Quote:
Originally Posted by r3dbimmer89
Not true...Audi started the "Performance" trim back in the late 00's when they moved the B8 S4 down market to compete with the E90 335i. Before then, the RS models were like the CS versions of M cars. No one would've thought BMW's foray back in turbocharging would yield so much performance from the N54 engine.
Afterwards Audi proliferated their line-up with an "S-Line", "S", and "RS" trims. BMW and Merc saw the dollar value and follow suit like they usually do with everything... 3 Series Coupe turned into a 4 series a la A4/A5. X6 "SAC" yields a GLE "Coupe" then a Q8 "Coupe", etc., etc.
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Yep, Audi is the trendsetter, and I will say, they did it the best as S and RS compared to BMW and MB. And to add to the reply in reference to the post above, BMW actually started using the M-Performance (M###) moniker before Mercedes used the AMG-Sport (43/53 AMG) moniker. The M235i was the first modern BMW to use it in late 2013 when it was unveiled - M535/635 is a whole other story. Mercedes didn't start using the 43 Moniker until the GLE43 which premiered in 2016.