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Mercedes may be working on a new electric car dubbed 'Ecoluxe'

Automobile has a lengthy piece this month on how the four German mass-market luxury manufacturers each plan to go after Tesla with their own electric vehicles. It was written by Georg Kacher, the magazine's European bureau chief, and the English version came a month after he wrote the German-language original for Autobild. Tesla isn't exactly a threat to the Germans, but, according to the report, the Model S is planting the right kinds of seeds in niches that are important to the luxury players. The thinking is that - in addition to needed electric vehicles anyway for stricter US regulations - it's better to start designing the machinery now. The article posited Porsche's attack would rest on the coming Panamera platform, but a big hurdle would be battery placement. Unable to find one large space for a lithium-ion pack, engineers would instead put batteries everywhere they could, for a supposed tally of some "108 battery pouches" throughout the body. A few days after the Automobile piece, however, Porsche publicly said it had no intention of challenging the Model S, because the enthusiastic driving the brand is known for doesn't jive with useful range. In Kacher's retelling, Mercedes' plans are even more ambitious, supposedly taking aim at the Model S and the coming Model X. It would do this with an investment in excess of $2 billion in a program called "Ecoluxe" – Mercedes has no brand division akin to BMW's i and Audi's e-tron. The new brand would create a four-strong family of bespoke electric vehicles: a smaller platform with a wheelbase around 106 inches and a larger one with a wheelbase around 118 inches. In addition, the range would have "provisions for rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and rear-wheel steering." The numbers are impressive: seating for seven in the larger vehicles, both longer than 16 feet, front and rear storage areas, ratings of up to 610 horsepower and production capacity of 80,000 units per year. When would we see such creatures? Perhaps as soon as 2019. We do know that if Tesla can knock the Model X over the outfield fence, automakers are going to have to do something. We don't know what the chances are that Ecoluxe is Mercedes' first move - but such a plan could help explain the weird Mercedes concept spied in October.

Chocolate-covered Audi TT is more treat than trick

'Tis the season of chocolate, and as we sit at our desks eating entirely too many Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, we're left salivating over this particular Audi TT. Aside from the fact that it's the new, third-generation model, which is a darn desirable in and of itself, it's also covered in chocolate. Yes, chocolate.
There are 27,000 individual pieces on this two-door coupe, and they've been affixed courtesy of Belgian chocolatiers Joost Arijs. The sweet car was developed for a lifestyle and design exhibition in Kortrijk, Belgium.
Take a look at the confectionary-covered coupe in the video from WOW TV.

Audi SQ7 stars in Captain America: Civil War

When Captain America: Civil War hits theaters next month joining the Captain and all his friends and foes in the latest Marvel action movie will be the Audi R8 V10 Plus, A4, A7, and the new SQ7, launched last month in Europe with a trick new electric-charged diesel engine. We've been hopeful over the prospect of the SQ7 making its way across the Atlantic, and its inclusion in a major Hollywood blockbuster gives us new hope. To coincide with the film's debut (and highlight its product placement), Audi had the film's directors Anthony and Joe Russo direct this promotional clip entitled "The Chase" and starring the aforementioned SQ7. Given the hodgepodge of US and German license plates, it's hard to tell where the scene is supposed to take place, much less draw conclusions over the SQ7's arrival, but we remain hopeful just the same. The minute-and-a-half version is online only, but a 30-second spot will be hitting the airwaves this month before the movie hits theaters on May 6. Until then – and the hopeful arrival of the new performance crossover in North American showrooms – this will just have to hold us over, so sit back and enjoy. Audi returns to the Marvel cinematic universe for hero-versus-hero epic, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War April 18, 2016 | HERNDON, Virginia - Audi teams with Marvel Entertainment for May 6 release of Marvel's Captain America: Civil War - Featured models include the all-new 2017 Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe, 2017 Audi SQ7, 2017 A4 and 2016 A7 Sportback - Audi to release global advertising and marketing campaign to support the film Audi and Marvel Entertainment team up once again for the release of Marvel's newest blockbuster, Captain America: Civil War, set to be released in the U.S. on May 6, 2016. The collaboration continues the Audi brand's commitment to one of Hollywood's biggest franchises and its passionate fans. After nearly a decade of successful collaborations, the Audi and Marvel alliance remains strong. Multiple models from the luxury carmaker are featured in the film with a robust association that includes an advertising and marketing campaign kicking off with the World Premiere in Los Angeles. Released today, the campaign includes an exclusive digital video called "The Chase," directed by the film's directors Anthony and Joe Russo. Audi excites the Marvel universe by previewing a pivotal scene featuring the all-new Audi SQ7.