Volkswagen

Volkswagen to start building Porsche Cars

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:26:15 GMT

Volkswagen to start building Porsche Cars

Volkswagen still has to go over the river and through the woods before it can close the deal to take over Porsche, but this fall it will begin building them. Primary Boxster production will commence this summer at Porsche's factory in Zuffenhausen, where the 911 is also built.

Overflow production will be handled by VW at its Osnabrück plant, which also handles assembly for the VW Golf Cabriolet and overflow Porsche Cayman production. The arrangement isn't unexpected, with plans for the Osnabrück option mentioned as far back as 2010.

[ Source: WARDS, AutoBlog.com ]

VW goes AWD with the new Passat Alltrack

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:20:12 GMT

VW goes AWD with the new Passat Alltrack

We're pretty fond of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, and we aren't alone. But for all of the vehicle's merits, there are a few of our favorite options missing from the American order sheet. For starters, buyers in the land of the free can't bring home a long-roof version of the mid-sizer, and all-wheel drive is nowhere to found either. These absences are made all the more painful by the fact that European buyers can snag this, the new 2012 Passat Alltrack. The vehicle is set to debut at this year's Tokyo Motor Show and boasts the Volkswagen 4Motion all-wheel drive system as well as a taller ride height for overcoming rough terrain and deep snow.

That smell? It's just the noxious fumes of envy wafting through the internet.

Volkswagen has thrown in a set of flared fender arches as well as revised front and rear bumpers. Under normal operation, the Passat Alltrack kicks 90 percent of the engine's power to the front axles, though 100 percent of the grunt can be shifted to the rear tires if need be. In the UK, buyers may chose between two variants of the German automaker's 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder engine

PRESS RELEASE

RUGGED PASSAT ALLTRACK COVERS NEW GROUND FOR Volkswagen

Volkswagen has today released the first images of the new Passat Alltrack, which is making its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show next week, ahead of its introduction to the market in early 2012.

Based on the popular and versatile Passat Estate, the Passat Alltrack adds 4MOTION four-wheel drive and a raised ride height that give it greater agility off-road, along with stylish body enhancements that also provide some protection from scrapes when covering rough terrain. These include stainless steel-look front and rear underbody protection panels and flared side sills. Other features include matt chrome roof rails, window surrounds, grille and exterior mirror casings.

At 4,771 mm, the Passat Alltrack is exactly the same length as the Passat Estate, and despite flared wheel arch protection the vehicle's width also remains the same at 1,820 mm. The suspension is raised to increase ground clearance from 135 to 165 mm, which also improves the ramp breakaway angle (significant when crossing the crest of a hill) from 9.5 to 12.8 degrees. Ruggedly styled front and rear bumpers increase the approach angle from 13.5 to 16 degrees, and the departure angle from 11.9 to 13.6 degrees.

As with other Volkswagen vehicles featuring 4MOTION, on the Passat Alltrack the front axle is usually driven, with only 10 per cent of propulsive power going to the rear axle. This saves on fuel. If necessary, almost 100 per cent of power can be sent to the rear axle, through use of an electrohydraulic Haldex clutch.

The Passat Alltrack also features an off-road mode, similar to that on the Tiguan Escape. When switched on (via a dashboard-mounted button), this activates hill descent assist, which automatically brakes the vehicle when the descent angle is greater than 10 degrees. The ABS function is also altered, with higher thresholds for operation on loose surfaces, along with faster-reacting electronic differential locks (EDS) to prevent wheelspin. For vehicles fitted with DSG dual-clutch transmission, the shift pattern is also altered when off-road mode is engaged, with higher shift points to give more power, a flatter and easier to manage accelerator pedal movement and no automatic upshifting in manual mode.

In the UK, the Passat Alltrack will be available as a 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS with six-speed manual gearbox or a 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS with six-speed DSG transmission. Standard equipment will include Alcantara upholstery, 2Zone electronic climate control, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring system, MDI iPod connectivity, Bluetooth telephone preparation and 18-inch alloys.

