Audi has stepped back from its earlier commitment to go fully electric by 2033. While the German automaker had previously outlined a complete shift to EVs within the next decade, a new report from Autocar reveals that this target is no longer fixed. In a recent interview, CEO Gernot Döllner explained that maintaining flexibility in the lineup is key — and that includes keeping internal combustion engines in production for the foreseeable future.

Rather than phasing them out, Audi is preparing to launch a new generation of gasoline-powered vehicles, some of which may not even feature hybrid systems. There’s no updated timeline for full electrification, and Döllner hinted that gas-powered Audis will continue to roll off the production line well past 2033.

Electric Push Slows, Market Demand Speaks

This shift appears to be driven by both consumer demand and regulatory timelines. The European Union’s mandate for all new vehicles to be electric by 2035 remains in place, but regional markets vary. In the U.S., just around 12% of Audi sales are electric models. Globally, that number climbs to 30% — ahead of Mercedes-Benz but trailing BMW.

Audi still plans to invest in electric vehicle development, continuing to benefit from the Volkswagen Group’s broader EV initiatives. However, this strategic pivot leaves room for enthusiasts who aren’t ready to say goodbye to traditional engines just yet.

Could More Gas-Powered RS Models Be on the Horizon?

Performance fans have reason to stay hopeful. Audi’s RS division — known for producing some of the brand’s most iconic combustion engines, like the RS6’s twin-turbo V10 and the TT RS’s thrilling inline-five — may still have new petrol-powered machines in the pipeline.

As for the future of beloved nameplates like the Audi TT or R8, Döllner didn’t rule them out entirely. He noted that it’s too early for any announcements, but teased that surprises could still be in store. One thing’s clear: the age of gas-powered Audis isn’t over just yet.

source: caranddriver

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Now the emblem has chrome rings and the new one is expected to have a two-dimensional look. The four rings will turn white with a thin black border around each one.

And with the new emblem there will be the so-called “black option” – where the otherwise white rings will be in dark gray, which should look like gloss black.

The four rings at Audi have a long tradition. The famous emblem was created back in the 1930s as a result of the merger of the four car brands Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer, which found expression in the Auto Union emblem.

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In the late 1980s, this strange car was found in a warehouse in the Frankfurt industrial area, rented by DKW enthusiasts. The warehouse contained many parts of the old brand. Over time, the band disbanded and much of the parts had to be sold, including this model.

The new owner

The car was bought by a Dutch fan of DKW, despite the advice of his friends not to do so. The first problem is that many new parts have to be found or made, as well as various body components. The other problem is that the model is completely unknown and this makes its authentic restoration a major problem.

The initial assumption was that the car was an unknown prototype of DKW, built soon after Mercedes-Benz sold the company to Volkswagen in 1964. As one of its first stabilization measures, the new owner stopped all further DKW-related developments, and soon then the DKW brand goes down in history, replaced by the revived Audi. Despite the doubts, the car was bought for 2750 DM (1400€) and brought to the Netherlands.

Parts

For this price, the risk is minimal, as the costs could only be covered by the sale of the parts. In the Netherlands, a thorough review was carried out in an attempt to establish the authenticity and make a list of missing details.

It is clear that the headlights are NSU, the grille is a hand-perforated sheet, the chassis is from the DKW 1000 S De Luxe from 1962, and the engine is a boosted version of the 3-cylinder two-stroke DKW, designed for racing. The rear round lights are from Opel Manta, the windshield is from Porsche, and the rear is from Fiat 850 Sport and is mounted back at an angle of 180 °. It is more than obvious that this cannot be a factory prototype of DKW.

The change

Dents and scratches on the body indicate that the car is not stored well. The restoration turned out to be quite complicated, as no photos of its original condition were found, and the lines of the body are barely recognizable from the heavily exposed hull. In the restoration, the new owner uses headlights, grille and bumper from the Audi 60, which largely reproduces the original look of the front. Subsequently, two pairs of round headlights were installed in place of the rectangular headlights. Initially, the maximum speed exceeds 185 km / h, but the car is too unstable for everyday use and therefore later built a standard engine from DKW, which reduced the speed to 125 km / h.

The creators

Over time, the origins of this exotic prototype, whose exact name is the Auto Union 1000 S Sport Coupe, became clear. It turns out that it was made by three students from the College of Design at the MHK Technical School (Meisterschule für Handwerker) in Kaiserslautern in 1968.

In this regard, it can be added that MHK is one of the most elite educational institutions in Germany specializing in training for the automotive industry. Klaus Lute, a pioneer of digital car design in Germany and the creator of some of the most interesting cars of his time, such as the NSU Ro 80, NSU 1200 TT, Volkswagen K70, and many iconic models from Germany, also received his education there. Audi and BMW.

An interesting fact

It is interesting to note that only a year after the completion of the Auto Union 1000 S Sport Coupe, Audi presents the first sports coupe GT in its history, whose shape in many respects overlaps with that of the project created by students at MHK.

