It is now becoming apparent how Volkswagen’s partnership with Japanese automaker Suzuki and it’s plans to become the world’s largest automaker are intertwined. Outlined in a VW employee newsletter is an interview with VW board member Detlef Wittig, who says that the German automaker will rebadge Suzuki models as Volkswagens. The vehicles could then be...
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Once again the rumors were correct with VW now officially announcing Volkswagen R GmbH, a special division of the German automaker dedicated to “sporty exclusive models.” Something akin to BMW M or Mercedes AMG, VW’s R brand will oversee the development of special R models as well as R Line design packages and special “Volkswagen...
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With Audi‘s recent unveiling of the A8 Hybrid at the Geneva Auto Show and news the Q5 Hybrid is on its way, Audi has made known plans to add more hybrid models, starting with the A6. According to a report by AutoWeek, the next-generation A6 will be offered in full hybrid form late in 2012...
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Debuting alongside its Polo counterpart, Volkswagen has unveiled the CrossGolf at the Geneva Auto Show. The sixth model to be based on the Golf platform, the CrossGolf is infused with the style of a crossover. The specific CrossGolf model is based on the GolfPlus, but it gets a rugged exterior with new front and rear...
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Sitting next to the sporty Polo GTI model at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show is a crossover-styled CrossPolo. With new front and rear bumpers, side skirts and fender flares, all in a black plastic, the sporty hatch gets a rugged off-road look. To complete the look it also gets some roof rails, as well as...
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Volkswagen kicked off the launch of the all-new second-generation Touareg SUV at the Geneva Auto Show with the introduction of a new hybrid model. The new Touareg Hybrid comes complete with a supercharged and direct-injection 3.0-liter V6, electric motor, battery pack and eight-speed automatic transmission. The result is a combined fuel economy rating of 28.6...
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Barring the unlikely scenario that Volkswagen releases a Polo R, the Polo GTI is now the sportiest mini-Golf offered in Europe. Sadly, VW sill has no official plans to bring the Polo (including this new GTI model) to North America. Read on to see why that’s such sad news. Powering the car is VW’s impressive...
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Joining the sporty Polo GTI model at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show will be the crossover-styled CrossPolo. With new front and rear bumpers, side skirts and fender flares, all in a black plastic, the sporty hatch gets a rugged off-road look. To complete the look it also gets some roof rails, as well as some...
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Set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show later this week is a new and sixth version of the popular Volkswagen Golf, infused with the style of a crossover. Based on the GolfPlus, the CrossGolf gets a rugged exterior with new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, roof rails, fender flares and special 17-inch wheels....
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Volkswagen has released three images of the 2010 Polo GTI, which will be introduced at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March. The 2010 Polo GTI will be powered by a 1.4 liter TSI engine, claiming 178 bhp, and a seven-speed DSG transmission. The GTI version stands 0.6 inches lower and uses stiffer suspension than...
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Ahead of its official debut at the Geneva Auto Show in early March, Volkswagen has decided to show-off its all-new 2011 Touareg SUV. Well, to be more specific, VW has decided to show us the new Touareg in Hybrid trim. That’s right, a hybrid second-generation Touareg, complete with a supercharged and direct-injection 3.0-liter V6, electric...
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Without the media-day crowds of bigger shows, the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto allows for some pretty-incredible access to important new vehicles – like Volkswagen’s New Compact Coupe NCC) Concept. There’s no new news about the NCC hybrid, which debuted six weeks ago at the Detroit Auto Show, using a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making...
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Germany’s largest and best-known Audi/VW-tuner ABT Sportsline will display three finely-tuned new models, as well as an even more hard-core version of the V10-powered R8 5.2. Called the ABT R8 GTR, this German exotic is based off the modified R8 5.2 that ABT brought to Geneva last year, and boasts the same V10 under the...
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Volkswagen will launch an “R GmbH” performance division at the Geneva Auto Show in March, dedicated to producing sporty accessory lines and high-performance models of existing cars. In Europe, VW already offers a Scirocco R and has just introduced the Golf R with 265-hp, 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a long list of upgrades. An unnamed...
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Volkswagen has just officially launched the high-performance Golf R model in Europe, just days after its first North American showing as a concept at the Montreal International Auto Show. As an even-higher performance version than the iconic GTI, the Golf R gets an upgraded version of the same 2.0-liter TFSI 4-cylinder as well as VW’s...
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Apparently not all big debuts happen at the Detroit Auto Show. Volkswagen made a splash at the Montreal Auto Show, by showing, for the first time in North America, the Euro-spec Golf R. First unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year, VW has yet to confirm this model for production in North America, but...
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Not many aftermarket parts manufacturers have been in existence as long as Blitz. Continuing to uphold their reputation of high quality and groundbreaking performance products, Blitz kept things rolling as usual at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon. Much like many body kit manufacturers, Blitz has also expanded its line to include some European tuning, with...
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Volkswagen will double its sales in the U.S. in the next two to three years says VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby. Currently the German automaker sells just over 200,000 units in the U.S. annually, moving 213,454 cars and crossovers in 2009, down slightly from 2008. Jacoby believes sales will rise to 400,000 to 450,000...
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Volkswagen is showcasing what it calls the New Compact Coupe (NCC) at the Detroit Auto Show. A stylish looking VW, this Jetta-sized model is actually a hybrid. A 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder makes 148-hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque and is mated to a 27-hp electric motor. When combined with VW’s 7-speed DSG transmission, the NCC...
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Volkswagen has just announced the release of a new R-Line package for the sporty CC sedan in Europe. Available with all engine types, the R-Line trim delivers an aggressive aero kit including a new front lip and side skirts with R-Line logos. Out back, the taillights also get smoked. A set of 17-inch R-Line wheels...
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Before Mazda solidified its deal to buy up a 20 percent stake in Suzuki earlier this week, it was considering adding a different Japanese automaker to its lineup. A report in Automobile magazine dissects the decision by VW and why it eventually didn’t go with Mazda, which is now almost completely independent of Ford. Despite...
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Ward’s Auto has just released its top 10 engines for 2010 and the list is dominated by hybrid, diesel and forced induction (turbocharged, supercharged) powerplants. Among the winners are two turbodiesels, the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder fond in the Jetta TDI and the 3.0-liter inline-six found in the BMW 335d. Two hybrids also make the list, the...
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Months of rumors and a more credible report yesterday have culminated in the official news that Volkswagen will take a 20 percent share in Japanese automaker Suzuki, worth $2.5 billion. Volkswagen has its sights set on becoming the world’s largest automaker and with Suzuli’s small-car expertise, it hopes to make a large expansion into developing...
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Company representatives on both sides continue to deny the rumors, but talks between Volkswagen and Suzuki are continuing and the most recent report suggests Germany’s largest automaker may buy as much as a 20 percent stake in Suzuki. A source cited in a Reuters report says a deal is close and could be announced as...
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