In an effort to remind drivers that the left lane is for passing, Washington state troopers pulled over 223 left-lane ignorati for ignoring the law.
If only Maryland’s state police had thought of this at any point over the last four years. It’s a state where blocking the left lane is an art form.
The Scandinavians sure do know how to get me with an introduction video. And orange leather seats.
Really, though, Audi does. And it is beautiful in this “Samoa Orange” color – that we probably won’t get in the States because, you know, Gott forbid.
In fact, we may not get any Q3 here in the US at all, as Audi has apparently put its distribution “on hold” for America – whatever that means.
It’s a real shame because I am all over the Q3 if it makes it here by February 2012. Especially with this fantastic new interior design language (and because the 2012 A3 has recently become a 2013 A3 due to more Euro-first model planning).
(Autoblog, where a gazillion photos await)
I was watching this almost unforgivably ridiculous marketing video that introduces the new 2012 Tiguan the other day and realized something.
(beyond that it’s silly)
This short ad-like thing was filmed in Long Beach, CA and, at about the 36 second mark, you can see the Hilton where I stayed when I was there this month. Just look for the largest building on the left as the Tiguans cross the bridge from the Queen Mary and I was one to the left.
In the current battle for my next leased vehicle, a contender from the sidelines makes its way to center stage:
Volkswagen has updated (or will be updating) its Tiguan SUV for the 2012 model year, bringing along a sleek new grille, tweaked interior and price in SEL trim that undercuts the Audi Q5 2.0T by about $4,000 while also being 400 lbs lighter on its feet. I’m definitely going to be driving both back to back to settle this internal argument of mine.
In this product showcase from Corning – that io9 has dubbed “creepy” – we are presented with a world that benefits largely from the ubiquitous integration of touch-enable data displays integrated into every day glass surfaces. It’s beautiful and I want to live in this version of the future, but I think the first YouTube commenter summed up a nagging feeling in the back of my mind best:
BUY STOCK IN WINDEX NOW!!!
Aside from the impossibly clean houses, cars and public spaces that Corning seems to envision, I am also curious about how we are powering more and more screens at bigger and bigger sizes. How are we producing all of this glass and where? And who has access to the technology aside from the conspicuously diverse group of under 40s actors who portrayed “the near future”.
They may always end up as fodder for Paleofuture, but these videos sure do encapsulate the nearly Utopian dreams of our modern society, don’t they?
You’d better believe that if BMW was going to look to the future of travel, Audi was going to not only take a peak at mobility but also the concept of how we will live in a mobile world – and then create a damned juried prize and conference series around it. It’s probably my inner SimCity lover, but the shape of tomorrow’s urban spaces has always fascinated me so I’m all for Audi’s newest project. I am more than dubious that the car will be the catalyst for our development as a species, though.
(Autoblog via Translogic)
Well, isn’t this a lovely little car? “What is it?” I hear you asking. Well, friends, this is Audi’s preview of the next A3. As a sedan.
This would be about when the sound of a record scratch would be queued.
As many of you know, I really am a fan of the hatchback/small station wagon body style. Thus is why I own the current A3. So seeing this wickedly sharp-looking small sedan is causing me some concerns. I like it just fine, don’t get me wrong, it’s just not really what I thought the next A3 was going to be about.
Judging by the comments on several North American auto sites, though, it definitely is what Audi needs the A3 to be if it wants to sell them like hotcakes here. The US readers, especially, are falling over themselves to claim that they’ll be the first one to line up, cash in hand, when the car launches. And that’s great!
But not without my hatch. You can call this a “notchback” or a “four dour coupé” if you must, Audi, but it’s really a sedan and you know that. “It harkens back to the B5 series A4!” you have stated, too. Which really only means the B8 series (current) A4 has gotten too big for its britches.
I get it. I just don’t want it for myself. Give me an A3 Avant, A3 Sportback, etc – just don’t leave us hanging. It would be a shame to see Ford bringing a truly remarkable European hatchback to the States just as Audi takes theirs away.
On the positive side of things, I’m really digging the new interior:
And now, the exciting conclusion to BMW’s “Wherever You Want To Go” series:
(Autoblog via Translogic)
Jalopnik reports that Italdesign-Giugiaro has just semi-purposefully unveiled the next generation of Volkswagen’s hatchback offerings. Thew new Golf concept is certainly striking:
Almost makes a guy not feel so bad about the absence of the Scirocco on our shores. Almost. What are your thougts?