BY STEVE SILER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLLY REICH AND THE MANUFACTURER

We’re not getting this V-8 diesel here, but we can tell you that the current Q7 flagship lacks soul and that Audi’s B&O doesn’t stink.

At the tail end of our first drive experience of Audi’s mouth-watering A5 and S5 coupes, we were thrust into the driver’s seat of something entirely different in pretty much every conceivable way: the newly minted Q7 4.2 TDI. Some of us rolled our eyes at this, since this particular oil burner, positioned as the current flagship of the Q7 line in Europe (until the V-12 TDI launches), won’t be making it stateside any time soon. (more…)

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BY DAVE VANDERWERP, PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON KILEY

Getting by on good looks.

Despite finishing last in three comparison tests, the original TT still managed to leave a mostly positive impression”a testament to how far looking good gets you”even though, as sports cars go, it wasn’t great to drive. (more…)

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BY JORDAN BROWN, PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEINRICH HLSER AND JEFFREY G. RUSSELL

An exotic sports car with a diesel? Sounds like peanut butter with jelly to us.

Those familiar with VW/Audi’s naming conventions know TDI is the acronym for Turbocharged Direct Injection, the German automaker’s revolutionary diesel power plant that made its debut back in 1990 in the form of an inline five-cylinder powering the Audi 100 Wagon. So the next question is, An R8 with a diesel?! In short, yes. (more…)

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BY JARED GALL

Audi decides its fantastic RS 4 is safe for U.S. consumption in convertible form as well.

Maybe you need a 420-hp, 8250-rpm V-8 in your family convertible. Or maybe you need to peel the top off of your 420-hp, 8250-rpm, V-8“powered family sedan. Either way, the time to rejoice is now. Audi has announced that it will be bringing its RS 4 cabriolet to the U.S. for 2008.

Mechanically identical to the RS 4 sedan, the RS 4 cabrio is powered by a high-winding 4.2-liter direct-injection V-8 herding 420 horsepower through a six-speed manual to all four wheels. The conversion from sedan to convertible cuts the door count to two and adds about 300 pounds to the RS 4’s saddle bags, but the RS 4 cabrio should still be good for 0-to-60 toots in 4.8 or so seconds.

The other great”as in scale, as in uh-oh”addition in the transformation from sedan to convertible is in the price. Audi has yet to announce pricing for the convertible, but figure on paying at least $8000 more for the droptop two-door than for the sedan, meaning a cool $77,000.

First thing we’d do after driving this sweetie off the lot (well, after the break-in miles, anyway) would be a top-down rip through a nice, long tunnel, since the 4.2 screaming to its 8250-rpm redline is one of the tastier exhaust symphonies this side of $100,000.

Those with the money will want to wipe up their slobber, get to the nearest Audi dealership quickly, and throw down a deposit, as only 300 2008-model RS 4 convertibles will make it to the U.S. Keep an eye out for them starting this fall.

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BY MIKE DUSHANE

At the 2007 Shanghai auto show, Audi is showing a thinly disguised version of the 2009 Audi Q3.

The concept Audi is showing in China is called the “Cross Coupé Quattro” concept, but don’t be fooled: When Audi’s small crossover goes on sale in at least a year and a half, it will look a lot like this. With powertrains and dimensions that are virtually identical to those of the Audi A3 and platform-mate Volkswagen Tiguan, this is the real deal. The name, however, is not, and although Q3 is the logical label, there are apparently some trademark issues over the name “Q3.” Perhaps Q2 would work? (more…)

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The 2007 Audi A8 is a 4-door, up to 5-passenger luxury sedan, available in 3 trims, ranging from the Sedan to the L W12.

Upon introduction, the Sedan is equipped with a standard 4.2-liter, V8, 350-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. The L W12 is equipped with a standard 6.0-liter, W12, 450-horsepower engine that achieves 14-mpg in the city and 21-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims.

Prices = $68,900-$119,350

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