2007 Porsche Boxter S 6-speed Sport Chrono New Tires on 2040-cars

Auto blog

The Volkswagen Group switches official language to English

The Volkswagen Group can't be fairly thought of as entirely German anymore, so the news that the company is switching its official language to English to help attract managers and executives is a rational, if surprising, decision. While many VW Group companies are still staidly German in character and culture, consider the other companies that it controls: Bentley (British), Bugatti (French), Ducati and Lamborghini (Italian), Skoda (Czech), Scania trucks (Swedish), and SEAT (Spanish). Not to mention the large Volkswagen Group of America operation, which constructs cars in Chattanooga, TN. Volkswagen's explicit motivation is to improve management recruitment – making sure the company isn't losing out on candidates for important positions because they can't speak German – and that's inherently sensible in a globalized economy. Particularly considering, like it or lump it, that English is the lingua franca of said global economy. It also should make it inherently easier to communicate between its world-wide subsidiaries and coordinate operations. It's hard to say for sure if this will have any impact on the consumer, although it's easy to see the benefits if, say, VW Group hires some American product planners or engineers and they push for features and designs that more closely suit American needs. After all, the US is a hugely important market for any manufacturer, and so the switch to English almost certainly has something to do with the outsized influence of the US in the global economy. And there doesn't seem to be a downside from a purely rational perspective, although it could mean that the Group's corporate culture becomes less German. Whether that's a good or a bad thing depends on your perspective. Related Video: Image Credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Audi Bentley Bugatti Porsche Volkswagen SEAT Skoda

Next moves for the Tesla Model 3 and Bollinger B1 | Autoblog Podcast #522

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Producer Christopher McGraw. We discuss two different electric vehicles: the Tesla Model 3 and Bollinger B1 truck. We also discuss our time driving the Porsche 911 and McLaren 570GT, plus the reveal of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Also, Spend My Money (your money, everyone's money) is back this week. The rundown is below. Remember, if you have a car-related question you'd like us to answer or you want buying advice of your very own, send a message or a voice memo to podcast at autoblog dot com. (If you record audio of a question with your phone and get it to us, you could hear your very own voice on the podcast. Neat, right?) And if you have other questions or comments, please send those too. Autoblog Podcast #522Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Topics and stories we mention Rundown Tesla Model 3 Bollinger B1 Porsche 911 Driving McLaren 570GT Driving Rolls-Royce Phantom Reveal Spend My Money (with guest appearance) Feedback Email – Podcast at Autoblog dot com Review the show on iTunes Green Podcasts McLaren Porsche Toyota Truck Coupe SUV Electric Luxury Performance mclaren 570gt bollinger b1

Exotic cars caught on video racing on neighborhood streets in Beverly Hills

A pair of supercars caught on camera racing around a quiet Beverly Hills neighborhood last week has residents fearing for their safety. The video shows a white Porsche 911 and a yellow Ferrari LaFerrari as they clipped parked cars and blew through stop signs while residents of the upscale community watched in horror. Freelance cameraman Jacob Rogers shot the video of the supercar shenanigans. He later confronted a man outside the house where the Ferrari eventually parked. He asked the man if he cared that he was endangering people's lives. The man became combative and claimed he had diplomatic immunity. "He told me verbatim, 'I could have you killed and get away with it,'" Rogers told NBC Los Angeles. "I told him, 'the press is allowed to be here on the sidewalk on a public street.' He said, '(Expletive) America' and threw a cigarette at me." The Ferrari's plates are from the oil-rich country of Qatar. The race ended with the Ferrari pulling into the driveway of a $45,000-per-month rental home, its engine compartment smoking. Police can be seen arriving in the neighborhood. Los Angeles police are currently investigating the incident. Even though the LaFerrari was still smoking when police arrived they haven't filed charges because no officer witnessed the illegal activities. When police approached the owner of the vehicle he denied doing anything illegal and again claimed diplomatic immunity. Police told NBC they are in contact with the State Department about the man's diplomatic status and the legality of the cars in the neighborhood. Beverly Hills isn't the only swanky zip code plague by hotshot supercar owners. Some of the most expensive homes in London can be found In the Knightsbridge neighborhood - and some of the most expensive cars as well. This summer, the local council of Knightsbridge and nearby Chelsea began exploring a Public Space Protection Order that would fine drivers who rev their engines, drag race on residential streets or blare music, according to Reuters UK. News Source: NBC Los Angeles Government/Legal Ferrari Porsche Racing Vehicles Supercars Videos illegal