Audi to launch nearly 20 new or updated models in Australia next year

09/25/2024 07:00 PM

Audi is poised for the most comprehensive rollout of new models in its history – including a new generation of its popular Q5 SUV – over the next 18 months.

After a drought of all-new cars over the past five years, close to 20 new or updated models are due in local Audi showrooms next year alone, from city-sized hatchbacks to flagship electric cars.

The company claims this will give it the “freshest” model range among its peers, including German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as the likes of Volvo and Lexus.

MORE: Best new cars coming to Australia in 2024 and 2025

Among the vehicle launches is a new generation of the top-selling mid-size Q5 SUV – the company’s second-best seller last year – as well as the A5 liftback and wagon, which replace all five body styles in today’s A4 and A5 ranges.

The Q4 e-tron small-to-mid-size electric SUV is due in showrooms at the very end of this year – or early next year – while the Q5-sized Q6 e-tron electric SUV, and larger A6 e-tron electric sedan and wagon, are also coming.

Here’s everything coming to Audi Australia showrooms over the next 12 to 18 months.

Audi A1 (spec update) – first half of 2025

The top-of-the-range Audi A1 40 TFSI will gain a mechanical upgrade for Model Year 2025 (MY25) – including more power and lower fuel consumption – without a price increase.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine will be boosted from 147kW to 152kW, and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission fitted to replace today’s six-speeder.

Claimed fuel consumption will decrease despite the performance gain – from 6.3L/100km to 5.9L/100km – and the top speed increase from 235km/h to 241km/h.

Prices are unchanged, but for MY25, the entry-level A1 30 TFSI will be deleted from the range due to low demand, leaving the 40 TFSI ($50,800 before on-road costs and the 35 TFSI ($39,200).

This power boost was introduced in Europe two and a half years ago – for March 2021 production – in the A1 and its Volkswagen Polo GTI sibling, but Audi Australia is only now rolling it out locally.

MORE: Volkswagen Polo GTI, Audi A1 40 TFSI get power boost and seven-speed auto in Europe (published 2021)

Audi A3, S3 and RS3 (facelift) – first half of 2025

Mid-life updates for the Audi A3, S3 and RS3 siblings are due in local showrooms early next year, rather than late 2024 for the A3 and S3 as previously anticipated.

All three models wear updated exterior styling with Audi’s revised logo, with the S3 gaining a 17kW/20Nm boost to 245kW/420Nm – now matching its 2025 VW Golf R sibling – and the electronically-controlled rear differential from the Golf R and RS3.

Also added to the RS3 is a new steering wheel with R8-inspired ‘satellite’ buttons, as well as software and hardware changes to its driving dynamics that have seen it reclaim the lap record for production ‘compact’ cars around Germany’s Nürburgring race track.

Audi Australia promises the “highest level of equipment on [the] A3 ever,” and “significant added value” – suggesting a longer list of standard features for a modest price rise over the $50,600 plus on-road costs starting RRP of the current A3 35 TFSI.

MORE: 2025 Audi A3 facelift unveiled
MORE: 2025 Audi S3 hot hatch, sedan facelift unveiled with more power
MORE: 2025 Audi RS3 revealed – Updated looks, recalibrated chassis and enhanced new-car smell

Audi A5 and S5 (new model) – first half of 2025

The new Audi A5 will simplify the German brand’s challenge to the BMW 3 Series when it arrives in Australia next year.

The A4 sedan, A4 Avant wagon, and three-format A5 line-up – comprised of coupe, cabriolet and five-door ‘Sportback’ liftback – will be replaced by just two A5 body styles: an Avant, and a Sedan that, despite its name, has a liftback tailgate similar to a Sportback.

Few details have been confirmed for Australia thus far, but Audi has indicated both body styles will be sold locally, with S5 performance models atop the range until RS5 flagships eventually arrive.

The S5 and cheaper versions in the A5 range globally are available with all-new mild-hybrid technology capable of powering the wheels on electric power alone at parking speeds – a behaviour not typically enabled by these types of ‘hybrid’ systems.

