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One of the great things about working on a car, or any similar project, is the cleansing power that they can have on our minds. By working on a puzzle with a clear solution, it can help to sort through the bigger problems in life that don’t really have a clear solution. That big problem with no clear solution was probably bigger for Nathan Scott, featured in this touching video from Integrated Engineering , that it is for most of us. Scott was a medivac helicopter pilot in the military, a job whose selflessness and danger we can all agree is unfathomable and he explains that he returned from duty with post traumatic stress disorder, a disorder that one in eight soldiers suffer from. In the video, Scott goes through his experience relating the tale of how he joined up and how, upon his return, his Audi Coupe Quattro helped him cope with the symptoms of PTSD. An Audi, though, no matter how lovely, is no replacement for proper medical attention, something that can be found at veteran

If you were wondering if the Volkswagen-owned Bentley Motors Limited would be omitted from its parent company’s promise of rampant electrification, it won’t. Bentley also isn’t too high and mighty to hop onto the compact crossover bandwagon. Executives are saying that the luxury motorcar manufacturer is toying with the notion of producing a small all-electric SUV positioned beneath the $229,100 Bentayga, in stature anyway.  “I can assure you that Bentley — on the long term view — will not stay with one model only in the SUV lineup,” Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer said during the press launch of the Continental Supersports. “We have clear indications that a smaller Bentayga as a Bentley SUV would find great acceptance.” A utomotive News  quoted Rolf Frech, Bentley’s board member on engineering, as stating “If you are looking for such a car then we are looking at the combination with the possibilities to go full electric. It only makes sense if you get really new customers into the b

John Morris has big plans for Spring Mountain Resort & Country Club. Located in Pahrump, Nevada, Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch is slowly becoming the destination for racing enthusiasts. Its owner, John Morris, acquired it in 2004 when it was just a 2.2-mile racetrack. Since then, Morris has transformed it into a luxurious resort that one of its club members calls “an adult Disneyland.” Morris is a semiretired internet entrepreneur and initially thought it would be fun to own a racetrack. Now it’s becoming so much more, as he intends to make it the world’s longest racetrack in the coming years. Last year, Morris paid an undisclosed sum to purchase 150 acres of land on the track’s west side and will soon lease more land from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Once he has the land from the bureau, the resort will encompass 900 acres and house the longest racetrack in the world. The world famous Nurburgring is currently the longest racetrack at 13.1 miles. But when Morris is d

The Fate of the Furious has a new international trailer. The eighth movie in a franchise no one believed would live past one will arrive in movie theaters April 14, and the latest trailer is packed with everything you would expect from a Fast and Furious movie. The last trailer we saw revealed Vin Diesel’s character betrays the team, and although this trailer doesn’t explain why he betrayed them, it does give an extended look at the upcoming movie’s plot. Like other recent Fast and Furious movies, this one will head to several locations around the world including Cuba. The film crew has also been spotted in Ohio and Iceland. The series isn’t so much about modified cars and street racing as it was in the beginning, for better or worse (it’s better). But there’s still a strong focus on cars and  The Fate of the Furious has no shortage of amazing machines. Expect to see plenty of modern exotics and supercars in the movie, and a strong Dodge presence with the new Challenger SRT Demo

The Geneva Motor Show kicks off next week and the announcements are coming fast and heavy. The latest to join the ranks of teased vehicles is the fastest street legal car SEAT has ever produced, the SEAT Leon CUPRA 300 and its race car sister, the CUPRA Evo 17. The SEAT Leon CUPRA Evo 17 (pictured) comes packed with a street-car-derived engine putting out 345 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque. Along with the engine comes a smattering of aero bits to keep this hungry lion glued to the ground. The CUPRA Evo 17 is designed to race in touring car series around the world, and shares its platform with the Golf GTI TCR and the Audi RS 3 LMS . The ’17 model gets a 20 hp bump over last year’s, which will hopefully translate to similar power gains for the VW. The Leon CUPRA 300, meanwhile, is the most powerful road car that SEAT has ever produced. It makes 300 metric horsepower (295 regular hp) and 280 lb-ft of torque. Working in concert with the double-clutch DSG gearbox, the Leon CUPRA will hit

Despite his name, Adam Carolla actually loves interesting cars and his collection is pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, it recently became a little too spectacular, and now the comedian has to sell a pair of Lamborghinis. Carolla recently purchased Paul Newman’s Porsche 935 for $4.4 million. The price, according to Jalopnik , was above budget and to make up for it he’s selling a pair of Lamborghinis at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction next week. The first Lambo is this gorgeous 1965 350 GT by Touring. Featured in a predictably nonsensical Gucci commercial (directed by James Franco, in case we hadn’t dropped enough names already), this unrestored beauty only has 37,300 carefully driven miles on the odometer. One of only 120 built, the 350 GT was created by a dream team of Italian craftsmen, among them Giotto Bizzarini, Franco Scaglione, and Gian Paolo Dallara. As a result, the 350 GT is, to put it mildly, sought after. Pre-auction estimates are in the neighborhood of $600,000

As part of its new plan to steer the company into the future, Volkswagen has announced a partnership with German semiconductor supplier, Infineon Technologies. “We as a partner look forward to cooperating even more closely with Volkswagen,” says Peter Schiefer, President of Infineon’s Automotive Division. “High-performance semiconductors are key to the future car. With our products, vehicles of every class will soon be fully automated and purely electric.” The partnership will see VW and Infineon working together from the design stage to build ECUs. With the two companies working together from such an early stage, the hope is that the ECUs will be tailor-made to suit VW’s needs for the future. “Future joint development tools, such as virtual prototyping systems, will make it possible to further reduce development times, despite the continual increase in system complexity,” says Dr Volkmar Tanneberger, head of electronic development at VW. This is only be the first in a list of simi

Ever wanted to rebuild a Beetle, but just couldn’t afford it? Good news! Now you can do it to your old Hot Wheels. Old, being the operative word here. Yesterday we brought you an unrestored Beetle and today we’re featuring a Beetle restoration. Sort of. Youtuber BaremetalHW has been restoring Hot Wheels for years now, and the process is fascinating. This particular Beetle comes from 1968 (according to the video’s title, but the toy itself says 1967, so I’m sure there are Hot Wheels nerds out there who explain the discrepancy) and in the best tradition of the ‘60s it’s a hot pink, front engined, I wanna say gasser? Whatever the case, to the sugar-fueled mind of a sticky-fingered baby boomer, I’m sure there was nothing cooler than this slightly garish Hot Wheel. It’s neat to see the inside of a Hot Wheel and to see how the suspension works (elegantly simply, is how). BaremetalHW has plenty of other videos, many more in depth than this one and as a result can be even more fascinating

Disney Pixar showed off an extended look trailer for Cars 3 during the Daytona 500. The new trailer shows off the “next generation” racers that Lightning McQueen will be taking on in the next movie of the franchise and features footage we’ve seen from previous trailers. While the first  Cars 3  trailer was quite dark, this one is a bit more like Disney, showing that McQueen isn’t going to give up so easily and will be inspired by his friends to return to the track after a horrific crash There are several NASCAR drivers that will be in the film playing up-and-coming drivers, including Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Darrell Wallace Jr. Cars 3 heads to theaters June 16, 2017. This article first appeared on Auto Guide The post Lightning McQueen Isn’t Ready to Give Up in Latest Cars 3 Trailer appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2lhskN0 via IFTTT

Volkswagen’s well recorded shift away from diesel engines toward electric ones might mark more than just a shift in propulsion. According to Burkhard Huhnke, senior vice president of e-mobility for the VW Group, the company is looking for lots of input from America. The Atlas was an early step in VW’s quest to woo American buyers, a group with whom the company has historically had trouble. Now, though, it looks like its electric vehicles will be heavily influenced by American needs, according to a report from the Chattanooga Times Free Press . “We have a very strong team here working with departments across the country to get a good understanding of the requirements — the adjustments to the customer,” Huhnke told the Free Times Press. Huhnke, for instance, has been working from California recently, getting the connectivity side of ID development going, while work is being done in Detroit to find suppliers. Chattanooga, meanwhile, where VW’s sole American assembly plant is located, i

Last year’s World Rally Championship runner up and former VW driver, Andreas Mikkelsen is having a pretty rotten 2017. The young Norwegian has had two VW seats fall out from beneath him, and now he hasn’t got a ride for 2017. “Basically everything that could have gone wrong went wrong and the latest decision [to bar the 2017 VW] was another punch in the face,” Mikkelsen told motorsport.com . “I don’t know what more I could have done to get a drive this year.” Mikkelsen was ready to race VW’s nearly completed 2017 WRC Polo, when the  FIA blocked homologation of the car, meaning that it couldn’t race this year. As a result of his commitment to VW, Mikkelsen didn’t sign with another team, unlike his former teammates, Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala, who are racing with M-Sport and Toyota respectively. Mikkelsen could compete in an older car, he says, but there’s little in doing that as it would be jolly expensive and as last season’s runner up, he doesn’t feel he has anything

For all his Bugattis and McLarens, Jay Leno still has a soft spot for humbler cars, like the Beetle. This week, he’s featuring a 1955 Beetle that’s still wearing its original paint on his video-graphical web log (or vlog, as the kids say) Jay Leno’s Garage. Although the owner’s added a lot of period-correct aftermarket parts, under it all this Type 1 still almost all original. From the engine to the paint, this Beetle’s been lovingly cleaned, but its originality has been painstakingly maintained. The result is a patina-heavy Beetle with oodles of personality. Owner Matt Jacobson bought the Beetle on The Samba, and is the third owner to try cleaning it up. It was a lengthy process that involved scraping off new paint jobs with scotch-brite pads and plenty of care. Meanwhile, inside, the seats were blown apart and the headliner worn. Unfortunately, the mohair headliner was too far gone to restore, but the seats, thanks to a talented upholsterer, were salvageable. It’s a little sad t

Filed under: Podcasts , Audi , Kia , Volkswagen , Crossover , Hatchback , Sedan , SUV , Wagon We look back at some odd badge-engineered shared by various brands over the years, discuss what we've been driving, and spend your money. Continue reading Adventures in lazy badge engineering | Autoblog Podcast #505 Adventures in lazy badge engineering | Autoblog Podcast #505 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2017 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2liQF5N

Volkswagen Group sales exceeded expectations last year as revenue rose by 4 billion euros to more than 217 billion euros ($230 billion). “While the past fiscal year posed major challenges for us, despite the crisis the Group’s operating business gave its best-ever performance,” CEO Matthias Müller said today in Wolfsburg. “As the figures show, Volkswagen is very solidly positioned in both operational and financial terms.” As a result of the Group’s strong 2016 performance, operating profit rose 14% to 14.6 billion euros ($15.4 billion). With that, though VW spent another 6.4 billion euros on the dieselgate scandal, pushing the total spent to 22.6 billion euros. The news bodes well for the Volkswagen Brand’s CEO, Herbert Diess who has been clashing with labor leaders of late. As the head of the largest brand in the Group, his austere plan appears to be working. Along with the strong performance, Volkswagen dividends are up 90% from what they were when the emissions scandal broke. “

Drivers will soon be able to connect their iPhones to their cars and use Apple CarPlay wirelessly. This is a first for the connected car industry, as up until now, Apple CarPlay required the user to plug their phone in through a USB connection. Harman’s technology allows the iPhone to connect via Bluetooth and data transfer via WiFi, providing flexibility between native and CarPlay Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) as well as simultaneous use of head unit functionality and CarPlay integration. The company said its infotainment system is currently being deployed for a luxury German automaker, which is likely BMW based on the image it included with the press release.  BMW announced support for wireless CarPlay late last year and Harman’s announcement comes as the 2017 BMW 5 Series with wireless CarPlay begins arriving dealerships in the U.S. Harman is a “tier 1” supplier and also works with various other automakers including Audi , Volkswagen , Daimler,  Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Despite some friction between management and labor over cost cutting measures implemented by Volkswagen’s new CEO, Herbert Diess, the Porsche family still has faith in his abilities, according to a new report. Diess was brought in to steer the VW ship into calmer waters following the emissions scandal. Known as a cost-cutter at his former company, BMW, the former engineer has been trying to cut costs at VW, too. The cost cutting has been necessary to pay for VW’s billions of dollars in expenses in the US related to the diesel scandal, and a shift to electric vehicle production. Many cost-cutting measures, though, include reducing the amount paid to the workers who build Volkswagens, which has led management and labor bosses to quarrel, especially after Diess was accused of breaking promises to labor made  under the VW’s turnaround plan. Despite that, the Porsche and Piech families, who own a controlling share of VW through a holding company, have no lost faith in Diess. With VW’s s

Portuguese soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo’s life is just better than yours. Not only did he recently drag his national team, kicking and screaming into its first European championship, but now he’s gotten to go behind the wheel of Bugatti’s latest super-hyper-ridiculous car, the Chiron. As we all now know, the Chiron was designed to be more of a beast than its predecessor, the Veyron, and it can go from 0-250-0 mph in less than 60 seconds. And it’s top speed is somewhere north of ridiculous, though Bugatti won’t tell us just how far north. So it’s no surprise that Ronaldo’s collection of supercars pales in comparison to the Bug’. Watch the ad above, and regret the fact that you didn’t devote all your waking hours to learning how to kick a ball really well. The post Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo Test Drives the Chiron appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2lRRiXs via IFTTT

Filed under: Green , Volkswagen , United States , Electric Power output also grows. Continue reading 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf electric range grows to 125 miles 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf electric range grows to 125 miles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2lRKuJy

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show , Volkswagen , Sedan This will sit above the Passat. Continue reading The coupe-like Volkswagen Arteon is the CC's successor The coupe-like Volkswagen Arteon is the CC's successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2lKYVyG

In its latest teaser video, Lamborghini is showcasing the upcoming Huracan Performante’s aerodynamics. The Italian company has alluded that a new Nurburgring record has been set by the  Lamborghini Huracan Performante. The latest teaser video showcases how Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA) dominated the Nurburgring. ALA is the technology used to manage active aerodynamics, and the video shows how the front and rear spoilers affect the Huracan’s performance on the track. Full details of the model are expected to be released on March 1, 2017. The car will then likely make a public appearance a few days later at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, where Porsche will have an opportunity to see what Lamborghini did to beat the 918 Spyder’s Nurburgring record. It hasn’t been officially confirmed that the new Huracan variant has set the record, dethroning the Porsche 918 Spyder, but rumors surfaced before the automaker began teasing the model and its first official announcement did say th

Volkswagen  is officially launching the international marketing campaign for its newest Golf, the updated Mk7.5. And although we lowly Americans can’t yet buy the car, we can configure it . As well as a site for building the most desirable, or hideous Golf your twisted imagination can conceive of (surprisingly difficult given VW’s tasteful color options), the marketing campaign is what Madison Avenue types call 360 degree. No, not like the videos, rather it features print ads, billboard ads, online ads, and a TV spot. An idea of  what VW wants to get across, though, can already be had with the launch video that accompanied the reveal of the updated Golf. “We are not just launching a new campaign for the next Golf, but are also starting a new chapter for the Volkswagen brand: we make the future real,” says Jürgen Stackmann, Brand Board Member for Sales. “Volkswagen is thus underscoring its promise to make mobility and the latest technological developments accessible to everyone.”

A new trailer for BBC’s Top Gear has been released, and the series is looking really damn good. Although Top Gear had a lot of its thunder stolen by The Grand Tour , the new season looks promising with a Ford GT, Bugatti Chiron, the absence of a shouty Chris Evans, and a healthy dose of exotic cars, exotic locations, and stunning videography. It feels like the new presenters — Chris Harris, Rory Reid and Matt LeBlanc — are finding their jam, and it appears that they’re having a lot of fun, which should translate well on screen. The 24th season of Top Gear starts March 12 on BBC. Watch the new trailer above. this article first appeared on Auto Guide The post Watch the New Supercar-Heavy Top Gear Trailer Here appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2lzxy8L via IFTTT

Volkswagen is teasing its new Arteon, a luxurious fastback sedan that will be like a more affordable Audi A7. The Volkswagen Arteon will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March as a flagship sedan that sits above the Passat in the German automaker’s lineup, likely replacing the CC. The teaser image Volkswagen shared shows new design language for the brand, as the grille and headlights merge to look like a single piece. Volkswagen promises the Arteon will have all the latest driver assistance features and safety technology as well as a spacious cabin. Expect it to launch with gesture controls and a configurable digital dashboard. The Arteon is expected to have an eight-speed automatic transmission and be powered by VW’s ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and output about 290 horsepower. Front-wheel drive should come standard, while 4Motion all-wheel drive will also be offered. The Volkswagen Arteon should be in dealerships late 2017 as a 2018 mo

Rust damage caused by road de-icers is costing Americans $3-billion annually. According to a recent survey conducted by AAA, U.S. drivers paid an estimated $15.4-billion in rust repairs over the past five years because of de-icing methods. The association also said 22 million U.S. drivers have experienced rust damage to their vehicles due to salt and liquid de-icers, with repairs averaging almost $500 per occurrence. Making matters worse for vehicle owners, many state and local transportation departments have shifted from using rock salt to liquid de-icers in recent years. While the newer alternatives are more effective, they are more damaging to vehicles since the chemicals remain in liquid form longer and are more likely to coat components and seep into cracks and crevices where corrosion can accelerate. In addition, another AAA survey found that nearly 30 million U.S. drivers experienced pothole damage last year, with repair costs ranging from under $250 to over $1,000. The possi

