Audi Q4 e-tron crossover arrives.
e-tron crossover becomes the Q8 e-tron for 2024.
Production of R8 and TT sports cars winding down.
Audi offers a wide range of passenger cars and crossovers, with gasoline, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains to suit everyone’s efficiency and environmentally conscious needs.
After unveiling a slew of concept cars, the German brand is clearly indicating its vision of the future and in what design direction it’s heading. Here’s what to expect from Audi in 2023, with models listed in alphabetical order.
Audi A3
The fourth-generation Audi A3 was introduced for the 2022 model year in the United States and Canada, offered in four-door sedan configuration only, while other markets get a five-door hatchback as well. Its mild hybrid, turbocharged 2.0L inline-four engine (201 horsepower, 221 pound-feet of torque), matched to a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission, while the performance-infused Audi S3 gets a boosted 2.0L engine (306 hp, 295 lb-ft). The Audi RS 3 features a turbocharged 2.5L inline-five (401 hp, 369 lb-ft), offered in the United States, but not in Canada. The quattro all-wheel drivetrain is standard across the board in Canada, optional in the U.S. Changes for 2023 in the U.S. include standard LED headlights, stitched leatherette on the door armrests, while wireless phone charging, LED interior lighting, adaptive cruise control and Agate gray fine grain birch wood inlays are now more widely available, depending on the chosen trim level. The optional Black optic package now includes 18-inch 5-Y-spoke alloy wheels.
Audi A4
The Audi A4 enters the 2023 model year with standard full LED headlights, while in the U.S., a Black optic plus package is introduced with more black elements over the Black optic package. Adaptive cruise control is more widely available as well, and the highest trim levels get a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. The A4 sedan can be ordered with either the 40 TFSI 2.0L engine (201 horsepower, 236 pound-feet of torque) or the 45 TFSI 2.0L engine (261 hp, 273 lb-ft), while the Canadian-market A4 sedan as well as the A4 allroad are only available with the 45 TFSI mill. The S4 sedan is equipped with a turbo 3.0L V6 (349 hp, 369 lb-ft) and gets 19-inch wheels instead of last year’s 18 inchers, along with an Audi Sport interior package with red stitching and RS carbon inlays, among other details. The U.S.-market A4 line gets paint color swaps with the addition of Quantum Gray and District Green, while Chronos Gray, Terra Gray and Turbo Blue are gone.
Audi A5
Offered in two-door coupe, five-door Sportback and cabriolet body styles, the Audi A5 is equipped as standard with the 45 TFSI engine (261 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque), while the S5 gets a turbo 3.0L V6 (349 hp, 369 lb-ft). Meanwhile, the hot-rod RS 5 coupe and Sportback feature a twin-turbo 2.9L V6 (444 hp, 442 lb-ft). Changes for 2023 in the United States include new standard 18-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights on the A5s, while the cabriolet gets an S line exterior appearance, illuminated door sills, wood interior inlays and sport front seats, all standard. The Black optic package gets additional black elements, including the exhaust tip and rear spoiler, and adaptive cruise control is more widely available. The high-end A5 and S5 trim levels receive a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. Like the Audi S4, the S5 gains an Audi Sport interior package with red stitching and RS carbon inlays. The A5 and S5 see the addition of Quantum Gray and the deletion of Chronos Gray, while the RS 5 receives Ascari Blue, but lose Sonoma Green and Turbo Blue.
Audi A6
The Audi A6 sedan is available with the 45 TFSI engine (261 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque) and the turbo 3.0L V6 TFSI 55 engine (335 hp, 369 lb-ft), although the A6 allroad wagon only gets the 55 TFSI mill. Meanwhile, the S6 is equipped with a twin-turbo 2.9L V6 (444 hp, 442 lb-ft) and the RS 6 Avant features a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 (591 hp, 590 lb-ft). For 2023 in the United States, the Driver Assistance package is now more widely available, as is adaptive cruise control with lane guidance. The top-shelf trims add Remote park assist plus, which can autonomously glide the car in and out of a parking spot—but is not available in all U.S. states. A black headliner is now offered on the A6 allroad and RS 6. The U.S. lineup gets a Premium trim for the S6, while an Audi Sport interior stitching package is optional, too. The range-topping S6 trim in the U.S. receives LED interior lighting, heated rear seats, an extended leather-trimmed interior and more active safety features.
Audi A7
In the U.S. , the Audi A7 receives adaptive cruise control with lane guidance and Remote park assist plus for the 2023 model year, while the S line and Black optic packages are merged together to be offered on all trim levels, and the S7 gets a new base Premium trim level along with an Audi Sport interior stitching package. The U.S.-market S7 Premium Plus also receives LED interior lighting, heated rear seats, an extended leather-trimmed interior and more active safety features. The RS 7 gets Remote park assist plus availability and a black Dinamica headliner. The A7 is equipped with the mild hybrid 55 TFSI turbo 3.0L V6 (335 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque), while the S7 gets the twin-turbo 2.9L V6 (444 hp, 442 lb-ft) and the RS 7 is blessed with the twin-turbo 4.0L V8 (591 hp, 590 lb-ft).
Audi A8
The flagship Audi A8 gets Remote park assist plus and HD Matrix-design LED headlight availability in the United States, while the S8 adds Valcona leather with rhombus (the Audi Sport logo) stitching, along with Remote park assist plus. The A8 is equipped with the 55 TFSI engine (335 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque), but the 453-hp twin-turbo V8 and the 443-hp PHEV 3.0L six bit the dust. The S8 features the twin-turbo 4.0L V8 (563 hp, 590 lb-ft).
