Volkswagen


LA 2009: Volkswagen shows off "Final Edition" New Beetle models

Signifying the end of what has been a long run, Volkswagen has introduced "Final Edition" models of the New Beetle coupe and convertible. Each will be limited to a run of just 1,500 units. Under the hood is VW's familiar 2.5-liter inline-fine (rated at 150 horsepower) sending power to the front wheels through a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission – nothing new there. However, the German automaker has fitted a full sport suspension and unique 17-inch alloy wheels to each of the New Beetles to add a touch more driving excitement. ... Read more →

LA 2009: Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept teases with practical, lightweight innovation Jonny Lieberman

Volkswagen has just taken the cover off an all-new concept called the Up! Lite, a sinister looking diesel hybrid that gets (according to VW) 70 mpg combined. As in both City and Highway. ...

Officially Official: Volkswagen Amarok pickup makes the scene Jonny Lieberman

Well looky here – it's the latest in a long line of oddly named trucks from Volkswagen. This time, the Amarok refers to a cryptozoological Inuit giant wolf-creature that eats those who ...

Volkswagen Polo named 2010 European Car of the Year Noah Joseph

It can be a bit overwhelming when every magazine and their various editions pick their own Car of the Year each annum. Fortunately, the Europeans have it together. Literally. Every year, seven ...

VW Gol: Brazilian proto-Impreza by VW? Dan Roth

The string of interesting and offbeat Volkswagens from the firm's Brazilian division is enough to fill a coffee-table book. The SP2, for example, is one of the prettiest variations ever laid atop ...

Rumormill: Volkswagen ponders becoming F1 engine supplier in 2012 3 days ago on Autoblog

There have been rumblings about VW getting into F1 by signing up with a specific team, but the chatter was always quashed. This time, reports suggest that VW is actively talking up the idea of getting into Formula 1 after 2012, but as an engine supplier to multiple teams. Hans-Joachim Stuck, ...

Spy Shots: Prototype 2011 Volkswagen Touareg caught naked? 6 days ago on Autoblog

Hey there, odd looking, what you got cooking? Yes, we're pretty positive you're looking (or about to be looking) at the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg caught without its robe on. Visually speaking, not much has changed. The front clip and hood look more in line with the sixth generation Golf/GTI. From ...

Big Deal? VW racing chief, F1 drivers visit Homestead for NASCAR season-closer 8 days ago on Autoblog

This year's Sprint Cup was awarded this past weekend at Homestead, where Jimmie Johnson scored his record fourth consecutive championship with a fifth-place finish behind race winner Denny Hamlin. (Oh yeah, "spoiler alert".) Anyway, on to the interesting part: the oval speedway had some unlikely ...

Strategic Vision announces 2009 Total Value Awards 9 days ago on Autoblog

Toyota bumped, VW and Ford lead The 2009 Total Value Awards have been announced, and what do you know, it's more good news for Ford. First, a primer: the "the Total Value Index™" (TVI) took into account more than 48,000 buyers of 2009 models from September, 2008 to March, 2009. Assumptions ...

REPORT: Volkswagen confirms Karmann purchase, plans to build new car at factory in 2011 9 days ago on Autoblog

Volkswagen AG has announced it will be establishing a new manufacturing unit in Osnabrueck, located in VW's home state of Lower Saxony, Germany. Interestingly enough, VW will be purchasing the land, equipment, and machinery formerly owned by Karmann -- the coachbuilder and convertible roof ...

REPORT: 65,000 seek jobs to build VW's New Midsize Sedan in Tennessee 14 days ago on Autoblog

You probably already know just how bad the employment situation is here in the States, and if you don't, nationwide unemployment is right around 10% – and that doesn't include those who took lower-paying part-time jobs in place of a lost full-time job. That's bad news for us, but at least ...

Volkswagen Amarok to tackle desert as official support vehicle of Dakar 15 days ago on Autoblog

Two months from now, Volkswagen will be expanding its involvement in the annual Dakar Rally in South America. Just as they did last January, factory-backed teams will be competing in the 5.600 mile race through Argentina and Chile. However, this time, those outfits will be fielding four race ...

