Yesterday, Audi released a teaser shot and a sketch of the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback, which will make its world-debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Sales of the Audi A5 Sportback will begin in early 2010.

However, Audi has no plans to bring the A5 Sportback to the stateside. Mainly because the upcoming production version of the Audi Sportback Concept – to be called the A7 – will come here instead.

The Audi A7 will give the German automaker some market to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The A7 will be larger and more luxurious than the A5 Sportback.

Disappointed? Let us know how you feel in the comments section below.

Audi A5 Sportback Teaser and Sketch:

- By: Omar Rana

On July 16, 2009 Audi will be celebrating the 100th birthday of the brand with a multi-day celebration including many attractions in its hometown of Ingolstadt Germany. The event will launch with an opening ceremony with the German Chancellor on July 16 followed by a pop concert, a “Historic Donau Ring for motorsports fans along with a Grand finale including a classical concert and fireworks.

Sounds exciting right? Well, there is something else Audi has planned for the multi-day celebration that will be keeping us auto enthusiasts on the edge of our seats. In its press release Audi says “Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the AUDI AG Board of Management, will unveil a new Audi model in front of around 2,500 invited guests.”

Now what could the model be? According to previous product plan leaks, Audi is supposed to show us the production Q3 in July 2009. In June 2009 we’re supposed to see the production Audi A7. 

Press Release:

Audi marks the 100th birthday of the brand with a multi-day celebration and spectacular attractions

* Opening ceremony with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ingolstadt on July 16, 2009
* Top-tier pop concert in the Audi Piazza
* Historic Donau Ring for motorsports fans
* Grand finale with classical concert and fireworks in Klenze Park

The brand with the four rings will kick off the celebrations marking its 100th birthday with a grand opening ceremony at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt on July 16. The ceremony, which will be attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will launch a four-day series of events.

The premium manufacturer with the slogan “Vorsprung durch Technik” will mark its centennial by once again offering a compelling demonstration of its core competencies – attractive design and innovative technology. A world premiere awaits the guests in Ingolstadt on July 16: Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the AUDI AG Board of Management, will unveil a new Audi model in front of around 2,500 invited guests. “We are proud of the tradition of the Audi brand and our company’s history of success. You have to be aware of your roots if you want to shape the future with new ideas and innovations,” says Stadler.

The ceremony will open with a performance by star pianist Lang Lang. The Chinese virtuoso has served as a global brand ambassador for Audi since 2006. Another highlight: Munich-based musician and producer Leslie Mandoki has composed a commissioned work for Audi to mark its 100th birthday. Under the baton of Paul Momberger, the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt will debut the classical work before the invited guests on July 16.

The internationally renowned Swiss lighting artist Gerry Hofstetter will provide the visual accompaniment to the opening ceremony: an exciting lighting installation highlighting the architecture at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt. Hofstetter has enchanted people the world over with his lighting art, and has previously illuminated a number of famous buildings including the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Pyramids of Giza.

A top-tier pop concert is scheduled for July 17. “Die Fantastischen Vier”, one of the most popular bands from the German-speaking countries, will be playing live and unplugged, accompanied by an international 60-piece symphony orchestra. The band’s MTV Unplugged concert in 1998 was a musical milestone for the four rap artists from Stuttgart, and the live show on July 17 is set to be another dazzling highlight in the group’s history. At the “Audi rocks 100″ concert, they will celebrate 100 years of the Ingolstadt premium brand with a large-scale open-air performance in the Audi Piazza.

Advance ticket sales open at the time of the official press conference at 2 p.m. on April 23, 2009. Tickets can be obtained from www.eventim.de or by calling the hotline on +49 (0)1805 570070 (€0.14/min from German landlines; prices from mobile phones may differ). On the same day, the organizing agency GA Events will be available to assist with queries from the press regarding the artists performing during the pop concert and accreditation matters. Contact information can be found at www.ga-events.com.

Motorsports fans especially should mark July 18 on their calendars: that Saturday, Audi Tradition will celebrate the centennial at the historic Donau Ring in Ingolstadt’s old city. Nearly every race car in the history of the brand will hit the road for demo runs. In addition to DTM (German Touring Car Championship) and STW (Super Touring Car) racers, the victorious Le Mans sports cars – the Audi R8 and the R10 TDI – will also put in some laps. The Audi R15 TDI racing prototype – the latest development from Audi Sport – will make its public road debut on the Donau Ring in Ingolstadt.

Outstanding drivers from Audi’s history are expected, with the attendance of two-time world rally champion Walter Röhrl, DTM champion Hans-Joachim Stuck and European rally champion Harald Demuth already confirmed. Just one week later, on July 25, Audi Tradition will also hold an historic car event in Zwickau, the birthplace of the brand.

Four historic race cars will put in some laps around the Platz der Völkerfreundschaft. “I am pleased that AUDI AG will once again honor its place of birth in Audi’s centennial year,” says Dr. Pia Findeiß, Mayor of the City of Zwickau.

Audi is inviting its employees and the people of the Ingolstadt region to a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Ingolstadt’s Klenze Park on Sunday, July 19, the last of the four days of celebrations. The free open-air concert will feature the Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Brno under the direction of Peter Altrichter. The grand finale of the centennial celebration will be a spectacular fireworks display following the concert. Ingolstadt Mayor Dr. Alfred Lehmann is already looking forward to the event and praised the excellent cooperation shown during its preparation. “Organizing cultural events is a largely a community responsibility, but we couldn’t do it without partners. AUDI AG has proven exemplary with its dedication to this partnership over the last few years.”

The sporting highlight of the centennial celebration is the Audi Cup in Munich’s Allianz Arena. AUDI AG has invited FC Bayern München, AC Milan, Manchester United and Club Atlético Boca Juniors to play in the Audi Cup, a two-day soccer tournament on July 29 and 30. Tickets for the Audi Cup start at 12 euros, with the best seats going for 60 euros. The tickets are valid for one entire game day, i.e. for two games. The tournament will open with Boca Juniors facing Manchester United and FC Bayern München taking on AC Milan. On Thursday, the losers of the first two games will play for third place before the winners compete for the title in the final.

“AUDI AG has a long and successful tradition of supporting soccer. Together with many fans, we are looking forward to an exciting tournament featuring great names playing the game at the highest level,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the AUDI AG Board of Management responsible for Marketing and Sales. Additional information about the Audi Cup is available at http://www.audicup.com.

- By: Omar Rana

Audi today unveiled the new Audi Sportback Concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Audi says that the concept’s design elements, which measure 16.25 log – 6.33 ft wide - 4.59 ft high, hint at a future five-door model – aka the Audi A7.

Power comes from a 3.0 TDI V6 that makes 225-hp and a peak torque of 405.66 lb-ft. Power is transferred to the all wheels via Audi’s 7-speed S tronic transmission allowing for a 0 to 62 mph time of less than 7 seconds with a top speed electronically limited to 152 mph. Audi says that the Sportback Concept returns an estimated fuel-economy of 40 mpg.

The Audi A7, due to hit markets next year, will compete with its sibling Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz CLS and if BMW moves ahead with the production version of the CS Concept.

Click through to view the high-res image gallery and the press release.

Audi Sportback Concept:

Audi Sportback Concept

DETROIT, Mich., Jan 11, 2009  -  Debut in Detroit: Audi is unveiling the Sportback concept show car at the 2009 North American International Automobile Show. With systematic refinements to the brand’s characteristic design elements, the five-door model offers a glimpse at the Audi’s future design vocabulary. With its pronounced coupé-like silhouette and large rear hatch, the 4.95 m long (16.24 ft), 1.93 m wide (6.33 ft) and only 1.40 m high (4.59 ft) vehicle is boldly progressive for the luxury class.

The technology of the Audi Sportback concept is markedly futuristic. Power is provided by the world’s cleanest diesel technology: the 3.0-liter V6 TDI clean diesel almost completely eliminates nitrogen oxides. This engine already meets the emissions limits of all 50 U.S. states and the EU6 standard scheduled to take effect in 2014. And numerous measures to ensure top efficiency mean that the Audi Sportback concept is expected to achieve impressive fuel consumption figures of 5.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (39.87 US mpg).

Driving dynamics in a new guise – the idea

Since its introduction in 2004, the concept of the Sportback has established itself in the compact class. The success of the A3 Sportback has exceeded even the expectations of its makers – far more customers choose the four-door model with the large rear hatch than its three-door sibling.

