Volkswagen
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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 …
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 26, 2012 With a new Volkswagen Golf on the way, that means right behind it is a new GTI. Car Magazine has unearthed some information about the seventh generation GTI due out sometime next year. The next GTI will be on VW's new MQB platform, like the next Golf. MQB will bring a weight loss of 90 lbs to the GTI. The next GTI will be lower (about 30mm (1.2 inches)) than the current model and use a longer wheelbase (about 50mm). The current GTI's powertrain, a 2.0L turbo-4 will carry over to the new model, albeit with a bit more oomph; 217 HP and 251lb-ft of torque. Also, the GTI will get a limited slip diff, not a…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 30, 2012 Audi has a bit of a problem on their hands. The German automaker is in the middle of launching new hybrid vehicles, the technology loved by Americans - but is also introducing a range of diesel powered vehicles, which are actually more efficient. Rather than begin changing the mind of American buyers that diesels make more sense than hybrids, Audi is changing course and altering their green plans; making hybrids the green option and diesel the performance option. The move has caused Audi to make decisions on models will and will not come to the U.S.. For example, Audi has shelved the 2.0L diesel opt…
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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…
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It has been almost six months since Volkswagen admitted to using illegal software on their diesel vehicles to fool emission tests. Since then, a lot of people have been waiting for a fix to make the vehicles legal. Now a federal judge has given Volkswagen a deadline to come up with a solution. Reuters reports that at hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco has given the German automaker till March 24th to give a definitive answer on the status of a fix. "Six months is long enough" to determine if this is a fixable problem, Breyer said. "This is an ongoing problem." Back in January, Volkswagen presented a possible solution to …
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Volkswagen unveiled their new CrossCoupe concept at the Tokyo Motor Show today. The concept gives us a glimpse of what the future of Volkswagen's crossovers will look like. The design of the CrossCoupe features a low window line and a simplistic style bolstered by frameless windows and flared fenders. The CrossCoupe length is 171.1 inches, which puts it between the Volkswagen Golf (165.4 in) and Tiguan (174.5 in). Power comes from a 148 HP TSI engine and a 54 HP electric motor for the front axle while the back axle has a 114 HP electric motor. The power goes through VW's seven-speed DSG to all four wheels. Volkswagen says the 3,854 lbs CrossCoupe can run up to 60 MPH a…
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http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/08vwcity.htm http://www.canadiandriver.com/galleries/20...d=96&page=1
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Volkswagen is looking towards vans and a possible pickup as way to bolster its U.S. lineup and become something other than a niche player in the marketplace. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen's head of the light commercial vehicle unit, Eckhard Scholz said the company is investigating whether or not to send some of their vans and possibly the Amarok - the only pickup VW builds at the moment - to the U.S. “Pickup trucks are a dominating segment,” while there’s also a trend in the U.S. toward compact European vans, Scholz said. “We’re looking at both options intensively.” Now if this sounds familiar, Volkswagen of America CEO said something similar back in January. Micha…
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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…
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21% overall sales increase is nothing to ignore and while the sales numbers for themselves are impressive across the whole VW family as is shown by this chart, the focus is on VW moving forward into an EV world of sales as they delivered 474 during the Month of March to customers. The VW ID.4 is an all new electric SUV for 2021 and kicks off the start of the EV onslaught for North America. Already the ID.4 is getting critical praise from the press. The ID.4 made Autotrader's 10 Best Car Interiors under $50,000 for 2021. The ID.4 delivers on the following: MSRP starts at $39,995 for ID.4 Pro before potential $7,500 Federal tax credit Compact …
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 23, 2012 Automakers are always in a overhauling cycle with their model lineup in varying stages. Porsche happens to be in the middle of its cycle. So far, the company has introduced the new Panamera and refreshed versions of the Cayenne, 911, and the Boxster. Automobile magazine has uncovered what the company has got planned up to 2016. First up are the vehicles we know about; coming in 2013 are the new Cayman, the smaller Macan, and the 918 Spyder. The 918 Spyder will come with equipped with a 4.6L aluminum V8 producing 550 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque, and will be paired with two electric motors for a combined t…
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Some interesting news came out of Chicago concerning Volkswagen. First up, Autoblog reports that the next-generation Passat will be coming out next year. Volkswagen's North American CEO Hinrich Woebcken revealed this during a roundtable with journalists at the show. Not many details are known about the Passat. It is hinted that it could grow in size and feature styling similar to the new Jetta. One detail that is certain is that Passat will continue to be built at Volkswagen's Chattanooga, TN plant. Volkswagen's first electric model for the U.S., the I.D. Crozz is expected to launch in 2020. According to Car and Driver, the Crozz will come in two body styles - t…
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The new Volkswagen Tiguan looks to solve some of the pressing issues of the current model such as its size that puts it between subcompact and compact crossovers. But that doesn't mean the current Tiguan is leaving anytime soon. Hendrik Muth, VW’s senior vice president for product marketing tells Car and Driver that the current Tiguan will stick around for 2018 and 2019, wearing the Tiguan Limited nameplate. Muth explained this model will be aimed at more budget-minded buyers and those who don't want the bigger footprint of the new Tiguan. Another reason mentioned in Car and Driver's story is the current Tiguan saw its best sales in 2015 and 2016. One item that …
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For the past few months, we have been reporting that Teramont was the possible name for Volkswagen's upcoming three-row crossover. But it seems the model will be named something else. Automobilwoche reports that the new crossover will wear the 'Atlas' nameplate. Volkswagen filed trademark applications for the name with the U.S. Government back in April. According to Automotive News, the Atlas name shows that VW Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken made good on a promise back in July that the crossover “much easier to pronounce, American-style name”. A Volkswagen spokeswoman declined to comment on the 'Atlas' name. Volkswagen is planning to show the new t…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 20, 2012 Volkswagen is thinking about adding a smaller four-door coupe (See Volkswagen CC) to their lineup. There are two reasons for this. One, this would be a vilable alternative to the new Audi A3 sedan and upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLC. Two, this will provide Volkswagen another way to increase its market share in North America and China. Known internally as the SC (Sport Coupe), the vehicle was given approval after U.S. market studies revealed that Volkswagen's earlier plans for a two-door version of the Jetta (see NCC from the 2010 NAIAS) got only a lukewarm response from potential customers. “Our research su…
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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…
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http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Featu...cleId=145166#10 Umm? not bad... I guess?
