VW blasts new CAFE standards, alleges bias towards truck makers

Filed under: Government/Legal, Volkswagen

Automakers are officially choosing sides on the new proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, and while nearly every company has come out with statements of support, Volkswagen has chosen to head the camp opposed to the plan. The German company has released an official statement on President Barack Obama's 54.5 mpg corporate average by 2025, saying that VW doesn't endorse the move. Why? Apparently the people's automaker feels that the regulations unfairly target passenger cars while giving large trucks special treatment.

According to VW, passenger vehicles face a five percent annual increase in fuel economy, while light trucks merely have to attain 3.5 percent annual increases. While it's true that Volkswagen doesn't produce anything that could compete with the Ford F-150, the company's stable is stocked with a few vehicles that will fall under the light truck designation, including the Routan minivan and Touareg SUV. Additionally, Volkswagen says that the proposal pushes automakers to manufacture more large and inefficient models.

Volkswagen finds itself in thin company when it comes to its stance. So far, nearly every other automaker has come out in support of the move, including Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, Hyundai and Toyota among others. Hit the jump for VW's official statement.

Continue reading VW blasts new CAFE standards, alleges bias towards truck makers

VW blasts new CAFE standards, alleges bias towards truck makers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Forecast for Englishtown, New Jersey: Volkswagens—and lots of ‘em VW enthusiasts show up in force for Waterfest 17

As they’ve done every summer for the past 17 years, Volkswagen enthusiasts descended on Englishtown, New Jersey for Waterfest. Continue reading →

Making a challenge look like child’s play: Three-man team breaks world record in a tricked-out Touareg

Earlier this week, we celebrated the news that Rainer Zietlow, Carlos Fernandez and Marius Biela completed the TDI-Panamericana Challenge in world-record time, traveling nearly 16,000 miles and passing through 14 countries in under 12 days. But the team didn’t make … Continue reading →

A wagon worth braggin’ about: Edmunds Inside Line prefers the Jetta SportWagen TDI to the Toyota Prius V

We got excited when we heard that Edmunds Inside Line was going to compare the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI and the 2012 Toyota Prius V. After all, we love a little good-natured competition. We got even more excited when … Continue reading →

A chip off the old block: The 2012 Beetle is all new, but the classic connection is obvious

Guilty as charged: the 2012 Beetle looks different from models past. We think that’s a good thing. Not that we don’t love the old Bugs—they’ll always have a place in our hearts. It’s just that, well, this new Beetle really … Continue reading →

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: July 2011

Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

If the Volkswagen Jetta TDI featured in our Battle Of The Eco Compact Cars comparison test looked familiar, that's because it's our long-term tester. In fact, you might say that the arrival of our Jetta TDI is what sparked the idea for the comparison test, especially after Editor-in-Chief John Neff took the car on a few long highway trips and recorded well over 50 miles per gallon. And while the Jetta - spoiler alert! - may not have won our eco-warrior comparison, its 2.0-liter diesel engine continues to impress us with its effortless efficiency.

Just how effortless? We enthusiasts tend not to be the most efficient drivers, and yet our recorded average fuel economy over the past 8,500 miles is 43.4 miles per gallon. That's right, our average combined number is 1.4 mpg higher than the EPA's highway rating for the Jetta TDI. In fact, we've recorded as high as 53.5 mpg on the highway, and even under the most spirited driving, the lowest number recorded in our logbook so far is just 36.7 mpg.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: July 2011

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: July 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

An In-Depth Look at the All-New Passat

VWvortex’s managing editor Jamie Vondruska talks about his favorite features, and what to ask about when test driving the all-new Passat. Continue reading →

Luc Donckerwolke named Head of Advanced Design for VW Group

Filed under: Volkswagen, Design/Style

Luc Donckerwolke, the man who brought us the Lamborghini Gallardo, Murcielago and Diablo VT 6.0 (hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah) has been promoted to head of advanced design at the Volkswagen Group.

He leaves his position as director of design at Spain's SEAT and will answer directly to VW Group Design Chief, Walter de Silva.

Donckerwolke's most recent concept car was the SEAT IBE electric hatchback, which was introduced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Follow the jump for the press release detailing the org-chart shuffle at VW Group.

Continue reading Luc Donckerwolke named Head of Advanced Design for VW Group

Luc Donckerwolke named Head of Advanced Design for VW Group originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Drivers Love the All-New Passat

We gave some VWvortex.com fans a chance to check out the all-new Passat, and they really liked what they saw. Continue reading →

Depth of Speed captures the beautiful side of a Volkswagen Bus

Filed under: Classics, Minivan/Van, Etc., Videos, Volkswagen

We're quickly becoming big fans of Josh Clason and his Depth of Speed video series. We first saw his work when his lenses trained on the Japanese iron of JDM Legends. Clason then delved into the world of pinstriping, and from there he switched to German steel in a shot about the BMW 2002.

Now, he's sticking with Germany but trading the roundel for VW. More specifically, Clason caught up with Volkswagen enthusiast Craig Johnson to capture the beauty of his T1 Transporter.

Click past the jump to watch Depth of Speed Simple Soul.

Continue reading Depth of Speed captures the beautiful side of a Volkswagen Bus

Depth of Speed captures the beautiful side of a Volkswagen Bus originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink