1 Mpg Lower In The City

Audi鈥檚 A7 luxury five-door is one of the most attractive cars on the market, but it has since birthed the higher-performance S7 and now, this: The 2014 RS7. Compared to the S7 and regular A7, the RS7 packs an additional 140 and 250 horsepower, respectively. Now Audi has revealed how much more than those two models the RS7 will cost. 105,795, the RS7 will set buyers back quite a bit more than the A7 and S7, but then Audi claims it can hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and top out at 174 mph. 40,400 more than the A7, which is powered by a 310-hp, supercharged V-6. 24,700 cheaper; it is powered by a lower-output version of the RS7鈥檚 twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. On the upside, the RS7 is quite a bit more affordable than the (less expensive) BMW M6 Gran Coupe, which, like the RS7, is just a slinkier version of a regular sedan. 100,000 before it was refreshed for 2014鈥攑ricing for that car is not yet available, but it is still down 10 ponies on the Audi. 1 mpg lower in the city, thanks to engine stop-start and cylinder-deactivation features. While buyers can get the A7 in Premium Plus and Prestige trims, content-wise, the RS7 comes standard with the ritzier Prestige gear. As befits a car in this price category, the RS7 is available with a number of luxury options and packages. 2800 Innovation package (head-up display, night-vision camera). 1000 21-inch five-spoke wheels. 130,000鈥攂ut when you consider that Audi refuses to send Americans its excellent RS6 Avant wagon, what price can you put on owning a luxurious, hot Audi five-door?

Volkswagen brought a bespoke Golf GTI and a unique Golf Estate to this year鈥檚 Worthersee auto show. Called the Golf GTI Aurora and the Golf Estate FighteR, the special edition models were constructed by two teams of Volkswagen apprentices, with both featuring improved performance and revised styling. Volkswagen鈥檚 Golf GTI Aurora show car also features a holographic display, mounted in the boot floor, which can be used to operate the car鈥檚 sound system. The system can only be operated when the car鈥檚 tailgate is open and offers a range of control elements such as a graphic equaliser, volume control and playlist display. The German brand鈥檚 chairman, Thomas Schmall, commented: 鈥淚t is like a mirage that you can clearly see and which we use to deliver a whole new user experience,鈥?Schmall continued. The Volkswagen Golf GTI Aurora is powered by a re-tuned version of the standard Golf GTI鈥檚 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 374bhp. Performance is fed to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Volkswagen鈥檚 second apprentice team built a one-off, performance-focussed Golf Estate for Worthersee, called the FighteR. It鈥檚 powered by a heavily revised version of the Golf R鈥檚 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which produces 396bhp - almost 100bhp more than the standard Golf R Estate.

The Zuffenhausen-based sports car manufacturer is launching its pilot program that makes it easy to rent your favorite Porsche by the push of a button. The service offers short-term access to Porsche vehicles owned privately individuals. Following the introduction of the "Porsche Passport" subscription model last year, this latest development is the next step in the process of developing new rental concepts. Porsche Host is a peer-to-peer car sharing program, and has been developed by Porsche Digital, Inc. working in collaboration with it's partner Turo. Los Angeles and San Francisco via the Turo app and the website from October 8. This will open up the Porsche driving experience to short-term users in addition to those who own a Porsche. Vehicles can be rented for a period of one day all the way up to one month. Turo was founded in 2009 and is based in San Francisco, California. It is a car-sharing marketplace that allows drivers to hire vehicles owned by private individuals. The vehicles available via the "Porsche Host" program belong to Porsche customers who have been specifically trained in how to provide the premium experience that is typical of Porsche to the drivers who are looking to rent their sports cars.

PORSCHE MACAN REVIEW. Like its bigger brother the Cayenne, the Porsche Macan combines the family-friendly interior that you expect from a 4x4 with the driving fun you don鈥檛.Throughout its history, Porsche has made some of the best sports cars around. And when it introduced the Cayenne back in 2002, it proved that large 4x4s could be fun to drive, too. The smaller, (slightly) more affordable Macan is designed to bring the Cayenne鈥檚 appealing blend of practicality and performance to a wider audience. There鈥檚 loads of space for those in the front, and the Macan is roomy enough for three adult passengers to sit side by side in the back. Just make sure you avoid the optional panoramic glass sunroof if you鈥檙e over six feet tall, because this eats into headroom. It鈥檚 also worth bearing in mind that the Macan has a smaller boot than rivals such as the Audi Q5 and BMWX3. But it can still take a couple of large suitcases without too much difficulty. Rear seats that fold flat add to the practicality, and Porsche was clearly thinking about those with families when it created the Macan, because it features plenty of storage for everyday clutter.

Unlike some sporty 4x4s, the Macan copes well with poorly surfaced roads, soaking up the worst of the effects instead of transmitting them on to its passengers. The seats are comfortable and supportive, too, and the Macan is good at shutting out unwanted noises. All of this makes it a very relaxing car to cover big distances in. The plethora of buttons and switches on the Macan鈥檚 dashboard can initially make it as intimidating as an airplane cockpit. However, they鈥檙e logically arranged, so easier to master than you鈥檇 expect. The standard touchscreen keeps the stereo and satnav functions reasonably simple, too, and all of the materials look and feel expensive. The steering and pedals are perfectly weighted, making it easy to drive the Macan smoothly, plus its elevated driving position gives an excellent view of the road ahead. True, the rear window is a little small, so you may want to add the optional reversing camera if parking isn鈥檛 your favouritemanoeuvre, but for most people, the standard sensors will be enough.