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It's the week ending September 4, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. Cash for Clunkers and Papa John's Camaro remain in the headlines for another week, and David E. Davis says he wishes Jean Jennings was dead, but besides all that, we've also got plenty of other unusual news sure to delight the automotive fan. Cash for Clunkers rebates undoubtedly fueled robust August car sales , with manufacturers showing increased sales over the same time period a year ago, and even better increases over their sales just one or two months ago. Motor Trend's Todd Lassa shares an astute analysis of these figures , with detailed insights into the best-selling models and manufacturers. Classic Car Examiner Jim Cherry knows cars have had a long and colorful history on TV from the 1966 Batmobile, to Entourage's Maserati Quatroporte, to Starsky & Hutch's Grand Torino. Knight Rider's Kitt car was so popular that Hasselhoff's series was revived years later in the vain hope of selling more lunchboxes. The right car makes the right statement on TV. They hop things up, express...
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Audi sold 7,524 vehicles in the U.S. during the month of June—making it their best sales month year-to-date ‘09. After all the numbers are tallied industry-wide, Audi says they expect their June share of the U.S. luxury import market to have increased by 9.1 percent. The company attributes the surge to the high demand for the new Audi Q5 crossover and Q7 TDI clean diesel SUV. The sales climate also improved 20 percent in June for the Audi A4 Cabriolet, quite possibly due to the onset of summer weather. Like most automakers, Audi’s year-to-date sales are still below last year’s figures, to be expected considering the recession, but the difference for Audi stands at just 15.9 percent. So, despite Sideways’ transforming task of alternating between Autobot and Decepticon only to create confusion in all camps, Audi’s impact in the import luxury market is clearly a strong force. Check out the entire Audi model lineup in our 2009 Audi buyer’s guide , featuring specs, pricing, and reviews. ~ Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com
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Director Michael Bay is well known for his larger-than-life adrenalin-pumping action films featuring intense conflicts, thumping loud soundtracks, and maybe even a little gratuitous sexual content. That said, fans of the first Transformers film will not be disappointed by Bay's sequel "Transformers 2: Revenge of The Fallen" which delivers extra portions of all of the above....
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It's the week ending May 21, and lots of automotive antics have been going on across the internets. We've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. We've got a holiday weekend approaching in just a few hours, so we hope these fun snippets will help you get into a memorable mood for Memorial Day Weekend! Will you be among the 32 million travelers AutoClub predicts will be taking a road trip for the weekend? Interestingly, more than 10 million Americans include their four-footed family members in their travels annually; 80 percent bring the dog, while only 15% are brave enough to dare carry a kitty. If you're planning to bring along your four-legged family member, the folks over at Animal Planet are sharing six excellent ways to ensure a righteous road trip with Rover or Rags in tow. Regardless of who else is coming along, we know you'll want to have a enjoyable trip, so be sure to check out our own Tips for Safe Memorial Day travel , here at autoMedia.com! Did you hear what Jeremy Clarkson --host and chief bombasticator of the BBC show Top Gear--said about the 2010 Honda Insight? Within three...
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The Super Bowl is an event bigger than life, pitting the year’s best football teams against one another for a chance at history, and lucrative fan support for years to come. It is also a showdown of advertising budgets and creativity. With NBC charging $2.8 million per 30-second spot, many companies known for kicking off new products and campaigns with the Super Bowl are backing away from the potential 100 million U.S. television viewers. For us gearheads, the most notable change is Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors being conspicuously absent. A true indicator of the troubles they face, the American car makers have withdrawn from this distinctly American sport. Naturally, all have trimmed their budgets across the board as they struggle with the challenges the entire industry faces. Some representatives have been quoted as saying they simply don’t have a major vehicle release to coincide with the event. To a certain degree, that is true, as many factories have been idled to reduce inventory and some products delayed, but there is always something new coming, like the 2010 Ford Fusion . This would have been a great time to tout the revitalized line up has a high-performance model and...
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Larger, sleeker, and better equipped, the all-new A4 sedan and Avant goes on sale in September starting at $32,700 and $34,500, respectfully. It will again be offered in front- and all-wheel drive, with a base turbocharged four-cylinder. New for 2009, the 2.0 TFSI engine features more horsepower (211 hp) and significantly more torque (258 lb.-ft.) than the engine it replaces. And it promises better fuel economy, with an EPA-rated 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The 3.2 FSI will be available strictly in the sedan and with the quattro all-wheel-drive system and a 6-speed Tiptronic transmission. The A4 Avant will be equipped with the 2.0 TFSI engine and the quattro all-wheel-drive system. See our previous sneak peak at the 2009 A4 . Research the Audi A4 in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries.
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Among the redesigned cars quietly heading to a showroom near you is the larger, sleeker, and more refined 2009 Audi A4 sedan and Avant wagon. On the auto show circuit this year, the A4 blended in with the expanding portfolio of models, seeming lost beside the A5, Q5, TT, and numerous S models. However, the new A4 deserves a closer look. The A4 sedan has grown almost five inches in length and two in width. This larger body rides on a wheelbase stretched six inches. Add it up, and the A4 threatens to outgrow its class and is nudging up against the A6. Look past the crude dimensions and you see a car who’s drag coefficient was reduced from 0.31 to 0.27. In addition to the new engine, the transmission and quattro were dramatically revised for the new A4. Not only has a new emphasis been placed on the speed of the tiptronic's shifts, but the layout has been changed: As in the A5 and S5, the differential is now right behind the engine and ahead of the torque converter, which extends the wheelbase and helps improve weight distribution. Quattro uses a 40/60 torque split and a self-locking center differential. The new all-wheel-drive system controls traction better near the car's limits...
