2016 Audi A6 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating

Audi’s A6 incorporates class leading design, the latest technology, over the top efficiency when TDI equipped and now a Top Safety Pick+ rating.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Mar. 24, 2015



2016 Audi A6 during the IIHS Small Overlap Crash Test.



Following up on our 2016 Audi A6/A7 reveal and preview from the LA Auto Show last November, Audi just announced that its refreshed 2016 Audi A6 has just been awarded a Top Safety Pick+ rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with the available Driver Assistance package and produced after January 2015. Top Safety Pick+ is the highest 2015 rating available from The 2016 A6 recently underwent the IIHS Small Overlap Front Crash test and received the highest possible rating of “good”.



For 2016, the A6 received a fully reinforced structure, building on the model’s good ratings in the Institute's other crashworthiness tests and an advanced rating for its optional front crash prevention system.



The A6 showcases an updated dynamic stance and presence on the road with more power and refinement that the previous model. Going on sale later this month, the refreshed 2016 A6 incorporates a new front fascia and significant engine updates.



The available Driver Assistance package includes Audi pre sense plus, is what pushed the new 2016 A6 over the top with the advanced rating for front crash prevention. The Driver Assistance package also includes adaptive cruise control with stop & go functionality, Audi active lane assist, high beam assistant, and a top view camera system.



To determine crashworthiness, IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor, based on performance in five tests: moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. In the area of crash avoidance and mitigation, IIHS assigns vehicles with available front crash prevention systems ratings of basic, advanced or superior, based on the type of system and performance in track tests.

2016 Audi A6 IIHS Crash test Ratings

The Driver Assistance Package available on Premium Plus and Prestige models includes Audi pre sense plus.



One of the best midsize sedans ever produced just keeps getting better… When equipped with the 3.0L TDI that is. ;)

2016 Audi A6 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating

2016 Lexus RX Reveal in NY Next Month

Just a tease but let us hope it incorporates the Camry Hybrids 2.5L Hybrid drivetrain this time around.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Mar. 24, 2015



The 2016 Lexus RX. A little of it anyway.



A short blurb that Lexus will introduce the all-new 2016 RX at the 2015 New York International Auto Show on April 1st. The RX has dominated mid-size luxury utility vehicle sales since its release 17 years ago. The all-new fourth generation RX will make its global debut during the Toyota press conference in the Galleria at Jacob Javits Convention Center on Wednesday, April 1 at 9:10 a.m. EDT.



What to expect? The interior is already a great place to spend some time in with elegant materials, comfortable interior lighting and backlit switchgear.



The exterior is getting to be a little garish with the huge black window grille but this may have been toned down in this reveal? Notice the almost car like steeply raked rear window?



The drivetrain? Well you know my thoughts on that one. ;)

2016 Lexus RX Reveal in NY Next Month

RPGs you love, but know you'll never get players for?

I've been playing RPGs since the early 80s and played a LOT of RPGs over the years.



Of them, there's a few that are just old favourites and would love to give a go again, perhaps only for old times sake, who knows I might hate it now.



But some of these RPGs were pretty obscure or quite complicated.



For example, Id love to get a game of Rolemaster SS or Rolemaster FRP going again for a bit.

I know the character gen takes AGES and the rules look pretty formidable with all the tables. but really the character gen is by far the most complicated part.

Still, I think it'd be pretty much impossible to find players for Rolemaster these days. I'm not even sure I'd have time to run such a game. I'd be spending ages just teaching people to generate a character.

I did love the combat tables and crit charts though and there's nothing out there with character gen as rich and deep as Rolemaster.

TBh, I don't even know if I could be bothered anyway, it was a faff sometimes and it'd be especially hard if I was the only one who knew the rules.





I'd also like to run one of the early editions of Stormbringer, when you could summon demons into weapons and stuff.

The rules were really simple really, sort of an early Runequest rules set.

But it seems to be easy to get Pathfinder and 5E players, but not much room for other stuff.



How about you? What would you like to run, but probably won't get the chance to?

RPGs you love, but know you'll never get players for?

Psionics and 5E, are they never going to happen?

I remember Psionics from the old ADnD.

I did use it for a bit and it seemed kind of messy and sort of "bolted on in a bad way".



However I remember certain monsters really relied on being defined in this way, such as Mind Flayers and some other monsters.

Given that Mind Flayers have their abilities defined in a different way now, are Psionics dead now for 5E?



I can't say that I will particularly miss Psionics, but I am curious as to whether it's dead in the water now.

Psionics and 5E, are they never going to happen?

Clubkleuren kloppen niet meer

Ik weet niet of het iets te maken heeft met de laatste patch, maar bij mij kloppen ineens een aantal clubkleuren niet meer.



Zo heeft Jong Ajax, als ik hun teampagina openzet, bovenaan een rode achtergrond met zwarte letters en heeft AS Monaco een witte achtergrond met zwarte letters.



Iemand enig idee hoe dit komt en hoe dit te verhelpen is. Ik zou het namelijk zonde vinden om opnieuw te moeten beginnen.



Alvast bedankt voor de hulp.

Clubkleuren kloppen niet meer

Glow in the Dark Battery Electric Cars and Roadways

Love the LEAF and road lighting. Not so much a fan of the Rare Earths used to make the LEAF glow however.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Mar. 21, 2015



Glow in the Dark LEAF on the Glow in the Dark Highway. What will Nissan think of next. ;)



A cute release by Nissan in which it shows the company’s LEAF in a unique glow-in-the-dark covering driving along the world's first glow-in-the-dark motorway in Oss, the Netherlands.



Nissan was the first modern passenger car manufacturer to apply glow-in-the-dark car paint to a car to showcase how many customers of the world's best-selling battery electric vehicle are powering their car from solar energy generated at home.



Now they have gone one step further by driving the all-electric Nissan LEAF on the Smart Highway in the Netherlands – the first time a phosphorescent car has been driven on the famous stretch of road. The location of the world's only luminescent highway was fitting, as Nissan has announced an increase in electric vehicle sales of 313 percent in the Netherlands last year.



The Smart Highway project was conceived by designer Daan Roosegaarde to help guide drivers in the dark while saving energy that might otherwise be used in street lighting.



A one-third of a mile stretch of the N329 highway has been upgraded with glowing lines that absorb light during the day and glow for eight hours at night. Here, the landscape becomes an experience of light and information, increasing visibility and safety.



The road's photo-luminescent strips complement this Nissan LEAF's innovative finish. The spray-applied coating absorbs UV energy and other visible radiation during daylight hours and glows for between eight and 10 hours when the sun goes down.



While glowing car paint is already available, as are glow-in-the-dark car wraps, the bespoke, ultraviolet-energized paint created especially for Nissan is unique thanks to its secret formula. It contains a solid, odorless Rare Earth Metal called Strontium Aluminate.

Still cool to see it in motion!

Glow in the Dark Battery Electric Cars and Roadways

3/24 - Diesel at $2.69 with Gasoline at $3.09 in Southern California

Hi All:

Stopped at a Shell on Palomar Airport Rd. and El Camino Real in Carlsbad, California to top off the 15 Golf SportWagen TDI before the steady states last night.

Absolutely shocked at how crazy fuel prices are out here in Southern California. Saw an Arco station at $3.89 and a 7/11 no name brand across the street at $3.39.

Pulled into this Shell with Regular Unleaded at $3.299 per while Diesel was just $2.699. That is the least expensive diesel I have filled in probably 6 or 7 years!

It pays to be driving TDI Clean Diesels out here in California.



Wayne

3/24 - Diesel at $2.69 with Gasoline at $3.09 in Southern California