Auto News 5

From GMM

The only missing link as Lewis Hamilton adapts to life at Mercedes is time, team boss Ross Brawn insists.

With Nico Rosberg notching up a hat-track of poles at Monaco, and going on to win the prestigious grand prix, many pundits are analysing teammate Hamilton's apparent slump -- and pointing the finger at his 'hip-hop' lifestyle and the bizarre sight of his bulldog being walked in the paddock.

Briton Hamilton, meanwhile, left Monaco vowing to get his "sh-- together".

Ross Brawn, however, is not concerned: "I think it is quite a subtle thing," he is quoted by AFP news agency, "but it will just be time, quite frankly.

"Nico has been with the team four or five years and he knows exactly what buttons to press. We have a very good group, very experienced people working with Lewis. It just takes a bit of time," he added.

Nico Rosberg leading Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG W04. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Bridgestone, F1's official tire supplier before Pirelli, has joined Hankook in playing down the prospect of a formula one foray for 2014.

With Pirelli fending off criticism of its controversial 2013 tires, and now embroiled in the 'test-gate' saga, the Italian marque is yet to sign a new deal for 2014 and is threatening to quit the sport.

A Bridgestone spokesman is quoted by metro.co.uk: "We have no current plans to re-enter formula one."

Photo: WRi2

Toyota Canada announced a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 4,085 Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h hybrids from 2010.

The affected vehicles are equipped with a brake pressure accumulator that may develop a crack on an internal part due to vibration. No accidents or injuries associated with this condition have been reported, however.

Owners will receive a notification by first class mail. Dealers will inspect the brake booster pump assembly to see if it is equipped with an involved accumulator. If so, they will replace the brake booster pump assembly with an improved one at no cost to the customer.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Following an investigation that started back in 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently asked Chrysler to recall 2.7 million 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Liberty SUVs that may be at risk of catching fire in rear-impact collisions. The NHTSA even reported 15 related deaths and 41 injured people.

However, Chrysler does not agree with the NHTSA and won't recall the vehicles cited in the investigation, claiming they are safe and not defective.

“We believe NHTSA's initial conclusions are based on an incomplete analysis of the underlying data, and we are committed to continue working with the agency to resolve this disagreement,” the automaker said in a statement.

If Chrysler doesn't cooperate, the NHTSA can hold a public hearing and ultimately force the company to recall the affected Grand Cherokee and Liberty models.

Source : www.thedetroitbureau.com

Photo: Jeep

As expected, Panther Racing announced today that veteran Oriol Servia will drive the team's No. 4 National Guard Chevrolet both at Texas Motor Speedway and during the June 23rd event at Iowa Speedway.

Servia became available after his former team Dreyer & Reinbold announced that it was suspending its racing operations after last month's Indianapolis 500 due to a lack of funding.

The Catalan was an obvious choice having been the driver of DRR for the last two seasons which already had a technical partnership with Panther Racing.

Photo: Dreyer Reinbold Racing

Servia is presently 8th in the standings with more than 179 starts in major open wheel racing over a career that saw him race in CART, ChampCar and Indycar.

Ryan Briscoe, who was on duty last week-end in Detroit is expected to be back also.

In the meantime, Panther is not expected to name a full-time replacement for the remainder of the 2013 season but it could take this occasion to test a number of drivers to assess who could become the best option for the squad and for its sponsor National Guard for the coming years.

We'll have to wait until late 2016 to get a compact sedan from Tesla, according to CEO Elon Musk.

He also said the car would offer a range of 200 miles (around 320 kilometres) and cost half the price of the Model S ($62,400 in the U.S.), making it a direct rival for the Nissan LEAF.

Apparently, the sedan will sport a “family resemblance” and might have “some autopilot or self-driving elements.” However, Musk cautioned that those features might not be ready when the car first goes on sale.

In other news, Tesla is currently working with Panasonic to develop an electrochemical battery for automobiles.

Right now, the U.S. demand for Tesla's Model S is a steady 15,000 units annually. It will hit Europe in late June and Asian markets in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Source : www.autonews.com

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Former Formula 1 driver, Timo Glock, who drove for Marussia until the end of last year, has found a new home with BMW in the DTM series.

