2019 Audi E-tron Prestige Quattro on 2040-cars

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2013 Audi RS Q3

The year 1994 was a really good year for German performance fans, because it was that year when Audi released its very first official RS model (for "RennSport," or racing sport), the RS2 Avant. Recently, I was invited to participate in a three-day leg of the Audi Land of Quattro Alpen Tour, a blatant flaunting over hill and dale of the company's current lineup of RS models. We hit Austria, Switzerland and Italy - the roads were epic and the weather held for this exquisite boondoggle.
Our chief focus on this tour, which included the RS6 Avant and RS7, was the newcomer RS Q3 small crossover that will absolutely never be coming to North America, but which starts deliveries in November of this year. This no-North America policy is because we still don't have enough customers who see the thrill or sense in a $52,000 all-wheel-drive baby sport utility that gets to 60 miles per hour from a stop in under five seconds. Meanwhile, in crazy, drunken Europe, orders for this ridiculous, wondrous set of wheels have, to quote Quattro head of technical development Stephan Reil, "far outstripped the limited production numbers of the business case." Those silly Europeans, don't they know that an RS Q3 makes no sense at all? Sheesh.

2018 Audi Q5 | Pricing a redesigned crossover

With its redesign of the 2018 Q5, Audi introduces a host of updates and upgrades to what was already a popular formula. The platform is all-new (and almost 200 pounds lighter), the four-cylinder turbo enjoys a 32-horsepower bump, and ride is not compromised by handling that feels far more nimble. With the changes comes a $600 bump ($40,900 to $41,500) in base price. In a segment that includes the Range Rover Evoque, BMW X3 and Benz's GLC (for Autoblog's comparison tool of similar vehicles, click here), Audi's Q5 is a mature, upscale entry for grown-ups with little interest in pretense or posturing. Sitting on a 111-inch wheelbase and stretching to almost 184 inches, the Q5 is available only with quattro all-wheel drive and has an Outback-like 8.2 inches of ground clearance. And its 252 horsepower is distributed, depending on road conditions, in varying proportions front to rear, as needed, via its new quattro ultra-tech drivetrain. Available in Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels — we're opting for the midlevel Premium Plus, which supplies you — for its $4K "premium" — a standard sunroof, seat memory, Audi Side Assist and Pre Sense rear with cross traffic sensors, full LED headlights, key/keyless start and a hands-free tailgate. Base MSRP is $45,500 plus transportation, but with a judicious use of the option boxes we can keep it under $50,000. Our silver paint choice costs $575, but a light metallic color doesn't show dirt too badly during long winter stretches between car washes. And for summers, Audi offers its Warm Weather package for $1,450, with front seat ventilation, a sportier bucket profile with four-way power lumbar and sunshades (manual) on the rear windows. Finally, what we think should be standard — rear side airbags — we'll opt for, with a $350 surcharge. With destination, that brings our total to just under $49,000. With 10 percent down, plus taxes, title and license, look for 60 payments to run about $800/month. Audi also touts a 36-month lease — with $6K out of pocket — at $523/month, allowing 12,000 miles a year. Neither number is a screaming deal from a math standpoint, but both are valid approaches for a completely credible crossover. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Audi Q5: First Drive View 32 Photos Audi Car Buying Ownership Crossover Luxury

BMW reclaims US luxury sales crown from Mercedes

The numbers, they are in: BMW has reclaimed the luxury-sales crown from Mercedes by a margin of 9,347 cars. Mercedes donned the king's headgear in 2013 after a strong final quarter of 2013 when the new CLA and S-Class poured out of dealerships. This year, led by the 3 Series/4 Series and X5, BMW sold 339,738 units – a 9.8-percent increase year-on-year. Mercedes, led by the C-Class and M-Class, saw its sales go up by 5.7 percent to 330,391 units. We'll have to wait a bit to see if there's another registrations-vs-sales challenge as in 2012, when BMW was anointed US luxury ruler. Behind them, a dark horse named Lexus nudged closer to the leading Teutons, selling 311,389 cars. The Japanese luxury automaker also had the biggest gain among the top three, its sales rising by 13.7 percent compared to 2013. Audi had the biggest sales of anyone among the top five, though, with a 15.2-percent gain to 182,011, which moved it a spot ahead of Cadillac; the Wreath-and-Crest brand dropped 6.5 percent to 170,750. Acura (167,843), Infiniti (117,300), and Lincoln (94,474) took the final positions. Speaking of Lincoln, sales at the once-mighty luxury marque stand as the mightiest jump of any on this list, up 15.6 percent. That's the power of Matthew McConaughey... and better cars and a new crossover, sure. So now that we're back to Round One of 2015, in case no one else has said it yet: "Ok, fight!"