Audi A7 Sportback wins Design Summit

The Audi A7 Sportback has scored a big victory: the five-door coupé has been selected the winner of the “Auto Bild” Design Summit. A distinguished jury panel evaluated the design of a total of ten new cars. The result: the Audi A7 Sportback was voted number one by a wide margin for its outstanding design.

Recognized design experts such as James Kelly, who heads the Transportation Design department at Pforzheim University, expressed high praise for the large coupé. “The design of the Audi A7 Sportback was the best in the group by far,” Kelly said. “The low tail section is especially impressive! I’d buy it immediately.” Othmar Wickenheiser, professor of Transportation Design at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, also praised the car’s styling: “An absolutely harmonious design concept. Unembellished flanks, sinewy shoulders, streamlined sides – perfect.”

Well-known architect and design critic Hans-Ulrich von Mende and Prof. Paolo Tumminelli of the International School of Design in Cologne selected the Audi A7 Sportback the winner in a list of categories including proportions, styling, innovation, haptics and quality.

“We are extremely pleased with this achievement – to be selected by a jury of such experts in the field of design,” said Stefan Sielaff, Head of Audi Design. “The award confirms the outstanding position of the Audi A7 Sportback within the competitive field, and the excellent response from our customers confirms the appeal of this car.”

With aesthetic athletics and elegance on a grand scale, Audi again emphasizes design with the A7 Sportback. The five-door coupé measures 4.97 meters (16.31 ft) long and 1.91 meters (6.27 ft) wide, but just 1.42 meters (4.66 ft) high. Its long hood, sporty, flowing C-pillars and the steep drop of the rear section present a dynamic overall image.

The interior is also a testament to the meticulous attention to detail that Audi puts into building cars; the quality of the craftsmanship is on a par with fine handcrafted goods. The senses are pampered with high quality new materials including veneers made with a laminated-wood technique; options include ambient lighting that highlights the interior. Options available for the front seat include ventilation and massage features. Another option allows the contours of the lateral support in the seat and backrest to be individually adjusted.

Audi delivers the A7 Sportback with one of four powerful and cultivated V6 engines – two gasoline-powered and two diesel-powered. They have a capacity of between 150 kW (204 hp) and 220 kW (300 hp), and their efficiency sets the standard in this class of vehicle. The new 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp), which will be available for order at a later date, and the multitronic transmission use an average of just 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km (44.38 mpg) – the CO2 emissions of just 139 grams per km (223.70 g/mile) is groundbreaking. All engines work with a recuperation system, thermal management and a start-stop system.

Across Europe with Audi Tradition

Audi Tradition is beginning the 2011 historic car season with a very full programme. The heritage department of AUDI AG will have its “Museum on Wheels” on display at more than 30 events. The “classic of classics”, Italy’s world-famous Mille Miglia, is on the programme again following a two-year break. In May, five historic DKW models from the 1950s will make the journey to northern Italy. Before this, Audi Tradition will make an appearance at the world’s largest historic car show, the Techno Classica in Essen.

From March 30 to April 3, more than 160,000 experts and old-car lovers are expected to visit Essen’s Gruga exhibition halls. Audi Tradition’s exhibits are examples from the history of NSU, DKW and of course Audi. While these exhibits are being admired at the Techno Classica, other vehicles from the collection are on the move elsewhere. After a two-year interval, Audi Tradition is once again taking part in the world’s most famous vintage car rally, Italy’s Mille Miglia. The Audi team, consisting of five DKW models from the 1950s, will be at the starting line in Brescia when a field of more than 375 historic cars sets off for Rome (May 12 to 14).

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Great Britain (July 1 to 3), Audi Tradition can once again be sure of appearing in front of a big audience. As in previous years, the 160,000 tickets for the world’s largest historic motor-sport event will have sold out in advance. Audi Tradition knows what spectators in the motherland of motor sport want to see: the Auto Union Type C and Type D “Silver Arrows” that won the first English Grand Prix races in Donington Park in 1937 and 1938. A pre-war DKW racing motorcycle and sidecar outfit will also be taking part.

