Is clean diesel the fuel of the future?

Well, according to Audi it is. This article at Business Week sums up the vision that Audi has for automobiles: "Clean Diesel Is Coming! Clean Diesel Is Coming!"

According to Audi of America:

"Diesel is no longer a dirty word. If one-third of Americans drove clean diesel, we'd reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 1.5 million barrels a day."

In the video below, America's dependence on foreign oil is chronicled from the 1960's crisis to modern day. Diesel makes a comeback with the introduction of Audi's TDI clean diesel engine.



Find out more about TDI technology by visiting www.audiusa.com/tdi or join the conversation at Facebook: www.facebook.com/audi

The internet is buzzing with news about the new Audi A5 Sportback. Audi describes it "as emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a sedan, and as practical as an Avant". Top Gear wonders if the A5 is just the coupe version of the A4.

Here is a short video clip of a sketch of the A5...

The A5 Sportback will start rolling into Audi dealerships in September. The car will be open for ordering with an entry price of EUR 36,050 for the 2.0 TDI version. A version with an even more attractive price will follow in the middle of 2010. This will make the A5 Sportback the entry model for the A5 model range.

Today Audi announced the launch of their newly updated Audi USA website. Here's a snippet of the press release:

...The next generation website integration is part of an ongoing commitment to build the brand and capture additional market share. By utilizing the latest computer graphics interface (CGI), the website offers dynamic perspectives of Audi models impossible to experience with traditional video or still photography. This allows for a more intuitive, consumer friendly online environment.

The site is designed to appeal to a wide variety of consumer interests. The site’s advanced technology components speak directly to the owner evangelists, ensuring they remain engaged and enthusiastic. Additionally, more downloadable content is available on a variety of Audi topics. Videos on the website are featured in High Definition (HD) giving the site more HD content than any other site in the automotive category...

Of course, I love the latest A8 photos...

Check out the new website by visiting: www.audiusa.com or check out www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

A new breed of driver is dominating British roads. These drivers, termed ‘petrosexuals’, are not identified by the cars they drive, but by their boots full of shopping and the rock anthems they sing along to.

A study into British driving habits, released by Carmony.co.uk, shows that unlike outdated preconceptions, women and male drivers are now seen to be equals at the wheel, resulting in a new era of ‘petrosexual’ drivers. Women are also edging in on men in the car knowledge stakes, with 57% of women saying they know a coupe from a hatchback, compared to almost two thirds of men (65%). However, BMW drivers seem to be the most aware of what’s under the bonnet, with one in five (20%) saying that they have a similar knowledge to Jeremy Clarkson himself.

Women are still more likely to name their cars, with almost one in five (17%) naming their ‘Fifi Fiesta’ or ‘Andy Audi’, compared to just 12% of men. Renaults are the most likely vehicle to be named, with 20% christened by their owners. ‘Tommy Toyotas’ however, are few and far between, and are the least likely to be given the human touch (12%).

Here are some interesting statistics about Audi drivers that were also discovered in the study:

• The overall Audi driver’s favourite singalong track is ‘Queen - don’t stop me now’
• Audi drivers most likely to have 10 shopping bags in the boot
• Male Audi drivers are most likely to be wearing loose boxer shorts
• More than other car drivers, Male Audi drivers are most likely to be wearing Tight Y fronts/pants
• More than any other car driver, he is most likely to say his partner ‘goes like a rocket’
• Male Audi drivers thinks that their car makes them look intelligent
• More than any other car driver, male Audi drivers are most likely to think that they are well endowed
• Male Audi drivers are most likely to have 10 shopping bags or sports equipment/gym kit in their boot
• Women Audi drivers are most likely to have 10 shopping bags or recycling in the boot
• Women Audi drivers think that their car makes them look intelligent
• Women Audi drivers are more likely than any other driver to think that her car makes her look like a show off

What do you think? Do any of these findings apply to you?

In this episode of RoadTrip, Mark Fulmer is joined by Lori Hindman of MotherProof.com to take an in-depth look at the new Audi Q5...

Get the complete story at TheAutoChannel.com.

Paul Tan reports that the 2010 Audi A8 is due to debut this November.

The 2009 model has received quite a few raves. NADAguides.com, a leading online site for vehicle pricing and information, picked the Audi A8 L as the No.1 choice in its ranking of the Top 5 Luxury Cars for 2009.

I'm excited to see what the 2010 model will bring!

If you've been following this blog since the beginning, you know that my dream car is the Audi A8. I've cut out pictures of the A8 and pasted it on my vision board. I even test drove the A8 last year. Driving it made me feel like a million bucks!

I love looking at the A8 from this angle...Gotta love that butt ;)

Although Audi reports a decrease in units sold compared to last year at this time, the company predicts an increase in market share of import luxury segment.

A couple highlights:

• Audi A5 increases 40% in sales over April 2008
  

• Audi Q5 tops 1,200 sales in second full month, despite market
  

• Audi recorded 2,604 Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) units sold in April, and has now reached 10,519 CPO sales in 2009.