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Subaru WRX STI vs. Audi S3 in compact AWD dustup

It's not every day that a Subaru and an Audi can be reasonably compared head-to-head; the two brands tend not to compete directly in their respective segments. However, the latest WRX STI and the S3 Sedan offer the perfect chance to find out if the working-class Scooby can beat its upper-crust competitor.
The UK's Auto Express gets behind the wheel of these two all-wheel drive performance sedans, or saloons as the Brits call them. Across the pond, both of them are rated at an identical 296 horsepower, but the Subaru edges out the Four Rings on torque. Like in the US, British buyers have to pay a little more to get the Audi, but it comes with a nicer interior and more brand cachet, if that means anything to you.
The video starts out with a fairly standard road test comparing the two of them back-to-back - all fairly subjective. But then Auto Express takes the trip to the drag strip, and the results there are much more conclusive. There's a definite winner when they cross the line, but you have to scroll down to see which of these turbocharged models with rallying heritage wins out.

Mazda3 versus BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 in Euro diesel showdown

It's not exactly a Tesla Model S taking on a Ferrari, but for us green enthusiasts, a drag race and comparison between reasonably priced diesel hatchbacks does hold interest, and UK's Auto Express was kind enough to do the deed. When raced, the diesels actually laid a little rubber coming off the line, though the track was covered in rain. Did we mention it was in the UK? The comparison was between diesel hatchbacks priced at less than 22,000 British pounds (about $34,500 US), and Auto Express pitted a Mazda3, a BMW 1-Series and an Audi A3 against each other. The results are revealed in the 11-minute video you can watch below. In short, one car smoked the others. In order to set the tone, you should know that the Mazda's 150 horsepower is about 35 more than the other two entrants. The Mazda also earned points for its quiet motor (it sounds more like a petrol engine, the host says), standard equipment that would add about $4,000 to the other two cars if included and relative roominess in front and in back. The Audi gained points for its storage space, while the BMW had the only rear-wheel-drive car in the hunt. See for yourself how the competition stacks up. News Source: Auto Express via YouTube Green Audi BMW Mazda Diesel Vehicles bmw 1-series Auto Express

Audi spotted running R8 E-Tron at the 'Ring

An electric version of the original Audi R8 may never have come to fruition – at least not in a form you could actually buy. But with the introduction of the all-new, second-generation model, Audi is getting serious about the prospect of producing the R8 E-Tron. And if you don't believe it, just look at these latest spy shots. Spotted testing at no less punishing a location than the Nurburgring is the upcoming new 2016 Audi R8 E-Tron. It looks just like the one we saw in Geneva earlier this year, painted in that same shade of electric blue, which we think suits the car rather well. It even has that orange strip of lighting around the side intakes, which drives the point of its electrification home in a rather stylish way, too. This prototype is wearing different wheels, and looks like it has some testing equipment mounted inside. Otherwise, this is pretty much what we can expect to see when Audi begins selling its electric supercar. We're sure there are more than a few eagerly awaiting customers who want to get their hands on an EV different from the Teslas or Nissan Leafs every other tree-hugger in the neighborhood has plugged in to their garages. To that end, expect the order books to open sometime later this year or maybe early into the next. Then the dream of an electric coupe with 456 horsepower and 679 pound-feet of torque, good for a 0-60 time in the three-second range and capable of tackling the Nordschleife, will finally become a reality. In the meantime, you can check out a piece of the action in the image gallery above. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 Audi R8 E-Tron: Spy Shots View 9 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Green Spy Photos Audi Coupe Electric Performance