2013 Audi Q7 Tdi Prestige Quattro Tiptronic 3.0l Black S-line on 2040-cars

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VW, Rivian, Nissan, BMW, Genesis, Audi and Volvo lose EV tax credits starting tomorrow

The U.S. Treasury said Monday that Volkswagen, BMW, Nissan, Rivian, Hyundai and Volvo electric vehicles will lose access to a $7,500 tax credit under new battery sourcing rules. The Treasury said the new requirements effective Tuesday will also cut by half credits for the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Rear Wheel Drive to $3,750 but other Tesla models will retain the full $7,500 credit. Vehicles losing credits Tuesday are the BMW 330e, BMW X5 xDrive45e, Genesis Electrified GV70, Nissan Leaf , Rivian R1S and R1T, Volkswagen ID.4 as well as the plug-in hybrid electric Audi Q5 TFSI e Quattro and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) electric Volvo S60. The Swedish carmaker is 82%-owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. The rules are aimed at weaning the United States off dependence on China for EV battery supply chains and are part of President Joe Biden's effort to make 50% of U.S. new vehicle sales by 2030 EVs or PHEVs. Hyundai said in a statement it was committed to its long-range EV plans and that it "will utilize key provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate the transition to electrification." Rivian declined to comment and the other automakers could not immediately be reached for comment. Treasury also disclosed General Motors electric Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV will qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit. GM said earlier it expected at least some of its EVS would qualify for the $7,500 tax credit under the new rules, including the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq and forthcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV SUV and Blazer EV SUV. Treasury said all GM EVs will qualify. Earlier, Ford Motor and Chrysler-parent Stellantis said most of their electric and PHEV models would see tax credits halved to $3,750 on April 18. Treasury confirmed the automakers' calculations. The rules were announced last month and mandated by Congress in August as part of the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA requires 50% of the value of battery components be produced or assembled in North America to qualify for $3,750, and 40% of the value of critical minerals sourced from the United States or a free trade partner for a $3,750 credit. The law required vehicles to be assembled in North America to qualify for any tax credits, which in August eliminated nearly 70% of eligible models and on Jan. 1 new price caps and limits on buyers income took effect.

Updated Audi R8 GT caught testing

When Audi introduced the refreshed 2014 R8, one of the first things we noticed was that the new R8 V10 Plus offers identical output to the outgoing R8 GT, suggesting that this limited-production model was either due to be cancelled or poised for a serious power increase. Fortunately, these spy shots have us suspecting that the latter is more likely.
Like the previous R8 GT, this new model will likely hit the gym, dropping some weight and packing more punch, but while that's all speculative, we do see that better handling is definitely in the cards. Aside from the aero-improving chin spoiler, fascia winglets and fixed rear wing, this R8 also has upgraded brakes with bigger calipers and what appear to be cross-drilled ceramic rotors. We hear output could be increased from the current 560 horsepower up closer to the 600-hp range, and laid to the pavement via Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. It also very likely that Audi will keep production numbers for a 2014 R8 GT rather low, with the outgoing model limited to just 333 units globally.

MT's Jessi Lang recounts her harrowing Autobahn R8 crash

Automotive enthusiasts know the name, face, voice and stories of Jessi Lang well. And if they don't, they should. The longtime Motor Trend video presenter and host of The J-Turn is a regular fixture on the automotive scene, and one of our favorite to watch. But a year ago, Jessi vanished from the scene. And we're sad to say she hasn't been kicking back enjoying umbrella drinks on the beach all this while. A year ago Lang went on a pilgrimage to Germany, driving a Porsche 911 GT3 on the Nurburgring and an Audi R8 modified by Abt on the Autobahn when the unthinkable happened. A car swerved out of its lane and into Jessi's path. A catastrophic collision ensued, and Lang was seriously injured. Jessi's been recovering from the multiple fractures and life-threatening lacerations ever since, and in her first appearance back on the net, has returned to tell her harrowing but courageous story. We wish her all the best on her long road to recovery, hope to see her back to her old self again soon, and invite you to watch the heart-rending story here.