Cross-bred Caddy: Volkswagen Caddy Carrera Cup Edition 2.0TDI R

The link between Volkswagen and Porsche is about to get stronger, but VW's Swedish contingent has already created a special edition to honor the alliance. The VW Caddy has lived a staid life as a popular work truck in Europe, but the Swedes apparently think it could be so much more. So it's releasing 250 Carrera Cup Edition Caddies outfitted with black, 17-inch wheels wrapped in 225/45 R17 rubber, a new body kit, red-on-white paint scheme with Porsche's signature "Carrera" text, two-tone leather sport seats, a leather steering wheel and shifter. The 2.0-liter TDI mill is putting out 140 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque and with a fire extinguisher mounted on the diamond-plate floor boards, we think we might have found the perfect track-day accomplice to join that GT3 RS we've been building in our dreams.

[ Via: Carscoop ]
[ Tag: carrera cup, CarreraCup, porsche, sweden, volkswagen, Volkswagen Caddy Carrera Cup Edition 2.0TDI R, VolkswagenCaddyCarreraCupEdition2.0tdiR ]

Germany approves new Volkswagen Law

Porsche didn't win... this round. The German cabinet approved amendments to the Volkswagen Law yesterday, but lawmakers left Porsche's key clause untouched. For those of you who haven't been following this saga, "Volkswagen Law" is the legislation that includes a provision to allow the federal state of Lower Saxony to keep a blocking minority vote in Volkswagen. That minority position is just 20 percent, exactly the amount currently held by Lower Saxony. With Porsche gobbling up shares in VW, intent on capturing a majority position so they can control plant closures, and Lower Saxony determined to protect thousands of jobs in their state... rest assured we haven't heard the last of this.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: amendment, factory, jobs, Lower Saxony, LowerSaxony, Ownership, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Law, VolkswagenLaw ]

VW and Sanyo hook up on lithium-ion battery development

Following the lead of Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan, Volkswagen has announced a major deal with Sanyo to produce lithium-ion batteries. The two companies already have ties, as VW uses Sanyo's nickel-metal hydride batteries in its current hybrid vehicles, such as the upcoming Audi Q7 hybrid. Li-ion batteries are the current cream-of-the-crop when it comes to storing electricity and VeeDub has plans to begin offering vehicles with the high-tech copper tops as early as 2009.
Unlike Toyota and Nissan, which have created jointly run manufacturing plants with their battery suppliers, Sanyo will be going it alone with an 80 billion yen, or $769 million, investment in order to expand production of its li-ion batteries by 2015, at which time it plans on producing 15-20,000 units per year. Sanyo also happens to provide nickel-metal hydride batteries for the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Honda Civic Hybrid.
[Sources: Volkswagen, The Detroit News]
Press Release:
Volkswagen Working on High-Performance Energy Storage
Dynamic partnership between the Volkswagen Group and Sanyo

Wolfsburg, 28 May 2008 - Agreement has been reached on a co-operation which sees Volkswagen joining forces with Sanyo, one of the world's leading developers of rechargeable batteries, to work on new and extremely efficient high-performance storage systems based on lithium-ion technology.

"Our focus in future," says Prof Martin Winterkorn, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, "will be directed more strongly at making electrically powered automobiles alongside ones driven by more efficient combustion engines. Drivetrain electrification is the way forward if we wish to secure mobility in tomorrow's world. This will involve energy recovery. The whole idea will be to no avail, however, as long as we do not have powerful energy storage systems at our disposal and as long as vehicle operations are not in tune with customer demands. This cooperation is an important step for us," Winterkorn adds.Emissions-free travel in an all-electric operating modus is already possible today, though only at limited speeds and over short distances. That makes it all the more important to develop new accumulators with the capacity, size, weight and cost attributes which will enable them to be used more efficiently in tomorrow's automobiles. Lithium-ion technology, already very successfully used in communications electronics and portable computers, has the potential to satisfy even the particularly exacting demands placed on electro-traction systems in motor vehicles. Back in March, at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen showcased its Golf TDI Hybrid design study, which demonstrated just how much potential for energy reduction there is when you combine high-tech-diesel, electric-drive and 7-speed-DSG technology. Conceived as a powerful full-hybrid vehicle, the Golf TDI Hybrid can be operated using combustion-engine power only or using a combination of combustion and electric drive or using E-drive – i.e. the powerful and energy-efficient combination of TDI technology and an electric motor. The A1 project quattro presented by Audi at the most recent Tokyo Motor Show features a powertrain already designed to cover a distance of 100 km using this innovative storage method. The Group hopes to be able to employ lithium-ion technology in its first vehicles by 2010.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: audi, audi hybrid, audi-hybrid, AudiHybrid, volkswagen, volkswagen hybrid, volkswagen-hybrid, VolkswagenHybrid, vw, vw hybrid, vw-hybrid, VwHybrid ]

VW Tiguan buyers get a Golf... temporarily

Click the image above for a gallery of live shots of the Volkswagen Tiguan
In a rather odd yet intriguing move, Volkswagen in Germany is handing out a new fifth-generation Golf to anyone who orders a Tiguan. The customer will keep the Golf until their new Tiguan utility vehicle is available, which, at current rates, will not be until next January at the earliest. In an effort to cover the cost of giving away a new car and getting it back used, VW will be providing its dealers with a one-time payment of €1,000 for each Tiguan sold. Unfortunately for the affected dealers, that won't be enough to recoup the lost value of the Golf, but it shows how eager VW is to sell its new small-ute in the face of similar new models coming from its key competition, namely the Mercedes-Benz GLK.
We've previously reported that the Tiguan will start at $22,490, which equals $23,840 after the expensive shipping cost is tacked on. After AWD is added, though, the price climbs to $29,515. Considering that seemingly lofty price point, Volkswagen isn't expecting to face such sales shortages in the U.S. where it is marketing its lil' ute as the GTI of CUV's.

[ Via: Automotive News Europe ]
[ Tag: germany, tiguan, volkswagen tiguan, volkswagen-tiguan, VolkswagenTiguan, vw golf, vw tiguan, vw-golf, vw-tiguan, VwGolf, VwTiguan ]

Babygate: Porsche CEO's hotel room bugged with baby monitor

It's far too early to come up with suitable jokes to make, so we'll just give you the facts. According to Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, Police are investigating a case of corporate eavesdropping in the form of a baby monitor that was found in the hotel room of Porsche CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking. Wiedeking was in Wolfsburg, Germany visiting Volkswagen headquarters for a board meeting when a security firm found the monitor behind a sofa in the CEO's room. An investigation is underway, however, it deserves noting that the alleged spying took place in November of last year and that Der Spiegel isn't citing any specific sources for their story.

[ Via: Forbes ]
[ Tag: baby monitor,BabyMonitor,ceo,porsche,spy,spying,volkwagen,vw,wedelin wiedeking,WedelinWiedeking ]

Rendered speculation: 2011 Passat

The rendering specialists at AutoBild have come up with images of the next Passat. It gets a bit more character in the twin swage lines running down the side of the body, a feature that is looking like the next big design thing. The front end continues the tripartite bumper design VW has recently taken up, but swaps the giant headlamps for some sleek, stylized numbers reminiscent of Audi.
We aren't sure about the sedan design. It looks like it could be a contender with character... or it could be a sedan just trying to be fancy. The wagon, however, looks pretty sexy. We'll know when we see it in the flesh, but the Passat CC is probably a good indicator in the mean time, so if you like that, then you'll probably like this.

[ Via: German Car Blog ]
[ Tag: 2011,new models,NewModels,next generation,next-gen,NextGeneration,passat,volkswagen,volkswagen passat,VolkswagenPassat,vw ]

VW Golf Cabrio returning in 2010, but Karmann won't build it

Emerging reports suggest that the next-generation Volkswagen Golf (known in the United States as the Rabbit) will spawn a convertible version, however the German automaker won't be outsourcing its production to Karmann. The German coachbuilder has built every previous Golf Cabrio, but like many of its Italian counterparts, Karmann has been losing contracts left, right and center. The Chrysler Crossfire is out of production, Audi won't be turning to Karmann for the new A4 convertible, neither will Mercedes for the CLK cabrio. With the new Golf set to debut in Europe early next year, the cabrio is expected to follow a year later. Whether the convertible will make it Stateside remains to be seen, but CAR predicts that the Mk2 Eos will grow in size, be rebadged as the Passat Convertible and will retain its folding hard-top to allow the soft-top Golf to slot in below it.

[ Via: CAR ]
[ Tag: volkswagen cabiro,volkswagen eos,volkswagen golf cabrio,volkswagen golf convertible,volkswagen rabbit cabrio,VolkswagenCabiro,VolkswagenEos,VolkswagenGolfCabrio,VolkswagenGolfConvertible,VolkswagenRabbitCabrio,vw cabrio,vw golf cabrio,vw rabbit cabrio,vw rabbit convertible,VwCabrio,VwGolfCabrio,VwRabbitCabrio,VwRabbitConvertible ]

eBay Find of the Day: Volkswagen Touareg Harley-Davidson edition

Click to view the Harley edition Touareg in our galleryVolkswagen and Harley-Davidson are two motor companies with highly recognized images, but those images don't much overlap. That is, until now: someone has cooked up his own Harley edition Touareg. But while the special badging might look at home on a Ford F-150, it doesn't quite fit on a VW.Aside from the emblems affixed to the wheels, grille, tailgate, sill plates and steering wheel, there's really nothing that makes this any different from any other 2004 model Touareg. It's got 42k miles on the odometer and a rich brown saddle leather interior, and with four days remaining 'till the digital hammer drops, bidding is up to $13,600. An actual Harley, and any measure of good taste, are not included.

