Volkswagen

The Audi A2 concept INGOLSTADT, Germany, Sep 12, 2011 - With the A2 concept technology study, Audi is offering a peek at electric driving in the megacities of the future. The purely electric powered A2 concept is a classic space concept: a premium vehicle for metropolitan areas featuring generous amounts of space and composed road manners. The technology study is packed full with attractive, intelligent technologies. An innovative body technology – a further development of Audi’s ultra-lightweight construction – limits its weight to just 1,150 kilograms (2,535.32 lb). Audi connect technologies provide an Internet connection; the steering and brakes are purely …

World Premiere of Audi S Models at the IAA 2011 [/url] Audi presents the S6, S7 and S8 high performance models Newly-developed 4.0-Liter V8 with up to 520 horsepower Ground-breaking efficiency with systems such as "cylinder on demand" INGOLSTADT, Germany, Aug 29, 2011 - Audi will present its new S models for the first time at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA). These models are characterized by power combined with appropriately low fuel consumption. The engine down-sizing strategy of the brand with the four rings has reduced the fuel consumption of the S6 by as much as 25 percent whilst offering sportier driving performance. The Audi S6 and S6 A…

Volkswagen has gotten the approval on a fix for their older first-generation 2.0L TDI models involved in the diesel emission scandal. Now they're waiting for Federal officials to give the go ahead for the automaker to begin selling these vehicles. When that approval comes, Volkswagen's head of North America Hinrich Woebcken says they have a plan to get them to dealers. Speaking with Automotive News, Woebcken said the company would slowly release the 2.0L TDI vehicles to their 652 dealers in the U.S. Dealers will get a "right of first refusal" for models that were returned through their dealerships. The slow release is to try and keep the residual values somewhat stab…

The compact crossover arena has become highly competitive in the past couple of years and automakers are pulling all of the stops to draw customers into their showroom. Volkswagen is no exception. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen told its dealers that it would be cutting the price on several trims of Tiguan effective immediately. The price cuts are as followed, Tiguan S: $600 Tiguan SE: $2,180 Tiguan SEL: $1,460 This brings the base prices down to $25,495 for the S, $27,650 for the SE, and $31,990 for the SEL. Note: These prices are for the FWD models, AWD models will see the same price cut. Hinrich Woebcken, CEO of Volkswagen of …

Ahh the memories ... http://www.volkswagen-60-jahre.de/commercial.php

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 25, 2012 Car & Driver reports that Volkswagen has confirmed the dates of when the Mark 7 Golf and its variants will be going on sale. The base Golf will go on sale next spring for European markets. North America has to wait until the fall to get theirs. However, North America and Europe will get their hands on next GTI at the same time when its launched next Fall. Also, Volkswagen is considering whether to send the next generation GTD over to the states. If you don't know what GTD is, take a regular GTI and drop a diesel engine into it. Source: Car & Driver William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers &amp…

Volkswagen unveiled an updated 2021 Arteon tonight. Now you might be thinking this is a quick turn around as the Arteon has been on sale in the U.S. for only a year. But you need to keep in mind that Volkswagen has been selling the Arteon in Europe since 2018, so a refresh was in the cards. Changes for the exterior are subtile with a more prominent grille, new lighting, updated Volkswagen badging, and new choices for paint and wheels. The interior is a bit more dramatic with updated dash featuring revised air vents and climate control system with touch controls. A new steering wheel with touch controls, improved materials, and the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit becoming s…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 10, 2013 Audi has revealed the 2015 A3 Cabriolet before its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. The A3 Cabriolet is Audi's entry-level convertible and becomes the forth member of the A3 family. Using the A3 sedan and not the hatchback as a base, the A3 Cabriolet carries many of the design cues found on modern Audis and is a bit bigger in most dimensions, aside from height. Audi decided not to go with a hardtop and stick with a fabric top. This allows the A3 Cabriolet to raise and lower its roof within eighteen seconds. Powering the A3 Cabriolet are 1.4L TFSI four-cylinder with 140 horsepower,…

