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Category: Automotive

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Auto and Car news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Renault Cars To Cost More In India From January 2020

    Renault Cars To Cost More In India From January 2020

    Renault cars are set to get more expensive in India from next month. The French carmaker has announced a substantial price hike across its range which will be effective from January 2020. The company has cited rising input and material cost as the core reason for the price hike and has said that the price increase will vary for different models. The price increase will also include new models like the Renault Triber and Kwid Facelift.

    The increase in prices at the end of every year is a common practice among automakers in India. It’s part of the cyclical price revision in the industry and before Renault, other carmakers like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai have already announced to increase prices across their product range. Moreover, BS6 and safety norms will be kicking-in as well in 2020 and all the products are expected to get more expensive around that time as well which may moderately affect the sales as well.

    The price increase will also include new models like the Renault Triber and Kwid Facelift.

    Speaking of sales, Renault had witnessed a sales increase of 77 per cent in November 2019 in the domestic market selling 10,882 units, as against the 6134 vehicles which were sold in November 2018. October 2019 also was a growth month for the carmaker, with Renault recording a growth of 63 per cent selling 11, 516 units during the Diwali month as compared to the 7,066 units sold during the same month last year. Renault India’s Year-To-Date (YTD) from April 2019 to November 2019 stands at 76,905 units at present.

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  • China Carmakers Getting Ready To Build More, Much More, In India

    China Carmakers Getting Ready To Build More, Much More, In India

    Chinese automakers Great Wall Motor and Changan Automobile are accelerating plans to build cars in India after the initial success of rival SAIC Motor in one of the world’s biggest markets, three sources said. Great Wall, one of the biggest sellers of sports-utility vehicles (SUV) in China, expects to secure a production site in the first half of 2020, likely a General Motors plant in Maharashtra, a source familiar with Great Wall’s plans said

    Buying a factory is seen as the best way to get up and running fast and Great Wall is finalising which SUVs it plans to make in India, including whether to kick off its launch with an electric SUV, the source told Reuters. Great Wall said it would make an announcement next month about its plans for India but declined further comment.A spokesman for GM in Detroit said it was continuing to make vehicles for export at its Talegaon plant in Maharashtra state.”As we have said previously, we continue to explore options to improve utilisation of the plant

    We do not comment on speculation,” he said.Changan, too, is scouting for a production base and has held initial talks with suppliers, sources aware of its plans said

    Both automakers, which produce electric vehicles (EVs) in China, are also considering whether to set up EV battery assembly plants in India, the sources said. Changan declined to comment.The companies see India as a chance to combat slowing sales at home, which fell in November for a 17th month in a row

    While car sales in India are stuttering, the market is expected to become the world’s third biggest by 2026, behind China and the United States, according to consultancy LMC AutomotiveThe Chinese firms also hope to capitalise on gaps left by global automakers such as Fiat Chrysler , Ford Motor and GM which have scaled back plans in a market still dominated by smaller, low-cost cars made by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor. “It is an opportune time for China’s automakers to enter India. There is currently a gap in competition and it may take a couple of years for some of the established carmakers to bring new products to the market,” said LMC Automotive’s Ammar Master.

    PERCEPTION GAPGM’s retreat from India, for example, could help Great Wall get going quickly and it has been in talks to buy GM’s plant in Maharashtra, two of the sources said. GM stopped selling cars in India in 2017 and has already sold its other plant in Gujarat to SAIC, where the state-owned Chinese automaker now makes the Hector SUV it launched in June under its MG Motor brand. India is part of Great Wall’s planned global expansion into South America, South Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia, and it also plans to export from their to places such as Europe and the United States, said the source who is aware of its plans.”The plant in India is expected to be the biggest for Great Wall outside of China,” the source said.Great Wall has hired a former executive from Maruti Suzuki, India’s biggest carmaker, for its product and business planning, and appointed a former executive from SAIC’s India division as a consultant to liaise with the government

    “For global automakers, India is one of the many markets they are in but for the Chinese it is the first major market outside of home and so the level of investment and commitment will be proportionately high,” said the source.One of the biggest hurdles in India will be fighting perceptions about the quality and reliability of Chinese products and winning over brand-conscious buyers for whom cars are a prestige statement, say analysts

    Chinese smartphone makers such as Xiaomi Corp faced similar perception issues when they launched in India but they now dominate the market

