Dynamic excellence, quality and comfort.

Introduction

The Audi A6 continues a legacy of dynamic excellence and exceptional comfort. The A6 is packed with technology, enhancing convenience and driving dynamics. The attention to detail inside and out is impressive.

There is much to love about the A6. Its cabin is airy and comfortable, with firm, supportive seats. Its styling is crisp, clean and modern, though the front is dominated by a massive grille.

Underway, the A6 boasts sharp, precise steering, and a firm but comfortable ride. In high-speed corners the quattro models feel like they're on rails, a benefit of Audi's superb all-wheel-drive system. Braking and handling are excellent, whether on dry pavement or when hurtling through a torrent of rain.

V6, V8 and V10 versions of the A6 are available. The well-equipped V6 model delivers brisk acceleration, while the V8 qualifies the A6 as a performance sports sedan. The V10-powered S6 is for serious drivers who don't mind trading comfort for high performance.

Most cars are redesigned every five years or so; this latest-generation A6 was launched as a 2005 model so it's about midway through the design cycle. It's larger and roomier than the previous-generation version, and features dramatically changed styling.

2009 Infiniti Essence Concept Upstages Geneva Show

The Geneva motor show usually is the province of European automakers: each year, Mercedes and BMW and Audi and Jaguar and other brands tussle for the best-concept and best-car rights for the Swiss show.

This year's Geneva show had one clear standout in design and concept--and it came from Infiniti in the form of the Essence concept. A gorgeous two-seat coupe concept, the Essence isn't meant to predict any future Infiniti, but it is intended to show off the styling themes that will echo throughout the next generation of Infiniti sedans, coupes, crossovers and convertibles.

At 185 inches long, the Essence is built on a rear-drive architecture....

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2012 Aston Martin Lagonda Preview

Some luxury vehicles have pedigree and taste; some have one or the other. The new Aston Martin Lagonda concept doesn't have much of the former and so lacks the latter, at least one automotive magazine has implored Aston Martin not to build it.

Nonetheless, the hulking SUV seen here is part of the plan to return the Lagonda nameplate to the world. Aston, in fact, hopes to aim the revived Lagonda name and its first SUV at all sorts of new markets inspired by the company's new Middle Eastern ownership. That region, Russia and China have the biggest potential in the plan to build this sport-utility vehicle and to put it on sale in 2012.

The...

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Rolls-Royce 200EX: A Silver Ghost Return?

A new small Rolls-Royce headed for motorways next year has gone on display at the 2009 Geneva motor show, prior to a world debut later this fall.

The new 200EX concept, Rolls-Royce announced this week, is officially a concept vehicle. It's hard to see what might change as Rolls-Royce engineers prepare it for series production and an on-sale date next year.

When it's shown in final form, the new small Roller likely will wear a Silver Ghost nameplate. And though the look is distinctly Rolls-Royce, the car's architecture shares some important safety and cabin structures with the 2009 BMW 7-series (which our colleagues at TheCarConnection have...

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2011 Ford Mustang Gets 5.0-Liter V-8

According to several sources across the web Ford is indeed developing an all-new 32 valve 5.0L V8 engine with the code name 'Coyote' for a return in the 2011 Mustang GT and 2011 Ford F-150. The all-new 5.0L V8 powerplant is said to have 400 horsepower and 400 ft-lbs of torque. The new 5.0L V8 has been rumored for quite sometime and comes as no surprise to Mustang fans who knew Ford would have to do something to keep up with the new Challenger SRT8 and 2010 Camaro SS. Ford has made no official announcement on the new 5.0L V8 as we expect it to stay that way until sometime in 2010. With the refreshed 2010 Mustang GT coming with the 4.6L V8...

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Welcome to the New MustangBlog.com!

For some of you it might come as a shock to see a new site wide redesign along with new links and more Mustang information but to me it's a step in a new direction. All three of my blogs which include ChallengerBlog.com, CamaroBlog.com and MustangBlog.com have been aquired by High Gear Media who relauched them with a new design and new features. Other than the change in ownership and site redesigns nothing major will be changing. You can expect more of the same pulitzer prize winning posts you have been acustomed to over the years as I will continue to write for all three blogs. I hope everybody enjoys the new site as much as I do.

