The Audi A4 and Audi Q7 models set the sales pace for the brand. A4 sales totaled 5,124, an increase of 13.0% year-over-year, and consumers purchased 2,019 Audi Q7 SUVs. Since its launch in June, sales of the Audi Q7 have reached 7,682 units.

"Consumers have three great reasons to put the Audi A4 on their shopping lists," said Johan de Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America. "The A4 was recently named a 'Top Safety Pick' by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the A4 delivers class-leading residuals, and when equipped with the 2.0 liter TFSI engine, the A4 has best-in-class fuel economy."

Audi Certified Pre-Owned sales also closed the month strong.

Audi to start production in India next yr, float sales co

New Delhi, Dec 18: German luxury car maker Audi today said it will start production of vehicles in India by next year, utilisng group company Skoda's facility at Aurangabad and would float a new sales company."In autumn of 2007, Audi is set to start assembling the Audi A6 for the Indian market in Aurangabad," the Volkswagen group company said in a statement, adding it would take the completely knocked down (CKD) route."This move gives us the opportunity to better fulfill our potential on this market. Through supplying the part sets, our locations back in Germany will also benefit," Audi Ag Board Member (production) Jochem Heizmann said.The company said in the first full year of production by 2008, it expected to assemble over 300 units of its luxury sedan A6 and sell about 3,000 units by 2010.

Chrysler recalls over 68000 new vehicles

DETROIT - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group said on Friday it would recall over 68,000 of its newest vehicles, including the just-released Dodge Nitro sport utility vehicle and the Jeep Compass.Chrysler said that 62,339 vehicles from its 2007 model-year line-up would be recalled to fix a brake system problem it said could cause drivers to lose control.Chrysler said 11 models across all three of its brands were affected by the recall with notices scheduled to go out to registered owners in February.In addition to the Nitro and the Compass, 2007 models covered by the recall are the Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty, the company said.Chrysler said some of the vehicles could suffer a failure of a computer that controls the brakes, causing a loss of anti-lock and brake distribution systems, traction control and speedometer functions.The automaker said no accidents or injuries had been reported as a result of the brake glitch.The company said owners of the models covered by the recall should take their vehicles to Chrysler Group dealers for inspection if the instrument panel warning light is illuminated.Separately, Chrysler said it would recall 6,086 of its Sebring sedans to reprogram the heating and cooling systems because of a problem with windshield defrosting.The company said owners would be notified of the recall in January. Reuters .

Kudos: 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe Is Playboy's Car of the Year

NEW YORK — The 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe, with a 330-horsepower inline-6 and a six-speed, is Playboy magazine's 2007 Hottest Car of the Year. The lineup of top automotive picks by the magazine will be featured in the January issue. Other winners include the Volkswagen Eos, which earned honors as the "best two-way player" for its folding metal top that opens and closes at the touch of a button. The Porsche 911 Turbo, with a 0-60-mph time of 3.7 seconds, was named "best sports coupe," and the redesigned Cadillac Escalade, with a 403-hp 6.2-liter V8, scored as "best SUV." The Ford Shelby GT500 was named "best bang for your buck" and the Toyota Tundra was picked as "best pickup." The team of automotive writers at Playboy also selected the Saturn Sky Red Line as the "best roadster." What this means to you: An interesting list from an interesting source.

Caliber leads Euro-invasion

BELVIDERE, Ill. - The "Anything But Cute" Dodge Caliber is not just DaimlerChrysler's attempt to reinvent itself in the small-car market in the United States. It's the lead car in the company's attempt to introduce Dodge to the world.

Since making its debut on U.S. dealer lots early this year, salespeople have sold 75,791 of the aggressive-looking, sporty coupe/SUVs. Those are solid numbers, especially considering the car didn't make it to all lots until March. Still, the Caliber's numbers are behind the 110,370 Dodge Neons sold through the first 10 months of 2005.

