All-Wheel Driven Podcast

Audi is entering one of the busiest stretches of 2026, both on the road and at the racetrack. On this episode of *All Wheel Driven*, Joe Kucinski breaks down the latest developments from Audi, including the team’s first Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, the upcoming RS Q5, recognition for the new A6 and Q9 in the 2027 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards, and what’s ahead for Audi as its first Formula 1 season enters its final stretch.First, we head to Madrid for Audi’s debut at the new Madring circuit. Nico Hülkenberg brought the Audi Revolut F1 Team home in 10th place to score another championship point, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished 13th. We’ll look at what Audi learned from its first race at the new circuit, the importance of qualifying at a track where overtaking can be difficult, and how the team can use the remaining races of 2026 to build toward the future.Then we turn our attention to the Q5 lineup, where Audi Sport appears to be preparing something special. The first-ever RS Q5 has been spotted testing at the Nürburgring in both SUV and Sportback form. Reports suggest the RS Q5 could share an electrified powertrain with the new RS 5, potentially combining a twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor and producing more than 600 horsepower. While those figures remain unconfirmed, the RS Q5 could become an important addition to Audi Sport’s performance SUV lineup.We’ll also look at two very different Audi models making their way through the 2027 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards. The all-new A6 remains in contention in the Car of the Year category, while the new Q9 is competing for Utility Vehicle of the Year. We’ll discuss what the ninth-generation A6 brings to the table and how Audi’s first full-size SUV fits into the lineup above the Q7.Finally, we look ahead at the remainder of Audi’s first Formula 1 season. From Baku and the return to Sepang to Singapore, Austin, Mexico, São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, there are plenty of opportunities for Audi to gather valuable data and experience. With the final races of the season approaching, what can the team learn in 2026 that will directly influence the development of the R26 and the future of Audi F1?From the racetrack to the showroom, Audi is building out an increasingly diverse lineup while simultaneously laying the foundation for its future in Formula 1. We’ll bring all of these stories together and look at where Audi is headed over the next year.==========================00:00 Introduction to the Episode00:50 All-Wheel Driven: A Podcast by Audi Club North America01:08 Getting Into Audi F1 Updates07:59 What's to Come in 2026 for Audi F109:32 Word From Our Sponsor10:00 Audi RS Q515:18 The Audi A6 & Audi Q9 Are In The Running for Awards21:56 Audi is Listening to Their Fans22:58 Outro==========================All-Wheel Driven is presented by XPEL, the official paint protection film of Audi Club North America. Subscribe and connect with @audiclubna for exclusive Audi content.==========================Not yet a member of Audi Club North America? Join the world's largest community of Audi owners and enthusiasts and unlock benefits including:Discounts on Audi parts, accessories, and new or leased vehiclesAward-winning quarterly magazine (quattro)Exclusive driving events, clinics, and track experiencesA network of 32 chapters across North AmericaAnd much more!Learn more and join today: https://audiclubna.org