Retailers in the UK are expected to start taking orders for the new car in April, with first deliveries scheduled for July. More details including pricing will be available nearer the launch date. For more information on the Volkswagen range visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Bentley sales increased 31 percent

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:45:06 GMT

Bentley sales increased 31 percent

Just as Bentley publically unveils its new Continental GTC at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the company has announced sales figures for the first eight months of 2011. Things are looking good for the British automaker, with an increase of 31 percent compared to this time last year with more than 4,000 cars sold worldwide. The United States, Bentley's largest market, accounted for more than a quarter of the cars delivered, with sales up 36 percent. The largest increases, however, came in Germany and China, where sales are up by two-thirds. Bentley's sales in China exceeded 1,000 for the first time in the brand's history.

Bentley's impressive 2011 may come during a weakened world economy, but the company's rebound is a product of a mostly new line-up. The all-new Mulsanne and the significantly refreshed Continental GT both hit showroom floors for the first time this year. The Continental GTC convertible should also help Bentley continue its strong sales into next year.

[SOURCE: Bentley, Autoblog.com ]

PRESS RELEASE

Frankfurt, Germany. 12 September 2011). The world premiere of the new Continental GTC convertible at the International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt comes as Bentley's sales rebound across the globe. Despite recent economic uncertainty, sales increased year-on-year in major markets, demonstrating the incredible interest in the new Bentley model range. With the new GTC convertible set to go on sale in the last quarter, Bentley expects to deliver an overall sales increase of around 40 per cent for 2011.

For the year to August, Bentley sales increased by 31 per cent with 4016 cars delivered to customers worldwide. For the first time ever, over a thousand Bentleys were sold in the Chinese region – a remarkable increase of 67 per cent year-to-date - with this milestone achieved before the end of August. However, it is not just China that is showing renewed vigour. Bentley's biggest single market remains the US and with sales of 1195 cars to the end of August across the entire Americas region, the brand is up by 36 per cent on 2010. Europe too is showing increased confidence, up 35 per cent overall and led by a resurgent Germany where Bentley sales are up by two-thirds.

Leading this growth is strong demand for the Continental GT coupe. Just under half of all Bentley sales are GTs as it reached all markets for the first time in August. Mulsanne too has a strong order bank and, with the arrival soon of the new Continental GTC convertible, there is a solid foundation for future growth expectations.

Speaking on the eve of the Frankfurt Motor Show, Bentley Motors' Chairman and Chief Executive, Wolfgang Dürheimer, said:

"It is an incredibly exciting time for Bentley. We have a strong new model line-up driving an increasing global interest in the Brand. The new Continental GTC, which we officially reveal tomorrow, has already been previewed to some customers and their response has been extremely positive. With this, and other new models still in the pipeline, I am confident we can sustain this strong sales performance."

Taking cues from its GT coupe sibling launched last year, the new Continental GTC builds on the highly successful foundation of the previous cabriolet, which premiered in 2006. The new convertible delivers a more contemporary and muscular style, with increased performance and an ever-greater array of modern technology. Yet the hallmarks of Bentley remain; the power and performance matched to the luxury, quality and bespoke craftsmanship that can only be Bentley.

The new Bentley Continental GTC can be seen on the Bentley stand in Hall 3 of the Frankfurt IAA, with a press conference on Tuesday 13th September at 12:30pm. It is available to order now with first customer deliveries beginning in late 2011.

Saab 9-5 and Volkswagen CC earn TOP SAFETY PICK

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:51:22 GMT

Saab 9-5 and Volkswagen CC earn TOP SAFETY PICK

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded two vehicles Top Safety Pick awards. After testing eight mid-size to large sedans, the IIHS has called out the 2011-12 Volkswagen CC and 2011 Saab 9-5 for its highest award. Both vehicles earned "good" ratings for front, side, rear and rollover protection during testing. It should be noted, however, that only the front-wheel-drive VW CC gets the Top Safety nod, as the all-wheel-drive version only received an "acceptable" rating in rollover testing.

The IIHS also tested Lexus IS, Lexus ES, Infiniti G, Chevrolet Impala, BMW 3 Series and Saab 9-3. The rest of the vehicles had score ratings ranging from good to acceptable, but it was the Saab 9-5 and Volkswagen CC (FWD) that walked away with a clean sweep in all tests

PRESS RELEASE

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

2011 Saab 9-5 and 2011-12 Volkswagen CC earn TOP SAFETY PICK

The Saab 9-5, a large luxury car, and the Volkswagen CC, a midsize luxury car, are TOP SAFETY PICK award winners after earning good ratings for performance in the Institute's roof strength test for rollover protection. These cars earlier earned good ratings for front, side, and rear crash protection, and they have standard electronic stability control. TOP SAFETY PICK only applies to the front-wheel drive CC because the heavier all-wheel drive version is rated acceptable in the roof strength test.

Altogether, the Institute recently completed roof strength tests for eight midsize to large family and luxury cars. Also earning a good rating for rollover protection is the 2011 Lexus ES 350, which is not a TOP SAFETY PICK winner because it's rated marginal for rear crash protection. The BMW 3 series, Chevrolet Impala (models built after July 2010), Infiniti G, Lexus IS 250/350, and Saab 9-3 earn acceptable ratings for rollover protection.

To measure roof strength, a metal plate is pushed against one corner of a vehicle's roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle's weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio. This is a good assessment of vehicle structural protection in rollover crashes.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet - Golf R Cabrio

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:28:09 GMT

Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet - Golf R Cabrio

There's no doubt about it. Summer is here, and Volkswagen has gone crazy with open-air motoring. The German auto giant rolled in to its 30th-annual hot-hatch festival at Lake Wörthersee in Austria with the Skoda Fabia RS 2000 roadster. Then it dropped the top on a Golf R Cabriolet concept. But just in case that wasn't enough, VW also brought out a second Golf GTI Cabriolet.

Like the Golf R Cabrio, the formula for the GTI Cabrio is simplicity itself: take one new Golf Cabrio and one GTI, mix 'em together and this is what you get: 207 turbocharged horsepower to redo your coif in the open air. Just for good measure, VW also outfitted the show car with a full body kit, dropped suspension and special 19-inch wheels. The Firespark Metallic paint is offset by the high-gloss black trim, a color combo continued into the cabin decked out in black leather – Wörthersee is, after all, in the Austrian province of Corinthia – with red and grey top-stitching.

Unfortunately, like the Golf R cabrio and the Skoda roadster, this is strictly a show car for the time being, but if enough fans demand it, the GTI Cabrio could become a reality. So which would you rather drive home from your local dealership?

[ SOURCE: AUTOBLOG.com ]

PRESS RELEASE:

GTI Meet at Wörthersee: Volkswagen presents first GTI Cabriolet Concept

Wolfsburg / Reifnitz, 03 June 2011 - Volkswagen has now presented the Golf GTI Cabriolet Concept in a world debut at Wörthersee – it is the first officially built open-top version of the icon. There are plenty of good reasons for introducing this extremely dynamic concept in 2011: this year, the Golf GTI celebrates its 35th anniversary, and the legendary GTI Meet at Wörthersee is taking place for the 30th time. 2011 is also the year of the new Golf Cabriolet. While the production Golf cabriolet can already be ordered, the Golf GTI Cabriolet Concept is still a concept. And what a concept!

Visually, the fire red "Firespark Metallic" open-top GTI shows independent ways: especially noteworthy here are the add-on parts designed in shiny black piano paint. The concept's styling focuses on extreme precision with lines that appear as if cut by a razor. The add-on parts themselves are on the one hand delicate and light, but at the same time sturdy and integrally designed. A look at the front and rear spoilers or the side sills designed in the style of splitters used in motorsport shows this impressively.

Visual highlights: the front fog lights of the GTI gave way to air guides for ventilating the high-performance brake system that is used in the cabriolet. In side profile, the open-top GTI's look is characterised by black-silver 19-inch "Glendale" alloy wheels with 235 tyres. They fill out the wheel housings completely, since the Golf's ride height was lowered with a coilover suspension. Another feature that stands out in side profile are the brake callipers painted "Tornado Red" with black GTI logos.

The concept car's interior was upgraded with "Black Stripe" pattern accents and Nappa leather seats with red GTI logos in the head restraints. The seams between the individual leather surfaces provide a sporty contrast; they are styled in "Flash Red" and "Crystal Grey". Two-tone door inserts were coordinated with the seat pattern. As on the interior door panels, fine red decorative seams also customise the leather-trimmed steering wheel and the trim of the gear shift and parking brake levers. This colour is repeated in the red borders of the black safety belts and the black-red piping of the floor mats. Classic effects are achieved by aluminium door sill plates with worked-in GTI logo. By the way, the cabriolet's driving performance – with its 155 kW / 210 PS GTI engine – fully matches that of the closed-top GTI – i.e. right around 240 km/h and seven seconds for the sprint to 100 km/h. A genuine GTI!

