Volkswagen and Audi have both signed up for Super Bowl commercial spots this year. It’s the third year in a row for Audi of America, but it marks the return of Volkswagen of America after eleven years of absence.
Audi’s previous ads included the ‘Godfather’ inspired R8 commercial and last year’s ad featured Jason Statham driving an A6. This year’s ad is going to spotlight the A3 TDI Clean Diesel and emphasize the green aspects of the vehicle. Volkswagen’s spot will be focused on a game of ‘Punch Buggy’, but instead of just the Beetle, kids in the commerical will be playing whenever they see a new VW. The commercial will showcase almost the entire VW model line-up and the goal is to create an understanding amongst U.S. consumers that VW sells much more than just Beetles.
The ads will only be aired in the U.S., but we can always watch them on Youtube the day after the game.
High school driver education may be the most convenient way to learn driving skills, but it doesn’t always produce safer drivers. Parents also should set good examples when they drive while reinforcing the lessons their teens learned in drivers ed.
Restrict night driving.
Most nighttime fatal crashes among young drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight, so you can reduce their risk of a crash by restricting nighttime driving after 9 p.m. The problem isn’t just that late-night driving requires more skill. Outings late at night tend to be recreational. In these circumstances, even teens who usually follow all the rules can easily be distracted or encouraged to take risks.
Restrict passengers.
Teen passengers in a vehicle can distract a beginning driver and/or lead to greater risk-taking. Because young drivers often transport their friends, there’s a teen passenger problem as well as a teen driver problem. In 2003, 59 percent of teenage passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. While night driving with passengers is particularly lethal, many fatal crashes with teen passengers occur during the day. The best policy is to restrict teen passengers, especially multiple teens, all the time.
Supervise practice driving.
Take an active role in helping your teenager learn how to drive. Plan a series of practice sessions in a wide variety of situations, including night driving. Give beginners time to work up to challenges like driving in heavy traffic or on the freeway. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after a teenager graduates from a learner’s permit to a restricted or full license.
Remember you are a role model.
New drivers learn a lot by example, so practice safe driving. Teens who have crashes and violations often have parents with poor driving records.
Require safety belt use.
Don’t assume that seat belt use when you’re in the car with your 16-year-old means belts will be used all the time, especially when your child is out with peers. Remember that belt use is lower among teenagers than older people. Insist on belts all the time.
Prohibit driving after drinking.
Make it clear that it’s illegal and highly dangerous for a teenager to drive after drinking alcohol or using any other drug. While alcohol isn’t a factor in most crashes of 16-year-old drivers, even small amounts of alcohol will impair teens.
Choose vehicles for safety, not image.
Teenagers should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and offer protection in case they do crash. For example, small cars don’t offer the best protection in a crash. Avoid cars with performance images that might encourage speeding. Also, be mindful that certain vehicles with a higher center of gravity may be more prone to roll over.
(Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Launching New Window , 2003; other sources credited within article).
Dubbed simply (and oddly) ‘Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron’, Audi has revealed a new variant of its upcoming e-tron all-electric sports car.
While Audi has confirmed that around 1000 e-trons will be built to order, it has offered no firm details on whether this latest variant will follow the earlier e-tron into production.
With its more traditional coupe styling, the Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron sets itself apart from the ‘regular’ e-tron by utilising just two electric motors instead of four, powering the rear wheels only.
The combined output of the two electric motors making 150kW and 2650Nm of torque (although Audi has chosen to measure the total combined torque of its e-tron cars at the wheels, making the actual figure closer to 200-300Nm), the new e-tron concept is designed for a 0-100km/h sprint of just 5.9 seconds.
Top speed is limited to 200km/h, and thanks to the instant torque delivered by the electric motors, it will run from 60 to 120km/h in just 5.1 seconds.
Weighing in at 1350kg, the DSA e-tron maintains a 40:60 weight distribution thanks to the 400kg lithium-ion battery pack sitting fore of the rear wheels.
Keeping weight down, the Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron is built with Audi’s Space Frame technology, combining aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced composites.
According to Audi, the latest e-tron variant will cover a range of 250km before needing a recharge. A full recharge is achieved in 11 hours.