But it is far more than two additional doors that sets the A3 Sportback apart from the base model. It is characterized by the sporting elegance of a coupe, the versatility of a five-door model, sophisticated technology and pronounced sportiness – driving dynamics in a new guise.

It also offers even more space and variability thanks to a tail end that is a total of 54 millimeters (2.13 in) longer that of the three-door model.
 
The launch of the first production Sportback marked the second time that Audi started a new trend in the automobile market. The development of the first Avant models in the seventies laid the foundation for a new class of automobiles far beyond the matter-of-fact utility of the classic station wagon. The marked accentuation of a futuristic and dynamic design, high-quality equipment and extreme variability have been the distinguishing features of every Audi Avant from the very beginning.

The Audi Sportback concept show car is now rolling up to the starting line with a dual mission: As suggested by the name, it symbolizes the Sportback principle in its purest form in the combination of elegance, sportiness and variability.

And the show car also signals the company’s determination not to limit Sportback versions to the compact segment. As previously indicated by the Audi A1 Sportback concept – the star of the 2008 Paris Motor Show – the brand with the four rings is going to dramatically expand the number of Sportback models on the market.

Design

The design of the Audi Sportback concept is characterized by an almost monolithic clarity and a vast reduction of the number of lines. The roof, shoulder and sill lines appear to have been drawn with a single stroke. The window strip of the coupé with its four frameless doors was kept pronouncedly flat. Viewed from the side, the softly contoured wheel wells over the 10-spoke, 21-inch wheels reinforce the impression of the precisely defined surfaces of the body.

One feature familiar from the two-door Audi A5 coupé is even more boldly accentuated here: The markedly horizontal shoulder area emphasizes the orientation of the vehicle body to the road. This effect is further reinforced at the front and rear by the broad, flat LED light units. The shape of the almost fragile-looking side mirrors is inspired by the upturned tips – the “winglets” – of modern jet wings.

The show car also offers a new interpretation of the single-frame grille. The decision not to use vertical struts and the low overall height emphasize the sporty basic proportions of the vehicle front. Also particularly striking is the modified outer contour of the single-frame grille as also featured on the A1 Sportback show car. The flattened top edges lower the visual center of gravity and provide a striking look for the front end.

The aerodynamically designed air intakes under the headlights function as air deflectors which guide the required cooling air precisely into an intake duct. They have the stylistic effect of accentuating the impression of width.

The tail of the show car is also evidently related to the A5 coupé. The high top edge of the rear hatch gives rise to a strikingly clear surface below the rear lights.

The low separating edge and the horizontal lines – another characteristic feature – underscore the width and therefore the sporty nature of the Audi Sportback concept. The four tailpipes integrated into the body and an air deflector in the diffuser insert are cues borrowed from the sportscar sector.

The interior design is tidy and downright purist yet elegant at the same time. The large glass roof underscores the width and feeling of spaciousness. In the driver-oriented cockpit, the air vents, instrument cluster and retracting MMI monitor are outlined by a filigree aluminum border.

As with the exterior, the interior is characterized by the emphasis on horizontal lines and large surfaces. Especially the wide center console – stretching from the dashboard to the back – seems to be a pure expression of function.

The flat display of the MMI system is realized as a retractable system in the show car. When the ignition is activated, it extends horizontally from a slot above the central air register before moving in an elegant arc into a vertical, easy-to-read position.

The high quality of the materials and manufacturing-level fit and finish are obvious when looking around the interior of the Audi Sportback concept and when touching the surfaces. The interior trim is almost completely in leather: from the headlining, dashboard, doors and the entire seat upholstery all the way through to the trunk, with the leather stitching underscoring the vehicle’s design language. The large wood trim strips on the instrument panel, center console and doors are machined from oak blockboard and sport a delicate horizontal pattern of light and dark lines.

With its surfaces of piano lacquer and brushed aluminum, the MMI control unit also adds to the exceptional exclusivity of the interior. The attention to detail even extends to the door opener: Its shape is a nearly perfect reflection of the distinctive lines of the small rear side window – giving the interior and exterior formal unity.

Four sporty seats await the driver and passengers. The diamond-shaped stitching of the leather surface is reminiscent of a classic GT tradition. Shoulder, head and leg room are reminiscent of a premium-class touring car. With a volume of 500 liters (17.66 cubic feet), the trunk is generously sized and is also appointed with high-quality materials.

