Volkswagen

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 4, 2012 A new report from British automotive magazine, Car says that Audi has killed off a program to bring a production model of the quattro concept shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Instead, sources tell the magazine that company is taking the idea of the quattro concept and implementing it into a crossover. This crossover will be following in the footsteps of the Range Rover Evoque or Audi's Stepenwolf concept, having a rakish and sporting look. There is also talk of the vehicle having the same short wheelbase and wide wheel fenders as the eighties' quattro S1 Rally car. Power will likely come from a hotted…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 20, 2013 Audi has pulled back the curtain on the production RS Q3 before its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The RS Q3 stands out from other Q3s by number of small changes on the exterior. There is a high-gloss black honeycomb front grille, RS front bumper, a rear diffuser with a single oval tailpipe, roof spoiler, exclusive 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, and body accents. Inside the RS Q3 is a set of sport seats in black Alcantara and leather, a revised instrument cluster, a flat–bottom steering wheel, and a load of aluminum trim. Powering the RS Q3 is a turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder engine producin…

You would think the last thing anyone Volkswagen wants to admit is they still believe there is a place for their diesel vehicles in the U.S. Alas, Volkswagen's brand chief thinks differently. Herbert Diess told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show that Diesels will still have a place in Volkswagen's U.S. lineup, despite the mess the company finds itself in. “I wouldn’t give up diesel, even in the U.S.,” said Diess. Diess pointed that with the latest emission technologies, diesels can be clean. He was also quick to point to the long range and high torque figures. At the moment, Volkswagen is trying to get approval from U.S. regulators to fix the nearl…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 19, 2012 Volkswagen currently sells four diesel models in the U.S.; the Golf, Jetta, Passat, and Touareg. Now, there’s word that a fifth diesel is joining the lineup. Autoblog has been told by Volkswagen that a diesel Beetle will premiere at next month’s Chicago Auto Show. No details about the diesel engine in the Beetle have been release, but bet on the 2.0L engine in the Golf, Jetta, and Passat ending up in the car also. More interesting is Volkswagen could offer the diesel engine in the upcoming Beetle convertible. We won’t know if this will actually happen or not until the drop-top Beetle is shown. Sourc…

Volkswagen AG expects starting in 2026 when they roll out their next-generation gas and diesel engines that are currently in development that it will be the end of any new ICE power trains. Michael Jost strategy chief for VW has stated that in some markets already ICE is starting to fad and by 2026 as more EVs enter the market place, the transition will be underway. VW will continue to modify and tweak as needed for markets where there is insufficient charging infrastructure which will carry this last power train line past 2050. For all major markets though, EVs will become the norm. Bloomberg Story

Finally, some good news in terms of the Volkswagen diesel scandal. According to German newspaper Die Welt, Volkswagen has reached a deal with U.S. authorities over its cheating of EPA emission tests. Not much is known about the deal, but sources tell Die Welt that key part of the deal will see Volkswagen paying owners in the U.S. $5,000 in compensation. This deal will be presented tomorrow to U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer at a hearing. We'll likely learn more about the agreement and what else it entails. UPDATE: Reuters has learned from their sources that Volkswagen has agreed to buy back up to 500,000 2.0L diesel vehicles in the U.S. Volkswagen may also offe…

We've been hearing about Volkswagen's three-row crossover for the U.S. for the past few years. Spy shots have been coming out about this vehicle, but there wasn't much you could tell about them. The only thing you could was the test mules having a similar shape to the CrossBlue concept from 2013. But a new set of spy shots give us an idea of what the production model will look like. The front end seems to be lining up with the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan with a larger grille and slim headlights. AutoGuide says the design of the back is similar to the Passat, although we can't see that. Expect a V6 along with a 2.0L turbo-four. Front-wheel drive will come standard a…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 9, 2012 The Volkswagen BlueSport roadster, the on and off vehicle could be back on. EVO Magazine spoke with with Uli Hackenberg, the head of engineering with Volkswagen. Hackenberg said he’s been frustrated by the low sales predictions. “dealers are always looking backwards, not forwards… this is particularly the case when a new model is being considered as they don’t have any reference point to guide them, so they look around at the current market and give an estimate based on that,” Hackenberg said. Hakenberg said that the rise of vehicles like the Toyota GT 86 (Scion FR-S) and Subaru BRZ, alongside the u…

