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Electric 1960 Auto Union 1000S has vintage looks, modern power

If you want to buy a classic car but somehow feel a twinge of guilt about the old engine polluting too much, then it's worth taking a look at this 1960 Auto Union 1000S on eBay Motors. The owner removed the original three-cylinder, two-stroke and installed a fully electric powertrain. In place of the internal combustion engine, there's an Azure Dynamics three-phase AC24 motor to spin the front wheels, and it even has regenerative braking. Lithium-ion batteries replace the rear seat and extend into the trunk to supply 21.5 kWh of energy storage. The seller claims the Auto Union weighs 2,400 pounds, so the powertrain might be rather lively in such a light car. From the outside, this Auto Union is immaculate. The owner's body-off restoration includes powder coating the chassis and suspension and repainting the exterior in Ascot Grey with the white roof. The color scheme looks perfect on cars of this era. The interior now has a digital instrument cluster in the center of the dash. We could see this change upsetting some purists because of the clash between original and modern. However, the reupholstered fabric seats look amazing. The owner has covered 15,000 miles since the restoration, so any powertrain bugs have been worked out in that time. As of this writing, the bidding is at $15,100 with 28 bids and the reserve is not yet met. The auction ends Sunday, April 10. While the seller provides great photos with the sale, you can see the EV in motion below in a video Audi created about it in 2014.

Malaise Era All-Stars

A few weeks ago, we bid a fond happy 40th anniversary to the automotive dark ages of 1973-84 that have come to be known as "The Malaise Era" - the performance ice-age when 160 horsepower was a lot and a 0-60 time of under 10 seconds was remarkable. Like music in the 1980s, everything in automobiledom didn't suck, however. There were a few bright spots. Here are five of our favorites:
1976-79 Porsche 930, aka 911 Turbo Carrera (above)
Photo Credit: Dorotheum

2016 Audi S8 Plus Quick Spin

Congratulations, that big promotion finally came through, and along with it, a new company car. So go big or go home. Never mind the modest A8 L, with the sensible six-cylinder. The Earth-moving A8 L with its powerful W12, perhaps? No way. You didn't get to the top by being timid or ostentatious, so you choose the new-for-2016 S8 Plus, with a 605-horsepower version of Audi's 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8, available with an $11,000 Dynamic package that adds ceramic brakes, a sportier exhaust, a rear carbon fiber lip spoiler so tiny you are surprised it does anything, and a boost in governed top speed from 155 miles per hour to 190. Yeah, that's the ticket. The 85-horse boost in power over the outgoing S8 comes from different valve timing, new exhaust valves, and modified turbochargers. The S8 Plus is docile enough around town to carpool to the company luncheons, but point it towards some wide open spaces, and it's a blistering executive express. Driving Notes Much of our Florida test was done in conditions ranging from damp to deluge. Despite the fact that the Audi had summer tires on its 21-inch wheels, the S8 was startlingly sure-footed. Thanks, Quattro all-wheel drive, and a set of better-than-expected Dunlop tires. Power is linear and progressive, and the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission is prepared to downshift at a moment's notice, but is never busy or intrusive. We seldom used the manual shift paddles behind the steering wheel. The comparison between the Dodge Charger Hellcat and this S8 Plus is admittedly absurd, but they are big, heavy, four-door cars with monster motors. And while the Hellcat wants you to hear and feel every engine revolution and supercharger whine, the S8 Plus does all it can to shield you from the drama taking place under the hood. Which is why you look down and suddenly you're going 90. "Dynamic steering" allows for adjustments in steering feel, and we weren't fans in the stiffest setting – it felt notchy and artificial. Comfort mode felt more natural and still gives you all the feedback you need. "Adaptive sport air suspension," though, we had no problem with. It makes short work of potholes and irregular pavement, but firms up when you are cornering – admittedly, in Florida, we had to seek out the rare corners. This is a state with roads designed using a T-square. The aluminum body weighs just 510 pounds. The overall weight of 4,685 pounds, though, means there is still a lot of mass to slow down and steer through corners.