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The Audi RS 3 is surprisingly engaging and fun to drive, something that you can’t say about a lot of other Audis. Audi’s RS models are very fast and feature an advanced all-wheel drive system, so they feel very sure-footed, which is great for driver confidence and bad weather, but perhaps not the best for getting giggles while you drive. They’re amazing cars, but they don’t feel very alive . In fact, they can feel quite sterile. So when we drove the new Audi RS 3 for the first time recently in Salalah, Oman, we were surprised (and delighted) to find it a bit tail happy, sliding up and down some of the switchbacks in the Gulf state. Considering that the competition for this car includes the rear-wheel drive, easy-to-drift BMW M2, Audi’s entry in this segment has to be just as much fun to drive. Fortunately, it is. So how did Audi make the RS 3 feel as lively as the M2? One trick they used was a unique tire setup. Unlike the Toyota 86, the German automaker didn’t use tires known

Fire up the rumor mill, Audi’s reportedly attending an FIA meeting about F1 engines. According to German website, Spox , Audi will be in attendance at a meeting the FIA is holding in Paris to discuss the future (after 2021) of engine regulations in Formula 1. The meeting’s details are still obscure at this point, but FIA president Jean Todt has ruled out the possibility of returning to the days of big V10 engines, meaning that the sport will continue to use small displacement, turbocharged, hybrid engines. “I realize this is a sensitive subject,” Todt told La Repubblica. “F1 is the flagship of the motorsport industry, and it must be in line with the technological developments of the industry. On the other hand, it must be a balance to keep it sustainable. The machines today are too sophisticated.” Audi recently pulled out of the World Endurance Championship, where its TDI-powered cars had been wildly successful. With the dieselgate scandal, though, Volkswagen lost interest in po

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali paid a visit to the Italian Interior Minister and Chief of Police this week, but not for any nefarious reasons. Instead, he was handing off the keys of a new police-spec Lamborghini Huracan. While our childish imagination sees such a police vehicle helping to stop seriously expensive heists from the Vatican, the vehicle will instead be assigned to normal police duties and will also assist in urgent deliveries of blood and organs. It’s the second Huracan on the police fleet. The car is done up in the Italian police livery, sporting the official paint finish of the public servants, Police Medium Blue. The flashy white striping on the car strays a bit from the traditional police vehicles found throughout Rome, and there’s a nice accent stripe that is the same colors as the Italian flag. Helping complete the look, the car is equipped with P Zero Pirelli tires, with blue tinted sidewalls that were specially c

There’s now some evidence that Volkswagen’s diesel fix does affect the performance of the vehicle. Swedish website Teknikens Värld tested 10 cars before and after the diesel fix and found that in many cases, performance and fuel economy decreased on the vehicles, despite Volkswagen promising that the car would be exactly the same as before. Strangely enough, some cars actually gained power after the fix, but still have higher fuel consumption. The loss of power and torque is as much as 10 percent on some cars, while others saw their torque curves shift, meaning it’s a higher rpm before more torque kicks in. This adds to the impression that the vehicle feels weaker. One of the vehicles tested was a four-wheel-drive Volkswagen Passat Alltrack that measured 176 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque prior to the fix. After the fix, it registered 163 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque. Prior to the fix, maximum torque came between 1500 and 2300 rpm, but after the repair the torque curve slo

If you’re looking for an inexpensive power inverter and don’t want to sacrifice a cup holder or other interior real estate, the Schumacher X114 might be just the ticket — as long as you don’t mind a bit of noise with your power.  Capable of putting out 140 watts of continuous power, the X114 has more than enough juice to drive a laptop or other small electronic device. To that end, it comes equipped with one 120V receptacle, and a 2-amp USB outlet for charging a phone, music player, or most anything else that can be charged via USB.  This series details some technological features you can add to your old ride to make it on par with new OEM offerings. We’ll take you through what products are available, how they work, and what they cost. We’re starting with nine products available from the automotive aftermarket provided by our sponsor eBay, who has also graciously offered up three $500 gift cards . We’ve independently made our product choices based on ease of DIY installation, popul

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Volkswagen , Emissions , Diesel It's a relatively small portion of affected cars, but it's a start. Continue reading VW gets EPA approval to sell backlog of fixed 2015 diesels VW gets EPA approval to sell backlog of fixed 2015 diesels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Mar 2017 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2oCBq9d

Skoda Auto will be revealing its first electric and autonomous vehicle late next month at the Shanghai Motor Show. The Czech Republic-based Volkswagen subsidiary announced it will be showing the Vision E concept all-electric SUV, and that it embodies the brand’s interpretation of electric vehicles. The company claims the Vision E SUV coupe will be able to travel 500 kilometers (310.6 miles), but the vehicle is only in the concept stage. It would probably be using European NEDC range standards, which go longer than what’s used in the U.S. Powerful lithium ion batteries and optimal recuperation will maximize charging range, the company said. It will have 225 kW of system output, allowing for instantaneous acceleration and dynamic driving. It will be able to reach a top speed of 180 kilometers per hour (111.8 mph). Skoda is designing the electric SUV with two electric motors that can work together fluidly for maximum efficiency, and the ability to drive the vehicle on all four wheels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cleared Volkswagen to sell fixed diesel vehicles in the U.S. The German automaker hasn’t been able to sell a diesel-powered car in the U.S. since it admitted to cheating on emissions tests in 2015. It has now received approval from the EPA to sell 2015 model year diesels after updating the vehicles’ emissions software. The fix will also include changes to the diesel engine hardware, but dealers do not have to wait until the repair parts become available next year. While reviving diesel sales is part of Volkswagen’s recovery efforts as a result of the scandal, the big question that remains is how many consumers are still interested in buying Volkswagen diesel vehicles, especially older 2015 model year cars. There’s also the reports that European Volkswagen owners are saying the diesel fix is “ruining” their cars, so it’s possible they don’t perform as advertised. It appears Volkswagen will also have the option to sell repaired vehicle

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Akrapovič, an exhaust company located in Slovenia, has developed an all-new titanium exhaust for the latest Golf R . Their employees worked directly with Volkswagen engineers to create this new system that saves more than 15 lbs over the OEM unit. To achieve this Akrapovič uses advanced technologies such as hydroforming, deep drawing , 3D laser cutting, and parts made in their own in-house foundry (they’re the only exhaust system manufacturer with an in-house titanium foundry). The special titanium alloys used give the unit exceptional anti-corrosion properties and high-temperature resistance. Additionally, the system has been engineered so the exhaust has the most direct route out the four laser-engraved and protective coated tailpipes. Akrapovič conducted extensive sound engineering, throwing the Golf R on the dyno and measuring its sound during on-road tests. They created and tested many different prototypes along the way. They adjusted,

Filed under: Green , Auto Shanghai , Volkswagen , Skoda , Crossover , Concept Cars , Electric It's called the Project E, and it's coming to Shanghai. Continue reading Skoda's next concept is a 300-mile electric SUV Skoda's next concept is a 300-mile electric SUV originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Mar 2017 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2o8gtq9

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Trends follow a pretty set cycle: something is new, it gathers a following, people latch onto it, nearly everyone gets one, and eventually it becomes yesterday’s news and it blends into the background. With today’s SUV craze, insanely modified trucks are quickly moving from weekend toys to everyday vehicles. Jeeps with 12″ lift kits, minimal body panels, huge off-road tires, and full-width LED light bars now slog down our freeways driven by commuters headed to the office; drivers swerving to avoid potholes in a truck that can scale small walls. Ford Raptors with extreme vinyl body graphics shout at you from the elementary school drop off line. And the Starbucks drive thru is lousy with bros in 4Runners. Looking for the anti-SUV? Something with incredible off-road ability that is different than what the other guys are driving? Here’s a truck that will get you just about anywhere you want to go and is unlike anything else out there. This 1980

Many automakers are now offering a dedicated ‘drift mode’ on their performance vehicles, but Audi refuses to buy into the juvenile trend. The German automaker said late last year that it wouldn’t put a ‘drift mode’ on any of its cars and recently doubled down on the stance when speaking to Motoring.com.au. “No drift mode. Not in the R8, not in the RS 3, not in the RS 6, not in the RS 4,” said  Stephan Reil, Audi Sport’s development boss. Audi’s not interested in drift mode as it doesn’t really jive with the brand’s image. The automaker is known the world over for its refined all-wheel drive systems, so it’s easy to see why it wouldn’t want its cars strapped with a system that promotes sliding all over the place. Drifting is a rather slow way to get around a racetrack, as well, further pushing the brand away from ‘drift mode’ type features. “I don’t like them,” Reil added. “I do not see the reason for them. We do not see the sense in sitting there burning the back tyres. It’s not fas

Living the Bugatti lifestyle, it turns out, is wildly expensive. Not only is there the initial outlay of buying a Bugatti, then there are all the accessories. Obviously ( obviously ) you’re going to want to buy the Buyachti , a 66-foot yacht with a fireplace on its deck to get you from port to port in style as you sail the seas sipping on the chilled champagne from your new yacht’s champagne bar. But what about when you get back on land and want to do some exercise in style? You could buy some carbon fiber bike, but those are almost affordable now. No, to distinguish yourself from plebs like Chris Froome, you’ll want this $39,000 bicycle from a company that’s actually called—and there’s no other way to say this— Pimpgarage… It only weighs 5 kg (11 lbs) and comes in a range of color combinations, so you can match it to your Chiron and your yacht. Unfortunately the special bike is not intended for use on public roads, weirdly. It is the lightest special urban bike in the world, wh

The ill remembered Seat Cordoba WRC could never really match the Subaru WRX and the Mitsubishi Lancer during its career, but the 500 hp rally car sure looks good in retirement. With its huge spoiler, its ripping engine note, and more than its fair share of sideways fun, the Cordoba has never looked better than it does in this video from a Spanish hill climb event. Unfortunately it never lived up to the legacy of its stablemates, like the Audi Quattro or even the VW Polo WRC, but when you see it devouring hills so jubilantly you can’t help but love the little Spaniard. In the capable hands of Gerard de la Casa, it’s hard to see why the Cordoba never did better than third. The post Watch: The Seat Cordoba WRC Has Still Got It appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2odUbjN via IFTTT

Volkswagen is backing its management board in its handling of the TDI scandal and the plan to move forward, in a statement. The statement comes ahead of VW’s Annual General Meeting, where shareholders will be able to vote to support (or not) the actions of the board of management. “The Supervisory Board is expressing its confidence in the entire Board of Management’s ability to successfully push ahead with the extensive realignment of the Group,” the Supervisory Board wrote in a statement. This particular board of management helmed VW as it navigated through one of its most difficult scandals and the Supervisory Board’s statement suggests that it is satisfied with how it was handled. The decision comes as a result of an “in-depth legal appraisal” from law firm Geiss Lutz. It based its assessment on findings from Jones Day, which conducted VW’s internal investigation into the dieselgate scandal. Volkswagen’s AGM is set for May 10. The post Supervisory Board Backs VW Management ap

The UK’s Autocar, sick of all the bitter arguments in its office, recently decided to once and for all settle the age old question of which car has had the biggest impact on the world. As we all know the answer is the GTI, but some voters, in what I can only imagine is a ridiculously circuitous Russian plot, have conspired to get two other  cars into the running. Admittedly, they are quite good ones: the Miata and the NSX. So maybe the plot isn’t as nefarious as was initially suspected, but with only a week left to vote it’s still an alarming development. Although this is a UK publication, there appears to be nothing preventing former colonies, or indeed anyone, from voting in Autocar’s Readers’ Champion award. That means that together, we can rectify this potential, as the Brits say, “cock up.” You can vote here on Autocar . The post Is the GTI the Most Influential Car of all Time? Yes. So Vote for It appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2ovgIrT via IFTTT

Volkswagen’s U.S. diesel woes have consumed most of the oxygen in the room for the past year and a half, but Europe has its own issues with the automaker’s powerplants. While European owners haven’t had to hand their vehicle over in exchange for cash, the region’s less-stringent environmental laws still require that VW offer a fix for its rigged diesel engines. Good news for air quality, but bad news — apparently — for drivers. Many owners have discovered the fix turns a perfectly fine (though illegal) vehicle into a nightmare. According to UK’s  The Guardian , complaints are pouring in over the newly compliant 1.6 and 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinders. A total of 1.2 million VW, Skoda and Seat vehicles are currently under recall, of which half a million have seen a fix. Some just require a software upgrade, which happens to be the only available fix for certain newer-model U.S. vehicles, but a more in-depth fix for other vehicles has proved to be a problem. The U.S. hasn’t approved a

As fans of the Winter Olympics may know, before bobsleigh pilots run their race  they visualize the course , simulating the whole thing in their brains. I, on the other hand, still have trouble remembering where all the letters are on the keyboard. Turns out that Sabine Schmitz, the lord of the ring, has a similar trick. Whereas bobsleigh drivers have to remember tracks that are usually less than a mile long, though, Schmitz has just proven that she can remember the 13 mile-long Nurburgring’s nearly 30 named corners in the correct order. The video comes on the heels of Schmitz’s run of the Nordschleife in Volkswagen’s Golf GTI Clubsport S, which currently holds the front wheel drive lap record around said track, for the third episode of Top Gear’s current season. For some reason, the show’s producer times Schmitz as she names the corners, which despite being a somewhat pointless exercise at least gives her another lap record (prolly?). The fast can’t help being fast, can they? Th

Domino’s Pizza has started a new series of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off -inspired ads that pay homage to scenes from the 1986 John Hughes classic about the dangers of public parking. Naturally, Domino’s has zeroed in on the true star of the film. No, not Matthew Broderick, but Mr. Bueller’s Audi 5000. Unfortunately the ad is for young people who wear smart watches, so the role had to be recast. Domino’s wisely decided to keep it in the family, though, using an A4, driven by Alan Ruck ( who played Frye…. Frye… Frye… Cameron Frye in the movie ). The pizzeria also casts Stranger Things star and sentient hairdo, Joe Keery, in the role of Ferris, which is a pretty solid choice, given his already very high nostalgia quotient. We’ll gladly take our royalties in @dominos pizza. #AudiA4 https://t.co/vDuTVjcV5q — Audi (@Audi) March 21, 2017   The post Audi A4 Stars in New Ferris Bueller Dominos Ad appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2ntvgKB via IFTTT

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Have you always wanted a Lamborghini, but just couldn’t afford one? Well, want no more. Even the most humbly budgeted of car enthusiasts can now afford this fiery bull, because it only costs $5. Admittedly, though, that might still be more than it’s worth. That’s because although this was once a 5.0-liter V10-powered Huracan, this particular example went full Lamborghini and caught fire, leaving little more than four bent wheels and the outline of seats. The damage is so extensive that, if it wasn’t for the seats, you’d hardly be able to tell which direction this car was supposed to move in. The car is from Louisiana and the seller has helpfully pointed out that it won’t start, so that might put you off. Honestly, it seems like all you’d get for your $5 is a pretty big pile of garbage to get rid of. On the other hand, it could be worth $5 and your afternoon (plus however much the dump charges you) to be able to say that you’ve owned a Lamb

Germany’s Auto Bild has seen fit to bestow its All-wheel Drive Car of the Year 2017 award to Volkswagen’s new Tiguan in the under 30,000 EUR category. The Tiguan launched in Europe last year, growing in both space and power. It will be joined by the Tiguan Allspace (the lengthened version of the crossover that we’ll be seeing here) this year. The people’s choice award was handed to VW last week at an even in Frankfurt, Germany. The Auto Bild trohpy will join Auto Motor und Sport’s in the trophy cabinet. That publication also saw fit to call the Up! one of its best cars of 2017. The Golf Alltrack, meanwhile, was Canada’s car of the Year 2017, an award presented to VW at the Toronto Auto Show. The Detroit Auto Show, on the other hand, was I.D. Buzz’s show. It won a design award there. The post Tiguan Wins Auto Bild’s AWD Car of the Year appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2nadCJj via IFTTT

Back in the ‘80s VW was one of a number of manufacturers producing a van without a forward engine compartment to cushion you in case of an accident, so it was interested in proving that the Transporter was still safe. Following a number of tests of its own, VW hired Allianz to run some tests and corroborate its results. The results will make you thank Thor for airbags. From the outside, some of them don’t look too bad, but as soon you look into the vans it’s all crushed knees and caved in chest cavities. The Transporter, though, does actually fare pretty well. In that charming,  Look-Around-You -kind-of way, the narrator explains that “leg room was only slightly restricted,” as if the driver should be annoyed and not thankful that they didn’t have to be pried out of the car, like the dummy from the Toyota Liteace. The experiment even found that the VW could have been fixed after its collision, unlike the rest of its competitors. And the video explains just why that is. It’s all

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising , Podcasts , Ford , GMC , Honda , Lexus , Mazda , MINI , Volkswagen James Riswick joins us to discuss the many new cars he's driven, we rant about a VW ad, and then it's time to spend your money. Continue reading Volkswagen's latest ad is not subtle | Autoblog Podcast #509 Volkswagen's latest ad is not subtle | Autoblog Podcast #509 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Mar 2017 16:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2o09fkX

Bugatti has been teasing us with its latest 1,500 hp hypercar for what feels like an eternity now, never letting anyone but its own employees give journalists (and even Ronaldo) rides in it. But now, Carfection has the first ever video review of the thing. And they seem to like it. From the very beginning, it’s clear that they aren’t going to pan it. With the bold title “Beyond Perfection,” it’s a safe bet that Carfection liked the car. And they do a good job of showing why. The video makes the Chiron sound amazing and look fast as it flies down country roads and into Carfection’s heart. Although Bugatti has dubbed it “the world’s fastest concert hall,” they say they don’t know how fast it will go, but they do know that it’ll accelerate from 0-60 in less than 2.5 seconds. From a less scientific standpoint, the way the Chiron’s speedo twists clockwise is, frankly, unnerving. Check it out above. The post Watch: The Bugatti Chiron (Finally) Reviewed appeared first on VWVortex .

There’s a Terminator-like CGI image floating around that purports to show the upcoming Volkswagen T-Roc compact crossover. If it is VW’s new sub-Tiguan utility vehicle, and you’ve already seen the flashy T-Roc concept, prepare to be underwhelmed. As we reported earlier this week, the T-Roc—which might adopt a new moniker in the U.S.—was reportedly  green-lit for the American market  after dealers gave it their seal of approval. VW needs utility vehicles, and a youthful, sporty little ride that encourages owners to drop their tops seems like just the ticket to stimulate interest in the brand. However, it seems the targa-top, pillarless two-door will lose all of those unique features before appearing on dealer lots. The shimmering specter appeared in a promotional video at the Geneva Auto Show, and its bulging fenders and short overhangs lend credence to rumors that it is the T-Roc. Reports out of Europe, where the T-Roc will launch later this year, claim the CUV will feature removabl

Filed under: Government/Legal , Volkswagen , United States , Diesel And now the owners of the stadium where the cars are is in legal trouble. Continue reading Dirty VW diesels sit in parking-lot limbo in Pontiac, Michigan Dirty VW diesels sit in parking-lot limbo in Pontiac, Michigan originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Mar 2017 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2neY0Fm

What is it about a foolish quest that inspires us? The number one pick in the all time list of novels (going chronologically) is Don Quixote, whose name literally came to mean exceedingly idealistic and unrealistic. Anyway, I’m not totally sure why I’ve got Don Quixote on my mind as I line up behind a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk at the mouth of a snowy trail. So here’s the deal. Volkswagen (along with every other automaker) makes a big deal out of how much more capable its cars are thanks to the addition of a differential sending power to two extra wheels (in this case the back wheels, but it doesn’t really matter). Specifically, VW has made a big deal about this in reference to its new Golf Alltrack, a wagon with 6.9 inches of ground clearance and some plastic cladding said to be able to conquer all tracks. My question is, is it writing checks it can’t cash? At the launch event for this handsome ode to the Lee Valley, VW sent a bunch of automotive journalists and also me to an of

There are special cars, and then there are special cars. At a quick glance, you’ll be drawn to this MKI Golf with the incredible Martini striping, widebody kit, and well-rubbered BBS wheels. But look a little longer and the CAE shift box, KW Clubsport coilovers, carbon fiber door panels, Sparco race buckets, five point harnesses, full roll cage, stripped interior, and most importantly, the 350 HP turbocharged 1.8L Skoda RS engine will get your mind racing. Are you daydreaming of laps in this mighty monster? Take a look at the footage and dream no longer. (Video) This car chews up the track and spits out. The little rabbit sprints past everything else it encounters, including an interesting number of classic Audis (local owner’s club perhaps?). And it does all that while still remaining a front wheel drive car . Imagine yourself behind the wheel of that Porsche Cayman in the video and a modified Volkswagen Golf, an economy car , blows past you like you were an octogenarian on your way

Skoda will be releasing its first all electric vehicle in 2020, according to VW brand’s CEO, Bernhard Maier, calling the new car an “electric shock.” Details are still scant, but the new EV will be preceded by at least one plug-in hybrid based on the Superb, he revealed to the UK’s Auto Express. Skoda, VW’s Czech value brand, released a teaser image of the electric concept, and Maier said that the concept would debut at the Shanghai motor show. “In Shanghai we will show a surprise,” Maier told Auto Express. “It will give an outlook of what electrical mobility at Skoda will look like.” Maier called the concept a “purpose-built pure-electric” car, mirroring VW language when referring to the MEB platform, but revealed no more. Although Maier did not mention the MEB platform, on which the VW I.D. is built, given Skoda’s dependence on Group platforms and VW’s intentions to share its new electric platform across the Group, it seems likely that this will be based on that pure-electric pla

Starting a business or getting a new technology is not easy; you need money, space, access to resources, and a lot of coffee (I’m guessing). At CeBIT 2017 Volkswagen announced they’re going to help entrepreneurs with most of these needs. Space within the Transparent Factory in Dresden Germany is being freed up for an incubator program called the Ideation Hub. This space is being reserved for start-ups working on cutting-edge mobility solutions in fleet management, car sharing, concierge and navigation/parking services, and smart home services. The program gives start-ups the opportunity to see their concepts brought to life. What makes this new initiative interesting is how they’ll decide who gets the keys to the front door; through a fast-paced competition that Mark Cuban would probably endorse. Time is of the essence with this program: participants have until the end of April to send in their mobility ideas. Volkswagen and the Economic Development Department of the City of Dresden

The city of Pontiac, Michigan is suing the owners of the Silverdome because of the TDIs being parked there in the wake of the dieselgate scandal. The city says that the owners, Toronto’s Triple Investment Group, is violating safety, zoning, and building codes by allowing VW to store its TDIs there. The parking lot is being used as a storage space while Volkswagen tries to find a fix that US regulators will approve. According to the company, the cars are being maintained until such a time as their fate is sealed and they can be fixed or recycled. The parking lot has reportedly been storing VWs for a few months now. Volkswagen has not revealed exactly how many cars are being stored there, but pictures reveal that it’s quite a few. The Pontiac Silverdome is one of many storage spaces across the nation. The Silverdome’s owners are holding out hope that the issue can be resolved amicably. “Our client is actively engaged and working with the city. We hope to resolve our differences wit

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] This bright green Audi RS 3 sedan I’m piloting is a very fast small car that makes awesome, playful noises. But unlike Audi sport models of old, this one can slide through corners up and down the Dhofar mountains of Oman. If you think too hard about all that, it may boggle the mind. Who goes to Oman to test drive an Audi? And aren’t these cars typically offered with a drab color palette of grays, whites and blacks, making them easily mistakable for a VW Jetta? How did the company put so much speed and style in such a small package, and how on earth is a car with a pedigree and loyalty to grippy all-wheel drive sliding like a real-wheel-drive car? Affordable fast and a bit of a throwback It’s clear that with the RS 3, the most accessible vehicle in the Audi Sport catalog, things have changed dramatically. Starting at around $60,000 USD ($62,900 CAD) this is the most affordable vehicle Audi Sport will offer, and instead of just mailing it in

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Fromer WRC and WRX champion Petter Solberg and his teammate Johan Kristoffersson were Stockholm, Sweden to launch their entry for the 2017 World Rallycross Championship. The two will be racing under the banner of a brand new team, going from 0-60 in less than two seconds thanks to the 570 hp mill that moves the 2017 Polo GTI Supercar. Solberg’s decision to join the team came as a shock earlier this year, as his team PSRX, which had been running a Citroen last season, joined in with Volkswagen Sweden to develop the car that Volkswagen Motorsport put together. Although he has won the world rallycross title twice, Solberg will have his work cut out for him if wants to be the number one driver, since his new teammate, Johan Kristoffersson outfinished him (2 nd place) last season. “I’ve been P3 2015, I was P2 2016, and, I mean, in 2017 it would be a nice way to finish on the top spot,” said Kristoffersson, admitting, though, that a top spot i

(ed. note VW Vortex wishes to apologize for the random and indeed annoying spaces between paragraphs. We’re working on removing them ) Volkswagen is preparing to launch its first all-electric I.D. car in 2020 and thanks to increasingly strict emissions rules in Europe and China it’s extremely unlikely to miss that target. VW brand CEO Herbert Diess told analysts last week that the I.D. concept hatchback shown at the Paris auto show last year is expected to have its design approved in August for the 2020 launch. The second electric vehicle will be an SUV coming out after 2020, with a concept shown next month in Shanghai. The I.D. Buzz minibus concept previewed at the Detroit auto show in January will be the third and should come out in 2022. All of the I.D. series will be built on the new MEB modular electric platform. The European Union expects new vehicles sold fleetwide by automakers to reduce CO2 emissions down to 95 grams per kilometer by 2021. China should require about 117 g

For all our modern brilliance we’re still subject to the whims of nature and the vast expanses that separate us. That’s why when race car drivers want to improve, as often as not they’ll take to the simulator. But what if you want to test an engine? Then you need simulator rig such as Bugatti’s. Not seen this before: @Bugatti engine rig simulates a flat-out run of the @nuerburgring , #chiron #hypercars http://pic.twitter.com/pwu6IpVQKq — James Mills (@squarejames) March 18, 2017 The rig has been making the rounds today thanks to one James Mills of the Sunday Times , who tweeted footage of it in operation. According to Mills, the rig is simulating a flat out run of the Nürburgring, ensuring that Bugatti’s 1,500 hp V16 doesn’t fall apart under the gravitational forces of the ring. On top of being hypnotic, it’s also a reminder of just how simultaneously difficult and sophisticated automotive design is. It would be tempting to test an engine on a static stand, because that’s wh

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] It’s that wonderful time of year when temperatures warm, the sun stays in the sky for a little bit longer every day, and sweaters retreat into dresser drawers for their annual hibernation. For car nerds it’s not just spring, it’s convertible shopping season. Now’s the time to start looking for that perfect car for a cruise to the beach, a road trip to the lake, or an evening at the local drive-in. Here we have what may be the perfect summer car , and a true icon of the era, a 1992 Volkswagen Cabriolet Wolfsburg Edition. What makes this car an icon you ask? Simple: white on white on white. The triple white Cabby may be VW’s most memorable model of the 80’s and early 90’s. These chiseled droptops appeared in countless movies and television shows. Most recently a certain doomed character in the popular Netflix show Stranger Things drove a Cabriolet. These convertible Rabbits were simply everywhere back in the day and they are sure to become c