2017 Audi R8 5.2 Quattro V10 Plus on 2040-cars

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Delphi plans automated-driving journey across the United States

Delphi is attempting to become the first company to pilot an automated car across the United States. The global automotive supplier will start a cross-country journey from a location near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco starting on Sunday, March 22, and cover approximately 3,500 miles on a trip to New York, where it will arrive sometime during the New York Auto Show. Along the way, Delphi engineers will gather data on how the car, an Audi SQ5, performs in a variety of road and weather conditions that the company says could only be tested in a real-world environment. "Delphi had great success testing its car in California and on the streets of Las Vegas," said Jeff Owens, the company's chief technology officer. "Now it's time to put our vehicle to the ultimate test by broadening the range of driving conditions." A formal announcement is expected tomorrow during the SXSW festival in Austin, TX. The company recently demonstrated many of its advanced-safety and automated driving technologies during CES, driving in Las Vegas. The cross-country trip will include tests on its radar, vision and advanced-drive assistance systems, certain vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, and intelligent software, which includes automated highway pilot with lane-change technology, automated urban pilot and automated parking functions. Though a driver will be behind the wheel throughout the journey, Delphi says its active safety technologies can make complex decisions, like stopping and proceeding at four-way stops, timing highway merges and calculating safe maneuvers around bicyclists. While California has certain motor-vehicle laws that help regulate autonomous vehicles, it was unclear whether Delphi needs special arrangements or permission from other states to conduct automated-vehicle testing elsewhere – or if those concerns might be negated by an active driver. Earlier this year, Audi turned heads at CES by driving an A7 from San Francisco to Las Vegas in a similar display of automated-driving technology. Related video: Image Credit: Delphi CES Audi Technology Emerging Technologies Autonomous Vehicles

Autoblog Minute: Focus ST Tuner, Traffic Deaths, Audi EV SUV

Ford releases an upgrade kit for the Focus ST, 2015 shows a spike in traffic-related deaths, and the future of Audi is previewed. Autoblog's Greg Migliore recaps the week. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Ford releases an upgrade kit for the Focus ST, 2015 shows a spike in traffic-related deaths, and the future of Audi, here's a hint it's electric. I'm Greg Migliore, senior editor at Autoblog with these stories and more for your Autoblog Minute weekly recap. Own a Focus ST but suffer from horsepower envy in anticipation of the Focus RS? Not a problem. A $1,900-kit from the developers at Mountune will boost your hot hatch to 275 hp and 296 pound-feet of torque, when running on 93-octane fuel. Traffic fatalities in 2015 see the largest spike in decades. The report from National Safety Council cites more drivers putting in more miles, and distracted driving as contributing to the 14-percent hike in car-related deaths. Audi plans on releasing a fully electric SUV at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to check in this Saturday for my complete weekly recap. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Frankfurt Motor Show Audi Ford Driving SUV Electric Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video ford focus st

2016 Audi A4 is larger, lighter [w/video]

The 2016 Audi A4 arrives with a bang, but no surprises. We say that because the formula for creating the new A4 is one we know all too well. Make it larger, add a bunch of content, reduce weight, and improve both power and efficiency. It's a recipe for success, and this fifth-generation A4 looks to be a solid contender against its chief rivals, the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The shape hasn't changed; it's immediately recognizable as an A4. Instead, this new model updates that familiar design with sharper lines, similar to what we've seen on the new Q7, or even the R8. The big story here is that the 2016 A4 is up to 264 pounds lighter than its predecessor, depending on trim and engine. Additionally, the A4 is the most aerodynamic car in its class, boasting a drag coefficient of just 0.23. A fresh, modern cabin lies within that lighter shell – one that looks decidedly more upscale than the last A4. Many elements are reminiscent of the Audi Prologue concept that we first saw (and drove) in Los Angeles last year – specifically, the steering wheel, and the new MMI controls. In fact, Audi has positioned its infotainment controls closer to the center console – in front of the gear selector. This reminds us of the current A8, where Audi specifically designed its shifter to act as a sort of wrist rest. You can rest your arm on the gear lever and still access all of the MMI functionality. Speaking of which, that's the latest generation of Audi's MMI interface, packing navigation, touch capability, LTE connectivity, and WiFi in the 8.3-inch color display. Audi isn't saying which engines will come to the United States right now, but when the new A4 launches, it'll be offered with three gasoline and four diesel engines in Europe. Our best guess is that the US-spec car will come with the latest 2.0-liter TSFI turbocharged inline-four with 272 horsepower, as well as Audi's tried-and-true 2.0-liter TDI diesel four. Front- and all-wheel drive will be available, and for the first time, two-wheel-drive models will get a proper dual-clutch transmission – no more CVT. There's a whole lot more to lean about the A4 in the press release, posted after the reveal video. You can also see the 2016 A4 in sedan and Avant forms in the galleries above and below – it's unclear if the wagon will make its way to the US. The A4 Avant has been sold here before, but currently, Audi only offers that more functional bodystyle in Allroad spec.