Volkswagen

Volkswagen's reputation has been taking a number of big hits due to the cheating software they used in a number of their diesel models to pass EPA regulations. But a new report says the company is planning to regain the trust of some of their owners. The Truth About Cars learned from a source that Volkswagen will be announcing a program that offers owners of affected TDI models (new and used) to recive a prepaid card. Two cards will be available to owners; the first will be a $500 card that can be used anywhere, while a second card - expected to be around $500 to $750 - can only be used at Volkswagen dealers. Details of this program are expected to be announced th…

Towards the end of February, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer gave Volkswagen a deadline. On March 24th, the German automaker would have to give a definitive answer on the status of a fix for nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles. At a hearing this week, Breyer has moved the deadline to April 21st. According to Reuters, both the EPA and Volkswagen said at the hearing they are making progress on a reaching an agreement. But there are still a number of issues to work out. A possible issue is whether the EPA would accept a partial fix on some Volkswagen diesel vehicles. Earlier this month, an official from CARB said it might not be possible for Volkswagen to fully fix some of…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 21, 2012 Within the next few years, Porsche will unveil a refreshed Cayenne featuring updates to the styling, features, and technical. According to Motor Trend, one of those updates could be a new plug-in hybrid system. The plug-in hybrid, named e-Hybrid is an evolution of the current hybrid system used in the current Cayenne and Panamera Hybrid models. The system uses an upgraded electric motor producing around 95 to 100 horsepower and replacing the nickel-metal hydride battery for a lithium-ion battery. The 333-hp supercharged V-6 gas engine will stick around. These changes gives Cayenne e-Hybrid specs of 95…

Volkswagen put forth an ambitious plan to offer an electric version of each model it sells. The automaker set aside about 20 billion euros ($23 billion), but that will not be enough according CEO Herbert Diess. “The burden for our company, such as the cost of bringing to market electric cars, will be higher than expected,” Diess said in a interview with Volkswagen's internal newsletter, obtained by Bloomberg. “This is particularly so since some of our competitors have been making more progress.” Diess didn't give a new figure in the interview, but did say the company needs to "reduce expenses more to be able to invest in future technology and weather crises…

The diesel emission scandal has left Volkswagen at a bit crossroad in a number of areas. One of them deals with their brand identity in the U.S. For a better part of a decade, Volkswagen was known as the brand that sold 'clean diesels'. But the company is working to rebuild and change their identity. Part of that plan is taking diesel and putting it on the backburner. Volkswagen Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken tells Automotive News that diesel will not be a core element of their identity going forward. That isn't to say diesel will be banished from the brand. Woebcken said the fuel are still in their plans from 2017 to 2019 if they can get regulatory approval. …

Volkswagen is planning a lineup of electric vehicles which include a hatchback, crossover, and small van. But a new report says the German automaker has ambitions to launch an electric vehicle with a pricetag of about 18,000 euros (about $21,000). Sources tell Bloomberg the model in question will be a subcompact crossover and begin selling sometime after 2020. According to Reuters, the model is currently known as "MEB entry". Volkswagen is planning a production volume of 200,000 vehicles that will take place at three factories. This vehicle hasn't been approved by Volkswagen's supervisory board. According to sources, a discussion on the vehicle is expected to take pl…

Volkswagen's brand chief Herbert Diess revealed in an interview this past weekend that the modular MQB platform with some minor tweaks will underpin the next two generations of their vehicles. "The MQB has high technical substance, so we can use it for the next two vehicle generations without further major investments," Diess told German newspaper Boersen-Zeitung. This move is in an effort to save a bit of cash due to the fallout of the diesel emission scandal. Diess didn't say what kind of tweaks would be done. MQB currently underpins a number of Volkswagen vehicles in the world. In the U.S., the entire Volkswagen Golf lineup and upcoming Atlas crossover.…

It seems Volkswagen is going forward with sending the I.D. Buzz concept into production. "Emotional cars are very important for the brand. We are selling loads of Beetles still, particularly in US markets. But we will also have the Microbus that we showed, which we have recently decided we will build," said Herbert Diess, head of Volkswagen to Auto Express. It confirms a report back in February where a source revealed that the I.D. Buzz would go into production in 2022. Diess was a big fan of the concept in part due to the design being similar to the Microbus. As we reported, the I.D. Buzz "is a feel-good throwback to the days when VW stood for flower power, not…

A new report from British publication Car says Porsche is going turbocharged with the refreshed Boxster and Cayman due sometime next year. All engines will be of the flat-four variety ranging from 2.0L to 2.5L. Here is how the engine lineup will look, Boxster/Cayman: 2.0L turbocharged flat-four producing 240 HP Boxster S/Cayman S: 2.5L turbocharged flat-four producing 300 HP Boxster GTS/Cayman GTS: 2.5L turbocharged flat-four producing 370 HP The report goes on to say that the engine will use a single turbocharger and possibly have an 'e-boost' electric system to work while the turbo spools up. Source: Car View full article

A number of Volkswagen engineers have admitted that they manipulated CO2 emission data to meet ambitious goals to meet goals set by former Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn. German newspaper Bild am Sonntag (via Reuters) reports that engineers filled tires with more air and mixed diesel with their motor oil to make them use less fuel. This reportedly began after then-CEO Martin Winterkorn's announcement at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show that by 2015, the company would cut CO2 emission levels by 30 percent. Engineers at the time were afraid to tell the CEO that this goal was impossible and decided to cheat. "Employees have indicated in an internal investigation that th…

Late last week, Volkswagen unveiled the production T-Roc crossover. The subcompact crossover is based on the MQB platform and stands out with a stylish look and range of gas and diesel engines. Previously, we have reported that the T-Roc was under consideration for the U.S.. But a new report says the model is off the table for the time being. “The car is meant for Europe and China. The most compact model of the Volkswagen range for the U.S. remains Tiguan,” a Volkswagen source tells Automobile Magazine. No reason was given as to why the T-Roc would skip the U.S. But if we were to hazard a guess, it might be due to Volkswagen not being able to get the price low e…

After a meeting of Volkswagen's Supervisory Board today, Porsche CEO Matthias Müller has been named as the CEO of Volkswagen. Rumors of Müller's appointment have been swirling around for the past week. "My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group – by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation," said Müller in statement. Müller has a difficult task ahead of him as he'll need to right the ship at Volkswagen due to the ongoing crisis. He will also oversee a massive reorganization of the company. This begins with newly formed North American region structure which c…

Kenneth Fineberg finds himself helping out another automaker in crisis. Volkswagen announced yesterday they have brought in Fienberg to work on and oversee a new claims program for owners of Volkswagen models involved in the diesel emission scandal. “We are pleased to announce the retention of Kenneth Feinberg. His extensive experience in handling such complex matters will help to guide us as we move forward to make things right with our customers,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America in a statement. Automobile Magazine was on a conference call with Feinberg to discuss his involvement and plans. Fineberg made it clear this was going t…

Kenneth Feinberg is still hard at work on developing a compensation plan for TDI owners in the U.S. affected by the diesel emission scandal. But in an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Feinberg says "there will be a generous solution." Now what that solution will end up being is unknown at this time. Part of the problem is Feinberg has his hands tied as Volkswagen and the EPA/CARB are still working on trying to figure out a fix for the 2.0L TDI engine. "..my hands are tied, while VW and the authorities do not resolve their differences. The original time frame could be delayed, therefore." The other problem is trying to fig…

Another day, another lawsuit for Volkswagen over the diesel emission scandal. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against Volkswagen of America for false advertising. The suit says Volkswagen claimed in ads their diesel vehicles were clean, when actually they were polluting more thanks to illegal software. "For years Volkswagen's ads touted the company's 'Clean Diesel' cars even though it now appears Volkswagen rigged the cars with devices designed to defeat emissions tests," FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a statement. The FTC also says in the filing that consumers in the U.S. suffered "billions of …

Volkswagen finds itself in legal trouble once again as three U.S. states - Massachusetts, Maryland, and New York - have filed separate lawsuits over the diesel emission scandal. The lawsuits allege that the automaker undertook a massive cover-up of the illegal software and was orchestrated by high-level executives - including the former CEO. “The idea that this level of fraud could take place and involve so many people at such high levels of a major international corporation is appalling,” said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman at a press conference this week. The New York Times, Road & Track, and Car and Driver got their hands on the New York lawsui…

The past few years at Volkswagen haven't been smooth sailing with the diesel scandal coming to light with various executives being fired or stepping down, sales taking a nosedive, and various fines. Matthias Müller who has been Volkswagen AG CEO since the scandal broke has been trying his best to get the company back on track. But that might not be enough for him to keep his job. Bloomberg and German paper Handelsblatt have learned from sources that Müller will be stepping down as CEO on Friday. Possibly taking his place is Herbert Diess, head of the Volkswagen brand. According to Reuters, the decision will take place during a meeting of Volkswagen's supervisory boar…

Check out this very cool Video. So what do you think, the future of Auto's?

Volkswagen has unveiled the updated Mark 7 Golf today in Europe. The exterior hasn't seen many alterations aside from new bumpers and LED lighting for the front and rear. But it only disguises the big changes Volkswagen has done. It begins in the interior as Volkswagen has swapped the standard insturment cluster for a digital display - think Audi virutal cockpit. All Golfs will also feature touchscreen infotainment systems ranging from 6.5 to 9.2 inches. The largest screen will offer gesture controls. For engines, the Golf will be the first Volkswagen model to debut a new 1.5L turbo-four with two power outputs - 128 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque for…

Porsche is extending their idea of offer many models like on the 911 to the Panamera sedan. Currently, the Panamera is offered as, Panamera Panamera 4 Panamera S Panamera 4S Panamera S Hybrid Panamera Turbo Panamera Turbo S Now, Porsche is adding an eighth Panamera model called the Panamera GTS. The Panamera GTS uses the 4S as a base and builds from there. The 4.8L V8 is modified to produce 430 HP (30 horsepower bump over the standard 4S model) and 384 lb-ft of torque. Porsche's seven-speed PDK sends the power to all four wheels. That means the GTS can reach 60 MPH in in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 178 MPH. Mechanically, Porsche lowered the…

A Driver’s Car Next Bentley Arnage to be lighter, sportier, automaker says By TONY LEWIN | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS AutoWeek | Published 02/07/06, 10:08 am et Bentley will explore lightweight construction techniques for the replacement of its flagship Arnage ultra-luxury sedan. The future new model will compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Mercedes-Benz Maybach at the very top of the luxury market, so it will be very sporting, despite its size and status. “Bentley is the sporting alternative at that higher price too,” said Dirk van Braeckel, head of design at Bentley, told Automotive News Europe. Bentley is part of the Volkswagen group. “This is what will really d…

This looks wicked nice... CLICK Love the soft top, love the 2.0t, love the lack of a basket handle. This thing is CLEAN. Goodbye Eos. If only VWOA would bring it here... sigh.

There was talk a few years back about Volkswagen possibly sending over the next-generation Polo over to the U.S. But it seems those plans have been scrapped. Speaking with Automotive News at the launch of the sixth-generation Polo, Volkswagen global sales boss, Juergen Stackmann said it doesn't make sense for the automaker to bring it over. "It doesn't make too much sense for us to bring a car like this, which has the substance of a class higher, into a segment that is so price driven in America," said Stackmann. Subcompacts are sold in North America mostly on price and high fuel economy figures. In Europe, it is a different story. While price is one key fa…

With apologies to Satty and Paulino, who have a Prius in the house.... http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/vol...icle_2508.shtml

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 23, 2012 Volkswagen has released some details about the next Golf, which will have its official debut in Berlin next month. The new Golf will be larger than the outgoing model. The overall length will now be 167.5 inches, and it will be 57.2 inches tall and 70.8 inches wide. Volkswagen says the Golf is larger due to increased safety and giving passengers more space. Despite the added size, Volkwagen cut close to 220 lbs out of the new Golf thanks to high-strength steel, aluminum suspension components, new electronics, and lighter seats. The Golf will be riding on Volkswagen's new MQB FWD platform, which can be …

We know that Volkswagen is planning a high-performance GLI variant of the new Jetta that is expected in the near future. Thanks to Autoblog, we have gotten some interesting information about what we should expect. Speaking to a Volkswagen representative, Autoblog learned that the new GLI will feature a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder. It is expected to be the same engine found in the GTI which produces 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. There will be a choice of either a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch. The representative also said the GLI would swap the torsion-beam rear suspension found on the standard Jetta for a multi-link independent set…