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Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has been indicted for his involvement in the diesel emission scandal. The indictment, which was filed under seal at the U.S. District Court in Detroit back in March, was unsealed yesterday. U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said in court filings the reason for unsealing is "because there is no longer a belief that unsealing these documents will compromise an ongoing investigation." Winterkorn has been charged with four felony counts, including wire fraud and violating the clean air act. In the indictment, it is alleged that Winterkorn was told about the efforts to manipulate U.S. emission tests with their TDI vehicles in May 2014…
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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…
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Since 2014, there have been numerous rumors about Apple's self-driving project known as Titan. At one time, the project had a 1,000 workers with the goal of designing and building a self-driving electric vehicle. But numerous issues and changes in vision has caused the project to be majorly behind scheduled. A new report from the New York Times shines a light at the current circumstances. According to sources with knowledge of the project, Apple signed a deal with Volkswagen late last year that would see the automaker provide less than two dozen of T6 Transporter vans to the technology company. Apple will equip the vans with their self-driving tech and be used as shu…
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Nearly four years ago, Volkswagen made the pronouncement that it wanted to be the world's largest automaker by 2018. But in light of the diesel scandal, Volkswagen is taking that dream off the table and focusing on trying to survive. Today, Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Müller announced a new plan called Strategy 2025 that will focus on improving profit rather than volume growth. The plan will be developed over the next few months and will be shown sometime next year. “Many people outside of Volkswagen, but also some of us, did not understand that our Strategy 2018 is about much more than production numbers. A lot of things were subordinated to the desire to be ‘F…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 17, 2013 A new report from Edmunds says that Volkswagen still has its eyes set on sending the next-generation Phaeton to the U.S., but when that will be is up in the air. "There will come a time when it is right to bring it back to the U.S. marketplace, but what we haven't defined yet is when that will be," said Volkswagen of America president and CEO Jonathan Browning. Sources tell Edmunds that at the moment, the Phaeton's return is at least three years away. Considering a previous report that had said the reveal of the next-generation Phaeton will happen in later 2014 or early 2015, that puts the possible re…
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Hi guys, I drive a Volkswagen Golf 2001 (bought it refurbished in 2007). When I got it it didn't come with car mats, I got such a good deal on the car that I decided to splurge and bought some legit car mats from the dealership. Several years down the road they're getting a bit raggedy and I want to replace them with some good quality all-weather ones. Where have you guys gotten your car mats from/what are some brands I should stay away from? I'm willing to spend the money on quality ones as long they last and come with attachments so I can install them securely.
