Blog

High-Po Audi Update: S/RS Differentiation Now, More SUVs Soon, EVs Eventually

– In his previous role at Audi, Heinz Hollerweger’s job was to come up with ideas and concepts that ventured far into the future. Since 2014, however, he has served as head of Audi’s Quattro GmbH performance division—a job that might seem more narrow, but one which actually holds fascinating challenges and opportunities of its own. – – We spoke with Hollerweger at the launch of the second-generation R8. At the Estoril

2016 Hyundai Tucson First Drive: Korea Bolsters Its Starting Lineup

-Forgive us for a second if we talk stick-and-ball sports, but the National Football League recently announced a new headline automotive sponsor, dumping General Motors for Hyundai. Indeed, despite the league’s ongoing domestic-violence woes, Hyundai is dropping $50 million of its marketing budget on the NFL, in large part because the carmaker’s sales have flattened over the last three years as Americans have resumed their own rocky love affair with

Cuban flag raised over Washington embassy as ties restored

The Cuban flag was raised over Havana’s embassy in Washington on Monday for the first time in 54 years as the United States and Cuba formally restored relations, opening a new chapter of engagement between the former Cold War foes. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez presided over the reinauguration of the embassy, a milestone in the diplomatic thaw that began with a breakthrough announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama and

Clinton's capital gains tax plan to urge focus on long-term growth

Presidential contender Hillary Clinton’s proposed plan to overhaul capital gains taxes aims to foster long-term growth by taxing some short-term investments at higher rates, an aide for her campaign said on Monday. Under her proposal, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the maximum capital gains tax rate on investments held at least a year, currently 23.8 percent, would rise to at least the 28 percent proposed by President Barack

Republican Jeb Bush backs federal hiring freeze, lobbying rules

(Reuters) – U.S. Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said on Monday he would overhaul Washington’s culture with a federal balanced budget amendment, a freeze on government hiring and a longer ban on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists. “We need a president willing to challenge the whole culture in our nation’s capital – and I mean to do it,” Bush, the former Florida governor, said in remarks posted on his

Coffee drinking may lower inflammation, reduce diabetes risk

By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) – Coffee drinkers in a long-term study were about half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as those who didn’t drink coffee, and researchers think an inflammation-lowering effect of the beverage might be the key. “Extensive research has revealed that coffee drinking exhibits both beneficial and aggravating health effects,” said Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos of the department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Harokopio University in

Global conference pushes plain cigarette packaging

Ministers from 10 countries gathered in Paris Monday to launch a common drive to introduce plain cigarette packaging with the aim of stubbing out high smoking rates among young people. Representatives from nations as far afield as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Uruguay issued a joint statement saying that “significant scientific proof justified … plain cigarette packaging”. The ministers said plain packaging had been shown to “reduce the attractiveness