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Filed under: Green , Volkswagen Have phone, will park. Continue reading VW's latest acquisition helps you pay for parking by phone VW's latest acquisition helps you pay for parking by phone originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2016 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2iJenqd

Filed under: We drive everything, but here's what we spent our own money on in 2016. Continue reading Cars the Autoblog staff bought this year Cars the Autoblog staff bought this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2i7ELx1

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Ownership , Volkswagen , Emissions , Hatchback , Wagon , Diesel A number of owners have made headlines for trying to return stripped out cars. Continue reading Judge warns Volkswagen diesel owners to stop stripping their cars of parts Judge warns Volkswagen diesel owners to stop stripping their cars of parts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Dec 2016 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2hgEUgI

Although it’s a special time for many, Christmas is a fractious and difficult time for  many more. With the great divide at the heart of the nation, arguments at family dinners may seem inevitable. But that’s where you’re wrong. Amazon has decided to save Christmas by giving away the first episode of The Grand Tour for free this weekend. That’s right, why have a painful and ultimately fruitless argument about politics when you can purge yourself of that combative spirit by proxy with Clarkson, Hammond, and May? All you need is a basic (read: free) Amazon account to access the first episode of Amazon’s most watched series. Now, the first episode was the cause of some criticism on the internet, but all the better. If you absolutely must have an argument, you can instead argue about how good or bad you thought The Grand Tour was. Unlike the deeper and more nebulous questions of global power, this argument has a natural and correct conclusion. No matter how divided your family i...

Volkswagen is going to make like Elvis Costello and pump its Up! Ill-conceived allusions aside, the Up! is getting the GTI treatment next year, and will get 114 hp out of its 1.0-liter TSI engine. Thanks to its scale and low weight (just 2,200 lbs) the Up! GTI is expected to hit 62 mph in fewer than nine seconds. At launch, the car will only be offered with a six speed manual, but a completely irrelevant and abhorrent DSG ‘box with some number of gears is rumored to come later. The Up! GTI, ironically, is headed down, thanks to a lower ride height and a new suspension setup tailored for fun. Visually, the car will look hotter thanks to some new bumpers, side skirts, wheels, and bright red brake callipers, to match the red pieces in its grille and tartan seats. Set to hit UK showrooms early next year, buyers should expect pay about £15,000. [source: Left Lane News ] The post Up! GTI to Join Euro Lineup in 2018 appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2hz49II ...

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] The first Lamborghini Miuras rolled off the line in 1966 and to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the original supercar, Lamborghini decided to visit the car’s namesake farm. It’s no secret that Ferrucio Lamborghini, like Hemingway, was a fan of bull fighting and as such named his V12 beast after the famous Miura Cattle Ranch in Lora del Rio, Spain. Miura bulls are renowned in bull fighting and many of the farm’s fighting bulls lent their names to Lamborghini’s vehicles. In fact, Mucrielago, Reventon, and Islero were all Miura bulls known for their size, ferocity, and cunning. “There are certain strains of bull with a marked ability to learn from what goes on in the arena … faster than the actual fight progresses which makes it more difficult from one minute to the next to control them,” wrote Hemingway in his non-fiction book, Death in the Afternoon . “These bulls are raised by Don Eduardo Miura’s sons from old fighting stock.” The Mi...

Michelin Brings Racing Engineering and Experience to the Road One of my biggest passions in life is Motorsports. I love watching car racing both in person and on TV, especially when any Audi Sport teams are racing . For myself, one of the most interesting aspects of racing is the strategy. The team’s approach is often more important than the driving itself. There are many factors the race engineer must consider, but some are more crucial: weather, fuel, driver, and tires. Just like in racing, putting the right tires on your car is incredibly important. My 2016 Audi S6 arrived from the factory with the 20-inch 5-double-spoke Titanium matte wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero 255/35 summer tires. The P-Zeros were the OEM tire on my previous 2014 SQ5 and 2010 S4, and I thought they were loud, quick to wear, have a delayed response to steering inputs as the uniformity of the tire is not great, and the wet traction is just okay. I had quickly replaced them on both vehicles. I put about 2,00...

