VW Golf Plus officially debuts in Bologna

The second generation of Volkswagen's Golf Plus has made its official debut (after an earlier blooper-style unveil) today at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. Like the first edition that debuted back in 2004 and was based on the MK V Golf architecture, the new Plus is a raised-roof MPV version of the new sixth-gen Golf. We think it's quite fetching in a mini-minivanish sort of way, especially when equipped with the optional 18-inch alloys as seen above. Although the official powerplant options have yet to be revealed, the European market, which is where this new model will be sold, is sure to dictate that a range of diesel and petrol engines are on the menu.
VeeDub's cool ParkAssist system will also be optional on the new Golf Plus. The technology displays a real-time image of what's directly behind the car and can take control of the steering wheel to guide the car into a parking spot. Expect the official launch to take place next Spring in the UK.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: bologna motor show, BolognaMotorShow, golf plus, GolfPlus, volkswagen golf plus, VolkswagenGolfPlus, vw golf plus, VwGolfPlus ]

 ABT Scirocco

[ Via: PRESS RELEASE:
ABT Sportsline at Essen Motor Show

Since the GTI got its groove back with the MkV, fans of the original couple generations rejoiced. We're on the edge of our collective seats waiting for the official release of the MkVI version, and some images have found their way onto the internet tonight. Taking some inspiration from the awesome GTI W12 that attended Worthersee, the front airdam echoes that car's wide maw. Foglamps are pushed out to the far corners to emphasize width, and out back the tailpipes follow suit. The look is fantastic in the refrigerator white the photo car is wearing; special but understated. Inside, the de rigeur plaid upholstery is in place, and things are spiffed up by metal accents and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Underhood is a 207-hp TFSI engine, and the car comes with an electronic limited-slip differential called XDS and the Scirocco's adaptive chassis. Of course, DSG is available for snapping off quick gearchanges with no fuss. When you've got a good thing, why mess with success? We dig, and it'll be available in Spring, at which point we'll certainly bring you our driving impressions.

[ Via: Carscoop ]
[ Tag: breaking, gti mk6, gti mkvi, gti pictures, GtiMk6, GtiMkvi, GtiPictures, volkswagen gti, VolkswagenGti, vw gti, vw gti mkvi, vw gti pictures, VwGti, VwGtiMkvi, VwGtiPictures ]

Spy Shots: MkVI Golf GTI spotted testing

Not too many surprises lie under the camoflage, the next-generation GTI will be the Angry-Teut-Box version of Volkswagen's forthcoming Golf VI, which we've already seen. The overall milieu is an evolutionary step from our current fifth-generation Golf/Rabbit, though the detail changes to the GTI that KGP snagged add some sporty stylistic touches which will undoubtedly be backed up by hardware. The front end gets honeycomb grilles for every opening and eschews foglamps in favor of brake cooling, with bright red calipers now squeezing away. A dual exhaust setup might have you thinking R32 instead of GTI, but there are rumors floating around that the R32 will be kaput after the current generation. We hope that the MkVI keeps or even expands upon the current GTI's demeanor, which finally returned to some of the original hot-hatch magic after years of bloat. Rumors are that the GTI VI will show up at the Paris Motor Show as a "concept" - nudge,nudge,wink,wink.

[ Via: golfmk6.com ]
[ Tag: golf vi gti,GolfViGti,gti spy shots,GtiSpyShots,spy photos,spy shots,SpyPhotos,SpyShots,volkswagen golf,volkswagen golf gti performance,volkswagen golf gti vi,volkswagen golf vi,volkswagen spy photos,volkswagen spy shots,VolkswagenGolf,VolkswagenGolfGtiPerformance,VolkswagenGolfGtiVi,VolkswagenGolfVi,VolkswagenSpyPhotos,VolkswagenSpyShots ]

VW swabs deck with Touareg "North Sails" design study

Volkswagen has treaded carefully down the path first blazed by the largely ignored Mercury Villager Nautica with a sailing-themed Touareg concept that has debuted at the famous Travemunder Woche, which we're told is the second largest annual race week for sailing in Germany. Teaming up with a company called North Sails, which actually sells boat sails unlike Mercury's branding partner, Nautica, which sells polo shirts, VW has added a new ground effects kit, a yellow rub strip, watery-blue reflectors, and 19-inch wheels. Stepping aboard, occupants will find a cabin decked out with teak flooring, LED lighting accents, white leather seats with aquamarine stitching, and an alcantara headliner. We think we've seen that window tint color on our beloved Matchbox SuperFast cars from the early 1980s, too. North Sails branding shows up in the form of logos on the B-pillar and stainless steel sill plates. The instrument panel gets a compass, and there's also a pair of binoculars in the center console so you can make sure that it's your team rounding the pin and raising the chute for the long run to the finish line. Once docked, there's even a North Sails bicycle so you can cruise the marina in style. Spiffy, but we doubt it'd float, unlike the original Beetle.

[ Via: World Car Fans ]
[ Tag: north sails,north sails touareg,NorthSails,NorthSailsTouareg,touareg design study,touareg north sails,touareg sailing,touareg sails,TouaregDesignStudy,TouaregNorthSails,TouaregSailing,TouaregSails,volkswagen design study,volkswagen touareg,volkswagen touareg north sails,VolkswagenDesignStudy,VolkswagenTouareg,VolkswagenTouaregNorthSails ]

EU grants Porsche permission to purchase VW

Porsche is one step closer to its goal of purchasing Volkswagen. Back in April of last year, the German automaker passed the 30-percent mark, forcing it to make an outright offer for The Volkswagen Group in its entirety, which it did. Not too many VW shareholders sold their stake to Porsche, as the bid was for the bare minimum amount allowed by law. Still, the legal requirement had been met, allowing Porsche to continue gobbling up the automaker according to its own timetable. Earlier this year, the VeeDub board approved a request by Porsche to obtain 51-percent of the company for some $15.73 billion, which would give it a majority stake. Before the house that Ferdinand built could complete its acquisition, the European Commission required it to make one last purchase, which took place in June of this year. Finally, the EU has granted its permission for the buyout.
This story is likely far from over, as the German State of Lower Saxony still claims a 20-percent stake in Volkswagen, which gives it certain rights to block decisions made by VW's new parents. Still, it seems that its only a matter of time before VW and Porsche are united under a different Ferdinand... Piech that is, grandson to Mr. Porsche himself.

[ Via: Reuters ]
[ Tag: eu, european commission, european union, EuropeanCommission, EuropeanUnion, lower saxony, LowerSaxony, porsche, porsche volkswagen, PorscheVolkswagen, volkswagen, volkswagen law, VolkswagenLaw ]

Volkswagen considering price hike

Volkswagen is making money hand over fist right now thanks to cost cutting measures and increased global sales, and the German automaker wants to keep the good times rolling. High commodity prices for items like steel, aluminum and rubber are beginning to eat away at VW's cash horde, so the German automaker may hike the prices of its vehicles. VW marketing chief Detlef Wittig told reporters that he feels automakers are afraid to raise prices in such a competitive sales environment, and that the company was monitoring the situation closely. While VW may not be afraid to pull the trigger on price hikes, it likely still won't ask customers to pony up the entire amount for high commodities. A lot will depend on whether VW's many competitors also jack up MSRPs, and by how much.
It seems as though most automakers here in the States have either announced price hikes or are "thinking about doing it." The market is even more competitive in Europe, so such a decision isn't as easy. Wittig expects several automakers to raise prices in the second half of the year.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: commodity prices, CommodityPrices, price hikes, PriceHikes, steel, volkswagen, VW ]

More details on VW's design renaissance

It seems Volkswagen has breathed a collective "Oops!", and is now working to turn its design ship around. VW was known for neat, differentiated designs with great interior details. While this stayed true in some parts of the world, in the U.S., Volkswagen design turned into chrome shield grilles fronting identical bodies in various sizes.
When Martin Winterkorn was lured back from academia, "he looked at Volkswagen's upcoming designs and binned the lot." Audi's design chief was brought in. VW started over on the Golf, which will be coming out later this year. The Polo redesign was taken up again from scratch. The Up! "was not fully thought through as a concept," and is getting a workover.
VW's new language is said to be about "simplicity," "a confident identity," "crisply-detailed functionality," and cars that aren't "over-designed." The chrome shield is gone (thank goodness) and headlights that wrap around to the front wheel arches have also been sent packing, "because that's not what a headlight is for." Stay tuned for more horizontals, as seen on the Scirocco -- and here (so much for no more chrome) -- and hopefully a slew of compelling shapes.

