The sparks are flying in Germany as Volkswagen and Audi are fighting over the brand's EV strategy.

Details are sketchy, but the Financial Times Deutschland is reporting Audi wants to develop electric vehicles independently of Volkswagen. This hasn't made the parent company happy as sources have indicated VW has "frowned upon" Audi's "anarchist project."

The real problem seems to be Audi's refusal to drop the Wankel engine from the A1 e-Tron. If Audi keeps the engine, it would be a costly move as Volkswagen doesn't build a rotary engine and they'd be forced to develop it with another partner - possibly Mazda.

As we have previously reported, the A1 e-Tron features a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery which powers an electric motor that produces a continuous 45 kW (61 PS / 60 hp) and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque. It can travel up to 50 km (31 miles) on electricity alone, before a Wankel engine activates to recharge the batteries.

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Some automakers are in it for the racing. Others make cars to preserve some sort of legacy. But most are in the business, like any other company, to make money. And Porsche is certainly no exception. But while its road car division rakes in the dough hand over fist, the German automaker has made a science out of making its racing division profitable.

How is that, you ask? Because unlike some of its rivals, Porsche first and foremost provides factory-built racing machines to privateer customers. That's how the 911 dominates GT racing grids around the world with such variants as the recently unveiled GT3 RSR. And if the latest reports from Germany are anything to go on, Porsche could be preparing a new racer at the rapidly approaching Detroit Auto Show.

Now we already knew that Porsche was planning something big for its return to the NAIAS after a four-year absence. And the signs seemed to point towards a new variant of the 918 Spyder concept we saw in Geneva last year. But the latest word from Auto Bild suggests that instead of a roadgoing production coupe version as some had suspected, Stuttgart will instead unveil a racing version of the new mid-engine flagship supercar in Cobo Hall.

The reports further suggest that the race-spec 918 will carry a more conventional V8 powertrain than the hybrid setup of the previous concept, and that the car will – like the rest of Porsche's aforementioned customer racing paddock – be available to privateer teams to purchase and campaign on the world's racing circuits. Sounds tempting – and profitable – and fortunately we won't have long to wait before we find out one way or another.

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The North American International Auto Show is shaping up to be a big event for Germany as a new report is indicating Volkswagen will unveil the New Midsize Sedan (NMS) in Detroit on January 10th.

Specifically designed for the United States, the NMS will go head to head with segment heavy-weights such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. To ensure it has a fighting chance, the NMS will be built in the U.S. which will enable the car to be priced significantly lower than the Passat.

Set to be launched in the second half of 2011, the NMS has a targeted output of 100,000 units annually.

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In 2013, the 911 will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. The arrival of a new generation will be more efficient and spacious.

Presented at the next Frankfurt auto show in autumn 2011, its next generation will therefore show some apparent continuity. But the evolution is much deeper than it seems. The wheelbase is actually increased a few inches to allow more comfortably to accommodate rear passengers. The 911, which is code named 991, also has a wider track, mirrors installed on the doors, and rear lights and daytime running lights LED ultra-thin. Technically, the recipe remains unchanged: available in coupe, cabriolet or Targa version, this model will remain faithful to the six-cylinder boxer placed door-to-rear overhang.

However, Porsche engineers have worked to refine every detail. To reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, already low for the category, they have implemented a electric power steering, a Stop & Start system or water pumps and oil-driven. Performance enthusiasts, however, are not forgotten. Acceleration should benefit from increased power of 20 to 30 hp depending on version. With more than 365 hp for the Carrera "entry level", the 911 seems well set to continue to embody the ultimate sport car for fifty more years.



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