Audi Studied the BMW M5, then Built the New RS 5

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By: Sergiu Tudose

The G90 BMW M5 was by far the best car I reviewed all throughout 2025. It’s not just the best of “both worlds”, it’s the best of all worlds. You get everything from performance to comfort, to driving on electric power alone over long distances and even at highway speeds. It’s arguably the best plug-in hybrid vehicle to ever grace the industry. And it just happens to be an M car.

There’s something else I absolutely loved about the G90 M5: its appearance.

The regular 5 Series or the i5 may not be the most conventional-looking executive sedans on the market, but the M5 is a completely different beast. It’s the first-ever M5 you can’t impersonate with a run-of-the-mill 5er wearing an M Sport package, a few fake M badges, and some wider wheels.

Until recently, you could take a 530i and get it to look just like an M5 from a visual standpoint. Not anymore, though. This latest model features a factory-standard widebody kit, to go with an M-specific hood, a seriously thick rear diffuser, new side skirts, and plenty more. It looks out-of-this-world aggressive, and I love it.

Well, guess who borrowed a page from the G90 M5 handbook? The all-new Audi RS5, that’s who.

This baby is a full 3.5 inches (90 mm) wider than the standard A5, featuring flared fenders front and rear. The wider body accommodates the larger track width, larger wheels (staggered), and helps to improve cooling airflow. It’s a physically different body than that of the regular A5, and it’s exactly the M5 approach, as far as I’m concerned.

The functional aero looks tremendous, as does the larger three-dimensional Singleframe grille with those honeycomb structures. I’m sorry to say (not really); it looks way more aggressive than its rival from Mercedes-AMG, the C63 S E Performance. I got to know the latter well last year, during my review, and make no mistake about it, it’s exceptional.

While it may not look as bonkers as the Audi, this flagship AMG-spec C-Class is putting down more power thanks to its M139 four-cylinder unit and rear-axle electric motor. The combined system output is 671 horsepower and 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) of torque. Let me tell you, this thing pulls like crazy.

It only takes 3.3 seconds to hit 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill, although you do need at least some charge in the battery in order to get the full 671 hp, otherwise the car will underperform, and it will be noticeable. Thankfully, the battery does charge back up fairly quickly while driving, so you don’t really need to plug it in that often.

Speaking of the electric drive unit, here’s where the problem comes into play. Yes, the C 63 S can be driven as an EV, but since the battery is so small, you only get around 7 miles (11 km) of EV range, which to me is extremely disappointing. That M5, for example, can stay in EV-only mode for up to 40 miles (66 km). As for the all-new Audi RS5? Up to 52 miles (84 km), reportedly.

That’s a huge difference, and a huge advantage for the Audi, because like the M5, it too can be all the car you’ll ever need. And it’s not like it’s lacking in performance. It may not have the C 63 S’ numbers, but it’s still putting down 630 horsepower and 609 lb-ft (825 Nm) of torque. It can take you to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, and that’s nothing to scoff at.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Cristian Agatie

Tesla launched a $59,990 variant of the Cybertruck, which, for the first time, attracted customer attention. However, the demand was so high that deliveries are projected to spread well into 2027, raising uncomfortable questions. There are several reasons for the sudden demand, which is far from organic. However, Tesla's response to this was more controversial, burning bridges with its loyal fan base. 

On February 19, Tesla quietly listed a $59,990 variant of the Cybertruck that didn't remove as many features from the $79,990 Premium trim. It still had all-wheel drive, V2L outlets in the bed, a motorized tonneau cover, and, crucially, the same range and performance. The most important thing it's missing is air suspension, but this is far from a deal-breaker. 

The announcement took by surprise not only Tesla customers, but also its management. Elon Musk announced a few hours later that the price would be valid for only 10 days. A few days later, Tesla followed with an official announcement that the $59,990 Cybertruck will become more expensive after February 28. How much more expensive, we'll find out in just a few hours, as the deadline is fast approaching.

 The $59,990 Cybertruck variant proved quite popular. People saw it as a last opportunity to transfer the FSD from their old EVs to a meaningful upgrade that wasn't too expensive. However, Tesla is clearly not happy selling the Cybertruck at $59,990. It surely wanted to get your attention, but once it did, it wanted it to go away. Elon Musk's company would very much like you to buy the Premium Cybertruck AWD instead. 

To curb interest in the cheaper Cybertruck, Tesla made a controversial decision that sparked backlash from the Tesla community. Since the FSD transfer was a major factor in steering people to buy the $59,990 Cybertruck, Tesla changed the transfer conditions overnight. This is certain to make people give up their orders. 