Filed under: Sure, there are few truly bad cars anymore, but we definitely did not like these. Continue reading The worst cars we drove in 2016 The worst cars we drove in 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Dec 2016 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2i9IqrB

Filed under: Green , Ownership , Volkswagen , Emissions , Hatchback , Diesel If he hadn't bragged about it beforehand, things may have gone differently. Continue reading This guy is going to make VW diesel buybacks more difficult This guy is going to make VW diesel buybacks more difficult originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2016 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2hhI5Gw

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 ...

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , smart , Tesla , Volkswagen , Green Automakers , Safety , Diesel , Electric Why are these Smarts burning up? VW's Dieselgate costs surpass $18 billion in North America. Tesla's referral program nominated for an award. Continue reading Recharge Wrap-up: Smart Fortwo engine fires, Tesla finalist for Extole Advocacy and Customer Experience award Recharge Wrap-up: Smart Fortwo engine fires, Tesla finalist for Extole Advocacy and Customer Experience award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2016 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2ijURQW

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] When Volkswagen revealed the updated Golf in early November, there was one glaring omission: the Golf R. Now, details for the new European R have finally been revealed and it’s getting 10 more PS (9.8 hp). With 310 PS (~305 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque—that’s 14 lb-ft more—the Golf R is now the most powerful Golf in the lineup and accelerates to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. The Golf R Variant, meanwhile, gets the same amount of power and torque. As ever, though, expect the North American version to be watered down a bit. That’s a bump similar to the roughly 10 hp bump that the Golf GTI got with this latest update. And like the GTI and, indeed, the rest of the Golf family, the new R gets some mild visual updates. The headlights and bumper are a little different, but overall it looks largely the same as the downdated Golf R. Expect similar changes to the rest of the Golf lineup inside, with new bigger infotainment screens, gesture con...

Audi is teasing its new Q8 e-tron Concept, which will be revealed at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show in January.   Audi calls the concept a “near-production study” that is looking to combine the style and emotion of a coupe with the size of an SUV. The imposing front end of the Q8 is helped by the massive octagonal grille that is considerably wider than other models. This concept is sporting e-tron badges, which denotes an electrified vehicle from Audi, so we expect some type of hybrid or electric powertrain in the future. At launch, the production version is expected to use the same powertrains as the Q7 it is based on. That means it will likely use the same 3.0-liter supercharged V6 powertrain as the base option, while a diesel and a more powerful gasoline engine will likely be offered as well. “With the Audi Q8 concept, we have created a new spearhead within our Q model line. Its design strongly evokes sportiness and prestige,” declared Audi Head of Design Marc Lich...

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] The next member of the all-electric Volkswagen ID family is set to premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. VW describes the new model as “a multi-functional vehicle for a new era,” but the teaser pictures make it look remarkably like a microbus. Volkswagen is otherwise being tight lipped about the new vehicle, but has revealed that it will be based on the MEB platform. Unlike the ID, though, this concept will have two electric motors to power all four wheels. Like the ID, the Detroit concept features a suite of connectivity features as well as the eventual capacity for autonomous driving. Press the VW logo on the steering wheel and the car takes over, with the wheel folding away into the dash to free up more space in the cabin. Although VW isn’t calling this the microbus or the TE, the automaker has drawn links to the original microbus, calling this latest concept a link “between the legendary origins ...

Filed under: Design/Style , Green , Detroit Auto Show , Volkswagen , Minivan/Van , Electric Maybe this one will finally make it to production. Continue reading Volkswagen microbus-like MEB concept coming to the Detroit Auto Show Volkswagen microbus-like MEB concept coming to the Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2016 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2hfefmh

Former rallycross and drift champion Tanner Foust is almost completely incapable of driving in a straight line, and the latest video from his energy drink sponsor, Rockstar, goes into the history of just why. Apparently, the young Foust was given the yellow steering wheel out of a Corvette by a future version of himself, leaving him to ponder the circularity of time. While Rockstar blames time paradoxes and the flat circled nature of time for Foust’s refusal to drive in a straight line (don’t think about it too hard), based on the the evidence presented in this video, I would argue that Foust was the victim of a childhood accident that welded his foot to a throttle pedal. Seriously, at no point in this video is his foot off the throttle pedal. Driving to the shops with Foust must be a nightmare. The upshot of his tragic accident, though, is that Foust has an affinity for hoonery that is mostly expressed through Volkswagens. Check out all the sideways action above. The post Wa...

Europe’s automotive crash safety organisation, Euro NCAP , recently looked back on all the cars it tested this year and ranked the best in every class. As it turns out, Volkswagen’s years of work on the new Tiguan were well worth it, as the 5 Star car has been called the safest Small Off-Road vehicle in Europe. With near perfect scores in safety for adult occupants, and exemplary scores for child and pedestrian safety, the new Tiguan is one of the best ways to haul your family without little to no risk of scarring them mentally. The high rating comes thanks to structural and technical safety features. The car’s active hood, for instance, helps reduce head injuries to pedestrians, while Lane Assist and City Emergency Braking helped the Tiguan rate well in the safety assist category. With the long wheel base Tiguan coming to America soon—premiering in January at the Detroit Auto Show—the safety rating bodes well for that car, too. Admittedly, the American version will more closely re...

Germany’s automotive authority, the KBA, has given Volkswagen final approval to fix all 1.2-, 1.6-, and 2.0-liter diesel engines in Europe. No buybacks were offered owners of TDIs that skirted emissions laws in Europe. Instead, a comprehensive recall project was embarked upon to install software and mechanical updates that prevent VWs from emitting more than the legal amount. The recall applies to about 9 million cars sold in 28 nations by Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, and SEAT. The fix is applied at no cost to the customer, and does not adversely affect fuel consumption, performance, or engine noise, says VW. A software fix is all the 1.2 and 2.0-liter engines require, while the 1.6-liter engines need to have a piece of mesh installed to regulate air flow on top of a software fix. Although this closes one chapter in VW’s TDI scandal, some authorities are still calling on the automaker to compensate European owners. That argument is losing traction, though, now that it is becoming clear...

Filed under: Celebrities , Marketing/Advertising , Motorsports , Videos , Volkswagen , Racing Some drifting and jumping fun to tide you over until the next Gymkhana. Continue reading Tanner Foust drives all the things in this Quantum Leap spoof Tanner Foust drives all the things in this Quantum Leap spoof originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2016 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2i1eSfE

Filed under: Government/Legal , Recalls , Volkswagen , Europe , Diesel Germany greenlights plans to repair 1.2-, 1.6-, and 2.0-liter EA189 engines. Continue reading VW diesel fix approved for 9 million cars in Europe VW diesel fix approved for 9 million cars in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2016 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2hrs8tq

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] For more than 40 years, a group of crazy Friedrichsdorfers have been tuning Golfs under the Oettinger name. In 1990, they turned their talents to the Mk2 GTI. Although this car isn’t exactly one of those, an equally crazy Canuck was ready with a fresh GTI and an Oettinger stroker kit and it’s our find of the day. This stroked 2.2-liter car, with BBM RM rims, Hella taillights, and Borla exhausts comes from British Columbia, which is in Canada. Luckily, this Mk2 Golf is now 26 years old, so the border shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Despite coming from the land of salt and snow, the owners says that his Golf was meticulously maintained and kept out of the snow. As a result, there’s apparently no rust to speak of. On top of that, even though it’s older than Emma Watson, this Mk2 has fewer than 100,000 miles on the clock. And given that the owner saw fit to mention a rattle in the dash, I’m going to assume that Freud would’ve called him a b...

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Audi , Porsche , Volkswagen , Emissions Certain VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5, and Q7 models are affected. Continue reading VW confirms $1B settlement with US government over V6 diesels VW confirms $1B settlement with US government over V6 diesels originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2hR4xU1

After long negotiations and a last minute extension, Volkswagen has finally reached an agreement with regulators on how to compensate owners of vehicles equipped with the 3.0-liter TDI engine, the details of which are not immediately available. Judge Breyer said that the owners will receive “substantial compensation,” but that some issues still need to be resolved. As a result, he set another hearing on Thursday for an update, when more details are expected. An update was expected last Thursday, but Judge Breyer gave VW and regulators an extension so that they could finalize the agreement. Although not all the details are available, the Associated Press reports that Volkswagen will offer to buyback the 20,000 oldest vehicles, and fix the 60,000 newest ones—saving themselves a substantial sum of money in the process. Automotive News , meanwhile, reports that VW will pay another $225 million fine offset emissions from the excessively emitting vehicles. That fine is on top of another...

