Vorderman Volkswagen

Filed under: Volkswagen , First Drives , Crossover , SUV , Off-Road The Ford Explorer-fighter is nearly ready for launch. Continue reading 2018 Volkswagen SUV Prototype First Drive 2018 Volkswagen SUV Prototype First Drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2bJPybF

Volkswagen AG and US regulators might finally be close to agreeing to a settlement relating to the 3.0L TDI engines. The agreement could come as early as October, says Audi sales chief Dietmar Voggenreiter. “Hopefully in October, latest the beginning of November, we will have the final agreement with the US,” Voggenreiter told Reuters , adding that VW was in “really good discussions” with US authorities. Volkswagen agreed to a settlement that could cost up to $15 billion dollars late in July, but that only dealt with cars powered by the 2.0L TDI engine, like the Jetta. The 3.0L TDI used a different emissions defeating device so a different settlement has to be reached. The 3.0L TDI V6 is found in about 85,000 American vehicles from Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. Although there are more than five times as many 2.0L TDIs, those, by and large, were powering cheaper models, so a similar agreement could still end up costing VW billions. A fix, rather than a buyback plan, could save the

Volkswagen of America won’t be redesigning its Passat as soon as it thought due to a plan that would see the sedan migrate onto the MQB platform, a source with knowledge of situation says. An update had been planned for 2018, but it now looks like the redesign will coincide with an update to the European Passat. No specific timeline for the move to the new platform was confirmed, though. Despite that, the cars won’t be the same. “It’s not going to be a Euro Passat,” said the source. “It’s going to be designed in America, for America.” That Volkswagen is looking to move the Passat over to MQB shouldn’t come as a surprise. In Europe, the latest Passat (B8) is already on the platform and the MQB-based three-row SUV (Teramont), set to be revealed this fall, is also being built in Chattanooga on the same line as the Passat. Passat production moved to Chattanooga in 2011. The move was made in the hopes of avoiding exchange rate fluctuations and to better tailor the sedan to the North Ame

Bad news, virtual racers. The latest Gran Turismo game, Gran Turismo Sport, has been delayed. Originally slated  for release in November, the game now won’t be released until 2017, says Sony. The Gran Turismo series is made by Polyphony Studios, whose founder Kazunori Yamauchi is a noted perfectionist. “As we approach our planned release date in November, we realize we need more time to perfect GT Sport, which we’ve already dedicated so much effort towards since announcing the title,” says Yamauchi. “We do not want to compromise the experience in any way.” First announced in 2015, Gran Turismo Sport, though not a numbered entry into the series, will be the first Gran Turismo game since 2013’s Gran Turismo 6. Despite that, ‘Sport will introduce a number of new features, like Virtual Reality support and live, competitive e-sports events that are expected to take place regularly. Unfortunately Sony did not offer a specific release date for the game, only that it would come in 2017.

The world of off-roady Volkswagens is one that’s rich with history and tradition, but for all the baja bugs and Dakar Touaregs, you still don’t see that many Type 2s off the beaten path. Sure, there was Dirt Every Day’s Vanagon , but that mostly played on some grass, but even Vanagons are sadly underrepresented in the lame stream media. Well, we’re here to rectify that with this classic, split window ‘bus that conquers the mud in what looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The post Watch this Microbus Conquer the Mud and Your Heart appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2ccDORZ via IFTTT

Volkswagen is getting ready to bolster its SUV and crossover lineup, and this mysterious new model is the first step. Here’s what we know about it: It’s an Important Model The Volkswagen Midsize SUV — that’s what VW PR wants us to call it — is the brand’s attempt at a big, family SUV for the U.S. market. That’s important to them, because up until now, the Tiguan and the Touareg haven’t quite been doing the trick. Both are oddly sized and priced high in their segments, and as a result haven’t seen the success in America that VW was hoping for. With its new seven-seater SUV, VW is looking to compete with products like the Honda Pilot, the Dodge Durango, the Mazda CX-9, and others of that ilk. So, bigger than both the Tiguan and the Touareg. Three Rows of Seats In size and shape, it’s a much more traditional SUV and will also have three rows of seats with seating for seven. The volume hasn’t been revealed officially yet, but VW says it wants the cargo capacity to be competitive in

Following an agreement with dealers earlier this week, Volkswagen is planning to cut prices in an attempt to increase sales in the US. Volkswagen “is looking at this with a volume mindset,” Alan Brown, chairman of VW’s US dealer council told Bloomberg. “We are getting the product we’ve been asking for.” The price cuts are part of an attempt to win a bigger share of the American market. VW has long struggled here. Even before the scandal the car maker was keenly interesting in selling more cars in the States. And that’s part of what caused dealers so much strife. Right before the scandal, dealers were asked to grow their dealerships to prepare for a big sales push, but since the scandal deliveries have fallen dramatically. VW has agreed to a settlement with its dealers reportedly worth $1.2 billion. The agreement is still officially confidential, though, so whether this number is accurate and what the “additional benefits” hinted at are remains to be seen. [ source: Bloomberg ] Th

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Volkswagen , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Diesel Are you included? Continue reading Almost half of VW TDI owners have already agreed to settle Almost half of VW TDI owners have already agreed to settle originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Aug 2016 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2bCCKSR

More than 200,000 Volkswagen and Audi TDI owners have registered to participate in the settlement program and most of them have chosen the buyback option, says lead plaintiff’s attorney Elizabeth Cabraser. TDI owners have the choice of selling their cars back to VW AG for their pre-scandal value plus compensation, or receiving a free fix (should one be made available) plus compensation. Cabraser didn’t give a specific breakdown of how many owners chose the buyback, but that’s still a high rate of engagement for a settlement that was only given preliminary approval about a month ago. According to Deborah Hensler, a law professor at Stanford who spoke to Automotive news , that’s a “huge number in a relatively short period of time.” Buying the cars back is the more expensive option for Volkswagen AG, but the automaker believes it can come up with a relatively inexpensive solution for these engines to get emissions back to within legal limits without adversely affecting fuel economy or

Let it never be said that Volkswagen doesn’t know how to treat its guests. When they invited me over to Germany for the Beetle Sunshine Tour, it was to drive Beetles. And drive I did. From the many Beetles, new and old, that I drove, by far the best was the New Beetle RSi. For those who don’t remember, the New Beetle RSi was a special edition, only 250 of which were made between 2001 and 2003. The car was widened by three inches, its suspension was tuned, and it sent 225 hp and 234 lb-ft torque from the VR6 stuffed under its hood to all four wheels. Sound familiar? Yes, the Beetle RSi is basically an R32 before such a thing existed. That said, there are some differences. When the R32 came out it was billed as the pinnacle of VW performance, safety, and luxury and it’s that last item in the list where the RSi differs. The RSi has Recaro bucket sears, hand-crank windows, and carbon fiber sprinkled around the cabin. The seats, after an hour or so become catastrophically uncomfortable.

Matthias Muller and Olaf Scholz, First Mayor of Hamburg today signed a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum, signed in Hamburg Town Hall, is an agreement between the automaker and the city to work together over next three years to usher in the future of transportation in the city. The memorandum includes urban mobility, traffic control and management, autonomous driving and parking, innovative vehicle concepts and alternative technologies, and air pollution. The idea is to make the city (and by extension cities all over the world) safer, more reliable, and more environmentally friendly. “As a hub of innovation, Hamburg is already a pioneer when it comes to forward-looking themes such as digitalization or the intelligent transport systems (ITS) strategy,” says Muller. “With our ideas and our expertise, we want to contribute to making Hamburg a model city for intelligent transport.” Volkswagen is calling this move one of the building blocks in its master plan, “ TOGETHER 2025

We’ve all been on the highway when a massive truck decides that 32 nano meters would be appropriate distance to follow us from. Well, Jari-Matti Latvala just had a similar experience on a section of the Finnish rally stage. Fortunately for the World Rally Championship driver’s ego, the truck that was following him wasn’t just any old 18-wheeler. It was a KamAZ 4326 Dakar truck that has nearly 1,000 hp, which  dwarfs the Polo R WRC’s 318 hp. Watching the little Polo ahead of the truck is surprisingly nerve racking, given the size differential, but no truck that size has ever been so nimble and elegant. The Polo has never looked smaller, on the other hand. Enjoy the speedy, jumpy, hooning madness and feel your Monday improve with every frame. The post Watch: Polo R WRC Get Chased Down by a KAMAZ Dakar Truck appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2bMq4hp via IFTTT

