Tuesday, June 4, 2013
New Car Review 2013 Audi A4 2 0T quattro tiptronic
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| The 2013 Audi A4 2.0T quattro. |
As weve noted here at TireKicker before, the worst part of a successful car is keeping the ball rolling...doing the freshening needed to keep the car relevant without losing the thread and screwing it all up. Last time around, two and a half years ago, I worried that Audi was letting the magic of the A4 slip away. If they were, they fixed it in a hurry.
The 2013 Audi A4 2.0T quattro is simply tremendous. A car that pulls of the trick of feeling utterly contemporary and timeless at the same time. The timeless thing is important because Audis had the A4 pretty close to perfect for a long time. To wander too far from what has made an A4 an A4 for the past decade or so would be courting disaster.
The 2.0T quattro tiptronic is a 2.0 liter turbocharged inline four, making 211 horsepower....mated to Audis quattro (the lower case "q" is intentional) full-time all-wheel-drive system and the tiptronic (the lower case "t" is also intentional) 8-speed transmission with sport and manual shift modes. Base price: $34,600, and thats a rock-solid price for the car...neither too high nor too low.
Standard equipment includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist, 17-inch 10-spoke wheels on all-season tires, electronic stability control, electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering, a dynamic five-link front suspension, a dynamic trapezoidal-link fully independent rear axle, power glass sunroof, halogen headlights, front and rear foglights, rain and light sensors, heated and powered outside mirrors, leather seating surfaces, a 12-way power drivers seat and an 8-way power passengers seat, automatic climate control, Audi concert radio with premium sound, including AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD, with SD Card, USB and auxilary inputs, and the usual airbags and alarms.
Going small in displacement with the 2-liter engine and an 8-speed transmission delivers strong fuel economy numbers, too...20 city/30 highway.
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| 2013 Audi A4 interior. |
The interior continues to be a best-in-class effort (despite my concerns in 2010)...and our options tended to enhance the time spent at the wheel: The $4,200 Premium Plus package delivered auto-dimming mirrors inside and out, an iPod cable, Bluetooth, a driver information system with trip computer, heated front seats with driver memory, a split-folding rear seatback, HomeLink garage door opener, a three-zone climate control plus Xenon plus headlamps, LED daytime running lights and taillamps, and an upgrade to 18-inch 10-spoke wheels. The car was also treated to polished exhaust tips for $140 and an extra-cost paint job (Monsoon Gray metallic) for $475. With $895 destination charges, the bottom line wound up at $40,310.
Theres no question the Audi A4 lives in a competitive world (the BMW 328i, also packing a 2-liter turbo four is probably its deadliest nemesis), but its hard to imagine a car holding its ground better. If you cross-shop the A4 and the 3-series, itll be personal preference, not a weakness in either vehicle, that will most likely be the deciding factor.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Audis New A6 Hybrid Reportedly Confirmed for the U S Market
However, Car&Driver magazine is now reporting that it has received confirmation from "several reliable sources within Audi" that the new A6 Hybrid will be sold in the USA starting from next year with a price "somewhere north of $55,000".
It is believed that the U.S.-spec model will be similar to the European version that also goes on sale in 2012.
The European model employs a parallel hybrid concept combining a 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline engine delivering 211-horses and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) with an electric motor that produces an output of 33 kW (45 hp) and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque.
Directly mounted behind one another, the four-cylinder gasoline engine and the electric motor have a brief combined system output of 245HP (180kW) and 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft). A modified 8-speed tiptronic transmission transfers power to the front wheels.
The electric motor draws energy from a lithium-ion battery system, which weighs in at 36.7 kg (80.91 lb) and is located in the collision-protected area under the luggage compartment. Audi says the luggage capacity is 375 liters (13.24 cu. ft), which is significantly less than the regular models 530 liters (18.7 cu.ft).
What you get in return is a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 238 km/h (148mph), but more importantly, a combined fuel economy in the European cycle of less than 6.4 liters per 100 km (36.75 US mpg) with CO2 emissions of less than 146 grams per km (234.96 g/mile).