The next-generation Porsche 911 could have another model joining its extensive lineup. CarAdvice.com.au has learned from Porsche CEO Matthias Muller that hybrid power for the 911 has been under serious consideration. “We have been doing some analysis to see whether it will work,” said Muller. “There is no decision up until now [but] we are negotiating that, and we will see. Maybe in the next generation – there is no reason against it and we will see if we have some reasons to do it.” The next-generation 911 is expected to arrive by 2018 at the earliest, but that isn't the only model being considered for hybrid power. Muller said that the entire lineup is being looked at…

Has it really been a month since Volkswagen and the U.S. Government announced they had reached an agreement over the 2.0L TDI emission scandal? Yes, it has and since then, the two have been hard at work with finalizing the agreement. This week, the two were in Federal Court in San Francisco to give an update. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said at the brief hearing that the two parties have been making significant progress. The "parties ... have reported that in the month since we last met they have made substantial progress in intensive daily efforts to finalize the agreement, and most importantly are on track to meet the court's deadline," Breyer said. T…

Last month, Volkswagen announced that it had reached a $14.7 billion settlement with the U.S. Government over the illegal software used on the 2.0L TDI engine. But before anything could be put into motion, it had to get the go-ahead from U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer. Yesterday at a hearing in San Francisco, Judge Breyer gave his preliminary approval on the settlement. This now means Volkswagen and Audi can start sending out official notices to owners explaining what happens next. Those hoping for buyback offers will need to wait a few more months. Breyer has scheduled a hearing on October 18th to hopefully give the final approval. Also, a lawyer for th…

RAV4 Fighter Geneva concept previews VW's upcoming small SUV By GREG KABLE AutoWeek | Published 02/16/06, 3:06 pm et Volkswagen is getting adventurous. The Concept A, making its public debut at the Geneva motor show later this month, is a precursor to VW’s all-new compact four-wheel drive SUV, planned to launch in the United States in 2008. Billed as a four-door coupe with go-anywhere capability, the production version of the one-off show car will be less flamboyant in production form. Still, now that Wolfgang Bernard is calling the shots in Wolfsburg, the small SUV is crucial to VW’s efforts to give its North American sales a desperately needed boost. Like t…

Blake Noble Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 7th, 2012 At the moment, Volkswagen builds only two different flavors of sports-utility vehicles. On one hand you have the small highway-oriented Golf-based Tiguan, and on the other you have the larger off-road capable Touraeg. However, that stage may be preparing to change as VW could be planning to expand their portfolio of SUVs in the near future. According to a recent report sourced from German business newspaper Handelsblatt, Volkswagen is planning to introduce two new car-based SUVs that will slot in below the compact Tiguan. In the report, Handelsblatt claims that VW is seeing a strong, growing demand for sm…

Possible Porsche Power Play Pending? Porsche AG, the most valuable and most profitable of Germany's automakers, says it has been increasing its stake in Volkswagen AG to prevent hostile takeovers from abroad. Analysts think Porsche may be gearing up for a takeover of its own. The maker of the 911, the Boxster and the Cayenne SUV said this week it would purchase enough shares in VW to bring its stake to 29.9 percent -- just shy of the 30 percent level that would necessitate a full takeover bid. Porsche -- controlled by the family of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech -- is now the top shareholder in Europe's largest car maker. While Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking said the …

If you didn't think the diesel scandal at Volkswagen could get any worse, think again. Let's begin with the former CEO at Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn. Reuters is reporting that German prosecutors have opened an investigation into Winterkorn into "allegations of fraud in the sale of cars with manipulated emissions data" based on ten unidentified individuals filing charges. Now Winterkorn has said that he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing on his part in light of this scandal. There is a report from Automotive News Europe that says three r&d heads at Volkswagen have been suspended. The three are, Audi development chief Ulrich Hackenberg Porsche development head…

Has anyone seen the new VW Un-Pimp My Ride commercial? It was just on Speed Channel and it rocks! Best piece of rice-boy blasting that I have ever seen.

Porsche Ponders A Return Of The 4-Cylinder William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com September 10, 2011 The last time Porsche offered a 4-Cylinder in any of their vehicles was the 968, which left the US after the 1995 model year. Since then, the smallest engine you could get was a 2.7L, now 2.9L flat-six used in the Boxster and Cayman. Now, Porsche is back at work developing a new four-cylinder engines. Autoweek is reporting that high ranking officials from Porsche’s Weissach research and development center in Germany say the company is hard at work on a new family of horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engines. The engines, expected to come in …

If there is one bright spot in Volkswagen, it has to be their commercial division. Through August, the division has seen sales increase 8.2 percent to 308,500 models. With their success, it should come as no surprise they are considering moving into other markets such as the U.S. Eckhard Scholz, Volkswagen's commercial vehicles division CEO tells Reuters that the United States "are still a highly interesting market." A lot of this comes from many commercial vehicle manufacturers operating in the U.S. are taking ideas from their European counterparts. But when asked about possibly selling vehicles in the U.S., Scholz said, "A lot of things come to mind but at the…

Yesterday, Volkswagen's supervisory board showed current CEO Matthias Müller the door and announced that Dr. Herbert Diess, the current head of the Volkswagen brand will take his place. This confirms reports earlier this week about a change in leadership. In a statement, Volkswagen said the decision of Müller's departure was “mutual” and will be effective immediately. “Matthias Müller has done outstanding work for the Volkswagen Group. He assumed the chairmanship of the Board of Management in the fall of 2015 when the Company faced the greatest challenge in its history. Not only did he safely navigate Volkswagen through that time; together with his…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 4, 2013 Porsche decided to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 911 Turbo by introducing the new 2014 911 Turbo and Turbo S. The new 911 Turbo and Turbo S differentiate themselves from other 911s by having a wider rear end (about 1.1 inches wider than the Carrera 4's rear end), twenty-inch wheels, and a countless number of vents and spoilers on the vehicle. Turbo S models also get full LED headlights, three-stage front spoiler, and a three-way rear wing. Under the hood is a new 3.8L twin-turbocharged flat-six producing 520 (Turbo) or 560 (Turbo S) horsepower. That is paired with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch ge…

Today on my way home from work, I saw two Porsche 911s testing out in the wild. Both vehicles were completely camo'd, but I was only able to get two shots. Once the cars saw me trying to snag a picture in rush-hour traffic, they kept their distance and got over as soon as they could to turn off. From what I could tell, it looked like there was some LED work done to the front fascia. There were bright white LED running lights somewhere around the split at the top of the front bumper, under the headlights, and the turn signals were also LEDs. In addition, the side air inlet on the cars were either a silver or brushed aluminum color, but it was hard to tell the exact color …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 4, 2013 Another day, another automaker revealing their showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The automaker in question happens to be Audi with the Sport quattro concept. The Sport quattro concept draws a lot of inspiration from the original Audi Sport quattro with large flat surfaces, blisters over the wheel fenders, bright yellow paint, and of course the iconic shape of the quattro coupe. Other items to take note are Audi's Matrix LED headlight technology in the front headlights and twenty-one inch center-lock alloy wheels. Power comes from a plu-in hybrid powertrain that features a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine…

After Volkswagen admitted that it used software to vary the amount of emissions being produced in their diesel vehicles, Volkswagen is using a legal loophole to provide a defense in Europe. In a letter sent last week to European regulators, Volkswagen Group Managing Director Paul Willis said that the company's cheat software might not be illegal under current European Union regulations. Crazy as might sound, there is a loophole that allows this. The New York Times reports that the European regulations have a massive loophole that could put Volkswagen in the clear. In fact, regulators knew about this loophole back in 2011. We'll let the New York Times explain t…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 1, 2012 Volkswagen showed their most important new platform, named MQB (a German acronym for “Modular Transverse Matrix”) today at their Wolfsburg HQ. MQB will underpin as many as 60 different vehicles of all different shapes and sizes. MQB brings forth many advantages for the next generation of Volkswagen vehicles. First, MQB brings a uniform mounting position for all available engines. MQB also allows current alternative fuels to work as well. MQB also allows Volkswagen to tailor vehicles to specific markets in a more cost effective manner. The cost reduction will help grow Volkswagen market share in emerg…

