Vorderman Volkswagen

Filed under: Bugatti , Honda , Jeep , Land Rover , Lexus , Lincoln , Mazda , Nissan , Rolls-Royce , Volkswagen , Crossover , Sedan , SUV , Electric , Luxury , Auto News Recaps We certainly can't say 2017 was a boring year, so it's with some pleasure that we look back at our most-read car reviews and see that they're all about interesting subjects in one way or another. Despite the vast popularity of mostly soulless crossovers, the cars you most wanted to read about this year tended to possess character, distinctiveness, and in most cases, excellence. Here they are ... 10) 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom First Drive | When only the best will do "Philip Koehn, the engineer d Continue reading Autoblog's 10 most-read car reviews of 2017 Autoblog's 10 most-read car reviews of 2017 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Dec 2017 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2lk...

Filed under: By the Numbers , Volkswagen Continue reading VW says it’ll built a record 6 million vehicles by end of year VW says it’ll built a record 6 million vehicles by end of year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Dec 2017 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2Ecke2T

Filed under: BMW , Hyundai , Kia , Lexus , Lincoln , Toyota , Volkswagen , Sedan , SUV , Electric , Hybrid , Luxury And the Stinger is made by who now? Continue reading Did Lexus make a BMW? Or did BMW make a Lexus? This and other 2017 surprises Did Lexus make a BMW? Or did BMW make a Lexus? This and other 2017 surprises originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Dec 2017 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2ljSxxs

Filed under: Design/Style , Green , Volkswagen , Minivan/Van , Truck , Classics , Electric , Future , Luxury , Off-Road , Specialty We think Volkswagen should seriously consider VW I.D. Buzz variants, like a Camper, a Deluxe, and a Syncro Doka pickup truck. Continue reading These VW I.D. Buzz renderings make the minivan cool again These VW I.D. Buzz renderings make the minivan cool again originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Dec 2017 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2pNyb4k

The ID family is set to expand and it looks like Volkswagen is coming closer to finding names for the new members. According to new trademark filings registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), VW is interested saving the names I.D. Cruiser and I.D. Freeler. We’ve long known that VW has plans to introduce more I.D. models around the world, but it’s hard to pinpoint what market these names are intended for since WIPO covers most of the world. We do know that Volkswagen previously revealed that at least two new I.D. electric models are coming stateside in addition to the vehicles based on the Buzz and the Crozz concepts. These models—a sedan and an SUV concept—are expected to arrive before 2022. They have been referred to as AEROe (sedan) and Lounge (SUV), in previously leaked documents . VW Vortex also uncovered trademark applications for the name “I.D. Streetmate” in September . Europe, meanwhile, will have at least one more I.D. model than us: a hatchba...

In the latest trailer for The Grand Tour’s second season, available now on Amazon Prime, Jeremy Clarkson is seen getting some seat time with the Bugatti Chiron. Staying true to the show’s name, Clarkson takes the Chiron on a true ‘grand tour’, driving it to a breakfast spot in St. Tropez, before taking it to go skiing in the Alps and driving it into Turin for a nice dinner. While Clarkson enjoys all this decadence, Hammond is stuck in the office as he recovers from his Rimac crash. The trailer also features some other nonsense from everyone’s favorite car-crazy trio, with a Vauxhall taking out some garbage bins, a BMW drifting through a roundabout and a Kia Stinger getting sideways through some twisty roads. The episode will be available to watch on Amazon Prime starting this Friday. This article first appeared on AuotGuide The post Jeremy Clarkson Gives the Bugatti Chiron a Go in Latest Grand Tour Trailer appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2l0KZyy ...

The Huracan Performante set the internet ablaze with its record-breaking lap at the Nurburgring earlier this year, and now Top Gear ’s Chris Harris has gotten his hands on one. When he isn’t pretending to be unpleasant on the Top Gear couch, Harris can still put together a good review and this short blast around the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland proves it. The car, he says, is the best Lamborghini he’s driven in years thanks to a couple of important changes that make the little bruiser a real driver’s car. Whether it all comes down to that magical aero system (Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva) or is a more holistic chassis tune still isn’t quite clear, but the result is a car that’s easily handled thanks to predictable understeer that’s easily solved by a kick of throttle from the mystical V10. The post Watch: Chris Harris Drives the Huracan Performante appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2pfoPOo via IFTTT

The age of the 3D printer is upon us. No longer relegated to college lab classes, the automotive industry is confident enough in the durability of parts created with this new process that Volkswagen is already using it. Even though the current list of parts made using 3D printing is short, the potential for the new technique is high. It is already being used to create gear shifters and small components used on interior trim and under the hood. So is 3D printing destined to replace conventional methods altogether? Will we one day soon be driving cars built entirely of 3D printed parts? The Future is Three-Dimensional Don’t expect to see an entire car come rolling out of a 3D printer anytime soon. Instead of replacing conventional methods, think of 3D printing as a solution for a set of problems we had no means to address before . It’s particularly useful for making small, intricate parts. Parts fabricated using 3D printing have a few unique advantages over their conventionally made...

With sales of Audi’s halo supercar slowing and the buzz of electrification in the air, it seems the future of the R8 has come under fresh threat. A new report from Automobile claims that when this generation R8’s run is up in 2020, there will be no replacement. That would be a sign of Audi holding a particularly dim view of the R8 since that’s when the Huracan’s follow-up is expected. The magazine also claims that the Scorpion, a rather exciting sounding supercar powered by a V8 with desmodromic valves, is dead. That despite the engine technology coming from Ducati, whose place within the VW Group has just been reaffirmed. To be honest, though, gluing four bike engines together to make a V8 sounds about as ill-conceived and unbelievable as the plot of Interstellar, so that’s hardly a surprise. Neither claim is sourced or backed up by a quote. As ever, Audi Sport wants to expand the lineup and make it more “international.” So that means more RS models generally, more RSQs speci...

The Golf R, I don’t need to tell you, is a wonderful thing but no car is better than the addition of a couple hundred horses. APR is all too happy to help. The Gonzo Golf R takes what was good and makes it unforgettable. With forged internals, a 71 mm Borg-Warner turbo, and more the Gonzo makes 470 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque on pump gas. With race gas, that’s more like 536 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque, which allegedly gets it through the quarter mile in just 10.8 seconds. And the result is predictable, according to this video from The Smoking Tire . “Extremely fast,” is how Farah describes it, though it doesn’t really lose its essential Golf R spirit. “It doesn’t make you work very hard,” says Farah, describing it as both unflappable and remarkably civil. But for the attention-grabbing wrap, it’s still the “gentleman’s choice” despite being fast enough to keep up with “any Porsche south of a Turbo.” The post Matt Farah Drives the Unflappable 475 HP APR Gonzo Golf R appeared first ...

Better yell “fore” before launching this MK.1 Golf. That’s because it’s seen a few upgrades since rolling out of the showroom nearly 40 years ago. If the Golf had the biggest engine available when it was new in 1980, it only made 74 hp from 1.6L. Now it makes more than six times that number. 455 hp. We’re not sure what’s under the hood now, but it definitely has a turbo. A big one. With the wonderful sounds of anti-lag. The Golf launches like a Titleist from a tee, tearing down the 1,000-meter track. There’s no time at the end, but it’s undoubtedly fast. Who says you can’t teach an old car new boost tricks. The post Video: 455 hp Rocket Golf appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2CRXq6V via IFTTT

Just a few days ago, the Volkswagen Group announced that it had nearly sold 1,000,000 cars in November. Little did we know then how big a role Bugatti has played in that figure. Untethered by such gauche responsibilities as announcing monthly sales figures (and don’t you know it’s rude to ask, where did you go to finishing school?), Bugatti has been a bit of a mystery as far as volume is concerned. Now, though, the French super carmaker has announced that it achieved its goal of selling 70 cars this year. “It is a tremendous success for the entire Bugatti team that we have already reached the target of 70 vehicles in the first full year of production of the Chiron,” said Wolfgang Durheimer, the soon to retire president Bugatti. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our suppliers for their commitment and delivery compliance.” With more than 300 cars already ordered, and a further 200 still available (in the future, of course) Bugatti will have to continue working...

We’re a few weeks away from seeing Volkswagen’s most important model for the North American market: the entirely new MQB-based Mk7 Jetta. We’ve already covered the MK1 and MK2 models, so let’s take a look at the third generation Jetta: the Mk3. While the first-gen model introduced North America to the small German sedan, and the second gen Jetta caught more buyer’s eyes, the third generation shall go down in history as the car that kept Volkswagen from leaving the market entirely. The late 80s and early 90s were difficult for the company. The MK2 Jetta, while successful, was quite old. A mild update in 1990 couldn’t hide the aging architecture. Its competition had continued to advance and the little sedan could not keep up. Exchange rates at the time didn’t help either. Sales dipped to a low not seen since the 1950s. The car company that had introduced Americans to high quality, low-cost foreign cars was now barely staying afloat. When Volkswagen introduced the MK3 Jetta in 1993, ...

Filed under: Etc. , Videos , Volkswagen , New Car Reviews , Crossover , SUV , Original Video There are very few things in this word that I enjoy more than a road trip through the mountains, so I didn't hesitate when Volkswagen invited us to take their newest SUVs, the Tiguan and Atlas, on a road trip through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. Continue reading 2018 VW Tiguan and Atlas in Yellowstone National Park 2018 VW Tiguan and Atlas in Yellowstone National Park originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Dec 2017 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2DbI6TH

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Our latest Find of the Day is one of our own. Actually, this car can be traced to two VWVortex members: DAROWDYAUDI and, more recently, dbmx61491 . From 2007 to today, this 1995 Jetta GLX VR6 has received extensive modifications. We’ll attempt to cover the most important ones here, even more of the changes are outlined in the links at the bottom of this article. The MK3 Jetta proved to be a popular model for VW in the U.S. When the MK2 was put out to pasture in 1992, Volkswagen’s annual sales volume was so low that they were looking to exit the North American market entirely. The new for 1993 Jetta helped change their sales slump. Perhaps this improvement in market share allowed the usually cautious Germans to loosen their lederhosen a bit: a number of interesting colors made it out of the factory in Puebla Mexico. In the 1990s you could get a Jetta in teal green, pink, and even the color on today’s FOTD: Dusty Mauve. It’s quite the contras...

Traffic during the holidays can be a serious drag, especially if you live in a major metropolitan area. At a time of year when you want to just relax with friends and family and enjoy a little time off, the last place you want to be is stuck in gridlock on the Interstate somewhere. Traffic app Waze recently analyzed its data to find out what the worst days and times to travel during the Christmas season are, so you know exactly when to leave in order to avoid the congestion. According to Waze, the absolute worst time to drive this Christmas is on December 22nd between the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. This makes sense, as it’s soon after many people will start their time off, and leaves enough of a gap before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for people to reach their destination or see extended family. The second worst time to travel is  December 23rd from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  and on Christmas Eve traffic will be the worst between  4 p.m. and 6 p.m. In short, if you don’t w...

But that’s okay because 995,900 is still more than 11% more vehicles than the Group sold in November in 2016. So all in all, that’s not a bad result. “November was a successful month for our core brands with a significant rise in deliveries,” said Fred Kappler, Head of Group Sales at Volkswagen. “Our brands recorded solid growth, not just in China, but in all regions worldwide. As a result, Group passenger car deliveries in November clearly outperformed the overall market.” In America, sales rose 3%, whereas in Europe they rose 6.5%. China also performed well, with growth of around 15% in the month. Brazil was the real stunner, though, with growth of more than 40%. That growth still doesn’t account for an exceptional number of vehicles—Brazil has been in economic dire straits for a while—but is at least promising, since the market has traditionally been a sales engine for the Group. The strong results last month mean that for the year so far, again, nearly all markets are up. Sout...

You don’t have to be an accountant to see that buying a Phaeton would be a colossally stupid decision. It’s a big, expensive to fix, unreliable, Passat clone with luxuries that are more than a decade out of date. But I defy you to watch this video and look at the prices for one, and not feel the tug of temptation pulling at your heart. Sure, there are a lot of things that don’t make sense about this car like its original price tag or its place within the VW empire, or the way DeMuro says Fayitin (and boy does he say it a lot), but it has 12 cylinders—a number that only the finest cars are allowed to have—and massaging rear seats, something that the A8 is only catching up with today. Sure, light-up buttons that show you how much air your vents are allowing through aren’t necessary, but necessity is the opposite of luxury. And yes, the VW logo isn’t exactly synonymous with luxury—nor should it be—but if a childhood spent reading Chomsky and watching  Britney Spears’  Lu...

From the days of the Bugatti Veyron, Clarkson, Hammond, and May have been seriously impressed by the work going on at Bugatti. Now, they’re finally covering the Chiron on The Grand Tour. Episode 3 of the show will focus on the 1,500 hp hypercar and whether or not owning it is better than experiencing the glamor of St Tropez, the liberty of skiing the Alps, and the divine joy of enjoying a meal in Turin that somehow involves helicopters. So basically it’s a chance for Clarkson to get pampered in Southern Europe. Golly, what sacrifices he makes for his craft. The episode will also feature a review of the Kia Stinger GT in Majorca (by May) and some parking lot racing by Hammond. You can check it out on Friday. [source: Carscoops ] The post The Grand Tour to Take on the Chiron appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2D1xYgd via IFTTT

Following the announcement that current head of Audi Sport, Stephan Winkelmann is on his way to Bugatti at the beginning of next year, the Audi sub-brand was in need of new leadership. And they’ve found it in the form of Michael-Julius Renz. Renz comes to Audi Sport from his previous position as president of the sales division in China and has been with the company for 20 odd years, now. “With his international experience, Michael-Julius Renz will further drive the growth of Audi Sport worldwide,” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board at Audi, in a statement. “Under his leadership, we want to firmly establish the brand as a global player in the market.” In his new role, Renz will be in charge of Audi’s most performance-oriented products and will continue down the path set by his predecessor of expanding the RS range. His work at Audi Sport will officially begin on March 1, 2018. Winkelmann will, meanwhile, depart the company on January 1, headed for Bugatti. Under his rul...

Audi is finally talking about the next A6, though you’ll have to be a filmmaker of note to find out anything more than the very minimum for now. That’s because Audi is keeping mum about the car, beyond saying that it will be revealed next year. It is, though, inviting young filmmakers to help it make teaser videos about the car, with a focus on digitalization, performance, and comfort—which Audi sees as the A6’s core characteristics. If you’re a filmmaker who believes they’ve got what it takes to film for the A6, you can find out more at this website , though a crash course in German may help. Audi didn’t reveal more than that, but we do expect that the next A6 will be based on the MLB platform, like its sisters the A7 and the A8. Like the latter, it will also reportedly get level 3 autonomous capability. With a range of six-cylinder engines expected—and a V8 for the RS6—the car should be perfectly capable of keeping up with traffic. The post Audi Starts A6 Teaser Campaign appea...

Volkswagen subsidiary Electrify America said that it’s planning to build and open 2,800 charging stations in the U.S. in a year and a half. The plan is for 2,800 charging stations in 17 of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. And they want to have them ready to go by June of 2019. That’s 2,800 stations divided between 500 sites, with three-quarters of them at workplaces. The rest will be at multifamily homes like apartment buildings or condos. VW is spending $2.8 billion on clean car infrastructure, with $800 million of that going to California alone. Charging sites are expected in 38 states, along corridors with high population. Electrify America has said that they will largely follow the Federal government’s EV charging corridors. The automaker is planning an entire family of electric vehicles, like those based on the popular I.D. Crozz, hatch, and Buzz concepts. Those drivers will need somewhere to charge. The current lack of charging stations will become more of ...

Filed under: Volkswagen , Hatchback , Sedan , Performance A more powerful 3.0-liter gas engine would take it from 276 hp to 409. Continue reading Volkswagen has a prototype Arteon with a turbocharged VR6 with 409 horsepower Volkswagen has a prototype Arteon with a turbocharged VR6 with 409 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Dec 2017 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2kfoK8h

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] With a reported reveal date set for April of 2018 , the new Touareg is just about ready to roll, as these new spy pictures reveal. Caught totally uncamouflaged, the Touareg was reportedly being shot by VW in preparation for its official debut. Based on the MLB platform, the new Touareg will share much in common with the Audi Q7, including a high-end appearance and some high tech toys. Whether it will ever come to America remains to be seen, though, as the brand’s new SUVs—namely the Atlas—may have displaced the Touareg altogether. The post The New Touareg Spied Undisguised appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2Burh6f via IFTTT

Check out this video explaining what can happen if you miss a shift in your car. This video was put together by Deutsche Auto Parts, a VW and Audi parts company. They put out tons of videos including DIY Videos for Performance or Repair, Q&A videos with questions from the VW and Audi community, as well as other videos explaining how automotive systems work. They offer a wide variety of parts such as Genuine VW/Audi parts, Bosch, Liquimoly, Motul, Unitronic, CTS, Southbend, Chemical Guys…. and so many more. For more info on them check out their company story here  http://ift.tt/2CyEyd4 company-story . The post Watch: What Happens When You Money Shift a GTI appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2BtgHvZ via IFTTT

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Are you in the market for a new project car? Looking for something to wrench on? Well, our latest Ratty Rescue may be just the car for you. This 1990 Jetta coupe needs a few things, one of which is a new home. Another is something just as important: a drivetrain. The MK2 Jetta is a standout in the long lineage of VW sedans. It’s known for many fine qualities: a comfortable yet sporty European drive, crisp handling, and sharp design. Jettas came with a number of different engines and trim levels over their 8-year production run. They were available in the very common 4 door sedan body style as well as the rare 2 door ‘coupe’ like the car here. This 1990 2 door is ripe for a restoration and has many positives. To start, the car has minor rust; from the photos it looks like the front fenders need the most work. Interestingly, the pinch welds under the rocker panels show little to no rust. The rest of the exterior has some flaws, but no extensiv...

Volkswagen is looking to give its halo sedan a bit of a boost, with the help of a turbo-VR6 making around 400 hp. The report comes from Car Throttle , which spoke to Martin Hube, a product line spokesperson in Europe, who told them that a prototype is already running around its test tracks with the unusual drivetrain. Although Audi’s five-cylinder mill has already proven it fits in the MQB platform and can pump out surprising amounts of horse power, the report would suggest that VW wants to put its own turbocharging prowess to good use with the 3.0-liter narrow-angle V6. “I’m totally convinced that this combination is extremely nice,” Hube told Car Throttle. The biggest engine you can currently buy the Arteon with is the 2.0-liter inline four, though it does make a healthy 275 hp. Some speculate that the VR6, though, is on its way out due to its limited application and VW’s love of production simplicity. The Atlas, however, is still putting the engine to use, so it’s not dead yet....

Filed under: Volkswagen , Crossover , SUV Volkswagen filed trademark applications for the names "Atlas Cross Sport" and "Atlas Allsport." Continue reading Volkswagen plans an 'Atlas family' of SUVs and crossovers Volkswagen plans an 'Atlas family' of SUVs and crossovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Dec 2017 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2kCd134

Designs don’t tend to last long in the world of cars, so models with staying power deserve credit. People think of the Mustang and 911 as timeless designs, but the original people’s car predates both. Sure, it took a little hiatus, but the car-buying public has responded well to the new Beetle in general. The 2018 model brings a new version of the classic bubble-top design that is still recognizably a bug, but with modern accouterments and even some sporting flair. So how is the VW community responding to these changes? Let’s take a look at some reactions and find out. Cons Even though the updated Beetle receives a new powerplant in the form of the 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder currently offered in the Tiguan, the new engine doesn’t come with a partner transmission. Volkswagen has chosen to continue using the 9G automatic transmission from the previous generation, instead of the available updated automatic or DSG. In the words of Ripdubski “The 09G transmission needs to go ...

There are two kinds of people in the world: people who plan meticulously and those who prefer to fly by the seat of their pants. The Hoonigans are the latter. The setup is simple here: buy the cheapest running Baja bug you can and take to the Baja 1000. We recently featured a video of Jason Torchinsky driving the Project Baja Beetle , which raced the event this year after six years of planning with a support crew driven down the peninsula by nearly a dozen cars. In other words, they did it right. Hoonigan did not. To be fair, the last minute plan came together out of necessity. According to the video, Hoonigan had planned to take a pair of Ford Raptors to Baja, but the plan fell apart and they only wanted to drive the support roads, not the actual racetrack. So there was, at least, plan in place, it just wasn’t a thorough one. As the guys point out, though, fixing the Beetle turns out to be pretty easy and cheap, which is why we all need more air-cooled VWs in our lives. Unfortun...

The Grand Tour returned to Amazon Prime last week with the debut of episode 1 its second season. That episode was likely the one that many were most hyped up for, as it was the one in which Richard Hammond suffers an unfortunate crash in a Rimac Concept One. That doesn’t mean the show has nothing left to offer for the rest of season 2, though. Far from it. For episode two, Jeremy Clarkson gets his hands on the Ford GT and races Hammond and James May, who are on public transit, to the USA-Canada border at Niagara Falls. Top Gear fans will know this is a classic challenge for this trio, which should please them and others who might miss the BBC-backed TG days. this article first appeared on AutoGuide The post Clarkson takes on NYC Traffic in Latest Grand Tour Trailer appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2kqV0Vo via IFTTT

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Late last month we got an early look at an RS7 test mule i n dry conditions and now a mule with new wheels is testing in the frozen north. With unmodified bumpers and ersatz wheel arches like the previous mule, the car seen here clearly isn’t ready for production. It does at least hint at a couple of the advantages the Audi Sport hot rod will have over its A7 counterpart, though. With a wider track width and brakes that look like they’re big enough to rend the car’s wheels apart, this has the distinct appearance of a serious performer. We can also see what appear to be carbon ceramic discs. Rumor has it that the RS7 will churn out a minimum of 650 hp from a twin-turbo V8, and as much as 700 hp by using the Panamera Hybrid’s drivetrain. It’s going to be a while before we know for sure, though, as we don’t expect to see the RS7 debut for nearly a year. this article first appeared on Fourtitude The post RS7 Mule Spied Winter Testing app...

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Although it just released the T-Roc this year, Volkswagen is already working on the T-Cross, another, even smaller sub-compact SUV based on the Polo and here’s our best look yet at the car testing in Finland. One of 19 SUVs the brand is planning to have ready by 2019, the T-Roc will be based on the MQB platform like just about every other new car VW is working on. This one is expected to share its footprint and design language with Europe’s Polo, including a wide grille and a flat front profile. The little crossover is expected to make its debut in 2018 and we anticipate that it will share engines with the new Polo. Like the competition, the T-Cross will likely get a two-tone paint job and a funky interior designed to attract young buyers. “The baby SUV looks very sporty,” said one company insider. “You will wonder whether it’s a VW at all; you may recognize the grille, but it’s a very exciting design elsewhere.” Based on the T-Cros...

Racing in Baja requires an unbelievable amount of planning, a stunningly large crew, and, in Project Baja’s case, nearly a dozen support vehicles all told. And yet, every year people head to the Baja Peninsula in cars that were built nearly half a century ago. So what’s it like to drive one of these Class 11 vehicles? Jalopnik’s Jason Torchinksy finds out. As Torchinky puts it, despite being broadly the same as a stock Beetle, these Class 11 cars are like a perfect clone that spent years working out and eating right. That’s not just because Class 11 rules allow teams to add a roll cage and some bigger tires, but also because the teams maintain them meticulously. In Project Baja’s case, the Beetle gets torn down and blown apart after every race it competes in. You can find out what we thought of driving a Class 11 Beetle and several other Beetle-based off-road racers earlier this year. The post Watch: Jason Drives an Actual Competition Baja Bug appeared first on VWVortex . fr...