Volkswagen may have put the Phaeton redesign on the back burner to improve profitability. Bloomberg has learned from sources that the German automaker is looking at ways of lowering the costs of materials and production, despite a new version of the Phaeton is ready to go. The Phaeton was never a big seller for Volkswagen. However, the model seemed to find a foothold in Asian markets - notably China and South Korea - in 2010 and 2011. But the fallout of the Chinese automaker and the age of the Phaeton has caused sales to drop. With the possibility of Volkswagen reworking the Phaeton, this could signal a change at the German automaker from the Piech era where …

Next Tuesday was the deadline that Volkswagen and the U.S. Government would have to finish their discussions on finalizing an agreement over the 2.0L TDI scandal. But last night, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has given the two parties an extension to June 28th. Reuters reports that Breyers gave the extension after a request was made by the court appointment mediator, former FBI director Robert S. Mueller. In a written order, Bryer said "given the highly technical nature of the proposed settlements in these complex proceedings," an extension would be given. Volkswagen spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan confirmed to Reuters that the extension was asked by Muller. …

It seemed like it would never happen. But today in a federal courtroom in Calfornia, Volkswagen and the U.S. Justice Department announced they have reached an agreement over the 570,000 2.0L diesel vehicles equipped with illegal software that cheated EPA emission tests. The preliminary "agreement in principle" states the Volkswagen will give owners the option of selling their affected TDI vehicles back to VW or have the vehicle modified to meet U.S. emission standards. Those who are leasing a TDI model can cancel their lease agreement. The agreement also includes two different compensation funds. The first will be for owners that will give them a substantial amoun…

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is already being investigated by German prosecutors over market manipulation because of the diesel emission scandal. But now, he finds himself under a new investigation by prosecutors on the suspicion of fraud. Reuters reports that prosecutors in Braunschweig believe Winterkorn knew about the cheat used on the 2.0L TDI well before the timeframe he has admittedly publicly. This suspicion comes as the result of numerous interviews with witnesses and suspects, along with raids on 28 houses and offices this week. "Sufficient indications have resulted from the investigation, particularly the questioning of witnesses and suspec…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 13, 2012 The long-rumored Lamborghini SUV concept will make its debut at next week’s Beijing Motor Show, but it will be few years before we see a production version. Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told German Newspaper Handelsblatt, the SUV could become the third vehicle in the lineup by 2017 to help the brand become profitable. "We definitely need a third line in the mid- and long term. An SUV would be the first Lamborghini for everyday use, not just for the race track or weekends. We would have the opportunity to win new customers." Lamborghini has been in the red since 2009 and is under pressure from pa…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 4, 2012 Please give a warm welcome to the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf, introduced today in Germany. Volkswagen says the next-generation Golf offers "more features, even better safety, and more performance." The design of the new Golf is an evolution of the last-generation Golf, with sharper lines, an smaller grille, and other changes. "One of the keys to the Golf’s success lies in its continuity. There are a handful of cars with a design that, like the Golf’s, has been refined, tweaked and enhanced down the decades and thus become timeless." said Walter de Silva, Head of Design for Volkswagen AG. The b…

Volkswagen's decision to use illegal software on their diesel vehicles has been costing them dearly. Reuters reports that Volkswagen is setting aside an additional 2.5 billion Euros (about $2.95 billion) due to difficulties with fixing the affected diesel models, particularly with the hardware. "The reason is an increase in provisions relating to the buyback/retrofit program for 2.0l TDI vehicles, which is part of the settlements in North America that is proving to be far more technically complex and time consuming," the company said in a statement. This pushes the total bill to $30 billion. The news comes a day after German prosecutors arrested Wolfgang Ha…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 6, 2012 Lamborghini has a very ambitious goal for 2015; lower CO2 emissions by 35% fleet-wide. To achieve this, Lamborghini has introducing start/stop and a cylinder deactivation system on the 2013 Aventador. These two features will cut emissions down by 7%. The company has also revealed that they will use more carbon fiber in the construction of their vehicles to help reduce weight. One option that has been taken off the table for the time being is using a hybrid system. “Due to the size of the cars and due to the weight of the hybridisation it would be impossible for our cars to adopt this current technolog…

