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Recharge Wrap-up: Audi A4 TDI in US, Local Motors' 3D EV sales

Local Motors plans to begin selling its 3D-printed electric cars in 2016. The Arizona-based startup will begin by selling a neighborhood electric vehicle, called the Reload Redacted, in the first quarter of 2016, with a full-speed version to follow. The design for the car, submitted by Kevin Lo, was chosen by a panel from a pool of entries. The company plans to set up microfactories to build the cars at a fraction of the cost of setting up a traditional automotive manufacturing facility. Now, Local Motors is looking at ways to quicken the 3D-printing process, a task that currently takes days for a single vehicle. Read more at NBC News, or in a blog post from Local Motors. Audi will bring a diesel variant of the A4 to the US for the first time as a 2017 model. The new A4 is slated to go on sale in March of 2016. In addition to the gasoline-powered 2.0-liter TFSI motor, the A4 will be available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel motor, providing 190 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission. Audi has not yet release fuel economy figures or pricing. Read more at Hybrid Cars. A company called EV Charging USA has announced its entrance into the marketplace. After a research phase, EV Charging has launched a services division to provide consulting services to the electric vehicle industry, particularly to charging networks looking to expand into new markets. EV Charging says it helps companies evaluate existing charging locations and make decisions about new locations, equipment and installation vendors. With charging industry revenues expected to grow to $2.9 billion by 2030, EV Charging USA sees potential for its services worldwide. Read more in the press release below. EV Charging USA Inc. Enters National & International Sector CHICAGO, July 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- EV Charging (OTCQB: EVUS) today announced its entrance into the EV Charging marketplace. The company after extensive research has elected to launch an EV charging support related services division. The company reviewed a multitude of research and announcements by some of the top automobile producers and researchers in the world, such as BMW, Chevrolet, Tesla, Nissan, Ford and other major automobile manufacturers.

Audi mechanic takes owner's S4 home for the weekend

When you bring your car to a dealer, you expect a technician to take it out for a spin, just to make sure there aren't any noises, rattles or other behavior that you may have missed. Maybe they run a few miles along a predetermined test route or take a quick run down the highway. You do not, however, expect a tech to abscond with you vehicle for a full weekend
That is just what happened to Chris Jackson, though, an Audi S4 owner in Calgary. His car was taken to Glenmore Audi - as mandated in his lease agreement - due to an issue with the navigation system. After realizing he'd left something in the car, he swung by the dealer on Saturday to pick it up, only to discover the car wasn't on the dealer's lot.
Naturally, he approached the dealer about the missing sedan.

Don't buy that crossover! Buy a cladded wagon instead!

If you're looking to buy a car soon, and you're like most Americans, there's a strong chance you're considering buying a crossover SUV. That's what people want nowadays. People like the tough, tall exterior that suggests adventure and preparedness, they like the high seating position, they like the all wheel drive many have and they like the practicality. Because of this, crossovers have rapidly supplanted typical cars such as sedans, wagons, and more as the most popular vehicles in the country. But they're compromised, too. They're often heavy, thirsty, and expensive compared with more conventional cars. The good news is, there's an alternative, a happy medium between the straight crossover and the traditional car. They're lifted wagons, and they're the best crossover SUVs around. And for those who may not know what we're talking about, we're talking about cars and wagons that have been given a suspension lift for more ground clearance and a higher ride height, and often have all wheel drive standard or optional. They also usually have chunky plastic body cladding to make them look tough and durable. Examples include the Subaru Crosstrek, Audi A4 Allroad, Buick Regal TourX, and Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, among others. Because of the suspension and body modifications, these vehicles fit the trendy crossover mold quite well. And in the case of long-running nameplates such as the Subaru Outback and Volvo Cross Country models, they even have some heritage as outdoorsy machines. They also provide the higher driving position that crossover buyers love. And in some cases, such as with the Golf Alltrack, we've learned they offer better ride quality than their road-oriented siblings. View 9 Photos So these tall wagons offer the key things crossover buyers want, but what makes them better than traditional crossovers is that they have the advantages of the cars they're based on. For instance, the aforementioned Golf Alltrack still drives mostly like a Golf, which is to say, it's nimble, feels peppy, and is easy to maneuver because of its relatively small size. We can't really say the same for the Tiguan, which feels generally more sluggish and uninteresting than the Alltrack. And we mention Volkswagen's compact crossover because it starts at nearly the same price as the Alltrack. Some of the difference in giddy-up can be explained by weight. Normal crossovers can be fairly portly, while these lifted wagons are notably lighter.