Drivetrain

The developers at Audi chose the world’s cleanest diesel technology as the unit best befitting the Audi Sportback concept show car. The six-cylinder 3.0 TDI clean diesel is equipped with a system for the effective reduction of nitrogen oxides. The diesel engine development engineers at Audi have combined an entire package of innovative measures for this latest TDI generation: The piezo common rail system with an injection pressure of 2,000 bar, highly efficient exhaust gas recirculation and optimized turbocharging result in significantly reduced raw engine emissions. One of the highlights are the combustion chamber sensors that enable even more precise regulation of the combustion processes in the engine – this is the first time that such sensors have been installed on any engine in the world, marking yet another Audi innovation.

The status of the new-generation TDI as the definitive clean-running, high-tech diesel is sealed by the downstream exhaust emission control system, which reduces emissions by up to 90 percent. The system uses AdBlue, a biologically degradable, waterborne additive that is injected in small amounts upstream of the DeNOx catalytic converter. In addition to the catalytic converter, the exhaust emission control system comprises the metering module, the AdBlue tank and heated lines, as well as an extensive system of sensors. The additional oxidizing catalytic converter and the highly efficient, regulated diesel particulate filter round off the comprehensive emission control system.

Thanks to their extremely low emission levels, these modern direct-injection diesel engines can be put into service anywhere in the world, even in the U.S. state of California, which has the world’s most stringent emissions limits. Compared with the fleet average of the gasoline engines typically found in the U.S., the TDI boasts a fuel-efficiency advantage of up to 40 percent. The diesel technology thus makes a greater contribution than any other type of engine to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. Audi will offer this engine in the U.S. and Europe beginning in 2009.

As in the U.S. version of the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, the V6 also produces 165 kW (225 hp) and 550 Nm (405.66 lb-ft) of torque in the Audi Sportback concept. Power is transferred to the wheels via Audi’s most modern transmission: the new 7-speed tiptronic. The quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system ensures that the torque generated by the powerful TDI is also converted effectively into propulsion and dynamism under any conditions.

Weighing just 1,800 kilograms (3,968.32 lb) and with a drag coefficient of 0.30, the coupe will accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in less than seven seconds and reach a top speed of 245 km/h (152.24 mph).

The Audi Sportback concept’s average fuel economy according to the European ECE standard is only 5.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (39.87 US mpg), and its CO2 emissions no more than 156 g/km (251.06 g/mile). These sensationally low figures for a large model have been achieved by extensive efficiency-optimizing measures.

For example, this model’s electromechanical power steering only consumes energy when the steering is turned, not when driving in a straight line.

The TDI engine features an innovative temperature management system. When the engine is warming up, part of the coolant flow is diverted – another way to improve efficiency, since it helps the engine to warm up quicker. This means significant practical savings, because many journeys are fairly short. The fuel pump also runs only when there is a demand for fuel, and therefore uses less energy.

The 7-speed S tronic transmission is a very efficient unit with a wide spread of gear ratios. For the first time, it has been equipped with transmission oil heating, so that it reaches its intended operating temperature much earlier and therefore has a lower level of internal friction.

When coasting, the Audi Sportback concept – like the Audi A4 and Audi Q5 production models – recuperates energy. This boosts the output of the alternator and is used to charge the battery. This energy, which in effect costs nothing to recover, is fed back into the vehicle’s electrical system when needed. An automatic start-stop system shuts the TDI engine down to save energy, for instance when waiting at a traffic signal.

And when it is on the move, tires optimized for low roll resistance cut fuel consumption significantly without incurring any disadvantages in the performance area.

Driving dynamics

The Audi Sportback concept show car took the basic architecture and many components of its suspension from the brand’s latest and most successful model family: the very dynamic A4/A5 model series. The dynamic suspension sets standards here, as well, combining precision and dynamism with high stability and superior poise. The suspension mountings, steering, wheels and brakes have been developed for top performance and numerous aluminum components are used to keep unsprung masses to a minimum.

The new five-link front suspension makes a major contribution to the car’s dynamic character. By moving the differential further forward and the clutch further back, the design engineers were able to reposition the front axle 154 millimeters (6.06 inches) further forward. The result is an optimal distribution of weight between the front and rear axles.

