2012 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Sport Utility 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet

When my 758-mile journey on the A3 TDI Challenge came to an end in Boulevard, CA, Audi had a very nice consolation prize waiting for me: the 2015 A3 Cabriolet you see here. And with miles left to drive before reaching my hotel in Coronado (just outside of San Diego), what better way to celebrate my personal victory of achieving nearly 60 miles per gallon in the TDI than to run the rest of the route in couple of turbocharged A3 droptops? After all, the efficiency part of my drive was done, so it was time to have some fun. The A3 Cabriolet comes to market just as the sun sets on another four-seat convertible from the Volkswagen Group stable: the Eos. That car, often criticized as being too expensive, is technically replaced by the Beetle Convertible as far as VW-badged products go. But for those who still prefer something a bit more upmarket, the A3 Cabriolet will fill the void nicely, and with more style and grace than the Eos ever had. Driving Notes The A3 Cabriolet arrives with a choice of engines. On the base end lives a 1.8-liter turbo-four with 170 horsepower, 200 pound-feet of torque and front-wheel drive, or you can pony up for the 2.0T with 220 hp, 258 lb-ft and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. Regardless of engine, the only transmission available in the A3 Cab is Audi's six-speed S-tronic dual-clutch unit. This is a fine cog-swapper, with quick shifts regardless of chosen powertrain, and steering wheel-mounted paddles that offer plenty of fun from behind the wheel. That said, I found it best to just leave the transmission alone, no matter the engine. The paddles are entertaining, sure, but slick the gear selector into Sport and the A3 will instinctively hold gears through turns and always have you right in the heart of the powerband. The 1.8T's 170 hp and 200 lb-ft are more than adequate for duty in the 3,373-pound A3 Cabriolet. I was never bothered by a lack of power, especially with the engine on boil with the transmission in its sport setting. Hitting 60 miles per hour takes 7.4 seconds, en route to an electronically limited top end of 130 miles per hour. If speed is your thing, though, the 2.0T certainly delivers quite a punch. That same 0-60 sprint takes just 5.9 seconds with the more potent powerplant, and you can really feel the stronger rush of power right off the line, even with the quicker A3's 210-pound weight penalty.

2013 Audi Allroad

Reincarnated With A Smaller And Less Passionate Soul
Mention the name "Allroad" to most automotive enthusiasts, and it's likely to conjure up images of the Audi A6 Allroad Quattro, first introduced in 1999. That car-like alternative to a sport utility vehicle was based on the German automaker's A6 Avant wagon. But unlike its luxurious road-going sibling, the Allroad was an on- and off-road variant fitted with an advanced height-adjustable air suspension for additional ground clearance, rugged tires on oversized wheels to improve off-pavement grip and unpainted flared fenders and bumpers to protect it from rugged use. That original A6 Allroad arrived with Audi's powerful twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, more to offset its increased weight than to boost performance, and was eventually offered with a 4.2-liter V8 before it was discontinued in 2005.
Fast forward eight years, and Audi has introduced its replacement - now based on the smaller A4 Avant wagon.

Audi R8 V10 Plus takes on Ducati Diavel in straight line

The classic car-versus-motorcycle comparison is put to the test as Autocar pits a 2013 Audi R8 V10 against the Ducati Diavel in a run from 0-150-0 miles per hour. While you might expect the 162-horsepower Ducati weighing just 515 pounds to blow away the 542-horse, 3,500-pound Audi, this particular test measures the acceleration and braking of both high-performance machines.
Drag racing an Audi R8 against a Ducati on a long, flat stretch of concrete sounds fun to us, and Autocar documented the whole test for our viewing pleasure. We don't want to spoil the fun for you, so let's just say that a Volkswagen-owned brand wins. Scroll down to watch the video for yourself.