On May 7 and 8, the German state of Baden-Württemberg is celebrating 125 years of the automobile with an event entitled “Automobile Summer 2011”. Audi Tradition will contribute some 40 vehicles to the cavalcade through the city of Stuttgart. Soon after this, from May 25 to 28, five Audi Tradition entries will tackle the Kitzbühel Alpine Rally on a route passing through the Austrian mountains. The German state of Hesse has not been neglected either: following 2010, when Audi Tradition took part with pre-war racing motorcycles from DKW, this year’s entries for the Schottenring Classic Grand Prix will be from the collection of post-war DKW racing bikes from the 1950s. Moving on, the highly popular “Creme 21” rally for modern classics sees the appearance of Audi Tradition entries again after a lengthy interval. The event will be held from September 21 to 25, and an NSU TT and an Audi 50 will be on the starting line.

There are of course many other well-established historic vehicle events at which Audi Tradition is a familiar participant, for example the Silvretta Classic (July 7 to 10), the Ennstal Classic (July 13 to 16), the Sachsen Classic (August 18 to 20), the Eifel Classic (September 29 to October 1) and the Gran Premio Nuvolari in Italy (September 15 to 18). But Audi Tradition naturally responds to the call when a historic car event is held in its own local region, and will therefore be present at the Donau Classic held around Ingolstadt (June 16 to 18) and the Heidelberg Historic (July 28 to 30), which will call at the Audi Forum in Neckarsulm.

Porsche puts its Facebook fans' names on a 911 GT3

One of the big eye-catchers at the New York auto show, which opens to the public today, is a Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid with a blue-and-white wrap job. Look close and you realize that it isn't just a baby blue hue. Rather, it's names -- thousands of them.

Porsche commissioned a vinyl wrap that has the names of all the car's Facebook fans. About a million signed up and we're not sure how many thousands show up on the car, but rest assured, it's in the thousands. Each of the names is about the size of the headline above and they cover just about every outside surface that isn't glass.

The coolest part is searchability. You can go to Porsche's Facebook site, type in your name, and it will tell where to find it on the car.

By Timothy A. Clary, AFP/Getty Images

Real Cops Test Real Cop Cars

Change is hard. Especially when you’re talking about changing a vital tool that you use for work every day. So it’s no surprise that the initial response to the next-generation Ford Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicles has been mixed. Some officers are excited to try the new technology in these vehicles, while others are doubtful.

Ford made a bold move by recently inviting four police officers from around the U.S. and Canada to its Arizona Proving Grounds to experience the next-generation Ford Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicles. No more guesses about how the new vehicles will perform. These are real police officers driving real police vehicles the way the will be used in the field. You can check out the videos at fordpoliceinterceptor.com.

Over the course of two days, the officers had the unique opportunity to drive prototypes of the Ford Police Interceptor sedan and utility, along with the current Ford CVPI, the Dodge Charger Pursuit and the Chevy Tahoe for comparison purposes.

To give you a look behind the scenes, we interviewed Lieutenant John Leas from the San Diego Police Department. A 34-year veteran, Lieutenant Leas is the regional Emergency Vehicle Operations training manager, managing EVOC training for basic academy and in-service police officers and deputy sheriffs from throughout San Diego County.

An EVOC instructor for 26 years, Lieutenant Leas serves on a number of Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) related committees with the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, most notably the Safe Driving Campaign. He is also a certified law enforcement driving simulator instructor.

Here’s what he had to say:

theFordStory: When you first learned you were taking part in the test drive, what was your reaction?
I was excited to get an opportunity to preview these next-generation vehicles.

Going in to the test drive, what were your expectations? What did you think you’d be doing?
I expected to get the opportunity to test-drive all the major manufacturer’s police package offerings. I anticipated we would be doing a substantial amount of performance driving over the two days.

Did the test drive meet your expectations?
Yes, with one exception. I would have preferred more time behind the wheel truly putting the vehicles through a variety of challenges. We were limited due to the film production crew functions (interviews, equipment setup, etc.) and somewhat limited in track time availability.

