Entry-Level Audi Q1 Crossover Expected To Arrive In 2020

But don’t bank on it coming to America.

Audi’s already-extensive SUV line-up is set to expand with a new baby crossover positioned below the tiny Q2. According to AutoExpress, Audi is expected to announce a new Q1 crossover as the latest member of the ever-expanding MQB family, slated to arrive before the end of 2020 after the automaker begins its onslaught of coupe-style SUVs starting with the Q8 later this year and the Q4 in 2019. When asked about a potential Q1, Audi sales and marketing boss Bram Schot hinted that it could happen in response to market trends.

“You cannot ignore the SUV trend; the question is how wide and how deep do we make the program with SUVs?” he said. “Depending on the business opportunities, we decide on the future product portfolio. Don’t be surprised if in two or three years you do see the car, as we try to react fast to markets.” While an entry-level Audi Q1 would rival the likes of the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, don’t bank on it coming to America. Audi’s upcoming subcompact SUV is likely to be based on the new A1 supermini, which has proven popular in Europe but isn’t currently sold in the US, despite the A3 sedan selling well over here.

Slated to arrive later this year, the next-generation A1 will be based on the smallest version of the VW’s MQB platform, which underpins the Polo. In Europe, this means the Q1 will most likely arrive with a variety of gasoline and diesel options including a three-cylinder 1.0-liter turbo, a more powerful 1.5-liter unit, and a 1.6-liter diesel. There could be a hybrid option too, by the time the Q1 rolls out before the end of 2020. Don’t expect Audi’s SUV onslaught to slow down any time soon, either. As well as the Q1, Q4, and Q8, Audi will also be introducing the fully-electric e-tron later this year along with the next-generation Q3, followed by the sleek e-tron Sportback EV in 2019.

New Audi S8 Expected This Year

Super saloon coming soon.

Audi’s flagship performance sedan should arrive later this year. Already, multiple mules for the uber saloon have been spotted undergoing testing. According to Autobild an official reveal will take place later this year. While the German language report is fairly scarce on concrete details, it’s fairly reasonable to assume the S8 will basically look like an A8 Sedan but with a dirty great high-performance engine under the hood. However, there are changes to indicate the future of performance will be electrified.

The exterior treatment won’t break from the typical Audi S format, with subtly flared fenders quad exhaust tips, bigger wheels and an uprated set of brakes expected to feature, like always. While not explicitly stated, the big Audi will spout off using a 4.0-liter V8 strapped with a pair of turbochargers. In typical VW Group fashion, the engine should be all but identical to the Porsche Panamera Turbo’s eight-cylinder heavyweight. At least 500 horsepower should definitely be expected. There will be even more Porsche powertrain sharing as a e-tron version will be launched, but with a focus on performance.

Rumor has it the S8 e-tron will feature a powertrain adopted from the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which offers a combined output of 680 horsepower. Don’t hold your breath for an RS8 either, as models like that sell in miniscule quantities, plus Audi Sport has said it’s prioritizing the development of hot rod RS-badged SUVs. If higher cylinder counts are what cream your crank then you might want to go and get one of the 6.0-liter biturbo W12 versions, which will only be around until the end of the current generation before being dropped forever. It’s unclear exactly when Audi plans to unveil the S8, but one definite possibility is the Paris Motor Show in early October.

Daniels Craig's Aston Martin Vanquish Sold For Less Than We Expected

The James Bond star even helped work the phones to entice bidders.

In February we learned that current James Bond star Daniel Craig planned to auction his bespoke Aston Martin Vanquish, with all proceeds going to charity. The Christie’s auction in New York took place late last week and that stunning V12-powered coupe was sold for $468,500. It was originally estimated to bring in between $400,000 to $600,000, so the estimate turned out to be pretty spot-on, but it’s still definitely at the lower end of the spectrum.

Daniel Craig himself, who sits on the board of The Opportunity Network, the recipient of the proceeds, made a surprise appearance at the auction to help bring in the bids. He even worked the phones and spoke to bidders encouraging them to, of course, place even higher bids. The 2014 model year Vanquish itself is called the “Centenary Vanquish,” numbered 007. Makes sense. Craig teamed up with Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman for the bespoke effort, which resulted in a left-hand drive, 6.0-liter V12-powered exotic. A six-speed automatic transmission directs power to the rear wheels. Painted midnight-blue, the interior also boasts a similar color.

Only 100 examples of the Centenary Blue Edition Vanquish were made, but only one belonged to agent 007 himself. And now it’s moved on to its second owner, who we doubt has any secret agent fighting skills. They will, however, soon be on their way to Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, UK for a full factory tour, another benefit of placing the winning bid.