Porsche suffers $6.6B loss thanks to VW share writedowns 15 days ago on Autoblog

In 2008, Porsche ended its year with a ginormous 8.5 billion euro profit. Pretty amazing for a company that only makes 100,000 vehicles per year. Or not. As it turns out, Porsche's profits had everything to do with the German automaker's plan to buy out the much larger Volkswagen Group, and ...

VW building $125M flagship dealer complex on Manhattan's west side 19 days ago on Autoblog

Volkswagen is building swanky new digs on New York City's west side for its VW and Audi brands. The automaker has purchased a 256,000 square foot space currently occupied by Potamkin GM (the Potamkin family has been synonymous with car sales in NY for decades), which stretches between 55th and ...

REPORT: Volkswagen Touareg successor headed for Detroit 20 days ago on Autoblog

January's North American International Auto Show (Detroit Auto Show) is expected to host the debut of Volkswagen's all-new third-generation Touareg SUV (the facelifted "second-gen" arrived in the States as a 2008 model). While details are few, rumor has it that VW will introduce its new Touareg ...

Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Politically Correct Edition 21 days ago on Autoblog

Nowadays, being politically correct is of the utmost importance to companies the world over, and that includes automakers. Especially Volkswagen, apparently. Judging from the commercial pasted after the break, the German automaker – which just happens to have recently earned the title of ...

Volkswagen GTI named Automobile Magazine car of the year 21 days ago on Autoblog

It's funny how publications have a personality. It shouldn't be funny, as obviously all publications have an editor and said editor has a collection of likes and dislikes, but we still find it amusing. Here's a for instance. This year, our pals over at Motor Trend went ahead and named the Subaru ...

REPORT: VW takes over #1 carmaker slot, sings "Wir sind die Meister, mein Freund" 22 days ago on Autoblog

It was a little more than a year ago when Volkswagen, because of Porsche's stock market finagling, briefly became the most valuable company in the world. This was just after it passed Ford for the number three slot in global sales. Now the big company that could – powered by the little car ...

VW Bus stolen 35 years ago returned in mint condition... to Allstate 23 days ago on Autoblog

In 1974, this 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 (a.k.a. 'Bus') was stolen from Washington State. Fast-forward to October 19 of this year and custom agents at the Port of Los Angeles open up a container bound for Europe only to rediscover said van. Somehow, the Bus's VIN was still in the LAPD's stolen ...

They still make that? VW Golf Mk1 ends production after 25 years 28 days ago on Autoblog

The original Volkswagen Golf Mk1 arrived as a replacement to the Volkswagen Beetle way back in 1974. Sold in the States as the Volkswagen Rabbit, the early front-wheel-drive hatchback had a transverse-mounted (water-cooled) 1.5-liter four-cylinder rated at just 70 horsepower. It was good for a ...

REPORT: Suzuki CEO nips VW tie-up rumors in the bud 29 days ago on Autoblog

Those constant rumors that Volkswagen may acquire a 10-percent stake in Suzuki all have one thing in common: they all emanate from the Volkswagen side of the coin. Naturally, no such deal can be completely one-sided, and whenever given the opportunity Suzuki has consistently denied that there's ...

Volkswagen prices UK Scirocco R and Golf R, debuts new ad [w/VIDEO] 1 month ago on Autoblog

For those of you in the U.K., the R-line versions of the Golf and Scirocco have been priced and can now be ordered. The Scirocco is the bargain of the two, going for £26,945 ($44,257 U.S.), while the Golf takes you slightly higher up the currency chart, priced at £28,930 ($47,518 ...

Volkswagen launches eco-friendly Scirocco Cup 1 month ago on Autoblog

It seems like an odd juxtaposition, but "going green" and motorsports have been increasingly paired together lately. In the United States, the American Le Mans Series initiated the Green X Challenge this past season with a focus on creating the least amount of negative impact on the ...

Volkswagen releases another sketchy look at forthcoming 2011 mid-size sedan 1 month ago on Autoblog

Volkswagen has released another rendering of its new mid-size sedan (appropriately dubbed NMS) before its official unveiling late next year, and while it's a clearer indication of what to expect when the wraps come off, it doesn't divulge anything we haven't seen before. Although details are ...

