Audi Sport plans to double its sales by 2023 as part of a huge expansion of the Audi’s performance arm. Audi Sport, now under an entirely new management team led by joint managing directors Oliver Hoffmann and Julius Seebach, also plans to bring the high performance RS models to market much quicker than the standard Audis on which they are based, down from 18 months after the launch of a standard car to around six. Sales of Audi Sport models were around 30,000 units globally in 2018 and the plan is to take that to 60,000 by 2023. A big model expansion is already underway in 2019, with new RS4, RS6, RS7 and RSQ3 models joining the TTRS, RS3 and RS5 models already on sale, and RSQ3 Sportback and RSQ8 models confirmed as entirely new additions to the line-up. The RS6 brings 48V mild hybrid technology that sees Audi Sport models electrified for the first time, and the company has confirmed that electrification will be a feature of all of its models in the future. Hoffman confirmed to Autocar that the next-generation RS4 would switch to a plug-in hybrid drivetrain when it launches early in the next decade. The facelift current generation car due at the turn of the year would maintain a twin-turbo V6 powertrain. Hoffmann also confirmed there would be a next-generation R8 and it would be electrified but a decision has yet to be taken on whether it will be a hybrid of a full electric car. Autocar understands Audi is leaning towards the latter option, with the R8 becoming the second fully electric Audi Sport model after the E-Tron GT in 2020. An RS1 was also not ruled out by Hoffmann as part of the expansion plans. “All models are under consideration to reach our sales targets,” he
Origin: Audi Sport aims to double sales by 2023
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New Lincoln Aviator aims for a buttery smooth ride
Continuing the brands march towards a return to real names, Lincoln will be reintroducing the Aviator nameplate later this summer.Adopting a handsome face featuring the companys corporate grille signatures, the new Aviator will pack some gee-whiz suspension technology while borrowing one cool trick from the gorgeous Mark VIII coupe on sale twenty-five years ago.The new model introduces a suspension system that pairs something Lincoln is calling pothole mitigation with road preview technology to deliver a smooth and refined ride. The system uses a forward-facing camera to see upcoming bumps in the road, then automatically adjusts settings faster than a wink of an eye to mitigate whatever unpleasant impact is in the offing.This adaptive suspension also deploys a suite of 12 sensors that monitor vehicle motion and body movement. These sensors are said to read the road 500 times per second and can automatically prompt setting adjustments up to 100 times per second. Your author is struggling to come up with an analogy for that speed. More frequently than a toddler throws their sippy cup on the floor? Perhaps.That pothole mitigation is more than just a bit of marketing whimsy. The system can sense when a wheel is dropping into a severe dip, stiffening the shock absorber to reduce the amount of drop.This lessens the harshness of a tire strike and, with each wheel responding independently, allows the vehicle to tailor its response to any given road surface. The software was developed in-house, by the way. We look forward to trying it on the ruined roads around our office. As for that Mark VIII bit of theatre? Those long of memory will remember that model had a commercial in which a swashbuckling driver inched his two-door Lincoln up to a solid metal bar spanning the roadway, illustrating that his car was just a smidge too tall to proceed.Our hero drives out of the shot only to return at 110km/h, barrelling towards the same decapitating bar. This time, he easily squeaks under the obstacle thanks to his Lincolns air suspension and its ability to lower itself a smidgen at speed.The 2020 Aviator deploys the same party trick when equipped with available Air Glide suspension, hunkering down to Aero Height at 110 km/h in a bid to increase fuel economy; and firming up the handling. Other settings will allow Aviator to stand on its tippy-toes in deep snow; or kneel down to make entry and exit easier.Look for the new Lincoln Aviator to appear on dealer lots later this
Origin: New Lincoln Aviator aims for a buttery smooth ride
The 2020 Lincoln Navigator aims to lure you away from the competition
The Monochromatic Package, available on the Navigator Reserve series, offers on-trend exterior sweeps of color that showcase the bold lines of Lincoln’s full-size SUVLincoln Lincoln mid-July unveiled the refreshed Navigator itll sell you starting November, when youll be able to choose from three new trims with more luxury to lure you away from other brands.Lincoln says that already 66 per cent of its buyers have defected away from other brands, and that 90 per cent of its buyers choose the highest trim level option.Now, whatever trim option you choose will have more features and technology as standard.Three new packages are being offered under the Monochromatic Package umbrella. Lincoln says theyre meant to follow the design trends of today, offering a look thats clean, uncluttered, and (with) a focus on the horizontal (that) leads the eye through a spacious expanse. The package names follow suit: Pristine White, Ceramic Pearl and Infinite Black.Across the whole range, power running boards, heated and ventilated front seats and wireless phone charging are now standard. Safety features such as auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot detection, pre-collision assist, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and more are courtesy of Lincolns Co-Pilot360.Lincolns Phone As A Key system that debuted on the 2020 Aviator will be coming to the Navigator as well. The system allows people to well, use their phone as a key, instead of using a traditional key fob to unlock and start the car.Nothing is set to change under the hood; the Navigator will still be powered by a 3.5-litre Ecoboost V6 and mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Pricing will be revealed closer to the on-sale
Origin: The 2020 Lincoln Navigator aims to lure you away from the competition
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