Cars.com Podcast: Audi A5 Cabriolet

Before you load up the car for a Thanksgiving road trip, make sure you refresh your iTunes podcast subscription to get our latest edition. Kelsey Mays tells us all about the soft-top convertible Audi A5 he recently reviewed. Then we tackle a question from Ask.cars.com and discuss the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s new ratings and its 2010 Top Safety Picks. We cover a lot of bases, which should distract you for about 20 minutes of your trip. Drive safely and download the podcast via iTunes here, or hit the play button below.

Cars.com Podcast #32

Cars.com Reviews the Audi A5 Convertible

It’s not exactly convertible season here at our home base in Chicago, but that isn’t about to stop Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays from tackling the Audi A5 soft-top convertible — with the top down. In the process, Mays discovers that the A5 offers a few features and amenities missing from its competitors. To find out where the A5 proves so successful and how it will attract buyers looking at Lexus and Infiniti offerings, read Mays’ full review.

2010 Audi A5 Review

Cars.com Podcast: Crossover Craziness

It seems the gremlins in our podcast feed have been exposed to sunlight, and our stream of enlightened musings is flowing again. That’s good because it means you get to hear Kelsey Mays explain how the new Honda Accord Crosstour really is like a fish out of water.

His conflicted feelings are countered by David Thomas’ outright love for Lincoln’s MKT, and Joe Wiesenfelder talks about his time in the all-new Audi S4 and why it couldn’t live up to his expectations.

You can download the podcast via iTunes here (yay!) or just hit the play button below. 

Cars.Com Podcast #31

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Audi S4

A more powerful version of Audi’s A4 sedan, the 2010 Audi S4 has a bevy of improvements over previous generations. This includes a supercharged V-6 rather than a V-8, and Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder explains how Audi even improves the S4’s mileage and lowers its cost while not giving up anything when it comes to performance.

2010 Audi S4

2010|Audi|S4

Consumer Reports' Top 10 Automakers

Today, Consumer Reports released the results of its annual car reliability survey, which includes more than 1.4 million vehicles. This is one of the most important publications of the year for consumers interested in a car’s reliability. There were few surprises in terms of which makes are most and least reliable, with Scion maintaining the top spot. Porsche, Saab, Suzuki and Pontiac saw the biggest gains while Lincoln and Mini took the biggest hits. Check out Consumer Reports full report if you’re a subscriber. We list the top 10 most and least reliable automakers below.

2009 Audi Q7 Video

For his review of the 2009 Audi Q7, Cars.com reviewer Bill Jackson takes on the diesel version, which he calls a “mixed bag.” In addition to his take on engine noise versus power on the road, Jackson gives a brief explanation of the sea of buttons one faces from Audi’s navigation system. Watch the video to find out if these issues are enough of a hindrance to bar him from recommending an otherwise pleasing luxury SUV.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 has been a second tier player in a crowded segment of luxury crossovers, but according to Cars.com reviewer Bill Jackson the diesel version of the Q7 manages to distinguish itself with a sure-footed, muscular ride that gives any driver a reason to smile. Yet the Audi has a few marks against it, one of which is a deal-breaker for Jackson. To find out what that is and if it will keep you from even test-driving a Q7, read his full review.

2009 Audi Q7 Review

Recall Alert: Audi A3, TT

Audi has issued a recall for 10,200 vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recalled cars include the Audi A3 from the 2006-2010 model years, the Audi TT from 2008-2010 and the Audi TT Roadster from 2008-2010.

The recall is for vehicles manufactured between Sept. 29, 2005, and Aug. 26, 2009. The closing force of an internal spring in the fuel tank ventilation valve of these cars may not be strong enough to hold the valve closed under extreme driving conditions. This could cause the fuel tank to leak, and with an ignition source could cause a fire.

Audi dealers will replace the fuel tank ventilation valve with a stronger valve for free. Owners may contact Audi at 800-253-2834 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236.

2010|Audi|A3

2010|Audi|TT

Luxury Car Sales Rebound in September

Do you ever watch the business news and wonder who’s making money in the stock market when most people you know are cutting back? Inexplicably, luxury automakers saw sales bounce back in September.

While sales of Toyota were down 19% in September, Lexus saw sales go up 7%; that’s mostly because of the new RX crossover, which had an uptick of 70%.

Ford sales were down 6%, but sales at its Swedish Volvo brand were up 16%, thanks largely to the new XC60 crossover.

With relatively no new models in its lineup, BMW sales were up 3%.

Even at GM where sales were down 45%, Cadillac sales were down just 8% because of swift sales of the redesigned SRX crossover.

Audi e-Tron Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show

• Looks like: R8 meets A5, with an extension cord
• Defining characteristics: Battery-electric with four motors
• Ridiculous features: Wire-wheel look on a 21st-century car
• Chance of being mass-produced: Some aspects are sure to emerge

Audi, a purveyor of clean-diesel technology, has given hybrids the slip and tried its hand with a pure battery-electric sports car, the e-Tron Concept . Equipped with an electric motor for each of its four wheels, the e-Tron provides a new approach to all-wheel drive, which Audi has long championed with its Quattro system. The company says the lithium-ion battery pack provides a range of 154 miles in combined city/highway driving.

The motors, which are affixed to axle half-shafts — two in front, two in back, produce a maximum of 313 horsepower and 3,319 pounds-feet of torque (yeah, we had to read that a few times ourselves). The zero-to-62 mph time is a claimed 4.8 seconds. As a backup to the regenerative braking that's common among hybrids and electrics, Audi uses a single hydraulic brake on the front axle and two electrohydraulic components on the rear.