VIDEO: More autonomous VW action from Stanford 1 month ago on Autoblog

You didn't think having an Audi TTS climb Pike's Peak was the only thing that Stanford's Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory was working on, did you? No, they're also working on something closer to home -- or the restaurant or club -- with a project to get cars to find spots and park ...

REPORT: VW bids to save Karmann but coachbuilder holding out for more money 1 month ago on Autoblog

German coachbuilder Karmann has been in trouble since before the global economy caught its version of the swine flu, and from a workforce of 5,000 the company is down to 1,800. A huge order for VW electric vehicles was meant to keep the company going while it sorted out its issues, but even that ...

VW chooses Deutsch LA as its new ad agency 1 month ago on Autoblog

Chrysler, Cadillac, and Chevrolet aren't the only folks looking for new advertising agencies on the assumption that, to quote GM CEO Fritz Henderson, "We can do better." For the last four years Crispin, Porter and Bogusky has attended to Volkswagen's advertising needs, bringing us moments like ...

REPORT: Porsche to share platforms with VW, possibly 911 1 month ago on Autoblog

Can you image a VW-badged Panamera? What about a 911-based product from Wolfsburg? It could happen according to Porsche CEO Michael Macht. Autocar reports that Macht says, "Porsche needs to become a strong pillar of VW," and part of that means sharing platforms and components. The two companies ...

VW launches Real Racing GTI on iPhone, giving away six GTIs! 1 month ago on Autoblog

Volkswagen is no stranger to promoting its vehicles using games for the iPhone and iPhone Touch. Witness such forgetables as Volkswagen Polo Challenge 3D [iTunes link] and Volkswagen Scirocco R 24H Challenge 3D [iTunes link], both by developer FISHLABS. Neither game is very fun to play, being on ...

Volkswagen to buy 49.9% of Porsche in first stage of merger 1 month ago on Autoblog

The days of Porsche being an independent automaker will soon be drawing to a close. Volkswagen has announced that it is ready to move ahead with the first stage of its buyout of the smaller company that had tried to do the same thing to it just a short while ago. Back in August when the VW board ...

Funny Car Commercial of the Day - Meet the dogfish 1 month ago on Autoblog

We've always been dog people. It's not so much that there's something wrong with cats, it's just that we can do more with our dogs... like teach them tricks, take them to the beach and play fetch. Apparently, Volkswagen of Argentina is full of dog people too. Well, dogfish people, at least. ...

VIDEO: Fun Theory Part 3 - VW's bottle bank arcade finds plenty of players 1 month ago on Autoblog

VW's Fun Theory project, with its European ad agency DDB, takes on a third task to show that you can get more people to do the right thing if you make it fun. This time it's bottle recycling, and the tool used is a bin fitted with an arcade scoreboard. After a "player" presses start, lights ...

First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen Golf evolves the German hatchback 1 month ago on Autoblog

Outside of North America, the Golf has been Volkswagen's bread-and-butter model for more than three decades, making the diminutive hatch one of the best selling global vehicles since its mid-Seventies launch as the Beetle's successor. But in the States, it's a totally different story. Except for ...

Rumormill: Volkswagen interested in Ducati... still 1 month ago on Autoblog

Rumors of a possible motorcycle brand for Volkswagen aren't anything new. It's a well-known fact that Ferdinand Piëch, Chairman of Volkswagen's Board, wishes that the German automaker had purchased Ducati back in 1985 when the Italian bike manufacturer was in dire financial shape. As ...

VIDEO: Fun Theory Part 2 - VW makes throwing stuff away fun 1 month ago on Autoblog

Last week we showed you how Volkswagen and ad agency DBB teamed up to get more people walking up the stairs by making them into a Goliath-sized piano. VW calls this project the Fun Theory, and its aim is to show that people will be happier to do life's chores if they aren't so dull. The German ...

REPORT: Next New Beetle will have bigger back seat 1 month ago on Autoblog

The "New Beetle" was a smash hit when it debuted in 1998, and the cutesy little Bug immediately jumped to sales of 83,434 the next year. Over the next 10 years, however, Volkswagen left the spiritual successor to the original Beetle out to dry, and sales have steadily dropped down to near ...

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Autoblog Podcast #155: 'Twas the night before LA...

Chris, Dan, and Editor Paukert go over some LA Preview action and quietly whoop it up on the podcast.

 
 

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