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Volkswagen Group names Paefgen head of classics program

You may remember the name Franz-Josef Paefgen. Until recently, the German engineer and executive was head of both Bentley and Bugatti. Before that he was chief executive of Audi, after working for several years at Ford. He technically "retired" earlier this year, but like the cars he helped create, an executive like Paefgen could never really retire. So it should come as little surprise that the Volkswagen Group has named Dr. Paefgen head of its Classic program.
In his new capacity, Paefgen will oversee the historic automobile activities of the entire VW Group, including those of Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda, Audi, Lamborghini, and of course Bentley and Bugatti. It strikes us as a suitable semi-retirement for the man responsible in no small part for the Bugatti Veyron and Bentley Mulsanne, to name just two, and who was decorated in 2006 by the ACO as the "Spirit of Le Mans" for his contribution to endurance racing. Read the official announcement after the break.

Lamborghini Urus recalled due to a fire risk

The Lamborghini Urus is being recalled due to a potential fire risk. Documents submitted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website say the defect is due to the “integrity of the quick connector of the fuel line located in the engine compartment.” The connector may become compromised, which could result in fuel leakage. Of course, where there is fuel leakage, there is also the risk of a fire starting in the engine bay. How does this quick connector become compromised, you ask? Lamborghini provides this as an explanation: “In rare instances high engine compartment temperatures subject the quick connectors to temperatures above the design operating specification limit. These elevated temperatures can lead to the quick connect material softening which could potentially result in a fuel leak.” If you happen to own a Urus, the first sign of an issue will be a fuel odor in the engine compartment. Lamborghini said it became aware of the issue after Porsche AG identified it in 2019, and itÂ’s been tracking field vehicles ever since. In July this year, Lamborghini said it started to receive complaints from customers, which prompted a second investigation done by Lamborghini. There are a total of 2,831 Urus being recalled, spanning model years 2019-2020. All of those vehicles will need to go to the dealer for a newly designed fuel line quick connector. Lamborghini says the labor time is only one hour, so you wonÂ’t be without your Urus for long. All work will be taken care of free of charge. Owners should expect a notification on or before December 18 if their car is affected. Related video: Featured Gallery 2020 Lamborghini Urus View 39 Photos Recalls Lamborghini Safety Crossover Luxury Performance

Audi reportedly shoots down $9.2 billion investor bid for Lamborghini

Volkswagen is open to divesting some of the brands in its portfolio, but it hasn't put a "for sale" sign on in front of Lamborghini's lawn yet. The firm allegedly shot down a big offer for the brand from a group of investors. Quantum Group SA, a newly-established holding company based in Zurich, Switzerland, made the non-binding offer in May 2021, according to anonymous sources who spoke to WardsAuto. The publication adds the group is ready to spend 7.5 billion euros (around $9.2 billion at the current conversion rate) to buy the entire Lamborghini division from Audi. The sale would include the brand, its intellectual property (like its trademarks and patents), its historic factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese, and its racing division. Full details about the proposed acquisition were closely examined by top Volkswagen executives, including company CEO Herbert Diess and Audi boss Markus Duesmann. While the offer sounds like it's neatly packaged, Volkswagen replied that it's not having a garage sale. "Lamborghini is not for sale. This is not the subject of any discussion within the group," a company spokesperson told industry trade journal Automotive News. These comments are in line with the ones made in December 2020. Quantum's aim wasn't to sever all ties with Volkswagen. It planned to turn Lamborghini into "a spearhead for innovation by consistently implementing new clean drivetrain technologies" across the range, a strategy that's already in the pipeline; Lamborghini announced it will electrify in the 2020s and launch its first series-produced EV. Investors also hoped to sign a five-year supply agreement with Audi, and to create what they called an Advanced Automotive Innovation Center headquartered somewhere in Lower Saxony, the German state Wolfsburg is in. In late 2020, when rumors about an imminent Lamborghini spin-off were rampant, Volkswagen stressed it had no plans to sell the Italian supercar manufacturer or to find a new home for Ducati, which Lamborghini owns. Unverified reports claim a chunk of the company could be listed on the stock market in a bid to raise revenue, however. Bugatti is another part of the Volkswagen empire that Diess and his team allegedly wanted to trade in to fund the group's pivot towards electric powertrains. In September 2020, reports claimed top executives had approved swapping the storied French carmaker and its assets for a significant stake in Croatia-based Rimac that would be transferred directly to Porsche.