2014 Audi R8, S-tronic, Carbon Fiber, Diamond Stitch Interior, 2k Miles on 2040-cars

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Mercedes and VW battling Uber and Apple to spend billions on Nokia mapping division

Whether for autonomous driving or simply better navigation, digital mapping is closely linked with the future of motoring. The sale of a major player in that industry is spurring a showdown between automotive behemoths and tech giants, and it's a fascinating battle to watch unfold. Nokia is selling its Here mapping division, and while the company might not have the name recognition of Google, it controls about 70 percent of the auto market. The business is valued at $785 million, according to Reuters, but is likely to sell for significantly more. Case in point: Uber reportedly submitted a $3 billion bid. Apple has also been rumored to be among those interested in purchasing Here. A trio of German automotive heavyweights is mounting a challenge to Silicon Valley, though. According to Reuters speaking to two unnamed insiders, Daimler, BMW, and Audi are teaming up to submit a joint bid for an undisclosed sum. They're worried that if Here falls under the control of tech companies, then automakers might have limited availability to these vital maps in the future. Nokia bought Here for $8.1 billion in 2007, according to Reuters. The company operates a fleet of vehicles with cameras and LIDAR that drive around the world to create high-definition maps. It also generates even more information by using the GPS data from shipping and trucking companies.

Audi R8 LMS GT4 debuts in New York, a ready-made race car

The new Audi R8 LMS GT4 race car has made its debut at this year's New York Auto Show. Since 2009, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 has been available for customer purchase, but this new model is intended to be even more affordable. LMS GT-class racing is some of the most entertaining out there. Unlike racing series such as Formula 1, NASCAR, or even the World Rally Championship, GTE, GT3, and GT4 cars are still based heavily on cars you can find on dealer lots today. The GT4 class was created to have a true entry-level racing series. Homologation keeps the cars closer to their production counterparts than any of the other GT classes. Engines, bodywork, and suspension are all similar to production versions, though substantially beefed up for racing. In the case of the Audi R8 LMS GT4, more than 60 percent its parts are shared with the R8 coupe. That means parts are plentiful and relatively affordable. There are some significant changes between the production and racing versions. First, the V10 in the road car is actually far more powerful. The R8 LMS GT4 is limited to 495 horsepower, though that can vary slightly to meet different regulations. Also, rather than having Audi's wonderful Quattro all-wheel drive system, the R8 LMS GT4 is rear-wheel drive. Power is sent to the wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Though the car is set to make its debut next month at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, it won't actually be competing until the start of the 2018 season. Audi is simply tuning the car at different tracks before asking for approval at the end of the year. Pricing hasn't been announced, but expect it to fall between the $145,000 of the RS3 LMS and the $450,000 of the R8 LMS GT3. That's not nothing, but in the world of professional racing, it's a relative bargain. Related Video:

Audi unveils its Doberhuahua Super Bowl commercial

With Super Bowl Sunday less than a week away, this week is going to be dominated by anything and everything football related. That includes advertising and the auto industry, as some of the biggest players prepare to launch multi-million-dollar spots hawking their latest and greatest products.
A veteran of Super Bowl ads, Audi's history has been rather checkered, ranging from controversial to funny to Jason Statham. We aren't entirely sure where to place this year's ad. The German brand has released a pair of teaser videos on the so-called Doberhuahua, a crossbreed of a Doberman Pinscher and a Chihuahua. Now, we have the full spot.
We get the message Audi is going for - compromise is bad - but delivering it via a slobbery, mutant dog strikes us as trying a bit too hard to be funny. Take a look below and let us know what you think of the Audi's Doberhuahua spot. And of course, you'll be able to see the new ad come Sunday, when it airs during the Super Bowl.