Volkswagen
307 articles in this category
-
You would think the last thing anyone Volkswagen wants to admit is they still believe there is a place for their diesel vehicles in the U.S. Alas, Volkswagen's brand chief thinks differently. Herbert Diess told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show that Diesels will still have a place in Volkswagen's U.S. lineup, despite the mess the company finds itself in. “I wouldn’t give up diesel, even in the U.S.,” said Diess. Diess pointed that with the latest emission technologies, diese
-
Volkswagen has found itself in hot water once again over the diesel scandal. In an interview with NPR before the Detroit Auto Show, CEO Matthias Mueller said the company didn't lie to the EPA. The company just misunderstood the law. Here is the exchange After this interview was aired on NPR, Volkswagen asked if it would be possible to do a do-over. NPR agreed and did another interview with Muller. This time, Muller clarified some of his earlier comments, adding this was a problem that
-
Days after the news came out that Volkswagen had outfitted a number of diesel vehicles with illegal software, the company set aside 6.5 billion Euros (about $7.2 billion) to deal with lawsuits and fines. But Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Müller says that isn't enough. Speaking to reporters at Volkswagen's HQ, Müller said the 6.5 billion is just for the recall. "I can only speculate about any further provisions. Should there be a change in sales volumes, we would react rapidly," said Müll
-
Volkswagen's recent shareholder meeting could be best described as discordant as many shareholders spewed venom at various Volkswagen executives - most being laid on Volkswagen AG Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch. Bloomberg reports that shareholders grilled various executives on the handling of the diesel emission scandal. Poetsch received the brunt of the criticism with many shareholders expressing concerns of him overseeing the internal investigation of a mess that began when he was the compan
-
Volkswagen can take a sigh of relief as it appears the current CEO, Matthias Müller, didn't have any prior knowledge of the diesel emission cheating. German newspaper Bild am Sonntag (via Reuters) got their hands on a report done by Jones Day which said Müller didn't find out the scandal till the EPA made the announcement - September 18, 2015 if you're wondering. Only a week later, Müller would be named CEO of Volkswagen. Still, Müller's track record on dealing with the diesel emission mes
-
Volkswagen's dealers find themselves wondering what's next and if the diesel scandal would end. Dealers seemed hopeful when the initial fallout came as Volkswagen seemed to understand what could happen. The German automaker offered emergency aid to its dealers which earned Volkswagen of America's CEO Michael Horn a standing ovation at Volkswagen's national meeting. But three months on and a scandal that seems to go in a new direction every day, dealers are becoming worried and frustrated
-
It came as a shock to many when Volkswagen admitted that it used illegal software to cheat emission tests with their diesel. But there was one group that wasn't surprised, automakers. Kent Falck, a future product specialist at Volvo said a recent event that many automakers were very suspicious of Volkswagen's emission results with their TDI engines. Falck explained that many were puzzled as to how Volkswagen was able to achieve lower emissions despite using the same suppliers as other automa
-
After Volkswagen admitted that it used software to vary the amount of emissions being produced in their diesel vehicles, Volkswagen is using a legal loophole to provide a defense in Europe. In a letter sent last week to European regulators, Volkswagen Group Managing Director Paul Willis said that the company's cheat software might not be illegal under current European Union regulations. Crazy as might sound, there is a loophole that allows this. The New York Times reports that the Europe
-
You would think the stigma of the diesel emission scandal would keep people away from picking up a fixed Volkswagen TDI model, but you would be wrong. Reuters notes that in April, 12 percent of Volkswagen's sales were for TDI models (about 3,196 vehicles). This is quite impressive when you take into consideration that Volkswagen was only given the go-ahead to sell TDI models with the fix back in mid-April. But we have to wonder if this percentage would be the same if Volkswagen didn't
-
Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is already being investigated by German prosecutors over market manipulation because of the diesel emission scandal. But now, he finds himself under a new investigation by prosecutors on the suspicion of fraud. Reuters reports that prosecutors in Braunschweig believe Winterkorn knew about the cheat used on the 2.0L TDI well before the timeframe he has admittedly publicly. This suspicion comes as the result of numerous interviews with witnesses and su
-
Last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) rejected Volkswagen's plan to fix the 2.0L TDI because it was "incomplete, substantially deficient and fall far short of meeting the legal requirements to return these vehicles” to compliance. With this setback, many are concerned that it will be awhile before a fix is agreed on by Volkswagen and CARB/EPA. German magazine Manager Magazin reports that top managers at the German automaker believe an agreement between the three parties might
-
In light of a scandal, the one item a company needs is stability. Unfortunately for Volkswagen, the diesel emission scandal has seemed to bring growing levels of instability. Case in point is the announcement of Dr. Winfried Vahland stepping down. Vahland was picked to become the head of Volkswagen's North American unit only a few weeks back. In a statement released by the automaker, the two had "differing views" on the company's new structure and his departure is "expressly not related" to
-
Volkswagen's decision to use illegal software on their diesel vehicles has been costing them dearly. Reuters reports that Volkswagen is setting aside an additional 2.5 billion Euros (about $2.95 billion) due to difficulties with fixing the affected diesel models, particularly with the hardware. "The reason is an increase in provisions relating to the buyback/retrofit program for 2.0l TDI vehicles, which is part of the settlements in North America that is proving to be far more technically c
-
