The Fast Lane Car

Video: 2012 Audi A3 TDI versus KIA Forte SX Mashup Review

The 2012 Audi A3 TDI has been around for a half a dozen years and in that time many small five door cars have tried to copy the Audi's blend of sporty driving fun and luxurious appointments.

One of those cars is the new KIA Forte SX.

It looks, drives and even has many of the same features of the Audi. It also cost $15,000 less  than the upstart KIA Forte.

But does it have the moves and the value to keep up with the German car?

Check out this review as we mashup the KIA Forte with the Audi A3 TDI to see if imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery.

Review: The 2012 Audi TT RS is a breathtaking new high-performance addition to the TT line

HARTFORD, Conn.—The racy looking new Audi TT RS is a  breathtaking new 2012 high-performance addition to Audi’s accomplished TT line.

While docile on public roads, I found that the TT RS acted like a thoroughbred on the challenging Witzig Raceway track during a media preview of the car that began near Hartford, Conn. 

The high-quality TT RS is an exclusive model at the top of the TT line because Audi spokespersons said at the preview that only approximately 1,000 TT RS models will annually be sent to the United States.

Old or new cars: Which are faster?

Are new cars getting faster? We decide to find out by drag racing three generations of the same car.

In this "just for fun" video we take three similar Audis with quattro all-wheel-drive, and put them to the nose to tush drag race test.

What's the fastest Audi A6 Quattro? Is it the 2000 twin turbo charged A6, or perhaps the next generation 2005 normally aspirated A6, or is it the brand new and supercharged 2012 A6 Quattro?

Just for fun we decided to find out by drag racing the last three generations of the Audi A6 Quattro in our TFLcar Nose to Tush Drag Race.

Check out to see how your favorite Audi A6 did in the video below.

BTW: Nathan shows up with a surprise at the end of the video that you'll want to see.

2012 Audi A6 versus BMW 535i review: And the best luxury sedan is...

The new BMW 535i has always been the benchmark for all other mid-sized luxury sedans.

But for 2012 the all new Audi A6 is taking direct aim at the BMW buyer as well as the 535i. The Audi brings to the table a 310 HP supercharged powerplant, an 8 speed automatic transmission and of course Quattro all-wheel-drive.

But to not to be outdone the BMW has all of the same stuff, but instead of a supercharged engine it comes with a turbo 3.0L that puts out 300 HP.

So which one is the better car?

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Review: the 2012 Audi A7 brings back the sexy big buttom

The early 2012 Audi A7 3.0 TFSI quattro is a generally outstanding four-door hatchback sedan that looks much like a rakish coupe.

But the $59,250 A7 is  expensive with desirable options, such as its Sport Package with such items as 20-inch wheels and a sport suspension (vs. standard 18-inch) wheels.

The bottom-line price of the A7 I tested was $86,220, including that package and a bunch of high-tech items such as a navigation system and rearview camera. The A7 is loaded with comfort, convenience and safety equipment, including  power sunroof, so one need not add a thing—except perhaps the $1,500 Sport Package my test A7 had for sharper moves, with 20-inch (vs. standard 18-inch) tires and a sport suspension..

You can get adaptive cruise control and side assist features that help prevent  you from ramming a vehicle that sneaks up alongside you or one that’s too close ahead—besides  night vision assist. Technical buffs will appreciate the MMI interface feature that integrates audio, navigation and telephone systems into one system by combining a thumb-wheel control with Audi’s new touchpad input.

Quirky video review: New wired Audi A7 takes Google Earth on the road

The brand new Audi A7 not only gets you to where you are going, but it will even show what your destination looks like thanks to Google Earth.

The wired luxury hatchback, that's right hatchback, comes with a new navigation system that's plugged into Google Earth to give you an almost real time satellite view of your surrounding.

Audi has a new partnership with T-Mobile in America that not only works with Google Earth but will also tranform the car into a mobile hot spot for those who want to stay wired all of the time.

Check out the video below as we reveal the top three car quirks of the 2012 Audi A7.

Review: the 2011 Audi TT is the perfect car for Kate Middleton the newest Duchess of Cambridge

Few of my test cars turn heads or draw compliments, but the bright red 2011 Audi TT coupe I drove attracted an unusual amount of of attention.

I expected stares I got from young guys, but was surprised when a middle-aged lady, who looked like the Toyota Camry type, glanced at the zoomy TT and said “Nice car!”

The TT is offered in a variety of trim levels, including a top-line $50,000 convertible, but I tested the base, well-equipped $38,300 TT model, which should satisfy most TT buyers.

