New Audi RS Q3 Looks Aggressive Attacking The Nurburgring

Reports suggest the new Audi RS Q3 will have 400 horses to play with.

Audi recently lifted the wraps off the all-new 2019 Q3 SUV, but recent spy shots and leaked patent images prove that faster variants are already being cooked up. In our last glimpse of the hotter Q3 lapping the Nurburgring, it wasn’t clear if we were looking at a prototype of the new SQ3 or the hardcore Q3 RS. In this case, however, our spies have clearly caught an updated RS Q3 prototype being put through its paces at the Green Hell.

Several aggressive design elements indicate that this is the range-topping crossover. At the back are oval exhaust pipes that are a staple of Audi RS models, as well as a large rear spoiler and a reshaped rear bumper incorporating a small diffuser between the exhaust pipes.

Elsewhere, the updated front bumper also has bigger air intakes to help the performance SUV breathe easier and the grille has a new pattern seen on other RS models. The SUV's beefier brakes with ceramic discs and what looks like six-piston calipers is another obvious giveaway this isn't a regular Audi Q3.

Under the hood, reports suggest the new RS Q3 will be powered by the same 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine found in the RS3 and TT RS tuned to deliver around 400 hp. And unlike the last model, it will reportedly be sold in the US. We’ll probably be waiting for a while for it to arrive, however, since the base Q3 won’t be going on sale in the US until next year, despite arriving in European dealerships this November. That means the performance-focused RS Q3 probably won’t be available until late 2019 in the US. The SQ3 is also due to arrive sometime in 2019, which will most likely adopt the S3’s 2.0-liter TFSI that pumps out 292 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster Looks Stunning In The Metal

We can't stop staring at the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster.

Looks like the rumors were right. After Aston Martin revealed the ultra-rare Vanquish Zagato Volante, render artist Jan Peisert tipped us off that an even rarer Speedster variant is in the works. While no official announcement has been made, a new spy video captured by BridgeToGantry appears to confirm the Speedster’s existence. Unusually, the Speedster was spotted being tested at Nurburgring without wearing any camouflage, allowing us to admire its striking styling in the metal.

Aston Martin already makes some of the most beautiful cars on the planet, but when it teams up with legendary coachbuilder Zagato the results are truly breathtaking. The seductive Speedster is no exception. The rear seats and folding roof have been removed in a design that evokes the 2003 DB AR1, transforming the Vanquish into a true two-seater sports car.

A pair of buttresses are located behind the driver and passenger without tarnishing the Speedster’s elegance. Like the Vanquish Zagato Coupe and Volante, power will be sourced from a 5.9-liter V12 with 592-horsepower. Chances are the Speedster will be marginally faster off the line than the Volante since removing the rear seats will make it lighter. While the Zagato Volante is restricted to 99 units, the Speedster is even rarer – only 28 of these beauties are being built, and our source says they’ve all been snapped up for ￡1.3 million (around $1.7 million) each. With video footage confirming the Zagato Speedster’s existence, it's surely only a matter of time before we get an official reveal.

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Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster Looks Stunning In The Metal

We can't stop staring at the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster.

Looks like the rumors were right. After Aston Martin revealed the ultra-rare Vanquish Zagato Volante, render artist Jan Peisert tipped us off that an even rarer Speedster variant is in the works. While no official announcement has been made, a new spy video captured by BridgeToGantry appears to confirm the Speedster’s existence. Unusually, the Speedster was spotted being tested at Nurburgring without wearing any camouflage, allowing us to admire its striking styling in the metal.

Aston Martin already makes some of the most beautiful cars on the planet, but when it teams up with legendary coachbuilder Zagato the results are truly breathtaking. The seductive Speedster is no exception. The rear seats and folding roof have been removed in a design that evokes the 2003 DB AR1, transforming the Vanquish into a true two-seater sports car.

A pair of buttresses are located behind the driver and passenger without tarnishing the Speedster’s elegance. Like the Vanquish Zagato Coupe and Volante, power will be sourced from a 5.9-liter V12 with 592-horsepower. Chances are the Speedster will be marginally faster off the line than the Volante since removing the rear seats will make it lighter. While the Zagato Volante is restricted to 99 units, the Speedster is even rarer – only 28 of these beauties are being built, and our source says they’ve all been snapped up for ￡1.3 million (around $1.7 million) each. With video footage confirming the Zagato Speedster’s existence, it's surely only a matter of time before we get an official reveal.

New Audi A5 And S5 Cabriolet Hit The Stage At Detroit With Menacing Looks

BMW will finally have two soft-top rivals nipping at its heels.

Audi picked a peculiar time during which to bring its new cabriolet models to America because even the sunniest of states are seeing stormy weather, the likes of which is rarely seen this time of year. Nevertheless, the 2017 Detroit Auto Show saw the the topless Audi A5 and its more powerful cousin, the S5 Cabriolet come to America so impending customers could take a peak. The Cabriolet is the final puzzle piece that completes the new A5 lineup, which includes the Coupeand Sportback.

The new cabrio retains many of the coupe’s striking lines including the creases on the hood. Clean headlight lines serve to complement the wide grille, but it is the silver Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead-like A-pillars that make the cabriolet stand out by defining the only solid structure above the main body on the vehicle. Unlike the BMW 4 Series convertible, the A5 Cabrio and S5 Cabrio feature a fabric soft top that’s sure to help cut down on weight but does a worse job of keeping the outside elements from permeating through the fabric. Acoustic insulation should help remedy some of the added noise. Aside from weight, another benefit of the top is a folding time of 15 seconds after the one touch down button is pressed at a max speed of 31 mph.

