Tag Archives: 2012 New York Auto Show

Audi Previews the 2015 A3/S3 Sedans in New York & Online

Audi is set to broaden its market reach in North America with the addition of a new price-leading sedan to its third-generation A3 lineup. So we were not surprised when yesterday they released the first images and launch video of the new 2014 Audi A3/S3 compact sedan that will go head-to-head to with the Mercedes-Benz CLA.

2014 Audi S3 Sedan - Front 3/4

2014 Audi S3 Sedan – Front 3/4

Though the redesigned A3′s world debut is scheduled for next month at the Shanghai Motor Show, Audi gave an exclusive preview to journalists on the eve of the New York International Auto Show’s press days. The third-generation three-door hatchback and Sportback five-door versions went on sale in Europe last year and will now be joined by the four-door sedan. Audi has redesigned the A3, which will be sold in the U.S. primarily as a sedan for the first time. Another first, it will come in an S3 performance version.

2014 Audi S3 Sedan - Rear 3/4

2014 Audi S3 Sedan – Rear 3/4

A base model will use a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and more than 180 lb-ft of torque, a new unit unrelated to the old 1.8 turbo that has been shoe horned into Audis of the last decade. In addition a 2.0-liter clean turbo diesel will be used for the TDI models and will remain unchanged at 150 hp and about 250 lb-ft of torque.

2014 Audi S3 Sedan - Side Profile

2014 Audi S3 Sedan – Side Profile

The high performance S3 will be powered by a 2.0-liter TFSI engine with 296 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque allowing the S3 to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds which is way faster then the manual transmissions 5.3 seconds. The top speed of the S3 will be electronically limited at 155 mph. Fuel consumption is expected to be around 34 mpg combined.

2014 Audi S3 Sedan - Interior

2014 Audi S3 Sedan – Interior

Regardless of the engine or driven wheels, the only transmission on offer is a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. A six-speed stick, available on the base trim of the outgoing A3, is off the books for the new sedan. Keep your fingers crossed that, should Audi offer a conventionally powered A3 Sportback in the U.S., a manual transmission appears on its options list. North American deliveries of the Audi S3 Sedan will begin in summer of 2014.

You can watch the online preview video below:


More Images of the Fisker Atlantic aka Project Nina have Surfaced

This is not April fools joke, these images of the Fisker Atlantic aka Project Nina are very real.  In fact they were pulled from a Czech site “Autoforum” yesterday mid morning, and the rear shot clearly shows a license plate bearing the name “Atlantic.

The Beautiful Fisker Atlantic

Previously called Project Nina, the Atlantic will slot in Fisker’s fledgeling lineup below the Karma, and reportedly cost considerably less. While any talk of pricing is just a guess at this point, rumor has it the Atlantic will be about half the price of the Karma, putting it squarely in the $45,000-$55,000 range.

The Beautiful Fisker Atlantic

To see the other now second class images that we posted on Thursday of last week as well to learn more about The Fisker Atlantic you can read about it here: “Fisker Atlantic/Nina plug-in hybrid is spied unloading at the New York Auto Show

We’ll have more detailed information about the Atlantic when it officially debuts at the New York Auto Show this week, so come back for more show coverage on Wednesday and Thursday, April 4-5.


Fisker Atlantic/Nina plug-in hybrid is spied unloading at the New York Auto Show

These images just hit the web an hour ago so consider this some freshly squeezed Lemonade, that won’t leave a bitter taste in your mouth. We present to you the newest extended range hybrid vehicle to hit the market the Fisker Nina! (or Atlantic as it is now being reported being called)! In today’s world of internet spy photographers and pre-show release teaser images, there are very few cars we set our eyes on for the first time at a major auto show launch presentation. Now thanks to Brenda Priddy & Company the Fisker Nina can be added to that list of car scooped before their big show reveal.

Now that we have seen these images we can confirm that the Nina is indeed shorter the it’s Karma Brother with its Luxury Sedan dimensions looking to be comparable with the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. This sits well with us as it allows the progressively styled Karma to compete against the big pricy full sized executive salons from the Bavarian 3 and other like Porsche with it style challenge Panamera.

Up front we still find a Movember inspired mustache grill, low slung swooping hood, over sized rims/tires and “EVer” badge proudly placed on the trunk lid. The rear door handles are shaved off and placed right up against the C-pillar to preserve the cars beatify organic side profile. Oh and did we mention the plus sized body colour painted rims, they are so yummy looking they could double as the Nina’s booth babes and no one would be the wiser. We can’t tell if the car has a trunk or a rear hatch as there is a break line between the roof and rear window. So there will still be some surprises left for when the car is released.

The four gentlemen who were frantically trying to cover the car up weren’t talking so at the present time the rumour of a 4-cylindar BMW sourced turbo engine will still have to remain unconfirmed. As will the starting price however the mantra of the Nina is partially to make plug in range extended hybrid vehicles more affordable. So if you think a fully loaded 3-Series, A4, or C-Class is in your future let us introduce your fall back plan.

Check back with us next week as the Fisker Nina is set to make it world debut Wednesday April 4th at the 2012 New York Auto Show. We may also then be forced to choose between bringing you full coverage of the 2014 Toyota Avalon that we reported about yesterday or the new Fisker Nina. It kind of sounds like a no brainier for now but let us know your interests in the comments section below.


Should you take all teaser images with a grain of salt? Exhibit A – 2014 Toyota Avalon

We must be less than 2 weeks away from the New York Auto Show as to day we had our very first official pre show teaser release. Yes that right everyone we hope that you all had your bets in for which automaker was going to be the first to begin the long march of car teaser photos and videos as we begin our NYAS countdown.

Even we were surprised by which automaker was the ones who couldn’t wait until April 4th to revile their newest treasure. This year the award goes to Toyota as they teased the first glimpse of their all new 2014 Avalon. In classic teaser fashion not much is revealed, in the case of the Avalon all we truly see is that Toyota is serious about trying to inject some excitement into their brand.

2014 Toyota Avalon - NY Auto Show Teaser Image

Or are they as we have also located some spy photos taken of the 2014 Avalon and we were shocked when we attempted to line up the teaser image over top of the actual car silhouette from the spy photos. These images are weren’t taken last month or last year they were snapped yesterday the same day that the teaser drawing was released by Toyota. So we can imagine that the actual car will be that different from the Mule in the photographs seem below. We present them to you as exhibits A, B, and C. Is it just us or does the car in those photos look nothing like the drawing teased to us yesterday?

2014 Toyota Avalon - Spy Shots of the Front 3/4

2014 Toyota Avalon - Spy Shots of the Rear 3/4

2014 Toyota Avalon - Spy Shots of the Rear Quarter Panel

The moral of this story is that you can’t believe everything you see from a teaser image of as the only similarity between the teaser image and the spy shots are the badge on the trunk lid and the car name plate in the comments section below.

To see what the actual 2014 Toyota Avalon will look like we can offer you two schools of though. You can either live in the land of make believe and think that when the silk sheet is lifted off the Avalon at the 2012 New York Auto Show it will look like the teaser image. Or you can live in the land of super heroes and use your x-ray vision to peak back the protective camouflage on the spy shots to see what the car will actual look like. The choice is yours and yours alone, but we know we will be holding our breath until next Wednesday to see if were right or not.


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