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Mustangs Across America Rolls Through Lewisville, Texas

Mustangs Across America rolled through my neck of the woods Tuesday. The convoy of over 230 Mustangs took off from Oklahoma, City Tuesday morning at 8a.m. and cruised down Interstate 35 for their lunch stop at Ford Country of Lewisville in Lewisville, Texas. I actually got to see some of the Mustangs first hand as my work day started early around 6a.m driving up I-35 into Oklahoma. When my work was done I headed back to the DFW metroplex down I-35 and it was around 10a.m I started seeing a few Shelby GT500's, 60's Mustangs and a few SN95 stangs. The pack of Mustangs arrived at the Ford dealership around 11a.m. for a catered lunch with...

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1994 to Present Day Ford Mustang Facts

We have come to the final list of Ford Mustang facts released by Ford Motor Company before the 45th Anniversary Mustang celebration takes place. The years from 1994 to the present day saw a radical new design evolve into what we have now in the S197 Mustang. Unlike the previous generation the 1994-2004 models received an internal number code instead of an actual name in the form of 'SN95' for their chassis/platform type.

In 1994 Ford gave the Mustang a radical new body design that literally shocked Mustang fans including myself but that did not stop Mustang sales which charged ahead. Only two models would be available from here on out,...

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2011 Chevrolet Camaro Still Coming

The Camaro convertible lives and will return as a 2011 model after all, according to a forum member over at Camaro5 who obtained some internal GM documents. This is definitely great news for all you drop top fans out there who cannot live without the convertible. Check back for more news.

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2010 Chevrolet Camaro Delayed A Month

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According to General Motors today they contacted dealers to let them know 2010 Camaro production has been delayed until March 16, one month after the initial start date. No reason was given to the dealers from GM but some have speculated the delay in production is due to problems with parts suppliers or the high demand for the SS model. GM also stated the 10,000 pre-orders they received should be completed by sometime in October.

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Hennessey Announces Limited Edition HPE550 package for 2010 Camaro

Hennessey Performance Engineering has announced another limited edition High Performance package, the HPE550 for the 2010 Camaro. Their first performance package dubbed the HPE700 uses a supercharged LS9 V-8 that produces around 705 horsepower. The HPE550 package for the 2010 Camaro is like it's little brother in some respect producing 562 horsepower and 557 lb-ft of torque via a supercharger system added to the LS3 V-8. The supercharger system for the HPE550 package makes 6psi of boost combined with a Corsa stainless steel exhaust system and custom tune from HPE.

Other options included with the HPE550 package include a set of light...

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2010 Camaro SS models #001 and #002 Arrive at Hendrick Chevrolet

A few days back at Hendrick Chevrolet in Cary, North Carolina the first two production 2010 Chevrolet Camaros off the line were delivered. Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports obtained #001 with a winning bid of $350K at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction back in January. He also owns #002 but I can't find any information on how he purchased or obtained the car. Our best guess is with the winning bid at BJ he also won the rights to purchase #002. Both Camaros were photographed by an employee as they were unloaded from the transport vehicle ( #001, a Black SS model and #002 is a Silver SS model).

Mr....

Fesler-Moss Limited Edition 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Announced

The aftermarket variations for the new 2010 Camaro are just starting to heat up and latest is from Chris Fesler and Jon Moss who together plan to build the ultimate Camaro, the Fesler-Moss Limited Edition 2010 Camaro. The limited edition 600 horsepower Fesler-Moss Camaro will be available with pretty much any upgrade you can dream off including an LS-7 engine swap, supercharger, wheels, suspension, exhaust, brakes, body kit, choice of transmission, billet accessories and four color options with stripe packages.

The new Fesler-Moss Camaro will range in price and start around $60k and go up to $150K for a fully optioned beast.

2010 Lexus HS 250h Bows on Monday

The world gets a new Lexus hybrid next week, and it's not a version of an existing Lexus vehicle. As our colleagues over at AllAboutPrius.com predicted last year, the new 2010 Lexus HS 250h will be a spin-off of the brand-new 2010 Toyota Prius (shown above).

