Audi at the Festival of Motoring
Last weekend saw yet another successful Festival of Motoring event that took place at the Kyalami Race Circuit in Midrand, Johannesburg. Various automotive manufacturers came out to display their newest models and innovations, and Audi was no exception to this, unveiling five new models to festival goers. Audi South Africa also flexed their muscle on the track, allowing festival goers to experience the Audi RS3 Sedan, Audi RS5 Sportback and Audi R8 V10 Coupe and Roadster at full throttle around Kyalami at night.
The Audi SA stand had to have been one of the best and most exciting stands of the Festival. It was filled with lights, smoke and music creating an exciting mood for the reveal of their five new cars. The Audi A1, Q3, A7, e-tron and facelifted TT made their national debut at the festival and were accompanied by the recent Audi Q8, RS4 Avant, RS5 Sportback and the Audi R8 V10 Plus.
The Audi A1 and Audi Q3 were both unveiled in 35 TFSI guise, drawing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque from a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Both models were also finished in their launch colours, with Python Yellow on the Audi A1 Sportback and Turbo Blue on the Audi Q3. The new Pulse Orange colour also made an appearance on the new Audi TTS which represented the entire facelifted TT family at the Festival.
Audi also revealed the highly anticipated Audi A7 Sportback to South Africa. The intricate lines of the premium sedan are complimented by the new OLED head and taillights which also do the ‘light show’ that was introduced in the Audi Q8. The Audi A7 is powered by a turbocharged petrol 3.0-litre V6 in the 55TFSI, whereas the 50TDI model is powered by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6. The interior is just as sublime as the exterior with Audi virtual cockpit as standard kit, as well as two haptic feedback touchscreens dominating the dashboard.
The star of the show was the all-new Audi e-tron, finished in the Antigua Blue launch colour. This is Audi’s first ever all-electric SUV and it was well received by Festival goers. The new ‘four-bar’ headlights notify you that you’re looking at an electric Audi while the signature light-bar from the Audi Q8, inspired by the legendary Audi Quattro, stretches between the taillights at the rear.
FAQ
Q: What new Audi models were unveiled at the Festival of Motoring?
Audi South Africa unveiled five new models at the Festival of Motoring: the A1 Sportback, Q3, A7 Sportback, e-tron, and the facelifted TT, alongside existing models like the Q8, RS4 Avant, RS5 Sportback and R8 V10 Plus.
Q: What engine does the new Audi A1 and Q3 use in South Africa?
Both the Audi A1 and Q3 feature a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine in 35 TFSI guise, producing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
Q: Can you test drive Audi performance cars at the Festival of Motoring?
Yes, Audi allowed festival goers to experience the RS3 Sedan, RS5 Sportback, and R8 V10 Coupe and Roadster at full throttle around Kyalami Race Circuit during night driving sessions.
Q: What makes the new Audi A7 special compared to other models?
The Audi A7 Sportback features new OLED head and taillights with a signature light show, Audi virtual cockpit as standard, two haptic feedback touchscreens, and comes with either a 3.0-litre V6 petrol (55TFSI) or 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel (50TDI) engine.
Q: What colours were the new Audi models displayed in at the festival?
The A1 Sportback was finished in Python Yellow launch colour, the Q3 in Turbo Blue, and the facelifted TTS appeared in the new Pulse Orange colour option.
Should You Buy It?
Here's the thing, mate: this isn't really about whether you should buy "it" because Audi brought five different models to the Festival of Motoring. If you're looking at the entry-level options, the Audi A1 Sportback 35 TFSI starts around R479,000 while the Q3 35 TFSI kicks off at approximately R589,000, both packing that punchy 110kW 1.4-litre turbo engine. The real showstopper, the A7 Sportback, commands serious money starting around R1,200,000 for the 55 TFSI, but you're getting those gorgeous OLED lights and haptic touchscreens that'll make your neighbours properly jealous. Should you buy one? If you've got the cash and want premium German engineering with that distinctive Audi flair, absolutely go for it, but make sure you've test driven the competition from BMW and Mercedes first because this is serious money we're talking about.