Saturday, May 18, 2013
2013 Ford Fiesta New Face and 1 0 Ecoboost Engines
The Ford Fiesta is already 36 years in our midst and is preparing for a new chapter in his successful career. Tomorrow will be a facelift model unveiled in Amsterdam. During the Go Further event in the Ziggo Dome, a Fiesta on the stage appear more economical than ever before. Aside from the new looks is the biggest innovation because under the hood to find thanks to the EcoBoost engine that we already know from the Ford Focus. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder will likely be available in multiple capacity configurations and provide the best fuel economy in its class, according to Ford.
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| 2013 Ford Fiesta |
Looks
what is most striking about the new Fiesta is no doubt the new grille. The large trapezoidal air intake we already knew of the American Ford Fusion and will soon go debut on the new Mondeo. At the rear, the changes are less rigorous, a custom light unit after everything as it seems to remain. Although detailed pictures yet lack the interior looks completely unchanged from the current model.
Technology
With the advent of the new Ford Fiesta introduces some of its technologies that we already knew from the U.S. market. Ford SYNC is a connectivity system and offers the opportunity to voice calls and to play music, even from devices connected via Bluetooth. With Active City Stop, drivers helped to collisions in the city as well as possible to prevent premature brake pedal at low speeds. Finally, it also introduces Ford MyKey, a system for parents to take their cars to limit if their children ride. For example, a maximum speed can be adjusted, but there is also a limit on the volume of stereo can be set. Moreover, to help the driver, safety and powerful warning signals may not be disabled.
The new Fiesta His public debut will take place at the Paris Motor Show in late September.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Factors Considered When Purchasing A New Motorcycle
buying your first motorcycle can be a wonderful experience, if you know what you are looking for a list of possible bikes narrowed down to a few different models. If you have no idea what you are looking for, your job can be something of a challenge because there are many factors which must be taken into account. Some of these factors will be discussed in this article will help you get a better idea as to what youre looking for.
One of the most important factors that you should pay attention to the large size that your looking for in terms of size engine. Many riders prefer a bigger engine, because the ability to handle the road better, which means it has more power to the hill, pass other vehicles, and accelerate from stops and other areas in which you were forced to slow down. This is a larger amount of power that often times people will govern the decision to buy one bike over another. for a person who is just getting into recreational motorcycle, a motorcycle with a small engine may be desirable due to the fact that drivers who do not have much experience tend to be a little intimidated by the larger engines. So, until they are able to overcome that intimidation, settle for a smaller engine size.
Another important factor that comes to mind with dealing with the decision to buy a motorcycle the size of the body. Shape and size of the rider will determine the body style of bike that is most appropriate. driver who is only 5 feet tall will have trouble finding a bike that is the right size, because of the small feet in height. Most motorcycles have a seat height of 26-28 inches or more so that anyone with legs shorter than that will have a hard time finding a bike that will fit. Generally, drivers are looking for a low enough seats to enable them to have their feet flat on the ground. This allows the most control over the motor. There are many different styles of bikes and bodies today. There Chopper-style bikes, traditional style and sports style motorcycle. They all have their unique features and are all focused on one type or another drive. Some drivers may be a longer wheelbase, and some perhaps as a shorter wheelbase, which will enable a shorter turning radius and faster cornering. Again, beginners May want to consider a bike with a shorter wheelbase. And to enable them to make cornering more precise and with greater ease than wheelbase motorcycles.
Among the many factors of buying a motorcycle, of course, the price of motorcycles. With market conditions, many are hesitant to spend their money, even if theyre in the market for a new engine, they can opt for a cheaper make and model of motorcycle in order to save a few pennies. So, the motorcycle that was purchased because of the popularity of the make and model, but with a higher price tag, it can not be elected in times like these. The drivers decided to buy a cheaper model instead.
Brand loyalty can also be a factor in what type is purchased by a new driver. If you are about one type of bike all my life, May they choose to buy that brand when its an opportunity for them to buy their own.
These are just a few factors that can affect a driver for the first time to buy a bicycle or another. If youre in the market for a new motor, make sure you review these few points to help you on your way to deciding which bike is right for you.