Prior to taking part in the test drive, what was your perception of the new Police Interceptor?
I liked the looks of both the sedan and the sport utility but had concerns about interior cockpit room in the sedan.

What is your impression of the new Ford Police Interceptors after driving them?
The engineers did their homework and listened to their customers. I was most impressed with the sport utility – plenty of cockpit room, outstanding handling and power, versatility on- and off-road. Absolutely a fantastic package!  The sport utility would be my top choice for our agency.

How do you feel the Police Interceptor would help make your typical day easier or more efficient?
It is comfortable, safe, extremely stable and the engineering built into it makes it easy to drive, even in a high-performance mode.  By far the best vehicle I have ever driven!

What is the one thing you’d tell your fellow officers in regards to the next-generation Police Interceptor vehicles?
You have to test-drive them!  They are phenomenal!

Overall, did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, very much so!  Everyone was great to work with, the engineers were there to discuss product testing and design and the product was better than I could ever imagine.  I was so impressed, I went out and bought a new 2011 Ford Explorer as my new family vehicle because I liked the design, the built-in occupant safety measures and the overall quality-control of a fine product. I was not disappointed, even though my new civilian model is quite different from the next-generation Police Interceptor platform – it’s still awesome!

Each officer had a chance to drive both Ford Interceptors and the competitors in a variety of settings, including a road course, a wet pad, an autocross course and a gravel pit (to simulate snow and other poor handling conditions). Additionally, Ford Police Interceptor development engineers were on hand to provide officers with in-depth explanations and information on the vehicles and the development process. The results of this intensive two-day session were captured on video and are now live on fordpoliceinterceptor.com.

2012 Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI

From Car and Driver...

When automakers begin development on a new model, there are typically three or more competing design proposals, one of which is then chosen to make it into metal. This standard operating procedure was discarded with the Audi A7 Sportback, says Audi boss Rupert Stadler: "Everything was right in the first place." Indeed, this large hatchback could be the most beautiful of all Audis. Long, wide, and low, it’s styled with smooth and supremely clean lines. The front end is better proportioned than the latest A8's and seems cool and almost stoic—especially with the optional LED headlights. The side view recalls the most handsome (if not the most reliable) of 1970s hatchbacks, such as the Rover SD-1 and Citroën CX; the rear end is cut off sharply, like an Italian supercar of that same era. This car is free of the gimmicks you'll find on many others in this class, and we haven't talked to anyone who doesn't admire its looks.

 

Now that we've established that the A7 is beautiful, we’ll note that the car really is little more than a dressed-up, next-generation A6. It uses Audi’s modular longitudinal architecture; a good 20 percent of the A7’s body is made from aluminum, which is more heavily relied on in the more expensive A8, but most of the A7 is made from less costly steel.

See the Audi A7 at Audi Wilmington

Read more: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2012_audi_a7_sportback_3.0_tfsi-first_drive_review

A vehicle to stardom

When the Oscars are presented each year at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood’s brightest stars shine. Not as celebrated but often as important to the stories told are the vehicles featured in the films. Whether it be to complement a character’s personality or even to serve as an additional character in the film, automobiles are essential to enhancing the action on screen.

A Lincoln Navigator, for example, plays an integral role in the Oscar-nominated film "Crash," a complex story of what happens when several lives intertwine after a carjacking. "Crash" has been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, and has earned Matt Dillon his first nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

"It’s very important for directors and screenwriters to have the precise vehicle for a film," says Myles J. Romero, manager, Ford Global Brand Entertainment Group. "Having Terence Howard’s character in ‘Crash’ drive anything but a sport utility vehicle like the Navigator, for instance, wouldn’t have had the same impact. And with the wide range of vehicles in the Ford corporate family, it’s easy to match the exact vehicle to a film’s specific needs."

