The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.
The company restricted entrants to hardware with a price tag of less than $100,000, so the list isn’t populated with too many wild exotics. While vehicles like the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Porsche 911 are low-hanging fruit, the list also featured a few surprises. Read More »
Good things come in small packages. Or smaller packages, anyway, as Audi has been discovering with its SUV range. What started with the mammoth Q7 has since grown – or shrank – to include the smaller Q5 and the even smaller Q3, which was just confirmed for the North American market. Keen to capitalize on a positive trend, Audi has been rumored to be considering adding a Q1 to its line-up, details of which are now emerging. Read More »
The editors from Autoweek have lined up their notes and named their 2011 Best of the Best. The 2012 Audi A7 and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque took the top honors, with editor Wes Raynal saying that the Audi is a vehicle with “few peers” thanks its integration of sedan styling and hatchback functionality. The Evoque, meanwhile, won over the hearts and minds of those at Autoweek thanks to its Land Rover roots and excellent ride refinement. The publication says the Evoque redefines the brand.
Autoweek isn’t alone in its picks. As you may recall, the editors at our sister site, AOL Autos, chose both the A7 and the Evoque for the website’s first-ever car of the year awards, Motor Trend named the Evoque its SUV of the Year, and we’re rather fond of them both, as well.
In order to qualify for the Autoweek Best of the Best list, a vehicle had to be completely or substantially new for 2011. Click past the jump for the full press release. Read More »
Christmas just came a few days early for Audi fans with the announcement of the A1 Quattro, a high-performance, limited-edition version of Audi’s subcompact hatch.
As its name would imply, the A1 Quattro comes equipped with the automaker’s legendary all-wheel-drive system, with power provided by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder used in the S3. The reworked mill puts out 252 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm – a boost of more than 70 hp and 74 lb-ft over the standard 1.4-liter A1.
A six-speed manual shuttles that power to a Haldex AWD setup and on to center-locking 17-inch wheels that ape the original 80s-era Quattro’s style. There’s no word on weight, but Audi claims the hi-po A1 will match the S3′s 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds and top out at 152 mph.
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Audi is recalling a small number of 2012 A6 models built between April 8 and May 26, 2011. The problem? According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the seam of the side curtain airbag may not have been stitched properly, and thus, may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. A total of 317 A6 models are affected by this recall.
To fix this, NHTSA reports that Audi dealers will replace the head curtain airbags free of charge. Owners are currently in the process of being notified and the official safety recall will begin in January. Follow the jump for the full details in NHTSA’s release. Read More »
Audi of America recently took delivery of a U.S.-customer-spec R8 LMS Ultra meant for testing next month, and the gents at Quattroworld were able to get a picture of it. Being lighter, safer, and better balanced, the V10-powered racer with up to 570 horsepower is expected to outdo its multiple-title-winning predecessor.
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It’s been a spell since we caught wind of the rumored BMW X6 fighter from Audi, but Automotive News Europe reports the vehicle is still in development. The publication quotes Walter de’Silva, design chief with the Volkswagen Group, as saying Audi will definitely launch a more athletic crossover positioned between the Q5 and the Q7. Details are understandably scarce at the moment, but the vehicle will likely be designed to help Audi tap into the premium softroader segment where buyers aren’t afraid to pay top dollar for a vehicle. Unless Audi unexpectedly decides to completely scrap its alphanumeric naming scheme, odds are the newcomer will wear Q6 badges when it bows.
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