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The battle

The three-time Dakar winner was behind Lategan for most of the stage. Carlos did not allow the South African to take a serious lead. In the last kilometers, the Audi driver overtook Hank and recorded the 40th stage success and the first one for an electric car. Third place went to Peterhansel, who returned to the race thanks to the new rules. The Frenchman lost more than 20 hours on the first day and lost all chances for a good performance.

Nani Roma finished fourth in the Prodrive buggy, followed by Matthias Extreme in Audi’s third car and Yazid Al Raji in a private Toyota. The top 10 was supplemented by the teammates in the factory team of the Japanese Ginel de Villier and Nasser Al-Atiya, Lucio Alvarez with the other private Toyota. The tenth place went to Roma teammate Orlando Terranova. The winner of the second day, Sebastian Loeb, had technical problems, which caused him to lose about half an hour.

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Brakes and turn signals from Porsche

The idea to create the fastest 5-door station wagon production seems to have been liked when the project was put on the table in Zuffenhausen. The special Audi receives 17-inch wheels from the Porsche Cup; mirrors, turn signals and fog lamps of 964; 968 brakes; Porsche inscriptions on the cylinder head and on the RS emblem, which is reserved for the most powerful “11s”.

Who actually paid whom? In the RS2 project, both sides of the development are distributed to the maximum. One company needs attention and image improvement, and the other needs finance. The result of all this is the anabolic Audi 80 – that’s what it looks like and feels like when driving.

The three large openings in the front bumper of the RS are far from just for vision. They significantly contribute to the cooling of antifreeze, air to the turbo and oil. Under the hood runs a 2.2-liter 20V-engine with 5 cylinders – with a deadly sound and thanks to the turbocharger K24 with a liter of 140 “horsepower“: or a total of 315. Fortunately, there is a dual drive. Otherwise, we do not think what would happen after the engine “jumped” the turbo hole and “poured” the brutal power only on the front wheels. Thus, after 3500 rpm, the Audi is driven quite obediently and stops beautifully thanks to the technology from Porsche.

The suspension is tight, but not too tight, and the 6 gears are not typical for young timers. Nowadays the S4 needs the time for the 0-100 km / h sprint of 5.8 seconds. Twenty years ago, the doping station wagon cost a brutal 98,900 marks, and today it is more expensive to use than ever before.

Nowadays, this legendary car starts at 54,500 euros. The supply has been extremely reduced, as only 3,000 units have been produced. Many of these pieces are either bumped or “tuned” and damaged. Many of the “tuning” companies apparently did not understand that there is nothing to improve on this Audi-Porsche.

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The most important thing we know about the Audi car

• Possible successor to the Audi A8
• Evolution of the Artemis concept
• Level 4 autonomous driving
• Second of the three Sphere prototypes
• Driving via Eyetracking
• Placing on the market: 2025

Longer than the Audi A8

With a length of 5.3 meters, the concept is clearly aimed at the luxury class. More interesting, however, are the proportions: the glazed part (the so-called Greenhous) looks significantly lower than it really is – an effect that visually lengthens the car. The design trick is hidden in a curved aluminum decorative strip, which “guides” the eye and creates the feeling that the car is more sloping. The air conditioning components are located under the relatively short hood, which provides more space in the cockpit.

According to Audi chief designer Mark Lichte, the wheels are reminiscent of the Avus prototype from the 90s.

Combination of Sportback and sedan

The most attractive part of the Grand Sphere is definitely the rear. The line of the roof descends initially smoothly backwards, and then falls sharply. The boot lid is, so to speak, a continuation of the aluminum strip described above. This makes the prototype a combination of Sportback and sedan.

The car as a “third living space”

In the standard version, the doors that open in opposite directions, as well as the missing B-pillar are likely to fall off. The current construction facilitates entry. And so we come to the most important part of the car: the Grand Sphere is designed not as usual from the outside in, but quite the opposite. The focus is on a generous space for passengers, around which the body is adapted. According to the Audi Grand Sphere, it should be a kind of “third living space” for people after the apartment and the office.

Level 4 autonomous driving in the Audi Sky Sphere Concept

The layout of the cockpit in this way is possible thanks to two things: electric drive and autonomous driving. The electric drive allows more space, as electric motors and batteries take up much less space than internal combustion engines, conventional transmission and cardan shaft. In addition, the production version of the Grand Sphere will later be able to master level 4 autonomous driving.

It is unlikely that the rear seats will remain the same in the standard version – as well as there will be no ficus and water dispenser in the central tunnel as in the prototype. However, it is certain that the dashboard, which moves forward, as well as the folding steering wheel provide much more space than in the Mercedes EQS and Tesla Model S.

Driving via Eyetracking

Control in the cockpit is not by pressing or voice commands, but by Eyetracking and gestures. Sensors recognize where the driver is looking and select the appropriate symbol. By pressing in the door armrest, the selection is confirmed and the system changes the corresponding menu. For example, if you want to set the air conditioner, you need to look at the corresponding controller in the door.

The air conditioning controls are also manually operated, but can also be rotated on their own with the appropriate voice command.

