Audi's 2016 Plans Don't Include Wind Tunnel, Do Include Q2, Q5
Audi on Monday delayed construction of a new wind tunnel because of the company’s massive diesel scandal, but announced that it would invest nearly $3.3 billion for 2016 — including bringing to market a new Q2, an updated Q5 and a SUV based on the concept shown above in two years.
The automaker’s chief, Rupert Stadler, affirmed the company would release a battery-powered vehicle by 2018, inspired by the e-tron quattro concept revealed at Frankfurt.
No word if the delayed wind tunnel would have allowed Audi to develop real mirrors.
In its announcement, Audi outlined its plans for investments in 2016, including the aforementioned Q2. The automaker said by 2020 its portfolio would include 60 vehicles.
Audi hinted that its new Q5, coming in 2016, would be more than just gasoline-powered.
“A significant proportion of our investment is naturally in the field of alternative drive systems,” Stadler said in the statement.
The company also announced that they were searching high and low for engineers versed in “alternative drive systems and lightweight construction, but also for IT specialists, who will further develop the fields of Audi connect, Audi mobility and smart factory in the context of digitalization.”
So, yeah, Audi’s still spending money.
Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.
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In this age of spectacularly dork-faced cars (because that's all the stylists can touch) that e-tron is über representative. Reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt.
I just do not like all the hard creases that I am seeing in all their concepts. Too cadillac-ish.
BREAKING NEWS: Due to the diesel scandal, Audi's upcoming redesigned models, which were previously scheduled to have the angles of their single frame grills sharpened by 2%, will now be sharpened by only 1%. Headlights will similarly be angled downward 1% less than originally intended. Seriously, Audi could delay their entire model line by a full cycle, and I don't think anyone would even notice. The recent reskin of the A7 seemed designed to make it more bland, and harder to tell apart from the A6, and the new R8 looks like an origami version of the old R8. With Mercedes now offering 4Matic on just about everything they make including AMG variants, and Mercedes interiors now MILES ahead of Audi's in terms of design and materials quality, it's getting a lot harder to justify buying one when they look more boring than ever. The 2017 E-class looks nicer inside than the A8.
Audi's cars may all look similar, but that's a fairly common practice now across many brands. Besides, the A5 still has the best lines of any coupe available today, despite the fact that it's been around for 9 years in the U.S. and a bit longer elsewhere. Generally, Audis are cars for people who a appreciate beautiful and understated styling without the need for any over-the-top styling that is becoming increasingly popular. Yes, I'm looking at you Nissan. Oh, and Lexus too.