights in front, and tail-lights at the rear, further accentuate the lines and contours of the Q5,  making it one stylish and elegant SUV – not simply a down-sized Q7. However, some features are hidden from view, such as a video camera mounted next to the tailgate lever, as well as lights beneath the side mirrors, which illuminate the ground next to the car at night. Despite what its proportions may suggest, the Q5 has the lowest drag coefficient in its class of just 0,33 Cd.

Interior
Inside, our Q5 test vehicle was dripping with luxuries, however, they merely served to enhance what is already a superbly appointed and high quality interior. Looking beyond these optional luxuries, such as the panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation, park distance control with camera, bluetooth cellphone preparation and voice command recognition, the Audi Q5 offers its occupants a supremely comfortable environment, with enough support, head and leg room to rival any executive saloon. Which is no surprise really, as the Q5 is built upon Audi’s Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) shared with that of the A4 sedan and A5 coupe. From a drivers perspective, all controls are within easy reach and found in logical positions. The Q5 provides ample visibility from all angles and coupled with the park distance control, as standard equipment, makes driving in town anything but intimidating. Audi’s third-generation Multi Media Interface (MMI) system, features a full colour, hi-resolution screen and works well with the joystick controller. Admittedly it took us a bit of time to get used to the system, but we managed to find our way around the menu’s and use the sat-nav without begging for help from a 5-year old. Speaking of which, if we did have to ask one – and once they’d finished teaching us how to connect our cellphone via bluetooth – there is plenty of space for them and their mates in the boot. 540-litres of luggage space can be increased to 1560-litres with the rear seats folded down – more than enough space for the majority of your cargo needs.

The Drive
What can we say, we were surprised and impressed with the ride and handling of the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI. Riding 200 mm above the ground and weighing in at 1 865 kg, we did not expect the ‘compact’ SUV to handle the way the Q5 does. The steering is accurate, although without providing much feedback. Body roll is minimal and with the huge 255/45 R20 sized tyres biting into the road, the Q5 is able to negotiate turns at a surprising rate. The athleticism of the Audi Q5 is partly due to the Audi Drive Select (ADS) system. The push-button system on the centre console allows the driver to choose between comfort, dynamic, and auto settings. Switching between these settings creates a noticeable change in throttle response, gear change points, the electronically controlled suspension damping, and the power-steering ratio. When in ‘dynamic’ mode the Q5 responds crisply to steering, throttle and gear change inputs, providing genuine car-like handling, which coupled with Quattro all-wheel drive, inspires confidence and spirited driving – even in a diesel.

Performance
As we mentioned, the ADS system is only part of the equation that makes the Q5 the best compact SUV we’ve tested, to date. The other part is the 3,0-litre TDI diesel, which pushes out 176 kW and 500 N.m of torque from just 1500 rpm. Quiet, refined, plenty of power and torque, and relatively frugal consumption make the 3,0-litre TDI a benchmark engine in our book. To put the torque figure in perspective, the Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro we tested last month, produces just 30 N.m more, but you have to step on the gas to the tune of 6500 rpm to unleash it all. Usually you’d find a torquey engine to be a relaxing drive on the open road, where it would allow you to climb hills or overtake without the fuss of changing down a gear or two. But with the Q5 this is your experience no matter what the situation. Be it traffic or a cross-country sojourn, the Q5 handles it without batting an eye-lid and ensures you arrive at your destination feeling just as fresh as when you left. We should mention that helping the Q5 deliver its power to the road is a new 7-speed S tronic gearbox. As with all dual-clutch gearboxes these days, it capitalises on the torque of the motor to bring consumption down and provide lightening quick changes. Changes can be made either via the steering mounted paddle shifters or the sequential style motion of the gear level.

What we like…

• Bold, elegant styling with definition provided by the LED lights and flowing lines.
• Brilliant diesel engine provides refinement and performance.
• Audi Drive Select gives you a boulevard cruiser or a performance SUV.
• Comfortable and supportive seats inside a luxurious cabin – its a great place to be.
  

What we would like…

• A USB/iPod connection as standard – the stereo jack is adequate but doesn’t make use of the MMI system.
  
• An Audi Q5 parked in our garage please – it really is very very good.

SACarFan was recently invited to spend the day with some of SA’s most influential online personalities and a fleet of Audi’s. Scott Hayes drew the short straw and spent the day driving Audi’s around one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Here’s what he had to say:

After a cup of coffee (and panado for some!) the group was introduced to the fleet by Wernich Stipp, sales manager at Audi Centre Cape Town. In the line-up were an Audi Q5 2.0T; Audi A4 2.0T; Audi TT 2.0T Roadster and an Audi A5 3.0TDI.

Earlier, while I was waiting for other guests to arrive, I had the chance to take a walk around the showroom and service centre, both of which are impressive. The showroom is one of the largest in the country and the dealership is home to the largest Audi service centre in SA. I can attest to the last point, as by 08:30am an estimated 40 service bays were occupied with technicians applying their trade.

We were split into four groups and given an itinerary which took us from Audi Centre Cape Town to rugby legend Bobby Skinstad’s restaurant, Toad in the Village, in Noordhoek via Ou Kaapse Weg.

My co-driver for the day, Elodie Kleynhans, and I started out in the A5 3.0TDI. Elodie is admittedly not a fan of big cars but felt at home behind the wheel after finding a comfortable driving position, thanks to the electronically adjustable seats. If you were following SACarFan on Twitter, you may have seen my comment about how impressed we were with the silky smooth diesel lump in the A5 before jumping into the TT.

Top down motoring on a perfect winter’s afternoon has to be one the best experiences you can have in the Fairest Cape. With its 2,0-litre turbo motor and S-Tronic gearbox in sport mode, the TT hustled us along. Elodie and I were over the mountain and having coffee with Bob Skinstad and the rest of the group in no time.

At the mid-way coffee break names were put into a hat and one lucky person got to drive an Audi R8 V8 back to the city centre. Needless to say, when we stopped for lunch one lucky lady was all smiles.

On the return leg I drove the A4 & Q5 2.0T models. From my initial impressions of the Q5, I was impressed and look forward to bringing you a road test within the next month.

The day was organised by Audi Centre Cape Town together with online marketer Chris Rawlinson. If you’re a marketing type then click through to Chris’ blog for marketing insights.