Audi Recalls Over One Million Vehicles

Relates to a problem with a specific engine.

Audi has announced a global recall involving more than a million vehicles equipped with the company’s 2.0-liter turbocharged TFSI engines. The recall has been triggered by concerns the coolant pump may cause a fire. Ranging from the 2013-2017 A5 and Q5, to the 2013-2016 A4 sedan and Allroad, and the 2012-2015 A6, the recall affects 1.16 million vehicles with faulty coolant pumps. According to Audi the cause of the fire may be short-circuiting or blockage.

Issues have plagued the electric coolant pump fitted in these engines for over a year. In some cases moisture issues have caused the unit to short-circuit which poses a potential fire risk, in other cases a blockage has caused the pump to overheat which makes it prone to immolation. No injuries or crashes related to the issue have been reported. The recall captures 342,000 vehicles in the United States, but Audi hasn't yet announced when parts will become available for the repair. Like with all recalls, dealers will replace the faulty parts free of charge when possible. Audi recalled almost all of these vehicles in January 2017 as it attempted to rectify the issue with a software patch.

The new code would automatically cut power to the coolant pump if debris blocked it, but it turns out it was the moisture that was most damaging. Audi has smartened up and decided to replace the malfunctioning coolant pumps with improved ones equipped with a pressure compensation element to keep moisture away.

Audi Recalls 1.27 Million Cars Around The World

But don't worry, you'll be able to smell if your car is broken.

It's never good when an automaker is forced to recall over 1 million cars. Audi's biggest problem recently has been the repercussions of Dieselgate, but the company has had to deal with a few other recalls. Of all the things that can go wrong with a car, catching fire is probably one of the worst issues. We've seen Mercedes and BMW both issue recalls over possible fire issues, but now it's Audi's turn. Autocar reports that Audi has recalled 1.26 million cars over an electrical issue that could cause a fire.

The 1.27 million cars that are effected by the recall include the A4, A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 models built between April 2011 and May 2015. Audi says that the recall is for a fire risk caused by "thermal overload occurring at the plug connectors of the electrical connections in the auxiliary heater due to friction corrosion." The coatings on the connectors also contribute to the fire risk. Friction between the components is created by stress and movement in the components, which create an electrical fire. The recall will fit a new heating element with improved electrical contacts.

Audi says that the recalled cars can still be driven, but owners should pull over immediately if they smell something burning. So far 875,000 cars are affected in Europe, 250,000 in North America and 47,000 in Asia. At least if something is wrong with your Audi, you'll be able to smell it.

Audi Recalls 1.27 Million Cars Around The World

But don't worry, you'll be able to smell if your car is broken.

It's never good when an automaker is forced to recall over 1 million cars. Audi's biggest problem recently has been the repercussions of Dieselgate, but the company has had to deal with a few other recalls. Of all the things that can go wrong with a car, catching fire is probably one of the worst issues. We've seen Mercedes and BMW both issue recalls over possible fire issues, but now it's Audi's turn. Autocar reports that Audi has recalled 1.26 million cars over an electrical issue that could cause a fire.

The 1.27 million cars that are effected by the recall include the A4, A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 models built between April 2011 and May 2015. Audi says that the recall is for a fire risk caused by "thermal overload occurring at the plug connectors of the electrical connections in the auxiliary heater due to friction corrosion." The coatings on the connectors also contribute to the fire risk. Friction between the components is created by stress and movement in the components, which create an electrical fire. The recall will fit a new heating element with improved electrical contacts.

Audi says that the recalled cars can still be driven, but owners should pull over immediately if they smell something burning. So far 875,000 cars are affected in Europe, 250,000 in North America and 47,000 in Asia. At least if something is wrong with your Audi, you'll be able to smell it.

Aston Martin Rapide Shooting Brake Is A $4 Million One-Off

It’s the last car ever built by Bertone before the company went bankrupt in 2014.

