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Patent drawings of the upcoming VW Jetta Coupe have surfaced, which provides more evidence that VW is indeed going to release a coupe version of the new Jetta.
VW unveiled the New Compact Coupe Concept at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year and as these drawings show, the Jetta coupe is going to remain pretty true to the concept. The production version gets a new grille and fog lamps. Out back the dual exhausts are now visible.
Head over to Carscoop to see all the drawings.
Continue reading "VW Files Design Patents for Jetta Coupe...Confirmed?" »
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VW has officially unveiled the new 2011 Jetta, which will start around $16,000 when it goes on sale this October in the US.
The new 2011 Jetta gets new styling that brings it more inline with the rest of the new VW lineup. It features a longer wheelbaase and overall length to give it class leading legroom. in The US the Jetta will be available with four engines, which includes the 2.0L turbodiesel. The additional engines will be the 2.0, 2.5 R5, and as of 2011, the 2.0 TSI.
Continue reading "2011 VW Jetta Officially Unveiled and Will Start Around $16K" »
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VW has released a new set of photos of the 2011 Phaeton.
The new Phaeton gets a new face that is similar to that of the rest of the new VW lineup. The front end now has standard bi-xenon headlights with LED cornering lights. It's offered with two wheelbases and two different rear seat options (three seat bench or two individual seats).
A new optional front camera actually reads traffic and speed limit signs and displays them in the instrument cluster. The Phaeton will be available with V6, V8 and W12 engines when it becomes available in Europe in June and China in August.
Continue reading "VW Releases More Photos of the 2011 Phaeton" »
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The all-new 2011 VW Passat is set to have its official debut at the Paris Motor Show, but here is the first leaked photo of the new sedan from a German brocure..
The 2011 Passat is going to borrow styling cues from the rest of the updated VW lineup, like the new Golf and Polo.
The new Passat is expected to be powered by the same range of diesel and gas engines when it debuts in October.
Continue reading "2011 VW Passat Photo Leaked Ahead of Paris Debut" »
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VW has taken the wraps off the 2011 Polo sedan in Moscow. This is the first time that VW has ever created a model specifically for the Russian market.
The 2011 Polo sedan is powered by a 1.6L engine with 103-hp that can be mated to either a five-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Polo sedan is expected to make its debut in the US within the next year.
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It looks like we have two shots of the upcoming 2011 VW Jetta. A forum member at GM Inside News posted two photos of the next-generation Jetta driving around in Detroit.
Even though there is a fake emblem on the trunk, it's obvious that the two black prototypes are the new Jetta.
Expect to see the new Jetta debut later this year with sales starting early next year.
Continue reading "Spied: 2011 VW Jetta Shows up in Detroit" »
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Over the weekend Audi unveiled the R8 GT, which is an even more powerful, but lighter R8.
The R8 GT is powered by the 5.2L V10 that now puts out 560-hp up from 525. It propels the R8 from 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds and reaches 124 mph in 10.8 seconds. The R8 GT also has a top speed of 198 mph.
Engineers were able to trim 220 lbs from the weight of the R8 by using a thinner glass windshield and lightweight polycarbonate for the rear windows. Carbon fiber was also used for the rear hatch and rear bumper to save even more weight.
Only 333 R8 GTs will be produced and in Germany it goes for €193,000. Audi hasn't announced how many, if any at all will be sent to the US.
Continue reading "Audi R8 GT Unveiled... It's Lighter and More Powerful" »
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VW is going to try it again. The original VW Phaeton was introduced in 2003 without that much success here in the US, but VW remains determined to take the brand up-market.
For 2011 the Phaeton gets a new front end with LED lights and styling that brings it inline with the current VW design DNA. The rear end gets more subtle changes with new LED light clusters and a redesigned bumper. There are also new 18-inch alloy wheels.
Under the hood buyers have the choice of six, eight and twelve cylinder engines. The Phaeton is also available in standard and long wheelbase versions.
The new Phaeton is eventually expected to return to the US, but it has yet to be officially confirmed.
Continue reading "2011 VW Phaeton Tries to Move VW Up-Market...Again" »
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Audi has unveiled the extended-wheelbase version of the new 2011 Audi A8. The flagship model in the A8 lineup, the A8 L W12 quattro is powered by a 500-hp 6.3L 12-cylinder engine. All that power launches the large sedan from 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. According to Audi all that power doesn't mean that its going to suck down gas, since it gets 19 mpg (US) on the EU cycle.
The 500-hp engine isn't the only selling point of the 2011 A8 L. At just over 17 feet long, the A8 L has lots of room in the rear-seat area. The rear seats can be ordered as two separate power-adjustable seats that can be heated, ventilated and adjusted in a variety of ways: forward and back, seat cushion depth and seat back angle with top section adjustable separately. In between the two rear seats is an optional full length console that can come with a folding table and refrigerator.
Continue reading "2011 Audi A8 L Debuts with 500HP W12 Engine" »
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It seems that the US is always getting screwed when it comes to automakers deciding not to bring some of their models here. Well it looks like Audi is going to be bringing the awesome Audi RS5 to the US sometime in mid-2011.
Automobile is reporting that the RS5, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last month is likely to arrive in the US by the summer of 2011. It will launch in European markets this October. The RS5 is powered by a 4.2L V8 with 450 horsepower.
Continue reading "Audi RS5 Reportedly Confirmed for the US?" »
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VW is hard at work on the replacement for the Beetle, which will be previewed as a concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show at the end of this year. According to sources the next Beetle is going to get a reworked chassis as it will share its drivetrain with the next Jetta. It's also expected to have a longer wheelbase and wider tracks, which should improve some of the complaints with the current model's interior.
In terms of styling, some insiders claim that the 2005 Ragster concept can be seen as a hint of what we can expect for the next Beetle. The design will continue to feature elements of the original Beetle with its rounded headlights and taillights and separate wings over each wheel, but the roofline is expected to be less rounded.
In the US the Beetle will be powered by the 170-hp 2.5L five-cylinder engine. A hybrid is also in the works.
Continue reading "Next VW Beetle to Draw Inspiration from the Ragster Concept" »
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Audi unveiled the first e-tron electric concept supercar last fall in Frankfurt and now Audi has unveiled the A1 e-tron concept. The A1 e-tron is being labeled as a Mega City Vehicle with a powerful electric motor that provides zero-emission driving in the city. It's not a full electric vehicle since there is a Wankel engine on board that acts as the range extenders that recharges the battery. he driver can also turn the range extender on and off as necessary with the push of a button.
The electric motor, which powers the front wheels is rated at 61 horsepower, with peak power of 102-hp and 110 lb-ft of torque is continuously available and peak torque is 177 lb-ft. The electric motor is mated to a six-speed transmission. The concept accelerates from 0-62 mph in 10.2 seconds and has a top speed of more than 80 mph. The Audi A1 e-tron can drive up to 31 miles on the battery alone and the range extender engine provides an additional 124 miles of driving.
The first e-tron to come to market will be a sports car based on the R8 sometime in 2012 followed by a smaller model based off the upcoming R4, then finally the A1 e-tron will be available.
Continue reading "Geneva 10': Audi A1 e-tron Concept Hints at a Future Small Electric Car" »
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As expected, Audi has unveiled the A8 Hybrid "concept" at the Geneva Motor Show. Audi claims that the A8 has power like a big V6, but the fuel economy of a modest four-cylinder. It's powered by a 2.0L TFSI engine that is mated to an electric motor. The total output is 245 horsepower and 354 lb-ft. of torque. The hybrid can reach 0-62 mph in 7.6 seconds and has a top speed of 146 mph, yet it manages to get 38 mpg on the EU cycle.
The A8 Hybrid can operate on fully electric power up to 40 mph and above that speed the combustion engine supplies all the power, while the electric motor supplies onboard users and recharges the battery.
Audi has labeled the A8 Hybrid Concept as a "near-production" concept car.
Continue reading "Audi A8 Hybrid Concept Has a 4-Cyl but Has Power Like a V6" »
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We're about a week away from the Geneva Motor Show, but images from the brochure for the 2011 Audi RS5 have already leaked onto the internet.
It's not yet known what will power the RS5, although its been rumored that a twin-turbo V8 will be used.
Stay tuned...
Continue reading "Geneva 10' Preview: 2011 Audi RS5 Brochure Images Leaked" »
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VW has unveiled the CrossPolo, which is the fourth Polo model after the base Polo, Polo BlueMotion and Polo GTI. The five-door CrossPolo starts with the base Polo and beefs it up with a higher ride height (15 mm) and black plastic molding around the wheel arches, side sills, and bumpers. The CrossPolo also gets 17-inch alloy wheels and silver anodized roof rails.
The CrossPolo can be outfitted with a choice of three gas and three diesel engines, which can be mated to either a six-speed manual or optional seven-speed DSG transmission.
VW has announced that the Polo will be sold here, eventually, but hasn't committed to a date. The CrossPolo will arrive in VW dealers in Germany at the end of May right before sales start in the rest of Europe and Japan.
Continue reading "Geneva 10' Preview: VW CrossPolo Unveiled" »
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With all the news at the Chicago Auto Show today, it's a surprise to see that VW released the details for the next-generation Touareg a month early, before its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
The 2011 Touareg looks similar to the current generation but body has been sculpted more for a bit more style. The front end of the Touareg gets the same treatment as the recently introduced Golf. One of the biggest complaints about the current generation was how overweight it is. Weight reduction was one of the main goals with the next generation so VW has lowered the body weight by 460 pounds.
In addition to the new styling and reduced weight, the new Touareg also gets a hybrid option. The hybrid combines the supercharged and direct injected 3.0-liter V6 with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
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Here's your first official look at the 2011 Audi A1, which draws inspiration from the 2007 Metroproject Quattro.
The smallest car in the Audi lineup occupies a small space that is only 155.5 inches long, 68.5 inches wide and 56 inches tall. It is powered by a choice of two gasoline or two diesel engines. The two diesel engines are both 1.6L units with one putting out 90-hp and the other 105-hp. The two gasoline engine options are either a 1.2L or 1.4L unit with the smaller putting out 86-hp vs 122-hp for the larger engine. There is an optional seven-speed S tronic (dual clutch) transmission, but Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive is not being offered at launch.
Check out the really long press release after the jump. The 2011 A1 will officially be unveiled next month at the Geneva Motor Show.
Continue reading "Geneva 10' Preview: 2011 Audi A1 Officially Unveiled" »
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Martin Winterkorn, VW Group chairman gave Autocar the first official confirmation that Porsche is considering a new entry-level model.
"The Porsche model range is firmly based on the 911, Boxster, Cayenne and Cayman, and it will stay that way. We are also investigating opportunities for a smaller sports car and a smaller SUV - but I cannot say more at the moment."
Winterkorn went on to state that Porsche does not "waste our effort." So it's very likely that Porsche will introduce a new smaller sports car and SUV. Some insiders are referring to the new model as the 356. Although it will be smaller than the current Boxster, it will not be a bargain basement model with a cheap price. According to Autocar if it is given the green might it will have a price tag around £33,000.
The 356 is expected to be based on the same platform that Audi is currently developing for the new R4 mid-engined sports car and the VW Bluesport concept. The Audi R4 is expected to be introduced in the summer of 2011, but the Porsche version, which will be significantly different wouldn't be released until late 2012.
If this is all true, the Boxster and Cayman models are expected to move upmarket to make room for the new smaller sports coupe.
Continue reading "New Entry Level Porsche Sorta Confirmed by VW Chairman" »
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During a drive event in the Austrian Alps a VW spokesperson revealed that VW is going to launch a new performance division, R GmbH.
Inside Line was told "BMW has its M, Mercedes has AMG, and our sibling Audi has Quattro. This new R division will be our Quattro." R GmbH is an expanded version of the Europe-market VW Individual, which offers aftermarket items for VW owners to make their cars sportier.
The CC R-Line was recently shown at the Detroit Auto Show to gauge interest, but it's not known if it will be offered in North America. Eventually a R version of every vehicle in VW's showroom will be available. The 266-hp Golf R is rumored to be heading to the US in early 2011.
Continue reading "VW to Launch New R Performance Division" »
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VW has announced that the Passat CC will be available as a five passenger model in Europe. Since it launched the Passat CC, known as just the VW CC in the US has strictly been a four-seater. A new three place, rear bench is now optional. VW hasn't announced if the CC will get this option in the US.
The new rear bench fulfils all necessary safety aspects with its third head restraint and three-point seat belt at the centre position," Volkswagen said in a statement. "In addition, the folding backrest is asymmetrically split, so that even larger objects can be transported effortlessly. The 3-seat rear bench system is available as an option for 100 euros."
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Audi is going to halt production in February of the A3 at its plant in Ingolstadt, Germany, due to slow sales. Audi claims that demand has slowed since the car has been on the market since 2004. The US is set to get a sedan version of the A3 this fall that will sell alongside the Sportback.
Continue reading "Audi Halts A3 Production Due to Low Demand" »
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Audi has released several teasers of the upcoming A1. Photos have also surfaced of Justin Timberlake filming a commercial with the small car. Well Audi has now released a video of new video with Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at Audi AG speaking about the new vehicle and how the automaker expects to sell 80,000 units in its first year.
"The subcompact segment is forecast to grow in Europe by the year 2015 - in Germany alone growth of 30 percent is anticipated. We're currently expecting to sell 80,000 units of the A1 in its first full year," said Schwarzenbauer. "People who for practical reasons choose a small car want not only the basic functions, but an exciting design and the latest technology as well. With the A1, we're giving these customers what they want by launching the first premium car in the subcompact segment."
The Audi A1 will officially debut at the Geneva Motor Show this March. Audi still has not announced if the A1 will be offered in the US.
Continue reading "Audi is Hoping to Sell 80,000 Units of the A1 in its First Year" »
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BMW and Mercedes-Benz have both unveiled hybrid versions of their flagship sedans and Audi is next. Audi is set to unveil the A8 Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Audi announced its plans at the Detroit Auto Show yesterday. Audi also included that it sees hybrids as the next step to fully electric vehicles and that it has no plans for a mild hybrid. The A8 Hybrid will be a full hybrid. Audi is also going to release a Q5 hybrid this fall. The A8 hybrid is expected to appear shortly after the Q5's launch.
Continue reading "Detroit 2010: Audi A8 Hybrid Coming to Geneva" »
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VW is set to debut the New Compact Coupe Concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The concept that looks pretty close to production ready is about the same size as the current Jetta although it has a longer wheelbase and the overall height is a little shorter.
The concept is powered by a 1.4-liter TSI inline-four with 148 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque that is also mated to a 20-kilowatt electric motor that sits between the engine and the 7-speed DSG transmission. The electric motor has the capability of propeling the vehicle on its own and is powered by a lithium-ion battery. VW estimates that the concept is capable of getting 45 miles to the gallon.
The fact that this concept looks very production ready may mean that this could be a hint at a new coupe for VW. There have been rumors that VW is going to release a new Jetta coupe. This concept could also be a hint of what we can expect from the next Jetta...
Continue reading "Detroit 2010: VW New Compact Coupe Concept Hints at a New Jetta Coupe?" »
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VW unveiled the Amarok pickup truck earlier this month. The body-on-frame truck is powered by a 2.0L turbo diesel with 163-hp and 295 lb-ft. of torque that helps it tow 5,600 pounds. There has been a lively debate about if the car should be sold in the US, since right now VW only plans on selling it in in South America, Australia, South Africa and Europe.
Well VW President and CEO, Stefan Jacoby has stated how many units VW would have to sell in the US to make it worthwhile.
"We'd have to sell at least 100,000 Amarok pickups to make it feasible," said Jacoby.
That basically means that the Amarok has no chances of coming here. The best-selling Toyota Tacoma is the only truck in that segment to sell over 100,000 units. Through November, 102,327 Tacomas have been sold. The next best-seller the Ford Ranger has sold only 51,097 units year-to-date.
The compact pickup segment is declining," said Jacoby. "Consumers are going to big pickups, which is a very traditional conservative segment. A lot of our competitors have burned their fingers in it as late entries."
"Before we could bring [the Amarok] here we'd have to do a lot of homework," said Jacoby. "But we have other vehicles to bring into this market first. Once we do that, we can talk about the Amarok."
Continue reading "Want the VW Amarok Pickup to Come to the US? VW Would Need to Sell 100k Units" »
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Audi has just announced that ex-N'SYNC member, Justin Timberlake is going to become the brand ambassador for Audi in 2010.
Justin Timberlake is expected to play a key role in the launch of the Audi A1 next spring.
"Audi has always been at the forefront of engineering and technology", says Timberlake, "and I am very excited to be a part of the next evolution conscience with Audi and the A1".
The latest reports are claiming that the US will not be receiving the new A1, but who knows...
Continue reading "Justin Timberlake Becomes Audi's Brand Ambassador" »
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Volkswagen and Suzuki have announced a new partnership which sees VW buying 19.9% of Suzuki. Suzuki will then take half the money it receives from VW and return the favor by buying VW shares.
Although the new partnership involves VW buying almost 20 percent of Suzuki, both automakers will remain independent. The partnership will allow both automakers to collaborate on smaller vehicles.
Continue reading "Volkswagen and Suzuki Announce Partnership" »
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It's been thirty years since VW released its first and only pickup in 1980 and now VW is set to enter the market again with the Amarok.
The Amarok is a real truck with a body-on-frame design. It can haul 2,300 pounds and tow up to 5,600 pounds when it is powered by VW's 2.0L turbo diesel with 163-hp and 295 lb-ft. of torque. Another smaller diesel will join the lineup in mid-2010 in addition to a direct-injected gasoline engine. The Amarok is available with three different drive configurations: rear-wheel-drive, full time AWD and part time AWD. At launch the Amarok will only be offered as a four door "double cab", but a "single cab" will be available in the first half of 2011.
Of course we aren't getting the Amarok in the US, but our friends in South America, Australia, South Africa and Europe are....
Continue reading "Volkswagen Amarok Pickup Officially Unveiled" »
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Audi has officially unveiled the all-new 2011 A8 at Miami's Design Week.
The 2011 Audi A8 gets all-new styling that draws cues from many of its other siblings in the Audi lineup. It features Audi's first application of full led headlights that can adjust their lighting direction based on the navigation system.
"The new Audi A8 is the sportiest sedan in its segment," says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. "It combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way. And it's unmatched in the stylistic elements and impression of the interior."
Audi claims that the 2011 A8 is longer and wider than its competitors and it also sits lower.
The new A8, which arrives in US dealerships in late 2010, is powered by a 4.2 FSI V8 that puts out 372 horsepower and is now 15 percent more fuel efficient. The V8 is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
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For the 28th year in a row, CARandDRIVER has picked the 10 best cars. This year's list consists of a few returning models like the BMW 3 Series and Honda Accord, which have both been on the list 19 and 24 times, respectively.
The publication tested 58 models worth $2.5 million total and logged a total of 12,000 test miles. New to the list this year is the Ford Fusion Hybrid, note that the gas only version isn't though. The Chevrolet Corvette, Infiniti G37, and the Jaguar XF are all off this year's list.
Check out the complete list after the jump.
Continue reading "CARandDRIVER Announces 2010's 10-Best Cars" »
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Rather than unveil the all-new Audi A8 at the LA Auto Show next month, Audi has announced that its new flagship sedan will have its official debut at t the world's most important art and design fairs, Design Miami/ and Art Basel Miami Beach.
Audi will showcase the new Audi A8 at a Design Miami/ site-specific installation: a full-size car will turn into a miniature collectible on a coffee-table and be surrounded by supersized furniture.
Audi did not release any details about the new A8. Stay tuned...
Continue reading "All-New 2010 Audi A8 to be Unveiled in Miami on Dec 1st" »
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Motor Trend has announced the list of SUV contenders for its "SUV of the Year" award.
Of course this award is great to whomever wins, due to all of the bragging rights that come along with it. It's usually heavily used in every ad campaign. Last year the Subaru Forester took home the award.
Which SUV do you think should win this year's award?
Continue reading "Motor Trend 2010 SUV of the Year Contenders Announced" »
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The current VW Beetle was all the rage when it debuted in 1998. VW also managed to sell 83,434 New Beetles in 1999, but since then sales have continued to decline to only 26,477 units last year. Over 10 years since it was released, the Beetle now barely registers on the radar and has been overshadowed by other retro vehicles like the Mini. Well VW is finally working on a successor that will arrive in 2012 and according to Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, the next model will have better packaging and a larger back seat.
According to Jacoby the major complaint about the Beetle, besides its age is that it has a cramped back seat. The new Beetle will indeed have a bigger back seat, but Jacoby was quick to state that that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be bigger.
Jacoby also stated that he sees the next Beetle as more of a halo car for the brand.
Continue reading "Next VW Beetle to Get Bigger Back Seat and Become VW's Halo Car" »
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During an event in Wolfsburg yesterday, VW officials confirmed that the recently unveiled Golf R will indeed be sold in the US as the GTI-R. The GTI-R will replace the R32.
When the GTI-R reaches the US it will be powered by a 265-hp 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to either a manual transmission or Volkswagen's DSG. VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system will send the power to all four wheels. When equipped with the DSG the GTI-R reaches 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155 mph.
Expect the GTI-R to hit US dealerships sometime next year.
Continue reading "VW Officials Confirm 2010 Golf GTI-R for the US" »
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Green Car Journal has announced the five finalists for its Green Car of the Year award.
And the finalists are:
-Audi A3 TDI
-Honda Insight
-Mercury Milan Hybrid
-Toyota Prius
-Volkswagen Golf TDI
The winner of the 2010 Green Car of the Year award will be announced at the 2009 LA Auto Show on December 3.
Which car do you think should win?
Continue reading "2010 Green Car of the Year Finalists Announced" »
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Volkswagen of America president Stefan Jacoby recently confirmed that the upcoming sedan codenamed "NMS" will replace the Passat in the US. The new sedan is to be built at Volkswagen's new facility in Tennessee.
Jacoby admitted that the current Passat is too small for American car buyers. The new sedan will be introduced in about two years and arrive as a 2012 or 2013 model.
In addition to the news about the Passat, Jacoby also stated that pulling the Phaeton from the US market after the 2006 model year was a mistake. "You need to be patient to enter a new segment." The new Phaeton is expected to arrive by the end of next year in Europe. Jacoby did not state when it will be sold in the US again.
Continue reading "VW "NMS" to Replace Passat and Phaeton Returns to the US" »
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Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen has confirmed that an electric vehicle based on the e-Tron concept that debuted in Frankfurt will be on the market in two to three years.
"I expect we will see running examples in the next 24 months," he says.
The e-Tron concept is powered by four individual electric motors, one on each axle. Audi says that the concept is capable of traveling 154 miles thanks to its lithium-ion battery. The e-Tron concept features styling that is similar to the R8, but is shorter with different front and rear fascias.
Continue reading "Audi e-Tron Electric Car Gets the Green Light" »
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Aluminum bodied cars are lighter than traditional steel models, so Audi has unveiled an aluminum A5 Coupe prototype that is over 200 pounds lighter than its equivalent steel bodied production model.
Audi engineers started with the traditional steel-bodied production car as its basis and then added the benefits of the aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) concept. According to Audi the use of the ASF principles lowers the body weight of a car by 40 percent. It shows here with the use of ASF and carbon fiber engineers were able to lower the body weight of the A5 from 3,130 pounds to 2,888 pounds.
A major benefit is that the lighter A5 prototype that is powered by a four-cyl engine offers the same performance as a V-6.
Audi's aluminum technology is bound to find its way into future Audi models, but Audi has no plans to produce the A5 prototype.
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The next-generation Audi RS6 is set to be unveiled early next year. Rumors are circulating that the next model will drop its 5.2L V10 for a V8 with twin turbochargers.
The current RS6 is powered by a twin-turbo 580-hp 5.2L V10. It reaches 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. If the rumors are in fact true, don't expect a reduction in power. The turbocharged V8 will likely be between 4.0-4.5 liters.
The next BMW M5 is also expected to ditch its V10 for the 4.4L V8 that powers the M versions of the X5 and X6.
Continue reading "Next-Gen Audi RS6 to Drop V10 for Turbocharged V8" »
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VW is expected to buy a stake in Suzuki by the end of 2009 according to the German industry publication Automobilwoche report.
The publication quoted an unnamed Suzuki executive, "For Suzuki and VW this connection would be a win-win situation. Suzuki would have access to a variety of VW's technology, while Volkswagen would have a solid supporting leg in India and Southeast Asia."
VW has declined to comment, but last week VW's Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn stated that Suzuki's current product lineup would work well with VW.
There has been speculation about a tie up between the two automakers since August.
Continue reading "VW to Buy Stake in Suzuki by the End of the Year" »
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VW has unveiled the E-Up! Concept that was developed from the Up! concept and is supposed to give a glimpse of a new car in 2013 that VW claims will be the "Beetle of the 21st Century."
The small E-Up! is powered by an electric motor, which has a range of 80 miles. It sprints from 0-62 mph in 11.3 seconds. Depending on charging infrastructure, the lithium-ion battery can be charged up to 80 percent within an hour.
The E-Up! Concept is indeed a small car and has a 3+1 layout to make it possible to carry up to four passengers.
Continue reading "Frankfurt 09' VW Unveils the E-Up! Concept...Beetle of the 21st Century" »
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Although US buyers aren't getting the A5 Sportback, Audi has unveiled the sportier version, the S5 Sportback.
The S5 Sportback is powered by the same supercharged 3.0L V6 as the S4 that will also soon replace the V8 engine in the S5 coupe. It puts out 333 horsepower and 324 lb-ft. of torque and propels the S5 Sportback from 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds with a 155 mph top speed. Audi claims that the S5 Sportback averages 24 mpg. Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system and seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission are standard.
Visually the S5 Sportback is differentiated from the lesser powered A5 Sportback by side mirrors in aluminum trim, a single frame grille, S-design aluminum wheels, and quad tailpipes.
The S5 Sportback goes on sale in Europe in Spring 2010 with a starting price of 57,900 Euros.
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Audi is set to unveil the e-Tron electric concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Audi has yet to officially release any photos or details about the concept, but these photos have surfaced today.
The e-Tron has the same profile as the R8, but with revised front and rear styling and wheels. Inside the E-Tron concept has a completely different interior compared to the R8 with a driver-focused console. It's not yet known what will power the e-Tron concept, but expect more details soon...
Continue reading "Frankfurt 09' Preview: Audi e-Tron Electric Concept Supercar Unveiled" »
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Photo leaks are so common now that it was only a matter of time before photos of the upcoming drop-top version of the Audi R8 showed up. Well here you go...the first photos of the R8 Spyder are here.
Audi has yet to release the specifics of the R8 Spyder, but it is already known that it will be available with a 525-hp 5.2L V10 engine.
Rather than having a heavy retractable hardtop, Audi has equipped the R8 Spyder with a soft-top. These photos don't show the Spyder with the top up, but stay tuned for its unveiling in Frankfurt.
Continue reading "Frankfurt 09' Preview: Audi R8 Spyder Shows up " »
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VW's executives have laid out an extensive plan to improve its sales in the US and to eventually surpass Toyota in terms of both sales and profitability.
VW's goal is to sell 800,000 vehicles in the US per year by 2018, which is three times as much as the automaker is selling now. To do so VW is planning on introducing several new models that will be designed specifically for the US market. This includes a new 7-seater SUV, sedan and an updated version of the Beetle.
In order to improve profits, VW is going to start building more models in the US or Mexico. VW is currently spending $1 billion on a new plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. that will produce a new midsize sedan in 2011. The new sedan will reportedly be larger than the current Passat, but will be priced competitively to go against the Accord and Camry.
"We want to be the No. 1 automaker globally," Stefan Jacoby, VW's North American chief said during a briefing at VW's U.S. headquarters in Virginia. "Not everybody believes in this goal. We believe in this vision we have, and we are working very hard on its realization.
VW plans to refresh its entire lineup by 2011. Additionally VW is making efforts to improve its quality.
Continue reading "VW Lays Out Strategy to Sell 800k Vehicles in the US by 2018" »
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VW has unveiled the three-door version of its popular Polo. For fuel conscious buyers VW is offering a new BlueMotion model, which only burns 3.3L of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers (71 mpg U.S.) The BlueMotion Polo will be available in either the three or five-door variants.
The three-door features an almost invisible B-pillar and more slender C-pillar than the five-door to give it a sportier appearance. The exterior, interior and cargo dimensions are identical to the five-door.
In total VW is offering the Polo with six engines, three gas and three diesel. An automatic 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) is also being offered for the first time.
Continue reading "2010 VW Polo Three-Door Diesel Gets 71 MPG (U.S.)" »
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Audi has announced the pricing for the 2010 R8, including the new V10 powered R8.
The 2010 Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro starts at $114,200, which is unchanged from the 2009 model, while the R8 5.2 FSI quattro starts at $146,000. The V10 powered R8 puts out 525-hp and 391 lb-ft of torque and reaches 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds.
"The R8 is a proven worldwide success story for Audi," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "The positive effects of the vehicle on dealers, customers, and Audi fans alike have exceeded all expectations. The addition of the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI quattro adds further equity into the already sought-after R8 nameplate and the Audi brand."
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A company spokesperson recently told Reuters that VW is going to invest $1 billion in its Mexico plant to build a new model that will launch in early 2010.
Currently the plant produces Jettas, Boras and New Beetles.
"The production of the new model will start in March or April of 2010," spokeswoman Consuelo Minutti said.
Minutti did not disclose which new vehicle VW plans to produce at the plant.
Continue reading "VW Invests $1 Billion in Mexico Plant for New Model" »
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VW has released its sales totals for the month of June 2009 and although VW sales were down 18 percent compared to the same month in 2008, VW has announced strong sales of its diesel powered models. Diesel powered versions of the Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and Touareg totaled 5,072 units, which accounted for 26 percent of VW's total sales last month.
Clean diesel TDI's accounted for 81 percent of SportWagen sales, 40 percent of Jetta sedan sales, and 29 percent of Touareg sales.
Continue reading "Diesels Account for 40 Percent of VW Jetta and 81 percent of SportWagen Sales" »
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Yesterday Audi released two teaser images of the upcoming Audi A5 Sportback, which will debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Now comes word that Audi has no plans to bring the vehicle to the US.
The A5 Sportback will be available with a choice of two gasoline or three diesel engines. The two gas engines will be the 211-hp 2.0L TFSI and the 265-hp 3.2L V6. The diesel options are a 170-hp 2.0L, 190-hp 2.7L and a 240-hp 3.0L V6.
The reason that Audi is claiming that the A5 Sportback is not slated to come to the US is because the larger Audi Sportback Concept, dubbed the A7 is expected to come here. The A7 will mainly compete with the Mercedes CLS.
Continue reading "Audi A5 Sportback Not Headed to the U.S." »
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This fall VW is going to release a more powerful Scirocco, dubbed the Scirocco R.
The more powerful Scirocco R gets the engine from the Audi S3, which thanks to a bigger turbo, uprated pistons, and high-pressure injectors puts out 265 horsepower. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual or the DSG. Unfortunately the power is still put to the ground only via the front wheels. The ride has also been lowered and there are larger brakes.
