Volkswagen
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen L1 Concept Gets 170 MPG, Production Planned for 2013
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As Germany’s largest automaker, Volkswagen had big news at the Frankfurt Auto Show today with numerous new models that boast impressive fuel-economy. But even the BlueMotion Polo has nothing on the fuel-economy of the L1 Concept, a tiny two seater that uses just 1.38 liters of diesel per 100 km – that’s 170 mpg. And…
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen Golf R World Premiere
Sure Volkswagen’s main stage was reserved for environmentally friendly BlueMotion diesels, but is there was no car on the German automakers stand that deserves the spotlight like the 265hp Golf R. We have to admit being a little disappointed that the car won’t get the same turbo five-cylinder as found in the TT-RS, but sharing…
Frankfurt Preview: Golf R Revealed With 265hp and All-Wheel Drive
Forget the GTI or R32, Volkswagen has just released the Golf R, a high-performance, turbocharged, all-wheel drive hot hatch. We have to admit being a little disappointed that the car won’t get the same turbo five-cylinder as found in the TT-RS, but sharing the powerplant with the TT-S is nothing to scoff at. Instead of…
Frankfurt Preview: Volkswagen 1-Liter Concept Car Gets 189 MPG
Back in 2002 Volkswagen first showed its two-seater One-Liter Concept car and tomorrow at the Frankfurt Auto Show Germany’s largest automaker will unveil an updated version of that vehicle. Called the One-Liter or L1 Concept because of its ability to travel 100km on 1 liter of gasoline (235 mpg), the latest edition isn’t quite so…
Report: Porsche Panamera Platform to Live On As Future Audi, Bentley or Bugatti Model
The incredible Porsche Panamera platform will, as expected, live on, even if Volkswagen goes through with its plans to cancel the model after its initial production run. The Panamera is currently slated to run until 2016. According to a report on Inside Line, the platform will be shared with other brands in the VW umbrella….
Report: Volkswagen to Unveil BlueMotion Polo, Golf and Passat in Frankfurt
Volkswagen will debut a new set of ultra-efficient BlueMotion diesels at the Frankfurt Auto Show in just two weeks. Included in the list are the new BlueMotion versions of the Polo, Golf and Passat. First up is the ultra-efficient BlueMotion Polo sub-compact, which is powered by a 75hp 1.2-liter diesel engine. Improving even on the…
Report: Cash for Clunkers Boosts August Auto Sales
The U.S. auto industry showed continued improvement in the month of August, helped on by the Obama Administration’s Cash for Clunkers program. Ford was once again a big winner as sales increased 17.2 percent over last August, a significant improvement over the 2.4 percent growth in July – which was thought to be good at…
Report: VW Board Votes to Axe Porsche Panamera, Cayenne
Porsche’s new owners at Volkswagen are aiming to make some big changes at the German sport car maker, including eliminating any models that aren’t sports cars. That’s right, both the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sedan are reportedly on the chopping block, according to a recent report in the U.K.’s CAR magazine. In an article an…
Report: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI Returns to U.S.
Volkswagen showcased the 2010 Golf TDI at this year’s New York Auto Show but since then the German automaker has been quiet about actually bringing the fuel-efficient diesel back to the U.S. Now it appears that decision has been made as Volkswagen U.S.A. has now put up live pages on its website giving full details…
Breaking: German Prosecutors Raid Porsche Offices Over Possible “Market Manipulation”
Earlier today German federal prosecutors raided Porsche’s offices in Stuttgart in search of documents that would reveal illegal business practices. The raid stems from Porsche’s failed takeover attempt of Volkswagen, with the prosecutors office alleging, “a breach of public disclosure requirements and market manipulation.” In a statement released by Porsche the German sports car maker…
Report: Volkswagen to Bring Back the Phaeton to U.S.
Volkswagen’s U.S. CEO has confirmed the planned return of the Phaeton. In an interview with The Detroit News, Stefan Jacoby outlined the German automaker’s plans to become a major payer in the U.S. market and to sell 800,000 vehicles annually by 2018. The plan includes vehicles, many of them entirely new models, to compete in…
Breaking: Volkswagen Reaches Agreement to Buy 42% Stake in Porsche
Volkswagen continues to call it an “integration”, but the company’s business relationship with Porsche is undeniably a takeover. Today VW agreed to buy a 42 percent stake in the sports car maker, paying $4.7 billion for the huge chunk of Porsche. Not satisfied it’s a takeover? Well, how about the fact that Volkswagen’s Chairman Dr….