As of September 1, 2016, Sven Smeets will take over as director of Volkswagen Motorsport. He replaces the departing Jost Capito. Capito, who led Volkswagen Motorsport through its recent dominance of WRC, is leaving to lead Mclaren’s struggling Formula 1 team. Smeets has been with Volkswagen Motorsport since 2012, when he joined as WRC Team Manager. It’s been a busy year for the Belgian, who became the Sporting Director earlier in 2016. Now, as director, Smeets will be in charge of all the brand’s motorsport activities, including rally, rallycross, touring car racing, and more. “We are delighted to be able to introduce a man with a vast wealth of management experience at the top of Volkswagen Motorsport, in the form of Sven Smeets,” says Dr Frank Welsch, Volkswagen brand board member. “We are confident that we will be able to continue our success story in the World Rally Championship and the strategic development of our motorsport projects with Sven and the rest of the management t

Filed under: Volkswagen , Automotive History , United States , Diesel If VW can't fix its diesels, they may go the way of the dodo and the '87-'90 Nissan Van. Continue reading What happens if VW can't fix its TDI diesel engines in America? What happens if VW can't fix its TDI diesel engines in America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Aug 2016 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2btLIle

During Monterey Car Week, all sorts of fancy and unique cars come out to play. Limited edition Ferraris, pristine classics and ultra exclusive boutique luxury cars are as common here as taxi cabs in New York. It’s the kind of scene that can make you numb to “normal” exotics, but fortunately, I was given a nice drenaline shot in the form of a 2016 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 Spyder. The Huracán is the least expensive, most accessible car in the Lamborghini lineup. As a huge part in the automaker’s strategy to increase sales, it starts at around $200,000 for the less powerful, rear-wheel drive LP 580-2. Our Huracán Spyder managed to ring in at $287,225 and had a number of important features including the $3,200 navigation package (because I was in unfamiliar parts of Carmel Valley) , the carbon ceramic brakes (a car this fast needs excellent, consistent brakes), the $6,900 lifting kit, and $3,900 rear view camera and parking system (because you don’t want to scratch this Italian beau

We reported yesterday that a tentative deal had been reached between Volkswagen and its US dealer network to compensate them for costs incurred in the wake of the TDI scandal. Now sources are saying that the deal will run VW upwards of a billion dollars, reports Bloomberg . The deal struck between VW and the dealers would have the carmaker buying back the diesel vehicles that can’t be fixed from dealers in much the same way as those bought from individual owners. That’s as per a statement released by lawyers of the dealers. No dollar amount was announced in that statement, though, and the terms of the deal were supposed to remain confidential until it was officially agreed to later this year. If these reports are true, the amount that VW has to pay for the emissions scandal could go up to $16.5 billion. [ source ] The post Sources Say VW to Pay Dealers $1.2 Billion appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2boSgGt via IFTTT

Owners of 3.0L TDI Volkswagens won’t have a clear answer on what they can expect as compensation for the TDI scandal until at least November. Volkswagen was in court Thursday for a status conference held before Judge Charles M Breyer, the same judge from the 2.0L case, but no “near-term resolution” was reached. “We are committed to working toward a fair and comprehensive resolution for 3.0 liter TDI owners and lessees, and to prepare for trial if a near-term resolution is not reached,” said Elizabeth Cabraser, Court-appointed lead counsel for the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in a statement. The 3.0L TDI scandal affects about 85,000 vehicles in the US. The V6 engine in question was fitted to a number of models, like the Volkswagen Touareg, the Audi A6, and the Porsche Cayenne. Late last month, Volkswagen agreed to a settlement worth up to $15 billion, but that only dealt with the 2.0L TDI. That engine was in nearly 500,000 US vehicles and used a different “defeat device” to beat e

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] While in Germany for the Beetle Sunshine Tour, I managed to sneak away from the press area and walk among the Germans of the northern port town of Travemünde. Perhaps unsurprisingly, German people drive a lot of German cars. As previously noted, Wolfsburg is somewhat surreally Volkswagen infested. Travemunde, by comparison, is populated more widely by a variety of Germans. Volkswagen and its subsidiaries still feature prominently, though, and just walking around you get to see some cool, interesting, and slightly odd VWs, just out on street. Frankly, it’s a good enough reason to visit. That and the autobahn. God bless the autobahn. The post Gallery: The VWs of Northern Germany appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2bFH5VI via IFTTT

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it out to Fastivus this year, but our friends over at 034 MotorSport were on hand and have kindly agreed to share their coverage with us. You can find out more at 034motorsport.com . If you’re a Volkswagen enthusiast who is keen on camaraderie and speed, then Fastivus needs to be on your radar. Although temperatures reached upwards of 106 degrees at Auto Club Speedway , the heat didn’t prevent attendees and vendors from making this year’s event the best one yet. Over 1,300 people flocked to the blistering tarmac in the spirit of celebrating Volkswagen and pushing their cars to the limit. Unlike some other shows, Fastivus is equally as much a track day as it is a car show, and it speaks to the performance-minded enthusiast who enjoys testing the boundaries of their car’s capabilities. Happily, the 034Motorsport Team packed up our trailer full of parts and shwag, and hit the road with a couple cars heading sou

