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reviews posted below are by John Mellor one of Australia's leading
motoring experts. We are in no way affiliated with John Mellor
or Go Auto, we have simply found that this information is the
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Audi
A3, 2.0 FSI 3-dr hatch, launched 2004
AUDI'S new A3 needs to keep its wits about it if it's to maintain
station as a top contender in the increasingly busy "A"
segment for prestige cars. Fortunately, the basics are all there
for the German three-door. There's the mechanical techno fest
that comprises the torque-rich TDi turbo-diesel, the direct-injection
FSI petrol engine and the pumped-up 3.2-litre V6 quattro. Then
there are the transmission choices, which include five and six-speed
manuals, a six-speed Tiptronic auto and the new DSG manual-automatic.
On top of that, we find unquestionably high standards of quality,
an interior that is probably the most spacious in its class and
an underlying sportiness that ensures it's fun to drive. Only
the lack of doors works against it.
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Audi
A3, 3-dr range, launched 2004
Audi’s A3 hatchback has carved a small and moderately successful
niche in the Australian new car market for itself, a bit like
Audi itself. But the challenges now start getting more serious
for the A3 with BMW’s 1 Series presenting a tough new challenge
when it arrives in October. To ensure the fight is as difficult
as possible for the new rival, Audi has introduced an A3 that
offers more choice and more size inside and out for a lower introductory
price than the outgoing car. Let the battle commence.
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Audi A3, Cabriolet Range 2008
AUDI has jumped into its metaphorical Delorean and sped back to
the future for its new compact convertible. The A3 Cabrio is akin
to Volkswagen's late and lamented original Golf Cabriolet, with
its appealing style and no-nonsense all-weather fabric roof, creating
an upmarket four-seater sun-seeker that can be used every day
without the compromises that inflict the folding hard-top mob.
Yet with a pair of sweet turbo engine options, responsive dynamics
and high levels of safety and refinement, this is still very much
a new-age Audi – without the hard ride and dull steering.
Unexpectedly, we’ve come away charmed, so if you’re
considering a Mini Cabrio, VW Eos, BMW 120i Convertible, Saab
9-3, Volvo C70 or even Audi A4 Convertible, then it might be worth
your while giving the new A3 Cabriolet a punt.
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Audi
A3, S3 3-dr hatch, launched 2007
AUDI wants to build a reputation as a well-known prestige brand
and the S3 typifies its approach. It is an expensive, lavishly
equipped hot hatch. The price makes it an exclusive proposition,
but that is exactly what Audi believes S3 customers want. Its
closest competitors are the Volkswagen Golf R32, BMW 130i and
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA – also pricey, boutique high-performance
models that are expected to find only a few buyers. The new S3
is nearly $2000 cheaper than the outgoing model and is no longer
the most expensive A3 - unlike the first-generation S3 (which
was $20,000 more than the next model down, the A3 1.8T). The S3
is the same price as the A3 3.2 quattro S tronic.
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Audi
A3, S3, Sportsback 5-dr hatch, launched 2008
AUDI hopes to broaden the appeal of its sporty S3 hatch with a
new five-door Sportback model. The new, more spacious S3, joins
the rorty three-door German hot-hatch that was introduced halfway
through last year. Both the three and five-door S3s use a red-hot
2.0-litre turbocharged four that belts out a healthy 188kW of
power. At this stage it is only available with a six-speed manual,
but a dual-clutch auto is expected to follow at some stage. The
S3 uses a constant all-wheel-drive system to make sure it has
the best possible traction at all times. It can bolt to 100km/h
in a claimed 5.8 seconds and maxes out at an electronically-limited
250km/h. There is also a swag of luxury gear, including supportive
leather sports seats and a meaty Bose sound system.
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Audi
A3, Sportsback 1.9, TDle 5-dr hatch, launched 2008
IF YOU thought you had to buy a hybrid to save the planet and
ease your conscience, think again. A range of new super-lean diesel
small cars from European brands, and South Korea's Hyundai, are
showing that the petrol-electric Toyota Prius and Honda Civic
are not the only cars you can buy to reduce your impact on the
environment. Using an average of just 4.5L/100km of diesel, the
A3 TDIe is officially just 0.1L/100km thirstier than the Prius.
If you do a lot of country driving, the diesel will use considerably
less than the Toyota. Rather than create an all new drivetrain
for its "e" model, Audi instead made a series of small
changes that add up. Gear ratios are longer in third and fifth,
the ECU has been tweaked, the suspension has been lowered, low-resistance
tyres have been fitted and the hub-cabs have been designed with
aerodynamics in mind. The engine is a 1.9 turbo-diesel used in
the VW Golf and Skoda Octavia.
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Audi,
A3, Sports 3.2, 5-dr hatch, launched 2005
AUDI’s new Sportback at last adds a five-door to the new
A3 range, and asks only a small price premium – which is
a good thing in a car that already suffers the early stages of
sticker shock. For an extra $2000, you get two extra doors, a
restyled body with Audi’s signature single-frame grille
and an extra 20 litres of boot space. The 3.2-litre V6 version
adds all-wheel drive and sharper dynamics to a car that has already
defined itself as a hatchback for the sportingly inclined. With
a (normally aspirated) power-weight ratio equal to Subaru’s
WRX, the A3 3.2 Sportback quattro doesn’t yield readily
to anybody.
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Audi
A3, Sportsback 5-dr hatch range, launched 2005
LOOK out BMW! Audi says it’s after potential 1 Series buyers
with a hatch that more than matches it for performance, style,
quality and (especially) rear passenger space. The new A3 Sportback
five-door hatch also hits the ground running with petrol or diesel,
front or all-wheel drive and a wide spread of models. And with
new management, a keen team, improved dealers and smarter advertising,
the company may even achieve its goal of eventually becoming the
number two luxury brand in Australia. So there’s a lot riding
on the (elongated) back of Audi's new five-door A3.
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Audi
A4, Avant 5-dr wagon range, launched 2008
THE small to medium luxury European passenger wagon market is
a niche within a niche but a smart way for a manufacturer to yield
incremental sales. Audi only expects to add 13 per cent to its
A4 bottom line but that’s a good 300 cars extra a year that
it can sell off the back of a range already established. The Holy
Grail for these niche European wagons (which also include the
Mercedes-Benz C-class Estate and BMW 3 Series Touring) is the
mammoth SUV market. Like its German competitors, the Audi marketing
men would like to know how their practical compact luxury wagon
could lure away even a fraction of the SUV buyers. Does the A4
Avant have what it takes to steal SUV sales?
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Audi
A4, sedan range, launched 2008
THREE years is an eternity in the automotive world, and two of
the stars of 2005 – BMW’s E90 3 Series and the Lexus
IS250 – are now under massive attack from last year’s
own (three-pointed) star attraction, the Mercedes W204 C-class.
But, hang on, what’s this? Is Audi trying yet again with
another A4? Could the all-new B8 possibly hope to compete against
the others for driver appeal, ride comfort, cabin space and value
for money? Previous versions often fell well short. However, after
sampling a cross-section, the latest A4 could well be the one
that finally catches up with the competition. Audi’s time,
it seems, is now.
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Audi
A4, TFSI Sedan, launched 2008
AUDI has just replaced its volume-selling A4 with a new model
that promises a far more sophisticated package to counter BMW
and Mercedes-Benz, the established prestige Germans in the segment.
The new A4’s entry-level engine, the 1.8-litre TFSI, is
a brand new design that, in tandem with the car’s new, bigger
body, impressive interior and extensive features list, gives the
Audi A4 its best shot yet of taking a bigger slice of the entry-level
executive sedan market.
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Audi
A5, S5 quattro coupe, launched 2007
THE R8 supercar shows most prominently that Audi is serious about
getting sporty. But it is another V8-powered Audi that reveals
the German brand has bold plans to improve the sportiness of several
models across the range. It's called the S5 and it sits on a new
platform that forms the base of the all-new A4 sedan due in mid-2008.
Audi has moved the steering column forward for the new platform,
which should drastically cut the dreaded 'rack rattle' that has
plagued most Audis. The S5 is the hot version of the A5 coupe
and both models take the game up to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz
CLK coupes. The A5 range currently kicks off at $91,900 for the
3.2 FSI, but will drop to around $70,000 when a 1.8T arrives this
May. Sitting well above the A cars is the S5, with a starting
price of $131,900. It runs a 4.2-litre V8 that pumps out 260kW
and 440Nm and is driven to all four wheels. Transmission choices
include a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.
