HERNDON, VA - The all-new 2009 Audi A4 has required fewer repairs than other recently introduced upscale sedans, according to new results from TrueDelta's Car Reliability Survey (CRS).

According to TrueDelta, the 2009 Audi A4 has required 37 repair trips per 100 cars per year - similar to the benchmark Honda Accord. The implication: most of these cars will not require any repairs in their first year. Among other new-for-2009 upscale sedans, the 2009 Hyundai Genesis has required 67 repair trips per 100 cars per year - not far from the average - and the 2009 Jaguar XF has required 147.

Further suggesting that the Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi, has substantially improved reliability, owners of the 2008 and 2009 Jetta, Rabbit, and GTI also reported low repair rates.

Another new 2009 model, the Ford Flex crossover, has required 38 repair trips per 100 cars per year, edging out the Honda Pilot's 43. This reinforces Ford's emerging reputation for first-rate product reliability.

"Most car journeys are short trips, for instance to and from work. We will be able to offer a product that fulfils this transportation need. In order to cover longer distances as well, the car will also be equipped with one of Volvo's fuel-efficient diesel engines," says Stephen Odell.

In the summer of 2009, three Volvo V70 demonstration cars will be presented. The demonstration cars will be used to gather information about the wishes and demands that drivers may have on the new technology, to determine their driving habits and to establish how they want to charge their cars. Vattenfall will, among other things, test various concepts for high-speed home charging and also for charging stations in public places, where owners pay to fuel with electricity instead of petrol or diesel.

The cars that are planned to go into series production in 2012 will feature somewhat different technology, but the launch of the demonstration vehicles is a step towards series-producing plug-in hybrid cars specifically tailored to market needs.