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Vehicle Highlights

2013 Audi S6: What Is It?

S6 is the sporty high-performance version of Audi’s conventional A6 premium-midsize sedan. The related A7 hatchback is offered in a similar model called S7. Both are built in Germany as enthusiast-oriented “factory hot rods,” and thus vie for sales and bragging rights with the M5 in the BMW 5-series line, the Cadillac CTS-V sedan, and the E63 sedan that’s part of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class family. The Jaguar XF Supercharged and XFR offer British alternatives to the Cadillac and the German trio.

2013 Audi S6: What’s New

The 2013 S6 is redesigned along the same lines as the new-for-2012 A6 models, but again stands apart with a number of exclusive cosmetic and functional features. The major change is a new powerplant that reflects the current industry trend to smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, even in high-end performance cars.

2013 Audi S6: Model Lineup, Features, and Options

The 2013 S6 is offered as a single sedan model with most of the same standard equipment as the top-line A6 3.0T Prestige. Highlights among the many shared items include automatic steering-linked xenon headlights, LED taillamps and front running lights, front/rear obstacle detection, keyless entry/engine start, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, four-zone climate control, a Bose audio system with satellite and HD radio, and Audi’s voice-controlled Navigation Plus system with MMI infotainment controller, integrated rearview camera, and the new Audi Connect mobile WiFi facility.

Specific S6 standards kick off with larger brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels wearing performance tires, and a sport-tuned adaptive air-spring suspension. Also include is Audi Drive Select, which allows tailoring engine and throttle responses, transmission shift action, steering and suspension firmness, and other parameters through Comfort, Dynamic, Auto, and Individual modes.

Exterior distinctions involve a slightly different grille and lower fascias, flared lower-body sides, a trunklid spoiler, and four exhaust tips, two on each side. Interior upgrades include the expected S6 logos, aluminum-trimmed pedals and console, fine-grain-ash accents, and 12-way sport front seats with driver-side memory and power lumbar support.

Most options are arrayed among four feature groups. The costliest is the Innovation Package that delivers blind-spot alert, lane-keeping assist, night vision, a head-up display, and auto-dim power-fold door mirrors. Also included is Audi’s new four-camera “top view” parking system, adaptive cruise control with low-speed automatic braking, and the Audi Pre-Sense Plus collision-mitigation system, which closes windows and repositions seats if sensors detect an unavoidable crash. Buyers looking to save a little money can get Pre-Sense Plus, the adaptive cruise, blind-spot alert, and power-fold mirrors in a Driver Assistance Package. A heated steering wheel and rear seats are available in a Cold Weather Package. Last but not least is a Comfort Seating Package with passenger-side seat memory, special leather trim, and multi-contour “comfort sport” seats with ventilation and massage.

Major standalone options are limited to LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, Bang & Olufsen speaker system, rear- and side-window sunshades, and rear side airbags. Like other Audis, the S6 also offers a choice of interior-accent materials, including carbon fiber, brushed aluminum, and “layered oak.”

2013 Audi S6: Engines, Transmissions, and Drive Wheels

The 2013 Audi S6 offers a single powerteam featuring Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel drive and a new 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. The only transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch automated-manual that Audi calls S-tronic and supplies with steering-wheel shift paddles. The V8 is basically the same engine that powers the 2013 Audi S8 premium-large sedan, but is tuned for 420 horsepower instead of 520. The last-generation S6 used a 435-horsepower V10.

Nevertheless, Audi says the V8 provides near-V10 performance (a claimed 4.5 seconds 0-60 mph), plus up to 25 percent better fuel economy. Aiding the latter is a cylinder-deactivation system that “idles” four cylinders in light-throttle driving such as sustained highway cruising. Special “active” engine mounts help quell vibration in 4-cylinder mode. The engine also features an Active Noise Control system that cancels unwanted interior frequencies by generating “reverse” sound waves that are fed through the audio system.

2013 Audi S6: Fuel Economy

EPA fuel-economy ratings for the 2013 Audi S6 are 17 mpg in city driving, 27 mpg in highway use, and 20 mpg combined.

2013 Audi S6: Safety Features

The 2013 Audi S6 comes with expected and federally mandated safety features. As noted above, it offers safety and safety-related options that include rear side airbags, blind-spot alert, lane-keeping assist, night vision, and the Audi Pre-Sense Plus collision-mitigation system.

No 2013 S6 has yet been made available for Consumer Guide testing.

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2013 Audi S7: What Is It?

The S7 bows for 2013 as the driving-enthusiast’s version of Audi’s year-old A7 premium-midsize sedan. A7 is the “4-door coupe” sister of Audi’s A6 premium-midsize sedan, sharing a basic platform, major components, and many features. The S7 relates in a similar way to the high-performance S6 apart from sloped-roof hatchback styling, minor dimensional differences, and available-features mix.

Like S6, the S7 emphasizes acceleration and dynamic ability more than its mainstream counterpart does. Its most obvious competitor is another big-power coupe-like sedan, the CLS63 AMG version of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. The S7 also competes with the sleek Jaguar XF Supercharged and XFR, the M5 version of the BMW 5-Series, and the Cadillac CTS-V sedan.

2013 Audi S7: What’s New

As noted, the S7 is an addition to Audi’s 2013 lineup. Though based on the A7, it’s more expensive, thanks to a number of exclusive cosmetic and functional features. Prime among these is a new-design turbocharged V8 engine that Audi is rolling out for several of its upper-echelon models.

Unlike the 2013 A7, the S7 does not offer an optional three-person rear bench seat. It retains instead the A7′s standard four-passenger layout, which involves a two-person rear seat with a center pull-down armrest and open storage bin.

2013 Audi S7 Model Lineup, Features, Options

The 2013 Audi S7 is offered in a single model that comes with many of the same features as an A7 equipped with its optional Premium Plus and Prestige packages. Among the more-notable items are auto-dim steering-linked xenon headlights; LED taillamps and front running lights; front/rear obstacle detection; keyless locking/engine start; power liftgate; power tilt/telescopic steering wheel; Bose surround-sound stereo with HD and satellite radio, plus iPod connection; and Audi’s voice-activated Navigation Plus system with MMI infotainment controller, integrated rearview camera, and the new Audi Connect onboard WiFi facility.

Outside, the S7 stands apart from the A7 with a different grille insert, larger front side air intakes, specific lower-body skirts, aluminum door-mirror housings, and four oval exhaust tips (versus round) within a unique lower rear fascia. S7 badges appear front and rear, and larger brakes with black-painted calipers are visible through 19-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels shod with 255/40 performance tires.

Upgrades to the four-place interior include diamond-stitched Valcona leather upholstery, aluminum-trimmed pedals and console, fine-grain-ash cabin accents, and heated 12-way sport front seats with driver-side memory and lumbar adjustment. Also included is a four-zone automatic climate-control system with separate rear-seat adjustments, a feature that is optional for A7.

For sharper handling, the S7 comes with a sport-tuned adaptive air-spring suspension (optional for A7) and Audi Drive Select. The latter allows tailoring engine and throttle responses, transmission shift action, steering and suspension firmness, and other parameters through Comfort, Dynamic, Auto and Individual modes.

As with the related S6, S7 options involve several standalone items and four major packages. The former include LED headlamps, 20-inch wheels, rear- and side-window sunshades, rear side airbags, and audiophile Bang & Olufsen speaker system. Like other Audis, the S7 is also available with alternate interior-accent materials including brushed aluminum, carbon-fiber, and “layered oak.”

Among feature groups, a Cold Weather Package bundles a heated steering wheel with heated rear seats, while a Comfort Seating Package offers multi-contour sport front seats with dual position memory, ventilation, and massage. An aptly named Driver Assistance Package delivers auto-dim power-fold door mirrors, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control with automatic low-speed braking, and Audi’s Pre-Sense Plus, a collision-mitigation system that closes windows and repositions seats in the event sensors detect an unavoidable crash. An Innovation Package lists those same features and adds night vision, lane-keeping assist, and Audi’s new “top-view” parking-assist system, which uses four corner-mounted cameras to display an overhead view of the car’s position.

2013 Audi S7 Engines, Transmissions, Drive Wheels

The S7 offers a single powertrain that’s shared with the 2013 S6. It comprises a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 420 horsepower, Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive, and a 7-speed dual-clutch automated-manual transmission. The last, called S-tronic, behaves much like a conventional torque-converter automatic and be shifted manually either from the console or by steering-wheel paddles.

