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Showing posts from October, 2014

APR Releases Solid Shifter Cable Bracket

APR is pleased to present the Solid Shifter Cable Bracket. Through countless years of professional racing, APR Motorsport identified the factory shifter cable bracket system as a source of sloppy shifts, missed gears, bracket and bushing failure and even transmission failure. The factory shifter cable bracket is made from plastic with rubber bushings. Over time the bushings wear out, and during long races, heat can cause the bracket to flex and break. To alleviate all issues related with the factory design and not just some, APR’s Mechanical Engineers created the ultimate and final upgrade: The APR Solid Shifter Cable Bracket. Key Points: Addresses both issues with the OEM design Cast 304 stainless steel eliminates flexible plastic OEM design CNC-machined solid mounts eliminate rubber OEM bushings Removes play, slop and the rubbery feeling of the OEM part Will not flex, wear out and / or break under prolonged use Lifetime warranty The APR Solid Shifter Cable Bracket is made from cast...

Two Distinctions for Volkswagen at German Design Awards

Accolades for the pioneering design of the new Passat and the T-ROC concept car. ‘Discover, present and reward unique design trends’ – this is the maxim which the German Design Council applies every year when selecting recipients for the German Design Awards, and for 2015 these will include two Volkswagen models: the new Passat and the T-ROC SUV concept. For 60 years, panels of experts at the German Design Council have been recognising excellence in design with the German Design Award. As ‘Winner’ in the Public Design category, Volkswagen’s T-ROC takes the top international prize for 2015. The new Passat was recognised with a ‘Special Mention’ for the outstandingly high quality of its design, which combines a stylish clarity with a strong sense of power. It is contemporary, and has gained noticeably in charisma, exclusivity and dynamism while preserving all of its functional virtues. Even at night the Passat has an unmistakable, eye-catching look due to its newly developed LED headli...

Volkswagen Motorsport International Newsletter

With Volkswagen participating in so many forms of Motorsport around the world, it’s often difficult to keep track of their performance. Luckily for us, Volkswagen Motorsport goes through the trouble of rounding up all of the key information from their various race series, and puts it all in one press release. Let’s get started. Volkswagen Polo Cup Russia Ignatov becomes champion, rookie Rostilov wins final rally Alexey Ignatov (RUS) has clinched the title in the Volkswagen Polo Cup Russia. Ignatov made do with fourth place in Rally Tmutarakan, the final event of the 2014 season, to win the championship. This outcome didn’t actually look all that likely during the two-day rally as Ignatov struggled with some tyre trouble on his Polo. But his main rival Arkady Bogomolov (RUS) had his own problems, with his gearbox, and ultimately only managed to finish in sixth place, leaving the championship title open for Ignatov. The final rally of the season was won by newcomer Denis Rostilov (RU...

WRC: Bright Start for Volkswagen in Spain

Grand backdrop for opener: Barcelona gives rally elite a worthy reception Andreas Mikkelsen first, Sébastien Ogier second, Jari-Matti Latvala fourth Short, sweet, skilful: Volkswagen made a good start to the Rally Spain. At the foot of the famous Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) clocked the fastest time on the only special stage laid out on the narrow terraces. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) were second fastest, with Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) fourth on the opening stage. With world-famous architecture lining the route through the heart of Barcelona, the rally stars were given a rapturous welcome from an enthusiastic crowd who had turned out to watch stage one of the twelfth round of this season’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The World Rally Cars, including the three Polo R WRC, passed the Barcelona Pavilion, which was designed by Mies van der Rohe and built for the 1929 International Exposition, crossed the famous Plaça...

Updated Scirocco R Lands in Australia

40 years after Volkswagen’s original Scirocco sports coupé made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the revised version of the third generation range-topping Scirocco R has now arrived in Australia. Positioned between the five-door Golf GTI and five-door Golf R, the Scirocco R offers another distinctive and emotive design within the Volkswagen performance car range. Externally, the Scirocco R’s shape has been refined and modernised with new headlights and tail lights, as well as revised bumper styling. The revised front bumper features aerodynamic ‘blades’ in the outer section, like those on the latest-generation Golf GTI, with integrated indicator LED lights. As the standalone Scirocco model in Australia, the Scirocco R comes with its own unique exterior styling kit; matte chrome-look door mirror caps; Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights; 19-inch ‘Cadiz’ alloy wheels; black brake calipers with ‘R’ logo; sports suspension; adaptive chassis control; XDL electronic differ...

Choice Gear: Slot Mods USA Raceway

What do you get for the person who seemingly has it all? Well if you’re extremely wealthy, chances are that you might consult Neiman Marcus’ Christmas Book for ideas. For this year’s edition, Neiman Marcus has included a Slot Mods USA custom built raceway, complete with an invite for two Racing Legends to help host your inaugural race party. The cost of all of this? A paltry $300,000 USD. But think of everything you get.. Yesterday on The Today Show, Neiman Marcus’ Vice President of Corporate Communications Ginger Reeder stopped by to display some of the more (ahem) extravagant items from their yearly list, including the aforementioned Slot Car track. As you can see in the video linked here, the setup was a huge hit will all of the Today Show hosts. This isn’t our first run-in with Slot Mods USA though, as last year Audi Canada commissioned one of the sets for display in Toronto. The full story behind the on-off iPad controlled scale raceway can be found right here on our sister si...

Volkswagen Touareg Reaches Southern Tip of Africa in Record Time

Great challenges for car and team en route from the North Cape in Norway to Cape Agulhas in South Africa As in the early hours of 21st September he set off from the North Cape (Norway) for the southern tip of South Africa, the primary goal of this latest project for long-distance record holder Rainer Zietlow from Mannheim was to test out the robustness of his Volkswagen Touareg. The journey was involuntarily interrupted by an accident caused by another driver. Following a workshop stop in Tanzania, East Africa, he and his team nevertheless reached Cape Agulhas yesterday evening in record time. The German adventurer, who with his Volkswagen Touareg also holds the world records on the Pan-American Highway and the eastern Melbourne-St. Petersburg axis, has thus also set the new long-distance record for this route through Europe and Africa. At 21 days, 16 hours and 36 minutes, he beat the time of 28 days, which was last set as the world record in 1984. If you take away the time for the r...

Royals to Race in Scirocco R-Cup Finale

Head of the royal house von Thurn und Taxis started his racing career with Volkswagen Pierre Casiraghi making his second appearance in this year’s Scirocco R-Cup “Been a part of motorsport history with Volkswagen” Two royals will add a little extra glamour to the grand finale of the Volkswagen Scirocco-R Cup in Hockenheim. Albert von Thurn und Taxis (31) and Pierre Casiraghi (27) of Monaco will line up as guest starters, as the Scirocco R-Cup forms part of the support programme for the DTM on 17 and 18 October. Both celebrities launched their motorsport careers with Volkswagen. “The invitation is a huge pleasure for me. This means I will now have driven the Lupo, Polo and now the Scirocco. I can proudly say that I have been a part of motorsport history in one-make cups with Volkswagen,” said Albert von Thurn und Taxis. The owner of the largest private estate in Germany has been a passionate and successful racing driver for over a decade. He launched his career in the touring car sc...

Volkswagen Motorsport International Newsletter

With Volkswagen participating in so many forms of Motorsport around the world, it’s often difficult to keep track of their performance. Luckily for us, Volkswagen Motorsport goes through the trouble of rounding up all of the key information from their various race series, and puts it all in one press release. Let’s get started. Rallylegend 2014 Latvala and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC enthral fans in San Marino In the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) is competing for the World Championship title, during the 2014 Rallylegend the Finn in his Volkswagen Polo R WRC was able to get underway without any pressure. The winner of the most recent WRC round in France delighted tens of thousands of motorsport fans with his spectacular driving on the track at the rally festival in San Marino (SM). “A fantastic three-day-long show in front of wonderful fans, Rallylegend isn’t called ‘Woodstock on wheels’ for nothing”, said Latvala after the event, at which the audience h...

Volkswagen Extends Cooperation with Chinese Joint Venture Partner FAW Group for Additional 25 Years

Agreement signed in Federal Chancellery in presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel Volkswagen and further Chinese joint venture partner SAIC agree on new proving ground in Xinjiang province Prof. Dr. Winterkorn: “Together with its strong partners Volkswagen is focusing on innovation, eco-friendly technologies and excellently trained employees in China.” Cooperation with Ministry of Education: Centers of competence for teacher training to be set up to strengthen expansion of dual vocational training system After 20 years of successful cooperation the Volkswagen Group and its Chinese joint venture partner First Automotive Works (FAW) are extending their present partnership for a further 25 years, until the year 2041. In addition, the Volkswagen Group and the Chinese joint venture partner SAIC are investing in the Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) proving ground in Xinjiang province, western China. Both agreements were signed in Berlin today in the pres...

