Here comes the Sportback

[levigarrett]

This car was loaded onto a United flight from MUC to EWR yesterday. I suspect we'll hear something about this thing soon.

[SteveYem]

Sweet! But why does that 2016 Maxima have an Audi front grille?

[KRp220]

Sweet! But why does that 2016 Maxima have an Audi front grille?

ouch.... but spot on

thats not nearly as nice as the previous gen

[Pyromatic177]

I want the B8.5 Sportback to be in the US. That thing was sick!

[RudyH]

Sweet! But why does that 2016 Maxima have an Audi front grille?

I actually was like 'that's right!' and jumped on Nissan's web site to see if they finally got rid of that TERRIBLE CVT and offered AWD. No luck, still need to spend money on the Audi. Had a Maxima for a rental a little bit ago and I didn't honestly mind it except those two things

Pricing out the B9 S4, it looks lik this thing is going to be flirting with BMW M3 territory (where the B9 S4 is around $10k cheaper) in Canada

[LYKUNO]

This car was loaded onto a United flight from MUC to EWR yesterday. I suspect we'll hear something about this thing soon.

Loaded on a Munich to Newark flight. Must have been in a real hurry to get it here - wonder what the back story on it is.

[levigarrett]

Loaded on a Munich to Newark flight. Must have been in a real hurry to get it here - wonder what the back story on it is.

I'm not sure. A good buddy was working the flight and knew I was an Audi guy so he took the pic. No other details were known. That kind of information isn't generally shared with the crew unless we're questioning the shipment for safety reasons. My guess is the S5 SportB will indeed be offered here and Audi wants to create some interest.

[adamkb26]

B9 S4 is better looking than S5 this time around. Unlike B8.5...

[MrFunk]

That thing is hideous looking. Sorry - just because Audi doesn't mean it's automatically good looking. The A5 platform has done been done right with this latest design. They ruined a good thing.

[Silverbullet S4]

Sweet! But why does that 2016 Maxima have an Audi front grille?

Spot on!

[Hofahome]

This car was loaded onto a United flight from MUC to EWR yesterday. I suspect we'll hear something about this thing soon.

You should share this with jalopnik.

[KashOutS4]

Just came out of the plane 30 mins ago

[infinkc]

that is one crazy way to ship a car.

[Silverbullet S4]

Front looks good but the rest....eesh.

[absolutarin]

In my opinion, the B9 models look way too refined for a sport/performance car. The design isn't aggressive at all.
I'm sticking to the B8.5s for now


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[bberg22]

I have a feeling this car will look better in person than in pictures. The first picture made me a bit nauseous but the others look better. I don't personally like the look of the curve to the hood but the rest I like, based on the pictures at least. I think I would get the RS3 before this though. Supposedly there will be an RS3 sportback also but that would make it even smaller inside than it already is.

[S-Fore]

shoulda got a pic of the brakes & rear end.....

New Q5 looks pathetic with no exhaust cutouts....

[MrFunk]

Front looks good but the rest....eesh.

The front is the worst part.

[Usa]

Infinity? Nissan Maxima? Why... why!

[Pyromatic177]

The front is too sloped and the hood comes down too far.

[Dr GP]

If it is a 4 door , should it not be an S4 rather than an S5? Just saying. Or are they trying to say it is a coupe like the BMW Grand Turismo?

[RWD2quattro]

Too much starch on those creases, hideous

[MagillaGorilla]

If it is a 4 door , should it not be an S4 rather than an S5? Just saying. Or are they trying to say it is a coupe like the BMW Grand Turismo?

Exactly that. It is the 4 door version of a 2 door version of a 4 door car.

[levigarrett]

Just came out of the plane 30 mins ago

Thats funny we have spies on both ends of that transaction.

[14S4GWM]

The hood lines on the front view look good.

[The Fat Kid]

Terrible

[LYKUNO]

that is one crazy way to ship a car.

Amazing how we have been able to follow this car's journey. Wonder where it's going next?

[moose_head]

Amazing how we have been able to follow this car's journey. Wonder where it's going next?

Maybe a crash test!! haha

[SportVier]

Jesus. That hood should have never made it out of the design studio.

[JohnEnglish]

They revealed them a couple of weeks ago. There was a front page article on them or is the story that it's being shipped to North America with North American plate holders?

I really like the new sportbacks. I wasn't crazy about the previous gen but they seemed to have tightened up the design a bit. If we don't get a RS4 sedan I hope we get a RS5 sportback.

[KashOutS4]

Yea from the airport I have no Knowledge of its next stop.

[300zx2g35]

Probably going to Audi of America Headquarters for their open house

[SteveYem]

Jesus. That hood should have never made it out of the design studio.

It should have never been brought into the design studio in the first place.

[LYKUNO]

Jesus. That hood should have never made it out of the design studio.

Maybe it provides clearance needed for twin-between-the-V turbos!

[DannyDeez]

Audi ruined this car (coupe version included). I hope it looks better in person, but I don't see it happening.

[waxxonMTL]

Thats funny we have spies on both ends of that transaction.

true lol !!!

Glad I went B8.5. Don't think I will feel sad not getting a B9 :) Unless this thing grow on me, I know I will be sticking to my b8.5 for a long time !

[Mops@Nemesis]

Very excited to get my hands on one.






Mops on the move

[Pyromatic177]

Nardo makes any car look better lol

[AbeViator]

It's not all bad but that front end is atrocious compared to current gen. Rest of it looks pretty good and interior got a nice renovation. I really hope Audi sees the countless number of Audi owner opinions about that front end, and makes a change for the following year, although not getting my hopes up.

[Okan509]

I like it very much.

it both flavors.