Yes, they bought RR and Bentley, but not the RR logo or trademark - BMW gets that.
VW aims for global domination
VW's planned flagship saloon, code named the D1, is aimed at changing standards for luxury cars around the world. That's the promise from the German-based carmaker, which will provide real burred wood, aluminium, and very tactile switchgear. Insiders say the car will be 'classier' than the M-B S-Class.
Two main engines are expected to power the car - a 5.6-litre V12 outputting 420bhp, and a 5-litre W10 turbo-diesel that will have the world's highest torque rating and output 313bhp. Some smaller V8 petrol and diesel will also be offered options.
motorweb.ie
I'll bet that's the Audi V-12, which qualifies as the largest capacity and most powerful production twelve-cylinder engine ever to be found in a saloon car worldwide.
VW's platform and brand mix could create a juggernaut of efficiency and profitability
automotive-business.com
...To avoid future cannibalization among his brands, Pi6ch set guidelines for each marque. Seat is aligned to rival sporty Alfa Romeo, a goal that became realistic when Seat stole Alfa design chief Walter da Silva. Skoda, in a move that would have been considered laughably presumptuous a few years ago, will target Volvo and Saab. VW and Audi will refine their current identities, with Audi a touch more on the sporty side, targeting BMW, and Volkswagen expanding upmarket and targeting the Mercedes alphabet from A-Class to S-Class.
"Audi is a question mark," said Jim Hall, AutoPacific vice president for Industry Analysis and ABI columnist. "VW is the only company on Earth that separates BMW and Mercedes from a competitive standpoint. Hall suggested that VW’s move upmarket with the W8 engined Passat Plus and the likely V12 D1 proves a saying around VW heaquarters: The cream rises to wherever Ferdinand Piëch is. That is, whichever brand gets his attention also gets the hottest cars.
"There may be an arcane logic even to that," Hall said. "VW has U.S. owner demographics that other companies would kill for. It could be a lifetime brand for Generation Y. They might go from Golf to D1 and never even consider any other brand."... |