To maximize fuel economy, the V8 incorporates a cylinder-deactivation system that closes off four cylinders in light-throttle driving, such as sustained moderate-speed cruising. Audi claims the switch between 4- and 8-cylinder operation is virtually undetectable, thanks partly to special “active” engine mounts that help quell vibration in 4-cylinder mode. The engine also employs an Active Noise Control system that “listens” to the interior and cancels any unwanted frequencies by generating “reverse” sound waves that are fed through the audio system.

2013 Audi S7 Fuel Economy

The S7 earns EPA fuel economy ratings of 17 mpg city, 27 highway, and 20 mpg combined. Premium-grade fuel is required.

2013 Audi S7 Safety Features

The S7 includes expected and federally mandated safety features such as ABS, stability system, traction control, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Rear side airbags are optional. As noted above, several safety-related driver aids are also available, including blind-spot alert, lane-keeping assist, night vision, and the Audi Pre-Sense Plus collision-mitigation system.

No Audi S7 models have been made available for Consumer Guide evaluation.

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2013 Audi A3: What Is It?

This is the entry-level offering in Audi’s U.S. lineup. It was added for 2006 as an upscale relative of parent Volkswagen’s contemporary Golf and GTI hatchbacks. Audi is a premium brand of Volkswagen Group, Europe’s largest automaker. 

Small upmarket hatchbacks are popular in Europe, where the A3′s rivals include similar BMW and Mercedes-Benz compacts that aren’t sold in America. Over here, though, the A3 competes against small conventional sedans, one reason it’s been a fairly tough sell.

However, the A3 has now been redesigned with hatchback and first-time 4-door notchback styling. The latter is aimed squarely at America and booming China, another sedan-centric market, and will be the only next-generation A3 body style offered for U.S. consumption. It’s expected to start sale by mid-calendar-2013 as an early-2014 model. It will continue to slot below Audi’s A4 sedans in size and price.

Meantime, the familiar U.S.-market A3 soldiers on for one last model year. Despite the hatchback body, it can be regarded as a “left-field” alternative to lower-end versions of the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans. The Honda Civic-based Acura ILX and Chevrolet Cruze-based Buick Verano sedans are arguably more-direct competitors in terms of price, size, and target audience.

2013 Audi A3: What’s New?

The 2013 Audi A3 sees no changes. As noted, a redesigned replacement with sedan styling is on the way for model-year 2014.

2013 Audi A3 Model Lineup, Features, Options

The A3 lineup reprises gas-engine 2.0T and turbodiesel 2.0 TDI hatchbacks with front-wheel drive and a 2.0T quattro version with all-wheel drive. Standard equipment, which Audi calls Premium, includes dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, driver-seat height and lumbar adjustments, center console, split-folding rear seat, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD stereo with satellite radio and digital-media connection. Fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler are included as well.

A3s equipped with the Premium Plus Package (PPP) are considered step-up models and include xenon headlights, LED running lights, power driver seat, steering-wheel shift paddles and audio controls, wireless phone link, and aluminum interior accents. The PPP is required for ordering an available sunroof and/or navigation system. The latter features Audi’s MMI Navigation Plus infotainment control and either a glovebox-mounted CD changer or an iPod interface.

Two option groups are also tied to the Premium Plus Package. One is a Convenience Package with rear-obstacle detection, premium Bose audio, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic headlights. The other is a Titanium Sport Package featuring sports seats, leather/faux-suede upholstery, piano-black cabin accents, and a lowered, firmer suspension on 18-inch wheels. The last two items and the sport seats are available for Premium models in an “18-inch Sport Package.” Premiums also offer a Bluetooth Value Package comprising wireless phone link and power driver seat. Any A3 can be ordered with a Cold Weather Package that delivers heated seats, door mirrors, and windshield-washer nozzles. Roof rails and wood interior trim are also available.

2013 Audi A3 Engines, Transmissions, Drive Wheels

All A3s use 4-cylinder engines. The 2.0T models use a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline unit with 200 horsepower, while the TDI has a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter turbodiesel. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard for the front-drive 2.0T. Optional there and standard for the quattro and TDI is Audi’s S-tronic 6-speed dual-clutch automated-manual transmission that operates like a conventional automatic.

