Bloomberg Audio Studios podcasts radio

news.

I'm Hannah Elliot

>> and I'm Matt Miller. This is Hot

Pursuit.

>> [music]

>> Coming up on today's podcast, we've got

Matt joining from his childhood home in

Fire Island to well, one of them to talk

about Audi's new supercar, the new

Velari,

among other things,

>> the Mercedes Maybach, the Ferrari 296

Challenge Stradal, and ironically, um,

I'm on an island to do a car podcast.

Uh, I'm on an island on which there are

no cars. So,

>> sounds like a a sting song. There's a

sting song somewhere in there.

>> I grew up coming out to Point of Woods,

which is a small community on Fire

Island. And there are famously no cars

here. Everybody rides a bicycle, pulls a

wagon, and it's I I think less than a

mile between uh one side of the island

and the other. So, it's just a long thin

barrier island off the coast of Long

Island. It's a great place. There's a

storm rolling in. So, you'll hear maybe

thunder. Um, and you'll probably hear a

lot of tennis balls as well cuz I'm

sitting My house was filled with

screaming children, so I moved across

the path to the tennis club. Uh,

although with the storm coming in, two

are people playing tennis as well.

Listen, I want to just I think we should

also go through some emails because

>> yes,

>> we got a couple of interesting ones. I

want to hit on the minivan uh debate

which is one that's raging across not

only this podcast but in like as as

people I know are trying to buy cars uh

debating with their parents you and I um

I think grew up with vans, minivans in

our lives and

>> we did

>> have thoughts. But first there's an

email again that said it's so I love

your podcast. It's so annoying that Matt

talks over Hannah all the time and I

just want to address it because I think

it is annoying too. I don't do it on

purpose. It It's more like it has

something to do with our personalities.

Not that my personality is being a jerk

and talking over you, but um I'm a

little bit ADHD and I have so much stuff

in my head and I'm afraid that if I

don't say it, it'll like go away. I'll

forget it. And so that's why I like I'm

always blurting things out.

>> Yes. I I will I will say for the record,

thank you for the email. We hear you.

And Matt is not an that for the

record he's not he he is he's not trying

to do it and I do agree it is we're

we're calibrated slightly differently

and this is my theory about it because

Matt is his primary role is as to be on

television as an anchor he is calibrated

in a different way than I am where my

actual primary role is as a writer to

write so we're kind of meeting in the

middle in this weird world of podcasting

audio land. And I'm coming from a place

where my entire job, the way that I see

it, is to listen and to try to absorb as

much information as possible and to

listen, listen, listen. And Matt's

coming from a different side of the

spectrum. And also, this goes to our

personal personalities as well. Matt is

an genuinely gregarious fellow and I am

more reserved. So, it is a bit of a

personality. It's unfortunate that Matt

happens to be male and I happen to be

female because it then it kind of comes

out as like the dude talking over the

woman. So, I I understand how it's

perceived and thank you for your

feedback and your concern. And we're

aware of it. We're aware of it.

>> And oh, and also this is not an excuse,

but it's also just explaining the

context as well. Sometimes there is a

delay because Matt is on paternity

leave. He's joining from a different

audio setup than me. I'm on typically on

a little studio in the LA office. But

sometimes there's delays. It we're not

in the same room. So that is part of it

as well. It's kind of funny though when

you think about it because the whole

genesis of this podcast, I had

interviewed you a bunch of times on my

TV show and I thought we should do a

podcast where I just interview Hannah

because you're the expert. You're the

one who does the deep reporting. You're

the one who knows the sources so

closely. Um, and then I and then I end

up doing all the talking. Hopefully not

all.

>> No, you you don't. You don't. And that

is to me I will I want you to know Matt

I will never forget that because that is

the truth. I will never forget when you

called me out of the blue. I was in my

kitchen in LA and I had this random

phone call from Matt Miller who I wasn't

accustomed to just getting phone calls

from and it was sort of coy times.

>> Yeah.

>> And you're like hey you want to do a

podcast and it was kind of as simple as

that. So, I give you so much credit for

that idea, for wanting to do it with me,

all of the things, all of and making it

happen.

>> It works out perfectly because And then

we can get off this because you and I,

although we get along and we're great

friends now. Um, we have different takes

on a lot [clears throat] of these

vehicles and we're going to get into

that today because we have kind of

slightly different takes on the Audi

>> supercar that they've put out, their

limited ultra expensive supercar. Um,

and on things like last week I was

driving the Mercedes AMG GT, but the

Maybach version and both of us love the

Mercedes AMG GT. We both agreed that

it's probably our favorite car, like new

car of the year last year and

you know, in all of its various forms.

We talk about it a lot, but Maybach has

made a version where they have their

little logo. It's like the Louis Vuitton

logo, but obviously different. It's the

M. And

>> it's all over the hood. It's all over

the rag top cuz it's convertible. Um,

it's and they do things like they put

those big shiny silver solid wheels on

it and they have, you know, big silver,

you know, accents everywhere. And they

also have like deep plush carpeting even

in the even in the trunk. And

you loved that. You had it in LA and you

and you loved it, right?

>> Yeah. So, initially I cringed. I did

cringe initially. I thought, "Oh boy,

this is not the look I want to be

portraying."

But I I drove that car for a week. It

happened to be during Monterey Car Week,

and by the end of the week, I did love

it. It I maybe I was corrupted, but the

car was so great. It overrode my initial

hesitancy about how it looked. And then

as I drove it and I happened to think it

photographed well and I people some

people I'm sure didn't like it but a lot

of people did and so of course I like

that.

>> It's it's got to be like a an LA New

York thing because

>> yes

>> big time

>> have had it for the last week and the

official name it's not obviously an AMG

GT Maybach because AMG is Mercedes like

sporty

brand and Maybach is Mercedes luxury

brand, but it's that car and they call

it the Maybach S580 convertible. It is

an amazing road car. Um, you know, uh,

it's very powerful. It's a two-seater.

Um, it's it's it's very precise just

like the AMG GT version, but it's got

the look that I I guess I found a lot

out about myself because it looks that

way. I just didn't want to drive it. And

because it looks that way, I developed

kind of a ne negative opinion about it.

It looks more like a Kim Kardashian

thing than again like than a Steve

McQueen thing. And um I don't know very

much about either one of those people,

but

>> it it just turned me off. And even

though it has 580 horsepower and 600 lb

feet of torque, just like the AMG GT

version or one of them, I just left it

in my driveway.

>> That's such a shame. That is such a

shame. I I do agree there's definitely I

would feel probably different driving

that in New York or upstate New York

versus LA. there. LA has a little bit

more of a flare anyway. And I look, if I

was going to spec that car for myself, I

would not choose that spec, but there

was something about it that by the end I

was just like, "Yeah, cool. I maybe I'm

just getting soft in my old age." And we

can talk about that going into our

conversation with the new Valari.

>> I I I'm kind of like, you know what? And

let maybe this all goes back to Dolly

Parton because

you know what?

Have some fun. Get m you know lean into

the look. I felt like the I felt like

the Maybach

>> was leaning into it and it wasn't even

pretending or trying to be tasteful or

classy. It just was leaning into it and

it was well executed. I think that's the

other thing. It was Yeah. a very well

exeic ex uh executed concept.

And

>> I guess that's that's the Mercedes,

right? That's they

>> that's that's part of what at least I

love about this line of cars is that

they're so

>> wellmade. It feels like and of course

they're brand new cars, so I can't make

any kind of judgment. Only spend a week

with them, but they feel like the

Mercedes of old. They feel so solidly

engineered.

>> Yes, exactly. By the way, I'll I'll

correct myself on the horsepower and

torque figures because I just looked

them up. I was quoting the the 680.

There's the Maybach S580 and then

there's the Maybach S680. I drove the

580, so it only has 496 horsepower and

516 pound- feet of torque.

>> Obviously, [music] it's still a ton, but

I just because of the

>> because of the cover of the book, I just

really couldn't read the book. Oh,

[music] that's

>> maybe that says more about me than the

the car people.

>> I [music] want to before we get um to

the new

>> Yeah.

>> talk about a couple more emails

>> because

>> we got another email or we got a a

follow-up email from Gav. [music]

>> Um this is the kid who was starting his

detailing business and we were talking

about him with John Tamrian in Miami.

Um, and he he reached out and said,

"Hey, thanks so much. Love your

podcast." And then thanks for mentioning

me. Can you also hook me up with John

Hennessy, which I think I this kid

>> is going to go places, you know, because

he's doing what you have to do.

>> Yes.

>> To succeed.

