2007 Audi A4 2.0t Auto Turbocharged Sunroof Leather 69k Texas Direct Auto on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Audi developing EV batteries with LG Chem, Samsung SDI

Audi is continuing to trickle out more details about a future electric SUV with a range of over 311 miles, and the Four-Ringed Brand now has a deal with LG Chem and Samsung SDI to use their cells in its battery design for the upcoming EV. The two companies are also agreeing to make investments in Europe to produce and supply parts there for the vehicle. "We will optimally integrate the innovative cell modules developed with LG Chem and Samsung SDI into our vehicle architecture, thus achieving an attractive overall package of sportiness and range," Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board of Management member for development, said in the deal's announcement. Hackenberg first publicized the EV during the brand's annual press conference this year. At the time, he confirmed that the model will use the same MLB 2 platform as the Q7 and set a launch date of early 2018. The vehicle reportedly carries the internal codename C-BEV, and a concept version might show up at September's Frankfurt Motor Show. Current rumors suggest that the EV will use a 90-kWh battery pack to achieve such a long range. Three electric motors could provide a total output of 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Related Video: POWERFUL BATTERY IN AUDI ELECTRIC CAR WITH CELL MODULES FROM LG AND SAMSUNG South Korean high-tech companies LG Chem and Samsung SDI to invest in European battery-cell production for Audi Battery-electric SUV with a range of more than 500 kilometers First battery-electric Audi SUV will combine sportiness and range with an emission-free driving system August 13, 2015 | INGOLSTADT, Germany -- Audi will develop the battery for a purely electrically powered sport utility vehicle on the basis of powerful cell modules from the South Korean suppliers LG Chem and Samsung SDI. The two Audi partners plan to invest in the cell technology in Europe and will supply the Ingolstadt-based car producer from their European plants. The new technology will give drivers of the Audi sport utility vehicle a range of more than 500 kilometers. "Together with our South Korean development partners, we are bringing production of the latest battery-cell technology to the EU and strengthening European industry with this key technology," stated Dr. Bernd Martens, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Procurement. The cell modules are to offer particularly high performance.

Poor headlights cause 40 cars to miss IIHS Top Safety Pick rating

Over the past few months, we've noticed a number of cars and SUVs that have come incredibly close to earning one of the IIHS's highest accolades, the Top Safety Pick rating. They have great crash test scores and solid automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning systems. What trips them up is headlights. That got us wondering, how many vehicles are there that are coming up short because they don't have headlights that meet the organization's criteria for an "Acceptable" or "Good" rating. This is a revision made after 2017, a year in which headlights weren't factored in for this specific award. This is also why why some vehicles, such as the Ford F-150, might have had the award last year, but have lost it for this year. We reached out to someone at IIHS to find out. He responded with the following car models. Depending on how you count, a whopping 40 models crash well enough to receive the rating, but don't get it because their headlights are either "Poor" or "Marginal." We say depending on how you count because the IIHS actual counts truck body styles differently, and the Infiniti Q70 is a special case. Apparently the version of the Q70 that has good headlights doesn't have adequate forward collision prevention technology. And the one that has good forward collision tech doesn't have good enough headlights. We've provided the entire list of vehicles below in alphabetical order. Interestingly, it seems the Volkswagen Group is having the most difficulty providing good headlights with its otherwise safe cars. It had the most models on the list at 9 split between Audi and Volkswagen. GM is next in line with 7 models. It is worth noting again that though these vehicles have subpar headlights and don't quite earn Top Safety Pick awards, that doesn't mean they're unsafe. They all score well enough in crash testing and forward collision prevention that they would get the coveted award if the lights were better.

2014 Audi RS5 Cabriolet [w/video]

Brash Bruiser Loses Top, Gains Weight, Still Makes Friends
Everything we said after driving the RS5 coupe still rings true, even after Audi has gone and ripped off its metal roof, replaced it with a big cloth version, and tossed us the keys. The 2014 Audi RS5 Cabriolet is another bold, big-boned airmobile to make open-top lovers swoon. There is absolutely nothing revolutionary to speak of here versus its hardtop counterpart, frankly, but tear-assing through the southern French hills as the brilliant sun warmed us is plenty good reason to talk a lot about it anyway. And hey, it beats frigid January in Detroit, where the RS5 Convertible is shortly to receive its US introduction.
One issue that could corrupt things a bit is the convertible's added weight factor. It's one thing when an Audi TT removes its top and gains 176 pounds, or when a Porsche Cayman morphs into a Boxster and gains 66 pounds; the effect on dynamics will still be acceptable. But when it comes to a huge-roof coupe like the RS5, that gain in mass becomes 400-plus pounds in cabrio form, for a grand curb weight of 4,461 pounds. As a number attached to this size of a car that's also branded with an RS badge promising raciness, we admittedly fretted. Then we drove the Audi RS5 Cabriolet to cheer up.