Beautiful Matte Black Premium Plus Package No Reserve Auction on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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.

Audi may add plug-in hybrid A6, A8 and Q7 to range [w/poll]

Audi could be getting even more diverse with its powertrains for the A6, A8 and Q7, moving beyond offering just gas- and diesel-powered models and adding plug-in hybrid variants of the three luxury vehicles. The report comes from Indian Autos Blog, which spoke to Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi's research and design chief, who confirmed the PHVs.
The next-generation Q7, due in 2015, will be the pioneer for the full-size PHV movement from Audi, although the A3 Sportback E-Tron (shown above) will precede it. The move toward plug-ins by Audi is a big step, as the German marque has stayed quite firmly in the diesel camp, outside of its racing efforts. It's developed a few E-Tron cars over the years, including a version based on the R8, although it wasn't until recently that production of the electric sports car became serious again.
It's believed that this hesitance to really dive into the PHV market is why Audi sacked former research and design boss Wolfgan Dürheimer, with IAB speculating that his approach was too conservative.

Hackenberg says next Audi A4 set for Frankfurt debut

The current Audi A4 is among the oldest vehicles in the brand's lineup. Having debuted back in 2008, it's long overdue for an update, and according to our friends at Indian Autos Blog, that'll happen in roughly six months. IAB spoke to Audi research and design chief Ulrich Hackenberg, who indicated that the fifth-generation A4 will be shown at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The new sedan will be unveiled in "a pre-presentation" before the auto show itself, Hackenberg told IAB, adding that "you'll be happy to see it." Information beyond that, though, remains sparse. Based on our previous spy photos, we expect the new A4 to ride on the Volkswagen Group's modular MLB Evo platform that's been stretched to accommodate a larger wheelbase. The styling, meanwhile, will be more evolutionary, inspired in part by the new TT. Expect more on the next-generation A4 as September approaches. Related Video: