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| Audi A3 Near-Luxury Compact 5-door
Hatchback |
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Now!
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Audi's new compact series amounts to a five-door
car with hatchback styling under the descriptive label of Sportback.
Latest treatment is A3 3.2 Quattro S-line with all-wheel-drive (AWD)
traction, but there's also a front-wheel-drive (FWD) edition labeled A3
2.0T FrontTrak.
The A3 2.0T FrontTrak Sportback stocks a 2.0-liter four-in-line engine
with turbo-charger and inter-cooler plus Audi's remarkable FSI (fuel
straight injection) technology applied with output pushing to 200 hp.
The A3 3.2 Quattro S-line with a 3.2-liter V6 aboard hops to 250 hp as
translated strictly through Audi's six-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox)
automatic.
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| Audi A3 Luxury Compact Sedan and Sportback |
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Audi's new compact series amounts to a five-door
car with hatchback styling under the descriptive label of Sportback.
Latest treatment is A3 3.2 Quattro S-line with
all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction, but there's also a front-wheel-drive
(FWD) edition labeled A3 2.0T FrontTrak. The A3 2.0T FrontTrak
Sportback stocks a 2.0-liter four-in-line engine with turbo-charger and
inter-cooler plus Audi's remarkable FSI (fuel straight injection)
technology applied with output pushing to 200 hp. The A3 3.2 Quattro
S-line with a 3.2-liter V6 aboard hops to 250 hp as translated strictly
through Audi's six-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) automatic.
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| Audi A6 Mid-Size Luxury Sedan |
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In the grand tradition of German cars, Audi is
always pushing the envelope for style, ride and technology, almost
always resulting in a very good product. The 2006 Audi A6 is no
exception, adding a more aggressive grille and improving on an already
luxurious interior. The addition of the Avant wagon this year will
expand its popularity.
The only hang-up on the A6 is the same hang-up many newer luxury cars
have: trying to minimize dials for a cleaner dash,
they’ve increased the difficulty of operation. It is
noteworthy to mention that BMW’s iDrive is much,
much more complicated than Audi’s Multi Media
Interface (MMI), which is included in all A6 models and combines many
of the car’s controls into one. After a few at-rest
practice lessons, it becomes easier to operate, but honestly, simple
controls are not only safer but also more convenient. That having been
said, it’s one of the few drawbacks in an,
otherwise, highly recommended vehicle.
Audi offers three versions this year: The 255-horsepower 3.2-liter V6
sedan, the 335-pony 4.2-liter V8 sedan, and the Avant wagon (also with
a 3.2-liter engine.) Returning is Audi’s trademark
Quattro all-wheel-drive system, optional on the 3.2-liter sedan, but
standard on the 4.2, and the Avant.
It’s a car (and brand) that’s
often overlooked in a red-hot market where Lexus and BMW tower over the
rest. Audi doesn’t do a very good job of promoting
itself to the general public, but it should — after
all, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is more expensive and offers a less
refined interior than the A6.
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| Audi A4 Midsize Sedan |
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our A4 Inventory Now!
Audi scores again with its 2006 A4. With a
spacious, luxuriously-appointed interior, sophisticated exterior lines,
and a host of safety features, the A4 far exceeds its brother vehicle,
the Volkswagen Passat — and every other car in its
class.
The two model choices — the common 2.0-liter Turbo
and 3.2-liter V6, (not to mention the fabulous but more expensive, BMW
M3-like S4) — can all include Audi's famous Quattro
all-wheel-drive system. Indeed, there is so little wrong with this car,
we would highly recommend it to anyone from the sporty young adult to
the comfort-minded senior citizen.
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| Audi A4 Compact Near-Luxury Sports Sedan |
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Driving down Interstate 30 the other day, I had
the kind of insightful thought that occasionally comes after miles and
miles of concrete lull me into a state of mind-numbing boredom.
"Most car designers have got to be potheads."
Sure, you can discount this as the creation of a brain turned to mush,
as all brains seem to become on the Interstate. But when you think
about it, it's hard to believe many of today's cars were influenced by
anything other than a whiff of marijuana and a blaring Pink Floyd
album. They make absolutely no sense.
Take a look at the new, boxy things like the Scion xB, and I dare you
to find any design inspiration that runs deeper than a Cheech and Chong
script. The concept simply can't come from a normal, healthy brain.
"Dude, wouldn't it be cool to make a car that looks like a Kleenex
box?" one designer must have asked.
"Yeah man, that'd be ... like ... so awesome," the other answered,
right before taking another hit in his mom's basement.
You see more examples all over the automotive world, from minivans with
rear spoilers to pickup trucks with convertible tops and sports cars
with front ends that look like a cockroach mated with the Brave Little
Toaster.
Even on more normal cars, like an average family sedan, at some point
in the creative process a designer must have said, "You know what would
look great on this thing? Plastic strips tacked all over the sides. And
maybe some wavy stuff around the taillights. Yeah, that'd be cool."
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| Audi A6 Mid-Size Luxury Sedan |
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View
our A6 Inventory Now!
Middle-size sedans from Audi were revamped in 2005
with larger dimensions for the structure and sensuous shapes on the
sheetmetal. For 2006, the series gains a new five-door wagon model --
A6 Avant 3.2 Tiptronic Quattro -- plus the A6 3.2 CVT FrontTrak sedan.
Base powertrain for the A6 series is Audi's aluminum 3.2-liter V6 that
sparks with 255 hp and ties to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic
transmission. Even more muscle goes to the A6 4.2 sedan, which provides
an aluminum 4.2-liter V8 rated at 335 hp. A6's cabin gets two sport
buckets in front and a broad bench in back with lavish appointments
including leather seats and deluxe audio gear.
The S-line, a sporty trim package, works on A6 3.2 and A6 4.2 sedans
with special badges on grille, door sills and bumpers. And fine wood
trim is now standard for all models.
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