2008 Audi Models

Are coupes back in vogue? Audi would have you think so. The all-new A5 and its performance twin, the S5, are aimed straight for their fellow two-door heartthrobs: the BMW 3 Series coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class. Like its Deutschland competitors, the A5 seats four and draws power from a high-tech six-cylinder engine. 

After years of making high-performance variants of its existing sedans, wagons and convertibles, Audi enters the supercar market with its new R8. The sports car is named after Audi's five-time Le Mans-winning racecar. 

Are coupes back in vogue? Audi would have you think so. The all-new performance-oriented S5 and its layman twin, the A5, are aimed straight for their fellow two-door heartthrobs: the BMW 3 Series coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class. The S5 gets a 354-horsepower V-8, all the better to compete with BMW's forthcoming M3 coupe. 

Audi's TT sports car has aged surprisingly well since its 2000 model year U.S. debut and is still a head-turning design despite the influx of outlandishly styled models. A redesigned TT is on its way, however, and should hit U.S. dealerships next spring as a 2008 model. 

The Audi A3 is a premium hatchback that competes with models like the Saab 9-3 SportCombi and Volvo V50. It receives minor changes for 2008, including a new Titanium Package that features 18-inch alloy wheels, a black grille and black interior trim. Front- and all-wheel-drive versions of the five-seat A3 are available. Newly available options include manual sunshades for the rear seats, an iPod adapter and new wheel choices. The 3.2 trim level now has standard Sirius Satellite Radio and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. 

Audi redesigned its compact, entry-level A4 midway through the 2005 model year by giving it a larger engine with direct fuel injection. A4 competitors include the Acura TSX and BMW 3 Series, and for 2008 the sedan and Avant wagon versions of the A4 now come standard with the S-line package. An iPod connection kit is now optional. 

Audi last redesigned its A6 in 2005, and the car receives a few new standard features for 2008, including a headlight washing system, Sirius Satellite Radio and S-line exterior trim. Available in sedan and Avant wagon form, the A6 competes with other midsize luxury sedans like the BMW 5 Series and Infiniti M. 

For 2008, Audi's flagship A8 full-size luxury sedan receives updates to its steering and air suspension systems that are intended to enhance the car's driving performance. There are also newly available safety features like lane assist and side assist, which alerts drivers when other vehicles are alongside them. Competitors include the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the A8 is available in regular- and long-wheelbase form. 

Audi's Q7 luxury SUV was the German automaker's first foray into that market, and was intended to compete with fellow luxury SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne and Volvo XC90. The Q7 is available with either five or seven seats and can be equipped with a V-6 or V-8 engine. For 2008, the Q7 gains more standard equipment. 

The RS 4 sedan puts Audi in the running for compact übercar bragging rights. It's a small but hotly contested market: The BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and Cadillac CTS-V each pack a tour de force of engine technology, as well. For 2008, the RS 4 gets two new option packages, and a new RS 4 Cabriolet convertible debuts. 

Audi continues to offer its S4 in sedan, wagon (Avant) and convertible (Cabriolet) body styles for 2008. Bluetooth-based cell phone connectivity and Sirius Satellite Radio are now standard, and RS 4-like 18-inch alloy wheels are available. Competitors include the Cadillac CTS-V and Lexus IS-F. 

The S6 is the performance variant of Audi's midsize sedan, the A6, and competes against the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. While there was once an even-more audacious 6-based rocket called the RS 6, currently only the S version is sold in the U.S. With a V-10 crammed under its hood, performance-tuned all-wheel drive and a modified suspension, the S6 is a thrilling performer that hides its capabilities under a classy but unobtrusive wrapper. Audi lane assist is a new option for 2008, but little else has changed.  

Audi's S performance designation graces the automaker's largest sedan, the A8 flagship, in the form of the S8. The S8 is essentially the quickest A8 money can buy, and changes are few for 2008. Competitors include the Jaguar XJR and Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG.