Grasp your breaths ladies and gentlemen, CAR Magazine had peeled off layer by layer Audi's secret plans for the next few years to come, giving us a preview of what Ingolstadt's up to in hammering their way to become the largest luxury automaker in time to come, 2015 that is.This super sneak peak includes Audi's A1, which would derive from the Metro Project Quattro to take on the Mini, then news has it that the A2 will be revived, then the future A3 was said to highly important to Audi. Interestingly, the Volkswagen Up! will undergo cross platform (badge re-engineering) with Audi, but as an electric car, A5 will be coming with a sleek wagon hatchback, A6 to be using the very expensive ASF (Aluminium Space Frame) cutting weight extensively, the A7 four door coupe will be equipped with a folding roof, and of course, some sleek preview of the RS5 and news has it that Audi will be incorporating ASF into most of it's higher end models, which the Q7 successor thou larger than the current, will be a full 300kg lighter. Thou the incorporation of ASF into it's lineup will hurt profit dearly, Audi is willing to take up the bet. Continue reading to find it all out.
Spawn from the Metro Peoject Quattro, will be Audi's first foray into the highly lucrative, currently sold-out BMW Mini, premium small car segment, where there's still no real challenger as of now. A 5 door variation could also be spawned from the concept. Of course Audi also had the Mini Cooper S in its aims and a possible S1, with a 200hp engine coupled with Audi's famed Quattro, and base models should include the 1.4 ltr Twin Charge engine, featuring a supercharger for low rpms and a turbocharger for high rpms. Of course as base models, transmission will include a good 'ol manual, a 7-speed DSG (dubbed S-Tronic) gearbox.A variation of the 5 door version of the A1 will include an eco-friendly green car as well. All A1 production is set to be in Belgium as for time being.
This is the moment for fans of the Audi A2, launched in 1999 as the world's first fully aluminium built car, the A2 is Audi's answer to the Mercedes A-Class, however due to the fully aluminium construction, the A2 was highly expensive and was canned in year 2005. With current construction techniques and the concern for vehicle weight, emission import penalties, the A2 will again be built using aluminium, and assisted by a battery powered engine (hybrid?)
The NEW Audi A3 will be available in the year 2011, which is somewhat very late considering the current A3 was launched even earlier than the BMW 1 Series, this would mean Audi will be putting in all it has in its arsenal. Shocking news has it that the A3 will now come as a saloon, slotting in between the BMW 1 Series and BMW 3 Series, Audi is very confident that an A3 saloon will not harm sales of the A4 as the class leader is now currently only 14cm shy of the BMW 5 Series. 
Very interestingly is that there will now be a coupe/shooting brake A3, which reminds us of the wonderful 2005 Audi Shooting Brake Concept shown left, hence in total the targeted 200,000 production a year model will be consist of a 3 door, a shooting brake, a 5 door and a cabriolet, all four variations to keep customers in this segment to choose around the four rings.
Next up is the idea of an electric car that Audi has been fiddling around with, very likely to be utilizing the Volkswagen Up!, Audi would be looking at a zero emission, electric car, however it's still too early to tell in more details as there has been no indication of VAG actively researching in this direction as of now.
Another surprising unveiling from CAR, is the A5 Sportback, a coupe cum hatchback sitting on the wheelbase of an A4 Avant, but with a low, wide sporty profile with a sleek sloping roof, framless windows and a huge tailgate with an automatic extending air deflector that will also be available in the Audi RS5. The A5 Sportback coupled with the A4 Avant will go against the 3 Series Touring and C-Class Estate, giving customers two options that comes with much practicality. This would mean 50% more combined volume, 25% more conquest rate and a 15% increase in market share for this segment. However the A5 Sportback will not come with S or RS high powered variations as it is a pure money making, segment conquering product. Quattro and the 7-Speed Twin Cluth S-Tronic will be available.
The RS5, as reported earlier, will most likely be using a 4.2 ltr V8 Twin Turbo engine producing upwards of 450hp - 480hp (Very likely that of the previous RS6 Plus output), and a first in its class, the RS5 will sport auto wind deflectors the likes of 911 Turbo and Bugatti Veyron. Giving a good fight to the BMW M3 and pressing in closely with the RS7 to create more headache for the BMW M6 or BMW 650.
Next up, the new C7 Audi A6 was spotted being tested under a mule of the current C6 A6, we could see how huge the new A6 would be given the bloated axles under the current A6 test mule, a very exciting news is that Audi will be extending the very expensive Aluminum Space Frame construction into the A6, cutting weight tremendously, offering better fuel efficiency, nimbler handling and 50% more structural rigidity than the current A6. Styling would most probably carry the current A4, A5's theme blending simplicity, with a modernity into a subtle yet strong and muscular design.
Finally, the much awaited CLS challenger from Audi, the A7, looking like an angry, menacing serpent sporting four doors, but with an extremely sleek coupe profile, closing the gaps between four door executive sedans and 4 seater Gran Tourers. The A7 will come in variations of a hardtop convertible, and of course an RS7 would most likely make it into production with power deliveries in the 600hp region.
Source: CAR Magazine Online
