When I got the chance to test drive the new Audi e-tron in the deserts of Namibia, it was clear Audi hadn't developed an electric SUV merely for tarmac roads. While most drivers won't experience it, it turned out to be quite the thrill to drift an electric SUV. Indeed as far as I can remember, it's probably the most fun I've had behind the wheel of a luxury SUV.
The LA Auto Show 2018 wasn't lacking in alluring supercars, concepts, and EVs, but some of the cars stood head and shoulders above the rest. Whether for their electric ambition, for putting a fresh spin on a classic, or just for being drop-dead delicious, these best-of-show models each have something to recommend them. Read on for our top five most noteworthy cars of the LA Auto Show 2018.
Audi didn't really need Robert Downey Jr. or an Iron Man connection to make the e-tron GT Concept stand out at the LA Auto Show 2018 this week: the stunning all-electric car is conspicuous enough on its own. Not only does the concept demonstrate Audi's flexible EV architecture, but its commitment to making electric cars that are not only capable but covetable, too.
There is a big push in the automotive and aircraft design worlds to create the next generation of taxis that can ferry people around without causing more congestion on the roads. Many of these taxi designs have turned to flying machines that operate autonomously. Audi, Airbus, and Italdesign have unveiled the "Pop.Up Next" flying and driving taxi prototype and announced that it is in testing.
When you're building an electric supercar, who better than Tony Stark to give it that superstar shine. "I've been having an extramarital affair with Audi for more than a decade now," Robert Downey Jr jokingly quips at the unveil of the Audi GT Concept. Downey took the stage with legendary automotive designer Marc Lichte, to pull the wraps off a jaw-dropping car that, though dubbed a concept, is in fact an astonishing 99-percent product ready.
I’ve never been a fan of the Audi TT, the shape is too bulbous for my liking and I’ve found previous generations underpowered. So, it’s fair to say I approached the 2018 TT RS with trepidation. Could this most-potent of the TT family win me over with its balance of practicality and performance?
Audi has revealed the new 2019 R8, the updated version of its everyday supercar, complete with numerous features and styling details borrowed from the ferocious new R8 LMS GT3 racer. Expected to go on sale early in the new year, the refreshed R8 promises better handling and more choice in exterior style.
The 2019 Audi e-tron electric SUV will be a little delayed arriving into showrooms, the automaker has confirmed, though it's software not hardware that is causing the issue. Audi revealed the production e-tron at a flashy event in September, promising all-wheel drive, faster recharging courtesy of 150 kW chargers, and a sub-$75k starting price before incentives.
Regular Audi R8 not quite special enough for you? The supercar widely acclaimed as the easiest to live with every day is getting a performance-oriented special edition, with the 2018 Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe Competition package promising to max out every aggressive option for a handful of lucky owners.
Huawei has announced that it has tied up with Audi to help usher in innovation in level 4 autonomous driving. The vehicle that the tech will go into first will be the new Audi Q7. Audi and Huawei will work together to evaluate a joint development with highly automated driving functions.
Technically speaking, my first drive of the all-new, fully electric 2019 Audi e-tron never saw its cutting-edge electronically controlled all-wheel drive system touch a public road in Namibia, South Africa. The all-electric SUV isn't due to reach US roads until next year, but when Audi asked us if we wanted to put its new EV quattro system through its paces well in advance, we didn't turn the automaker down. Turns out, while the new e-tron may not quite be ready for release, that doesn't mean it's not up for some seriously silly drifting.
With over 1.1 million sold since its introduction in 2012, the Audi Q3 has been an essential vehicle for introducing consumers to the Audi brand. Even with its much later introduction to the US, in 2015, delayed access would only turn out to whet the appetite of American drivers. No, it wasn't as technologically advanced as other Audis on the dealers' lots, and yes, it was using the older generation of engines and transmissions, not to mention the old infotainment system. Turns out, such things didn't cross consumers' minds while shopping. Audi was thinking about it, though, and so we get the all-new 2019 Q3.