2006 Geneva Motor Show

B-segment cars like this dominate European roads. And Americans are finally starting to catch on, as cars like the Mini Cooper and Scion xA sell in brisk numbers. Dodge doesn't yet have a B car, but this morning in Geneva the company showed a concept that looked production-ready, at least on the outside. Dodge calls it the Hornet, but it looks nothing like its homely, '70s-era AMC namesake. In fact, it looks a lot like a Mini, albeit with a square jaw and a quad grille. "We wanted to give it what the Mini Cooper has as far as character," design manager Mark Moushegian admitted. In the cabin, Dodge aimed for "the functionality of a Scion," according to Moushegian. "A lot of people want to have a Mini, but they're starting a family so it's not practical to own a car like that," he noted. Not only can the Hornet's 60/40-split rear seats fold flat into the floor, they can fold up as in a pickup truck, providing a taller load area for odd-sized cargo.

Chrysler Group Launches Production of All-New 2007 Jeep Patriot at ...

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chrysler Group's Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant launched production of the Company's tenth all-new vehicle this year, as the first 2007 Jeep(R) Patriot came off the assembly line today. The plant which was extensively retooled in 2005, has become a flagship for Chrysler Group's adoption of flexible manufacturing. Production of the all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber began in January 2006 and was followed in May by the all-new 2007 Jeep Compass.Flexible manufacturing is allowing Chrysler Group to bring its new vehicles to market more quickly and the Belvidere Assembly Plant to manufacture multiple products on one assembly line. Additionally, flexible manufacturing has positively impacted production costs by a savings of up to 85 percent in some instances.

2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4

Believe it or not, Dodge's initial plans for the Caliber hatchback didn't call for an SRT version. This wouldn't be shocking if you didn't know the history of the previous SRT4. Turns out when the original Neon SRT4 was built, Dodge figured it could sell around 12,000 or so if things went just right. It sold twice that number. Why that wasn't enough to convince Dodge to build an SRT version of the Neon's successor is unexplainable. Dodge eventually came around, though, allowing SRT's engineers to build yet another affordable compact car that will blow the doors off half the sports cars on the road. Like the previous Neon SRT4 sedan, the Caliber SRT4 uses a turbocharged and intercooled 2.4-liter four-cylinder with an aluminum block and heads. It's an all-new engine that adds dual counterrotating balance shafts and variable valve timing to the spec sheet along with a higher 8.6:1 compression ratio.

ON THE ROAD: Dodge Caliber Not a Typical Small Car

* America's previously insatiable appetite for sport utility vehicles and full-size pickups was finally beginning to wane.
* Consumers were again shopping for fuel efficiency. But they still liked the looks of the SUV.

Of all the efforts to hit the bulls-eye in this mercurial market, none showed more creativity and precision than the 2007 Dodge Caliber and its Jeep Compass platform mate.

Through November, DaimlerChrysler sold more than 82,000 Calibers and might have marketed more but for production constraints at the Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant.

With its combination of frugality, innovative styling, ingenious accessories and surprising roominess, the Caliber earns top ranking among my cars of the year.

Runner-up status goes to the Nissan Versa, another tall, small car that provides more for $15,000 than many consumers might expect.

Man receives minor injury in crash with Fire Department vehicle

The Dodge Durango pickup had been driving ahead of other vehicles in intersections with its lights and sirens on but came to a stop at the intersection at Bert Kouns Industrial Loop because the light was red, which is department policy, Crawford said. After checking for traffic, the driver said he saw no vehicles and continued heading south, when a four-door Pontiac sedan then crashed into the Durango.

The driver of the sedan, Andy Davis, 36, was taken by ambulance to Willis Knighton Medical Center South, Crawford said. Authorities think Davis' thumb may have been injured from his airbag deploying.

Capt. Todd Cash, a Fire Department EMS shift supervisor, was taken to Willis Knighton South by his supervisor as is department protocol, Crawford said. He did not appear to be injured.