Powering Your Car with Water: Audi Realizes the Green Dream, Synthesizes Diesel from H20

Maybe EVs aren’t inevitable after all. Audi, together with the German energy company Sunfire, has announced that it is able to synthesize diesel from water and CO2, and that the product can fuel automobiles.

The process involves heating water to 800 degrees Celsius, creating steam. Electricity—from a green-energy power source, naturally, biomass in this case—heats the water, and the resulting high-temperature electrolysis breaks it down into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is released, and the hydrogen is combined with CO2 taken from the atmosphere. Under high heat and pressure, the two synthesize to create a liquid known as blue crude. The blue crude is refined into what Audi calls e-diesel.

So far, e-diesel is being mixed with traditional diesel, but it could potentially be used as a fuel on its own. The e-diesel is claimed to be sulfur-free and cleaner-burning than standard diesel. The first five liters went into the tank of an Audi A8 3.0 TDI driven by Germany’s Minister of Research.

Audi and Sunfire claim that the process to make e-diesel is 70 percent efficient. They estimate that once production is ramped up, the cost to consumers in Europe would be comparable to traditional diesel, at 1.00 to 1.50 euro per liter (approximately $4.00 to $6.00 per gallon).

VW Golf R 400 reportedly green-lit (again)

After speaking to Volkswagen powertrain boss Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, we uncovered that the Volkswagen Golf R 400 would be sold in the United States... if it ever made it to production at all, that is.

That prerequisite looks like it's about to be fulfilled, as the same good doctor that said the super-poweredGTI would come to the US has confirmed to Car that development is currently underway. This follows up on reports from late 2014 that the 400-horsepower car would make production.

"We have the Golf more sporty than ever before, since we soon will have the Golf R 400 – we will do this car," Neusser toldCar. "We are in fact in development of it right now."

That is, we think you'll agree, splendid news. Of course, it also begs the question of when the new car will arrive. According to Car, it'll be just "a few short months," indicating that the Frankfurt Motor Show will likely host the Golf R 400's debut later this year. Whether that proves correct, though, likely won't be clear until later this summer.

VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES PRICING OF 2015 PASSAT LIMITED EDITION

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced pricing on the 2015 Passat Limited Edition model. The Limited Edition model will have a starting MSRP of $23,995 (plus transportation) and supersedes the Wolfsburg and SE models from the current model year.

The new Limited Edition model offers a great value: compared with the automatic transmission S model, it has $2,755 of additional equipment, but costs just $1,555 more. The Limited Edition model introduces the following standard equipment above the S: 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; KESSY® keyless access with push-button start; a rearview camera; V-tex leatherette seating surfaces; heatable front seats; a power eight-way driver’s seat with power lumbar; a touchscreen radio with SiriusXM® Satellite Radio capability; 8-speaker sound system; a leather-wrapped steering wheel, parking brake, and shifter; chrome window surrounds; and front foglights.

The Chattanooga, Tenn.-built Passat Limited Edition comes standard with the award-winning 1.8-liter, turbocharged and direct-injection EA288 TSI® four-cylinder engine, mated to Volkswagen’s smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission. This highly efficient powerplant offers an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 24 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Like the rest of the Passat range, the 2015 Limited Edition model offers class-leading rear-seat legroom, a voluminous 15.9 cubic foot trunk, and German-engineered ride and handling.

Volkswagen Passat Named 2015 European Car Of The Year

The 2015 European Car of the Year winner is the Volkswagen Passat, with the stylish sedan and wagon beating out some very lame competition in the final round of voting, such as BMW’s unsightly 2-Series Active Tourer, the Ford Motor Company’s [NYSE:F] Mondeo (which is actually just a version of the Fusion on sale for several years already), and Renault’s Twingo minicar. The only credible rival on the list is Mercedes-Benz’s new C-Class, which came third overall. Second place went to Citroën and its unconventional C4 Cactus.

However, the Passat won the award with a very wide margin. The judges awarded it with 340 points versus the 248 of the C4 Cactus and 221 of the C-Class. Note, we’re talking about the Passat sold outside the U.S. It was picked because of its advanced technology, handsome design and wide variety of configurations. The judge’s also noted the car’s excellent road behaviour and comfortable ride, which create its fun-to-drive character.

Previous winners of the award include the Peugeot 308 (2014), VW Golf (2013) and Opel Ampera/Chevrolet Volt (2012).

The task of choosing the winner of the European Car of the Year award is handled each year by a panel of judges that represent 22 European countries, made up mostly of journalists and other members of the auto industry. For a car to be eligible, it has to be a new vehicle available now or before year’s end in five or more European markets. The car must also have the prospect of at least 5,000 annual sales, thus ruling out many of the exotic supercars Europe is renowned for.