This season, Glock drives a BMW M3 DTM for the new MTEK team. In his third race of the season at the Red Bull Ring in Austria last weekend, Glock captured his best result of the season, finishing third behind race winner, Bruno Spengler and Marco Wittmann.

“My last visit to the podium was after the Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore in 2009. I had almost forgotten how good it feels to be up there. The team's celebrations, the fans, the emotions: moments like these are why you take up motorsport. I enjoyed it and would quite happily have driven home in my champagne-soaked racing overall,” said Glock.

Photo: BMW Motorsport

The German, who's essentially raced single seaters during his career, had to quickly get used to have a roof above his head!

“To be honest, I never saw that as a big issue. The DTM is a challenge for any driver, regardless of where he has driven before. Maybe this result will help banish this topic for a while,” he said.

Glock, who also drove for Toyota in F1, admits he must make progress.

“I still have an awful lot to learn about the DTM, and have a lot of room for improvement,” he added.

“During the preparations I certainly had a few moments when things did not go so well, and I had to rein in my expectations. However, I am feeling more and more comfortable with every race. The result at the weekend shows the performance is there when everything comes together. That is a good feeling, and gives you a lot of confidence,” Glock explained.

Photo: BMW Motorsport

From GMM

Marussia's technical collaboration with McLaren is continuing full speed ahead.

That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, reporting that the Russian supercarmaker-owned team is already working 80 hours a week in the McLaren wind tunnel.

That, in part, is due to McLaren working extensively in the state-of-the-art Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne this year, while Marussia also has available for use the McLaren driver simulators.

And from Silverstone, Marussia will finally enter the era of the 'traffic light' pitstop system, thanks to the equipment developed and formerly used by McLaren.

Toyota wind tunnel, in Cologne. (Photo: TEG)

Dale Coyne Racing has confirmed that Pippa Mann will be back with the squad for for the upcoming IndyCar Series event at Texas Motor Speedway.

The event will be her first ever outing on the Texan 1.5 mile oval, but she won on a similar oval in Kentucky back when she was driving in the Firestone Indy Lights Series back in 2010.

She also tested for Conquest racing at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Pippa Mann in Indianapolis. (Photo: IndyCar)

Mann was classified 30th with Coyne's team at last month's Indy 500, and is reportedly looking forward to another opportunity to race.

Speaking about the announcement, Pippa Mann said: “I am very excited to be back with Dale Coyne Racing for the Firestone 550k at Texas Motor Speedway.  We had a great car at the Indianapolis 500 and I am looking forward to bringing the team a good finish there Saturday night under the lights. It's exciting to be in the No. 18 car that finished 15th in the Indianapolis 500 and finished first & third this past weekend in Detroit.”

She missed all of last season due to suffering severe burns to her hand in the 2012 season finale and also failed to secure a sufficient sponsorship package.

Dale Coyne Racing goes into the weekend after a superb performance in Detroit, where Mike Conway ended the double-header with a win and a third place, whilst teammate Justin Wilson also claimed a podium.

The Texas event will be Mann's second outing with the team this season.

Lee White, president of Toyota Racing Development and Toyota Motor Sales, announced that he's leaving his day-to-day job immediately and officially retiring at the end of the year.

A 15-year TRD veteran will remain in advisory role until year's end but explained that he is leaving down immediately to tend to family health care needs.

"I have been planning and working toward retirement at the end of this race season in December," he said. "I have been offered and accepted an opportunity to perform a reduced amount of duties from my home office. This generous arrangement afforded to us by the company will allow me to attend to personal family priorities."

Joe Gibbs and Lee White (on the right). (Photo: NASCAR)

White has worked in many forms of motorsports at the highest levels including later became team manager and engineer for Herman Miller Porsche Racing. He has since held positions as general manager and engineer for Roush Racing, Rocketsports Racing and Newman Haas Racing.

Throughout his career, White has participated in programs totaling approximately 1000 individual race victories and 250 championships. He is also a private, instrument-rated pilot, aircraft tuner and holder of two U.S. National and World F.I.A. speed records.

