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Recharge Wrap-up: Atieva making EV with former Tesla talent, Holland lowers PHEV incentives

A reduction of tax incentives on company cars in Holland is expected to put the brakes on plug-in hybrid sales. Cars are taxed at an average of 25 percent, with plug-in hybrids taxed at just seven or 14 percent, depending on emissions. Taxes on PHEV company cars will increase to 14 and 21 percent. With company car leases making up a third of vehicle sales in 2014, the uptake on PHEVs "will likely go back to regular volumes," according to Volvo's Christiaan Krouwel. It could be a boon for battery electric cars, as their tax rate will remain at four percent for company cars. Read more at Automotive News Europe. Ford is testing cylinder deactivation in its 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. On-road prototype testing has shown improvements in fuel economy of as much as six percent. Ford engineers developed a system using a new dual mass flywheel, pendulum absorber, and tuned clutch disc to allow cylinder deactivation under a wider range of speed and engine loads with less NVH. "The highest priority in the development of new combustion engines for automotive applications is the ongoing reduction of fuel consumption," says Ford's Andreas Schamel, presenting Ford's findings to the Vienna Motor Symposium. Read more at Green Car Congress or in the press release from Ford. Atieva is building an EV with the help of numerous former Tesla employees. The Silicon Valley-based startup was founded in 2007 by a former Tesla vice president, and its roster includes 12 other former Tesla employees. Already well funded, Atieva is now looking to fill its ranks with more talent, with 32 engineering positions, two recruiter positions and other job openings posted at its website. As for the EV it is working on, Atieva says it is "redefining what a car can be, by building an iconic new vehicle from the ground up." Read more at Charged EVs. Testing shows that Joule ethanol, made from recycled CO2, meets standards for use in the US and Europe. In partnership with Audi, Joule has been working toward making its recycled CO2 fuels ready for commercialization. "We are pleased to achieve another critical step towards our planned near-term delivery of fuel-grade ethanol from recycled CO2," says Joule President and CEO Serge Tchuruk. "Using waste CO2 as a feedstock, our technology has the two-fold advantage of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing cost-competitive, drop-in fuels." Joule will use these test results to get government approval for the use of its ethanol in highway fuel.

Refreshed 2016 Audi Q3 starts at $34,625

The Audi Q3 only arrived in the US for the 2015 model year, and for 2016 the compact luxury crossover is already getting a new front end, plus a bump in price to go with the facelift. The cost for the base Premium Plus trim with front-wheel drive is now $34,625, which includes the $925-destination charge on all models. That's $1,200 more than last year. For the extra money, customers get a resculpted front end that features harder angles in the chrome shield that outlines the grille. The piece now extends to connect to the reshaped headlights, and the air intakes in the bumper get a larger, more aggressive look. At the rear, the taillights also have a tweaked design. Buyers get to choose from new exterior colors, as well, including Hainan Blue, Utopia Blue, Misano Red, and Cuvee Silver. In addition to the revised styling, fore and aft parking sensors and a rearview camera are now among the standard features. The higher-spec Prestige trim now rings up for $39,525 in front-wheel drive form. It adds features like a standard 7-inch MMI navigation system, power tailgate, blind-spot monitoring, a 14-speaker Bose stereo, and full LED headlights. New powertrains are not among the list of changes for the Q3. All models still come with a 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that's hooked up to a six-speed automatic. Front- wheel drive is standard, but Quattro all-wheel drive is a $2,100-option on both trims. Audi announces pricing for the updated 2016 Q3 crossover June 03, 2015 | HERNDON, Virginia Compact crossover receives redesign of front lights, grille, and exterior fascia along with Alu-optic interior MMI controls and interior upgrades Front and rear parking sensors with rearview camera join wide array of standard equipment Full LED headlights and dynamic rear turn signals on Prestige trim Audi today announced pricing for the 2016 Q3. The redesigned compact crossover now boasts a wider array of standard features, including front and rear parking sensors with a rearview camera, as well as an updated dynamic exterior styling for a balance of luxury and functionality. 2016 Audi Q3 The 2016 Q3 boasts a refreshed exterior aesthetic, with redesigned front lights, grille, bumper, side sills and rear lights. The crossover is now offered with standard 18'' 5-arm turbine design wheels. Also available are 19" 5-double-spoke Offroad design wheels.

Ken Block and friends race light in silly-beautiful Castrol commercial

How does one make fast, loud, drifting cars better? Well, you can add more fast, loud, drifting cars or you can add lasers. Either or, really. In this case, Castrol did the right thing and added both, creating a highly stylized commercial for its Edge Titanium motor oil starring South African racer Adrian Zaugg, BMW factory driver Augusto Farfus, Audi DTM and Le Mans staple Mike Rockenfeller and some bloke named Ken Block.
Their cars? No surprise, but Block is in his Ford Fiesta GRC, while Zaugg samples a Lamborghini Aventador and Farfus and Rockenfeller drive along party lines, with a BMW M4 and an Audi R8, respectively. And those cars look good, too, thanks to the creative light and laser work on display.
Take a look below for the video from Castrol.