Although Volkswagen has made big promises about electric cars, up to now it hasn’t actually announced a pure-electric stand alone production car. That’s all set to change now, though, with a new Golf-sized electric car that VW will reveal at the Paris Motor Show in October. Autocar reports that, though the car will be Golf-sized from the outside, thanks to its drivetrain packaging it will have the same amount of space on the inside as the Passat. “It will make a huge statement,” a senior engineer with knowledge of VW’s R&D plans told Autocar. “It’s planned to use cutting-edge technology but at a price that makes it attainable for the average motorist.” Autocar is also reporting that the car will sit on the MEB platform, that first appeared under the Budd-e concept. A source at VW told them, though, that the new Golf-sized EV is being developed separately from the Budd-e. Following its reveal, it will officially launch in 2018 or 2019. Although there are no more details about t

Another important milestone has been reached in the emissions scandal, as Volkswagen Group of America has announced that it has reached an agreement in principle to resolve claims with VW dealers in the US. The deal amounts to a cash settlement (and additional benefits) to dealers to pay them back for claims of losses suffered after the emissions scandal broke. “We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States,” says Hinrich J. Woebcken, CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen in a statement. “This agreement, when finalized, will strengthen the foundation for our future together and further emphasize our commitment both to our partners and the U.S. market.” Volkswagen’s relationship with its dealers was extremely fraught in the wake of the TDI scandal. Relations got even worse after Michael Horn, widely seen a champion for dealers, and VW severed ties.

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Volkswagen , Emissions , United States , Diesel Dealers will finally get compensated for the cars they weren't allowed to sell. Continue reading VW agrees to settle with dealers over diesel scandal VW agrees to settle with dealers over diesel scandal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2016 12:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2brj06u

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Way back at the beginning of the millennium Volkswagen decided to build the Autostadt. It was to opened on the occasion of the Hanover World’s Fair, and as a result, shares many of the qualities of a world’s fair, except that it deals primarily with VWs. Autostadt is contained within the Volkswagen Factory grounds in Wolfsburg and has a number pavilions dedicated to Volkswagen AG’s many brands. Perhaps the most exciting thing in the Autostadt, though, is the ZeitHaus Museum. Six stories of automotive history are contained within the ZeitHaus and the collection is a very good look at the history of the automobile. While the museum does skew Volkswagen-wise, the collection contains any and (it seems) every car that its curators find meaningful. While I was there, the ZeitHaus was celebrating automotive innovation by showing cars that were connected by those innovations. There is, for example, a recreation of the Benz Patent Motorwagen, wide

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] On day one of the great Beetle road trip ( which we’ve been covering all week ) we stopped in at the Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen, in Wolfsburg. Although it’s not on the factory campus (for lack of a better word) the museum is still in the town of Wolfsburg, a surreally Volkswagen infested place—for real, being in a town with only one carmaker makes you feel like you’re on a movie set, or in the Truman Show or something. The museum houses a great collection of important, interesting, and odd VWs from throughout the brand’s history. Everthing from a late WWII four-wheel-drive Kubelwagen to the Mk7 GTI are all represented here. For example, there’s the Plattenwagen (which would eventually lead to the microbus), the first and last VW Dakar winners, the precursor to the Golf, an SP2, a wooden Beetle, perhaps the world’s ugliest Oettinger widebody Beetle, a four-door Beetle from 1955, a four-door Mk1 GTI (one of two built for Giugiaro), and lit

At the age of 40, many people discover gyms because they want to stay in shape. And the Golf GTI, always the fastest Golf, now turns 40 too, but has been in better shape from generation to generation. This especially applies to the ABT Golf GTI Clubsport , which has been upgraded from 265 hp (195 kW) to no less than 340 hp (250 kW), with torque now at 430 Nm (production car: 350 Nm). This GTI makes fun to drive, both when cornering and when overtaking. The Clubsport is the most powerful of four ABT POWER variants but they are all agile and active. After all, they have all been developed by racing professionals. For the ABT Golf GTI , and thus in part also for the Clubsport , the Bavarian enhancer has come up with a very powerful body package. The depicted car does not feature all the components, but they all become this “racing golf”. The front spoiler and head light covers form an assertive unit, and the side skirts, mirror caps and the rear skirt set with its 4-pipe muffler syste

