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If VW defaults on loans it may sell Bentley or Lamborghini

If something goes catastrophically wrong with Volkswagen Group's recent $21 billion loan, brands like Bentley or Lamborghini could hit the auction block. According to two insiders to Reuters, the beleaguered German automaker agrees with its creditors to sell assets if the company somehow can't pay back the debt in a year. One of these anonymous people claimed the company hasn't yet deliberated over what to sell. However, the sources were willing to speculate that the power engineering portion of Man could be among the first to go. "Volkswagen may also consider divesting luxury car brands Bentley and Lamborghini or motor bike brand Ducati, although these units don't really move the needle," an insider said to Reuters. VW Group negotiated with the banks earlier this week to get the massive loan. The cash is necessary as a buffer in case the automaker doesn't have enough money on hand to repair vehicles or settle upcoming fines. VW would reportedly issue bonds in the spring to begin paying the debt. The company's bills will start racking up quickly in the new year. German authorities mandate a recall there in early 2016, and repair campaigns in the US for the 2.0- and 3.0-liter diesel engines are inevitable. There are also hundreds of class-action lawsuits to settle. The company needs to resolve its CO2 emissions scandal in Europe, too. In response to these financial threats, VW management created a cost-cutting plan to slash the research and development budget by $1.1 billion next year.

Lamborghini sold a record 3,245 supercars last year

Lamborghini sold 3,245 vehicles last year. That figure represents new record for the Italian automaker, which moved more supercars in 2015 than it has in any of its past 53 years in business. And that number only stands to grow in the coming years. This represents an enormous increase over the 2,530 units it sold in the previous calendar year – which itself set a new record in 2014. Lamborghini's previous high-water mark stood at 2,430 units sold in 2008, but dipped in subsequent years through the global economic downturn that hit exotic automakers particularly hard. What's more is that the Raging Bull marque is gearing up to increase its sales even further in the coming years. The factory in Sant'Agata is preparing to add a third model line to the existing Huracan and Aventador with the introduction of the Urus. Once production of the new crossover ramps up, Lamborghini expects to sell approximately 3,000 of them each year, potentially doubling the record numbers from last year. Even at those figures, the Italian brand remains among the smallest in the Volkswagen Group. Sales numbers from 2014 reveal that Bentley sold approximately 11,000 units, leaving only Bugatti as a smaller producer than Lamborghini with sales of its multi-million-dollar supercars counted in the hundreds, not thousands. Though it also posted record sales last year, rival McLaren sold roughly half the number of supercars that Lamborghini did at 1,650 units. By comparison Ferrari currently limits its production to 7,000 units per year – more than double Lamborghini's figures – and could raise that limit in the near future. Related Video: AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI: 150 NEW JOBS IN 2015 FOR THE URUS PROJECT WITH FURTHER HIRINGS TO FOLLOW IN 2016 Sant'Agata Bolognese, 26. January 2016 – Automobili Lamborghini just ended 2015 with exceptional results. The all-time record of 3,245 vehicles sold worldwide comes with a rapid growth in workforce, which now stands at 1,300 employees. More than 150 assembly line workers, technicians and highly qualified specialists have been hired recently with open-ended contracts, bringing the total of permanent employees taken on over the past five years to more than 600. Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, commented: "Lamborghini is experiencing strong, steady growth in sales and also in its workforce.

Infiniti takes QX60 on vacation for National Lampoon-inspired ad

Infiniti is packing up its version of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster for a new ad inspired by the American comedy classic National Lampoon's Vacation. Well, actually the 30-second spot replaces the green station wagon with a QX60, but the commercial does a great job of evoking the movie in a short time. The release timing is clearly perfect too given the remake hitting theaters on July 29 with Ed Helms and Christina Applegate. Infiniti's ad replicates one of the film's memorable scenes, but it replaces Chevy Chase behind the wheel of the Family Truckster and Christie Brinkley in a Ferrari 308. Instead, we get Ethan Embry in a QX60 and a blonde in a Lamborghini Gallardo droptop. The slight twist at the end really makes the commercial work, though. The ad starts airing nationally on July 9, but you can watch it streaming above now. Beyond just the surface-level homage, Infiniti gives the spot a slightly deeper connection to the Vacation series. In 1997's Vegas Vacation, Embry played Rusty. INFINITI DEBUTS NEW QX60 "VACATION" AD CAMPAIGN Infiniti recreates famous scene from "National Lampoon's Vacation" in 30-second commercial with 2015 QX60 Luxury Crossover Commercial stars Christie Brinkley and Ethan Embry Campaign includes extensions in digital and social media NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Infiniti has released a new campaign for the 2015 QX60, inspired by the 1983 classic "National Lampoon's Vacation" which coincides with the July 29 release of Warner Bros. Studio's remake. The campaign begins with a TV commercial starring the original movie's car-loving blonde bombshell and supermodel, Christie Brinkley, and puts a spin on the famous movie scene as the modern day family heads to Walley World. In the national spot titled "Vacation," Ethan Embry (who notably starred as Rusty in "Vegas Vacation") loads his family in the roomy 3-row QX60 and hits the road for Walley World. While on the road trip, Ethan looks in his side view mirror and sees an attractive blonde in a sports car fast approaching. As Ethan and the blonde keep up with each other on the highway, Christie Brinkley is revealed as his wife who catches this action and ends the scene with an ironic response: "Honey, a blonde in a convertible? Seriously?" The popular Infiniti QX60 continues to stand out in the premium crossover segment, excelling in the areas that luxury crossover buyers desire most – interior versatility, roominess, available safety, and available advanced hospitality features.