In addition to being cast in films, Ford vehicles are popping up on television. Mustangs and the new Fusion have been featured on Fox’s popular teen drama "The OC." On HBO’s hit comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Larry David’s character has replaced his Toyota Prius with a Ford Escape Hybrid. And on ABC’s "Desperate Housewives," an Aston Martin DB9, Ford Mustang, a Mercury Mountaineer and a Volvo VC50 have been featured.

Josh Hancock knows very well about the importance of vehicle placement in television and films — he’s been an automotive consultant to movie studios and directors for 15 years. "Cars tell you something about the character and add another dimension to them," Hancock says. "If it’s not done right, it throws everything off. With a portfolio as broad as Ford’s, you can have a Range Rover and a Jaguar and a Mustang all in the same film, and it doesn’t look unnatural or as if you’re pushing something."

Henry Ford was the first to establish a relationship with the film industry when he presented Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks with Model T’s almost a century ago. The tradition of matching Ford vehicles with the entertainment industry continues today with Henry’s great-grandson Alessandro Uzielli taking an active role in establishing and maintaining relationships with studios.

Romero says: "Ford Motor Company has been providing stars with cars for as long as the film industry has existed. Whether it’s the Keystone Kops driving Model T’s, James Bond saving the world in an Aston Martin or CIA agent Sydney Bristow in a Ford Escape Hybrid on ‘Alias,’ Ford vehicles have been a part of the entertainment world for nearly a century."

And with a number of films in production now, such as "Mission Impossible 3" and "Diehard 4," featuring Ford cars, trucks and sport utilities, it’s a tradition that is assured to continue for many years.

Read more: http://www.worldcarfans.com/10602237679/ford-cars-in-movies#ixzz1JQ1aGazN

Ford’s Rear Inflatable Seat Belts, MyFord Touch and MyKey Take Home the Gold as 2011 Edison Award Winners

With pioneering technology, forward-thinking innovation and market success behind them, three of Ford’s latest industry-exclusive technologies – rear inflatable seat belts, MyFord Touch™ and MyKey® – took Gold at the internationally known 2011 Edison Best New Product Awards™ gala in New York last night.

Joining the Ford family of 2011 Edison Award Gold winners was a Silver award for SYNC® AppLink.

“We are pleased that our latest consumer technologies have been recognized as Edison Award winners, a testament to our skilled and motivated teams that are passionate about and committed to developing industry-first innovations our customers want and value,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development.

The distinguished awards program symbolizes the persistence and excellence personified by Thomas Alva Edison, inspiring America’s drive to remain in the forefront of innovation, creativity and ingenuity in the global economy.

This year’s winners were chosen by around 2,000 members of the not-for-profit Marketing Executives Networking Group, an organization comprising America’s top marketing professionals and academics. The comprehensive peer-review process judged nominees on marketplace innovation, marketplace success, technological innovation, market structure innovation, societal impact and design innovation.

MyFord Touch, MyKey, SYNC AppLink and rear inflatable seat belts – each an industry-first innovation – were announced as Edison Award finalists earlier this year, joining an impressive yet compact list of nominated products and services from innovation powerhouses such as Nike, Disney, Logitech, The Coca-Cola Company and Lockheed Martin.

MyFord Touch and SYNC AppLink were finalists in the Transportation – In-Car Driving Aids category. MyKey was a finalist in the Transportation – Remote Driving Aids category. The rear inflatable seat belt system was a finalist in Applied Technology.

Two Ford vehicles are top green cars, says kbb.com

With Earth Day approaching and soaring gas prices weighing heavily on the minds of consumers, it’s timely kbb.com has named two Ford vehicles to its 2011 Top 10 Green Car list – the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2012 Ford Focus. Editors of kbb.com say Fusion Hybrid was an easy pick, because along with its outstanding fuel economy of 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, “it delivers the driving dynamics and comfort that make the conventional Fusion so endearing.” Likewise, Focus’ impressive fuel economy of 28 mpg city and up to 40 mpg highway is just one of the things they liked about the all-new vehicle: “Our favorite features are its excellent handling, impressively outfitted interior, sweet Euro styling and the availability of cool features,” kbb editors said.