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After an emergency meeting held today, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn announced his resignation amid allegations that the automaker manipulated their diesel vehicles to meet emissions regulations around the world. "As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group. I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrongdoing on my part," said Winterkorn in a statement. "Volkswagen needs a fresh start - also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start …
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Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller told a German publication that it would launch a recall for diesel vehicles that have emission-cheating software starting in January and hopefully finish up fixing all of the vehicles by the end of the year. "If all goes according to plan, we can start the recall in January. All the cars should be fixed by the end of 2016," Mueller told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Now it should be noted this is only for vehicles in Europe. A Volkswagen of America spokeswoman says the EPA has to agree to the fix that Volkswagen would present. No timetable was given as to when a fix would be announced. Muller said a number of vehicles coul…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter – CheersandGears.com March 28, 2012 Volkswagen has a lot riding on their new MQB platform. It cost the company $79 billion to develop and will underpin a vast majority of the brand’s upcoming cars, as well as a slew of new models. Speaking at the VW Group profits announcement, Michael Macht, the board member in charge of group production, said the company could sell the platform to other companies. “The next two to three years are exciting for us, and during this time we intend to keep the technology to ourselves. We do not wish to share our excellence. But in the medium to long term we could sell the technology. We would have to look at…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 18, 2012 Last week, we reported on the Volkswagen BlueSport being delayed to company not being able to find enough sales to justify building it. The delay is causing headaches for both Audi and Porsche who were going to build sister models. Now, it looks like Porsche could be pushing back or even ending the project. Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller told German publication Wirtschaftswoche the company plans on delaying the mid-engine sub-Boxster for the time being due to worries that the car could dilute the brand's image. ''Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 1, 2012 Volkswagen apparently has been talking about what's coming down the pipeline. What Car? talked with Volkswagen board member Professor Ulrich Hackenberg where he revealed some surprises. For starters, Hackenburg revealed that the company would begin selling limited numbers of the XL1, a plug-in diesel hybrid that will get 313 MPG (European cycle). The XL1 has been seen testing over the past year or so, adding fuel to the fire. Hackenburg also revealed that electric variant of the UP would be coming out next year, followed by a Golf plug-in hybrid the year after. As for vehicles that will not be making a …
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For a number of years, there has been debates of which Porsche is the better one; the 911 or the Cayman. During these debates, the point comes up that Porsche would not make the Cayman as good as it should because of the fear that it would overshadow the 911. Well expect these debates to become more lively and frequent as Porsche has announced the Cayman GT4. The Cayman GT4 features a number of aerodynamic improvements such as a deep front bumper with three large air dams and a splitter, a large fixed rear wing, and a wide air diffuser. A set of unique alloy wheels help differentiate the GT4 from other Cayman models. Power comes from the 3.8L flat-six from the 911 Carre…
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Volkswagen can take a sigh of relief as it appears the current CEO, Matthias Müller, didn't have any prior knowledge of the diesel emission cheating. German newspaper Bild am Sonntag (via Reuters) got their hands on a report done by Jones Day which said Müller didn't find out the scandal till the EPA made the announcement - September 18, 2015 if you're wondering. Only a week later, Müller would be named CEO of Volkswagen. Still, Müller's track record on dealing with the diesel emission mess is spotty. He has said the scandal was just a 'technical problem' and a misunderstanding about U.S. law - claims that were deemed false and got Müller in hot water. Source: …
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Another week has passed and some new information has come to light in the Volkswagen diesel scandal. First off, Volkswagen has confirmed one of their diesel engines doesn't have the cheat. The EA 288 TDI engine used in vehicles for the European-market has been checked out to see if it had the illegal software. In a statement issued by Volkswagen, the engine did not have “software constituting an improper defeat device as defined in laws is installed in vehicles with EA288 EU5 as well as EU6 engines in the European Union with those engines comply with legal requirements and environmental standards." Also, one of the questions that have been up in the air is how wou…
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfXqt0PuHQk
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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…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 3, 2013 Porsche's new small crossover, the Macan has a possible reveal location. According to Auto Express, Porsche will unveil the Macan at the 2013 LA Auto Show. A source tells the magazine that the new Macan will use the MLB platform that underpins the Audi Q5, albeit with more aluminum. Also, the source says the new Macan will exclusively come with four-wheel drive from launch. The new Macan is expected to start arriving at dealers sometime next spring. Source: Auto Express William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on tw…
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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…
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Last year, Volkswagen made an announcement that shocked many of us. The Golf GTD, a GTI with a diesel was slated to come to the U.S. within the next couple years. But news coming out of New York may dash those dreams many of us had. Volkswagen of America's CEO, Michael Horn told reporters that the 2.0L turbodiesel engine used in the GTD cannot be built at company's engine plant in Silao, Mexico, and that the engine would have to be imported from Germany, rasing the cost. “The GTD would be a great car,” said Horn, but with that added cost, “the price point is not really attractive. So the probability is sort of diminishing.” Horn didn't say why the engine couldn't be bu…
