2008 Audi Tt 2.0t on 2040-cars

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2014 Audi SQ5

No Diesel? No Problem
With the exception of a handful of markets (including the US), the Audi SQ5 was a pioneer for the company's S/RS performance line as it was the first model to wear the badge and also get diesel power. Our general "everything is better with a diesel" mentality was put to the test when we first heard we would be getting a non-diesel SQ5 in the US (despite the availability of the diesel-powered Q5 TDI here already), but as usual we can only blame our federal emissions standards. As Audi tells it, the SQ5 TDI engine would require AdBlue to meet US emissions regulations, and the packaging of such a system just wasn't possible, so the global SQ5's diesel engine was replaced by a gasoline-powered V6 borrowed from the Audi S4/S5. To show that little, if anything, was lost in translation from diesel to gas, we headed to southwestern Colorado to spend an afternoon with the all-new 2014 Audi SQ5.
Our drive program had us taking the SQ5 from Durango, CO to the city of Gateway, before heading to Grand Junction the next morning. There's nothing like spending five hours strapped into a seat, traversing hill and mountain, to truly test a vehicle's comfort and driving dynamics. From the first touch of the SQ5's push-button starter, we knew this was no ordinary Q5. As the engine came to life with a deep burble and raspy pops, and we spent the rest of the day trying to come to terms with the fact that not everything needs a diesel. Wait. What?!

Volkswagen Group, BMW Z4 top Total Value Awards by Strategic Vision

It was just nine months ago that Strategic Vision announced its 2011 Total Value Awards, but you don't have to wait until next year for the 2012 awards. The Volkswagen Group keeps its lead as the number one brand, with seven products taking top category spots: Golf, Jetta Wagon, CC, Eos and Audi A3 Wagon, Q5 and Q7. Strategic Vision says "true innovation" - "rich and impactful, intuitive, motivational, in-depth and is able to trigger description by the user in great specificity" - is the open secret of the brands with the strongest showings. Results are culled from 77,153 owners covering more than 350 new cars bought between September of 2011 and 2012 ranked in the Total Value Index (TVI).
Other notable winners are Hyundai-Kia following VW in the brand category and having the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Sorento among category winners, the BMW Z4 taking the premium roadster category and the highest overall score of any vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt continuing to gather silverware in the Special Category, nabbing the second-highest score of all and representative of "nearly perfect innovation," and Chrysler and Dodge being most improved.
Check out the press release below for your day's dose of jargon and all the winners.

Audi recalls A6, A7, and A3 in two airbag-related campaigns

Audi will recall a total of 21,978 vehicles in the US across two campaigns. The Basics: Audi's larger recall covers 21,074 examples of 2012-2013 A6 sedans with manufacturing dates between March 28, 2011, and March 25, 2013, and the 2012-2013 A7 models built between January 25, 2011, and March 19, 2013. The Problem: In examples of the sedans with heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System can malfunction and prevent the passenger's side airbag from deploying in a crash. Injuries/Deaths: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will repair the Passenger Occupant Detection System. If You Own One: Audi will begin the recall in February 2016. The Basics: In the smaller safety campaign, Audi will recall 904 examples of the 2015 A3 Cabriolet built between June 5, 2014, and April 1, 2015. The Problem: The driver or front passenger seat covers might not have the correct stitching, and this could prevent the side airbag from properly deploying in a crash. Injuries/Deaths: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will replace the seatback covers on affected seats. If You Own One: Audi will begin the recall in February 2016. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Passenger Seat Occupant Detection System may Fail Report Receipt Date: DEC 08, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V823000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 21,074 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s) AUDI A6 2012-2013 AUDI A7 2012-2013 Details Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. SUMMARY: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 vehicles manufactured March 28, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles manufactured January 25, 2011, to March 19, 2013. In vehicles with heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), used to enable the front passenger air bags, may malfunction and prevent the passenger-side air bags from deploying in a crash. CONSEQUENCE: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash. REMEDY: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in February 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D1.