Audi Wants To Double Range Of Hardcore RS Models

Hopefully some of these models will make it to the US.

The Audi Sport division has confirmed that it wants to double the number of available RS models from seven to 14. Division boss, and former Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann told Autocar that “There is more to come,” and that “We have one company, one name and we have a brand. But we will remain exclusive.” As of right now, Audi's RS lineup is limited to the RS3, RSQ3, TT RS Coupe and Convertible, RS6, RS7 and R8. Within the next 18 months, Audi wants to expand this lineup to include more models.

The brand didn't say which models will get the RS treatment. We would assume that an RS4 and RS5 will come along to challenge the BMW M3 and M4, and a RSQ5 could compete against the rumored X3M. Audi is being mum with its plans, saying that it doesn't want to be like AMG. Winkelmann said “We are not going to do what they do. We have a lot of plans but are not revealing them yet. It is better to under-promise and over-deliver.” AMG has been hard at work giving almost every Mercedes model a hardcore variant and coming out with standalone models like the AMG GT. Audi currently builds the R8, but is noncommittal about adding more standalone models.

We don't think that Audi needs to match AMG, but it does need more RS models. In the US especially, Audi's RS models can't compete with M and AMG models. BMW currently offers the M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, X5M and X6M. Mercedes currently offers AMG versions of the C-Class, CLA-Class, E-Class, CLS-Class, S-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, and G-Class. In the US, Audi only currently offers the RS7, and the upcoming RS3 and TT RS, so there's plenty of room for expansion.

Aston Martin CEO Wants To Double Production By 2025

We don't think anyone will complain.

Aston Martin is on a roll lately, thanks to the all-new DB11, Vantage, and DBS Superleggera. The DBX crossover is just around the corner and its all-electric, uber luxury reborn Lagonda brand is also on its way. According to Reuters, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer wants to more than double production by 2025. “The rich are getting richer, they want more personalization,” Palmer told Reuters in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “On the other hand, the car industry is getting more and more commoditized because of technology,” he added.

Before the end of this year, the UK carmaker is expected to build a total of 6,400 cars, but Palmer plans to have that figure increased to 14,000 annually by 2025.

Fortunately, things are looking very good financially as well. Just last year did Aston Martin achieve profitability, the first time it did so since 2010, earning a pre-tax profit of $111 million. But what about the general slowdown in key global markets? Is Palmer at all concerned? No, and the numbers prove why: Sales are up 185 percent in the US, 133 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, and 11 percent in China. Speaking of which, Aston Martin does not appear to have any real sales concerns with China, like many other automakers are today for various reasons. “China was slow, but not for us,” Palmer said.

But without question the key to the carmaker’s hopeful sales goals is the DBX crossover, due to debut in late 2019. Palmer says he’s betting on current customers who also own an SUV to trade it in for a DBX. While some industry analysts are predicting a drop in global auto sales due to a number of factors, Aston Martin, according to Palmer, does not have to worry much. Its customers, as Palmer said, are only making more money and are anxious to spend it.

Aston Martin CEO Wants To Double Production By 2025

We don't think anyone will complain.

Aston Martin is on a roll lately, thanks to the all-new DB11, Vantage, and DBS Superleggera. The DBX crossover is just around the corner and its all-electric, uber luxury reborn Lagonda brand is also on its way. According to Reuters, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer wants to more than double production by 2025. “The rich are getting richer, they want more personalization,” Palmer told Reuters in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “On the other hand, the car industry is getting more and more commoditized because of technology,” he added.

Before the end of this year, the UK carmaker is expected to build a total of 6,400 cars, but Palmer plans to have that figure increased to 14,000 annually by 2025.

Fortunately, things are looking very good financially as well. Just last year did Aston Martin achieve profitability, the first time it did so since 2010, earning a pre-tax profit of $111 million. But what about the general slowdown in key global markets? Is Palmer at all concerned? No, and the numbers prove why: Sales are up 185 percent in the US, 133 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, and 11 percent in China. Speaking of which, Aston Martin does not appear to have any real sales concerns with China, like many other automakers are today for various reasons. “China was slow, but not for us,” Palmer said.

But without question the key to the carmaker’s hopeful sales goals is the DBX crossover, due to debut in late 2019. Palmer says he’s betting on current customers who also own an SUV to trade it in for a DBX. While some industry analysts are predicting a drop in global auto sales due to a number of factors, Aston Martin, according to Palmer, does not have to worry much. Its customers, as Palmer said, are only making more money and are anxious to spend it.

View the original article here

Aston Martin CEO Wants To Double Production By 2025

We don't think anyone will complain.

Aston Martin is on a roll lately, thanks to the all-new DB11, Vantage, and DBS Superleggera. The DBX crossover is just around the corner and its all-electric, uber luxury reborn Lagonda brand is also on its way. According to Reuters, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer wants to more than double production by 2025. “The rich are getting richer, they want more personalization,” Palmer told Reuters in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “On the other hand, the car industry is getting more and more commoditized because of technology,” he added.

Before the end of this year, the UK carmaker is expected to build a total of 6,400 cars, but Palmer plans to have that figure increased to 14,000 annually by 2025.

Fortunately, things are looking very good financially as well. Just last year did Aston Martin achieve profitability, the first time it did so since 2010, earning a pre-tax profit of $111 million. But what about the general slowdown in key global markets? Is Palmer at all concerned? No, and the numbers prove why: Sales are up 185 percent in the US, 133 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, and 11 percent in China. Speaking of which, Aston Martin does not appear to have any real sales concerns with China, like many other automakers are today for various reasons. “China was slow, but not for us,” Palmer said.

But without question the key to the carmaker’s hopeful sales goals is the DBX crossover, due to debut in late 2019. Palmer says he’s betting on current customers who also own an SUV to trade it in for a DBX. While some industry analysts are predicting a drop in global auto sales due to a number of factors, Aston Martin, according to Palmer, does not have to worry much. Its customers, as Palmer said, are only making more money and are anxious to spend it.

View the original article here

Aston Martin CEO Wants To Double Production By 2025

We don't think anyone will complain.

Aston Martin is on a roll lately, thanks to the all-new DB11, Vantage, and DBS Superleggera. The DBX crossover is just around the corner and its all-electric, uber luxury reborn Lagonda brand is also on its way. According to Reuters, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer wants to more than double production by 2025. “The rich are getting richer, they want more personalization,” Palmer told Reuters in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “On the other hand, the car industry is getting more and more commoditized because of technology,” he added.

Before the end of this year, the UK carmaker is expected to build a total of 6,400 cars, but Palmer plans to have that figure increased to 14,000 annually by 2025.

Fortunately, things are looking very good financially as well. Just last year did Aston Martin achieve profitability, the first time it did so since 2010, earning a pre-tax profit of $111 million. But what about the general slowdown in key global markets? Is Palmer at all concerned? No, and the numbers prove why: Sales are up 185 percent in the US, 133 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, and 11 percent in China. Speaking of which, Aston Martin does not appear to have any real sales concerns with China, like many other automakers are today for various reasons. “China was slow, but not for us,” Palmer said.

But without question the key to the carmaker’s hopeful sales goals is the DBX crossover, due to debut in late 2019. Palmer says he’s betting on current customers who also own an SUV to trade it in for a DBX. While some industry analysts are predicting a drop in global auto sales due to a number of factors, Aston Martin, according to Palmer, does not have to worry much. Its customers, as Palmer said, are only making more money and are anxious to spend it.