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Volkswagen's Canadian site has dropped a teaser for the upcoming 2019 Jetta. The single gif reveals a couple of details about the design. One is that the side profile features some sculpting and a character line that possibly runs the whole length of the vehicle. Second is the Jetta's grille is similar to the T-Roc crossover with a pentagonal design. Last month, Volkswagen North America CEO Hinrich Woebcken told journalists that the next-generation Jetta "would have coupe-like form and promises to be "great-looking"." We can't see the coupe-like form in this teaser. At least we won't be waiting too long for the reveal. Volkswagen will show off the 2019 Jetta nex…
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G. David Felt Alternative Fuels & Propulsion writer www.CheersandGears.com The late wife of the driver that killed Actor Paul Walker claims her husband was killed by a faulty designed auto that had suspension problems and that the car was only going 55mph when it had failed before the crash. Msn Movie news is reporting, full story here: http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=866888&ocid=ansent11
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Volkswagen has been teasing us for a number of years with Microbus concepts that never seem to go anywhere. The latest one is the I.D. Buzz that debuted earlier this month at the Detroit Auto Show. But an insider says this concept will go into production. Automotive News Europe spoke to a source at Volkswagen who said, "I know what you're going to ask and the answer is 2022. Diess wants it." The second sentence in that quote is important. Diess refers to Herbert Diess, the brand chief for Volkswagen. According ANE, Diess is a big fan of the I.D. Buzz concept in part as the original bus "is a feel-good throwback to the days when VW stood for flower power, not tox…
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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…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 12, 2012 Bentley’s SUV concept, the EXP 9 F was the most polarizing and controversial vehicle shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. After hearing reactions, Bentley has decided to back to the drawing board on their SUV. What Car? has learned from a Bentley source the EXP 9 F will be getting some changes. Those changes could include “more traditional SUV proportions”, “less retro surfacing”, and smaller headlights. Source: What Car? View full article
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 8, 2013 Last year at the Paris Motor Show, Audi unveiled a high performance Q5 model called the SQ5 that used a 3.0L twin-turbo diesel V6 producing 313 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque that could reach 60 MPH in five seconds and get 32.67 MPG. For the Detroit Auto Show, Audi will unveil the North American version of the SQ5. Before you ask, it will not be the diesel version. Instead, Audi is dropping in the 3.0L supercharged V6 producing 354 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque going through a eight-speed automatic down to all four wheels via the Quattro AWD system. This combination can propel the S…
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With the new Golf coming to the U.S. later this year, Volkswagen decided it would be a good time to give the Jetta a bit of a refresh. Vinay Shahani, Volkswagen's vice president of marketing tells Autoblog that the company is planning a refreshed Jetta that will arrive later this year. Expect subtle tweaks to the exterior and interior, and maybe some new features. Shahani also revealed that the next-generation Jetta SportWagen would be arriving early, however it will not have the Jetta nameplate. When the model arrives, it will be wearing the Golf nameplate. Shahani explained that ays this will better position a "Golf family" of vehicles. It makes sense considering the n…
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Porsche seems to have wagons on the mind with the Panamera Sport Turismo concept shown at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and recent spy shots showing off a prototype version undergoing testing. Could it be that Porsche is working on a Panamera wagon? They are and it is coming to the U.S. Automotive News recently sat down with Porsche's U.S. chief, Klaus Zellmer who revealed that Porsche is working on a wagon for the second-generation Panamera and that it would be sold in the U.S. "We have to have some patience for [the wagon] to arrive in the U.S. But we are confident that this car will be well received here, despite the fact that this country doesn't really like hatch…
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 14, 2013 One automaker you might not expect to get into the three-row crossover arena is Volkswagen. But with the introduction of the CrossBlue concept at the Detroit Auto Show today, Volkswagen might be joining. The CrossBlue's design is mixture of Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. The concept measures 196 inches from front to back, which puts it about on par with the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder. Inside, the CrossBlue has seating for six passengers and a 10.2-inch touch screen infotainment system controls all audio functions. Power comes from a plug-in diesel electric hybrid drivetrain. The powertrain …
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Volkswagen has made their plans clear of introducing a number of full electric vehicles beginning with the I.D. next year. But the company is also planning to electrify a number of models beginning with the next-generation Golf. This week at the International Vienna Motor Symposium, Volkswagen unveiled a 48-volt mild hybrid system currently under development for the Mk. 8 Golf. The system is comprised of a 48-volt belt-integrated starter generator and a 48-volt battery. This will allow for an enhanced stop-start system, brake regeneration, and engine-off coasting. Volkswagen made specific mention of the last feature as it would save 0.3 liters of gas over 100 kilomete…
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G. Noble Editor/Reporter CheersandGears.com Thursday, 16th February, 2012 This is it — the new upcoming small SUV from Porsche. No, it isn’t going to be named “Cajun” as previously thought. Instead, Porsche went with something a little less spicy for the name and decided to choose an Indonesian word meaning “tiger” — Macan. The sketch you see above was released this morning directly from Porsche, along with a and a press release mostly full of non-information regarding the new Audi Q5-based soft-roader. That means there isn’t any official word about what engines will wind up powering the Macan, but it’s probably safe to assume they’ll be Porsche-specific. The sa…
