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Showing posts from May, 2016

Watch this 424 HP Mk2 Golf Climb the Hills of Switzerland

Hill climbs combine the best parts of rallying and circuit racing, and the relative unlikeliness of running into another car attracts some of the classic cars that aren’t owned by crazy billionaires—like the crazy people who run at Goodwood, God bless them. Simon Wüthrich is one such sane person with a classic, driving a heavily modified, four-wheel-drive, 424 hp Golf 2 and his exploits have been posted to YouTube. The video shows a couple of hill climbs at a couple of locations in Switzerland. According to the video, the Golf was racing in the summer of last year. Not only does this Golf look great with its fender flares and headlight-less, blacked out grille, it’s a serious performer, too. Inside it’s been completely emptied out of anything non-essential, and it sounds like a race car ought to, raw. As mentioned above, according to the video description, the car is running 424 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps the most applause-worthy detail, though, is that it only weighs 205

Watch this 424 HP Mk2 Golf Climb the Hills of Switzerland

Hill climbs combine the best parts of rallying and circuit racing, and the relative unlikeliness of running into another car attracts some of the classic cars that aren’t owned by crazy billionaires—like the crazy people who run at Goodwood, God bless them. Simon Wüthrich is one such sane person with a classic, driving a heavily modified, four-wheel-drive, 424 hp Golf 2 and his exploits have been posted to YouTube. The video shows a couple of hill climbs at a couple of locations in Switzerland. According to the video, the Golf was racing in the summer of last year. Not only does this Golf look great with its fender flares and headlight-less, blacked out grille, it’s a serious performer, too. Inside it’s been completely emptied out of anything non-essential, and it sounds like a race car ought to, raw. As mentioned above, according to the video description, the car is running 424 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps the most applause-worthy detail, though, is that it only weighs 205

Volkswagen E-Golf to Substantially Improve Next Year

We reported yesterday that Volkswagen expected that it would need to sell 1,000,000 electric vehicles a year by 2025 to abide by emissions rules, and now we’re getting the first hints of that commitment. Automotive News Europe reports that the new e-Golf will be able to travel up to 300 km (186 miles), 110 km farther than the current model. The improvement, reports ANE, is in part thanks to updated prismatic lithium ion cell batteries that are nearly 50% more energy dense than the outgoing e-Golf’s. The quoted figure comes on the European Driving Cycle, though, which is notoriously optimistic. In the real world, reports ANE, the battery should be good for 200 km, which is identical to the BMW i3. “There’s a competitor from Munich that can just about reach that… only their’s weighs 300 kg [661 pounds] less,” Thomas Lieber, head of complete vehicle development for VW brand’s electrified car range told ANE. Despite the greater range, ANE reports that it won’t take any longer to charg

Skoda Kodiaq Spotted in the Wild

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] A few weeks ago the town of Kodiak Alaska changed its name in honor of Skoda’s latest SUV . The town replaced the K at the end of their name with a Q to celebrate the new Kodiaq. Well, now we have a better idea of what they were celebrating thanks to new spy shots of the SUV testing on public roads. The prototype is still wearing a lot of camouflage, but what’s visible is very much like the handsome VisionS concept shown in Geneva in March. What didn’t feature there were the roofbars and wide tail gate that the Kodiaq now wears, which tend toward the practical side. The Skoda Kodiaq, or Skodiaq, is one size larger than the successful Yeti, though they both shares their platform with the Tiguan. The Skodiaq will be a seven-seater, and is due early next year, after its reveal in Paris, this fall. The post Skoda Kodiaq Spotted in the Wild appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1Ub2u7D via IFTTT

VW Group Profit Rises 3.4% in First Quarter 2016

Financial figures released this morning show that the Volkswagen Group’s operating profit has risen by 3.4% over last year. That said, sales revenue dropped by the same amount, so the news is positive, but not spectacular. “We are satisfied overall with the start we have made to a challenging year and have achieved respectable results under difficult conditions,” says CEO Matthias Müller. Brands like Audi, Skoda, and Porsche all did very well in the first quarter, helping to bolster the brands that did not, like Volkswagen. Profits there fell precipitously to only $81 million (€73 million) from $579 million (€514 million) last year. Volkswagen Financial Services’ operating profit meanwhile climbed to $550 million (€492 million) from $450 million (€403 million). Despite the Volkswagen brand’s difficulties, the Group is now the world’s largest automaker, reports Forbes . Thanks to a drop in production at Toyota, Volkswagen is about 90,000 units ahead of Toyota between January and Apr

VW may build its own version of EV 'Gigafactory'

Filed under: Green , Plants/Manufacturing , Volkswagen , Germany , Electric , Hybrid Volkswagen may build massive factory that could produce as many as 1 million plug-ins a year. Continue reading VW may build its own version of EV 'Gigafactory' VW may build its own version of EV 'Gigafactory' originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2016 09:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/1XM4JUg

Bentley Could Make a Compact Model Line

One of the finest looking cars at this year’s Geneva Motor Show was Bentley’s EXP 10, which Car & Driver called “too gorgeous not to be built.” Now a decision is fast approaching about whether or not a car based on this stunner will see production. “We are readying the concept for a decision,” CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer told Automotive News Europe . “It would come as a two-door coupe, but a roadster is possible as well, and it would be launched after the next Continental.” Duerheimer also revealed that a Mulsanne-based convertible is being considered. “We could do such a car through the Mulliner division, a total of 20 units at a very high preice,” he explained. “It could come in two years.” We certainly hope that these cars, at either end of the Bentley range, find their way into the streets soon. The post Bentley Could Make a Compact Model Line appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/25uDrEp via IFTTT

Wimmer Gives Touareg Nearly 200 More Torques

One of the best parts of Volkswagendom is that nothing is off limits. For every car there is someone willing to modify it. The Touareg is no stranger to this modifying zeal, but the latest version hasn’t been a darling of the modifying world. Not until now, that is. Germany’s Wimmer RS has now taken a crack at the SUV and the result is an understated (decals notwithstanding) Touareg with 40 more hp and nearly 200 more lb-ft of torque. Wimmer took the stock 3.0L TDI that produces 201 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. They then improved software optimization, swapped in new coilovers, bolted on a new set of rims, and gave it an in-house exhaust system. When they were done, the Touareg produced 237 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. Wimmer say that more mods are coming and they expect to get power even higher up to 305 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. The post Wimmer Gives Touareg Nearly 200 More Torques appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1TS2ZWY via IFTTT

Watch a Gorgeous Scirocco Race up a German Hill

Hill Climbs are great for a number of reasons, but one of their greatest features is the variety of cars that you can see. Case in point, this track-ready Mk1 Scirocco. The Sciroccco is a fine looking thing in stock form. The original design was drawn Giugiaro, who, you’ll notice, is Italian, so there’s little need for improvement, but in this video it looks like it was designed to have a massive spoiler hanging off the back. The widened fenders don’t hurt at all either. This video comes from the Wolsfelder Bergrennen an ADAC sponsored Hill Climb that ran on May 15 and 16. The race takes place in Eifel in southern Germany, and attracts some pretty serious race cars. Everything from Group B era Audi Quattros to some open wheel racers were on hand for the event, which has been around for 54 years. Canio Marchione, who also races a similarly modified Fiat 127, drove and, presumably, built the Scirocco in this video. Marchione runs a garage in Luxemburg , where he fixes and restores

Volkswagen Sets Goal of 1 Million Electrified Vehicles by 2025

To stay under increasingly strict CO2 emission limits in major markets, Volkswagen Group expects it will have to sell about 1 million battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles a year by 2025, reports Automotive News Europe . The Group currently offers three electric car—the VW e-Up, the e-Golf, and the the Audi R8 e-Tron—and six plug-in hybrids—the VW Golf GTE, Passat GTE, Audi A3 Sportback e-Tron, Q7 e-tron quattro, Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, and Cayenne S E-Hybrid. By 2020, though, Volkswagen hopes to add another 20 new electric and plug-in hybrids to the range. These include Porsche’s Mission E electric car and the Audi e-tron quattro, which will by the Audi’s first mass production EV. So far, though, electrified vehicles have been a relatively small slice of the pie chart of Volkswagen brand sales. At the end of this year, Volkswagen is expected to have sold slightly more than 100,000 electrified since 2010. Toyota, by comparison, sells about 75,000 Prius plug-in hybrids a

