All articles tagged with #audi
Jonathan Wheatley left Audi with immediate effect for personal reasons, prompting speculation he could move to Aston Martin as the team appoints Mattia Binotto as interim team principal while leadership is reshaped; fans reacted heavily on social media, debating his impact and Audi's path to the front of the grid.
Audi’s F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley leaves with immediate effect for personal reasons, with Mattia Binotto stepping in to assume team principal duties as Audi weighs its next steps; Aston Martin have reportedly approached Wheatley for a potential leadership role, while Adrian Newey remains as managing technical partner under Lawrence Stroll, who emphasizes a partnership-based approach; Wheatley will serve gardening leave before any future move.
Audi marks the end of its five‑cylinder era with the ultra‑limited RS3 Competition — a £92,855 UK hatchback restricted to 750 units (10 for the UK) that keeps the 394bhp five‑cylinder but adds performance-focused tweaks (earlier exhaust valve opening, firewall sound insulation removal) and weight‑saving carbon fibre/ceramic brakes, KW suspension, and bespoke interior/exterior details, making it a potential collector’s item despite only modest power gains.
Audi is wrapping up the five‑cylinder era with the RS3 Competition Limited, a 750-unit mid‑2026 final edition that adds a track‑focused coilover suspension, larger stabilizer bar, carbon‑fiber aero components, carbon‑ceramic brakes, and Neodymium Gold accents inside and out, plus a unique white-instrument cluster homage; Germany pricing is about €40,000 over a standard RS3, with U.S. timing and pricing not announced.
Audi reveals the RS 5 lineup with a wagon variant for the first time in the US, featuring a 678-horsepower plug-in-hybrid powertrain built from a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6; with 609 lb-ft of torque and a 0–62 mph time of 3.6 seconds, the RS 5 Avant marks Audi’s return to small RS wagons in America.
Audi debuts the RS5 as a replacement for the RS4/RS5 with a plug‑in hybrid setup: a 2.9‑liter twin‑turbo V6 plus an integrated electric motor for 630 hp and 608 lb‑ft, a 0–62 mph time of 3.6 seconds, and up to 50 miles of electric range from a 22 kWh battery. But the RS5 sedan (2,355 kg) and Avant (2,370 kg) are exceptionally heavy—even heavier than a V8 Ford F-150 SuperCab—due to the battery and AWD hardware. It adds a new center differential, torque‑vectoring rear axle, RS Torque Rear drift mode, and a Boost function. Full driving impressions will come later this year.
Volkswagen is considering abandoning its plan for a major Audi factory in the United States due to President Donald Trump’s automotive tariffs, with the CEO citing a $2.5 billion hit in the first nine months of 2025 and a 45% drop in German investment in the US in 2025 as duties took hold, amid continued trade uncertainty and potential new levies.
Audi's new F1 car, the R26, made its first track appearance during a filming day at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, marking a significant milestone ahead of their 2026 season debut, with official launch events scheduled in Berlin and upcoming pre-season tests.
Audi is entering Formula 1 in 2026 as a works team after acquiring Sauber, with Mattia Binotto leading the project and Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto as drivers, marking the brand's first F1 venture following its announcement as an engine supplier in 2022.
Audi's iconic inline-five engine, celebrated for its unique sound and racing success over 50 years, is being commemorated with a new concept car, the GT50, but its future remains uncertain due to upcoming emissions regulations and industry shifts away from this engine layout.
Audis are known for understeer primarily due to their front-heavy weight distribution and all-wheel drive system, which favor stability over sporty oversteer. Recent engineering efforts, like active sport differentials, aim to reduce understeer, but factors like tire choice also significantly impact handling. Despite their reputation, Audi continues to improve their handling characteristics.
A passionate Audi enthusiast, Auditography, has created a detailed film criticizing recent decisions by Audi that he believes have damaged the brand's identity and passion among fans. The video, supported by community comments, highlights issues like badge removal and design changes, amid declining sales and internal strife at Audi. The community's response is mixed, with some sharing nostalgia and disappointment, while others defend the brand's evolution. The situation underscores broader industry trends and the importance of brand heritage to enthusiasts.
The ownership structures of Formula 1 teams vary widely, with entities ranging from sovereign wealth funds to private investment firms. McLaren is owned by Bahrain's Mumtalakat and MSP Sports Capital, while Ferrari is publicly traded with major stakes held by Exor N.V. and Piero Ferrari. Red Bull is owned by Red Bull GmbH, and Mercedes is equally owned by Mercedes-Benz, Toto Wolff, and INEOS. Aston Martin is led by Lawrence Stroll with a minority stake sold to Arctos Partners. Haas is fully owned by Gene Haas, Alpine by Renault and Otro Capital, Williams by Dorilton Capital, and Sauber by Audi and Qatar Investment Authority.
Apple's next-generation CarPlay is progressing, with new assets appearing in a public database, specifically focusing on Audi CarPlay instruments. These assets, submitted to the European Union Intellectual Property Office, reinforce that the next-gen CarPlay is still in development, with Audi confirmed as a partner. The first vehicles featuring this technology are expected to launch this year.
Apple has filed images of its next-generation CarPlay with the EU's Intellectual Property Office, indicating a potential launch soon. The images include designs featuring Audi's logo, although Audi has not confirmed specific plans for the system. Apple aims to release vehicles with the new CarPlay in 2024, but no specific date has been announced yet.