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Ex-VW exec named head of Fiat North AmericaFiled under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Volkswagen, Fiat  Ex-Volkswagen and Ford executive Laura Soave has gone from creating the events that help sell cars to being the one in charge of selling them. Yes, Fiat has named Soave, the woman who helped put together the 50th Anniversary Barbie New Beetle in charge of reintroducing the Fiat brand to the United States after retreating from North America's shores more than 25 years ago. Of course, Soave, 37, has also done more substantive things, including being VW's head of advertising and communications for the company's large(ish) passenger cars and SUVs. At Ford, Soave held down various positions, including "Brand DNA Manager."
Soaves' official title as Head of the Fiat Brand for North America not only installs her at the top of the pyramid, it puts her name on the profit-and-loss bottom line and has her answering directly to Sergio Marchionne. You can read Fiat's press release after the jump.
[Source: Chrysler]Continue reading Ex-VW exec named head of Fiat North America Ex-VW exec named head of Fiat North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsFinal three World Car of the Year finalists announcedFiled under: New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Chevrolet, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ferrari, Diesel  The votes from 59 international journalists have been counted and the finalists for World Car of the Year have been named. The Detroit News is reporting that the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Polo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class have made the final cut, and the three vehicles will go toe-to-toe on April 1st (no foolin') at the start of the New York Auto Show, which is where the World COTY award is announced.
On the performance vehicle front, the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari California are jockeying for the big prize. We feel sorry for the judges who have to choose from among these three junkers, but we're sure they'll somehow make it fun for themselves.
Design finalists are the Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Camaro, and from the green category we have the previously mentioned Prius, the Honda Insight and Volkswagen's BlueMotion diesel offerings. Check back on these pages to see the winners of the individual categories when they are announced in New York on April Fool's Day.
[Source: The Detroit News]Final three World Car of the Year finalists announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsAutoblog Podcast #168 - Geneva EveFiled under: Podcasts, Geneva Motor Show, Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Kia, Lamborghini, Lexus, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen 
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
The Shunk, Nunez, Abuelsamid and Roth quartet reconvene for Episode #168 of the Autoblog Podcast with the Geneva Motor Show now underway. Our first order of business is a stop at the Autoblog Garage, occupied this week by the Suzuki Kizashi, Kia Sorento, BMW 750Li, and Cadillac SRX. Anticipating the massive auto show that's just about to start, we dive right in. Starting us off is the awesome electric-green Lamborghini 570-4 Superleggera. Jumping from Italian exotics to the ultimate SUV, we talk about the 2011 Porsche Cayenne before segueing cleanly into a discussion of the crack-pipe pricing for the Volkswagen Touareg hybrid. Before we leave the VW/Porsche sphere, we talk about how insanely cool the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car is. The Ford Focus station wagon is one of those things we'll see in Geneva, but likely not in the U.S., while the Lexus CT200h is making its way to the shores of North America. BMW's 5 Series Active Hybrid Concept keeps up the cavalcade of alternative propulsion by the big Swiss lake, and it's our last topic before calling it a night. Thanks for listening!
Direct fanmail to Podcast at Autoblog dot com, review the show in iTunes, fill out our survey or even leave us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget when podcast loneliness sets in. Thanks for listening!Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #168 - Geneva Eve Autoblog Podcast #168 - Geneva Eve originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsGeneva 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI is the MKI for the 21st centuryFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen 
Volkswagen Polo GTI - Click above for high-res image gallery
When we drove the Volkswagen Polo in Deutschland last year, a few execs mentioned that the automaker was actively considering importing the subcompact hatch into the States. If they ever get up the gusto, the Polo GTI needs to make the trek as well.
Drawing a clearer line to the GTI's of yore than it's biggie-sized brother, the Polo GTI embodies everything we loved about the Mk1: a small footprint, supreme usability and a miserly mill packing a potent punch. In this newest iteration, said punch is provided by a 178-horsepower turbo- and supercharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder putting out an incredibly healthy 184 pound-feet of torque. Those figures aren't too far away from what our beloved GTI produces, and the Polo comes in a few hundred pounds lighter and doesn't skimp on the good bits (top notch interior and the XDS differential).
The GTI is set to go on sale in Europe this summer with a sticker of around £18,000. We figure if we ask nicely (and VW begins building the Polo in North America), we might get a crack at it in the U.S. Then again, we've been asking nicely for the Scirocco for over two years...
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Geneva 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI is the MKI for the 21st century Geneva 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI is the MKI for the 21st century originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGeneva 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg sports more features and curves, less weightFiled under: Hybrid, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen, Diesel, Luxury, Off-Road 
2011 Volkswagen Touareg - Click above for high-res image gallery
We could say Volkswagen was tired of making an SUV that ended up being rather expensive - for a VW - after you stuck a few options on it. So in addition to the lost weight, the new Touareg has lost some of the four-wheel drive equipment that made the last one so spendy. This one comes standard with a Torsen limited-slip differential, and then you can order a Terrain Tech Pack that adds the differentials and serious off-road capability that once came standard. That takes fuel economy upward, an boost also helped by the increased curve and lower Cd. VW sold 500,000 units of the previous-gen Touareg and it should do even better with this one. Follow the jump for info on all the Touareg's new flavors and have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Continue reading Geneva 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg sports more features and curves, less weight Geneva 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg sports more features and curves, less weight originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsVolkswagen Touareg hybrid costs almost ?23K more than diesel in GermanyFiled under: Hybrid, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen, Diesel 
2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
Volkswagen is apparently content to sell lots and lots of diesel Touaregs and sees no need to market the new hybrid model as a loss leader to get market share. While U.S. pricing for the 2011 Touareg has yet to be announced, the new configurator is up on VW's German retail site. On that side of the world, the Touareg will be available with either a 3.0-liter V6 or 4.2-liter V8 diesel in addition to the hybrid. The 3.0 starts at €50,700 (approx $68,400) which includes the hefty value added taxes paid in Europe, so it's not directly comparable to what we paid here.
Those that need extra acceleration and towing power can get the V8 TDI for €70,800. If you want that limited electric drive capability, you'll have to fork over a minimum of €73,500 (approx. $99,100) for the privilege. That's a premium of over $30,000. With our limited command of German, we're not sure how they match up on a comparably equipped basis, but it's obviously going to take several lifetimes of ownership to make that up in fuel savings over the V6 diesel.
[Source: Volkswagen]Volkswagen Touareg hybrid costs almost ?23K more than diesel in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsConsumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversityFiled under: Budget, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Luxury, Off-Road 
2010 Consumer Reports Top Pick Cars - Click above for high-res image gallery
Each year, the automotive editors of Consumer Reports select their Top Pick Cars, representing vehicles that are the best in their individual segments. These cars are deemed to have "average or better" predicted reliability and have scored high marks in government safety testing. In past years, automakers like Honda and Toyota have dominated this list, but since more and more manufacturers are ramping up their quality within each competitive segment, the 2010 list proves to be the most diverse CR Top Picks group in over a decade.
So, which cars garner the most praise from CR? The Nissan Altima has officially dethroned the Honda Accord from the top family sedan spot, the Volkswagen GTI takes honors as the best sporty car, the trusty Subaru Forester takes the cake in the small SUV category, the quirky Mazda5 wins for best family hauler, and both the Chevrolet Traverse and Silverado stand tall as the best family SUV and pickup truck. These six newcomers join the Hyundai Elantra SE, Infiniti G37, Toyota Prius and Lexus LS460L to round out the entire list of Top Pick Cars.
Unlike most automotive media outlets (Autoblog included), Consumer Reports actually buys its own test cars before putting them through rigirous evaluations of handling, braking, comfort, safety and more, and each test car is roughly 6,000 miles older by the time all of the tests have been completed. Follow the jump to read the official press release from CR, and scroll through our attached gallery to see high-res shots of all the 2010 Top Pick Cars.
[Source: Consumer Reports - sub. req.]Continue reading Consumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversity Consumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversity originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsWant a 550-hp AWD Volkswagen Scirocco? Save up $150k and move to CanadaFiled under: Aftermarket, Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Canada 
Ask us what Euro-only model we'd import to the States and the Volkswagen Scirocco would be near the top of the list. It combines everything we love about the GTI into a more attractive, racy package and, just like it's boxy brethren, it's packed with tuning potential.
HPA has been at the forefront of VW and Audi modifications for years, and the Canadian tuning firm has worked out a deal with V-Dub to import a handful of Sciroccos into British Colombia each year to finally offer North American gearheads the hot hatch we deserve. But naturally, they're not leaving good-enough alone.
Although the Scirocco tops out in R trim with a 265-horsepower 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder, HPA will swap in a fully-built 3.2-liter V6 complete with a pair of Garrett H25 turbochargers, along with all-wheel drive. The result is the FT565, good for 550 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque. Bump it up to the Stage 2 package and torque swells to 600 lb-ft and the 0-60 time drops to 3.4 seconds, with a quarter-mile time of 11.3 seconds. Top speed? HPA claims 200 mph... in a hatchback.
In addition to the engine mods, the stock brakes have been swapped out in favor of 14-inch, eight-piston units in front and 13-inch rotors out back, with 19-inch aluminum BBS coated in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires.
As you'd expect, such a conversion and importation doesn't come cheap: HPA only plans to build 10 FT565 Sciroccos each year, at a cost of $150,000 a piece. And no, there's no word on whether the Scirocco will be available here in the U.S. Dammit.
[Source: HPA via Automobile]Want a 550-hp AWD Volkswagen Scirocco? Save up $150k and move to Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsNew Volkswagen CrossPolo to join GTI in GenevaFiled under: Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen 
Volkswagen CrossPolo - Click above for high-res image gallery
Volkswagen will be using the stage at this year's Geneva Motor Show to flesh out its new Polo range, which includes the base Polo, a high-efficiency Bluemotion model, the GTI version unveiled earlier this week and the CrossPolo revealed today. The latest generation CrossPolo takes the hatchback's sharp new styling and beefs it up with black plastic molding around the wheel arches, across the sills and bottom of each door, as well as on the front and rear bumpers. The front bumper gets a honeycomb treatment for the lower air intake and light silver trim at the bottom that suggests underbody protection (there isn't any, though). Also included are the CrossPolo's trademark silver anodized roof rails and handsome 17-inch two-tone wheels.
With the rear seat down, the little CrossPolo will swallow about 37 cubic feet of cargo, and Volkswagen offers no less than six (!) engines to haul all that stuff. There are three gas-powered engines that include a 1.2- and 1.4-liter four-cylinder, as well as a 1.2-liter TSI engine that features direct injection and turbocharging. There are also three diesel engines available and your choice of a six-speed manual transmission or 7-speed DSG automatic. That is, if you live in Europe.
The Polo remains off limits to U.S buyers for now, but VW has confirmed it will eventually be sold in the U.S. We drove a new Polo with the most powerful 1.2-liter TSI engine recently and came away eager for the day it goes on sale in the States. With the unveiling of the GTI and CrossPolo, we're now anxious.
[Source: Volkswagen]Continue reading New Volkswagen CrossPolo to join GTI in Geneva New Volkswagen CrossPolo to join GTI in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGeneva Preview: 178-hp Volkswagen Polo GTI revealedFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen 
2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI - Click above for high-res image gallery
Volkswagen's taken the wraps off its all-new Polo GTI ahead of its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show, and while the hotted up hatch appears to be a scaled down version of its Golf brethren, it's more devoted to the original GTI's ethos than its larger sibling.
Sharing an engine with the SEAT Ibiza Cupra, the Polo GTI packs a 178 horsepower and 184 pound-foot punch from its turbo- and supercharged 1.4-liter gasoline-powered four. VW's XDS differential receives power from a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, allowing the GTI to scoot to 60 in 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 163 mph.
Pricing hasn't been set for the European market yet, but expect the GTI to carry a £18,000 sticker when it arrives in August. And if VW decides to pull the trigger and bring the Polo to the U.S., here's hoping the GTI can sneak on board the ship. Press release after the jump.
Continue reading Geneva Preview: 178-hp Volkswagen Polo GTI revealed Geneva Preview: 178-hp Volkswagen Polo GTI revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsSpy Shots: Get Shorty - VW Amarok goes single-cabFiled under: Spy Photos, Truck, Volkswagen 
Spy Shots: Volkswagen Amarok single-cab - Click above for high-res image gallery
Is the two-door, single-cab pickup truck a thing of the past? Sometimes it seems that way, and judging by the distinct lack of bench seats and long beds we see roaming the parking lots at the local Home Depot, most of us prefer an extra set of doors and a couple more seat belts in lieu of a lower price. Looking around the streets of small-town America, though, not to mention other countries that depend on the personal pickup truck, there's still a need for an honest-to-goodness little work truck - and that often means a single cab.
