Gazing into the crystal ball for a glimpse of the automotive future
Auto shows are a crystal ball in many ways — including foreshadowing vehicles that we might actually see in North America. Here’s a look at what we can expect to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the near (and far) future.
AUDI A5 AND S5 SPORTBACK
What is it? : Four- door coupes are a peculiar niche, but they work. Case in point — the Audi A5 and S5 Sportback. It’s essentially a regular A5 (or S5, depending on which option boxes you tick), except made more practical thanks to the addition of two extra doors and a cargo hatch. The result? Same basic look as the two-
door, except — as odd as this may seem — better- looking. Kudos to the sleek, fastback side profile. It’s a baby A7, but a touch smaller and more affordable.
Why does it matter?: In North America, the BMW 4 Series Grand Coupe is more or less unchallenged. The A5 and S5 Sportback twins are just the trick to give it some welldeserved competition. Europe sees a handful of diesel and gasoline engines available on the A5 Sportback, but the meatand-potatoes lie with the S5 — with a 3.0-litre, 349-horsepower turbocharged V6 under the hood, this five-door hatchback rockets from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Impressive stuff, indeed. When will Canada get it?: Its European launch is set for early 2017 — and rumour has it Audi won’t leave North America hanging this time around.
Should you buy it?: Why not? The standard A5 and S5 aren’t exactly unattractive. The Sportback variants crank up the sex appeal considerably.
AUDI RS3 SEDAN
What is it? : The Audi S3 is a very competent sport- compact sedan. One catch — it’s a touch too tame for the price, especially compared to the closely related Volkswagen Golf R. Solution? Give it the 2.5- litre five- cylinder engine — with 400 turbocharged horses and 354 lb.- ft. of torque — and presto: a pint- sized Audi that’s equal parts bark and bite.
Why does it matter?: An Audi RS3 hatchback is already a thing, except not for North America. Enter the RS3 sedan — a body style that would actually sell better than any RS3 (or plain-Jane S3 hatchback) with performance that would no doubt set anyone’s pants on fire — with the standard seven- speed dual- clutch automatic driving all four wheels, we’re talking zero- to-100 km/ h in 4.1 seconds. It’s not unlike a more practical TT- RS.
When will Canada get
it?: Canadian availability has yet to be announced, but hey, it’s coming to the U.S. in summer 2017 Should you buy it?: Five- cylinder engines are a dying breed. Need I say more?