Car and Driver is reporting that the next-generation Audi RS4 will retire the naturally-aspirated 4.2L V8 engine and use a turbocharged V6 engine. This is due to the upcoming emission regulations coming soon to Europe which are very stringent. Now the decision to go with a turbocharged V6 engine strikes us as odd since Audi currently has supercharged V6 that is being used in a number of their models. However Car and Driver says Quattro GmbH, the folks behind RS, is looking towards turbo power for future models. Car and Driver also reports that a decision on whether or not the next-generation RS4 will come to the U.S. hasn't been made. Source: Car and Driver William Mal…

Just when you think the hole Volkswagen has found itself in can't get any deeper, it has. Earlier this week, The Associated Press reported that Volkswagen disclosed to the EPA that 2016 model year TDI models have a different piece of software that would allow them to pass the emissions test. This software makes a pollution-control catalyst heat up faster to improve the performance of a device which cleans up the nitrogen oxide into harmless hydrogen and oxygen. Now fitting a device like this isn't illegal unless you don't disclose it during the emission certification process. Janet McCabe, acting assistant EPA administrator for air quality wouldn't say if Volkswagen's…

With tougher CAFE standards looming, Audi has got a range of new diesel and hybrid models coming to the US. Next year, Audi has the Q5 crossover and A8 sedan coming with a diesel. However, Audi has put the A6 diesel and Hybrid versions of the A6 and A8 on delay. In the case of the Hybrids, Audi’s US President, Johann De Nysschen told Ward’s Auto that the pushing back the A6 and A8 Hybrids was largely done to “minimize complexity” in the lineup, since there is a Q5 Hybrid coming next year. As for the A6 diesel, no official reason was given. But given the mid-size premium sedan segment in the US is sluggish and most of Audi’s sales gains (14.1% so far in 2011) have been …

Even though Volkswagen revealed the updated Golf only a couple months ago, rumors are beginning to fly on the next-generation. Case in point is a report from Autocar which say the next-generation Golf GTI could be boasting a mild-hybrid system to provide a boost both in power and fuel economy. A new 48V electrical system and integrated starter motor will allow Volkswagen to make some significant changes to the 2.0L four-cylinder. One change could be swapping the turbocharger for an electric compressor to allow for better low-end response and torque being available across a wider rpm spread. Reportedly, Volkswagen's goal for the new powertrain is 261 horsepower -…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 5, 2012 Audi appears to be looking back at the first-generation TT model for the next-generation TT. Sources tell Autocar that the design of the next-generation TT will take design elements from the first-gen and current TT to help bring back the distinctiveness and impact that first-gen TT had. The next-generation TT will utilize Volkswagen's MQB platform and will have a similar overall size to the current TT but with a wider track. There is also talk of using more aluminum in the TT's structure to help reduce more weight. The next TT will arrive first as a coupe sometime in 2014, with a convertible following …

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/10/16/ftc-reviewing-vws-clean-diesel-ads-for-fraudulent-claims The Federal Trade Commission is now reviewing whether that 30-second spot and others like it touting Volkswagen's "Clean Diesel" engines amount to fraud, adding a new avenue for U.S. regulators to punish the German automaker for its emissions-rigging deception. While the FTC can't send anyone to jail, it can go to federal court to protect consumers and negotiate settlements with wide-ranging penalties. Those could potentially include paying cash restitution to the affected car owners and forcing VW to buy new national ads admitting the company lied to c…

Audi believes that the future of the brand will rest on electric vehicles. In fact, the German automaker wants to have 25 percent of vehicles sold to be electric. Now this goal is way down the line, but Audi is beginning to make this a reality with a number of electric vehicles going into development. They are also tackling how they will sell them. A recent piece in the New York Times said that dealerships were a stumbling block when selling electric vehicles either because they didn't know anything about them or pushed buyers into buying a gas-powered vehicle. Tesla is the only automaker that no problem with selling their models, but that is due to their decision of …