2013 Audi A3 Fuel Economy

EPA city/highway/combined mpg estimates are as follows:
2.0T manual: 21/30/24
2.0T and 2.0T Quattro auto-manual: 21/28/24
2.0 TDI: 30/42/34

In Consumer Guide testing, an extended-use front-drive 2.0T with the automated manual averaged 26.3 mpg over 12,290 miles. Other test automated-manual 2.0Ts averaged 23.3-25.4 mpg, and a TDI averaged 36.2 mpg. Note that the TDI is emissions-legal in all 50 states without needing a urea-injection exhaust-treatment system that requires periodic dealer maintenance.

2013 Audi A3 Safety Features

Audi A3s have expected standard safety features including ABS, stability system, traction control, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Rear side airbags are a standalone option for all models.

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2013 Audi S8: What Is It?

This high-performance version of Audi’s flagship sedan returns to the U.S. after a two-year furlough. The 2013 S8 is based on the redesigned A8 flagship sedan that bowed in America for 2011 (see separate report), but aims more at driving enthusiasts than luxury lovers. Because of its specialized nature, the S8 is the second costliest model in the A8 family, starting at $ 110,000, versus $ 134,500 for the limousine-like W12 version.

S8 competes in the small but hotly contested sports-luxury subset of the premium-large-car class. Its only current rivals are the Alpina B7 variant of the BMW 7-Series; the Jaguar XJ Supersports; and the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, based on that brand’s big S-Class sedan.

These cars form a very exclusive group, with each model’s yearly U.S. sales typically numbering in the hundreds, not thousands. The S8 has usually finished last in the race, much as the A8 line as whole is still outsold by its British and other German rivals.

2013 Audi S8: What’s New?

The S8 is redesigned for 2013. Besides adopting the A8′s latest platform and features as introduced for 2011, it boasts a new powerplant that reflects the current industry trend to smaller, more fuel-efficient engines. Like previous S8s, however, the new one retains Audi’s weight-saving ASF (Aluminum Space Frame) body/chassis construction and the brand’s signature quattro all-wheel drive.

2013 Audi S8 Model Lineup, Features, Options

The S8 continues as a single sedan model on the shorter A8 wheelbase. Standard equipment begins with everything included on this year’s new entry-level A8 3.0T. That means, among many things, a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, driver-seat memory system, a voice-controlled navigation system with Audi’s MMI infotainment controller, and a Bose audio system with HD and satellite radio, iPod interface, wireless phone link, and the Audi Connect onboard WiFi facility.

From there, the S8 adds numerous features that are either optional or not available for other A8s. Headlining comfort and convenience items are four-zone climate control; 22-way sport front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage; double-pane acoustic side glass; power rear- and side-window sunshades; power door-closing assist; a power trunklid with hands-free release; keyless entry/engine start; and a lush interior with Valcona leather upholstery, aluminum and “carbon atlas” (carbon-fiber) accents, faux-suede headliner, and S8 insignia. No-cost functional features include front/rear obstacle detection; steering-linked auto-dim LED headlamps; and Audi’s new four-camera “top-view” parking-assist system. Outside are specific front- and rear-bumper styling, aluminum door-mirror housings, and the expected ID badges.

Befitting its “driver’s car” mission, the S8 comes with larger brakes and an upgraded version of the A8′s adaptive air suspension. The latter is integrated with the Audi Driver Select system that allows tailoring engine and throttle responses, transmission shift points, steering and suspension firmness, and other parameters through Comfort, Dynamic, Automatic, and Individual modes. The S8 also gets 21-inch “five-triple-spoke” alloy wheels wearing low-profile performance tires.

With so many things included, the S8 offers relatively few options. A Driver Assistance Package delivers adaptive cruise control with automatic low-speed braking; blind-spot warning; and Audi’s Pre-Sense Plus system, which closes windows and repositions seats in the event sensors detect an unavoidable crash. Buyers can also specify lane-keeping assist, a night-vision system, heated steering wheel and rear seats, a solar-cell sunroof (replacing a regular glass sunroof), Bang & Olufsen audio system, and twin-screen rear DVD entertainment. Like other A8s, the S8 offers a variety of “designer” cabin colors and trim accents.