>> Have to ask. Yes.

>> Um, and also I want to just bring it up

because it reminds me again of the

Hennessy Blackbird. This is the car. Did

you see that at Monterey last last week?

>> No, I saw it from afar. I saw it across

the field. I honestly didn't see it up

close. That is one aggressive looking

machine. That that's that was my overall

take. Do you like it? Do you like how it

looks?

>> I'm loving it more and more and more and

more. And um it's you know the idea is

to get this supercar uh genre back to

analog. So this is a naturally aspirated

engine. Again, we've talked about it,

but 6.2 two liter V8

>> um with no turbocharger, supercharger,

no hybrid system. They target because

it's only a concept so far, 800 850

horsepower, but Hennessy has a track

record of getting to his targets.

>> Sure. Yeah. No, he does what he says

he's going to do for sure.

>> It has a six-speed or will have a

six-speed gated manual transmission.

It's rearwheel drive. Um which, you

know, like diehard automotive purists

love. Yeah. I I personally that's

something I could bend on but it it's

like becoming the conversation now and I

heard I don't know who it was but

somebody was interviewing Mate Ree about

about um what he sees as the future of

the hypercar and he said kind of the

same thing that the hypercar or supercar

space it's not just about the stats the

fastest you know 0 to 60 top speed but

it's also about what the ultimate and

wealthiest in uh enthusiasts want. And

he made a comparison to mechanical

watches. Like there's no reason to buy a

mechanical watch. It's not necessarily

better than a quartz watch um in terms

of keeping time, right?

>> Precise. Yeah.

>> Exactly. But it's the mechanical aspect

of it becomes as important as the

performance aspect. And I think that's

so cool that it's coming back.

>> Totally. Totally agree. And that reminds

me because when I saw this car, it was

on the concept lawn at Monteray and it

was parked right next to that new

Bugatti, the Distrier. I don't know if

I'm I think I'm saying it right. The

Distrier. Um, which also is

>> a W, right?

>> Yes. And holding on to the idea of

analog and um so and it's interesting. I

I the blackbird to me made the Dreer

look

refined like like actually toned down

compared to the others. So, I don't know

that that just crossed my mind. But to

your point, yes. Uh

I totally agree with all of it. Mate

spoke with me to the same effect. He

doesn't want This goes back to something

you and I talk about. He doesn't want

fake anything. He doesn't want fake

sound. He doesn't want fake shifting. He

doesn't want fake anything. He thinks

Bugatti clients want the real the real

stuff.

>> It's so funny. So, and for those who

don't know, he is the CEO of Bugatti.

>> Now, he obviously

>> created initially the Remac Supercar,

which was

>> which is an electric supercar. It is

kind of ironic that he's the one who's

led the push for Bugatti to stay um you

know all internal combustion

>> with oh

>> with the tobon and he's also Bugatti is

starting

uh like a a classic program where you

can bring your old Veyron in and they

restood it essentially or it's one

better than that at their place in

Molshheim.

>> Um

>> so cool. It's so cool that I mean that

that kid and I can say kid because he's

not even 40 um is doing great things for

for the car world just like I'm sure Gav

will just like John Hennessy has and

John Tamaran. So Gav you go and uh I'll

try and get you a contact for for

Hennessy.

>> That's really nice. Um do we need to

address the minivan emails, Matt?

>> Yeah, I'm just going to read that one

because I think it was so good. We hear

at least at least part of it. Hardy

writes in and says, "I can't understand

why you two loathe minivans. In my

estimation, they're the highest form of

automotive evolution." And then he says,

"When I was racing, I'd tow my bike to

the track with a 97 Dodge Caravan,

leaving the back seat at home. Made

plenty of space for the spare for spares

and track stands, leathers, tools, etc.

And then he says when he got to the

track, he'd remove the middle row bench

seat, use that as a couch in the garage,

and then [clears throat] with both seats

out, he had plenty of room to sleep

comfortably in the van. Okay, very cool.

This guy

>> is obviously a diehard car dude. He's

also it looks like a a professor of

medicine or professor of medicine.

>> So, he's a smarty pants as well. Um, but

he goes on to suggest that it's like

Lamborghini should make a hyper van.

>> I know that's amazing.

>> It goes from a serious email to a

>> possibly brilliant,

>> but I imagine a joke. A flat 12 in

somewhere in a hyper van.