He was elevated to Toyota's top racing position in 2008 and was responsible for all TRD motorsports activities in NASCAR, USAC, NHRA, Grand-Am and Off-Road competition.

This development comes in wake of some dnfs (did not finish) due to major valve spring failures and an engine violation (underweight connecting rod in Matt Kenseth Kansas-winning engine).

No successor was named and TRD did not make any reference to engine problems.

Since 2012 green vehicles have been the talk of the town from Canadian government financial incentives to a new CAA web page dedicated to the implementation of charging stations at various locations throughout the country.

What are the different types of green vehicles?
There are three categories of green vehicles in the North American market. Once you've sorted out the differences you'll know which is best for you. Count the number of motors, find out which ones propel the vehicle, and you're all set.

All-electric
The EV (or electric vehicle) is equipped with a single, battery-powered motor. The electric power is delivered to the wheels through an axle. Forget the mythical in-wheel electric motor; it is not used by any of the major manufacturers.

The smart fortwo electric (Photo: smart)

The EV community consists of the Nissan LEAF, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the smart fortwo electric drive, the Ford Focus EV and the complete Tesla lineup of vehicles.

Hybrid
Hybrid vehicles -- which are the majority of green vehicles offered on the market -- are generally comprised of a combination of an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors that work together to propel the vehicle. An onboard computer determines the most efficient use of one or more of these motors. The goal is to provide the best energy-efficient configuration. Therefore, the electric and gas engines are used in tandem to power the vehicle.

This hybrid combination is the most widely available green vehicle in the market. The Honda Civic Hybrid, the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, and the Ford Fusion Hybrid are among the most popular models. Certain vehicles were born as hybrids only (with no gas-only version available): the popular Toyota Prius, the Honda CR-Z, and the rare Honda Insight are examples of this approach.

Extended-range electric vehicles
An extended-range electric vehicle has both a combustion and an electric engine. It operates as a battery-only electric vehicle for a certain number of miles. After the battery has been discharged, the combustion engine kicks in to power an electric generator for several hundred miles of “extended-range” electric-powered driving. The battery can be recharged at both 120- and 240-volt outlets.

Chevrolet Volt (Photo: GM)

Only a few models use this system, such as the Chevrolet Volt, the Opel Ampera and the luxurious Fisker Karma. They will be joined by the Cadillac ELR by 2014.

Let's talk plug-in hybrid
The term “plug-in” applies to vehicles that can be plugged into an electrical outlet, which is used to recharge the batteries as a power source, in addition to the fuel tank. This means there is an extra battery which provides additional electric autonomy.

The Volt has electric power autonomy of 60 kilometres compared to the newer Ford Fusion Energi and Ford C-max Energi at 32, and the plug-in Toyota Prius at 25. These few kilometres let you start your day without fuel... for a while. You only need to heat the passenger compartment for the shortest time before the combustion engine kicks in. After all, why wear down the battery when there's a so-called combustion engine at hand?

From GMM

James Allison, the highly-rated F1 engineer who recently left Lotus, is being linked with Red Bull's future.

When Briton Allison left Lotus, he was most strongly linked with a move to Ferrari.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that, a month after Allison's departure from Enstone, it is "still not clear" where he is headed.

Correspondents Michael Schmidt and Bianca Leppert said: "Rumours are increasing that maybe he will go to Red Bull.

"Those speculating in the paddock believe that Adrian Newey will stop at the end of 2014. The design genius often expresses his frustration with the increasingly restricted regulations, and fears that the new turbo era will make F1 an engine formula."

Adrian Newey. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Pros and Cons*
Pros
The BMW 5 Series strikes the perfect balance between handling and comfort. In addition, the quality materials, generous room, efficient automatic transmission and impeccable all-wheel drive system contribute to its overall greatness.

Cons
The conservative styling of the instrument panel, seats that lack support, high price and expensive options make its less attractive.


Price
The BMW 528i starts at $54,500. The all-wheel drive 528i xDrive adds $2,400 to this total.

The BMW 535i xDrive has a MSRP of $64,900. The 550i xDrive, starts at $75,900.

The ActiveHybrid 5 version has a base price of $69,990.