    However, cars remain a significant outlay for most Indians and the Chinese brands will need to make their mark quickly.”Once the likes of Volkswagen and Ford start launching new models in India, the entrants from China could face tougher competition because a lot of buyers in India are still very brand conscious,” said LMC’s Master

    Launched at the end of June it said it had sold more than 13,000 cars by the end of November and plans to sell 24,000 next year.”SAIC has changed the perception about whether a Chinese brand can be made and sold in India,” said Santosh Pai, partner at law firm Link Legal which advises Chinese companies setting up in India

    “Fence sitters are getting in and have realised they can sell in India if the price and strategy is right.”Lessons for Great Wall and Changan from SAIC’s India launch include marketing the brand aggressively, packing the car with features to differentiate it from rivals and giving extended warranties to dispel doubts over reliability, analysts say

    Another advantage for Chinese carmakers in the coming years will be their EV expertise

    With the sale of EVs slowing in China they can deploy some of their existing capacity to India where the government is encouraging clean fuel cars. SAIC, which will soon launch an electric SUV in India, is also scouting for a second manufacturing site and is expected to make a decision in early 2020, said a source aware of its plans. SAIC did not respond to a request for comment though the head of its Indian division said in November it was working on an expansion plan and expected its total sales in India to hit 70,000 in 2021.

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  • Volkswagen Takes One-Two Punch In Australia With Fine, Regulatory Proceedings

    Volkswagen Takes One-Two Punch In Australia With Fine, Regulatory Proceedings

    Volkswagen AG took two raps in Australia on Friday as a federal court upheld a fine on the German car maker as part of a global diesel emissions cheating scandal and a regulator started penalty proceedings against one of its financial units.

    The court upheld a record A$125 million ($86 million) penalty imposed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to settle lawsuits brought on behalf of thousands of Australian customers caught up in the emissions issue from 2015.

    The settlement follows revelations that Volkswagen was using prohibited engine-control software to pass pollution tests. The company has already paid billions of dollars in legal costs around the world.

    ACCC Chair Rod Sims told reporters on Friday that the fine imposed on Volkswagen was just a taste of what companies could expect in the future.

    The agency would use its new expanded powers to punish illegal activity with the largest fines possible and penalties of more than A$100 million would not be unusual, he said.

    Volkswagen did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

    Separately, the country’s corporate watchdog, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), said it started civil penalty proceedings in a federal court against Volkswagen Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd for allegedly not making appropriate checks before giving out 49,380 loans to consumers.

    ASIC alleges that the unit, which operates nationally to provide borrowers with consumer loans to purchase new and used cars, did not make required inquiries into borrowers’ living expenses or if the loans were unsuitable for them.

    These instances of alleged breaches in lending laws occurred between Dec. 20, 2013 and Dec. 15, 2016, ASIC said. The maximum penalty for one contravention equates to A$1.7 million ($1.2 million) in the period till July 31, 2015, and to A$1.8 million for a contravention in the period after that, the watchdog said.

    ASIC said proceedings commence on a date to be determined by the court.

    A spokeswoman for the unit said it takes its compliance obligations seriously and that it was cooperating with ASIC.

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  • Fiat Chrysler And Peugeot Sign $50 Billion Merger Deal

    Fiat Chrysler And Peugeot Sign $50 Billion Merger Deal

    Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A. have today signed a binding Combination Agreement providing for a 50/50 merger of their businesses. This merger creates the 4th largest global automotive OEM by volume and 3rd largest by revenue. The proposed combination will be an industry leader with the management, capabilities, resources and scale to successfully capitalize on the opportunities presented by the new era in sustainable mobility.

    The combined company will have annual unit sales of 8.7 million vehicles, with revenues of nearly 170 billion Euros, recurring operating profit of over 11 billion Euros and an operating profit margin of 6.6 percent, all on a simple aggregated basis of 2018 results.

    The combined entity will have a balanced and profitable global presence with a highly complementary and iconic brand portfolio covering all key vehicle segments from luxury, premium, and mainstream passenger cars through to SUVs and trucks & light commercial vehicles. This will be underpinned by FCA’s strength in North America and Latin America and Groupe PSA’s solid position in Europe. The new Group will have a much greater geographic balance with 46 percent of revenues derived from Europe and 43% from North America, based on aggregated 2018 figures of each company. The combination will bring the opportunity for the new company to reshape the strategy in other regions.

    The efficiencies that will be gained from optimizing investments in-vehicle platforms, engine families and new technologies while leveraging increased scale will enable the business to enhance its purchasing performance and create additional value for stakeholders. More than two-thirds of run rate volumes will be concentrated on 2 platforms, with approximately 3 million cars per year on each of the small platform and the compact/mid-size platform.

    Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of Groupe PSA, said: “Our merger is a huge opportunity to take a stronger position in the auto industry as we seek to master the transition to a world of clean, safe and sustainable mobility and to provide our customers with world-class products, technology and services. I have every confidence that with their immense talent and their collaborative mindset, our teams will succeed in delivering maximized performance with vigor and enthusiasm.”

    This technology, product and platform-related savings are expected to account for approximately 40% of the total 3.7 billion Euros in annual run-rate synergies while purchasing – benefiting principally from scale and best price alignment – will represent a further estimated 40% of the synergies. Other areas, including marketing, IT, G&A and logistics, will account for the remaining 20%. These synergy estimates are not based on any plant closures resulting from the transaction. It is projected that the estimated synergies will be net cash flow positive from year 1 and that approximately 80% of the synergies will be achieved by year 4. The total one-time cost of achieving the synergies is estimated at 2.8 billion Euros.

    Mike Manley, Chief Executive Officer of FCA said, “This is a union of two companies with incredible brands and a skilled and dedicated workforce. Both have faced the toughest of times and have emerged as agile, smart, formidable competitors. Our people share a common trait – they see challenges as opportunities to be embraced and the path to making us better at what we do.”

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  • BMW Financial Services India Appoints Kathrin Frauscher As The MD & CEO

    BMW Financial Services India Appoints Kathrin Frauscher As The MD & CEO

    BMW India has appointed Kathrin Frauscher as the new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BMW Financial Services India. Before her new appointment, Frauscher was serving as the CEO of BMW Financial Services in Denmark and has been associated with the BMW Group since 2007. She has also worked as the Head of Sales Performance for BMW Financial Services in Northern Europe and has significant experience of working with the BMW Group in retail sales for BMW and Mini Cars.

    On her appointment, Ritu Chandy, Regional Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group Financial Services for Asia Pacific said, “Kathrin Frauscher made a major contribution to the success of BMW Financial Services Denmark in the last few years. We are confident that she will continue the successful development of the business as she takes charge of operations in India. Ms. Frauscher has significant knowledge and has demonstrated long-standing dedication and commitment to her markets which are the best prerequisites for good leadership.”

    Kathrin Frauscher has succeeded Andre Van Rheenen at the BMW Financial Services in India. BMW Financial Services India was started in June 2010 and operates with three business areas- Retail Finance, Commercial Finance and Insurance Solutions.

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  • Mercedes-Benz Pushes Back US Launch Of Electric SUV Until 2021

    Mercedes-Benz Pushes Back US Launch Of Electric SUV Until 2021

    Mercedes-Benz has rescheduled the US launch of its first mass-market electric vehicle — an SUV known as the EQC to 2021. The SUV was introduced in Europe earlier this year, and it reportedly “generated high interest”, enough so that Mercedes’ parent firm Daimler made a “strategic decision to first support the growing customer demand” in Europe, Engadget reported on Tuesday.

    The US is the second-largest car market in the world after China, but it is only on par with, and sometimes behind, Europe when it comes to sales of all-electric vehicles.

    One factor driving the availability of cleaner cars in Europe is the strict emissions regulations package put in place by the European Union (EU), which requires automakers to reduce the emissions of their new vehicle fleets by 37.5 percent by 2030.

    In contrast, President Donald Trump has spent the bulk of his presidency unsuccessfully trying to roll back Obama-era emissions regulations that are similarly meant to support the adoption of cleaner cars, according to The Verge.

    Price of Mercedes’ EQC base model is expected to begin at $67,900 — less than the $74,800 Audi E-Tron and the $84,990 Tesla’s Model X.

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  • Honda Cars India Partners With Tranzlease For Smart Auto Loan Solutions

    Honda Cars India Partners With Tranzlease For Smart Auto Loan Solutions

    In a bid to make its cars more attainable, Honda Cars India has tied up with TranzLease to offer ‘Smart EMI’ auto finance solutions to its customers. The company will be leasing its cars via TranzLease and offer customized EMI packages that not only include the cost of the vehicle but also registration, insurance and maintenance requirements of the car during the financing period. The company says that Smart EMIs are much lower than the standard EMIs that customers opt for via the standard banking network. Customers will have the option to lease the car or return it at the end of the tenure or retain the car by paying the balance amount to the company. In addition, Smart EMI guarantees a high resale value on the vehicle.

