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Audi’s been on a roll with its cinematic ads. 2016’s ticket-fight in reverse was a winner and the brand’s latest spot for the A8 also features some equally impressive choreography. The ad starts on a rooftop in (we presume) Thailand where our three heroes are tied to a bamboo shoot, about to be pushed off the roof. After breaking free, all hell similarly breaks loose and we’re treated to some solid Ong Bak-style Muay Thai. The protagonist, though, quickly finds himself face to face with a brick excrement house of a man and has to run away. He finds a quiet place in an A8, which promptly offers him a foot massage and some soothing music, to boot. The ad is equal parts impressive and funny, and works much better as an extended ad than it does as a short ad (which you may have seen on YouTube). The post Watch: Audi’s Latest Ad Involves More Flying Knees than Ong Bak (And More Laughs, Too) appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2C6LByx via IFTTT

In its attempt to sell us on the concept of autonomous vehicles, Audi has asserted that its cars will add a 25th hour to our days. But who will control that 25th hour? Volvo has recently taken a similar tack with a teaser campaign for its own autonomous vehicle, codename 360c, and asks us how your commute could “more efficiently affect work-life balance.” The thing is, we don’t need to guess. A large swath of the population already commutes without the need to focus on driving. They, of course, use public transit and a recent study from the University of the West of England raises questions about impact ready access to work has had on their lives. In the future, your morning commute could take place in your own mobile office. How could spending your commute more efficiently affect work-life balance? #360c pic.twitter.com/RjGIgxrQ34 — Volvo Cars (@volvocars) August 31, 2018 The study examined 5,000 train passengers who were commuting to London and found that 54% of them spent t

Filed under: BMW , Chrysler , Jaguar , Nissan , Tesla , Volkswagen , Volvo , Emerging Technologies , Smartphone , Technology , Autonomous , Electric While the automotive and technology worlds have been pouring billions into autonomous vehicles (AVs) and preparing to bring them to market soon as shared robo-taxis, Apple has mostly sat on the sidelines. Of course, Apple is the last company to ever make its intentions known, and the super-secret tech cult giant hasn't been totally out of the AV game based on the clues that have slipped out of its Cupertino, Calif., citadel over the past few years. News first broke in 2015 that it had assembled Continue reading Why this could be the perfect time for Apple to make a car play Why this could be the perfect time for Apple to make a car play originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2NBInUV

The transition to the new WLTP emissions standard looks like it might be more difficult for Volkswagen than previously thought. The company said yesterday that only half of its main vehicle lineup has made it through the tests so far. The new emissions testing standard requires automakers to recertify their entire fleet. That’s even limited editions. But as VW’s marketing boss Thomas Zahn said yesterday “the new tests are more cumbersome and take two to three times longer than in the past.” That’s because every car has to be tested, in nearly every configuration. It’s a lot of lab testing. Once that’s completed, they need to test the cars again on the road, but automakers have more time to complete those certifications. While the company hasn’t said exactly which vehicles are still pending, it did say that the Golf hasn’t yet gotten the OK. The Golf is the company’s top-selling model. Zahn said that he does expect the Golf to pass the standards by the end of September. The delay mea

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Volkswagen , Emissions The WLTP is tougher than the old emissions rules. Continue reading Half of VW models in Germany not compliant with new pollution standard Half of VW models in Germany not compliant with new pollution standard originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Aug 2018 15:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2C1RAo4

This year’s Moscow Auto Show has been a source of numerous surprises. The Kalashnikov EV and its crossover both wowed us with their good looks, and that presidential limo looks just right. And even VW is getting in on the fun with the Tiguan Offroad. A trim level on what looks like the short wheelbase Tiguan (so don’t expect it here anytime soon), the Offroad helps lend the Tiguan some SUV bona fides. With new off-road bumpers, the Tiguan gets a 26 degree approach angle. That puts it on par with the Grand Cherokee and just three degrees behind the Cherokee, with which it’s probably more likely to compete. [ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] It also gets an R-Line roof spoiler, black mirror caps, 18-inch Sebring alloys, and LED taillights (with optional LED headlights). The interior, meanwhile, gets a going-over to make it more durable and water resistant. Rubber mats with the “Offroad” logo meet your feet and the seats are made of a combination of fabric and synthetic fibers

Volkswagen showed up at Monterey Car Week this year with the Tanoak and the Atlas Cross Sport in toe to show rich people and journalists alike what it was up to. It didn’t really feel like VW was playing to type, honestly, especially since they were floating information about how cheap those vehicles will be. The first tidbit VW gave journalists ( specifically Automobile ’s Billy Rehbock ) was that (if it happens) the Tanoak would go up against the Ridgeline, which makes sense. Both are unibody pickups aimed at middle class hobbyists who don’t believe themselves to be contractors or big rig drivers. The really interesting bit, though, is that VW would be looking to undercut the Honda, by making the Tanoak “more affordable” than the Ridgeline, according to Automobile . The next piece of interest was that the Atlas Cross Sport—which, remember, VW has confirmed will come fruition—will be cheaper than the long-roof Atlas. That’s noteworthy because most carmakers charge more for coupe

The masterminds at LEGO Technic have built the first ever life-size and drivable LEGO Bugatti Chiron. It’s the first large-scale movable construction built using over 1-million LEGO Technic elements, and it’s actually powered exclusively using motors from the LEGO Power Function platform. Using 2,304 motors and 4,032 LEGO Technic gear wheels, the LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron generates about 5.3 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque. Not only is this the first fully-functional, self-propelled life-size LEGO Technic creation, it’s also the first non-glued model this complex. It’s also the first large model powered by the LEGO Technic Power Function Motors and is the first large-scale moving model using LEGO Technic bricks and elements. The company also said the Chiron served as the first to create new types of transparent bricks, giving the LEGO creation a unique look. [ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] A total of 339 different types of LEGO Technic elements were used in the cr

We were saddened to learn that Audi will no longer be offering the A4 (nor the A5) in manual, but the brand has at least decided on a fitting farewell for it. The last 40 A4 manuals in America will all be identical and will be known as the A4 Ultra sport. Offered exclusively in Quantum Gray, a color otherwise only available on the S4/S5/SQ5, the A4 Ultra sport will bridge the gap between the A4 and the S4, while still offering three pedals. The package is a $6,800 option that gets you everything included in the Premium Plus (advanced key, SiriusXM, driver memory, parking sensors, Bang & Olufsen 3D sound, LED headlights, power folding mirrors) as well as stainless steel pedal caps, a flat bottom steering wheel, dynamic steering, sport adaptive damping suspension, sport seats, Audi Sport RS carbon inlays, and more. From the outside, you’ll be able to tell it apart thanks to carbon mirror caps, rear lip spoiler, the Titanium black exterior package, and model and engine designation

The curious case of the crashed 959 has been getting a lot of traction online, to the degree that Road & Track actually did some investigating to figure out the full story (turns out the trailer it was on decoupled and crashed). We all knew that it was going to auction. We all knew that it was one of just 249 Komforts made, and we all knew that it was kind of a sad, kind of a silly story. I did not know that it would sell for $467,500. And that that was still less than the estimates. On the one hand, this is probably not a terrible investment. According to Hagerty , the average value of a 959 Komfort is just north of $1 million, so if you can fix this one for less than $530,000 you should be on the road Moneyville (better known as Monterey). Still, though, there’s a lot of work to be done to make this 959 roadworthy again. And we don’t want to sound pessimistic, but 959 repairs likely aren’t cheap. But it’s one way to spend your money. Or you could just buy three R8s have a f

Did you like Monday’s Find Of The Day ? Are you looking for a similar but for a much lower price? Then take a look at this 2006 Jetta GLI; it’s a smoking deal and too hot to handle (and you’ll need to take care of that). We’ve praised the virtues of the MK5 GLI before: an award-winning engine, spirited handling, and upscale interior. Much like the GTI is regarded as one of the best “all-rounders,” its trunked sibling is just as fun and practical. We’d argue that the sedan is just a bit more refined in demeanor; if you want something that won’t break the bank but will still impress your coworkers, the GLI is the way to go. This 2006 GLI has a lot going for it. The paint looks nice and shiny. There are no dents or dings visible in the picture. The rear seat is in great condition; no pics of the front seats (or the dash, or the instrument cluster) are included in the ad. [ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] The ad is short on details, so we scoured the pics for more information on

It’s like cats and dogs with these two. Audi and BMW’s latest twitter fight started on August 21, when BMW released a press photo of its M4 surrounded by sparks. Audi’s Twitter feed was quick to point out that the overlapping circles in the background were reminiscent of its own logo. When you see it… https://t.co/t5C4ejMMBp — Audi (@Audi) August 21, 2018 This could have been embarrassing for BMW, but they quickly responded with a jab of their own. We see it, where we usually do… in the rear view mirror. — BMW USA (@BMWUSA) August 22, 2018 Which is a pretty solid burn and one that Audi didn’t bother responding to. This is just latest in the ongoing feud between the German brands, with a pair of Tunisian dealerships taking shots at each other on billboards last year, and who could forget the famous LA billboard battle of 2009. [via: Motor1 ] The post Audi and BMW Get Back Into it on Twitter appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2PMjrLS via IFTTT

Electric car maker Tesla will remain a public company after two weeks of rollercoaster speculation. However, the details behind alleged suitors have trickled out. Among them was German automaker Volkswagen. The Wall Street Journal  reported Monday VW stepped up to help take Tesla private, per the company’s CEO Elon Musk’s direction. Musk delivered his intention to take Tesla private via a Tweet nearly three weeks ago and said funding was secured to make the deal happen once shares reached $420. Previous rumors pegged the sovereign Saudi Arabian wealth fund as the main funder for Tesla, but both Musk and the fund reportedly cooled talks. Musk was rumored to be skeptical of an oil state holding stake in the electric-car maker. No formal offer was ever proposed, according to the report. VW was then allegedly on deck, along with Silver Lake, a private-equity firm. Both entities were said to propose $30-billion combined to take Tesla private, according to the report’s sources. However, M

Filed under: Earnings/Financials , Government/Legal , Green , Tesla , Volkswagen Elon Musk was reportedly leery of ceding any control to a rival Continue reading VW reportedly backed Tesla's bid to go private VW reportedly backed Tesla's bid to go private originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Aug 2018 10:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2ogDoOb

New evidence has emerged confirming that Lamborghini plans to build an Aventador SVJ Roadster and that it will be sold in the US. The California Air Resources Board signed an executive order on August 23 certifying four Lamborghini models for 2019. They are the Aventador S Coupe, the Aventador S Roadster, the Aventador SVJ Coupe, and the Aventador SVJ Roadster. While it’s hardly a surprise that Lamborghini would build an SVJ Roadster (there’s a Huracan Performante Spyder, after all),and although there were some spy videos floating around of it, this document is concrete proof that it’s coming. It’s still unclear whether Lamborghini’s quoted production run of 900 applies exclusively to the SVJ Coupe, or whether the SVJ Roadster will be part of that total. Making use of the same 6.5-liter V12 as the Aventador S, the SVJ makes 770 hp. That power is routed through a seven-speed transmission all of which will get you to 62 mph in just 2.8 seconds. The SVJ’s real trick, though, is its

Lamborghini just debuted its new Aventador SVJ over the weekend, but you can already design your own through the automaker’s online configurator. The Aventador SVJ is the ultimate take on the Aventador, producing an insane 770 hp from its 6.5-liter V12 and pairing that power with active aerodynamics, all-wheel drive with rear-wheel steering and extra-sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires. The result is a Nurburgring lap record-smashing, V12 supercar that costs $517,770 before options. That’s a bit out of our price range, but we’ll happily indulge in using the online configurator to make our dream Aventador SVJ. You can access the configurator  at this link , and feel free to share your Aventador SVJ specification with us in the comments below. Lamborghini has a wide variety of exterior and brake caliper colors, along with different wheel options so there are definitely some unique creations to be made. a version of this article first appeared o n AutoGuide The post You Can Now Configur

We have the latest—and possibly greatest—addition to our ongoing series Big Audis Going Speeds They Have No Business Going (#bagsthnbg) and it involves a big Audi indeed. Spy photographers caught the big RS Q8 testing at the Nurburgring this weekend and boy does it look fast. Filming cars so that they appear to be going as fast as they are is notoriously difficult, but these shots make the Audi look like it’s flying. It grips hard and shoots out of the corners with preternatural pace. Admittedly, you can hear how hard the tires are working (very) and in a few corners you can see the weight pulling the RS Q8 laterally, but seriously, a Q8 has no right to be moving this quickly. It’s like watching a hippo chase down a cheetah. And nearly as entertaining, too. The post Watch: The RSQ8 Looks Cussedly Fast on the Nurburgring appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2og9OZk via IFTTT

If you’ve ever dreamed of moving to Denver, Colorado, you probably picture yourself hiking mountain trails, fly fishing in a beautiful stream, and skiing in the winters. The Rocky Mountains offer a variety of outdoor activities. Today’s Find Of The Day presents an intriguing alternative for your free time if you’re not the “outdoorsy” type. When it was released in late 2005 as a 2006 model, the Jetta GLI took Volkswagen’s performance sedan in a new direction. It came standard with the all-new 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine. With 200HP mated to a either a manual or their (relatively new) dual-clutch gearbox the car rocketed to 60 in around 7 seconds. Impressive. With its fully independent rear suspension, it handled curves beautifully. Inside the GLI had an upscale fit and finish with a fantastic flat-bottom steering wheel, silicon-dampened latches and handles, fine-grain plastics, soft-touch everything, and in “Package 2” cars, aggressively-bolstered seats covered in

The Bugatti Divo has been teased ahead of its debut at Monterey Car Week this month. The Divo, which is based on the Bugatti Chiron, is a track-focused take on the quad-turbocharged, W16 hypercar. Bugatti says the Divo will have “lighter weight and agility, higher downforce and greater g-forces,” than the Chiron, along with “significantly better handling properties.” The new teaser image (above) shows off some of the Divo’s race-inspired aerodynamics, with a large wing and rear stabilizer fin visible beneath the secret-concealing blue sheet. To our eye, the Divo looks lot like the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept, which also featured a large curved rear wing and tail fin. The Vision Gran Turismo Concept debuted before the standard Chiron and was the clear inspiration for it, so we won’t be surprised if the Divo also borrows heavily from the Vision Gran Turismo Concept. The standard Chiron is powered by a 1,479 hp 8.0-liter, quad-turbocharged W16 engine. It can accelerate from 0-6

The VW microbus is synonymous with hippies. Unlike anything else on the road and totally counter-cultural, it was the perfect car for  hippies and musicians.  For the band Light, it was the perfect van to carry them and their things to Woodstock. And with the 50th anniversary of the famous music festival coming up, a team of brave souls is seeking to recreate that famous microbus. Woodstock VW Bus The Project from Woodstock VW Bus on Vimeo . Unfortunately lost to the pages of history, the team spent months looking for the actual microbus, following leads and searching through scrap yards, but came back empty handed.  Instead, they’ve bought a similar Type 2 and are fixing it up so that Bob Hieronimous, the artist who painted the original Light tour bus, can recreate the original paint job. The post Watch: The Woodstock Hippie Van is Being Recreated appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2ONtH5g via IFTTT

Here’s one for the wagon lovers. Not only is today’s Find Of The Day an avant, it also may be the first Passat we’ve featured. It’s ready to hit some car shows, or just cruise some back roads. Wagon lovers are an interesting group; they’re a bit of a ‘counter-culture’ group amongst car lovers. They choose a wagon because they don’t want an SUV. They want the cargo capacity and a vehicle that handles like a car. Because it is a car. The fans find these cars sexy in a way that others don’t. Ask any wagon lover what they plan to lash to the roof rack, and they will answer immediately with a long list of items. And if it doesn’t have a rack, they don’t want it. This 1993 Passat GLX has a roof rack. And a useful one at that with its OEM VW-logo sporting cross bars. Just think of all the things you can haul: bikes, kayaks, luggage, giant stuffed animals, furniture. The list is endless. The thing is, you’ll need to use the rack for hauling because the cargo area is already being used. [

Filed under: Volkswagen , First Drives , Truck , Concept Cars We drive a priceless, one-of-one concept pickup. Continue reading VW Atlas Tanoak Pickup Concept First Drive Review | Rooted in reality VW Atlas Tanoak Pickup Concept First Drive Review | Rooted in reality originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Aug 2018 00:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2obqBg9

Filed under: Volkswagen , Crossover , Hatchback , Sedan , Electric , Future It will target non-owner urbanites, but will have a lot of competition Continue reading VW plans to bring 'We Share' EV car-sharing to U.S. by 2020 VW plans to bring 'We Share' EV car-sharing to U.S. by 2020 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Aug 2018 18:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2PBu9ol

Named after famed Bugatti test driver, Albert Divo—and not the homophonic band—the Divo is Bugatti’s latest offering to the hypercar world. Based on the Chiron, with the same quad-turbo, 1,500 hp, 8.0-liter W16, the Divo shows off some unique new coach work, all designed to make the car lighter and faster around a corner. At which it all succeeds. By omitting stowage compartments and reducing the amount of insulation (not mention installing a lighter radio) the Divo weighs nearly 80 lbs less than the Chiron. Thanks to that big wing, the enormous fin, and more, the Divo produces nearly 200 lbs more downforce than the Chiron. [ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Along with the increased camber (which brings the top speed down to 236 mph) that means that the DIvo can generate 1.6 G of lateral acceleration (as opposed to the 1.5 G generated by the Chiron). That may not sound like much, but along with the 2.4-second-to-62 acceleration figure, means that the Divo is 8 seconds a lap

Filed under: Volkswagen Farmers near plant in Puebla, Mexico, complained. Continue reading Anti-hail cannons are apparently a thing and VW will stop using them Anti-hail cannons are apparently a thing and VW will stop using them originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2P3UPNj

Volkswagen is playing with our hearts again, stringing us along with the promise of Tanoak. Their latest little careless whisper comes in the form a press release to hype up their presence at Monterey Car Week. The press release first mentions the five-seat Atlas Cross Sport . The paragraph starts with: “The Atlas Cross Sport will become a reality.” While that’s not new information—VW expressed its intentions immediately—it does seem to take on a special meaning when compared to the first sentence of the next paragraph. “The Atlas Tanoak Concept may be on the cards.” The paragraph then lists facts we already knew about Tanoak’s underpinnings and the etymology of the name. Now, VW has consistently denied that they’re looking to build full-size pickup, and when this unibody pickup came out, they were emphatically clear that it was just a concept to show the potential of the MQB platform. But since then, VW has said that foreign interest could help the Tanoak become a reality , has

Porsche’s ‘Project Gold’ restomod project has been presented ahead of its debut at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion at Laguna Seca on September 27th.    Project Gold is a restomod 993 911 Turbo that’s inspired by the  2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series . It’s wearing the same Golden Yellow Metallic exterior color as the Turbo S Exclusive Series, and also features black wheels with Golden Yellow accents, while the seats and interior are also finished in a matching black shade with Golden Yellow contrasting details. Powering this very special 911 Turbo is a new 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine making 450 hp. Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The transmission and all-wheel drive system were sourced from the Porsche Classic range of genuine parts, which are available to owners of classic Porsches so they can more easily restore and renew their cars. [ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] Project Gold took one and a half years to c

I mean… what could I possibly add to this? Andreas Bakkerud is an excellent rallycross driver (for Audi) who drives an excellent car (RS5) which normally has a lot of grip. But when he hits the bananas it causes a lot of understeer, which Bakkerud compares to aquaplaning (bananaplaning?) But no. Bananas will not cause you to do a full 360 and bounce up and down sadly like in Mario Kart. But they will add a second to your lap time. Also, Hoonigan claims that will be making food out of all of the bananas whose peels are shown here. So don’t worry too much about the food waste. The post Will Banana Peels Make an RS5 Spin Out Like in Mario Kart? appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2o5sM4P via IFTTT

Only 900 versions of the (currently) fastest production car to lap the world famous Nurburgring will be made, as the extremely limited Lamborghini Aventador SVJ and even rarer SVJ 63 debut today at the 2018 Monterey Car Week. The SVJ 63 commemorates the year that Lamborghini was founded, and only 63 of these models will be sold, each one sporting extremely noticeable exterior graphics and extra carbon fiber. The rest of the SVJs sport some pretty important features, and a V12 engine is plonked right in the middle of it all, making 770 hp at an insane 8,500 rpm and 530 pound-feet of torque. It means this car hits 62 MPH in just 2.8 seconds, which is insane when you think about it. Keep pressing and it’ll hit a top speed of 217 MPH. [ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] The Aventador SVJ is about more than just that naturally aspirated engine, it’s about aerodynamics and grip. New active aero technology allows for air-flow to be directed in specific directions over the vehicle, im

This wild concept car is the new  Audi  PB 18 e-tron concept which debuted today during the 2018 Monterey Car Week and is actually the automaker’s first exhibition of a concept car during the annual festivities. They’re definitely making it count, as the PB 18 e-tron is an incredible attempt to fuse the world of Audi’s successful Le Mans-winning prototypes to a production car. It features some pretty wild technology including a solid-state battery and a mix of light-weight materials like aluminum and carbon fiber. In contrast to many of the other concepts and debuts found throughout the industry, Audi claims this is a “Level Zero” on the SAE scale of automated vehicles, basically suggesting that this is an enthusiast-oriented, driver-focused vehicle. It has no heavy technology that assists with driving or comfort, and the driver’s seat can actually be moved to the center of the cockpit. [ See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com ] That’s possible due to the steer and throttle by wire s

Filed under: Volkswagen , Truck , Concept Cars , Future Volkswagen of America supposedly wants the truck, and has every reason to Continue reading VW drops heavy hints it'll produce the Atlas Tanoak pickup VW drops heavy hints it'll produce the Atlas Tanoak pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2018 08:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2P2Ts1z

Franco-Danish relations haven’t been so good since Ingeborg of Denmark was queen consort of France, as LEGO and Bugatti are working together again. The two released a 3,600-piece model on June 1, and apparently really liked working together, because another model is being teased on Facebook. So far we know very little, since the teaser is predictably light on details. But it’s also alight, by which of course we mean that the teaser shows Chiron-style headlights lighting up. The teaser also shows a portion of the front fender, which is made up of a vast quantity of LEGO Technic parts, suggesting that this model will be very large, indeed. Life-size models have been made out of other cars, like the McLaren 720S, the ’64 Mustang, and more, so a life-size Chiron isn’t as ridiculous as it may sound. Whatever it is, we’ll know for sure on August 30, when LEGO and Bugatti reveal “the impossible” that they’ve built. The post Bugatti and LEGO Together Again for Light Up Project appeared

Volkswagen is getting into the digital services and products game, saying today that it would invest 3.5 billion Euros (roughly $4 billion) in it by 2025. Included in the products VW wants to develop are a cloud computing-based platform to better facilitate vehicle-to-vehicle communication. It also wants to work on an operating system that will premier on its EV in 2020. The operating system, known as “vw.OS” will apparently handle everything in the car, as well as communicating with other cars. VW argues that this will help facilitate autonomous driving functions. By getting inputs from the hockey-puck sensors and cameras around the car, it will be able to control steering and throttle inputs. The streamlined OS would mean that one brain would be controlling information from all 70 sensors and controllers in its cars. The company also argues that this will simplify over-the-air updates, since it won’t have to deal with a third party software developer. VW also announced today tha

Say you’re an urbanite who made the decision to leave the perils and unexpected expenses of car ownership begin and rely only on your phone. A money-saving choice? Not necessarily, according to a study the American Automobile Association. Drawing information from numerous studies, AAA’s report looks at the cost of owning a vehicle versus the cost of replacing those same trips with a ride-hailing app and infrequent car rental. It’s not even close, but, as the saying goes, your mileage may vary. The study focused only on urban dwellers, who, according to a previous study, drive an average of 10,841 miles annually. As we’re dealing with averages here, the vehicle in question is a medium-sized sedan. Amassing data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the study found the average cost of ownership for this faceless sedan (including maintenance, fuel, insurance, vehicle payments) amounts to $7,321 a year, or $10,049 after factoring in parking charges. If those same drivers replaced

Filed under: Volkswagen , Emerging Technologies , Technology , Electric vw.OS, a new operating system, will be at the heart of it Continue reading Volkswagen to spend $4 billion on new car-cloud-computing architecture Volkswagen to spend $4 billion on new car-cloud-computing architecture originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2018 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen https://ift.tt/2w9UC4c

Volkswagen is recalling as many as 700,000 vehicles for a problem with the ambient lighting in the panoramic sunroofs of the Tiguan and the Touran. The worldwide recall is due to a possible issue with the LED lights in the sunroof that could, in extreme cases, catch fire, reports Kfz-Betrieb. The issue revolves around humidity that can collect near the lights and cause a short. Volkswagen is currently working on a solution and roughly 52,500 cars are being recalled in Germany alone. [source:  Reuters ] The post VW Recalling Tiguans for Sunroof Fire Risk appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2LlfWZz via IFTTT

Midst the turmoil of a diesel emissions scandal and the crisis that followed in late 2015, there was a quiet but striking development inside Volkswagen’s U.S. showrooms. Americans were buying Golfs. A lot of Golfs. More Golfs than at any point since Ronald Reagan was president. Volkswagen Golf volume nearly doubled, year-over-year, in 2015, and Volkswagen nearly sustained that level in 2016 before rising to a 31-year high of 68,978 sales in 2017. Midst the turmoil of a diesel emissions scandal and the crisis that followed in late 2015, there was a quiet but striking development inside Volkswagen’s U.S. showrooms. Americans were buying Golfs. A lot of Golfs. More Golfs than at any point since Ronald Reagan was president. Volkswagen Golf volume nearly doubled, year-over-year, in 2015, and Volkswagen nearly sustained that level in 2016 before rising to a 31-year high of 68,978 sales in 2017. A trend it was not. Seven months into 2018, Golf sales are nosediving. It’s not a phenomenon

When searching for Ratty Rescue candidates, I come across some interesting finds . Every once in a while one pops up that has me ready to jump on a plane to buy the car on-the-spot. This 1993 Passat GLX wagon is one of those cars. Like any really interesting older car, this one is a bit of a mystery. And it brings up many questions. Question #1: Why is this a Ratty Rescue ? I dunno. It’s not at all ratty. It’s actually incredibly clean. It runs. It has all its parts. But best of all, it has quite a low price. Best of all, it can be kept bone stock, or it’s a blank canvas for any wagon enthusiast. If you liked this week’s Find Of The Day , here’s a perfect slammed-wagon starter-kit. Question #2: What’s mysterious about this car? Take a look at the photos. Looks pretty clean, right? Perhaps too clean? Read the ad to find out more while I call Scully and Mulder to investigate (Ha: 90s reference!). The story involves a car auction, a not-really-serious-but-kind-of-serious bid, a pi

You’ll be able to play as Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in ‘The Grand Tour Game’ for Xbox and Playstation 4.  The game, announced today, is being developed by Amazon Game Studios and will run on the Amazon Lumberyard game engine. It will be an episodic racing game, allowing players to get behind the wheel of the vehicles featured on The Grand Tour and participate in the same challenges that Clarkson, Hammond and May do in seasons one, two and three of the show. New ‘episodes’ will be added to the game each week throughout Season 3, bringing in different cars and locations for the player to try out. “It’s a video game featuring me, the crashy one, and the slow one. That’s all you need to know,” said Clarkson. “If you’ve always wanted to come on the road with us, this is as close as you’ll ever get. Unless you kidnap James and steal his face.” “If you’ve ever wanted to do my job, now you can,” added May. “Obviously not literally, it’s just a game, so please don’t go

The ‘80s were a special time. Years of VW making cheap, affordable cars meant that there was a glut of air-cooled VWs just lying around and a taste for hair metal meant that there were few limits on the definition of taste. So why not upholster your Microbus in genuine Cadillac velour, paint it in a color called “Candy Brandy Wine,” and add a painting of Dorothy traveling up the yellow brick road for good measure? I guess it has some pretty cool designs running down its side that evoke the height of van culture, but that’s a pretty dubious claim to goodness. It also has exhaust dumps ahead of the rear wheels, which means there’s some fancy footwork going on with the muffler routing that some might call unnecessary. Perhaps most alarmingly, though, it has a wheelie bar. I know that it’s there to keep you from falling over, but it only really draws attention to how unstable this car really looks. It’s hardly surprising that an 1,835 cc VW flat four (hooked up to a four-speed) can m