Back in 2009, legendary Italian styling house Bertone built a one-off Aston Martin concept known as the “Jet 2 shooting brake” based on the DB9 platform. This attracted the attention of entrepreneur and Aston Martin fanatic Barry Weir, who contacted the design house requesting to buy it only to be told it was a one-off built for Lilli Bertone and wasn’t for sale.

A few years later, Bertone contacted Weir in 2012 offering to build another Jet 2 shooting brake, only this time the car would be based on the Rapide sedan. The final Aston Martin Jet 2+2 concept was unveiled a year later at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Under the hood is the same 5.9-liter V12 that powers the regular Rapide, but the one-off shooting brake arguably looks even more elegant than the standard car while offering more luggage space and a large glass roof. Weir has owned the Aston Martin Jet 2+2 since he bought it in 2012 but is now selling it along with the original mould. According to Top Gear, he spotted the mould and tooling at an auction after Bertone went out of business and snapped them up before putting them into storage.

“When the car was built, Bertone were keen to build 10 cars and then Aston Martin wanted to put a version into full production,” Weir told Top Gear. “Unfortunately, Bertone went bust and it never happened. It meant, however, that mine became a unique example of an Aston Martin, an entirely new production car which consisted of just one vehicle.”

This one-off shooting brake is very significant, then, since it’s the last ever car ever built by Bertone before the company went bankrupt in 2014.

“Part of me would love to see it reproduced but another part likes the idea that it remains a unique one-off as part of automobile and Aston Martin history,” he said. While a regular Aston Martin Rapide S will set you back just over $200,000, its one-off shooting brake sibling is reportedly being sold for around $4 million according to Top Gear.

Audi Recalls Over One Million Vehicles

Relates to a problem with a specific engine.

Audi has announced a global recall involving more than a million vehicles equipped with the company’s 2.0-liter turbocharged TFSI engines. The recall has been triggered by concerns the coolant pump may cause a fire. Ranging from the 2013-2017 A5 and Q5, to the 2013-2016 A4 sedan and Allroad, and the 2012-2015 A6, the recall affects 1.16 million vehicles with faulty coolant pumps. According to Audi the cause of the fire may be short-circuiting or blockage.

Issues have plagued the electric coolant pump fitted in these engines for over a year. In some cases moisture issues have caused the unit to short-circuit which poses a potential fire risk, in other cases a blockage has caused the pump to overheat which makes it prone to immolation. No injuries or crashes related to the issue have been reported. The recall captures 342,000 vehicles in the United States, but Audi hasn't yet announced when parts will become available for the repair. Like with all recalls, dealers will replace the faulty parts free of charge when possible. Audi recalled almost all of these vehicles in January 2017 as it attempted to rectify the issue with a software patch.

The new code would automatically cut power to the coolant pump if debris blocked it, but it turns out it was the moisture that was most damaging. Audi has smartened up and decided to replace the malfunctioning coolant pumps with improved ones equipped with a pressure compensation element to keep moisture away.

For A Mere $3.8 Million, This Aston Martin Vulcan Track Toy Can Be Yours

It will fill the void until the Aston Martin Valkyrie arrives if you have $3.8 million to spare.

Aston Martin’s revolutionary Formula One-inspired Valkyrie hypercar is still a long way off with deliveries not scheduled to start until 2019. Until it arrives, the Vulcan will no doubt remain Aston Martin’s most extreme car, though unlike the Valkyrie it isn’t road legal and can only be tamed on the track which limits its appeal. But those chosen few who do get to experience the Vulcan on its natural race track habitat will have the pleasure of taming an absolute animal.

Sadly, not many will be able to get behind the wheel as only 24 models were produced – and they’ve all long been sold out. Fortunately, one has now been listed for sale, but be prepared to pay a small fortune for it. Currently available for sale via UK dealer Kaaimans, this Vulcan is number 14 out of the 24 cars that rolled out of Aston Martin’s Q Advanced Operations division, and is finished in an eye-popping pearlescent green paint job that’s the same shade of green as Lamborghini’s Special Verde Ithaca. Powering the vicious track toy made entirely from carbon fiber is a naturally aspirated 7.0-liter V12 engine that produces over 800-horsepower connected to a six-speed sequential transmission.