While the outside looks to have only changed marginally, the structure itself is 55 pounds lighter on the A5 and 99 pounds lighter on the S5 than on the previous models. The “penalty” for this is a structure that’s 40 percent more rigid than the last A5. Lesser A5 trims are stuck with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. When mated to its resident seven-speed dual clutch automatic, it can hit 60 mph from standstill in only 6.0 seconds. S5 buyers will be treated to Audi’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine making 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is then mated to an eight-speed automatic that can launch the car from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.

Both models come standard with Quattro all-wheel drive. Some of the problems that come with losing a roof are small, such as where does the Bluetooth microphone go? To solve that, Audi placed it inside of the seat belts to make for easy conversations with the top down. The wait for this gorgeous drop top won’t be long, with the end of 2017 being set for release of one of the best interiors on the market.

Audi RS Q8 Looks Ready To Battle The BMW X6 M

Essentially, it will be the German equivalent to the Lamborghini Urus.

We’ve known for some time that Audi is cooking up a new flagship SUV to take on the likes of the BMW X6 M and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupe. Nothing has been officially announced yet, but last year Audi filed a trademark for the RS Q8, suggesting that a high-performance version of the new Q8 is on the cards to take on the upcoming BMW X6 M and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupe. Essentially, it will be the German equivalent of the Lamborghini Urus, and our spies have caught what appears to be a prototype RS Q8 being tested.

Don’t be deceived by those quad exhaust pipes at the back. Audi has tried to disguise the prototype by making it look like an SQ8 with quad tail pipes when RS versions usually have large oval exhausts. Audi pulled off a similar trick with the RS Q3, too. Why, then, do we think we’re looking at a prototype RS Q8? Our spies noticed the growl of the engine sounded too deep to be an SQ8. Those humongous composite brakes with six-piston calipers up front are also a bit of a giveaway - it’s clear this SUV will have some serious stopping power. The Audi RS Q8 will be based on the same platform as the Lamborghini Urus, so there’s a good chance it will utilize the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine.

Whether it will have the same 650-hp output remains to be seen, however. It could be slightly detuned to avoid dethroning the Lamborghini Urus. On the other hand, if it has the same output as Lamborghini’s super SUV, it could pave the way for a more powerful Urus Performante. The production RS Q8 should also have an aggressive spoiler package and larger wheels than the regular Q8 and SQ8. Audi will be lifting the wraps off the new Q8 next month, but the RS Q8 is expected to debut sometime next year as a 2020 model.

2019 Audi Q3 Looks Amazing Rendered As 400 Horsepower RS Model

Hopefully, the RS Q3 makes it the US this time around.

Audi just pulled the wraps off of the all-new 2019 Q3 SUV, which will be the brand's smallest crossover in the US. Europe will have the option to buy the Q3 with a diesel engine, but a 2.0-liter turbo-four will be the only engine option in the US. Power will range between 190 and 230 horsepower going out to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Though Audi has yet to announce faster versions of the Q3, a new RS Q3 is likely on the way.

The previous generation RS Q3 was powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo producing 367 hp, though it was never sold in the US. Audi has been spotted testing a faster version of the new Q3 around the Nurburgring, so we hope the US is on the list to receive it this time around. While we anxiously await an official announcement from Audi, rendering artist X-Tomi Design has taken a stab at imagining what a new RS Q3 could look like.

The next RS Q3 would likely use the RS3/TT RS's 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine producing 400 hp. We love the way this rendering looks, taking styling elements from the RS4 Avant and RS5 Coupe. The RS3 and TT RS are among our favorite RS models, thanks to that wonderful-sounding five-cylinder engine. A high-powered Q3 is high on our wish list for more RS models in the US.

New Audi A5 And S5 Cabriolet Hit The Stage At Detroit With Menacing Looks

BMW will finally have two soft-top rivals nipping at its heels.

Audi picked a peculiar time during which to bring its new cabriolet models to America because even the sunniest of states are seeing stormy weather, the likes of which is rarely seen this time of year. Nevertheless, the 2017 Detroit Auto Show saw the the topless Audi A5 and its more powerful cousin, the S5 Cabriolet come to America so impending customers could take a peak. The Cabriolet is the final puzzle piece that completes the new A5 lineup, which includes the Coupeand Sportback.

The new cabrio retains many of the coupe’s striking lines including the creases on the hood. Clean headlight lines serve to complement the wide grille, but it is the silver Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead-like A-pillars that make the cabriolet stand out by defining the only solid structure above the main body on the vehicle. Unlike the BMW 4 Series convertible, the A5 Cabrio and S5 Cabrio feature a fabric soft top that’s sure to help cut down on weight but does a worse job of keeping the outside elements from permeating through the fabric. Acoustic insulation should help remedy some of the added noise. Aside from weight, another benefit of the top is a folding time of 15 seconds after the one touch down button is pressed at a max speed of 31 mph.

While the outside looks to have only changed marginally, the structure itself is 55 pounds lighter on the A5 and 99 pounds lighter on the S5 than on the previous models. The “penalty” for this is a structure that’s 40 percent more rigid than the last A5. Lesser A5 trims are stuck with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. When mated to its resident seven-speed dual clutch automatic, it can hit 60 mph from standstill in only 6.0 seconds. S5 buyers will be treated to Audi’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine making 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is then mated to an eight-speed automatic that can launch the car from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.

Both models come standard with Quattro all-wheel drive. Some of the problems that come with losing a roof are small, such as where does the Bluetooth microphone go? To solve that, Audi placed it inside of the seat belts to make for easy conversations with the top down. The wait for this gorgeous drop top won’t be long, with the end of 2017 being set for release of one of the best interiors on the market.