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In 2010, the year that Audi celebrated the 30th anniversary of the quattro, it sold an impressive 437,792 quattro-equipped cars, or about 38 percent of its total production. The brand with the four rings said it sells more all-wheel drive vehicles than any other premium manufacturer in the world.

The most popular all-wheel drive Audi was the Q5 compact SUV, with 155,025 sales. The German company will soon add a hybrid version to the Q5 range, while a smaller SUV, the Q3, is due to be launched next month at the Shanghai Auto Show.

Aside from the Q5 and Q7 SUVs, the quattro system was also a popular choice among other models, ranging from the A3 to the A8. According to Audi, almost a quarter of all “A” series model sales in 2010 were vehicles equipped with four-wheel-drive,

“Quattro is one of the Audi brand’s greatest success stories, and today we are writing what may well be its most exciting chapter,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi board of management member. “As we move down the road toward electric mobility, we see entirely new possibilities for Quattro technology. The electric quattro of the future will be even more agile, safer and – above all – more efficient,” adds the executive.

Audi offers more than 130 quattro model variants if you take into account the different body types, engines and transmission options. The most advanced version of the quattro system, available in the RS5, A7 Sportback and the new A6, features a crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring.

By Dan Mihalascu

*The above photo is a rendering from a Teamspeed forum member

New details on Porsche's junior SUV have emerged a day after the company confirmed the Leipzig plant as the production site for the new car. German car magazine AutoBild reported that Porsche will launch the compact SUV in a three-door body style adding that the Cajun will have a sporty character to differentiate it from the Audi Q5.

Porsche originally intended to launch the Cajun as a five-door model, but later decided it would be better to start off with a three-door variant since it doesn't want to affect the sales of the Q5, upon which the Cajun is based.

The Stuttgart automaker also feared that a five-door Cajun might threaten the Cayenne as well, so the company is said to have decided to give its smaller SUV a much more dynamic appearance. However, Porsche did not exclude a five-door version in the near future.

In order to hide the family relationship with the Audi Q5, the Cajun will have unique body panels and a coupe-like profile, wider and lower body, shorter wheelbase and smaller front/rear overhangs. According to AutoBild, the Porsche will offer room for four passengers.

On the technical side however, the Cajun will be similar with the Audi Q5, sharing components such as steering, transmission, axles and the four-wheel-drive system. The suspension, braking and dynamic control systems will be developed by Porsche, in order to give the car a much sportier handling.

The Cajun is rumored to be offered with four units at launch including a 2.0-liter turbo petrol with 240HP, a 3.0-liter turbo petrol V6 with 290HP, a 2.0-liter diesel with 190HP and a 3.0-liter diesel V6 with 265HP.

Porsche will later release performance upgrades for the diesels - with 204 and 300 ponies respectively – while the gasoline V6 unit could spawn a 350HP version. Further plans include a hybrid model, which will be technically identical to the Audi Q5 Hybrid. The Cajun is expected to be launched in late 2012 or early 2013.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Autobild , Renderings: Teamspeed forum member Wildspeed

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Here we go again; according to unconfirmed reports from the UK, Lamborghini is working on a spiritual successor to the LM002 aka Rambo Lambo – you know, the monstrous Italian SUV of the late 1980s, which used the Countach's 5.2-liter V12 and had a special place in the hearts of obscenely rich sheiks.

"Industry insiders" say that the new model will be based on the same platform as the Audi Q5 and Porsche's upcoming Cajun. Let me deviate right here, as this sounds more than a bit off.

The original LM002 measured 4.9 meters (192 inches) in length, but its bulky design made it seem a lot bigger. The Audi Q5 is 4.62 meters (182 inches) long and it shows, as it doesn't come anywhere near the Q7's presence. It really looks like a small SUV. No, a true successor has to be as off the charts as the original or even more. A bigger platform is a must. Strike one.

The same secret sources say that the new SUV – dubbed LM00X – will get a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, rated at around 550 hp. First of all, it would be awfully cramped under the bonnet. It also sounds like it would become the new entry-level Lamborghini, and seeing that even the Gallardo has a V10 engine, let me ask, why?

The LM002 was outrageous, partly due to the exotic engine choice – a noble V12. And if some sheik thought that it still wasn't the real deal, he could ask for a bigger, 7.0-liter marine V12, sourced from a Class 1 powerboat. So, hell no, a measly V8 won't do it. Strike two.

Last but not least, the magazine says that the LM00X will cost £100,000 or $160,690, when it will presumably hit the market in 2012. Again, let me get this straight. You once had a preposterous SUV, which cost and arm and a leg, and now you want to make its successor downright cheap (at least by Lamborghini standards). Why? Some of the previous clients might be still around, I say make them remember the good old days by giving them a worthy new LM002 and take their money. See, everybody is happy. That's a strike three in my opinion, but feel free to agree or disagree in the comments section below.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Auto Express

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Although there's been no official announcement other than confirmation of a Q5 Hybrid SUV sometime this year (next week's L.A. Auto Show is a good bet), Audi's website seems to think that the brand's mid-size hybrid crossover is ready for some time in the spotlight.

According to the site, the Q5 Hybrid will be a full hybrid with a 2.0 TSI four-cylinder working alongside a 33-kW (44 HP) electric motor, regenerative braking, and start/stop tech.

Behind the scenes, the car will have an adaptive control system to optimize the gas/electric power ratio. On electric power alone, Audi is expecting the car to be able to cruise at speeds up to 100 km/h / 62 mph. Curious about range and efficiency? There's now a power meter in the instrument cluster for just that reason.

As with just about every car out there these days, there's an S mode; in this case, it provides the raciest performance from the hybrid drivetrain by allowing full access to the 240 horsepower and 480 Nm / 354 lb-ft of torque (there's a boost function, too).

Expect a nice, wordy press release very soon, but I couldn't possibly imagine what else you'd need to know; it's a Q5 Hybrid, which just about says it all.

By Phil Alex

Via: Audi.de

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Who would have thought that BMW's all-wheel drive systems were enough to shame Audi's famous quattro system? Not the average consumer, that's for sure (though BMW certainly has had enough time to get it right). BMW, which has actually been making AWD cars for the past 25 years, has decided to begin more aggressively targeting consumers who live in harsher climates.

According to this video, BMW's xDrive is vastly superior to Audi's quattro - at least when driving up metal inclines built by BMW... In the clip, we get a glimpse at what appears to be some sort of BMW press event and a hill climb-off between two small-ish diesel-powered premium soft-roaders: Audi's Q5 and BMW's X3.

Although the X3 depicted here may not be the first pick on a lot people's lists, the comparison below is just used as an example. After all, xDrive is now available on a variety of products in BMW's lineup. Could it be that BMW has bested Audi at its own game?

By Phil Alex

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