MORE: 2025 Audi A5 revealed – A4 replacement coming to Australia, including S5

Audi A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron (new model) – first half of 2025

The Audi A6 e-tron large electric car is also due locally in the first half of next year, in a choice of Sportback liftback and Avant wagon body styles.

Audi Australia has confirmed it will initially offer two power and battery configurations: the Performance – which is Audi-speak for a long-range, rear-wheel-drive variant – and the flagship all-wheel-drive S6, which claims up to 405kW in launch control mode.

The company promises “best-in-class” driving range from the vehicles, which are underpinned by the PPE electric-car architecture co-developed with Porsche, and shared with the Q6 e-tron SUV and new Porsche Macan.

European models claim up to 750km of driving range in WLTP lab testing, but Australian variants are expected to ride on larger alloys – and carry more weight in luxury options – which could cut the claimed range closer to 650-700km.

The longest-range electric vehicle currently on sale in Australia is the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor (659km), but it is a smaller vehicle in the class below.

The electric range will not yet replace the petrol-powered Audi A6 and S6, which for the time being will be sold alongside the battery-powered cars – and in their next generations will switch to the A7 and S7 badges.

MORE: 2025 Audi A6 e-tron electric car detailed, including S6 e-tron

Audi S e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT (facelift) – first half of 2025

The Audi e-tron GT has been on sale for less than two years, but it is already coming in for a substantial facelift.

Mirroring similar updates to the related Porsche Taycan, the e-tron GT wears mild exterior and interior styling changes to clothe larger, new-generation battery packs, longer driving ranges, and significant power increases.

The regular e-tron GT quattro will become the S e-tron GT, while the RS e-tron GT remains alongside a new RS e-tron GT Performance flagship variant capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 2.5 seconds, thanks to 680kW from dual electric motors.

Even the new base S e-tron GT variant is 25kW more powerful than the previous RS e-tron GT. Driving range is now up to a claimed 604km in European WLTP testing.

All three variants are planned for Australia.

There is also a new suspension system co-developed with Porsche, which uses motor pumps on each corner to lean the car into corners like a motorcycle, pitch it forward under acceleration like a helicopter, or prevent the nose from diving when braking.

MORE: 2025 Audi e-tron GT update revealed with huge power boost

Audi Q2 (update) – first half of 2025

A technology update is coming for one of Audi’s oldest models, the Q2 small SUV, as part of a Model Year 2025 upgrade.

It will gain an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen to replace the current 8.3-inch display controlled via a rotary dial – plus a new Audi Connect Plus satellite navigation system with internet connectivity and Google service integration.

European models have also gained USB-C charging ports, a new centre-console storage space, and updated instrument cluster graphics, but these changes have not been confirmed by Audi Australia.

It follows the standardisation of key safety technology on MY24 Audi Q2 SUVs, including adaptive cruise control and a widescreen 12.3-inch instrument display.

MORE: Audi Australia prices rise by up to $7300 across most models with MY24 updates

Audi Q4 e-tron (new model) – end of 2024 or early 2025

Nearly four years after it was unveiled in Europe, the Audi Q4 e-tron small electric SUV is finally due in Australia in the coming months.

It was originally due in mid-2024, but Audi Australia says it elected to wait for an upgraded MY25 model to become available later this year, with longer driving ranges, larger battery packs, and more powerful electric motors.

The first customer deliveries are due at the end of 2024, priced from $84,900 plus on-road costs, but the first test drives by Australian motoring media will not occur until January or February 2025.

MORE: 2025 Audi Q4 e-tron price cut in Australia ahead of launch

Audi SQ5 TFSI (new variant of current SQ5) – early 2025

The petrol-powered Audi SQ5 TFSI performance SUV is set to return after a four-year hiatus, as the current-generation range nears the end of the road.

Petrol power replaced diesel when the current SQ5 range launched in Australia in 2017, before diesel returned as a special edition in 2020, and the petrol model was ultimately culled from local showrooms with the facelifted range in 2021.