Previously, placing an order by March 31, 2026, was the main condition for the FSD transfer. However, Tesla changed this condition overnight to "take delivery of your new Tesla vehicle by March 31, 2026. This is tough for any newly-ordered Tesla, but for the $59,990 Cybertruck, it's an outright exclusion.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Aurel Niculescu

Audi Sport recently launched the all-new RS 5 sedan and Avant as the rightful heirs to the previous RS 4 and RS 5 iterations – just two body styles have to account for what could have been five (sedan, wagon, fastback, coupe, cabriolet). But they did amp the power levels to new heights in return.

It was a long time coming – and we knew that because of the incessantly spied prototypes and the recent leak that spilled the beans just a few days prior to the official reveal. Audi has a new contender in the compact executive class that’s ready to fight with the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C 63, and perhaps even with miscellaneous rivals like the Dodge Charger Sixpack sedan.

The 2026 or 2027 Audi RS 5 sedan and Avant are coming to the market based on the new PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture shared with the Audi A5 (B10), Audi A6 (C9), and the third-generation Audi Q5. However, it marks the first foray into plug-in hybrid technology for Audi Sport, and just like BMW M GmbH, they couldn’t resolve the hefty problem of weight.

As such, the new Audi RS 5 sedan and Avant models weigh around 5,200 pounds (2,359 kg) and 5,225 pounds (2,370 kilograms), respectively. That’s a massive increase over their predecessors, and we bet that some folks over at BMW M are smiling because they feel avenged after they explained on countless occasions that PHEVs are heavy, heavy, heavy.

And, of course, the Audi RS 5 sedan and Avant are also way more powerful than before. While the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 remains under the hood, it has more power – 503 horsepower is 59 more than before. Power is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a new quattro with rear-axle torque vectoring and an RS torque rear mode for drifting, nothing fancy or anything we haven’t seen before.

There’s also a self-locking differential to make sure the power goes where needed, and there’s a substantial amount to distribute: the combined power is 630 hp and 608 lb-ft (825 Nm) of torque. That’s not bad, of course, but the Audi RS 5 Avant is now heavier than a larger Audi RS 6 Avant, which has a V8 engine under the hood. We bet that the new one, which is also going to be electrified, will beat new records in terms of heft.

Anyway, the Audi RS 5 sedan and Avant are significantly larger than the A4 or A5 – they’re wider and feel like they’ve been working out at the gym ever since they entered the prototype testing phase. Someone even called them TMNTs (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and it’s not bad at all. However, they will have natural foes, like the BMW M3 sedan and M3 Touring or the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance. There are even some miscellaneous foes, like the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing or the Dodge Charger Sixpack!

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Bogdan Popa

Phones have already taken over our lives. We have everything in these small gadgets, from memories and photos to documents, bank accounts, and conversations with our loved ones. And the digital revolution is not even over yet.

Leaving aside the ridiculous push for the all-screen approach in our cabins and carmakers stepping away from physical buttons – thank God some carmakers aren't yet giving up on them – there's another part of the automotive industry that's changing. Physical car keys are going away.

Back in 2020, at WWDC – an annual developer event where Apple gets in touch with app makers and presents its latest ideas, projects, and tech updates – the iPhone maker announced Car Keys. It was a concept that many people saw coming, but which Apple and the automotive space were seemingly ready for.

Often referred to as digital car keys, the Apple Car Key is a simple and, depending on who you ask, brilliant idea. It allows you to leave your physical car keys at home and use your iPhone to unlock the doors of your car and start your engine. It's that simple.

Apple Car Key: What is it and why you'll want it

Before I delve into more details about the Apple Car Key, it's important to understand what it is, its role, and why you'll want it when you buy your next car.

The Apple Car Key is a digital version of your physical car key. It means it can do the same thing as the car key that the dealership handed over when you picked up your car. It can unlock your car's doors and start the engine either manually or automatically.

Many people already pay with their iPhones at the supermarket after they added their credit cards to their smartphones and Apple Watches in the Wallet app. Digital car keys work similarly, as you must configure them on your phone in the Wallet app.

The number one reason you'll want Apple Car Key is the added convenience. You don't need to carry your physical car keys with your phone anymore. You already have a phone in your pocket, so why don't you leave the physical keys at home?

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Mircea Panait

Revealed no fewer than four years ago, the 2027 Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 is edging closer to production reality. The British automaker founded by the one and only Gordon Murray intended to kick off customer deliveries in early 2024, but as it happens, those deliveries will have to wait until late 2026 in the best-case scenario.