The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Is a Gothic Cathedral with Four Turbos

The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo does not trade in easy harmony and cheap beauty. It finds the baroque delicacy of other so-called hypercars disdainful. A sign of the weakness born of warmer climes. The Vision Gran Turismo, instead, is hard and discordant and the engine burbles irregularly. It doesn’t sound like a wailing stringed instrument. No, it sounds more like a corps of medieval war drums. It’s not even especially pretty. It’s basically just a Chiron, but where that’s all rounded lines and soft edges, the Vision Gran Turismo goes full on Gothic with the flying buttress spoiler and the spartan interior. Bugatti designed the Vision GT for the Gran Turismo racing game for the Play Station. This video was taken last weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy. The post The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Is a Gothic Cathedral with Four Turbos appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1X19U4d via IFTTT

AWE TUNING RELEASES SWITCHPATH™ REMOTE FOR AUDI 8V S3 AND VW MK7 GOLF R

AWE Tuning announced today the introduction of their new SwitchPath™ Remote for the Audi 8V S3 and VW Mk7 Golf R. “This is a fun product. Touch the button, loud. Touch the button again, bring the volume down. Works with our system, or on the factory exhaust,” stated Jesse Kramer, VP of Marketing at AWE Tuning. Details of the AWE Tuning SwitchPath™ Remote are as follows: Open and close the S3’s and/or Golf R’s exhaust valves with the push of a button from inside the cabin at any time Works perfectly with AWE Tuning SwitchPath™ Exhausts or stock exhaust Comes as a set of two with wiring harness and control box Includes remote bracket and self-tapping plastic screws for mounting Compact design perfect for a keychain or cup holder Complete with AWE Tuning logo and flag with indicator light No Check Engine Light – Guaranteed More information, performance specifications and pricing can be found on AWE Tuning’s website in the AWE Tuning Audi 8V S3 SwitchPath™ Exhaust or VW Mk7 G

Most Powerful Bentleys Ever Debut in New York

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Bentley was in New York City yesterday and unveiled four new versions of the Continental. The new models are the most powerful Bentleys ever offered for sale in America and can hit 206 mph. The four models are the Continental GT Speed, the GT Speed Convertible, the GT Speed Black Edition, and the GT Speed Black Edition Convertible. All of them have Bentley’s iconic 6.0L W12 engine and produce 642 ps (that’s 633 hp to you and me) and 840 Nm of torque (620 lb ft). All of which means that the new models hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds. Prices are appropriately lofty at $240,300 of the GT Speed, $253,235 for the GT Speed Black Edition, and $264,300 and $277,235 for their respective convertible versions. The post Most Powerful Bentleys Ever Debut in New York appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1XWi90b via IFTTT

Volkswagen Freshens Up the Beetle

Although unfounded rumors of its demise abound, the Beetle is getting a refresh from Volkswagen. New colors and options will allow for more individualization for Beetle owners. Perhaps the most prominent change is coming to the bumpers for the Basic and Design lines, which are flatter and sportier. Meanwhile, the Beetle R-Line, which replaces the Beetle Sport, will get even sportier set of bumpers. Volkswagen are also promoting two color options, Bottle Green Metallic and White Silver Metallic, which ride the line between retro and stylish. Three new upholstery materials are also coming to the Beetle, which give owners more color options inside. Owners will be happy to hear that 17-inch Philadelphia and 18-inch Ravenna Adamantium wheels are also available. These updates will be available on all of the Beetle special editions, including the Denim, the R-Line, the ALLSTAR, and the Exclusive. So far the updates have only been announced for Europe. Despite the new options, prices h

Watch the Golf R Powerslide Like a Champ

Sure, the Golf R is fast and fun and understated and practical and handsome and exciting and pretty much perfect, but does it do a powerslide? Yes. Yes it does. This video appears to be from Japan and it looks like it might even be a Volkswagen event. Two Golf Rs run through a twisty autocross course that allows the back end of the four-wheel-drive Golf to come unstuck, giving everyone a chance to indulge in what Randy Pobst calls the party drug of driving: oversteer. The post Watch the Golf R Powerslide Like a Champ appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/1OPDBwG via IFTTT

Crash Test Dummies Move to Back Seat Thanks to Apps Like Gett

The rising popularity of ride hailing services like Gett, in which Volkswagen just invested $300 million, is leading regulators to run crash tests with dummies in the back seat, reports Bloomberg . As of 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be putting crash test dummies in the back seats of the cars it tests as part of the 5-Star Safety Ratings Program. “People assume a 5-star rating extends to all seating locations, but it doesn’t,” Kristy Arbogast, engineering director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia told Bloomberg. “The back seat hasn’t kept up.” Besides adult passengers, the rear seats have a lot of catching up to do for child passengers, as well. Bloomberg reports that there are dozens of child fatalities every year that the crash testing might help prevent. Some fixes are relatively simple, like pre-crash seat-belt tensioners, while others are harder to tackle. Air bags, for instance, are difficu

Comini Wins TCR International Race at Imola

The Golf GTI TCR keeps getting better. Although it had a shaky start to the season in Bahrain, it’s up to speed and winning races, like last weekend’s Imola Event. The well bearded Stefano Comini, driving for Leopard Racing, started out the weekend on a high, winning the weekend’s first race and coming in third in the second race. “The most important thing about this victory was from Leopard Racing,” said Comini after the race. “They did an incredible job with the Volkswagen; now the car is competitive. To win here in Imola is like winning at home, since Lugano is really nearby. The race was quite perfect – I managed my tyres as I didn’t want to stress them too much, the car was consistent and I think I did a perfect job.” Comini started the first race in fourth and worked his way up the grid. In so doing, he passed Davit Kajaia, also racing in a Golf GTI TCR, but under the Team Luqui Molly Engstler banner. Kajaia finished third. This is something of a return to form for Comini, wh

5 Cheap Tools No Backyard Mechanic Should Be Without

We’ve always been jealous of the mechanics who seemed to have every handy tool they ever needed — and then we realized their secret, which is that most of those gadgets are dirt cheap. Here are five tools every backyard mechanic should have — and we reckon you could buy every single one of them and not spend much more than 50 bucks. Parts Picker There was a time when you could look down under the hood and see the pavement beneath the car, but today most engine compartments are tightly packed, so much so that anything you drop is unlikely to come out the bottom. That’s where your parts picker comes in. We recommend getting two: A magnetic one for easy pick-up of metal parts and a spring-loaded claw-type picker for stuff the magnet won’t get. You can buy either one for less than $5, and for a few more dollars, you can get one with a handy built-in LED light. Find your parts picker for sale here. Telescoping Inspection Mirror There is a law governing auto repair stating that

AUTObiography: 1990 Corrado G60

Want your car featured in a VWvortex AUTObiography? Tell us what it means to be a Volkswagen enthusiast, and show us how you and your car demonstrate those ideals!  Send this completed form with pictures  to  sbell@verticalscope.com . Next up we have Nathan D’s 1990 Corrado, only the seventh car built that year. How long have you owned this car? Since September 2009. Is there anything unique about the history of this car? Yes, this is the #7 Corrado produced for the model year 1990 with 83,321 miles. And the original owner whom I purchased this from was also military. What drew you to this specific car? My first Corrado was a 91 G60 LA9V Brilliant Charcoal Metallic with black leather, so naturally I had to have another that color or black. What other cars did you consider? None! I searched for 7 years straight for this exact car! What was your objective with this car? I am a machinist and welder, so definitely to build my vision. What tuning style would you describe this c