Paris Spotlight: Volkswagen Phaeton Exclusive

It’s hard to believe that it’s been about 10 years since the first Volkswagen Phaeton was introduced. Built using the same corporate steel chassis D platform that underpins the Bentley Continental, the car even did a short stint in the USA before ending its stateside run in 2006. It’s since undergone a facelift and remained on sale in Europe, and it still turned up on the Volkswagen stand in Paris. Chatting about the car with a Volkswagen staffer from another market outside of Germany, he pointed out the demand for the car in limo friendly markets like China. While a new version is expected in a few years and Volkswagen of America boss Michael Horn has hinted that we could even see it in the USA by 2018, it is the current-generation car that still soldiers on looking surprisingly fresh for a car introduced a decade ago. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Volkswagen show stand Phaeton was an “Exclusive” model. That means it was decked in tailored bright leather and had seemingly ev...

Paris Spotlight: New Volkswagen Touareg R-Design

Launched in 2011 as an all-new generation in 2011, the Volkswagen Touareg is now enjoying its mid-lifecycle facelift. As you might expect being mid-way through its run, changes are subtle, but do their part to enhance the already handsome looks of Volkswagen’s top-of-the-line SUV. Volkswagen’s sole display car at Paris was a nicely kitted Touareg R-design spec. Newly designed bi-xenon headlights are standard, changing their dot-to-dot lighting signature for a similarly shaped solid line of lightwork. This pairs to also to a new grille and taillight design. R-design specifically comes with a more sporting lower fascia that carries the rocker panel’s chrome strip the whole way around the car. Lower rocker panels on the doors also get a more winged shape. Inside, changes are subtle, though trim updates keep it fresh. More substantial is the navigation system, complete with Google search and satellite maps, wi-fi functionality and live traffic data. Out on the roads of Paris, the V...

China’s Minister of Education Tours Vocational Training Program at Volkswagen

Board Member for Human Resources, Dr. Neumann: “Specialist knowledge and skills are basic prerequisites for economic success” Talks on cooperation in vocational training The Chinese Minister of Education, Prof. Guiren Yuan, visited the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg on Thursday to find out more about dual vocational training at the company. The Minister was welcomed by Dr. Horst Neumann, the Board Member for Human Resources at Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. Neumann discussed cooperation in the field of vocational training with the Minister and accompanied him on a tour of the plant. The Board Member for Human Resources explained the principle behind dual vocational training as well as qualification and knowledge transfer in the Volkswagen ‘Berufsfamilien’ (vocational groups). The program also included a chat with vocational trainees. Dr. Neumann presented the vocational training system at Volkswagen to the Chinese Minister of Education and said: “Specialist knowledge and skills are a...

Volkswagen Motorsport International Newsletter

With Volkswagen participating in so many forms of Motorsport around the world, it’s often difficult to keep track of their performance. Luckily for us, Volkswagen Motorsport goes through the trouble of rounding up all of the key information from their various race series, and puts it all in one press release. Let’s get started. FIA World Rally Championship Finnish party in France – Latvala/Anttila claim historic victory Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) made history in winning the Rally France. The Volkswagen duo is the first Finnish pair for just under 15 years to win an all-asphalt round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) finished runner-up to complete the historic result, while third place went to the Citroën duo Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (GB/IRL). Latvala/Anttila’s fourth win of the season keeps the title race alive in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship. A faulty sensor and a mistake made when submitting the time card ...

Stephan Grühsem Named “Brand Manager of the Year”

Award presented to a representative of the PR community for the first time Stephan Grühsem, General Representative of Volkswagen AG for Group Communications, External Relations and Investor Relations, is today being presented with the prestigious “Brand Manager of the Year” award. This is the first time the Automotive Brand Contest – the international design competition for automobile brands organized by the German Design Council – has conferred this title on a representative from the PR community. The award is being presented in Paris. Andrej Kupetz, General Manager of the German Design Council, said: “Brand management is facing new challenges as a result of the enormous increase in the complexity of external factors. Stephan Grühsem has shown how brands can even reinforce their position of trust in the midst of unsettled conditions.” Richard Gaul, a longstanding communications consultant and leading PR expert, commented: “In the automotive industry as elsewhere, innovative strength i...

Ducati Scrambler Debut

Ducati’s new retro Scrambler model made its official introduction at the Cologne, Germany “Intermot” motorcycle show. Volkswagen also took an opportunity to show the new model off at their Group Night the evening before the first press day at Paris Auto Show. Powered by an aircooled L-twin 803cc motor, the Scrambler is available in four different models. The full Ducati press release follows below… Cologne (Germany), 30 September 2014 – At the end of the first day of Intermot 2014 – the International Motorcycle Fair being held in Cologne (Germany) from 30 September to 6 October –Ducati finally unveiled one of the most eagerly awaited new bikes to go on show there; the Ducati Scrambler brand immediately became the focus of media and public attention, and the undisputed star of this key German fair. Re-proposing the yellow containers that characterised the original, highly creative launch phase, Ducati set up a Ducati Scrambler brand-dedicated space in the exhibition area of its Intermot...