While enjoying sales success and critical acclaim with its Prius and Camry hybrid models, Toyota has taken an arguably more cautious approach with hybrid technology at sister luxury division Lexus. To date, Lexus has only offered a hybrid SUV (the RX 400h), a hybrid full-size luxury sedan (LS 600h), and a hybrid mid-sized sports sedan (GS 450h). All three vehicles have focused more on...

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2007 Audi A6 TDI: Driving the Euro-Diesel We Won't Get

If you’re a traveling salesman who wants high fuel mileage, sure, you could order the new 2010 Toyota Prius. But a clean-diesel-powered car might actually serve you better than a hybrid. We were reminded just how efficient diesels really are after spending a weekend with a European 2007 Audi A6 TDI diesel.

Over more than 500 miles of high-speed travel, through the hills and fields of upstate New York, we averaged an astounding 39 miles per gallon. And this is no economy compact. It’s a midsize German luxury sports sedan with crisp styling, lots of electronic frills, and the torque of a freight train.

The car we tested was provided by Robert...

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2011 Ford Fiesta: Green Cars Get Good, Really Good

For far too long, small cars were the homework US automakers didn't want to do. Think back to the grim, joyless Chevrolet Chevette, or the first Ford Escort--and even today, the breathtakingly mediocre 2009 Dodge Caliber and its misbegotten half-brother, the 2009 Jeep Compass.

OK, now stop thinking that way. The stars have realigned in such a way that US drivers will soon get to buy cars just as good as the ones our European counterparts enjoy. In fact, ours will be better. They'll have more equipment, and they'll cost less.

Today's example is the 2011 Ford Fiesta. Or, rather, a European version of the Fiesta that Ford will start selling as...

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A 9-Year-Old Rates the Green Cars at New York's Auto Show

Getting new perspectives on familiar topics is good. So I always look forward to my annual trip to the New York Auto Show with my friends' son Luc, who's 9 this year.

He's not necessarily your average 9-year-old; he lives in Manhattan, speaks fluent French (one parent is from France), and goes to grade school deep in the canyons of New York's Financial District. But he shares one trait with many (most?) 9-year-old boys: He loves cars.

We spent three hours at the show today, with Luc happily evaluating the cars we saw, green and otherwise. With a hybrid crossover at home and environmental lessons at school, Luc expects most cars to be at...

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Pollution Perspective: One Giant Cargo Ship Emits As Much As 50 MILLION Cars

Here at GreenCarReports.com, we mostly write about, you know, cars. But occasionally something so appalling comes across our desk that we want other people to know.

Today's candidate is an article from the British newspaper The Guardian. The headline decorously notes the health risks of the global shipping industry have been "understated". But once you dig into the data, the word understated hardly seems sufficient.

The bottom line: One giant container ship pollutes the air as much as 50 million cars. Yes, that's 50 million. Which means that just 15 ships that size emit as much as today's entire global "car park" of roughly 750 million...

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2008 Lexus LS 460 Overview

Lexus introduced a completely new LS model, the LS 460, in 2007. For 2008, styling on the Lexus LS 460 has remained virtually unchanged. Over the years, Lexus has developed a reputation for very conservative exterior styling, and that rings especially true for the 2008 Lexus LS 460. While Car and Driver notes that the exterior on this 2008 Lexus "certainly improves on the exceptionally bland LS430," they still feel that the car is "more of a grown-up GS than the revolutionary design that Lexus

TCC Reviews 2009 Lexus IS F

Are you a fan of the Lexus IS sedan series but demand more performance than offered by a bone stock IS 350? Well, Lexus has you covered with the 2009 Lexus IS F.

The luxury performance connoisseurs over at TheCarConnection.com (TCC) have recently reviewed the 2009 Lexus IS F and found it to be quite a compelling ride. As with most hot rod versions of an automaker's tamer model offerings, the IS F sports modifications designed for both "show" and "go." The functional cosmetic differences between standard IS sedans and the IS F include a more aggressive grille with lower vents to assist with engine breathing and additional vents for brake...

F-Sport: Lexus Keeping Up with the Germans?

When people think Lexus, they tend to think luxury, refinement, and quality. What they don’t seem to think is performance. Well, Lexus is doing its best to change that.

Lexus’ German rivals, most notably BMW, have successfully and intricately woven performance into their individual brand images. If you’re a current or prospective Lexus owner and you long for more performance out of your ride, Lexus aims to please with its recently developed F-Sport line of accessories.

