Vorderman Volkswagen

Rematch: Latvala and Ogier battle for lead in repeat of 2014 Rally Finland “Ouninpohja”, “Pihlajakoski” and “Päijälä” – the fastest three-pack of the year Mikkelsen/Fløene out retire after crash Wolfsburg. Jumps, high speeds and records – the 42nd Rally Finland kicked off in spectacular fashion. At the centre of the action: the battle between Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), who are embroiled in a thrilling duel for the lead at this classic round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Just 2.6 seconds separate the two Volkswagen duos at the halfway point, having completed a good 160 kilometres of the 320 kilometres against the clock. An average speed of 126.34 kilometres per hour on gravel produced a duel played out at full throttle. For comparison: the fastest WRC rally to date came in 2012, when an average speed of 122.89 km/h was achieved. Of this year’s ten special stages so far, nine went to Wolfsburg – either to L

Focus on even faster implementation of innovations and the speedy realization of global strategies The Volkswagen Group has nominated the first 44 suppliers who will be collaborating with the Group on a new common strategic level under the joint FAST initiative. These suppliers were chosen for their outstanding performance in their respective field of competence based on a systematic selection process. Volkswagen Group Procurement is responding to the challenges currently facing the automotive industry by working together with its suppliers under the “Future Automotive Supply Tracks” initiative (or FAST for short) and will implement technical innovations even faster. “In future, it will not be the corporation with the best negotiating skills that has the advantage, but the one that has also successfully established an optimal supplier network”, emphasized Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, member of the Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Board of Management responsible for Procurement. “

As Volkswagen Bus values continue to soar, owners and restorers aren’t afraid to spend a little cash when it comes to cleaning up a truck.  And due to this, the market has seen an influx of extremely well done examples.  Today’s Find of the Day is just the latest example of that trend. Showing just 33,249 miles and the recipient of a full restoration, this ’64 is striking to say the least.  Helped greatly by the double cab shape and functionality, the truck embodies what many consider to be the ‘workhorse’ aesthetic of the 1960s- very traditional interior and exterior colors, and a focus on functionality.  For the collectors out there, it also doesn’t hurt that Double Cabs are difficult to come by. This particular Double Cab is currently listed on eBay Motors by Denver-area dealer Worldwide Vintage Autos at a current bid of $35,000, a far way from the asking price of $84,900.  Additional images and information can be found right here . The post Find of the Day: 1964 Volkswagen Do

Not to be outdone by their Volkswagen Group counterparts, Porsche is off to a record start in 2015.  Deliveries rose 30 per cent over last year, and revenue was up a massive 33 per cent over 2014, due in part to strong sales of the Macan SUV.  In an effort to sustain these numbers, Porsche will invest $1 Billion in Zuffenhausen and Weissach in the next five years with money going to infrastructure and technological advancements. Read the full Press Release below. Encompassing all sales markets, the sports car maker set new records ATLANTA – In the first half of 2015, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG had the most successful half-year in the company’s history with new record figures for vehicle deliveries, sales revenue, and earnings. The sports car maker delivered 113,984 vehicles in the first six months of the 2015 fiscal year, up 30 percent compared to the same period in 2014. During this time, revenue increased 33 percent to 10.85 billion euros. The operating profit surpassed the 2014

ŠKODA reported their first half results yesterday, and things are looking quite good for the Czech auto manufacturer.  Year over year, ŠKODA’s revenues were up 7.5 per cent and deliveries were at a record high 544,300 units.  Operating profits were reported at an impressive 22.8 per cent over 2014, showing brand strength in the face of trouble in the Russian, Chinese and Ukranian marketplaces. Read the full Press Release below. ŠKODA remains on the road to success. The Czech carmaker’s deliveries, sales revenue and operating profit increased in the first half 2015. Deliveries to customers increased by 4.2% to a record high of 544,300 vehicles between January and June. Sales revenue grew by 7.5% to €6.421 billion, exceeding the six-billion-euro mark for the first time in the first half of a year. Operating profit rose by 22.8% to €522 million compared to the same period last year. “ŠKODA has grown profitably over the first half of the year,” explains ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried

Škoda’s Fabia R5 will be joining Volkswagen Motorsport’s Polo R WRC in Finland this weekend for the season’s fastest rally.  Rally Finland will give the Fabia R5 it’s toughest test yet, with average speeds of more than 100 kph and jumps that can launch a car more than 50 meters.  The event holds massive importance for Škoda driver Esapekka Lappi, as he is currently fifth in the drivers championship and trailing the lead car by 22 points, despite missing the first four events. Next stop, Rally Finland: ŠKODA is hoping to add another chapter to the success story of the new Fabia R5 at the “Formula 1 in the forest.” Three and a half weeks after the historic first WRC 2 victory for the new high-tech rally car, the ŠKODA works duos Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) and Pontus Tidemand/Emil Axelsson (S/S) take on the fastest rally in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2). In addition to a perfectly tuned car, the 319.38 kilometres of this rally demand courage and driving precision.

Ah, the life of a professional Rallycross racer and stunt driver.  As part of Volkswagen of America’s VW 4 Cycling campaign, the manufacturer has been hitting US Cycling events across the country, including the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships earlier this month at Mammoth Mountain in California.  Being a resident of the golden state himself, Tanner Foust was on hand at the event to greet fans and take in the racing action. But because you can only sit on the sidelines for so long, Tanner eventually climbed aboard a new Touareg to do a bit of racing himself.  Taking on cyclists Jill Kintner, Riley Mueller, Evelyn Dong, and Charlie Harrison, Tanner pointed his off-roader down hill to see who could get to the bottom first.  Check out the literal race to the bottom in the video above. To see more from Volkswagen of America on YouTube, here . The post Video: Tanner Foust Races Cyclists Down a Mountain appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1ODIEk3

Great news!  Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have signed a deal which will bring a new program to Amazon Prime TV, that will be produced by former Top Gear head Andy Wilman.  While the new show is sure to be a return to form for the trio, it will be interesting to see which elements will be carried over from Top Gear.  Whatever the final product is, we’re just happy to see the boys getting back to work. Amazon says that the series will go into production shortly, and episodes will become available next year. The post Clarkson, Hammond and May Strike Deal with Amazon appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1MvKDbi via IFTTT

124.77 km/h average speed as warm-up – standard Neste Oil Rally Finland Mikkelsen in second is the fastest Volkswagen driver on the “Ruuhimäki” stage A tenth of a second separates Latvala in fourth and Ogier in fifth Wolfsburg. High speed, long jumps – the Volkswagen drivers started the rally weekend well at the shakedown in Finland. In the “free practice session” for the eighth event of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season, Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) in the Polo R WRC got the second-fastest time. Last year’s winners Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished the first competition in fourth place, forcing their Volkswagen team-mates Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) into fifth place by just one tenth of a second – the smallest unit of time on the rally circuit. The 4.62-kilometre stage “Ruuhimäki” – the Power Stage at last year’s Rally Finland – was a typical start to the fastest rally of the season. The best time of Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson

VW is one of the first automakers to implement the top three technology standards for in-vehicle smartphone integration VW’s Next Generation Car-Net platform offers one of the most comprehensive suites of connected services in the auto industry Smartphone integration available through Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, and MirrorLink® Connectivity features available across VW lineup, in virtually every trim Volkswagen worked with tech industry giants to integrate the latest connectivity products and services in VW products Comprehensive list of connected vehicle features in three areas—“Security & Service,” “Guide & Inform,” and “App-Connect” Belmont, Calif. —Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced the introduction of its all-new MIB II infotainment system, available later this year on most model year 2016 Volkswagen products. The all-new infotainment system not only creates the foundation for the next generation of Volkswagen’s Car-Net connected vehicle services platform, bu

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has announced their schedule for the 2016 season, and it appears to be much of the same.  The series will hit the same ten events next year, continuing it’s successful formula of three rounds per race weekend as it makes its way across Britain.  Broadcasting rights also look to be unchanged from 2015, with ITV4 broadcasting within Great Britain, and CBS Sports broadcasting in North America. Read the full Press Release below. Britain’s premier motor sport series confirms unchanged line-up of events Series organiser TOCA has today (27 July) confirmed its calendar of events for the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The highly successful consistency of its current format and order of ten events will continue for a fifth successive season, with Brands Hatch again bookending next year’s schedule. The Indy Circuit layout will kick off proceedings in early April before Britain’s biggest series goes on to visit Donington Park,

Many models in the 2016 Volkswagen lineup offer new driver assistance systems that used to be the sole preserve of premium and luxury vehicles Herndon, VA —  For the 2016 model year, Volkswagen is offering a host of driver assistance features that were only previously available on the premium Touareg SUV—and adding some new ones that truly democratize driver assistance for the compact sedan and compact hatchback classes. These available features include: Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); the Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist); and an active Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) system. The Beetle, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, and Jetta offer these available features, depending on model and trim line. In addition, all Beetle, Beetle Convertible and   Jetta models add the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which was already fitted to Touareg and Golf family models, as standard. Th

The modern closed PCV/Breather system is intended to recirculate combustion blow-by gases for cleaner operation and to reduce greenhouse gases. An unfortunate consequence of this system is the unintended ingestion of oil vapor and carbon into the intake tract, lowering the octane rating and leaving harmful deposits on a vehicle’s intake valves and ports that result in an inconsistent air/fuel ratio, lost cylinder pressure, and decreased power.  By prototyping and testing multiple design iterations, ECS engineers gained a thorough understanding of the VW FSI and TSI engine’s PCV system. The final product represents the best integrated, most advanced oil catch can system on the market. Engineered in-house and  manufactured here in the USA , the ECS Baffled Oil Catch Can utilizes a highly efficient 4-chamber oil separator that significantly improves oil/air separation – decreasing oil ingestion and maintaining engine power output. The innovative design also catches as much blow-by

Seven University teams from Germany and the Netherlands head to the Hockenheimring with support from Volkswagen to compete in the International Formula Student competition- six competing in Formula Student Electric for electric motors, and the other participating in Formula Student Combustion for internal combustion engines. These budding engineers have designed and built their own racing vehicles over the past few months, each of which will be used to compete against rivals from around the world. Volkswagen supports the seven university teams with a total of almost 400 students (from Aachen, Braunschweig, Bremen, Hannover, Kassel, Wolfsburg and Delft / NL) not only financially, but with valuable advice and assistance from experienced experts. Coming from various disciplines such as mechanical, electrical or industrial engineering, the budding engineers have showed great commitment and passion when building their race cars and gaining practical experience. In addition, they have prove

Sharp year-on-year rise in sales revenue to EUR 108.8 billion (EUR 98.8 billion); positive impact from exchange rates and mix effects Operating profit before special items rises to EUR 7.0 billion (EUR 6.2 billion) Equity-accounted profit of the Chinese joint ventures level year-on-year Net liquidity in Automotive Division increases to EUR 21.5 billion CEO Dr. Winterkorn: “Volkswagen very well positioned in an increasingly difficult market environment” The Volkswagen Group reported considerable growth in sales revenue and earnings in the first six months of the year in a very challenging environment. Sales revenue rose by 10.1 percent to EUR 108.8 billion (EUR 98.8 billion) in the first half of the year, primarily due to exchange rate effects and an improved product mix. Operating profit before special items grew by 13.0 percent to EUR 7.0 billion (EUR 6.2 billion). Restructuring measures in the trucks business led to an operating profit after special items of EUR 6.8 billion