I'll take my VW Golf GTI blackened with Cajun spices please! Finger licking good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjGPipy_zcE...ted&search=

According to the sources, Citi is representing Volkswagen as they shop for a co-investor willing to inject at least $1 billion dollars in Electrify America. This is being shopped among infrastructure groups, electrical companies and other energy companies such as big oil. Volkswagen, Electrify America and Citi have all declined to comment. Yet as various oil companies buy up electrical charging companies and manufactures of charging equipment, Volkswagen is now in the aftermath of their emissions cheating scandal that forced them to spend $2 billion in building out EV charging stations across America from 2017 to 2026 has now looked to join the long term energy supp…

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 …

Last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) rejected Volkswagen's plan to fix the 2.0L TDI because it was "incomplete, substantially deficient and fall far short of meeting the legal requirements to return these vehicles” to compliance. With this setback, many are concerned that it will be awhile before a fix is agreed on by Volkswagen and CARB/EPA. German magazine Manager Magazin reports that top managers at the German automaker believe an agreement between the three parties might not happen until the end of March. The reason comes down to the EPA wanting to do a long-distance test of Volkswagen's proposed fix to make sure it actually fixes the problem of e…

TechArt Porsche 911 Carrera S for TUNE IT! SAFE! Text & Photos courtesy TechArt Automobildesign 11-16-2005 Fastest Police Car in the World TUNE IT! SAFE! (www.tune-it-safe.de) is the name of a new initiative started by the Bundesverkehrsministerium (German Federal Traffic Ministry), VDAT (Association of German Automobile Tuners) and the ESSEN-MOTOR-SHOW. TechArt Automobildesign (www.techart.de) supports the new campaign aimed at increasing awareness for safe and legal tuning with the world’s fastest police car. The Porsche 911 Carrera S has been completely modified by TechArt and reaches a top speed of some 300 km/h thanks to 370-hp / 272-kW perform…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 10, 2013 It has been a long time coming, but the time has come. Porsche announced the details of the upcoming 918 Spyder. The 918 Spyder looks almost like the concept vehicle we saw back at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. With its race car styling and removable roof panels, the 918 will not be mistaken for anything else but a Porsche. The 918's heart begins with a mid-mounted, dry-sump-lubricated, 4.6L V8 engine that produces 608 horsepower. There are also three electric motors that provide an extra 286 horsepower and large lithium-ion battery pack. Total output stands at 887 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torqu…

One of the big questions coming out of the Volkswagen Diesel scandal was whether or not other automakers also manipulated emission tests. The German transport office at the moment doesn't have any evidence that says so. "At this point we have no indication of other manufacturers being involved," a spokesman for the office said at a government news conference today. Not the news Volkswagen wanted to hear as the company is beginning to feel the heat from European countries. France's prosecutors have opened a preliminary inquiry into suspected "aggravated deception" by the German automaker Separately, French consumer protection and fraud control authorities have o…

Last week, we brought you a report that Audi executives confirmed the existence of the RS3 sedan and said it would be going into production. We also learned some possible details about the new RS such as a new turbocharged five-cylinder engine capable of producing over 400 horsepower and a new front end. This week, a YouTube user called 'Ron Bolton' uploaded a video that was supposedly recorded at this meeting and shows the reveal of the RS3 sedan. The video also confirms some of the details in our previous report such as the turbocharged five-cylinder engine (producing up to 400 horsepower the person in the video says), larger brakes, and new suspension tuning. The vid…

Skoda has been cagey with saying when a possible decision of selling vehicles in U.S. will come. Ask anyone at the Czech automaker and they'll say there isn't a timeframe. It seems now there is a timeframe. German business daily Handelsblatt recently talked with Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier. During their talk, Maier revealed a decision for the U.S. will happen sometime next year. “In the course of the coming year, we want to decide on the question of North America,” said Maier. “When we talk about our plans until 2025, then you cannot leave out one of the most important car markets in the world. Therefore, we examine under what conditions and with what cars the…