[ Via: Evo ]
[ Tag: car design, CarDesign, design, new product, NewProduct, volkswagen, vw, vw design, vw golf, vw scirocco, vw up, VwDesign, VwGolf, VwScirocco, VwUp ]

London Motor Show: Subaru shows off Impreza trifecta

Subaru loves London. How else can you explain the simultaneous release of three special edition Imprezas in one venue? In a move that's obviously aimed at competing with the Mitsubishi Evolution X variants available in the UK (FQ 300 and FQ 360), Subaru has unveiled a 252 hp WRX-S, 325 hp WRX STI 330S and a 375 hp WRX STI 380S concept.
Read on for all the details.

[ Via: Autoblog (Subaru) ]
[ Tag: london motor show, LondonMotorShow, subaru, subaru wrx sti 330s, subaru wrx sti 380s, subaru WRX-S, SubaruWrx-s, SubaruWrxSti330s, SubaruWrxSti380s, wrx s, wrx sti 330s, wrx sti 380s, wrx x, wrx-s, WrxS, WrxSti330s, WrxSti380s, WrxX ]

VW design chief wants a return to 'basics'

If you look back over the years, Volkswagens have been steadily marching toward the gaudy. We're not talking Sagrada Familia amazingness, but chromey, buck-toothed, overwrought fussiness. Walter Da'Silva is out to change all that by realigning Volkswagen design with its past. That doesn't mean that every VeeDub becomes a K.D.F Wagen throwback like the New Beetle, but certain proportions and themes from the historical portfolio will define the design language.
Da'Silva expounded on his efforts with CAR, and used a lot of adjectives to tart up what's simply a course correction of Volkswagen styling. Look for the next Passat to be de-chromed and given a nose and tail treatment that follows a tighter brand template. Basically, what Da'Silva really wants to do is forget that the last eight years happened, and bring new VW designs more in line with the Wolfsburg of the late 1990s. If we could pipe up with our votes, we'd like to see the classic angularity of the Mk1 Golf come back -- Citi Golf, anyone?

[ Via: CAR ]
[ Tag: da silva,DaSilva,volkswagen design,volkswagen styling,VolkswagenDesign,VolkswagenStyling,walter da silva,walter dasilva,WalterDasilva ]

Volkswagen kills plan for pickup in Europe

High oil prices have snuffed out Volkswagen's plans to build a European-market pickup truck. The vast and versatile loading area of a pickup, while a selling point in the US, is seen by VW as a sales liability on Euro soil. The vehicle's sales potential didn't stand up to analysis by the automaker, which cited oil prices as the culprit for shifting market desires. The Volkswagen Robust is still underway, with the program ramping up to churn 90,000 pickups out of VW's Pacheco, Argentina plant starting in 2009. It looks like Europe will still be graced with funky working vehicles that take the place of our pickups – vive la difference!

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: volkswagen, volkswagen pick-up, volkswagen pickup, volkswagen pickup tr..., volkswagen robust, volkswagen robust pi..., volkswagen robust tr..., volkswagen truck, VolkswagenPick-up, VolkswagenPickup, VolkswagenPickupTr..., VolkswagenRobust, VolkswagenRobustPi..., VolkswagenRobustTr..., VolkswagenTruck ]

Next Volkswagen Polo could get the Scirocco treatment

As reported previously, Volkswagen is about to undergo a design renaissance that puts a premium on simplicity, style and, apparently, more Scirocco design cues. According to AutoExpress, the first model to benefit from Walter Da'Silva's new dictum is the 5th generation Polo, which is expected to go on sale sometime next year sporting a new front end inspired by the recently released Scirocco.
The new model is based off the PQ25 small car platform that currently underpins the SEAT Ibiza. As such, the dimensions will remain, but the interior will be larger and will include upmarket materials, soft-touch surfaces, a Scirocco-inspired dash, MP3 inputs, Bluetooth connectivity and the possibility of a sat-nav docking station that allows portable units to be removed on the go.
A range of gasoline and diesel mills, including 1.4- and 1.6-liter FSI fours, a supercharged, 138 hp 1.4-liter and a 168 hp GTI version, will provide motivation and all models will have the option of being fitted with VW's new seven-speed DSG. Expect three- and five-door models to be released at launch and then joined by a coupe-cabrio version sometime in 2010.

