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1956 DKW Audi electric van beautifully restored

These days, electric vehicles that make commercial deliveries aren't entirely rare. UPS has a small fleet in California, and at least 5,000 Renault Kangoo Z.E. models are in use by France's national postal service. But the history of this concept is much older. In fact, one of the companies represented by Audi's four rings had an example about 60 years ago. Audi Tradition just completed a full restoration of this blue 1956 DKW Elektro-Wagen to add to the company's collection of historic vehicles. It's quite a rare find because only two are still known to exist. Audi estimates that DKW built about 100 of these electric vans between 1955 and 1962, and they were primarily sold to energy companies, public utilities and battery makers. To create the EV model, DKW took its normal Schnellaster delivery van and replaced the model's two-stroke engine with an electric drivetrain. The vans weren't exactly speedy, though. The motor produced about 6.7 horsepower and lead-acid batteries offered 200 amp hours of power running at 80 volts. It gave the Elektro-Wagen a claimed range of about 50 miles and a 25 mile-per-hour top speed. Following the restoration, Audi took van to the island of Wangerooge in the North Sea to show it off. The location is perfect, too, because vehicles with internal combustion engines are banned on the island. If you can read German, feel free to find out more in the press release below. „DKW Elektro-Wagen" zu Audi heimgekehrt Einen von zwei verbliebenen DKW Elektro Schnellaster restauriert Klein-Bus einst auf der Nordseeinsel Wangerooge im Einsatz Audi Tradition prasentiert einen aussergewohnlichen Neuzugang in seiner historischen Sammlung: einen „DKW Elektro-Wagen" von 1956. Zwischen 1955 und 1962 produzierte die Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt DKW Schnellaster – etwa 100 davon als Elektro-Automobile, die das Unternehmen vor allem an Energieunternehmen, Stadtwerke oder Batteriehersteller verkaufte. Bei dem nun nach aufwandiger Restauration „heimgekehrten" Elektro-Schnellaster handelt es sich um ein besonderes Exponat: Der DKW fuhr auf der Nordseeinsel Wangerooge, wo Automobile mit Verbrennungsmotoren verboten sind. Normalerweise war der DKW Schnellaster mit einem Zweitaktmotor ausgestattet - der „Elektro-Wagen" hingegen mit einem funf Kilowatt (kw) leistenden Reihenschluss-Motor. Die seitlich in zwei Kasten gelagerten Bleibatterien hatten eine Nennspannung von 80 Volt und eine Kapazitat von 200 Amperestunden (AH).

Audi CEO Stadler gets 5-year contract extension

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler will keep his seat at the top thanks to a contract extension. Volkswagen didn't divulge the length of the new contract, but German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said the term is five years. Stadler took over the current position in 2007 when current VW CEO Martin Winterkorn left it. That year the brand sold 93,506 in the US and 964,151 in total worldwide; last year it sold 158,061 in the US and 1,575,480 in total worldwide.
Even though the brand has managed only about half the US sales of its two main rivals, it led the charge globally through the first two months of this year. Over the next few years we'll see its US efforts increase with a $30.3-billion investment, 11 new models and the opening of its first North American plant. And right now it can make hay with its World Car of the Year award winner, the A3.
In addition to Stadler, VW sales boss Christian Klingler is said to have received a five-year contract extension, and VW China head Jochem Heizmann has earned another two years on the job.

The Audi RS5 takes aim at the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63

The current generation of the Audi A5 has soldiered on for the past 10 years, an eon when it comes to automobiles. Though we've seen and driven its replacement, the new car hasn't quite made it to market. As with most of Audi's lineup, the car is expected to come in three versions. While the full reveal and first drive reviews of the A5 and S5 took place late year, until now we haven't had a peek at the range topper Audi RS5. It sits on Audi's B9 platform shared with the Audi A4 sedan. Essentially, it's Audi's equivalent to the BMW 4 Series or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe. In the case of the RS5, compare it to the BMW M4 and the Mercedes-AMG C63. Like its rivals, the RS5 sits longer, lower, and wider than its sedan stablemate. The RS features aggressive front and rear fascias and a set of unique wheels. While the styling of the new model may look evolutionary, it is indeed all-new inside and out. The two cars in these photos are wrapped in camouflage that covers everything below the beltline. The general shape of the bodywork looks the same, but the front and rear are slightly restyled. The front now has larger air intakes in the corners and a lower chin spoiler. Out back, the dual single-exit exhaust pipes give the RS model away. The S5, like all S models, features quad exhaust tips. The rear bumper is slightly modified, but all in all it's not far off from the A5 and S5 models. Audi's styling is always conservative, so this should come as no surprise. There's no word as to what's resting under the hood, but look for forced induction and six cylinders, possibly pulling something from the Porsche Panamera. As with every other Audi performance car, power will be sent to all four wheels through the latest generation of the Quattro all-wheel drive system. Look for a full reveal in the next few months, possibly as soon as March at the Geneva Motor Show. Related Video: