Drive the new lineup of Audi crossover vehicles as seen in Exec Digital's April issue - out today!
Audi is the most quintessential American luxury brand. It is reliable, prestigious and offers models with enough horsepower to appease family men eager for top acceleration. This year’s market has infinitely been tailored to the next generation of drivers who are seeking highly accessible sports cars with a certain amount of ‘umph’ to still stun in the driveway laden with children’s bikes and toys.
Audi RS 5
The answer to today’s corporate appeal with a roaring engine is the Detroit Auto Show debut Audi RS 5. The track-tested Audi RS 5 exhibits the future of the brand and simultaneously offers qualities of prestige and performance of which Audi has become synonymous. “The RS 5 is track-tested with the latest technologies for exceptional performance and innovative solutions,” says Communications Manager Mark Dahncke.
The 2013 RS 5 does more than just cruise through Beverly Hills – it is tested for speed, outfitted with the latest technology that delivers with seriously stellar aesthetic appeal. “With 450 horsepower, drive select and a rear sport differential, there is no doubt that the RS 5 will appeal to enthusiasts and collectors alike,” Dahncke says. The RS model has already shaped a sizeable audience, as the RS 5 follows up the highly acclaimed TT RS. The United States was introduced to only a limited quality of the TT RS, which sold quickly, and the model has since been on hiatus since 2008.
This year’s RS 5 is sure to win the spirits of RS coupe admirers who crave hug curves and claim the road as their counterpart. Especially since the car, modeled after the original Porsche collaboration concept developed in 1994, is equipped with Google Maps and Google Search through the MMI system, in addition to offering 3G WiFi connection for up to eight devices.
The beauty of the RS 5 is that owners demand both luxury and speed, and with a 4.2-liter V8 engine offering 450 horsepower this reinvented sports station wagon has developed a new class for luxury drivers.
S Models 7, 8 and 9
Striking a chord with American teens, Audi brought attention to the new S model this year by running a vampire themed ad during the Super Bowl. Incinerating the entire fantasy crowd with Audi’s powerful LED lighting technology that is as bright as day, the tactic proved a point – and highlighted a design characteristic that has been ingrained in the brand’s vehicles for years. “LED lighting technology has become an unmistakable design characteristic of our vehicles. Whether you see them ahead of you or in your rearview mirror, you know it’s an Audi,” says Dahncke.
“We were the first to introduce LED lights that were integrated into the design statement when we introduced the R8 and shortly thereafter in the A4 and in all Audi vehicles launched since. What many people don’t know is that the LEDs have the same light intensity as daylight.”
The S model is sweeping Audi proponents off their feet – the third edition S6, S7 and S8 models are today’s modern answer to the sports car. Efficient and practical yet unmistakably a speedy coupé, the S models have refined their purpose in the all new 2013 models. The S8 can claim itself the shining star from the lineup, as every technological and performance aspect is distinctively advanced from previous posts.
The S8 unveils a new 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 520 horsepower, accelerating to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds. Those numbers aren’t your average station wagon defect, placing higher emphasis on the lightweight chassis, responsive air suspension, high performance brake system and acclaimed interior design. Audi also equipped the 2013 S8 with 25 percent more fuel economy, a feat that not only makes it more economically friendly but also “breathtaking to drive.”
The performance-oriented S8 is much sportier than models before it, but still the top four-door luxury sedan on the market. The S7 and S6 only fall behind by seconds.
