2000 Ford Windstar No Reserve on 2040-cars

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Weekly Recap: Audi pulls back the curtain on its future

The E-Tron Quattro concept is the future of Audi. It embodies all of the traits that will make the brand – and electric-powered luxury vehicles – more relevant into the 2020s. Here's why: The E-Tron Quattro concept, which will debut next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, is a large sport utility vehicle that promises a range of 311 miles. It's an all-electric daily driver that fits the needs of most Americans. In production – which Audi says starts in 2018 – this vehicle will seat five and likely be called the Q6. You can take your family from Boston to Philadelphia without recharging. That's mainstream. We're moving away from the industry's "science experiment" era (as General Motors product chief Mark Reuss once described the appearance of the first gen-Chevy Volt) to a period where electric vehicles are plausible and practical for many US buyers. The 2018 Q6's only holdup for the masses will be price. But if you can afford an Audi SUV, you'll be able to buy an all-electric version. The E-Tron concept uses Volkswagen Group's second-generation modular longitudinal platform. The lithium-ion battery is located between the axles and below the cabin. Urquhart says the production model will feature the automaker's latest battery technology developed with LG Chem and Samsung. IHS Automotive projects the Q6 will sell more than 40,000 units annually by the end of the decade. "The E-Tron Quattro is a precursor for what will be an exciting and landmark production model for Audi and will position the brand at the forefront of the premium EV market," IHS analyst Tim Urquhart wrote in a commentary. It's the Tesla-zation of America. It's the Tesla-zation of America. The Q6 will be a Model X fighter, and expect other automakers to follow suit, particularly in the luxury sector with SUVs and other large vehicles. They offer more space for the battery packs, and development costs can be recovered easier. "Premium brands have an inbuilt advantage in terms of introducing [electric] powertrains over more mainstream automotive brands," Urquhart wrote. OTHER NEWS & NOTES Analyst says Tesla stock could be worth $465 a share Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas sent shockwaves through the industry when he said Tesla stock has the potential to reach a whopping $465 a share. That's a leap from its $230.77 price at Friday's market close.

Ford extends shutdown, Stellantis confirms layoffs due to chip shortage

Ford and Stellantis this week announced new production cuts due to the global semiconductor shortage, with popular models including the Ford F-150 and Jeep Grand Cherokee facing cuts. Stellantis plans to temporarily lay off workers at one facility as production is curtailed.  According to Automotive News, Ford is extending shutdowns at some of its North American facilities into May. The Blue Oval has been forced to reduce or idle production of both its redesigned F-150 pickup and the popular Explorer due to the chip shortage. The Mustang, Transit, Edge, Lincoln Nautilus and Aviator will also continue to be affected. Stellantis is planning to temporarily lay off workers at a Jeep plant in Detroit during April and May due to a shortage of semiconductor chips. The company will cut two work crews at its Jefferson North plant in Detroit for three weeks starting April 26, then call them back and lay off a third crew from May 17 through the week of May 31, according to a schedule obtained by Bloomberg News. The plant on Detroit’s east side normally operates two shifts with three work crews six days a week to keep it running 20 hours a day. “Stellantis continues to work closely with our suppliers to mitigate the manufacturing impacts caused by the various supply chain issues facing our industry,” company spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in a statement. “Due to the unprecedented global microchip shortage, Jefferson North will adjust its production schedule through the end of May.” Jefferson North employs about 4,800 hourly workers and makes the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the top-selling Jeep model last year, and the Dodge Durango SUV. A redesigned version of the Grand Cherokee is scheduled to start production in August, according to researcher AutoForecast Solutions. This article contains reporting from Bloomberg. Plants/Manufacturing Ford Jeep Lincoln Technology chip shortage

2016 Ford Focus RS to start at $35,730? [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Unsurprisingly, Ford declined to comment on the pricing shown on the consumer page, with spokesman Aaron Miller telling Autoblog that the Blue Oval does "not comment on pricing speculation." The webpage showing the $35,730 figure has since been pulled down. We love it when automakers make little, tiny mistakes. You know, not the big stuff that leads to recalls, but the small things, like accidentally releasing pricing of a hotly anticipated model via its US consumer website. Such a thing has apparently happened to Ford, as Jalopnik's Car Buying sub-blog has uncovered a page on the site listing the starting price of the 2016 Focus RS. The cost of entry for the 345-horsepower, all-wheel-drive, torque-vectoring hot hatchback is $35,730, according to the website. That's $1,035 more than the base Subaru WRX STI, although it's $865 less than the Volkswagen Golf R. Considering the RS outguns both models by a very significant margin – 40 horsepower over the STI and 47 over the Golf R – that price seems very agreeable. If it's correct, that is. Aside from showing the RS' starting price, the page also gives us a glimpse into the options sheet. There's an RS2 equipment level that adds $2,795 to the base price along with navigation and leather Recaro seats, an $895 sunroof, and a 19-inch wheel and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tire package for $1,990 (or just $1,395 for the 19s alone). Some fiddling with the quite incomplete configurator – there are no images and the overall design is rather glitchy – revealed a max price of $42,275. We've reached out to Ford for confirmation of the pricing information displayed. Head into Comments and let us know what you think of the pricing. Has Ford hit it out of the park by slotting in a more powerful competitor between the Subaru and Volkswagen? Were you expecting a higher price (like your author), or is this still too much money for a jumped-up Focus? Related Video: