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Autoblog (feeds.autoblog.com) has great Volkswagen news, photos, videos and more
Thursday, Nov 12
REPORT: Volkswagen Touareg successor headed for Detroit
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Hybrid, SUV, Volkswagen Source: Autocar]REPORT: Volkswagen Touareg successor headed for Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Wednesday, Nov 11
Carbon Footprints: Ditch the dog, get a Hummer H2, save the planet?
If you don't like dogs, there's now a new reason to continue avoiding canis domesticus. New Zealanders Robert and Brenda Vale have put forth the hypothesis that the care and feeding of a pooch is more environmentally harmful than rolling in a Toyota Land Cruiser. Those shifty, antisocial f...
Thursday, Nov 5
Seven new Porsche models reportedly due over next four years... could there be more?
It doesn't seem that long ago that Porsche was a two-car company. But since then, the German automaker has come out with the Cayenne and the Panamera, taking it into new territory - for better or worse. Now that it's part of the Volkswagen Group, sources expect Porsche to begin expanding its l...
Wednesday, Nov 4
2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street edition arrives in January
The replica won't be any quicker off the line, but it will stop and turn better than standard TDI models. The brake calipers are larger than standard and painted red to let observers know they are special. The suspension gets thicker sway bars and the retuned springs and dampers from the Jett...
They still make that? VW Golf Mk1 ends production after 25 years
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 g...
Oh, Canada! Great White North journos pick their cars of the year
After pouring over vehicles ranging from the Mazda3 to the Porsche Panamera and everything in between, the Canadians have narrowed their focus to one vehicle in each of the 12 categories. Volkswagen is the best-represented automaker in the final 12, with three VW models, two Audis and th...
Monday, Nov 2
REPORT: Mini's future models roadmapped
On the concept car front, BimmerFile reports that Mini is working up a Moke revival that will be shown at an undetermined auto show sometime next year that's described as a small Jeep Wrangler and known internally as the SpaceBox. We're also told to expect a more mainstream concept built of...
Volkswagen prices UK Scirocco R and Golf R, debuts new ad [w/VIDEO]
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 U.S. -- nota bene: U.S....
Thursday, Oct 29
2009 Race of Champions heads to Beijing
This year, the champions will be competing for bragging rights behind the wheels of such varied machinery as the Ford Focus WRC, Volkswagen Scirocco, KTM X-Bow, Solution F Prototype Opel touring car and three different specially-equipped sprint cars. Tune in on Tuesday, November 3 - ju...
Wednesday, Oct 28
REPORT: Evidence mounting that 2010 Audi S4 is underrated
For the past decade or so Audi, BMW and of course Mercedes-Benz have all been engaged in mercilessly meeting each other tit-for-tat. 3/5/7 Series vs. 4/6/8 vs. C/E/S-Class, M/AMG/S, X5/ML/Q7, etc. It goes on forever. But the point is, Audi and BMW appear to be on equal footing and it looks like A...
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 10.28.09
BREAKING: Acura confirms Euro Honda Accord Tourer coming as TSX sport wagon! When we polled you yesterday about your unrequited love of the JDM-only Accord Tourer we had no idea Honda would announce plans to bring the wagon to the States... wearing an Acura badge.
Volkswagen releases another sketchy look at forthcoming 2011 mid-size sedan
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.
Tuesday, Oct 27
VIDEO: More autonomous VW action from Stanford
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 par...
Ford makes biggest gains in Consumer Reports annual reliability report, Japanese still lead
General Motors had 20 of 48 models score average reliability, while Chrysler saw one-third of its models place below average. The Asian brands, meanwhile, are still the standard bearer for reliability. Of all the Asian models included in the report, 69 percent scored above average relia...
GM to offer in-vehicle WiFi on select models
Everywhere connectivity is even closer with the announcement that GM will be offering dealer-installed Autonet routers in its SUV and truck offerings. Chrysler was the first to put Autonet in cars a year ago, and Volkswagen signed up in August of this year, putting the mobile router dock...
Monday, Oct 26
Stanford to run driverless Audi TT-S up Pikes Peak next year [w/VIDEO]
If you read AutoblogGreen regularly, then you already know that Volkswagen and Stanford University have taken their relationship that began with developing autonomous vehicles to compete in the government-sponsored DARPA Grand Challenge competitions to the next level. VW has comm...
REPORT: VW bids to save Karmann but coachbuilder holding out for more money
Although it's possible that Karmann's owners could choose to disappear rather than accept VW's offer, we'd be surprised if that happened. What we think more likely is that VW, in the way it has had recently, gets its way. If things keep up like this, though, by the time the auto economy picks u...
VW chooses Deutsch LA as its new ad agency
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 mom...
AutoblogGreen for 10.26.09
Toyota out of the Chamber of Commerce? Plug in America calls out the troopsREPORT: Mazda working on business case for diesels in AmericaVolt range-extended mileage to be "better than any conventional car." But what about hybrids? AutoblogGreen for 10.26.09 originally appeared on Autob...
Friday, Oct 23
Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title
Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Thursday, Oct 22
VW launches Real Racing GTI on iPhone, giving away six GTIs!
Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Toys/Games Gallery: Volkswagen 2010 GTI Mark VI prize car Source: Volkswagen | iTunes link] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Volkswagen to buy 49.9% of Porsche in first stage of merger
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 app...
Czech it Out: Skoda reportedly to make future designs "more avant-garde"
The designer behind the new Superb - an innovative and elegant take on the Volkswagen Passat - says that future Skodas will be "more avant-garde [that] will make you feel well-dressed," while still incorporating the spaciousness and value that the brand has come to embody underneath th...
Monday, Oct 19
Spy Shots: Audi A1 spotted wearing swirlies and not much else
To keep costs down, Audi is expected to build the A1 with a conventional steel structure as opposed to the aluminum space frame of the A2 of a few years ago. Power is expected to come from a range of gas and diesel engines likely topping out at about 1.4 liters. Some of the unseen mechanical bits wi...
Thursday, Oct 15
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 10.15.09
First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen Golf evolves the German hatchback Is the new VW Golf MkV1 enough to woo hatch-averse Americans out of their sedans and into something with an added helping of practicality? We trek over to its Wolfsburg birthplace to find out.
Consumer Reports sees what happens when your floor mat sticks
With a large test track and a fleet of vehicles at their disposal, the magazine's engineers initially focused on the "just step hard on the brakes" method of bringing the car to a halt. Interestingly enough, CR tested a Mercedes-Benz E350 and a Volkswagen Jetta Wagon - both fitted with driv...
First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen Golf evolves the German hatchback
While the sixth generation Golf has been on sale in Europe for nearly a year, U.S.-spec versions are beginning to trickle into retailers on this side of the Atlantic. But before you head down to your local V-Dub dealer to check out the newest Golf (and buy a Jetta instead), we made the trek to Ger...
AutoblogGreen for 10.16.09
Volkswagen MK VI Golf BlueMotion now on sale, 99 g/km of CO2 61.9 mpg, and it's not available in the U.S. Figures. Unexpected Greenery: TVR Artemis concept from Niels van Roij The idea of an eco-friendly TVR never really crossed our minds. Until now.
Wednesday, Oct 14
Rendered Speculation: Pondering what an electric Audi R4 roadster would look like
At last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi board member Michael Dick confirmed that a production version of the electric eTron sports car concept would be produced by late 2012. Following the show, Audi NA president Johan de Nysschen confirmed that announcement and now AutoExpress has...
Tuesday, Oct 13
SCCA Speed World Challenge: The rest of the series wraps up with finale at Laguna Seca (Spoiler Alert)
We just told you about the championship-winning Ford Mustang FR500C, but the list of competitors reads like a fantasy car collection, with drivers campaigning vehicles like the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, Chevrolet Corvette, Aston Martin DB9, Lotus Exig...
Monday, Oct 12
REPORT: Next New Beetle will have bigger back seat
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 not...
Sunday, Oct 11
What Conflict? Mercedes awards SLS AMG body panel construction to Magna
Daimler sees it another way, however. Not only will Magna continue building the legendary Gelandewagen for Mercedes-Benz at its facility in Graz, Austria, but Mercedes also announced that the contractor will make the aluminum body panels for the recently-unveiled SLS AMG supercar. Fo...