In October 2007, Lexus first introduced the F-Sport performance accessories line with a collection of parts designed for the Lexus IS 250 – rear-wheel drive model only

NEW CARS

Inside Line Compares the 2010 Cadillac SRX to Lexus RX 350

Can it be? Has a domestic automaker finally produced a credible threat to the Lexus RX's supremacy atop the current heap of luxury crossover SUVs? The folks at Edmunds Inside Line certainly seem to think so.

Inside Line properly acknowledges Lexus as essentially the originator of the luxury crossover SUV market segment, an automotive niche that the Lexus RX has dominated ever since coming on the scene for the 1999 model year. More specifically, the Lexus RX sells about twice as many units as its next nearest competitor, though Inside Line failed to mention which model that was.

Lexus LS to Get a V-6?

Could the worldwide economic crisis and recent fuel pricing woes entice Lexus to minimize the flagship LS sedan's base powerplant? Time will tell...

Back in February of this year, CarMax, the United States' largest used car retailer, released the results of a survey indicating that affordability (56% of respondants) and quality (17% of respondants) were the two top factors on the minds of today's car shoppers. Lexus has the quality side of the equation buttoned up beyond most luxury carmaker's wildest hopes and dreams. And while Lexus presents a good value proposition for most of its models when compared to its domestic and international...

March Sales: Lexus Still in the Dumps

Well, it looks like Lexus and a whole host of other automakers got their tickets for a cruise with the Ty-D-Bol Man. A collective flush was heard when auto sales figures were announced for the month of March.

Back in February things looked bad when Lexus reported a percentage drop in the upper 30s for both total monthly sales and average daily sales when compared to the same month in 2008. Unfortunately, the tale is slightly worse for the month of March. Lexus reported a 42.9% drop in total sales volume and a 40.6% decrease in daily sales rate as compared to March 2008. Things weren't very rosey for other automakers either, with parent ...

2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible Review

Like I mentioned on a previous post, Autoblog has a nice review of the 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible. Here are the quick highlights and then the review itself is worth a read. Beyond the text, you can see MINI Product manager Vincent Kung walking through the car in detail.

Here are the highlights of the review from our point of view:

1. Slight changes to the body. Basically it’s a little bit longer and with a rounder nose. Our view is that the car is not drastically different visually in a way that would cause any potential buyers to reconsider (at least on that basis).

How to Install a Sunroof in a Mini Cooper

A sunroof can be a great option for your Mini Cooper hardtop. It can certainly be expensive, but the view you get can may be worth the trouble. The sunroof can give your Mini a more open and airy feel without needing to have a full-blown convertible. Here are some things to consider when thinking through whether to install a sunroof in your Mini.

First, always contact your Mini dealer. Some Mini Dealers will do this work on site for you or have relationships with shops that specialize in aftermarket installations. The advantage here is you get what is most likely a reputable source for your sunroof.

When Was the First Mini Cooper Made?

The question, "When was the Mini Cooper first made?" frequently comes up when people ponder the nice mix of modern, yet vintage design in the remake. It’s a question we have heard from users here at MiniCooperReviews.com -- and so we thought we'd spin up a short answer for those looking for the cocktail party version.. What's interesting is how the start of the Mini has some parallels to today's environment.

The Mini Cooper's first roots are actually in the fuel shortage that came about because of the 1956 Suez Crisis. In England at the time, the large, less economical cars became less and less popular and small German cars became more...

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News

News and opinions on the latest, hottest, greenest and fastest new vehicles on the market - and what's coming down the road.

04/16/2009 at 10:08am

Driven: 2009 Land Rover LR2

Given Detroit's winter weather has only recently broken, I hoped it would make one last-ditch pass and dump some snow to try out our freshly minted 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE. Unfortunately, it failed--so it seems like we'll just have to trust Land Rover's claim that the LR2 can ford 20-inches of water, a claim I'm not likely to attempt without waders, a nearby winch, and permission from Land Rover's PR department. The claim, however, points to something Land Rover wants to promote with this crossover; that it's tough. We had reason to question the overall toughness of the LR2 given that it's based on a highly modified Ford/Volvo car platform... Read More

Also see: Auto Shows | Concept Cars | Spyshots

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