Audi

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Kiplinger's Best, 2012: Ford Focus (Under $20,000), Audi A7 (More than $50,000)

Kiplinger has been published for 90 years and now for the 61st time it's publishing its annual buyer’s guide of best value new cars. Kiplinger’s Best in Class and Best New winners are based on rankings that weigh performance, value and safety. Half the score comes from performance and value and about a third from vehicle safety. The remaining score is based on Kiplinger test drives of the cars, during which we assess design, comfort and dashboard layout. Sedans are ranked within price categories while crossovers, SUVs, minivans and wagons are not broken up by price but scored on a scale that rewards lower prices. The results are presented monetarily in categories and sub-categories, under $20,00 to more than $50,000,

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Buick Regal GS, 2012: Fast, handsome competition for Audi, Acura

Buick’s fast 1965-74 GS (Gran Sport) muscle cars were far more luxurious than some rivals. The 2012 Buick Regal GS revives the “GS” name in fine style. This time around, though, the mid-size GS is a fast, handsome rival to foreign sedans from Audi and Acura. The new Regal GS has a decidedly European feel because it was largely engineered by General Motors’ Opel unit in Germany. It thus has a taut, supple ride, confident handling and a refined demeanor. The 2012 Regal also is offered with an 182-horsepower four-cylinder, which makes it feel a little underpowered, and a turbocharged 220-horsepower four-cylinder. The GS has an advanced engine that easily outdoes those motors. The old GS models had big V-8s,

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Audi A7, 2012: New luxury sports sedan tops best 2012 car list

Since its debut in the United States 10 months ago, the 2012 Audi A7 has received wide acclaim. It's been named Car of the Year by at least one publication (Playboy), and it's also on numerous top-10 lists. The Weekly Driver reviewed the Audi A7 a few months ago, but it's also now featured again as the first in the alphabetical listing of the general consensus choicea of 2012 Cars of the Year among several automotive web sites and print publications. The A7 marked Audi's return to the executive hatchback market since the 1970 three-door Audi 100 Coupe of 1970 and the 1977 five-door 100 Avant. The A7 was preceded by a concept car, the Audi Sportback, first shown at

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Hyundai, Toyota shine among TheWeeklyDriver.com's 2011 Top-10 Cars

TheWeeklyDriver.com had its most successful year in 2011. We posted plenty of car news and automotive trends articles, and we incorporated a good supply of independently produced videos to complement the approximately 100 vehicles we reviewed. As editor and publisher of the site, I reviewed 29 cars and trucks in 2011. I drove more than a dozen other vehicles at press launches for several automakers, and I want to thank the nearly dozen manufacturers I worked with in 2011 for their continued support. Thanks also to Michael Dobrin Public Relations, Page One Automotive and STI Fleet, for their continued logistics and manufacturer liaison assistance. In July, I traveled to the Tour de France for the 13th time. There's no better

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Acura TSX, 2012: slick, quick worthy foe for BMW, Audi

The 2012 Acura TSX is a difficult car to categorize. It's often cited as an entry level luxury sedan. But with its new option, a peppy six-speed manual transmission, and a Special Edition package, it's also a sports car. Luxury sedan and sports car? That's an oxymoron in the automotive industry. But with Special Edition package, even if only offered on the four-cylinder Acura TSX, it's also an ideal description. The base TSX sedan and TSX Sport Wagon feature a long list of standard features: Automatic xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheel, foglights, heated outside mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, an eight-way power driver seat with memory, a four-way power passenger seat, leather

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BMW keeps streak, Honda, Ford get 2 spots on Car and Driver's 2012 Best Cars list

The BMW 3-Series extended its streak to 21 consecutive years while Honda and Ford landed two models each on Car and Driver magazine's 30th annual 10 Best Cars List. A total of 68 cars were eligible, all according the publication. For consideration, cars must be new or significantly updated from 2011 available by January 2012 and cost less than $80,000. "As in years past, the cars on this year's list represent the best overall vehicles on the market today," said Eddie Alterman, editor-in-chief, Car and Driver. "Out of 68 contenders, these are the ones that consistently perform the best, are a good value and are engaging, fun-to-drive vehicles." Of the BMW 3-Series, Car and Driver commented: "After 21 consecutive years

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Audi TT RS, 2012: New coupe a sports car racehorse

Those who can't afford a really hot sports car such as a Porsche 911 Carrera S should check out the 2012 Audi TT RS, which brings Audi's much anticipated hot rod RS nameplate back to America. The racy looking new Audi TT RS is a breathtaking new high-performance addition to Audi’s accomplished TT line. While docile on public roads, I found the TT RS acted like a thoroughbred on the challenging Witzig Raceway track during a media preview of the car that began near Hartford, Conn. The high-quality TT RS is an exclusive model at the top of the TT line because Audi spokespersons said at the preview that only approximately 1,000 TT RS models will annually be sent to

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World Series, 2011: Audi, BMW, GM, Nissan will have TV ads

Audi, Nissan, BMW and Chevrolet will help comprise a large presence for the car industry during the World Series on Fox when the 107th edition of the Fall Classic between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers begins Oct. 18 in St. Louis. According to a report on the website www.broadcastingcable.com, World Series commercial spots sold out for about $500,000 per per spot, up from last year about $50,000 per spot. "Led by several categories, especially cars, MLB postseason has been solid for us. We're pacing well ahead of last year," Neil Mulcahy, executive VP for sports sales at Fox, told the website. Fox Sports said its top categories during the World Series will include cars, financials/insurance, movies, pharmaceutics, packaged

