VW Releases Pricing and Opens Order Book for New Beetle in the UK

The brand-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will arrive in British showrooms next spring with a starting price of £16,490 OTR. However, the German firm is accepting orders from today.
In the UK, the new Beetle will launch with two available petrol engines, a 1.2-litre TSI unit with 105-horses linked to a seven-speed DSG transmission and a 1.4-litre TSI delivering 160HP with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Buyers can choose from three trim levels Beetle, Design and Sport. The 1.2-litre is offered in Beetle or Design trim from £16,490 (RRP OTR) and the 1.4-litre in Design or Sport trim from £19,470.
The based Beetle comes equipped with standard air conditioning, remote central locking, an RCD 310 CD system with DAB radio and rear Isofix seat preparation.
The mid-level Design grade adds 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth with MDI (multi-device interface) and iPod connectivity, front fog lights, an alarm, an RCD 510 DAB CD/radio, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel and body-coloured door and dashboard panels.
The Sport trim brings in 18-inch alloys, tinted glass, cruise control, sports seats, parking sensors, gloss black door mirrors, dashboard and door panel and 2-Zone electronic climate control.
Volkswagen will further enhance the Beetle's range in the UK with the introduction of three more powerplants including a 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion diesel with 105HP, a 2.0-litre TDI diesel with 140HP and a 2.0-litre TSI petrol with 200HP, along with the option of a 6sp manual gearbox for the 1.2-litre TSI model, in the second half of 2012.

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VW Group Surpasses Six Million Sales in the First Nine Months of the Year

The Volkswagen Group is defying the economic crisis and gearing up to set a new sales milestone this year. For the first time in its history, the German maker sold 6.11 million vehicles (5.36 million if you exclude the Scania truck division) in the first nine months of the year, marking a 13.9 percent increase over the same period in 2010."We are very pleased with the development of the Group. Delivering six million vehicles in nine months represents a key milestone on the way to reaching our annual target of eight million vehicles sold in 2011," said Group Board member for Sales Christian Klingler.
"We are also expecting very good delivery figures for the fourth quarter. We continue to keep a close eye on developments in global automobile markets, some of which are highly volatile," Klingler added.
Regionally, the VW Group saw its sales increase in January to September 2011 by 17.3 percent to 1.92 million in the Asia / Pacific markets; by 21.4% to 485,400 units in North America; by 9.5% to 700,900 vehicles in South America and by 10.8% to 2.77 million units in Europe.
In its home market of Germany, the VW Group's deliveries grew by 12.3 percent to 864,400 units.
Overall, the Volkswagen brand sold 3.81 million (+12.3 percent) vehicles in the period to September; Audi delivered 973,200 units (+17.4 percent); Skoda 664,800 vehicles (+16.8 percent); SEAT 266,800 units (+3.1 percent) and VW Commercial 389,900 vehicles (+25.5 percent).

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Two New Volkswagen Production Models to Debut at the LA Auto Show

Next up on our international motorshow calendar is the Los Angeles Auto Show that will be open to the public from November 18 to 27. The event organizers say that at least 17 world premieres have already been confirmed, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.
Among the new cars to debut in LA will be twoVolkswagen models. According to a report fromKicking Tires, Volkswagen made the announcement on Wednesday but didn't name the new vehicles simply stating that both will be production cars.

Recent reports suggest that the convertible version of the new 2012 Beetle will likely be one of the two cars while the other model could be anything from a production version of theWörthersee Tour Golf GTI Cabrio concept to the facelifted Passat CC.
We'll keep you updated for any news on the matter.

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168,000 VW Jetta, VW Golf and Audi A3 Diesel Models Recalled in the U.S. Amidst Fire Concerns

The Volkswagen Group of America issued a voluntary safety recall on 159,884 diesel-powered VW Jetta and Jetta SportWagens manufactured from May 2008 through September 2011, and Golf models built from May 2009 through September 2011, and nearly 9,000 Audi A3 diesel models made from September 2009 through September 2011.




All the aforementioned vehicles are equipped with the German group's 2.0-liter TDi diesel engine. The company said that certain vibrations could potentially result in a fuel line cracking. The defect could cause a fuel leak, which in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire.
Volkswagen issued a statement saying that up until now, it is not aware of any "fire, crash or injury" caused by this issue.
To fix the problem VW and Audi will install an improved fuel injector line for the number 2 cylinder as well as dampers on all of the injector lines. The company said it expects to begin the safety recall in the beginning of November.

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012 Volkswagen Golf R with 256-Ponies Priced from $33,900* in the U.S.

