Volkswagen
2012 Volkswagen Beetle teased on Oprah, 275 units given away!
Volkswagen has decided to tease the 2012 Beetle on one of most watched daytime talk shows, The Oprah Winfrey Show. The outline of the new model was shown and the shape didn’t come as a surprise. It definitely looks like a Beetle if you as me! The shocker is that Oprah gave away 275 units of the yet-to-be-launched 2012 Beetle to her audiences as part of her “Favorite Things” episode.
The press release by Volkswagen that accompanied the photo above talks about how aggressive and sportier the 2012 ‘bug’ is. Perhaps Volkswagen is trying to shed the “for ladies only” image that has been cemented on the Beetle.
The new Beetle has a dual-exhaust system, 19-inch wheels, sports seats along with other features such as Bluetooth, touch-screen radio, unique ambient lighting and more. The company also confirmed that the Beetle will be launched in the US by spring next year before being available in showrooms by fall.
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LA 2010 – facelifted Volkswagen Eos revealed!
Volkswagen has revealed the facelifted Eos convertible at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The refreshed Eos is now treated to Volkswagen’s latest design language which sees the car having a less-rounded design. It looks much better if you ask me. The exterior can be selected with bi-xenon headlights that come with LED daytime running lights.
There is also a Light Assist feature that can automatically switch off the main beam when there is oncoming traffic, fog lamps with cornering lights, new two-part LED taillights as well as a different rear bumper.
On the inside, designers have opted for new trim on the dashboard and doors (Matt Chrome as standard), window buttons and light switches framed in chrome, new fabric and leather options and more. The DSG gear shift gaiter and lever has been modified as well.
New or updated options for the 2011 Eos include “Premium” multifunction display with colour screen, second generation Park Assist with Pilot Park (Volkswagen’s assisted parallel and adjacent parking) and new keyless access lock and ignition system which comes with a push start button. Buyers also have the option of selecting a wireless remote control feature for the convertible top.
Buyers will get to select between a 1.4 TSI and a 2.0 TSI from the petrol family. The former has two states of tune including 122PS/200Nm of torque and 166PS/240Nm of torque. The 166PS version is twin-charged. The 122PS version is available with BlueMotion which brings fuel consumption down to 6.2 liter per 100 kilometers.
The 2.0 liter unit comes with either 200PS or 210PS/280Nm of torque. The former is offered in the US while the more potent version is for the European market. The diesel front is represented by a 2.0 TDI with 140PS. This engine also makes 320Nm of torque and offers a fuel economy figure of 5.2 liters per 100 kilometers. The BlueMotion package will allow the TDI to offer 4.8 liters per 100 kilometers.
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Volkswagen Group shows interest in Ferrari
Looks like Volkswagen is ready for a shopping spree. Autoweek has reported that the German giant is interested in acquiring Ferrari, which sits under Fiat’s umbrella. Unfortunately we don’t have an official word from Volkswagen just yet. However Volkswagen’s interest may grind to a halt as Ferrari is Fiat’s most profitable brand and it wouldn’t let it go easily.
However there are also rumors that Fiat is looking to sell 49% of Ferrari while retaining the other 51%. Ferrari is said to be worth approximately US$4 billion and it may join rivals such as Lamborghini, Bugatti and Porsche under Volkswagen if everything goes the giant’s way. Earlier in August, rumors were also going around regarding Volkswagen’s interest in Alfa Romeo.
Paris 2010 – Volkswagen debuts the 7th-gen Passat
This is Volkswagen’s seventh generation Passat which made its debut at the Paris Motor Show. To me the new Passat does look better than the previous generation model. Some say that it looks a little too ordinary but I would like to believe that it looks very decent indeed, with just-about-right proportions.
As you can see, the new Passat carries Volkswagen’s latest front fascia. The front end also features LED daytime running lights and this new model measures 4,769 mm long, which is 4 mm longer then the previous model. Width and height measurements remain the same.
An interesting feature available with the new Passat is a unique boot release mechanism. One can practically open the boot just by kicking a specified spot, located at the underside of the rear bumper.
Several engine options have been announced including a 122 PS 1.4 TSI, 160 PS 1.8 TSI and a 210 PS 2.0 TSI. Also included is a range-topping 300 PS 3.6 liter V6. There is also the 1.6 TDI with 105 PS, a 2.0 TDI with either 140 PS and 160 PS as well as a BlueMotion package that offers aerodynamic features, an engine Stop/Start system and battery regeneration.
