Audi: A6 Premium on 2040-cars

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2018 Audi Q5 | Pricing a redesigned crossover

With its redesign of the 2018 Q5, Audi introduces a host of updates and upgrades to what was already a popular formula. The platform is all-new (and almost 200 pounds lighter), the four-cylinder turbo enjoys a 32-horsepower bump, and ride is not compromised by handling that feels far more nimble. With the changes comes a $600 bump ($40,900 to $41,500) in base price. In a segment that includes the Range Rover Evoque, BMW X3 and Benz's GLC (for Autoblog's comparison tool of similar vehicles, click here), Audi's Q5 is a mature, upscale entry for grown-ups with little interest in pretense or posturing. Sitting on a 111-inch wheelbase and stretching to almost 184 inches, the Q5 is available only with quattro all-wheel drive and has an Outback-like 8.2 inches of ground clearance. And its 252 horsepower is distributed, depending on road conditions, in varying proportions front to rear, as needed, via its new quattro ultra-tech drivetrain. Available in Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels — we're opting for the midlevel Premium Plus, which supplies you — for its $4K "premium" — a standard sunroof, seat memory, Audi Side Assist and Pre Sense rear with cross traffic sensors, full LED headlights, key/keyless start and a hands-free tailgate. Base MSRP is $45,500 plus transportation, but with a judicious use of the option boxes we can keep it under $50,000. Our silver paint choice costs $575, but a light metallic color doesn't show dirt too badly during long winter stretches between car washes. And for summers, Audi offers its Warm Weather package for $1,450, with front seat ventilation, a sportier bucket profile with four-way power lumbar and sunshades (manual) on the rear windows. Finally, what we think should be standard — rear side airbags — we'll opt for, with a $350 surcharge. With destination, that brings our total to just under $49,000. With 10 percent down, plus taxes, title and license, look for 60 payments to run about $800/month. Audi also touts a 36-month lease — with $6K out of pocket — at $523/month, allowing 12,000 miles a year. Neither number is a screaming deal from a math standpoint, but both are valid approaches for a completely credible crossover. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Audi Q5: First Drive View 32 Photos Audi Car Buying Ownership Crossover Luxury

The Volkswagen Group switches official language to English

The Volkswagen Group can't be fairly thought of as entirely German anymore, so the news that the company is switching its official language to English to help attract managers and executives is a rational, if surprising, decision. While many VW Group companies are still staidly German in character and culture, consider the other companies that it controls: Bentley (British), Bugatti (French), Ducati and Lamborghini (Italian), Skoda (Czech), Scania trucks (Swedish), and SEAT (Spanish). Not to mention the large Volkswagen Group of America operation, which constructs cars in Chattanooga, TN. Volkswagen's explicit motivation is to improve management recruitment – making sure the company isn't losing out on candidates for important positions because they can't speak German – and that's inherently sensible in a globalized economy. Particularly considering, like it or lump it, that English is the lingua franca of said global economy. It also should make it inherently easier to communicate between its world-wide subsidiaries and coordinate operations. It's hard to say for sure if this will have any impact on the consumer, although it's easy to see the benefits if, say, VW Group hires some American product planners or engineers and they push for features and designs that more closely suit American needs. After all, the US is a hugely important market for any manufacturer, and so the switch to English almost certainly has something to do with the outsized influence of the US in the global economy. And there doesn't seem to be a downside from a purely rational perspective, although it could mean that the Group's corporate culture becomes less German. Whether that's a good or a bad thing depends on your perspective. Related Video: Image Credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Audi Bentley Bugatti Porsche Volkswagen SEAT Skoda

Audi R18 suffers huge crash during Le Mans practice, driver conscious and alert

Loic Duval, driver of the #1 Audi R18 E-tron Quattro, suffered a massive crash today during free practice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Duval's car reportedly went off track backwards at high speed near the Porsche Curves and flew into the retaining fence. There is no video of the actual crash at the moment, but a video of the aftermath (viewable below) shows significant damage to the Audi and to the fence. The wall nearby the car appears unaffected.
Thankfully, it occurred quite close to a marshal's stand, and they were present almost immediately after the incident. Both the official press release from the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a tweet from Audi Sport (below) indicated that Duval was conscious after the crash, and he was taken by ambulance to the medical center and then to the hospital. The press release says: "His condition is encouraging." However, any injuries he might have sustained are unknown at this time. After the crash, the course was red flagged, and practice resumed about 50 minutes later.
Duval is alert. He will be transported from the Medical Center to the hospital for further examinations #R18 #LM24 @FIAWEC @24hoursoflemans