Ahead of a November 20th deadline where Volkswagen must submit a plan to EPA about how they are planning to fix the nearly 500,000 vehicles with illegal emission software, Reuters has learned about a meeting between the EPA and officials from Volkswagen. According to sources, Volkswagen's powertrain development chief Friedrich Eichler will meet officials from the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) to talk about the efforts being put forth by Volkswagen to fix the illegal vehicles. Sources go to say that officials from Audi will meet with the EPA and CARB in a separate meeting. Volkswagen and the EPA declined to comment about the meetings. Source: R…

Last week, we brought you a report that Audi executives confirmed the existence of the RS3 sedan and said it would be going into production. We also learned some possible details about the new RS such as a new turbocharged five-cylinder engine capable of producing over 400 horsepower and a new front end. This week, a YouTube user called 'Ron Bolton' uploaded a video that was supposedly recorded at this meeting and shows the reveal of the RS3 sedan. The video also confirms some of the details in our previous report such as the turbocharged five-cylinder engine (producing up to 400 horsepower the person in the video says), larger brakes, and new suspension tuning. The vid…

Volkswagen will be cutting another big check. Today, the company announced that it had reached a settlement with Department of Justice over the criminal case on the diesel emission scandal. Volkswagen will plead guilty to three criminal felony charges and will pay $4.3 billion - $2.8 billion for the fine and $1.5 billion to settle civil cases. The settlement also requires an independent monitor to watch over the company for the next years. Volkswagen's board still needs to approve this settlement, but the company says the approval could happen today or tomorrow. If they waited, the parties would have to do it all over again with new people coming as part of President…

A possible punishment that the EPA could bring down on Volkswagen is making them build electric vehicles in the U.S. German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reports the EPA is asking the German automaker to produce EVs at their Chattanooga, TN plant and to help build out a network of chargers across the U.S. The report doesn't say if EPA is asking for VW to produce a new electric vehicle or a current one - the Golf EV. It should be noted that Welt am Sonntag's report doesn't cite a source. "Talks with the EPA are ongoing and we are not commenting on the contents and state of the negotiations," said a Volkswagen spokesperson to Reuters. The EPA declined to comment. …

When Volkswagen admitted that it used illegal software in their diesel vehicles to cheat emission tests, questions arose as to whether or not any other automakers did something similar. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KPA) decided to investigate this and put 60 vehicles from various manufacturers, including Volkswagen, to the test. Their results revealed that Volkswagen was the only one automaker to cheat. These results will be published in a report later this month, but German business paper Handelsblatt learned about the investigation and results from various sources and spilled the beans on it. The KPA investigation started a few days after Volksw…

Tonight in Ingolstadt, Audi revealed the new 2017 A5 and S5 coupes. You might look and wonder what's different about the new model compared to old - it looks the same. We can't fault you for thinking that. The only real change that most people will be able to pick out is the slightly wider grille up front. Audi has improved the overall aerodynamics with a class-leading 0.25 drag coefficient. At least the interior does reveal some significant changes. Much like the A4, the A5 gets a new dash design with minimal clutter and an 8.3-inch screen. Audi's 12.3-inch virtual cockpit system is available. The A5 will also be the first Audi model to feature the automaker's connec…

Today at U.S. District Court in Detroit, Volkswagen pleaded guilty on three felony charges relating to the diesel emission scandal as part of a plea agreement. The three felonies are conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and introducing imported merchandise into the United States by means of false statements. "Your honor, VW AG is pleading guilty to all three counts because it is guilty on all three counts," said Volkswagen general counsel Manfred Doess at the hearing. As part of the plea deal, Volkswagen will pay $4.3 billion in penalties and have an independent monitor to oversee U.S. operations over the next three years. The deal also requires Volkswagen to con…

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 …

Currently Volkswagen has 588 dealers in the U.S., and sold 256,830 vehicles last year. But coming up in seven years, VW has set a goal of selling 800,000 vehicles in the U.S., and the current number can’t handle that goal. Back in April, head of VW of America Jonathan Browning, said there would be an "evolutionary" increase in dealers for the next couple of years, after which a "radical change" would be necessary. When would this radical change happen? "But by 2014/15 we will have to add dealers across the U.S. to achieve our long-term objectives," said Browning said to Automotive News this week. Browning said he predicts the brand to sell in excess of 300,000 cars th…

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil suit against Volkswagen today for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act by using illegal cheating devices on nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles. "The United States will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation's clean air laws," said Assistant Attorney General John Cruden. A senior official at the Department of Justice tells Reuters the penalties in the lawsuit could cost the German automaker billions of dollars. The official also says the suit doesn't preclude the Justice Department from filing criminal charges against Volkswagen. The suit will be filed in the Easte…

Take this story with a fair amount of salt as the outlet who broke this story doesn't say where it got this information. According to a report from German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, U.S. authorities have uncovered three more pieces of illegal software in the 3.0L TDI V6 used on the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, and Porsche Cayenne. The various pieces of software can turn off the emissions control systems after 22 minutes of driving. This would allow a vehicle to pass an emissions test (which lasts about 20 minutes). The use of this type of software is common in vehicles sold in Europe thanks to a loophole in European Union laws. This came to light back in May as th…

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Featu...cleId=145166#10 Umm? not bad... I guess?

Volkswagen or VW to the bulk of society launched their e-Mobility site with links to 6 BEVs that are launched or near launch and their largest assembly plant. E-mobility | Volkswagen Newsroom (volkswagen-newsroom.com) What is e-mobility? At a Glance, this is what it is: E-offensive: Volkswagen has launched the world's largest e-offensive. The Group is investing 35 billion euros. Models: By 2030, Volkswagen will have launched about 70 all-electric models across the Group. ID. Family: The newly developed, all-electric model family has started in 2020. Big goals: In 2025, the Volkswagen brand intends to sell…

The Audi A3 family is growing. By the end of the this summer, the standard A3 sedan will be joined by the A3 TDI, Cabriolet, and the S3 sedan. Audi has gone ahead and announced pricing for these three new variants. The A3 TDI will be the closest to the existing A3 sedan in price. With a pricetag of $33,495 (includes destination), the TDI sits between the base 1.8 FWD A3 ($$30,795) and the 2.0T A3 ($33,795). The TDI will use a new 2.0L turbodiesel four-cylinder with 150 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The TDI model will only come in front-wheel drive. Next is the A3 Cabriolet which begins at $36,495 for the 1.8 with front-wheel drive or $39,495 for the 2.0T with…

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…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfXqt0PuHQk

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 13, 2013 Volkswagen is using the term 'concept' very lightly with the introduction of the Passat Performance Concept before the Detroit Auto Show this week. The concept uses a modified version of Volkswagen's 1.8L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 250 horspower and send its power to a six-speed automatic. Other performance modifications on the Passat Performance Concept include a lowered sport suspension and electro-mechanical steering system. Style-wise, the Passat Performance Concept has a dual exhaust system, 19-inch “Luxor” alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights, LED taillights, and carbon applications on t…

It was only a week ago that Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller rebuffed FCA's CEO Sergio Marchionne'sidea of having talks between Volkswagen and FCA. “We are not ready for talks about anything. I haven’t seen Marchionne for months,” said Müller. “We have other problems.” This week, Müller seems to have changed his tune. Speaking with reporters at the company's annual press conference, he said that he was open to talks with FCA. "I am not ruling out a conversation," Müller told reporters. “It would be very helpful if Mr. Marchionne were to communicate his considerations to me.” What changed? There are two possibilities. First is the sale of Opel and Vaux…

