The Volkswagen Empire Strikes the Paris Motor Show

Audi TT Sportback Concept

A scaled down A7? Maybe a little. With the TT Sportback Concept, whose style has progressed so far that it could easily become a production model, the Ingolstadt-based automaker is making public its intention to produce a series of variants based on its sports car. This decision is perfectly in line with the current trend in the automobile industry, which involves taking a well-known platform—the MQB platform in this case—and building new vehicles on it in a bid to target a niche market while pushing the limits of the brand’s design.

This vehicle comes with 400 ponies, a seven-speed dual-clutch S-Tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. All this shoots the TT Sportback Concept up to 100 kilometres per hour in 3.9 seconds. Much like the TT Coupe and Roaster, the TT Sportback Concept uses Audi’s virtual cockpit.

Ducati Scrambler

People often forget that the Italian motorcycle brand Ducati is part of the Audi group within the Volkswagen empire. But that explains why the new Scrambler was on display in Paris under the four-ring logo, an appearance immediately following its official launch at the Intermot Show in Cologne, Germany. With its retro style emphasized by its fuel tank and its cutting-edge technology symbolized by a technically advanced rear suspension, the Scrambler combines tradition and modernity. The 170-kilogram bike is powered by a 75-horsepower L-twin engine (borrowed from the Monster), enough to guarantee a sporty ride. It is scheduled to hit the market in March 2015 with a starting price of $8,595, which is a steal for a Ducati.

Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4

This is the first hybrid model developed by the Sant’ Agata brand. The Asterion name evokes the infamous Minotaur—a half human, half bull hybrid creature—and the 910-4 designation indicates that it delivers 910 horsepower to all four wheels. The naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 is taken from the recent Huracan and finds itself paired with a trio of electric motors for a 0-100 kilometre sprint of 3.0 seconds and top speed of 320 kilometres per hour. Lamborghini claims that the vehicle has 50 kilometres of range in all-electric mode. “Lamborghini is always looking to the future, investing in new technologies and attaining new milestones by delivering the unexpected,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of the Italian brand, when the Asterion premiered at the Paris Motor Show.

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid

First came the Panamera S E-Hybrid and 918 Spyder, and now the German automaker has added a hybrid drivetrain to its Cayenne. The vehicle features a 3.0-litre V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 95-horsepower electric motor that runs off a lithium-ion battery pack. At this rate, can we expect to see a hybrid version of the 911 Carrera in the near future?  

Volkswagen XL Sport

When the XL1 launched at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, Ferdinand Piëch indicated that he wanted to develop a sports car based on the new champion of fuel economy. By widening the XL1’s rear track and giving it the same engine as the Ducati 1199 Superleggera (whose red zone starts at 11,000 rpm), Volkswagen’s engineers presented their boss with the sports car he had been dreaming of. Just as the XL1 will be limited to 250 units, the XL sport will keep its number to 500.

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

ParisAudi TT Sportback Concept: The Stretched TT
During the first night of the Paris Auto show, Volkswagen Auto Group revealed their latest spin-off of the Audi TT. After the estate (Allroad Shooting Brake Concept) and the off-roader (TT Offroad Concept), Ingolstadt has now decided to create a sedan out of its TT (and whatever the marketing department …
ParisLamborghini’s Newest Concept: The Asterion
The Paris Auto Show is now underway, and one of the first reveals to happen was the Lamborghini Asterion, which was teased a few days ago with a cryptic black and white shot. It is now official, Lamborghini’s new poster child is a hybrid called the Asterion LPI 910-4. The …
ParisPorsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 2015: Don’t Adjust Your Set
Those of you who want to climb up Mount Everest as fast as possible while being eco-friendly can now breathe easily: at the Paris Auto Show, Porsche just unveiled their Cayenne S E-Hybrid, a green monster equipped with a 333 horsepower, 325 pound-feet of torque gasoline engine and a 95 …
ParisVolkswagen XL Sport: The XL1, Version 2.0
The Volkswagen XL1 is a fantastic little car engineered and built for one purpose: to be as fuel-efficient as possible. As such, it sips only one litre of diesel per 100 km. Since it only weighs 795 kg, is it is also very direct, precise and fun to drive, but …
ParisThe Paris Motor Show in Three (Sometimes Utopian) Acts
Since when do Europeans love utility vehicles and trucks so much? A crossover here, an X designation there—that’s what we’re witnessing at the Paris Motor Show, which has just opened its doors to the public. The other trend we’re seeing is the utopian dream of autonomous cars. Paris, Act 1: …
NewsVolkswagen Wants To Broaden The R Lineup
In a recent interview, Volkswagen's director of engine and drivetrain development, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, mentioned that he was open to the idea of creating more cars bearing the R badge. According to him, the success of the Golf R could translate to more vehicles. He goes on to say that …
NewsVolkswagen Saveiro Surf: Ready To Ride Sao Paulo’s Waves
There are lots of vehicle we can’t have in North America. One of them is the ute, a category of cars with a pickup truck bed in the back (think El Camino). These small trucks are very popular on the rest of the planet, where they are used as delivery …
NewsPorsche Will Dine Under Michelangelo’s Greatest Creation
Manufacturer’s corporate events are always unique experiences: decadent meals, breathtaking shows, fantastic roads… Porsche recently decided to organize a trip that will certainly relegate every other corporate trip to the rank of ‘’forgettable afternoon’’: a 5-day trip to Italy’s Lazio region, including a visit to Rome. During the expedition, the …
Technology/Autonomous VehiclesVolkswagen’s New Technologies
Volkswagen recently presented some future technologies that will go into their cars. One of them is a new version of their diesel engine. Using the engine that was unveiled in the European Passat as a base, the engineers then installed an electric supercharger like the one found on Volvo’s recently-unveiled …
NewsThe Lamborghini Asterion Has Been Put On Ice
Lamborghini never was a huge fan of hybrid drivetrains; while their competitors unveiled the next generation of supercars that used electric motors to palliate the weak spots in their engine’s powerband, the Sant’Agata Bolognese manufacturer chose to apply elementary physics to their vehicles (a lighter car with a more powerful …