2010 Audi A5 Quattro on 2040-cars

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Despite premium carmakers going downmarket, luxury auto sales stick at 10-11%

According to research conducted by global information company IHS Automotive, the leporine birthing of new models by luxury manufacturers over the past six years hasn't increased their market share in the US. Even as car sales reached 15.6 million units, IHS says what's happened instead is that luxury buyers are merely moving from one brand to another, moving from larger luxury vehicles into hot segments like compact luxury crossovers or leaving the market at the same rate as other buyers enter.
Whether broken out by makes or by segment, market share has rollercoastered inside a narrow band from 10.5 to 11.5 percent since "at least" 2008. Closer investigation reveals the shifting boundaries in the aspirational pond, with brands like Mercedes-Benz and Audi gaining territory as Lexus and Lincoln lost it, and Saab and Hummer were buried, dead, under it. One neat note is that Tesla has gone from a share of zip to .12 percent.
The subcompact and compact crossover segments show growth, with those little high-riders jumping from .3 percent to 1.16 percent of overall industry sales. Their rise, though, is concomitant with the decline of four other segments: compact and midsize cars and fullsize cars and SUVs. We think the next few years that will tell if the small-car expansion can overcome the large-car retraction, with a phalanx of smaller offerings like the CLA only recently hitting the market and others like the GLA, Macan and Q1 doing so in the near future.

2014 Audi A4 next car to go on big diet while adding features

The Audi A4 is expected to receive a major redesign over the next couple of years, and with the smaller A3 now gaining a sedan model, it is being reported that the A4 might be getting a little breathing room for a more advanced design and improved technology and features. According to AutoBild, this would include a drop of more than 200 pounds in curb weight, updated cabin tech and a wider variety of drivetrain options.
AutoBild states that Audi is looking to upgrade just about every detail - inside and out - when it comes to the 2014 Audi A4, and this includes a next-generation MMI system that uses two digital displays. Extensive use of magnesium, aluminum and plastics will help shave an estimated 220 pounds from the A4's curb weight, and in terms of engines, it sounds like the usual array of forced-induction, small-displacement gas and diesel engines will be on tap, but a bigger V6 TDI and a plug-in hybrid powertrain are also mentioned.

Audi Sport Quattro Concept makes video debut

Audi has stayed quiet about its Sport Quattro Concept since the 700-horsepower, tangerine rocket debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show - a followup to Quattro Concept shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Now, Audi has broken the plug-in hybrid out to give thanks to its Facebook fans, which now number over 100,000 strong (103,123 as of this writing).
As impressive as that number is, it does seem a bit strange that Audi USA's Facebook page has netted 7.3 million likes, 73 times what Audi's global page has received. Of course, we're not complaining about seeing the Sport Quattro Concept in action, and neither should you. Take a look below for the entire video.