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Audi will freshen its entry-level five-door hatchback model for the 2009 model year, with exterior and interior updates. Although Audi has released only this teaser image, we can see the exterior is distinguished with a revised front end. The new hood and fenders are more expressively styled, and the bumper and large single-frame radiator grille have been modified. Daytime running lights are standard features, and the optional bi-xenon headlamps incorporate LEDs. Not shown are new door handles and wheels. The rear features a modified bumper and lights, with fiber-optic light strips. Inside the car, the updates center around a more premium look to controls and switches, as well as an updated instrument panel. The 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower turbo four and 3.2-liter, 250-horsepower V-6 carry over. The 2.0 TFSI engine is supplied as standard with six-speed manual transmission, and the 3.2 is available exclusively with the six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, now also available for all engine versions. The independent suspension is an enhanced with an available adaptive-action shock absorber control system. The driver can choose between "Normal" and "Sport" programs...
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At the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, Audi took the wraps off the latest SUV to join its swelling ranks, the Q5. Slotting below the three-row Q7 in the range, the Q5 enters the luxury crossover vehicle market for 2009, boasting two inches in length and width over the popular BMW X3. It will be offered in the United States with a 3.2L, 265-hp V-6 FSI direct injection with all-wheel drive and a six-speed Tiptronic transmission. The exterior design has a premium yet friendly feel that reminds of the Volkswagen Tiguan, wrapped in Q7 elegance, and finished by the distinct brand-signature trapezoidal grille. Bi-xenon headlamps are available, and LED taillights are standard. Audi brags about the 0.33 drag coefficient—low for an SUV. Thankfully, it appears the Q5 has bucked the recent trend for short side glass and large C-pillars conspiring to reduce outward visibility. The interior balances luxury with versatility. The cabin materials count aluminum, woods, chrome, leather, and Alcantara, as well as a large selection of optional design packages. The instrument cluster has a display screen, and there is large, central monitor. A navigation system with real-time traffic ability is available. The infotainment...
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Nary a blockbuster film makes it to the big screen without a sponsored, automotive tie-in. When Marvel super hero Iron Man takes to the screen on May 2, his marketing sidekick will be an Audi R8 . This pairs the brilliant, high-tech-driven Tony Stark played by Robert Downey Jr. with an exotic, high-tech coupe. No word if the R8 can fire repulsor beams from its four grille rings. Downey Jr. said in an official release, "I grew up with the Audi mystique. This carmaker has always been right in the forefront when it comes to technology, performance, innovation, and safety. I see Tony and myself as worthy ambassadors for Audi -- we're genuine fans of the make." If you watch the Iron Man movie trailer , you can see perhaps the cast had other feelings about a Cobra replica. There will be other Audis in the film, such as an S5 driven by Virginia "Pepper" Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. If you’re like Downey Jr., a fan of Audi and Iron Man, then it is worth flying over to a micro-site dedicated to the film. (Warning: you must turn off your pop-up blocker to visit.) It features technophile, billionaire Tony Stark's top-secret workshop. Two perspectives are available...
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Audi will introduce a TT diesel sports car at the Geneva Motor Show this week boasting 50 mpg. For the first time, the TT will be offered—in Europe—with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine. Using common-rail fuel injection, this powerplant produces 168 horsepower, with a stout 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Audi claims it produces 20-percent less carbon dioxide than an equivalent gasoline engine. Already offered in the A4 sedan , this TDI engine promises a 0-60 mph time under 7.5 seconds. The TT TDI coupe has a 140-mph top speed and claims 53.3 mpg—quite impressive for a car that promises serious fun and luxury. For those who want to lower the top, the roadster makes do with a 138-mph terminal velocity and thrifty 51.3 mpg. The latest diesel engines are clean, quiet, thrifty, and delightfully powerful. More choices are expected here in the United States over the next couple of years, promising significant fuel-economy gains over traditional engines. However, right now, diesel fuel is priced above gasoline on average, partially negating some operating benefits. As worldwide demand for diesel continues to increase, it remains to be seen what role diesels will play in cars. Would you consider a diesel...
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The countdown is on for the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and some kindly manufacturers are providing an early peek at things to come. Following up the redesigned Audi A4 sedan is the wagon edition, the A4 Avant. Audi has teased us with the promise of a new high-powered, four-cylinder turbocharged engine to be unveiled next month that promises an increase in performance and fuel economy. In Europe, the A4 already boasts a tempting array of powerplants: 1.8 TFSI – 164 hp, 184 lb.-ft. 3.2 FSI – 265 hp, 243 lb.-ft. 2.0 TDI – 143 hp, 236 lb.-ft. 2.0 TDI – 170 hp, 258 lb.-ft. 3.0 TDI – 240 hp, 367 lb.-ft. The Avant gives the sedan a straightforward wagon treatment, benefiting from the new platform and its longer wheelbase. A shift in proportions over the previous generation gives the Avant a sleeker, sportier look while gaining handling acumen from the revised suspension. Likewise, the latest A4 range boast a more sophisticated, feature-rich interior that sees the entire car line inch up in the luxury-car ranks. Raise the powered hatch on the Avant and you’ll find a carpet-lined cargo area with features such as a reversible cargo floor and a retractable cargo cover. Naturally, the rear seat is...
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