Vorderman Volkswagen

For a certain kind of car enthusiast who fetishizes the Czech Republic like others fetishize Italy, any news about Skoda is far too late and far too infrequent, but for the rest of Americans—the vast, vast, vast, vast majority—it can be hard to care about a (re)badge that we never see, no matter how simply clever it is. In this case, though, you might want to perk your ears up. Reports spreading across England’s motoring press have it that the Skoda Kodiaq will be getting a hot, vRS version. That’s big in England because vRS models sell really well and a hot SUV is a combination of things that people think they want and things that people actually buy that’s sure to make it a sales success. Meanwhile, for those of us back here on the American continent, it doesn’t seem like it’ll make a lick of difference. Which is true until you consider the Kodiaq’s size. With a full 200 mm more wheelbase than the European Tiguan, the Kodiaq is the same size as the American Tiguan. That’s inte

A flaw in the computer that controls the fuel pump in 2009 to 2016 Volkswagen Passats and CCs is leading to the recall of 280,000 vehicles in America. The recall covers four-cylinder gas-powered cars that can stall due to a fault that stops the flow of gasoline to the engine. The computer controlling the fuel pump can lose power causing the pump to turn off when the car is running, leading the car to stall. Alternately, the fuel pump can also continue running when the car is off. The problem came to light after Chinese authorities started a recall last year. That is what kicked off this recall, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Volkswagen says it will start notifying owners in October about the problem and will send a second letter later when a replacement pump is available. Despite the recall, VW says it has had no reports of crashes or injuries related to this fault. [source: Associated Press ] The post Fuel Pump Problems Lead to Recall of 280,00

Not only is Volkswagen’s recently unveiled T-Roc subcompact crossover destined to avoid U.S. shores , Volkswagen’s Canadian dealers won’t be offering the T-Roc, either. Revealed last week , we had always assumed the T-Roc was the logical next step for a Volkswagen brand that had suffered long and hard from a limited, delayed, premium SUV strategy in North America. But it turns out Volkswagen of America will skip the T-Roc, likely in favor of a different small utility vehicle. So we asked Volkswagen Canada whether the T-Roc would arrive for the 2018 model year, the 2019 model year, or never at all. Volkswagen’s response is the third option. “At least for now,” company spokesperson Thomas Tetzlaff tells TTAC. Surely small-car-loving Canada — where the Honda Civic has been Canada’s top-selling car for 19 consecutive years and subcompact cars hold 19 percent more market share than they do in the U.S. — wants another subcompact crossover? Nah, not so much. Like Americans, Canadians have

Along with being a huge ode to the land with all those amber waves of grain, the Atlas was also America’s introduction to Volkswagen’s latest infotainment system. Endowed with the latest gauge cluster technology, the Atlas was the first North American VW to use the digital cockpit, a totally digital and changeable set of gauges that has no physical obstructions to get in the way of information. From it, you can see maps and media information, along with driver data and more. It’s great to use and very pretty, but that’s not the only trick VW had up its sleeve. Tanh Uy Phan Tan, electronic strategy specialist, goes over the many new features that the VW can make use of. Among them, personalized info set ups married to specific keys and parental controls that can control what tablets in the rear seats see. Check it all out in the video above. The post Watch: The Atlas Infotainment Explained appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2x51Xnc via IFTTT

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] This week’s Find of the Day comes to us from Illinois via Mexico. We’ll call it our “Find of the Día:” a 1986 MKI Volkswagen Rabbit. Calling this a Rabbit may be a bit of a stretch, though. While most of the world was receiving Mk2 Golfs in 1986, VW was still producing the Mk1 model in Mexico. But this model was not called a Rabbit. It was a Volkswagen Caribe. While we won’t bore you with a full story on the history of this Mexican model, we’ll just hit you with the most important information: the Caribe was sold between 1977 and early 1987, it was available initially as a 5 door, a 3 door model was introduced later, and it had a number of engines including a 1.6L gas, a 1.6L diesel, and an 85HP 1.8L gas engine in the GT model. Got all that? Well, things get more interesting with this orange ’86. Mexican Caribes were most similar in appearance to the North American Rabbit. It had plastic covered bumpers, larger rear taillights, and most not

