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Audi's new 1,000-hp hybrid pulls like a freight train

Audi's latest plug-in hybrid handles like it's on rails, and pulls like a freight train. That's because it's a train, and literally rides on rails. The vehicle in question is a locomotive which the German automaker developed for its main factory in Ingolstadt incorporates over 11 miles of railroad tracks, along which are transported parts and completed vehicles to be moved around the site. To carry out those duties, Audi teamed up with French manufacturer Alston to deploy a new hybrid locomotive on premises. The locomotive features a plug-in hybrid propulsion systems capable of running on electric power alone for two hours at a time, and can be plugged in to recharge during down-time. The upshot is that it not only pollutes less overall, but can be run inside warehouses more safely. When the power runs out, the electrical system is backed up by a diesel engine. Audi reports that 15 trains arrive at the factory every day. It employs 17 locomotive drivers on site. And each locomotive runs for 3,800 hours each year. Whether we can take Audi at its word when it comes to diesel emissions or not, the company claims that the new hybrid locomotive cuts its carbon emissions by half, taking 60 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere each year. 10/30/15 Ingolstadt Hybrid locomotive at Audi plant in Ingolstadt This Audi drives on rails: A 1,000 horsepower plug in hybrid locomotive manufactured by Alstom replaces the plant locomotives previously used at the Audi plant in Ingolstadt as of today. This means that components and finished Audi models will now reach the plant's loading stations in a more climate friendly way. "Our goal is all-round sustainable logistics," stated Johann Schmid, head of the Audi plant railway in Ingolstadt. "The new railway technology allows more economical, energy-efficient and low-emission rail transport. In connection with the latest chassis technology, the plug-in-hybrid locomotive sets new standards in shunting and rail transport." The complete automobile plant in Ingolstadt includes 18 kilometers of railways. Every day, 15 goods trains arrive at Ingolstadt North railway station for Audi – loaded with pressed parts, engines and transmissions, as well as cars from other Audi sites that are ready for delivery to customers. And cars produced in Ingolstadt also start their journey to customers by rail. 17 Audi locomotive drivers work at the plant railway. One of their tasks is to allocate the wagons to the various plant buildings.

Welcome Audi RS6 Avant, goodbye Lincoln Continental | Autoblog Podcast #592

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder and Assistant Editor Zac Palmer. Our editors cover a lot this week, starting with the news. They geek out over the Audi RS6 Avant coming to America, and mourn the loss of the Lincoln Continental. They address rumors of the Toyota Land Cruiser's demise, and analyze spy photos of the Ford Mach E electric crossover. They also honor the memory of the godfather of spy photography, Jim Dunne. Finally, they talk about driving the BMW Z4, Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, and another diesel, the diesel-powered Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-D. Autoblog Podcast #592 Get 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 Rundown Audi RS6 Avant headed to U.S. Lincoln Continental discontinued Rumor: Toyota Land Cruiser to be canceled Ford Mach E spied RIP spy photographer Jim Dunne Cars we're driving: 2019 BMW Z4 sDrive30i 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 2019 Mazda CX-5 Diesel Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:      

A spotter's guide to Super Bowl LIV car commercials

Set to kick off on Fox at 6:30 ET on Sunday, February 2, from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, the big game will feature the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Throughout Super Bowl LIV, viewers will see about 50 commercials, each of which costs as much as $5.6 million per 30 seconds, according to AdWeek. Originally, there were more than 77 ad slots, so several companies could be paying well more than $10 million for a single, longer commercial. Numerous car companies have already announced their commercials, or their intentions to show commercials, during the game. Here's a roundup of the ones we know about so far. During the game on Sunday, we'll be livestreaming and adding links to the new commercials as they become available, so check back with us for that post.  Audi: E-Tron Sportback Maisie Williams has experience wearing many faces, and in Audi's Super Bowl commercial, she does her best Elsa impression. In the spot, titled "Let It Go," Williams faces the rigorous task of getting through L.A. traffic, but she's alleviated by the comfort of the Audi E-Tron Sportback electric crossover. The commercial is meant to signal the company leaving its gas past behind and moving forward to a sustainable future.  Genesis: GV80 Genesis makes its Super Bowl debut with a commercial that will show its all-new SUV, the GV80, to viewers around the world (many of which will be seeing the vehicle for the first time). The ad features Chrissy Teigen and John Legend as the purveyors of "new luxury," while "old luxury" is left for the birds. GMC: Hummer General Motors is bringing back the Hummer nameplate as a premium electric GMC truck. GM says it will have 1,000 horsepower and will be capable of going zero to 60 mph in three seconds. GM brought in NBA legend and Hummer fanboy LeBron James for the debut commercial. Hyundai: Sonata Hyundai is known for bringing in the big-time celebrities for its commercials, and 2020 is no different. A new advertisement called "Smaht Pahk" features John Krasinski, Chris Evans, and Rachel Dratch, all three of whom are from the Boston area. The trio gets into full character as they discuss the new high-tech parking feature on the redesigned 2020 Hyundai Sonata, and David Ortiz makes a cameo at the end. Even when New England isn't in the Super Bowl, New England is in the Super Bowl.