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Last month, we reported that Volkswagen could be cutting the Polo 3-Door and Beetle as a way to save costs. But Autoblog reports that the Beetle will live on. Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, member of the board of management responsible for development at Volkswagen said that the Beetle will continue, with a new model coming sometime in the next 3 years. The next-generation Beetle will move to the MQB platform which allows such options as a hybrid and a electric version. Neusser also went onto say that the Beetle "will remain an emotional design." But that it would be shaped with a new design language. Source: Autoblog View full article
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2012 Volkswagen Passat - Official Pricing Cory Wolfe - CheersandGears.com May 26th, 2011 Today, Volkswagen officially released pricing details on its new 2012 Passat. Set to start below $20,000 before destination charges, it's clear that Volkswagen is taking it's new Americanized entry into the midsize segment seriously. As priced, the new Passat will undercut many of its biggest rivals by a few hundred dollars or fall right in line with the competition. The news alot of people have been eager to hear is where Volkswagen's latest TDi diesel will be priced at. The answer is $25,995 before destination and that includes 17 inch alloy wheels, leatherette …
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Weeks before the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal came to light, several executives were reportedly warned about the possible costs during a meeting. German tabloid Bild am Sonntag reports that Oliver Schmidt, a Volkswagen executive that was arrested earlier this year in U.S., said the costs of diesel emission cheating could cost the company up to $18.5 billion during a presentation held on August 25, 2015. Those that attended the presentation included former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, VW's development chief at the time Heinz-Jakob Neusser, and Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess. This information comes from U.S. investigation documents obtained by the pape…
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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…
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2017 will be the last year Volkswagen sells the Touareg in the U.S., according to Motor Trend. While a reason as to why wasn't given, we have to think declining sales played a key role. The past few years have seen sales fall at a steady rate - 2016 saw a 40 percent drop to 4,223 units. 2017 isn't faring any better with 1,630 Touaregs sold through June. There is also the model being squeezed by the larger Atlas crossover and the upcoming Tiguan, which is slightly longer than the Touareg. Volkswagen will continue to sell the Touareg in other markets, with the next-generation model due out later this year. Source: Motor Trend View full article
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A new wrinkle has appeared in the Volkswagen diesel scandal. Last week, Daniel Donovan filed suit against Volkswagen of America for wrongful termination and breaking the Michigan Whistleblowers' Protection Act after reporting that the company continuing deleting data after the EPA said to stop. On September 18, the EPA filed a violation notice against Volkswagen's diesel vehicles. Part of that notice required Volkswagen to not delete any more data. Donovan alleges in the suit that workers at Volkswagen Group of America's data processing center in Auburn Hills, MI did not stop till September 21st. Donovan told his supervisor about this and tried to stop the deletions. …
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G. Noble Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 9th, 2012 Ann Arbor, Michigan’s monthly automotive publication, Car and Driver, recently broke news that Lamborghini has filed a few documents to secure the rights to the name “Deimos”. Lamborghini has had a track record of not wasting the names it trademarks, so this has led to speculation over what will wear the name. The god Deimos, in ancient Greek mythology, was the personification of terror and dread. Given Lamborghini’s infatuation with, well, rather evil-looking styling these days, I think the name of an ancient god known to scare the living hell out of people is rather fitting. However, it is rather interest…
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On Friday, Volkswagen made an announcement that many of us were expecting, cutting its massive R&D budget. The company will cut 1 billion Euros (about $1.1 billion) from R&D to prepare itself for the massive fines that will be heading its way in the near future due to the emission scandal. Along with this, Volkwagen announced that it would be capping spending on property, plant and equipment at around 12 billion euros ($12.8 billion) for next year. This is about eight percent smaller than the previous plan put forth by the company. In a statement, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller said a number of projects are being delayed or put on hold, including a new design…
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We know that Volkswagen is in the midst of readying a seven-seat crossover and a long-wheelbase Tiguan as a part of a new product offensive for the U.S., but that may not be the only vehicle in the plans. Automotive News reports that Volkswagen is considering two other vehicles for the U.S. The first is the production version of the Golf R-400 concept. The concept which made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show in November packs 395 horsepower version of the Golf R's turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder. Hans-Jakob Neusser, Volkswagen’s development chief tells Automotive News the company is close to making a decision on whether the model should go into production. “W…
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Ever since the Porsche Boxster was released back in 1996, the formula of a two-seat roadster powered by flat-six engine never changed. But the German sports car maker is making some big changes come 2017. First, the 2017 model will not be called Boxster. Instead, it will be named 718 Boxster. The 718 is in reference to the 1957 718 race car that used a four-cylinder engine. That takes us to other big change for the Boxster; the flat-six engines will be replaced by turbocharged flat-four engine. Here is what 718 Boxster engine lineup will look like: 718 Boxster: Turbocharged 2.0L Flat-Four - 300 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque 718 Boxster S: Turbocharged 2.…
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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…
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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…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 14, 2012 The Volkswagen BlueSport concept, a mid-engine diesel powered concept shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show has been hitting some bumps in the road to production. According to Autocar, the future of the BlueSport is in danger due to the company not finding enough sales to justify it. The biggest problem lies with Volkswagen of America, which believes having a sports car in its U.S. lineup is low-priority at the moment, even though Volkswagen has a plan to sell 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. by 2018 and the U.S. being the world’s largest market for sports cars. “To get to 800k units, w…
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Audi is in the process introducing the next-generation V8 that will be used in their models, along with Bentley and Porsche. We've already gotten a glimpse of the diesel version that powers the SQ7 and before too long, we might see the gas version. But Autocar reports that this V8 could be Audi's last. A source tells the British publication that the German automaker is moving a fair amount of their investments over to electric and hybrid vehicle development. This change would likely mean there isn't enough money to develop another V8 engine in the future. “By 2025, the plan of Audi management is to have between 25% and 35% of Audi’s output as battery-electric vehi…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 27, 2013 Before too long, the current-generation VR6 motor that currently powers the CC will be retired. But a new report says Volkswagen is working on a successor. According to Autoweek, Volkswagen is developing a new VR6 motor with forced induction. The engine is likely to be a 3.0L, feature twin-turbos, and developed for transverse mounting. Sources say the new engine can produce somewhere in the range of 340 to 450 horsepower, dependent on the tune. There is no word on when this engine will be revealed, but the report says certain vehicles like the CC, Passat, and a production version of the CrossBlue con…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 12, 2013 Surprising news coming from Volkswagen today. Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen of America has stepped down. In a statement, Volkswagen says Browning has left for personal reasons. A former executive for Ford and General Motors, Browning became CEO of Volkswagen of America in 2010. During his tenure, Volkswagen saw sales rise 23 percent in 2011 and 30 percent in 2012. This year has seen sales decline five percent through most of this year with sales standing at 373,689 vehicles. Meanwhile, the automotive industry is experiencing growth of eight percent in the same time frame. Browning's replacement …
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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…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 6, 2012 The last we heard anything about a four-cylinder for Porsche was last September when a report from Autoweek said that Porsche was working on two turbocharged four-cylinder engines for the long-rumored and now killed entry-level roadster and Boxster/Cayman. Now, a Italian automotive website is reporting that Porsche will premiere a Cayman with a turbo-four at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. 0-100.it reports the model, named the Cayman Turbo will use a 2.5L turbocharged boxer-four engine producing 350 HP and 369 lb-ft of torque, and will only come with Porsche's PDK transmission. Source: 0-100.it William M…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 19, 2013 Within the past three years, Audi has shown two different quattro concepts. At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, there was the quattro Concept. Then at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi pulled the covers off the Sport quattro concept. Speaking with Auto Express, Audi's head of design Wolfgang Egger says that the quattro could reach production, but the decision of which one to use is being debated. "With every design concept we do we are thinking about everything becoming reality.” said Egger. “We have done one (designed for MQB platform (quattro concept)) and now we have done the other (on larger MLB pl…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 16, 2012 The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf that was originally due out in the U.S. next fall has been pushed back to 2014. Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America’s vice president of product marketing and strategy told Car & Driver about the delay. The reason is due to Volkswagen wanting to avoid unnecessary manufacturing complications at launch since the Golf is the key vehicle in Europe. Volkswagen officials are saying that North America market planning is ongoing.That includes where the Golf and GTI will be assembled. Currently, the Golf and GTI are built at the Wolfsburg plant. Speculation also has som…
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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?
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Imagine getting into a new vehicle with a payment that could range $39 to $99 per month. Seem like a fantasy? Well that is what a number of Volkswagen dealers across the U.S. are doing. An example is a Volkswagen dealer offering an $89 36 month lease on Jetta, after you hand over $2,500 as a down-payment. It's part of an effort by Volkswagen to bring customers in now at a loss to have hopefully return in three years when the automaker will have a brand new lineup. 2018 will see Volkswagen in the beginning stages of their plans to introducing new products every five years - a seven-seat crossover is the first - and refreshing their product lineup every three years. …
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A number of Volkswagen executives will not be seeing their full bonus for 2015. In a statement today, Volkswagen announced bonus payments for top executives will be cut "significantly." This announcement comes a week after it was revealed that Volkswagen Group Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch would be getting about 10 million euros (about $11.4 million) as compensation for stepping down as the company's CFO. News about this bonus angered Volkswagen's labor leaders and the state of Lower Saxony, Volkswagen's second-largest shareholder. They argued Volkswagen should just scrap the bonuses since Volkswagen could experience more financial pains due to the diesel emission scan…
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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…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 15, 2012 Porsche has just completed the initial prototypes of the new 918 Spyder, complete with a black-and-white livery that pays homage to the 917 race cars. Production is set to begin next September with the pricetag starting at a whopping $845,000 per model. But with that price, you do get a 570 HP, 4.6L V8 and two electric motors delivering a peak output of 770 HP. That powertrain should be good a 0-60 run of 3.1 seconds, a top speed of 199 MPH, run on electricity alone up 94 MPH, and return around 78 miles per gallon on the EU cycle. Press Release is on Page 2 918 Spyder prototypes commence trials Stut…
