2012 Audi A7 Sportback

What’s that you say? Audi’s A8 luxo-barge too big for ya? Poor thing. And the A4 is too small and the A6 is too hum-drum for such a stylistic person? Audi’s hoping to fix that with a new addition to their lineup: the 2012 Audi A7 Sportback, a 5-door hatchback based on the Audi A6 with many of the gadgets from the A8 plus colossal trunk space.

When it hits the shores later this year as a 2012 model, the A7 Sportback will be in very rare company. Initially only offered with the companies superb 3.0 “TFSI” supercharged V6 (300HP, 324LB/FT’s) it will be powerful enough to compete with the Porsche Panamera V6 (296 HP, 294LB/FT’s) but with the addition of Quattro all-wheel-drive. It will have higher seating capacity than Mercedes’ CLS with 3-abreast the back though only two seat belts, the capability exists. The A7 Sportback will have massively more trunk space than the Jaguar XF sedan and yet won’t be nearly as much a eyesore as BMW’s Gran Turismo monstrosity.

When the A7 Sportback arrives in America later this year, it will be in rare company. Its single engine offering will be plenty for most and efficient enough for everyone. Audi has a history of making a splash with each example and the 2012 Audi A7 Sportback will prove no different. Or just wait for the S7 version to debut in Paris this fall.

Autoblog - “Audi has made much of its headway over the last few years by being a design leader, and that torch has clearly been passed to the A7, a car that boldly presumes to challenge the long-held stereotype that Americans don’t buy hatchbacks – especially one with a premium price point. ”

Car and Driver – “This is clearly a luxury car with sportiness playing second fiddle”

Popular Mechanics – “While Audi has Mercedes-Benz firmly in its sights with this new five-door hatchback, it’s also making a style statement. But it’s doing so in the understated way that Audi has adopted as a trademark. Not as ostentatious as the newly updated Mercedes CLS”

Car Magazine (UK) – “So what exactly is the new Audi A7? It’s Audi’s answer to the Mercedes CLS, a luxury saloon that thinks it’s a coupé. Unlike the CLS… the Audi has an opening hatch instead of a saloon boot. Think A5 Sportback but on a bigger scale.”

What Car? (UK)- “The A7’s cabin is packed with as much treasure as a pirate ship. ”

Pistonheads.com – “There’s no doubt about it, getting behind the wheel of a well-spec’ed A7 is a definite ‘feel good’ experience.”

Autoexpress (UK, video) – “Besides the R8, we think it’s one of the best looking models in [Audi's] range.”

2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo

A German sedan with 500 horsepower is nothing new; nor is a twin turbo or controversial Porsche new to the automotive landscape. But what happens when all those traits combine? You get the Porsche Panamera Turbo, a 500 horsepower twin-turbo V8, 4-door Porsche controversy not-withstanding. Porsche purists cried and moaned when the car was released hoping Porsche wouldn’t follow the same route they took with the Cayenne. Well, after releasing an SUV some say a sedan was the next logical step to compete with Porsche’s other German rivals from Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

And compete they will with the quickest 4-door production sedan accelerating from 0-60MPH in 3.4 seconds. That’s quicker than any AMG Mercedes sedan, BMW M sedan, and even the venerable Cadillac CTS-V sedan, the quickest American-made 4-door sedan, which is powered by the supercharged V8 from the Corvette ZR1.

Reviewers all found something to complain about with the Porsche Panamera Turbo but no one claimed it was underpowered. U.K.’s CAR Magazine claims Porsche missed an opportunity by claiming the car’s design focus oriented it too much towards comfort and not enough on lightness. Road & Track magazine attempts to explain the styling  as the “elephant in the room” referring to the “ungainly roof and awkward slope of its hatch,” neglecting to mention the Panamera’s “elongated 911″ appearance the Porsche styling designers were aiming for. Overall, however, the reviews were generally positive complementing the speed and the cocooning interior most of all. Check out the reviews, videos and gallery below and decide for yourself before you buy!

Reviews:

Autoweek (an AutoWeek Drivers Log)
Car and Driver (Review)
Popular Mechanics (Test Drive)
Road & Track (Road Test)
Motor Trend (First Drive)
Edmunds.com (Road Test)
National Post (Canada, Road Test)
Times Online (UK, Jeremy Clarkson Drive)
AutoBlog (blog, First Drive)
AutoGuide (First Drive)

Video Reviews:

iMotorMag (UK, YouTube)
Fifth Gear (UK, YouTube)
AutoCar (UK, YouTube)
Drive Time (Review, YouTube)

2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce

Have you had your eye on one of those brand-new and shiny (does matte-gray paint shine?) Lamborghini Reventón? Can’t bring yourself to trade a kidney, sell your kids, or spend $1.25-2.5 million for one of the 20 coupes produced? Well good news! You can get same puckered-up bung-hole seat-of-the-pants rocketship feelings, that same “look at me” announcement at every traffic light, same Joie de vivre feelings and even more thrust for less than half the cost (no organ transplants required).

Whereas the 2009 Reventón was based on the 2006 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 with a measly 640 HP, today’s eBay find has the same chassis with even more oomph, pushing out 670 HP. The 2010 LP670-4 SuperVeloce is what they call it 0-60 in 3.2 seconds is what it does. All. Day. Long. This Murciélago can reach 213 MPH, it has a lighter exhaust system, improved brakes, modified intake and valve timings and several interior parts have been modified for either lightness or to resemble the Reventón. This Murciélago is the swan-song for the Murciélago line (tears from the peanut gallery) the LP670-4′s production run is limited to only 350 cars rather than the Reventón’s 20.

Today’s eBay find is an LP67-4 SuperVeloce in Bianco Isis with a claimed 299 miles on the clock and its list of features include the cabon fiber interior package, carbon ceremic brakes, and an optional large rear wing for stability. Bidding hasn’t met a reserve but the Buy-It-Now price of $484,045 sounds like a bargain compared to what Reventón’s are fetching these days. Take a look here and happy bidding!

[wordbay]Lamborghini (LP670, , LP650, LP640)[/wordbay]