China is an expensive place to buy a foreign car thanks to tariffs on imports. This is why many automakers outside of China set up joint-ventures with Chinese ones to avoid them. Porsche is trying another way to make their vehicles less expensive by offering less power. Automotive News Europe reports that the German sports car builder will be offering a 250 horsepower version of the 718 Boxster and Cayman for 600,000 Yuan (about $90,000 at the time of this writing). The 600,000 price tag is "a magical threshold for customers in China," according to Jan Roth, head of the Porsche 718 line. "A lot of the TTs that Audi sells in China, the smaller displacement 1.8-lite…

G. David Felt - Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.cheersandgears.com Study Suggests VW Emissions will lead to 1200 premature deaths in Europe alone! This study covers the effects around the Globe that VW diesel emissions scandal will cause. The US is equally affected but on a lower number of 60 expected deaths. This is based on the number of autos old sold, 482,000 TDI in the US versusus 2.6 millions. Plenty of interesting information but end result is an increase in the emissions from VW TDi directly affects health and the length of life world wide. Pretty amazing read at MIT News. Study Here

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…

Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller told a group of 20,000 employees today in Germany that the company will be cancelling and delaying a number of projects in light of the diesel emission scandal. "Therefore we are putting all planned investments under review. What is not urgently needed will be scrapped or delayed. And therefore we will adjust our efficiency program. I will be very open: this won't be painless," said Muller. Fixing around 11 million vehicles around the world that are affected by the rigged software is a costly prospect for Volkswagen. Muller says the $7.29 billion set aside for repairs will not be enough to pay for fines and lawsuits. Volkswagen …

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…

Volkswagen was planning to publish the final report on the external investigation done by U.S. law firm Jones Day. But in a move that surprised no one, Volkswagen has decided not to publish it. "I’m aware that some of you wish for greater transparency. Often the publishing of a full report is demanded. To be clear: there is no written final report from Jones Day, nor will there be. I ask for your understanding that for legal reasons Volkswagen is prevented from publishing any such report," said VW Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch at the company's annual general meeting. Poetsch said Volkswagen would risk “massive fines" if the report was published. While Volkswagen …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 5, 2012 At this week's Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen will unveil two vehicles. One being a concept and the other being a production model. Let's start with the concept; Volkswagen is showing off a refreshed version of their Cross Coupe concept shown back at the Toyko Motor Show. Aside from a new paint job (two-tone red and silver exterior paint instead of silver), it features a new powertrain. Gone is the gas engine used in Cross Coupe's plug-in hybrid system. In its place is a TDI engine which will increase horsepower from 261 to 302 and increase fuel economy to 131 MPG (US). And For The Second Vehicle…

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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…

car connection "But they are in the dumps again. VW has been losing $1 billion a year in America. Sales last year were down to 224,000 VW models from 256,000 the previous year. What's wrong?"

Will Volkswagen make a return with diesels to the U.S. or not? Unfortunately, we're getting mixed messages on this issue. Back in July, Volkswagen of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken said diesel would not a core element of the brand going forward. But they could start selling a diesel vehicle in the U.S. again if it makes sense. “We are not stopping diesel. Wherever diesel makes sense as a package to the car, we’ll continue. But in reality, we have to accept that the high percentage of diesels that we had before will not come back again,” said Woebcken. Last week in an interview with Motor Trend, Woebcken reiterated his earlier statement with the automaker not …

A few weeks ago, we reported that Volkswagen wasn't planning to bring the T-Roc over to the U.S. No reason was given, but we suspected price was a key reason. At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen's director of development, Dr. Frank Welsch confirmed the T-Roc isn't coming. "Let's be very clear: The T-Roc will not go to the U.S. I don't believe it's too expensive, but it's because it's a very small car. They tell us people in the U.S. expect more size for that money. It is too small. We are going to have an SUV that is even smaller than a T-Roc [the T-Cross] and it will also not go to the U.S., but will go to South America. We have the new Polo and the T-Cross in B…

http://www.vw.com/golf/pricelist/en/us/#overview http://www.vw.com/2010gti/pricelist/en/us/ Golf 2-door, 2.5L 170 hp; Five-speed manual - $ 17,490 Golf 2-door, 2.5L 170 hp; Six-speed automatic with Tiptronic® - $ 18,590 Golf 4-door, 2.5L 170 hp; Six-speed automatic with Tiptronic® - $ 19,190 Golf TDI 2-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed manual - $ 21,990 Golf TDI 2-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed automatic DSG with Tiptronic® - $ 23,090 Golf TDI 4-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed manual - $ 22,590 Golf TDI 4-door, 2.0L 140 hp; Six-speed automatic DSG with Tiptronic® - $ 23,690 All models come well-equipped with typical class-exclusive VW features - full trip compute…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 16, 2012 When Lamborghini introduced the new Urus at the at the Beijing Motor Show last month, we were wondering what would be powering it. Automotive News had the chance to talk with Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini's Development chief about what could lie under the Urus' hood. Reggiani said that Lamborghini hasn't decided on an engine, but a V8 is a strong possibility. "Such a car needs huge torque at low revolutions rather than high peak power, therefore a V-8 twin-turbo is an interesting possibility," Reggiani said. The engine that could be used is the 4.2L 450 HP V8 unit Audi uses in their RS models. Lamborgh…

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 …

As more manufacturers begin to add more technologies (keyless entry, advanced infotainment system, and online connectivity), the danger of having a vehicle hacked increases. We saw this first-hand last year as two security researchers revealed a number of security holes in FCA's UConnect system that allowed them to access critical vehicle functions such as braking and steering. Now a new research paper reveals 100 million Volkswagen Group vehicles going back to 1995 have a serious security issue that can allow someone to unlock the vehicle without a key. Wired reports a group of researchers at the University of Birmingham and a German engineering firm were able to int…

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

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 …

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 14, 2013 Audi is making sure to cover both sides of the extreme with A7 lineup. On one end is the A7 diesel that promises performance and very good fuel economy. On the other end is the new 2014 RS7 shown at the Detroit Auto Show today. The RS7 uses a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 producing 560 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. That power is sent through an eight-speed automatic down to Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. 0-60 MPH takes a blistering 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 MPH (electronically limited). However, you can opt for the dynamic or dynamic plus package which raises the top s…

It has been almost a year since Volkswagen introduced the U.S. to the seventh-generation GTI at last year's New York Auto Show. While we have to wait just till June for the GTI to arrive at dealers, the company has revealed the pricing for the hot hatch. The 2015 GTI will start a price of $25,515 (includes a $820 destination charge) for the S model which gets you a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 210 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission. That will also get you a drive-mode selector, touchscreen radio, LED foglights, and heated front seats. Step to SE model which starts at $27,395 and comes equipped with a sunroof, keyless ent…

This would actually be quite helpful for my commute. It helps you drive faster *and* save the planet. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/audi-sy...rs-to-floor-it/ It takes months of traveling a particular route to properly time the stop lights, and even with the most intricate knowledge of every intersection, missing the red every time is about as probable as winning the lotto. Audi is looking to change that with a new stop light detection technology that communicates with specially equipped vehicles to tell the driver exactly how fast to drive to avoid getting caught at a red. Audi installed special devices at 50 traffic lights in Ingolstadt, Germany with sensors …