Everyone concedes that a man looks about 22.5% more handsome when he’s wearing a uniform and the same basic tenet holds for cars, though experts still disagree on the figures. So we should count ourselves lucky that Skoda has graced us with these uniformed vehicles. Part of its range of emergency response vehicles, VW’s simply clever Czech brand has shown off its Fire and Rescue Kodiaq, its undercover Superb (which… doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose?), its Superb Estate for POLICE DOGS, and more. All bedecked in the Czech emergency livery, the cars are ready to protect, serve, and fight fires. The post Watch: Skoda Shows Off Emergency Vehicles appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2o76JNS via IFTTT

The DeTomaso Pantera has a huge following for the relatively obscure vehicle it is, so it’s hardly surprising to see that someone out there has decided to recreate the mid-engine sports car . That “someone” isn’t just some random, wealthy car enthusiast, but former Lotus CEO Dany Bahar. The Turkish-born executive was ousted at Lotus after reportedly using company funds to do renovations on his home and rent a private aircraft. Prior to that, the company sent out a zany press release responding to media criticisms – making a mess of a situation that much worse. Bahar has since moved to Dubai and started an atelier called ARES Design. The automaker specializes in vehicle rebodies and customizations, and has today announced a plan to recreate the DeTomaso Pantera . Dubbed ‘Project Panther ’, the vehicle will essentially be a rebodied  Lamborghini Huracan. It’s currently undergoing final design, aerodynamic and crash-test engineering assessment at the company’s Modena, Italy ...

We’re a few weeks away from seeing Volkswagen’s most important model for the North American market: the entirely new MQB-based Mk7 Jetta. As new updates on the next model continue to trickle out , let’s take a look at the second generation Jetta: the Mk2. Last week we mentioned that the very first Jetta didn’t make much of splash in the marketplace. One of the biggest complaints was the size: it was quite small. When the all-new model debuted in 1984, the first thing buyers noticed was the increased size. The MK2 sedan was nearly four inches longer, two inches wider, with a wheelbase stretched over two and a half inches. This might not sound like much, but these increases allowed the Jetta to move up a class from sub-compact to compact car status. While the MK1 sat only 4 people, the MK2 could hold 5. And the trunk size rivaled some full-size cars of the time. This made the euro-sedan much more appealing to families when it went on sale in North America in 1985. The larger size was...

If you aren’t into cars, it can be hard to know what the gearhead in your life wants for Christmas. Luckily you have us, who are hopelessly obsessed with cars and also spend a considerable amount of time  window  shopping online. We’ve used our knowledge of car-related toys and games (which would otherwise be entirely useless) to curate a gift guide for the car enthusiast in your life this holiday season. Whether they are into motorsports, video games or collectibles, we promise there will be something to suit their tastes. This also may or may not be our personal Christmas wish list disguised as a helpful gift buying guide (hint hint, Mom). Diecasts Pretty much all car enthusiasts appreciate a good diecast model, and the wide range of them means you’ll probably be able to find that special someone’s favorite car. Our personal favorite diecast maker brand is  Minichamps , which offers high-quality, extremely detailed models of  vintage cars , supercars, rac...

American Volkswagen fans, be prepared to be jealous. The new VW Polo GTI isn’t coming to the States, and it’s got quite a bit more get up and go than we originally anticipated.ff 0-60 in 6 Seconds Volkswagen has managed to pull 200 horsepower from a 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine.  It’s advertised 0-60 time is 6.7 seconds , which is manages quite nicely, but with a little bit of tweaking it can easily slip in just at that 6 second mark and if pushed, could probably even make it in a few ticks under that 6 second cut off. Golf Clone? Yes, we know that the 2.0L engine that we mentioned above is roughly the same engine that VW uses in the Golf, but that doesn’t keep it from tearing up the track though — that six second timer puts it in the same wheelhouse as the larger Golf. Note About Tires It is important to note that in the video above, the Polo had ‘sticky’ track tires installed, which help it grip the road and get better acceleration that you might not experience with...

