Every year, Volkswagen and Audi enthusiasts gather for the Worthersee Tour and this year’s show might be the biggest yet.
This year’s event will take place from May 28 to 31 and Audi announced its lineup of vehicles this week. In total, two show cars and 10 production models will be presented across over 21,500 square feet. Here are the top 10 to Worthersee.
The Audi SQ5 TDI is the German automaker’s first S model powered by a diesel engine. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter TDI powerplant with 313 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, allowing the vehicle to accelerate to 62 mph from a standstill in 5.1 seconds. To make it as versatile as possible, Audi offers a selection of accessories for the SQ5 including a roof rack, roof box, bicycle rack for the trailer hitch, Audi wireless internet access and new cabin pockets.
Available in Europe, the hardcore RS Q3 is powered by the same 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine found in the TT RS and RS3. The crossover packs 310 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and does the 0-62 mph sprint in 5.5 seconds. Compared to the standard Q3, the RS Q3 sits an inch lower on the ground thanks to sports suspension while the battery has been moved under the cargo floor to improve weight distribution.
Wagons aren’t well-liked in the U.S., but they’re popular in Europe. The RS 4 Avant features a 4.2-liter V8 with 450 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s unfortunate that the RS 4 Avant isn’t offered in North America, but it’s really no surprise.
Disappointing it is that the last car isn’t sold here, it’s even harder to look across the pond at the RS 6 Avant. It features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V10 engine cranking 560 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.9 seconds. Lighter and more efficient than its predecessor, the RS 6 Avant uses an eight-speed automatic transmission with a standard engine start-stop feature. Of course it will probably never see the American shore.
The Audi S1 is the German automaker’s compact sports car offering, powered by a 2.0-liter TFSI engine with 231 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The S1 goes 0-62 in 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph thanks in large part to advanced turbocharging technology. The hot hatch features aggressive styling but unfortunately, it’s still unclear if it will ever reach North America.
Arriving on the market just in time for the open-air season is the Audi S3 cabriolet. The cloth top four-seat convertible weighs in at 3,571 lbs and is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine engine with 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, hitting the 62-mph mark in 5.4 seconds. Another vehicle that’s still under consideration for the U.S., Audi is probably watching how the BMW 2 Series convertible sells before making a decision.
While the RS 5 is nothing new on the market, it’s still one of the most attractive performance luxury coupes available. With a 4.2-liter V8 under the hood, the RS 5 delivers 450 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque and goes 0-62 in 4.5 seconds. In the U.S., the RS 5 gets a 16-mpg city, 23-mpg highway rating and comes with a seven-speed Audi S tronic dual-clutch transmission.
Recently unveiled is the all-new TT and TTS coupe with the TTS providing 310 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter TFSI powerplant. Along with its stunning design and impressive performance, the inside of the TTS benefits from Audi’s virtual cockpit where the control and display has a pronounced focus on the driver. Based on the German automaker’s new MQB architecture, the TT and TTS are lighter than their predecessors thanks to a hybrid steel and aluminum platform.
No Audi-centric list would be complete without the flagship R8 sports car. For this year’s Worthersee Tour, Audi will present its R8 V10 Spyder that packs 525 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The venerable convertible has a six-speed manual transmission mated to the V10 powerplant with Audi quattro all-wheel drive and nets 12 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
Finally, the Audi A3 Clubsport Quattro concept was unveiled earlier this week, previewing the next-generation RS3. Under the hood of the concept is an exhilarating 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine with a whopping 525 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The powerplant is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the body sits about half an inch compared to the production S3. It will be just the latest of hardcore Audi RS models to be added to the German automaker’s lineup.