The reasons why GMA delayed the T.33 so much are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. What is important for us car enthusiasts and the 100 clients that are waiting patiently for their T.33 supercars is that the prototypes captured winter testing near the Arctic Circle are very close to what GMA revealed back in January 2022.

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Bodied in carbon fiber, the AP1 through AP3 prototypes caught by the carparazzi all feature clean lines inspired by 1960s sports prototypes and sporty grand tourers. The most surprising trait, however, doesn't come in the form of a manual connected to an 11,100-rpm V12. Instead, the man behind Gordon Murray Automotive has refrained from cluttering the cockpit of the T.33 with any sort of touch-based interface.

Automobili Lamborghini has long abandoned the purity of its cockpits in favor of touchscreens. With the 2027 Lamborghini Urus SE Performante, chances are that the Raging Bull of Sant'Agata Bolognese will present us with a similar flow display to what Porsche debuted in the first-ever Cayenne with electric-only propulsion.

It could get worse, though, especially if the Italian subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group makes a case for an optional front passenger touchscreen. But looking at the bigger picture, resisting the touch-everything trend is futile in the day and age when an alarming number of people mistake a vehicle's screen acreage for luxury.

Benefitting from aggressive styling and functional traits from the internal combustion Performante, the plug-in hybrid SE Performante should also push the Volkswagen Group's most powerful electrified powertrain to new heights. The current maximum output figures are 789 horsepower in the Urus SE, whereas the Bentley Continental GT Speed and Flying Spur Speed make 738 pound-feet (1,000 Newton-meters).

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Much lower down the spectrum, the currently-irrelevant Lancia brand has been spied testing its very first new model since the redesigned Ypsilon. To be unveiled in the closing months of 2026, the 2027 Lancia Gamma is an extremely different Gamma from the 1970s executive car with Pininfarina styling and flat-four engine options. At the time, the E-segment model could be had as a two-door coupe or a four-door fastback saloon.

The Stellantis-controlled Italian marque has decided on a crossover body style for the Gamma, a crossover utility vehicle underpinned by the STLA Medium platform of the Jeep Compass, DS N°8, Opel Grandland, and Peugeot e-3008. Revealed in July 2023, the front-biased architecture is compatible with three- and four-pot inline mills.

Said platform is also compatible with front- and twin-motor electric powertrains, though it's not clear which setup will be the most performance-oriented choice. In any case, the heavily camouflaged prototype captured by the spy photographers this week is clearly full electric due to the relatively flat underbody, the lack of an exhaust outlet, and the Ypsilon-styled front end with no intercooler hiding behind the lower intakes.

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Over in the United States of America, the visual artist known as "jlord8" on social media has recently come up with a rendering that barely makes any sense at first glance. While it's not that hard to imagine a Ford Bronco-derived Lincoln body-on-frame SUV, insiders told Autoweek that Ford's Lincoln brand is working on such a model.

The design study isn't a reflection of the real thing, especially when you remember that Ford is targeting a 2029 – 2030 release timeframe. But nevertheless, the yet-unnamed model proves that Lincoln is paying a little more attention to the segment that is presently contested by Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and the Lexus division.

Given that Ford is redesigning the Bronco for 2031, the Lincoln equivalent could be our first glimpse of the underpinnings and oily bits that Ford will use in the seventh-gen Bronco. And with the arrival of this posh body-on-frame sport utility vehicle, Ford will be able to focus more on what makes the Bronco a tempting alternative to the Jeep Wrangler.

By: Bogdan Popa

GTA 6 is still a game everybody is drooling over, and it turns out the world will continue to do the same thing for a bit longer. Rockstar is turning to the CIA technique manual to prevent leaks, spreading false information to developers on purpose.

Until GTA 6 comes out, we'll just have to keep ourselves busy with the typical Android Auto and CarPlay work. A tech engineer found the best way to do this by hacking Android Auto into this 2012 Honda Civic without replacing the original head unit. The work is impressive, and you'll find the full info in the video if you want to do it yourself. 

Google Maps is getting Nano Banana – that's right, Nano Banana – for a surprising feature, and a new Waze update is out specifically to resolve a widespread bug breaking down some people's settings.

Meanwhile, Apple does what it knows best – rolling out the detailed city experience at a painfully slow pace. New 3D models are live as part of an annual update that improves Apple Maps. However, there's still no word as to when the DCE could reach the broad availability phase.

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