Berlin (dpa) – Audi is planning to expand its successful range of Q-badged crossover SUVs. The aim is to slot in a range of more elegant spin-offs for customers who prefer less aggressive-looking offroaders, said Audi-boss Rupert Stadler.

According to Germany’s Autobild motoring newspaper, the Q2, Q4, Q6 and Q8 models on the drawing board will offer a toned-down off-road image compared to the current luxury sports utility Q5 and Q7. Both of these cars ride high and offer four-wheel drive as standard. ”The SUV sector is growing, not only in North America and China but also in Europe,” said Stadler.

It is not clear whether a new entry-level Q2 will be offered in two-door and four-door form but five engine options have been pencilled-in. These range from a 1.4-litre petrol unit with 125 or 185 horsepower to three diesels with power ratings of between 115 and 220 horsepower. Meanwhile, a new top-of-the-range Q8 coupe will use the Q7 platform. A revamped Q7 is set to make its debut in summer 2014, followed by an all-new Q5 from late 2016.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it intends to conduct a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 373,000 2000-2004 Model Year Toyota Avalons sold in the United States to address the possibility that the vehicle’s steering lock bar could break under certain conditions. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this recall.

This action follows an announcement made by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan on July 29, 2010.

Because of improper casting of the steering lock bar, which is a component of the steering interlock system, there is a possibility that a minute crack may develop on the surface. Such a crack may expand over a long period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the lock bar could break. If this occurs, the interlock system may become difficult to unlock when stationary.

If the vehicle while being driven is steered to the right with sufficient lateral acceleration, a broken and loose lock bar may move toward the steering shaft. If the engagement hole in the shaft happens to line up at the specific time the broken lock bar has moved, this could cause the steering wheel lock bar to engage, locking the steering wheel, and increasing the risk of a crash.

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Toyota is reported set to unveil another Toyota model, the Toyota Mark X, may be coming out this October. The Toyota Mark X is a rear wheel drive model that is said to be powered by a 2.5 and 3.5 liter V6 engine. They are expected to come out with an automatic transmission complement.

The outgoing model is offered with a 211HP 2.5 liter GR V6 or a 253HP 3.0 liter V6.

(Source) iCars

These concept truck designs may have been seen at one point or another in movies such as Judge Dredd or i-Robot. But while many have yet to see a suitable replacement from the gas chugging vehicles used for business and commercial use, that thought may be just over the horizon. The Scania Truck concept is something worth checking out and hopefully a machine we can all get to see soon.

With the rant for the ouster of noisy and pollution-making truck an obvious concern. These new Scania Truck Concepts aim to provide an eco-friendly approach, using diesel-electric-hybrid engines that should be something worth watching out for if they do get out of the conceptualization stages.

It is designed to be eco-friendly and economical by using a diesel-electric hybrid engine. The innovative part comes on the wheel-hub design that sports indicative color-coded LEDs that point out speeding and other rules broken.

(Source) Yanko Design

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