Popular Mechanics reports that the luxury crossover segment has grown 3-fold in the last five years!  Audi is now throwing their hat into the ring with the new 2009 Q5, a mini-me version of the elder Q7.  Unveiled prior to the Beijing Motor Show last month, the Q5 will compete with the BMW X3, the Lexus RX 300, the upcoming Volvo XC60 plus the Mercedes-Benz GLK.  PM also reports that the Q5 will be powered by a 265-hp 3.2 liter V-6 engine with 243 lb.-ft. of torque.  It will feature Audi's lauded Tiptronic transmission as well as Quattro AWD.

Up to Speed, an LA times Automotive blog, reports that the new Q5 will come "tingling with high tech."  Expect options to include thermal heated and cooled cup holders, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and third-generation Multi-Media Interface.  The 2009 Audi Q5 is expected to go on sale early next year and cost upwards of $40K.  When we know more, we'll pass it on, but for now, we found a video showcasing the Q5's agility. 

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Happy birthday, Checkered Blog!  This week marks one year since FlagRaiser, Win'sGal, and I, your trusty CheckeredChick, began our online musings and observations on what FlagRaiser likes to call "the automotive play place in Hampton Roads, Virginia."  And the Checkered Blog has received one amazing birthday present:  Auto Dealer Monthly magazine has ranked Checkered Flag's website at the top of its annual listing of excellent auto retailer sites.  A panel of eight judges examined all aspects of Checkeredflag.com and singled out its "personality" and "unique" nature.  Judging by the other auto dealer web sites on the magazine's "Top 10" list, the competition was stiff, so we are all very excited about this. Thanks to all who have suggested topics for this blog, submitted comments, and sent e-mails ... and please keep your ideas and posts coming!

I stopped by smart center Virginia Beach yesterday to get a closer look at its service department, since I had yet to venture back there and had been wondering if it was any different from a "normal" service department.  It turns out that, much like the smart car itself, the service department is not that different, just shorter.  A lot shorter!

In other smart center VB news, Drew Spade has come down from Checkered Flag Hyundai/VW to be the newest smart Brand Specialist.  He told me that he has wanted to come to smart since attending the smart road show that was held last August.  Congratulations, Drew!

Also, Linda Dales is now working service prep at smart, making sure all the vehicles are in tip-top shape before delivery.

The last bit of local smart news I received was that the wait list for smarts still exists and demand is still high.  The good news is that, beginning this Friday, smart center VB, in order to better serve those customers that do not wish to wait, will begin selling a carefully chosen selection of pre-owned vehicles as well. Expect small, fuel efficient models from VW and Toyota.

And finally, we promised that when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released their crash tests for the smart Fortwo (the smallest vehicle they have ever tested), we would share them with you.  The IIHS gave smart the top rating of "good" for front and side crash protection.  Its seat and head restraints earned the second-best rating of "acceptable" for whiplash protection in rear impacts.  Institute president Adrian Lund stated, "All things being equal in safety, bigger and heavier is always better.  But among the smallest cars, the engineers of the smart did their homework and designed a high level of safety into a very small package."  Click here to read more.

Look who decided to make a home at Checkered Flag Volkswagen:  the all new Tiguan!

This is the latest SUV in VW's lineup and is perfect for the city commute with occasional get-away's.  Let's call it an SUV for the daily commute that can get you anywhere else too.

Here are a few things Edmunds has to say about it:

Little brother to the Touareg, the new five-seater is aiming to lock horns with popular compact sport-utilities like the Acura RDX and Honda CR-V, while providing buyers with an affordable alternative to more prestigious entries such as the BMW X3 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLK.

Styled under the leadership of Murat Gunak, Volkswagen's former design boss, the Tiguan boasts a number of cues first established on the Concept A, including its bold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatment. But while the Concept A received a rather sporting, coupelike silhouette with a roof line that plunged to the rear, the production version of Volkswagen's new SUV is far more upright toward the rear in a move clearly aimed at providing it with greater practicality.

Volkswagen will offer the Tiguan from the outset of sales with three different gasoline engines. For European markets, there will be updated 150-bhp and 170-bhp (DIN) versions of its award-winning 1.4-liter four-cylinder Twincharger engine, with its combination of supercharging and turbocharging. North America will get the 200-hp (SAE) turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from the VW GTI.

