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Back in 2008 Audi began work on project Anniversario, a supercoupe that was meant to highlight the firm's centenary in 2009 with a debut at the Pebble Beach Concours weekend. But then the stock markets collapsed, overt celebrations were no longer en vogue, and at the rather subdued 100 years of Audi party we witnessed the debut of the socially and environmentally more compatible zero-emissions R8 e-tron. A mere twelve months later, however, the global economy has recovered (somewhat), Audi is almost three quarters through yet another record year, and the brand motto Vorsprung durch Technik (Advantage through Engineering) can again be advertised by much harder-core products. As it happens, 2010 marks the 30th birthday of the Quattro 4WD system pioneered by the ingenious Ferdinand Piech, who fathered the iconic Ur-Quattro, which was unveiled at the 1980 Geneva auto show. The most extreme variant of the chunky four-seat coupe was the limited edition, short-wheelbase, plastic-bodied Sport Quattro that triggered all those famous world championship-winning rally cars. What could be a better source of inspiration for the new Quattro?

Back in 2008 Audi began work on project Anniversario, a supercoupe that was meant to highlight the firm's centenary in 2009 with a debut at the Pebble Beach Concours weekend. But then the stock markets collapsed, overt celebrations were no longer en vogue, and at the rather subdued 100 years of Audi party we witnessed the debut of the socially and environmentally more compatible zero-emissions R8 e-tron. A mere twelve months later, however, the global economy has recovered (somewhat), Audi is almost three quarters through yet another record year, and the brand motto Vorsprung durch Technik (Advantage through Engineering) can again be advertised by much harder-core products. As it happens, 2010 marks the 30th birthday of the Quattro 4WD system pioneered by the ingenious Ferdinand Piech, who fathered the iconic Ur-Quattro, which was unveiled at the 1980 Geneva auto show. The most extreme variant of the chunky four-seat coupe was the limited edition, short-wheelbase, plastic-bodied Sport Quattro that triggered all those famous world championship-winning rally cars. What could be a better source of inspiration for the new Quattro?

At the 2010 Paris Show, Lamborghini unveiled the Sesto Elemento, the conceptual forerunner to the second-generation Murcielago. Made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) virtually from bottom to top, the Sesto Elemento (for "sixth element," because carbon is number six in the periodic table) is said to weigh "under 1000 kilos" (2200 pounds)-and thus it undercuts the 1000-kg mark set by Ferrari with its own lightweight supercar concept, the 2007 Millechili, said to preview the next-generation Enzo. As for Lamborghini's striking two-seater, it uses the chassis and the running gear of the Gallardo Superleggera. It thus is more compact and less extreme than next year's Murcielago replacement, which remains faithful to the big-bore twelve-cylinder engine.

At the 2010 Paris Show, Lamborghini unveiled the Sesto Elemento, the conceptual forerunner to the second-generation Murcielago. Made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) virtually from bottom to top, the Sesto Elemento (for "sixth element," because carbon is number six in the periodic table) is said to weigh "under 1000 kilos" (2200 pounds)-and thus it undercuts the 1000-kg mark set by Ferrari with its own lightweight supercar concept, the 2007 Millechili, said to preview the next-generation Enzo. As for Lamborghini's striking two-seater, it uses the chassis and the running gear of the Gallardo Superleggera. It thus is more compact and less extreme than next year's Murcielago replacement, which remains faithful to the big-bore twelve-cylinder engine.

I'm somewhat taken aback that this Sportage runs right up against the $30,000 mark, but I'm still very impressed with it. The exterior styling is a vast improvement over the previous Sportage; I parked next to an older model in the parking garage and the two vehicles didn't look related in any way. The interior is also a huge upgrade, with nicely designed instruments and much better materials. Our test car had pretty much every amenity that a crossover buyer would want, including 4WD, a very nice navigation system, satellite radio, heated seats and outside mirrors, and more. This Sportage is just the latest sign that Kia is producing vehicles that can compete against the best vehicles in the segment.