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Consumer Reports selling its road-tested roadsters [w/video]

Here's a chance to acquire a celebrity-owned vehicles, and this time at a discount instead of a premium. So the celebrity in this case is Consumer Reports, that magazine that could be equally adored and abhored by car enthusiasts. CR buys all of its test vehicles and usually finds willing second owners within its own ranks, but its opening its small used-car lot to the public. On the forecourt are four roadsters: an automatic 2012 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro S-Tronic with 6,600 miles for $36,500, a manual 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i with 8,400 miles for $45,000, a manual 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 for $39,500 and a manual 2013 Porsche Boxster with 7,000 miles for $48,000.
Those numbers mean a savings of $9,000 to $10,000 before haggling - each car is listed with an "Asking price" so there could be some wiggle room if you show up with pockets full of dough and eyes full of serious intent. Since the money CR earns from the sales go back into the magazine's budget to buy more test cars, however, it probably won't take any oddball trades, so you can forget about getting any purchasing help from that track-day AMC Javelin project on blocks in the back yard.
The vehicles have been taken care of and spiffed up for sale; buyers will take delivery at the CR test track in East Haddam, Connecticut and get a tour of the facilities. While you're there they'll even take you on a lap around the track so you can feel how your car handles when driven by one of its testers. They will probably not help you with advice on which toaster and dehumidifier to buy - you'll still need to get a subscription for that. Have a look at the video below to see a day in the life of a CR test car.

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.

Refreshed Audi A6 gets ready for Paris debut

The Audi A6 remains a solidly luxurious choice in the deeply competitive executive sedan segment, duking it out with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Lexus GS, among others. Having been on sale since 2011, though, it's starting to become just a tiny bit stale. Cue the refresh.
Expected to make its debut in October at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the long-roof Avant/Allroad variant shown here gives us our first glimpse at some of the tweaks Audi has in store for its A6 range as a whole.
In general, this is pretty standard refresh stuff - new headlights that retain the same general shape as the current car but add a new DRL pattern, while there are also some subtle tweaks to the front fascia. The rear taillights have also been freshened (although as only the A6 sedan is sold in the US, it's likely the taillights we see will be different), and some minor changes have been made to the rear bumper. According to our spies, the cabin and MMI infotainment system could see some tweaks, while the oily bits under the hood could be in for for some minor changes as well.