I've owned a Subaru flat 4, and it was smooth to redline.. Very nice motor, and other than sounding like a Singer Sewing machine, they are awesome
The new FSI V8's used by Audi can be had from the 360 range to 420something here in the USDM. (RS4, and the redline on that engine is 8K something IIRC.)
In Europe, they allow more Nox, so the engine can run leaner under no load, gets better fuel economy and IIRC, they rate them higher HP numbers too.
In the RS4 it's a very potent package. (But that little sedan is still 70k used.)
Audi is now making a 5 varient with two doors, and it's moved the front suspension forward, giving the car better balance. (Typically nose heavy as the engine hangs out forward of the front axle on my 98 A8.) They tend to push in corners when driven really, really fast, but you have to be going stupid fast in the city to ever notice this, and on the highway, it's never pushed that I've noticed, but then again, our highways are designed for very smooth corners, that could be taken at much higher speeds than the speed limits will allow. (So your going around corners built for 120mph at 83mph, and the car is very stable at that speed, on that road way.)
Here is a very cool look at this car. I would love to buy a S5, but the A5 would be plenty fun indeed with only 360hp.... It's just a nice looking coupe with AWD, V8 power, and a very safe design.
http://microsites.audi.com/audia5/html/index.php
You have to select your language, and what you want to see, and it helps to have a fast connection...