Filed under: Volkswagen , North America , Crossover , Sedan The reason is that crossovers just keep selling. Continue reading VW's future contains more crossovers — but sedans, too VW's future contains more crossovers — but sedans, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2yn25Ls

Audi Sport is going to be giving electrified performance, starting from 2020. The branch that puts the R in RS will be doing more crossovers too. Stephan Winkelmann, head of Audi Sport shared the news to Autocar . “From 2020 onwards, the start of the introduction of battery electric vehicles”, said Winkelmann. “This will start by the end of 2020, with the first car of Audi Sport, and then there will be more coming.” Using electricity to boost performance, the way Porsche’s e-hybrids do, is certainly not a bad thing. Green performance is still performance, and Winkelmann said electrified, not full EV. There’s an important difference if you’re not ready to give up internal combustion engines just yet. As Quattro, Audi Sport spent a great deal on electric R8s, with little production result. Winkelmann also hinted that there will be more Audi Sport Q models. “We are also looking into cars which are, let’s say, in a growing segment or a body segment which is growing. These are the Qs. We...

Filed under: Volkswagen , Sedan , Budget Even the base model comes with some premium features. Continue reading VW reveals new 2019 Jetta details and sketches VW reveals new 2019 Jetta details and sketches originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Dec 2017 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/2Ah8WIq

Cast your mind back a month to when we discovered that Volkswagen had applied for trademarks on a bunch of names that included the word Atlas ( or click here ). Thanks to comments made by Hinrich Woebcken, CEO of the North American Region, we now have a clearer picture of what those might be. Speaking at a teaser event for the Mk7 Jetta yesterday, Woebcken revealed that he wasn’t happy just leaving the Atlas as it was and wants to make another SUV for the B segment, like the Atlas. “The Atlas family,” as he called it, is set to expand. And although he wouldn’t reveal quite what that will look like, he did say that the brand wants another volume seller, and brought up the idea of a coupe. With applications filed for trademarks on the names Atlas Allsport and Cross Sport, it seems that VW already has a pretty good idea what they’d like to call it. Meanwhile, Woebcken also admitted that the company wants to make another smaller SUV based on the Tiguan for the US. Unfortunately, he was...

[ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is a car that will not be for sale very long. It’s the perfect car to take to the next Radwood , although this car and that show are at two opposite ends of the country. We’ll let you figure out how to get our latest Find of the Day, a 1984 GTI, from New York to Northern California. We all know the virtues of the MKI GTI, right? Volkswagen took a pedestrian hatchback and turned it into an all-new class of car. The juiced up engine, sport suspension, wide tires, and blacked out exterior became the blueprint for all other hot hatches (as the segment became known as). The GTI was a hit and the competition rushed to get their own pocket rocket to market. Today the GTI is the defining model for the brand. This 1984 GTI is a great car for a novice mechanic or collector. It has been well maintained, but still needs a little bit of attention. To start, the car is in proper running condition. It starts, drives...

Volkswagen has yet again revealed tantalizing new details about the Jetta A7, this time at a no-cameras event in Manhattan. Having taken the veil off the Jetta, VW revealed that the MQB-based compact sedan will be powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. That engine is the only one available for the regular lineup, though it might be replaced (the MQB platform, after all, means the Jetta can fit any engine the Atlas can) when the GLI comes around. Coming in a familiar range of trim levels, the new Jetta will likely churn out about 150 hp and a little more than 180 lb-ft of torque. That might not blow your socks off, but attached to the 8-speed transmission and powering a car that’s about 40 kg lighter (about 90 lbs) than the one it replaces, it should be good for better fuel economy. Unfortunately, the new Jetta’s EPA numbers have yet to be reported, so we’ll have to wait to find out for sure. With an optional digital cockpit, an up to 8-inch infotainment screen, ventilated sea...