The R version of the Scirocco is distinguishable by a new body kit, spoiler, sports seats and R badges.
Too bad US drivers can only drool over this car, since VW has no plans to bring either version of the Scirocco to the US.
Continue reading "VW Scirocco R Unveiled with 265 HP...Arg!" »
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Audi insiders have confirmed that the automaker is working on a convertible version of the R8 supercar that will be released in 2011.
The details are scarce, but the R8 convertible is expected to have a full length convertible roof that will likely be a made of fabric since the R8's mid-engine layout leaves no room for a retractable hardtop. Audi also has a preference for soft tops.
There has been no confirmation if the R8 convertible will be powered by the R8's V8 or V10 engines.
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VW's North American CEO, Stefan Jacoby recently revealed more info about VW's upcoming mid-sized sedan.
In an interview with Automotive News, Jacoby discussed the upcoming sedan that will be built at VW's new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The un-named sedan will hit the market in the spring of 2012 with a price tag around $20,000. It will be powered by VW's current 2.0L and 2.5L engines. No official photos are renderings of the car have been released, but the styling was finalized a few weeks ago. The car is expected to be larger and sleeker than the current Passat.
Continue reading "2012 Volkswagen Mid-Sized Sedan to Start Around $20K" »
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Audi has decided to not offer the 3.2L V6 in many of its models for the 2010 model year. The 2010 A3, A4 and TT will have to make due with the four-cylinder 2.0T engine.
Most A4s that currently leave dealer lots are usually equipped with the 2.0T, so its not a big surprise that Audi has decided to not offer the 250-hp V6 anymore. If you want something more powerful than the 2.0T in the A4 you will have to move up to the upcoming S4, which will be powered by same supercharged 3.0L V6 as the A6.
Continue reading "Audi Drops the 3.2L V6 from the 2010 A3, A4, and TT" »
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VW and Chrysler thought it would be a cool idea to take the Dodge Caravan and stick a VW front end on it and an interesting name, but apparently no one else does. Sales of the VW Routan have been so slow that it hasn't been produced since December at Chrysler’s Windsor, Ontario plant.
Production isn't expected to restart since of the 22,037 Routans produced, only 5,582 have been sold.
Continue reading "VW Routan Fails to Meet Sales Expectations...RIP?" »
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Last week word leaked that VW had officially decided to not bring the Scirocco to the US, via a dealer communication, but no official word had been stated to the press..until now.
Tom Wegehaupt, Volkswagen' of America's public relations coordinator, officially told Autoblog that the VW has decided to not bring the Scirocco to the US due to fears of the model cannibalizing sales of the new GTI and the sad state of the auto market.
It looks like fans that were eagerly awaiting the return of the Scirocco in the US will have to move across the Atlantic if they ever want to own the new one.
Continue reading "VW Officially NOT Bringing the Scirocco to the US" »
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As it was rumored last week, VW has officially changed the Rabbit name once again back to the Golf for the U.S. market.
2009 will be the last year that VW's popular hatchback will be called the Rabbit. For the 2010 model year the Golf name will return on an all-new model.
"The Golf is an iconic nameplate for the Volkswagen Brand and it is known throughout the world," said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The Golf is Volkswagen's best selling global nameplate with more than 26 million units sold in over 120 countries."
The 6th generation Golf will have its U.S. debut at the New York Auto Show and be on sale this fall.
Continue reading "VW Officially Changes the Rabbit Back to the Golf" »
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VW has unveiled the Golf GTD, which is the equivalent of a sporty GTI, but with a diesel engine.
The VW Golf GTD is powered by a 170 horsepower diesel engine that can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed DSG transmission, just like the GTI. It accelerates from 0-62 mph in 8.1 seconds, has a top speed of 137 mph and uses just 5.3 litres fuel per 100 kilometres (44 mpg US).
The Golf GTD also features a sport suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels. The designs of the front bumper, the radiator grille and the headlights are also identical to those of the GTI.
Continue reading "2010 VW Golf GTD Unveiled with 170 HP and 44 MPG" »
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Audi has announced the world premiere of the Audi TT RS Roadstar at the Leipzig Motor Show next week.
The Audi TT RS Roadster is powered by a 340 horsepower turbocharged 2.5L engine that propels the car from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds. It features all-wheel-drive and an ungraded suspension with high-performance brakes.
The Audi A4 allroad quattro, Audi A5 Cabriolet, S5 Cabriolet and Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro are also going to have their premieres at the show.
Continue reading "Audi to Unveil Audi TT RS Roadster at Leipzig Motor Show" »
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Over 30 years ago, the successor of the VW Beetle, the Golf was dubbed the Rabbit in the US. So while the rest of the world had the Golf, we had the the same vehicle as the Rabbit. Eventually the Rabbit name was killed due to quality issues with the first generation, and we got the Golf in the US.
Three years ago VW decided to revive the Rabbit nameplate, "Volkswagen customers want a relationship with their cars. Names like The Thing, Beetle, Fox, and Rabbit support this."
Well the sales proved that US customers didn't really care about the Rabbit nameplate, so it looks like its back to Golf for the next generation.
"The car will be called the Golf again in North America," Jochen Sengpiehl, executive director of Volkswagen marketing, recently told Motor Trend.
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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has launched a new roof strength rating system and has chosen to put 12 small SUVs up to the test.
More than 10,000 people are killed a year in rollovers and SUVs rank higher compared to cars and minivans.
In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.
Only 4 of the small SUVs earned the top rating of good: VW Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element and Jeep Patriot. the VW Tiguan had the strongest roof out of all the SUVs tested. The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander are rated acceptable. Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are marginal, and the Kia Sportage received a poor rating.
Continue reading "IIHS Announces New Roof Strength Tests...Small SUVs are Tested First" »
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VW has announced that the sixth-generation of the iconic VW Golf GTI will be hitting dealerships in Germany in a few days. The more exciting news is that the new GTI will be available in North America by late summer.
The Mark VI builds upon the successes of the current generation with slightly more aggressive styling and a front-end similar to the Scirocco. The GTI is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder with 210 horsepower (up 10). It reaches 0-62 mph in 6.9 seconds. The GTI is available with either a six-speed manual or the six-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG). The DSG equipped GTI achieves the same 0-62 mph time as the manual.
Continue reading "Sixth-Generation VW Golf GTI Headed to the US this Summer" »
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It's being rumored that Audi engineers are working on an even more powerful A3, dubbed the RS3 that could borrow the 340 horsepower engine from the 2010 TT RS.
Michael Dick a member of Audi's technical development management board told Autovisie Magazine that an RS3 could be in the future and could be powered by the direct injection turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder that powers the TT RS and propels it from 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds.
Continue reading "Audi RS3 May Get the 340 HP Engine from the TT RS" »
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VW is planning on selling two versions of its compact Polo in the US, a sedan that is smaller than the current Jetta and a four-door hatchback that will be roomier than the model unveiled in Geneva earlier this month.
Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby claims that both versions will be designed specifically for the U.S. Jacoby recently spoke with the Automotive News and stated that although the new Polo is larger than its predecessor, its still too small for the US market. The US version will be taller and have a larger wheelbase.
"It's more like a cross between a compact minivan and a hatchback. In other words, it's more like the Honda Fit," Jacoby said.
Jacoby also said the Polo must be priced between $13,000 and $15,000 in the United States. Sales could start in 2011.
Continue reading "VW Will Sell Two Versions of the Polo in the US in 2011" »
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According to CAR, VW is rumored to be prepping an even hotter version of the GTI, dubbed the GTI-R.
The R version of the GTI will not use the 3.2L V6 from the R32, instead a turbocharged four-cylinder with around 266 horsepower, which could be the same engine in the Audi S3. All that power will be mated to an all-wheel-drive system. To make up for the added weight of the awd system, VW will also seek to cut the weight by removing some features.
The GTI-R is rumored for an unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall and a release sometime in early 2010.
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VW has unveiled the Polo BlueMotion Concept at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
The Polo BlueMotion is powered by a 1.2L TDI three-cylinder with common rail injection. Combined with start-stop technology and regenerative braking, the Polo BlueMotion gets 71.3 mpg (US). That effectively makes the Polo BlueMotion the most fuel-efficient passenger internal combustion car available.
The Polo BlueMotion is expected sometime in 2010.
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VW has unveiled the 2010 Polo, which will be officially unveiled tomorrow at the Geneva Motor Show.
The all-new Polo looks very similar to the larger Golf and is larger than the outgoing model. Despite the fact that the new Polo is larger, the overall body weight has been reduced by 7.5 percent. The new Polo is also expected to attain the highest 5-star EuroNCAP rating.
Seven different engines will be offered on the Polo, four gas and three diesel, five of which are new.
Sales of the new Polo will begin at the end of June in Germany and the rest of Europe shortly afterwards. VW has also announced that the Polo will eventually be offered in the US, possibly as early as 2010.
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Audi has officially unveiled the 2010 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet.
The droptop versions of the A5 and S5 will be in showrooms in Europe in the second quarter of 2009 and in the US this fall. In Europe engines range from the 160 hp 1.8L engine to the top of the line 333 hp supercharged 3.0L V6. There will be less engine options in the US.
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Audi has released the first teaser images of the TT RS, which is the ultimate TT that will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The TT RS will feature over 300 horsepower from ts turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder.
It's still up in the air if we'll get it here in the U.S.
Continue reading "Geneva 09' Preview: Audi TT RS Teasers Released" »
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Audi of America President, Johan de Nysschen apparently doesn't think that the U.S. is ready for a premium subcompact from Audi.
Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s worldwide sales and marketing boss, revealed last October that the automaker was reconsidering the A1 for the States, but now it looks like those plans have been stopped.
Audi polled its U.S. dealers about selling the A1 for around $25,500, with many of them saying it would be impossible to sell a small car for that price. Dealers were hoping for a price around $18K.
Continue reading "Audi President Says U.S. Not Ready for the A1 Subcompact" »
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Well it looks like VW's attempt at a badge engineered Chrysler minivan is not going over so well. According to The Windsor Star, Chrysler workers are going to stop building the Volkswagen Routan, which is based on the Chrysler Town & Country.
VW has asked Chrysler Canada to stop producing the Routan due to inventory build up for the month of February. Currently Chrysler has been producing 300 Routans a day with about 29,000 already shipped to dealerships.
VW has only managed to sell a few thousand Routans.
Continue reading "VW Asks Chrysler to Stop Producing the Slow Selling Routan for a Month" »
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Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby has confirmed that VW is going to sell the small Polo in the US.
