1984 Porsche 928 Race Car (fully Prepared) 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.

Porsche Classic puts modern navigation in older cars [w/video]

People drive classic vehicles for many, many reasons. Maybe it's because they're cool, or they bring back memories, or perhaps they just want to take a trip back in time, before the days of adaptive cruise control, massaging seats and satellite navigation. You know, back to when driving was about, well, driving. Someone did not mention this reasoning to Porsche, because the German company has decided to offer the tiniest, most ridiculous in-dash navigation system we've ever laid eyes on, through its Porsche Classic line. Because, you know, people don't own smartphones nowadays. In fact, most smartphones are significantly bigger than Porsche's new nav setup. The touchscreen is just 3.5 inches in size, although its graphical layout is clean and in line with the company's more modern offerings. It also integrates a new entertainment system, which adds Bluetooth connectivity and a 4x45 watt amp. The system is being offered for a wide array of vintage Porsches, ranging from the most modern, air-cooled 993s, all the way back to the earliest 911. Four-cylinder and V8 models, as well as front and mid-engine cars, can be fitted with the nav system, too. Porsche Classic has priced the new system at the frankly absurd price of 1,184 euros ($1,344 at today's rates), though we're sure a large number will indeed be sold and installed. Dedicated US pricing is still pending. Check out Porsche's rather silly video of the system in action, available alongside the full press release below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. PORSCHE CLASSIC BRINGS OUT NEW NAVIGATION RADIO FOR CLASSIC SPORTS CARS True-to-style upgrade with state-of-the-art technology Atlanta. Classic on the outside yet ultra-modern on the inside: with its newly developed navigation radio, Porsche is responding to the growing demand for a built-in device for classic sports cars. The purpose-built unit combines the style of yesteryear with the benefits of modern technology. It fits perfectly into the DIN-1 slot that has been used in the sports cars for decades and is operated by means of two knobs, six discreetly integrated buttons and a touch-sensitive 3.5-inch display. Thanks to the appearance of the black surface and the shape of the knobs, which are supplied in two authentically styled versions as standard, the navigation radio blends harmoniously into the dashboard of classic Porsche models.

Audi RS7 vs. Porsche Panamera Turbo, which would you pick? [w/poll]

We live in a blessed time - a time when you can buy not just one, but two (or three, or four) monstrously powerful, blazingly fast four-doors that can't only keep up with modern supercars, but in some instances, will outperform them as well. Two of the finest are the Audi RS7 and the refreshed Porsche Panamera Turbo, and Motor Trend has been messing around with the both of them in this comparison video.
MT provides a comprehensive and entertaining look at the RS7 and the turbocharged Panamera as they go through a battery of tests, before getting tossed about on both the road and the track. Starring flip-flop aficionado Jonny Lieberman, it's a must-watch, whether you're in the market for one of the two super sedans or merely want to see the former Autoblog editor again.
After having a look at the video, register a vote for the car you'd park in your driveway in our poll. Hop below for the full video from the team at Motor Trend.