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For a number of years, people have been saying the biggest problem with Volkswagen is they haven't “figured out the American market yet.” Even the automaker admits that it's the reason that its market share has dropped. Volkswagen has tried again and again to make some inroads into the market to no avail. But the German automaker is giving it another go. Automotive News had the chance to do a deep dive into Volkswagen's new plan by speaking with Volkswagen Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken. His plan involves turning this division into an American car company - in spirit. It should be noted that Woebcken came to the U.S. as an exchange student in the seventies, so…
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The workers Volkswagen's Chattanooga assembly plant in Tennessee have made their decision on union representation. On Friday night, retired Tennessee Circuit Court Judge Sam Payne released the results of the three day vote which saw workers say no to UAW representation by a vote of 712 people opposed to 626 people in favor. "On behalf of Volkswagen Group of America, I want to thank all of our Chattanooga production and maintenance employees for their participation in this week's vote. They have spoken, and Volkswagen will respect the decision of the majority," said Frank Fischer, CEO and Chairman of Volkswagen Chattanooga. The decision makes the Chattanooga plant an out…
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Ever since Martin Winterkorn resigned from his post as Volkswagen Group CEO due to diesel emission scandal sixteen months ago, he has been out of the spotlight. However, Winterkorn made his first public appearance today at a parliamentary committee in Berlin investigating the emission irregularities of automobiles. At the hearing, Winterkorn maintained his innocence, saying he had no part in the cheating, nor knew anything about it. “It’s incomprehensible why I wasn’t informed early and clearly. I would have prevented any type of deception or misleading of authorities,” said Winterkorn. Winterkorn declined to answer questions dealing with when he was informed ab…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 3, 2012 Volkswagen made some big announcements today concerning a new model that will be premiering at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and pricing for another model. We'll start with the new model first. Volkswagen revealed the new Beetle convertible a month ahead of its official unveiling at the L.A. Auto Show. The soft-top has a similar roofline to the normal Beetle when its up. Want to put the top down, it will only take about ten seconds. Also, Volkswagen engineered a system that will pop two computer-actuated bars behind the rear seat within four milliseconds in the event of a rollover. The engine lineup…
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Last summer, Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier said a decision on whether or not the brand would come to the U.S. would be made sometime next year. But it seems that decision has been put on the back burner. Autocar reports that Skoda is taking the lead on developing a new low-cost vehicle for emerging markets. Earlier this year, Volkswagen had entered a partnership with Indian automaker Tata Motors to do the same. However, this would be dissolved as cost targets were not met. “We will need more time to work on the US plans now. The Group has asked us to lead development of a platform with a strong focus on India and to investigate building that business sustainably and …
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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…
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It seems every year or so, a rumor comes out that Volkswagen is bringing back the Microbus. The past couple of years have seen rumors talking about the Microbus returning as an electric vehicle. This is the case with the latest Microbus rumor. Autocar has learned from sources at Volkswagen that the van is part of a possible five electric vehicle lineup that German automaker wants to launch by 2020. The model is said to carry some of the design cues of the original model with a flat front end and curbside sliding door. Max seating is said to be for seven people. In terms of platform, the van will use Volkswagen's upcoming MEB platform that debuted on the iD conce…
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In addition to $14.7 billion settlement reached with the U.S. Government, Volkswagen will pay an additional $86 million in civil penalties to California over the diesel emission scandal. "We must conserve and protect our environment for future generations and deliver swift and certain consequences to those who break the law and pollute our air," said California's Attorney General Kamala Harris in a statement. Harris explained the civil penalties resolved certain claims made by state officials against Volkswagen dealing with the state's unfair competition law, along with certain violations of federal law. The majority of $86 million will go to the Attorney Gen…
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Every few years, Audi shows off a TT concept that leads to the speculation of a TT family. Such examples include a shooting brake or a crossover. Now it happens to be a sedan. The Audi TT Sportback Concept doesn't have all of the usual Audi concept trademarks such as large wheels, miniscule mirrors, and odd interior treatments. The outside looks like the new TT coupe with slim headlight and distinctive roofline. The back end reminds us the quattro concept, especially the trunk lid. Compared to the TT Coupe, the Sportback is 11 inches longer, 2.4 inches wider and rides on a wheelbase that is 4.7 inches longer. Under the hood lies a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder produci…
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Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, head of Audi's r&d has stepped down today. Hackenberg has been a key presence at Audi and the Volkswagen group since he joined in 1985. He has played a major role in a number of projects including the first-generation Audi TT, Volkswagen XL1, and the MQB modular platform. In 2013, he was named the head of Audi's r&d division. Hackenberg made headlines back in September as he and two other r&d heads at Volkswagen - Porsche's Wolfgang Hatz and Volkswagen's Heinz-Jakob Neusser - were suspended for possible involvement in the diesel scandal. “In the 30 years that he was active in the Volkswagen Group, Ulrich Hackenberg was involv…
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This has not been a good week for Audi in terms of leaks. Earlier this week, we reported on a video that showed Audi introducing the RS3 sedan to employees. Now a product roadmap has come to light showing what's in store for next two years. Dutch site Autobahn.eu got their hands on a picture showing the timeline for Audi products in 2017 and 2018. Let's start with 2017. The roadmap shows the RS3 sedan, the Q7 e-tron (a plug-in hybrid that will either come with a gas or diesel engine), and the SQ7 (performance version much like the SQ5 that could offer a tweaked supercharged V6 or a V8). We also spy the A5 and S5 coming in 2017 - makes sense as the new A4 has been laun…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 19, 2012 Automotive News is reporting that Porsche will be introducing a Plug-In version the Panamera. A source says the Panamera Plug-In will likely come out by 2014. The source goes onto say the vehicle will be sold in the U.S., but didn't say when. According to a separate report from Motor Trend, the Panamera Plug-In will be based on the Panamera Hybrid. Both will use the 3.0L supercharged V6 producing 333 HP. However, the plug-in will not use the Panamera hybrid's nickel-metal hydride battery and instead use a lithium-ion battery. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Motor Trend View full a…