Also planned to make its way into the Tiguan is the German carmaker's yet-to-be-revealed 2.0-liter four-cylinder common-rail diesel. It will feature low-emissions Bluetec technology when it comes to the U.S.

The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, although North American buyers will also be able to option the Tiguan initially with a six-speed automatic and, later on, a VW dual-shift gearbox (DSG) offering both manual and automatic modes. Two versions of the DSG are planned: a new seven-speed in combination with the Twincharger engines and an updated version of today's six-speed with the turbo 2.0-liter four.

Channeling drive to all four wheels is a multiplate Haldex center differential, essentially the same VW 4Motion hardware found in the new VW R32. The European-market version of the Tiguan will also be equipped with an electronically controlled differential, plus altered throttle mapping, hill-descent control and an automatic hill holder. In addition, the ABS antilock braking system will change its threshold of intervention to accommodate off-road driving.

Although the Tiguan relies on the same basic mechanical setup as the Golf, with a transversely mounted engine, it has a unique 102.5-inch wheelbase and slightly wider 61.8-inch track front and rear. Other significant changes concern the steering, which features a new speed-sensitive electrohydraulic setup that is claimed to provide greater feel than the Golf's ZF system while filtering out steering kickback from off-road impacts.

For more, click here.

Hyundai recently announced that it was teaming up with tech behemoth Microsoft to set up an Automotive IT Innovation Center.  PCMag.com reports that the technology will start being incorporated into Hyundai vehicles in 2010 and resemble the Sync system that Microsoft developed for Ford.  Microsoft has also created a similar system in Europe for Fiat (Blue and Me).  Along with voice control and mp3 friendly jacks, navigation and entertainment related features will also be on the agenda.  Software downloads will be available and users can DIY with a USB plug or take it to their local dealer.  The Checkered Blog will keep you updated.

Where do you live? In Virginia Beach.

What kind of vehicle do you drive? I have a 2004 Toyota 4Runner.  It's gold.

What do you like about it?  When I drive it, I feel secure.  I drove a Camry before and traded it in for the 4Runner when it reached 20,000 miles.  We got that Camry at Checkered Flag, too, and another Camry, also.

What do you do? I work for M & G Electronics.  I am an assembler.

How long have you lived in Virginia Beach?  Since 2000.  I moved here from the Philippines when I married my husband.  I grew up in the Philippines.  You know, even in the Philippines, I loved Toyotas, and I worked in Japan for a while and I drove one there.  Toyotas are easy to drive, parts are easily available ... I feel comfortable with them.

Do you have children? Yes, a daughter who lives here and two sons, who live in the Philippines. They are all grown.

Do you have pets? Yes, two cockatiels, named Bruno and Bubba, and two parakeets, named Michiko and Giant.

What is your favorite restaurant?  I love Japanese food and so I like local Japanese restaurants.  And I would like to go to Ruth's Chris; I haven't been there yet.

What are your hobbies?  Bible study.  And I love to travel.

What do you like about Checkered Flag? It's priced reasonably and I know in my heart that I can trust them.

Honda just launched a new website highlighting their commitment to the environment.  In honor of this recent development, here are a few things that you may not have known about Honda's history of going green.

The 1975 Civic CVCC was the first vehicle to pass the emissions requirement of the landmark Clean Air Act without using a catalytic converter.

Honda has trademarked its Drive-by-Wire throttle system.  Essentially, high-tech electronics take the place of a physical throttle cable to ensure faster response rates and higher fuel economy.

Honda was the first manufacturer to offer Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicles-rated emission technology (ULEV in tech parlance) on a production vehicle.  Additionally, the 2008 Accord is the first vehicle where both the 4-cylinder model and the V-6 meet the new Partial-Zero-Emission Vehicle (PZEV) standards, which are even more strict.

The FCX Clarity, which we have blogged on before, and which Business Week's Car Connection calls "a  futuristic jellybean," is a ZERO-EMISSION hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle.  It will be available for lease to certain Southern California customers this summer.  The general public will have to wait for hydrogen filling stations to develop in their area before getting a chance to lease the FCX.

Finally, click here to meet ASIMO.  He is a robot and not green, per se, but so incredibly cool that you just know that the company behind its creation is capable of amazing things.  Built by Honda scientists and engineers, ASIMO uses such advance technology, he will be conducting the introduction of a special performance of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra next week.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Online Videos by Veoh.com