Audi A1 Quattro models ‘on the way’

Audi has confirmed it is testing four-wheel drive Quattro versions of the A1 – indicating an imminent expansion of Audi’s supermini range. Although showcased as this one-off at a Quattro publicity event in Montreal, Canada, to celebrate 30 years of the all-corner drive system, Ingolstadt acknowledged at last autumn’s 2010 Paris motor show that Quattro versions of the A1 were in the pipeline. The production A1 Quattro will use the Haldex differential to split drive to both axles; it’s a similar technology to that found in A3 and TT Quattros, as opposed to the mechanical Torsen diff found in larger Quattro models.

Cadillac CUE: Intuitive driving in 2012

General Motors' Cadillac division is hoping to lead the way in intuitive multimedia systems, with the launch of its ‘Cadillac User Experience' (CUE) system, which is set to make is official debut at the forthcoming LA auto show. The product of nearly four years research and development, the CUE project began in 2008 when Cadillac designers rode with 32 consumers for six months to study driver habits. The result is a ‘comprehensive in-vehicle experience that mergers intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and entertainment data'.

GM returning to leasing with luxury vehicles

General Motors will return to the leasing business focusing on luxury vehicles, but not on a broader basis, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said. "We will get back into leasing, but we are not going to use massive subsidized leasing to drive volume because it's volume without profitability," Lutz said July 29 in an interview with Automotive News. "We'd rather sell less at higher profit than sell more at lower profit." Lutz said it still would make sense for GM to do more leasing on its luxury vehicles.