Will Volkswagen make a return with diesels to the U.S. or not? Unfortunately, we're getting mixed messages on this issue. Back in July, Volkswagen of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken said diesel would not a core element of the brand going forward. But they could start selling a diesel vehicle in the U.S. again if it makes sense. “We are not stopping diesel. Wherever diesel makes sense as a package to the car, we’ll continue. But in reality, we have to accept that the high percentage of die
-
One question that we have found ourselves wondering is who blew the whistle on the software cheat Volkswagen was using on their TDI models. A new book says it was someone at Volkswagen of America. Automotive News got their hands on Faster, Higher, Farther: The Volkswagen Scandal by New York Times reporter Jack Ewing. In the book, Ewing reveals that the head of VW’s Engineering and Environmental Office in the U.S., Stuart Johnson revealed the existence of the cheat to federal authorities. Jo
-
Take this story with a fair amount of salt as the outlet who broke this story doesn't say where it got this information. According to a report from German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, U.S. authorities have uncovered three more pieces of illegal software in the 3.0L TDI V6 used on the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, and Porsche Cayenne. The various pieces of software can turn off the emissions control systems after 22 minutes of driving. This would allow a vehicle to pass an emissions test (which
-
Ahead of a November 20th deadline where Volkswagen must submit a plan to EPA about how they are planning to fix the nearly 500,000 vehicles with illegal emission software, Reuters has learned about a meeting between the EPA and officials from Volkswagen. According to sources, Volkswagen's powertrain development chief Friedrich Eichler will meet officials from the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) to talk about the efforts being put forth by Volkswagen to fix the illegal vehicles.
-
Volkswagen is facing criminal charges over the diesel emission scandal in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal reports that investigators from the U.S. Justice Department have found evidence of criminal wrongdoing. It is unclear what the evidence is. According to sources, federal prosecutors are still trying to figure out what charges should be brought against Volkswagen. Sources go on to say that prosecutors and lawyers from Volkswagen have held preliminary discussions about the case. The two p
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 11, 2012 Bentley and Lamborghini plans to build their own SUVs could becoming to a standstill. Reuters is reporting that parent company Volkswagen could put a hold on these projects due to the current European economic crisis. Sources inside Volkswagen say the reasoning behind the hold is that it would allow VW to limit spending and keep cash reserves. The decision will come on November 23rd, the day when Volkswagen's board will review
-
If the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal hasn't swayed you from wanting one, then you'll be happy to hear Volkswagen will once again be able to sell brand-new 2015 model year TDI models. Green Car Reports says near 11,000 TDI models will soon be back up for sale once they are updated with new software, making them legal. Volkswagen does caution those interested in picking up a new TDI to call their nearest dealership to see if they have any in stock. But that's not all. Volkswagen is
-
The Volkswagen CC is getting a bit long in the tooth and will be soon phased out. But there is a successor to the CC in the pipeline known as the Arteon which the German automaker has begun to start teasing. Shown off in a pencil sketch, the Arteon looks very similar to the Sport Coupe Concept GTE shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show - a long front end, stubby rear end, and a coupe-like roofline. Volkswagen says the Arteon will feature a grille that extends into the LED headlights, a
-
The new Volkswagen Tiguan looks to solve some of the pressing issues of the current model such as its size that puts it between subcompact and compact crossovers. But that doesn't mean the current Tiguan is leaving anytime soon. Hendrik Muth, VW’s senior vice president for product marketing tells Car and Driver that the current Tiguan will stick around for 2018 and 2019, wearing the Tiguan Limited nameplate. Muth explained this model will be aimed at more budget-minded buyers and those who
-
Volkswagen or VW to the bulk of society launched their e-Mobility site with links to 6 BEVs that are launched or near launch and their largest assembly plant. E-mobility | Volkswagen Newsroom (volkswagen-newsroom.com) What is e-mobility? At a Glance, this is what it is: E-offensive: Volkswagen has launched the world's largest e-offensive. The Group is investing 35 billion euros.
-
According to the sources, Citi is representing Volkswagen as they shop for a co-investor willing to inject at least $1 billion dollars in Electrify America. This is being shopped among infrastructure groups, electrical companies and other energy companies such as big oil. Volkswagen, Electrify America and Citi have all declined to comment. Yet as various oil companies buy up electrical charging companies and manufactures of charging equipment, Volkswagen is now in the aftermath of their em
-
This afternoon, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of violation to Volkswagen for skirting clean-air rules on some of their TDI models. The EPA says certain Volkswagen and Audi diesel models from 2009 to 2015 model years had special emission control software that could detect when a car is undergoing EPA emissions testing and turns on the full emissions controls. The software would turn off the controls during real-world driving. This allowed Volkswagen not to equip urea i
- Volkswagen
- Audi
- Diesel
- TDI
-
Tagged with:
-
Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the 2020 T-Roc Cabriolet ahead of the Frankfurt International Auto Show in September. Volkswagen says the T-Roc Cabriolet offers just the right combination of SUV flexibility and the open air experience of a convertible. The soft top opens in just 9 seconds, can open or close while the car is in motion up to 18.6 mph (30 km/h), and locks or unlocks electrically. On the safety front, the T-Roc Cabrio has roll-over protection. The system can detect a roll-o
-
Volkswagen is looking to add a seven-seat crossover to their lineup within the next few years. Car & Driver reports the crossover will be priced around the Honsa Pilot and the Ford Explorer, meaning somewhere in the low $30k range. Engines will most likely be Volkswagen’s 3.6L V-6; a 3.0L diesel V-6 could be optional. The crossover will most likely be built at VW’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, though Mexico remains another possibility. The crossover will come out within a few years.
