Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. There’s also just a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:

• Audi revives the RS4 Avant

• Porsche introduces 911 GT3 Touring, a 911R without the markup

• Genesis completes their luxury sedan lineup with G70

• Audi stuns with rear-wheel drive R8 V10 RWS

• Honda previews upcoming EVs with Urban EV Concept

• Lamborghini confirms reveal for Urus SUV

• Other coverage from the week

• What’s your automotive news?

Audi RS4 Avant

Audi brought back the RS4 Avant this week, and for a brief moment, the world was at peace. One of Audi’s most iconic RS models over the years has been the ludicrously fast bi-turbo wagon that combined raw power with everyday practicality and comfort. That same formula is preserved with the latest peace-making RS4 and it’s spectacular. Then we learned it still wasn’t coming back to America and we all went back to hating each other.
The centerpiece is its RS-spec 2.9-liter TFSI (bi-turbo) V6 which produces 450 horsepower and 443 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent Quattro AWD with an optional rear sport differential. It blazes through the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.1 seconds and its top speed limiter can be raised to 174 mph.

This RS4 Avant weighs in at 3,946 pounds, 176 pounds less than the previous model, and rides on standard RS sport suspension which offers a .3-inch drop compared to the standard car. Some of the performance options here are RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control, ceramic brakes, and some kind of dynamic steering.
It shouldn’t be too hard to tell this apart from other wagons thanks to its RS roof edge spoiler, 19″ or 20″ forged aluminum wheels, and its body kit inspired by the Audi 90 Quattro IMSO GTO race car. And yes, this Nogaro blue paintwork is an option and is definitely a throwback to the original RS4 Avant from 1999.

The interior gets its fair share of sportiness too with RS sport seats featuring an optional honeycomb pattern, a flat-bottomed RS steering wheel, and RS emblems anywhere they could stuff them. There’s also a mix of carbon, aluminum, and gloss black trim throughout the cabin.
The order book opens this fall and will be priced from €79,800 (~$95,000).
[Source: Audi]

Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

If you or someone you know just dropped $479,000 for a Porsche 911R, which was a limited-run 911 GT3 with no wing and a manual, just skip this part. Porsche revealed a new version of the 911 GT3 at Frankfurt and…. wait for it… it’s got no wing and a manual. The 911 GT3 with the Touring package is like a 911R but without the limited build numbers, the stripes, the throwback upholstery, and the outrageous price. Best of all, it’s a no cost option. Suddenly I love Porsche again.
The 911 GT3 Touring is perhaps the purest way to get a GT3 at the moment. “Touring Package” harks back to an equipment variation of the 1973 911 Carrera RS and aims to provide classic driving enjoyment in a high-quality sports car with a [relatively] understated appearance.

The body is unchanged with one small exception being the removal of the massive fixed wing from the standard GT3. That gets replaced by the standard issue variable rear spoiler from the 911 Carrera, but it does feature a Gurney flap for some extra downforce.
All other features and packages, except for the Clubsport and Alcantara packages, are available on the Touring Package GT3 as well. The glorious naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six still produces the same unfiltered 500 horsepower and it can only be controlled with three pedals and that funky looking lever in the center console.
Best Porsche confirmed.
[Source: Porsche]

Genesis G70

Hyundai’s luxury sub brand, Genesis, has just revealed their new entry-level luxury sedan that will soon compete with the German and Japanese benchmarks. With the introduction of the G70, Genesis has effectively completed their sedan lineup. Between the first G90, the G80, and now the G70, all major luxury sedan classes are covered.
“The Genesis G70 is an athletic sedan characterized by its graceful and dynamic exterior styling”, but they say it also showcases the future direction of the Genesis brand’s design identity. Some of the athleticism they talk about comes from the long hood with a short front overhang, its sleek roofline, and other “assertive” styling touches.

What’s perhaps even more assertive is the G70 Sport’s 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 with 365 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. Designed for the enthusiasts, it propels this assertion machine to 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds and on to a 168 mph top speed. It also rides on electronically-controlled suspension and has variable-ratio steering. It even has launch control, torque vectoring, and a limited-slip differential.
Other more civilian engine options include a 2.0-liter turbo four-banger with up to 252 horsepower/260 lb.-ft. of torque and a 2.2-liter diesel with 199 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. They don’t talk about transmissions at all, but assume an eight-speed automatic is the only one you can get. Each model comes standard with RWD and with AWD as an option.

Some of Genesis’ luxury features from the top models are carried over to the G70, namely the “smart posture control system” which takes the driver’s body information and automatically adjusts the seat, steering wheel, mirrors, and HUD height to their optimal positions. Additionally, it comes with an eight-inch touch screen display which supports MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A fifteen-speaker Lexicon sound system is also available.
The G70 goes on sale in best Korea next week and market launches America and other regions will be announced early 2018.
[Source: Genesis]

Audi R8 V10 RWS

Audi’s big surprise from Frankfurt was a special edition R8 V10 called the RWS. There’s one thing that makes this special and the name hints at it. RWS = Rear Wheel Series. That’s right, it’s a rear-wheel-drive R8.
Only 999 of these will be available as both a coupe and a spyder and each one will be a purist’s dream. Audi has technically built RWD R8s before, but they’ve all been GT3 race cars. Never before has Audi’s supercar been anything other than AWD. The best part is the 5.2-liter naturally-aspirated V10 from the standard R8 hasn’t been detuned at all. You’re in control of 540 horsepower and you’ve only got two wheels to tame it with. 0-60 mph is a bit slower at 3.7 seconds, but the fun factor should be off the charts.

Curb weight is reduced by about 110 pounds compared to the AWD counterpart to a total of 3,500 pounds. Taking full advantage of the new drive system is a specially tuned chassis and drive control system which allows for controlled drifts, something only Chris Harris will probably ever be brave enough to do.
Adding even more power is an optional striping package that mimics the R8 GT4’s roof top stripes.
What will surely be the most enjoyable R8 to date will launch in Europe later this year with a starting price of €140,000. No word on it being available anywhere else yet.
[Source: Audi]

BLIPS

Honda brought the most adorable little concept at Frankfurt and it’s actually pretty significant. The Urvan EV Concept will preview the sort of pure electric city car that Honda plans to launch in Europe (and maybe elsewhere) by 2019 and it sets the direction for the future technology and design that will appear on their future EVs. Take that as confirmation that all future Hondas can show emojis on their front bumper, because that’s pretty much what this one does. Its simple and sophisticated design just works on a compact of this size and it seemed to be a star of the show because of that. The interior features a widescreen display and seating for four. Did I mention it looks adorable?
[Source: Honda]

Hey guys guess what Lamborghini confirmed they’ll be revealing the Urus SUV on December 4th.
[Source: Lamborghini]

Our Other Coverage From Frankfurt

Some of the bigger stories that came out of Frankfurt this week were covered more or less as they happened. The three biggest stories not repeated here are the wild and ridiculously fast Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar, the BMW M8 GTE race car that’ll be competing in the top ranks of GT racing next year, and the Land Rover Discovery SVX that proves they still know how to go off road.

What’s your automotive news?

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
[Image © 2017 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]