Volkswagen
307 articles in this category
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After ten months when news came to light that Volkswagen used illegal software to cheat emission tests in the U.S. the German automaker has agreed to a $14.7 billion settlement. This morning, the U.S. Justice Department filed details of the settlement in U.S. District Court in San Fransisco. As part of the settlement, Volkswagen will offer owners of affected models the choice of either having their vehicle bought back or repaired if and when a repair is approved by the EPA and CARB.
Finally! Volkswagen and U.S. reach a settlement on the 2.0L TDI mess. Here are the details.
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Volkswagen's brand chief Herbert Diess revealed in an interview this past weekend that the modular MQB platform with some minor tweaks will underpin the next two generations of their vehicles. "The MQB has high technical substance, so we can use it for the next two vehicle generations without further major investments," Diess told German newspaper Boersen-Zeitung. This move is in an effort to save a bit of cash due to the fallout of the diesel emission scandal. Diess didn't say what k
MQB is sticking around for awhile
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It has been almost six months since Volkswagen admitted to using illegal software on their diesel vehicles to fool emission tests. Since then, a lot of people have been waiting for a fix to make the vehicles legal. Now a federal judge has given Volkswagen a deadline to come up with a solution. Reuters reports that at hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco has given the German automaker till March 24th to give a definitive answer on the status of a fix. "Si
It has been six months, where is the fix Volkswagen?!
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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
Automakers figured out that Volkswagen was doing something illegal to meet emission standards
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When Volkswagen introduced the new T-Roc crossover last year, there were some who were hoping it would come to the U.S. But that would not be the case as would learn. Still, Volkswagen is planning a separate compact crossover that will be aimed at various global markets such as the U.S. and China. According to Automotive News, the new crossover known internally as Volks-SUV will sit underneath the Tiguan and be first built in China by the SAIC-Volkwagen joint venture with sales beginning in
Production to begin in China before moving to other Volkswagen plants
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 9, 2012 One of the vehicles that many auto enthusiasts in the U.S. have been clamoring for the past few years is the Volkswagen Scirocco, a small coupe based on the Golf platform. But, when the next Scirocco comes around, we could be getting it. VW Group of America's CEO, Jonathan Browning told Automotive News that he is lobbying to bring the Scirocco here. "That's a piece of the lineup that I would dearly love to see here." Browning
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More bad news for Volkswagen this week. Speaking with German publication Wirtschaftswoche, California Air Resources Board's (CARB) chair Mary Nichols said in their testing, only Volkswagen TDI models were found to have cheating devices. "So far we have found in vehicles of other brands no fraudulent shutdown. This does not mean that all emissions are as we would wish. But there is nothing that comes close to the magnitude of the excess in VW vehicles," Nichols said CARB will continue tes
CARB Says Volkswagen Is the Only One To Have the Cheating Software, and Volkswagen Finally Pulls the Passat TDI from the Production Line.
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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
Volkswagen updates the Golf for Europe
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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
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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
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Volkswagen is getting ready to start the $10 billion compensation program for owners of the 2.0L TDI engine in the U.S. But some folks want the German automaker to do something similar for TDI owners in Europe. "Volkswagen should voluntarily pay European car owners compensation that is comparable with that which they will pay U.S. consumers," said EU Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska last week. In a interview with German newspaper Welt am Sonntag over the weekend, Volkswagen CEO
Compensation plan for Europe? Uh, no.
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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
Volkswagen's Cheating Software Might Not Be Illegal In Europe Due To A Loophole
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A new report alleges that former Volkswagen CEO, Martin Winterkorn knew about the defeat devices two weeks before the official announcement from U.S. regulators. German publication Bild am Sonntag (via Reuters) got their hands on a letter sent on September 4, 2015, to Winterkorn from a manager. The letter said, "In the conversation on 03.09.2015 with the regulator CARB (California Air Resources Board), the defeat device was admitted." Volkswagen's U.S. CEO Michael Horn told a House o
A new letter reveals Winterkorn knew about the existence of the defeat devices two weeks before the EPA officially announced it.