-
There are changes afoot in the Volkswagen Golf family. We'll begin with the bad news, the two-door Golf GTI will be no more in the U.S. Car and Driver was able to confirm this news with Volkswagen. Why? “The trend is clearly shifting toward four-door models,” said Volkswagen of America’s marketing chief, Hendrik Muth. Originally, Volkswagen was planning to offer the two-door GTI for 2017, but only in the base S trim. Now for the possible good news, Volkswagen is considering addi
- volkswagen
- golf
- golf gti
- all-wheel drive
-
Tagged with:
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 1, 2013 Back in 2002, Volkswagen launched its most ambitious vehicle. Dubbed the Phaeton, the vehicle took the place of the brand's flagship and many automotive writers considered it to be one of the best luxury vehicles on sale. However four years later, the Phaeton was pulled from the market due to poor sales. But Volkswagen is mounting a comeback for the next-generation Phaeton. Car and Driver reports that Volkswagen will bring over t
-
Yesterday, Volkswagen's supervisory board showed current CEO Matthias Müller the door and announced that Dr. Herbert Diess, the current head of the Volkswagen brand will take his place. This confirms reports earlier this week about a change in leadership. In a statement, Volkswagen said the decision of Müller's departure was “mutual” and will be effective immediately. “Matthias Müller has done outstanding work for the Volkswagen Group. He assumed the chairmanship of the B
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 11, 2012 Volkswagen will complete the Beetle trio with the new diesel model coming out this August. Prices for the Beetle diesel will begin at $23,295 (excluding $770 destination charge) for a six-speed manual and $24,395 for a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. That gets you a 2.0L inline-four diesel, producing 140 HP and 236 lb-ft of torque. EPA fuel economy rating for the 2.0L diesel 32 City/41 Highway. Standard featu
-
Volkswagen (VW) premiered the global ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz cargo in Hamburg today providing yet another solution to sustainable and CO2-free mobility. The ID.Buzz comes with the latest ID. software and sets new standards in its segments with the latest systems and functions for safety, comfort and charging. VW gave us the quick punch list of the ID.Buzz as follows: Design: The ID.Buzz transfers seven decades of Bulli know-how into the era of software and digitalisation Charging: Plu
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 4, 2012 Please give a warm welcome to the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf, introduced today in Germany. Volkswagen says the next-generation Golf offers "more features, even better safety, and more performance." The design of the new Golf is an evolution of the last-generation Golf, with sharper lines, an smaller grille, and other changes. "One of the keys to the Golf’s success lies in its continuity. There are a handful of cars wi
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 12, 2013 Surprising news coming from Volkswagen today. Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen of America has stepped down. In a statement, Volkswagen says Browning has left for personal reasons. A former executive for Ford and General Motors, Browning became CEO of Volkswagen of America in 2010. During his tenure, Volkswagen saw sales rise 23 percent in 2011 and 30 percent in 2012. This year has seen sales decline five percent through mo
-
There will always be those who try their best to find loopholes. Case in point are some Volkswagen TDI owners who deciding to strip their vehicles for parts before turning them into dealers. This came to light a couple of weeks ago on Jalopnik as it had found various threads on Reddit and TDI forums with such titles as “Will anyone be stripping salvaging parts before selling back?” and "Stripping the Turn-Ins". Why are there owners who are seriously considering this? It comes down to EPA's conse
-
Volkswagen has unveiled the updated Mark 7 Golf today in Europe. The exterior hasn't seen many alterations aside from new bumpers and LED lighting for the front and rear. But it only disguises the big changes Volkswagen has done. It begins in the interior as Volkswagen has swapped the standard insturment cluster for a digital display - think Audi virutal cockpit. All Golfs will also feature touchscreen infotainment systems ranging from 6.5 to 9.2 inches. The largest screen will offer ge
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 1, 2012 Volkswagen showed their most important new platform, named MQB (a German acronym for “Modular Transverse Matrix”) today at their Wolfsburg HQ. MQB will underpin as many as 60 different vehicles of all different shapes and sizes. MQB brings forth many advantages for the next generation of Volkswagen vehicles. First, MQB brings a uniform mounting position for all available engines. MQB also allows current alternative fuels to
-
Just moments ago, Volkswagen announced that CEO and President of Volkswagen of America, Michael Horn has stepped down effective immediately. In a statement released by the company, the departure was reached "through mutual agreement." Hinrich J. Woebcken - recently announced as the head of Volkswagen's North American operations - will act as the interim CEO and President. Volkswagen would like to thank Horn for his contributions to the company during his tenure in the United States. “I w
-
Another day and more bad news for Volkswagen and their diesel engines. Let's begin with the latest. Automotive News is reporting that about 11 million Volkswagen vehicles equipped with diesel engines worldwide have the illegal software. Also, Volkswagen is planning to set aside 6.5 billion Euros ($7.3 billion) in the third quarter to cover the costs of addressing the issue. Volkswagen says the amount could change as the investigation continues. Also, France, Germany, Italy, and South Kor
-
It was only a week ago that Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller rebuffed FCA's CEO Sergio Marchionne'sidea of having talks between Volkswagen and FCA. “We are not ready for talks about anything. I haven’t seen Marchionne for months,” said Müller. “We have other problems.” This week, Müller seems to have changed his tune. Speaking with reporters at the company's annual press conference, he said that he was open to talks with FCA. "I am not ruling out a conversation," Müller told re
-
Volkswagen has release the pricing on the redesigned 2020 Passat and now it is roughly $2300 cheaper than the 2019 model. It also becomes one of the least expensive midsize sedans you can buy, clocking in just $250 more expensive than the least expensive 2020 Subaru Legacy. Some of that cost savings comes from carrying over a bunch of the bones of the car from 2019. The platform is the same, not updated to the new MQB platform like China is getting with their version. The 2.0-liter Turb
- Editor-in-Chief
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 17, 2012 For the past couple of years, the future of the Volkswagen Phaeton was in question. Some said the Phaeton would disappear within a few years, while others said a redesign is in the cards. Now, a decision has been made on the Phaeton’s future. Motor Trend reports that Volkswagen is very interested in keeping the Phaeton alive. "There will be a show car first, then we will build it," a Volkswagen source tells Motor Trend, "T
-
We know that Volkswagen is planning a high-performance GLI variant of the new Jetta that is expected in the near future. Thanks to Autoblog, we have gotten some interesting information about what we should expect. Speaking to a Volkswagen representative, Autoblog learned that the new GLI will feature a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder. It is expected to be the same engine found in the GTI which produces 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. There will be a choice of either a six-speed
-
The Volkswagen Jetta is an important model for the North American market and a new model is just over the horizon. Volkswagen North America CEO Hinrich Woebcken recently spoke with journalists at the Redbull Global Rallycross Championship in Los Angeles and dropped some interesting details about the next-generation Jetta. The new Jetta will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Design-wise, Woebcken said it would have coupe-like form and promises to be "great-looking". Dealers
-
In Europe, Volkswagen offers a couple of plug-in hybrid models such as the Golf GTE. But don't expect any those plug-in hybrids to come to the U.S. "It's a bridging technology," between internal-combustion and full-electric cars, said Matthew Renna, Volkswagen North America Region's vice president of e-mobility yesterday at the Chicago Auto Show. "It's very cost-prohibitive to have two different powertrains on one platform." Volkswagen has made no secret about their electric car a
-
For the past year, there was a far fetched rumor flying around that Volkswagen was working on a high-performance version of the XL1 hyper-efficient vehicle with some help from the recently bought Ducati. Well it seems that wasn't as far fetched as many thought. Meet the Volkswagen XL Sport Concept. The concept uses a Ducati V-twin engine from of the 1199 Superlegerra motorcycle which is capable of 197 horsepower. Placed into a vehicle with a curb weight of 1,962 pounds, the XL Sport has a power
-
Drivers in Europe can now place deposits for Volkswagen's new ID.3 all electric vehicle. This is the car that Volkswagen expects to compete with the Tesla Model 3 in the compact EV space. The target starting price for the ID.3 is under €30,000 which translates to $33,585 at the time of this writing. Initial vehicles offered will be special edition ID.3 1st. With an initial run of 30,000 vehicles, the ID.3 1st starts around €40,000 ($44.803) and comes equipped with voice control, navigation syst
-
Since 2014, there have been numerous rumors about Apple's self-driving project known as Titan. At one time, the project had a 1,000 workers with the goal of designing and building a self-driving electric vehicle. But numerous issues and changes in vision has caused the project to be majorly behind scheduled. A new report from the New York Times shines a light at the current circumstances. According to sources with knowledge of the project, Apple signed a deal with Volkswagen late last year
-
Volkswagen is on a mission to cut costs and that means models will be shown the door. According to a report from German publication Der Spiegel, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said last June he would like to cut 5 billion Euros. Models that are being considered to get the ax include the three-door variant of the Volkswagen Polo. The reason for the cut is that the popularity of three-door hatchbacks has been declining in Europe. A key example of this is rival Renault dropping three-door versio
-
Back in March, prosecutors in the U.S. filed sealed charges against former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. But during that same time, Volkswagen's current CEO got a rare safe-passage deal from the U.S. Bloomberg has learned from a couple of sources that the Justice Department has given Herbert Diess a safe-passage deal - basically allows him to travel without the worry of being arrested in connection to the diesel emission scandal. Diess also got a spoken assurance that he would be notifi
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 17, 2013 A new report from Edmunds says that Volkswagen still has its eyes set on sending the next-generation Phaeton to the U.S., but when that will be is up in the air. "There will come a time when it is right to bring it back to the U.S. marketplace, but what we haven't defined yet is when that will be," said Volkswagen of America president and CEO Jonathan Browning. Sources tell Edmunds that at the moment, the Phaeton's return is
-
Volkswagen has shown three different I.D. concepts - I.D. hatchback, I.D. Buzz, and the I.D. Crozz. We know that Volkswagen is working on making the hatchback production ready by 2020 and the Buzz has been given the green light. What about the Crozz? According to a report from Autoblog, the Crozz will follow the hatchback in production - arriving in either late 2020 or 2021 - and will be the first I.D. model to arrive on our shores. The I.D. Crozz which made its debut earlier this year at t
- rumorpile
- rumor
- volkswagen
- i.d.