German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH has been silent about its role in Volkswagen diesel emissions cheating, but may be settling a lawsuit for more than $300 million with U.S. owners. The disclosure comes from a reportedly informed confidential source, as the outcome of a 2015 suit by VW owners claiming it helped design VW’s “defeat device” software used to inaccurately meet U.S. emissions rules. The company was a “knowing and active participant” in Volkswagen’s fraud, the lawsuit claimed. Bosch has dismissed the claims as being “wild and unfounded.” A Bosch spokesman declined to comment on the settlement. The prosecutor’s office is still investigating Bosch for the role it played in the emissions fraud, a spokesman said. The office is pursuing an investigation against “unnamed persons,” according to Reuters. U.S. prosecutors in the U.S. Justice Department have been investigating whether Bosch conspired with Volkswagen to engineer diesel cars that would cheat U.S. emissions testi...

The Skoda Octavia recently had a makeover to improve looks and performance, and now Skoda has announced even more performance updates, with the new 230 hp Octavia vRS, the most powerful Octavia ever. Skoda gave the new version an extra 10 hp as a gift to the Octavia vRs, which is celebrating its 15 th anniversary this year . Way back in 2001, the Octavia vRS Mk1, was the most powerful Skoda ever, making 180 hp. Now that it’s well into its third generation, the vRS , thanks to Volkswagen’s  2.0-liter TSI or TDI engines. Unfortunately, the TDI only makes 184 hp, but it does come with optional 4×4-wheel drive. Both engines come standard with a 6 speed manual or an optional 6-speed DSG. The TSI gets to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds, while the TDI will do the same in 7.9 seconds. Progressive steering, Performance Mode Select, and Performance Sound Generator are all available on the vRS. The post Skoda Introduces the Most Powerful Octavia of All Time appeared first on VWVortex . ...

How is a Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2 like a handful of Skittles? Well, Motor Trend’s Jason Cammisa argues that both are unnecessary, both are bad for your health, and both are delicious. More to the point, though, neither is made to be nutritionally relevant—that’s to say, candy isn’t really food in the same way that Lambos aren’t really cars. In much the same way, reviews of Lamborghinis aren’t really reviews, as Cammisa is well aware. After going over his gripes with the car—uncomfortable seats, less pace than a Ferrari, a healthy amount of oversteer—he rightly moves on to and focuses on the relevant points: beauty shots, a shrieking engine , and hooning. The LP 580-2 is the rear-wheel drive variant of the Huracan family, and with an engine that can rev to 9,000 rpm, and styling that would get you attention in Rio during Carnaval, it’s exceedingly good at the above-mentioned candy review trifecta. And the conclusion? Few automakers are better at making automotive candy than Lam...

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Nissan , Volkswagen , Car Buying , Emissions , Diesel , Electric Some Texans are getting cheap Leafs in a group buy. A federal judge says VW is making progress on remaining cheater diesels. EU gets impatient with emissions test improvements. Continue reading Recharge Wrap-up: Group buy means $11,510 Nissan Leaf, VW makes progress on US diesel case Recharge Wrap-up: Group buy means $11,510 Nissan Leaf, VW makes progress on US diesel case originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2h4h0ow

The Volkswagen Group of America Foundation has donated $50,000 to the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund , in support of efforts following wildfires that tore through Tennessee this month. “Volkswagen would like to express its thoughts and concern for all of those affected by the wildfires,” said David Geanacopoulos, Senior executive VP of Public Affairs and Public Policy, VW Group of America. “Like the Dollywood Foundation, Volkswagen calls Tennessee home, and we hope that our contributions will help our neighbors in Sevier County begin to rebuild their lives and community.” Forest fires in the Smoky Mountains killed 14 people and damaged or destroyed nearly 2,500 structures in Gatlinburg and Sevier County. The My People Fund was set up by Dolly Parton, who is originally from the area. It provides $1,000 each month for up to six months to Sevier County families who lost their homes. Anyone can donate to the My People Fund by visiting dollywoodfoundation.org . One hundred perce...

Volkswagen and lawyers representing Canadian TDI owners have agreed to a US settlement that could cost the automaker up to CAD $2.1 billion (USD $1.6 billion) plus a CAD $15 million civil administrative monetary penalty. The agreement must now go to court for final approval. Under the terms of the agreement, VW will offer to buy back many of the 105,000 eligible 2.0-liter TDIs at Canadian Black Book wholesale value as of September 18, 2015 (with adjustments for factory options and mileage). Alternatively, eligible owners can choose to trade in their vehicles or to have them repaired free of charge, if a fix becomes available. On top of that, owners are also entitled to a cash payment, the value of which has not been revealed at this time. “Our clients were clearly looking for finality and choices, and we hope that through this agreement we have provided both,” said Harvey Strosberg a co-lead counsel in Ontario for the class action suit. The total value of the agreement amounts to ...

In a big holiday twist (not to be outdone by Ferrari’s surprise debut last week ) the Lamborghini Aventador S has just debuted. Many were expecting this version of Lamborghini’s V12 supercar to debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show, but the Italian exotic automaker was likely in the holiday spirit and wanted to end this year on a really, really high note. The Lamborghini Aventador S is the next-generation model of the V12 supercar, with a new design focused on aerodynamics. The Lamborghini Aventador S gets a more aggressive front end and longer front splitter, and two new air ducts in the side of the front bumper. A black diffuser dominates the new rear design, while the active rear wing has three positions. In all, front downforce has been improved by 130 percent over the previous Aventador coupe. Performance upgrades start in the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12, which has been tuned to output an increased 40 horsepower, bringing the figure to a st...

Volkswagen just revealed the first design sketches of its replacement for the CC and we already have the first inklings of what its variants will be. Despite having a vaguely cringy name, the Arteon does actually look pretty good. But there’s one way that it could look even better and tease Americans in the process: by becoming a wagon. That’s right, VW’s head of full-size products, Elmar-Marius Licharz, revealed to Autocar that a wagon-version of the Arteon is being considered. “The first thing we must see is the market reaction to the standard car,” Licharz said to Autocar . “If we are to make derivatives of this car then it needs a good base, but we do think that a shooting brake is absolutely the sort of car that could work. First it needs a business case, but it looks quite good.” Our in house car designer took the morning to sketch an Arteon wagon, using the latest in design software (MS Paint). Said designer was, admittedly, fired from his previous position, but if you squ...

Filed under: Green , Volkswagen , Diesel The agreement is in addition to the earlier $2.7 billion settlement. Continue reading VW will pay $200 million in 3.0-liter TDI V6 engine emissions settlement VW will pay $200 million in 3.0-liter TDI V6 engine emissions settlement originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2hPEO0X

Volkswagen and US regulators are almost ready to sign an agreement to settle the 3.0-liter TDI vehicles involved in the emissions scandal, but last minute negotiations have delayed a final resolution to later today. Reuters reports that VW will pay $200 million to offset emissions from its large diesel engine. That’s on top of the $2.7 billion it agreed to pay in the 2.0-liter settlement. The two sides, though, have not come to an agreement on how much VW will have to pay to buy back the vehicles with the affected engines. Reports have indicated that VW will offer to buy back the 20,000 oldest vehicles with the 3.0-liter TDI engine, and will fix about 60,000 vehicles newer ones. A deal such as this could end up saving VW billions. The 3.0-liter diesels in question were primarily fitted to luxury SUVs from VW, Audi, and Porsche, so the cost of buying these back could escalate quickly. The two sides are expected to come to an agreement later today. VW could still face billions in fi...

Filed under: Earnings/Financials , Green , Volkswagen , Green Automakers , Electric VW joins BMW and Daimler in Hubject ownership. Continental is okay with burning money for EVs. CA to get ultra-fast charging. Continue reading Recharge Wrap-up: VW invests in Hubject, California gets 350-kW charging Recharge Wrap-up: VW invests in Hubject, California gets 350-kW charging originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2016 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2h9fwHg

Volkswagen has revealed that it will premiere the long wheel base version of the Tiguan at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and that, in Europe anyway, it will be called the Tiguan Allspace. The extended version of the Tiguan will be longer than the new Tiguan that premiered in Europe earlier this year and will seat up to seven people. Despite that, it should still be smaller than the new Atlas, which is the biggest VW ever offered in America, dontcha know. For European readers, the Tiguan Allspace should be roughly the same size and shape as the Skodiaq. For American readers, it will a few inches shorter than the Ford Edge and a bit longer than the Kia Sorento. Volkswagen has also announced that we North Americans will be the first to get the Tiguan LWB, followed by China, and then Europe. The North American International Auto show starts on January 8, 2017. The post VW to Premiere Tiguan LWB in Detroit appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http...

A photo of a mysterious SUV wrapped in Lamborghini camouflage and rocking “Lamborghini” tape (how much do you want a roll of that in your stocking?) has been making the rounds of the internet after Top Gear’s Rowan Horncastle tweeted the picture from the Munich airport. As a result, the internet has been abuzz speculating on whether or not this test vehicle is Lamborghini’s fabled Urus, SUV. Our trusty spy photographers from CarPix assure us that this is not a Urus (an Oorus? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). Instead, it’s a promotional tool for an Audi dealer in Nurnberg that’s being used to advertise the Urus. This picture of the SUV, though it has a Lambo badge between the lights, clearly has Q7 tail lights. Along the side are written the words “Die Urus kommt,” which the Google tells me is German for the Urus is coming. The Volkswagen Group actually has a rich history of disguising SUVs as other brands’ SUVs, as you may recall from when VW disguised a Tiguan as a Kia . And in no way does that pro...

Worldwide sales for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Brand are both up in November, meaning that despite dieselgate 2016 has been another year of sales growth for the automaker and should continue to be through December. “We are headed for a good delivery result at the end of the year in spite of all the challenges,” says Fred Kappler, head of Group sales. Sales for the VW brand were significantly up in America for the first time since before the scandal broke. The Group fared well, too, with a bump of more 16% over last November. Despite that, year-to-date sales for the Group are still down 0.2% in North America as compared to last year. Europe, meanwhile, once again proved its appetite for VWs, with another positive sales month and year. Western European sales rose nearly 6% in November, while central European sales rose nearly 10%. As a result, year-to-date sales for all of Europe are up 3.5%. China again showed its size. The VW Group sold more cars in China in November t...

Volkswagen will once again show off its latest technology at the Consumer Electronic Show in early January. The German automaker will take the opportunity to show the all electric ID, as well as Volkswagen User-ID. Both will be making their US debuts. The Volkswagen ID is the first concept confirmed for the brand’s all electric platform, MEB. With flat batteries stored under the car and a motor mounted between the rear wheels, the revolutionary MEB platform is tasked with helping VW achieve its goal of selling 2 to 3 million electric cars by 2025. Along with the ID concept, VW will be premiering User-ID a new infotainment system that the brand is calling a major advancement in infotainment. “With the Volkswagen User-ID we’re taking things a major step further”, says Dr Volkmar Tanneberger, VW’s head of Electrical and Electronic Development. “The seamless integration of Partner Services combined with our own online services will create an entirely new user experience.” Long the site...

Volkswagen and Audi have begun buying back the thousands of 2.0-liter diesel cars involved in its  emissions cheating scandal . The automaker’s deal requires the company to offer buybacks to the 475,000 affected owners, but does not carefully outline what condition those returned vehicles have to be in. Some owners are taking that inch for the full mile and stripping their VWs down before returning them to the company to get their check. The qualifications specified in the EPA’s Partial Consent Decree aren’t wildly specific, stating that vehicles only need to be “operable” to maintain eligibility or for the buyback. Document 1973-1 only offers the clarification that an operable vehicle means one driven under the power of its own 2.0-liter TDI. Returned vehicles also may not possess a branded title of “Assembled,” “Dismantled,” “Flood,” “Junk,” “Rebuilt,” “Reconstructed,” or “Salvaged” as of September 18, 2015. Green Car Reports says most of the diesels will...

The Volkswagen Group announced today that it has invested in Hubject, a company founded by BMW, Daimler, Bosch, Siemens, and more in 2012, to connect charging stations for electric vehicles. The investment is part of VW’s, and indeed most of the German automotive industry’s, push to develop a fast charging network across Germany and Europe in order to make electric vehicles more appealing to consumers. “With our investment in Hubject we are supporting the digital transformation and making an important contribution to the transition to the era of e-mobility,” said Thomas Sedran, Head of Group Strategy at VW, in a statement. Although Hubject is a European company, it’s main goal is to get charging points set up all over the world. As a result, the company already has 40,000 charge points on three continents. “Charging must become more customer-friendly if electric cars are to make the breakthrough and catch on quicker,” said Thomas Daibler, co-CEO of Hubject GmbH. “Together with our ...

Europe’s taste for diesel cars may keep Volkswagen from paying billions more in compensation to TDI owners. That’s as a result of its diesel vehicles outperforming expectations on the second-hand market. Although Volkswagen has agreed to pay billions in compensation to American TDI owners, no such deal has been struck in Europe. Despite that, regulators have been quick to call on VW to compensate European owners. Their argument was, and indeed everyone believed, that residual values for TDIs would fall in the wake of the scandal and so owners should be compensated to make up the shortfall. Data from Schwake, an independent market tracker, shows, though, that prices for used VW Group diesels are not falling and are in fact outperforming diesels from other manufacturers. As a result, VW owners should be able to sell their cars at the same price they would have if the scandal had never happened. That would cause the bedrock of arguments for compensation to crumble. This is a rare bit ...