[ Via: Motive ]
[ Tag: ebay, ebay find of the day, ebay fotd volkswagen touareg harley davidson, EbayFindOfTheDay, EbayFotdVolkswagenTouaregHarleyDavidson, fotd, harley-davidson edition, Harley-davidsonEdition, volkswagen touareg, volkswagen touareg harley-davidson edition, VolkswagenTouareg, VolkswagenTouaregHarley-davidsonEdition, vw touareg, VwTouareg ]

The Volkswagen Law returns

The Volkswagen Law is doing its best impression of Lazarus -- or perhaps a better analogy would be whack-a-mole. The European Court and minority VW shareholder Porsche keep trying to kill it, but it keeps popping up. Now the German government has agreed on an altered VW law -- but one that still gives the state of Lower Saxony, with it's 20.1-percent holding, blocking minority power.
The government runaround appears to hinge on the fact that the EU Court, in striking down the law, specifically cited the "20-percent cap on shareholder voting rights" as cause for striking down the VW Law. So the German government scrapped that, but retained the part where important decisions would need more than 80-percent of shareholders' approval. Which means Lower Saxony stays in control.
With VW keeping about 150,000 people in jobs, it's understandable that the state government is trying to stay in the saddle. A German Justice Ministry spokesman said "We believe our draft law is compatible with European law." An EU Court spokesman said, "The Commission expects that all three provisions and therefore the blocking minority as well will be abolished in order to implement the court's judgment." One of those two parties is eventually going to end up eating its words.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: lower saxony, lower saxony volkswa..., LowerSaxony, LowerSaxonyVolkswa..., porsche, volkswagen, vw, vw law, VwLaw ]

VW Golf GTI Performance study on display

VW hasn't released any info on the car you see here, which is called the Golf GTI Performance design study, so we'll call it like we see it. A black-and-copper checkered flag motif adorns the hatch, which is enhanced with a widebody kit, lowered suspension, and the expected wheel/tire upgrade. Out back, the GTI's rear bumper cover is covered with more grillework than you'll find on the rump of a Lamborghini Gallardo. A pair of giant exhaust outlet cutouts are also built into the corners. And speaking of Lamborghinis, VW has fitted the Golf GTI Performance with the dreaded "Lambo doors," which look predictably ridiculous here. The exterior color scheme carries through to the passenger cabin, which gets a 2+1 sport seating arrangement and what appears to be a substantial audio system install. Not our cup 'o tea, but it'll probably go over very well with the VW tuners who take part in the WortherSEMA... er.. Worthersee Tour.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: breaking,design study,DesignStudy,golf gti performance,GolfGtiPerformance,lambo doors,LamboDoors,worthersee,worthersee2008 ]

Volkswagen unveils Passat R36 Variant Styling Study at Worthersee

The Volkswagen and Audi crew are blowing up this year's Worthersee GTI meet in Worther Lake, Austria, first with the introduction of the A3 TDI clubsport quattro concept and damn-near production version of the TT clubsport quattro, and earlier today with the unveiling of the Scirocco GT24. But VAG isn't stopping there. They've taken the wraps off of an Emeril-inspired Passat design study that kicks the already spicy R36 wagon up a notch.
The 300-hp, 3.6-liter V6 remains, but the stock exhaust has been upgraded with a new cat-back unit sporting larger tailpipes. The front brakes have also been swapped out in favor of larger Brembo six-piston units and the wheels are 20-inchers pulled from the Touareg R-Line. All the chrome trim has also been removed and replaced with pieces that match the Passat's Moonlight Blue hue. Inside, race-ready Recaros replace the softer buckets found on the standard model, and they match the two-tone, black-and-white steering wheel, shift boot and even seat belts quite nicely. Volkswagen has made it clear that the Passat R36 Variant Styling Study is exactly what its name would imply, but don't be surprised to find some of these custom bits available through VW's Individual program in the future.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: breaking, passat r36 styling study, passat r36 variant, Passat R36 Variant Styling Study, PassatR36StylingStudy, PassatR36Variant, PassatR36VariantStylingStudy, volkswagen Passat R36 Variant Styling Study, VolkswagenPassatR36VariantStylingStudy, worthersee, worthersee 2008, worthersee2008 ]

Official EPA numbers posted for the '09 Jetta TDI - 30/41mpg

When we got our first chance to sample the new Volkswagen Jetta TDI last summer, VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby indicated that the new compact diesel would achieve mileage in the 40mpg range. More recently, VW has been indicating that the Jetta TDI is capable of up to 60mpg on the highway. The first of the new fifty-state legal Jetta's were recently spotted on their way to dealerships and now the EPA has published official mileage numbers. Unfortunately those numbers don't quite match up with what VW has been claiming.
According to the official listings at FuelEconomy.gov, the 6-speed manual TDI managed 30mpg on the city cycle and 41mpg on the highway cycle. The combined number is 34mpg. Now those numbers are certainly respectable and nothing to sneeze at, but they fall well short of VW's predictions. Nonetheless, the TDI rates 41.7-percent better than the 2.5L five cylinder and 36-percent better than the 2.0 TFSI four cylinder. The big question is what will a diesel Jetta do in the real world? According to VW spokesman Keith Price Volkswagen's diesels typically do better in real world mileage than the EPA sticker values. VW, you know where to find our garage so we can judge for ourselves.
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[ Via: FuelEconomy.gov ]
[ Tag: ]

Mk1Amino!

Amino is more than just an organic compound (amine, really). It's also a favorite automotive suffix for people who've just sawed the back off of their vehicle and created a pickup bed where once there wasn't one. Short on information but holding a very intriguing picture in his hand, Dan Strohl at Hemmings has found what appears to be a very custom Rabbitamino. There was, of course, a pickup-truck Rabbit produced by Wolfsburg, but that came after the 1978 date code on the back of this particular slice of Kodachrome. Real Rabbit pickups had different doors and rear quarter panels than this one, and they also lacked the, ahem, third axle. Barring any kind of documentation, the best we can do is gaze longingly at the Chicklet-worthy orange and try to decipher yet another artifact from the halcyon days of the late 1970s when the smog ran thick and cars were weak.

[ Via: Hemmings ]
[ Tag: custom rabbit,custom volkswagen,CustomRabbit,CustomVolkswagen,rabbit pickup,rabbitamino,RabbitPickup,six wheel,six wheel rabbit,six wheeled,SixWheel,SixWheeled,SixWheelRabbit,vw rabbit,VwRabbit ]

VW says Tiguan is the 'GTI' of CUVs

The Volkswagen Tiguan compact CUV is a hot seller elsewhere in the world, with waiting lists to purchase the Honda CRV competitor already filling up. It probably won't be that way in the U.S. since the weak U.S. dollar and high feature content of the Tiguan will jack its base price up to $23,840 for a four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive model with a manual transmission. The base price for an AWD model is higher, much higher, at $29,515, and VW expects 60 percent of U.S. sales to be AWD.
In order to justify the premium price, VW will be positioning the Tiguan as the GTI of CUVs. Much like the VW GTI is a feature laden and higher performing version of the less expensive Rabbit, the Tiguan will be the same to its less expensive competition from Honda, Toyota and Ford. It features the same 200-hp, turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder as the GTI, but the compact CUV segment is already filled with examples offering more power from an assortment of four- and six-cylinder engines. Being a VW, we suspect the Tiguan will handle well, but we're not sure there's much of a market for GTI-like CUVs in the U.S. as gas prices continue to go up and up. VW hopes to sell only 20,000 - 25,000 Tiguans in the U.S. per year, which is certainly doable, but it won't be threatening the CRV for the crown of best-selling CUV.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: tiguan,tiguan gti,TiguanGti,volkswagen,volkswagen tiguan,VolkswagenTiguan ]

Volkswagen Tiguan diesel launch delayed in the U.S.?

All-time high gas prices have made Americans intensify their searches for top-shelf fuel economy, as evidenced by 15-year-old Geo Metros selling on eBay for $7,200. Apparently even capitalistic insanity isn't enough to convince Volkswagen to bring a diesel engine Stateside in the hotly anticipated Tiguan, as the ultra-efficient 2.0L oil-burner likely won't be available for MY 2009.
Part of the problem lies in the fact that the Tiguan is selling extremely well in Europe, which negates the need to rush additional models to the US, where a weak dollar is cutting into the German automaker's profits. VW is also trying to keep the price down on the new crossover, and diesel engines add thousands to the sticker. We wouldn't be surprised if the constant delays surrounding the 2.0L TDI have anything to do with the decision, either.
If a price war can break out on eBay in an effort to buy a turquoise 49 hp deathtrap, we're more than certain that Americans are willing to shell out $30k for an efficient CUV. Without a diesel powerplant, however, the Tiguan is just one more of the many mediocre-mileage tall wagons from which to choose.

[ Via: Winding Road ]
[ Tag: CUV, diesel, TDI, Tiguan, Volkswagen Tiguan, VolkswagenTiguan, VW ]

Rumormill: Volkswagen partnering with KTM on motorcycle?

Shortly after the revelation that Volkswagen wished it hadn't passed up on the opportunity to purchase famed Italian bike maker Ducati, comes a word that the German automaker has plans for its own line of motorcycles. What we can say for sure is that the rumored bike isn't likely to look anything like the picture above, which nonetheless is an interesting mash-up of an Aprilia trellis frame along with bodywork from MV Agusta. At least the artist chose good stock from which to pilfer. KTM, more and more a serious manufacturer itself, is the likely source of bike-specific components and is rumored to be providing technical know-how to VW as a sort-of repayment for the help it received in designing the awesome X-Bow, which uses an Audi engine. KTM is known in the bike realm for producing excellent engines, so basing a possible VeeDub VeeTwin on existing Katoom architecture strikes us as a good idea. What also strikes us as a good idea is the reconsideration of the ill-fated GX3 three-wheeler, which was axed over fears of possible litigation. If VW were to sponsor a range of two-wheelers already, though, the GX3 would be a much safer bet for future production. Let us cross our collective fingers on this one.

[ Via: Auto Express ]
[ Tag: ktm,motorcycle,volkswagen,volkswagen motorcycle,volkswagen-motorcycle,VolkswagenMotorcycle,vw,vw motorcycle,vw-motorcycle,VwMotorcycle ]

VW Scirocco racer: first image surfaces

Click image for high-res versionVolkswagen is pumping up the badass for the racing version of its new Scirocco sport-hatch. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, VW will be campaigning a race-prepped version of its latest release at the Nurburgring 24 hour race in the 2-liter turbo category in which a GTI took victory last year. The Scirocco racer will use the same 300-hp TFSI mated to Volkswagen's paddle-shifted DSG, a set-up which, in preliminary testing, Hans-Joachim Stuck called "one of the most uncomplicated racing cars" he's ever piloted. (We'll take that as a good thing.) Stuck, a two-time Le Mans champion, will be among the drivers campaigning the pack of three Sciroccos at the race, alongside double world rally champ Carlos Sainz, VW board member Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, three of the four driver's from last year's winning GTI team and a couple of automotive journalists (once again, nobody asked us).

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: volkswagen nurburgring,volkswagen scirocco,volkswagen scirocco nurburgring,VolkswagenNurburgring,VolkswagenScirocco,VolkswagenSciroccoNurburgring,vw nurburgring,vw scirocco,VwNurburgring,VwScirocco ]

VW releases second pic of Scirocco racer

Volkswagen is taunting us again with another shot of its 'Ring-bound Scirocco, and this time, we get to see the race-ready hatch in profile. VW has been testing the Scirocco in the run up to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race that's set to begin on May 24, and according to VW Motorsport Director, Kris Nissen, the Scirocco is living up to expectations. With 300 hp provided by its 2.0-liter TFSI engine, Nissen says that, "the new Scirocco was in its element from its very first lap around the Nordschleife." It's a grueling test and we're looking forward to how the Scirocco fairs later this month.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: 24 hours of nurburgring,24HoursOfNurburgring,nurburgring,scirocco,volkswagen ]

VW Rabbit gets a carrot from Consumer Reports

If Consumer Reports is right, Volkswagen is well on its way to attaining its dream of outselling Toyota by 2015. In the magazine's June 2008 issue, CR threw a handful of hatchbacks into the ring and the VW Rabbit hopped out the winner. The magazine cited the Rabbit's "very well finished" interior for its class, agility, braking and transmission as reasons to choose it over a growing field of small hatchbacks. CR also expects the Rabbit to have an "above average" reliability record.
The biggest negative the staff found in the VW was "mediocre" fuel economy for a car its size, though many SUV drivers looking to downsize will love seeing its 24 mpg figure. Staffers also complained about the large C-pillars blocking their view and engine lag after stops.
Consumer Reports has routinely praised the Mazda3 as one of its favorite hatches, but in overall scoring, the car now comes in third, slightly behind the Toyota Prius Touring. Rounding out the top five are the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport and the newly redesigned Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe twins. At the bottom of the list are the Dodge Caliber and the Chevrolet HHR.

[ Via: Consumer Reports ]
[ Tag: consumer reports,ConsumerReports,prius,prius hybrid,prius review,PriusHybrid,PriusReview,rabbit,rabbit review,RabbitReview,Toyota prius,toyota prius review,ToyotaPrius,ToyotaPriusReview,volkswagen rabbit,VolkswagenRabbit,vw rabbit review,VwRabbitReview ]

VW Group's next small-car platform to get AWD across the board

Buyers of the next generation of Volkswagen-developed small cars will have one more option box to tick when placing their order: all-wheel-drive. The new platform, dubbed PQ25, will find its way underneath a handful of new models, spanning the range from the low-end (SEAT), mid-grade (VW) and luxury (Audi). All-wheel-drive won't be an option for the new SEAT Ibiza, but consumers of the next VW Polo (specifically the CrossPolo) might be able to outfit their tiny runabout with AWD, while the Audi A1, due out in late 2009, will continue the automaker's love affair with quattro.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: a1,all wheel drive,all-wheel-drive,AllWheelDrive,audi,audi a1,AudiA1,awd,awd crosspolo,AwdCrosspolo,cross polo,CrossPolo,quattro,seat,volkswagen,volkswagen crosspolo,VolkswagenCrosspolo,vw crosspolo,vw polo,VwCrosspolo,VwPolo ]

What will Volkswagen build at a new US factory? The Scirocco?

With Volkswagen due to make a decision about the location of its first US factory in more than two decades, the next obvious question is what to build there? We had a chance to pose that very question to Steve Keyes, GM of Public Relations for VW of America. According to Steve, the driving force for the factory is two-fold. First and most obvious is the exchange rate issue. With dollar being worth less almost daily against the Euro, it's increasingly difficult for VW to price cars competitively, especially in the mainstream segments where it primarily competes. The second reason is capacity constraints at the Peubla, Mexico factory that builds VW's highest volume US product, the Jetta. VW of America has set a target tripling combined sales of Audi and VW within the next decade.
Meeting those sales goals will require a lot more vehicles to sell at a competitive cost. So the first products out of the plant will likely be the highest volume products, the Passat and Jetta. If the plant is set up to build Jettas, then it could relatively easily be adapted to build any other model that shares the Golf/Jetta platform. That could potentially mean products like the Scirocco and even the Audi TT. Will we see these? Probably not at first, but if demand warrants, it could happen. So if you are all really serious about wanting the Scirocco on US shores, you should start pestering the head office (which just moved to Virginia last week).

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: jetta,passat,scirocco,volkswagen factory,volkswagen-us-factory,VolkswagenFactory,vw factory,vw us factory,vw-us-factory,VwFactory,VwUsFactory ]

Volkswagen to offer three-years of free maintenance on 2009 models

Despite what VW fanbois will tell you, the People's Car people have had some serious reliability issues over the last few years. Volkswagen execs are hoping to change the automaker's expensive to maintain image with a vehicle maintenance program that will provide owners of new, 2009 models with free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, along with regular checkups every 6,000 miles or 90 days. Volkswagen is calling it the "Carefree Maintenance Program" and is touting it as the only program of available among its competitors. Considering that the VW Rabbit just took the top spot away from the Mazda3 in ConsumerReports' hatchback battle, this might be a good time to start specing up a new GTI.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: golf, gti, volkswagen, volkswagen carefree maintenance program, volkswagen free maintenance, VolkswagenCarefreeMaintenanceProgram, VolkswagenFreeMaintenance, vw ]

VW Passat R36 goes on sale in UK

Volkswagen's most powerful Passat ever, the R36, which we've been hearing about for over a year, is finally on sale in the U.K. in both sedan and wagon versions. Featuring a 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system to put the 300 horses and 258 lb. ft. of torque to the ground, VeeDub claims that the sedan can get to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in 5.6 seconds. The wagon is a few hundredths slower in the sprint to sixty, but both boast a top speed limited to 155 mph.
Besides the powertrain updates, the R36 gets a unique body kit, Bi-Xenon headlights and a new grille. Chassis enhancements include 18-inch rims, new brake calipers and most importantly, a 20mm lowering of the ride height. A blindingly bright turned-aluminum dash applique matches the new allow pedals and sill plates, while new seats promise a snug fit. The £30,990 base-price is encroaching on Audi territory, though not one featuring 300 horsepower. Now that Volvo's V70R is no longer available, the £32,150 estate model (that's wagon to us yanks) offers lots of performance and utility in a much more refined manner than your typical SUV. No word on a Stateside offering as of yet, but we won't give up the hope.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: passat, passat r36, passat-r36, PassatR36 ]

Volkswagen finishes up Jetta BlueTDI development, on sale this summer

The new, fifty-state legal Jetta BlueTDI is finally done and it's coming soon. At the International Vienna Motor Symposium in Austria, Volkswagen announced that it's completed development on what they are calling the BlueTDI system for their US diesels. Like Mercedes (BlueTec) and BMW (BluePerformance), VW is adopting the Blue moniker for their cleanest, most efficient systems. The Jetta BlueTDI will be the first Tier2 Bin5 compliant diesels that doesn't have to use a urea injection system to meet the new NOx emissions standard. VW started with the updated 2.0L TDI that was launched in the European Tiguan last fall. Individual cylinder pressure sensors were added that allow the engine management system to optimize the fuel injection pulses to keep combustion temperatures down. That helped VW eliminate 60-percent of the NOx emissions before you even get to the exhaust stream. The exhaust gas flowing from the 2.0L engine are low enough that VW was able to use a lean NOx trap to convert the remaining NOx to nitrogen and water. However, the larger 3.0L V-6 TDI that is coming in the Touareg and Audi Q7 at the end of the year will have to use urea injection. In addition to the NOx trap, there is a particulate filter to eliminate the soot often associated with diesel engines. The new Jetta will be able to get up to 60mpg when cruising on the highway, a boost of 12-percent over the last US-market Jetta TDI from 2006. The Jetta BlueTDI should be the first of the new round of diesels to come to market when it arrives later this summer. The first batch of cars should actually start arriving at US dealers in June, where they will be available for test drives through the summer before going on sale in September.
Vienna Motor Symposium 2008: BlueTDI development completed successfully
BlueTDI will debut midyear in North America

The U.S. version of the Jetta will be the first to use BlueTDI
Wolfsburg, 24 April 2008 - At the International Vienna Motor Symposium (24-25 April), Volkswagen is to introduce the production version of the BlueTDI, a next-generation turbo diesel developed especially for the North American market. The common rail engine is based on the high-tech TDI, which was first introduced in Europe in 2007 with the Tiguan. This engine already satisfies the Euro-5 standard that comes into effect in autumn 2009. In order to meet specific operating conditions in the U.S., this four-cylinder engine was redeveloped with internal engine modifications and a NOx trap.