Giorgietto Giugiaro’s design house, Italdesign has decided to try its hand at selling supercars. With a V10 engine borrowed from its parent company, Audi, the new “Ultra Low Series Cars” will be the Italian company’s vision of the ultimate road car, is a sentence that improves with every word. Italdesign has been responsible for some of history’s most memorable cars, including the Lancia Delta, the Lotus Esprit, the Volkswagen Scirocco, and recently the Audi Q2. For its own cars, though, the company has set up a sub-brand, called Italdesign Automobili Speciali. The special automobiles produced by Italdesign are designed for “collectors and visionary enthusiasts,” so production will be limited. In fact, some might call it “ultra-limited” as IAS intends to build only five of the pictured cars by the end of 2017. That so far unnamed car is based around a modular chassis, made of carbon fiber and aluminum. Under the hood, it will be endowed with the 5.2-liter V10 from the Audi R8. This

The EPA has officially announced that the Volkswagen e-Golf has a range of 125 miles, a 50% improvement over the previous model. That’s thanks to a new lithium ion battery that has an increased capacity of 34.8 kWh, up 30% from the the last e-Golf. The EPA estimates that the 2017 e-Golf will therefore achieve 126 MPGe in the city and 111 MPGe highway. That’s roughly equivalent to the 2017 BMW i3 and the Chevrolet Bolt and it amounts to an annual fuel cost of just $550, assuming you’re paying 13 cents per kWh. Thanks to the now standard 7.2 kW on-board charger, the battery can be charged in less than 6 hours at a 240V charging station. Meanwhile, the optional DC Fast Charging can get you to 80% charge in just one hour. That new battery doesn’t just mean more miles, it means more power, too. Thanks to a new 100 kWh motor, the 2017 e-Golf produces 134 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, which is 19 hp and 15 lb-ft more than the 2016 model. Moreover, all of that torque—and I know you’ve heard

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] There are those who believe that more is more and then there are those, like Vortex member More Tino, who believe that less is more. More Tino’s ’94 Jetta is a symphony in simplicity, with as many extraneous details removed as possible to make this gorgeous creature. All white and black, this beautifully clean Canadian Jetta has had its power steering deleted, its AC deleted, its engine bay, antenna, side markers, door moldings, fenders, and bumpers shaved. The result is as sharp as a straight razor. It’s not all cuts, though, there have been some choice additions. A VR6 from an R32 now nestles cozily in the Jetta’s engine bay, and to deal with that addition, Bilstein PSS1 coilovers now suspend the car. The power is being routed to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual with a new clutch kit. This ready to roll show car is yours for 16,000 Canadian dollars. Check it out in the classifieds section . The post Find of the Day: ’94 Jetta R3

Daniel Abt, of ABT Sportsline and Formula E fame, spends a lot of his time off the track making videos with some pretty, outrageous, and deeply desirable cars. Not being a German-speaker, I find these videos very frustrating. The good news, though, is that for the first time ever, Abt decided to record a vlog in English so that the English speaking woportrld could finally follow his adventures. And right off the bat there’s a profoundly shocking revelation: Abt says that his German videos are funny, which I wasn’t aware was possible. Regardless, Abt filmed this vlog during his walkaround of the Formula E track in Buenos Aires ahead of the Argentinian e-Prix last weekend , a race that he would eventually finish in seventh place. In the video, Abt, goes through what he and other drivers are looking for during the track walk. Corner four, for instance, has a crosswalk ahead of it, which Abt explains could become slippery in the rain. He also shows us where he crashed two years ago.

Late last week, Audi fired four top engineers who worked on the brand’s diesel technology, including head of engine development Ulrich Weiss. Germany’s Handelsblatt reports that Weiss, who has been on paid leave since the diesel emissions scandal erupted, presented documents in court that appeared to show CEO Rupert Stadler had knowledge of the defeat devices as early as 2012. Audi is now seeking charges against one or more individuals for “baseless accusations,” as well as revealing internal documents. Unfortunately for the automaker, another German media outlet has gotten its hands on an infamous PowerPoint presentation. The automaker hasn’t said exactly who the lawsuit targets, or if it involves last week’s firings.  Handelsblatt reports Audi will file the suit in its hometown of Ingolstadt, Bavaria, and could seek damages from one or more parties. Weiss, who is suing Audi in a bid to return to work, claims the automaker targeted him to avoid taking the heat over the emission

Herbert Diess, Volkswagen’s CEO admitted today in a statement that despite a steady 2016, the road ahead will still be rough. “2017 will be a good, but demanding year,” said Diess in a statemen, adding that VW would have to continue with its plan of cutting costs and trying to regain customer trust. “First and foremost, we must implement the ‘Zukunftspakt’ swiftly and systematically.” Despite that, Diess said that 2017 would be a good year. “I am optimistic about 2017,” said Diess. “We have drawn up a concrete and bold plan with our new strategy and the ‘Zukunftspakt’. A plan to return our brand to profitability and make it fit for the future.” The comments come on the heels of a difficult start to the year. Despite Volkswagen Group sales rising in Europe and the Americas, a slump in China meant that overall sales dipped by 4% in January . Volkswagen repeatedly said, though, that the Chinese slump was temporary and extraordinary. Rising sales in the US, meanwhile, show that the co

Lamborghini is promising some pretty intense news next week. Late last month, rumors began spreading that Lamborghini set a new Nurburgring lap record with an upcoming Huracan variant called the Performante. It was believed that official news wouldn’t come until the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, where the model is supposed to debut, but it appears we don’t have to wait that long. Lamborghini released a teaser video showcasing the heavily camouflaged Huracan Performante at the vaunted Nurburgring, quickly displaying a timer and titling the video “The highest feat at Nurburgring is coming!” That means the new Huracan variant has likely dethroned the Porsche 918 Spyder’s lap time of 6:57, making it the fastest production car of all time to lap the track. Until now, the only thing Lamborghini has confirmed is that the new model is faster than the Aventador SV, which went around the track in 6:59.73. Check back with us  for more information on February 23, as soon as Lamborghini makes it

Filed under: Tesla , Volkswagen , Electric , Open Road One area that can significantly enhance EV performance is aerodynamic optimization. Continue reading How optimizing aerodynamics significantly increases EV range How optimizing aerodynamics significantly increases EV range originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Feb 2017 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2lEnCNr

Super, hyper, and otherwise superlative cars are coming to a point in their history where numbers are too far gone to really impress. It’s the same problem that economists face when they talk  about billions and trillions. The Bugatti Chiron is a prime example of such a problem. The Bugatti Chiron makes more than twice as much horsepower as a Hellcat, but somehow I’m not twice as impressed by the number 1,500. Now, there’s another number to parse. 0-250-0 in fewer than 60 seconds, according to EVO’s Dan Prosser . That’s right, in less time than it takes Nicolas Cage to steal a car, the Bugatti Chiron can be stopped somehwere down the road. It’s hard to know just what that means, but I think it helps to remember that when the Veyron, formerly the fastest production car on earth, hit 250 mph it needed one of the world’s longest, straightest roads and a running start to do it. It’s also worth noting that the Chiron, when it did a lap around Le Mans last year hit 236 mph. That’s faste

Cars may be getting more advanced safety features, but U.S. traffic-related deaths are on the rise. According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 40,200 deaths occurred last year on the road, a rise of 6 percent. It’s the first time since 2007 there were more than 40,000 fatalities. The increase likely comes from the fact that Americans drove more miles last year, a 3-percent increase in total miles. The National Safety Council attributes the increase to lower gas prices and an improving economy. The increase in traffic-related fatalities in the past two years is the sharpest increase in 53 years. The estimated annual mileage death rate in 2016 was 1.25 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2015. It’s worth noting that the National Safety Council’s fatality estimates differ slightly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The government only counts deaths that occur on public roads, while the council includes f

Good news to everyone looking for some Ducati swag. The quality is set to improve thanks to a new licensing agreement that the Italian motorcycle  brand signed England’s BeArty. BeArty is an online marketplace based in London that sells “passion-inspired” art. And what could be more passionate than an Italian engine? “This project allows us to explore the world of art in an exciting new way”, said Alessandro Cicognani, Ducati Licensing Director. “We’re therefore delighted that Ducati can be a source of inspiration for the BeArty artists’ community”. The Ducati art collection will be made up of prints based on Ducati’s motorcycles and its history. If you can’t, however, convince your cohabitants to festoon the walls of your habitat with motorcycles you’re  also in luck, because the collection also includes hoodies, t-shirts, and more. “BeArty is pleased to allow its network of artists to gain inspiration from such an iconic brand as Ducati and allow Ducati fans to portray their pa

A significant reduction in tax concessions for smaller dispplacement vehicles in China, Volkswagen’s largest market, means that worldwide sales for the brand, and indeed the Group, fell more than 4% in January. Despite that, VW brand sales rose in most other markets, including in the USA and even South America where sales rose 17% and 12%, respectively. Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Russia all saw reasonable sales bumps, too. “Worldwide deliveries may be slightly below the value for the previous year, but this is solely due to special effects in the major market of China,” says Jürgen Stackmann, head of sales. “All the other reported gratifying increases compared with the previous year.” The larger VW Group was similarly affected by the poor Chinese performance, but also did well in other world markets. In Europe, North America, and South America, VW Group sales rose by between 7% and 9%. “The early date of the Chinese New Year, the increase in tax on vehicles with small eng

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack managed to snag the Canadian Car of the Year award, bestowed by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).  The Golf managed to beat out the BMW M2 and the Hyundai Elantra for the top honors this year, selected out of eight category winners. Over 60 Canadian automotive journalists gather each year at an event known as “Test Fest,” to drive and evaluate all eligible new cars for a given year. The Golf Alltrack is the off-road ready version of the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, sporting a one-inch lift, underbody protection, plastic body cladding and tailored off-road driving modes. Power comes from a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, sent through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In the US, the Golf Alltrack starts at $33,710, while in Canada, the Alltrack will leave dealerships for at least $36,920. “TestFest is the most intensive new-vehicle evaluation proce

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] New photos of the Touareg testing have been released, but this time there are pictures of two different cars. The first has a fair amount of camo on the front and back, whereas the second only has the dazzle camouflage, so it gives us a pretty good idea of what the shape will be. Last time out, our spy photographers reported that this Touareg is a little shorter than the current one, which is an odd development, but could potentially have to do with off-road capability. The new Touareg will be based on the same platform as the Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne, which is lighter than the current Touareg’s, which would suggest that the new model will be lighter than the outgoer. As ever, European buyers can expect a range of diesel, gas, and hybrid drive-trains, while Americans should only expect the latter two. The post Touareg Spied Winter Testing appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2lVyx1J via IFTTT

Many automakers and analysts are predicting that autonomous cars could arrive as soon as 2020. In order to support these driverless cars, our cities will have to change drastically. According to a report from architecture and engineering research group IBI, driverless cars can solve a number of traffic problems, but only if they’re implemented properly and with the right support from cities. The author of the report and the group’s Transportation Planner Alex Mereu were able to shed some light on what cities need to do to appropriately support the future of driverless cars. How Will Successful Integration Happen? Mereu is quick to point out that cities will play a pivotal role in successfully integrating autonomous cars. “It starts with effective governance led by a city council that is committed to city-building objectives and has a trusting relationship with city staff that shares the same vision,” he said. Simply put, a lot of the onus is on politicians. Cities have to have a v

Israeli firm eyeSight Technologies just announced a new sensing system that aims to reduce in-vehicle distraction by monitoring drivers. This company’s latest human-machine interface aims to improve safety by keeping tabs on whoever’s behind the wheel . In addition to this, the technology offers several other benefits. Powered by an infrared monochrome sensor that works in a variety of lighting conditions from direct sun to complete darkness, eyeSight’s latest creation can detect whether a driver is distracted or even drowsy. It achieves this by keeping tabs on their head position, eyelid openness, and iris location. This information can then be passed on to the vehicle so it can take proactive steps to improve safety. For example, if adaptive cruise control is engaged, the car or truck could automatically increase following distance if it knows the motorist isn’t giving his or her full attention to the task at hand. Beyond safety, this technology can also recognize individual dri

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Spy photographers have caught the next Bentley  Continental GT and GT Convertible models testing. The coupe prototype has dropped some camouflage since the last time we’ve seen it, but Bentley is still being shy about its headlight design. It does appear, however, that both models will draw inspiration from the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept, with a larger, more rectangular grille and prominent headlights. For the most part, don’t expect to see any drastic changes on the Continental despite the overall design having been in place since the coupe first debuted at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show. The British automaker has given the luxury coupe updates during this generation, but the next model is expected to ride on the Volkswagen Group’s MSB platform that underpins the new Porsche Panamera. Since Porsche was in charge of developing the platform, the German automaker focused on making it as lightweight as possible. As a result, the next-generation Co

The summer is a great season, but it also comes with its disadvantages and getting into a hot car is one of the biggest. Anyone who’s sat on hot leather knows the pain of having their thighs seared like tuna steaks. The only solution is a shady parking spot, but how do you find such a thing? Well, Volkswagen wants to use data from its cars to help you out, according to a new patent filed at the European Patent Office. Using sensors, Volkswagens could soon determine the temperature and brightness of a particular parking spot and in concert with internal and external thermometers figure out if the car is shaded or not. VW would then send that information to a centralized database to help other people find shady parking spots. Alternatively, come wintertime, the service could help you find sunny spots to help warm up your car. Admittedly, at first it sounds a little like an infomercial problem , but a hot car is genuinely one of the worst things about summer and any help  you can get

Watching old cars have their nuts driven off is endlessly entertaining, and all the better when it’s a bunch of air cooled VWs racing in the snow. We shared a similar video not too long ago , but this time the balance of Beetles to other body styles has evened out somewhat. With a Fastback and a Karmann Ghia sharing the rally stage with a handful of Beetles, there’s even more to love about this video. It’s hardly a surprise that these old VWs sound great, but something about hearing their bassy baritone as they’re driven by the world’s best rallyists, the Finns, reignites the love. Plus, and perhaps most importantly, there’s a section where two bugs catch air, which is the height of entertainment. Watch it all above. The post Watch: More Air Cooled VWs Racing in Cool Air appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2li7qBz via IFTTT

If you ever thought that modern Lamborghinis were a bit soft and nothing like their forefathers from the ‘60s, prepare to be disabused of that notion. The Aventador and the Veneno have just been recalled due to a risk of fire, which any Miura owner will tell you is pure, classic Lambo. As a result of the hazard, Lamborghini is recalling about 1,500 Aventadors and all Venenos, which will surely inconvenience the owners greatly. They might have to take public transit to work. The problem stems from a fault in the Aventador’s evaporative emissions control system, said Lamborghini in a statement. This fault can cause fuel vapors not to be properly treated, which, combined with “particular maneuvers,” can cause the vapors to come into contact with hot gasses and lead to a fire. That “particular maneuver,” said Lambo was “engine over-revving at idle,” which sounds suspiciously like revving the engine at the stop light, so pride, in this case, goeth before the fire. Lambo has also sai

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] The really great thing about garages is that they often help us work on more than just our cars. The same applies to any workshop or place where problems have clear solutions. Unlike life, which has a knack for presenting us with problems the solutions to which are unclear, diabolically complicated, and out of our hands. That was the certainly case for forum user Cspence, whose wife was stricken with a sudden illness. Cspence sold his R32 to help pay for the resulting medical expenses and ended up having enough left over for a humble project. He ended up buying a Mk3 VRT and he only ever intended for it to be a quick and dirty build. “I didn’t know at the time, but this build process would serve as an important means of salvation to me during a challenging time in my life,” writes Cspence. “I know if may sound cheesy, but this car created many friendships, gave me something to focus on and is one of the primary reasons I was able to stay str

The last person (maybe ever) to win a WRC rally in a Volkswagen, Andreas Mikkelsen, wants to teach you how to drive on ice. Armed with an Audi RS 3 and some studded tires, Mikkelsen shows you how to make any frozen body of water your play thing. Or, perhaps better put, your dance floor. “If you brake in a straight line and turn, there’s no way the car will turn in,” Mikkelsen points out. “Actually it’s all about dancing with a car, when it comes to driving on a frozen ice lake.” What he means is that you have to throw the car from side to side, playing with the weight of the car. Just like in dancing, timing is everything. When you’ve started a slide, the car will naturally swing like a pendulum, so the back end will come out, and the front end will go where you want it to. No one said it would be easy, though. Even Mikkelsen loses control, but if mastered, it’s a whole heck of a lot of good, clean fun. The post Watch: Andreas Mikkelsen Dances on Ice appeared first on VWVortex

Ever wonder how those crazy action shots of drifting competitions are filmed? Turns out it’s with an Audi. Yes, just like the camera operators in Cops, these unsung heroes are doing something that’s just as impressive and interesting as the stars of the show, and this one, Robyworks, does it with his trusty A6. It’s a gorgeous video full of improbable shots and one of drifting’s most Irish stars, James Deane. The post Watch: Go Behind the Camera with this Drift-Filming Audi appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2l1MEmQ via IFTTT

U.S. owners of illegally polluting Volkswagen diesels have already flown to sunny vacation spots or picked up a new vehicle with the help of buyback and compensation checks. North of the border, over 100,000 Canadians who own a 2009-2016 TDI model are waiting for their cut of a $2.1 billion settlement. However, Volkswagen’s “we’re sorry” gravy train isn’t rolling into everyone’s driveway. Some owners are finding that their vehicles are stuck in a cross-border limbo. Consider the plight of a Toronto-area woman who picked up a used fifth-generation Jetta in July of 2015. Just two months after getting into her new ride, Jacqueline Charlesworth, like so many others hoped to drop the model in exchange for cash. Unfortunately, taking part in VW’s self-shakedown proved difficult. Seventeen months after the scandal went public, Charlesworth still owns the car, with no guarantee of a payment. The problem lies in the vehicle’s American VIN, and the fact that it’s now registered in Canada. “I