New Audi RS Q3 Looks Aggressive Attacking The Nurburgring

Reports suggest the new Audi RS Q3 will have 400 horses to play with.

Audi recently lifted the wraps off the all-new 2019 Q3 SUV, but recent spy shots and leaked patent images prove that faster variants are already being cooked up. In our last glimpse of the hotter Q3 lapping the Nurburgring, it wasn’t clear if we were looking at a prototype of the new SQ3 or the hardcore Q3 RS. In this case, however, our spies have clearly caught an updated RS Q3 prototype being put through its paces at the Green Hell.

Several aggressive design elements indicate that this is the range-topping crossover. At the back are oval exhaust pipes that are a staple of Audi RS models, as well as a large rear spoiler and a reshaped rear bumper incorporating a small diffuser between the exhaust pipes.

Elsewhere, the updated front bumper also has bigger air intakes to help the performance SUV breathe easier and the grille has a new pattern seen on other RS models. The SUV's beefier brakes with ceramic discs and what looks like six-piston calipers is another obvious giveaway this isn't a regular Audi Q3.

Under the hood, reports suggest the new RS Q3 will be powered by the same 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine found in the RS3 and TT RS tuned to deliver around 400 hp. And unlike the last model, it will reportedly be sold in the US. We’ll probably be waiting for a while for it to arrive, however, since the base Q3 won’t be going on sale in the US until next year, despite arriving in European dealerships this November. That means the performance-focused RS Q3 probably won’t be available until late 2019 in the US. The SQ3 is also due to arrive sometime in 2019, which will most likely adopt the S3’s 2.0-liter TFSI that pumps out 292 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.

Is This Audi Testing On The Nurburgring The SQ3 Or RSQ3?

A mystery wrapped in an enigma...

We are well into the onslaught of new RS models promised by former Audi Sport boss Stephan Winkelmann, and current CEO Michael-Julius Renz shows no inclination to slow the proliferation of Audi’s sportiest models. Currently Audi offers the pint-sized RS3 and TT RS, the RS7 Sportback that will most certainly be replaced soon, the RS5 Coupe and Sportback are due soon, plus coupe and convertible versions of the halo R8 top the line. Any way you count it, that is nowhere near the 14 Winkelmann suggested.

Toss in an RS4 and RS6 Avant, perhaps never to grace our shores, and Audi will still need to run to their SUV lineup to reach their quota and take the fight to Mercedes-AMG and their “make everything ballistic” approach. The RSQ5 is all but certainly going to arrive, and the next best option for an injection of power and performance is the Q3 or Q2 platform. These photos suggest that it is the Q3 that will be getting the RS treatment next, reviving the RSQ3 badge for a second generation. Our spy photographers snapped these shots of a Q3 variant test mule on the Nurburgring, and while at first you might just hedge your bets and say it is a simple SQ3, likely to share the S3’s pumped-up 306-hp 2.0T, there’s more than meets the eye here.

Take note of those quad exhausts, as well as the wheels and brakes. Do those wheels seem fatter than an SQ3 would really call for? Probably, but the brakes are definitely over the top for the SQ3. Just eyeballing them compared to a closeup of the SQ5’s brakes and the callipers and discs are almost certainly bigger, the rotors are drilled for better heat dissipation, and that surface looks a heck of a lot like carbon ceramic. No way is an SQ3 getting drilled ceramic rotors when it’s not even an option on the pricier SQ5. To top it off, the spy photographer notes that it was out testing with an RS3, and in the very last photo, you can see a TTRS leading the way home.

Cross your fingers that we get video and audio next time around, because the unmistakable sound of that turbo-five would be an instant giveaway. The RS3 and TTRS both deliver 400 hp and 354 lb-ft from that signature 2.5-liter five-cylinder.

Aston Martin Valkyrie Out To Beat Porsche's New Nurburgring Record

The Porsche 919 Evo won't hold the overall Nurburgring lap record for very long.

Just last week, Porsche obliterated the outright Nurburgring lap record with the 919 Hybrid Evo. Setting an astonishing time of five minutes and 19.545 seconds, the enhanced Le Mans racecar lapped the Green Hell circuit 52 seconds quicker than the previous all-time record set in 1983 by Stefan Bellof in a Porsche 956. It looked almost certain that Porsche would retain the record for a very long time, but the German automaker already has a new contender chasing the outright Nurburgring record: Aston Martin.

Currently in development in collaboration with Red Bull Racing, the extreme Valkyrie hypercar could potentially beat the Porsche 919’s time according to Racefans. Speaking to the publication at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull’s team principle Christian Horner believes the firm’s F1 car probably won’t beat the record, but the upcoming Valkyrie is a “contender.” "I’m not sure a Formula 1 car could actually do it, but I think that the Valkyrie — certainly the track version of the Valkyrie — could be a contender," he said. He also added that Red Bull won’t be attempting a record with its F1 car since the 919 tribute car is already faster.

“The problem is their LMP1 car broke the record in Spa which was beating a Formula 1 car time,” he said. Full specifications haven’t been revealed yet, but Aston Martin has previously claimed the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro will be capable of setting lap times faster than F1 and LMP1 race cars. That’s no small feat considering the Valkyrie AMR Pro isn’t a purpose-built race car, but derived from a fully homologated road car. It will be powered by the same naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter Cosworth V12 tuned to deliver more than 1,100 hp, and every aerodynamic surface has been revised to “significantly increase” downforce to make it the ultimate track weapon.

Horner believes this setup will enable the Valkyrie to rival Porsche’s record lap time. “It’s a few years off because the car’s still on the drawing board,” he said, “but I’d be surprised if that car didn’t have the potential to do that.”

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2019 Audi S8 Spied Getting Sideways At The Nurburgring

A prototype of the super sedan was spotted flexing its muscles at the Green Hell completely stark naked.

Audi is preparing to launch a high-performance version of its new flagship A8 and judging from these new spy shots it looks nearly production-ready. After spotting the new BMW M3 dancing around the Nurburgring, our spies have caught a prototype of the 2019 Audi S8 getting sideways at the Green Hell. Unlike the M3, however, Audi hasn’t covered it in camouflage, so an official reveal probably isn’t too far away. Compared to the standard model, the prototype S8 sits lower to the ground and rides on larger alloy wheels.

To cope with the extra performance, massive ceramic brake discs have been fitted with six-piston calipers up front. The styling tweaks are subtle. As we can see the super sedan sports reshaped bumpers, wider side skirts and quad exhaust pipes, giving it a slightly more aggressive appearance. In terms of powertrains, the 2019 Audi S8 is expected to adopt either the 2.9 liter V6 from the Panamera 4S or the 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 from the Panamera Turbo. Let’s hope it’s the latter, because the V8 generates 550 hp in the Panamera Turbo. Power is rumored to increase by around 20 hp from the old S8, so we can expect the new model to generate somewhere in the region of 540 hp.

If you want even more power, an Audi S8 e-tron could also be rolled out packing the same technology as the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which produces 680 hp. In the Audi, this output will likely be detuned since Porsche will want the Panamera to reign supreme. As for when we’ll see the new 2019 Audi S8, the super sedan will probably debut at the Paris Auto Show in October if we had to guess.

Aston Martin Rapide AMR Spied Attacking The Nurburgring

This is our first look at the production version of the Aston Martin Rapide AMR after the concept was unveiled last year.

At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin announced its new AMR (Aston Martin Racing) sub-brand offering racier versions of existing models. At the time, the automaker unveiled concept versions of the Rapide AMR and the more hardcore, track-focused Vantage AMR Pro. The Valkyrie hypercar will also be getting the hardcore AMR Pro treatment. Since its reveal, however, news on the Rapide AMR has been slim – until now. Our spy photographers have caught a prototype of the hot four-door supercar attacking the Nurburgring.

Seeing the Rapide AMR at the Green Hell isn’t surprising, since Aston Martin Racing’s European development center is based at the iconic racetrack. After the concept version was shown last year, the spy shots provide us with a first preview of the upcoming production version. It looks to be be largely unchanged from the concept, retaining the same front apron. It also sports new side skirts, an aggressive rear diffuser, and a lip spoiler on the trunk lid. Standard Rapide wheels have been fitted to the prototype, but the final car will ride on 21-inch wheels. The prototype is clearly still a work in progress, as the car is missing its new AMR honeycomb grille quad-exhaust.

Don’t think that Aston Martin is adding a sportier body kit and calling it a day, however. Every AMR model will benefit from performance upgrades, too. Aston Martin is hailing the Rapide AMR as the “world’s fastest and most thrilling four-door” that will be capable of hitting 210 mph. The standard Rapide S is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 producing 552 horsepower, so the output will probably increase to around 600 horses in the hotter AMR version. Production will be limited to just 210 examples. No doubt Aston Martin will reveal more information about the Rapide AMR in the next few months before it arrives later this year.