[CountryStone]

Audi A4, A5 And Q5 To Receive Eight-Speed Auto This Fall

For most brands, eight-speed automatic transmissions are still only the stuff of high-end flagships but for Audi, at least, most of the models in its lineup will feature the advanced units. Already confirmed for the new 2011 Audi A8 and updated Q7, by this fall the automaker will announce that its eight-speed automatic transmission will also feature in the more affordable A4, A5 and Q5 models.

http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1045052_audi-a4-a5-and-q5-to-receive-eight-speed-auto-this-fall

anyone know what are they likely going to do with our existing orders this year? free upgrade or pay more to have?

 

[smo]

Highly unlikely to hit the Uk market this year, it will probably appear on the 2012MY production so in reality start appearing in august 2011.

Its certainly not on the 2011MY Q5 spec changes.

 

[WColeman]

Had an accident with my B7 2.0 Tdi A4, so ended up renting a 1.8T B8 A4 from a rental company here. Its an auto, and if I switch it into the manual mode, the DIS displays M8 while in top gear. This is also the case when in S mode on the gearbox. Its only the multi-tronic version, but I have also been told by one chap here driving a A4 2.0 Tdi, 2010 model, that his auto box also has 8 gears.

Dunno if this is what the reports claims, but if so, for some strange reason the South Afican market received it ealier. I checked the VIN on the rental car, and it starts with WAU, so its from the German factory if I have it right.

 

[CrustyNoodle]

Had an accident with my B7 2.0 Tdi A4, so ended up renting a 1.8T B8 A4 from a rental company here. Its an auto, and if I switch it into the manual mode, the DIS displays M8 while in top gear. This is also the case when in S mode on the gearbox. Its only the multi-tronic version, but I have also been told by one chap here driving a A4 2.0 Tdi, 2010 model, that his auto box also has 8 gears.

Dunno if this is what the reports claims, but if so, for some strange reason the South Afican market received it ealier. I checked the VIN on the rental car, and it starts with WAU, so its from the German factory if I have it right.

The Multitronic box is a CVT so by rights it has an infinite number of ratio's it's just that Audi have set it up with 8 distinct steps (in your experience) to replicate the feel of a "normal" box. The same mechanicals could be set up to immitate 2 gears or a dozen gears.