Blake Noble Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 8th, 2012 Earlier this year, it was rumored that Porsche decided to cancel its plans to introduce a long-rumored, mid-engined compact roadster for 2014. Essentially a “baby Boxster,” the small Porsche roadster was expected to ring up at a price less than the next-generation Boxster, which is expected to grow in size and price. It seems rumors of the little Porsche’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. According to Automobile magazine, the project — codenamed “551” or “Mimo” — was indeed up in the air at one point but is back on the table. The Porsche 551 was originally set to be a fraternal twin to the production…

Volkswagen Moving to D.C. Area Dulles corridor headquarters to be announced Thursday by Paul A. Eisenstein | Link to Original Article @ TCC | (2007-09-03) Barring a last-minute delay, Volkswagen of America will announce plans to move its headquarters to the Washington, D.C. suburbs, during a news conference several well-placed VW sources tell TheCarConnection.com will be held on Thursday. Rumors of the move have been circulating for several months, while company officials were meeting with representatives of several East Coast states in a bid to come up with the best possible incentives to help finance such a move. At various times, reports have suggested, the Germ…

The last thing Volkswagen wants is another issue on its plate. But this week, the UAW has filed an unfair labor practices charge in Tennessee against the automaker. The filing states that Volkswagen declined to negotiate on a contract with the newly formed collective bargaining unit at the Chattanooga, TN plant. Earlier this month, a group of 152 skilled tradesmen voted at the plant voted on whether or not to form a UAW bargaining unit at the plant. With 71 percent votes saying yes, the unit was formed. At the time, Volkswagen said it would appeal the vote to the National Labor Relations Board. The Wall Street Journal reports that the German automaker hasn't done that…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 26, 2012 The Detroit News reports that Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said the company expects to build an all-new SUV in the U.S. for the U.S. This confirms a long standing rumor that Volkswagen would build a three-seat crossover for the states. Now, a final decision on whether this goes through or not will take place sometime next year, From what we had know, the three-row crossover will slot between the Tiguan and Touareg and be built at Volkswagen’s plant in Tennessee. No name has been given at this time. Car & Driver says the new three-row crossover will be based on Volkswagen’s new MQB platform (the s…

Yesterday, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller said that owners of affected diesel vehicles will need to have them 'refitted'. Muller didn't go into detail about what he meant, but Reuters has some possible ideas. Speaking with experts, Reuters says Volkswagen might have to develop different solutions for the 482,000 vehicles affected in the U.S. This comes down to Volkswagen using two different systems for controlling emissions; lean NOx traps (most Volkswagen diesel vehicles involved in the scandal) and a urea injection system (Volkswagen Passat TDI). For vehicles equipped with the lean NOx traps, Volkswagen could get away with using a software update says Marc Trah…

Volkswagen has said time and time again they didn't know about the emission cheating until sometime in 2015. But a new report calls this into question. German newspaper Bild am Sonntag (via Reuters) reported over the weekend that an employee known internally as "Winterkorn's fireman" notified senior managers - including Volkswagen's CEO at the time Martin Winterkorn - about the U.S. possibly probing some of VW's diesel vehicles for high emission levels back in May of 2014. The letter came from Volkswagen's product quality and safety department. "It can be assumed that the authorities will investigate VW systems to establish whether Volkswagen has implemented test-…

There is some possible good news for owners of Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen models equipped with the 3.0L TDI V6. Bloomberg has learned from sources that Volkswagen and U.S. environmental regulators have reached an agreement on fixing and buying back vehicles with this engine. The agreement gives Volkswagen the go-ahead to fix 60,000 vehicles with a software update, while the remaining 20,000 vehicles will need to be bought back because they would be too complex to fix. Avoiding the buyback of all 80,000 vehicles involved in this scandal will save Volkswagen about $4 billion. "The Court has scheduled a status conference for November 30, 2016 to discuss the matt…

Some good news for Volkswagen as the Environmental Protection Agency has approved a fix for a select number of vehicles equipped with the 2.0L TDI. Reuters reports that the fix available for 70,000 vehicles will come in two phases. Right now, vehicles eligible for the fix will get a software update. The following year, Volkswagen will install more software, diesel particulate filter, diesel oxidation catalyst, and NOx catalyst. Now for the bad news, this fix is only available on the 2015 Audi A3, Volkswagen Beetle, Golf, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, and Passat. Volkswagen is still waiting on approval for fixes on the remaining 400,000 vehicles. "With today's approval…

