Tag Archives: Audi

New Audi Car Service Finds Perfect Parking Spots

ID-100149074One of the biggest headaches for city drivers is finding a parking space, and with Mayor Bloomberg expanding bike lanes and instituting bike share programs, parking will be even scarcer for New York City drivers. Fortunately, Audi is adding a parking navigation service for all Audi connect subscribers, making it easier to find the perfect spot.

INRIX Park services checks parking space availability and compares the hours and rates for nearby parking garages using Audi’s navigational system. The service was first unveiled last week at the Telematics Detroit 2013 conference, and already, the word is that INRIX is easy to use. In the words of INRIX President and CEO Bryan Mistele, it is “easier” and more intuitive than a smartphone.

INRIX Park services is now standard for all vehicles equipped with Audi connect, so current Audi owners can access it via their Audi MMI Navigation system. For more information about the features currently offered by Audi connect, click here.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Would you want a parking navigational system in your car? Are you more likely to check out the Audi or other vehicles with parking navigational systems? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

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Ford Wins Top Prize at International Engine of the Year Awards

IEOTYYesterday, the International Engine of the Year awards were announced, and Ford took home the top honor for the second consecutive year.

The Ford 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine won the International Engine of the Year award, earning 479 points from the award’s 87 voters. It is the highest accumulated score ever given, and with Ford’s back-to-back wins, it is only the third time that an automaker has won Engine of the Year for consecutive years.

Co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards Dean Slavnich praised the engine and the work done by Ford, stating, “It says something very special about an engine when it can return to the awards for a second year and still be considered to be the best engine on the market. The victory is all the more impressive given that there are some spectacularly good new entrants into the market this year…but the Ford’s little 999cc unit managed to remain the judging panel’s favourite.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

International Engine of the Year – Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo (479 points)
New Engine – Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI ACT (234 points)
Green Engine – Fiat 875cc two-cylinder turbo CNG (184 points)
Performance Engine – Ferrari 6.3-litre V12 (294 points)
Sub 1-Litre – Ford 999c three-cylinder turbo (557 points)
1-Litre to 1.4-Litre – Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (411 points)
1.8-Litre to 2-Litre – BMW 2-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol (295 points)
2-Litre to 2.5-Litre – Audi 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo (368 points)
2.5-Litre to 3-Litre – Porsche 2.7-litre DI (259 points)
3-Litre to 4-Litre – McLaren 3.8-litre V8 (333 points)
Above 4-Litre – Ferrari 6.3-litre V12 (270 points)

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U.S. News & World Report Rank Top Family Vehicles for 2013

If you’re looking for a new family car in 2013, you might be surprised at the sheer variety that automakers are offering.

Last month, U.S. News & World Report named 19 vehicles as their 2013 Best Cars for Families in a variety of categories ranging from Best Compact Car to Best Luxury Full-Size SUV. Winners were judged based on safety, reliability, interior space, seating capacity, and the inclusion of “family-friendly” features like keyless entry and back seat entertainment systems.

GM dominated the list with six winners. The Chevrolet brand took home two awards with the Chevrolet Suburban winning Best Full-Size SUV and the Chevrolet Cruze winning Best Compact Car. Buick also took home two award with the Buick Verano taking Best Upscale Small Car and the Buick Lacrosse taking Best Full-Size Car, and the Cadillac Escalade rounded out GM’s wins with Best Luxury Full-Size SUV.

Here is the full list of winners:

Compact Car – 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
Upscale Small Car – 2013 Buick Verano
Hatchback – 2013 Toyota Prius
Midsize Car – 2013 Ford Fusion
Upscale Midsize Car – 2013 Acura TL
Full-Size Car – 2013 Buick LaCrosse
Luxury Full-Size Car – 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Hybrid Car – 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Wagon – 2013 Subaru Outback
Compact SUV – 2013 Honda CR-V
Luxury Compact SUV – 2013 Audi Q5
2-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
3-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Chevrolet Traverse
Luxury 2-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Lexus RX350
Luxury 3-Row SUV – 2013 Lincoln MKT
Full-Size SUV – 2013 Chevrolet Suburban
Luxury Full-Size SUV – 2013 Cadillac Escalade
Hybrid SUV – 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Minivan – 2013 Honda Odyssey

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Audi Slims Down 2014 A4, Adds New Features

Automakers in the past year have made an effort to trim the extra weight off their most popular vehicles, but Audi took a huge step this week by promising more features and a slimmer figure on the 2014 Audi A4.