What was once a proud nameplate adorning the Golf R32, the Passat R36, and the Touareg R50 has now been reduced to only one actual “R” and a smattering of R-Line appearance mods. That may be changing, though, thanks to new leadership in the R division. Jost Capito, the R Division’s new chief, hasn’t had what you’d call an uneventful couple of months. Jost was head of the highly successful, though sadly shrinking Volkswagen Motorsport division late in 2016. He then left the team to take a job high up with McLaren—a regrettable albeit understandable move. Following a shakeup in ownership there, though, he was being asked not to leave butt prints on the door before his cheeks could even leave prints in his seat. Now he’s back at VW and according to a report from Car and Driver , he’s looking to get some real power back into the R division, something they expect to do through the use of more extreme body cladding and pumped up engines. Car and Driver claims that a new, more extreme Go

The world of automobiles is beset by terrible seating. Rock hard sports seats that provide much in the way of support, but little in the way of comfort. Audi’s here to help, though. According to a new survey from JD Power , an automotive quality researching firm, the Audi A3 has the fewest seating-related complaints per customer of any car on the market. Just what does that amount to per 100 owners? Nothing. Zero. Zilch. According to JD Power’s research, not a single Audi A3 owner has any complaints emanating from their rear end. Or none that Audi’s fault, anyway. Not far behind was another VW group stalwart, the Porsche Cayenne (in the luxury SUV Segment), that had just 0.8 reported problems per 100 vehicles, while the BMW X4 followed in third place overall with just 2 complaints per 100 vehicles. Despite their familial relationships, the seats in the two VW group cars don’t actually come from the same source. The Cayenne’s are made by Adient, while the A3’s are made by Magna. Th

Who has $15,000 lying around for a toy car? We’ve covered model cars from the Amalgam Collection in the past, creators of some of the most accurate toy cars imaginable. The company has tailor-made, bespoke 1:8-scale models available, including one for the new Chiron priced at $10,160. But if you think that’s crazy, this Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse model car costs a cool $15,000 because it’s received custom LED lighting from Modell Lichtsysteme. According to Modell Lichtsysteme, which has illuminated several other model cars in the past, this Veyron is the first of two illuminated models ever made and features fully-functioning LED lights up front, inside the cabin, and in the rear. It’s quite impressive to see the lights in action and just how accurate they are compared to the real production car. We can’t even imagine what the total will be for an illuminated Amalgam Chiron model car. This article first appeared on AutoGuide The post This Bugatti Model Car Costs More Than

America loves the Jetta, and it turns out that owners are willing to say it loud because they just awarded it Autopacific’s 2017 Ideal Vehicle Award in the compact segment. It turns out, though, that it’s not just the Jetta that owners love, it’s the chassis too. In the compact car category, the Beetle and the Golf came in second and third, behind the Jetta, as you might perhaps expect. The award is based on feedback from real owners of all kinds of cars, 54,000 of whom responded to the survey that Autopacific, an automotive research and consulting firm, sent out. The survey asked new car and truck owners in the US what they would change about their car’s ride and handling, interior storage, safety, power, acceleration, and much more. “The Volkswagen Jetta has been a bestseller for the brand, and the AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Award is a testament of how much Jetta owners love their vehicles,” said Hendrik Muth, Senior VP, Product Marketing & Strategy. “Our planners, designers,

Underground Racing is known for producing frankly ridiculous cars that can achieve unbelievable speeds on tarmac. Fans of the Huracan and its sister, the R8, the garage has set a number of records on the chassis and now it has one more: 244 mph after just half a mile in an R8. The R8 in question is a yellow model from 2017 that’s been hopped up to make a few more horsepower than it did when Audi signed off on it. Happy to provide you with a paltry 600 horsepower, Audi clearly underestimated the amount of horses people truly need. Underground Racing, meanwhile, corrected that to reflect the needs of the everyman, giving it nearly 2,000 more hp. The everyman behind the wheel, in case you were concerned, is one Mohammad from Drag965, who set the record at Wannagofast NC ½ Mile Shootout. According to Underground Racing, this isn’t some high intensity thoroughbred, either. This car can be driven cross country, set a record, and then drive home, just like in the good old days of racing.

Volkswagen is perpetually late to the SUV party. That much we knew already . The Volkswagen Touareg came late, and was improperly positioned. The Volkswagen Tiguan was  much later, and it too was overpriced and undersized. The Volkswagen Atlas, the brand’s  first three-row crossover, only arrived in America this spring. The Volkswagen T-Roc was clearly not the first guest to arrive, either. The Nissan Juke, Mini Countryman, Subaru Crosstrek, Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-3 have been collecting U.S. sales for years. But it’s not as though Volkswagen was the only major automaker late to the party. Ford’s EcoSport still isn’t here, the Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic were unveiled only recently, and Toyota’s C-HR is a fresh release that lacks an all-wheel-drive option. But the Volkswagen T-Roc, revealed last week , will be more than just late to the party. In the United States, the Volkswagen T-Roc has returned its invitation by ticking t

The Frankfurt auto show, Europe’s premiere exhibition of new automotive technology is just around the corner, and few brands are as excited about it as Audi. With lots of cars expected to be on their way, we thought we’d take a look at what the rumor mill anticipates for the show. The car we’re perhaps most excited for is the RS4 Avant, which has been spotted testing all over. The car is expected to feature the same 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that gets the RS5 to 60 in just 3.9 seconds, but with the back end of a wagon. Continuing in Audi’s rich tradition of making big wagons fast, the car is expected to premiere in Frankfurt. Whether or not it’s US-bound remains to be seen. Next, is the R8 V10 GT, a rear-wheel drive version of the R8 that’s rumored to be arriving next month. This will be much like the highly limited R8 GT from 2011. Only 666 of those (half with a roof, half without). That version was lightened, more powerful, and benefited from loads of carbon. Audi is also expected t

It can be tough being the middle child, constantly vying for attention and approval of others. Thirty years ago, the Volkswagen GTI and Honda Civic Si didn’t need to worry about the Golf R or Civic Type R stealing all their performance limelight the way they do now. Nor were there efficient, overachieving siblings like the eGolf or Civic EX-T claiming all the praise for minimalist fuel consumption. No, times were easier then, when these cars were the top-dogs in their respective model lineups. But not anymore. These models need to work hard for their accolades, and the competition has grown from outside their respective families too, with the likes of Hyundai’s formidable Elantra Sport and Ford’s wild and woolly Focus ST, to name a few. Each has matured into safe and spacious, quick and comfortable cars equally suited for weekend autocross exploits as they are for family-hauling duties, but is one better at these tasks than the other? Styling It goes without saying that nobod

On Thursday, August 24, a blue Golf GTE rolled off the line at Wolfsburg. Normally, that wouldn’t be cause for celebration, but this GTE was the 150,000,000th car ever produced by VW. “150 million vehicles – that means we have made the dream of owning a car come true 150 million times for customers all over the world,” said VW CEO, Dr. Herbert Diess. “You and your day-to-day work are the basis for this success. My colleagues on the Board of Management join me in thanking all Volkswagen employees – at all our sites. This anniversary would not have been possible without your commitment.” It took VW 80 years to reach that milestone. With the first Beetles rolling off the same line in 1945. Eventually 21 million of the bugs would be made, helping considerably in the quest to make this many cars. But it wasn’t the biggest help. Amazingly, the Golf had outsold the Beetle by 2007, and now more than 37 million have been produced in total. Really, though, it’s the whole lineup that helped br

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] It’s time once again for a faithful VWVortex member to help save a fallen German. Today’s ratty rescue is one of Volkswagen’s most iconic autos: the MKII GTI. This model is perhaps best known for winning Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award way back in 1985. MT was smitten with its torquey engine, upscale interior, and perhaps most of all, its lively handling all wrapped in a sedate hatchback body. “Sensible fun” is what they called this second generation sporty Golf. The first and second iterations of the GTI have become collectible classics. Now you can own one too. This 1991 GTI is a real diamond in the rough. To start, it’s an 8V model with a manual transmission. Since it’s a later MKII it features the updated trim with the dual round headlights and separate fog lights, revised body trim, and, of course, the big bumpers. The car is finished in GTI-appropriate Tornado Red paint with period-correct teardrop alloy wheels. Inside, this hot h

Filed under: Etc. , Volkswagen , Budget , Classics Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Warsaw, Dresden, Nürburgring, Wolfsburg, Berlin: You can reach them all with just 54 horsepower. Continue reading The 60-Euro Roadtrip: Driving a cheap VW back to the factory The 60-Euro Roadtrip: Driving a cheap VW back to the factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Aug 2017 17:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2wFEycv

Filed under: Design/Style , Volkswagen , Minivan/Van , Concept Cars Of course, we're not getting it in the States. Continue reading VW California XXL is the camper van of our dreams VW California XXL is the camper van of our dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2vnC668