Fuel Economy
The rear-wheel drive 528i consumes 8.5 L/100 km city and 5.7 L/100 km highway. All-wheel drive adds approximately 0.5 L/100 km to these numbers.

The 6-cylinder 535i xDrive consumes an estimated 9.8 L/100 km city and 6.5 L/100 km highway.

Estimated fuel economy for the V8 engine is between 12.7 L/100 km and 13.2 L/100 km city and 7.9 L/100 km and 8.3 L/100 km highway.
Exterior Styling

The BMW 5 Series is a classic, stylish sedan that can't hide its sporty intentions. The understated, fluid design will surely stand the test of time.

Drivetrain
BMW offers a selection of three engines. The first, available in the 528i and 528i xDrive, is a 2.0 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder that develops 241 hp and 258 lb-ft torque.

The 535i xDrive is powered by a 300 hp inline turbocharged 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 lb-ft torque.

A hybrid option, which is offered in tandem with this same 6-cylinder engine, uses a 55 hp electric motor to bring the total output to 355 hp which is delivered to the rear wheels.

A twin-turbo 4.4 litre V8can be found under the hood of the 550i. It produces 400 hp and 450 lb-ft torque. The entire selection of engines is matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual mode

Cargo Capacity
The trunk can hold up to 520 litres of cargo.

Safety
The 5 Series protects its occupants with a number of active and passive safety features in addition to its six airbags.

Comparable Models
Acura RLX, Audi A6, Cadillac XTS, Infiniti M, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS, Lincoln MKS, Mercedes-Benz E Class, Volvo S80

Photo: BMW

*References
Brière Francis, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.130
Lachapelle Marc, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.166
Descarries Éric, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.144
www.bmw.ca

From GMM

Williams' new engine deal with Mercedes could be set to pay off immediately for Dani Juncadella.

The 22-year-old Spaniard was signed up by Mercedes for the DTM season in 2013, and he is also a development driver for the German marque's Brackley based works F1 team.

Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes C-Coupe. (Photo: DTM)

Just before Williams' new V6 Mercedes deal for 2014 and beyond was announced, the Grove based team signed a sponsor agreement with Kazakhstan investment company TAK Group, to promote the capital Astana.

Juncadella, whose uncle is the former HRT team boss Luis Perez-Sala, is also sponsored by Astana.

And TAK Group's Artur Ardavichus has been quoted by Spanish sports daily Marca: "It is difficult to get into Mercedes (F1 team) without special training.

"Therefore, Astana wants Dani to progress and gain experience with Williams, to prepare him to be a formula one driver with Mercedes."

Photo: Williams F1 Team

That could mean Juncadella gets to drive Williams' Renault-powered 2013 car at Silverstone in July, for the young drivers' test.

But Marca admitted that Juncadella, refusing to confirm the Williams test rumours, was "surprised" by Ardavichus' comments.

Pros and cons*
Pros
Proven reliability, quality materials, a multitude of storage options and a choice of engines and an excellent Hyundai warranty make this model an attractive option for buyers.

Cons
Weak lateral seat support, limited rear-seat headroom, and the lack of sporty handling are likely to disappoint.

Price
The base Sonata GL starts at $23,999.

The GLS version has a starting price of $25,999.

The SE version has a MSRP of $27,399.

The Sonata Limited starts at $28,999.

The Limited Navigation model starts at $31,399.

The turbocharged 2.0 litre Sonata 2.0T Limited automatic has a MSRP of $31,799.

The 2.0T Limited Navigation automatic has a starting price of $34,199.

Photo: Hyundai

Fuel Economy
The normally-aspirated 2.4 litre engine has fuel economy ratings of 8.7 L/100 km city and 5.6 L/100 km highway. The combined rating stands at 7.3 L/100 km.

The turbocharged 2.0 litre consumes an average 7.7 L/100 km, or 9.2 L/100 km city and 5.8 L/100 km highway.

Exterior Styling
The 2013 Hyundai Sonata is an extremely stylish intermediate sedan. Its oversized front grille, low roofline and tapered profile give it an elegant, refined, fluid style.