VW feels that following last summer's record gas prices, US consumers are more open to smaller more fuel efficient vehicles. Eventually gas prices are going to rise again, which would increase demand for a vehicle like the Polo.
The Polo fits in between the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit in terms of size.
Volkswagen development chief Ulrich Hackenberg recently told the Automotive News that "The small-car segment is the fastest growing segment in the U.S. and that Oil prices will rise again and that will drive small car sales up further.”
It's not known when the Polo will go on sale in the US, but production could take place at Volkswagen’s Puebla, Mexico plant.
Continue reading "VW Confirms that the VW Polo is Headed to the US" »
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VW unveiled the BlueSport Roadster Concept at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this week and according to VW engineers there will be a production version in three years.
The BlueSport concept was intentionally designed to be a production ready vehicle, but the reason we have to wait three years is because the concept is constructed of a mix of bespoke and production parts. The production parts are borrowed from VW’s new transverse, front-engined MQB platform, which isnt due in production until 2012. So since those parts wont be available until 2012, the BlueSport has to wait.
When the car is released it's going to go head to head with the Mazda MX-5 and Lotus Elise.
Continue reading "Production Version of the VW BlueSport Will be Released in 2012" »
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The VW Concept BlueSport represents VW's idea of what a fun, but environmentally conscious roadster should be like.
The VW Concept BlueSport is powered by a 180 horsepower clean diesel engine mated to 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission that sits behind the driver. It accelerates from 0-62 in 6.6 seconds while getting about 35 mpg on the European cycle.
Continue reading "Detroit 09': VW Concept BlueSport Hits the Stage" »
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Audi has unveiled the Sportback Concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The Sportback Concept is supposed to be a preview of the upcoming A7.
The Sportback Concept and eventual A7 is Audi's version of a four-door coupe, like the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes CLS. In addition to providing a preview of the A7, the Sportback Concept previews Audi's future design vocabulary.
The Concept is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 TDI clean diesel. The diesel engine already meets the emissions limits of all 50 U.S. states and the EU6 standard scheduled to take effect in 2014. In addition it manages to get 39.87 US mpg.
Continue reading "Detroit 09': Audi Sportback Concept Unveiled...Hints at the A7" »
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Audi has announced the expansion of the A4 lineup with a new front-wheel-drive (FrontTrak) model and the addition of a six-speed manual transmission on the A4 quattro sedan.
The A4 2.0T FrontTrak features Audi's 2.0 TFSI engine that is paired to a multitronic continuously variable transmission. The setup helps the A4 get 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The A4 2.0T quattro equipped with the six-speed manual transmission gets 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
The 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan with multitronic CVT transmission starts at $31,000. The MSRP on the 2009 Audi A4 2.0T quattro manual is $31,850.
Continue reading "Audi Expands the A4 Lineup with New FrontTrak and and Six-Speed Manual Models" »
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Next month Audi is going to unveil the A7 concept at the Detroit Auto Show in addition to the V10 version of the beautiful R8.
The A7 is Audi's version of the Mercedes CLS, which basically means its a four-door sedan with coupe-like styling. According to sources the couple-like lines of the concept mirror those of the production version. In addition to the concept version of the A7 and the V10 R8, Audi is also going to unveil a new diesel-powered vehicle. Rumor has it that it could be a new diesel powered A4 or maybe even the Q5 SUV.
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Audi unveiled the Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI quattro yesterday ahead of its official unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show next month. Now the first photos of the R8 V10 in red have been released.
The Audi R8 V10 is powered by a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2L V10 engine that puts out 525 horsepower and propels the car from 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph. The V10 engine is mated to either a a 6-speed manual or R-Tronic semi-automatic.
Continue reading "525 Horsepower 2010 Audi R8 V10 Unveiled in Red" »
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Ward’s Automotive Group has announced its 2009 10 Best Engines list.
The list is compiled by Ward's editors and 2009 is officially the 15th year of the Ward’s 10 Best Engines program.
This year the list of winners is very broad with hybrid engines as well as high output turbocharged engines receiving the award.
“A decade ago, few consumers in the U.S. paid serious attention to hybrids or diesels. This year, they have to, if they don’t want to be pinched the next time fuel hits $4 a gallon,” says Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.”The diesels from VW and BMW and the Ford Escape Hybrid all got better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) during our testing, and often they topped 40 mpg (5.8 L/100 km),” he says. “And the diesels meet the strictest emissions regulations in the world. If Americans want to find a vehicle that consumes less fuel and is fun to drive, our list is a great place to start.”
Continue reading "Ward's Auto Announces the 2009 10 Best Engines" »
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If it wasn't already sad enough that most of us can't afford the current Audi R8, Audi has unveiled an even better version of the R8, the R8 V10 5.2 FSI quattro.
The R8 V10 shares its engine with the Lamborghini Gallardo. The V10 puts out 525 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. of torque, which is a little less than the numbers that the Gallardo puts out. The R8 V10 reaches 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds. The V10 engine is mated to either a six -speed manual or the sequential R tronic transmission.
The 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro wil launch in Germany in the second quarter of 2009 at a basic price of EUR 142,400.
Continue reading "2010 Audi R8 V10 Unveiled Before its Official Unveiling in Detroit" »
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Just in time for winter, Audi has unveiled the Cabriolet versions of the A5 and S5.
For 2010 Audi is going to release drop top versions of its beautiful A5 and S5 coupes. But unlike BMW, Infiniti and Lexus, these drop tops will feature a fabric top. It's obvious that a soft top saves more weight over a metal folding top and also saves some cargo space, but its definitely not as nice to look at when the top is up.
The 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet will be powered by either the 2.0L TFSI four-cylinder or the 3.2 FSI V6 engine. The S5 coupe is currently powered by 4.2L V8 that it will keep until the end of the 2010 model year, but the S5 Cabriolet is already making the switch to the smaller engine with the 3.0L TFSI V6 that is also in the S4.
The 2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet will be available in the fall of 2009.
Continue reading "2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet Unveiled...Too Bad its Winter" »
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An Audi spokesperson recently told InsideLine that the next Audi S5 is going to feature a V6 engine rather than a V8 when it is released in 2009.
The next S5 is going to get the same 329 horsepower supercharged V6 engine as the recently introduced Audi S4.
"Not only does this new engine get nearly the same horsepower and more torque," said an Audi spokesperson, "but the fuel efficiency with the V6T improves by 30 percent over the V8."
Continue reading "Next Audi S5 to Ditch V8 in Favor of a Supercharged V6" »
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VW was set to debut its upcoming mid-engine roadster at the LA Auto Show in a little over a week, but has decided to push back its unveiling until January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
VW hopes to attract more interest for the roadster at the show in Detroit. The final details are pretty scarce. It is expected that the car will debut in 2011, but it is not known what 4-cylinder engine that VW will use.
Continue reading "VW Mid-Engine Roadster Concept Headed to Detroit Instead of LA" »
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Audi has announced the pricing for the 2009 Audi TT-S that begins at $45,500 for the coupe and $47,500 for the roadster.
The Audi TT-S is powered by a 2.0L TFSI engine that puts out 265 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque, which is more powerful than the 3.2L V6. The TT-S coupe reaches 0-60 mph in a very short 4.9 seconds and still manages to get 29 mpg on the highway. The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
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Bad News! The U.S. isn't getting the VW R32 for the 2009 model year. Thomas Wegehaupt, spokesman for Volkswagen, has confirmed the bad news.
The R32 has only been on the market in the U.S. for less than a year, but that doesn't matter because we won't get a new one for at least a year or two. The most logical answer to VW's decision is that a redesigned Golf/ Rabbit was recently unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and the U.S. should receive it sometime next year.
According to KickingTires there are currently 276 VW R32s still for sale in the U.S. at a starting price of $32,990. There is also a $2,000 cash rebate until Oct 31st on the car if you can find one near you.
Continue reading "No 2009 Volkswagen R32 for the U.S...Better Go Grab a 2008!" »
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Audi has released official sketch photos of the upcoming 2010 A5 Sportback and Cabrio, 2010 A7 four-door coupe and the next-generation 2011 Audi A8.
The A5 Sportback and Cabrio will be powered by the same engines as the A5 coupe and will likely come in S and RS versions as well. After the addition of the new A5 models, the A7 will be released to compete with Mercedes' CLS. The A7 four-door coupe will be powered by three engines ranging from a 204hp 2.8L model up to a 394hp 4.2L V8. An RS7 is expected and will be powered by a 600hp twin-turbocharged 5.2L V10.
The next-generation Audi A8 will be released in late 2010 as a 2011 model. The sketch shows a much more aggressively styled sedan than the current generation.
Continue reading "Audi Releases Official Sketches of A5 Sportback, Cabrio, A7 and Next-Gen A8" »
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Earlier this year VW execs stated that the Scirocco was not going to make it to the U.S. due to the declining dollar and the fact that it could cannibalize sales of the GTI. Well now it looks like the automaker is reconsidering it.
Apparently the outcry from Scirocco enthusiasts and the popularity of the car in Europe has forced VW to reconsider bringing the Scirocco to the U.S.
A final decision has not been made, but if VW can figure out how to position it so that it doesn't steal GTI sales they should bring it!
Continue reading "VW May Finally Bring the Scirocco to the U.S.!" »
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Toyota and Audi recently showed off their iQ and A1 small cars at the Paris Motor Show last week. Originally both automakers had not planned on introducing either car to the US market, but as everyone is now witnessing...small cars are in.
Audi's worldwide sales and marketing boss, Peter Schwarzenbauer recently stated, " A year ago, I would have said no. I did not see any trend in the US which showed me that small cars could have a lasting, sustainable chance. I think this has changed. Therefore we definitely have to reconsider the A1." The hybrid A1 concept is powered by a 1.4L four-cylinder mated to an electric motor.
Continue reading "Audi and Toyota Considering New Small (Very Small) Cars for the US" »
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Photos of Audi's newest concept the Audi A1 Sportback Concept have hit the web a day before its official unveiling in Europe.
The A1, which is smaller than the current A3 in Audi's lineup is going to go head to head with the MINI when it is released in Europe next year. The production model is expected to look very close to this concept. The A1 Sportback Concept is powered by a 150-horsepower 1.4L TSI engine mated up to a 27-horsepower electric motor. The engine is mated to Audi's S-Tronic dual clutch transmission. The concept also gets an estimated 60.3 mpg.
Continue reading "Audi A1 Sportback Concept Photos Hit the Web a Little Early" »
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VW recently launced the VW Jetta TDI which is legal in all 50 states. A couple recently drove the new Jetta TDI thru 48 states and achieved 58.82 mpg setting a new Guiness World Record.
Helen and John Taylor took off in their new 2009 VW Jetta TDI and drove through 48 states in 20 days, covering 9,419 miles. Their little diesel powered Jetta returned an average 58.82 mpg, which beat the old record of 51.58 mpg. The couple said they were able to achieve that rating by staying within 5 miles of the speed limit. Throughout the whole trip the Jetta TDI only consumed 11 tanks of diesel fuel and traveled 853 miles between fill ups.
Continue reading "Couple Sets World Record at 58 mpg in 2009 VW Jetta TDI" »
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Audi has just announced that not only is the 2009 Audi S3 available as a five-door for the first time, but a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission is also available.
The 2009 Audi S3 which is available as a three or five-door is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine that puts out 265 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. All that power gets the S3 from 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155 mph.
Continue reading "2009 Audi S3 Gets 7-Speed DSG Transmission" »
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The Audi A8 is definitely one of the oldest cars in Audi's lineup and a redesign is in the works. The forum Gulf4Cars has posted a few photos of what we can expect the 2010 Audi A8 to look like, but the main question is are these photos real or just photo shopped.
If these photos are indeed real, the next A8 is going to feature a more evolutionary redesign. The front of the car features the same grille that we've now used to from Audi mated to new headlights that are similar to the rest of the new Audi lineup. The rear end also features taillights that are very similar to the new A4 and A6.
Continue reading "Audi Photos Show Up on the Web...Is this the 2010 Audi A8?" »
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VW has unveiled the all-new Golf GTI..well kinda. VW posted these photos of the new Golf GTI on its German media site.
The 2010 GTI is powered by a 2.0L TFSI four cylinder that puts out 210 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. On the outside the new GTI gets many of the same changes as the new Golf. The GTI will reach 0-62 mph in 7.2 seconds and gets a combined 31 mpg on the European cycle.
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Audi has officially unveiled the 2010 Audi S4 and S4 Avant ahead of the Paris Motor Show next month.
Continue reading "2010 Audi S4 and S4 Avant Unveiled with 333 Horsepower" »
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VW has officially taken the wraps off a concept version of its upcoming pickup truck that is going to be shown off at the 62nd IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover.
Continue reading "VW Concept Pickup Unveiled...It's a Preview of the 2010 VW Pickup" »
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Audi has recently confirmed that the US will not receive the 2009 Audi RS6 due to fuel economy and emissions requirements in the US....lame!
Continue reading "No 2009 Audi RS6 for the US! Start Your Whining Now" »
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VW has finally seen fit to release more photos of the all-new 2009 VW Golf even though it was unveiled a month ago.
Continue reading "More Photos of the All-New 2009 VW Golf...Finally" »
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In 2001 VW unveiled the Microbus concept. The response was so positive that it was destinged for production in 2005, but it was eventually killed due to costs...well now it looks like VW may be thinking about reviving it.
Continue reading "VW Microbus is Coming Back!....Well Maybe" »
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As typical at this time of the year most automakers announce new incentives to move more metal before the new models arrive. GM has its "Employee Pricing for Everyone" campaign and now VW has announced 0% financing on its 2008 models.
Continue reading "VW Announces 0% Financing on 2008 Models" »
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The Audi A8 is one of the most beautiful cars on the road, but that didn't stop a guy from driving it too crazy and crashing it into a river.
Continue reading "So Sad...Man Crashes Audi R8 into a River" »
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VW is going to release the all-new CC later this year. Now the automaker has unveiled the CC Gold Coast Edition at Pebble Beach.
Continue reading "Volkswagen CC Gold Coast Edition Revealed at Pebble Beach" »
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VW officially unveiled the all-new VVW Golf a few days ago, but said nothing about the GTI and R32 models.
Continue reading "All-New VW Golf GTI and R Variant Coming Next Year" »
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It seems pretty common now that images always somehow manage to leak out before a new model is officially unveiled...well its happened again with the next-generation 2009 VW Golf.
Continue reading "All-New 2009 VW Golf Unveiled a Few Days Early" »
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Those saddened by the fact that most hybrids are no longer eligible for tax credits will be happy to learn that the 2009 VW Jetta TDI will receive a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit.
Continue reading "2009 VW Jetta TDI Receives a $1300 Tax Credit" »
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VW's new diesel powered Jetta isn't going to be in dealers until next month, but many VW dealers have already received enough orders to eat up their total 2008 allocation.
Continue reading "Diesel-Powered VW Jetta is in High Demand Despite High Diesel Fuel Prices" »
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The awesome and beautiful Audi R8 is now available for the first time with full LED headlights, in addition to the current daytime running lights that feature 24 LED's per lamp.
Continue reading "Audi R8 is Now Available with Full LED Headlights" »
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Volkswagen officially unveiled the Scirocco GT24 at the GTI Meet at Wörther Lake. The car is going to be driven for two days at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 Unveiled with 321 Horsepower" »
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Audi has unveiled its latest concept, the Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro concept that will be officially unveiled at the 27th annual Lake Wörther Tour being held at the end of May in the Austrian province of Carinthia.
Continue reading "Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro Concept Unveiled" »
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Audi is planning on releasing a hybrid of version of its large Q7 SUV sometime next year, but the automaker has yet to release any plans for a smaller Q5 hybrid.
Continue reading "Audi is Going to Release a Q7 Hybrid Next Year, but a Q5 Hybrid is a Ways Off" »
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Audi issued a new sales report on Tuesday that said its "stock of Audi R8 cars is sold out for months to come." Pretty disappointing for anyone that is hoping to grab one of these awesome cars.
Continue reading "Audi R8 is Sold Out for Months to Come..." »
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Volkswagen officially took the wraps off the Passat CC (four-door coupe) in Detroit earlier this year. VW expects approximately 60% of the sales of the CC ( VW dropped the "Passat" portion of the name) to come from the US.
Continue reading "VW Expects the US to be the Biggest Market for the 2009 VW CC" »
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Volkswagen has unveiled the Jetta BlueTDI that has been developed specifically for the North American market.
Continue reading "VW Jetta BlueTDI for the US Market Unveiled...It Gets 60mpg" »
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Volkswagen unveiled the Golf TDI Hybrid Concept at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year. At the show VW execs eluded to the fact that the concept would one day enter production...but it looks like those plans have changed.
Continue reading "VW Has Killed Plans for a Golf Diesel-Hybrid" »
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Volkswagen has announced the new Carefree Maintenance Program that will be available on some of its 2009 models.
Continue reading "VW Announces Carefree Maintenance Program on 2009 Models" »
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Audi has officially unveiled the all-new 2009 Audi Q5 SUV that is making its world debut in Beijing.
Continue reading "2009 Audi Q5 SUV Officially Unveiled in Beijing" »
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VW is reportedly working on a 3rd SUV to fit in between the newly released Tiguan and the larger Touareg SUVs.
Continue reading "VW is Planning a 3rd SUV to Fit Between the Tiguan and Touareg" »
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Audi and Mercedes-Benz are going to use next week's Beijing Auto Show to debut the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK SUVs.
Continue reading "Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK SUVs are Set to Debut in Beijing" »
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Volkswagen has announced that the automaker is going to issue a recall of every 1999-2005 VW Passat.
Continue reading "VW is Recalling All 1999-2005 Passats...That's all 410,000 of Them" »
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Volkswagen has announced today that all of its 2009 models will come equipped with its standard Electronic Stabilzation Program (ESP).
Continue reading "VW Adds Standard Stability Control to Every 2009 Model" »
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Volkswagen officially unveiled the all-new 2009 Scirocco this week in Geneva, but currently there are no plans to bring it to the US.
Continue reading "The US Isn't Getting the VW Scirocco Because of the Declining Dollar" »
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Audi unveiled the R8 V12 TDI Concept in Detroit this past January, and now Audi unveiling a new Le Mans version.
Continue reading "500 Horsepower Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans Unveiled in Geneva" »
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Volkswagen has finally officially released the info on the 2009 Scirocco even though we've seen photos of the car for almost a week now.
Continue reading "VW Scirocco Officially Unveiled...Even Though We've Seen the Photos for Days" »
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Earlier this week two photos of Volkswagen's upcoming Scirocco leaked onto the web. Now we have five more photos of the car that is set to debut in a few days in Geneva.
Continue reading "More Photos of the 2009 VW Scirocco Leaked" »
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Photos and some info on VW's new Golf TDI Hybrid Concept have leaked onto the internet a few days before its official unveiling in Geneva.
Continue reading "Geneva 2008 Preview: VW Golf TDI Hybrid Photos Leaked" »
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VW is going to officially unveil the Scirocco next week at the Geneva Auto Show, but the embargo on the photos has already been broken.
Continue reading "2009 Volkswagen Scirocco Exposed...Too bad the US Isn't Getting It!" »
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Following the official unveiling of the Audi A4 sedan, Audi is going to unveil the wagon version (A4 Avant) at the Geneva Auto Show.
Continue reading "Geneva 2008 Preview: 2009 Audi A4 Avant Breaks Cover" »
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Volkswagen officially took the wraps off the 2009 Passat CC at the Detroit Auto Show last month. Now according to CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Stefan Jacoby, the Passat CC is going to start below $27,000.
Continue reading "2009 VW Passat CC is Going to Start Below $27,000" »
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Volkswagen has finally unveiled its new four door coupe (Passat CC) which is based off the Passat sedan.
Continue reading "Detroit 2008: 2009 VW Passat CC Unveiled...VW's Answer to the Mercedes CLS" »
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Audi has officially unveiled the hihg-performance TT dubbed the TT-S ahead of its official debut next week.
Continue reading "Detroit Auto Show Preview: Audi TT-S Unveiled with 268 HP" »
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It is being rumored that Audi is going to bring a V12 turbodiesel R8 to the Detroit Auto Show this month.
Continue reading "Detroit Auto Show Preview: Is Audi Going to Unveil a Diesel Powered R8?" »
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Autobild has announced that the Audi R8 has won the highly sought after "SportsCar 2007" award. The R8 was decided as this year's winner by a panel of experts from the AutoBild SportsCars monthly magazine.
Continue reading "Audi R8 Wins the Title of "SportsCar 2007" from Autobild" »

Volkswagen has just launched a minisite for the upcoming four-door Passat coupe. The teaser images on the site do not reveal very many details of what the final car is going to look like.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Releases Teaser Images of the Four-Door Passat Coupe" »
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VW has a lofty goal of selling 10 million vehicles per year by 2018. In addition the automaker wants to close the gap between itself and Toyota. One of the automaker's new plans is to develop four architectures that can be used across the Volkswagen Group brands, including Lamborghini, Audi and Bentley.