We've known about Volkswagen's plans to sellthe hot Golf R in the States for a while now, but today, the German carmaker released pricing details on the heir to the 2004 and 2008 Golf R32 models, which will go on sale early next year.
The most powerful VW hatch sold on this side of the Atlantic will be offered in both three- and five-door body styles with prices starting from $33,900 *plus destination. Models equipped with sunroof and navigation will carry MSRPs of $35,490 (two-door) and $36,090 (four-door), not including destination and handling fees.
While the older Golf R32 models made use of 3.2-liter VR6 engines, the new 'R' hides a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under its hood. In the States, it is rated at 256 horsepower (a 6HP increase over the VR6 fitted into the 2008 R32) and 243 lb-ft.





The N.A.-spec Golf R will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds with its top speed limited at 130mph (209km/h). For reference, the European model that is rated at 270HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft), completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5.7 seconds (5.5" with the DSG) and has a limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).
The German company said it expects the Golf R to return an estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway compared with EPA estimated mileage of 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the 2008 Golf R32.
Power is transferred to all four wheels through a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox and VW's 4Motion system with a Haldex clutch pack that continuously varies the amount of torque sent to the rear axle.





The Golf R also features a beefed up suspension and new vented 13.6-inch-diameter front and 12.2-inch rear discs (up from the GTI’s 12.3-inch-diameter vented front and 10.7-inch solid rear discs), along with 18-inch alloy wheels shod in 225/40 all-season performance tires.
Visually, the flagship Golf stands out from its more modest GTI sibling thanks to a new body kit that includes a more aggressively styled front bumper incorporating LED daytime running lights, and a new rear bumper with a diffuser and central-mounted tail pipes, plus a gloss black finish for the mirrors and brake calipers.
The R is available in five colors: Rising Blue, Candy White, Carbon Steel Gray, Black, and Tornado Red.
On the inside, there are "R" logos on the side sills, the new bucket seats, the shifter knob and the squared off sports steering wheel, plus blue pointers for the instruments.





Standard features across the range include Bi-Xenon headlights; dual-zone Climatronic air conditioning; cruise control; leather seating surfaces; aluminum pedals; Bluetooth technology and an speaker sound system with an in-dash six-CD changer, and more usefully for the...21st century, an auxiliary input jack along with an iPod adapter.

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Make LEGO Models, Not War: Hippie-Inspired VW Camper Van

Do you remember the 1960s? It was all about peace, love, Woodstock and a VW Camper vanto go with the hippie and surfer culture -or so they say, as any of us under 50 have only heard stories or seen movies about the era.

LEGO's latest creation is harking back to that time. No, not the Woodstock festival or the anti-Vietnam riots, but the iconic 1962 VW T1 Camper, also nostalgically known as the “hippie van”.
The plastic brick van is as close to the original as possible with features like the V-shape color split at the front, the rounded roof and window frames and, of course, the opening front window and the pop-up roof.



LEGO designer John Henry Harris says: “Its unique character and charm have made it loved all over the world, which also means that it has become one of the most customizable vehicles ever produced."
“There’s lots of technical building within the model that I think LEGO fans will enjoy. I am also hoping that it will appeal to a wider audience. I think the VW community out there will really appreciate this model,” Harris added.



The toy company’s designers didn’t have an easy task creating the Camper. As they found out, despite its simple appearance, there were some challenging issues like the three curves at the front, but Harris is confident that LEGO has “managed to get everything right”.
“Everything” means details like the air-cooled flat-four at the back, the sink and the bench that folds down into a bed and the folding table, all of which are present in the model, along with a “Make LEGO models, not war” T-shirt at the window.
The LEGO T1 Camper van, complete with hippie colors, will go on sale on October 1.

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Aditya triumphs again

India’s Aditya Patel has scored his second ever victory in the penultimate round of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup in Germany. Aditya qualified seventh for race 1, and had a close bout with Berke Bayindir of Turkey to maintain his position. In the course of the race he got passed by guest driver Daniel La Rosa and current championship rival Daniel Lloyd, just three laps before the finish. Ultimately Aditya crossed the finish line in eighth place, to start on pole for race 2, which has the top eight finishers in race 1 reverse their grid positions for the second race. Aditya was hopeful of making good use of the pole position, but heavy rains had the track wet on Sunday afternoon even as the race began.

Aditya had a good start, but had Berke and Lloyd challenging him almost immediately, even they approached the first corner. Aditya was able to hold on to his lead till the third corner, after which Lloyd passed him – but Aditya was quick to reclaim his lead even before the lap ended. 

With only four laps left, Lloyd passed Aditya once again to take the lead, and this time was able to hold on. Ola Nillson too passed Aditya at the same time, but just two corners later Ola and Lloyd collided, and Aditya was back in the lead. He then had to fight tooth and nail with rookie driver Moritz Ostereich to maintain his lead, and ultimately crossed the finish line less than half a second ahead of Ostereich to register his first win this season. Post the win an elated Aditya said, "It was a nail-biting race. I can't remember the last time I fought for the lead like that. Moritz drove fair and brilliantly as well. I have to admit, there was a lot of luck involved as well. Ola and Lloyd had an unfortunate incident which went in my favor. Anyway, I guess that's racing! Now, with one race to go, my aim is to finish in the top three in the championship." 

The final race of the season is scheduled to be held at Hockenheim in next month.

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2011 VW Jetta Review

At first glance, you may think this is the VW Vento, but upon closer inspection you will realise that it is the all-new Volkswagen Jetta. For a car that’s making a fresh start, to be likened to its cheaper sibling can’t be a good thing. But there’s an upside too, VW has unified the look of all its latest-generation models. It’s also easy to mistake the Jetta for the bigger and more expensive Passat, which shares the same styling lineage.

The new Jetta really looks far removed from the model it replaces. The bland, rounded shape and soft contours are replaced by crisper (but equally bland) horizontal lines. The nose is the most interesting bit of the car with its wide, horizontal grille, angular lamps and a tray-shaped ‘splitter’. The overall styling is best defined as a clean and uncluttered.

The new car has grown in every dimension; it is now 90mm longer than its predecessor and gets an extra 58mm in the wheelbase, which hints at the best-in-class interior space. Despite all the extra sheet metal, the new Jetta weighs just 25kg more than before.

Step inside the Jetta and it feels like a mini-Passat, more than a grown up Vento with top-notch plastics, and exemplary fit and finish. The chunky steering wheel feels great to hold. The steering-mounted buttons are small but have a wonderfully tactile feel. The air-con vents feel solid too and the overall heft of the dashboard and door pads reveal the durable build of the car.

The new Jetta is better specced too, but the small details that made the previous Jetta special are missing. The driver gets a 12-way power adjustable seat, including lumbar support, and finding the perfect driving position is easy. The front seats are generous but a touch flat and you get synthetic fabric instead of leather seats. The top-of-the-line Highline variant gets eight airbags, while the Trendline and Comfortline variants get six.

The most glaring oversight in the new Jetta is the missing dual-zone climate control. Instead, it gets a simple air-con unit and though it’s still electro-mechanically controlled, there isn’t even a digital temperature readout. To make up, VW has given the Jetta other goodies like iPod connectivity, Park Distance Control with display on the central infotainment system, and daytime running headlights.

Moving to the rear, this VW has the most comfortable backseat we have seen in any Rs 15-20 lakh car. The ‘hip-point’ is nice and high so you sit more relaxed, legroom is class-leading and the seat base is generous and superbly contoured. If there is a fault, it’s with the cushioning which is a touch too hard and the backrest that’s a wee too upright. The rear seats now get an armrest and a 60:40 split. The boot capacity is a good 510-litre.

Under the hood, the 1986cc, 108bhp motor has been replaced by the 138bhp version of the same turbo-diesel engine. For the moment, VW is offering the new Jetta with just this single diesel engine which comes with six-speed manual and automatic options. There is no petrol option yet, but we understand a 1.4 TSI version is expected sometime in 2012.

The diesel motor is not the quietest of motors and though it’s not really intrusive you can’t miss its characteristic gruffness, especially at higher revs. There’s minimal turbo-lag and we just love the strong tug you get from low revs. Performance is more than adequate and there’s always a surplus of power and the swathe of torque, most of it low down in the rev range. But the DSG gearbox can make tight overtaking a tricky affair as well. There’s a huge delay in power delivery when you floor the throttle and then suddenly the car just takes off.

The way to work around this is to drive in manual mode which, apart from being good fun (the paddle-shifters feel terrific), keeps the engine in the right cog for instant overtaking. The six-speed manual is slick and precise like before but it’s mated to an engine that doesn’t like to be revved hard.

On the twisty roads, the new Jetta’s safe and benign handling was immediately evident. The steering, though accurate and well weighted, is rather numb and doesn’t bristle with feel. The gentle responses and the leisurely manner in which the Jetta turns into corners doesn’t make it overtly sporting.