Drivetrain
The base engine is a 2.4 litre 4-cylinder that produces 198 hp and 184 lb-ft torque. It is available with either a standard manual transmission or optional automatic 6-speed transmission.

The 2.0T is equipped with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine which produces 274 hp and 269 lb-ft torque which is delivered to the front wheels by an automatic 6-speed transmission.

A hybrid version is also available.

Cargo Capacity
The trunk area of the Hyundai Sonata can hold up to 464 litres, which is more generous than most of its competitors.

Safety
Six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, active headrests, and advanced braking are some of the safety features of this sedan.

Comparable Models
Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Kia Optima, Mazda6, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat

*References
Laguë, Philippe, L'Annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal, Transcontinental, 2012, p. 304
Duquet, Denis, Le Guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les Éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p. 326
www.hyundaicanada.com

When it rains it pours for reigning Sprint Cup champion, Brad Keselowski. For the second time this year the No. 2 Penske team has been penalized for failing an inspection.

The Penske Racing driver lost six points and crew chief Paul Wolfe was fined $25,000 because the front end of their Ford Fusion was found to be too low after Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway.

Most likely a shock absorber or spring failed which dropped the car under NASCAR minimums.

Penske Racing claimed a broken part caused car to fail the post-race inspection where Keselowski finished fifth. In a statement Penske Racing said. "The problem is being addressed internally to ensure it does not occur again and the team is not planning to appeal the penalty."

Wolfe had just returned from a three-race suspension after NASCAR determined the rear end housing was improper during a pre-race inspection at Texas Motor Speedway in April. The sanctioning body originally suspended him and other key Penske engineers for a longer period but the suspension was reduced after a final appeal. Wolfe remains on probation until the end of this year.

You need to plug-in your EV, but not just anywhere! Standardization is always an important issue when it comes to new technological breakthroughs. But which side shall rule the world, East or West, in the EV plug design war?

Recent developments
Back in 2012, the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) rendered its verdict and chose the Combined Charging System design known as J1772, even though the CHAdeMo standard had taken into account quick-charge DC capability, which the 2009 J1772 standard ignored. An entire network of CHAdeMo charging stations is available in Japan, which explains why the American Nissan LEAF has two connectors.

CHAdeMo connector (left) and J-J1772 connector (right) (Photo: Nissan)

Japanese Zen
In Japan, every object seems to have its own sense of purpose and belonging. The CHAdeMo designation is not as soulless as an alphanumeric designation. In fact, it is an abbreviation of « CHArge de Move » or, if you like, ''charge for moving.'' The Japanese language then takes this another step to, "O cha demo ikaga desuka," which means '' let's have some tea while it recharges.''

The symbol chosen to represent the recharge literally smiles, with its curved line symbolizing movement and the green color, which refers to tea.

The West has won
The American connector, which was initially used for the EV1, has been remodeled and improved. The 2009 version had five contact points designed to safely connect to standard 120V and 240V outlets for recharging purposes. A second two-pin DC connector has now been added in order to accommodate different types of recharging stations that are found outside the home.

Stoffel Vandoorne claimed victory on home soil in Spa Francorchamps this oast weekend. Formula Renault 3.5 championship leader, Kevin Magnussen also took victory on Saturday.

Magnussen took pole position in race 1, and colleted his second win of the season win after having kept Antonio Felix Da Costa behind him until the chequered. Nigel Melker completed the podium.

Stoffel Vandoorne, Fortec. (Photo: Renault Sport)

In race 2, Magnussen started again from pole position, but this time the Dane had a poor start, which allowed Nico Muller to power to the front of the pack.

However, Muller, who recently took a win in Monaco, was overtaken by local hero, Stoffel Vandoorne, who captured his second win of the season. Magnussen eventually finished in third position behind Will Stevens.

Race 1:
1 - Kevin Magnussen - Dams - 21 tours en 47'33"742
2 - Antonio Felix Da Costa - Arden Caterham - 0"647

3 - Nigel Melker - Tech 1 - 1"282

4 - Arthur Pic - AV Formula - 4"358
5 - Marco Sorensen - Lotus - 5"868
etc.

