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Audi spearheads development of an ultra-luxurious EV code-named Landjet

The rumors claiming Audi wants to release a model positioned above the A8, and the reports of an ongoing electric car development program called Artemis internally, have seemingly converged. Citing sources inside the carmaker, a German media outlet reported the firm is busily creating a super-luxurious EV code-named Landjet. Audi is leading the development process, but sister companies Bentley and Porsche will reportedly receive their own version of the Landjet. All three models will likely take the form of three-row SUVs with generous dimensions. They'll be so big that none of Audi's production facilities will be able to manufacture them, according to an anonymous insider who spoke with German newspaper Handelsblatt. Luckily, Volkswagen makes vans, too. It's too early to tell what will power the Landjets. Audi assigned some of its most brilliant engineers to Project Artemis, and the technology they develop will permeate the three EVs before trickling down into cheaper models in the group. Expect high performance, a high driving range, and semi-automated driving technology. If the report is accurate, the Landjet vehicles will enter production in Hanover, Germany, by the end of 2024. The facility currently makes the Volkswagen Transporter, which is a direct descendant of the rear-engined Bus sold for decades, and it will start manufacturing the production version of the ID.Buzz concept in the coming years. Volkswagen hasn't commented on the report, and car companies rarely address speculation, but its Commercial Vehicles division released a statement in November 2020 that confirms the Hanover site will begin building SUVs about halfway through the 2020s. It's a major shift for a factory normally tasked with manufacturing vans. "Our main plant in Hanover is becoming the production site for three completely new premium electric vehicles in the Group. These D-SUVs are genuine flagship projects: premium, 100% electric, and highly automated," said Carsten Intra, the head of Volkswagen's Commercial Vehicles division, in a statement. He added the firm will invest about 680 million euros (about $807 million) to build a new assembly line, among other upgrades.

2014 Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Cup step out early

Though Porsche won't be feeding us the full 911 enchilada until tomorrow's Geneva-based festivities, we have managed to scare up some official images of the 2014 911 GT3, as well as the all-new 911 GT3 Cup. As Porsche is celebrating 50 years of the 911, we anticipate a good day for great cars.
The new GT3 looks every bit the proper successor to the racy 911 nameplate, with a fixed rear wing large enough to serve cocktails on, a curvaceous body kit and 20-inch wheels that offer a dominating on-road stance. It's a good bet that Porsche will have coaxed something like 450 horsepower from the naturally aspirated, 3.8-liter flat-six engine that hangs over the car's rear axle. A seven-speed manual and Porsche's own PDK transmission are the likely gearbox offerings.
Should the mental quickness and imposing wingery of the standard GT3 not be enough for you, future racecar driver, Porsche is also bringing a GT3 Cup car to Geneva. The German automaker has given just a few scant details about this Cup car - 460 hp on tap, a production run of just 2,400 units - including three images of the kitted out racer. Certainly more and finer details will emerge, when Porsche shines the spotlights on its new 911s tomorrow.

Man steals Porsche, brags on video, then crashes into wall

Here's your daily reminder that thieves are morons. This also serves as reminder that not everything you do needs to be committed to video. A man in Gloucester, a city in southwest England, was stupid enough to steal a Porsche Boxster and then take a video in it. Oh, and of course, he crashed it. Now, we'll give this dimwit, 25-year-old Jamie Lee Sharp, some credit – he didn't actually admit that he stole the car on video, at least based on the 45-second clip released by Gloucester police and hosted by The Guardian. According to the story, there was more footage, which included Sharp driving the car and phoning friends, before he crashed it into a wall. It's not clear if the crash was caught on video, though. Following the crash, Sharp's accomplice, 26-year-old James Honeywell, abandoned him at the scene of the wreck. Both thieves were arrested following the January incident, though, and were just recently sentenced by British authorities following guilty pleas. The crown awarded Sharp's actions with a four-year stay in one of Her Majesty's prisons for burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, drunk driving, and driving without insurance. Honeywell got 35 months burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, and failure to appear at court. His license was also suspended for nearly two and half years, too, The Guardian reports. Related Video: News Source: The GuardianImage Credit: Gloucester Constabulary Government/Legal Porsche Convertible Videos viral video crime