[ Via: AutoExpress ]
[ Tag: 2009 volkswagen polo, 2009VolkswagenPolo, polo, volkswagen, volkswagen polo, VolkswagenPolo, vw, vw polo, VwPolo ]

Production VW up! may drop rear engine and RWD

We'll admit to being a bit shocked that Volkswagen was even considering a move back to the rear-engine configuration it made fashionable all those years ago with its first vehicle, the ubiquitous Beetle, for the production version of its up! concept. Although we have some fondness in our hearts for the good ol' Bug and its backwards engine location, modern packaging constraints may force VW to ditch this idea for the production version of the up!, just like it did for the modern reincarnation of that first Vee Dub, the New Beetle. Out would go the uniqueness of the concept vehicle with this decision, but such is life in these days of platform sharing and cost considerations.
To go along with the previously noted nostalgia-crushing news, rumors indicate that both a 1.2-liter gasoline engine and a new diesel engine of the same displacement are expected, both offering just 55 horsepower. If this power level is accurate, at least the up! will share one thing with its Beetle forebear: really slow acceleration.

[ Via: Motor Authority ]
[ Tag: front engine, FrontEngine, rear engine, RearEngine, volkswagen, volkswagen up, VolkswagenUp, vw, vw up, VwUp ]

VW prices Scirocco for UK, new pics

We've got pricing on Volkswagen's new 2009 Scirocco. On sale in mid-November, the base price is £20,500 (about $40,220 USD, though don't trust currency conversions to give you a sense of something's value) for the bottom-rung 122-hp 1.4-liter TSI)model. Interestingly enough, that entry-level model won't be the first out of the gate. VW will initially introduce the four-seat hatch with two gasoline engines. The first is rated at 160 hp, while the second has a quoted output of 200 hp. These powerplants will be followed by the base 122-hp model, and a 140-hp turbo-diesel version. Unfortunately, there are still no indications that the legendary Scirocco will make it to our shores, unless you count the fact that some of these new Scirocco pics were shot near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

[ Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[ Tag: 2009 scirocco, 2009 volkswagen scirocco, 2009Scirocco, 2009VolkswagenScirocco, All-new, hatchback, Volkswagen Scirocco, VolkswagenScirocco ]

Entry-level, RWD vehicles coming from VW in 2010

More news on the microcar front comes in the form of "confidential planning documents" procured by Automobilwoche outlining Volkswagen's plan for its rear-wheel-drive compacts over the next nine years. VW considers the launch of its new "Small Family" lineup of RWD vehicles as the most important launch since the Beetle was fazed out in favor of the Golf in 1974.

Production of the new minicars will being in 2010, likely utilizing the Skoda plant in Vrchlabi, within the Czech Republic, with 100,000 vehicles destined for Europe sporting the Volkswagen badge, and another 100,000 wearing Skoda and Seat logos. Variants of the uber-compact three-door are expected to come in at about 3500mm long, sporting a price tag under €8,000, with a five-door version, stretched by 80mm and priced around €9,450.



[ Via: SEAT Autoblog ]
[ Tag: rear wheel drive, rear-wheel-drive, RearWheelDrive, rwd, seat, skoda, small family, SmallFamily, volkswagen, vw ]

KВ№ for UK: SEAT Leon Cupra KВ№

Every so often, we wish that Volkswagen's SEAT brand was available here in the US. Sure, the Spanish automaker's vehicles are badge-engineering exercises that raid the corporate partsbin for powertrains, switchgear, and the like, but their styling is unique and some of the packages have definite appeal.

Take, for instance, the just-announced UK-market Leon Cupra K¹. With the stylish Leon Cupra as its base, the K¹ adds an appearance package that is, to put it plainly, pretty bitchin'. Intended to make the car look more like the Cupra BTCC racers, the kit includes new front and rear treatments, side skirts, and a sweet-looking center-exit exhaust. We think the K¹ kit is actually better-looking than the BTCC bodywork. Like its standard-bodied counterpart, the K¹ gets power from a 240 PS (236 HP) version of VW's 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder. That's good enough to give the Cupra a top speed of 153 mph. Hot hatch, indeed.