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Volkswagen's Canadian site has dropped a teaser for the upcoming 2019 Jetta. The single gif reveals a couple of details about the design. One is that the side profile features some sculpting and a character line that possibly runs the whole length of the vehicle. Second is the Jetta's grille is similar to the T-Roc crossover with a pentagonal design. Last month, Volkswagen North America CEO Hinrich Woebcken told journalists that the next-generation Jetta "would have coupe-like form and prom
Will be debuting at the Detroit Auto Show
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The current Volkswagen Touareg is the last one we'll ever see as the Atlas will take its place as Volkswagen's SUV/Crossover flagship. For other markets, Volkswagen has revealed an all-new Touareg. The new model looks to be a mashup of Audi and Volkswagen design themes. A set of angled headlights are integrated into a large front grille. Strong creases run along the side and rear. Volkswagen has made the new Touareg longer and wider, but has also has dropped 234 pounds due to the extensive u
Not coming to the U.S. before you ask
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 25, 2012 Car & Driver reports that Volkswagen has confirmed the dates of when the Mark 7 Golf and its variants will be going on sale. The base Golf will go on sale next spring for European markets. North America has to wait until the fall to get theirs. However, North America and Europe will get their hands on next GTI at the same time when its launched next Fall. Also, Volkswagen is considering whether to send the next generation GTD
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In addition to $14.7 billion settlement reached with the U.S. Government, Volkswagen will pay an additional $86 million in civil penalties to California over the diesel emission scandal. "We must conserve and protect our environment for future generations and deliver swift and certain consequences to those who break the law and pollute our air," said California's Attorney General Kamala Harris in a statement. Harris explained the civil penalties resolved certain claims made by state off
Volkswagen pays up to the state of California
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There is some possible good news for owners of Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen models equipped with the 3.0L TDI V6. Bloomberg has learned from sources that Volkswagen and U.S. environmental regulators have reached an agreement on fixing and buying back vehicles with this engine. The agreement gives Volkswagen the go-ahead to fix 60,000 vehicles with a software update, while the remaining 20,000 vehicles will need to be bought back because they would be too complex to fix. Avoiding the buybac
3.0L TDI V6 owners, we have some possible good news for you...
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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
Volkswagen Asks A Number of Banks For Short-Term Loans
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In a month's time, Europe will be switching from much maligned New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). Automakers are scrambling to get models certified under this new procedure. This presents a big problem for Volkswagen as they don't have enough engineers to make sure their vehicles to meet the new standards. According to Reuters, Volkswagen lost a number of engineers that specialized in engine calibration ever since the compa
Which means certain models may not be available for a time
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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
Instead of 12 Autonomous Companies, Volkswagen Considers Consolidating Them To Just Four Companies
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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
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We're getting close to entering the seventh month of not having a fix for Volkswagen's cheating TDI engines in the U.S. A couple weeks back, a Federal judge in California gave Volkswagen a deadline of March 24th to provide a definitive status of a fix. But Volkswagen might not have the answer the judge or affected owners want. In an interview with German newspaper Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, Volkswagen brand boss Herbert Deiss said it could take months before Volkswagen and U.S. authorit
Volkswagen's brand boss says it might be months before a deal with U.S. regulators is reached
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Today at U.S. District Court in Detroit, Volkswagen pleaded guilty on three felony charges relating to the diesel emission scandal as part of a plea agreement. The three felonies are conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and introducing imported merchandise into the United States by means of false statements. "Your honor, VW AG is pleading guilty to all three counts because it is guilty on all three counts," said Volkswagen general counsel Manfred Doess at the hearing. As part of the ple
The curtain begins to fall on Volkswagen's diesel emission scandal
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There were concerns that Volkswagen would not be able to come up with a fix for their 1st-generation 2.0L TDI models that would meet the approval of various U.S. regulators. But never say never as the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board have given their approval for Volkswagen's proposed fix for 326,000 vehicles with this engine. Reuters reports the fix will involve Volkswagen making numerous upgrades to the hardware and software, including a new emissions cat
Finally! The 1st-generation 2.0L TDI's have a fix.
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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 Meeting With Officals From the EPA Before A Deadline To Submit A Possible Fix
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If you're wondering when Volkswagen will resume sales of diesel vehicles in the U.S., you're going to have to wait a bit longer. Automotive News has learned that the German automaker hasn't applied for the necessary EPA approvals to start selling diesel vehicles in the U.S. "They need to address our concerns" before sales can resume, an EPA official said. Those concerns most likely relate to Volkswagen coming up with a fix that meets the standards of the EPA and California Air Resources
In not so surprising news, Volkswagen hasn't asked the EPA if they can sell TDI vehicles again
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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
Change of heart?
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The big stumbling block for Volkswagen and the EPA/California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been trying to figure out a fix for diesel vehicles with illegal software. Ever since CARB rejected Volkswagen's first proposal back in January, the three have been in negotiations. But now, an official from CARB says some vehicles may only get a partial fix. Speaking at a legislative hearing in California yesterday, chief of the California Air Resources Board enforcement division Todd Sax said it mi
A CARB Offical Says Not All of the Affected Volkswagen TDI Vehicles Will Be Fully Fixed
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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
Michael Horn Departs Volkswagen of America
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Currently Volkswagen has 588 dealers in the U.S., and sold 256,830 vehicles last year. But coming up in seven years, VW has set a goal of selling 800,000 vehicles in the U.S., and the current number can’t handle that goal. Back in April, head of VW of America Jonathan Browning, said there would be an "evolutionary" increase in dealers for the next couple of years, after which a "radical change" would be necessary. When would this radical change happen? "But by 2014/15 we will have to add deal
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The California Air Resources Board has rejected Volkswagen's plan to fix the 3.0L TDI V6. "VW's and Audi's submissions are incomplete, substantially deficient, and fall far short of meeting the legal requirements to return these vehicles to the claimed certified configuration," CARB wrote in a letter to the German automaker. This comes as a bit of a surprise as last month, Volkswagen's lawyer Robert Giuffra said the company was close to a fix for this engine and it wouldn't affect overal
CARB Rejects Volkswagen's Plan for the 3.0L TDI Fix
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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
Volkswagen Rethinks Their Truck Strategy
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Despite it being outed only a few days before its reveal, the debut of the Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak concept was quite the surprise at New York. But many of us are wondering the same thing: Why? "We really showed this as a concept without a clear production plan behind it. Our intention [is] to demonstrate that we very seriously look into the American needs. ... Volkswagen wants to be part of this market much more seriously than in the past," said Volkswagen's North American CEO, Hinrich J. W
So why did they?
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With automakers building/bringing over subcompact cars to the US, one automaker is missing in the action. That automaker is Volkswagen which built it’s empire on small vehicles (Beetle and Golf). When asked if the company would bring over any subcompact vehicles, like the Polo or new UP!, Volkswagen said no. Volkswagen cites the traditional argument of small cars having a small profit margin, especially when they have to be imported like the Polo and UP! Futhermore, Volkswagen recently re-esta
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Volkswagen sees crossovers as its savior in the U.S. marketplace. Speaking with Wards Auto, Volkswagen North America CEO Hinrich Woebcken said their model mix would change from 10 to 12 percent crossovers to 40 percent in the next few years. “We are shifting the brand into a position where we will enjoy more business volume because we were not present in those segments. We’re currently at 12% and the industry is nearly 60% light trucks and SUVs, so we are severely underrepresented,” said W
Expect more crossovers at your local Volkswagen dealer
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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
Diesels making a comeback for Volkswagen's U.S. lineup? No one is sure.