Volkswagen Invests $300 Million in Ride Hailing Service

Volkswagen AG has announced that it has invested $300 million in Gett, a popular ride hailing service in Europe, Russia, and Israel (where it was founded), and which recently broke into New York. Forbes reports that the company claims revenues of $500 million and that they are profitable in their earliest markets. The company is similar to Uber and  Lyft in that customers can hail a ride at the touch of a button, although they currently promise no surge pricing and their operations are wider ranging than just giving rides. Gett also provides delivery and logistics services. “The Volkswagen Group and Gett is a great strategic partnership,” says Shahar Waiser, Gett’s founder and CEO. “The pay-per-ride domain is growing rapidly. In that context, Gett provides VW with the technology to expand beyond car ownership to on-demand mobility for consumers and businesses,” Volkswagen AG chairman Matthias Muller adds that the company aims to become a “world leading mobility provider by 2025.” T

Porsche Family Vanagon to Cross Auction Block

Silverstone Auctions is making a name for itself with interesting VWs. This time, it’s a Volkswagen T3 pick-up truck that once owned by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, designer of the 911. The 1989 T3 double cab pick-up was originally purchased for use at the company Porsche, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, Beetle-designer, set up in the ‘70s. Following a restructuring of the Porsche company, the family was largely kicked out of management roles at the company. Ferdinand Alexander decided, therefore, to create the Porsche Design Studio in 1972. With his new company, Porsche was instrumental in designing the original 911, the 904, and the 914 and helped establish the design culture that continues to this day. Although it was created in Stuttgart, the company soon moved Zell am See, in Austria, nearer the family estate. It was there, in 1989, that Porsche bought the pick-up as a company vehicle. Since then, 141,000 km (87,000 miles) were put on it and in 2014 a Porsche racing driv

Updated VW e-Golf will have maybe 124 miles of real-world range

Filed under: Green , Volkswagen , Electric Thanks to better battery cells, the facelifted VW e-Golf should have a real-world range of around 124 miles when it arrives this fall. Continue reading Updated VW e-Golf will have maybe 124 miles of real-world range Updated VW e-Golf will have maybe 124 miles of real-world range originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2016 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/1WOLHND

APR Oil Catch Can for the MK6 Golf / GTI and Jetta / GLI!

  The APR Oil Catch Can System traps excessive crankcase oil vapors and gunk from entering the engine. The system eliminates a possible performance robbing boost leak, while reducing carbon buildup on intake valves, octane lowering oil vapors and oil pooling within the intake tract. It’s a simple modification to install, drains in seconds with the flick of a knob, and is recommended at all stages of performance. Increases performance – Increases performance by eliminating a common boost leak, and reducing octane lowering oil vapors and airflow restricting carbon buildup. Eliminates a boost leak – Bypassing the PCV eliminates a possible failure point. Catches oil and gunk – Oil and gunk pools in the can, not in the intercooler piping. Easy to drain – A simple knob allows the system to drain in seconds without any tools. Easy to install Installs in minutes. The hoses pop right on without tools thanks to the OEM Norma fittings. Easy to maintain Yearly maintenance is a snap

Find of the Day: 1992 Corrado SLC Turbo

Clean means a lot of things to a lot of people. To a bachelor it just means that you’re aware of everything that’s alive in a given space. But to some it means something more. It means a war against the forces of entropy that seek to make a given space anything less than perfect. Forum user Buddha92SLC might just be one of those people. Buddha is selling his 1992 Corrado SLC Turbo and gosh is it clean. The cleanliness starts on the outside, which was repainted in Dark Burgundy Pearl (a factory color) in 2008. The Corrado was blown apart for the job, says Buddha, and all the glass motor and interior were pulled for the respray. The body was shaved and filled and the whole thing was given the once over. The grille is now badgeless, the door handles were painted, as was the license plate mount. New tinted rear lights were put on and the fronts were replaced with European SLC headlights. The Corrado now sits on Schmidt Moderline wheels and even the lug bolts were changed to get the r

