Audi’s new subcompact crossover, the Q3, will be built in Seat’s plant in Martorell, near Barcelona, in Spain. After a €100 million subsidy from Spanish institutions, the plant will be able to keep 1,200 jobs. Production will begin in 2011 with an annual production capacity of up to 80,000 units. The Q3 is the smallest of Audi’s SUVs, coming in under the Q7 and the Q5. According to Audi, the Q3 is a “coupé-like five-door SUV with seat positions, wheel size, and ground clearance characteristic of a typical SUV” that is intended to offer “supremely sporty driving experience.” The Q3 is aimed to be a competitor to BMW’s X1 and will help lower the CO2 average figure of the German manufacturer. The picture above shows the Cross Concept.

American ones especially - may be consolidating their product line-ups around the world, German automakers seem to be in a constant state of expansion. Audi is no exception, with no fewer than 37 model variants now and plans to reach 42 by 2015, according to Automotive News Europe. None of them, however, will be a version of the Volkswagen Up! city car program.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler was quoted as saying he simply could not picture slotting another small car into the line-up underneath the new A1. The marque could, however, go ahead with plans for a compact SUV to fit in beneath the Q3. The vehicle, likely to be called Q1, is apparently under consideration.

As for the A1, Audi still does not plan to bring the premium hatchback to the U.S. market, preferring instead to focus on its current line-up while the Brussels plant tasked with assembling the A1 struggles to keep up with demand. Expanding production, as we recently reported with GM’s plans for the Chevrolet Volt, will largely depend on the production capacities of the independent suppliers making the components.

There’s still two months to go before the production 2011 Audi A1 is finally scheduled to get its internet close-up ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show, and the hype machine is already in full swing. No wonder, really, considering how much the Mini line - which, along with the reborn Fiat 500, Audi is obviously targeting with the little A1 - and its excellent advertising campaigns have impacted the public psyche.

One very large question remains, though: Will Audi sell the A1 in the States? We’ve heard from Audi’s head of sales Peter Schwarzenbauer multiple times that the car was designed with the U.S. market in mind, but today we see a conflicting report from Inside Line quoting an unnamed Audi insider.

The decision on whether or not the A1 makes the trek to America may well depend on its ability to make money at Mini’s established price points and how strongly Audi believes that U.S. buyers have signaled their willingness to spend premium bucks on small cars. We’ll see.

Audi’s focus on the interior begins and ends with customization, with available LED lighting, black, grey, beige or “wasabi” green contrasting materials, colored air vents and an optional MMI system with a 6.5-inch screen, 10-speaker, 465-watt Bose audio system, 20 gig harddrive and Bluetooth connectivity. Although backseat passengers were apparently an afterthought, the A1 boasts 9.43 cubic feet of storage space in the rear, with 32.49 cubic feet of space available when the rear seats are folded flat.

Motivation will be provided by a choice of either two gasoline or diesel powerplants, with the 1.6-liter TDIs churning out either 90 horsepower and 169 pound feet of torque or 105 ponies and 184 lb-ft of twist. The gasoline mills will be available in either 1.2- or 1.4-liter TFSI variants, with the former putting out 86 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque and the latter delivering 122 hp and 147 lb-ft through either a five- or six-speed manual. An optional seven-speed S tronic (dual clutch) transmission is available, and both gasoline engines deliver an average of 46 mpg. For the time being, the A1 is only available with front-wheel drive.

The 2,303-pound hatch will go on sale in Europe later this year after it’s official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show, with prices starting at around 16,000 euro. Two trims - Attraction or Ambition - are available, with an S Line accessories package and 18-inch wheels coming at launch. All the details can be had in the press release after the jump, but still no word yet on U.S. availability.

Seeing the Audi A1 and A1 e-tron concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show provides proof that the quad-ring automaker is putting a much larger focus on its small car offerings. With that in mind, new rumors are cropping up about a possible successor to the A2 - the quirky little hatch that never came to the U.S. and only had minor success in Europe.

“There’s clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1,” Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told AutoWeek during the Geneva Motor Show. The new A2 would likely be A1-based and use an electric powertrain, possibly sourced from the A1 e-tron concept. European media has reported that the A2 successor is expected to debut by 2014, and no word has been given about a possible U.S.-spec version. However, with Audi keeping the A1 away from American soil, it’s likely that the A2 would be a Europe-only affair, as well.

