Send to a friendmy.IS - Lexus IS Forum - Some tidbits on Audi's future plans September 19th, 2007 3:46 PM Link
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Audi Future Product Plans Include 4-Door Coupe, Vectoring AWD, Delayed Diesel Q7
Written By: Chris Paukert
We were on hand yesterday at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham for an intimate roundtable discussion with Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America’s executive vice president. The Audi executive was more forthcoming and frank than most at such functions, and we learned that there are some exciting developments on the horizon in their push for a larger footprint in this country.
Among them, Audi will join the burgeoning four-door ‘coupe’ segment “before 2012.” The unnamed car is to slot between the A6 and A8, and we expect for pricing to fall somewhere in between the two of them. Architecture was not discussed, but if they follow the lead established by the Mercedes-Benz CLS, it would likely be based on the next-generation A6 platform. A “sneak peek” showcar is likely, but de Nyscchen declined to indicate at what show.
When we discussed the ‘coupification’ of both the sedan and crossover marketplace (think: BMW X6 and Range Rover Sport), de Nysschen said flatly that the Cross Coupe Quattro concept that debuted in Shanghai is not the precursor to the pending Q5, but instead presages another model altogether…
(Click through to the jump for more on Audi’s future product plans, including news on the A4, R8, Q7, and Quattro technology)
The ‘lifestyle’ model will slot in under the Q5 in size, but not necessarily price. Further, Audi is evidently more interested in fleshing-out its SUV/crossover range before it considers a ‘sports tourer’ model like Mercedes’ (struggling) R-class and BMW’s in-the-works V5.
On the R8, de Nysschen indicated that although the first dozen or so cars have only just been reaching stateside customers, plans are absolutely afoot to expand the range with a V-10 model. When asked what it would be called, he simply said “R8,” going on to explain that with most cars, whether it has a V-6 or a V-8 does not, in fact, change a model designation. A power figure appears to have been settled upon, but de Nysschen declined to indicate what that number is. Additionally, despite media suggestions to the contrary, a diesel R8 has not been signed off on, nor has a convertible version, although the latter appears more likely.
On the bread-and-butter front, a new ‘vectoring’ all-wheel drive version of Quattro will be released as an option on the new A4 shortly after launch (details were not disclosed, but figure on something similar to Honda’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive). The system will likely be released first on a performance version of the A4, and it will be bundled with other technologies at additional cost. No stand-alone option is planned at this time. There will be a sizeable lag between the European and U.S. launches of the new A4, meaning that Audi will build the both the B7 and B8 platforms simultaneously. Expect to see the next-generation model in U.S. showrooms next September.
Audi remains bullish on diesel, but despite this, oil-burning sedans in the States have yet to be approved. De Nysschen eagerly noted that the company’s 3.0-liter V-6 that is slated for the Q7 fits into a wide variety of platforms (A4, A5, A6, A8), but plans have not been approved to make the engine available in other vehicles.
Speaking of the Q7, the diesel version for America has been delayed. While deliveries for Audi’s biggest vehicle were slated for late 2008, the launch has since been pushed back to early in 2009.
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15 Comments
Super Car Blog » Blog Archive » Audi exec reveals more future plans September 19th, 2007 4:10 PM Link
[…] Winding Road recently talked face to face with Audi of America’s executive veep, Johan de Nysschen, who was surprisingly forthcoming with details about the automaker from Ingolstadt’s future product plans. For one, Audi does intend to sell a four-door coupe like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but not until around 2012. de Nysschen indicated a concept previewing the production version would appear at some time, but gave no indication when that would be. […]
Autoblog : Audi exec reveals more future plans September 19th, 2007 4:15 PM Link
[…] | Email this | Comments Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Published Wednesday, September 19, 2007 8:03 AM by Autoblog Filed under: Audi, r8, AudiR8,Audi R8, audi q7 diesel, q7 diesel, VectorQuattro, Q7Diesel, vector quattro, AudiQ7Diesel […]
dieselhead September 19th, 2007 5:54 PM Link
Did they say what “vectoring AWD” does? Acura’s SHAWD was a huge disappointment, so I hope it does something more/better.
Is the diesel problem technical, or is demand outstripping supply, worldwide? Could the latter be the reason everyone says “American’s don’t want diesels?”