VW invests $300M in global ridesharing company Gett

Filed under: Green , Volkswagen , Transportation Alternatives Continue reading VW invests $300M in global ridesharing company Gett VW invests $300M in global ridesharing company Gett originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2016 17:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/1U81T6u

Range Topping Touareg R-Line Plus Introduced in Europe

The Touareg just got a little more luxurious with the new R-Line Plus. The new SUV features a selection of goodies that will make it an even more comfortable and safe experience than the previously range topping R-Line. The ‘Plus features new 21 inch Mallory wheels and Volkswagen’s Area View technology, which allows the driver to see everything around their car. Cameras in the front, rear, and sides provide a 360 degree view, which is helpful off road or just in a parking lot. Inside, the new R-Line Plus features “Piano Black” highlights on the center console, dash, and air vent surrounds. The seats, too, get an upgrade, with Vienna leather upholstery and 14-way electric adjustability. This, of course, is on top of everything that comes with the R-Line package: sports suspension, body styling, panoramic sunroof, black roof-lining, heated steering wheel, electric tailgate and more. The Touareg R-Line Plus comes with either the 200 hp 3.0L V6 TDI or the 258 hp 3.0L V6 TDI, both of

Mikkelsen Races Hard to Claim Big 2nd Place Finish at Rally de Portugal

It was a big weekend in WRC as the famous Vodafone Rally de Portugal drew hundreds of thousands of fans and Volkswagen Motorsports extended its championship lead substantially, claiming two steps on the podium. Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Anders Jaeger were the top VW performers in Portugal, finishing in second, behind Kris Meeke. It was a big finish for the young Norwegian, who started the rally poorly. Thanks to a mid-rally discussion with his engineer, Mikkelsen climbed from fourth to second in just a little over a day. “The Rally Portugal got better with every day,” says Mikkelsen. “We definitely found the perfect set-up for the difficult conditions here in Portugal on Saturday and Sunday.” In earning second, Mikkeslen passed his championship leading teammate, Sebastien Ogier. The Frenchman was in second for most of the rally, and a puncture caused him to drive cautiously on the rally’s final day. Despite that, he finished the weekend in third place, and his lead in the ch

X34 Mk7 Volkswagen Golf/GTI/R Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake System

034Motorsport’s  X34 Carbon Fiber MQB Cold Air Intake System for MkVII Volkswagen Golf/GTI/R  vehicles equipped with 1.8T/2.0T Gen 3 engines is now available! This high-quality carbon fiber intake solution offers perfect fitment, and yields horsepower and torque gains throughout the powerband, with peak gains of up to 15 crank horsepower and 12 ft-lbs of torque with the factory turbocharger. 034Motorsport’s engineers thoroughly evaluated the factory airbox design to create a performance replacement that reduces pressure drop in the intake tract, while offering OEM+ fit and finish. The result is this complete one-piece MQB Carbon Fiber Air Intake Upgrade, which offers 100% bolt-on installation without the need for any additional pieces. Compatible Vehicles: 2015 – Present Audi A3/S3 (8V – MQB) – 1.8T & 2.0T 2016 – Present Audi TT/TTS (MkIII – MQB) – 2.0T 2015 – Present Volkswagen Golf/GTI/ R (MkVII – MQB) – 1.8T & 2.0T Please Note:  This comprehensive air intake system i

Foust Wins Twice in Red Bull GRC Opening Weekend

No matter how good your weekend was, Tanner Foust’s was probably better. The rallycross, drift, and TV star dominated the leaderboard this weekend, eventually winning the first two races of the season, both of which were held this weekend at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix. Foust has already had a very successful rallycross career, having won the driver’s championship twice, and these are his eighth and ninth rallycross wins, giving him the record for the most all time wins in the series. He is also the only driver to have swept more than one double-header in series history. Despite the sweep, Foust’s weekend was not all smooth sailing. To even get into the semi-finals his team had to perform a transmission swap—a job that normally takes about an hour and a half—in less than an hour. “Behind the scenes [the] team absolutely thrashed before the semi-finals,” says Foust. “We literally used every single minute that we had, drove right out and took the semi-finals so that was all Volkswagen