2014 Paris: Audi TT Sportback Concept

Take the TT and add two more doors – Audi is presenting the TT Sportback concept at the Paris Motor Show. The exterior of the show car invokes the design idiom of the classic TT, developing it into a new, elongated sculpture. It is driven by a high-powered EA888 2.0 TFSI engine that delivers 294 kW (400 hp). “With the TT, Audi created one of the automotive design icons of the last 20 years,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development. “In the years since, we have designed our sporty and elegant five‑door Audi A5 Sportback* and Audi A7 Sportback*. In our Audi TT Sportback concept show car, we are now fusing both concepts to form a new member of a potential TT family.” The Audi TT Sportback concept captivates with the power of 294 kW (400 hp) that flows through a seven-speed S tronic to the quattro permanent all‑wheel drive. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) takes just 3.9 seconds. The sophisticated suspension and the low center of gravity ensu...

Paris 2014: Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4

Lamborghini is showing a beautiful plug-in hybrid supercar powered by a V10 and combined with three electric motors to produce some 910hp (!). The concept is making its debut at the Paris Motor Show this week. The full Lamborghini press release follows below… Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4 unveiled at the 2014 Paris Mondial de l’Automobile Pioneering a new vision of mobility: First Lamborghini Plug-in Hybrid technology demonstrator · First plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology demonstrator providing a new Lamborghini cruising experience with superior power, daily drivability and comfort · Hybrid system power: V10 5,2 l naturally aspirated engine combined with three electric motors delivers a total power of 669 kW/910 hp, enough for acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 3.0 s and a top speed of 320 km/h · CO2 emissions of 98 g/km and 50 km pure electric range · Breakthrough technological architecture in an innovative carbon fiber monocoque with a body designed in a new, unexpected and sensual way, r...

2014 Paris International Auto Show Coverage

The Paris Auto Show runs every other year opposite the Frankfurt Auto show in the fall. As in years past, Volkswagen Group has a large number of new models, concepts and cars on display and we’re live at the show covering it all. We will be updating this page throughout the week, so check back often… The post 2014 Paris International Auto Show Coverage appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://www.vwvortex.com/features/events-coverage/auto_shows/2014-paris-auto-show-category/2014-paris-international-auto-show-coverage/ via IFTTT

New Record: Volkswagen Group Celebrates 200 Million Vehicles Produced

A top value among European automakers Record-breaking vehicle XL Sport makes its world debut at Paris Motor Show French film icon Catherine Deneuve receives €200,000 donation for “Cinema for Peace” A new record for the Volkswagen Group: Europe’s leading automaker has now produced 200 million vehicles. Volkswagen is one of the few manufacturers in the world to have reached this impressive total. At the Group evening, the sports car study Volkswagen XL Sport made its world debut as the 200 millionth Group vehicle. On the occasion of the production record, actress Catherine Deneuve, founding chairperson of “Cinema for Peace”, received a check for a donation of €200,000 from the Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn. The Volkswagen Group has been able to double the number of vehicles produced within a few years. In 1999, the Group celebrated the 100 million vehicle mark with an anniversary New Beetle. In the meantime, customers can choose ...

Paris 2014: Volkswagen XL Sport

Volkswagen’s XL1 set out to create the first 1L consumption vehicle. With ultra-lightweight carbon fiber construction, slippery aerodynamics and a ton of other engineering tricks, the XL1 shows what can be done in the name of economy. So the XL Sport seems to contradict that idea in some ways, yet we don’t care. Powered by a version of the Ducati Panigale Superleggera V-twin, the XL Sport creatively taps into VW Group’s more recent Ducati acquisition. Further, VW changed the XL1’s already futurist shape and gave it a major aggression overall producing a stunning looking sport “economy” car. 500 units will be built but alas none are coming here to the States. All the details follow below in the Volkswagen press release… XL SPORT, FEATURING HIGH-TECH DUCATI V-TWIN ENGINE, MAKES ITS DEBUT AT THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW 197-horsepower sports car is based on the XL1, has a top speed of 168 mph and promises incredible track performance • XL Sport uses the world’s most powerful two-cylinder engine •...