It’s official: the 2009 Audi Q5

After months of spy photos and speculation there are finally official news about the Q5 CUV. The new model uses the same underpinnings as the A5 coupe and A4 sedan/wagon and unlike its bigger brother, the Q7, does not share architecture with a Volkswagen corresponding model. Proof of this is the longitudinally mounted engine opposed to the transverse one of the VW Tiguan.

The Q5 is at the heart of the mid-size CUV and has a more compact and tidy design overall than its heftier Q7 sibling, in line with Audi’s philosophy of being a premium sports-car brand.
Audi’s Q5 has a clear resemblance with the the A4 Avant, yet has distinct design features as well. Comparable in size with the Infiniti EX, BMW X3 or Acura RDX, Audi seems to have substantially more space for its occupants.

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April 21, 2008 · Filed Under Audi, New Cars, News

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Back to the roots with the Volkswagen Up!

First word about the Volkswagen Up! concept dates back from October last year. Measuring 135.8″ in length and 64.2″ in width, the VW Up! follows the trend of small, economical vehicles that started long ago with the famous Beetle.

As production seems to come along just fine, more and more details about the tiny vehicle are available. The Up! is said to have a 600cc two-cylinder turbocharged engine placed in the rear with 94MPG combined in the European cycle.

Compared with the Smart that enjoys such success in the United States, the Up! has much superior fuel economy. Moreover, it may seat up to four people within the tiny cabin and provides the possibility of removing the back seats for larger storage space.

Pricing starts from around £4,000 in developing markets and reaches £7,500 for full-option models destined for the European market and it’s just a matter of time until the tiny runabout will roam the streets.

April 21, 2008 · Filed Under Concept Cars, Volkswagen

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Opel Insignia officially revealed

After we saw some spy shots and we’ve found out some details, the competitor for Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Mazda6 and Citroen C5, Opel Insignia is here. Opel’s new car is set to replace the old Vectra and could land Stateside sporting a Saturn badge.

The Insignia features a taut fascia, muscular stance and deeply drawn side blades, that extend from front fenders and runs along the side sills. It is 21 cm longer and five cm wider tan the Vectra. Oh, i know what you’re asking, but no! The legroom should be an issue because the Insignia gets and additional 35 mm onto its wheelbase.

The Insignia will be available in three models : the standard saloon (pictured above), a wagon and a hatchback. Its power is provided by a choice of three diesels of four gasoline-powered engines that can produce up to 160 hp.

You can see the Opel Insignia at the London Motor Show this July and will be availalbe in showrooms in the UK this October.

April 18, 2008 · Filed Under New Cars, Opel

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2008 International Engine of the Year Award nominees announced

The “International Engine of the Year Award” is one of the most important awards in the automotive industry. Think of it like the Academy Awards for engines, or something like that.

The 2007’s winner was BMW’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 (pictured above). Here is the list of this year’s nominees : Nissan’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 (found in the Nissan GT-R), Mitsubishi’ 2.0-liter twin-turbo I4 (Mitsubishi EVO X), Audi’s 5.2-liter V10 (Audi S8), Chevrolet’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8 (Corvette ZR1), and BMW’s 4.0-liter V8 (BMW M3).

The winners will be announced on May 7, at Engine Expo 2008, in Stuttgart, Germany. Let’s wait and see what the future has in stores for this year’s awards.

April 17, 2008 · Filed Under Awards, BMW, Engines, News

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Audi Snook Concept

audi snook concept

The Audi Snook concept, the winner of Michelin Challenge Design Award 2008 at this year’s Detroit Auto Show was designed by Tilmann Schlootz and seems to defy all the laws of gravity. We don’t have too many details regarding this concept but we can make some speculations based on the photos. The car looks like a Segway and seems to have borrown the ideea of sphere-wheels from the movie “I, Robot”.

Tilmann Schlootz describes his project: “The Magic Egg of Columbus, or better, two billard balls standing on each other: this icon is my origin on the way of reducing the hardware demands of physical mobility to the minimum.

One point touching the ground, the inverse pendulum in motion. Agility through instability, controlled by artificial intelligence - that is my formal issue.”

The multi-directional engine consisted of a sphere-wheel, enables the driver to navigate and steer the auto-stabilized cain in every direction. This sounds like new driving experiences such as : new maneuvers, fun driving and satisfaction of the need for more urban mobility.

April 17, 2008 · Filed Under Audi, Concept Cars

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