[Source: Volkswagen]

New 2012 VW Beetle? nothing beetle about it! looks like an Audi

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:23:33 GMT

New 2012 VW Beetle? nothing beetle about it! looks like an Audi

The New look,

First off we want to say that we believe Volkswagen went the wrong direction with this one , Everyone was wondering where the designers of the PT Curser went, now we know. Its not a bad car, its just not a beetle. It looks like a cross between an Audi TT and Volkswagen Beetle, too much Audi influence not enough BEETLE.

What's NEW

Volkswagen is whipping the covers off redesigned 2012 Beetle this week, with simultaneous presentations at the New York and Shanghai auto shows and an invite-only event near VW headquarters in Berlin.

The two-door hatchback -- scheduled to go on sale in North America in September -- continues with the retro-inspired appearance of its direct predecessor.

The word "New" has been dropped from the car's name. The car will be called the Volkswagen Beetle.

The separate fenders have tauter surfacing, crisper feature lines, squarer bumpers, altered detailing and a more rakish roofline

The updated styling, developed under Volkswagen Group design boss Walter de Silva and VW brand boss Klaus Bischoff, recalls many of the cues revealed on the Ragster concept introduced at the 2005 Detroit auto show.

In the U.S. market, three engines will be offered: VW's 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine that generates 170 hp; a 2.0-liter TDI engine (140 hp), and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (200 hp). Other engine variants will be offered around the world.

Among the car's new features are LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlamps and larger wheels -- the latter of which can be specified up to 19 inches, VW says.

At 4,278 mm in length, 1,808 mm in width and 1,486 mm in height, the Beetle is a considerable 152 mm longer and 84 mm wider -- but 12 mm lower than the outgoing model, which has accounted for more than one million sales globally since its introduction in 1998.

Inside, there's a redesigned dashboard to provide the car with a more conventional driving position. The outgoing Beetle was criticized for its deep dashboard, something that imbued it with an upright, MPV-like driving environment.

In a move that will disappoint the flower power generation, the plastic vase has been deleted in favor of a new list of optional extras, including satellite navigation (the first time it has been has been made available on the Beetle), a high-end sound system developed with guitar and amplifier manufacturer Fender, keyless access, and a glass roof that is claimed to be 80 percent larger than that offered on the previous model.

As with its predecessor, the Beetle will be assembled at Volkswagen's Puebla plant in Mexico alongside the Jetta. The two models share many parts of the same front-engined/front-wheel drive platform.

Along with the coupe revealed here officially for the first time, VW is already well-advanced on a convertible version of the next Beetle, which insiders say is likely to make an appearance at the Los Angeles auto show in November.

Source: [ Automotive news )

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton reviled, is this a mistake?

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:20:14 GMT

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton reviled, is this a mistake?

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. And then again. That could very well sum up Volkswagen's strategy with its quizzical Phaeton. The flagship sedan – which took "the people's car" up-market into Mercedes S-Class territory – was introduced in 2003, then underwent a facelift in 2009 and has now undergone yet another.

The most immediately evident change is the new front end, bearing LED running lights and the brand's ubiquitous new grille. But that's not the end of the changes to the Phaeton for MY2011. As befits a car in this category, the Phaeton comes packed with tech, including Google Maps-enabled sat-nav, variable headlights, road sign recognition and a four-zone climate control system, all interconnected by some two miles worth of cable.

Buyers can choose from standard wheelbase or long, four (adjustable) seats or five, four engines (diesel six and gasoline six, eight or twelve)... the list goes on, but they're all driven through VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive system. Most pertinently, the new Phaeton is anticipated to mark the model's return to the North American market to take on another humble-badged full-size luxury sedan in the Hyundai Equus, never mind the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS...well, you get the point. Read all about it in the press release after the jump and check out the images in the gallery below.

Source: [Autoblog.com ]