Background information: Five U.S. states1, including California, currently have the strictest emissions standards in the world (BIN5/LEV2). In spite of variations in fuel quality, which are more dramatic in the U.S. than in Europe, the new BlueTDI meets these emissions standards. The engine will debut in the U.S. Jetta this summer. For years, the Limousine has been the most popular and successful European-manufactured car on the American market, especially as a diesel.

The Jetta BlueTDI will debut as one of the cleanest and most economic cars of its class in the world. In the run-up to the Vienna Motor Symposium, Dr. Ing. Jens Hadler, Director of Volkswagen Powertrain Development comments, "high fuel prices and a dramatic change in environmental consciousness means that diesel is becoming more and more attractive for American drivers every day." Dr. Hadler continues, remarking, "this is why many customers, especially in California, have been waiting for a super-clean diesel like our BlueTDI. I think this motor will help the diesel get its big break in America because it consumes so little and yet can go such long distances on a single fill-up. And in a country as big as the United States, this is a priceless advantage. On the highway, for example, this engine can reach up to 60 miles per gallon2. This is an improvement of 12 percent over its predecessor, which had a lower capacity and higher emissions."

A key aspect in the development of the BlueTDI (2.0 litre engine displacement, 103 kW/140 PS, 320 Nm) was the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx); the American BIN5/LEV2 standards stipulate a nitrogen oxide limit of only 0.05 g/mile. The engineers in Wolfsburg met this limit and the general reduction of raw emissions by using internal engine modifications, some of which are unique worldwide, and implementing the maintenance-free NOx trap.

These internal engine changes include modifications to the design of the injection system of both the American and European TDI as well as the implementation of cylinder pressure sensors. This allows for a completely new type of cylinder pressure-based combustion control, which is both faster and tailored to each specific cylinder. Also new on-board: an optimised high-pressure injection pump. Another unique feature is the combination of a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system with additional low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation. This dual exhaust gas recirculation (dual circuit EGR) is an effective means of reducing nitrogen oxides in the engine. The dual circuit EGR system alone reduces NOx by up to 60 percent.

Outside of the engine, it is the NOx trap – connected downstream of the oxidation catalytic converter and the particle filter – that reduces nitrogen oxide to an absolute minimum. Implemented together, these measures reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 percent. Drive the Jetta BlueTDI and you will be driving one of the most economical and environmentally-friendly cars in America.

1) = BIN5 states: California, Massachusetts, Maine, New York and Vermont.
2) = MPG (miles per gallon) is the standard range specification in the U.S. for describing fuel consumption.


[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: bluetdi, bluetdi-jetta, jetta, jetta bluetdi, jetta diesel, jetta tdi, JettaBluetdi, JettaDiesel, jettatdi ]

First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

Click the Jetta Sportwagen for a high-res gallery
While we were in Virginia attending the inaugural race of the Jetta TDI cup series, Volkswagen provided us hacks with a some new Jetta Sportwagens with which to make the 45 minute morning and evening commute between the Berry Hill Inn and the race track. Like the last generation Jetta Wagon, the new Sportwagen is branded as a Jetta in North America because Jetta is Volkswagen's top-selling model here. The rest of the world, however, knows this estate-bodied Volkswagen as the Golf Variant. No matter, because the Golf/Rabbit and Jetta share all their important hardware and are, for all intents and purposes, the same car.

In typical fashion, the new Sportwagen has grown since the previous model was retired and is now nearly as big as the last-gen Passat wagon. My first impression upon climbing into the Sportwagen was how it felt nearly as roomy as the 2000 Passat wagon that resides in half of my garage at home. VW provided an assortment of cars with both 5-speed three-pedal and 6-speed two-pedal transmission arrangements. Unfortunately, all were paired with the base 2.5L inline five-cylinder engine. Check out my impressions of the new Jetta Sportwagen after the jump.


[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: 2009 jetta, 2009Jetta, featured, first drive, FirstDrive, jetta, sportwagen, vw jetta, vw jetta sportwagen, vw jetta tdi, vw-jetta, vw-jetta-sportwagen-..., VwJetta, VwJettaSportwagen, VwJettaTdi ]