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Volkswagen launches new Jetta

Volkswagen has just unveiled the all new Jetta in India.  The car is nothing like the old generation Jetta (this car being built on an all new platform) and incorporates VW’s new design philosophy. The car sports new day time running lights and dual exhausts. VW says that the car will be powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder CRDi engine making 140PS and 320Nm of torque the same as the Passat. The power is delivered through a 6-speed manual gearbox or for the more performance oriented, a DSG box.
Being 90mm longer, the car offers lots more space to occupants. Inside, the car gets leatherette upholstery, rear AC vents and a touch screen entertainment system. It also gets parking assistance and cruise control. The Jetta comes loaded with safety features like ESP and 8 airbags. The car will be available in 6 different colours – candy white, reflex silver, toffee braun, deep black pearl, platinum grey and silver leaf. The prices start at Rs 14.12 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).  

Here is the Press Release          

Mumbai, August 17, 2011: Volkswagen, Europe’s leading car manufacturer unveiled the all-new Jetta for India today. 

With a totally new design and a powerful engine, the all-new Jetta will be available to customers in the diesel variant in both automatic and manual transmissions starting at Rs. 14.12 lakhs, ex showroom New Delhi. It will be available in four variants –Trendline, Comfortline and Highline manual and DSG gearbox.

Speaking during the presentation of the all-new Jetta, Mr. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. said, “The Jetta has been a worldwide bestseller for Volkswagen, and with the sixth generation we are confident to continue this success story in an important market like India.“

He further adds “With the introduction of the all-new Jetta our entire carline from the Polo to the Passat now offers the latest and the best to our customers, reiterating our commitment here in India. And the good news is that this new carline will be available for customers at an even better price than the outgoing Jetta.”

Mr. Lutz Kothe, Head of Marketing and PR, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. added by saying, “with a sleek new design and a very powerful engine we aim to entice customers who love their cars to perform. We are confident that the all-new Jetta with its latest drive technologies will set standards in its segment.”

The Vehicle Outline:

The all New Jetta is equipped with 2.0Litre, 4 cylinder CRDi engine with a maximum power output of (140PS) @ 4200rpm and a maximum torque of 320 Nm @1750-2500 rpm with a 6 Speed Gear Box in both manual and automatic transmission (DSG). 

Exterior

The new generation Jetta now comes with an entirely new design and is 90 mm longer than its previous generation thereby making it more comfortable for the passengers. 

The interplay of its exterior dimensions generates a powerful ratio of proportions. In parallel, the all new Jetta “design DNA” sharpens its style. This has resulted in clear precise lines and muscular surfaces, which give the Jetta an image of timeless elegance and dynamic styling.

The Exterior is equipped with:

•    “Navarra” alloy wheels 205/55 R 16 tyres

•    Day time running lights, 

•    Rear Fog lights 

•    Side turn signal lights integrated in exterior mirrors

•    Dual exhaust pipes 

Interior

The designers and engineers have also crafted the interior right down to the last detail; the quality and perfection in details decisively go beyond boundaries. The extended wheelbase of the new Jetta has enabled a rear seating layout that is significantly more comfortable. 

The very wide and coupe like rear window offers excellent visibility and simultaneously emphasizes its dynamic lines. Its interplay with the C-pillars, as striking as they are elegant, and the clearly sculpted shoulder section, produces a design that is extremely dominant, generating a strong and powerful presence.

The interior is equipped with:

•    Leatherette seat upholstery

•    Leather package for steering wheel, gear shift knob, hand brake grip

•    Front center armrest with storage box

•    Storage compartments on headliner

•    Rear AC vents for comfort, 

•    Driver’s seat height adjustments for better drivability,

•    Lockable and illuminated glove compartment 

•    Multi-function display 

Comfort and Convenience

On comfort the car has a number of unique, thoughtful touches. It is equipped with:

•    12 way electrically adjustable driver seat 

•    RCD 510 touch screen music system with CD player

•    Aux-in & 8 speakers

•    Cruise control 

•    Park distance with acoustic warning and display of front infotainment  

•    Climatic air conditioner

•    Front seat with height adjustment for better visibility 

Safety and Security

Advanced occupant safety is one of the key features of the all-new Jetta which comes equipped with:

•    Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)

•    8 airbags  

•    Front seat belt with height adjustment and seat-belt tensioner, 

•    Central locking with 2 remote control folding keys, 

•    3-point belt for center rear seat, 

•    Electronic engine immobilizer, 

•    Engine and transmission guard, 

•    Hill hold control.

The all New Jetta will be offered in 6 different colours:

•    Candy white

•    Reflex silver 

•    Toffee braun 

•    Deep black pearl

•    Platinum grey  

•    Silver leaf

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