The latest TT has minor styling revisions, including redesigned front and rear bumpers and radiator and fog light grilles. But watch out for the car’s low front end when approaching low objects.

Video: 2012 Audi A7 vs Jaguar XFR mashup review

Anybody can review a Camaro vs. a Mustang in a straight line. It's been done tens of thousands of times over the years, but what about an 2012 Audi A7 vs a Jaguar XFR?

The 2012 Audi A7 is following on the design heals of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Volkswagen CC and of course BMW GT. Audi says that the new five door, four seat car slots right in between the company's mid-sized A6 and luxurious A8. With a supercharged V6 310 HP engine, 20' inch wheels, Quattro all-wheel-drive, and an eight speed transmission, the A7 is Audi's newest, and perhaps most handsome, cars.

The Jaguar XFR brings to the table a supercharged V8 that 510 pumps out 510 tire-shredding horsepower, 20 inch wheels, and enough British flavor to fill your morning cup of tea.

Both of these cars represent the best engineering that Europe has to offer today to the rest world.

But which one is the best?

2011 Audi Q5 vs Toyota Sequoia mashup drag race video review

What do the 2011 Audi Q5 and Toyota Sequoia have in common, beside the fact that they are both means of comfortable and modern transportation.

To be honest...not much.

The Toyota Sequoia has massive a 5.7 Liter engine while the Audi Q5 has a 2.0 liter turbo.

But that doesn't stop us from putting them to the TFLcar's mashed-up match-up test.

Review: The 2011 Audi Q5 is a nice reward after years of schlepping infant and toddler detritus

The 2011 Q5 was delivered to me on Christmas Eve and I had to keep reminding myself I couldn’t keep it. There was no giant red bow on it after all, so I agreed I’d give it back after a week. I got totally lucky because a snow storm prevented the return of the car by a couple days, so it really was like I got a Christmas present. Three extra days in the Q5!

So I made lots of errands in the Q5. Not the fun kind of pre-Christmas mania. The other kind-the returns. I drove the Q5 all over to make right Christmas blunders like too small shoes and too big shirts. I was dreading parking lots, as it seems the spots are so tight these days. I was just dreading all the stopping and going, the road rage, the exhaustion. But the Q5 was the perfect companion and juggled all these tasks with ease and confidence.

Video review: the top three car quirks of the 2011 Audi A5

All cars have four wheels, an engine, or now-a-days electric motor, and of course brakes and a steering wheel.

But what really makes a car unique?

What are the little (but important) details that define the real personality of a new car.

At TFLcar.com we get to drive new cars every week, and after living with a car for seven days we really get to know the ins and outs of a car....you know...its quirks.

We discover those little details that not only make a car special and unique, but also can drive new car owners crazy.

So without further delay, here are the top three car quirks of the 2011 Audi A5.

Review 2011 Audi A8: Your posh, roomy, fast, all-wheel drive steed awaits

The 2011 Audi A8 all-wheel-drive sedan has imposing styling, a fabulous interior and high-tech features that can be easily utilized if you spend some time studying them.

This fourth-generation A8—Audi’s flagship car—has a revised front end but looks basically unchanged. It continues to have the automaker’s nearly all-aluminum body/chassis structure that few Americans ever understood or fully appreciated. It makes this four-door very rigid and lighter than most rivals.

The A8 is still a big guy at approximately 4,400 pounds, due partly to its all-wheel-drive hardware, and it has a longer wheelbase and overall length, It’s also wider.

First Drive: The all new 2011 Audi A8 comes with everything but a happy ending

The flagship 2011 Audi A8 is a technological tour de force that comes with every bit of German premium car technology that's possible to stuff into a car.

In your next premium car do you want

- all wheel drive

- heated and cooled seats

- messaging seats

- air suspension

- personalized dynamic ride, steering and handling

- LED headlamps all around

- 20 inch wheels

- an eight-speed automatic transmission

- and too much more to list?

Check, check, and check.

Review 2010 Audi A5 convertible: it’s a great ride, top up or down

As a complement to the Audi A4, the German carmaker’s best-selling model, the A5 was introduced in 2007 as the “middle-ground” between the compact A4 and midsize A6.But the A5 is no longer a go-between. It now has a unique identity in the Audi lineup, albeit with a cumbersome proper name.

Video Challenge Jeep Patriot vs. Audi Q5: Let's say you want Champagne on a beer budget

Give us 5-minutes and we'll give you the scoop.

How do you buy the right car for your budget? That's always a tough question.

Let's say you want one of the new 5-passenger Crossover's and you have a taste for Champagne... but you are on a beer budget.