Fourtitude recently sat down with Audi of America's Director of Product Planning Wolfgang Hoffmann. Typical of Audi executives as of late, Hoffmann is very enthusiastic about the brand and its potential. Considering his position steering product for North America, his take on topics such as an A3 2.0T quattro, the allroad, the upcoming Q5, the on-again off-again RS 4 Cabriolet for North America, the potential for future turbocharged Audis and the future of Avants in America is one worth listening to. He was asked about those subjects and more recently. Read a full transcription here...

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main takeaway is we will see a new nice high volume engine (turbo?) in the near future

selling winter tire setup 16" steelies with wheel covers IM + FALKEN sincera 828 tires me...

now: 06 GLI reflex silver manual pkg2
aspherical blue mirrors| monster mats

Cheers,

Chuck

I thought Wolfgang specificially said Avant will be part of US offering. Comments on A3 varients also interesting... And I guess it is confirmed that A5 will not get DSG.

This statement leads me to believe that the Avant may or may not hang around, depends on what Audi feels will sell cars. The statement does not fill me with confidence on the future of the A4 Avant. Trust me, I would like to be wrong!

Cheers,

Chuck

I don't care if AoA limits the A4 Avant to just one model, as long as it's the 3.0 TDI!

Modified by Quattroplay at 7:26 PM 5/1/2007

Modified by Quattroplay at 7:27 PM 5/1/2007

George, yes thank you for your hardwork! I forgot my manners and agree with Quattroplay. You do a great job of interviewing the top Audi folks, with relevant and pertinent questions. Your interviews are a pleasure to read (and analyze for discussion).

Cheers and thanks,

Chuck

Quote »

Fourtitude: Turbos have always been a big part of Audi's heritage - today, pretty much relegated to the 2.0T. You see BMW with a turbo mid-range, similar to offerings you have had in the past. Do turbos fit on the top end now, or is that more of something left to other technologies like FSI, valvelift, etc. Hoffmann: We haven't announced anything about that. But to answer shortly, yes. I think you will see something really exciting in the future with a turbo. Definitely. Fourtitude: Will it be in the realistic realm, perhaps the B5 S4 or in the exotic realm like what the RS6 was in the past? Hoffmann: It will be in a more of a high volume segment. You will see something nice in the near future. That is all I can say at the moment.

*sniff-sniff* what do you smell? (..I'm thinking a TT 2.5T -- but would that be high volume enough?)

Quote, originally posted by ylwghost »

*sniff-sniff* what do you smell? (..I'm thinking a TT 2.5T -- but would that be high volume enough?)

That's what I was thinking too. He didn't say, and it was a bit of a surprise that he gave me that much to chew on, but an interesting thought. 2.5T is very interesting, though likely only for a TTRS or RS3 type of application. I doubt they'd fit it longitudinally... though you never know I guess. I can't think of another turbo application that's at least on my radar that's not diesel.

If longidudinal: An A5 2.5T would be perfect (and maybe more high volume; than say a TTRS)
(based on the early reviews -- seems like the B8 chassis will still be better off with lighter engines)

-Regardless: Thanks for the great interview (.. really got some key questions in there: And it's nice to see AofA develop closer relations to the "community" )

Modified by ylwghost at 12:21 PM 5-2-2007

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I don't know why it hasn't dropped yet, but I think it will hit sometime next week now. Wolfgang isn't marketing though, he's product, so I didn't ask him about it.

But I think that's a self-defeating product strategy. I believe the main reason BMW doesn't sell that many wagon in the US is because they don't have the right product mix. BMW doesn't sell the right wagon combination (i.e. 335i or M3) so wagon lovers buy Audi or Volvo where wagon is available in the top model (i.e. A4 V6, S4, S70 T5). It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. If Audi start restricting the A4 Avant combinations, it will further erode the Avant sales.

In the end it's a business case. I think Audi is finding it difficult to justify the cost of federalizing 3 Avant models when the volume for all 3 combined is so low to begin with. That's why BMW chose the model that would sell in greatest volume, the 328iT. 328s outsell 335s by 3:1.

most promising audi info i've read in a long time. and i've read lots of promising info!

p.s. no need for a fronttrac manual, streamlining in that instance makes total sense. quattro stick please!

Of course those theory only applies to North American, as European buy stick shift regardless of Quattro or FrontTrak.


Modified by A4Jetta at 8:21 AM 5/4/2007

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Quote, originally posted by chucchinchilla »

Looks like we're gonna get a (turbocharged) 335 killer. YES!

a 3.2 fsi bi-turbo would be SCHAWWWWWEEETTTT! (totally would eclipse the 2.7t.)

As for the premium turbo engine. I think it will be the current V8 replacement. The 350 FSI V8 is just barely hanging on now. Mostly because of the low torque compared to the competition. Of course people pay for the V8, so a V6 might not be a direct replacement. But that is what I got. An engine for A6/A8.

Yeah, the other thought is the 2.5-liter I5. I've heard plenty of rumors about that motor.

With I-5 2.5 successfully debugged in Rabbit and Jetta, putting a forced induction unit into this motor would make Audi's turbo I-5 tradition backs to life after a decade of demise.

My little car review page

Quote, originally posted by Wolfgang Hoffmann »

Now we need to energize, emotionalize the brand more and that is why we are going this year completely for the year of emotion

I am almost thinking we will see the 5cyT in the TT only (transverse)
And we may see a biturbo V6 in the B8

Modified by ylwghost at 5:25 PM 5-7-2007