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 …

It seems we will be seeing the next-generation Porsche Panamera faster than anyone expected. Porsche announced yesterday they would reveal the 2017 Panamera on June 28th. Along with this announcement, Porsche released a teaser video for the model. There isn't much the video tells us about the sedan as it mostly spends its time talking about how people thought they were crazy for doing various things (like putting the engine in the rear). But thanks to the folks at Car, we have gotten our first look at a couple of undisguised Panamera mules. The basic shape remains, but it seems better proportioned and slightly sleeker. The back end borrows some ideas from the updated …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 6, 2012 Before we get started, I want to clear up a couple of items: Yes, it’s a real car. Yes, you could buy this one of a kind Lamborghini, but you can’t since it has been sold for a cool 2.1 million Euros (about $2.8 million). The Aventador J follows a pretty simple recipe, remove excess weight to go fast. That includes the climate control, navigation, roof, and windshield. Lamborghini says this is to make the Aventador J feel like a two-seat sport bike. Continuing the weight loss, Lamborghini uses more Carbon fiber through out the Aventador J - the bumpers, front air scoop with winglets, and a huge rear di…

Porsche is putting big expectations on their next vehicle, the Macan crossover. According to Bloomberg, Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller said that new the Macan will help the brand exceed 200,000 sales globally. That's three full years ahead of the brand's original goal. “We’re transferring the genes of the Porsche brand into a new market segment. Porsche will remain a manufacturer of very exclusive premium cars,” said Muller at the start of Macan production. Since the Macan's debut at the LA Auto Show last year, demand from customers was very high. Reportedly in some European countries, the model has sold out. Porsche says if demand outstrips the supply, they will increas…

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…

Link is here Highlights: Engines Gasoline 2.0-liter turbocharged (TFSI) inline-4, 170 hp 2.8-liter (FSI) V6, 190-220 hp 3.0-liter supercharged (TFSI) V6, 290 hp, ~310 lb-ft 4.2-liter (FSI) V8, 350 hp 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V10, 580 hp, 479 lb-ft Turbodiesel (TDI) 2.0-liter turbodiesel inline-4, 136-170 hp 2.7-liter turbodiesel V6, 190 hp, ~287 lb-ft 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, 240 hp, ~337 lb-ft Drivetrains 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission quattro all-wheel-drive available on all models, standard on upper models Sounds like a good one... I'm looking forward to staring at one in the metal.

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 6, 2012 Before we get started, I want to clear up a couple of items: Yes, it’s a real car. Yes, you could buy this one of a kind Lamborghini, but you can’t since it has been sold for a cool 2.1 million Euros (about $2.8 million). The Aventador J follows a pretty simple recipe, remove excess weight to go fast. That includes the climate control, navigation, roof, and windshield. Lamborghini says this is to make the Aventador J feel like a two-seat sport bike. Continuing the weight loss, Lamborghini uses more Carbon fiber through out the Aventador J - the bumpers, front air scoop with winglets, and a huge rear di…

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…

The Volkswagen CC is getting a bit long in the tooth and will be soon phased out. But there is a successor to the CC in the pipeline known as the Arteon which the German automaker has begun to start teasing. Shown off in a pencil sketch, the Arteon looks very similar to the Sport Coupe Concept GTE shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show - a long front end, stubby rear end, and a coupe-like roofline. Volkswagen says the Arteon will feature a grille that extends into the LED headlights, and frameless windows. As for the name, Volkswagen says Arteon is a combination of 'Art' and 'Eon'. We'll see the production version next March at the Geneva Motor Show with…

Leftlane News

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 …

Volkswagen has been gung-ho on electric vehicles ever since it was revealed that it used illegal software on diesel vehicles to pass emission tests. The company recently unveiled plans to invest $82.5 billion into electric vehicles over the next five years. So it seems bizarre for Volkswagen's CEO to make this comment at the Geneva Motor Show. “Diesel will see a renaissance in the not-too-distant future because people who drove diesels will realize that it was a very comfortable drive concept. Once the knowledge that diesels are eco-friendly firms up in people’s minds, then for me there’s no reason not to buy one,” said Matthias Mueller. *record scratch* Ye…