Audi was never going to let the 30th anniversary year of the original Quattro slip by without pulling something pretty special out of the bag and this is it - the Audi Quattro Concept.

The new Quattro Concept that's been unveiled at the Paris motor show is actually a stylistic nod to the 1984 short wheelbase Sport Quattro that Audi built as a homologation special when Group B rallying competition was hotting up.

The Quattro concept features a stark single-frame grille that merges into the flat strips of the headlight modules, large, upright air intakes at the corners of the bumper, ultra-efficient LED technology, a strongly molded front skirt that includes integrated carbon elements, rear hatch and the hood also made from carbon fiber and a large spoiler integrated into the rear hatch.

The entire body has been made of either aluminium or carbon-fibre, which has kept weight down to 1,300kg. While Audi isn’t claiming any performance figures for the quattro concept, it would be faster in a straight line than a TTRS, which features the same engine and weighs 150kg more.

Exterior cues include 20-inch wheels in a seven-twin-spoke design, flared fenders, an unusual — and functional — air outlet on the right side of the hood, a single-frame grille that skips the chrome frame and a rear spoiler made of carbon.

The cabin gets filigree bucket seats, a digital instrument cluster and a customizable Web radio that connects to digital radio stations all over the world.

The Audi E-tron Spyder Concept is a further development of the E-tron coupe shown at the Detroit auto show earlier this year. In addition to its obvious lack of a roof, the E-tron Spyder is also slightly bigger than the last concept and features a plug-in hybrid drivetrain in place of the pure electric setup shown earlier.

The system relies on torque vectoring rather than electronic traction control to control wheelspin. The engineers calculate the 0-to-62 mph run at 4.4 seconds, and a top speed that would need to be electronically limited to 156 mph. Alternately, one can hit the ZEV button, and the 9.1-kWh battery will whir you along noiselessly for up thirty miles, at a maximum velocity of 37 mph. This e-quattro system is planned for the next generation of hybrid Audis, although in front-engine applications the electric motors will power the rear wheels.

For the conventional engine, why did Audi opt for the diesel and not for a small gasoline direct-injected turbo? “Because for us, diesel equals sportiness and high-performance as well as economy and environment-friendliness,” explains Michael Dick, board member in charge of research and development. “We won Le Mans with a diesel, we are selling an increasing number of TDI-powered TTs [in Europe], and we proved with the R8 V12 TDI concept that even a diesel-engine supercar does have its charm.”

This show car is proof that Audi has a lot of ideas brewing when it comes to alternative propulsion. We can expect conventional Audi hybrids soon—an A8 is likely to come first and a Q7 shouldn’t be too far behind—but it’s anyone’s guess as to when, or if, a diesel-electric with this type of layout will be on the product schedule. Audi of America head Johan de Nysschen told us that he thinks traditional diesel engines make more sense than hybrids for most Americans, but that the company would sell hybrids because of consumer demand. Marrying the two concepts in a passenger vehicle is a good idea, but doing so in a sexy sports car like this is an even better one.

The A7 is 4.97m long and 1.91m wide, which is 17cm shorter and 4cm narrower than the A8. But it sits 4cm lower than Audi’s luxury saloon, at 1.42m. At 2.91 metres, the wheelbase is around 8cm shorter than the regular A8’s, but longer than the current A6’s by a similar amount. It’s likely that the next generation of A6 will sit on the same platform.

The A7 was previewed by a concept at the Detroit show last year, and the production car sticks closely to the show model’s appearance. Its looks are dominated by a deep front grille, a low nose, narrow headlights, a sharp crease that runs along its flanks from nose to tail, and a bootline that tails off quickly, minimising the rear overhang. That last element, and a distinctive lip on the third side window, reference Audi’s 100 Coupé from the 1970s.

All four engines use thermal engine management, which stops coolant from circulating until the engines and transmissions are at the right temperature, start-stop technology, regenerative braking and Audi’s new electro-mechanical power steering system, which it insists is good for a slight fuel savings.

