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Official: Volkswagen Buys 20 Percent Share in Suzuki
Months of rumors and a more credible report yesterday have culminated in the official news that Volkswagen will take a 20 percent share in Japanese automaker Suzuki, worth $2.5 billion. Volkswagen has its sights set on becoming the world’s largest automaker and with Suzuli’s small-car expertise, it hopes to make a large expansion into developing…
Report: Volkswagen to Buy 20 Percent Stake in Suzuki
Company representatives on both sides continue to deny the rumors, but talks between Volkswagen and Suzuki are continuing and the most recent report suggests Germany’s largest automaker may buy as much as a 20 percent stake in Suzuki. A source cited in a Reuters report says a deal is close and could be announced as…
Rumor Mill: Is Volkswagen Planning a Toyota FT-86 Competitor?
Volkswagen is hell-bent on cracking the U.S. market and has decided to follow a production plan that will see it essentially follow in Toyota’s footsteps – for better or worse. Now that plan seems to include a possible entry-level sports car designed to compete against cars like the upcoming Toyota FT-86. In an interview with…
Report: Volkswagen’s New Compact Sedan to Retain Jetta Name
Volkswagen has confirmed that the company’s new compact sedan will retain the Jetta badge. Until now it has been known only as NCS (New Compact sedan) and is part of a two-pronged attack that Volkswagen will be making on the U.S. market (and on Toyota). Volkswagen plans to increase almost four-fold, growing its sales from…
LA 2009: We Catch Up With Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition in Los Angeles
There was no pomp and circumstance surrounding the unveiling of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition at the LA Auto Show. In fact, the car didn’t even get an unveiling. We thought it would be best to snap a few pics of it, however, as when Volkswagen announced the car a few weeks back…
LA 2009: Volkswagen Winds-Down New Beetle With “Final Edition” Models
It may have been a big deal when it launched back in 1998 but the New Beetle just doesn’t have the staying power of the original. Volkswagen has announced the “Final Edition” model of the car, unveiling both the limited edition coupe and convertible models at the LA Auto Show. VW will build 1,500 units…
LA 2009: Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept Gets 70 MPG, Could See Production
Volkswagen’s big news at the LA Auto Show was the world premiere of the Up! Lite Concept, a hybrid diesel based on the company’s upcoming small-car architecture – meaning it could very well see production. As a natural progression of the two-seater L1 concept that debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show, this four-seater offers practicality…
LA Preview: Volkswagen Bringing 170-MPG L1 Concept to LA Auto Show
As amazing as the 71-mpg Polo BlueMotion model is that Volkswagen plans to show at the LA Auto Show next week, the German automaker will also show another fuel-efficient vehicle that gets more than double that car’s mpg rating. Called the L1 Concept, this tiny two seater uses just 1.38 liters of diesel per 100…
LA Preview: Volkswagen to Showcase Diesel Efficiency with 71-MPG Polo Blue Motion
One of Volkswagen’s premieres set for the LA Auto Show next week is the newly-launched Polo BlueMotion. Now VW has no plans to offer this European model in North America, but the automaker is using the debut to promote its message that diesel is an immediate solution to using less fuel, while continuing to test…
Report: Volkswagen’s Motorsport Boss Denies NASCAR Talks, But Rumors Persist
Of all the high profile individuals to attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finale this past weekend at Homestead in Miami, none have created a buzz like the appearance of legendary race car driver and head of Volkswagen’s motorsports department Hans-Joachim Stuck. His attendance at the race and meetings with series officials has obviously led…
Report: 2011 Volkswagen Toureg to Debut in Detroit
With a facelift back in 2008, the all-new “third-generation” Volkswagen Touareg is set to debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new SUV is expected to go on sale mid way through 2010, with a variety of powerplants being offered – including a hybrid. This will be the first gas-electric…
Report: Volkswagen Announces Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition for 2010
With Volkswagen‘s Jetta TDI posting strong sales, the German automaker has decided to expand it’s Jetta TDI lineup by offering something for the more performance-based diesel fans. The Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition takes its name from VW’s Jetta TDI Cup racing series, which has been visiting major racing venues around the United States and…
Report: Volkswagen Releases Design Sketch of New Mid-Sized Sedan
Volkswagen is preparing a new mid-sized sedan to replace the Passat in North America and has just released a new design sketch of what the vehicle will look like. The decision to replace the Passat comes after VW’s admission its current mid-sized sedan is just too small, too expensive and, quite frankly, too nice. The…
Report: Porsche Panamera, 911 Platforms Could be Shared With VW Group Cars, Says CEO
Porsche’s new CEO has said that the German sports car maker is open to sharing the Panamera platform with other Volkswagen Group brands. He even went so far as to say that (gasp!) the iconic 911 platform could be used across brands. Michael Macht, the new Porsche boss who was practically hand picked by Volkswagen…
Report: Volkswagen Begins Takeover Process With 49.9 Percent Stake in Porsche
Volkswagen has announced that as the result of recent talks in its “step towards an integrated automotive group with Porsche” (aka, takeover) it will begin by taking a significant 49.9 percent share in the German sports car maker. The process will begin this year with a final merger occurring in 2011. Volkswagen is expected to…
Report: Volkswagen Launches Free GTI iPod Racing App With Chance to Win One of Six Custom GTIs
Ever seen a Volkswagen with a little white Mac apple decal on the back? Of course you have. VWs and Macs go together like Beer and bratwurst. Volkswagen has decided to work with its fan base and launch the new 2010 GTI using Mac’s App Store, where you can now download a free racing video…
Report: Volkswagen Golf R Confirmed for North America as GTI-R Model
Volkswagen has confirmed that the high-powered all-wheel drive Golf R, which debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show last month, will be sold in North America. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (the same powerplant found under the hood of the Audi TT-S) the Golf R makes 265hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque. Volkswagen estimates…
Official: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI Rated at 42 MPG Highway
After much anticipation Volkswagen has finally released the fuel-economy numbers for the 2010 Golf TDI, with the DSG equipped model achieving a rating of 31/42 mg (city/highway). Manual transmission TDI models are rated at 30/41 mpg. As for the standard gasoline-powered Golf with the 2.5-liter engine, it is rated at 22/30 mpg. The Golf starts…
Report: Volkswagen Bringing Larger E-Up! Electric Car to U.S.
Volkswagen is preparing a slightly larger version of its E-Up! concept, which debuted last week at the Frankfurt Auto Show, for the U.S. market. The tiny 3+1 seater is roughly the size of a SMART fortwo or Toyota iQ. It has a peak output of 60 kw with 210 Nm of torque (80-hp and 155…
VIDEO: Volkswagen Golf R and Scirocco R Hit the Track
Last week Volkswagen took the wraps off the Golf R at the Frankfurt Auto Show, with the high-powered hatch joining the Scirocco in VW’s expanding “R” category. Now VW has released a short video of both cars in their ideal environment – the race track. Along with some stylish bodywork and interior treatments, the Golf…
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen Launches 2010 Polo, Including 71-MPG BlueMotion Model
Volkswagen made a big splash at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show with a total of nine new vehicles, including two new ultra fuel-efficient concepts that will one day see production. Included in the list of “normal” premieres was the 2010 Polo with a BlueMotion option that delivers futuristic fuel-economy right now. The ultra-efficient BlueMotion Polo…
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen E-Up! Electric Concept Debut
Debuting alongside the 170mpg L1 concept car at the Frankfurt Auto Show was the zero-emissions E-Up! concept. As the name suggests, this is a pure electric vehicle and it is based on a chassis that will form the basis of a new line of VW city cars starting in 2013. As a 3+1 seater the…
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen L1 Concept Gets 170 MPG, Production Planned for 2013
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…
