In their effort to promote their diesel models range, Audi has announced the Mileage Marathon, an event where 27 cars powered by TDI engines will drive across the United States, on the New York- Chicago - Denver - Monterey - Los Angeles route. The marathon will start on October 6th and the cars are Q7, Q5 and A4 models equipped with the 3.0 TDI engine and the A3 with the 2.0 liter TDI engine. This event probably means that Audi is considering more and more diesel powered models for the US market, because until now, the only model announced is the Q7, which will go on sale in the first part of 2009. Fellow bloggers from Autoblog and Autobloggreen will be among the 184 drivers attending the event, so we hope they have a lot of fun!

Read More: "Mileage Marathon to promote Audi diesel models"

Audi hasn’t even started delivering the new Audi Q5 and the German tuner ABT already came up with a tuning program for the latest crossover from Ingolstadt. The package features a bodykit including fender extensions and more aggressive front skirt and grille, restyled side skirts, roof spoiler and rear skirt incorporating a 4-pipe-rear muffler, plus new 20 inch alloys. Handing upgrades include ABT Level Control (electronic lowering for the CDC air suspension), new sport springs that decrease the car’s ride height and a new set of 380mm diameter brake discs.

Power upgrade kits are available for all the engines: the 2.0 TFSI’s power output has been increased to 240hp/177kW (211hp/155kW on the factory version), the 2.0 TDI to 190hp/140kW (170hp/125kW) and for the 3.0 TDI there are two levels of power upgrades, the ABT Power, which increases the power output from 240 hp (177kW) to 282 hp (207kW) and the ABT Power S, which takes the engine up to 310hp (228kW).

Check out one more photo after the jump. Read More: "ABT tuning program for the new Audi Q5"

After much anticipation and lot of waiting, the prices for the new Audi Q5 have been announced. The car will be in the showrooms in late 2008 with a price tag starting at 38,300 Euros. It is in the same price range as its competitors BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and Mercedes GLK. Quite a crowded market for the once only member BMW X3.

We can choose from one petrol engine and two diesels. The petrol powerplant is the 2.0 TFSI with 211 bhp. It takes 7.2 seconds to get to 100 km/h and the fuel consumotion is 8.5 litres/100 km on average. The 2.0 TDI has 170 bhp and gets to 100 kn/h in 9.5 seconds. The 3.0 TDI has 240 bhp and gets to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds, with a fuel consumption of 7.5 liters for 100 km.

Source: TopSpeed

After last month the Audi Q5 made its world debut at the Beijing Auto Show, yesterday Audi revealed the S Line version of the crossover which, in our opinion will be a tough competitor in the market, alongside the BMW X3 and the Mercedes Benz GLK.

The S Line version will be sportier and it will have a number of exterior changes, including 19-inch wheels (with optional 20-inch alloys also available), a modified front grille with a matching mesh pattern of air vents around the fog lights.

On the interior, the Audi Q5 S Line has a three-spoke steering wheel wrapped in perforated leather, “S Line” logo on the door sills and brushed aluminium all over the place. The seats are layered in Nappa or Alcantara trim with the S Line logo embroidered on the seats.

Check out more photos after the jump.
Read More: "Audi Q5 S Line announced"

Last weekend, at the Bejing Auto Show, the new Audi Q5 made its world debut. The new crossover from Audi will have a tough competition, in a market where Mercedes Benz also presented the new GLK and the BMW already has the X3. However, Audi made the Q5 sportier than the competition, the car measuring 4.63 meters (15.19 feet) in length, 1.88 meters (6.17 feet) in width and 1.65 meters (5.41 feet) in height.

With its sporty elegance and artfully sculpted forms, the design of the Q5 is perfectly in tune with the character of Audi as a brand. The front end is dominated by expressive headlights on both sides of the large single-frame grille; on request, they can be outfitted with bi-xenon lamps and LED daytime running lights. Viewed from the side, the large wheels and rising edges are especially prominent features.

The sporty look is completed by the large front single-frame grille, the bi-xenon lamps and the LED daytime running lights and, at the rear, the aluminum wraparound tailgate and the taillights which are also available in LED technology. Audi offers three different options for the external trim of the Q5 – black (standard), contrasting color or full paint finish in the color of the car, and two body packages are available as well: the S line exterior package and the alternative off-road style package with underbody protection in the front and back and 19-inch wheels.

Audi Q5 will be available with three engine choices, one petrol and two diesel engines, all turbocharged. The four-cylinder 2.0 TFSI has been entirely redesigned and develops 155 kw (211 hp) and peak torque of 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft). Fitted with this engine, the Q5 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 222 km/h (137.94 mph), while having a fuel consumption of 8.5 liters per 100 km (27.67 mpg).

The first diesel option is the 2.0 TDI, which produces 125 kW (170 hp) and peak torque of 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) and takes the Audi Q5 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 9.5 seconds, peaking at a top speed of 204 km/h (126.76 mph) and having a fuel consumption of 6.7 liters per 100 km (35.11 mpg).

The top of the line is the 3.0 TDI V6 engine, which develops 176 kW (240 hp), with 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque available between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm and it takes the Audi Q5 from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 6.5 seconds, accelerating to a top speed of 225 km/h (139.81 mph). On average, the three-liter engine consumes 7.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (30.55 mpg).

More details on the new Audi Q5 and a full photo gallery, after the jump.

Read More: "Audi Q5 makes world debut"

With global sales starting to decline, China is becoming a more and more important market for car makers and a proof of that is the attention China gets from them. The upcoming Auto China Show in Beijing will mark the debut of the Audi Q5 and the Mercedes Benz GLK crossovers.

This move is very important to Audi, because, with an increase of 24.8 percent last year, China has become Audi’s second largest market behind Germany. And Mercedes is also aware of the potential this market has and wants to push more models to China.

Read More: "Audi Q5 and Mercedes Benz GLK to debut at Auto China"

With its world debut scheduled for the Beijing Auto Show, which will start on April 20, the new Audi Q5 will be revealed for the first time on April 19, on the Audi Q5 microsite (click here). The special website was launched a few weeks ago and offers you the possibility to register for the newsletter and be the first ones to find out all the details about the new Audi Q5. For now there are only some wallpapers on the site, but all you Audi fans would better hurry and register because, besides the info on the Q5, you’ll also get the chance to win a test drive in Audi’s new competitor for the BMW X3, the Mercedes Benz GLK or the recently introduced Volvo VX60.

Read More: "The Audi Q5 coming on April 19"