The front-drive 3.0-litre TDI, with a combination of aluminum and steel body construction, weighs just 3,737 lbs - a comparative featherweight for a car this size.

The interior, too, is spacious and flexible, with more than 18.9 cubic feet of luggage space that can increase to 49 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded flat.

In the U.S., count on the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 making 300 horsepower to serve as the main engine. Accelerating from 0-to-62 mph will take 5.6 seconds, Audi says. On the more fuel-efficient side, some markets will get a 3.0-liter diesel that will achieve the U.S. equivalent of about 44 mpg by European standards. All A7s get a stop-start system to save fuel. The body is composed of a steel and aluminum mix, and the car is about 15 percent lighter than it would have been were the A7 made completely from steel, according to Audi.

Efficiency, of course, isn't the A7's raison d'etre. The A7 starts with the A8's large six-corner grille and (optional) LED headlights, making the strongest impression from the side view. Xenon headlights are standard, and the slim row of LEDs integrated into the side mirrors is a nice touch.

The side view shows off the A7's style to the greatest effect, with the C-pillar rising to the roof in what the automaker calls a "dynamic wave." The strong character line running atop the door handles and below the frameless windows gives the A7 strong shoulders in back, where a spoiler automatically lifts at about 81 mph, retracting at about 50 mph. Again, the A5 Sportback has similar lines, but the A7's extended length sets it apart, though the 18- and 20-inch wheels help too.

Both V8 and V10 editions of the Spyder will be available, and all benefit from a full-length glass engine cover. To make the V formation stand out even more, it’s thought an optional lighting kit will be offered – allowing owners to illuminate the engine bay at the flick of a switch.

Audi has earmarked this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show for the model’s debut, but is remaining tight-lipped on prices. According to our source, the newcomer will carry a healthy price premium over the coupé, with entry-level V8s costing as much as £90,000.

That’s an excitement to see an Audi marvel again, this time looking more production ready than the mules we saw several months ago. Moreover, the prototype spotted today looks to be wearing very little camo, giving us a good idea of what the car will look like in production form.

Up front, this RS5 has a sportier front fascia with 2 massive air intakes on either side of the grill. Adorning the axles are 20-inch, triple spoke wheels with large, cross-drilled rotors in front and regular rotors in back. A larger, production rear bumper is also on this prototype. That bumper is housing 2 enormous, oval exhaust pipes — a standard on all RS models.

Powered by a 450bhp 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8, it’s more powerful than the 414bhp 4.0-litre V8-engined M3 and boasts a Quattro four-wheel drive system too, available with a choice of both six-speed manual and seven-speed twin-clutch gearboxes.

Performance will be epic with 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. The RS5 will be a match for the M3 in the corners too with stiffened and lowered suspension, a wider track and stickier rubber.

In addition to four-wheel drive, it will also boast Audi’s new active rear differential – as used by the latest S4 – which helps distribute torque to different wheels, aiding agility and traction. Expect to the see the new RS5 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with UK sales starting before the end of the year. A price tag of £48,000 is mooted.

Learn more about the all new 2009 Audi A4 with comprehensive car pricing info, current rebates & incentives, safety data, car photos, specs & more. Select a research category to learn more about the new Audi Avant & Cabriolet.

Everything. Bigger, bolder, more powerful than its predecessor?but also limited in offerings. Only one engine and transmission are in the initial lineup, although both are nicely improved. Cabriolet keeps the older platform while gaining standard and optional features; S4 and RS4 versions will appear later in the lifecycle.

2009 Audi A4 Performance & Efficiency Standard Features
- 3,197 cc 3.2 liters V 6 front engine with 85.5 mm bore, 92.8 mm stroke, 12.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
- Premium unleaded fuel 91
- Gasoline direct injection fuel system
- 16.6 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 13.9
- Power: 190 kW , 255 HP SAE @ 6,500 rpm; 243 ft lb , 329 Nm @ 3,250 rpm