The front suspension is made up of five links per wheel – a support link and a control arm at the bottom and two control arms at the top. The fifth link – the track rod – connects the steering box and the pivot bearing. All these links are made of forged aluminum, ensuring low unsprung masses, ultra-precise wheel control and a high level of crash safety. The anti-roll bar fabricated from a high-strength tube saves additional weight. The backbone of the rear axle is a subframe with high flexural and torsional rigidity.

If sporty handling is to be combined with a high standard of ride comfort, the unsprung masses must be kept as low as possible. Audi has pursued this approach for all the rear-axle components. The upper control arms and the track rods are of forged aluminum. Their high rigidity ensures that toe and camber angles change very little when dynamic forces act on the wheels.

The CDC (continuous damping control) shock absorbers, similar to those that Audi already uses on the luxury Q7 SUV with air suspension, are twin-tube, gas-filled hydraulic units with an additional external valve and connecting pipe. Their operation can be continuously varied.

An electromagnetically energized, proportional-action valve regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the inner and outer damper tubes. A smaller flow cross-section makes the damping characteristic firmer, a larger one makes it softer.

The control unit applies adaptive operating characteristics within the mode the driver has chosen via Audi drive select. It adapts to match the driver’s driving style and the road conditions. Even from the comfort mode, the shock absorbers can be switched in an instant to a firm setting if desired, though not to the absolute limit. They are fitted in conjunction with sports suspension springs, which still provide a good level of ride comfort, even off-road.
 
The control unit selects the optimum damping force for the current driving situation, for instance firmer damping to prevent body roll and pitch when cornering fast or braking, or lower damping force where the surface under the wheels is hard and uneven.

The show car marks the first time that Audi has used electromechanical steering in a car with a longitudinal engine. Its primary advantage is that, unlike conventional power steering systems, it only consumes energy when actually steering. On average, this means a fuel saving of 0.2 liters per 100 kilometers, depending on driving conditions.

The electromechanical steering of the Audi Sportback concept also enables the coupling with the parking steering assistant for fully automatic steering when parallel parking.

The Audi Sportback concept is equipped with ceramic brakes on all four wheels for effective deceleration even under the most demanding conditions. Compared with conventional steel disks, ceramic brakes not only last four times longer, up to 300,000 kilometers (186,411 miles), but also offer high resistance to fading. The significant reduction in weight also leads to advantages in terms of comfort and handling, thanks to reduced unsprung masses.

On the front axle, 380-millimeter (14.96-inch) ceramic disks are fitted in combination with 21-inch wheels. The rear disks have a diameter of 356 millimeters (14.02 inches). The elaborate cooling duct geometry of the ventilated brake disks ensures optimal cooling of the brake disks. Firm grip on the brake disk is guaranteed at the front by 6-piston monobloc aluminum brake calipers, and at the rear by floating-caliper brakes.

While the 2010 Audi R8 V10 may attract a lot of attention at the 2009 North American International Auto Show next month, one of the most eagerly awaited of all Audi models may steal the show in Detroit. According to Detroit’s Free Press, Audi will hold the world premiere of the A7 Concept in Detroit next month.

Other Audi models on hand will include the Audi Q5, a supercharged 300-hp version of the A6 sedan and wagon and the TTS coupe and roadster. Free Press says that Audi may also show a diesel version of the A4 for the U.S. market.

Insiders say that the four-door Audi A6 Concept has swooping lines and is close to what the upcoming production model will look like when it makes its debut next year.

Source: Detroit Free Press

It’s been a while since we heard anything about Audi’s upcoming four-door-coupe CLS-fighter model – the A7. According to CARandDRIVER, the model could debut as early as next year as a 2010 model (don’t tell them but we already knew that – it’s June 2009 to be exact).

We’ve heard rumors that it the A7 will be built on an all-new platform but CARandDRIVER says it may very well use the A5 platform in order to save cost. The range-topper RS 7 model is expected to be a twin-turbo V10 engine producing 600-hp. Other than that we know that the lineup will consist of three petrol and two diesel powertrain choices. The engines will be mated to a 6-speed manual or a 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Audi A7 Cabriolet will make its official debut in 2011.

Photo Rendering: Audi A7 Convertible:

Source: CARandDRIVER