This allows the track-only hypercar to reach 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. With a list price of $3.8 million, it’s probably safe to say this Aston Martin Vulcan is out of most buyer’s budgets, but it only has 200 miles on the clock so it’s barely been used which seems like a travesty. The Vulcan may lose some of its desirability when the Valkyrie is unleashed, but until then this is the next best thing if you’re looking for the most extreme Aston Martin track toy in existence.

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Porsche Wants Audi Fork Over $234 Million For Dieselgate Damages

A little domestic dispute in the VW Group is brewing.

As the VW Group pays out settlements with the hope of putting the Dieselgate fiasco behind it once and for all, there’s now trouble brewing from within. According to Reuters and Germany’s Bild newspaper, Porsche wants fellow VW Group brand Audi to pay it 220 million euros, or $234 million, in damages over costs related to diesel engines. Remember, it was Audi that admitted in November 2015 that its 3.0-liter diesel V6 engines were fitted with defeat devices, software that could sense when the car was undergoing emissions testing.

It then activated equipment that reduced emissions, only to turn it down during regular driving which put emissions above the legal limit. Not only did Audi outfit its cars with this engine, but so did VW and Porsche, specifically in the Cayenne SUV. When the truth came out, Porsche had no choice but to recall every single last one of those Cayenne diesels and make the necessary software changes. That wasn’t a cheap recall to do and, needless to say, it was outright embarrassing and reputation damaging. Now, Porsche officially wants compensation from Audi for the costs of retrofits, legal counseling and other customer care services.

Porsche told Reuters this is an internal VW Group issue and it won’t discuss details publically, but someone obviously leaked what’s going on over there in Germany. Not surprisingly, Audi also refused comment and referred all questions back to Porsche. So now it’s up to VW Group’s own lawyers to settle this internal financial dispute, but Porsche, based on its claims, appears to have every right to seek compensation from Audi. After all, it was Audi’s engine to begin with.

Someone Paid $26 Million To Build The Old Aston Martin Vanquish

Could we be seeing a bespoke Vanquish from a boutique automaker?

Despite being big fans of the latest Aston Martin models like the DB11 and Vantage, we still have a soft spot for previous generation models such as the Vanquish. The second generation Vanquish was released in 2012 as a replacement for the DBS, acting as the sportier version of the DB9. Aston eventually killed off the Vanquish in 2018 after releasing the DB11 and gave the 6.0-liter V12 a final sendoff with a whopping 580 horsepower.

While the Vanquish was starting to feel old, it was still a beautiful car. Now, as Aston Martin plans for its initial public offering, it has reportedly found a buyer for the old Vanquish tooling and designs.

According to Automotive News, page 168 of Aston Martin's 321-page IPO filing on the London Stock Exchange mentions a ￡20 million (around $26 million) sale of the tooling and design drawings for the Vanquish. The deal took place in June and also includes 18 months of assistance to build it from Aston Martin Consulting (AMC).

The documents don't specify who has purchased the tooling for the Vanquish, though it seems pretty clear that someone is looking to build cars using the Aston Martin platform.

Lotus may be a potential candidate, though a front-engined V12 grand tourer doesn't really fit the company's brand portfolio. The most likely buyer is a European tuning company like Mansory or Ares, who could design a new body using carbon fiber. No matter who purchased the rights to the Vanquish, we have to be excited because it means someone out there is currently developing a new GT car with a naturally aspirated V12 and we can't wait to see it.

10 Best Interiors Of 2018: $100,000 To $1 Million

Just hit the lottery? Here are the best interiors to travel in style.

