Audi: What's New for 2010?

2010 Audi A3: There's a new A3 TDI diesel that produces 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and an EPA-estimated 30/42 city/highway mpg, and will make its U.S. debut in December. The A3 3.2 six-cylinder is dead. All-wheel drive is now available with the 2.0 turbo-four engine and the A3 is now available in either Premium or Premium Plus trim, which include popular options. Premium Plus models now have standard xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights. A3 buyers can choose wood interior panels for the first time, and leather/Alcantara seats are available on Titanium Sport models. S line exterior equipment is now standard on every A3.

2010 Audi A4: The 3.2-liter V6 engine is no longer available in the A4. Navigation models have Sirius Traffic, and Bluetooth and HomeLink are now packaged together as an option on Premium models. LED taillights are now included on the Premium Plus and Prestige packages, Prestige now includes navigation with voice control, and Bang & Olufsen premium audio is now an option on Premium Plus. Audi's blind-spot detection system is no longer in Prestige and is packaged with a back-up camera and rear parking sonar.

2010 Audi A5/S5: New for 2010 is the availability of the A5 with a 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 producing 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque through an all-wheel-drive system. The new MMI system is also available with 3-D map topography and Sirius Traffic information. LED taillights are included on Premium Plus and Prestige models. The S5 is still available with a V8, at least for 2010, but the A5 3.2-liter six with manual transmission is dead.

2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet: The A5 and S5 convertibles are new for 2010, replacing the 2009 A4 and S4 cabriolets. Both the A5 and S5 feature cloth roofs that fold in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 30 mph. The A5 and S5 cabriolets also are available with head-level heating built into the seats, and front seatbelt presenters.

The A5 convertible is only available with the 2.0-liter turbo four, with either front- or all-wheel drive — no six-cylinder is available. The S5 cabriolet is only available with the 333-hp supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with dual-clutch transmission that's also in the new S4.

2010 Audi A6: The A6 has a new, more powerful 3.2-liter direct-injection V6 upgraded with variable valve lift that's good for an increase of 10 hp to 265 hp. The other engines available are a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and a 4.2-liter direct-injection V8. The S6 is still available with the 5.2-liter V10.

New Sport packages are available for the A6 with lowered sport suspension, sport steering wheel and either 18-inch all-season or 19-inch performance tires. Daytime running lights are now standard on halogen-lamp A6s. Optional Cold Weather package cars now come with a heated steering wheel.

2010 Audi A8: Both the W12 engine and S8 are dead and gone. A8 changes are mostly cosmetic and include LED daytime running lights on all trims,19-inch wheels standard on all short-wheelbase models, standard trunk lid spoiler on short-wheelbase models, optional carbon-fiber interior inlays on normal short-wheelbase models, ventilated massage front seats standard on long-wheelbase models, and contrasting seat stitching and piping on long-wheelbase models.

2010 Audi Q5: Changes for the Q5 are mostly minor trim alterations: new ash inlay trim, new 20-inch wheel design and a new luxury package for Prestige model that includes leather door armrests, instrument panel top and ventilated front seats. Blind-spot detection is now standard on the Prestige model, while the Bang & Olufsen audio system is now available as a separate option on the Premium Plus model.

2010 Audi Q7: Changes for the 2010 Q7 are decorative. There are now standard LED taillights with available LED turn signals and daytime running lights, new front headlamps and taillights, and a single-frame grille in gloss black with vertical chrome strips, exterior mirror housings and new lower body panels.

Interior upgrades include optional ventilated front seats, new inlays on the passenger side of the dashboard, additional ambient lighting on all four doors, an upgraded MMI system with Sirius Traffic and a joystick control. The navigation system also features voice-based destination input control and voice inputs, such as "I'm hungry" and "I need gas" that will direct you to the closest options.

2010 Audi R8: A 5.2-liter direct-injected V10 producing 525 hp joins the 4.2-liter 420-hp V8 in the R8 lineup. Full LED lights are optional on the V8 and standard on the V10. Carbon-fiber door sills, illuminated door sills, external mirrors and a body kit are available. There's a new titanium wheel finish and new exterior colors: Lava Gray and Sepang Blue (V10 only). Amulet Red Fine Napa is available as an interior color.

The Audi R8 Spyder will debut at the Los Angeles auto show in December as a 2011 model.

2010 Audi S4: The S4 V8 has gone to fuel economy heaven and has been replaced with a 3.0-liter supercharged direct-injected V6 producing 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual is standard, while a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is optional; both transmit power through all-wheel drive, available with a sport rear differential that reduces understeer.

The S4 is differentiated from the A4 by standard heated front sport seats, LED taillights and front xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights. Other S4 standard features include rear-biased 40/60 all-wheel drive, 18-inch wheels, stainless-steel and carbon-fiber interior trim, contrast stitching on steering wheel/shifter/seats, Bluetooth, Sirius Satellite Radio, HomeLink and an iPod interface.

2010 Audi S8: R.I.P.

2010 Audi TT and TTS Coupe and Roadster: The 3.2-liter V6 engine and the front-drive 2.0 TT coupe/roadster are no longer available.