The eternal competition for the crown between the three German premium manufacturers is entering another round. This time the new Audi A5 3.2 FSI challenges the BMW 330i Coupé and the Mercedes CLK 350. 

The Ingolstadt-based company has turned its back on this segment for almost twelve long years – the Audi A5 has been playing the role of rookie since June. The trio of German premium coupés is finally complete again. Now it is time to clarify the hierarchy. With the BMW 330i Coupé and Mercedes CLK 350, the Audi A5 3.2 FSI meets its toughest opponents, the bar is accordingly high. Since the front-wheel drive Ingolstadt is only available with a continuously variable Multitronic automatic, the BMW also comes with a six-speed automatic (2160 dollars). The 7G-Tronic automatic is already on board as standard in the Mercedes CLK 350. Let’s go.

BODY

All three coupés offer a pleasing amount of space – at least in the front row. The rear is accordingly narrow, because the characteristic low roof line already puts people over 1.75 meters in their place. The Audi A5 is long and, above all, a wide car. However, he can only make limited use of the advantage. So it offers just a little more elbow room than the BMW. There are also differences when entering the back row.

DRIVING COMFORT

It couldn’t be more convenient: With a low whirring sound, Mercedes and BMW automatically hand the seat belts to those in front. Audi does without the little electric helpers, contortions after the seat belt attached far back are the order of the day. The A5 offers perfectly contoured sports seats.

ENGINE AND GEARS

There is no shortage of performance. The field is correspondingly narrow. The values ​​for the sprint from zero to 100 km / h are just under 6.5 seconds, the top speed is limited to 250 km / h for all. Audi relies on direct petrol injection for its 3.2-liter engine. The V6 develops 265 hp and, in addition to variable camshaft adjustment, also has two-stage valve lift adjustment on the intake side (valvelift system). The stepless Multitronic has also been revised, which now has eight speed levels in manual mode. The machine responds spontaneously to gas commands. However, since the Multitronic continuously changes the gear ratio when you step on the accelerator, the engine speed remains almost the same, this is initially unusual.

DRIVING DYNAMICS

The optional active steering (1300 dollars) in the BMW varies not only the power assistance, but also the gear ratio depending on the driving situation. The jagged turning behavior takes some getting used to, but after a few kilometers it is a lot of fun. This is how the easy-to-drive 3-series coupé rushes through the slalom course and the handling course the fastest. Only the Audi can follow him. But it forfeits the chances of a better placement with traction problems on the front wheels, although the tight coordination in connection with the precise steering can do more.

ENVIRONMENT AND COSTS

At 44,000 dollars, the Audi is the cheapest, the BMW costs just 460 dollars more, Mercedes charges a proud 49,504 dollars for the CLK 350. There are also clear differences in terms of costs. This is the best way to achieve the best fuel economy for the CLK. Further advantages are the comprehensive guarantees that only the Audi can offer with a lifelong mobility allowance. The A5 is also significantly cheaper in terms of maintenance costs and depreciation. Here the Mercedes burdens the budget the most, while the BMW is in the middle in almost all cost disciplines.

CONCLUSION

In terms of driving dynamics, the BMW leaves its competitors behind and does not have any other serious weaknesses. So the Munich man deserves to win. The lead that the 330i Coupé developed is only very small. Because the Audi A5 is hot on his heels. The biggest shortcoming of the A5 3.2 FSI is the front-wheel drive, which often causes traction problems, especially in wet conditions.…

What Erlkönigen rolled towards us in October can be roughly divided into two categories. The sports group from Focus RS to Porsche Turbo and the SUV group from GLC to Bentley. In between are the BMW 5 Series, the Jaguar XF and a few others.

SUVs are booming in every class. This is of course also reflected in the Erlkönigen. But let’s start at the top. While Rolls-Royce is still in the discovery phase here, Bentley is doing his best . From 2016, the still nameless Bentley SUV is expected to be on the hunt for customers in the price region for around EUR 200,000. The Brit, who will not become a proven off-road crack, draws his dynamism from the well-known six-liter W12 engine. Alternatively, a four-liter twin-turbo V8 could also be used as a drive for the lower nobility. A V8 diesel is also planned as an absolute brand novelty.

The group brother VW Touareg shares the platform with the noble Briton, but will be much closer to the people. The first mulettos are currently turning their circles around various test tracks. Just two steps further, the Audi Q7 is another platform brother. The Ingolstadt’s first shots hit the cockpit, revealing a new, large touchpad in front of the MMI controller.

Mercedes is restructuring its SUV program

Mercedes is also making big leaps in its SUV range. The GLK becomes the GLC and is clearly losing its corners and edges. In return, the series is being given a real AMG version for the first time. The new AMG universal weapon works in the GLC 63 AMG – the four-liter biturbo V8. With a good 470 hp, the SUV almost becomes a sports car. M-Class customers also have to adapt, because the new edition at the end of 2015 will be called GLE, but otherwise retain the core values.

With all-wheel drive, but without SUV genes, the Jaguar F-Type will appear in the future. The plus in traction should open up new customer groups for the British, because not every driver is able to control the tail swing. On the other hand, the British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin is making a clear turn. With Mercedes AMG on board as a development partner, the athletes from the island get a completely new modular platform and V8 engines from the AMG forge. You can also use the Swabians for assistance and driving dynamics systems.

More turbo engines at Porsche for Cayman and 911

Driving dynamics is also the keyword for the sports car manufacturer Porsche. Here they are currently working on the Cayman facelift – starting in mid-2015 with turbo four-cylinder engines – and on its tightened GT4 version. In addition, the Porsche 911 is being prepared for its upcoming facelift at the end of 2015. The optics received only small retouching, the revolution took place under the trunk lid. Here the vacuum cleaners are to be replaced by turbo versions with 3.4 liter Huraum. As always, performance wins: The announcement is 365 hp in the Carrera and 415 hp in the Carrera S.

The new Ford Focus RS also relies on turbo power. He is allowed to take over the new 2.3-liter four-cylinder Ecoboost engine from the Mustang and show off around 340 hp. But again only the front wheels are maltreated by this drive power.

We also caught the Jaguar XF, which drives a largely well-known sheet metal dress on a new aluminum platform, the upcoming Toyota Avensis, again the new Mercedes E-Class and the new BMW 5-series, which is set to continue the success story of the mid-range model at the end of 2016.…