2013 Audi S8 Engines, Transmissions, Drive Wheels

The 2013 Audi S8 comes with a single powertrain comprising a new 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, 8-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel shift paddles, and all-wheel drive. The V8 is basically a high-output version of the engine used in A8 4.0T models. For the 2013 S8, it replaces the previous models’ normally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 and makes more horsepower–520 versus 450–as well as more torque–481 pound-feet, up from 398. As on the “normal” A8′s V8, a cylinder-deactivation system helps maximize fuel economy in light-throttle driving such as sustained highway cruising. Special “active” engine mounts help reduce vibration in 4-cylinder mode, while an Active Noise Control system cancels unwanted interior noise by generating “reverse” sound waves that are fed through the audio system.

2013 Audi S8 Fuel Economy

The EPA rates 2013 Audi S8 fuel economy at 15 mpg in city driving, 26 mpg in highway use, and 19 mpg combined. Premium-grade fuel is mandatory.

2013 Audi S8 Safety Features

The 2013 Audi S8 comes with expected safety features such as ABS, stability system, and traction control. The all-wheel drive can also be regarded as an “active” safety plus. Serving “passive” safety are front and rear side airbags, curtain side airbags, and front knee airbags. As noted above, the S8 offers optional safety-related features such as blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assist, and the Audi Pre-Sense Plus collision-mitigation system.

No 2013 Audi S8s have been made available for Consumer Guide evaluation.

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2013 Audi Q7: What Is It?

The 2013 Audi Q7 is a 7-passenger premium-large SUV. Audi is a division of Volkswagen Group, which also produces the 5-passenger premium-midsize Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. All share various underskin design elements, but the Q7 has specific styling, features, and pricing.

Its main class rivals are the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX56, and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. Other competitors can include the Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Lexus LX570, and Lincoln Navigator.

2013 Audi Q7: What’s New?

The 2013 Audi Q7 is largely a 2012 rerun. However, the turbodiesel TDI model gets a modest power boost, and options expand with the addition of a front corner-view camera and twin-screen rear DVD entertainment.

2013 Audi Q7 Model Lineup, Features, Options

Three basic models continue: 3.0T Premium, 3.0T S line Prestige, and turbodiesel 3.0 TDI Premium. All come with three-row 7-passenger seating, leather upholstery, heated 12-way power front seats, a 40/20/40 second-row seat, satellite radio, Audi’s MMI infotainment control, LED taillamps, heated power door mirrors, power liftgate, and aluminum roof bars.

An optional Premium Plus package upgrades 3.0T Premium and TDI with a three-panel panoramic sunroof, steering-linked xenon headlights, front/rear parking sensors, rearview camera, Audi’s voice-controlled MMI Navigation Plus system, and Bose surround-sound audio.

To those items the 3.0T S line Prestige adds sporty body addenda, four-zone climate control (replacing two-zone), ventilated front seats, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel (replacing manual), keyless entry/engine-start, and 20-inch wheels.

The TDI offers separate Prestige and S line packages that duplicate most 3.0T S line features. Models equipped to Prestige and Premium Plus level include the Audi Connect wireless Internet link. Among standalone options are a height-adjustable adaptive air suspension, Audi’s Side Assist blind-spot warning system, adaptive cruise control with low-speed obstacle detection and automatic braking, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, the new twin-screen rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a Cold Weather package with heated steering wheel and rear seats, and available 20- and 21-inch wheel/tire combinations to replace 18s or 19s. Also available is Audi’s four-mode Drive Select system that alters suspension, powertrain, and transmission behavior to suit various driving styles and conditions.

2013 Audi Q7 Engines, Transmissions, and Drive Wheels

All 2013 Q7s use 3.0-liter V6 engines, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive. The 3.0T employs supercharging and direct fuel injection to achieve 280 horsepower; the 3.0T S line engine is tuned for 333 horsepower. The TDI’s turbocharged diesel V6 now makes 240 horsepower, up from 225. Maximum towing capacity is 6,600 pounds for all models.

2013 Audi Q7 Fuel Economy

Despite differing engine outputs, the two 3.0T models earn identical EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 22 highway, and 18 combined. The 3.0 TDI is rated at 19/28/22. Like some other diesels, the TDI is 50-state legal and meets federal emissions standards with a urea-injection system that requires periodic maintenance.

2013 Audi Q7 Safety Features

All 2013 Audi Q7s include expected safety features such as ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. However, rear side airbags are an across-the-board option.

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