Is it just me, or would this car be amazing in quattro and manual tranny format? I'm sure people will not buy this car because it's FWD and CVT. Or, do they not want to compete with the 325Cic/330Cic? Is this car only marketed towards those who don't want quattro (southern states) and a slushbox?

2.4 manual quattro is what i sat in at berlin audi forum. they just like ****ing with americans =D.. they make so many sweet cars, audi. they just only send a few here. I miss sitting in the rs6... why did it take them so long to decidee to send an RS our way, but only in TIP? i can still remember the sound of an RS4 passing us on the autobahn at 160mph. that was the best feeling of my life watching an m5 trailing it heh.

has quattro or at a minimum, manual tranny.
CVT is nice, but you loose the sport feeling.
Do they have a sport shifting feature with the CVT to give you the impression that you are shifting? (funny to think that we Americans would like this)

I've driven CVT in manual mode and I think it is a joke. It is better than Tiptronic but does not feel like regular stick at all...

Yestarday I also drove BMW 330 cab with 5-speed stick and sport suspension. It handles more direct and has the sporty feeling in both powertrain and steering. Overall BMW seems like better car for the same $$$. At least you have the choice of gearbox and the trim (no wood for me)

you have to get used to building up revs, and letting off the accelerator (gas) just before shifting up around 3 or 4 K, it works MUCH better... having said that, Its faster in D, as fast as a manual infact.
Depends what your looking for, drove around 5 speed manual loaner for 3 weeks when our car was in, Fun, really fun as we got a superdiesel (not available in US) with enough torque to make the wheels spin in third... anyway, it was really fun but after lots of traffic, we got back in the CVT car and it just felt ridiculously easy... and its possible to get the same time with no fanfare or thinking.

No word on the manual. I HIGHLY recommend all write to AoA begging for one. They do listen.