Audi A4, A5 and Q5 to Receive 8-Speed Auto Gearbox

The latest generation A8 luxury limousine and the Q7 full-size SUV were the first vehicles to benefit from Audi’s new eight-speed gearbox. Now, the new automatic transmission will be made available to other models as well, as the German automaker wants 70 percent of its U.S. sales volume to come equipped with the new gearbox.

According to dealer order guides released for the 2011 model year, the models that will get the 8-speed auto will be the A4 and A4 Avant in their 2.0 TFSI quattro guise, and the A5 coupe and cabriolet powered by the same engine. For the coupe, however, there will also be a manual six-speed manual gearbox available.

In addition, the facelifted Q7, with its new high- and low-output 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engines (taken from the S4 and A6), will replace the 3.6-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 for the 2011 model year. Both engines, along with the new 3.0-liter TDI, will come equipped with the eight-speed auto.

Finally, Audi revealed the 2.0 TFSI inline-four engine for the Q5 Compact SUV at the New York Auto Show, and part of the new package will also include the eight-speed box.

Sales of the models equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission will begin this autumn, each delivering improved fuel economy, quicker downshifts and, thanks to its compact packaging, no additional weight gain over the standard six-speed tiptronic.

Other cars in the Volkswagen Group to use the new eight-speed automatic gearbox are the new VW Touareg and the new Porsche Cayenne. Other models are to receive this transmission as well.