-
Tagged with:
-
It seems Volkswagen's Supervisory Board is keeping true to their promise holding more people accountable in the company's diesel crisis. Reuters (via Automotive News) and German publication Bild are reporting that three executives will be dismissed. The three are, Michael Horn, Volkswagen U.S. CEO Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi's r&d Boss Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche's engine chief Porsche and Volkswagen in Germany declined to comment, while Audi couldn't be reached. A spokeswoman for Volkswag
-
The past few years at Volkswagen haven't been smooth sailing with the diesel scandal coming to light with various executives being fired or stepping down, sales taking a nosedive, and various fines. Matthias Müller who has been Volkswagen AG CEO since the scandal broke has been trying his best to get the company back on track. But that might not be enough for him to keep his job. Bloomberg and German paper Handelsblatt have learned from sources that Müller will be stepping down as CEO on Fr
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 7, 2012 The next Volkswagen GTI is due out sometime next year and Autocar has uncovered some juicy bits of what the vehicle could be packing. The GTI will still use a 2.0L turbocharged four going to the front wheels. However, horsepower is expected to jump to 260 HP. To handle all of that power, VW will use front differential consists of an electronically controlled Haldex clutch to allow for “more agile steering behaviour”. Volkswage
-
When the Volkswagen Eos ends production in a few months time, that will leave Volkswagen with only one convertible in their lineup - the Beetle Cabriolet. But Car and Driver says a replacement is on the way. According to a source at Volkswagen, the company is planning on sending the next-generation Golf Cabriolet. No timeframe was given as to when we'll see it, but expect it not to look that much different from the current model sold elsewhere. Now it should be noted that the Golf Cabri
-
Even though Volkswagen revealed the updated Golf only a couple months ago, rumors are beginning to fly on the next-generation. Case in point is a report from Autocar which say the next-generation Golf GTI could be boasting a mild-hybrid system to provide a boost both in power and fuel economy. A new 48V electrical system and integrated starter motor will allow Volkswagen to make some significant changes to the 2.0L four-cylinder. One change could be swapping the turbocharger for an electric
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 18, 2012 Volkswagen's first try with Phaeton was a colossal failure in the U.S. Despite being one the best luxury vehicles with a surprising price, no one could get over the high price-tag for a Volkswagen. Well, Volkswagen is going for another try with Phaeton in the U.S. Automotive News is reporting that the Phaeton will return sometime in 2015. The Phaeton will ride on the new longitudinal platform and be priced “well below” the $7
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 29, 2012 For the past six months, we've been following rumors about what will replace Volkswagen's 2.5L five-cylinder engine that is used in the Jetta, Golf, Beetle, and Passat. Last November, a report from Car & Driver stated the 2.5L will be replaced by a 1.8T. Then in January, Volkswagen executives hinted the Jetta, Beetle, and Golf could get the 1.4T that will be under the hood of the upcoming Jetta Hybrid. Now, Car & Driv
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 20, 2012 Volkswagen is thinking about adding a smaller four-door coupe (See Volkswagen CC) to their lineup. There are two reasons for this. One, this would be a vilable alternative to the new Audi A3 sedan and upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLC. Two, this will provide Volkswagen another way to increase its market share in North America and China. Known internally as the SC (Sport Coupe), the vehicle was given approval after U.S. market studies
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 9, 2012 The Volkswagen BlueSport roadster, the on and off vehicle could be back on. EVO Magazine spoke with with Uli Hackenberg, the head of engineering with Volkswagen. Hackenberg said he’s been frustrated by the low sales predictions. “dealers are always looking backwards, not forwards… this is particularly the case when a new model is being considered as they don’t have any reference point to guide them, so they look around at th
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 8, 2013 According to a report from Motor Trend, Volkswagen is planning to bring over the next-generation Polo and a new subscompact crossover to the U.S. within the next few years. The reason is due to the upcoming CAFE standards and Volkswagen apparently needs a few more vehicles to help out. The new Polo and subcompact crossover will utilize Volkswagen's MQB platform which has the flexibility to support a wide range of gasoline, diesel,
-
How many models does the entire Volkswagen group sell around the world? 75? 125? How about 340 models. No that isn't a misprint. According to German business paper Handelsblatt, that is the amount all of the brands of the German automaker build. CEO Matthias Müller believes that is too many. "The total number of our today around 340 model variants, we are in the course of reducing," Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller at a press conference last week. But how many models are going on the chopp
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 1, 2012 Volkswagen apparently has been talking about what's coming down the pipeline. What Car? talked with Volkswagen board member Professor Ulrich Hackenberg where he revealed some surprises. For starters, Hackenburg revealed that the company would begin selling limited numbers of the XL1, a plug-in diesel hybrid that will get 313 MPG (European cycle). The XL1 has been seen testing over the past year or so, adding fuel to the fire. H
-
The Volkswagen 2.5L Inline-five found in the current Golf, Jetta, and Passat has been ok engine during it’s life. Now, Volkswagen is changing the guard. Car & Driver has learned from a couple of sources that Volkswagen is looking to replacing the 2.5 with a 1.8L turbo four. There are two reasons for the change. One is due to Volkswagen simplifying their manufacturing lines because the 1.8L turbo would be based on the same family as the 2.0L turbo. The second reason is due to how close the 2
-
Volkswagen has been teasing us for a number of years with Microbus concepts that never seem to go anywhere. The latest one is the I.D. Buzz that debuted earlier this month at the Detroit Auto Show. But an insider says this concept will go into production. Automotive News Europe spoke to a source at Volkswagen who said, "I know what you're going to ask and the answer is 2022. Diess wants it." The second sentence in that quote is important. Diess refers to Herbert Diess, the brand chief
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 28, 2012 Back in November, we reported on Volkswagen was planning on dropping the 2.5L for a 1.8T due to the company simplifying their manufacturing and to increase fuel economy. Now, there is another engine in play. Volkswagen executives told Car & Driver the Jetta could drop its 2.5L for a 1.4T engine. The 1.4T made its first appearance in the Jetta Hybrid shown at the North American International Auto Show in January. The 1.4T
-
A new report from Germany's Auto motor und sport (via Automotive News) says that Volkswagen is working on a new Golf that will be due out in 2017, just under three years after the current model has begun arriving in the U.S. The eighth-generation Golf is expected to be lowered and wider than the current model, along with a restyled front end and new taillights. Other changes for the eighth-generation model include an automatic parking system, automatic braking with pedestrian recognition, heads
- Volkswagen
- Golf
- Next-Generation
- Rumor
-
Tagged with:
-
Volkswagen's reputation has been taking a number of big hits due to the cheating software they used in a number of their diesel models to pass EPA regulations. But a new report says the company is planning to regain the trust of some of their owners. The Truth About Cars learned from a source that Volkswagen will be announcing a program that offers owners of affected TDI models (new and used) to recive a prepaid card. Two cards will be available to owners; the first will be a $500 card that
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 12, 2012 A new Autocar report says Volkswagen is planning a lightweight version of the next-generation GTI. Dubbed 'Carbon GTI', this rumored model is a tribute to the original GTI and its bare-boneness. The 'Carbon GTI' will utilize a combination of new manufacturing techniques to incorporate as much carbon fiber and aluminum into the vehicle. Parts like the bulkhead, windshield frame, and floor panels will use an alloy material. The
-
During the reign of former Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piëch, the company was arranged in such a way where each of the twelve brands were given autonomy to encourage competition between them. Many believed this arrangement made controlling almost impossible and was slow to react to changes in the marketplace. But with Piëch out the company, there appears to be a change incoming in how the company is structured. German publication Handelsblatt reports that Volkswagen will restructure the de
-
It seems Volkswagen has entered the megalomaniac stage. According to German publication Autobild, Volkswagen is planning a new premium midsize model to take on the likes of the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This new model is expected to come in the form hatchback sedan (think Audi A7) and a station wagon. The U.S. and China will get the sedan only, while everywhere else will have both options. As for what will underpin the new model, Volkswagen is debating whether to use its own MQB
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 5, 2013 Volkswagen has reportedly begun planning a competitor to the Subaru Outback. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen has given a green light to an AWD version of the next-gen Golf-based Jetta SportWagon. Sources say the company is deciding whether to make into Outback competitor with a higher ground clearance and body-cladding. Now Volkswagen currently sells something like this in parts of the world. The Passat Alltrack takes a
-
Volkswagen may have put the Phaeton redesign on the back burner to improve profitability. Bloomberg has learned from sources that the German automaker is looking at ways of lowering the costs of materials and production, despite a new version of the Phaeton is ready to go. The Phaeton was never a big seller for Volkswagen. However, the model seemed to find a foothold in Asian markets - notably China and South Korea - in 2010 and 2011. But the fallout of the Chinese automaker and the age
-
Since Volkswagen launched the Amarok pickup in 2009 in certain parts of the world, it has become a success for the company. It has also made many people in the U.S. clamor Volkswagen to bring the Amarok here. Before the model was launched, Volkswagen was considering selling it in the U.S. However the decision was made that the Amarok wouldn't be a good fit. But Volkswagen appears to be reconsidering their decision. "It's a question mark, but it starts to be discussed. Let's put it this way: we
- Rumor
- Rumorpile
- Volkswagen
- Pickup
-
Tagged with:
-
It seems every year or so, a rumor comes out that Volkswagen is bringing back the Microbus. The past couple of years have seen rumors talking about the Microbus returning as an electric vehicle. This is the case with the latest Microbus rumor. Autocar has learned from sources at Volkswagen that the van is part of a possible five electric vehicle lineup that German automaker wants to launch by 2020. The model is said to carry some of the design cues of the original model with a flat front en
- electric vehicle
- ev
- microbus
- rumor
-
Tagged with:
-
Next year will see Volkswagen unveil the next-generation Golf GTI. It was reported that the model would utilize a mild-hybrid setup to boost fuel economy and improve low-end response. This decision was made under the leadership of former Volkswagen chairman Matthias Müller and would have become the flagship model for a new range of mild-hybrid models badged as IQ. But a new report from Autocar says the new chairman, Herbert Diess has canned the powertrain. No reason was given as to why this
- rumor
- rumorpile
- volkswagen
- plans
-
Tagged with:
-
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 10, 2013 Back in March, we reported on a rumor that Volkswagen would be planning a smaller four-door coupe as a way to grow their market share in the U.S. and China. Codenamed SC (short for Sport Coupe), the model would be based on Volkswagen's MQB platform and come out sometime in 2015. Now in the new year, Auto Express has some new information on the SC. Auto Express' report says the SC would be called the Golf CC and use the MQB
