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VW Group to split brands under four holding companies

The Volkswagen Group is planning a tremendous shift in its internal structure that will decentralize operations by splitting its 12 brands into four different holding companies. Here's the breakdown. Things will be split logically, considering the inter-sharing of parts, platforms, and engines. The Volkswagen brand, Seat, and Skoda make up a passenger vehicle division led by former BMW man Herbert Diess. Audi, which is tightly intertwined with Lamborghini and motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, will be managed by current Audi exec Rupert Stadler. Porsche and Bentley, which are already quite close, will be joined by Bugatti and run by Matthias Mueller. Finally, a commercial vehicles division will include Volkswagen Commercial, Scania, and Man. Former Daimler exec Andreas Renschler will take care of the big vehicles. The massive move, according to Automotive News Europe, is part of an internal VAG effort to move away from the structure established by ousted Chairman Ferdinand Piech, who favored a compact, but highly centralized, management structure to oversee the independent actions of the company's brands. Criticism of Piech's arrangement stemmed from the company's slow responses to changes in the market, ANE reports. The new structure should make for a more efficient, streamlined company that's better able to make crucial decisions. What are your thoughts? Should VAG decentralize, or did Piech have the right idea? Have your say in Comments.

Lamborghini Centenario blows our minds with 760 horsepower

Every time we think Lamborghini couldn't go more extreme, it goes and outdoes itself again. Take this latest supercar for example. Called the Centenario, it celebrates what would have been Ferruccio Lamborghini's hundredth birthday (were he still alive today). It's essentially an Aventador underneath, but with more visually arresting bodywork and even more impressive specs. Like the Aventador, the Centenario is built around a carbon monocoque with a V12 engine bolted to the back. Only instead of the Aventador's 700 metric horsepower or the Aventador SV's 750, the Centenario packs 770 – equivalent to 760 hp by US standards. That's enough to propel it to 62 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 217 mph. To keep all that power and pace in check, Lamborghini fitted the Centenario with carbon-ceramic brakes and magnetorheological dampers. It also packs a four-wheel steering system like the one you'd find on the Porsche 911 GT3 or Ferrari F12 TdF to help keep it stable at speed and nimble under cornering. The unique Independent Shifting Rod transmission carries over from the Aventador, but as you can see, the Centenario strikes an even more aggressive profile than its (relatively) more commonplace stablemate. View 19 Photos The bodywork is all fresh, with more vents and ducts than an air conditioner factory and – dare we say – more visual aggression than anything Sant'Agata has made to date... save for maybe the Veneno. Just check out those enormous intakes aft of the doors, for crying out loud. Also, check out the DTM-size rear diffuser, or the old-school air extractors in the bonnet that somehow still leave room for a pair of helmets in the luggage compartment. The whole thing is longer than the Aventador, and sits lower to the ground. Think of its relationship to the Aventador as the Reventon was to the Murcielago and you'll be on the right track. This particular example is rendered in exposed carbon fiber, but each will be made to the customer's specifications. Now before you go picturing yourself as one of those customers, we should point out that Lamborghini will only make 40 examples – 20 coupes and 20 more roadsters – and all of them have already been sold at a price of 1.75 million euros (before taxes), which works out to about $1.9 million at current exchange rates.

Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster will debut in Monterey

While the Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance remain a brilliant place to watch cars (and people), it just wouldn't be the same if some of the world's finest automakers didn't bring something new to the affair. Lamborghini will take center stage in the lead up to this year's Concours, unveiling the all-new Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster at The Quail on Friday, August 14. While normally we'd say that details are scarce, the truth is, we expect the Aventador SV Roadster to simply mimic the standard SV hardtop. That should mean a screaming, 740-horsepower V12, a sub-three-second sprint to 60 miles per hour, a 200-mph-plus top speed, and a price tag in excess of half a million dollars. The SV Roadster will be limited to just 500 units, making it rare even among the ultra-pricey world of Lamborghini. Look for much more on the SV Roadster when it makes its debut next week at The Quail, in sunny California. Until then, scroll down for Lambo's brief press release. Related Video: Sant'Agata Bolognese 7th August 2015 – Automobili Lamborghini will present the global unveiling of the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster during a press conference at "The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering" on Friday, August 14 at 10 a.m. Following the sold-out coupe, Lamborghini will offer a more exclusive option for customers seeking the performance associated with the Superveloce moniker and the joy of open cockpit driving. Representing a true expression of super sports car purity, the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster is limited to a 500-unit production run. Further details about pricing, dealer delivery and specifications will be released in conjunction with the official debut.