Volkswagen News
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The Volkswagen Scirocco is proving to be popular with tuners, with famed Swiss performance shop Sportec also releasing its own hotted-up version of the svelte sports coupe. Sportec’s work on German cars has been well documented, especially some of its more outrageous creations based on much faster vehicles like the Porsche 911 and Audi RS6. As for the Scirocco, the fastest model only sports a 200hp (147kW) 2.0L turbo engine so Sportec decided to boost output to the tune of 350hp (261kW). Torque also rises from 207lb-ft (280Nm) to 354lb-ft (480Nm), and the end result sees the coupe...
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Vauxhall unveils 560hp VXR8 Bathurst EditionsGeneral Motors has already cast doubt on next-generation hopes for the Pontiac G8 in the U.S., but the current generation of the car is still slated to get its GXP variant, equivalent to Vauxhall's VXR8 in the UK. But the lucky drivers in Great Britain have a hotter car yet headed their way with...
Nelson Ireson -
VW joins ranks of carmakers investigating thermoelectric generatorsFinding ways to make cars more efficient isn't always about improving the engine, changing the fuel or adding a hybrid system to the mix. Sometimes it's about recapturing some of the energy already expended. Volkswagen's thermoelectric generator applies that idea to waste exhaust heat, and turns it...
Alex Kaufmann -
Mark II Mini Cabrio John Cooper Works official detailsThe Geneva Motor Show is still about a month away, but already information for the Mini Cooper Cabrio John Cooper Works (JCW) has been released. Based around the same framework as the new Mark II Mini Cooper Cabrio, the JCW variant adds a healthy serving of style and speed. At 211hp (157kW) the JCW...
Nelson Ireson -
New IndyCar engine plans stirring global interest despite delay to 2012Tough times and cutbacks, or even outright cancellation of programs, are mode throughout today's motorsports programs, and while the Indy Racing League (IRL) has announced it will delay application of its new engine package until 2012, the proposed format is already drawing interest from diverse...
Nelson Ireson -
Preview: Mid-engined Seat roadsterIn 2001 Seat surprised the motoring world when it unveiled the sporty Tango roadster concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Up until then the brand was largely known for its lacklustre range of economical hatchbacks, not for sporty, upmarket two-doors. Nothing much was heard about the Tango for some...
Alex Kaufmann -
With speculation mounting that Volkswagen’s mid-engined Bluesport roadster concept from last month’s Detroit Auto Show might be headed for production, there are a growing number of reports that suggest sister brands Audi, Seat, and possibly even Porsche, may also get their own version of the car. The strongest indication that several variants of the roadster may be produced came from VW executive Ulrich Hackenburg, who told reporters at the Detroit event that the business case for the car could also be successful if its investment was shared with at least three brands. This ties...
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Touareg Hybrid set to join Volkswagen BlueMotion range next yearVolkswagen, looking to improve the efficiency of its fleets, has released today details about a number of new and upcoming technologies that it has grouped under its BlueMotion environmental tag. These technologies include engine start-stop systems, regenerative braking, electric propulsion, hybrid...
Alex Kaufmann -
ABT Sportsline reveals full specs for modified Mark VI Volkswagen Golf rangeAfter first previewing its modified Mark VI Golf at last year’s Essen Motor Show, Germany's equivalent to SEMA, Volkswagen tuning specialist ABT Sportsline has unveiled the final production specifications for its range of enhancements for the popular hatch. A mild package by ABT's standards...
Jeremy Weber -
Volkswagen claims first and second place at 2009 Dakar RallyVolkswagen has taken the top two spots at this year’s Dakar Rally, which incidentally was hosted in South America due to terrorist threats in the event’s usual homeland of Northern Africa. This year also saw a diesel vehicle take victory in the automobile class for the first time in the...
Alex Kaufmann -
Spy shots: 998 Porsche 911 CabrioThe current 997 generation Porsche 911 is still being updated for its mid-cycle refresh, with only the standard Carrera, Carrera 4, and Targa variants receiving the update. Still in the works are the new Turbo and the GT3 models, though they too are drawing near to their expected unveiling...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW Bluesport could go to production if approved by Audi, PorscheMoving forward with production of even the most interesting designs is difficult work in today's economic climate. Volkswagen's Bluesport roadster, for instance, was well-received at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but it won't see production unless both Audi and Porsche agree to build versions of the...
Nelson Ireson -
Volkswagen will bring its sixth-generation Golf and the more performance oriented GTI to the United States by September, with production scheduled to begin for the American-spec cars during the tail end of June. The new Golf will once again be badged as the Rabbit and is expected to be slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, with a $250 price hike set to apply to the base level Rabbit and GTI models. The improvements include a new engine lineup and increased availability of DSG dual-clutch transmission technologies, which can lower fuel consumption by up to 28% in some models...
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Report: Audi working on five new ecological modelsAudi currently has a range of models that carry a lower case ‘e’ as part of their title to denote their fuel-efficiency prowess, but a new report has revealed the carmaker is planning a new family of eco-friendly vehicles, codenamed E1 to E5 and spanning everything from minicars to...
Kenneth Hall -
Report: Volkswagen considering sale of Polo in U.S.The small-car surge in the U.S. was cut short in 2008 when once-high fuel prices dropped as suddenly as they'd risen, but the future of the market seems clear: prices will rise again, and small cars will be the best solution. To that end, Volkswagen now appears to be contemplating bringing the Polo...
Nelson Ireson -
Volkswagen execs hint at production possibility for Bluesport conceptVolkswagen has made no secret of its desire to revive the compact roadster market with numerous concept cars over the last decade. The most recent of these was the Bluesport roadster that was unveiled this week at the Detroit Auto Show. The latest design takes the compact roadster concept to a new...
Alex Kaufmann -
Preview: Next-generation Volkswagen Touareg SUVThe Volkswagen Touareg has achieved only modest sales since its launch in 2003, mostly because of its lack of seven-seater capability and premium price tag compared with many of its Japanese rivals. The second-generation model is now in the works and will hopefully address many of the issues of the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volkswagen sues California Lamborghini dealer for theft of $12 million in carsVolkswagen has filed a lawsuit against Lamborghini Orange County for what it terms 'outright theft' of $12 million worth of Lamborghini vehicles. The dealership, owned by Vik Keuylian and his sisters Asdghig, Nora and Sossi, hasn't yet responded publicly to the accusations. The suit stems from the...
Nelson Ireson -
Seat has unveiled an electrically-driven prototype based on its Leon hatchback, which the company plans to trial in an urban environment together with the Spanish government. The technology behind the new prototype is Volkswagen Group’s Twin Drive plug-in hybrid powertrain, which was first displayed in a Mark V Golf hatch and then again in the new Mark VI model. The prototype receives its name from its twin powerplant design, which features an electric motor designed for city driving and an internal combustion engine for longer trips. Likewise, certain elements such as the gearbox...
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Volkswagen rolls out Touareg Lux Limited and V6 TDI SUVs at Detroit Auto ShowDiesels are quickly joining hybrids and plug-in electrics as the new show-car theme. The reasons are simple: efficiency, both in terms of fuel and finance, is driving carmakers and consumers to give diesel-fueled vehicles another chance. In keeping with this, Volkswagen is once again showcasing its...
Alex Kaufmann -
Volkswagen BlueSport Roadster Concept Debuts In DetroitVolkswagen has made no secret of its desire to revive the compact roadster market with numerous concept cars over the last decade, however the latest design, called the Bluesport, takes it to a new level with almost production-ready specs and a real possibility of getting the green light for global...
Jeremy Weber -
Porsche determined to acquire 75% stake in VWEarlier this week we saw Porsche finally acquire a majority stake in the Volkswagen Group, with its direct ownership in the German giant moving up to 50.76%. While Porsche is no rush to increase its holding, the sports carmaker has confirmed that it is still planning to raise its holding to 75%. A...
Alex Kaufmann -
Official: Porsche now owns more than 50% of VWYet another chapter of the Porsche-VW takeover saga has unfolded today as Porsche has finally pushed its holding in VW over 50%. Porsche has held an interest of 74.1% in combined stock and options in VW since late last year, but was waiting on more favorable economic conditions to further increase...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW working on new 'two-liter' microcarMore than a year ago, Volkswagen announced it was working on a project to bring its 1-Liter concept from 2002 to production reality. The three-wheeled low-slung extremely aerodynamic design still seems a bit unrealistic, but now VW is thought to be building a slightly larger, more functional city...
Alex Kaufmann