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Latest news on the Porsche-Volkswagen front

It looks like the decks are clear for a Porsche Volkswagen merger which has been swinging one way and then the other, with no clarity emerging for quite some time now. But with the resignations of Porsche’s chief executive Wendelin Wiedeking and chief financial officer Holger Haerter it looks likely that the merger may well happen sooner or later.

Porsche had earlier tried to take over the larger Volkswagen, but it did not succeed and in fact incurred a great deal of debt (€10 billion) in its efforts. Porsche has plans to seek funds from a Qatar investor to make its merger plans easier.

VW and Porsche would be fully merged by mid-2011, said Christian Wulff, premier of Lower Saxony, the German state that is VW’s second largest shareholder. Investors are not enthused, however, as both the companies shares ended lower. With the merger of both the companies, it is VW which will clearly have the upper hand and Porsche cars will roll out under VW.

2010 Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI SC 200

The word ´downsizing´ resounds everywhere. Small volume engines with turbo charging and up-to-date technology promise favourable usage and exhaust values with reasonable performance. That less really can be more is emphasised by Sportec with its Sportec SC 200 based on the VW Golf VI 1.4 TSI. The agile Golf is here turned into a real GTI killer that at the same time has the typically discreet Sportec external look. However, after its makeover the small Golf engine proves to be a crafty one. From a modest 1.4 litre cubic capacity the masterly electronic manipulation of the Swiss vehicle summons a full 200 PS with a torque of 300 Nm, which lies between 1,800 and 3,000 U/min (VW Series 160Ps/240 Nm by 1,500 U/min). This ensures impressive driving values. The Sportec SC 200 shaves a full 1.4 seconds off the 8.2 seconds taken by the VW Series for the sprint to 100 Km/h and is a full 3.2 seconds faster for the time taken to accelerate to 180 Km/h. Fuel consumption still remains favourable: it does, however, require the octane richer Superplus fuel (Super series) after its modification. Externally the only visible signs of the increased performance can be found in the Sportec sports exhaust, which, although visually very similar to the original, with its heartier tone and above all lesser back pressure ensures increased capacity and optimum use of the combustion chamber.

In order to safely bring the increased performance onto the road Sportec also recommends fitting the sport suspension that was exclusively devised for the tuner. Furthermore, a sports braking system is available for those drivers with special sports ambitions.

VW Golf Tops European Sales Chart in First Half of 2009

Despite the heavy competition from the new Ford Fiesta that increased its sales in Europe by a hefty 34.2 percent to 243,340 units in the first half of 2009, VW’s Golf continues to dominate the sales charts in the Old Continent with sales up 12.7 percent to 254,023 units in the same period, according to data released by Jato Dynamics. The rest of the top five list was rounded out by the Peugeot 207 with 193,778 units (-20,6 percent), the Opel – Vauxhall Corsa with 181,751 units (-14.1 percent) and the Renault Clio with 144,512 units (-28.0 percent).

Notably, the first ten places were occupied exclusively by European automakers – okay Opel / Vauxhall (at least for the time being) and Ford are controlled by their American parent companies.

Volkswagen was also Europe’s top-selling car brand in the first half of the year with 842,787 vehicles sold, up 0.7 percent over the same period in 2008. Ford finished in second place with 666,548 units, down 3.6 percent over last year, followed by GM’s Opel – Vauxhall division with 557,739 units (-16.8 percent), Fiat with 542,115 units (-1.4 percent) and Renault with 520,763 units (-18.4 percent).

Data: Jato Dynamics

Volkswagen Golf GTI by ABT

ABT Sportsline has now been customising vehicles for five decades – and right on time for the Anniversary, the Allgäu Company is presenting the new, sixth GTI. Sporty and fast “Golfs” in particular have carried these three letters since 1976. ABT was the place to go for everyone who wanted even more dynamic and driving fun from the very beginning. The latest generation of the compact sports car also bears the magic abbreviation, and of course it is now available in a breathtaking ABT version. The engine output is impressive, because due to optimized engine management (ABT POWER), the standard 210 HP (154 kW) become a dynamic 260 HP (191 kW). ABT POWER S makes the GTI even hotter: a new turbocharger, „Made in Kempten”, is used additionally in this case. The 2.0 TSI then has an output of a sporty 300 HP (221 kW) and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around six seconds. Thanks to ABT chassis springs, the GTI’s centre of gravity is located a good 30 mm lower, so the Über-Golf can be driven even more sportily. The chassis setting, which was designed by Christian Abt, is especially good fun on winding roads. And in the extreme case, the powerful ABT braking system also kicks in.

But an ABT Golf GTI is not only a hot piece of sports equipment for the road, it also looks like one: the bodywork package that designers have created underlines the car’s pure dynamics: no matter how you look at the GTI, it is always impressive. Rear spoiler and rear apron superstructure, side mouldings, front grill and apron as well as the diagonal 4-pipe exhaust system form one unit. ABT engineers also designed a front lip, which provide s a power-performance in combination with the front apron and the new ABT Daytime Running Lamp. The equally elegant as expressive colouring matches this: the paintwork in carbon steel grey metallic harmonises perfectly with side mouldings and front lip in the contrast colour red. The design also continues consistently in the interior, for all screens, the ornamental rings of the combination instrument and the steering wheel panels are painted in the signal tone. One look at the Allgäu sports car will tell you that it’s more than a “normal” Golf GTI – and consequently the sixth variation of the fast compact car with the large tailgate is steeped in the best tradition. Namely, its five predecessors also became powerful Golfs at ABT. ABT and GTI: these six letters have simply belonged together for 33 years.

Volkswagen Passat CC Enchants the World

International panels of design experts have chosen their winners and one Volkswagen model has made an exceptional impression: the Passat CC. Last night in Essen, Germany, Volkswagen’s four-door coupé was presented with the “red dot Design Award 2009 – Best of the Best”, once again highlighting Volkswagen’s first-class and attractive design concept. The elegant model has also sparked excitement down under in Australia, a statement backed-up by the fact that it has recently won the “Australian International Design Award”.

Last night the Aalto Theater in Essen provided the setting for a wonderful prize ceremony during which Martin Kropp, designer at Exterior Design Studio 1, accepted the “red dot Design Award” for Volkswagen. The “red dot Design Award” is one of today’s most coveted awards that a designer can win for a creative product. The prize has been awarded every year since 2000.

In March, the Passat CC was awarded the prestigious “iF Product Design Award 2009″ in Hanover. At the end of May the coupé also swept the board down under where it won the renowned “Australian International Design Award” in the “Automotive and Transport” category.

What is the Most Classic Volkswagen of All Time?

While Volkswagen is a beloved car make with many highly regarded models, only one can be coined as the most classic Volkswagen of all time. Without question, that honor goes to the Volkswagen Beetle. From its interesting design, to its undeniable impact on pop culture, the Volkswagen Beetle is a vehicle that continues to capture people’s attention.

Early History of the Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle was originally positioned as the “car for the people.” This new vehicle was to be inexpensive, and unlike a motorcycle, it was designed to carry two adults and three children. The nickname “Beetle” came from the rounded shape of the car, which resembled that of an insect, with the engine placed at the rear of the car. Early Volkswagen Beetles were used as military vehicles, and were manufactured with overly simplistic parts, so that they could be easily and quickly repaired.

The Volkswagen Beetle and the Hippie Movement
Because of its unusual design and affordable price, the Volkswagen Beetle was embraced by the “hippie movement” in the 1960s, and was seen as an icon of freethinkers. During this time, Volkswagen Beetles were painted and decorated with wild colors and peace symbols, and their low-power engines and bumpy handling were celebrated as part of their quirky personality. The Volkswagen Beetle was embraced by pop culture, and was even featured on the cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album.

Popularity and Longevity of the Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle continued to capture the imagination of car owners when it was featured as a living car in the Disney movie “The Love Bug” in 1969. However, the true popularity of the Volkswagen Beetle came from its smart advertising campaign. Instead of trying to highlight features that the Beetle did not have, savvy Volkswagen Beetle commercials would instead promote the Beetle’s simplicity. “Think small,” was a popular Volkswagen Beetle slogan, and challenged the idea that cars had to be flashy, expensive, and fast. But advertising alone is not enough to sell a car. While some Beetles were known to easily break down, others were reported to last for hundreds and thousands of miles. For a modest price, Volkswagen Beetle owners could make a bold statement about their personal beliefs, and possibly coast along in their simple vehicle for many years to come.

Cult of the Volkswagen Beetle
Today, there are many Volkswagen Beetle enthusiasts who like to collect and repair older models of this car. Because the Beetle was so simply designed, maintenance and modifications can be completed with little to no experience, making this an addictive hobby for Volkswagen fans. Proud classic Volkswagen Beetle owners even seek out specialized auto insurance for their treasured cars, and regularly attend Beetle conventions all around America.

The Volkswagen Beetle is arguably the bestselling car of all time, and with its rich history and devoted fan base, it’s easy to see why it is also the most classic Volkswagen.

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