Porsche 912 1967 Coupe on 2040-cars

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Volkswagen Group sales down 15% in pandemic year, but EV sales up 214%

FRANKFURT, Germany — German automaker Volkswagen said its global sales fell 15.2% during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but showed significant recovery toward the end of the year. The company more than tripled its sales of battery-only vehicles. Global sales for all of Volkswagen's brands amounted to 9.3 million vehicles. The fourth quarter showed a smaller decline of 5.7% and within that quarter the month of December was still further improved, showing a shortfall of only 3.2% from the same period the year before. Volkswagen said Wednesday that sales fell the most in Western Europe, by 21.6%, while China, the company's largest single market, was down 9.1% Sales of battery-only cars jumped 214% to 231,600 from 73,700 across all the company's brands. The company's electric sales leaders included the Volkswagen ID.3 compact, with 56,500, the Audi E-Tron SUV with 47,300, and the high-end Porsche Taycan with 20,000. Volkswagen said that its sales fell by less than the overall market, meaning it had slightly expanded its market share. “The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 an extremely challenging year,” said group sales chief Christian Dahlheim. “The Volkswagen Group performed well in this environment and strengthened its market position." Volkswagen Group's brands include Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, and Skoda as sell as truck makers MAN and Scania.

Another naked Porsche 911 GT3 RS caught in Stuttgart parking garage

With its reveal not expected until the Geneva Motor Show in April, we have to wonder why there'd be a rode-hard-put-away-wet 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS sitting out in the open, completely uncovered. It's one thing to be caught out on the street or in triplicate at a Swedish gas station, but it's another thing to be on what looks like daily driving duty – there's a child's seat in the passenger's throne. Instagram user Johan9ff snagged it, and in response to a query in German as to how, he answered in German (per Google Translate) that he found it in a parking garage in a fitness center in the Stuttgart suburb of Killesberg. Based on its muddy front lip and bug-spattered paint job, the coupe has been naked out on the street and traveling quickly. Out of its camouflage it looks just like we've been led to expect based on the patent photos and the recent winter spy shots, but this time we get an up-close view of the vents over the front wheels. We have one word to say about them: filthy. And if you're wondering about those turbo-like vents on the rear haunches, no, this isn't a GT2 – Porsche has said there won't be a GT2, the current race-certified GT3 RSR has those vents (occasionally found on the previous version as well), and the GT3 RS has already been leaked in scale-model form. This is it. Based on comments left on Porsche forums, production will be limited by the number of orders – the new engine won't meet European regulations coming into force, so it won't be manufactured after this year. Deliveries are said to start at the beginning of summer; those who bought the 918 Spyder will get first dibs, and you can be certain there won't be enough of these to go around. Speaking of that engine, it's said to be good for somewhere between 510 to 525 horsepower, a PDK transmission getting power to staggered wheels, 20-inchers in front, 21-inchers in the back. Johan9ff has slowly been posting Instagram photos of the beast, we're hoping he got at least one of the interior. Those seats looks mega. Bring on Geneva. Featured Gallery 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS News Source: Johan94ff via Instagram Spy Photos Porsche Coupe Luxury Performance

249 reasons you want to go to Goodwood Revival

At its most basic, Goodwood Revival is a long weekend worth of car races featuring cars made before 1970. There are lots of those, though, including some pretty great ones all over the world. But nothing is like Goodwood Revival because it's so much more than "just" vintage car racing.  First, you have to look the part. Attendees are strongly encouraged to dress in period clothing from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, with a strict dress code enforced should you want to enter the paddock. The goal is to create a more authentic atmosphere to match the cars and the meticulously restored and recreated paddocks, grandstands and other facilities of the reborn Goodwood circuit. Now, the dress code was relaxed this year since the Saturday was literally the hottest Sept. 9 on record in that part of England, and the organizers didn't want people dropping dead because they needed to wear an ascot. Some people definitely took the "relaxed" bit too far, but there was still plenty of atmosphere maintained. It really does make a big difference, as those "relaxed" individuals were often akin to seeing a Starbucks cup in a scene from "Game of Thrones."  You can see what I came up with below along with former Autoblog editor Reese Counts and various other Goodwood attendees. Second, there's the parking lot. But I'll let this entire separate post detail that. Third, there's the enormous carnival-like area featuring vintage-looking rides and various boutiques. Both of those are on the outside portion of the track, and honestly, you could easily just spend your entire day in the parking lot and carnival/shopping area without even crossing over into the circuit area. There you'll find more shops, food and drink opportunities, plus obviously, race car paddocks and the track itself.  Fourth, there are airplanes! I heard there are fewer than in the past, but they're there and they're cool. The Goodwood circuit started out life as the perimeter road around the World War II airfield RAF Westhampnett.  Fifth, with all of the above, Goodwood Revival really is fun for the whole family. It isn't just a bunch of old guys sitting around in lawn chairs. There are plenty of women and adorably dressed children, including babies in vintage prams. It's also not an event that's exclusively for the uber rich, even if they are certainly in full force given who has the sort of money needed to go vintage racing.