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A new wrinkle has appeared in the Volkswagen diesel scandal. Last week, Daniel Donovan filed suit against Volkswagen of America for wrongful termination and breaking the Michigan Whistleblowers' Protection Act after reporting that the company continuing deleting data after the EPA said to stop. On September 18, the EPA filed a violation notice against Volkswagen's diesel vehicles. Part of that notice required Volkswagen to not delete any more data. Donovan alleges in the suit that workers at
Did Volkswagen delete data after it was told not to? A new lawsuit alleges this.
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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
Who Says You Can't Have Performance and Efficiency Together?
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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
What does the replacement for the CC look like?
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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
Another crossover joins Volkswagen's U.S. lineup
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We're getting to the point where it is becoming a bad idea mentioning 'could it get any worse' when talking about Volkswagen and the diesel scandal it finds itself embroiled in. Sooner or later, it will get one step worse. Case in point is Volkswagen admitting on Friday that their 3.0L TDI V6 used on a number of their vehicles does violate emission standards. Earlier in November, the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) accused Volkswagen of using a defeat device in a number of vehi
More Emission Troubles This Week As Volkswagen and Audi Say the 3.0L TDI V6 Does Violate Emission Regulations
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Volkswagen and U.S. regulators have finally agreed to a plan on the diesel emission scandal and possible dates have been set up for fixing the various the vehicles involved. Despite this, some of the diesel vehicles will not be fully compliant with clean air laws. According to Bloomberg, the oldest 2.0L TDI engines found in the last-generation Jetta and Golf, and 2009 Beetle will emit more emissions even with a possible fix. According to the California Air Resources Board, the possible fix w
Some of Volkswagen's 2.0 TDI vehicles will not meet emission regulations even with a fix
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Volkswagen unveiled their new CrossCoupe concept at the Tokyo Motor Show today. The concept gives us a glimpse of what the future of Volkswagen's crossovers will look like. The design of the CrossCoupe features a low window line and a simplistic style bolstered by frameless windows and flared fenders. The CrossCoupe length is 171.1 inches, which puts it between the Volkswagen Golf (165.4 in) and Tiguan (174.5 in). Power comes from a 148 HP TSI engine and a 54 HP electric motor for the front a
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The diesel emission scandal has left Volkswagen at a bit crossroad in a number of areas. One of them deals with their brand identity in the U.S. For a better part of a decade, Volkswagen was known as the brand that sold 'clean diesels'. But the company is working to rebuild and change their identity. Part of that plan is taking diesel and putting it on the backburner. Volkswagen Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken tells Automotive News that diesel will not be a core element of their ident
Diesel isn't going to be taking center stage for Volkswagen in the future
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On Friday, Volkswagen made an announcement that many of us were expecting, cutting its massive R&D budget. The company will cut 1 billion Euros (about $1.1 billion) from R&D to prepare itself for the massive fines that will be heading its way in the near future due to the emission scandal. Along with this, Volkwagen announced that it would be capping spending on property, plant and equipment at around 12 billion euros ($12.8 billion) for next year. This is about eight percent smaller
Volkswagen Tightens Its Belt Further In Light of the Diesel Emission Scandal
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With Volkswagen buying back a large chunk of the 2.0L TDIs involved the diesel emission scandal, the question arises of where to store them. The answer according to the German automaker is they are storing them at "regional facilities." One of those regional facilities is the parking lot of the Pontiac Silverdome - former home to the Detroit Lions - in Pontiac, MI. However, the vehicles stored there find themselves in a bit of legal trouble. The Oakland Press reports that the City of Pontia
One of Volkswagen's storage facilities for TDIs buybacks is in a bit of legal trouble
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The Volkswagen Passat isn't the most exciting sedan to look at. But the German automaker injected some style and sport with the Passat GT Concept at last year's LA Auto Show. It took some design ideas from the Golf GTI - black grille with red accent lines and a more aggressive body kit - along with new wheels. Volkswagen also lowered the suspension and added a sport exhaust system. Volkswagen didn't go crazy with the engine - it is the same 3.6L VR6 found in the standard Passat. According
It's coming...
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Volkswagen revealed the pricing structure for the 2019 Jetta due to arrive at dealers in the second quarter. The base S model kicks off the lineup with a starting pricetag of $19,395 (includes an $850 destination charge) - making it $100 cheaper than the outgoing model. For the price, that will net you a turbocharged 1.4L TSI four-cylinder, six-speed manual, LED head and taillights, alloy wheels. 6.5-inch infotainment system, Bluetooth, and backup camera. An automatic transmission adds $800
About $100 less than the current Jetta
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Volkswagen finds itself in legal trouble once again as three U.S. states - Massachusetts, Maryland, and New York - have filed separate lawsuits over the diesel emission scandal. The lawsuits allege that the automaker undertook a massive cover-up of the illegal software and was orchestrated by high-level executives - including the former CEO. “The idea that this level of fraud could take place and involve so many people at such high levels of a major international corporation is appalling,” s
Alleges a massive cover-up with help from executives
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Volkswagen and U.S. Government were going to have a hearing at U.S. Federal Court in San Francisco today for an update on the 3.0L TDI talks. But yesterday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has pushed it back to next month. Reuters got their hands on a court order in which Breyer says "negotiations are continuing between the German automaker, regulators, and lawyers representing owners," and a delay "may produce a resolution of the outstanding issues." As we reported earlier this mon
Volkswagen's hearing on the 3.0L TDI V6 has been pushed back
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Diesel is quite popular in Europe partly due to subsidies provided by governments - in this case, a lower tax rate on diesel fuel than gasoline. The thinking at the time was diesel engines burn their fuel more efficiently than gas engines, thus they contribute less to global warming. But as the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal would reveal, diesel vehicles aren't that much cleaner, producing more nitrogen oxide emissions than their gas counterparts. Now, one CEO from a German automaker is sayi
Surprising to say the least
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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.
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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
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More good news for Volkswagen as the EPA has finally given the ok for the company to start selling repaired TDI vehicles. Bloomberg has learned from Volkswagen Group of America spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan that dealers can sell TDI models from the 2015 model year once they have been updated with new software. The fix will also include new hardware for the diesel engine, but dealers don't have to wait for the parts to come in early next year. "We are still finalizing the details of this prog
Can Volkswagen interest you in a fixed TDI?
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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
A crossover and not a hatchback will arrive in the U.S. first
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Last month, Volkswagen announced that it had reached a $14.7 billion settlement with the U.S. Government over the illegal software used on the 2.0L TDI engine. But before anything could be put into motion, it had to get the go-ahead from U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer. Yesterday at a hearing in San Francisco, Judge Breyer gave his preliminary approval on the settlement. This now means Volkswagen and Audi can start sending out official notices to owners explaining what happens next.
Progress is being made on getting the $14.7 billion settlement on the road
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American criminal lawyers are in demand at Volkswagen. Bloomberg has learned from sources that various executives at the company are hiring lawyers as the Department of Justice begins sending out officials to Germany for meetings to gather evidence for possible criminal charges. Volkswagen has already agreed to a $16 billion settlement over the diesel emission scandal. But the Department of Justice is continuing their investigation into whether various Volkswagen executives knew about the c
What's in demand at Volkswagen's HQ? Criminal lawyers.
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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
House cleaning once again
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Volkswagen dropped the pricing information for the 2018 Atlas crossover arriving at dealers next month and it is right on the nose of the automaker's promise of starting somewhere around $30,000. The entry-level Atlas S kicks off at $30,500 and comes with a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, rearview camera, 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarP
How much will the new Volkswagen Atlas set you back?
