TheRupp

I'm still really curious as to how they managed to shoehorn a 4.2L V8 into the little A4's engine bay

mooretorque

I agree absolutely, but there's a difference betweeN "can't" and "didn't". If, as stated in (I think it was Automobile) one of the monthlies, there isn't room up front, it's because the current car was intentionally NOT designed for AWD with the V8; space is definitely at a premium up there. (And then there's the hybrid issue: will all Lexus "h" series vehicles be AWD? Guess not since the 450h is reportedly not.)

For whatever reason, Lexus appears to be taking small steps in entering the AWD luxury sedan market. Remember that BMW , Merc, and Infiniti are not offering AWD in their V8s at this point, either. Audi long ago hung their corporate hat on quattro and have enough history that they, like Subaru, are identified with AWD. Personally, I think Lexus could bring a lot of Audi customers over, but so far the corporate game plan hasn't targeted Audi. Should T/L do so, Audi needs to be very afraid.

XeroK00L

Merc is. Think S500 4MATIC and E500 4MATIC.

flipside909

Not in the US market and/or no longer available.

XeroK00L

I guess so if mbusa.com is an unreliable source of info.

E500 4MATIC:
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...pec=0&menu=3_0

S500 4MATIC:
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...pec=0&menu=3_0

Gojirra99

Yes, S500 4matic & E500 4matic are available in Canada too

mooretorque

Doh!!!! I am a moron.

And they sell how many of those here?? (Not the point re my original post, I know, but still pertinent in that those mfgrs who have not commited early and extensively to AWD are just tiptoeing in.....witness BMW with the only just announced 5 series xi models. If the car mags are right, then we won't see an AWD V8 sedan until the next generation w/o extensive re-design of front subframe and suspension.)

jaydunn

Around here it seems to me like about a third of the E and S models I see are 4-matics.