This ‘cleaner’ model achieves 24.4 km/l and outputs 109 g/km of CO2 emissions. The new Passat comes with a manual transmission as standard with a DSG dual-clutch unit offered as an option. The company also showed the wagon variant too. Live pictures are available after the jump. Read the rest of this entry.
Fiat denies Alfa Romeo sale to Volkswagen
We all know that Volkswagen Group is very firm with it’s plans to become the world’s No. 1 auto maker. The German auto giant already has Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti as well as Porsche under it’s belt. It also owns Italdesign, Karmann, Volkswagen’s Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) arm as well as having a 19.9% stake in Suzuki, among others.
According to Autonews, Volkswagen has set it’s eyes on Fiat’s Alfa Romeo, despite Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn saying earlier that “Our appetite for buying in Italy is fully satisfied.” The automotive news site claims that two executives at Volkswagen have confirmed that the company is “seriously interested” in acquiring the Italian brand. An unidentified high-ranking manager at Volkswagen also revealed to Automobilwoche, an Autonews sister publication, “Alfa is a globally recognized brand with sporty genes and a great tradition. If such a treasure could be had, we must not hesitate… too long.”
However despite Volkswagen’s deep interest in Alfa Romeo, a high ranking Fiat executive revealed to Autonews that the company is not interested in selling the brand. “We have no intention at all of selling the brand to Volkswagen,” he specifically said. It was also revealed that Fiat intends to stick with the turnaround plan set for Alfa Romeo, which was announced by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne in April.
Marchionne aims to sell up to 500,000 Alfa Romeos a year, an ambitious goal according analysts. Arndt Ellinghorst, global head of automotive research at Credit Suisse told Autonews in June, ”Maybe Alfa could get to a half million unit sales a year, but only after the brand is sold to Volkswagen.” ”Alfa plans to sell 85,000 units in the United States in 2014, therefore Fiat’s plan really means it wants to boost sales in Europe from 100,000 units to more than 400,000. I do not see how they will be able to steal so many buyers from their German competitors,” said Massimo Vecchio, head of industry research at Mediobanca in Milan.
It was also said that Alfa Romeo has been reporting losses of between 200 million Euro to 400 million Euros a year for the past ten years. Definitely a huge ambition by Marchionne if you ask me. Looks like Volkswagen may have to knock on Fiat’s door later in the future.
Volkswagen Fox gets entry level 60hp 1.2 liter
Volkswagen has announced the addition of an entry level 1.2 liter engine for the Fox. The engine in question is a petrol unit which is also used in the Polo. The engine makes 60hp and it allows the Fox to hit 100km/h in 15.6 seconds while being able to offer a top speed of 153km/h.
Volkswagen revealed that the Fox with this engine is able to offer a fuel economy figure of 5.9 liters per 100 kilometers. CO2 emissions output is figured at 137 grams per kilometer. The 1.2 liter engine is available with all trim levels on the Fox and prices start from €9,825.
Volkswagen reveals the new CrossTouran
This is the new CrossTouran by Volkswagen. The crossover variant of the Touran MPV carries a €27,700 price tag and now available for order in Europe. The new CrossTouran gets longer suspension springs and it features a 20-millimeter higher ground clearance over the standard Touran. The crossover sits on 17-inch wheels with 215-sized tires for the front and 235 tires for the rear. Just like most of Volkswagen’s crossover models, this MPV gets widened wheel arches, different front and rear bumpers as well as black grained protective strips on the doors.
It also comes with a matt aluminium roof rack, decorative trim in stainless steel look, electric windows for the front and rear, front seats with height adjustment and lumbar support, leather steering wheel plus leather trim on the gear lever and the handbrake. There is also a special seat cover pattern. Buyers can also opt for a third row to enable the CrossTouran to ferry more people. Engine wise, the people-mover is available with an array of TSI and TDI engines ranging from 105 PS to 170 PS.
Also available is an EcoFuel variant which is able to run on natural gas. This model will give a 4.8 liter per 100 kilometers fuel economy figure while outputting 133 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometer. Volkswagen also added that the natural gas tanks are located beneath the floor hence the vehicle’s cargo capacity of up to 1,989 liters is not affected.
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