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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
This could include the turbo 2.0L found in the GTI
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Volkswagen is trying to save as much cash as they can to help offset the upcoming fines and penalties due to the cheating devices they fitted to a number of diesel vehicles. We have reported that Volkswagen is in the process of freezing and reevaluating a number of projects. Now it seems the German automaker is making cuts in the trims and variants it offers. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen will be cutting back on the number of trims and variants that it offers. Bernd Osterloh, a superviso
You'll Be Seeing Less Trims and Varients on Offer At Volkswagen
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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
If Skoda was to launch in the U.S. within the near future, what car would they choose to lead the charge?
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As we have been reporting since this summer, Skoda is putting serious consideration into entering the U.S. market. Currently, a decision is expected sometime next year. But ask their parent company, Volkswagen what they think of the idea of Skoda entering the U.S. and they would likely say something to the effect of this, “We may be crazy, but we’re not mad. Entering this huge market with an unknown brand, a model range focused on Europe, and a non-existent dealer network is pure suicide. F
Some of the higher-ups at Volkswagen don't like the idea of Skoda entering the U.S. market
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Volkswagen recently held an event for journalists and investors to talk about the upcoming Jetta. But the company also gave a preview of their product plans for the near future. According to Autoblog, those plans include two new crossovers. The first will be a five-seat model that will slot between the Tiguan and Atlas. Volkswagen North America CEO President and CEO Hinrich Woebcken described it as 'coupe-like'. We're assuming this model will compete with the likes of the Ford Edge and Niss
They haven't forgotten about sedans however
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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
Is Diess a big deal? I'll show myself out
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Volkswagen's diesel emission scandal went deeper this week as the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (known as the KBA) announced on Tuesday that the software Volkswagen uses on their diesel vehicles was deemed illegal. This decision opens up the possibility of lawsuits and penalties against the company, but the extent of this is unknown at this time. As the New York Times states 'it was a turbulent day for the company.' Aside from the KBA announcing the software Volkswagen used was de
If you thought the Volkswagen scandal couldn't get any worse, think again.
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One of the stumbling blocks for Volkswagen with the diesel emission scandal has been trying to find a fix that the feds would agree to. Previous attempts for the 2.0 and 3.0L TDI have ended with rejection from the California Air Resources Board due to the "submissions are incomplete, substantially deficient, and fall far short of meeting the legal requirements to return these vehicles to the claimed certified configuration." But it seems progress is being made on this. In an interview with R
Some good news concerning a possible fix for the 2.0L TDI
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To shoulder the massive costs that will come from the diesel emission scandal, Volkswagen has agreed to terms to take out a 20 billion euro (about $21 billion) bridging loan with a number of banks. Sources tell Reuters the decision to go with a number of banks allows Volkswagen to spread the debt out and that the company hopes to start paying back the loans next year by issuing bonds in the company. A few weeks ago, we heard rumors that Volkswagen was planning to take out 20 billion Euros in
$21 Billion In Loans Are Coming To Volkswagen To Weather The Diesel Scandal
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Ever since the Volkswagen Buzz I.D. concept made its debut, rumors have been flying as to whether or not the German automaker would go forward with it. Yesterday at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Volkswagen finally put the rumors to rest. "After the presentations at the global motor shows in Detroit and Geneva, we received a large number of letters and emails from customers who said, 'please build this car’,” said Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess. "The Microbus has long been part o
We can finally put the rumors to rest
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 5, 2013 When Volkswagen pulled the covers off the new Golf GTD at the Geneva Motor Show this year, questions arose whether or not the model would arrive in the U.S. Answers were mixed between yes and no. But we now have an answer. The GTD will be coming. Volkswagen made the announcement this week, saying the GTD will be here in 2015 as a 2016 model. The model will use a 2.0L TDI engine with 184 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. "We
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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
Just how much change are we talking about...