Modern cars are becoming ever more luxurious and brimming with tech features, even at an affordable price. We have covered our favorite car interiors below a $50,000 price, as well as more expensive interiors in the $50,000 to $100,000 price segment. Now it is time to leave reality behind, by focusing on cars with a $100,000 to $1,000,000 price tag. These are some of the nicest car interiors in the world, so choosing a top 10 wasn't easy.

McLaren 720S

The McLaren 720S doesn't just have one of the best interiors on the market, it may simply be the best car on the market. That's because unlike other supercars, the 720S is extremely comfortable. Visibility is fantastic and the entire interior is filled with leather and metal. Getting in and out is a bit tricky, but once you are in the 720S can trick you into thinking you are driving a large luxury car, not a mid-engine supercar.

Mercedes S-Class

The Mercedes S-Class Coupe/Convertible is actually one of the least prestigious cars on this list, because it isn't built by an "exotic" car company. This doesn't prevent it from having one of the best interiors at any price. The AMG S63 and S65 models in particular have some of the best seats fitted to any production car - equipped with heating, ventilation, and multiple massage modes. Almost every surface in the S-Class is metal, leather, wood, or carbon fiber, and the coupe/convertible models feature a more stylish interior than the sedan.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

When it comes to luxury, almost nothing compares to the opulence of a Rolls-Royce. There are a number of Rolls models we could have chosen from, but we went with the tried and true Phantom. Rolls-Royce has brought the Phantom into the 21st century, with new digital displays, and more high tech entertainment in the rear seats. Classic Rolls-Royce fans need not worry, because the interior is still filled with enough wood and leather to drive eco mentalists nuts.

Bentley Continental GT

Bentley has always been a sportier, luxury counterpart to Rolls-Royce. The new Continental GT shows Bentley's signature blend of sport and luxury in a highly unique way. We particularly love the new infotainment display, which can rotate to show analogue gauges or a blank wood panel.

Lamborghini Urus

We didn't know how to feel about Lamborghini launching a new SUV model, but after sitting in the Urus, our hesitation faded away. The basic structure looks reminiscent of some new Audi models like the A6 and A8, but Lamborghini styled it in such a way that the shared layout is barely recognizable - unlike a certain SUV from a competing Italian luxury brand.

Land Rover Range Rover

Several exotic automakers have jumped into the SUV market, including Bentley, Maserati, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce. These automakers all make very lovely interiors, but they are all competing at a much higher price point than one of the best SUVs on the market: the Land Rover Range Rover. The Range Rover has recently been updated with a new dual screen layout from the Velar, and continues to be one of the nicest interiors on the market.

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

Some buyers who spend six-figures on a car don't just want it to be comfortable, they want it to feel sporty as well. Aston Martin has always built some of the most unique interiors, and the British marque has knocked it out of the park with the new DBS Superleggera. The infotainment is shared with Mercedes, so it will work properly, and Aston has given the rest of the interior a unique flare with some interesting leather stitching.

Ferrari 812 Superfast

The Ferrari 812 Superfast may be a 789 horsepower monster, but it is also what is known as a Grand Tourer (or GT car). A GT is a car built to cover long stretches of highway at high speed, while keeping the driver comfortable. Ferrari has managed to keep the minimalist look found on its other models, while also offering a level of luxury expected on a GT car.

Audi R8

Since it was unveiled back in 2006, The Audi R8 was known as the every day supercar. Unlike older supercars, the R8 had plenty of headroom and a reasonable trunk up front. The latest R8 continues to be a comfortable daily driver, and has improved with a new driver focused layout - including Audi's fully configurable Virtual Cockpit display.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

When you spend six figures on a car, you expect it to have basic features like navigation and a radio, but these features also add weight. Track focused cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS are not luxurious, but are pathological in their pursuit of speed. The GT3 RS doesn't have a radio, but you can have Porsche put it back in for you if you so desire. We particularly love the sport bucket seats on the Weissach Package, which can be optioned in a cool green color.