Audi 2003 A6 Avant 3.0l Quattro on 2040-cars

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The Audi RS5 takes aim at the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63

The current generation of the Audi A5 has soldiered on for the past 10 years, an eon when it comes to automobiles. Though we've seen and driven its replacement, the new car hasn't quite made it to market. As with most of Audi's lineup, the car is expected to come in three versions. While the full reveal and first drive reviews of the A5 and S5 took place late year, until now we haven't had a peek at the range topper Audi RS5. It sits on Audi's B9 platform shared with the Audi A4 sedan. Essentially, it's Audi's equivalent to the BMW 4 Series or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe. In the case of the RS5, compare it to the BMW M4 and the Mercedes-AMG C63. Like its rivals, the RS5 sits longer, lower, and wider than its sedan stablemate. The RS features aggressive front and rear fascias and a set of unique wheels. While the styling of the new model may look evolutionary, it is indeed all-new inside and out. The two cars in these photos are wrapped in camouflage that covers everything below the beltline. The general shape of the bodywork looks the same, but the front and rear are slightly restyled. The front now has larger air intakes in the corners and a lower chin spoiler. Out back, the dual single-exit exhaust pipes give the RS model away. The S5, like all S models, features quad exhaust tips. The rear bumper is slightly modified, but all in all it's not far off from the A5 and S5 models. Audi's styling is always conservative, so this should come as no surprise. There's no word as to what's resting under the hood, but look for forced induction and six cylinders, possibly pulling something from the Porsche Panamera. As with every other Audi performance car, power will be sent to all four wheels through the latest generation of the Quattro all-wheel drive system. Look for a full reveal in the next few months, possibly as soon as March at the Geneva Motor Show. Related Video:

BMW M4 versus Audi RS5 | Autoblog Podcast #546

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Reese Counts. We debate the merits of the BMW M4 and the new Audi RS5 and our hopes for the refreshed Mercedes-AMG C63. We also discuss the state of Cadillac, the future of the Ford Fusion and the rumored Mercedes-AMG competitor to the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman. Autoblog Podcast #546 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown 2018 BMW M4 versus 2018 Audi RS5 Cadillac and Mercedes-AMG sport coupes The state of the luxury car industry The future of the Ford Fusion Replacement for the Mercedes-Benz SLC Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: Design/Style Podcasts Audi BMW Cadillac Ford Lexus Lincoln Mercedes-Benz Convertible Coupe Crossover SUV Luxury Performance bmw m4 mercedes-amg c63

5 stars in Euro NCAP crash tests for 5 new cars available in U.S.

Seven new cars have received a full five-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP crash tests. Of these, five are available in the United States: the Audi E-Tron, Lexus UX, Toyota Corolla, RAV4 and Mazda3. The Renault Clio and the Volkswagen T-Cross also took part, also receiving five stars. The Mazda3 hatchback was the fourth car in Euro NCAP history to reach an adult occupant protection score of 98%, after the Volvo V40 and XC60 and the Alfa Romeo Giulia. No NHTSA ratings for the Mazda3 or the Audi are yet available, but the Lexus and the Toyotas have all received five-star NHTSA safety ratings as well. Those three were tested as hybrid variants by Euro NCAP. Audi's first fully electric vehicle, the E-Tron, scored 91% in Euro NCAP's adult occupant rating, with unavailable knee airbags bringing down the score. The Mazda and the Toyotas offer them for the driver only, and the Lexus has the passenger's knees covered as well. The Lexus UX managed a 96% adult occupant score, close to the Mazda, and it provided better pedestrian safety (82%) than the Audi (71%), despite neither, or none, of the test vehicles having an active hood to catch pedestrians. As for the Toyotas, the Corolla, tested in both sedan and hatchback guises, scored 95% for adult occupant safety, with the RAV4 a couple notches down at 93%. Still, the five-star rating means all these vehicles are a very safe choice in their respective classes. Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, states how important it is that even family hatchbacks perform well and have the latest safety tech available. "It is encouraging to see that all manufacturers did well, regardless of type of powertrain or class of vehicle tested," said van Ratingen. "New cars on the market continue to offer more advanced technology as standard, systems that were not even considered an option a few years ago." More crash test videos are available on Euro NCAP's YouTube channel. Audi Lexus Mazda Toyota Car Buying Safety audi etron lexus ux