Audi

LAS VEGAS--Audi chairman Rupert Stadler delivered a keynote address at CES on Thursday morning, marking the company's first major presence at the consumer electronics event. But although he had plenty of flashy things to show, there were no new concrete announcements.

Actor James Cromwell took the stage first to talk about his role in the movie "I, Robot" and whether the autonomous cars portrayed were pure science fiction or something we could expect to see in our lifetimes.

After Cromwell's short speech, CEA head Robert Shapiro and Rupert Stadler drove onto the stage in the Audi e-tron Spyder, … Read more

CNET Tech Car of the Year for 2010

2011 Nissan Leaf

Earlier this month we invited you to vote for the 2010 Tech Car of the Year from our five nominees. This year proved an upset, though, as our staff judges came down on the side of the 2011 Nissan Leaf, these votes overruling the general support for the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and the Audi A8. The MKZ Hybrid is an excellent car, although its very close relative, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, won last year's award. Audi came out this year with a phenomenal flagship sedan in the new … Read more

For an unlucky few, a severe accident will indeed be a learning experience. And the Audi Accident Research Unit puts these lessons to good use.

Audi's team of researchers recreates and deconstructs accident events, taking more than 400 photographs of the vehicle and logging approximately 1,300 technical details in its database to improve safety systems. The carmaker has formed a partnership with the AO Foundation, and Audi's accident database will now be available to the organization's global association of orthopedic surgeons.

The partnership will be a new link in the accident research chain. A case isn'… Read more

As 2010 rolls to a close, we look back at the cars we've reviewed over the last year to see which one should earn our Tech Car of the Year Award. From our survey of the cars we've reviewed, we're pleased to see that the adoption of cabin tech by automakers is becoming more prevalent and ever-more sophisticated, with features such as hard-drive-based navigation with traffic reporting becoming common.

Among the cars we've seen, we picked out five that show the most innovative technology. These cars use technology to enhance the cabin and driving experience, and … Read more

Throughout 2010, CNET Car Tech editors drove thousands of miles reviewing more than 80 cars. We punched addresses into the navigation systems, talked to the cars through voice command, listened to music from a variety of audio sources, and even made calls to see how well Bluetooth phone systems worked. We took the cars onto twisty roads, bumpy roads, up steep hills, into stop-and-go traffic, and sped long distances on freeways to get a sense of fuel economy, handling, ride quality, and acceleration. We tested lane departure systems, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and automated braking.

Now, at the end … Read more

Teaser videos and pictures of the 2012 Audi A6 have been swirling around the Internet for the past couple of days, but here is the real thing.

Worldcarfans.com this morning posted this video on YouTube. It shows the 2012 Audio A6 sporting a delightful, if not conservative, design.

The 15-minute video highlights the LED headlights, taillights and 16-inch alloy wheels, an integrated trunk-lid spoiler, and a dual exhaust system. The wheelbase has been stretched out a bit longer than the 2011 as well.

Although Audi didn't release specs on its Web site or any press release I could … Read more

To tell the difference between a truck-based SUV and a car-based crossover today, you need to check the technical specifications. Design is no longer a way to differentiate.

Not only are bull bars gone, but the "tough enough to go anywhere" look of SUVs is disappearing in favor of a more comfy, crossoverlike appearance.

The morphing is a consequence of the anti-SUV fervor that started almost a decade ago in the United States and has spread worldwide. To survive, SUVs had to look more like crossovers.

The redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee is a stylish vehicle, more refined outside … Read more

Microsoft now says the Kinect was left open "by design." Ok, if that's what you have to say to save some face, guys. We know you got the "Lego robotics model" idea from us. Also, Netflix officially launches its streaming-only plan, Murdoch brings the paywall to the iPad, and FIOS gets even faster for the lucky few who have it (or can afford it). --Molly

Rather than waiting until the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show to reveal it's first production hybrid, Audi released near full specs and video clips of its soon-to-be released 2011 Q5 Hybrid Quattro SUV.

The Q5 Hybrid Quattro promises the power of a V6 and the fuel consumption of a four-cylinder from its 2.0 TFSI engine and electric motor. Combined, the gasoline engine and electric motor deliver 245-horsepower yet achieve an estimated 33.6 mpg--around the same fuel economy as a Volkswagen Golf.

It may be one of the last manufacturers to add a hybrid to its lineup, but … Read more