Auto Express July 29, 2015

THEY always say that things are cyclical, but for as long as I can remember, BMW has had a distinct edge when it comes to driver appeal – even in the exalted company of premium models. Things are changing. We’ve already crowned the Jaguar XE as our favourite compact executive car, ahead of the BMW 3 Series. And now we’ve just had a taste of a car that could well beat them both. And who’d have thought it would be an Audi? For many years now, you knew what you’d be getting with an Audi – a good looking car with decent efficiency, a class-leading interior and a ride that borders on the uncomfortable. And whether it’s front or four-wheel drive (sorry, quattro in Audi speak), you just wouldn’t be…

IT’S been a while since Audi released the single official sketch that confirmed it was putting the Nissan Juke-sized Q1 SUV into production. However, prototypes spied testing provide the first physical evidence that the Q3’s baby brother is nearing completion. Launching in 2016, the Q1 will headline a bumper 12 months for Audi, with an all-new Q5 and A5 Coupé also due. The first spy shots (right) give you an idea of the proportions the Q1 will adopt, but our exclusive main images create a much better picture of how the finished article could look. Audi’s prominent, trademark 3D grille with integrated LED headlamps will be a defining feature, while neatly diamond-shaped, chiseled flanks and angular bumpers will give it Audi’s Q-car characteristics. Positioned as a more premium offering than…

AUDI has its hands full with all-new SUVs. Following hot on the heels of the baby Q1 next year will be the next-generation Q5. It, too, has been spied putting tyres to tarmac for the first time (right), with the Mercedes GLC challenger expected to spawn an e-tron model to reinforce Audi’s commitment to plug-in hybrid tech. Our exclusive images (left) show what we can expect design-wise, and it’s clear from the prototype shot that Audi won’t change the current formula much. A more angular front sports the hexagonal grille shape from the new Q7, where larger lower air intakes also feature. The car’s profile is broadly similar to the current model’s, while the rear isn’t a radical departure, with revised LED tail-lamps and a new bumper. Under the skin…

AUDI bosses have let slip to Auto Express that the forthcoming RS4 Avant, and subsequent RS5 Coupé, could feature a new 3.0-litre V6 that uses electric turbocharging technology. This set-up would enable the RS4 – revealed in our exclusive main image – to produce huge power but with none of the lag normally associated with potent turbos, plus much reduced CO2 emissions. Head of technical development Dr Ulrich Hackenberg explained that a small, electric turbo can provide instant boost lower down in the rev range, as it isn’t driven off exhaust gases. He’s previously confirmed that the first Audi to feature such tech will be the all-new A8 saloon next year. The electric turbo would be powered by batteries, which are charged through a generator that recoups lost energy under…

NEW models are coming think and fast at Audi, with the jacked-up Allroad version of the new A4 also spied undergoing development testing for the first time. Look closely for the telltale signs on this prototype. The raised height and rugged wheelarch mouldings mark it out as the Allroad. The more prominent side skirts and bumpers also give it a more distinctive feel. We’re expecting the latest high-riding estate to follow the usual Allroad recipe: it’s likely to adopt the latest-generation Torsen permanent four-wheel-drive system rather than the part-time Haldex set-up found in the VW Golf Alltrack. The raised height will allow for greater approach and departure angles, while underbody cladding will give protection off-road. Buyers will get to choose from the same four-cylinder petrol and diesel turbos as in…

FERRARI has revealed the second member of the 488 family: the Spider. The open-top, V8 supercar arrives only six months after the GTB was first introduced, and becomes the most powerful drop-top ever to come out of Maranello. Set for a world debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the McLaren 650S Spider rival will arrive in dealers next summer. As with the 458 Spider that went before it, the 488 uses a two-piece retractable hardtop. It’s 25kg lighter than the fabric roof used on the old F430 Spider (see panel, opposite). Like every drop-top Ferrari, the 488’s roof can only be operated when the car is stationary for safety reasons, but it can then be neatly and electrically stowed under the new flying buttresses in 14 seconds. The added strengthening…