Mileage about 800 km on a single charge

At the moment there is almost no data on the drive. The PPE platform will probably be used as a base – which will also use the electric Porsche Macan and Audi A6 e-tron. The energy will come from a battery with a capacity of 120 kW – which should provide 800 km of mileage on a single charge.

source:autobild.bg

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Skysphere is a child of the future not only because of its futuristic design. The technique is also quite crazy – the wheelbase, for example, can change its length to turn the two-seater roadster from a comfortable GT. Thus, when folded, the wheelbase is similar to that of RS 5, and when unfolded, 250 mm is added. With the added wheelbase it is the length of the A8 L. The inspiration was the Horch 853 from the 30s, which certainly does not have a variable wheelbase. It is a symbol of luxury in Europe between the wars. Skysphere is 4.94 to 5.19 meters long, depending on the length of the wheelbase.

Although he looks like a muscular macho, every detail in Skysphere is well thought out and has a complex system. The 23-inch wheels are not only great, but provide additional cooling to the regenerative brakes. The entire front grille is an illuminated screen that can send signals to pedestrians.

The drive is entrusted to electric traction. A single electric motor in the rear axle provides 632 hp. and 750 Nm, which through the four wheels materialize in acceleration to 100 km / h in 4 seconds. The concept model is powered by an 80-kilowatt-hour battery, enough for 500 km on a single charge.

Interior

Interior of the future. When you extend the wheelbase, the system automatically assumes that you are not driving, but sleeping or relaxing… So it retracts the steering wheel in the dashboard and hides the pedals on the floor. This is in order to provide the widest possible space for rest. Or car cinema. However, in front of you rises a 55.7-inch screen on which you can easily enjoy your favorite movies. There are no buttons, everything is controlled with the touch screen, gestures and voice commands. Let’s repeat that to a large extent this car will live in the new A8 and then in the A6.

In sport mode, where the wheelbase is shorter, the steering wheel and pedals are returned and the dashboard is changed to form a cockpit for the driver.

Skysphere is not the last such prototype of Audi. The company will show two more – Grandsphere and Urbansphere – the first will be a limousine and the second – a hatchback. We expect them in the coming months.

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Sales will start in early summer with two new modifications. Their prices are already known, and the brand’s dealers are already accepting orders for them.

The current version Q4 40 e-tron with one electric motor with 204 hp. on the rear axle and a battery with a capacity of 77 kW / h was previously available only in the traditional version. But now is available as a cross-coupe. And because the Sportback is more efficient in terms of aerodynamics, it can travel 534 km (WLTP cycle) on a single charge.

This is 14 km more than the standard Q4 with the same unit, which turns the coupe-like modification into a mileage record in the family. The price of this model is 49,500 euros.

The other novelty is the addition of another modification with four-wheel drive – Q4 45 e-tron quattro. It has 265 hp. and joins the previously offered Audi Q4 / Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro, which has 299 hp.

The new version will be available only in the traditional body version, accelerating from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.9 seconds – 0.7 seconds slower than the Audi Q4 50 e-tron quattro. The mileage is almost identical – 490 km, and the price of the electric SUV in this modification starts from 50,900 euros.

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On July 16, 1909, August Horch rebuilt August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH Zwickau in the city of Zwickau. The Audi was born from the son of August Horch’s best friend, Heinrich Fickencher, a high school student who translated Horch’s name into Latin – Audi = Horch! (Listen).

The first car of the brand was released in 1910 – Audi Typ A 10/22 PS Phaeton.

Audi’s production in the period 1912-1914 included 6 models, from the middle class to the most luxurious, 3 models of trucks and chassis for buses.

Audi started with a 2,612 cc inline-four engine model Type A, followed by a 3,564 cc model, as well as 4,680 cc and 5,720 cc models. These cars were successful even in sporting events. The first six-cylinder model Type M, 4,655 cc appeared in 1924.

August Horch left the Audi Werke in 1920 for a high position at the ministry of transport, but he was still involved with Audi as a member of the board of trustees. In September 1921, Audi became the first German car manufacturer to present a production car, the Audi Type K, with left-handed drive. Left-hand drive spread and established dominance during the 1920s because it provided a better view of oncoming traffic, making overtaking safer when driving on the right.

In 1932, an auto union of four was formed – Horch, Audi, Wanderer and DKW merged into Auto Union. Thus, they create the unique emblem that is known today – the four rings.

Volkswagenwerk AG acquired the majority of shares in Auto Union GmbH in December 1964, with Audi becoming a fully owned VW subsidiary from the end of 1966.

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The A6 e-tron has cameras instead of exterior mirrors, retractable door handles and special matrix headlights that can project navigation signs on the road or information about the remaining battery charge. Whether this technology will get the production car, Audi does not specify.

The Audi A6 e-tron is powered by two electric units (one on the front and one on the rear axle). The total power of the electric motors reaches 476 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. From standstill to 100 km / h, the electric liftback accelerates in less than 4 seconds.

The battery capacity is 100 kilowatt hours, provides a power reserve of up to 700 kilometers. Express charging from five to 80 percent takes about 25 minutes and in 10 minutes you can increase mileage by about 300 kilometers.

The debut of the new-generation Audi A6 will take place in the second half of 2022, and the model will go on sale in early 2023. Production is organized in factories in Germany and China.

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