VW investors want independent probe of diesel scandal

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Volkswagen , Diesel Three European investor groups call for Volkswagen to launch an independent probe into VW's diesel-emissions scandal. Continue reading VW investors want independent probe of diesel scandal VW investors want independent probe of diesel scandal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2016 09:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/20vmfLE

Rally de Portugal Kicks Off with Hotly Contested Early Stages

After a nearly month-long break, Volkswagen Motorsports’ three Polo R WRCs are back in action at the famous Vodafone Rally de Portugal. Although they have big hopes, they’ve started with a disadvantage. With the activities starting last night, Volkswagen has looked quick, but not dominant. After the opening stage, Sebastien Ogier led the rally, but his time on top didn’t last long. This morning, he was overtaken by Citroen’s Kris Meeke ( who you might remember from his two appearances on Top Gear ). As we go to press, eight stages have been run and Meeke leads the rally from Ogier by about 30 seconds, and he’s followed by Sordo and Mikkelsen, the next Volkswagen driver. Despite not being on top, Volkswagen still have high hopes for this rally. Portugal is the course on which Ogier has won the most, and last year his teammate Latvala (currently in 9th) won the rally. That win started Volkswagen Motorsport on the their record-setting 12 win streak. The Portuguese rally is the fifth

Novitec, Unsatisfied with Aventador SV, Adds More Veloce

The Lamborghini Aventador SV is no slouch, but if you’re into Lamborghinis, chances are you’re into big numbers. Whether it’s in the bank or under the hood, a big number could, and perhaps should, always be bigger, which is where Novitec steps in. Novitec has been modifying Italian cars for years, and their Torado line is dedicated to making ridiculous Lamborghinis even more ridiculous. Their latest effort takes the Aventador SV and remaps the engine to give it 786hp and 544 lb-ft of toque. They’ve also fitted the car with a new exhaust system that cuts 50 lbs off the car. Other mods include a carbon fiber aero package, spoiler, front splitter and air intake, all of which helps it shed even more weight. The Aventador also sits on 21 (back) and 20 (front) inch Vossen wheels. So if you think that a regular Aventador is just a little too pedestrian, give Novitec a call and they’ll hook you up. The post Novitec, Unsatisfied with Aventador SV, Adds More Veloce appeared first on VWVor

Watch This Beetle Try to Defy Gravity

Drag racing is beautiful in its simplicity and behind the simple concept, there are also many simple pleasures. Wheelies, for instance are one of life’s great gifts. Add to that the inherent elegance of slo-mo and you have something truly special. That’s why we thank and applaud Lio Cee of Aircooled H/P VW’s Only for uploading this video of Richie Webb’s classic Beetle convertible wheelying so hard that three (maybe even all four) wheels leave the ground. Take a close look at every beautiful detail: the tires wrinkling under the strain of acceleration, the wheelie bar struggling against the car, and the beautiful fluttering of the parachute as it unfurls. Truly, this is one of the rare times when high art and hooning intersect. Play this with a waltz or a sonata on in the background and you have the basis for a pretty great art film. Actually, this is like one of those dancing gifs and it goes pretty well with any musical accompaniment. Try it for yourself and let us know about y

APR Greece Reveals Beautiful New Scirocco GT24

Greece has given the world many gifts. Democracy, the Olympics, and salty cheese are only a few, but so far they’ve been conspicuously absent from the world of cars. It’s a mystery as to why, and the mystery only deepens when you see this gorgeous Scirocco GT24 from APR’s Greek offices. APR Greece has been around for four years now, and just yesterday they released the first images of their latest project: the Scirocco GT24, which they’ve been working on since last November. From the first glance you know this is going to be special. It’s rocking big Vossen CV7s that match the grey and red color scheme. It has a carbon body kit as well as aggressive spoilers front and back, not to mention a whole host of other great details. Where the car is perhaps most beautiful, though, is inside. It’s been stripped of any fat, given a roll cage, and fitted with racing seats. Under the skin, the highlights include APR’s intercooler, a stage two intake, a cast downpipe, and most excitingly, APR