An electro-mechanical brake system allows better energy recovery, with a hydraulic fixed caliper brake mounted on the front axle and two electrically actuated floating caliper brakes mounted at the rear axle.
The floating calipers are actuated by wire rather than any mechnical or hydraulic mechanism, eliminating friction loss from residual slip when the brakes are not in use.
As a result of their isolation from the brake pedal, the the e-tron’s electric motors are able to convert all of their deceleration energy into electric current, recovering it for additional power.
Like the e-tron concept before it, this new e-tron variant sits on 19-inch, 35-spoke wheels, shod with 235/35 tyres at the front and 255/35 tyres at the rear.
With the unveiling of this new Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron, it remains to be seen which of its electric sports cars Audi will put into production, or whether the newer technology shown in this new variant will make it into the limited run of 1000 built-to-order cars.
Look for services that cater to pet owners.
Pet-friendly hotels make it easier than ever to bring pets with you on the road. Many offer amenities such as pet sitting, dog walking and even pet-pampering spa treatments. Do research ahead of time to find the perfect hotel that fits your needs. Be sure to ask about their policies — for instance, many hotels require your pet to be on a leash at all times and never be left unattended in the room.
Also, check with your car insurance company to see if your pets are covered. With Progressive’s Pet Injury coverage, your dog and cats are covered — at no extra charge — if they’re hurt in a car accident and your Progressive policy has Collision coverage.
Get your pets used to the car and make them feel comfortable.
Often, the only time pets ride in the car is when they’re visiting the vet or groomer — so they may not always associate a car ride with positive feelings and may even be afraid to ride in the car. Teach them instead that car rides can be fun by taking them for short road trips to a dog park, a friend’s house for a play date, or just to a new place to take a long walk.
If your pet’s anxiety persists, consider over-the-counter products that can help reduce stress and anxiety.
If you plan to keep your pet in a travel crate while riding in the car, it’s important that you familiarize your pet with its crate by having it rest inside the crate around the house — the more familiar pets are with their surroundings, the more comfortable and secure they’ll be once inside the car.
Some pets tend to get car sick. Try not to feed them for a few of hours before the trip.
Make sure your pet has proper identification.
Just in case he or she gets lost while traveling, you want to be sure your pet is wearing up-to-date ID tags. The most important thing that needs to be listed on the tag is an emergency contact phone number, but it’s also a good idea to mention if you’ll offer a reward if someone returns your pet to you or if your pet needs any medication.
Prepare a doggie bag.
A pet travel pack is a great way to make sure you’re prepared for anything — and is something that can remain stocked, so it’s ready to go with you at a moment’s notice. Make sure it contains cleanup supplies, a towel or bed to serve as a comfortable resting place, portable feeding/watering bowls, food and water, a pet first aid kit, and lots and lots of toys to keep pets busy and well behaved!
To Keep Tails Wagging in the Passenger Seat
Restrain your pets for safe car travel.
Free to paw their way around the car, unrestrained pets can be a distraction to drivers and can get injured if the car makes a sudden stop or is involved in an accident, even if it’s just a fender bender. Secure your pet in a crate or with a harness to keep it safe.
Don’t let your pets ride with their heads out of the window.
While most dogs love to hang their heads out of the car window and feel the wind in their fur, it’s best not to indulge them. They can easily be injured by debris flying into their eyes.
Never leave your pets unsupervised in the car.
Just like people, dogs and cats are susceptible to heat stroke — even if it isn’t that hot outside or the car windows are left open — and can even be stolen. Make sure you know where your pet is at all times.
Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient, and it can reduce the distance you travel.
Commuting
CommutingStagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours.
Drive your most fuel-efficient vehicle.
Consider telecommuting (working from home) if your employer permits it.
Take advantage of carpools and ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car if you take turns driving with other commuters. Many urban areas allow vehicles with multiple passengers to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes which are typically less congested, further improving your fuel economy.
Consider using public transit if it is available and convenient for you. The American Public Transit Transportation Association has links to information about public transportation in your state.
Traveling
Vehicle with loaded roof rackA roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your needs with a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible.
Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1-2 percent.