Audi e-tron
The Audi e-tron crossover and coupe-like e-tron Sportback, as well as their sportier e-tron S equivalents, are unchanged for the 2023 model year. However, the model line becomes the Audi Q8 e-tron for 2024. It receives styling enhancements, sharper handling characteristics, new interior and exterior colours, and a bigger battery pack for greater driving range. The Q8 e-tron’s dual motor setup is simply called 55 (355 horsepower, 414 pound-feet of torque or 402 hp and 490 lb-ft with overboost function) while the SQ8 e-tron gets a more muscular powertrain (429 hp, 596 lb-ft or 496 hp and 718 lb-ft with overboost function). Battery pack capacity increases from 95 to 114 kWh, bumping range from 226 to 296 miles (364 to 459 km) in the case of the Q8 e-tron. We can expect a proportionally similar increase for the SQ8 e-tron over the 2023 model-year e-tron S quattro’s 212-mile range.
Audi e-tron GT
The Audi e-tron GT receives some mild design revisions for 2023, as the sedan’s grille is now body-color instead of gray, and there are new alloy wheel choices as well. A second charging port is now found on the passenger-side front fender as well. A Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system and 20-inch wheels are now standard, while LED interior lighting and heated rear seats are now more widely available. The RS e-tron GT gets standard carbon atlas matte inlays, while a new ceramic brake package bundled with 21-inch wheels is now optional. The e-tron GT boasts a two-motor powertrain (469 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, or 522 hp and 472 lb-ft with overboost function) and quattro all-wheel drive, while the RS e-tron GT gets a more powerful setup (590 hp, 612 lb-ft, or 637 hp with overboost function), yielding 0-60 mph blasts of 3.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds).
Audi Q3
The Audi Q3 gets more standard equipment and new technologies for the 2023 model year in the United States, including LED headlights included on all trim levels, new standard 18-inch alloy wheels with available 19-inchers, and a wireless charging pad that replaces last year’s phone box. The Q3’s 40 TFSI turbo 2.0L four (184 horsepower, 221 pound-feet of torque) is gone, at least for now, leaving the 45 TFSI engine (228 hp, 258 lb-ft) as the sole choice in 2023.
Audi Q4 e-tron
The Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron are new subcompact-plus crossovers in the brand’s lineup. The U.S.-only 40 e-tron powertrain (201 horsepower, 229 pound-feet of torque) is paired to a 82 kWh battery pack and offers a driving range of 265 miles, while the 50 e-tron system for both the U.S. and Canada (295 hp, 339 lb-ft) gets quattro AWD and a range of 236 miles or 380 km for the Q4 e-tron, 242 miles or 389 km for the Q4 Sportback e-tron.
Audi Q5
The current-generation Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback are arriving at the end of their production cycle, and should benefit from a redesign within the next couple of years. In the meantime, the U.S.-market Q5 is now equipped as standard with adaptive cruise control for the 2023 model year, while the Premium Plus package gets a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. OLED taillights are now available as well, while Chronos Gray replaces Quantum Gray in the paint color palette. Powertrains include the Q5’s 45 TFSI (261 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque) and the SQ5’s turbo 3.0L V6 (349 hp, 369 lb-ft). Meanwhile, the 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid system (362 hp, 369 lb-ft) is no longer offered in Canada, but remains an option in the U.S., paired with a 17.9 kWh battery pack for an EV-only driving range of 23 miles.
Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 and Audi SQ7 crossovers get equipment changes for the 2023 model year in the United States, including expanded availability of Matrix-design headlights, adaptive cruise control with lane guidance and Remote park assist plus. An interior package is now available which wraps the dashboard armrests in stitched leatherette. Waitomo Blue Metallic, Tamarind Brown Metallic and Satellite Silver Metallic replace Galaxy Blue Metallic, Barrel Brown Metallic and Florett Silver Metallic. The Q7 gets a new 45 TFSI turbo 2.0L four (261 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque) while the 55 TFSI mild hybrid turbo 3.0L V6 carries on (335 hp, 369 lb-ft). Meanwhile, the SQ7 is equipped with a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 (500 hp, 568 lb-ft).
Audi Q8
Changes for the Audi Q8 line in the U.S. mimic those of the Q7/S7 for the 2023 model year. Matrix-design headlights, adaptive cruise control with lane guidance and Remote park assist plus are now more widely available, and an interior package adds stitched leatherette on the dashboard and armrests. The Q8’s base powertrain is the 55 TFSI mild hybrid turbo 3.0L V6 (335 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque), while the SQ7 gets a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 (500 hp, 568 lb-ft). There’s also the thunderous RS Q8 with its high-output variant of the eight-cylinder engine (591 hp, 590 lb-ft).
Audi R8
The Audi R8 is reaching the end of production in its current form. It’s available with a 5.2L V10 engine in RWD (562 horsepower, 406 pound-feet of torque) and quattro AWD (602 hp, 413 lb-ft) configurations, in both coupe and Spyder body styles. No changes have been announced for the 2023 model year, but an R8 Coupe V10 GT RWD variant has been made available with a retuned engine (612 hp, 424 lb-ft), a quicker seven-speed gearbox and a variable torque level setting. The GT is the final R8 equipped with the V10 engine, and only 333 units will be built for worldwide consumption.
Audi TT
The Audi TT, which is reaching the end of its production cycle, gets no major changes for 2023, aside from a new set of 18-inch wheels. The base TT Coupé and Roadster are equipped with a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four (228 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) along with standard quattro all-wheel drive, while the Audi TTS also boasts a 2.0L engine, but with a higher output (288 hp, 280 lb-ft). The 394-horsepower TT RS is dead.
