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1984 Audi Sport Quattro expected to hammer at nearly half a million dollars

The highest prices paid at automobile auctions continue to be claimed by European sports cars, with names like Ferrari and Bugatti forever topping the lists. But what we have here is not quite a sports car. It's more of a hot hatch, but its still expected to fetch between $350,000 and $475,000 when it goes up for auction next month in Arizona. That's because this is no ordinary hot hatch... it's the prototypical hot hatch: the legendary Audi Sport Quattro, one of the most maniacal and dominant homologated rally machines ever devised. Shorter in wheelbase and dartier of handling than the Ur-Quattro that came before it, the later Sport Quattro was built to comply to with the FIA's legendary Group B regulations. That meant that it competed with the likes of the Lancia 037, Ford RS200 and Ferrari 288 GTO – beating them all in the World Rally Championship one after another – but also had to be built in limited quantities and sold to the public. And so Audi and its nascent Quattro GmbH skunkworks division built 214 road-going examples of the Sport Quattro, and this could very well be the most immaculate example in existence. It was previously owned by noted collector Yoshikuni Okamoto of Kobe, Japan, and with barely more than 5,000 miles on the odometer, recently underwent an exhaustive service at Audi of Fairfield, CT – one of the company's largest dealerships – and though the Sport Quattro was never offered for sale in the US, this one is now fully registered for use on American roads and comes in impeccable condition despite its 30 years of age. The gavel drops during the RM Auctions event at the Arizona Biltmore on January 15-16, 2015. Even the low end of the pre-auction estimate is nearly double the $184,860 which Sports Car Market reports Bonhams sold an '85 Audi Sport Quattro in September 2013. Featured Gallery 1984 Audi Sport Quattro: RM Arizona 2015 View 21 Photos News Source: RM AuctionsImage Credit: Erik Fuller/RM Audi Auctions Hatchback Performance rm audi sport quattro

Next Audi RS4 to get V6 turbo, US sales still unclear

Audi's high-performance S models have forged a reputation in the US for offering wonderful driving dynamics in a package that doesn't scream, "I bought a sport sedan." However, its even higher-performance RS models are still somewhat of a rarity here. While the RS5 and RS7 are in the current US lineup, many of the wild RS models that Europe gets, like the RS6 Avant (pictured above), never make it to these shores. Unfortunately, that might not be changing anytime soon with the next-gen RS4.
The RS4 will follow the lead of the next BMW M3/M4 and (rumored) next Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG and make the switch to a smaller turbocharged powerplant. According to an Audi insider speaking to Car and Driver, the next RS4 will drop the last generation's 4.2-liter V8 in favor of a turbocharged V6. The engine block will likely be shared with the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 in the regular S4 but fitted with two turbochargers. Power would likely be around 400 horsepower to match the 425-hp M3 and rumored 450-hp C-Class AMG.
Unfortunately, the RS might not make it across the pond to our waiting hands because the source says no decision has been made to export them yet. Obviously, we hope that Audi makes the right decision and brings the next RS4 here.

2014 Audi A3 Sedan makes its world debut in NYC

Audi is bringing some excitement to this year's New York Auto Show, showing off a 2014 A3 Sedan that will shortly be vying for attention in the luxury market's newly hot compact segment. The newly minted A3 faces immediate challenge from box-fresh small premium sedans like the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the Acura ILX, as well as players like the Buick Verano and the Lexus CT200h.
Of course, the German automaker will be the first to tell you that this new A3 is more than up to the challenge. Audi's typically high-level of design is in effect here, with sheet metal that is attractive without looking like a clone of the larger A4. The A3 will have the option of full LED headlamps, of course, carrying on Audi's now famous positioning in the world of recognizable lighting. Wheels will range from 16-inches to 18-inches, we're told, which will also help to cement the sporty look and premium placement of the small sedan.
The A3 Sedan will be vying for attention in the luxury market's newly hot compact segment.