It used to be that when referring to luxury, one only spoke of the big boys – Mercedes Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, and the like – but recently automobile manufacturers have made it their main mission to appeal to the masses even more efficiently than they ever have before. Realizing full well that the younger generation of today is eager to take the leap into luxury more readily than their predecessors, automobile manufacturers have learned how to take a dose of their respective luxury formulas and infuse them into much smaller, more nimble packages.
This practice has been personified in two brand new vehicles – one from the inarguable German of Germans, BMW, and the other from its not-so-distant German cousin, Audi. The vehicles in question are the BMW M235i and the Audi S3.
Perhaps the BMW needs no introduction, for one can argue that it is simply the redesigned 1-Series in a snazzier and sportier iteration. Though in many ways the comparison is logical, it is more than safe to say that the mini-beast M235i has a life and character on its own. Packing as much power as it does – a turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 engine outputting 321 hp – in such a small package provides automobile enthusiasts the best of both worlds – fast and small. The BMW M235i is even being praised as one of the most well-balanced and capable vehicles ever produced by the brand. Only time will tell how popular this jumpy juvenile will actually be, but if early numbers are any indication, BMW has yet another hit on their hands.
Not so fast, though…pun definitely intended! True, the M235i may be small and quick, may offer only 2 doors, making it a sporty beast, and may even be hailed as one of BMW's best ever vehicles…none of that, however, even comes close to phasing Audi’s latest luxe-child, the S3. Being the stronger and more capable twin of the A3, the Audi S3 is a powerhouse in itself. It may have four doors and technically be considered a sedan, but this is one undeniable instance where looks can definitely be deceiving; at its core, the S3 believes it's a sports-coupe. Though when compared to its cousin, the S3 employs a smaller, 2.0 turbocharged engine that is good for about 300 hp, some Audi officials have been quoted to claim that if tuned properly, the engine can actually output 320 hp or more, placing it right in line with the BMW.
Like the opposing sides of the Berlin Wall when it was still standing in all its twisted glory, BMW and Audi each have their own loyal and enthusiastic fans. What one brand represents to one group may be in stark contrast to what it may represent to the other. Whatever the case may be, if there was ever any automobile rivalry that had the potential to make peace between the two sides, this would be it. With vehicles that mirror one another’s abilities and strikingly clean good looks, some cross-shopping would be considered far from a sin.
Bottom Line: The BMW may have paved the way, but the Audi has come to play; watch your back, BMW.