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Audi
A6, 3.0 TDi Quattro sedan, launched 2004
BIGGER, better and now offering the choice of a muscular turbo-diesel
- in quattro all-wheel-drive guise only - the slick new Audi A6
with its bold grille and tasteful interior combats the luxury
class with technology and style. The turbo-diesel could in fact
be the choice pick in a range that offers two petrol V6s and a
4.2-litre V8 – it has more torque than the latter and better
economy than any of the petrol engines. Importantly, the new A6
is more refined than its well-sorted predecessor, which means
better on-road dynamics, and the interior – already pretty
spacious – offers even more lounging room. And the massive
boot is the biggest in class, proving that luxury doesn’t
mean you need to sacrifice utility.
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Audi A6, Avant 5-dr wagon range, launched 2005
LIKE the generations that preceded it, Audi’s new A6 Avant
is a bona fide alternative to the established medium-large European
load-luggers from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. With two competitive
V6 petrol engines, an array of cutting-edge equipment, the latest
safety features, impressive refinement and build quality that’s
now arguably the benchmark in its class, the latest A6 Avant makes
a persuasive argument for families that are prepared to pay for
a top-class German estate car.
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Audi A6, RS6 Avant 5-dr wagon, launched 2008
AUDI has created the world’s fastest wagon in the RS6 Avant,
which runs a storming twin-turbo V10 with 426kW and 650Nm of torque.
Unlike any performance wagon in existence, it can blast to 100km/h
in a claimed 4.6 seconds despite weighing more than two tonnes.
Seating five, this ferocious family car will be limited to a small
group of wealthy customers given its sticker price of $270,946.
It comes loaded with luxury gear and suspension and brake upgrades,
in line with those massive power and torque levels.
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Audi A6, S6 sedan, launched 2006
LAMBORGHINI cohabits with Audi to create the new S6 model –
one of two new sedans bearing the 5.2-litre V10 engine and the
most potent of the current “6” series. The Audi S6
weighs two tonnes and is priced at almost $200,000, but it’s
possible still to say you get a fair return for your money with
a unique combination of surging performance and restrained luxury
that is in direct contrast with the other German V10 muscle-car,
the BMW M5. The Audi focuses more on blending high performance
with luxury than the focused BMW, and is nowhere near as blatantly
rapid. But, at the same time, there’s not too much around
that challenges the all-wheel drive S6 sedan for on-road supremacy.
It’s the seriously fast luxury car for the driver who leans
towards introversion.
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Audi A8, 4.2 TDI sedan, launched 2006
THE captains of industry usually expect to be driven rather than
take the tiller. Unless they buy an Audi A8. It’s the one
luxury limousine worth swapping places with the chauffeur to experience
the A8’s reserves of power, all-wheel drive grip, lavishly
equipped driver’s environment and consummate long-distance
touring capability. Has Audi over-estimated the Armani wearing-elite
by adding the latest-generation turbo-diesel 4.2-litre V8 to the
lineup? We think not. Early adopters, and there are many in the
boardrooms across Australia, will love boasting to their golfing
buddies about the A8 TDI’s 240kW/650Nm outputs, while delivering
fuel economy of 9.7L/100km. Who cares about golf?
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Audi A8, L6.0 W12 quattro, launched 2005
IN terms of outright sales, Audi may well be an also-ran within
the trio of premium German car brands in Australia. But in western
Europe, where the flagship Volkswagen brand actually sells more
12-cylinder vehicles than both Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Audi is
very much a major player whose models are highly regarded by luxury
car aficionados. Take the A8 W12 sedan, available in Australia
for the first time, for example. At a cool $325,000, it’s
an accomplished first-class limousine with all the performance,
features and quality well heeled customers would expect from the
most expensive Audi – plus the kind of exclusivity and value
its BMW and Benz rivals cannot offer.
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Audi A8, S8 sedan, launched 2007
2006 was a good year for Audi Australia. It sold 5770 cars with
the A4 being the volume seller and the arrival of the Q7 helping
bolster sales, along with the superb TT coupe. Locally sales are
up 20 per cent over 2005 thanks to the new models and Audi is
confident of double digit growth this year. So on the back of
this good report card, the company added some year-end spice to
the lineup with the arrival of the RS4 Avant, S6 and S8. And if
a V10 engine is good enough for the S6, then it’s good enough
for the $259,900 S8. This performance sedan is an all-alloy high-speed
cruiser.
