New York 2008: Audi Forum hosts debut of Hunt Slomen custom-painted A5
Click above to view more high-res shotsThis past Wedneday evening, the Audi Forum in New York City hosted a gala party attended by celebrities and the weary automotive press in town to cover the New York Auto Show. The beautiful people on hand included Tom Brady celebrity status: A, Tyson Beckford celebrity status: B, Will Arnett celebrity status: A-, Denise Rich celebrity status: ? and members of the Gossip Girl cast according to my fiance, celebrity status: better than Tom Brady. Though Autoblog was...

Low dollar forces Audi to cancel U.S. Q7 hybrid plans
The low U.S. dollar has caused a number of carmakers to readjust their strategies, including canceling models and moving production. The latest vehicle to fall victim to the falling dollar is Audi’s upcoming Q7 hybrid, which will no longer be offered in the U.S. The green SUV was originally meant to reach the U.S. early next year but its launch in the world’s biggest car market has been ruled out indefinitely because there was no business case for it given the state of the dollar. The information...

Preview: 2009 Audi Q5 to make Beijing debut
With Audi’s Q7 proving to be too expensive for the North American market officials are keen to release the mid-level Q5 to help spur sales in the world’s biggest car market. According to a leaked product schedule the new Q5 won’t officially go on sale until July but the car is expected to make its world debut next month at the Beijing Motor Show. The new Q5 soft-roader is set to go head-to-head with BMW’s X3 as well as Mercedes’ upcoming GLK-Class and will be promoted as a sporty alternative...

Preview: 2011 Audi A6
The next couple of years will see the release of three crucial models in the premium segment with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi all expected to release new versions of their volume mid-level sedans. Audi will be the last to launch its revitalized model, with its next-gen Audi A6 set to arrive a year after the new BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-Class. The A6 will once again be released in both sedan and Avant wagon body styles and as these latest renderings show the new model will feature the same fluid lines...

Preview: 2011 Audi A1 super-mini
It’s been well documented BMW is developing a new minicar to rival cars like the Mercedes Smart and upcoming Volkswagen Up! Lupo family, but Audi too has confirmed it will be joining the fray with the launch of its new A1 compact hatch. The new super-mini is slated to arrive in late 2010 and will be offered with both coupe and cabrio bodystyles. Unlike their French and Italian counterparts, who specialize in compact and efficient hatchbacks, German carmakers are mostly recognized for building big and...

Audi TT 2.0: Dreamy, if you're the driver
NEW YORK -- Mary Anne, my wife, called it the "age extractor, a car that makes you feel younger the moment you get into it." But she had to bring lots of stuff to New York for an Easter week celebration. There was no way that the front-wheel-drive Audi TT 2.0 coupe, although it has been stretched and widened a bit for 2008, could hold Mary Anne's largess. We turned over the keys to Ria Manglapus, my associate in vehicle evaluations. Ria was ecstatic, as evidenced by her first text message about the TT...

Audi denies R4 plans
Despite numerous reports claiming Audi’s new Cayman-rival is in development, senior officials have confirmed there is no ‘baby’ R8, or R4 as most sources have been calling it, currently in the works. However, before we rule out the new model, remember that carmakers are well known for their tenacity in denying the existence of products until as late as possible. Last week an Audi spokesman told Automotive News the carmaker has no plans to build such a car. “It was never in our...

Preview: Audi planning handful of 2011 A3 variants
Audi has pushed back the arrival of its next-gen A3 by one year as it tackles the development of several other all-new models such as the new Q5 SUV and A1 minicar. Originally slated to arrive next year, the next A3 will now hit the market in early 2010, initially in its regular three-door hatch bodystyle and then in cabrio and performance S3 guises. According to a new report Audi is prepping even more A3 models including a compact sedan, A3 Allroad and a sportback hatch. The move is designed to help...

Decision on Audi R8 V12 TDI expected by mid-year
Audi has already shown us two concept versions of its V12-powered R8 diesel supercar but whether this means the concept is headed for production is still up in the air. Some officials within Audi claim there is a chance the car will be built, but at the same time there have also been several denials of the possibility of production. The latest twist in the story is that a final decision will be made by the middle of the year after all considerations concerning the economy and market forces are taken...

Agent 001 Tests The New Audi A4 Avant In Germany And Spain
Agent 001 is driving the new Audi A4 Avant in Munich and Spain over the next few days.Keep checking back for full photo coverage over the next few days as things happen! http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/2008-Audi-A4-Avant-74/page1/[source]