Continue reading "VW is Planning Four New Platforms to Help it Catch up to Toyota" »
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2009 is going to go down in the history books as the year that diesels finally returned to the US. Volkswagen is going to be one of the first automakers to bring their clean diesels to this side of the Atlantic, but that introduction has been delayed.
Continue reading "VW delays the Introduction of its Clean Diesel Jetta TDI" »
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According to the Wall Street Journal, VW is going to lower its prices to become more competitive with Toyota.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Decides to Lower its Prices to Compete with Toyota" »
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Volkswagen is going to unveil a new high-performance version of the Touareg SUV at the Australian International Motor Show. VW claims that the Touareg R50 will be one of the most powerful SUVs on the market.
Continue reading "VW Touareg R50 Unveiled with 313 HP and 553 lb.-ft. of Torque" »
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It looks like we will not see the new Audi Q5 crossover in showrooms until sometime in 2009 at the earliest. Management wants to delay the model until some time in 2009 so that it can be labeled a 2010 model.
Continue reading "Audi Delays the Launch of New Crossovers Until 2009" »
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According to Ulrich Hackenberg, head of product development at Volkswagen all future VW models are going to have either a mild or full hybrid option.
Continue reading "In the Future all Volkswagens Will Have a Hybrid Option" »
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VW has vowed to close the large gap between itself and Toyota within the next ten years. Part of this new plan is to increase sales to 1 million units in the US by 2018. The automaker hopes to reach this lofty goal by focusing on four core vehicles.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Wants to Sell 1 Million Cars in the US by 2018" »
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With all the news about the upcoming BMW M3, Audi would like you to know that it is still missing one thing....all-wheel-drive.
Continue reading "What is the One Thing that the All-New BMW M3 is Still Missing?" »
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VW unveiled the automaker's new small rear engined up! in Frankfurt this week. Adrian Hallmark, head of Volkswagen of America, has confirmed that the US is also interested in the car.
Continue reading "The Small Rear-Engined Volkswagen up! May Come to the US" »
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The upcoming Audi A3 Cabriolet has been spotted under going testing in Germany. The car had virtually no camouflage.
Continue reading "All-New Audi A3 Cabriolet Caught Naked in Germany" »
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Volkswagen is returning to its rear-engine roots with the unveiling of the up! concept car. According to the automaker this small four seater car could actually see production.
Continue reading "Volkswagen up! Concept Revealed...VW Returns to Its Roots " »
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Audi has finally released the full details on the high-performance version of the Audi A6 Avant, the RS6 Avant. The wagon is going to be powered by a V10 engine with FSI direct injection and twin turbochargers that puts out 580 horsepower and 480 lb-ft. of torque.
Continue reading "2008 Audi RS6 Avant Revealed...580 Horsepower in a Sweet Family Mobile!" »
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VW CEO Martin Winterkorn has made a pledge to close the gap between Toyota and VW. The automaker has set a goal of ten years to catch up to Toyota in terms of productivity and profit. Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking also backs the plan. Wiedeking sees Toyota as the benchmark.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Sets 10 Year Goal to Catch up to Toyota" »
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In the past Japanese automakers had to downplay the actual horsepower ratings of their vehicles due to certain laws in Japan. This meant that many of Japan's high-performance vehicles all had around 274-276 horsepower, even though they were obviously capable of much more. Well Audi seems to be doing the same thing with the upcoming RS6.
Continue reading "Upcoming Audi RS6 May Produce Over 600HP! Is That Too Much?" »
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Yesterday the official photos of the all-new Audi A4 were revealed prior to its official unveiling next month. Now we have photos of the S-Line package.
Continue reading "All-New Audi A4 S-Line Revealed Plus Even More Photos of the New A4" »
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Yesterday a single image of the upcoming A4 was sedan was leaked onto the internet. Today Audi released more photos of the new sedan and the full details.
Continue reading "All-New Audi A4 Photos and Specs...The Embargo Was Finally Lifted!" »
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The all-new 2009 Audi A4 is set for an unveiling at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show, but thanks to AutoWeek.nl we have our first look at an official photo of the new car. Unfortunately we only have one photo of the car, but it is apparent that the next A4 will borrow many of the same design cues from the new A5/S5 coupe.
Continue reading "Official 2009 Audi A4 Photo Leaked...It Basically Looks Like a 4-Door A5" »
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Or Maybe not... According to BusinessWeek Volkswagen takes the award for having the most recalled 2007 models. VW recalled just over 1 million New Beetles because of faulty brake light switches.
Continue reading "Which Automaker Has Had the Most Recalled 2007 Models? You Might be Surprised" »
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Audi has announced that the automaker and Apple have been working closely to make sure that the new iPhone works in most Audi vehicles. Any Audi model with the Bluetooth option will allow the usage of the iPhone. This means that users will be able to make and receive hands-free phone calls, assign specific names to numbers and access call lists.
Continue reading "Audi Integrates the iPhone on Most of its Vehicles" »
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Volkswagen is going to unveil a new more fuel-efficient Golf at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The all-new Golf will only use 4.5L of diesel fuel per 100km, which translates to 52mpg in the US.
Continue reading "VW Golf BlueMotion Diesel Will Achieve 52mpg" »
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For the 2008 model year Audi has updated many components of its flagship sedan, although you probably won't notice most of them. First the A8 is going to be offered with the 2.8L FSI six-cylinder engine (Europe) that will put out 210 hp and achieve 28mpg.
Continue reading "2008 Audi A8 Gets a Few Updates and a New Engine" »
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According to AutoTelegraaff Audi is going to release the Q7 V12 TDI in the second half of 2008. The V12 version of the Q7 packs 500 horsepower and propels the large SUV from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.
Continue reading "Audi's Q7 V12 TDI SUV Will Debut Next Year" »
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VW has officially announced today that the automaker is going to end its current Bluetec relationship with Mercedes. Instead of badging their vehicles with the Bluetec labels, Volkswagen is going to return to the familiar TDI badging that the automaker has used in the past.
Continue reading "VW is Going to Badge its New Clean Diesels with TDI Badges instead of Bluetec" »
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Earlier this week Car Online released a few official sketches of the upcoming Audi A1. Now they have posted an official photo of the upcoming Audi A7 that was also leaked.
Continue reading "2010 Audi A7 Official Sketch Leaked...Are Four-Door Coupes the Next Big Thing?" »

Audi's answer to the BMW X3 and upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLK is the Q5 SUV. We've seen spy photos of the SUV before, but this is the first time we are seeing it this naked. This SUV is built on the same MLP (Modular Long Platform) as the A5 and upcoming A4 sedan.
Continue reading "2009 Audi Q5 Spy Photos...The Upcoming SUV is Nearly Undisguised" »
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Apparently CAR Online has received official sketches of Audi's new A1. With the success of the MINI line, Audi is working on a new small car to compete with the MINI and the BMW 1-Series. Unlike the photo renderings that we usually see of upcoming cars that only speculate on what the final product will look like, these photos are the real thing!
Continue reading "Official Sketches of the 2010 Audi A1 Leaked... It's Audi's Answer to the MINI" »
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Porsche and Volkswagen have teamed up to develop a new hybrid powertrain that will be available as an option in the next-generation Porsche Cayenne SUV and the upcoming Porsche Panamera four-door coupe.
Continue reading "2010 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Will Average 26.8mpg " »
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Chrysler and Chinese automaker Chery have already announced plans to build a future small car and now Volkswagen is forming a similar relationship. VW and Shanghai Auto are going to work together to produce a car that will be aimed at the global market. The car will initially be sold in China and then in the U.S.
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Volkswagen still remains uncertain about the fate of the new Scirocco in the U.S. First VW's U.S. operations stated that they did not want the car to come here because it would compete with the GTI. Shortly after, VW reported that no decision had been made about the fate of the car. Now there are spy photos of the car testing in California, which adds even more mystery to the situation.
Continue reading "2009 Volkswagen Scirocco Spy Photos...The New VW Has Been Caught in the U.S.!" »
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For the past three years, Volkswagen's U.S. operations have lost $1 billion annually. VW has always been up and down in the US market. Before the Beetle was reintroduced 10 years ago, VW was in a similar crisis. Well now the company is having issues again as sales last year slid to 235,000 down from 338,000 in 2002.
Continue reading "Is Volkswagen Considering Pulling Out of The U.S. Market?" »
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Winding Road has posted a few spy photos of what looks like to be a new coupe from VW. According to the spy photographers, the car pictured here is a prototype of a new VW Phaeton coupe. VW is already given the go ahead for a new Phaeton in 2010 even though the first generation failed to attract many buyers.
Continue reading "Spy Photos of Volkswagen's new Four-Door Coupe or is it a New Phaeton Coupe?" »

The all-new 2009 Audi A4 is set to be unveiled at this September's Frankfurt Auto Show with sales starting early next year. This latest artist rendering of the new A4 draws many styling cues from the new A5.
Continue reading "2009 Audi A4 Photo Rendering...Is this What the Next A4 Will Look Like?" »
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Car Magazine has posted two new spy photos of the upcoming Audi Q5 SUV. But just like the recently spied new Audi A4, you can't see much. If you strain your eyes you can sort of make out the rear of the vehicle through the camouflage.
Continue reading "2009 Audi Q5 SUV Spy Photos...I Think You Can See an SUV Underneath the Camo" »
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These are the first official pictures of the new 2008 Tiguan SUV that is going to be revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September. The new small VW SUV will compete against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 and will have AWD standard.
Continue reading "2008 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV Revealed Before Its Official Unveiling this Fall" »
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Audi has announced the pricing for the RS4 Cabriolet that the US will finally get this fall. If you can part with $81,900 plus destination and gas-guzzling fees, you better run to your Audi dealer, since only 300 will make the trip over. The RS4 has a 4.2L FSI V8 that puts out 420 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque.
Continue reading "2008 Audi RS4 Cabriolet Pricing Announced" »

It has been rumored that Mercedes was thinking about building a high-end sports car that would compete with the Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi's upcoming V-10 powered R8 coupe. Well now spy photographers have caught what they believe to be Mercedes upcoming new sports car that will likely be named the SLC.

World Car Fans has posted spy photos of what they believe is a V8-powered Lamborghini Gallardo prototype. The car shown here has a slightly modified front fascia and a revised exhaust, which might suggest that there are also some engine modifications.