According to a report from AutoBild, Audi is planning to cut approximately 220 pounds off the 2014 Audi A4 and give the interior a full upgrade including a new infotainment system. Additionally, insiders are predicting that Audi will offer a plug-in hybrid and diesel-powered versions of the A4, increasing the fuel economy substantially.

If Audi delivers on these promises, they will set the bar very high for other automakers. Any automaker can make a lighter vehicle, but it is incredibly tough to build a lighter vehicle that also offers more than the previous heavier model. Besides that, Audi is making major changes to an award-winning vehicle, so this is a risk for them. It will be a long time until the world will get a look at the 2014 Audi A4, but until then, we will keep you updated on any new announcements or rumors on the A4 and other new models coming in 2014.

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Consumer Reports: Top 10 Cars We Would Buy Again

Repeat business and brand loyalty is extremely important in any industry, but it is especially important in the auto industry. Bad customer feedback can sink a model and cost an automaker greatly. Fortunately, there are plenty of vehicles on the market today that have repeat business, and Consumer Reports has compiled the top 10 cars that have customers coming back for more.

According to Consumer Reports, consumers said they would be most likely to buy the following cars again:

10/9. Toyota Camry hybrid and Ford Mustang V-8 (87 percent)
8/7. Dodge Charger V-8 and Audi A-6 (88 percent)
6. Lexus GS (89 percent)
5/4. Dodge Challenger V-8 and Audi A7 (90 percent)
3/2. Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette (91 percent)
1. Chevrolet Volt (92 percent)

With only a 5 point range between tenth and first place, competition was tough this year. There was a tie for ninth, seventh, fourth, and second places. All of these automakers should be proud of these numbers, especially that the top 5 were at 90 percent or above. These are customer satisfaction stats that every company dreams of and rarely achieve, so consumers that are in the market for a new car should consider taking at least one of these 10 vehicles for a test drive.

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AOL Autos Announces Technology of the Year Award Winner

This year, AOL Autos gave out its first Technology of the Year Award, and the Chrysler Uconnect was victorious in a very competitive field of “connective” technology.

The other five finalists for the award included the MyFord Mobile app, the Audi connect with Google Maps, Cadillac’s CUE system, Honda’s LaneWatch, and Nissan’s Tire Pressure Alert and Refill System. These systems improved driver safety, made navigational systems more user-friendly, and allowed drivers to access the internet on the go.

Chrysler’s Uconnect won over both the judges and AOL Auto readers alike. AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley praised the system, saying, “It was easy to use, it was intuitive. It worked perfectly with our phones. The voice control worked just right, and it had enough new features to qualify it as new among our nominees for 2012. Technology that works the way it’s supposed to? Well, that could be the new definition of state-of-the-art.”

The new Chrysler Uconnect is available in the 2013 Ram 1500 and Dodge Viper, and it will soon be available in all new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram models.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Does this award make you more likely to check out the Uconnect and the new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram line-up? Have you had the chance to try out the new Uconnect? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Want more auto news and buying tips? Be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube. Are you ready to get into a new or used car today? Approved Loan Store wants to help you! Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here!

Auto Loan: Chevy Volt Gets Top Customer Rating for Second Year

It is the ultimate goal of every automaker to produce a car that drivers love so much that they would buy it again for their next car. I would guess then that GM is very happy this week as the Chevy Volt has, for the second year in a row, received the highest user satisfaction rating from Consumer Reports.

93 percent of Volt owners stated that they would buy a Volt again. The Volt beat out the popular Dodge Challenger and Porsche 911 which both received a 91 percent rating.