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Yet another Volkswagen vehicle is being graced with the Sportline moniker, but this time it may not be quite what you expect: the Transporter T32 Kombi. The Transporter is Volkswagen’s European delivery van, and now transplant-organ delivery people and… other delivery people who are in a hurry can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the van gets the sportline treatment. Not only will this premium model get leather seats, 18-inch bicolor alloys, and front and rear spoilers; it also gets a choice of 2.0L BiTDI engines with (roughly) 180 hp or 200 hp. The first engine is mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox, while the second gives the choice of that gearbox or the six-speed manual. Unfortunately, the second, more powerful engine won’t be available until 2017. The 180 hp engine, though, can be ordered right now by subjects of her maj with deliveries starting next month. Prices start at £28,220 The post Be a Man with a Van in a Hurry With the Ne

Filed under: Design/Style , Spy Photos , Volkswagen , China , Crossover , SUV Images of the SUV surfaced in China. It looks like the CrossBlue. Continue reading Clandestine mission secures photos of VW's Ford Explorer fighter Clandestine mission secures photos of VW's Ford Explorer fighter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Aug 2016 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2c6UM5r

Do you ever drive to a body of water and lament the fact that your boring land car has to stop? Good news! You can now keep right on driving thanks to this 1942 KDF Schwimmwagen. The Schwimmwagen was World War II Germany’s amphibious vehicle. Based on the Type 1 platform, this four-wheel-drive model had to be shrunk down to deal with the stresses of maritime motion. This Schwimmwagen is a 1942 car, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t have the original 25 hp engine. Instead it has the later, Hellcat rivaling 30 hp version installed. The owner does, however, say that he has 25 hp engine that can be included in the deal. Despite its age, the Schwimmwagen is in good condition and is totally ready to drive on land and sea. Be careful sailing your Schwimm, though, because if you go too far forward in the water, there’s no reverse. Instead you need to break out one of the paddles that came as standard equipment with the KDF. Take a look for yourself at thesamba.com and while you’re dedicat

Last week we showed you early spy shots of the Volkswagen CC testing in Germany and now there’s video of the car in motion. Going from static shots to moving pictures the car hasn’t lost any of its handsome proportions or sharp lines. Interestingly, Volkswagen looks to be benchmarking the CC against a BMW 4 series Gran Coupe (which makes sense) and a Ford Focus RS (which is a surprise). Just what this means for performance remains to be seen, but at least one of them has a reputation as a driver’s car. The post Watch: The New CC Driving in the Wild appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2bSXutR via IFTTT

Lamborghini celebrated their rich history this past week, by setting a very special record. The Italian automaker assembled 25 Miuras in Monterey to celebrate the car’s 50 th anniversary. “Passion for the Miura transcends all boundaries,” said Stefano Domenicali, CEO. “This year we have already been able to gather with many Miura owners, people who have a particularly special piece of our heritage in their garage. Here in Monterey, it is more evident than ever that Ferruccio Lamborghini started something truly remarkable in Sant’Agata Bolognese 50 years ago when the Miura was born.” Conversely, Lamborghini set a sales record in the first six months of 2016, moving 2,013 units in that time. The strong sales come amid expansion at Lamborghini’s Sant’Agata factory to accommodate the SUV that they expect to make. The new line, will be the factory’s third, and the carmaker’s staff is expected to double in the coming years as part of its worldwide expansion.   The post Lamborghini Se

A dispute with suppliers recently interrupted production at several Volkswagen plants in Germany, but now Automotive News reports that a deal has been reached and that normal production will resume. Unfortunately, Automotive News reports that the parties have agreed not to disclose details of the agreement that took 20 hours to reach. The dispute affected six of Volskwagen’s 10 German factories: Emden, Wolfsburg, Zwickau, Kassel, Salzgitter, and Braunschweig. In all more than 28,000 VW employees were affected by work stoppages. The dispute was with two Prevent DEV group suppliers: CarTrim and ES Automobilguss. The first makes seat covers and the latter produces cast iron parts for gearboxes. Volkswagen has been accused of demanding too much for too little from its suppliers. The embattled manufacturer has been on a mission to reduce costs in the wake of the emissions scandal and reports suggest that this dispute was related to cost cutting. The post Volkswagen Production to Resume