>> I don't think that's going to happen.

But I've been hearing this debate about

vans a lot lately. a buddy of mine that

I went to New Hampshire with, he just

got uh uh Defender 130 because he has a

growing family, now has three kids, and

his mom who, you know, also listens to

this podcast was like, "Matt, why don't

you convince Henry to get a minivan

instead? It makes so much more sense.

And is it just because he's a man and

wants like, you know, this truck image?"

Um,

>> and maybe that's part of it, but I don't

know. But why do you think minivans are

just so lame in terms of the design? I

feel like, am I wrong? Why Why don't you

like minivans, Hannah?

>> I don't like minivans because they're

ugly.

>> Yes.

>> It's as simple as that. Now, I don't

disagree that they're practical, that

they're uh they can do many things. I I

just like Hardy. Uh, my family had a

Dodge Caravan in gold in the '9s, which

was a great deeply embarrassing to me

and still is. I don't like them because

they're ugly. Simple as that. I And I

I'm deeply shallow. So, I you know,

>> you're not I like I don't I don't think

there's any reason. Why not? Why not

have a wagon? Why can't you have the

same practicality and functionality with

a wagon rather than a minivan?

I my thought is so a wagon as someone

who's always looking for space for a

growing family and I'm defin I'm ready

to pull the trigger on a Chevy Suburban

by the way. I almost did this week.

>> Oh.

>> Um and I and I was talking with this

about my brother as well who who has or

is getting a Honda Odyssey for his

growing family. Um you do lose space by

putting a big motor in front like that.

And it's not like I'm going to honestly

tow a boat or anything. So, I don't

really need the Suburban. And I I get

why people like the Honda Odyssey and

the Toyota Sienna, etc. It does make

sense, but I think they're ugly, too.

And they're always underpowered. The

driving dynamics are pretty horrible.

They're kind of fun for a couple days,

but not for a long term. And if if I

were looking for more practicality

and something cooler, I would want like

a Volkswagen bus or an old school van

like a Ford Econo line,

>> you know, or like the

>> What did they have in the A team? Like a

GMC something,

>> you know, like a van van.

>> Yeah.

>> Uh Magnus had a van for many years that

he loved and it got stolen and he still

misses it. They're much better. I don't

know why they stopped. Why did the

market for vans dry up? I know

>> because trucks came up. That's the

thing. Because truck, this is my theory

that I'm making up as I go. Um because

trucks became the predominant thing in

America and they're more masculine and

they look cooler and so vans

just were not as compelling.

>> I don't know. I mean, I think Ford still

makes a lot of money on the Transit, or

they do they I should say they do now,

right? Because they've they went from

the Econolo line to the Transit. And um

and GM went from whatever they called

theirs to uh actually GM still makes

their van old school van van. And I know

this because I heard they just put a

touchcreen for the first time in it. Um

Mercedes obviously makes the Sprinter

and that's a very successful, profitable

>> uh product. It's so ugly and I hate

seeing them on the road. I hate it.

>> Yeah, I I'm not a huge fan either

compared to old vans. I get that they

have a lot of space, but they just don't

have

>> really get the much rather have an old

van from like the 80s or 90s, like if

it's an American one with

>> with a lift and four-wheel drive, you

know, or if it's

>> or if it's a bus like a T3. I love the

Volkswagen T3 bus with a motor in the

back, you know. I would also accept the

micro vans that are popular in Japan and

the North and the Pacific Northwest.

Like my friend Pas

uh or at least had, you know, some of

those Japanese import vans that are

tiny.

>> Yes, I know. I know them. [music]

>> I know them.

>> Um they Yeah, we rode around them in

Singapore and and Tokyo when we were

there.

>> Yeah, I'm not I I don't think I [music]

would go for one of those either, but I

get

>> I get the appeal. All

right, [music] let's This is kind of

grossing me out a little bit.

>> Let's talk about the Audi new Valari

because you actually drove it. Yes, I

did. You wrote a story about it for

Bloomberg Pursuits

>> and

>> we have slightly different take, but

>> let's start with Can we do the stats?

Can you tell me the stats of the Audi

new including the price and the the

>> sort of limitedness of it? Yes, the Audi

Newveli is expected to cost $700,000. It

is a 987

horsepower V8 with three electric

motors, a top speed of 217 mph, a 0 to

60 of 2.5. It's an all-wheel drive uh

with a electric only range of roughly

six miles. And what else can I tell you?

two-seater

um

>> limited to 499 units. So, they won't

make they won't make 500.

>> They will take deposits early 2027 for

2028 deliveries. They are already having

invite only previews in certain select

cities so that prospective buyers can

see it. They expect that 200 of the 499

will be coming to the United States and

the rest will go elsewhere. Although the

car will not be homologated for China.

Um, what else can I tell you that that's

kind of the the top note? Of course,

the the most easy thing is to comment on

how it looks. Uh, I think the internet

has called it like a a Cybert truck

crossed with an R8.

>> That's like the easiest target. I think

that's a little like too easy, but it

certainly has Oh, it certainly has those

tones. But let me say they went the

prototype car that they debuted in um

Monaco is the same one that I drove.

They only have the one car that they're

like shipping around the world. And that

car is painted in sort of a brushed

titanium color. But that is not the only

colorway available on this car. It's

available in dozens of colors, including

pure carbon fiber, including including

satin and matte finishes. It's got 20

and 21in wheels, huge ceramic brakes.

So, I think when we start seeing more

colorways, it may lessen the sort of

knee-jerk reaction of everyone just

saying it looks like a cyber truck

supercar.

>> I mean, to me, it also has some of the

same design elements as the Jaguar.

>> Yes, for sure.

>> Double. It's kind I guess it's the

double zero, right? That's the one that

made everyone throw up on the internet.

>> Yes. The wagony thing. Yeah.

>> And if I'm not mistaken,

um the guy who designed the Audi new was

also involved in the design of the

Jaguar and um so that's why they have

that similar look. Um

>> Masimo Fella is

>> Yes, exactly. He's Audi's chief design

officer and

>> he was at Jaguar land Land Rover, you

know, uh before he

>> he transferred to Audi.

>> Mhm. A and and the the other thing so I

don't really like the way it looks and

but what I have to automatically do and

what by the way AI when I ask AI about

the specs for the Audi

>> new Aari um you know if you do it on

Gemini it says oh I can also do this for

you I can do that for you and I can do

this for you like it offers you three

choices of where you want to go next.

Okay,

>> the first one is, do you want me to

compare it head-to-head with the

Lamborghini Tamario? Because

>> Audi will not like to hear that.

>> I know, but it's not me. It's that's

what AI um suggests because

>> they're built on the same architecture.

They're using essentially the same

motor. I know they'll say like, "We've

tuned oursly and we got a different like

carbon fiber intake or whatever, but

there it's the same motor. is the same

chassis and it's just got a different

skin. So,

>> we should also say that

>> I automatically compare it. Compare the

two. Yes, please.

>> Yes. I'm sorry to sorry to interrupt

you, Matt. Um, we should also note that

Victor Underberg, who is the head of

chassis development at Audi, is formerly

of Lamborghini as well. So, there's no,

you know, it's it's public knowledge.

This is these are very similar cars. And

the Audi is considerably more expensive

than the Timario, which is you can get

for ostensibly less than $400,000.

>> Yeah, that's to me the insane thing.

Like, if I'm looking at the Audi new,

I'm going to cross shop it with a few

other things. Unless, you know, you're

just some billionaire who immediately

fell in love with what it looks like.

The base price for the Lamborghini is

$3.90.

>> Mhm. And

I think it's better looking. They're

gonna make more of them. Um, it's

obviously

>> it's obviously a weird kind of it's a

weird Lamborghini as I've talked about

before because it sounds like a diesel

Audi more than than it does like the V10

Huracan. But I I would rather have the

Lamborghini.

Well, I I I want to hear specifically

why you don't like how it looks. And I

also want to note parathetically before

you answer that the limited run of the

new Valari

would align with its higher price tag.

You know, they're Yes. They're making

more of the Timari, which would lead you

to believe it's going to be cheaper.

>> Yeah. Well, so they're going to

artificially

Well, I don't know if it's artificial.

They're going to limit supply.

>> They're limiting Yes. Yes.

>> Great. and Lamborghini is not. And also

the new Ari has an extra 80 horsepower,

right? The Lamborghini seven horsepower,

the Audi is 987, but they both have a

four liter twin turbo V8. They both have

a 10,000 RPM revline. They both have

three axial flux motors, whatever the

hell that is, the EV motors.

>> I think it's from Back to the Future.

>> Yes, exactly. They uh the the Audi has a

bigger battery capacity

um and gets to 62 miles per hour,

one10enth of a second quicker at 2.6

instead of 2.7.

>> Um

you know, the Audi has a slightly higher

top speed of 217 rather than 213. They

say, right, because they only, as you

point out, have one.

>> Sure.

>> I don't know. There are some

differences, but the the Audi has that

slabsided

Cybert truck Jaguar type 00 look that I

am not into. The Tamario is more

classically beautiful

and it gets me it tugs at my

heartstrings right away like until I

turn it on and I don't hear the

Lamborghini sound. But

>> opposite of the Mercedes.

>> Yeah, exactly. Inverse. But I will say

you you and I were talking about this

earlier, not on the podcast, and you

pointed out that maybe the new Valari

ages better because I was recently

looking again looking at uh Porsche

9971's

and uh talking to Chat GPT about a

restood idea. I said maybe I should

replace the steering wheel with the Momo

and it said, "Well, that would take out

the airbag." And then I thought,

actually, I kind of like the ugly

triangle steering wheel of the early

2000s, and I kind of like the

some of the ugly early 2000s like design

in it, even though it's not classically

beautiful. Maybe that happens with the

new, right?

>> It could. I have to say I'm actually

quite surprised that you are not an

instant fan of the Nouvali because I I

when I see it I'm like okay you could

argue it's a little bow house and as

someone who lived in Germany and and

seems to love a sort of a heavy hand if

you will in in all the best ways uh this

would seem right up your boat. And when

you talk about the Lamborghini more

classic and elegant, usually I'm the one

that's advocating for that and you're

all about the like, you know, the velvet

hammer.

>> Well, because I like that in a Suburban,

right?

>> I want my GMC Yukon to look like that.

>> I want my Ford Excursion to look like

that. I don't want my two-seater

supercar to look like that. You know, if

I've got a

>> little roadster or a little two-seater

weekend car in the garage, especially if

I paid 390,000 or $690,000

for it, I want it to be gorgeous. I want

it to be sexy. I don't want it to be

brutalist.

>> Yeah, the Yeah, I

It definitely is a brutalist look. I

would say it honestly the It doesn't

bother me. I'm kind of on board with it.

It obviously is d it hearkens back to

the R8. I we can anyone can see that it

doesn't I'm like okay cool do it do it

if you want. I will tell you what I did

not like was the interior. The interior

that was covered in this like gray all

sort of micro suede allara

with very spartan very angular very

angular. I I did not like that at all.

It was very spacious. You would fit in

and it match. So would I and my heels

and my hats and all that, but it it did

not feel

it just didn't feel like $700 worth of

an interior in a car.

>> Maybe. So you've you've seen the thing

and I haven't. So I think you have a

better And you've driven it, by the way.

How does it drive?

>> Nice. Okay, here's here's the thing. It

it looks like such a heavy car. It

drives light. And I had spent that whole

week driving Lamborghinis. Not to sound

like a complete

but whatever. Yeah. It was

Monterey car week. So, I had been behind

the wheel of some pretty serious

supercars that week. And then I got into

the new Valari and the first impression

was it's very loud. Very loud in the

car. Um, second impression was it drives

very light. It handles a lot more nimble

than it looks. But also my disclaimer is

I didn't drive it that fast. We were on

these back rural roads, you know, up in

the hills outside of Monterey. So, was I

on a fast straightaway? No. Was I on

some canyons really hoofing it? No. This

is their single car and the CEO was, you

know, next to me. So, uh, no, I wasn't

fggging the thing. But honestly, first

impression, drives really nice, handles

really, very elegantly, more than it

looked elegant.

>> Nice. Um, well, I'm jealous that you

guys are driving it and talk to Garut

Dolner. I'd love to talk to him about

>> I want to drive I want to get him on my

show. I want to drive the RS5. I can't

wait till that comes to the U to the US.

>> We I think, if I'm not mistaken, both

love the RS6.

>> Yes.

>> Um,

>> and I have so much love for Audi as a

brand. Yeah.

>> The first car I ever bought was an A4

with the 2.5 L

>> TDI. And to me that that was the similar

sound that I heard in the Tamario is

that turbo diesel motor. They're

obviously not turbo diesels, but it's

got that grally

>> sound rather than a screamer, you know.