-
Last week, we reported on comments made by Volkswagen NA CEO Hinrich Woebcken on wanting to expand the number of crossovers in their lineup. It seems there is another crossover possible destined for the U.S. According to a source, Volkswagen is planning to launch the T-Roc compact crossover for the U.S. beginning in 2019. First shown as a concept back at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the production model will launch this summer in Europe. The decision was made by Volkswagen once dealers in th
- rumor
- rumorpile
- volkswagen
- t-roc
-
Tagged with:
-
While Volkswagen and the U.S. Government are finishing negotiating the final agreement over the diesel emission scandal, some interesting bits of the agreement have leaked out. The Associated Press and Bloomberg have learned from sources that Volkswagen will pay $10.2 billion as part of a settlement over the scandal. As part of the settlement, Volkswagen will compensate owners of affected TDI models between $1,000 to $7,000. The payment amount will vary on a number of factors such as the age
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 30, 2012 Volkswagen appears to be spreading the Alltrack love. Autocar reports that Volkswagen is mulling over whether to do a a lifted version of its next Golf and Jetta wagon. The Golf would be for Europe while the Jetta would be for North America. The reason is due to the next generation Tiguan, due out in 2014, will be growing in size and offer a third row of seats. Volkswagen still wants a player in the small crossover market. The
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 27, 2013 Before too long, the current-generation VR6 motor that currently powers the CC will be retired. But a new report says Volkswagen is working on a successor. According to Autoweek, Volkswagen is developing a new VR6 motor with forced induction. The engine is likely to be a 3.0L, feature twin-turbos, and developed for transverse mounting. Sources say the new engine can produce somewhere in the range of 340 to 450 horsepower, de
-
Yesterday, we reported that Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess got a safe-passage deal from the U.S. Justice Department. This type of deal is very unusual and it was speculated that U.S. wasn't planning to charge Diess over the diesel emission scandal, or that he provided some sort of testimony. We might have an answer to how Diess got this deal. German tabloid Bild reports that Diess traveled to the U.S. last week to testify about the diesel emission scandal. Representatives from the FBI and Jus
-
Volkswagen is planning a lineup of electric vehicles which include a hatchback, crossover, and small van. But a new report says the German automaker has ambitions to launch an electric vehicle with a pricetag of about 18,000 euros (about $21,000). Sources tell Bloomberg the model in question will be a subcompact crossover and begin selling sometime after 2020. According to Reuters, the model is currently known as "MEB entry". Volkswagen is planning a production volume of 200,000 vehicles th
-
For the past few months, we have been reporting that Teramont was the possible name for Volkswagen's upcoming three-row crossover. But it seems the model will be named something else. Automobilwoche reports that the new crossover will wear the 'Atlas' nameplate. Volkswagen filed trademark applications for the name with the U.S. Government back in April. According to Automotive News, the Atlas name shows that VW Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken made good on a promise back in July that
-
The decision on where Volkswagen's upcoming crossover should be built has ended up becoming a tug-of-war between Mexico and Tennessee. Reuters reports that Volkswagen has delayed a decision that was expected this month on where the crossover will be built after the respective governments negotiating with VW over incentive deals. "VW is taking way too long again to tackle another pressing U.S. problem. The crossover will be a gainful addition to their portfolio, VW has got no time to waste," sai
-
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 26, 2012 With a new Volkswagen Golf on the way, that means right behind it is a new GTI. Car Magazine has unearthed some information about the seventh generation GTI due out sometime next year. The next GTI will be on VW's new MQB platform, like the next Golf. MQB will bring a weight loss of 90 lbs to the GTI. The next GTI will be lower (about 30mm (1.2 inches)) than the current model and use a longer wheelbase (about 50mm). The curre
-
Volkswagen's emission scandal will not be an easy or quick problem to fix. Along with fixing a number of vehicles, the automaker will be facing a large amount of fines from various governments and possibly payouts from lawsuits. To make sure they have enough money to cover all of this, Volkswagen is reportedly is taking out some short-term loans. Bloomberg has learned from two sources that the German automaker will meet with a number of banks tomorrow to apply for 20 billion euros (about $21
-
Scott Keogh, Audi of America's president will soon have a new job come November 1st. He will become CEO of Volkswagen Group's North American operations, taking over Hinrich Woebcken who held the position since April 2016. This is a big deal since Keogh will be the first American to hold the top position for Volkswagen's North America branch in 25 years. Keogh has an impressive track record at Audi when he joined in 2006 as their chief marking officer. He would play a key role in boosting the
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 16, 2012 The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf that was originally due out in the U.S. next fall has been pushed back to 2014. Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America’s vice president of product marketing and strategy told Car & Driver about the delay. The reason is due to Volkswagen wanting to avoid unnecessary manufacturing complications at launch since the Golf is the key vehicle in Europe. Volkswagen officials are saying that Nor
-
The U.S. Security and Exchange Commission has filed suit in San Francisco on Thursday alleging that from April 2014 through May 2015, Volkswagen fraudulently issued more than $13 Billion in bonds and securities in the U.S. market. During that time, the SEC alleges that Winterkorn and other senior management knew about the problem with over 500,000 diesel vehicles that exceeded legal emissions limits. The suit says: Winterkorn resigned within days of the scandal braking in 2015.