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For 2019, Volkswagen is swapping engines on certain Golf models to help boost fuel economy. The Car Connection reports that the Golf and Golf SportWagen will swap the turbocharged 1.8L four for the Jetta's turbo 1.4. The smaller engine produces 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Volkswagen is also adding more gears to the transmissions - six-speeds for the manual and eight for the automatic. EPA fuel economy estimates are not available at the moment. All-wheel drive variants
Only on front-wheel drive models, all-wheel models stick with the 1.8T
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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,
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Towards the end of February, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer gave Volkswagen a deadline. On March 24th, the German automaker would have to give a definitive answer on the status of a fix for nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles. At a hearing this week, Breyer has moved the deadline to April 21st. According to Reuters, both the EPA and Volkswagen said at the hearing they are making progress on a reaching an agreement. But there are still a number of issues to work out. A possible issue is whethe
Volkswagen gets a month's extension to work out a deal with the EPA
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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
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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
Volkswagen's Dealers Are Wondering What's Next and If There Is A Solution
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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
Next year, we find out if Skoda comes to the U.S. or not.
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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
Are the Volkswagen Beetle and Polo 3-Door coming to a end?
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If you're planning on picking up a 2019 Volkswagen Passat, then you might be disappointed by the limited amount on configurations on offer. The Car Connection reports that Volkswagen will be cutting down the 2019 Passat lineup to just two models - the Wolfsburg Edition and SE R-Line. Wolfsburg Edition: 17-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring as standard. A sunroof and 18-inch wheels are optional. SE R-Line: LED lighting, adaptiv
The V6 is also deep-sixed
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 10, 2013 Volkswagen has announced their 2014 lineup and the big news is that the 2.5L will be bidding farewell in the Beetle, Jetta, and Passat. In its place will be a new 1.8L turbocharged four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. While the 1.8T has about the same horsepower as the outgoing 2.5, it has about seven more pound-feet of torque. The 1.8T will be available in the Jetta and Passat SEL at the start. The rest
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Another day, another lawsuit for Volkswagen over the diesel emission scandal. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against Volkswagen of America for false advertising. The suit says Volkswagen claimed in ads their diesel vehicles were clean, when actually they were polluting more thanks to illegal software. "For years Volkswagen's ads touted the company's 'Clean Diesel' cars even though it now appears Volkswagen rigged the cars with
The FTC is the latest to file a suit against Volkswagen
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It has been almost a year since Volkswagen introduced the U.S. to the seventh-generation GTI at last year's New York Auto Show. While we have to wait just till June for the GTI to arrive at dealers, the company has revealed the pricing for the hot hatch. The 2015 GTI will start a price of $25,515 (includes a $820 destination charge) for the S model which gets you a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 210 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission. That will a
How much for a 2015 Volkswagen GTI? Glad you ask..
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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
Another possible twist in the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal
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This morning at Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, executives admitted there were parts of the company "tolerated breaches of rules" and would be 'relentless' in finding those involved in the diesel emission scandal. Volkswagen Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch told reporters at the press conference that investigations into the affair were going well, but it would take time for the investigation to figure out which individuals were the key players. Poestch also reiterated that a smal
Volkswagen Talks About Their Investigations, Admits There Were Breaches of Rules
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Volkswagen is turning towards plug-in hybrid technology for the majority of its models till longer range batteries become a reality. This was announced at Volkswagen's annual media conference yesterday by Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn. Why plug-in hybrid tech? Winterkorn explained that plug-in hybrids are the best stop-gap technology with reducing emissions without sacrificing range. Now that doesn't mean Volkswagen isn't stopping work on electric vehicles. The automaker is currently w
Volkswagen will be introducing more plug-in hybrid models until battery technology improves.
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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
Another Microbus rumor and it's electrifying!
