sportback

Audi RS3 Sportback

Bigger isn't always better. Case in point: the new Audi RS3 Sportback. Based on the compact A3, the RS3 Sportback is a five-door premium sport hatch that packs a whopping 340 horsepower from its turbocharged five-cylinder engine – through to all four corners via Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system and seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission – to rocket to 60 in just 4.6 seconds.

The RS3 Sportback's nearly 50,000 euro pricetag in Germany would put it around $68,000 in the United States. Unfortunately, like the rest of the top-shelf RS range, Audi does not appear to be planning to bring this model to America, so this is one more European model we'll just have to admire from afar.

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Tags: a3, aiudi s3, audi, audi a3, audi rs3, audi rs3 sportback, rs3, s3, sportback

BMW X6 and Honda Crosstour: The Efficient Shape of Things to Come?

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Wired, a trend is emerging from the design studios of some of the world's top automakers, and it may be spreading like wildfire as you read this. We're talking about cars like the recently-unveiled BMW X6, Honda Crosstour and Audi A5 Sportback. Squint a bit and its not too hard to look at the overall shape of these three cars and see the outline of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.

Of course, there's a big difference between the three aforementioned crossover/wagon thingies and hybrids like the Prius and Insight. While the big wagons are shaped to attract the attention of higher-end luxury buyers, the Prius and the Insight – itself accused of copying the shape of its rival from Toyota on numerous occasions – were styled in the wind tunnel to promote good fuel efficiency at highway speeds.

Regardless of the reason behind their being and whether or not you find them ugly or beautiful, it would seem that we should start getting ourselves accustomed to the sloping rear hatchback look – its now officially a trend.

Gallery: BMW X6 ActiveHybrid