2012 Volkswagen Beetle production gets underway in Mexico

Filed under: Coupe, Volkswagen

Like many a Beetle before it, Volkswagen has prepped its newest escarabajo to begin running down production facilities in Mexico. Located in Puebla, Volkswagen de M

Volkswagen Commercial: "The Force"

A pint-sized Darth Vader uses the Force when he discovers the all-new 2012 Passat in the driveway. Continue reading →

Power bump mooted for next VW GTI

Filed under: Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen is hard at work readying its next-generation GTI, and according to Autocar, one of the improvements we can look forward to is a slight bump in power. Currently, the GTI's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four is good for 200 horsepower, but the revised engine is rumored to produce closer to 220 horses.

This doesn't really come as much of a shock, however. Volkswagen recently introduced the 35th anniversary edition of the GTI for European customers, and this hot hatch cranks out a full 253 hp from the same 2.0-liter unit used in the standard GTI.

Autocar also reports that Volkswagen won't likely produce the GTI cabriolet that debuted in W

VW Touareg TDI sets lonely record on World’s Longest Highway [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, SUV, Etc., Volkswagen, South America, Diesel

Volkswagen can now lay claim to another world record thanks to the efforts of off-road driver Rainer Zietlow and his team of adventurers. The crew packed into a Volkswagen Touareg TDI and covered the entire span of the Pan-American Highway from start to finish in 11 days, 17 hours and 22 minutes. The trip covered 14 countries and 16,000 miles of near non-stop driving. T

Suzuki looks to reassert independence as VW partnership sours

Filed under: Europe, Japan, Suzuki, Volkswagen

Volkswagen and Suzuki may be headed back to the drawing board to re-outline the nature of the two automakers' partnership. Both companies have expressed their frustrations with the way that the German manufacturer's 20-percent stake in its Japanese associate has worked out thus far, with VW taking to the press to say that Suzuki isn't willing to reciprocate technology and Suzuki claiming that Volkswagen is attempting to poach its autonomy. So far, the partnership has sounded like a match made in divorce court, but Reuters reports that Volkswagen has made it clear that it has no intention of removing decision-making responsibilities from Suzuki.

Even so, the media has been rife with word that VW does, in fact, have plans for consolidation. Executives from Suzuki have said that when the two automakers entered into the partnership, it was understood that both would remain independent entities. Now Suzuki feels the need to "return to the starting point," including reexamining the ownership ratio between the two companies.

Suzuki looks to reassert independence as VW partnership sours originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Two Days in Berlin: A VW insider finds his own Beetle story in Berlin

This should come as no surprise, but when you work for Volkswagen, you end up spending a lot of time with cars. Every once in a while, though, a VW employee gets to spend some quality time with a car—a fond … Continue reading →

Volkswagen rules out Passat wagon for North America

Filed under: Wagon, Volkswagen

If you're smitten with the new U.S.-market Volkswagen Passat but were hoping for a bit more cargo capacity, we've got some bad news. According to the latest reports, Volkswagen of America has no plans to offer a Passat wagon in the North American market. (Can't say we didn't see this one coming.)

This news breaks despite reports of the European-market Passat wagon spied testing in the United States. The two models - European and American - are completely different vehicles, and the Passat wagon seen undergoing development on our shores is apparently the overseas model.

The previous-generation Passat wagon suffered from poor sales as American customers continued to shift from station wagons to taller crossovers. As a result, Volkswagen is reportedly preparing a seven-seat crossover to join the Tiguan and Touareg and go up against the likes of the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer. But for those who still prefer a wagon, the Jetta SportWagen is now the company's only choice here in the States.

Volkswagen rules out Passat wagon for North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

2012 Volkswagen Beetle pricing at a glimpse

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Those of you who read our First Drive of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo already know that the highest-performing version of the iconic Bug will require you to write a check for $23,395*. Step up to the well-received six-speed DSG transmission and you'll be looking at a $24,495 window sticker.

Not interested in the tire-squealing performance promised by a turbocharged engine? Base model Beetles, equipped with the 170-horsepower 2.5-liter MPI inline five-cylinder engine, start at $18,995 with VW's age-old five-speed manual gearbox. Step up to the Tiptronic six-speed auto for $20,895.

There will be three versions of the Beetle, whether it's equipped with the base engine or the turbo: Base, Sunroof and Sunroof, Sound and Navi. A top-shelf 2.0T with the panoramic sunroof, Fender hi-fi sound system and navigation will start at $27,995 with the manual gearbox or $29,095 with DSG.

At some unannounced point in 2012, Volkswagen will begin offering the Beetle with its 2.0-liter TDI engine with 140 horses and 236 lb-ft of torque. VW estimates that it will be the most efficient Beetle ever, scoring 40 miles per gallon highway, 29 mpg city, and 33 mpg combined.

Want a full rundown of all the prices and option packages? Find it in the press release pasted after the break.

(*All prices exclude $770 for destination)

Continue reading 2012 Volkswagen Beetle pricing at a glimpse

2012 Volkswagen Beetle pricing at a glimpse originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

GM takes issue with VW chairman Winterkorn’s statements about Opel

Filed under: Etc., GM, Volkswagen, Opel

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has apparently ruffled some feathers at General Motors. The American automaker took the time to release a scornful statement about the VW executive's comments toward the beleaguered Eureopean brand, Opel. Apparently, Winterkorn took the time to comment on what he believes the brand faces in the near future while speaking with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, fuelling speculation that Opel is in dire straits and that a sale may be on the horizon. GM shot back by saying that VW is simply nervous about the launch of the Ampera in Europe, and that the automaker is simply trying to sabotage the Opel recovery.

Them's fightin' words.

GM says that due to the strong positive response that the Ampera has garnered so far, the company is now planning to crank out an additional Ampera models to satiate demand. Additionally, the statement makes it clear that Opel is an important part of the GM flock and that the brand isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Hit the jump to check out the official statement for yourself.

Continue reading GM takes issue with VW chairman Winterkorn's statements about Opel

GM takes issue with VW chairman Winterkorn's statements about Opel originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Volkswagen CrossPassat in the wings?

Filed under: Europe, Crossover, Volkswagen

When Volkswagen launched its 2012 Passat, we were a little disappointed to hear that American buyers probably won't be able to dive into a wagon version and that the company's 4Motion all-wheel drive system wasn't slated for the option sheet either. Volkswagen's engineers said that the platform simply wasn't suited to putting power to all four wheels, despite the fact that the body tray clearly has a center tunnel to accommodate a driveshaft. Now Autobild is reporting that the German manufacturer may be considering the creation of a Passat-based crossover that would offer all of the storage and go-anywhere goodness of a Passat Wagon 4Motion.

According to a poorly translated report, the vehicle will boast a taller ride height and plenty of plastic body cladding to protect it from the slings and arrows of errant rocks and sticks. All-wheel drive will be an option as well, though there are no solid details on what to expect from the engine or transmission departments.

Do we like the idea of jacking up the Passat to make it fit into the crossover crowd? Some of us do, some of us don't. Either way, we're guessing that the vehicle would be little more than a spring-and-damper swap away from riding as low as its four-door counterpart. Still, all of that plastic body cladding doesn't seem to fit with the typically clean design language, but we'll take a Passat wagon of any sort, even if it's been given the Allroad treatment. It'll take some time to find out whether there's any meat to these rumors, of course, and it'll likely take more time still to figure out if the rumored model might see North American dealers. In the meantime, head over to Autobild to see a full rendering of the vehicle.

Volkswagen CrossPassat in the wings? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink