2012 Audi A5 2.0t Quattro Prestige Awd Sunroof Nav 23k Texas Direct Auto on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Ward's Automotive Ten Best Engines of 2014 dominated by diesels, turbos

With the Car and Driver Ten Best decided, the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced and Cadillac, Ram and Subaru chalking up wins with Motor Trend, it's fair to say that the automotive awards season is in full swing. The next set of trophies to be handed out will be from Ward's Automotive, which has announced the winners of its 2014 10 Best Engines.
The latest contest was marked by the widespread emergence of diesel power and the continued success of turbocharged engines. There was even an electric motor on this year's list. In fact, only three of the ten winners were naturally aspirated and only two winners returned from last year.
"We weren't looking to throw the bums out, as they might say about an election. We were just really impressed with the flood of new powertrains," said Ward's Automotive Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. Those new powertrains include the 83-kilowatt electric motor from the Fiat 500e, the 1.0-liter, EcoBoost three-cylinder from the Ford Fiesta and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel from the Chevrolet Cruze.

2017 Audi Q7 starts at $55,750

The second-generation Audi Q7 debuted last winter, and we already drove it in the spring in Europe. Audi, however, kept US pricing for this lighter, more stylish luxury SUV a secret – until now. The 2017 Q7 starts at $55,750 (including the $950-destination charge), and that's over $6,500 more than the $49,225-base cost for the last-gen 2015 model (there was no 2016 version in the US). Buyers get some big updates when they pay the extra cash for the 2017 model. The switch to the MLB platform helps cut 475 pounds, and aluminum suspension components reduce unsprung mass. Audi's Pre Sense City safety system comes standard and can automatically begin braking the seven-passenger SUV if a crash seems imminent below 52 miles per hour. Three-zone automatic climate control and a panoramic sunroof are also on the normal features list. The options include high-tech upgrades like the company's virtual cockpit system, a color head-up display, and a 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo. Audi's 3.0 TFSI V6 with 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque and an eight-speed automatic is the only available powertrain combo for the Q7 in the US. Audi originally planned to offer the 3.0-liter TDI V6, but emissions problems nixed that. The second-gen Q7 is available in three trim levels here: Premium, Premium Plus for $59,750, and Prestige for $65,250. Company spokesperson Amelia Fine-Morrison tells Autoblog the first 2017s will arrive at dealers in January. Audi of America announces pricing for the new dynamic and technological benchmark in the luxury SUV segment – the all-new 2017 Audi Q7 November 11, 2015 | HERNDON, Virginia New portfolio of available driver assistance systems includes adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist to help take the stress out of stop and go traffic Sport sedan-like driving experience and space for up to seven passengers, latest technology and exceptional design are just some of the highlights of the all-new Audi Q7, on sale at the beginning of 2016 SUV boasts innovative suite of technologies and connectivity features, including Audi virtual cockpit, Q7 specific app for Android and Apple integration as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration With striking design and lightweight construction, the all-new 2017 Audi Q7 sets a new standard in the luxury SUV segment. The second generation of the seven-passenger SUV also adds benchmark connectivity, infotainment systems and driver assistance technologies.

Audi's next-gen "matrix beam lighting system" under threat from Washington

Automotive News reports Audi may have a hard road ahead of it when it comes to convincing federal regulators to allow the company's new matrix beam lighting. The system uses small cameras to detect other vehicles on the road and darkens specific elements of the high-beam pattern to provide maximum nighttime visibility without blinding other drivers. Audi has been displaying this technology on its concept cars for a couple of years now (including the Crosslane Coupe Concept shown above at its 2012 Paris Motor Show reveal). Audi hopes the technology will effectively do away with the industry's current high and low beam settings, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn't allow such a system under its current laws. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 specifically says headlamps are not to shine in this dynamic of a way.
Audi has asked has asked NHTSA for more clarification to determine what, if any elements of the matrix beam lighting technology can legally be used on US-specification vehicles. But American buyers may have to settle for systems that automatically dim their high beams until the rules get a bit more clarification.