- sec
- vw
- volkswagen
- winterkorn
-
Tagged with:
- Editor-in-Chief
-
Last summer, Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier said a decision on whether or not the brand would come to the U.S. would be made sometime next year. But it seems that decision has been put on the back burner. Autocar reports that Skoda is taking the lead on developing a new low-cost vehicle for emerging markets. Earlier this year, Volkswagen had entered a partnership with Indian automaker Tata Motors to do the same. However, this would be dissolved as cost targets were not met. “We will need mor
-
Skoda has been cagey with saying when a possible decision of selling vehicles in U.S. will come. Ask anyone at the Czech automaker and they'll say there isn't a timeframe. It seems now there is a timeframe. German business daily Handelsblatt recently talked with Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier. During their talk, Maier revealed a decision for the U.S. will happen sometime next year. “In the course of the coming year, we want to decide on the question of North America,” said Maier. “When
-
Back in June, we learned that Skoda (a Czech brand under the Volkswagen group) was investigating possibly entering new markets. One of those new markets was North America, a place where 20 percent of global car sales take place. At the time our original report, Skoda hasn't set a timeframe for a decision. Also as we noted, Skoda would need to get more crossovers and SUVs ready if they want to try and make inroads in the U.S. Speaking of SUVs and the U.S., a recent article done by Autocar piq
- Skoda
- U.S.
- United States
- SUV
-
Tagged with:
-
You might think the vehicle caught by a spy photographer is a Volkswagen Tiguan mule. But you would be incorrect. What you're looking at is the next-generation Volkswagen Touareg. While Volkswagen has been clever with applying camouflage strategic points, the longer length and taller body give away its true identity. Is it expected that the Touareg will be similar in design to the Tiguan. Car and Driver reports the next Touareg will transition to the MLB Evo platform that currently underpin
-
We know a fair amount of Volkswagen's upcoming three-row crossover, It will be built in Chattanooga, TN Engines will include a 3.6L V6, 2.0L Turbo-four, and Hybrid. (No diesel) Using the MQB platform Possibly named Teramont But we don't know much about how it looks. Yes, we have seen spy shots that tell us it will possibly look like the CrossBlue concept from a few years back. That doesn't mean there are still some surprises in store. We now have the full pictu
-
We've been hearing about Volkswagen's three-row crossover for the U.S. for the past few years. Spy shots have been coming out about this vehicle, but there wasn't much you could tell about them. The only thing you could was the test mules having a similar shape to the CrossBlue concept from 2013. But a new set of spy shots give us an idea of what the production model will look like. The front end seems to be lining up with the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan with a larger grille and slim headligh
-
Last year, Volkswagen made an announcement that shocked many of us. The Golf GTD, a GTI with a diesel was slated to come to the U.S. within the next couple years. But news coming out of New York may dash those dreams many of us had. Volkswagen of America's CEO, Michael Horn told reporters that the 2.0L turbodiesel engine used in the GTD cannot be built at company's engine plant in Silao, Mexico, and that the engine would have to be imported from Germany, rasing the cost. “The GTD would be a gr
- Volkswagen
- Golf GTD
- GTD
- United States
-
Tagged with:
-
Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has been indicted for his involvement in the diesel emission scandal. The indictment, which was filed under seal at the U.S. District Court in Detroit back in March, was unsealed yesterday. U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said in court filings the reason for unsealing is "because there is no longer a belief that unsealing these documents will compromise an ongoing investigation." Winterkorn has been charged with four felony counts, including wire frau
-
The Volkswagen emblem is easily one of the most recognizable emblems in the auto world, next to Chevrolet's bowtie and Mercedes-Benz's three-pointed star. But the German automaker is planning to make some tweaks for a new future. At a press briefing in Berlin, Volkswagen's chief marketing officer Jochen Sengpiehl said the new logo would debut next year. Details about what the emblem will look like are being kept close to the chest, but Sengpiehl did say it would be updated to look good on t
.jpg.1d807ef13518658c787a3b56e8c280bf.jpg)