Press release with UK pricing after the jump.



[ Via: SEAT Autoblog ]
[ Tag: BTCC, Cupra, cupra K1, CupraK1, K1, leon cupra, LeonCupra, SEAT, SEAT Leon, SeatLeon ]

First Drive: SEAT Leon Cupra

Draw up a list of the top hot-hatches in the world. The SEAT Leon Cupra may not be on it – although it might be – but the Volkswagen GTI will most definitely. At least it should, because the GTI is a performance icon, forged over decades of performance tempered with versatility and accessibility. And the current-generation GTI certainly lives up to the legend, burning rubber with the best Germany has to offer. But if this article is about the SEAT Leon Cupra, then why are we talking about the Volkswagen GTI? What do they have in common? Well, almost everything. Almost.

[ Via: SEAT Autoblog ]
[ Tag: autoblog drives seat cupra, AutoblogDrivesSeatCupra, featured, first drive, first drive seat leon cupra, FirstDrive, FirstDriveSeatLeonCupra, seat, seat leon, seat leon cupra, SeatLeon, SeatLeonCupra ]

Germany's Next Top Models make calender with VW Scirocco

I admit it, I watch America's Next Top Model. It's not as good as Project Runway or So You Think You Can Dance, but seems to go through three seasons every year so there's always a new episode to watch. As with any reality show, ANTM is also produced in a number of foreign countries, including Germany, which has a good record of producing runway gals. One of its most successful, Heidi Klum, is the host of Germany's Next Top Model and she's also a spokeswoman for Volkswagen in one of the automaker's recent commercials. Thus, it's not surprising to learn that VW awarded the most recent season's winner in Germany, Jennifer Hof (no relation to The Hof) one of the first production Sciroccos made, while 2nd and 3rd place winners got CrossPolos. In return, Volkswagen got a few of the models to appear in a calendar shoot beside their new sport hatch. Being the stuck up star it is, the Scirocco didn't actually show up for the shoot, and the models instead posed with cardboard cutouts of the car. With an attitude like that, the Scirocco will never reach its goal of becoming Germany's Next Top Model. Check out all twelve months in our gallery below.


[ Via: World Car Fans ]
[ Tag: americas next top model, AmericasNextTopModel, germanys next top model, GermanysNextTopModel, scirocco, scirocco calendar, SciroccoCalendar, volkswagen, vw, vw scirocco, VwScirocco ]

European Union taking Germany to court over amended VW Law

In a move that may undermine Germany's protection of Lower Saxony and its close ties to Volkswagen, the European Commission plans to review the case of Volkswagen Law in the European Union's top court. As you may recall, Porsche has been trying to take majority control of rival Volkswagen. However, the so-called "Volkswagen Law" has protected VW from takeover by allowing the state of Lower Saxony (where thousands of VW jobs are at stake) to retain just enough stock in the company to prevent Porsche from capturing a majority vote. While the upcoming ruling may not only alter the ownership of Volkswagen, it also demonstrates the escalating authority that the European Commission has over once sovereign countries.

[ Via: Automotive News Europe ]
[ Tag: Control, European Commission, European Union, EuropeanCommission, EuropeanUnion, Lower Saxony, LowerSaxony, Majority, Porsche, Stock, Takeover, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Law, VolkswagenLaw ]

VW CEO threatens to resign if Porsche interferes

It looks like Porsche's aggressive advances at Volkswagen are less than welcome by Volkswagen's management. Its CEO, Martin Winterkorn, has warned Porsche to keep its mitts out of operations, saying that he will resign his position if there's interference. Winterkorn isn't alone in his agitation, as Der Spigel reports Audi managers are concerned that Porsche will go a-meddling in Ingolstadt once its stake increases above 50 percent. Though VW, Audi, and Porsche are all cousins of a sort, Audi's product line comes uncomfortably close to Porsches in some cases, which doesn't portend well for the continuation of the status quo. Stay tuned as "Alle Meine Kinder," brought to you by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, continues.

[ Via: Forbes ]
[ Tag: majority stake, MajorityStake, porsche, volkswagen ceo, VolkswagenCeo, winterkorn, winterkorn resign, WinterkornResign ]