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Late last week, Volkswagen unveiled the production T-Roc crossover. The subcompact crossover is based on the MQB platform and stands out with a stylish look and range of gas and diesel engines. Previously, we have reported that the T-Roc was under consideration for the U.S.. But a new report says the model is off the table for the time being. “The car is meant for Europe and China. The most compact model of the Volkswagen range for the U.S. remains Tiguan,” a Volkswagen source tells Automob
You can cross off the T-Roc from coming to the U.S.
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Blake Noble Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 7th, 2012 At the moment, Volkswagen builds only two different flavors of sports-utility vehicles. On one hand you have the small highway-oriented Golf-based Tiguan, and on the other you have the larger off-road capable Touraeg. However, that stage may be preparing to change as VW could be planning to expand their portfolio of SUVs in the near future. According to a recent report sourced from German business newspaper Handelsblatt, Volkswag
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As more manufacturers begin to add more technologies (keyless entry, advanced infotainment system, and online connectivity), the danger of having a vehicle hacked increases. We saw this first-hand last year as two security researchers revealed a number of security holes in FCA's UConnect system that allowed them to access critical vehicle functions such as braking and steering. Now a new research paper reveals 100 million Volkswagen Group vehicles going back to 1995 have a serious security issue
Have a 1995 or newer Volkswagen? Your vehicle has a big security flaw.
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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
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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
The Dream Sets On The Volkswagen GTD In The U.S.
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There appears to be some movement on the 3.0L TDI settlement between Volkswagen and U.S. Government. A source briefed on the 3.0L TDI V6 settlement told Reuters that Volkswagen will pay $200 million into a pollution reduction fund. This is on top of the $2.7 billion Volkswagen will be paying for the 2.0L TDI pollution reduction fund. This seems to be the only thing the two groups have agreed on at the moment. Yesterday, a hearing at U.S. Federal Court in San Fransisco was pushed back few ho
Progress is being made on the 3.0L TDI V6 settlement
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Volkswagen has already missed one deadline set by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on reaching a deal with the U.S. Government over the diesel emission scandal. Breyer has given them a second deadline of April 21st. Now the administrator of the EPA worries they could miss the second one. Speaking to reporters at a breakfast, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said she has concerns about the two groups being able to reach a deal before the deadline. "I wouldn't take any single signal as th
Who is worried about missing the April 21st deadline? The administrator of the EPA.
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German authorities will put Volkswagen's fixes for diesel emissions to the test. German newspaper Die Welt reports that the German Transportation Authority will take Volkswagen vehicles affected by the diesel cheating scandal and perform emission and fuel usage testing once the company begins doing the fixes. Die Welt goes on to say that the test results and raw data will be published in full to guarantee transparency. No word as to when the re-tests would be carried out. Volkswagen say
German Authorities Will Put Volkswagen's Fix To The Test
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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
Department of Justice readies criminal charges against Volkswagen
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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
Why you'll find two Volkswagen Tiguans at your dealer very soon
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There is finally some good news for owners of the 80,000 vehicles equipped with Volkswagen's 3.0L TDI V6. Today in U.S. Federal Court in San Fransisco, District Court Judge Charles Breyer announced that Volkswagen and the U.S. Government have a reached an agreement on the 3.0L TDI settlement. The AFP in a tweet reports the settlement will total $1 billion. The agreement will see Volkswagen buying back 20.000 models as they cannot be retrofitted with new parts to make them legal. The remaini
Some good news for 3.0L TDI V6 owners
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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
Want a brand new 2015 Volkswagen TDI?
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Volkswagen is looking towards vans and a possible pickup as way to bolster its U.S. lineup and become something other than a niche player in the marketplace. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen's head of the light commercial vehicle unit, Eckhard Scholz said the company is investigating whether or not to send some of their vans and possibly the Amarok - the only pickup VW builds at the moment - to the U.S. “Pickup trucks are a dominating segment,” while there’s also a trend in the U.S. toward co
Volkswagen Looks Into Vans and a Truck for the U.S.
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