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Audi , Volkswagen , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Emissions , Europe , Germany , Diesel European Union arm tests Audi's A3 diesels and finds double the legal limit of nitrogen oxides were emitted. Continue reading Audi A3 diesel fails independent emissions test in Europe Audi A3 diesel fails independent emissions test in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Dec 2016 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2gP3DZl

Don’t mess with Taiwan, apparently. Importing a car illegally may sound tempting, especially when you have the money to import something as impressive as a Lamborghini Murcielago, but you’d be better off just leaving it abroad if you live in Taiwan. That’s what one owner found out to their cost, because not only was their Murcielago reportedly confiscated, it was also unceremoniously and publicly destroyed. Like a slow, horrifying accident, this 34 minute video chronicles the process of crudely and cruelly unmaking one of Sant’Agata Bolognese’s finest exports. [source: Road & Track ] This video first appeared on fourtitude.com The post Watch: Taiwan Publicly Crushes Illegally Imported Lamborghini appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2gK79po via IFTTT

Series production of Volkswagen North America’s biggest ever car began today in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As of today, VW will build up inventory until the Atlas is ready to hit showrooms in 2017. “I am very proud of the hard work the Chattanooga team has put in to bring the Atlas to series production,” said Christian Koch, President and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga in a statement. “The challenge of integrating a new vehicle line while simultaneously completing a major expansion of our facility was daunting, but our team stepped up to the task and now we have taken another step towards the market introduction of the Atlas.” The  Atlas will be built alongside the North American Passat thanks to a $900 million plant expansion and 400 new employees. “The Atlas marks a brand new journey for Volkswagen as we enter deeper into the heart of the American market, moving from a small-car brand towards a more family-friendly lineup,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, CEO of VW’s North America Regi...

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , Audi , Bentley , Bugatti , Porsche , Volkswagen , SEAT , Skoda VW hopes the switch to English will make it easier to hire away top talent from other countries. Continue reading The Volkswagen Group switches official language to English The Volkswagen Group switches official language to English originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2016 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2gBh3EN

Filed under: Volkswagen , Minivan/Van , Concept Cars , Electric We've waited for 15 years already for the Microbus to appear. Continue reading VW set to van up with electric Microbus VW set to van up with electric Microbus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2016 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2hFr9cJ

Details about the second vehicle in Volkswagen’s upcoming fleet of battery electric vehicles are slowly taking shape, and it looks like it will be a seven-passenger van based on the company’s historic microbus. The second electric vehicle—call it the Electric Type 2, for simplicity’s sake—will share the MEB platform that underpins VW’s ID concept . That concept, which premiered at the Paris Auto Show, is the first car confirmed for the MEB platform. Like the ID, the Electric Type 2, will power the rear wheels from an engine placed between those same wheels. Energy will come from flat batteries housed under the body. The Electric Type 2, though, will be longer and wider than the ID to fit its seven passengers, and thus will be able to store more batteries. According to a report from Autocar , it will have a range of up to 500 km (310 miles). Despite being bigger than the ID, the new microbus is rumored to be more than 15 inches smaller (from the outside) than the current Multivan ...

For all the attention that the Golf family gets, the Jetta is the actual workhorse in the Volkswagen North America family and this simultaneously stylish and murderously intimidating 2011 model is prime example of why. Although the Golf is VW’s darling, the Jetta outsells it regularly in North America, thanks to our taste for sedans and our skepticism of hatch backs. This Jetta, being sold by forum user ST3VEN, does what all Jettas do, and quietly goes about the business of being, and looking, excellent. Sure, the wheels are fitted, the body is lowered, and its body kit kisses the asphalt, but thanks to its simple combination of colors it manages to remain almost understated. Under the hood it has Volkswagen’s 2.5-liter inline 5 with cold air intake and an AWE cat back exhaust, but that’s about it for engine mods. Still, though, be honest, who needs gobs of power in a car this low? And as a result of the minimal engine mods, the car should be as reliable as a stock Jetta. As fo...