2011 Volkswagen Touareg revealed
January 28, 2010
Between patent offices, surreptitious shipping company videos, and Marussias being left uncovered on the back of a truck in a traffic jam, lately we’ve been coming across all manner of ways for new cars to be accidentally revealed ahead-of-schedule. Here’s another: a German model car company has let slip images of what looks like the next Volkswagen Touareg, which is actually meant to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.
The box is labeled “VW Touareg 2010,” but the supplementary text mentions the fourth quarter of this year, and a quick look at the front of the SUV makes it plain that this isn’t the current off-roader. In fact, it looks just like the naked spy shots of the 2011 model taken not too long ago.
The model makes the front end look dramatically reduced in a way we hadn’t picked up from Touareg spy shots, but saw clearly in the spy shots of its sister, the Porsche Cayenne. We’re hoping for plenty of weight loss there to compensate for the loss of those diesel V10 and W12 engines. We’ll see the final thing and take its measure from Geneva in about six weeks.
Next-gen Volkswagen Jetta could get R variant
January 27, 2010
Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Volkswagen, Rumormill
According to an unnamed source from Volkswagen, Inside Line is reporting that the German automaker is currently considering whether it should offer a high-performance R version of its next-gen Jetta in America. Says the source,”We don’t want to leave the affordable performance sedan market in the U.S. to our rivals, but importing sporting models from Europe is proving prohibitively expensive at the moment.”
Fortunately for VW, the next Jetta will be built solely in Mexico, meaning that it won’t be nearly as costly to build and sell in the States as models assembled overseas. Further, it seems that the R version could either be offered in both coupe (as previewed by the New Compact Coupe concept from Detroit) and sedan forms with simple front-wheel or with all-wheel drive as VW plans to offer AWD on the Jetta Wagon at a later date.
Power for the Jetta R would likely come from the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged and direct injected powerplant that’s used in the Scirocco R and Golf R, where it delivers 265 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The final noteworthy fact reported by IL is that the next Jetta will be offered with two separate rear suspension designs, one with a simple (and cheap) torsion beam and a second, much more sophisticated multilink setup on sportier models. Intriguing, no?
[Source: Inside Line]
Next-gen Volkswagen Jetta could get R variant originally appeared on VW Top News on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
2010 Volkswagen Polo TSI 1.2
January 26, 2010
At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, we got our first in-person look at the all-new fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo, the brand’s popular B-segment model that slots in below the ever-expanding Golf and Jetta range. While subcompact vehicles like the Polo have been a staple in Europe for decades where fuel prices hover around $8/gallon, in the last few years, Americans have finally started to take a serious look at cars of this size. With the Honda Fit and Mini Cooper well established, the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 twins on the way and an all-new Chevrolet Aveo coming late in 2010, the market for subcompact runabouts is picking up steam in the States - and VW is taking a long, hard look at adding the Polo to its North American lineup in the next few years.
With that in mind, VW trotted out a fleet of Polos for us to sample on its home turf near Wolfsburg, Germany recently - and while the automaker has yet to make a firm decision about importing the Polo to the U.S., they clearly wanted our feedback. Here’s what we told VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby and his staff.
Pics Aplenty: 265-hp 2011 Volkswagen Golf R plays in the snow
January 25, 2010
Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen
Yes, we’re still bitter about the Scirocco not making it to the States, but some manner of consolation may be on the way in the form of the 2011 Volkswagen Golf R.
Although VW has yet to confirm that the fastest ever Golf is headed to the U.S., the word on the street is that the 265-hp, all-wheel drive hatch is on its way to the Colonies later this year, with a choice of either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch gearbox.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder’s performance stats are almost enough to make us forget about the Scirocco, if just for a moment, with a 155 mph top speed and a 5.5-second run to 60 mph (5.7 seconds with the manual gearbox). While it’s hardly a lightweight hatch (coming in at around 3,400 pounds with the DSG), the massive brakes, bi-xenon headlamps, 18- or 19-inch wheels and beautifully bolstered thrones have us champing at the bit for some seat time. Here’s hoping VW sees fit to send over a few examples after the R20’s launch in Ellmau, Austria.
Gallery: Volkswagen Golf R20
Pics Aplenty: 265-hp 2011 Volkswagen Golf R plays in the snow originally appeared on VW Top News on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Party of Five: Volkswagen adds three-seat rear bench to Europe’s Passat CC
January 25, 2010
Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen
Volkswagen had a particular thing in mind when designing the Passat CC: a stylish four-seater. That is why the rear seats are recessed and separated by a cubby with a sliding plastic top.Enough European buyers, however, asked for another seat in the back, so VW decided to give them one. Well, kind of. The company left leather in place of the cubby and added a headrest and a seat belt. And a €100 ($142 U.S.) charge. While it looks good, we can’t imagine it feels good. So to all you fifth wheels out there who’ll end up in the back of a CC, we wish you good luck.
It is not yet clear whether VWAG will offer American CC customers the bench, but we’re looking into it. In the meantime, read VW’s press release on the new option after the jump.
[Source: Volkswagen]
Continue reading Party of Five: Volkswagen adds three-seat rear bench to Europe’s Passat CC
Party of Five: Volkswagen adds three-seat rear bench to Europe’s Passat CC originally appeared on VW Top News on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Suzuki not interested in selling larger stake to Volkswagen
January 22, 2010
Filed under: Suzuki, Volkswagen
Volkswagen currently holds a 19.9-percent stake in Suzuki, making the German automaker the largest shareholder in the much smaller Japanese automaker. Will VW try to increase its stake in Suzuki in the future? Not if it’s up to Suzuki CEO Osamu Suzuki.
Automotive News reports that Suzuki (the CEO) told members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club that the company his wife’s grandfather founded isn’t interested in VW taking a piece of the pie “when Suzuki becomes a bigger and more successful company.” Suzuki told reporters that his response to VW’s request for a larger stake in the company will likely be “let’s continue as we are.”
Suzuki has reason for thinking about a good answer to VW’s potential approach for more shares due to the fact that the German automaker is growing like a boiling wienerschnitzel. The People’s Carmaker already possesses 11 brands ranging from Škoda to Lamborghini, and Suzuki says his company has no interest in becoming number 12. Good thing Suzuki said as much, since VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech has reportedly said that he was interested in growing VW’s stable of brands to an even dozen.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req. | Image: Lennart Preiss/AFP/Getty]
Suzuki not interested in selling larger stake to Volkswagen originally appeared on VW Top News on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
New Beetle pickup conversion can haul more flowers
January 19, 2010
Filed under: Coupe, Truck, Etc., Volkswagen, Specialty
Still bummed that Volkswagen isn’t planning to bring the new Amarok pickup to the States? Perhaps there’s another way to get your hands on a VW made for hauling: a New Beetle pickup conversion. Proving the old adage, “When there’s a will, there’s a way,” Japanese body shop Hayashi has grafted the rear half of a pickup with the front half of a New Beetle. The results, um… speak for themselves, no?
We know that the new version of the ol’ Bug is sometimes seen as a feminine vehicle, but we’re not so sure converting one into a pickup truck is the right way to rectify that situation. At least there’s plenty of room for more than just the lonely single flower in the dash-mounted plastic holder. See for yourself in the gallery below.
Gallery: Volkswagen New Beetle Pickup
[Source: Carscoop]
New Beetle pickup conversion can haul more flowers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Carlos Sainz victorious as Volkswagen fills the podium at Dakar
January 19, 2010
Filed under: Motorsports, Volkswagen, South America
When we joined Volkswagen on its first run in the Baja 500 back in 2008, the diesel-powered Race Touareg 2 suffered two lengthy breakdowns before the first hundred miles had passed. Just a few months, later VW’s diesel runner was taking the top two spots in the Dakar Rally. Not content with having to share the podium with Robby Gordon, VW went ahead and took the top three spots in this year’s Dakar.
Two-time World Rally Championship winner Carlos Sainz can now add a Dakar trophy to his cabinet. Avoiding the kind of mistakes that took him out of the race last year on the 12th stage, Sainz held on to win by just two minutes and 12 seconds over VW driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, even though Al-Attiyah won twice as many stages. Giniel de Villiers, last year’s winner, was in the third VW, 32 minutes behind Al-Attiyah.
You can read the presser on VW’s win-win-win after the jump, and check out the action in the gallery of high-res photos below. On a side note, VW Group diesels have now won Le Mans (Audi, Bentley), the Dakar Rally, and the World Touring Car Championship (Seat). Maybe now’s a good time to reconsider whether we really want them in NASCAR or F1…
[Source: Volkswagen]
Continue reading Carlos Sainz victorious as Volkswagen fills the podium at Dakar
Carlos Sainz victorious as Volkswagen fills the podium at Dakar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Suzuki breaks off alt-power partnership with GM
January 18, 2010
Filed under: Europe, Japan, GM, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials, Renault, Peugeot, Electric, Diesel
According to Reuters, Suzuki plans on ending joint development programs with General Motors next month - the two had been partnering on innovative hybrid and fuel-cell technologies. The news follows on the heels of last month’s announcement that that Suzuki and Volkswagen had tied the knot (as part of that agreement, VW bought 19.9 percent of Suzuki and effectively became the automakers biggest shareholder - a position formerly held by GM). As the theory goes, it soon become clear that working with GM was no longer necessary. According to the report,
“Suzuki is in a comprehensive alliance with Volkswagen. In every field including hybrid, diesel and electric cars, we will carry out joint development with them, or we will learn from them,” Osamu Suzuki, chairman and chief executive, said at the briefing in Hamamatsu, central Japan.
The new relationship with VW will also affect Suzuki’s association with PSA Peugeot-Citro
VW’s Jacoby says brand will double U.S. sales in 2-3 years
January 13, 2010
Filed under: Car Buying, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials
Volkswagen of America’s President and CEO Stefan Jacoby is bullish on the future of the people’s car company - so much so that he feels sales of his brand in the U.S. will double within the next few years. Automotive News reports that the German exec has estimated that sales will reach “400,000 to 450,000 vehicles.” Even without the sour state of the economy, those are massively ambitious figures: VW sold just 213,454 cars and crossovers in America in 2009, down four percent versus the company’s 2008 numbers.
Jacoby didn’t give specific reasons for the increase in sales projections, but his numbers would appear to fall in line with VW’s goal to sell 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. market by 2018. Wolfsburg is also optimistic that industry-wide U.S. sales will settle somewhere around 15 million units per year in the next few years; still about two million units shy of peak sales figures a few years back, but still 40 percent better than 2009 levels. VW is projecting U.S. auto sales to hit up to 11.5 million units this year.
At present, VW’s U.S. operations are not profitable, but Jacoby believes that the region may become profitable in 2013.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]
VW’s Jacoby says brand will double U.S. sales in 2-3 years originally appeared on VW Top News on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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