After more than a decade and 13 starts at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, David Hackl knows what it takes to race a mountain. But in 2026, he faced a completely different challenge when he brought his 1983 Audi quattro to the historic Climb to the Clouds at Mt. Washington for the first time.In this episode of All Wheel Driven, David takes us behind the wheel of one of Audi’s most iconic hill-climb cars and explains what makes Mt. Washington so different from Pikes Peak. While Pikes Peak offers a longer, faster course and extreme elevation, Mt. Washington presented a narrow, steep and unforgiving road that David had barely had an opportunity to learn before race day.Then came the weather. Fog, rain and dramatically reduced visibility made an already unfamiliar mountain even more challenging. With limited practice and no years of experience memorizing the course, David knew the goal wasn't simply to unleash the car's approximately 750 horsepower—it was to make it safely to the finish.David also tells the story of the 1983 Audi quattro that started life as his daily driver before being transformed into a competition car. After spending roughly 2,500 hours building the car for its 2012 Pikes Peak debut, he has continued developing it for more than a decade. Now, with plans to eventually push toward 900 horsepower, the quattro still has plenty of life left.From learning a new mountain and managing unpredictable weather to mentoring fellow Audi competitors and reflecting on more than a decade of hill-climb racing, David offers a fascinating look at what it takes to compete at the edge—and why he keeps coming back.EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 Breaking Down The Episode00:53 Introducing David Hackl01:3406:53 Why Doesn't Mt. Washington Run Every Year?10:27 The Drive To Mount Washington18:22 First Impressions Compared to Pikes Peak24:04 How Was This Year's Weather?29:23 Word From Our Sponsor: Continental29:50 David Tells Us The Details On His Audi Quattro Race Car39:00 Tell Us About Your Audi Journey44:00 What's Next for the Race Car Build?49:52 Mentoring the Newer Pike's Peak Racers53:01 Any More Hill Climb Races on the Bucket List?56:06 Final Thoughts & Farewell==========================All-Wheel Driven is presented by XPEL, the official paint protection film of Audi Club North America. Subscribe and connect with @audiclubna for exclusive Audi content.==========================Not yet a member of Audi Club North America? Join the world's largest community of Audi owners and enthusiasts and unlock benefits including:Discounts on Audi parts, accessories, and new or leased vehiclesAward-winning quarterly magazine (quattro)Exclusive driving events, clinics, and track experiencesA network of 32 chapters across North AmericaAnd much more!Learn more and join today: https://audiclubna.org

It’s been another busy stretch for the Four Rings. On this episode of All Wheel Driven, Joe Kucinski breaks down the latest Audi news from Formula 1, performance-car development, and the global enthusiast community.First, we head to Zandvoort for a look at Audi’s first Formula 1 season and the Audi Revolut F1 Team’s performance at the Dutch Grand Prix. How did Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg fare? What did we learn about the R26, and where does Audi currently fit in the F1 midfield? We’ll also look ahead at Audi’s development strategy and the team’s long-term goal of becoming a genuine front-running contender.Then comes the news Audi enthusiasts have been waiting for: the five-cylinder might not be dead yet. We explore reports that Audi Sport is investigating hybrid technology as a way to keep the legendary 2.5-liter five-cylinder alive beyond the current RS 3. Could electrification actually give the five-cylinder a performance boost, or would the added weight and complexity change what makes the engine so special?Finally, we head to Monterey Car Week 2026, where Audi made an impression with the U.S. debut of the Nuvolari hybrid supercar. With just 499 examples planned, the Nuvolari offers a glimpse at Audi’s future performance strategy while continuing the brand’s connection with the enthusiast community. We’ll also look at Audi’s presence at Legends of the Autobahn and why events like Monterey Car Week remain so important to enthusiasts.From Formula 1 to the legendary five-cylinder and the next generation of Audi performance cars, these stories all point toward the same question: How does Audi preserve the emotion and character that enthusiasts love while moving into an increasingly electrified future?==========================
EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 Breaking Down the Episode00:39 Introduction00:57 Audi F1 at Zandvoort: Solid Performance, Still Gaining Traction10:13 Will The Audi 5-Cylinder Live On?16:45 Monterey Car Week: A Wild Ride!27:23 The Nuvolari U.S. Debut41:24 Check Out Audiclubna.org==========================All-Wheel Driven is presented by XPEL, the official paint protection film of Audi Club North America. Subscribe and connect with @audiclubna for exclusive Audi content.
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Not yet a member of Audi Club North America? Join the world's largest community of Audi owners and enthusiasts and unlock benefits including:Discounts on Audi parts, accessories, and new or leased vehiclesAward-winning quarterly magazine (quattro)Exclusive driving events, clinics, and track experiencesA network of 32 chapters across North AmericaAnd much more!Learn more and join today: https://audiclubna.org