Thanks to Winding Road and the spies over at KGP, we have some new photos of the upcoming V-10 powered Audi RS6 with virtually no camouflage.
Continue reading "Audi RS6 Spy Photos...The Uber-Fast A6 Will Have Between 550-600HP!" »
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The V8 powered Audi RS4 which puts out 414 horsepower has ended production to make way for the upcoming RS6.
Continue reading "Audi RS4 Production Ends to Make Way for the V10 Powered RS6" »
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According to Motor Trend the Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive concept car has been approved for production in the 2011 model year. The concept was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show at Detroit last January. It was based on the Mercedes S600 sedan with a 5.5L V-12 pumping out 510 horsepower.
Continue reading "Mercedes-Benz and Audi Four-Door Convertibles Will be Here by 2011" »
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Many of you may remember the Jetta Trek or the Golf K2 from the 90's that came with a bike or a snowboard. Well VW is doing it again with the current Rabbit. Chicago (U.S.) Rabbit buyers are getting a bike and a roof rack in addition to their new Rabbits. The dealers in Chicago are trying to encourage drivers to use bikes for short/quick distances.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Throws in a Bike with the Rabbit in Chicago" »
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Audi has finally confirmed that the RS4 Cabriolet will come to the U.S. this fall as a 2008 model. Unfortunately only about 300 of the RS4 Cabriolets will be sold in the U.S.
Continue reading "The Audi RS4 Cabriolet Will Come to the U.S. in 2008" »
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According to Car and Driver, there are sources that are claiming that Audi is working on a diesel version of its new supercar. Obviously the diesel version of the car isn't going to be built for increased fuel-efficiency, but instead for the perfromance.
Continue reading "2009 Audi R8 TDI? Yes, That's Right a Diesel R8 May be in the Works" »
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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released crash test scores for the newest convertibles. The tests are pretty surprising since the new BMW 3-Series only received a marginal score, while the new Chrysler Sebring received good ratings in the crash tests. Apparently a higher price does not always mean you are getting a better car.
Porsche is working on a new small SUV that will be based on the upcoming Audi Q5 SUV. The new SUV is reportedly going to be named the Porsche Roxster and will slot below the Porsche Cayenne SUV.
Continue reading "The Mini-Cayenne Porsche Roxster SUV will Be Based on the Upcoming Audi Q5" »
Fifth Gear has done another awesome video and this time it is on the VW GTI.
Continue reading "Fifth Gear Takes the VW GTI Sideways! It's So Awesome!" »
Following yesterday's release of the Audi TT Clubsport Concept, VW has revealed the uber fast Golf GTI W12 650 Concept. The ultimate GTI has a top speed of 201 mph (325 km/h) and a 0-62 mph time of 3.7 seconds.
Continue reading "VW Golf GTI W12 650 Concept...The Ultimate GTI Has a Top Speed of 201 mph!" »
Today Audi revealed the Audi TT Clubsport Quattro Concept, which is a modified TT. It is obvious that the car is inspired by the Porsche 356 Speedster, with its low windscreen and missing roof.
Continue reading "The Audi TT Clubsport Quattro Concept Draws Inspiration from Porsche" »
Porsche has announced that they are going to release their first hybrids in 2009. The Cayenne and the upcoming Panamera will both be offered with a hybrid powertrain.
Continue reading "Porsche Will Release Their First Hybrids in 2009" »
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PC Magazine has listed what they feel are the vehicles with the best technology. For the second year the BMW X5 was listed as their top vehicle and took home the magazine's "Digital Drive Car of the Year" award. The X5 was picked because of its adaptive drive, spilt-screen navigation, real-time traffic reports and front and rear sonar.
Continue reading "Which New Vehicles Have the Best Technology?" »
The 2009 Audi A4 is still more than a year away, but spy photographers have caught their first images of the new 3-Series fighter. Audi is determined to be one of the top, if not the top luxury automakers. The new 2009 A4 is crucial to Audi's success.
Continue reading "2009 Audi A4 Spy Photos...Audi Takes Aim at the 3-Series" »
According to VW insiders the company is hard at work on a rear-engine, water-cooled small car. The car supposedly mimics the layout and purpose of the original Beetle.
Continue reading "The Return of the Rear-Engined Volkswagen May be Right Around the Corner" »
Audi is going to unveil a Cabrio version of its popular A3. The automaker wants to steal market share from MINI and the upcoming BMW 1-series.
Continue reading "Audi Looks to Steal Market Share from the MINI with the A3 Cabrio" »
Edmunds.com has posted a list of the most wanted cars in 2007 based on reader feedback. Out of the 32 categories you may be surprised which automaker took home the most awards....
Continue reading "What are the Most Wanted Cars in the U.S. for 2007?" »
Transmission maker ZF has announced plans to produce an 8-speed automatic transmission that will likely be used in future Ford, BMW and VW vehicles. The transmission called the "8HP" will be used in the new 2009 BMW 7-Series that will debut in late 2008.
Continue reading "ZF Announces Plans for an 8-Speed Automatic Transmission" »
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Last week it was reported that the executive vice-president of Volkswagen of America, Adrian Hallmark, did not want the upcoming VW Scirocco to come to the U.S. He fears that it would cannibalize sales of the popular GTI.
Continue reading "The Volkswagen Scirocco May Actually Make it to the U.S.!" »
Audi has unveiled their new Audi A4 1.9 TDI e. The car features a 115 horsepower engine and is capable of using only 5.3L of diesel fuel per 100km, which translates to 44mpg, when the car is equipped with the six-speed manual.
Continue reading "Audi Unveils an A4 that Rivals the Fuel Economy of the Toyota Yaris" »
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April's auto sales numbers have just been posted and almost every major automaker had a sales decrease last month. Even the Asian automakers that have been making headlines for their sales gains, took a hit.
Continue reading "Auto Sales Dip Due to a Slowing Economy" »
There are rumors circulating that Audi is working on a smaller mid-engined sports car to compete with other cars such as the Porsche Boxster. The mid-engined car could use a more powerful version of the company's 2.0L turbo and a turbocharged 2.5L in-line five, which would be in an RS model.
Continue reading "Audi is Planning on Launching a Smaller Sibling to the Audi R8..the Audi R4!" »
Audi is not content with their current line up. They are set to double their model count by 2015. “We have 22 vehicles in the lineup already and the other 18 in our heads,” said Michael Dick, Audi’s Product Development Chief. Audi already has the new Q5 SUV, the A7 four-door coupe and the A1 compact car in the works. In addition the company is planning on making more variants of the upcoming A5 coupe.
Continue reading "Audi is Planning on Milking the A5 Line with a New Convertible and Sportback" »
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Well it seems that someone thinks that there is a market for a VW Beetle themed MP3 player. LG and VW have teamed to create a MP3 player that can hold either 2GB or 4GB of music, that was unveiled at the Seoul Auto Show this month. If you were hoping for an MP3 player that is shaped like a Beetle, then I am sorry to disappoint.
Continue reading "Have you Ever Wanted a VW Beetle Inspired MP3 Player?" »
VW's Phaeton was not a success for VW in the U.S. The company planned on only selling 20,000 of them, but they only managed to sell a quarter of that amount when they pulled the car in 2005. Even with though the car barely managed to register on the sales screen, the company is moving forward with the next version of the car.
Continue reading "The 2010 VW Phaeton will Make it to the U.S. Despite Poor Sales" »
Apparently the GTI is too important to Volkswagen of America and they are not willing to cannibalize sales of the hatchback by bringing the Scirocco hatchback here. The original Scirocco was very popular in the U.S.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Has Decided to Not Sell its Upcoming Scirocco in the U.S.!" »
Kelly Blue Book has compiled their list of the top 10 coolest cars under $18,000. Today as the average car price is well into the $20,000's it is good to know that there are cheaper alternatives that are still cool to own.
Continue reading "What are the Coolest Cars Under $18,000?" »
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Five years ago VW unveiled its 222 mpg concept car, dubbed "1-Liter Car". The company is now looking at reviving the project.
Continue reading "Volkswagen Tries to Build a 200-MPG Car...Again" »
Spy photographers have caught the first images of the V10 powered version of the Audi R8. Leftlane News has posted several photos showing the new car during testing.
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The 2008 VW Jetta SportWagen has been unveiled today at the New York Auto Show. The new wagon version of the popular Jetta will be offered with three engine configurations, a 2.5L five-cylinder, the 2.0T four-cylinder and a 2.0L diesel engine.
Continue reading "2008 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Appeals to the Boring Crowd!" »
Volkswagen has unveiled the new 2008 Touareg 2 at the New York Auto Show. This is a very mild refreshening of their mid-size SUV. The new version features revised headlights, dark-tinted brake lights and a new chrome grille that is similar to the other VWs.
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According to recent reports, Porsche is trying to take out a $46.67 billion loan to finance its bid to take over Volkswagen. Recently Porsche announced that it was going to raise its current stake in VW to above 30%. This was seen as a way to stop any future takeovers of the VW brand.
Continue reading "Porsche is Planning on Taking over VW as Part of its Attack Against Toyota?!" »
Audi is planning on going head to head with the Mercedes E63 AMG and the BMW M5 with the new RS6. Dubspeed Driven has posted spy photos of the new car being tested in Germany.
Continue reading "New 2008 Audi RS6 will Feature More than 600hp?!" »
If you have $109,000 you can buy the new 2008 Audi R8. That price will get you the six-speed manual version. If you want the six-speed R tronic transmission, it is going to cost you an extra $9k.
Continue reading "2008 Audi R8...What Else Would you do With $109,000?" »
VW has created a website that features animations, driving scenes and exclusive download features for their new SUV the Tiguan. At www.volkswagen.de/tiguan, users can see the development of the Tiguan from show car to production car. The website will continue to be updated with new information and features as actual reveal date approaches. In June, three months before the SUV is released a the Frankfurt Motor Show, the production model will be released to users of this site.
Continue reading "2009 Volkswagen Tiguan will be Launched in 8 Months" »
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Audi will unveil the new 2008 Audi A5 at the Geneva Auto Show next month. The car is larger than the TT coupe and will slot in between the A4 and A6. The car will have the option of a 3.0L V6 or a 3.2L V6. There will aslo be an S5 and RS5. The A5 convertible will also eventually replace the A4 convertible. The car will also feature the company's quattro awd system.
This page contains an archive of all entries posted to The Torque Report in the VW/ Audi category. They are listed from newest to oldest.
Volvo is the previous category.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.