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Audi Allroad, 3.0 TDI 5-dr wagon, launched 2005
AUDI, like Subaru with its Outback and Volvo’s XC70, believes
that some buyers are willing to forgo the bulk of an SUV for a
‘crossover’ that combines all-wheel drive ability
with the lightness and litheness of a traditional wagon. Except
that it costs around $20,000 more than the equivalent Q7 SUV,
the Allroad TDI quattro has all the ingredients to give premium
SUVs a real scare. Even as it is, the Audi is a real luxury segment
contender anyway.
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Audi Q7, 3.0 TDI 5-dr wagon, launched 2006
AUDI finally commits itself to the SUV market with its massive
new Q7. Those who have been looking at the A6-based Allroad for
years will finally understand why the German company has been
such a latecomer to a segment where practically everybody else
is extraordinarily busy. The Q7 is, in some ways, a new interpretation
of luxury SUVs where sheer bulk is disguised by sleek, relatively
low-slung lines in a way no others have yet managed. With the
size comes an expansive interior with van-like dimensions and
the possibility of optioning-up to a third-row seat. Three engines
are available and none are slouches: a 171kW 3.6-litre direct-injection
V6, a 500Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and a 250kW petrol V8. Being
an Audi means there’s no slacking on technology, with air
suspension standard on the V8 and optional on the V6s, full-time
4WD and a host of electronic safety items including a standard
rear-view camera. But watch the options box carefully.
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Audi Q7, 5-dr wagon range, launched 2006
ACCORDING to Prime Minister John Howard, our population is diminishing.
The natural fertility rate – the number of children a woman
has in her lifetime - is said to be 1.8, down significantly from
the 1960s when it was 3.5. Such dire warnings should make the
case for a seven-seater SUV an exercise in excess, right? Not
according to Audi, which has just launched its new Q7 quattro,
with five standard seats or the option of six or a third row of
seven seats. Already 70 per cent of buyers have opted for the
seven-seater option. So is it the ideal family wagon?
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Audi R8, coupe, launched 2007
AUDI crashes the supercar party with a two-seater mid-engined
sports car so accessible and complete that it evokes memories
simultaneously of the Honda NSX, Porsche 911 and Ferrari Dino.
The Volkswagen-owned luxury brand has been itching to build a
car like this for decades, and even though Italian stablemate
Lamborghini’s Gallardo has played a large part in the development
of the striking R8, it is still very much an Audi - as well as
a hardcore driver’s car, but with a softer, more forgiving
side. This is a sensational vehicle.
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Audi TT, Coupe range, launched 2006
REPLACING any automotive design icon is fraught with a designer
backlash. In the case of Audi's TT, improving on the original's
austere but classic Bauhaus features was going to be a tough act
to follow. But Audi's designers have managed to do just that.
The second-generation TT is the embodiment of the old car, with
the benefit of newer technologies and even more contemporary styling.
Key characteristics like the high shoulder line, a sweeping C-pillar
that melds effortlessly with the car's rear and the cascading
grille have all been reinterpreted for the newcomer. The newest
TT will become another cult car, lurking in the shadow of the
original.
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Audi TT, Roadster range, launched 2007
THE first TT Roadster was a car that in design terms lost nothing
in the translation from coupe to convertible, and the new roadster
also upholds the simple, fluid style of its coupe sibling. Even
though soft-tops are often all about style, this one is an accomplished
performer too, with a balanced, lightweight body powered by an
energetic four-cylinder engine or smooth V6. Audi has maintained
open-top tradition with its fabric roof, claiming a folding steel
roof was too heavy and cumbersome. For the first time in the Roadster,
there's also a V6 quattro variant. Despite only being available
as an automatic, for a premium open-top car, the TT Roadster not
only looks good - but performs and handles well too.
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Audi TT, S Coupe Roadster, launched 2008
AUDI has lit the wick of its TT sporstcar with an explosive 200kW
turbo engine. The new TTS Coupe and Roadster are the hero models
of the TT range and sit above the V6 versions. They are fitted
with a 200kW turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is potent
enough to sling the coupe to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds, which means
it a seriously fast machine. The TTS models also gain some exterior
improvements including quad rear pipes, new bumpers, lowered suspension
and special 18-inch rims, as well as some interior tweaks. Audi
has made the TTS available with the standard six-speed manual,
while the dual-clutch S tronic automatic is available as an option.
The TTS Coupe costs $92,900 and the Roadster is $97,100, which
places them at the top of the TT price list with a $7100 premium
over the V6 models.
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