New Audi S8 Expected This Year

Super saloon coming soon.

Audi’s flagship performance sedan should arrive later this year. Already, multiple mules for the uber saloon have been spotted undergoing testing. According to Autobild an official reveal will take place later this year. While the German language report is fairly scarce on concrete details, it’s fairly reasonable to assume the S8 will basically look like an A8 Sedan but with a dirty great high-performance engine under the hood. However, there are changes to indicate the future of performance will be electrified.

The exterior treatment won’t break from the typical Audi S format, with subtly flared fenders quad exhaust tips, bigger wheels and an uprated set of brakes expected to feature, like always. While not explicitly stated, the big Audi will spout off using a 4.0-liter V8 strapped with a pair of turbochargers. In typical VW Group fashion, the engine should be all but identical to the Porsche Panamera Turbo’s eight-cylinder heavyweight. At least 500 horsepower should definitely be expected. There will be even more Porsche powertrain sharing as a e-tron version will be launched, but with a focus on performance.

Rumor has it the S8 e-tron will feature a powertrain adopted from the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which offers a combined output of 680 horsepower. Don’t hold your breath for an RS8 either, as models like that sell in miniscule quantities, plus Audi Sport has said it’s prioritizing the development of hot rod RS-badged SUVs. If higher cylinder counts are what cream your crank then you might want to go and get one of the 6.0-liter biturbo W12 versions, which will only be around until the end of the current generation before being dropped forever. It’s unclear exactly when Audi plans to unveil the S8, but one definite possibility is the Paris Motor Show in early October.

August U.S. auto sales expected to rise

Last year, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hurt sales in several coastal markets.

U.S. light-vehicle sales in August are expected to rise from year-ago levels, when two major hurricanes crippled new-car transactions in some of the country's largest vehicle markets, according to three forecasts.

Cox Automotive, Edmunds and J.D. Power/LMC Automotive all project gains of about 1 percent for the month. Sales events tied to Labor Day are expected to fuel much of the increase, even though transactions completed over Labor Day weekend will count toward September.

"Last year, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma made landfall during the end of the month, affecting Labor Day sales events," Thomas King, senior vice president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power, said in a statement. "Labor Day remains one of the most heavily shopped periods in the year, accounting for nearly 3 percent of annual sales, as consumers take advantage of discounts that extend through the first weekend of September."

The average incentive per vehicle for the first three weeks of August was down $141 from the same time last year, J.D. Power said, due to smaller discounts on sedans.

Automakers are scheduled to report U.S. deliveries for August on Tuesday, Sept. 4. The month has 27 selling days, the same as August 2017.

U.S. sales are up 1.1 percent this year through July, after falling in 2017 for the first time since the market collapse of 2008-09. Macroeconomic factors such as consumer confidence and new housing starts — which often drive pickup purchases — remain strong.

Each forecasting firm predicts a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.8 million vehicles in August, which would mark the second consecutive month the SAAR has fallen below 17 million. Despite the favorable year-over-year comparisons this month, analysts expect a slower sales pace for the rest of the year.

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"The market remains strong, and all the talk of higher interest rates and trade tariffs is not chasing away buyers," Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive, said in a statement. "However, we are still forecasting a slowing sales pace over the remaining months of the year as buying conditions slowly deteriorate due mostly to higher interest rates and continued high gasoline prices."

Cox calls for full-year sales in 2018 of 16.8 million vehicles, down slightly from the 17.25 million sold in 2017, although LMC increased its forecast by 100,000 units, to 17.2 million, based on higher fleet volume than expected this year.

Edmunds said , through July, new-vehicle inventories had fallen to their lowest levels since 2016.

"There are a lot of things working against the automotive market right now: Incentive spending is maxed out, interest rates are rising and vehicle prices are reaching record highs," Jeremy Acevedo, Edmunds' manager of industry analysis, said in a statement. "Add to that the uncertainty that comes with renegotiating NAFTA and tariff talks and it amounts to what could be a challenging back half of the year for automakers."

Both Edmunds and Cox predict FCA US will post the largest August sales increase among major automakers. Edmunds expects a 15 percent gain while Cox calls for a 11 percent rise.

They expect sales to fall at Ford Motor Co. and General Motors. Cox also predicts declines for American Honda and Subaru of America, which would snap Subaru's streak of 80 consecutive monthly sales increases. The Subaru forecast calls for a 0.3 percent dip.

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