2008 Audi Tt 2.0 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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:

Automakers paying Chinese dealers for lower-than-expected sales

The Chinese dealers vs. foreign manufacturers story won't quit. It began with a story on the struggles faced by FAW-Toyota joint venture dealers, with supposedly 95 percent of the showrooms losing money, and 10 percent of them doing so poorly that they'd have to exit the business. The problem is mandated sales targets, most set when the country's economy was racing. Now that things have slowed, China's dealers are swimming in unsold cars and the costs to keep them. In the case of FAW-Toyota, dealers asked Toyota to hand over 2.2 billion yuan ($355 million) to help address the situation. That was followed by a report noting the issues that Honda, BMW, and Nissan dealers are having with the same issue, revealing that the Chinese Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) had taken the highly unusual step of writing to the Chinese government to complain. Now Reuters reports that CADA is not only pressing its case even harder, it's being open about it: it announced that BMW agreed to pay dealers 5.1 billion yuan ($820 million) to alleviate poor profits last year. Unnamed sources said Audi has thrown 2 billion yuan into the kitty for subsidies, and Daimler has contributed "about 1 billion yuan" to its dealers. The battle isn't just about 2014, but how business will be run in 2015 as well: Chinese Porsche dealers have requested the automaker lower its 2015 target of 64,000 cars, which would be a 40-percent increase on its 2014 sales of 46,931 vehicles. One analyst called it "shocking" that the CADA has taken its fight public, while CADA comments continue to imply that dealers have been railroaded to the cliff's edge without recourse. "Due to the difference in status," it's deputy secretary said, "individual dealers are not willing to, or don't dare to, talk frankly with the carmakers...." Both parties need one another, so they'll figure out a way to make it work – but that could mean acknowledging the Chinese market is behaving more like a mature one, not an emerging one. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images Earnings/Financials Audi BMW Porsche Toyota Car Dealers Luxury

Xcar weighs in on the five best-sounding modern cars

Getting behind the wheel of a well-balanced vehicle can be a wonderfully visceral experience, thanks to the combined feeling of things like the weight of the steering, the bite of the brakes, and, of course, the roar of the engine. Unfortunately, many of the sensations of driving require actually being in the driver's seat to understand them, but thankfully the intoxicating noise of a beautifully tuned internal combustion engine can be shared with everyone. In a new video, Xcar shares their opinion on the five best-sounding modern performance cars. The list is a symphony of horsepower. As opposed to keeping all of the vehicles brand new, Xcar actually picks a few that are recently off the market. They're all definitely champs, though. While the list itself is well stocked, you might be able to argue with the specific order, and it would be nice to hear a few participants from outside of Europe for a collection like this one, too. No matter. Every listener is sure to find something they like in the bunch, though. Turn up the volume and enjoy.