Friday, Oct 9
MTM Audi RS6 Avant goes 214 mph, proves wagons uber alles!
As a profession, there's a very long list of cars on sale in Europe that we can't buy which us auto journo types nevertheless constantly rattle our (virtual) pens over. From the Volkswagen Scirocco to the Honda Civic Type R to the 300+ hp Ford Focus to the Citroen C6, total and complete absenc...
REPORT: So-called "smart" gas pedals could counteract floor mat issues
Considering Audi and other automakers' unfortunate history with unsubstantiated unintended acceleration claims, similar technology reportedly exists at that automaker along with parent company Volkswagen. Interestingly, the NYT reports that General Motors, Ford, Honda, Acur...
Volkswagen group reportedly considering entering F1
Soon-to-be the world's largest automaker, VW stands as one of the largest automakers having never participated in the sport. Auto Union competed in pre-war grands prix, Porsche participated briefly back in the '60s, and Lamborghini provided engines to a handful of teams a couple of dec...
AutoblogGreen for 10.09.09
VW Golf GTD may arrive with 170 hp, Jetta TDI Cup replica coming in JanuaryREPORT: V-Vehicles waiting for DOE response, looking for future workersGale Banks breathes on the VW Jetta TDI AutoblogGreen for 10.09.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:03:00 EST. Please see...
Thursday, Oct 8
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 10.8.09
First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen GTI reminds us why we like hot hatches so much Volkswagen is attempting to remind potential GTI buyers that the new MkVI is both a direct descendant of and flag bearer for the original 1983 MkI GTI. Which begs the question: Is it?
VW Golf GTD may arrive with 170 hp, Jetta TDI Cup replica coming in January
Prior to the U.S. launch of the Volkwagen Golf MK VI, a few months back rumors emerged that the Americans were going to get a crack at the GTD version of the hatchback. For those unfamiliar with the GTD, it's essentially the much loved GTI but with a 170 hp version of the 2.0-liter TDI diesel. Unfort...
REPORT: Porsche Panamera Convertible is coming soon
Perhaps a little more interesting is what comes at the end of the article confirming Porsche's newest drop top. Since Volkswagen now owns Porsche, the Panamera platform could be used for other products. Imagine the next Bentley Continental being built off a Porsche chassis, instead of th...
Opinion: eBay Find of the Day: 1984 Volkswagen GTI MkI
No doubt we've had GTI on the brain the past week or so after driving Volkswagen's new, fun, we-like-it-more-than-we-thought-we-would MkVI GTI. And if you read our review, you're aware that Volkswagen is actively trying to market the new GTI as if it's cut from the same cloth as the origin...
First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen GTI reminds us why we like hot hatches so much
We mention this problem with the Performance Icon label because Volkswagen described the all-new 2010 MkVI GTI to us as the "performance icon of the brand." As you may have noticed, Volkswagen's been delving pretty deeply into its past for marketing purposes as of late. First they tried re...
New Tennessee-built VW Passat won't get the "Westmoreland" treatment
While we were chatting with VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby in Wolfsburg, Germany, the subject of its new 'Merican-built car came up. The so-called NMS or New Midsize Sedan will replace the Passat in the US VW lineup. This model will be unique to the North American market, which brought up a qu...
AutoblogGreen for 10.08.09
i MiEV joins the CarPool, speeds excessivelyVolkswagen extends the range of the Touran TSI EcoFuel to 416 milesToyota Prius sales backlogged until May 2010 in Japan AutoblogGreen for 10.08.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of...
Wednesday, Oct 7
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 10.7.09
Other news of import Ferrari 458 Italia price emerges at $240,000 in alleged leaked documentNew VW Beetle coming in two years, Scirocco still not in cards for U.S. Mark LaNeve leaving GM effective October 15Hyundai and GReddy team up for 350-hp Genesis Coupe Browse our archive of Daily U-T...