Audi Le Mans Quattro Concept Approved for Production Text & photos courtesy Audi of America edited 11-15-2005 Exotic Sports Car to Be Called R8 It is now official: the new Audi sports car will be called the Audi R8. Presented as the "Le Mans quattro" concept study two years ago at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi has now taken the decision to build its new sports car. Everything is already being prepared for the series production of the R8 at Audi's plant in Neckarsulm, due to commence in the fourth quarter of 2006. The market launch in the U.S. is scheduled for mid-2007. 28 million euros are being invested in the R8 production line. The Audi subsidiary…

Spied: 2008 Porsche Boxster MCE More images of the 2008 Porsche Boxster have turned up, this time with the car undergoing performance testing at Germany’s Nurburgring track. Like the facelifted 911, which is due to hit the market by the end of the year, Porsche’s new Boxster is only expected to get a few minor changes to its exterior. New additions to the ’08 model include a revised front bumper with LED daytime running lights and more circular air intakes. The headlights too, which feature some camouflaging tape, are also likely to come in for a change, as will the rear bumper. The final change is the new taillights, which also gets the LED treatment. Click ahead to s…

One of the stumbling blocks for Volkswagen with the diesel emission scandal has been trying to find a fix that the feds would agree to. Previous attempts for the 2.0 and 3.0L TDI have ended with rejection from the California Air Resources Board due to the "submissions are incomplete, substantially deficient, and fall far short of meeting the legal requirements to return these vehicles to the claimed certified configuration." But it seems progress is being made on this. In an interview with Reuters, CARB's head Mary Nichols said they are working with Volkswagen on testing potential fixes for the three generations of the 2.0L TDI four-cylinder engine. “They brought…

Some good news for Volkswagen as the Environmental Protection Agency has approved a fix for a select number of vehicles equipped with the 2.0L TDI. Reuters reports that the fix available for 70,000 vehicles will come in two phases. Right now, vehicles eligible for the fix will get a software update. The following year, Volkswagen will install more software, diesel particulate filter, diesel oxidation catalyst, and NOx catalyst. Now for the bad news, this fix is only available on the 2015 Audi A3, Volkswagen Beetle, Golf, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, and Passat. Volkswagen is still waiting on approval for fixes on the remaining 400,000 vehicles. "With today's approval…

The Volkswagen emblem is easily one of the most recognizable emblems in the auto world, next to Chevrolet's bowtie and Mercedes-Benz's three-pointed star. But the German automaker is planning to make some tweaks for a new future. At a press briefing in Berlin, Volkswagen's chief marketing officer Jochen Sengpiehl said the new logo would debut next year. Details about what the emblem will look like are being kept close to the chest, but Sengpiehl did say it would be updated to look good on their vehicles and smartphone screens. “The brand is not in good shape compared to previous years,” as the marque lost some of its emotional appeal by trying to be “too German.…

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has given Volkswagen a reprieve on the diesel emission scandal. According to Reuters, CARB has extended the deadline to approve or reject Volkswagen's fix for the nearly 500,000 vehicles with the cheating 2.0L TDI to January 14, 2016. The reason for the extension is Volkswagen continued to submit "significant information and data" about the repair effort for the affected models since submitting the proposed fix back on November 20th. VW spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan tells Reuters the German automaker continues "to fully cooperate with EPA and CARB as we work to develop an approved remedy as quickly as possible." Volkswagen …

Today, Porsche unveiled the Cabriolet version of the 911. Porsche says the 911 Cabriolet is lighter than it's predecessor thanks to use of lightweight materials, including canvas, magnesium, and advanced high-strength steel. The Cabriolet is also wider and longer than it's predecessor. Porsche points out the 911 Cabriolet “preserves the typically sleek 911 coupe roof line.” due to a unique roof mechanism. Power for the 911 Cabriolet comes in the forms of a 3.4L direct-injection flat-six engine making 350 HP, 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph for the base Carrera and a 3.8L boxer six making 400 HP, 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph for …

https://www.motor1.com/photo/3040654/six-wheeler-vw-amarok/ Motor 1 is reporting that a 6 wheel heavy duty Amarok is coming. The comments now tend to cover VW version for taking on the 6 wheel G Wagon. LOL Interesting, wonder if it would ever show in America?