Breaking: Volkswagen Adds Porsche to Growing List of Brands
Several months ago Porsche was poised to buy Volkswagen. Today Volkswagen received the approval it needed to do just the opposite. A “supervisory board” meeting, comprised of board members from both Volkswagen and Porsche, as well as the Porsche and Piëch families and the German State of Lower Saxony, today gave unanimous consent to a…
Breaking: Porsche CEO Ousted As Volkswagen Takeover Backfires
Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking is leaving his position at the helm of Germany’s most renowned sports car maker and he isn’t leaving voluntarily. Wiedeking was sacked by the Porsche’s executive board late yesterday so that the company could move forward with a “merger” with Germany’s largest automaker, Volkswagen. The now former CEO opposed the deal…
Report: Volkswagen Test Pilot Dies in Crash at Automaker’s Test Track
According to a just-released German police report, a driver died at a Volkswagen test track earlier this week. The man’s name was not released, but the report did say that we was a 42-year-old Brazilian. The accident occurred at VW’s Ehra-Lessien test track near the German automaker’s head offices in Wolfsburg. The track is an…
Report: Volkswagen Hoping Routan Give Away on Oprah Will Boost Sales for Slumping Minivan
Back in 2004 Oprah Winfrey gave away 276 Pontiac G6s to her audience members. And like all things Oprah touches, it turned to gold – gold for Pontiac and General Motors anyway. Popularity of the car shot up overnight and now Volkswagen is hoping for a repeat performance as Oprah will reportedly give away two…
Volkswagen Looking To Buy Stake in Suzuki
Volkswagen is reportedly looking at purchasing a 10 percent stake in Suzuki as it looks to create a solid partnership with the Japanese automaker. Te reason for VW’s interest is Suzuki’s expertise in mini cars – like the Suzuki Alto, pictured above. The Alto is currently the best-selling vehicle in India and Volkswagen wants to…
Volkswagen Planning Assault on Toyota With Camry and Highlander Competitors
We’ve known for some time now that Volkswagen is planning to build a new mid-size sedan, but as details of the German automaker’s future product lineup emerge, it appears as though VW isn’t just interest in taking on the Camry, but the entire Toyota lineup. Volkswagen has the potential to overtake Toyota as the world’s…
Volkswagen to Offer Routan Minivan With Wi-Fi
Behind the Volkswagen badge on the front of the Routan minivan, everything else is pretty much standard Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country equipment. So why buy the VW? The German automaker hopes the option of wireless internet will be enough to win over a few buyers, and they’re probably right. Thanks to Autonet Mobile, Routan…
Porsche Struggling, Asks German Government for $2.5 Billion Loan
Porsche has reportedly asked the German government for a $2.5 billion loan, adding to speculation that the automaker is in financial trouble. Much of Porsche’s money problems stem from the company overextending itself in its failed bid to take over Volkswagen, a move that, if successful, would have added $10 billion to Porsche’s coffers. As…
Volkswagen and Chinese Automaker BYD to Explore Electric Vehicle Partnership
Volkswagen and Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) have signed a “memorandum of understanding” announcing that the two car manufacturers will seek ways to work together to bring electric vehicles and hybrids to market. Volkswagen recently announced its TwinDrive diesel-electric hybrid system and we recently reported on a rumor that the German automaker will bring…
Volkswagen Golf Estate: Wagon Model Delivers Increased Cargo Room
Volkswagen has just released some initial information on the upcoming Golf Estate, which the company confirmed at the sixth-generation Golf’s debut at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, will make its way to North America. The Golf Estate is a compact car and yet as a wagon it offers plenty of cargo room –…
Volkswagen Bringing Electric Car Concept to Frankfurt Auto Show
Volkswagen is rumored to be delivering up to four new models at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September and now we have learned that one of those cars will be an electric model. Little (to nothing) is known about the EV Concept, however, it is likely to either use the Up! city car platform or…
Volkswagen BlueSport Roadster On Hold
Sadly it looks like the very-cool Volkswagen BlueSport Roadster may never see the street. VW has not confirmed the car’s status but apparently a company representative told a group of media who were in Australia for a Volkswagen press event that it just didn’t make economic sense considering the global recession. This would no doubt…