New VW Golf R20 (GTI-R) may come to America
Volkswagen unveiled the new high-zoot R version of the MK VI Golf at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, but it declined to say whether Americans would ever get a chance to buy one. Fans of the R32 will likely be clamoring for the new R20 if does make it to our shores, in part because of the 400 po...
2010 Green Car of the Year finalists announced, diesels vs. hybrids
Last year, Volkswagen's new Jetta TDI was named the 2009 Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show, which means that the Volkswagen Golf TDI has a bit of baggage if it wants to win the 2010 award. Regardless, the Golf was named one of five finalists today, along with the Audi A3 TDI, the Honda Insi...
New VW Beetle coming in two years, Scirocco still not in cards for U.S.
We're in Wolfsburg, Germany right now for the launch drive of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf and we've just returned from a presentation at the company's design center with Walter de Silva. We'll have more on de Silva's comments a little later, but first, we did have a chance to chat with VW of Amer...
Tuesday, Oct 6
VIDEO: Nat Geo airing Ultimate Factories on Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Camaro and Porsche
For example, we chose the Lamborghini picture as the lead for this post because A) that's the (drool) LP670-4 SV B) the Lambo factory episode already aired last week. From all accounts, it was super fantastic good, especially if you're into raging bulls. Missed it? Do not fear, however, as r...
VIDEO: VW channels Back to the Future, Grease for new Polo ad
Filed under: Budget, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Polo Source:Volkswagen via YouTube]Continue reading VIDEO: VW channels Back to the Future, Grease for new Polo ad
Monday, Oct 5
Audi recalls over 10,000 2006-2010 A3 and TT models over potential fuel leak
The vehicles in question include some 10,200 A3s, TT coupes and TT Roadsters built between September 29, 2005 and August 26, 2009. Volkswagen of America will be contacting vehicle owners to notify them of the recall, and Audi dealerships will replace the faulty ventilation valves with a...
More details leak out about Porsche's reported plan for entry level model
Remember the Porsche 914? Most Porschophiles do, although some choose to forget the mid-engined sportscar built from 1969 through 1976. But the four-cylinder model was something of a sales success for the German automaker, handily outpacing the firm's range-topping 911 series throu...
First Drive: 2010 Acura ZDX offers figure over function
Acura calls its all-new ZDX "a provocative luxury four-door sports coupe," adding that it's a "passionate getaway" vehicle designed for "a couple, their belongings, and more." The proclamation is a twist on a pitch we've heard before, yet with an even narrower segment focus. While the ma...
Wednesday, Sep 30
What's Worth What? AdAge looks at values of automakers' marketing accounts
Advertising Age has taken a look at the still-big auto advertising business and what fifteen assorted manufacturers drop on advertising per year. Landing one of these big vehicular fishes would surely make an account executive smile, though AdAge rightly posits that some of are sexier...
Wednesday, Sep 16
Frankfurt 2009: the 2010 Volkswagen CC R is better looking than your midsize sedan
Oh Volkswagen. How is it that the automaker of the people makes what just might be the sleekest, sexiest sedan in the world? No offense to A-M's Rapide, but the Volkswagen CC is not a two-door coupe with a stretch and some rear-doors grafted on. The CC is clean sheet, or at least as clean sheet as...
Tuesday, Sep 15
Autoblog Podcast #145 with the Two Marks from Ford
The Volkswagen L1 concept sets us off on the environmentally conscious aspects of the show, which we quickly abandoned in favor of such awesomeness as the Audi R8 Spyder, roofless Lamborghini Reventon, and the slick Audi S5 Sportback. Taking a left turn down Odd Street, we test our intest...
Monday, Sep 14
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen calls E-Up! Concept "Beetle of the 21st Century"
That performance is surely buoyed by the E-Up!'s low weight of about 2,400 pounds (1,085 kilometers) - 530 pounds of which is accounted for by the 18 kWh lithium ion battery pack. That's enough juice to provide a range of about 80 miles (130 kilometers), which VW believes is sufficient for u...
Friday, Aug 28
Opinion: Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 8.28.09
We still cringe upon hearing marketing types utter the phrase "four-door coupe." It's inherently a lie, a scam. But in the new, entry-level world of sloping roof-lines, the Volkswagen CC reigns supreme.2010 Toyota 4Runner to get four-cylinder model, third row option for 2010
Wednesday, Aug 26
Frankfurt Preview: Polo Three-Door diesel will get 71 mpg (U.S.)