Rumors have been flying around for a couple of years of Audi doing an RS3 sedan for North America. But there hasn't been any concrete evidence for it, just hints and speculation. Continuing this trend, Quattro World has learned from sources that the RS3 sedan is a go. Audi of America executives told employees at a recent summit that the RS3 sedan has been given the green light. Sources say the model will look slightly different from the current RS3 Sportback sold in Europe with new front end and headlights. A new turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder with over 400 horsepower will be paired with a seven-speed S-Tronic gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive. The RS3 sedan is…

While Europe has been enjoying the new Volkswagen Tiguan for a few months, North America has had to wait a bit longer for it. Tonight, Volkswagen has unveiled our version of Tiguan. Why has it taken so long? That's because our Tiguan is a bit different as we get the long-wheelbase variant. Compared to the European-spec model, the North American Tiguan is 10.7 inches longer and rides on a 4.4-inch longer wheelbase. The longer wheelbase allows Volkswagen to shoehorn in a third-row into the vehicle - a plus point for crossover buyers. If you have spent any time in a Golf, then you'll feel at home in the Tiguan as the layout is similar. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit - …

Volkswagen's emission scandal will not be an easy or quick problem to fix. Along with fixing a number of vehicles, the automaker will be facing a large amount of fines from various governments and possibly payouts from lawsuits. To make sure they have enough money to cover all of this, Volkswagen is reportedly is taking out some short-term loans. Bloomberg has learned from two sources that the German automaker will meet with a number of banks tomorrow to apply for 20 billion euros (about $21.5 billion) in short-term loans to act as a buffer for upcoming fines. The hope is to have the loans by the end of this year. “It makes perfect sense” to shore up financing, sa…

Volkswagen has already missed one deadline set by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on reaching a deal with the U.S. Government over the diesel emission scandal. Breyer has given them a second deadline of April 21st. Now the administrator of the EPA worries they could miss the second one. Speaking to reporters at a breakfast, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said she has concerns about the two groups being able to reach a deal before the deadline. "I wouldn't take any single signal as the direction of those negotiations or where any final agreement - if we reach one - will end up," said McCarthy. If an agreement isn't reached by April 21st, Breyer has said he …

The trail of rumors of Porsche working on a flat-four engine can be traced back to 2011 when the rumor of the entry-level model was still flying around. Since that time, the entry-level project has been reportedly canned, but the flat-four engine still carrying on. We last heard about this back in 2012 when a turbocharged version was reportedly going into a high-performance variant of the Cayman. Since then, it has been radio silence. Until this past week. Car Magazine reportedly got a look at spec sheet on the flat-four engine project which lists three different variants. The variants include, 1.6L flat-four: 210 horsepower, N/A on torque 2.0L flat-four: 286 horsepo…

Check out these cheeky little monkeys. Kewl! I like the Buggy, the CrossUp and the GT the bestest.

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 5, 2013 When Volkswagen pulled the covers off the new Golf GTD at the Geneva Motor Show this year, questions arose whether or not the model would arrive in the U.S. Answers were mixed between yes and no. But we now have an answer. The GTD will be coming. Volkswagen made the announcement this week, saying the GTD will be here in 2015 as a 2016 model. The model will use a 2.0L TDI engine with 184 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. "We see it as a very important part of our full range of offerings, a technology halo for our diesel technology," said Andreas Valbuena, VW's product manager for the Golf. Source: Au…

There has been a small number of people wanting Volkswagen to bring the Amarok over to the U.S. There are numerous issues to this, the big one being the 25 percent Chicken Tax on trucks, But some recent news has brought hope to this small group. Motor Authority reports that Volkswagen filed a trademark application for Amarok last November. This could mean one of two things; either Volkswagen is planning on introducing the Amarok to the U.S., or the German automaker is covering all bases. As Motor Authority notes, Volkswagen has trademarked the name before. Aside from the Chicken Tax problem, the Amarok would run into the problem that other midsize trucks are fac…