Europe Trucks News » Blog Archive » Audi exec reveals more future plans September 19th, 2007 6:49 PM Link
[…] Winding Road recently talked face to face with Audi of America’s executive veep, Johan de Nysschen, who was surprisingly forthcoming with details about the automaker from Ingolstadt’s future product plans. For one, Audi does intend to sell a four-door coupe like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but not until around 2012. de Nysschen indicated a concept previewing the production version would appear at some time, but gave no indication when that would be. […]
Ducati Minor September 19th, 2007 6:51 PM Link
dieselhead, Europe has the been the rising source for diesel-powered passenger cars. Asian demand has been for large-scale utility trucks,as it has been here. There is no Asian or North/South American rush for diesel as of yet. I would find it interesting to see a CLS320 CDI/BLUETEC Mercedes averaging 22 mpg. I may not make a return on my investment and still have to pay a premium for gallon of diesel (and I long search for a diesel station), but I might consider it. The four-door coupe may be form-over-function, but I like the form part totally.
Audi exec reveals more future plans | Review Cars Blog September 19th, 2007 10:01 PM Link
[…] Winding Road recently talked face to face with Audi of America’s executive veep, Johan de Nysschen, who was surprisingly forthcoming with details about the automaker from Ingolstadt’s future product plans. For one, Audi does intend to sell a four-door coupe like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but not until around 2012. de Nysschen indicated a concept previewing the production version would appear at some time, but gave no indication when that would be. […]
cresp0 September 20th, 2007 9:58 AM Link
The 3.0 TDI Q7 has been for sale for a while here in the Dominican Republic, and it’s been one of the best sellers as well. There is definitely demand for it.
¿Qué se trae Audi entre manos? - Un alto ejecutivo aclara algunas de las dudas | Noticias de coches September 20th, 2007 1:04 PM Link
[…] Winding Road ha entrevistado al vicepresidente de Audi América, Johan de Nysschen, y para mayor sorpresa del personal ha sido realmente transparente en cuanto a los planes de futuro de su compañía, hasta el punto de que casi ha hecho un desglose de los mismos. Y no seremos nosotros quienes nos quejemos por su arranque de locuacidad. […]
Audi Blog » Blog Archive » Audi exec reveals more future plans September 20th, 2007 1:33 PM Link
[…] Winding Road recently talked face to face with Audi of America’s executive veep, Johan de Nysschen, who was surprisingly forthcoming with details about the automaker from Ingolstadt’s future product plans. For one, Audi does intend to sell a four-door coupe like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but not until around 2012. de Nysschen indicated a concept previewing the production version would appear at some time, but gave no indication when that would be. […]
naggs September 20th, 2007 3:18 PM Link
strange that audi has no plans for rwd given their attempt at becoming more sports sedan/sportscar type brand.
until they do something about their 60/40 weight dis, the a3468 will be no comparison to the bmw1357. fwd based awd is not a replacement for rwd no matter how many acronyms are added to it.
Phil September 21st, 2007 12:33 AM Link
naggs - Audi’s Quattro is just ‘fine’ in standard form. The RS4 with assymetrical (40/60 torque split) Quattro AWD has received tons of great reviews regarding it’s neutral handling. The new Torque Vectoring as Audi chooses to call it is different from the Honda version in that it is Rear biased with a 40/60 split while the Honda makes do with a 70/30 split. Something to note is that all new Audi models carry at the minimum the (40/60 torque split) assymetrical Quattro. Lastly, Audi has proven that it’s Quattro is every bit competitive with RWD. Just look at history and all of the racing, IMSA GTO, European Super Touring, in which Audi’s Quattro was flat out banned against it’s RWD competitors for having technology that exceeded the mainstream. They were plain and simple “kicked out”.
Winding Road » Archive » Audi Adds Diesel Engine to its Q7 SUV October 5th, 2007 1:22 PM Link
[…] The German automaker has announced that it will be expanding the available engine range for the Q7 by exactly one. […]
Winding Road » Archive » Audi Adds Diesel Engine to its Q7 SUV October 5th, 2007 1:22 PM Link
[…] The German automaker has announced that it will be expanding the available engine range for the Q7 by exactly one. […]
VehicleBuzz.net » Blog Archive » Audi exec reveals more future plans October 6th, 2007 4:20 PM Link
[…] Winding Road recently talked face to face with Audi of America’s executive veep, Johan de Nysschen, who was surprisingly forthcoming with details about the automaker from Ingolstadt’s future product plans. For one, Audi does intend to sell a four-door coupe like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but not until around 2012. de Nysschen indicated a concept previewing the production version would appear at some time, but gave no indication when that would be. […]
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