WRC: Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene Sign Multi-Year Contract Extensions

Volkswagen, Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene to remain a team
Success story to be continued: nine podiums since 2014
Volkswagen to keep faith with Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen in the long term

Andreas Mikkelsen will continue to drive for Volkswagen in the World Rally Championship. The Wolfsburg-based automobile manufacturer, works driver Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Fløene have agreed to extend their contract for several years beyond 2015. The Norwegian duo has been driving the third Polo R WRC in the WRC since 2014, alongside Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), who also possess long-term contracts with Volkswagen. Mikkelsen/Fløene are currently third in the driver and co-driver competitions within the pinnacle of rallying.

“Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene’s contract extension is very good news for the Volkswagen rally family,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “We have enjoyed a lot of success together in the last two years, and this season, and are confident that it is only a matter of time until Andreas and Ola claim their first win. We are impressed by Andreas’ talent and the analytical and tactical way he goes about things. We are delighted to have wrapped up this contract extension. With two-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, last year’s runner-up Jari-Matti Latvala and the third-placed driver in last year’s World Championship, Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen has the best driver line-up you could imagine on the rally scene.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, who turns 26 today: “I am incredibly happy to have extended my contract with Volkswagen. It is a great feeling to know that the team is happy with me and my performance, and that they want to continue working with me. I am thankful for this opportunity to continue to develop in this great team. It confirms that we are on the right track and gives us an extra boost for the future.”

Mikkelsen remains part of the Volkswagen family after five years

Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene have been part of the Volkswagen family since 2011. Their first contract to drive with a works team came courtesy of Škoda, which is part of the Volkswagen group. Mikkelsen and Fløene won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2011 and 2012, and were also involved in Volkswagen’s preparations for the World Rally Championship at the same time. In 2013, Mikkelsen switched to the Polo R WRC and has contested all but one round of the WRC since the Rally Portugal of that year. In 2014 – still with co-driver Mikko Markkula at that time – Mikkelsen claimed his first podium in Sweden. A further eight podium finishes were to follow after Mikkelsen and Fløene were reunited one year ago, and the pair ended the 2014 Drivers’ Championship in third place. In 2015, Mikkelsen/Fløene have finished on the podium at four of the season’s six rounds so far.

The post WRC: Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene Sign Multi-Year Contract Extensions appeared first on VWVortex.

from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1dbsctX
via IFTTT

Review: Saying Goodbye to the CC V6

For all its size and its global reach, Volkswagen is still, in many ways, a deeply human company. There was, for instance, the Bugatti Veyron an ego project if ever there was one. Then the purchase of Ducati, a move most called folly. And then there was the Phaeton, the Volkswagen that most folks can’t afford. Not only were these moves all strange, I’m sure that they made VW’s accountants furious. None of them made good business sense, but they were all deeply interesting and they all are evidence of the heart that beats at the center of VW. Among these follies is the CC, a car that everyone agrees is rakishly handsome, but that no one really wanted to buy. The car couldn’t last, but the world is brighter for its having been in it. With the approach debut of the Arteon, it seems like a good time to look back on its sadly departing predecessor. The version I drove, because I live in Canada, is a V6 Wolfsburg Edition, which apparently isn’t available in the States. Nor is the V6, not as...

Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Mitsubishi , Fuel Efficiency , Japan Mitsubishi says its shady fuel-economy test practices may have been used on all vehicles it sells and has sold in Japan. Continue reading Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2016 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/21X3bHv

More 3.0-Liter TDI Settlement Details Expected by January 31

Volkswagen and the TDI Plaintiff’s Steering Committee were in court today for another status conference following the agreement in principal reached earlier this week. Little new information was given at the conference held before Judge Charles Breyer today, but the court ordered the parties to develop a formal settlement agreement, class action notices, and a class notice plan by January 31, 2017. For now, though, owners still don’t know how much to expect in compensation. Elizabeth Cabraser, lead Counsel for the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee reaffirmed in a statement today that the compensation would be “substantial.” The potential cost to Volkswagen is widely reported to exceed $1 billion, though, with an additional $225 million going into an environmental trust to help offset excess emissions. Buy back offers are still only expected for the oldest 20,000 of the roughly 80,000 VW Group vehicles sold in America with the 3.0-liter TDI engine. Those vehicles are mostly SUVs, like ...

Vorderman Volkswagen

Search This Blog