VW begins polling everyone... about everything

Volkswagen knows that 73% of the people want to take the tiny soap and shampoo from hotel rooms. They also know that 60% of ice cream buyers prefer cones over cups. On an apparent quest to learn everything, Volkswagen's just-announced multi-faceted polling effort, known as It's what the people want, "...is a way of keeping in touch with what matters to people today," according to Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing for VW of America.In addition to the web-based polling, VW has also taken their efforts to Times Square where consumers may participate in live-polling, via text SMS, with the ABC Supersign (pictured above). If music is more your style, VW is also encouraging people to visit pandora to influence the playlists of two Volkswagen radio stations. While we endorse any effort by an automaker to understand what the public really wants, this obsession to learn everything may have gone too far. We just can't seem to overlook the notion that while Volkswagen accepts the fact that 65% of the people want boxers, not briefs, they still haven't fully grasped the concept that we also want the new Scirocco on our shores. Where's that poll?
VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES MULTI-PLATFORM POLLING INITIATIVE TO FIND OUT "WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT"Consumers hit the polls on the Internet and Times Square to share their opinionsAUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today a multi- faceted national polling effort to find out exactly what the people want. Utilizing media, technology and user-generated content like never before, the campaign allows consumers to engage in live online and mobile polling. A real-time mouthpiece of the people's collective voice, user-generated live polling begins at the hub site, vw.com/whatthepeoplewant, and then spreads across the web and in-market. The initiative is part of Volkswagen's new global brand platform, Das Auto, and underscores its fundamental message of It's what the people want.
"Volkswagen has a rich heritage as part of American popular culture and a deep personal connection with its customers," says Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing for Volkswagen of America, Inc. " It's what the people want is a way of keeping in touch with what matters to people today. Through this campaign, we offer a unique way for consumers to interface with the brand by providing an interactive platform for their thoughts and opinions to be seen and heard on a global stage."
To launch the polling initiative, Volkswagen teamed with GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media to take a reading of popular opinion from a representative national sample. Among the findings, Volkswagen found that six in ten (62%) Americans believe that people should not have to use their real names on Internet social networking sites despite heightened attention to online safety; a majority (52%) of Americans do not want restaurants to change their portion sizes in the face of a movement towards better health and well being; and in a world where creating balance between work and personal life is a priority, a resounding 85% of Americans say that people should not be allowed to bring their pets to work.
With total votes to date exceeding 666,375 Volkswagen's interactive polling program has produced interesting questions and findings on timely issues in current events, lifestyle trends and social behavior - ranging from the everyday to the quirky. The following is a sampling of results from the top 20 most-voted on polls, which received 4,865 votes each on average.
The most-voted on poll, reaching 12,253 votes, shows that 73% of people want to take the tiny soap and shampoo bottles from hotel rooms. Maybe ice cream vendors already know this, but 60% of people vote for cones more than cups. The people are speaking out against reality television, with 87% of people wanting fewer reality shows.
65% of the people want boxers not briefs.
Consumers can participate in live polling by visiting vw.com/whatthepeoplewant, where Max, a classic talking Beetle and the new brand spokesman, will invite them to share what it is the people want. Visitors can click to see the real time results of an array of popular opinion polls, vote "yes" or "no" on a variety of topics, share polls with friends, and even suggest new additional polls. By clicking "wear this poll," people can purchase customizable t-shirts displaying polls of their choice and who submitted it, thus giving people instant street fame.The most active polls will have an opportunity to gain visibility on an even larger scale. Volkswagen recently unveiled an interactive display in Times Square where consumers can participate in live polling through the ABC SuperSign. Volkswagen is the first brand to utilize the ABC SuperSign's "live interactivity" technology, which allows two- way dialogue with passersby via SMS. Located at 43rd and Broadway, the SuperSign is a live 3685 square foot electronic screen featuring Max and generating questions from the database of polls hosted on vw.com/whatthepeoplewant. Consumers can use their cell phones to text message "yea" or "nay" in response to polls that appear on the SuperSign. Through innovative WAP technology, their texted votes will stream live on a lower news ticker. Poll results will also be dynamically displayed via web banners after any poll reaches 1000 votes. These banners will be displayed across the web in topically relevant places, such as near a news article that relates to the poll's subject. If music is more your speed, consumers can visit pandora.com from now through May 9, 2008 to collectively influence the playlists of two Volkswagen radio stations called "Music for the People." Listeners can vote for which artists they want to hear, and Pandora will generate all the requests into a truly democratic playlist.
For more information or to participate in polls, please visit vw.com/whatthepeoplewant.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: ABC Supersign, AbcSupersign, advertising campaign, AdvertisingCampaign, Volkswagen, What the people want, WhatThePeopleWant ]

More creative incentives: Buy a VW Routan and get $1,500 for college

The new Volkswagen Routan minivan hasn't even gone on sale yet and there is already an incentive on its hood. This one, however, is not your typical cash back deal. Instead, Volkswagen is working under the assumption that the people likely to actually purchase a Routan are those with kids to haul. As such, VW of America is teaming up with Upromise to provide buyers with $1,500 towards a higher education savings plan. Upromise is a company that works with retailers to provide cash back bonuses when one of their registered credit card is used for purchases. Those rebates can then be transferred to a 529 education savings plan. To be eligible for the college bonus, you have to pre-order the Chrysler-built Routan by the end of August and take delivery by the end of November.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: upromise, volkswagen, volkswagen routan, volkswagen scirocco, VolkswagenRoutan, VolkswagenScirocco, volkwagen, vw routan, vw-routan, VwRoutan ]