2008 Audi A4 Quattro Base Sedan 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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Audi, Google readying infotainment partnership announcement for CES?

The merging of our smart phones and automotive infotainment systems may be about to get an even bigger boost, if a report from Forbes is to be believed. The business publication is reporting that Google and Audi may announce a partnership at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that would see Google's Android OS taking control of Audi's MMI infotainment system.
The move by Google would be a direct counter to Apple's iOS in the Car initiative, the marquee feature of which allows drivers to access the company's Siri digital assistant via a car's voice controls. According to Forbes, other iOS features that have found their way into cars include functions for iMessage, as well as audio and satellite navigation systems.
Audi and Google already enjoy a working relationship, with the tech company providing data services on many of the automaker's cars, as well as lending Google Maps to the MMI system. If this report turns out to be true, fans of Android could find Audis looking a lot more appealing.

Next-gen Audi RS4 coming, might make it to America

Let us be frank: The second-generation Audi RS4 was one of the best, most exciting cars of the past decade. A four-door sedan with a 4.2-liter V8, all-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual transmission? What wasn't to like? While you can still get a taste of the B7 RS4's character with the current RS5, it isn't quite the same. That's why we're giddy about a new report from Car and Driver, which claims that not only is a new RS4 on the way, but that it could, maybe, possibly return to the United States. As previously reported, the fourth-generation RS4 will go back to a twin-turbocharged V6, after two generations of unassisted V8s under the hood. As per RS4 tradition, it will also be limited to a five-door Avant body style, because "that is what people expect from the RS4," Quattro GmbH boss Heinz Hollerweger told Car and Driver. An RS5 Sportback could also be in the offing, which might remain more true to the character of the first US-market RS4. The US question, though, remains an iffy one, largely because of the Avant shape. Audi has reduced the number of wagons it's offered in the US over the years, dropping the A4 and A6 Avant, although the former is sort of still offered in the form of the Allroad. But that position might be enough to keep the next-gen RS4 off our shores, although as the Quattro boss told CD the US market is changing and "there is more demand there [for wagons], so maybe that will change." Well, Herr Hollerweger, we're here to tell you that America loves wagons, and that you should put the next-gen RS4 on sale over here post haste. Danke.

Audi buys Ballard fuel cell patents for $80 million

While some auto companies (e.g., Toyota and Hyundai) are giving away some hydrogen fuel cell patents, others are paying a pretty penny to gain access to the H2 tech. Audi announced today that it has purchased a suite of fuel-cell patent from Ballard Power Systems. The deal between Volkswagen Group and the Canadian fuel cell pioneer is worth over $80 million US. Unsurprisingly, the value of Ballard's stock shot up about a dollar (to $2.61 as of this writing) on the announcement. VW and Ballard will also extend their development agreement, originally scheduled to end in 2017, to March 2019, and possibly another two years after that. Thus far, the deal – which revolves around the "design and manufacture of next-generation fuel cell stacks" for VW's H2 demonstration program – and Ballard says it is a leader in "critical areas of fuel cell product design – including the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), plate and stack components – along with certain testing and integration work." At the LA Auto Show last fall, VW showed off a Golf SportWagen and a Passat with a hydrogen hybrid HyMotion powertrain as well as a Audi A7 Sportback H-Tron Quattro. Audi buys fuel-cell patents from Ballard Power Systems Development agreement with Ballard extended until 2019 Audi's Head of Development Prof. Hackenberg: "The entire VW Group will use these patents." Ingolstadt/Burnaby, February 11, 2015 – AUDI AG has acquired a package of patents relating to fuel-cell technology from Ballard Power Systems Inc. In addition, the Volkswagen Group has extended its cooperation with the Canadian clean energy company until 2019. The purchase of these patents will provide new impetus for the development of fuel-cell drive systems at Audi, VW and the Volkswagen Group. As explained by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG and responsible for the steering of the development departments of all brands in the VW Group: "Audi is acquiring these strategically important patents for the entire group and will make them available to all the brands. In this way, we are securing crucial expertise that will provide new impetus for the further development of this technology." Ballard Power Systems Inc. is based in Burnaby, Canada, and is one of the world's leading companies in the technology of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.