Fuel-conscious would-be VW drivers can opt for a BlueMotion version of the Polo Three-Door. The most efficient Polo burns just 3.3 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. In numbers that most readers will be familiar with, this is the same as 71 mpg (U.S.) and we want to drive one today. This frugal c...
Opinion: Autoblog Podcast #142
Episode #142 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, this week with the (not very) dynamic duo of Chris and Dan carrying the baton while seemingly the rest of the world is on vacation. We're certainly in the lull before auto show season swings into full effect, but there are still a few things to talk...
Wednesday, Jul 22
Autoblog Podcast #137
Episode #137 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived. Chris, Sam, and Dan are back, chewing the fat over the Acura ZDX, Death Valley spy shots of the Jaguar XJ, what will underpin Cadillac's new flagship model, Electric Lexus pricing, the ongoing Volkswagen/Porsche soap opera, and Honda's s...
Friday, May 1
Derek Jenkins to head up Mazda North America design
Mazda has a new leader for its North American design efforts courtesy of Volkswagen and Audi. Derek Jenkins is moving to Irvine, California to head up the studio that created concepts such as the Nagare and Furai as well as the latest 6 and 3 from Mazda. Jenkins had a 15 year tenure in design at t...
Sunday, Apr 12
Former Mazda chief designer Laurens van den Acker heads to Renault
CA In 1985, he joined the Volkswagen Audi Group to become the Design Strategy Director. He joined the Renault Group on October 1, 1987 in a newly created position, Vice President of Corporate Design. In 1995, he took over the Vice President of Quality and ...
Monday, Mar 23
Officially Official: 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI coming Stateside this summer
2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI - Click above for a high-res gallery The 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mark VI) is upon us, and as suspected, the thinly-veiled "concept" shown in Paris is an exact duplicate of the production model we'll be getting in the States this summer.
Wednesday, Mar 4
Autoblog Podcast #118
Join us for Episode #118 of the Autoblog Podcast, where Johnathon Ramsey makes his first ever 'cast appearance. Chris, Dan and JR cover the Opel Ampera and Volkswagen Polo, both vehicles we've sent our Geneva Dreadnoughts after. Attention then turns to the Ford iosis MAX concept before mo...
Thursday, Jul 12
Dodge-based VW minivan caught on dealer TV - too little, too late?
In addition to the new van, the dealer TV system also gave timing for some other new products, most of which we already know about. VW had previously confirmed that the Jetta TDI and Tiguan were coming in the first half of 2008 and the Touareg diesel was coming in the fall of 2008. What hadn't bee...
Podcast: Freeman Thomas - Ford never planned to build the Interceptor
During the concept car ride that Ford held at their Dearborn proving ground this week, some of Ford's top designers including Peter Horbury and Freeman Thomas were on hand to answer questions from the gathered journalists. Thomas currently leads Ford's Advanced Design Studio in Irvine...
Monday, May 21
Opinion: Autoblog Week in Photos: Week of May 13, 2007
This week on Autoblog, we got in a full review of the Toyota Tundra Crew Max, and we got some terrific photos of the Toyota's biggest truck in action. The Volkswagen Golf seemed to take a seat near the front of the class this week, as Wörthersee's W12 Golf concept looking mean and fast. The Golf w...
Tuesday, May 1
Today's Distraction: Pimp my classic German ride
BusSelecta.com gives you the tools to customize any of a variety of classic German cars. As the name suggests, the site started out a few years back with the classic VW bus, but now includes the Beetle, the Type 3 and a whole variety of classic Porsches. You can customize a wide range of features...
Monday, Apr 30
Road & Track rumormill: Mazda RX-7 development underway
Additionally, the rumored RX-7 will grab styling cues from the Kabura concept (pictured) that was unveiled at Detroit in 2006 and will be built on the platform that underpins the MX-5/RX-8. Whether or not the next gen. 7 will come in a 2+2 configuration remains to be seen, but regardless, do...