    Speaking about the innovative auto finance solution, Rajesh Goel, Senior Vice President and Director, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said, “Honda is committed to providing innovative ownership solutions with evolving customer preferences. The first of its kind SMART EMI option now makes it easier and convenient for the consumer to enjoy the Honda range of cars in a unique financing option.”

    Anindya Chakraborty, MD & CEO, TranzLease said, “In today’s age where consumers want a car but uneasy about the associated hassles, risks, cost of ownership, Smart EMI comes as a solution that allows the love of car without the chaos – Smart EMI blends the best features of auto loan, auto lease and subscription model to create a true fit for the Indian car buyer.”

    Initially, the service will be offered to customers in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai and will be later made available in Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai. The Smart EMI plan can be availed at any of the Honda dealerships in the cities, and based on the response it will be rolled out pan India at a later stage. Post-delivery of the car, Smart EMI will have a personalized car portal for customers to manage the entire car life-cycle during the leasing period.

    Smart EMI also provides protection from risk arising out of insurance tariff fluctuations, unforeseen maintenance costs and fluctuation in the resale value of cars. While the payment solution is innovative for cars, Bangalore-based start-up OTO Capital introduced something similar earlier this year that promise 30 percent lower EMIs when on a vehicle when compared to that from a bank. Much like TranzLease, OTO too offers the option for complete ownership or to return the vehicle at the end of the tenure.

  • Michelin Targets 2050 To Go Carbon Neutral At All Plants

    Michelin Targets 2050 To Go Carbon Neutral At All Plants

    2019 has been one of the hottest years in recent decades, marking a new milestone in the worldwide increase in greenhouse gas emissions and extreme weather events. The transportation sector alone is responsible for 23 percent of CO2 emissions worldwide. Looking at these numbers Michelin has decided on an objective and that is all of its plants across the world will emit zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The company is also looking to reduce tire-related energy consumption per kilometer traveled by 20 percent by 2030. This strategy is in line with the Paris Agreement signed at the COP21 in 2015 to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

    To reduce the carbon footprint of production at a global level, Michelin developed a strategy founded on two pillars: consume less, and implement an energy transition. This strategy has already had concrete and positive effects: in Europe, 85 percent of its plants are powered by electricity that is guaranteed to come from renewable sources. Between 2010 and 2018, CO2 emissions from the company’s production facilities were down by 22 percent.

    The company is looking to improve energy efficiency of its industrial tools, using more renewable energy, and eliminating coal. Currently, 5 out of 70 of the Group’s sites around the world are still coal-fired. We have already launched studies to evaluate the feasibility of replacing coal with another source of primary energy, such as gas or biomass. All our plants will phase out the use of coal by 2030 at the latest.

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  • Jeep Working On A Suzuki Jimny Rival For Europe

    Jeep Working On A Suzuki Jimny Rival For Europe

    Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) is reportedly working on an ultra-compact Jeep SUV which will be positioned below the Renegade, in the European market. According to the report filed by Auto Express, which recently spoke to Marco Pigozzi Jeep’s Head of Brand Marketing in Europe, the new subcompact off-road SUV will act as a rival to the popular Suzuki Jimny. The report also claims that the new Jeep SUV could possibly come with an all-electric powertrain acquired from FCA’s planned merger with PSA.

    Speaking to Auto Express, Pigozzi said that the upcoming Jeep SUV will be about 4 meters in length, and in addition to being a capable everyday vehicle, it will also come with the off-road capabilities that the Jeep brand is known for. Furthermore, given the brands push for electrification, even if not fully electric, the upcoming ultra-compact Jeep SUV could possibly take the Plug-in Hybrid route, like the Renegade and the Compass. Commenting on that Pigozzi told Auto Express, “We have the capability to deliver the electrification we need.”

    While a sub-4 meter Jeep could really turntable for the brand in the Indian market, given the popularity for SUVs, but right now it is too soon to even speculate the SUV coming to our shores. Also, with the FCA and PSA merger underway, it is possible that the SUV might borrow the Common Modular Platform architecture used by Peugeot-Citroen. Engine and other technical specifications are currently unknown, but the SUV is expected to arrive sometime in 2022.

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  • Renault Partners With Nino Robotics For Its Future Electric Transporter

    Renault Partners With Nino Robotics For Its Future Electric Transporter

    Groupe Renault has signed a partnership with Nino Robotics, designer of a new type of ‘seated, personal transporters’ which provide transport solutions adapted to people with disabilities or of reduced mobility. As part of this partnership, Groupe Renault will provide financial support to Nino Robotics via Mobilize Invest. The objective of this support is to contribute to the development of Nino Robotics and in particular of NINO4, its future electric transporter.

    With NINO4, Pierre Bardina, founder of Nino Robotics, intends to offer a solution far removed from those usually offered to people with reduced mobility. In addition to its highly recognizable, sleek and colorful design, as well as its minimal space requirement, this “seated personal transporter” will also be connected to provide users with data, such as battery charge level, speed and mileage. A “Follow Me” function will allow a third party to guide NINO4 and its user by auto-follow. To date, Nino Robotics has developed and markets two products: Nino, a self-balanced personal carrier and One, a scooter designed for wheelchairs.

    Pierrick Cornet, Alliance Project Director and mentor of Nino Robotics, said, “We deeply appreciate this opportunity to promote exchanges between our teams and Nino Robotics: this meets to the ambition of many employees of the Group, including myself, to get involved in actions with a societal objective.”

  • Volkswagen Says Production Suspended In Algeria

    Volkswagen Says Production Suspended In Algeria

    Carmaker Volkswagen has suspended production in Algeria, where the head of its local partner has been detained since June in a corruption probe, a spokesman for the German auto giant said.

    “Volkswagen is aware of a corruption investigation by Algerian authorities into Mourad Oulmi”, who heads Algerian partner Sovac, the spokesman told AFP.

    “Production at the factory, operated in a co-venture with Sovac, is suspended, as are deliveries by Volkswagen” to Sovac, the spokesman added.

    The Sovac-Volkswagen factory opened in 2017 at Relizane, some 250 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Algiers, and assembles kits provided by the German parent.

    In 2018, it produced around 50,000 Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda vehicles.

    Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for Sovac refused to comment but promised a statement later in the day.

    Several Algerian news outlets reported that Sovac announced Sunday output at the factory stopped in October, effectively leaving 700 employees without work.

    Several prominent politicians and businessmen linked to Abdelaziz Bouteflika have been detained or questioned in connection with corruption since the ailing president was forced to step down in the face of mass protests in early April.

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  • Harley-Davidson 338 cc Cruiser Cleared For Production

    Harley-Davidson 338 cc Cruiser Cleared For Production

    Harley-Davidson and Chinese motorcycle giant Qianjiang (also the owner of the Benelli brand) have reportedly gotten together recently for a Design Freeze Signing Ceremony to create the most affordable Harley-Davidson motorcycle. So far, we don’t have any actual images, other than design sketches released earlier of the bike, but what is clear now is that Harley-Davidson is going ahead with the production of the ‘baby Harley’. The new motorcycle will be powered by a 338 cc engine, but instead of being a v-twin, it is expected to be a parallel-twin engine.

    The Harley-Davidson 338 cc motorcycle will be made specifically for Asian markets and will be the most affordable Harley-Davidson motorcycle

    The new bike is being cleared for production at a time when Harley-Davidson is looking to expand its customer base with its ‘More Roads to Harley-Davidson’ outreach, with a series of new models planned over the next few years, including the LiveWire electric bike, the Bareknuckle, the Bronx, as well as the Pan America. While we still don’t have any actual images of the bike, the design sketches do reveal a very similar silhouette to that of the Benelli 302S. In fact, the platform could very well be of the 302S, including the chassis and most of the bodywork, aside from a new seat unit and fuel tank.

    Harley-Davidson is likely to use the new 350 cc model (actually with a 338 cc powerplant), as its mainstay as the American brand gets ready to get into new markets and more volumes, particularly in South East Asia, India and China. It’s still not known whether Harley-Davidson will use the HD350 name, or come up with a new moniker as it has for the new models the brand is developing for the future. More details are expected in the next few months.

  • Google Maps Adds Plug Type Filter For EV Charging Stations

    Google Maps Adds Plug Type Filter For EV Charging Stations

    Google Maps has received a new filter to classify the Electronic Vehicles (EV) charging stations based on plug type. There are different types of charging connectors used by several car manufacturers, for example, Nissan uses CHAdeMO, Tesla uses its instrumentation, and also the BMW and VW use CCS plug kind for charging their cars. Since the emergence of the EV search facility over Google Maps, the users were missing out on the ability to filter results based on the connector type, GizmoChina reported on Sunday.

    The recent update will surely a sigh of relief for the daily drivers, it will facilitate them to drive car on to the compatible charging station. To use the new feature, the users can head over to the Google Maps > Settings > Electric Vehicle Settings >Your Plugs > Choose and save.

    Google Maps has recently revealed that it has captured more than 10 million miles of Street View imagery – a distance that could circle the globe over 400 times. The company also announced that Google Earth now lets people browse more than 36 million square miles of high definition satellite images from various providers – covering more than 98 percent of the entire population – to see the world from above.

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  • Uber Submits Appeal To Regain London Taxi License

    Uber Submits Appeal To Regain London Taxi License

    Uber submitted an appeal on Friday against a decision by London’s transport regulator to strip the taxi app of its right to operate in one its most important markets, setting up a potentially lengthy legal process during which it can continue to take rides. Last month, Transport for London (TfL) refused to grant the Silicon Valley-based company a new license due to what it called a “pattern of failures” on safety and security, the latest stage of a long-running battle with the authorities.

    Uber, which was also denied a license by TfL in 2017 before a judge restored it on a probationary basis, said it had changed its business model over the last two years and would go further, as it lodged its appeal at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

    “We are committed to Londoners and are working closely with TfL to address their concerns and requests, as we have since 2017,” said the firm’s Northern and Eastern Europe boss Jamie Heywood. TfL director Helen Chapman said it would now be for a magistrate to decide.

    “We found Uber not fit and proper to hold a new private hire operator’s license on 25 November,” she said in a statement. “We note that Uber has submitted an appeal and it will now be for a magistrate to determine if they are fit and proper.”

    The firm’s roughly 45,000 drivers in London will still be able to take rides until the appeals process is exhausted, which could take months or even years.

    The regulator said in November that unauthorized drivers were able to upload their photos to other Uber accounts so that on at least 14,000 trips a driver other than the advertised one picked up passengers.The Silicon Valley company has run into regulatory barriers and a backlash in several markets, forcing it to withdraw completely from places such as Copenhagen and Hungary.

    In London, black cab drivers who see Uber as a threat to their livelihoods have blocked streets in protest, arguing that they are being unfairly undercut by an inferior service.

  • Audi Introduces 25 Years Anniversary Package For RS Models In Europe

    Audi Introduces 25 Years Anniversary Package For RS Models In Europe

    Audi is celebrating 25 years of its RS models and has announced an exclusive package for its performance models. Audi has released an exclusive equipment package for the Audi TT RS Coupe, RS 4 Avant, RS 5 Coupe, RS 5 Sportback, RS 6 Avant and the RS 7 Sportback models. It was the RS 2 Avant that kicked off things for Audi in the hot performance segment back in 1994 and every RS model gets some elements both on the outside and inside which are inspired by the RS 2 Avant.

    The anniversary package includes a matt aluminum look with gloss black for the exterior of all models, a front blade for models like the RS 4, RS 5, RS 6, and RS 7*, as well as the inlays in the side sills. The horizontal web of the rear diffuser also features a matt aluminum look. Moreover, the four rings, RS logos and wing mirrors along with the rear wing of the TT RS Coupe are finished in gloss black. An exclusive RS anniversary logo showing the number “25” is projected onto the ground when the doors are opened and is also featured on the hub cap. The wheels itself are designed in a two-color look featuring silver and gloss anthracite.

    The interior is also inspired by the iconic RS 2. The cabin is finished in all black an there are cobalt blue accents in Alcantara on the piping of the floor mats and the 12 o’clock marking on the steering wheel rim. The RS sport seats with a honeycomb pattern in the TT RS, RS 4, and RS 5 are draped in Nappa leather with seat center panels in Alcantara, just like the very first RS 2 Avant had back in the day. The seat upholstery of the RS sport seats in the RS 6 and RS 7 is finished in perforated Valcona leather. A special touch on the inside is the ’25 years’ logo on the shoulder area of the seats, floor mats, and the door trim panels. The anniversary package has only given cosmetic updates to the RS models and mechanically they remain unchanged.

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