Race 2:
1 - Stoffel Vandoorne - Fortec - 21 tours en 47'06"630

2 - Will Stevens - P1 by Strakka - 4"536
3 - Kevin Magnussen - Dams - 6"203
4 - Antonio Felix Da Costa - Arden Caterham - 7"138
5 - Nico Muller - Draco - 8"490
etc.

Championship:
1. Magnussen 115; 2. Vandoorne 86; 3. Da Costa 71; 4. Muller 55; 5. Stevens 54, etc.

Pros and Cons*
Pros
A roomy cabin, competitive price and selection of different 4-wheel drive systems make the 2013 Jeep Patriot quite appealing.

Cons
The Patriot's noisy CVT, rough engine and heavy fuel consumption disappoint.

Price
MSRP for the Sport 4x2 is $17,995, with $1,400 extra for an automatic CVT.

The Sport 4x4 starts at $20,695.

The North 4x2 is available for $21,695, with an additional $2,400 for 4-wheel drive, which brings the price up to $24,095.

You can get the North All Season 4x2 for $22,640 or $25,040 for the 4x4.

The Limited 4x2 starts at $24,695. When equipped with a 4x4 transmission, this premium model is sold for $26,895.

Photo: Jeep

Fuel Economy
Depending on the chosen transmission, the 2.0-litre engine is rated around 9 L/100km for the city and 7 L/100 km on the highway.  

The same rating goes for the 2.4-litre engine coupled with a manual transmission (9 L - city, 7 L - highway). It's an extra 0.2 L/100km for the 4x4.

The 2.4-litre engine, coupled with a CVT, tops out at around 9.7 L/100 km - city and 7.5 L/100 km - highway.

Exterior Styling
The SUV's frame is undeniably rugged and masculine yet alluring, with a distinctive grille and rounded headlights.

Drivetrain
The 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre engine, which delivers 158 hp and 141 lb-ft of torque, is only available on some, 2-wheel drive versions.

Otherwise, the 4-cylinder, 2.4-litre engine yields 172 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque.

These two drivetrains can be coupled with either a 5-speed manual transmission or an automatic CVT.

Cargo Capacity
Depending on seat configuration, the Patriot's loading volume varies between 652 litres and 1,535 litres.

Safety
Endowed with six airbags, reactive seat head restraints, antilock brakes and electronic stability control, the 2013 Jeep Patriot was awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick.

Comparable Models
Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4

*References
Charrette, Benoit, L'Annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal, Transcontinental, 2012, p. 334
Descarries, Éric, L'Auto 2013, Montréal, Les Éditions La Presse, 2012, p. 326
www.jeep.ca

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Great balance between comfort and performance, a number of technological goodies such as stop/start, quality finish, choice of engines and a spacious interior are all excellent features of the 2013 Audi A6.

Cons
A long list of expensive options, high maintenance costs and a complex, multifunctional system are definite liabilities.


Price
The 2.0 TFSI starts at $52,500.

The V6 engine raises the base price to $59,800.

Fuel Economy
The Audi A6 4-cylinder engine consumes 10.5 L/100 km city and 6.8 L/100 km highway.

As for the V6, it has ratings of 11.3 L/100 km city and 7.3 L/100 km highway.

Exterior Styling
This classical luxury sedan exudes an imposing presence. Its aluminum body shell and side mirrors, dual-exhaust and numerous front-end chrome accents are distinctive and elegant.

Drivetrain
The 2013 Audi A6 can be powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder 2.0-litre engine that produces 211 hp and 258 lb-ft torque.

The supercharged 3.0 litre V6 option develops 310 hp and 325 lb-ft torque.

Both engine configurations are mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission that powers all four wheels.

Cargo Capacity
The trunk offers an available 399 litres of storage space.

Safety
The A6 is delivered with 8 standard airbags as well as four-wheel antilock brakes, electronic stability control, electronic brake force distribution, rigid occupant cell and adjustable headrests that help protect A6 driver and passengers.

Comparable Models
Acura RLX, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac XTS, Infiniti M, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS, Lincoln MKS, Mercedes-Benz E Class, Volvo S80

Photo: Audi

*References
Crépault Michel, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.104
Raymond Sylvain, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.142
www.audi.ca