2012 A5/S5, on the models come with Sportback, Coupe, Cabriolet and S5, with range engines including 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6 with 272PS (200 kW) for the A5 and 333PS (245 kW) for the S5. The well-known 1.8 liter TFSI power unit with 170PS (125 kW) now have extraordinary fuel economy – 5.7 liters per 100km (41+ mpg). The output of the 2.0 TFSI remains unchanged at 211PS (155 kW),Also 2.0 liter TDI delivers 177PS (130 kW) and achieves 4.7 liters per 100 km on average. The CO2 emissions are cut to 122 g/km. The 3.0 TDI has 204PS (150 kW) and is the most fuel-efficient six-cylinder unit in its class worldwide. In the A5 Coupé with multitronic, it consumes on average 4.9 liters (48 US mpg) of fuel and emits just 129 g/km of CO2.

In all version comes with new style, restyled front and rear lights and slightly bigger dimensions. Exactly, the new A5/S5 has grown bigger with a millimeter (0.04 inch). The A5 Sportback is 4.71 meters (15.45 ft) long; the Coupé and the Cabriolet 4.63 meters (15.19 ft). The range of colors has been reshuffled and now includes 16 colors.

GT3 Porsche tuning package ,MAGNAT working with GT3 Porsche , on the project they modify the exhaust system and software updates to produce outstanding performance, 462HP (340 kW) and 451Nm (334 lb-ft). The highest speed is 317 km / h (197 mph),at the wheel is attached Ultraleggera HLT CT OZ in 8.5J x 19 “and 12J x 19″ 235/35 ZR19 305/30 ZR19 and fitted with Yokohama Advan Sport tires.

Audi R8 4.2 V8, which is an improvement project before R8 4.2i V8, in order to increase power and better styling,increasing power engine to 434PS 4.2-liter V8 (319 kW) and 430Nm (317 lb-ft). Kit includes: “Compressor Black” with aluminum CNC control system holds, the tension pulley is made by Good Year, custom made suction system, inner-bubble overpressure system, with the crank case ventilation system and a set of  modifications of the toothed belt, resulting in great performance usual 565PS and 560Nm of torque. 0 to 100 km / h in 4.1 seconds and 250 km / h in 24 seconds.

Mazda announced today that sales of the facelifted Mazda Demio, or Mazda2 as the rest of the world knows it, have begun in Japan.

The new Mazda2 is the company’s supermini and the target sales for its home market is 6,000 units per month.

The facelifted Mazda2 differs from its predecessor in some minor styling details, a bodyshell with increased rigidity thanks to reinforcements and a retuned suspension. Moreover, the interior is made of higher quality materials.

New to the Mazda2’s range is the 13-Skyactive engine which, according to the company, offers best in-class fuel consumption of just 30 km/lit. It does so by incorporating direct fuel injection, the world’s highest compression of 14.0:1 and Mazda’s unique “i-stop” stop-start system. It also has a technology named i-DM (intelligent Drive Master) that adds to economic, yet enjoyable driving.

The new Mazda2’s list of standard features includes Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control System and 14-inch alloy wheels (16-inch for the Sport edition).

Mazda expects the 13-Skyactive to be the most popular in the new Mazda2’s range, accounting for 60% of the model’s total sales.

o time in enhancing the range of its recently launched 6-Series Coupé and Convertible models.

To sum up the changes, from this autumn (and depending on the market, of course) both body styles will be available with an M Sport package, a new diesel engine and for the first time in the 6-Series model’s history, the Bavarian firm’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

Starting with the M Sport option, the package includes an M aerodynamics kit with bespoke front and rear bumpers, LED foglamps, 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design, sports seats with Alcantara/leather upholstery and an M leather steering wheel.

In addition, buyers can further customize their cars through the BMW Individual range, which comprises, bespoke paint finishes, light-alloy wheels and numerous other options.

This fall will see BMW adding the 640d Coupe and Convertible models to the lineup. Both are powered by a 3.0-liter straight-six delivering 313-horses at just 4,400 rpm and a monstrous peak torque of 630Nm (464 lb-ft) between 1,500 and 2,500.

BMW says the diesel engine enables acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.5 seconds for the Coupé and 5.6 seconds for the Convertible. The fuel consumption and CO2 values of the two diesel models are: – .3mpg UK or 42.8 -43.6mpg US) for the Coupe, and 50.4 mpg UK) with g/km for the Convertible.

The 650i Coupe and Convertible models powered by the 407HP turbocharged V8 will be optionally available with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system. According to the Bavarian automaker, the 650i xDrive Coupé powers from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds, while the 650i xDrive Convertible requires 0.1 seconds longer to complete the same acceleratio

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