“We are extremely proud of this accolade,” Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn said in a statement. “In the new Passat, we have again succeeded in developing a car that sets the standards for its class in terms of technology and quality—this honor is a tremendous confirmation for the work of our engineers, designers and the entire team."

Audi introduces leaner, fitter second-generation Q7 | Imports by Day

After a long run on the market, Audi has finally signaled the end of the first-generation Q7 with the introduction of the long-awaited second-gen version of the brand's first crossover.

The 2016 Q7 is a far lighter machine than the vehicle it replaces, thanks to ample use of hot-shaped steel and aluminum. Beyond that, the Volkswagen Group's MLB platform will allow the fullsize Audi to accommodate a range of engines, including more potent versions of the US market's 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 and 3.0-liter TDI. On top of that, the next-gen Q7 will also be available as a diesel plug-in hybrid, complete with a version of the brand's Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The Q7's new design, meanwhile, gives the car an almost wagon-like appearance and profile. The "Singleframe" grille is wrapped in an aluminum-looking surround, not unlike Audi's smaller RS Q3. Audi's cleanly styled headlights flank it, while the large taillights aren't as aggressively angled as Audi's other crossovers.

The cabin is lavish, featuring a typically stylish design with plenty of tech. A 12.3-inch TFT display takes the place of a conventional instrument cluster, while the center stack is crowned by its very own display. Even the HVAC display controls are handsome.

Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE is a sleek take on brand's future CUV | Imports by Day

Volkswagen continues its long tease leading up to an eventual US-built, seven-passenger, three-row crossover with the Cross Coupe GTE at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.

While it's still affixed with the tinsel of a concept car, there are a lot of details that will arrive on VW's eventual production crossover. The wheelbase of the GTE is said to be identical to the production model, although this five-passenger CUV is actually about a foot shorter overall, Volkswagen's chief of design, Klaus Bischoff, told Autoblog.

The overall shape of the GTE's greenhouse, meanwhile, will also be very similar to the car that'll come to market, although more progressive from the C-pillar forward (that's right kids, that sexy sloping rear end isn't for production). Despite the aggressive rake, a peek in the GTE's trunk revealed room for the CUV's third row.

Beyond hinting at a new addition to the company's lineup, the GTE also gives us a look at future Volkswagen design, including the use of four-element LED running lamps. Body lines will be as sharp as is feasible.

Look for the production version of Volkswagen's seven-passenger SUV at the end of next year.

What to look for in a Car for your Teen Driver | Imports by Day Monroeville PA

If you ask any teenager what they are looking forward to doing the most as they get older, at the top of most lists is probably being able to drive. After all, being licensed to drive gives teens a great sense of freedom – they can now come and go as they please; they are no longer dependent on mom and dad to get them where they need to go.

However, the time when teens begin to drive can potentially be the most deadly. Every dayseven teens ages 16 to 19 die from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash. And the crash rate is 3.7 times higher for 16 year old drivers compared to drivers all of all ages, and 2.7 higher for drivers aged 16 to 19.

For parents that are conducting a used cars search for appropriate vehicle options for their teen drivers, how can they help them stay as safe as possible? Here’s a look at five in-car options to look for during their used cars search.

Side Airbags

Although everybody knows about airbags as a safety component in vehicles, some may not realize the importance of side airbags. A study conducted in 2006 conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found side airbags that protected driver’s heads helped reduce deaths in cars that were hit on the driver side by about 37 percent.

Electronic Stability Control

ESC works through speed sensors that are placed on all wheels and the steering wheel to help drivers when on roads that are slippery or very curved.

If the ESC system notices the vehicle is about to go in an opposite direction from where the steering wheel is pointed, is will break the necessary wheels to help keep the car under control. ESC can be found vehicles from 2012, and even earlier.

Crash Avoidance Technology

Over the past few years, vehicle manufacturers have unveiled a crop of new applications to help drivers avoid car accidents. These crash avoidance technologies work by providing the driver with warnings, or in some instances even automatically putting on the brakes. Examples of these technologies to look for in a used cars search include blind spot detection, adaptive headlights, lane departure warning, and front crash prevention.

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

An ABS is another safeguard against slippery roads, as well as inexperienced young drives that may find themselves “panic braking” in certain situations. The ABS helps ensure the brakes on a car do not lock up, which could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. ABS on the rear wheels allows the vehicle to keep moving in a straight line, while ABS on all wheels allows the driver to maintain steering capabilities.

Seat Belt Reminder System

Although the “ding, ding, ding” that reminds you to buckle up every time you’re in the car can be rather annoying, studies show they do save lives. For instance, a study published in 2008 found 97.5 percent of passengers put on a seat belt when in a vehicle with a reminder system, while only about 86 percent did in cars without a reminder. And teens need all the reminders they can — a 2002 study found that only 69 percent of teens ages 16 to 24 wear their seat belts, and more than two-thirds of teens killed in car crashes were not wearing seat belts.