Ensure your vehicle emergency kit is restocked. If you don’t have one, create one with items such as bottled water, a flashlight, flares, duct tape, an extra cell phone, energy bars, a blanket, phone number for roadside assistance and a can of Fix-a-Flat.
If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This procedure, known as “steering into the skid,” will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you “steer into the skid.”
In the first three quarters of this year Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 409,300 urban delivery vehicles, transporters and pickups to customers throughout the world. Compared to the corresponding period last year (January – September 2011: 390,000) this represents an increase of 4.9 percent. Worldwide deliveries of the Amarok pickup were up by 23.9 percent to 58,700 vehicles (January – September 2011: 47,400). Crafter deliveries rose by 35.4 percent to 36,400 units (January – September 2011: 26,900). Deliveries of the T5 series increased in the first three quarters by 3.6 percent to 119,900 (January – September 2011: 115,800). Worldwide Caddy deliveries were down by 2.2 percent to 115,800 vehicles (January – September 2011: 118,400).
In Western Europe, including Germany, brand deliveries from January to September 2012 went up by 1.2 percent to 214,600 vehicles. Deliveries in Eastern Europe up to the end of September rose by 24.3 percent to 30,900 vehicles.
In the first nine months of 2012, Germany was Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles largest-volume market in Europe, with a growth of 2.7 percent to 93,700 customer deliveries.“Despite the tense general situation in the Eurozone, we have succeeded in maintaining our steady increase in deliveries. In this we continue to stand apart from the downward development of the European market as a whole, although we are aware of the difficult conditions”, emphasized Bram Schot, Member of the Executive Management for Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brand.
In South America the brand delivered three percent more vehicles to customers than in the corresponding period of the previous year, with 108,100 units. Deliveries of the Saveiro were down by 6.5 percent to 58,100 (January – September 2011: 62,100) whereas the T2, with 20,500 deliveries, showed a five percent increase (January – September 2011: 19,500).
In Africa Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles boosted deliveries by 17.3 percent to 14,300 units and in the Asia-Pacific region, the brand achieved an increase of 59.8 percent, with a delivery volume of 13,300 vehicles.
Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it. Stop the car before entering the flooded area and check the water level ahead. If the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors or the bottom third of your wheels, do not attempt driving through it. Seek a detour instead.
The 2012 Audi A8 is the highest performing model in the study for the first time; 2012 Audi A6 receives the Most Appealing Midsize Premium Car designation
The Audi A8 received the award for the most appealing large premium car and is the overall best performing model in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates APEAL study released today (July 25).
The study measures how gratifying ownership of a new vehicle is to consumers, who gave the Audi luxury flagship sedan high marks. In fact, the A8 received the highest score in the 2012 study. APEAL survey respondents also ranked the redesigned and progressive Audi A6 as the most appealing model in the midsize premium car segment.
Overall, Audi APEAL study scores improved by 13 points from 2011 results, indicating an immediate payoff for the Audi brand strategy to bring the most technologically advanced lineup of models to U.S. consumers in the luxury car market.
Audi moved up one position to rank 4th out of the 34 nameplates in the 2012 APEAL study. This is the 17th year of the J.D. Power and Associates US Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study SM, which examines owners’ assessments of the design, content, layout, and performance of their new vehicle in the first 90 days of ownership.
“Audi products have become the envy of the luxury automotive industry,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. “This is a result of our unwavering focus on developing premium vehicles that are intelligent in design, progressive in technology, and exceptional in performance. According to the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study, consumers are recognizing this as well. There can be no question that Audi has the right lineup for these times.”
The 2012 Audi A8 – the flagship of the Audi brand known for its superior design and progressive advances in engineering, technology and performance – received the APEAL award in the Large Premium Car segment. With a score of 902, the A8 was the highest-performing model in the 2012 APEAL Study. This marks the first time in the history of the study that an Audi model achieves this distinction. With its design and innovative Audi connect™ system which offers Google Earth™, Google™ Local Search, clear and efficient Google™ Voice Local Search, real-time weather, fuel prices, news and travel information as well as a Wi-Fi connection for up to eight devices, its no wonder that the A8 received such high marks by APEAL respondents. Audi is the only brand globally offering factory-installed wireless Internet, an advance now available in core models, such as the Audi A4, Audi A5 and Audi Q5.
The 2012 Audi A6 received the highest ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL study for the Midsize Premium Car segment. One of the most innovative and technologically advanced Audi models to date, the A6 boasts intelligent features such as head-up display, a MMI® touch pad that recognizes handwriting in multiple languages, a thermal imaging camera with night vision assistant as well as the Audi pre sense plus driver assistance system. The A6 also features Audi connect.
Other Audi models fared well in the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL study results: the 2012 A4/5, Q5, Q7, and TT all ranked third in their respective segments.
Exclusive local dealer of Audi, ATL Automotive is reporting that sales of the premium brand in Jamaica increased by 135% between January and June this year, continuing on a record-breaking trend. At the end of June 2012, the dealer had already delivered 94 Audi vehicles to Jamaican customers compared to 40 during the same period last year.
Close examination of the figures from the Automobile Dealers Association (ADA) show that the increase can be largely attributed to the performance of three models. Leading the increase is the midsize sedan Audi A6 reflecting a 466% jump over last year. The current best seller in the premium midsize SUV segment, the Audi Q5 increased by 157.9%, while in the large SUV segment, sales of the Q7 rose by 100%.
General Manager and Audi Brand Manager at ATL Automotive says the vehicles are competitively priced with starting prices being $6.8M for the A6, $6.5M for the Q5 and $10.5M for the Q7. All prices include a three years’ service plan.
According to Mr Desnoes, the demand for Audi vehicles has been relatively high over the last two years. “There are far more Audi vehicles on the road now more than ever. Last year in particular, we noticed there was a high demand for Audis. We anticipated that the demand would be even higher this year and we have done the ground work to ensure that we have the volume to meet the customer’s demands and we are seeing amazing results at the half-year mark,” he explained.
According to Mr Desnoes, the company is fast approaching its 2012 sales target for Audi vehicles. “The year 2011 was the best for Audi in Jamaica as we sold 123 units. Based on average monthly sales so far, we expect to surpass last year’s total sales before September,” he pointed out.
Mr Desnoes is confident that Audi will further penetrate the market with the introduction of a compact SUV, the Audi Q3 set to arrive in Jamaica by September. “It is a compact SUV, which means it is coming at an even more affordable price point for those persons in the market for a smaller premium SUV. It is compact, sporty, versatile, efficient, powerful and has superior off road capabilities,” he noted.
Continuing, he added “the Q3 uses the same engine currently used in the Q5 which is a larger SUV with a seven speed Direct Shift Gearbox. Described a pocket rocket, this vehicle will get you from 0-60kmh in 6.9 seconds while giving you the 37 miles per gallon and the versatility of a 4×4 performance synonymous with SUVs.”
The General Manager says the figures are encouraging going into 2013 when the company expects even more record breaking performances with the opening of the new sophisticated Audi and Volkswagen showrooms on Oxford Road in Kingston. “These state-of-the-art showrooms are unmatched by any other in the region and will wow customers. We have invested US$13M to build these showrooms. No other automotive company in Jamaica’s history has invested this much into a facility,” he noted.
The opening of the new showrooms in Kingston comes on the heels of the Montego Bay showroom which was opened in 2010, another major investment by the company in the automotive industry.
ATL Automotive 