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Audi and Mercedes both outsell BMW in January

There won't be any celebrations in Munich this month, as BMW was outsold by arch-nemeses Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The Bavarian company finished behind Audi in January, which took the top spot for the first time since June of last year, Bloomberg reports. Ingolstadt rode high on a 10-percent bump in sales, while Mercedes saw a larger 14 percent increase. BMW, meanwhile, only saw a modest 6.3-percent sales increase last month, thanks in large part to its struggles in China. The company's sales there increased at about half the rate of its chief competitors, with a 7.9-percent jump to Mercedes and Audi's roughly 15-percent increases. Perhaps more worrying for BMW, though, is that this could become something of a trend for the company. According to Bloomberg, issues with Chinese dealers who cancelled orders over sales targets and bonuses combined with what the publication calls aging models, could spell bad news for the German marque. "This looks like a pretty significant decline in growth compared to Mercedes and Audi," Bankhaus Metzler analyst Juergen Pieper told Bloomberg. "I think this will continue during the next few months." News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Matthias Schrader / AP Earnings/Financials Audi BMW Mercedes-Benz

Sunday Drive: Volvo hits a crossover home run, and people still love sports cars

Looking back at the week that just was clearly tells us at least three things. First, crossovers don't have to be boring. Second, people still love sports cars, from the attainable (Audi TT RS) to the fanciful (Mercedes-AMG GT C). And finally, the traditional German trio of premium luxury brands had better not rest on their laurels, because credible challengers are coming in from every direction. The biggest reveal of the week, at least judging by the interest of Autoblog readers, was the Volvo XC40. Not only is the little 'ute a looker, it introduces some innovative new buying/leasing schemes designed to appeal to an audience accustomed to trading in and trading up every couple of years. Think of Volvo's flat-fee lease as you would a smartphone contract, and you'll be on the right track. Genesis looks to have a hit on its hands in the form of the G70 sport sedan. We took a Korean-spec model for a spin and found a lot to like about the upstart contender. We can't wait to sample one here in the United States to see how it stacks up against the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In other news, we're still really excited to see a production Ford Ranger Raptor. But if you just can't wait for the official reveal — it's OK, neither can we — take a look at the renderings in our post down below. As always, tune in to Autoblog next week for a front-row seat to all the happenings worth following in the automotive industry. Volvo XC40 revealed | Crossover at the crossroads of style and substance 3 ways the Volvo XC40 is a game-changer Genesis G70 First Drive | An arrow to the heart of the Germans 2018 Audi TT RS Drivers' Notes | Five pots of turbocharged honey 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Quick Spin | This is the AMG GT you want The Ford Ranger Raptor is real, and this is what it might look like

Mercedes S-Class Cabrio caught nearly naked

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a handsome car, and its new two-door variant is positively dashing. Considering that, did you really think Mercedes would shake things up when it finally came time to drop the top on its flagship luxury model? Nope, neither did we. This is the S-Class Cabriolet, and from the beltline down, it's basically the same fixed-roof car we tested back in October – same grille, same headlights, same twin character lines in the profile. This is not a bad thing. We're betting it'll wear very similar taillights to the S-Class Coupe, although it's difficult to tell on the more heavily camo'd example of the luxurious droptop. Differences, meanwhile, are kept to the absolute minimum. The windshield looks more aggressively raked, and the inclusion of a canvas roof has softened the Coupe's svelte profile, but other than that, there aren't many changes at all. Expect the S-Class Sedan and Coupe's engine lineup to inform the powertrain strategy for the Cabriolet, meaning a base S550 with a 4.7-liter, twin-turbocharged V8. It's unclear if AMG variants will be offered, although we wouldn't bet against it. Our spies report that the S-Class Cabrio will saunter into dealers later this year, eager to steal the lunch money of the aging BMW 6 Series Convertible. We're betting on a European auto show debut, so keep an eye open at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. If not there, Frankfurt seems like a likely destination for the new droptop.