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[extract] When Audi stopped offering the B7 platform RS4 in 2008, many thought that they would release a new version shortly after that. But in fact, we have to wait almost four years for the new version and the car you see in these pictures here is the new Audi RS4 and Audi will debut it at next month

It seems that Audi has recently decided that the next generation Audi RS4 will only come in the five door station wagon or Avant form only. The reason given was that Audi RS Avant models (like the B7 RS4 Avant above) have outsold the RS saloon versions throughout the years and that there is now an option for those who want saloon like sport Audis in the form of the S5 Sportback. One other excuse, I mean reason, was that the market is moving away from performance saloons. This third reason I somehow fail to grasp as there is always a market for practical 4 door super saloons. I do not see Mercedes or BMW having this sort of thinking as they still have massively powered 4 door saloons. In fact, BMW seems to have done pretty well with the latest BMW M5 and critics are raving about it (above). Anyway, I somehow believe that this is a marketing ploy or just some silly excuse to save production costs by just using one single platform instead of two. It wasn't too long ago that Audi launched the current C6 Audi RS6 in Avant form only and then a followed a few months later by a saloon form. Earlier Audi launched the B7 Audi RS4 in saloon form followed by the Avant form later. Of course the previous RS4 before the B7 RS4 was a B5 in Avant form only. I say this because the B7 RS4 was launched at the tail end of the B7 A4's production and keeping things to the last minute was meant as a boost in sales figures. The same goes to the RS3

[extract] Audi is rather well known for producing performance orientated sedans. In fact, the company have a performance version of all their sedan models. Audi has been aggressively releasing new models of their cars ever since a revamp in styling recently. And the new Audi S4 gets the new styling treatment too. Audi

I have a soft spot for the current model BMW M3. It is the first M3 with a V8 engine and one that was made to put up a fight against the Mercedes AMG C63 and the Audi RS4 B7 chassis. It is actually the fastest around a race track compared to the other two due to its balanced chassis (even for a car with a big V8 up front) resulting in masterful handling. The C63 was basically an axe murderer running around in a Hugo Boss suit. It sounded stupendous, looked its part with the flaired arches and rims but it often tried to kill its driver if driven hard. The Audi RS4 somehow looked too plain even with those fatter wheel arches, drove well but was somehow a little too clinical for some. But it sounded great anyway. So the M3 fills up a slot in between the two. Its 4 liter V8 may not be as sonorous as the other two but it could pull its weight with its 414bhp yet able to waft along at city speeds easily. The body work was also an exercise in self restraint, with everything pulled tight around its chassis and around those wheels. But for those who want a little more flair, BMW North America has recently launched some authorized carbon fiber parts that should be made available globally soon (or at the very least, copied by all those accessory shops that sell BMW upgrades very soon). The aerodynamic parts are a new rear deck lid spoiler, mirror caps, and front splitters. All of these are constructed of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite material and matchs the standard CFRP roof panel that you get on the M3 Coupe. Each component is wind tunnel shaped which ensures compatibility with the overall aerodynamic "signature" of the M3, serving to reduce lift and minimize drag. Like the CFRP roof panels on the M3 Coupe and M6 Coupe, BMW Performance components made of carbon fiber. Each component is finished in a special clear coat laminate to reflect ultraviolet radiation and have been climate and durability tested during development to ensure long-term quality. However, do not expect these parts to be cheap, as they are factory approved items. These are usually never cheap if you know what I mean.