The five-door version of the Audi A3, the A3 Sportback, has been revealed, and as with its three-door sibling, it won’t be coming to the U.S. We Americans can look forward to our own sedan version of the same car. The third-generation A3 is only a smidge larger dimensionally than the outgoing Sportback, but has dropped up to 198 pounds compared to the previous hatch thanks to increased use of high- and ultra-strength steel and aluminum parts like the hood and fenders. With the 1.4-liter TFSI engine it weighs just 2,657 pounds. The biggest measurement growth is in the wheelbase: the front axle has been moved forward 1.57 inches and the wheelbase overall has grown by 2.28 inches. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Audi distances itself from Chinese dealer with ‘We Must Exterminate The Japanese’ banner
Some background: if you’ve scanned news headlines over the past few weeks, you’ve probably come across mentions of a spat between China and Japan over some islands in the East China Sea. The territorial controversy isn’t new, as both countries have claimed ownership of the group of uninhabited islands – which the Chinese call Diaoyu and the Japanese call Senkaku – for a while. The tension has been climbing recently, however, because the owner of the islands sold them to Japan, after which various groups of Chinese and Japanese nationals have been alternately heading to the islands and planting their country’s flag, each incident provoking a more vocal response. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Shelby announces 2013 GT500 Super Snake with up to 850 horsepower
When Shelby first launched the GT500 Super Snake in 2007 (or relaunched, if you consider the one-off 1967 prototype), the 5.4-liter supercharged V8 was boosted all the way up to… wait for it… 600 horsepower. Fast-forward just five years and the muscle car landscape looks quite different. The 2013 Shelby GT500 now comes with 662 tire-shredding horsepower from the factory. Funk Flex
(Video) Auto Talk: Porsche 918 Spyder brochure leaks onto web
Porsche appears to have let slip a rash of 918 Spyder images that look to be lifted from a company brochure. The shots give us a better idea of what buyers can look forward to when they plunk down their fat stacks of cash. We are particularly smitten by the Martini livery wrap, though a Salzburg Racing exterior is also available. Those who prefer pricier paint can cough up a little over $65,000 for Liquid Metal Grey or Liquid Metal Blue finishes. The lifted images also show that the 918 Spyder will come with a clear-coat carbon fiber targa roof panel. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Jaguar F-Type leaked ahead of Paris debut
The car you see above, ladies and gentlemen, appears to be a leaked image of the Jaguar F-Type. It will get its official debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in a little more than a week, but this lone image was posted to Facebook by well-known spy photographer Chris Doane with the following caption: “Something interesting just popped up in my inbox…” Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Next Porsche 911 Turbo to get four-wheel steering
German publication AutoBild is reporting that the upcoming 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo, already set to be a technical tour de force, will offer all-wheel steering to go with standard all-wheel drive. Porsche hopes to increase the outright handling ability of the 991 Turbo via four-wheel steering, though no mention is made as to how the system will operate. Funk Flex