Volkswagen appears to realize this fact, and here are the spy photos to prove it. Somewhat surprisingly, VW doesn't seem the least bit concerned with camouflaging these single-cab Amaroks, despite the fact that the German automaker has so far only offered a dual-cab configuration. We have no idea when this two-door Amarok may hit the global market, but we'd expect to see the same 2.0-liter common-rail turbo diesel four-cylinder with 163 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and we still don't expect to see it in the U.S.
[Source: CarPix]Spy Shots: Get Shorty - VW Amarok goes single-cab originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsVW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, CC R-Line and New Beetle Red Rock special editions hit dealersFiled under: Coupe, Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel 
2010 VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery
Volkswagen is rolling three new special edition vehicles into dealership showrooms as we speak, and at least two of them are worth a look. First, though, we have the New Beetle Red Rock Edition. A two-toned exterior comprised of Red Rock metallic paint and black roof, which is paired with an all-black interior. Other updates include 17-inch wheels and a full sport suspension. Only 750 will be available, all in the coupe bodystyle and priced at $20,390.
Now, on to something more interesting: The 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition. This car is patterned after the diesel racers that VW has been running its its TDI Cup for the past few seasons. Visual updates abound, starting with the same full body kit found on the TDI Cup racecars, which includes an aerodynamic front bumper, side skirts and rear valance. GLI-spec brakes with red-painted calipers and suspension settings should improve handling, as should the 18-inch Charleston wheels and stickier rubber. Inside there's not much to see, aside from the brushed aluminum door sills, and power is unchanged at 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque from the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine.
Finally we have the new CC R-Line, which also benefits from a full body kit with side skirts and a new front bumper that includes an integrated chin spoiler. Eighteen-inch Mallory wheels, R-Line badges on the front fenders and smoked taillamps complete the exterior upgrades while the interior gets (surprise!) brushed aluminum door sills. Power is provided by VW's ubiquitous 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and six-speed DSG gearbox with paddle shifters. See the complete details in the press release after the break.
[Source: Volkswagen]Continue reading VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, CC R-Line and New Beetle Red Rock special editions hit dealers VW Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, CC R-Line and New Beetle Red Rock special editions hit dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsNissan small car program left out in the cold after VW-Suzuki deal?Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Nissan, Suzuki, Volkswagen 
Nissan got turned out of the Chrysler house after Fiat bought the Pentastar, which ended Nissan's hopes for a jointly developed replacement for the Nissan Titan. while it's busy doing the O Solo Mio routine on the coming 2014 Titan, another potential blow to the Japanese brand is coming at the other end of the market: superminis.
Suzuki provides its Indian-market Alto for Nissan to sell in Europe as the Pixo. But with Volkwsagen recently taking a majority stake in Suzuki, many are wondering if the Pixo spigot will be turned off. The Pixo competes with Volkswagen Lupo, seemingly giving the German firm a bit of motivation to end the deal, but nevertheless, no one at Suzuki or VW has spoken on the matter.
Nissan knows it can't give up the shallow end of the market, especially with the supermini segment getting more crowded and more popular with buyers. However, Nissan already receives fewer Altos than it wants, and with VW already considering 35 joint projects with Suzuki - and Nissan certain to benefit from none of them - now could be a good day to start looking for a new small car partner regardless of the Pixo decision.
[Source: BusinessWeek]Nissan small car program left out in the cold after VW-Suzuki deal? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsCanadians choose Volkswagen GTI as their Car of the YearFiled under: Hatchback, Volkswagen  2010 2010 Volkswagen GTI - Click above for high-res image gallery
Congratulations 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Canada loves you. VW's lovable little pocket rocket has been named the car of the year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. AJAC chose the GTI over nine other vehicles in the "best new" category, giving VW's compact corner-cutter another feather in its cap. The AJAC car of the year award is determined by 70 journalists who judge 20 parameters and a reported total of "46,000 pieces of data in all."
AJAC Car of the Year Chair Richard Russell seems fairly smitten with how the association chooses the winners of its awards. The AJAC press release quotes Russell as saying "by constantly adjusting the program and testing procedures to reflect what is important to Canadian consumers, we feel we have a more thorough, unbiased and meaningful award than any other." Big words, those.
John White, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group Canada calls the GTI the "heart and soul of Volkswagen," and added that the honor "represents the culmination of the hard work on the part of everyone in the Volkswagen Brand around the world." The GTI won Automobile Car of the Year back in November; the same award the magazine awarded the car back in 2007 with the same powertrain and hard points. Hit the jump to look over the AJAC press release and head over to the association's website for more winners.
[Source: AJAC]Continue reading Canadians choose Volkswagen GTI as their Car of the Year Canadians choose Volkswagen GTI as their Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMTM turns up the wick on Volkswagen GTI and GTDFiled under: Aftermarket, Hatchback, Volkswagen 
MTM Volkswagen Golf GTI and GTD - Click above for high-res image gallery
MTM has completed two more versions of the Volkswagen Golf, and with the pleasant power increases come what appear to be pleasant prices. The petrol-powered Golf GTI gets a maximum of 310 horses and 302 pound-feet of torque if you opt for the ultimate stage of tune. That gives it 40 more hp and 44 more lb-ft than the Golf R, plus the same 0-to-60 time, in a package that costs thousands less.
The GTD gets bumps of 35 hp and 22 lb-ft, with a sprint to 62 mph that shaves 0.7 seconds. MTM lists the price for the upgrades as just €800 ($1,086 U.S.), only it hasn't said which upgrade that price applies to. Have a look at the company's press release after the jump and a gander at the cars themselves in the high-res gallery below.
[Source: MTM]Continue reading MTM turns up the wick on Volkswagen GTI and GTD MTM turns up the wick on Volkswagen GTI and GTD originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsWhat would a new VW Corrado look like? Patrick Moczarsky thinks he knows...Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volkswagen, Design/Style 
Patrick Moczarsky's take on a new Volkswagen Corrado - Click above for high-res image gallery
Just about every Volkswagen aficionado who knows the Corrado has thoughts about the chunky coupe. Introduced in 1988 to replace the aging-yet-still-cool Scirocco, VW first "full-blooded sports car" went nuts with tech and equally nuts with pricing. The Corrado's VR6 engine and speed-reactive rear spoiler couldn't get people past the steep cost of entry, and the car was dead six years later.
The car still maintains a strong cult following, however, which is why graphic designer Patrick Moczarsky has envisioned what a new Corrado would look like, even though VW itself has released a new version of its predecessor, the Scirocco. The original car isn't a bad looker, which is why we aren't surprised that Moczarsky's concept looks almost exactly like the new VW corporate face on an old Corrado body. Moczarsky's other nod to the original: this one is also described as "expensive." Follow the jump for his thoughts on the car, and have a look at it in serial and tuned form in the gallery of high-res photos below. Just for fun, we've also embedded a bonus video of a VW Corrado G60 ad circa 1988, so be sure to check that out as well.
[Source: Miranda Media]Continue reading What would a new VW Corrado look like? Patrick Moczarsky thinks he knows... What would a new VW Corrado look like? Patrick Moczarsky thinks he knows... originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOfficially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg [w/videos]Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Volkswagen, Diesel 
2011 Volkswagen Touareg - Click above for high-res image gallery
We weren't expecting to see the new second generation Volkswagen Touareg until the beginning of March at the Geneva Motor Show, but VW rolled out its big SUV at an event in Munich earlier today. The basic shape and proportions of the exterior haven't changed much, but the body sides are now more sculpted than before, making it a bit more planted and - dare we say - sporty. At the front the Touareg has picked up the new horizontal VW family face that debuted on the latest Golf and Polo, finally discarding the more vertical and heavily chromed fascia of the original.
Fuel efficiency was of paramount importance in the redesign, and weight reduction plays an a key role. The original Touareg was always porky for its size, so VW put the 'ute on a diet and the new base Touareg is now nearly 460 pounds lighter than its predecessor. Of course, a weight loss program only gets you so far, so the powertrains needed an upgrade too.
The new Touareg brings with it Volkswagen's first ever mass produced hybrid drivetrain. The hybrid combines the VW Group's supercharged and direct injected 3.0-liter V6 with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Touareg hybrid gets a combined rating of 28.6 mpg (U.S.) on the EU cycle, a number that will probably be closer to 24-25 when it arrives Stateside. The diesel powered TDI does even better now with a rating of 31.8 mpg (U.S.). The Touareg is also available with a normally aspirated 3.6-liter gasoline V6 and for the first time the awesome 335 horsepower 4.2-liter TDI V8. Even the diesel V8 is rated at 25.8 mpg (U.S.). Unfortunately Americans won't be able to get that powerplant.
All the engines are mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment, a first for the class. Overall the new Touareg is about 20% more efficient than before and 80% more handsome. See for yourself in the gallery below and hit the jump for the press release and three videos of the all-new Touareg.
[Source: Volkswagen]Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg [w/videos] Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsRumormill: Volkswagen head (kinda) confirms new entry-level Porsche 356Filed under: Performance, Europe, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Rumormill 
Volkswagen Bluesport Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
The head of the Volkswagen Group, Martin Winterkorn, spoke with Autocar about the possibility of a new entry level Porsche model. Perhaps fancifully dubbed the 356, the new model would slot into Porsche's lineup below the Boxster and Cayman. In England, the new baby Porsche would cost about £33,000, which means nothing to us here in the U.S. and is about what a base Boxster costs. That said, the article mentions the possibility that the next generation Boxster and Cayman might go way up scale.
Big question: what would this new 356 be? Autocar speculates that the 356 will be based heavily on the mid-engine architecture of the upcoming Audi R4 and the conceptual Volkswagen Bluesport. We don't know if the 356 will be strictly a coupe or also be available as a roadster. In fact, we don't even know if the R4 will be coupe-only. We'd image the two cars will have similar, if not identical, body configurations. Though not the engine. In order to keep some brand DNA in the Porsche, the 356 will ship with a new forced-induction flat-four.
Those that remember the 944 Turbo S and the 968 know this is in no way a bad thing - except the 924 Turbo's engine was the EA831 inline-four originally intended for the Volkswagen Bus and Audi 100. It was never really any good, even in turbo form. The reborn 356's mill (most likely a turbo as opposed to supercharged) should be good for around 250 horsepower - very close to where the base Boxster/Cayman currently sits. Expect the 356 to get much better fuel economy, however.
The new 356 will share a transmission with the R4. Again, the 924, 944 and 968 shipped with a modified Audi 100 transmission acting as a transaxle, so there is precedence. As to what that transmission will be, we don't know but we'd guess a DSG of some sort. Audi's R4 should arrive sometime in 2011, with the Porsche 356 bowing in 2012. Is any of this going to actually, you know, happen? Magic 8-Ball says, "Ask again later."
[Source: Autocar]Rumormill: Volkswagen head (kinda) confirms new entry-level Porsche 356 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: VW to announce formation of R performance division in GenevaFiled under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen 
Volkswagen Golf R and Scirocco R - Click above for high-res image gallery
BMW has M. Mercedes has AMG. Audi has Quattro. Now Volkswagen is slated to launch the R brand as its own separate performance division. This according to a report from Inside Line, quoting an unnamed VW exec during the launch of the new Golf R.
The official announcement is expected at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. After that, it'd be reasonable to expect additional performance models to come out of the new R GmbH. So far we've got the new Golf R (which is expected to arrive in North America early next year), the Scirocco R (which, to our eternal chagrin, remains grounded overseas), and there are reports of an upcoming Jetta R (previewed by the New Compact Coupe concept unveiled in Detroit), to say nothing of appearance-only packages like the CC R-Line.
Push comes to considerable shove, the reported formation of R GmbH only stands to bring some exciting new offerings to the street.
[Source: Inside Line]Report: VW to announce formation of R performance division in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsSpy Shots: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg revealed in diecast form?Filed under: Spy Photos, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen 
Between patent offices, surreptitious shipping company videos, and Marussias being left uncovered on the back of a truck in a traffic jam, lately we've been coming across all manner of ways for new cars to be accidentally revealed ahead-of-schedule. Here's another: a German model car company has let slip images of what looks like the next Volkswagen Touareg, which is actually meant to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.
The box is labeled "VW Touareg 2010," but the supplementary text mentions the fourth quarter of this year, and a quick look at the front of the SUV makes it plain that this isn't the current off-roader. In fact, it looks just like the naked spy shots of the 2011 model taken not too long ago.
The model makes the front end look dramatically reduced in a way we hadn't picked up from Touareg spy shots, but saw clearly in the spy shots of its sister, the Porsche Cayenne. We're hoping for plenty of weight loss there to compensate for the loss of those diesel V10 and W12 engines. We'll see the final thing and take its measure from Geneva in about six weeks.
[Source: AutoWeek.nl (translated)]Spy Shots: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg revealed in diecast form? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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