Some of the other top vehicles of the year were the Volkswagen Golf TDI at 80 percent, Toyota Camry Hybrid at 87 percent, Audi A7 at 90 percent, Toyota Prius V at 83 percent, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 at 81 percent.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Does the Chevy Volt’s satisfaction rating from Consumer Reports make you more likely to buy a Volt? What cars have you loved so much that you would purchase them again? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help you! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you into a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, check out Approved Loan Store on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

New Car Financing: Automakers Offer Discounts for the Holidays

With Christmas coming up quickly, car shoppers are looking to get into a car soon that can handle winter weather. Fortunately, automakers are making it easier to afford both their new and certified pre-owned vehicles with all sorts of holiday discounts and deals.

According to Autoweek, everyone from Kia to Audi and Volkswagen will have fantastic deals all the way up through the beginning of January. Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Volkswagen all have offers going through January 2, and Audi and Kia’s offers are good through January 7.

Right now, January 7 seems far away. It might sound like car shoppers have plenty of time to get in on these deals, but the truth is that the holiday season goes by very quickly. There are family gatherings, office parties, and super-special-mega sales at the mall, not to mention any traveling to see extended family. This is potentially the best time of year to get a car because new models are coming in, and dealership want to move their inventory of last year’s models out the door. Unfortunately, many car shoppers will miss out on this golden opportunity because they procrastinate and don’t make it a priority to get into a dealership.

This is why Approved Loan Store is such a great asset to serious car buyers this holiday season. Every day of the year, we work to get our customers the car they want at the best terms possible, even if they have no credit or challenged credit. We keep the car buying process simple so you can spend more time with your family and less time going from dealership to dealership looking for the best deal. To get started, simply fill out our secure online auto loan application here. Within 24 to 48 hours, one of our representatives will contact you to review your application and set an appointment for you with an Approved Loan Store dealership. You meet with our Special Finance Representative, and they will work with you to get the best rates possible. Many customers drive off with a car the same day, and you can see testimonials from real Approved Loan Store customers here!

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Used Car Financing: ALG Announces Residual Value Award Winners

Earlier this week, ALG announced the winners of its 14th Annual Residual Value Awards which honors vehicles that are projected to retain the highest percentage of MSRP after a three-year period. Top honors for Mainstream and Premium brands went to Honda and Acura, but the big winner of the year was Toyota with six awards.

Toyota took home six segment awards for the Toyota Prius c, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Land Cruiser. Interestingly enough, though, Toyota only ranked sixth on the Mainstream Brand rankings after Mazda, Subaru, Scion, Hyundai, and Honda.

Here is a complete breakdown of the awards results and the top 10 brand rankings for Mainstream and Premium Brands.

Segment Awards

Sub Compact Car – Honda Fit
Compact Car – Hyunda Elantra
Midsize Car – Honda Accord
Fullsize Car – Hyundai Azera
Sports Car – Scion FR-S
Alt-Fuel Vehicle – Toyota Prius c
Minivan – Honda Odyssey
Sub Compact Utility Vehicle – MINI Cooper Countryman
Compact Utility Vehicle – Toyota FJ Cruiser
Midsize Utility Vehicle – Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Fullsize Utility Vehicle – Toyota Sequoia
Midsize Pickup – Toyota Tacoma
Fullsize Pickup – Toyota Tundra
Premium Compact Car – MINI Cooper
Premium Midsize Car – Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Premium Fullsize Car – Lexus GS 350
Premium Executive – Lexus LS 460
Premium Sports Car – Porsche 911 Carrera
Premium Alt-Fuel Vehicle – Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC
Premium Compact Utility Vehicle – Acura RDX
Premium Midsize Utility Vehicle – Audi Q7
Premium Fullsize Utility Vehicle – Toyota Land Cruiser

Top 10 Mainstream Brands

Honda
Hyundai
Scion
Subaru
Mazda
Toyota
Nissan
Kia
Volkswagen
Mitsubishi

Top 10 Premium Brands

Acura
Infiniti
Audi
Lexus
Mercedes-Benz
BMW
Cadillac
Porsche
Volvo
Lincoln

Readers, we want to hear from you! Are you surprised by the awards and ranking results? Which cars would you have picked for the segment awards? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking to get into a reliable new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get you a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get more car news and buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!