2011 Audi S5 Base Coupe 2-door 4.2l on 2040-cars

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2018 Audi RS3 Sedan to make US debut in 2017 [UPDATE]

UPDATE: We've heard back from Audi, and the statement was as expected. According to spokesman Mark Dahncke, there's "nothing we can share at this time." We really want the Audi RS3 to come to the US market, and based on a report from Car and Driver, it doesn't sound like we'll be stuck waiting that long. The report claims the new compact rocket sedan will debut next year as a model year 2018 vehicle. Beyond that date, C/D's report expands on some of the details we reported on in our RS3 Sedan report from February. It backs up the claim about a 2.5-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder, but instead of a 400-plus-horsepower engine, C/D's report says it'd be "close to" 400 hp. That power would come from a turbocharged, 2.5-liter five-banger that's distinct from the unit currently offered in the Euro-market RS3 Sportback and the last-generation TT RS (the new 2.5 would first debut in that car's replacement). The new powerplant would be paired with Audi's seven-speed S-Tronic. According to C/D, all this powertrain goodness will allow the new RS3 to hit 60 in four seconds flat and run up to 174 miles per hour. If correct, that means Audi's newest high performer will be a tenth of a second faster to 60 and have an extra seven mph on the high end than the most potent Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG. And while the two-door BMW M2 isn't necessarily a direct competitor – because coupe – it's worth pointing out that the RS3 will be 0.2 seconds faster to 60 and have an extra 19 mph to its top speed. While C/D's report cites a "highly reliable source" for its information, we've naturally reached out to Audi to confirm as much as possible. We'll update this post as soon as Audi's PR team gets back to us. The company basically gave the usual "No comment." Related Video: News Source: Car and Driver Rumormill Audi Luxury Performance Sedan

Fast sedans and loose Tweets | Autoblog Podcast #555

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Reese Counts. Reese has been traveling a lot, and the two discuss his recent first drives of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT four-door and the 2019 Audi Q3. The pair also talk about the 2018 BMW X2 that's been in the office this week. Also on the agenda is the SEC's lawsuit against Elon Musk, Ola Kaellenius replacing Dieter Zetsche at Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac's move back to Detroit and the upcoming reveal of the 2019 BMW 3 Series at the Paris Motor Show.Autoblog Podcast #555 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 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT four-door 2019 Audi Q3 2018 BMW X2 Elon Musk lawsuit New Mercedes-Benz CEO Cadillac is heading back to Detroit The new 3 Series debuts next week Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes

Next Audi TT RS comes in 2016, manual transmission doesn't

This line comes from our review of the 2012 Audi TT RS: "Did we mention that the 2012 TT RS is only available with a manual transmission?" When we review the next-generation TT RS, expected to launch next year, we'll have to rewrite that line as: "Did we mention that the TT RS is not available with a manual transmission?" That's the word from Car and Driver, which has heard that the superheated little coupe will only come with the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox found in the Euro-market RS3 Sportback. The first generation came with a dual-clutch and a manual transmission in Europe, but the unit for our market required the laying on of hands to get from one cog to another. If we don't get another, the blow will be all the more painful because Audi's manual transmissions are so good. Our assessment summed up the last one thus, "With a short, precise throw and excellent action, the transmission is a mechanical work of art." Good news? Volkswagen says the installed DQ500 dual-clutch is faster, more refined, and more reliable. As well, power from the reworked 2.5-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder should rise from 360 horsepower to "around 400." You'll just be asked to keep your hands off of it. The first-gen car only came here after a successful Facebook petition gathered more than 11,000 signatures in a month, we wish Audi had given us a chance to weigh in on this, too. Although we will probably get it later next year as a 2017 model, we could see it at the Frankfurt Motor Show in two months. Related Video: