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Volkswagen names new chief designer for Bentley

The Volkswagen Group has named one of its own to head up the design department at its Bentley division. The role now falls to Stefan Sielaff, who has been with the group (off and on) since 1990. Sielaff is principally an interior designer, but has been tasked with setting up numerous overall design offices for Volkswagen and Audi over the years. In his new capacity he'll be reporting to the group's chief engineer Rolf Frech (and oddly not to Bentley chief Wolfgang Durheimer), but at the same time, Sielaff will retain his role as head of interior design for the entire VW group, reporting to its chief designer Walter de Silva. Sielaff replaces Luc Donckerwolke, who has headed up Bentley design since 2012 and is leaving the company. We'll be on the lookout to see where Donckerwolke lands next. Crewe/Wolfsburg, 04 June 2015 Stefan Sielaff to head design at the Bentley brand • Sielaff also responsible for Group Interior Design Strategy Stefan Sielaff (53), currently Head of the Volkswagen Design Center in Potsdam, will assume responsibility for design at the Bentley brand effective July 1, 2015 in addition to his present post as Head of Group Interior Design Strategy. As Director of Design at Bentley, Sielaff succeeds Luc Donckerwolke (49), who held this function since 2012. Stefan Sielaff joined the Volkswagen Group in 1990, beginning his career in the interior design department at Audi. From 1995 the design graduate was entrusted with setting up the Group's Design Center Europe in Spain. In 1997 he was placed in charge of the Design Studio in Munich and was appointed Head of Audi Interior Design in the same year. In 2003 Sielaff moved to DaimlerChrysler as Design Director of the Interior Competence Center, returning to the Volkswagen Group in 2006 to become Head of Audi Design before being appointed Head of the Volkswagen Design Center in Potsdam und Head of Group Interior Design Strategy in 2012. In his new function as Director of Design at Bentley, Sielaff reports to Rolf Frech, Board Member for Engineering. In his function as Head of Group Interior Design Strategy he continues to report to Walter de Silva, Head of Group Design. Luc Donckerwolke has decided to leave the company. De Silva said: "Luc Donckerwolke has played a key role in the design of various Group brands. We would like to thank him for his work." Related Video: News Source: Volkswagen Design/Style Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Bentley Volkswagen

Five reasons to love, or hate, the culture of German cars

A few months back, we took a 500-foot view of the culture of American cars, dissecting prides and prejudices on our way to the conclusion that automotive allegiances can be simultaneously embraced and derided. We had so much fun with the narrative that we decided to do it again, this time taking a look at Germany and its world-renowned lineup of automakers, including the likes of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen, among others. Join us below as we discuss the points and counterpoints that make or have made the German auto industry what it is today. And remember, Germany did pretty much invent the automobile, after all... The V12 Engine If America is known for the proliferation of the V8 engine, an argument could be made that Germany owns the V12. Yes, of course, other companies have created V12 engines – Ferrari, Jaguar and Lamborghini immediately come to mind – but the big 12-cylinder powerplants from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, in particular, have proven to be some of the most effortless, luxurious and downright over-built engines the world has ever seen. These days, having 12 cylinders is more a case of wretched excess than ever before, and yet, you can still stroll into your local BMW or Mercedes dealership and get a brand-new 760i, S600 or even an over-the-top G65 AMG, efficiency be damned. Best of all, since the majority of these German powerhouses depreciate as fast as an anchor sinks, nearly any auto enthusiast who dreams of a dozen cylinders can satisfy their carnal desires. Current Star: 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 View 28 Photos Diesel Engines Remember how we talked about those glorious V12 engines? Well, you can even get one from Audi that runs on diesel. If your compression-ignition fantasies err more on the side of fuel savings, that's no problem, either. Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen have got you covered, with engines starting as small as 800 cubic centimeters (Smart Fortwo). If you want something a little more practical, it's hard to argue with a VW Golf TDI, which will provide plenty of space for you and three of your best friends, plus a fair bit of luggage, all while returning 50-ish miles per gallon. For the purposes of this discussion, we'd rather focus on the asinine levels of torque provided by Germany's high-end diesel engines than the lower-end fuel sippers.

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla Model S full speed, Pheonix EVs at LAX

A Tesla Model S driver shows what it's like to maintain about 125 miles per hour on the German Autobahn. In the video, Bjorn Nyland records his trip from a stop at a Supercharger 25 miles to the Danish border while driving about 200 kph for about 12 minutes. Upon entering the Autobahn, he hits the limiter at about 212 kph, or almost 132 mph. As he's driving, the car's estimated driving range adjusts for his speed, and he quickly loses quite a few miles. He doesn't care, though. He's having fun. See the video above, and read more at Inside EVs. Phoenix Cars has provided an Electric Shuttle Bus to an airport parking company at the Los Angeles International Airport. As LAX's first electric shuttle bus, it is expected to run two shifts seven days a week, saving more than 60 tons of CO2 emissions yearly. The electric shuttle bus will be on display from June 29 to July 2 at the International Parking Institute Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. Phoenix also recently supplied its ZEUS electric flatbed to the US Navy. Read more in the press release below. Ballard will operate a fleet of eight hydrogen-powered buses in London for an additional five years. Transport for London uses the buses, powered by Ballard fuel cell technology, for its central Covent Garden-Tower Gateway route. The first five buses went into service in 2010 as Transport for London aimed to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 percent from 1990 levels by 2025. The three additional buses joined the fleet in 2013. "This contract extension is a positive endorsement of zero-emission fuel cell technology in transit applications, based on the demonstrated performance of these buses over the past five years," says Ballard Chief Commercial Officer Steve Karaffa. "Clean transportation is a growing concern for transit authorities globally and our fuel cell modules deliver a proven solution." Read more from Ballard. Volkswagen and SAIC are expanding electric vehicle operations in China. The partners will expand the main Shanghai Volkswagen plant to build electric vehicles. "Over the next four years, we plan to localize more than 15 different electric vehicle models in China, including plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles," says Volkswagen's Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann. Volkswagen will also step up fuel cell and plug-in hybrid research in China. In about four years, Volkswagen will build a new EV, based on the popular Lavida, at the Anting plant outside of Shanghai. Read more from Volkswagen.