[Cartoday]
From a supercharged powerplant for the RS4 to a naturally-aspirated V10 for the R8 and no chance of anything smaller than the A1 – Audi’s future models plans are gaining clarity.
These, and other details came to the fore after Car Magazine UK chatted with some one they described as a ‘high-placed Audi source’ recently.Perhaps the most noteworthy news to emerge from this source is that the next-generation RS4 will receive a tuned version of the S4’s supercharged 3,0-litre V6.
The source claims that Audi’s desire for more torque at lower r/min facilitated this move. There won't be an additional turbo or twin-turbo set up, as such an arrangement would be too complex to justify whatever gains it could make.On the smaller model front, the A1, which is due to arrive in 2010, will be available in a number of configurations, including an SUV/Crossover and a cabriolet, as well as three- and five-door hatchbacks.
The A1 will sit on the same PQ25 platform as the upcoming VW Polo and, despite the ‘Mini-Killer’ label that the source gave the car, it will not feature retro-flavoured styling and there are currently no plans to develop a model to fit in beneath the A1 range.
The A3 range will, however, expand to include an SUV. This model will be dubbed ‘Q3’ and will be based on the company’s Cross Cabriolet Quattro concept, barring the canvas top.With regards to an S5 model with the company’s S-tronic dual-clutch seven speed gearbox, the project has been put on hold. The source cited the comfort-bias of the model for such a move, in addition to justifying the company’s V8 engine in the model as opposed to the aforementioned supercharged V6. This transmission set up will, however, make its way across to the S4 and RS4.A naturally-aspirated engine is on the cards for the upcoming V10 R8, while the V12 TDI R8 has been ruled out due to its weight - the V8 TDI engine is a possibility though. As for the possibility of a model to fit in beneath the R8, Car Magazine UK’s source claims that despite the upcoming performance-orientated TT models, there is still room in Audi’s model line-up for more ‘R’ sports cars.