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Audi A7, 2012: Stylish luxury sedan collecting praise (video)

The 2012 Audi A7 has received nearly universal praise for its slick exterior design, handsome, well-dsigned interior and superior performance. The upscale sedan or sporting utility vehicle was selected as 2011 Car of the Year by Esquire Magazine and it's likely a front runner for similar honors in 2012 by niche automobile publications and car websites. Here's what a few car reviewers are commenting about the 2012 Audi A7: "Delightful — that sums up the A7 in a word. It has a cabin that’s the epitome of sophisticated comfort and the sort of ride demanded of a large, luxurious car. However, head out of town, ramp up the tone of the drive and look out — it carves a corner

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Audi A7, 2012: Return to the future with style and speed

Launched at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and then to the United States market in April at the New York Auto Show, the 2012 Audi A7 marks the manufacturer's return to the luxury hatchback segment. The three-door Audi 100 (1970) and the five-door Avant (1977) were Audi's previous upscale hatchbacks — and a lot has changed in 37 years. The Weekly Driver Test Drive A friend says the 2012 Audi A7 is at the forefront of a new car segment — or at least a new segment en vogue for the first time in 40 years. He calls the new sedan a Luxury Utility Vehicle or a Sporty Utility Vehicle. After a week with the A7, I think my friend

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Audi A6, 2012 gets top safety award selection

The 2012 Audi A6 has been selected as a large luxury sedan Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after a good performance in all four of the IIHS’s safety evaluations (front, side, rollover and rear crash tests). In the IIHS evaluation of roof strength, the A6 withstood a force equal to 4.9 times the car’s weight. The roof strength test evaluates how well the occupant compartment holds up in a rollover crash. Vehicles that have a strength-to-weight ratio of 4 or higher earn a “good” rating. Electronic stability control (ESC), previously a requirement to earn Top Safety Pick status, is standard equipment on the A6. ESC is required by federal regulation to be standard equipment

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Audi, Kia most cost efficient brands says Kelley Blue Book

It’s not often Audi and Kia are mentioned in the same discussion. But the high-end Toyota division and the Korean economy manufacturer both offer the best value for owners during a five-year time frame At least that’s the determination of Kelley Blue Book, the vehicle assessment company. Based on such factors as depreciation, expected fuel costs, insurance, maintenance and repair costs and state fees, Audi is the most cost efficient luxury brand, while Kia is the most cost efficient economy manufacturer. Among the top-three luxury brands, Audi is the least expensive with a total five-year cost of ownership of $68,866. The Audi A3 2.0T and A4 2.0T sedan models, with low depreciation and great fuel economy, helped position the manufacturer

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Audi A7, 2012 car review

The early 2012 Audi A7 3.0 TFSI quattro is a generally outstanding four-door hatchback sedan that looks much like a rakish coupe. But the $59,250 A7 is expensive with desirable options, such as its Sport Package with items like 20-inch wheels and a sport suspension (vs. standard 18-inch) wheels. The bottom-line price of the A7 I tested was $86,220, including that package and a bunch of high-tech items such as a navigation system and rearview camera. The A7 is loaded with comfort, convenience and safety equipment, including  power sunroof, so one need not add a thing—except perhaps the $1,500 Sport Package my test A7 had for sharper moves, with 20-inch (vs. standard 18-inch) tires and a sport suspension. You can

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It's a small, cool world: Tata to Toyota, Rolls-Royce to Ford

Rolls-Royce gets it. Tata Motors and Ford get it. And so does Toyota and Volkswagen. Small cars are cool cars. That was one of the themes at the recent New York International Auto Show and the Geneva Motor Show. And the trend certainly didn’t go unnoticed by John Filiss of SeriousWheels.com. Filiss, in conjunction with CNBC.com has compiled a list of 10 cool small cars, some available now, some still in concept stages. Tata Motors, most well-known for its uber-cheap Nano, will in two years introduce the Tata Pixel, which looks surprisingly looks like a rabbit, not a Volkswagen by the same name, but the real creature. Here’s what Filiss said about the Tata Pixel: “This car concept capable of

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Audi TT 2011: fast, quiet and turns heads

Few of my test cars turn heads or draw compliments, but the bright red 2011 Audi TT coupe I drove attracted an unusual amount of attention. I expected stares I got from young guys, but was surprised when a middle-aged lady, who looked like the Toyota Camry type, glanced at the zoomy TT and said “Nice car!” The TT is offered in a variety of trim levels, including a top-line $50,000 convertible. But I tested the base, well-equipped $38,300 TT model, which should satisfy most TT buyers. The latest TT has minor styling revisions, including redesigned front and rear bumpers and radiator and fog light grilles. But watch out for the car’s low front end when approaching low objects. The

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BMW Z3, PT Crusier, Audi TT collectors' cars of the future?

One standard guideline in the automotive industry is that cars 25 years or older are considered “vintage.” Now, Josh Max, a writer for AOL Autos, believes several current or cars formerly in production in the last decade like the Chrsyler PT Cruiser and BMW Z3 could be collectors’ cars of the future. In the article, Max writes: “It’s hard to imagine, but once upon a time, a 1946 Packard, ’57 Chevy or a ’68 Ford Falcon didn’t cause a major stir on the highway any more than a Honda Accord, Audi A4 or a Dodge Ram would today.” Here’s what Max said in part about the Chrsyler PT Cruiser: “Cheap and stylish if initially underpowered, enthusiasm reached a quick fever

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