VW CEO warns 2009 will be tough for industry October 22, 2008 8:36 AM ET Link to Article WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) - The chief executive of Volkswagen AG warned Wednesday that the auto industry faces a difficult business climate next year, but added that his company — Europe's biggest carmaker — still expects to reach this year's goals. "The world economy is going through tough times," Martin Winterkorn said on Wednesday. "We don't know the full impact on our business yet, but VW is doing better than the competition so far." Winterkorn added that "2009 will be difficult for the entire industry." He made the remarks during a meeting with civic and business leaders …

A new report alleges that former Volkswagen CEO, Martin Winterkorn knew about the defeat devices two weeks before the official announcement from U.S. regulators. German publication Bild am Sonntag (via Reuters) got their hands on a letter sent on September 4, 2015, to Winterkorn from a manager. The letter said, "In the conversation on 03.09.2015 with the regulator CARB (California Air Resources Board), the defeat device was admitted." Volkswagen's U.S. CEO Michael Horn told a House of Representatives hearing in October that the company came clean about the defeat device on September 3rd. Now this letter could have some serious ramifications for Volkswagen.…

When Porsche unveiled the 718 Boxster back in January, we were a bit surprised that the 718 Cayman wasn't shown as well. Both models are essentially the same aside from the Cayman being enclosed. Our best guess is to give the 718 Boxster some breathing room. Nevertheless, Porsche has revealed the 2017 718 Cayman today at the Bejing Auto Show. The big news is the 718 Cayman drops the flat-six engines for turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The 718 Cayman uses a turbocharged 2.0L with 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet. The 718 Cayman S boasts a larger turbocharged 2.5L producing 350 horsepower and 309 pound-feet. Both engines can be paired with a six-speed manual or sev…

VW plans to sell China-built car in North America A people's car from the people's republic By ALYSHA WEBB | Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek | Published 07/23/07, 11:37 am et SHANGHAI - Volkswagen AG and its Chinese partner plan to assemble a car in China and sell it in North America and China. The car, a reworked version of the next-generation Passat, will be assembled by Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co., which revealed the plan here last week. Details of the plan, such as timing and sales goals, have not been decided, said spokesmen at Shanghai Volkswagen and Volkswagen. Shanghai Volkswagen is owned 50-50 by Volkswagen and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp…

Audi had one more surprise up their sleeve this week. Today, the German automaker announced the SQ7. Positioned as the high-performance model, the SQ7 uses a 4.0L turbodiesel V8 with 435 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. This bests much of the competition when equipped with a diesel engine. But that high torque figure isn't the big story, it is how the SQ7 produces all of that power. The 4.0L V8 uses two conventional, sequential turbochargers and an electric compressor - a first in a production model. The electric compressor sits in the air path downstream of the intercooler, near the engine. Since it uses electric power to generate boost pressure (not exhaust …

How many models does the entire Volkswagen group sell around the world? 75? 125? How about 340 models. No that isn't a misprint. According to German business paper Handelsblatt, that is the amount all of the brands of the German automaker build. CEO Matthias Müller believes that is too many. "The total number of our today around 340 model variants, we are in the course of reducing," Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller at a press conference last week. But how many models are going on the chopping block? Sources tell Handelsblatt that 40 plus models will be cut. "A decision on how many models will be phased out or ceased has not been taken yet," said a Volkswagen spo…

We know a fair amount of Volkswagen's upcoming three-row crossover, It will be built in Chattanooga, TN Engines will include a 3.6L V6, 2.0L Turbo-four, and Hybrid. (No diesel) Using the MQB platform Possibly named Teramont But we don't know much about how it looks. Yes, we have seen spy shots that tell us it will possibly look like the CrossBlue concept from a few years back. That doesn't mean there are still some surprises in store. We now have the full picture thanks to some leaked shots. Chinese outlet Auto Sina got their hands on photos showing Volkswagen's new crossover in an engineering garage. The production model matches up wit…

More good news for Volkswagen as the EPA has finally given the ok for the company to start selling repaired TDI vehicles. Bloomberg has learned from Volkswagen Group of America spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan that dealers can sell TDI models from the 2015 model year once they have been updated with new software. The fix will also include new hardware for the diesel engine, but dealers don't have to wait for the parts to come in early next year. "We are still finalizing the details of this program and will provide more information on its implementation at the appropriate time,” said Ginivan. It should be noted this is only a symbolic step as only 67,000 vehicles are…

There were concerns that Volkswagen would not be able to come up with a fix for their 1st-generation 2.0L TDI models that would meet the approval of various U.S. regulators. But never say never as the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board have given their approval for Volkswagen's proposed fix for 326,000 vehicles with this engine. Reuters reports the fix will involve Volkswagen making numerous upgrades to the hardware and software, including a new emissions catalyst. This will make these vehicles legal, but drop average fuel economy figures by 2 mpg. “To obtain this approval, VW submitted test data and technical information that dem…

When the Volkswagen Eos ends production in a few months time, that will leave Volkswagen with only one convertible in their lineup - the Beetle Cabriolet. But Car and Driver says a replacement is on the way. According to a source at Volkswagen, the company is planning on sending the next-generation Golf Cabriolet. No timeframe was given as to when we'll see it, but expect it not to look that much different from the current model sold elsewhere. Now it should be noted that the Golf Cabriolet wasn't the only option on the table for the U.S. The source said there was a cabriolet using the Passat platform as an option, but that idea was canned. Source: Car and Dr…

Scott Keogh, Audi of America's president will soon have a new job come November 1st. He will become CEO of Volkswagen Group's North American operations, taking over Hinrich Woebcken who held the position since April 2016. This is a big deal since Keogh will be the first American to hold the top position for Volkswagen's North America branch in 25 years. Keogh has an impressive track record at Audi when he joined in 2006 as their chief marking officer. He would play a key role in boosting the awareness of the brand. In 2012, he was named president and would preside over one of the longest sales streaks that continues to this day. His new assignment is going to be t…

When Volkswagen introduced the new T-Roc crossover last year, there were some who were hoping it would come to the U.S. But that would not be the case as would learn. Still, Volkswagen is planning a separate compact crossover that will be aimed at various global markets such as the U.S. and China. According to Automotive News, the new crossover known internally as Volks-SUV will sit underneath the Tiguan and be first built in China by the SAIC-Volkwagen joint venture with sales beginning in August. Production will expand to Argentina, Mexico, and Russia in 2020. "We will supply the U.S. from Mexico," said Volkswagen brand CEO Herbert Diess. No timeframe wa…

Audi must like the Opel GT. http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080901.004/au...-mid-engined-r3

American criminal lawyers are in demand at Volkswagen. Bloomberg has learned from sources that various executives at the company are hiring lawyers as the Department of Justice begins sending out officials to Germany for meetings to gather evidence for possible criminal charges. Volkswagen has already agreed to a $16 billion settlement over the diesel emission scandal. But the Department of Justice is continuing their investigation into whether various Volkswagen executives knew about the cheating software installed on over 10 million diesel vehicles around the world. As we reported back in September, a Volkswagen engineer has pled guilty for being involved in the sc…

Reuters is reporting that Volkswagen developed several versions of its "defeat device" software for their diesel models. Three sources tell the news service the company used the different versions of the software on four diesel engine types. If this proves to be true, this could indicate a widespread cheating program at the company, not the rogue engineer claim that executives have been using as a defense. This also puts Volkswagen in a difficult position when it comes to potential fines. If executives are found to play a role in the plot to cheat emissions tests, fines could increase by a fair amount. "The more higher-ups that are involved, the more the company i…

Volkswagen was planning to release the preliminary findings of its internal investigation into the diesel emission scandal this month. But now, the company has scrapped those plans. In a statement, the German automaker cites strong objections from their lawyers and “unacceptable risks” to the company. But there might be more this than what Volkswagen is saying. Last week, Volkswagen finally reached a deal with the U.S. Government over the emission mess. By releasing the results, it might put Volkswagen in a difficult sport. “Publishing such a preliminary report would not only endanger the complex and confidential settlement talks [with authorities and plaintiffs]…

Volkswagen and their U.S. dealers have had a tense relationship since the diesel emission scandal broke. From the departure of Michael Horn to dealer meetings where tough questions were being asked to Volkswagen executives. But it seems some progress is being made on repairing it. In a statement released today, Volkswagen announced they have reached an “agreement in principle” with its dealers over compensation for losses due to the diesel emission scandal. According to Automotive News, the preliminary agreement will see dealers get a cash payout within 18 months from a settlement fund. The payout for each dealer will be determined by a formula that is current…

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/27/new-aud...appears-on-web/ 4.7 meters long, 1.83 meters wide .27 coeffcient of drag Base engine: 1.8L TFSI producing 160 hp 3.2L V6 FSI producing 260 hp 2.0, 2.7 and 3.0L diesels Six standard airbags Interior similar to A5 I really like it, although it's basically a 4-door Audi A5! Stylish, (hopefully) affordable, good job Audi! Just next time, make the design more unique!

http://www.ft.com/fastft/353721/worker-killed-volkswagen-robot-accident Anyone have any other info on the 'side-by-side' robots the article mentions?

Back in March, prosecutors in the U.S. filed sealed charges against former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. But during that same time, Volkswagen's current CEO got a rare safe-passage deal from the U.S. Bloomberg has learned from a couple of sources that the Justice Department has given Herbert Diess a safe-passage deal - basically allows him to travel without the worry of being arrested in connection to the diesel emission scandal. Diess also got a spoken assurance that he would be notified if prosecutors seek to charge him in the diesel emission mess. Being the CEO of a major automaker, Diess needs to travel to various events around the world. By giving him t…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 12, 2012 Well, this is different. Car Magazine is reporting that Audi has signed an agreement with Italian motorcycle maker, Ducati to possibly buy them. The deal would cost of 850 million euros (about $1.1 billion) The 850 million includes a 800 million euro debt. Sources at Audi tell Car the company will most likely offer between 50 to 100 million euros and take on the large debt load. So, why is Audi interested in Ducati? Well there are three reasons. One: Audi has a bit of motorcycle history with former brands DKW and NSU. Two: Ducati chairman Andrea Bonomi has said he views "'Ducati as the two-wheel equival…

We're getting close to entering the seventh month of not having a fix for Volkswagen's cheating TDI engines in the U.S. A couple weeks back, a Federal judge in California gave Volkswagen a deadline of March 24th to provide a definitive status of a fix. But Volkswagen might not have the answer the judge or affected owners want. In an interview with German newspaper Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, Volkswagen brand boss Herbert Deiss said it could take months before Volkswagen and U.S. authorities come to an agreement. "I think that we have a good chance to reach an agreement with the authorities in the US in the coming months," said Deiss. There are a couple pos…

Volkswagen's recent shareholder meeting could be best described as discordant as many shareholders spewed venom at various Volkswagen executives - most being laid on Volkswagen AG Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch. Bloomberg reports that shareholders grilled various executives on the handling of the diesel emission scandal. Poetsch received the brunt of the criticism with many shareholders expressing concerns of him overseeing the internal investigation of a mess that began when he was the company's CFO. “You are a conflict of interest personified,” said Markus Dufner, managing director of the German Association of Ethical Shareholders meeting. The meeting also fea…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 3, 2013 Porsche has unveiled the refreshed 2014 Panamera before its showing at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month and the big news isn't the exterior, its what's underneath the skin. Let's get the minor changes out of the way before we fully dive in. The 2014 Panamera gets minor changes in the exterior with new headlights, a liftgate with a wider rear window, more steeply angled rear window, and a more rounded rear end. Now onto what's under the skin. The 2014 Panamera S and 4S models say farewell to the 4.8L V8 engine and hello to a new 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that produces 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet o…

Volkswagen has found itself in hot water once again over the diesel scandal. In an interview with NPR before the Detroit Auto Show, CEO Matthias Mueller said the company didn't lie to the EPA. The company just misunderstood the law. Here is the exchange After this interview was aired on NPR, Volkswagen asked if it would be possible to do a do-over. NPR agreed and did another interview with Muller. This time, Muller clarified some of his earlier comments, adding this was a problem that has existed in Volkswagen for ten years. “We had the wrong reaction when we got information year by year from the EPA and from the [California Air Resources Board]. We have to…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 13, 2012 The Lamborghini Gallardo has been an important car for the Italian automaker - more than 12,000 Gallardos have been sold; the next bestseller is the discontinued Murciélago, at 4099 vehicles. So the next one has a lot to live up for. Car & Driver spoke with Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann to find out what to expect with the Gallardo’s Replacement. Winkelmann said the car will make “a clear cut” from the Gallardo, especially in the looks. “We always say that design is not an evolution but a revolution, and this will be the philosophy of the follow-up to the Gallardo.” Expect the replacement to …

I loved driving my VWs... but every one of them had a problem... or three or four. '92 Golf was built with inadequate water shielding for the drive belts... recalled to install a splash shield that should have been an elementary part of development testing. And the clutch linkage fell apart in a parking lot far from home. I think I used a paper clip to refasten it until I could get to the dealer. First '98 Beetle had loud squeaky brakes, and this was at a time when EVERYBODY turned their head to look at it... I used to coast as slow as I could before pressing the pedal to avoid turning ppl's smiles into quizzical stares. Second '98 Beetle overheated the first weekend…

As we reported yesterday, Volkswagen has decided against revealing the preliminary results of their internal investigation as it would bring “unacceptable risks” to the company. It might have been a good idea as a new wrinkle has appeared in the diesel emission scandal. The New York Times has learned from two sources that a top technology executive prepared a PowerPoint presentation showing the automaker could fool the EPA's emission testing. The presentation was only a few pages long and explained the process of how the EPA did it. The presentation also talked about how the test could be fooled by a piece of code in the engine management software, turning on equipmen…

Yesterday, we reported that Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess got a safe-passage deal from the U.S. Justice Department. This type of deal is very unusual and it was speculated that U.S. wasn't planning to charge Diess over the diesel emission scandal, or that he provided some sort of testimony. We might have an answer to how Diess got this deal. German tabloid Bild reports that Diess traveled to the U.S. last week to testify about the diesel emission scandal. Representatives from the FBI and Justice Department were present, as was Larry Thompson, the U.S. monitor appointed last year to oversee reforms at the company. Unfortunately, Bild doesn't mention any sources. R…

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While Volkswagen and the U.S. Government are finishing negotiating the final agreement over the diesel emission scandal, some interesting bits of the agreement have leaked out. The Associated Press and Bloomberg have learned from sources that Volkswagen will pay $10.2 billion as part of a settlement over the scandal. As part of the settlement, Volkswagen will compensate owners of affected TDI models between $1,000 to $7,000. The payment amount will vary on a number of factors such as the age of the vehicle. Volkswagen will also offer owners the choice having their vehicles fixed for free or buying them back at the value before the scandal came to light (September 18, …

According to Electrek web site, VW will open up their reservation system in September. Online reservations for the ID.4 EV will only require a $100 deposit. VW production of the ID.4 for European and Chinese markets has started and is on size to compete with the Tesla Y small CUV. The auto is expected to have about 250 miles of range in base form and start at $40,000. 300 miles plus for the top trim version. Production for the North American Market will start in early 2022 at Chattanooga Factory upon the construction completion of the assembly line and battery production plant. The auto has a .28 drag coefficient. ID.4 Concept https://electrek.co/2020/08/2…

It was expected that Volkswagen would begin repairing diesel vehicles with the illegal software in the first few months of 2016. But after the California Air Resources Board rejected Volkswagen's fix this week, the timeframe for when vehicles will be fixed is unknown. On Tuesday, CARB said Volkswagen plan were "incomplete, substantially deficient and fall far short of meeting the legal requirements to return these vehicles” to compliance. Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress, Chris Grundler, director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality said his team agreed with CARB's decision. “Both CARB and EPA continue to insist on an expeditious…

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Check out the full story here. Note: pic at link is of regular diesel golf...

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 14, 2012 Volkswagen is planning on bringing a electric vehicle over to the states sometime late next year. Volkswagen of America President, Jonathan Browning told Automotive News the company is planning on bringing a electric version of the Golf. Volkswagen will follow the same path as other automakers wherein they will only sell the Golf electric in certain markets before rolling it out nationwide. Browning says Volkswagen wants to offer a variety of alternatives for buyers, including diesels, compressed natural gas, and hybrids. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

Volkswagen is making progress with moving on from the diesel emission scandal as they have announced a proposed agreement for the 3.0L TDI V6. Filed in federal court last night, the agreement totals $1.2 billion and hopes to resolve civil claims for 78,000 vehicles. The settlement includes, Buy back or terminate the lease of approximately 20,000 eligible 2009-2012 Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7 TDI models (dubbed the Generation 1 models). There is also the possibility of Volkswagen offering owners of these models a fix if approved by the U.S. Government. Repair the approximately 58,000 Generation 2 models (2013-2016 Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Audi…

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/05/07...erge/index.html

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 11, 2012 Bentley and Lamborghini plans to build their own SUVs could becoming to a standstill. Reuters is reporting that parent company Volkswagen could put a hold on these projects due to the current European economic crisis. Sources inside Volkswagen say the reasoning behind the hold is that it would allow VW to limit spending and keep cash reserves. The decision will come on November 23rd, the day when Volkswagen's board will review spending. At the moment, Lamborghini's Urus SUV is currently waiting on a green light to move on. Bentley's EXP 9 F is waiting to go on with their revised design. Source: Reuters…

It slices! It dices! No, we're not trying to sell you a set of knives. This is the best way to describe Volkswagen's strategy for the U.S.; price cuts. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen will be changing their strategy in the U.S. to become more mass-market in the U.S. This will mean a wider product range and lower prices. The hope is the strategy can reverse a downward spiral in U.S. sales that has been taking place before the diesel scandal broke. Volkswagen for many hasn't been able to crack the U.S. market. Despite becoming the world's largest automaker in terms of sales this year and making up 10 percent of total automobile sales in Europe, Volkswagen…

Audi can now use Q2 and Q4 for future models thanks a new deal with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler tells Autoblog that the German automaker has done a trademark swap to get their hands on Q2 and Q4. It is unknown what FCA got out of the deal. "We tried to get it years ago and they said 'No, never,' but there is never 'never' in business. ... This year I went back to them with a proposal and we talked and there were some negotiations and then we agreed to it," said Stadler. Q2 was used by FCA to denote vehicles equipped with a limited-slip differential (mostly used on Alfa Romeo vehicles). Q4 denoted vehicles with all-wheel drive (used on Al…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 18, 2012 It only seemed liked a month ago when the rumor of Audi would buy Italian motorcycle maker, Ducati came out. Well, the rumor is true as Audi announced today that it has bought Ducati. In their statement, Audi points to Ducati's technologies, which include control systems, combustion chamber process and lightweight construction as particular assets that "offer great potential for AUDI AG and the Volkswagen Group." Ducati becomes the third company under Audi's umbrella. The other two are Lamborghini and ItalDesign-Giugiaro. Press Release is on Page 2 AUDI AG acquires sports motorcycle manufacturer…

Just moments ago, Volkswagen announced that CEO and President of Volkswagen of America, Michael Horn has stepped down effective immediately. In a statement released by the company, the departure was reached "through mutual agreement." Hinrich J. Woebcken - recently announced as the head of Volkswagen's North American operations - will act as the interim CEO and President. Volkswagen would like to thank Horn for his contributions to the company during his tenure in the United States. “I want personally to say ‘thank you’ to Michael Horn for the great work he has done for the brand and with the dealers in the United States. During his time in the U.S., Michael Horn …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 12, 2012 During the first generation cycle of the Porsche Cayenne, the company introduced a high-performance version called the Turbo S. The Turbo S brought forth a 4.5L turbo V8 producing 520 HP. Well, Porsche is doing another Cayenne Turbo S for this generation. The Turbo S uses the same 4.8L turbo V8 from the Cayenne Turbo with some slight modifications. Performance stats are: 520 HP 553 lb-ft of torque 0-60 MPH in 4.2 Seconds Top Speed of 176 MPH Despite all of the performance increases, Porsche says the Turbo S doesn't see a significant change in fuel consumption. The Cayenne Turbo S' exterior …

The big stumbling block for Volkswagen and the EPA/California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been trying to figure out a fix for diesel vehicles with illegal software. Ever since CARB rejected Volkswagen's first proposal back in January, the three have been in negotiations. But now, an official from CARB says some vehicles may only get a partial fix. Speaking at a legislative hearing in California yesterday, chief of the California Air Resources Board enforcement division Todd Sax said it might not be possible for Volkswagen to provide a compliant fix for all of the affected models. "Our goal has been to fix the vehicles and return them to their certified configur…