13 Mar 2023

Spied: B10 Audi S5 Avant

[gallery columns="1" link="file" size="full" ids="84206"] There's a highly believable rumor circulating that Audi will move its ICE offerings to odd numerals in their alphanumeric names, while EV e-tron models will encompass the event numerals. Q4, Q8 e-tron, A6 e-tron concept and the like all seem to point the way, a direction that implies very likely that the upcoming B10 variants will be named with the number 5. It's safe to assume then that what you see here is the S5 Avant, or long roof ve...
14 Jul 2022

Is this PHEV Mule the B10 RS 4 Avant?

Our spy photographers caught a very interesting B10 Audi A4 Avant test mule out testing. While the wheel size and prototype camo on the bodywork suggest something more mundane, the details of this car definitely have us wondering if it's the next RS 4 Avant... and if the next RS 4 Avant is a plug-in hybrid?!? So why do we think RS 4? Well, for starters it's running registration plates beginning with HN. Audi models tend to run IN for Ingolstadt, but Audi Sport models tend to run HN for Heilb...
16 Apr 2020

Could Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Mean Chances of e-tron GT allroad?

[gallery link="none" columns="1" size="full" ids="46029"] Editor’s not: this originally was posted to our sister site, e-tron connect Though most of us sit grounded due to pandemic quarantine, this hasn’t stopped our spy photographer sources. Some of the recent images they’ve sent over are those of the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Shown just a few years ago in concept form, the Cross Turismo offers the off-road wagon treatment to the Taycan sedan. And, because the Taycan shares the same J...
Thu, Apr 16 , 2020 Bill
4 Mar 2020

e-tron connect: Audi e-tron GT Road Version Test Mule Finally Spied

[gallery link="none" columns="1" size="full" ids="44284"] Editor's note: This article was originally posted on our sister site, e-tron connect When Audi revealed the e-tron GT little over a year ago, it did so suggesting that the road car would strongly resemble the production car. And while many car manufactures make such claims, Audi actually has a track record for doing just that. Earlier ICE Audi models like the first-generation Audi TT, the Pikes Peak concept that eventually became the Q7,...
Wed, Mar 04 , 2020 Bill
21 Aug 2019

Audi RS Q8 a “Cool Mule”, Testing at Nurburgring with this Livery

Considering the news cycle this week, it appears that Audi Sport has been extra-busy RS-ing all of the things. Yesterday's drop of the RS 6 Avant plus confirmation of it for the USA lit up all the phones at your friendly neighborhood Audi dealers, and now we've got new photos of the RS Q8 testing at Nurburgring. Like the Audi RS 6 Avant, the RS Q8 is based on the latest evolution of the brand's MLB component set, and in as much it is expected to share the same highly potent drivetrain ...
23 Jul 2019

More Spy Photos of Next Audi S3 Sedan

We've got more photos of the next-generation Audi S3 sedan in test mule form. The car was spied again hot-weather testing. Drivetrain details have yet to be confirmed, but these shots show the the next car will be awfully close to the current-generation S3. See more photos below.
1 Jul 2019

Next-Generation Audi S3 Sedan Spied

Spy photographers have caught the sedan variant of the next-generation S3 sedan out performing hot weather testing. While S3 Sportback variants have been previously spied, the arrival of a pre-production sedan body style is more interesting to American buyers where the 4-door is the sole body style for the S3. As with the first-generation A3/S3 sedan, this next-generation car appears to stick with its B5-harkening upright 4-door body style rather than going for lower-slung proportions ...
3 Jun 2019

B9.5 Audi RS 4 Test Mule Spied

With the so-called "B9.5" range of A4 and S4 mid-lifecycle product improvements now revealed, it's only a matter of time before the B9.5 RS 4 Avant also takes its bow. As if on cue, an RS 4 Avant test mule has now been spied. Like its other B9.5 A4/S4 siblings, the RS 4 will get new headlights, taillights and trim like the singleframe grille. While it's doubtful at this time that the RS 4 will get a more powerful engine, that doesn't mean that Audi doesn't have a card to play in this regard. H...
20 May 2019

Audi RS 3 Sportback Test Mule Spied

It may not be immediately obvious, but what you are looking at here is believed to be an early test mule of the next-generation all-new RS 3 Sportback. Likely this is about the time you point out to us that the car in question is a current-generation RS 3 Sportback. Yes, that's true. But it's also not. At this stage in the game, it's not like we haven't seen next-generation A3 and S3 test mules. We most certainly have, covered with disguises and cladding but clearly hinting at the expected...
22 Apr 2019

B9.5 Audi A4 allroad Spied

With all the rumors and speculation about the A6 allroad and RS 6 Avant potentially coming to America, it is perhaps easy to forget that Audi's A4 allroad, the lone Avant currently in America, is also due for a facelift. When test mules of that next-generation car (dubbed B9.5 those in-the-know) make a showing on test routes, it should definitely be newsworthy. On one hand, changes to A4 allroad drivetrain aren't expected to be revolutionary. The current car makes do with Audi's potent 2.0...
11 Apr 2019

Audi SQ7 Test Mule Spied

With the Audi S6, S6 Avant and S7 Avant dropping yesterday, it's worth taking a closer look at SQ7 test mules that surfaced a few weeks back. It's a poorly kept secret that Audi intends an S-version of its blue chip 7-seater Q7 for the SUV-crazy USA. In as much, it's interesting to consider this SQ7 as part of a greater C/D segment mix of S-cars. Like the S6 and S7, it's believed that there will be two versions of the SQ7. Europe will get a TDI, and likely the same one that's just been c...
9 Apr 2019

Road & Track: Porsche Built Three Wild Wide-Body Audi 100 Coupes to Help Develop the 928

source: Road & Track In 1972, Porsche knew that its first V-8 would sit in the nose of a luxurious gran turismo, the 928. The company known for its rear or mid-engined, air-cooled sports cars was heading into uncharted territory. The 928 debuted at the 1977 Geneva Motor Show, but before it could get there, Porsche had to buy and chop up a few Audis, a Mercedes-Benz and an Opel to use as development mules. As Julius Weitmann's and Rico Steinemann's excellent book on the 928 explains...
Tue, Apr 09 , 2019 Bill
6 Apr 2019

Audi S6 Test Mule at Nurburgring

We received these photos a few weeks back  but they never made it onto the blog. It's time to fix that oversight, because the Audi S6 has been a longtime favorite of Audi enthusiasts since the model was lunched during the C4 era. A new C8 version is expected later this year, and the car you see here is the proof. Which engine the new S6 uses remains to be seen. The previous car sported a more entry level tune on Audi's 4.0 TFSI V8. And, while we believe another 4.0-liter turbo is set for ...
6 Apr 2019

Spied: B9.5 Audi S4 Avant

As Audi moves closer to launch of its freshened B9 range of cars, more and more test mules of the many variants are being spied in locales known for prototype testing. This week, an updated B9.5 S4 Avant was caught cold weather testing. Spoiler alert, the Audi S4 Avant isn't coming to America... at least based on any rumors we've ever heard. While there's been plenty of talk about A6 allroad and even RS 6, it is believed the B9 Avant is too far into lifecycle to make sense for importat...
2 Apr 2019

Audi RS Q8 Test Mule Spied.

Man, it's got to be hard being a test mule driver at car manufacturers today. Spy photographers were just the start, because now that Instagram has happened there is a cottage industry of photographers in factory towns such as Ingolstadt who are more than happy to snap some shots and feed their Instagram account. Take for instance @_audi__pics_ and these shots of the upcoming RS Q8. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvqj6x3p_O6/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet It's not that the RS Q8 h...
29 Mar 2019

Audi RS Q3 Spied Testing

Let's just say it's been a busy month for the development engineers at Audi Sport GmbH. Audi's skunkworks division was spied just days ago testing the RS 6 Avant, and now they've been nabbed testing what appears to be the next RS Q3. Two mules were tested in warm weather testing, one appearing to be painted Nardo Grey and the other in what is most likely the new Turbo Blue paint that's been coming from Audi on some of the latest model. Though drivetrain details of the upcoming RS Q3 ar...
26 Mar 2019

More Next-Gen RS 6 Avant Photos from Nürburgring

With the weather turning to spring in Europe, the auto manufacturer development schedule turns to the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Spy photographers first caught the new RS 6 in the area around the fabled German road course yesterday. Today, they've caught the car again, this time out on track. There's nothing new to report in the last 24-hours, so this is simply our drawing your attention to more photos of  the same or a very similar car as was seen yesterday. Even still, we figured you'd not ...