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Volkswagen has shown three different I.D. concepts - I.D. hatchback, I.D. Buzz, and the I.D. Crozz. We know that Volkswagen is working on making the hatchback production ready by 2020 and the Buzz has been given the green light. What about the Crozz? According to a report from Autoblog, the Crozz will follow the hatchback in production - arriving in either late 2020 or 2021 - and will be the first I.D. model to arrive on our shores. The I.D. Crozz which made its debut earlier this year at the Shanghai Motor Show is Volkswagen's vision of an electric crossover. Using Volkswagen's MEB platform, the I.D. Crozz produces 302 horsepower from two electric motors. On-demand …
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A lot has been happening in the past couple of days for Volkswagen over the diesel emission scandal. Let's get you up to date. First, Volkswagen of American has pulled its application for EPA certification on 2016 models equipped with the 2.0L diesel four-cylinder until they comply with emission standards for the U.S. Volkswagen hasn't said when they will resend their application for certification. Next is the Associated Press reporting that German prosecutors carried out searches at a number of Volkswagen facilities, including the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg today. In a statement, the purpose of the searches was to "secure documents and data storage devic…
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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…
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Volkswagen is looking to add a seven-seat crossover to their lineup within the next few years. Car & Driver reports the crossover will be priced around the Honsa Pilot and the Ford Explorer, meaning somewhere in the low $30k range. Engines will most likely be Volkswagen’s 3.6L V-6; a 3.0L diesel V-6 could be optional. The crossover will most likely be built at VW’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, though Mexico remains another possibility. The crossover will come out within a few years. Source: Car & Driver View full article
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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…
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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…
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Automakers have been bailing out of various auto shows for the past few years. Case in point, a number of German automakers pulling out of the Detroit show for 2019. Volkswagen is the latest one to announce that it will not be showing up to a major auto show. Reuters reports that the German automaker will be skipping this year's Paris Motor Show. “The Volkswagen brand is continually reviewing its participation in international motor shows,” the company said in a statement. Instead, Volkswagen could host “various communications activities” in the city, including test drives. Volkswagen joins other automakers including Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Opel, and Volvo th…
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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…
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Audi must like the Opel GT. http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080901.004/au...-mid-engined-r3
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Volkswagen Wants An Answer From Suzuki William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 25, 2011 The Volkswagen and Suzuki relationship hasn’t brought forth anything during its two years of existence besides an upcoming episode of The Jerry Springer Show. Suzuki wants the alliance to end while Volkswagen has gone on record saying that it would be open to continuing the alliance. Now, Volkswagen is looking end this situation, regardless if the alliance survives or not. German magazine Wirtschaftswoche reports that VW CEO Martin Winterkorn states that the company will seek a resolution for the conflict, even ending the alliance by the end of the…
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Tomorrow, we find out the details of the settlement between Volkswagen and the U.S. Government over the diesel emission scandal. As we reported last week, sources told various news outlets that part of the settlement would include compensation payments from $1,000 to $7,000 to owners. A European Union commissioner believes that should be extended to those in Europe. EU Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska tells German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that Volkswagen should set up a similar compensation program for Europe. "Volkswagen should voluntarily pay European car owners compensation that is comparable with that which they will pay U.S. consumers," said Bienkow…
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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, …
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 9, 2012 One of the vehicles that many auto enthusiasts in the U.S. have been clamoring for the past few years is the Volkswagen Scirocco, a small coupe based on the Golf platform. But, when the next Scirocco comes around, we could be getting it. VW Group of America's CEO, Jonathan Browning told Automotive News that he is lobbying to bring the Scirocco here. "That's a piece of the lineup that I would dearly love to see here." Browning explained that when current Scirocco was launched in 2008, the financial crisis was in full swing and Volkswagen saw there would be too much risk with launching it in the U.S. at …
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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…
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Greencar is reporting that VW submitted to EPA and CARB their repair for the 2.0 TDi engines which is pretty much expected to be a software flash. Their story also implies that it is easier in Europe to fix all diesels than here in the US. US Politicians here are stating that due to the need for what is expected to have to be a Urea fix, changes to grill and other hardware components, that VW should be forced to buy back the half a million TDi auto's at fair market price before the news came out and crush them. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100974_volkswagen-proposes-2-0-liter-diesel-fixes-as-crisis-continues The story is a 3 page story with details abo…
Last reply by G. David Felt,