What happens when a professional snowboarder becomes an Audi enthusiast for nearly three decades? On this episode of All Wheel Driven, Joe Kucinski sits down with Todd Richards—professional snowboarder, NBC Sports analyst, and lifelong Audi enthusiast—to talk about the cars that have been part of his life on and off the mountain.Todd takes us through his Audi journey, beginning with the brand-new 1995 Audi 90 quattro Sport he bought in Boulder, Colorado, and continuing through some of Audi's most iconic performance cars, including an Imola Yellow B5 S4 Avant, C6 S6 Avant, rare B5 RS 4, and multiple TT RS models. He also shares why the Q7 has remained a trusted companion for more than 100,000 miles, his experiences with Audi's legendary turbocharged five-cylinder, and what makes quattro such a perfect match for life in the mountains. From chasing powder in Colorado to building a garage full of Audi icons, Todd's story is ultimately about how a car can become part of your lifestyle—and your adventures.Tune in for a conversation about Audi ownership, performance, quattro, favorite cars, ownership regrets, and the evolution of the Four Rings through the eyes of someone who has experienced it firsthand. ========================== EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 Breaking Down the Episode!00:47 Video Intro01:05 Todd Gives Us Some Audi Background02:57 How Old was Todd When he Got His 1st Audi?03:48 How Often Does Quattro Come in Handy?04:53 Todd's Audi Garage05:40 Finally Getting the Dream! The RS6!07:09 Some of the RS6 Mods09:50 Some of His Other Audis' Mods11:02 The Story of his Audi B5 RS416:05 They Also Have A "Sensible" Audi Q717:52 Snowboarding VS Driving Audis20:03 Do Snowboarding Skills Translate to the Track?21:33 Does Todd Still Do Track Days?22:28 How Has Audi Evolved Over the Years?27:48 Is Todd Into The Audi Supercars?30:16 Todd Answers The "Impossible" Question (Among Others)32:28 Todd's Biggest Ownership Regret? (& More Favorites!)38:56 Advice to First-Time Audi Buyers40:10 How Involved is Todd With Other Enthusiasts?41:00 Final Thoughts & Farewell==========================All-Wheel Driven is presented by XPEL, the official paint protection film of Audi Club North America. Subscribe and connect with @audiclubna for exclusive Audi content.==========================Not yet a member of Audi Club North America? Join the world's largest community of Audi owners and enthusiasts and unlock benefits including:Discounts on Audi parts, accessories, and new or leased vehiclesAward-winning quarterly magazine (quattro)Exclusive driving events, clinics, and track experiencesA network of 32 chapters across North AmericaAnd much more!Learn more and join today: https://audiclubna.org

Join us for another episode of All Wheel Driven as we break down the biggest stories from across the Audi world. This month, we recap the action from the Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix and discuss what Audi can learn as it prepares for its Formula 1 debut. We also dive into Audi's strong first-half sales performance, explore the redesigned Q7, preview the upcoming Q9 and SQ9, and highlight the latest IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards earned by several Audi models. We also look back at Audi Tradition's appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the remarkable Lucca recreation celebrated the brand's rich automotive heritage. Whether you're interested in Audi's latest vehicles, motorsport ambitions, or iconic history, this episode has something for every enthusiast. Be sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of **All Wheel Driven**, your source for the latest Audi news and stories from Audi Club North America. ==========================EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 Breaking Down the Episode!00:59 Audi Formula 1 News05:49 New Audi Products! (Q7, SQ7, etc)09:13 More Products: Q9, SQ9 & More!15:31 The 2026 Audi A6 - Top SafetyPick Plus Award! (One of 7 Models to Receive it!)17:34 Audi 2026 Sales Breakdown21:19 Was Audi at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed?24:47 Our New Giveaway! What Awesome Audi Can You Win??==========================All-Wheel Driven is presented by XPEL, the official paint protection film of Audi Club North America. Subscribe and connect with @audiclubna for exclusive Audi content.==========================Not yet a member of Audi Club North America? Join the world's largest community of Audi owners and enthusiasts and unlock benefits including:Discounts on Audi parts, accessories, and new or leased vehiclesAward-winning quarterly magazine (quattro)Exclusive driving events, clinics, and track experiencesA network of 32 chapters across North AmericaAnd much more!Learn more and join today: https://audiclubna.org