????奧迪（Audi）全新的S6，S7和S8高性能轎車進入了美國市場，這標志著這一汽車品牌向立志成為豪華車陣營第一品牌的目標又邁出了堅實的一步。幾年前，奧迪還在與寶馬（BMW）、奔馳（Mercedes）和雷克薩斯（Lexus）激烈競爭，當時可不敢想象今天這樣的雄心壯志。

????實際上，再也沒人敢對奧迪冷嘲熱諷了。奧迪另辟蹊徑，推出了多款技術精湛的車型。它們既有別于其他德系車對手，又與豐田（Toyota）和日產（Nissan）開發的高端車有所不同，因此奧迪一騎絕塵，領先群雄。在中國這樣發展迅猛的汽車市場上，奧迪A4已經是車主們非常心儀的入門級豪車，這些車主希望和那些習慣于買寶馬3系或奔馳C級車的人區別開來。（更多情況請參見我們的幻燈秀“7款超級驚艷跑車”）

????而隨著上路的豪車數量日益增多，各大廠商都在推出性能車型——即搭載大號引擎和其他高端配置的特別版車型——就算不能刺激銷售，至少可以激發車迷的熱情。奔馳的AMG系列，寶馬開發的M版，凱迪拉克（Cadillac）的高端V系列都屬于這個細分市場。

????市場研究公司IHS的分析師亞倫?布萊格曼稱，奧迪花了很長時間才重獲“丟掉的合法性”。這樁公案開始于1980年代，奧迪的車被認為存在突然加速的問題，導致輿論一片嘩然，而這后來被證明證據不足。他補充說：“在全球范圍內，奧迪的增長勢頭都很強勁。而在中國，它可能已經是頂級豪車品牌。”

????奧迪打造S系列最新車型的核心是一款全新的排量為4.0升、雙渦輪增壓的V8引擎，它取代了先前那款頂級的自然吸氣的、5.2升V10引擎。新引擎盡管排量變小了，但動力卻更強勁。

????在S6，也就是A6的大馬力版上，奧迪的新引擎能釋放420匹馬力，使這款車從0到時速60英里的加速時間僅為4.8秒。S7性能相似，掀背式的尾部取代了后備箱。而S8搭載的似乎是同一款4.0升引擎，但經過調校后能釋放520匹馬力，使這輛大型轎車不用4秒就能從0加速到時速60英里——這已經是超級跑車的本領了。

????The U.S. arrival of Audi's new S6, S7 and S8 high-performance sedans is one more step in the automotive brand's bid for recognition as No. 1 in the luxury category, an ambition that would have seemed a stretch a few years ago in light of competition from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus.

????Thing is, no one is scoffing anymore. Audi is advancing its case with the introduction of technologically sophisticated alternatives to its German competitors and to premium models developed by Japanese makers Toyota (TM) and Nissan (NSANY). In fast-growing global markets like China Audi's A4 already is an entry-level luxury car of choice for consumers who wish to differentiate from those who once routinely bought BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class vehicles. (For even more, check out our slideshow of 7 totally outrageous sports cars.)

????And as the number of all luxury cars on the road increase, all franchises are creating performance variants -- special versions with outsized engines and other over-the-top flair -- to generate enthusiasm, if not boost sales. Mercedes has an AMG designation, BMW developed M versions of its cars and Cadillac's high-end V series fills the same niche.

????It's taken Audi a long time to regain "the legitimacy it lost" starting in the 1980s with an unintended acceleration uproar affecting its cars that proved largely unfounded, says Aaron Bragman, an analyst for IHS etc. "Audi has a lot of momentum internationally and might already be the top luxury brand today in China," he adds.

????The heart of Audi's latest initiative in creating "S" models is a new 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8, which replaces the former top-of-the-line naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10. Though smaller in terms of total displacement, the new engine is more powerful.

????In the S6, a souped-up version of the A6 sedan, Audi's new engine puts out 420 horsepower, enabling the car to reach 60 mph from a dead stop in 4.8 seconds. The S7 offers similar performance and a hatch rather than a trunk. Audi's S8 is powered with what appears to be the same 4.0-liter engine but is modified to generate 520 horsepower, accelerating the big sedan from 0 to 60 in under four seconds -- supercar territory.