2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA [render]
With its front-wheel drive platform, the CLA may not be the powersliding four-door coupe that enthusiasts yearn for, but it鈥檚 still a big moneymaker for Mercedes-Benz. It鈥檚 so popular that the German automaker will soon bring it back for its second generation, which will follow hot on the heels of the recently unveiled 2019 A-Class. Very similar to the new-gen compact hatchback, according to XTomi鈥檚 rendering, albeit with a few tweaks made here and there. The rendering looks pretty much spot-on, but it remains to be seen if the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA will actually look like this. Underpinned by the same architecture as the new A-Class, the next CLA will continue to be offered with standard front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will be an option. It will be powered by a host of small engines, some of them carried with a few improvements from the current iteration, and some shared with Renault, and it should to be offered with both manual and automatic transmissions.
If you want Apple CarPlay or auto-dimming mirrors, you have to pay extra. If you want any active-safety or driver-assistance features, you have to pay extra. It takes a certain kind of hubris to make buyers pay extra for something as simple and popular as Apple CarPlay on a car costing over 50 grand. Does this detract from the overall excellence of the Porsche? That depends on your point of view. But it's worth noting that, in terms of features, the Macan is beaten handily by the likes of the Honda Accord and Chevrolet Impala. Indeed, the only way to get something both this pricey and this barren of popular features is to buy a diesel-powered work truck. Consider yourself forewarned before you splurge on a bare-bones Macan. Final thoughts. There was a lot that could have gone wrong here: weak performance, flabby handling, poor craftsmanship, etc.. Yet the 2019 Porsche Macan managed to avoid all these pitfalls. Since it first debuted, it's worn the crest of Stuggart as proudly and authentically as any other member of the family. The new model is, thankfully, no different. But this is only half the story. Considering this crossover-clogged world we now live in, the Macan's dynamic excellence lends some much-needed credence to the idea of a performance 'ute. It proves to enthusiasts - a notoriously finicky lot - that the paradigm shift from cars to crossovers doesn't spell the end of practical performance as we know it. If the Macan is an early taste of what gearheads can look forward to once the last three-box sport sedan heads down that final highway, then perhaps the future won't be so bleak after all.
The Taycan Sport Turismo is near identical to the Taycan saloon from the front, sharing the same headlights and bumper design. At the back, however, the saloon鈥檚 boot and sloping roofline have been replaced by a shooting-brake-style extended cabin, new rear windows, a revised rear wing and a fresh tailgate. This prototype is undergoing performance testing at sub-zero conditions. Porsche is pushing the Taycan鈥檚 range and charging capabilities as a selling point so, seeing as how electric motors and batteries are usually less efficient in cold climates, it鈥檚 conducting plenty of research. We鈥檙e expecting the new Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo to feature the same drivetrain as the saloon. Range is targeted at 310 miles, and Porsche claim the 800-volt charging system can take on 62 miles worth of juice in four minutes, or almost 250 miles in 15 minutes. All-wheel-drive is also expected to be standard on all variants initially, although Porsche could launch a more affordable rear-wheel-drive version later in the model鈥檚 life-span.
Audi turned up the heat with its 2006 A4 with a new corporate grille and the profiled headlights and bumper. The rear-end designs looks like it has come out of the mould. Audi's have very admirable austere yet inviting cabin and they have always meant "business". The gauges are large, flamboyant and fairly easy to confer with. The 2006 Audi A4 is very well built and finished. The seating position is poised well as they embrace and support the passenger well. The back bench is comfy too although a little bit firmer than the front seats. The 2006 Audi A4 boosts a fair headroom and legroom, better than the BMW 3-Series but not as better as its other rivals like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Maxima. The power Plant for the 2006 Audi A4 is a 200bhp 2.0 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder FSI direct injection engine. It gives out maximum power at 5,100 rpm and 207 lb/ft of torque at 1,800 rpm.
The 2006 Audi A4 has a new 3.2L V6 which develops 255bhp at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb/ft of torque at 3,250 rpm. The 2.0L engine is offered either with a front wheel drive or with the Quattro AWD all wheel drive system. Transmission comes from either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed Tip tronic automatic gearbox. It has an agile and responsive steering. Multi zone climate control comes as standard so does the trip computer. The 3.2L engine is an excellent power-train. If you consider how heavy this car is, you will think it won't be fast but the speed indicates otherwise. The 0-62mph time is reached in just 6.4 seconds with a top speed of 155mph. That is fast very fast. The 2006 Audi A4 is elegant as a saloon and even attractive as a wagon. The cabin is of fine quality and great, but it lacks quality control. Opt for the Quattro version if you want your tyres to run for longer. It has almost too much poke for the front wheels and the traction control isn't an alternative for 4wd.The 2006 Audi A4 looks like it has been assembled in a rush. It is fun to drive on the motorway and the interior is comfortable. The front wheel drive is slow at high speeds. The road and tire noises the rattles and squeaks make the ride unpleasant.