Being a car guy, my automotive interests are actually mostly focused on two very different ends of the spectrum. I love high-performing, high-horsepower cars. Cars like the Audi R8 and Corvette ZR1 bring a huge, stupid grin to my face. On the other end, however, I’m a student of vehicles that are small on the outside but fairly spacious inside. In other words, I can appreciate a good packaging job more than the next guy. I’ve been following the excruciatingly long gestation period of the Scion iQ for years, and was delighted to have the chance to drive a very different, but almost similar, Volkswagen Up! at a recent media event.
Tag Archives | VW
Video Review: 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 2WD
The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan is a refreshed model for this year. For 2012 the Tiguan has received a revised exterior and upgraded transmission bits that help it look more like the rest of its family and remain competitive in the pile of little SUVs. In a word, the little VW is adorable. The Tiguan wins the award for the car that I have driven that garnered the most approving looks from the women that it encountered. The Tiguan is easily likable, but like a lot of things little and adorable, it can do things that make you want to scold it and put it in a corner.
Hey, There’s a Cool Car: 1996 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin
The same friend who first introduced me into the thrills of high-school hoonage—in a late 1970s Chevy Monza—recently bought this 1996 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin, and I was lucky enough to get some time behind the wheel. For those who haven’t read the head Savant’s own piece on the car, from 2009, the Golf Harlequin actually came that way right from the factory.
Review: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn DSG
There are several ways to make your critics shut up. One is to address their criticisms point by point, giving in to your critics’ concerns. One is to ignore them and press on, sort of doubling down if you’re confident that you are making the right decision despite what the critics say. Or, you could respond the way Volkswagen did to criticism directed at its de-contented 2011 Jetta and do both – pressing forward with the lower-end models, but adding a higher-end model that addresses most of the criticisms levied at the lower-spec cars (albeit at a much higher price point).
Next Generation GTI To Feature Power Increase
By Carl Malek
Volkswagen has been busy working on the finishing touches of its next generation GTI model, and it appears that a horsepower bump is in the cards for the new version of the original hot hatch. This is according to the folks over at Autocar Magazine, who claim that the familiar 2.0 liter turbocharged engine will be tweaked to help increase power from 200 horsepower to a more robust 220 horses. One of these tweaks is the use of a brand new valve lift system developed by Audi. Along with the revised engine, Autocar also states that the upcoming GTI and R variants will feature a brand new electronically controlled mechanically locking differential, which would help improve the performance of both models.
Ask the Autosavants: Will the VW Beetle Drop Its “Chick Car” Rep?
By Chris Haak
From the moment it was first displayed, Volkwagen executives have gone to great lengths to point out that the new Beetle (not the New Beetle, mind you) will appeal much more to male buyers than did the previous model. Of course, when the Beetle’s first publicity stunt is a giveaway on Oprah, I’m not sure how serious VW is about boosting the testosterone levels of their classically-shaped hatchback.
Nonetheless, even the press release makes no bones about the company’s intent to shift Beetle buyer demographics from a 65/35 female/male split to something closer to 50/50:
GM Could Regain “World’s Largest Automaker” Title in 2011
By Chris Haak
It’s not easy being number one. And, if you listened to GM executives after their company lost the global sales crown in 2008, being the biggest doesn’t matter, but being the best does.
And now, in a curious twist of fate, GM is poised to re-take the global sales crown from Toyota for 2011. GM held that title for three quarters of a century, and Toyota stands to hold it for just three years (2008, 2009, and 2010). So what’s behind this shift?
Review: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid
By Kevin Miller
In today’s US marketplace, there are two different types of products available from Volkswagen. On one hand is the US-only, de-contented Jetta and NMS/Passat, engineered to exclude rich features and increase sales volumes. On the other hand are vehicles like the new Touareg. Following in the footsteps of the first-generation Touareg and the Phaeton sedan, the new Touareg Hybrid is incredibly high-tech and feature-rich; that fact is reflected on the window sticker.
The Hybrid is at the top of the Touareg trim levels, boasting 380 HP with a starting price north of $60k. All three Touareg versions feature Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and 8-speed automatic transmissions. Not available in the US is the European model’s 4XMotion system which includes a low-range transfer case and height-adjustable air suspension; instead, all US-bound Touareg models have a rotary switch to select “ON ROAD” or “OFF ROAD” terrain settings. The Touareg Hybrid also has a button marked “E-Mode” which selects more efficient driving characteristics; it dulls throttle response and shift points for the sake of efficiency and allows the SUV to operate exclusively on electricity at low speeds.
Good News and Bad News for Speed Lovers
By Chris Haak
According to a report over at The Detroit Bureau, Texas lawmakers are considering raising that state’s maximum speed limit to 85 miles per hour (137 km/h) on the wide-open, sparsely-populated sections of the biggest state in the contiguous United States.
While 85 MPH may sound fast – and it is – the change is not as dramatic as one might think. Texas already has about 520 miles of Interstates where it’s legal to travel 80 MPH. The change, if approved, would only raise the limit by five miles per hour. The bill has already been approved by the Texas House, and it’s now being considered by the Texas Senate. TDB reports that the Senate is leaning toward approving it, as is Governor Rick Perry (R) as well.
Detroit 2011: 2012 Volkswagen Passat
By Charles Krome
Just before the North American International Auto Show opened, the New York Times, in previewing the all-new VW Passat, published a rather telling insight from Christian Klingler, “the Volkswagen executive board member responsible for sales.” Mr. Klingler was discussing the direction of VW’s future products and was quoted as saying: “Our cars have to have a language that is easily understood. We are really trying to get into the head of the American customer.”
You know, because U.S. customers were obviously too stupid to understand Volkswagen’s previous “language.”
But here’s the thing: While the automotive elite (and me, too) have been deriding VW’s decision to cater to U.S. buyers by making the Passat and Jetta bigger, cheaper and less-expensive than their predecessors, that might be the simplest way to quickly grow U.S. sales. And that’s Volkswagen’s priority here, remember, not building smallish-but-fun-to-drive German sedans.
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Ernie: I should add one scarry thing about snapshot is, w...
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charly: we cant get it here because americans hate the die...
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Tom D.: Cool! And fun, VW should do stuff like this now....
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Kevin Gordon: George, it sounds like you've experienced the sam...