Audi Latest Automaker to Introduce Gas-Price App

Joining automakers such as GM and Ford, whose respective infotainment systems — Chevrolet MyLink and MyFord Touch — offer drivers the ability to find the nearest station with the cheapest gas, Audi has added an app to its lineup helping folks find where to fill 'er up frugally. The German automaker announced this week that, beginning in May, members of its A3 family of hatchbacks equipped with Audi connect will have access to Refuelling Stop, a new online service that provides information about where to find the cheapest gas.

According to Audi, the service consults an online database of gas stations and prices and matches the list to the driver's current location or destination. The driver can sort search results by price or distance, and simply click on the station and set it as the navigation destination. The system will even consider the type of fuel required by the A3, which can be premium or diesel depending on the engine.

Audi to Bring More Diesel Models to the U.S. Market

Diesel variants of Audi's A8, A7, A6 and Q5 models are expected to go on sale for the 2014 model year. With a full lineup of new diesel vehicles joining the recently upgraded Q7 TDI, Audi hopes to continue making an efficient, green footprint in the United States. 

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"Owners of Audi TDI engines have helped save over 4 million gallons of gasoline, or the equivalent of more than 240,000 barrels of foreign oil, since the introduction of Audi TDI to the U.S. in 2009," Scott Keogh, President of Audi of America, said in a statement. 

The Cars.com Redesign Index

It can cost up to $1 billion or more to develop a new or redesigned car, so sales success — and not just a little bit of it — matters. Determining which of those new cars hit the mark with consumers is no easy task. In the past three model years, significant redesigns averaged a 33% increase in year-over-year sales in the months after they were launched compared with their predecessors in the same period a year earlier. With numbers like that, most automakers could claim success with a redesign. But some cars rose above that lofty mark while others fell below. Which were the redesigns that car shoppers lined up for?

Cars.com crunched sales figures for 61 redesigns or introductions that replaced outgoing cars over the past four model years. We set a sales floor and grouped cars into three sales tiers — after all, a bit player can easily double its sales with a sharp redesign, but market saturation makes it harder for a popular model to do the same. We compared six months of sales after dealers ramped up inventory with the same time period from the year before. Finally, we also accounted for the growth in the overall auto market, meaning that if the whole market went up 10%, we assume that tide would have carried these redesigns as well.

Cars.com Podcast: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, 2012 Buick Verano, 2012 Audi A6

This week's podcast covers three totally redesigned or new models, each of which is integral to its respective make. We start with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, which features a radical interior design and the return of a mild hybrid system to the model. Next up is the 2012 Buick Verano, the brand's first compact vehicle in more than a decade. Finally, we talk about the new-for-2012 Audi A6 and its tech-centric focus. Recapping all our thoughts and insights on these models are Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder, Industry Analyst Kelsey Mays and editor Mike Hanley.

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Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Audi A6

For the 2012 model year, the Audi A6 has been completely redesigned, now featuring the same technology-laden design theme of its bigger cousin, the A8. Besides the gee-whiz features and the polarizing styling, the A6’s driving dynamics lag behind a key competitor, the BMW 5 Series, according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley.

2012 Audi A6 Review

2012 Audi A6 Video

The old Audi A6 was around for more than six years. Whereas that vehicle was beginning to look stale, the recently redesigned 2012 Audi A6 appears cutting edge. Along with the forwarding-thinking exterior look, there’s plenty of gee-whiz tech and new fuel-efficient powertrains. Some issues with interior space remain, and the deletion of a V-8 option might leave some shoppers wanting, Cars.com editor Mike Hanley says.

Recall Alert: 2012 Audi A6

Audi s recalling 317 2012 A6s due to a potential defect with the head curtain airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On the affected models, which were built between April 8 and May 26, the seam of the head curtain airbag may not have been stitched properly. As a result, the head curtain airbag may not deploy properly in an accident, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Audi's parent company Volkswagen will notify affected owners next month. Audi dealerships will replace the left and/or right curtain airbags free of charge. Owners can call Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

2013 Audi S6: Photo Gallery

Audi has gone with a smaller displacement engine on the 2013 Audi S6, meaning there’s no more V-10 option. Even so, the twin-turbocharged V-8 is more efficient than the old engine and still nets a big boost in horsepower over the standard V-6 powertrain.  

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Like other “S” branded Audis, exterior and interior changes are subtle.

2012 Audi A6: Car Seat Check

Audi's midsize sedan, the A6, has been redesigned for 2012. While trunk space has increased, interior space has remained the same in the five-seater, making for a tight fit in some instances. Leather seating is standard, which is good news for parents because it's much easier to clean than cloth seats, not that you'd expect cloth in a ride that starts at $41,700. You can research the 2012 Audi A6 here.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

2012 Volkswagen Passat, 2012 Audi A6 Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick

The redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Passat and the 2012 Audi A6 were named Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

To earn the award, a vehicle must receive the top rating of Good in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests and must have an electronic stability system, which is now a required safety feature on all 2012 vehicles. To pass IIHS’ roof-strength test, a vehicle’s roof must be able to withstand the force of four times the vehicle’s weight. The Passat can withstand an impressive 6.32 times its own weight — the highest ratio of any car in IIHS’ category of midsize moderately priced cars. The A6, which earned the award in the category of large luxury cars, can withstand 4.9 times its own weight.

The previous-generation Passat was also a Top Safety Pick, with good rollover protection. The 2012 Volkswagen CC, another midsize car, was named a Top Safety Pick earlier this summer, but only for front-wheel-drive models.

Neither vehicle has been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, whose tests include more side-impact test data.