>> No, exactly. Exactly. Completely agree.

And I think everybody Audi has really

strong fans. Uh and the fans are have

been for some time. I think you can tell

me if you hear differently, but the fans

have been pining for the era that was

like pre-210

>> and it's been a long time and I think I

said in my piece, you know, driving an

Audi is about as edgy as wearing

sweatpants. there's they the the lineup

has really lost the juice and y

>> but it still retains some really loyal

devoted people and so I think

>> let's hope that the new Ari can indicate

they're going in the right direction.

They're going to reinvigorate and inject

some real

>> excitement into the lineup. We also

should note that concept C electric car

that kind of looked like a TT R8 thing

that they debuted earlier this summer.

They actually pushed that down the road

a bit in order to bring the new Valari

out first. So that electric concept is

still coming, but not until 2028.

And they actually kicked that can down

the road to bring out the new Valari

first, which is interesting because it

means they're recognizing that people

still want combustion. To me, that was a

big takeaway. They they don't want to be

coming out with an EV right now. Matt, I

wanted to ask you,

>> being on this island with no cars, are

you missing cars or could you be there

for a while and not really miss them?

>> Well, no. Yeah, I don't miss them here

at all because um I mean I'm spoiled for

other activities. I have sailing, I have

tennis, I'm at the beach. Um and

uh yeah, it's pretty rustic, so cars

don't even come into your mind.

Actually, I'm riding around on

>> old broken down bicycles uh when I need

to when I need any transportation, and I

never need to go more than like 500

yards. So

>> that sounds really nice.

>> I do think it's interesting. I I

>> of course, you know, I enjoy a life in

cars,

>> but I also prefer cities that are not

oriented around driving. I prefer the

more of the European

life, which is you can walk everywhere.

I do think that's a better way, which is

kind of ironic, but

>> totally agree. or well because driving a

car I don't like driving cars in cities,

right?

>> No one likes commuting. No,

>> I don't like I don't mind commuting

because I commute to work usually at

like 4:30 in the morning. There's no

other cars in the road and I can go

>> as fast as I want, you know, pretty

within reason. Um, but I don't like when

I lived in Berlin, when I lived in

London, when I lived in New York, I

don't like to drive in cities. I like to

drive out of the cities to other places

that aren't cities,

>> you know.

>> Um, so I agree. I like especially Berlin

was a great place to live because a lot

of people ride bicycles wherever they

need to go. You can walk or take um

essentially an Uber. Um, you can they

had this like drive now thing where you

would just pick up a Mini Cooper or a

BMW.

um i3

when you needed it and you could just

drop it and leave it where you went and

then it was fantastic.

>> So, uh yeah. No, I I I agree. Cities

that are built for walking or easy sort

of public transportation are the best.

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> The best.

>> Car should be a choice, not a

requirement.

>> But exactly. But living in a suburb of

living in Westchester, in a suburb of

New York City, I'm driving a car

everywhere I go and I'm taking these

kids if I take them on vacation to the

Northeast or if we go out to the island

or whatever, I need to put them in

something big. And the Mercedes GLS

lately has not been cutting it. So, now

I'm looking for a 2025 or newer Chevy

Suburban because I want it to be the

least luxury of the three row mega

haulers. I'll have enough space for my

wife, my three kids, like a

brother-in-law or a mother-in-law and a

dog all in the same vehicle.

>> I think that makes so much sense. I

can't wait to see what you land on. That

makes a lot of sense. It's hard to find

them in Cypress Gray, which is almost

like an army green.

>> Not a lot of people speck Suburbans with

a 6.2 L in Cypress Gray. So, I can't

find one right now, but I'll I'll find

one eventually.

>> All right. Well, we're putting it out

there in case anyone knows of one.

>> All right. Cool. Well, I'll see you uh

next week, I guess.

>> Sounds good. That does it for this

week's show. Remember to follow and

subscribe to [music] Hot Pursuit on

Apple, Spotify, and anywhere else you

listen. You can also send us your

comments. Email us at hotpursuit [music]

bloomberg.net.

>> And check out Hannah's columns and

stories on bloomberg.com and the

Bloomberg business app. Go there for car

reviews, events, and stories that you

won't find anywhere else. Find it all at

bloomberg.com/pursuits/autos.

I'm Matt Miller.

>> And I'm Hannah Elliot. We'll be back in

your podcast feed again next week.