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] For 12 years now, Beetle nuts have been gathering in the northern German port town of Travemünde. Together, they celebrate, admire, and share their passion for the car that is more closely tied to Volkswagen’s image than any other. This year, on the occasion of the reveal of the refreshed European Beetle, VW Vortex was the brand’s guest at the event and we got to participate in all the fun of the Beetle Sunshine Tour. It all started when one Beetle enthusiast, Gaby Kraft, bought a New Beetle of her own. She was impressed with the car and decided that she would like to go to an enthusiast show. Unfortunately, there was none to go to. Fortunately for Beetle enthusiasts, Kraft decided to start her own. Now, more than a decade later, the show bills itself as the largest private Beetle gathering on earth and this year featured more than 600 Beetles, countless visitors, and even a couple of (German) celebrities. MC Fitti and Sidney Hoffman were

Filed under: Etc. , Ownership , Videos , Volkswagen , Driving Only a German company would come up with such a specific and carefully planned way to stay alert on road trips. Continue reading VW wants you to pull over to do this workout routine on your next road trip VW wants you to pull over to do this workout routine on your next road trip originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Aug 2016 17:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2bydG1T

The WRC circus was back in action this weekend, and it was an important one for Volkswagen as the race was being held at home in Germany. Moreover, the race was this season’s first on tarmac, which was important to championship leader, Sebastien Ogier. A WRC rule forces the championship leader to run first (a major disadvantage on gravel) to keep the racing tighter. Ogier and team principal Jost Capito have made no secret of the fact that they do not like the rule, but on tarmac, running first is no disadvantage. As a result, Ogier was sure to take full advantage of the leveled playing field, and eventually won the rally by more than 20 seconds. Ogier extends his championship lead to 59 points ahead of the second place Andreas Mikkelsen, who also races for Volkswagen Motorsport. Mikkelsen narrowly missed second place in Germany, but was slowed on the last day by a tire compound gamble that didn’t payout. He, instead, placed fourth at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, but holds onto se

With its naturally aspirated V12 engine making over 700 horsepower, the Lamborghini Centenario has finally lost its roof, and is taking in the sun here at Pebble Beach . Billed as a 100th birthday celebration to Lamborghini’s founder, the Centenario is the ultimate Lambo, with big horsepower, low weight and lots of speed. Weighing in at around 3,300 lbs this big hypercar uses a copious amount of light materials, including carbon fiber. The Centenario Roadster you see here at Pebble Beach sports an exclusive paint finish, dubbed “Argento Centenario ” which required the designers to dissolve the metal while diluting and diminishing the metal grain so it has a flatter, smoother look. The windshield of the Centenario Roadster is shaped to reduce wind buffeting and keep things comfortable for drivers and passengers alike. Advanced aerodynamic studies were conducted also to achieve maximum comfort for the interior, specifically for the Roadster. The front windscreen is shaped to reduce

If you go through Volkswagen’s historical model catalog, you’ll notice many occurrences of the exact same model sporting unique names in the U.S. and Canadian markets. For example, Volkswagen marketed the last-generation Jetta Wagon in the United States as the Golf Wagon in Canada beginning in 2010. Roll ahead to present day, Volkswagen has called its Golf SportWagen (U.S.) the Golf Sport wagon in Canada since 2015. Thankfully, that’s about to change. According to Volkswagen Canada representative Thomas Tetzlaff, the Canadian outpost will drop the Sportwagon name in favor of the name used in the United States — SportWagen. “That’s the name and we like it!” Tetzlaff exclaimed in an email. The name change goes into effect for the 2017 model year, the same year Volkswagen welcomes the  Alltrack trim to the SportWagen family. There have been few differences between the models Volkswagen offers in the United States versus what it offers in Canada. Recently, Volkswagen offered “City

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] We’ve known in the US what would be coming to the Beetle lineup in 2017 for some time now, but the European market has been waiting patiently to find out what they would get. Volkswagen had the perfect opportunity to launch the lightly updated 2017 Beetle at the 12 th annual Beetle Sunshine Tour in Travemünde, Germany. The Beetle Sunshine Tour bills itself as the largest privately organized Beetle show in the world and this year more than 600 Beetles (old, new, and new-new) showed up. It was the new-new-newest Beetle, the 2017 model, that was Saturday’s main event, though and was introduced by German tuner Sidney Hoffman and rap-star MC Fitti . The 2017 European model comes with a revised bumper, new fabrics, and new colors: White Silver Metallic and Bottle Green Metallic. Along with the cross model changes, there are also some specific, trim level changes. Like us, the Europeans now get an R-Line trim, rather than the “Sport” trim they