Filed under: Podcasts , Hyundai , Volkswagen , Crossover , Minivan/Van , Truck , Electric , Future The Microbus lives! Continue reading VW brings back the bus, and Jeep might be on the block | Autoblog Podcast #524 VW brings back the bus, and Jeep might be on the block | Autoblog Podcast #524 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2vdNFRr

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Volkswagen , Emissions , Diesel Continue reading VW engineer in Detroit sentenced to 40-month prison term in diesel case VW engineer in Detroit sentenced to 40-month prison term in diesel case originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2vnIKsR

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] For ABT, the GTI is simply a love affair. After all, it has been successfully involved in its tuning right from the start. No wonder, then, that the ABT designers and engineers have been working on the seventh generation of this “ über -Golf” as well. The result is a car that leaves nothing to be desired and is a real eye-catcher. The ABT Golf VII GTI is a perfect car that leaves nothing to be desired. You could hardly make the VW evergreen more dynamic or sporty: Front spoiler and front grille underline the strong charisma of the ABT Golf GTI, the headlight covers its aggressiveness. Mirror caps and side skirts form a sort of attractive connection with the rear, which, in turn, with its rear skirt set and trunk lid attachment radiates unobtrusive dominance. The four-pipe exhaust system is a typical ABT design element. When you look at the ABT Golf GTI’s rear, you will certainly know where it has been tuned. Also available is a downpipe with

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the manufacturer currently at the center of rampant speculation over a possible Chinese buyout and a spin-off of its Italian luxury brands , is reportedly in early talks with Volkswagen over the joint production of certain light utility vehicles. Volkswagen, which has made crystal clear it wants nothing to do with a merger, might have products the Italian-American automaker could find beneficial. Despite the awkward back-and-forth between FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne and VW Group chief Matthias Müller earlier this year, the German automaker didn’t rule out discussions with FCA. According to a source close to the issue, the discussions include future versions of VW’s small commercial van and, interestingly, a midsize pickup truck. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal , the source said talks are at an early stage. “It’s still very vague, we have to see if this will be pursued,” the source said. While the extent of the potential joint venture isn’t known, the

Some of the maddest car conversions in recent memory come from the UK, and that’s no surprise given the liberal British road-registration rules that allow anyone to build almost anything-on-wheels in their shed – and then make it road legal. But what happens when a guy wants to make his shed into a road legal car? Well, that’s exactly what gardener Kevin Nicks did when he converted his Volkswagen Passat into a drivable shed in 2015. The 52-year-old man took seven months and ֲ£5000 to install a steel frame and wood panels on the poor Passat, and then discovered that registering it for road use is not an easy task. Red tape meant Nicks had to wait for almost six months before the shed was declared road legal – even enlisting the help of then British Prime Minster, David Cameron. Unsurprisingly, that’s just the beginning of the story: Back in 2015, Kevin and his converted-Passat broke the Guinness World Record for the “World’s Fastest Shed”, and earlier this year he also broke the shed

Lamborghini has several Huracan variants in the pipeline, including a ‘Huracan Safari’ that would be capable of doing some mild off-roading and trail driving. This surprising bit of intel comes from Automobile Magazine , who says the off-road ready Lambo will feature height-adjustable suspension, larger wheel arches, body protection panels, four-wheel steering and, of course, all-wheel drive. The V10 trail hunter will also be available in both hardtop and convertible versions. Weird. The Safari is one in a number of Huracan variants Lamborghini is cooking up. Apparently, the automaker also has Speedster and Barchetta versions of the supercar in the works, along with a high-performance SV and an extra hardcore GT3 Stradale. The Speedster, Barchetta and GT3 Stradale models we understand, but Lamborghini has typically reserved the SV badge for its V12 models and that performance niche has already been filled by the Huracan Performante, so we’re a bit skeptical. Automobile also says t

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , Volkswagen The Type 1 Beetle was produced from 1938 to 2003. Continue reading VW celebrates its 150 millionth vehicle, an Golf GTE VW celebrates its 150 millionth vehicle, an Golf GTE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Aug 2017 10:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2xiVjaf

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Volkswagen , Diesel And this was two months before it became public. Continue reading VW CEO reportedly learned of diesel cheating a month before board knew VW CEO reportedly learned of diesel cheating a month before board knew originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Aug 2017 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2wDY35b

How serious are you about performance? USP Motorsports presents Titanium Wheel Bolts for your VW, Audi and Porsche applications. Titanium bolts are 50% lighter than the typical steel bolt, providing your vehicle with a lower rotating mass. This results in a quicker acceleration all around, and lowers overall fuel consumption. The weight savings in the rotating mass  are equally important as lightweight wheels, but at a fraction of the cost. The weight savings can be compared to a stationary weight reduction in the vehicle of approximately 35-40lbs in most cars. Corrosion resistant and strength tested makes these a must have for any performance enthusiasts. Built with approximately 42% more pressure than a steel bolt, the strength is significantly upgraded. USP Motorsports is heavily into performance upgrades, and we use titanium bolts on all of our shop cars. Including our 1/4 record breaking Audi S4 and GT2 Porsche. The post Drop A Few Lbs with USP Motorsports Titanium Wheel Bol

Monterey Car Week has come and gone and we now know how much the gorgeous, perfect, and historically important cars that assembled there sold for. As ever, more than a few classic VWs made their way to the event and these were the top selling ones from the Mecum, RM, Gooding, and Russo and Steele auctions. Predictably, the Buses did well, with lots of money being shelled out for these nostalgic carry-alls. A few surprising entries made their way onto this year’s list, though, selling for a goodly sum, while other sold for way less than you’d expect, but that’s exactly the gamble that makes auctions so appealing. 10: 1971 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Not much to say on this score, except that this is pristine yellow Beetle was probably a pretty good buy for whoever spent $11,000. 9: 1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible Another pristine, though not intensely desirable VW, this Ghia is powered by a 1,600 cc engine with a Freeway Flyer transmission and has a brand new Haartz cl

Adding solar panels to the roof of an electric vehicle is a bit of a no-brainer, but an affinity for panoramic sun roofs complicates things slightly. Audi thinks it might have the solution. Working together with California’s Alta Devices (a subsidiary of China’s Hanergy), Audi wants to put thin-film solar cells into its glass roofs, with a view to eventually covering the whole roof in energy harvesting solar panels. Although they won’t be powerful to enough to power the car yet, the panels will harvest enough power to run secondary electric systems like the air conditioner, which has a direct impact the range of electric vehicles. “The range of electric cars plays a decisive role for our customers. Together with Hanergy, we plan to install innovative solar technology in our electric cars that will extend their range and is also sustainable,” said Dr. Bernd Martens, head of Procurement. Alta Devices holds the single and dual junction solar efficiency records at 28 and 31%. Audi clai

Stealth. Sleeper. Under the radar. The latest generation Golf R is remarkable not only for its performance, but also for its subtlety. There are no basket handle spoilers or wings. No pavement-scraping splitters. No flared-nostril hood scoops. While I would prefer that the R be more differentiated from the GTI, I’m generally fine with its covert mission, with one exception: the exhaust note. The R is just too soft spoken. But for the few seconds the exhaust valves partially open on cold idle and at higher RPM, the R hums along with a barely distinguishable sonic signature. Since getting my R last November, I’ve watched dozens of YouTube videos and read countless forum posts on aftermarket exhausts. One day Brand X sounded good to me, the next day it was Brand Y. Between watching the videos and reading the posts (and searching for any mentions of the dreaded “drone”), I couldn’t settle on a system that offered the right balance. Then there was the cost. Granted, most aftermarket exhaus

Filed under: Earnings/Financials , Hirings/Firings/Layoffs , Audi , Volkswagen , Luxury Continue reading Audi board to meet on Monday to reshuffle management Audi board to meet on Monday to reshuffle management originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2ituuNx

The next-generation VW Scirocco will be a sporty-looking EV with styling cues borrowed from the VW I.D. Concept, according to a new report. The new Scirocco, which isn’t expected to arrive until after 2020, will supposedly ride on VW’s new MEB dedicated electric vehicle platform. AutoExpress predicts its electric powertrain will make around 175 horsepower and boast anywhere from 200 to 375 miles of range. The dimensions would likely stay similar to the current version of the coupe and futuristic styling cues would make its status as an EV obvious. While the current Scirocco isn’t offered in North America, we could see that changing for this new model. American shoppers don’t usually gravitate toward two-door hatchbacks, but if the next-gen Scirocco is indeed an EV, they may just convince more of them to take a look at the coupe. VW is also eager to let everyone know it’s committed to zero emissions vehicles in this post-dieselgate world, and what better way to do that than with a