Now the TFSI petrol engine is back, offered for the same price as the TDI diesel – $119,084 plus on-road costs for the conventional ‘wagon’ shape, and $124,315 plus on-roads for the Sportback.

Australia is believed to be the only major market globally to offer both engines, and the first showroom arrivals for the reborn TFSI will occur about six months before the next-generation SQ5 launches exclusively with petrol propulsion.

The revived SQ5 TFSI uses a 3.0-litre single-turbo petrol V6 developing 260kW and 500Nm – 9kW more, but 200Nm less than the diesel – but with a claimed 4.9-second 0-100km/h acceleration time, the petrol is 0.2sec quicker.

Alongside the petrol SQ5’s return, Audi Australia will introduce a new Dynamic Black option package for all SQ5 variants.

It costs $2500, and adds 21-inch black wheels, black exterior trim, black brake calipers, massaging front seats, and ‘carbon atlas’ interior inlays.

MORE: 2022 Audi SQ5 Sportback TDI review

Audi Q5 and SQ5 (new model) – late 2025

Due before the end of next year is the new-generation Audi Q5, alongside its SQ5 performance variant.

It shares its overhauled PPC underpinnings with the latest A5, offering a larger body, high-tech interior with three screens, and a range of petrol and diesel engines.

Few details for Australia have been confirmed thus far, including prices. The current model starts from $73,400 plus on-road costs as a front-wheel-drive diesel; the new version is likely to cost more.

The SQ5 is now petrol-only – using a 270kW/500Nm version of the 3.0-litre single-turbo V6 – while cheaper versions offer the A5’s new-generation mild-hybrid system capable of low-speed electric-only driving.

MORE: 2025 Audi Q5 revealed – New SUV brings mild-hybrid petrol and diesel for now

Audi Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron (new model) – first half of 2025

Audi will finally go head-to-head with the BMW iX3 and Tesla Model Y with the Q6 e-tron, which slots between the Q3-sized Q4 e-tron, and the larger Q8 e-tron.

Built on the A6 e-tron’s PPE architecture, the Q6 e-tron promises up to 625km of WLTP lab-tested driving range, with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, and a high-tech, three-screen interior similar to other new Audis.

Audi Australia has confirmed three model grades for local showrooms – the rear-wheel-drive Performance with 240kW and a 641km claimed range, all-wheel-drive quattro with 285kW and 625km, and flagship all-wheel-drive SQ6 with 380kW and 598km.

Prices are yet to be announced, but it is likely to fit between the entry prices of the Q4 e-tron ($84,900) and Q8 e-tron ($139,984).

This would suggest a starting price for the most affordable model of about $110,000 before on-road costs.

MORE: 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron review – International first drive

Audi Q7 45 TFSI quattro (new variant) – early 2025

Due early next year is an entry-level petrol version of the recently-updated Audi Q7 seven-seater.

Priced from $108,815 plus on-road costs – about $8500 less than the previous most affordable Q7, a diesel – the 45 TFSI is the first time a four-cylinder petrol engine has ever been offered in Audi’s largest SUV.

The 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine matches the outputs of a Volkswagen Golf GTI, while standard features include 20-inch alloys, matrix LED headlights, adaptive air suspension, and a power-operated third row of seats.

Audi RS Q8 Performance (facelift) – first half of 2025

Audi has given the RS Q8 large performance SUV the ‘Performance’ treatment – in the tyre tracks of the low-slung RS6 and RS7 siblings – offering more power and sharper handling.

The RS Q8 Performance mirrors the updates applied to the facelifted Q8 and SQ8 earlier this year, with a new front fascia and headlights, but sees its 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 tuned to 471kW and 850Nm.

Capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.6 seconds, it is the most powerful petrol-driven Audi ever sold, and has lapped Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife race track about 2.2 seconds quicker than its more powerful Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT sibling.

It is likely to be more expensive than the $228,300 plus on-road costs of the outgoing, standard RS Q8.

MORE: 2025 Audi RS Q8 facelift revealed as company's most powerful petrol car

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