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2016 Audi A6

After dodging light traffic for more than 10 miles at speeds never exceeding 85 miles per hour, the left lane of the derestricted autobahn ahead of us finally opens wide. This is the opportunity we've been waiting for, and we bury the accelerator against its stop and hold it there. The transmission attached to the turbocharged four-cylinder of our 2016 Audi A6 drops a couple gears and begins an arduous battle against aerodynamic drag.
The sleek sedan cuts through the wind effortlessly up until about 125 mph, after which the speedometer needle slows noticeably as the outside world continues to blur. By 145 mph, there's no longer a discernible feeling of acceleration, yet the bright-orange speedometer needle continues its climb. Finally, the speedometer nearly reaches 160 before we are forced to firmly brake and return to saner speeds because of traffic looming ahead.
Automakers routinely host us in Europe and elsewhere to sample their wares in a much less restrictive driving environment. Which explains why we find ourselves standing in Dresden, Germany, a stunningly beautiful 800-year-old city along the Elbe River, overlooking Audi's latest executive express.

2016 Audi S8 Plus Quick Spin

Congratulations, that big promotion finally came through, and along with it, a new company car. So go big or go home. Never mind the modest A8 L, with the sensible six-cylinder. The Earth-moving A8 L with its powerful W12, perhaps? No way. You didn't get to the top by being timid or ostentatious, so you choose the new-for-2016 S8 Plus, with a 605-horsepower version of Audi's 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8, available with an $11,000 Dynamic package that adds ceramic brakes, a sportier exhaust, a rear carbon fiber lip spoiler so tiny you are surprised it does anything, and a boost in governed top speed from 155 miles per hour to 190. Yeah, that's the ticket. The 85-horse boost in power over the outgoing S8 comes from different valve timing, new exhaust valves, and modified turbochargers. The S8 Plus is docile enough around town to carpool to the company luncheons, but point it towards some wide open spaces, and it's a blistering executive express. Driving Notes Much of our Florida test was done in conditions ranging from damp to deluge. Despite the fact that the Audi had summer tires on its 21-inch wheels, the S8 was startlingly sure-footed. Thanks, Quattro all-wheel drive, and a set of better-than-expected Dunlop tires. Power is linear and progressive, and the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission is prepared to downshift at a moment's notice, but is never busy or intrusive. We seldom used the manual shift paddles behind the steering wheel. The comparison between the Dodge Charger Hellcat and this S8 Plus is admittedly absurd, but they are big, heavy, four-door cars with monster motors. And while the Hellcat wants you to hear and feel every engine revolution and supercharger whine, the S8 Plus does all it can to shield you from the drama taking place under the hood. Which is why you look down and suddenly you're going 90. "Dynamic steering" allows for adjustments in steering feel, and we weren't fans in the stiffest setting – it felt notchy and artificial. Comfort mode felt more natural and still gives you all the feedback you need. "Adaptive sport air suspension," though, we had no problem with. It makes short work of potholes and irregular pavement, but firms up when you are cornering – admittedly, in Florida, we had to seek out the rare corners. This is a state with roads designed using a T-square. The aluminum body weighs just 510 pounds. The overall weight of 4,685 pounds, though, means there is still a lot of mass to slow down and steer through corners.

Best cars for snow and ice in 2023 and 2024

What's the best car for snow? The real answer is "the one with winter tires." What do we mean by that? You could have the finest, most advanced all-wheel-drive system or four-wheel drive in the world, but if you're running all-seasons (the spork of tires), your fancy four-wheeler won't matter much. The odds are, any vehicle on the road running good winter tires will probably perform adequately in slippery, slushy and/or snowy road conditions. (Here's a more complete explanation of why winter tires are totally worth it). In other words, you don't really need any of the cars on this list. With a set of winter tires, countless others will do the job, and even these will be at their best with proper rubber. You can find a variety of winter tires for your car here at Tire Rack. Keep in mind that you will need a full set of four snow tires for safety and performance, no matter what you're driving. The days of your dad putting just two snows on the family truckster to get it moving in a straight line are long gone. Don't get us wrong, getting a car that performs well in snow and ice is still a worthy criteria for car buyers. According to the U.S. Transportation Department, 70% of Americans live in places that get snow and ice. And much of the country has been blasted with arctic air for much of the new year. So let's look at the cars. First, we're highlighting choices for a variety of buyers and price points. Second, we're not just considering snow; we're considering general wintery conditions people will experience driving to work or school. As such, these are all choices with advanced all-wheel-drive systems, usually with "torque-vectoring" systems that not only automatically shunt power front and back, but side to side between the rear axles. Most have extra ground clearance for getting through deep snow, and we prefer those vehicles with more responsive steering, throttles and transmissions that provide a greater sense of vehicle control in slippery conditions.    Acura RDX Read our Acura RDX Review Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system was one of the first to offer torque-vectoring, and besides often being touted for its ability to greatly enhanced dry-road handling, its benefits in the slick stuff can be profound. It's actually surprising that Acura hasn't leaned into this capability further by offering more rugged versions of its vehicles.