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2012 Volkswagen E-Bugster Speedster Concept
 
Volkswagen is expanding on its E-Bugster Coupe shown at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in early 2012 by bringing a similar model to the Beijing Auto Show. The new model is called the E-Bugster Speedster Concept and shares many of the styling cues as that of its coupe counterpart. Stylistically, we love this version of the concept because of its drop-top configuration. Nothing evokes images of breathless freedom than driving down the highway in a Beetle with the top down and the wind blowing your hair. The E-Bugster Speedster Concept may still be a concept in every sense of the word, but trust us when we tell you that this is one car that we won’t mind seeing inside Volkswagen dealerships soon. Will it happen? We don’t know. But rest assured, you can expect a lot of people to clamor Volkswagen to send this one to production. Find out more about the Volkswagen E-Bugster Cabriolet Concept after the jump. Full story Video: Volkswagen Sirocco R vs. Ford Focus RS
Models like the Volkswagen Sirocco R and the Ford Focus RS are hits on the European market, so it’s not surprising to see them get put next to each other on the Nurburgring race track for a little competitive action. The two cars provided quite a show tooas you will see in this video which is about eight minutes long. Take a seat and enjoy! As a reminder, the Volkswagen Scirocco R is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0 liter TSI engine that delivers 265 HP and 258 lbs-ft of torque. On the other side, the Ford Focus RS is powered by a 2.5 liter 20 V DOHC RS engine that delivers 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The Volkswagen can hit a top speed of 155 mph, while the Ford goes up to 163 mph. Convertible VW Beetle to Debut in Beijing
 When Volkswagen rid its lineup of the aging New Beetle in 2010 and released the all-new and more stylish Beetle in 2012, the convertible option was left out. V-Dub-Ya gave no real explanation to the lacking of a ragtop, but we all assumed it would eventually become a part of the lineup; much like it took VW five years to put a drop-top on the New Beetle. It appears that the Beetle won’t have nearly as long of a waiting period before allowing its new-found male buyers to lower the top and let the whole world know they aren’t afraid to drive a “chick’s" car. At the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition – Auto China 2012 for short – Volkswagen plans to unveil a new convertible model. Now hold your horses before you head out to your local “People’s Car” dealership to reserve your ragtop Bug, as the revealed drop- top Bug is not going to be a production model. It will actually be a convertible version of the E-Bugster, VW’s concept electric Bug. Regardless of the ragtop being on the top of the concept Bug, just teasing the possibility of a convertible Bug is enough to make Bug lovers happy. VW has yet to even hint about a release date for any convertible models, and we have a sneaking suspicion that it will be a late-2012 or early-2013 addition to the lineup, given the fact they are not displaying a production model. Keep an eye out, as the Auto China 2012 is coming up soon – it opens to us media folk on April 23rd – and we will let you know the second we get a glimpse at it and any information on a potential release date. Let’s also keep our fingers crossed that VW adds a drop-top option to its sweet 200-horsepower Beetle Turbo model.
Volkswagen Alltrack to Make its First Appearance in the U.S.
 In November 2011, Volkswagen displayed a concept called the Passat Alltrack at the Tokyo Motor Show with no plans of it coming to the U.S. In the auto industry, things tend to change quickly, as now Volkswagen has decided to display a concept car bearing just the Alltrack name at the 2012 New York Auto Show. At this point, the Alltrack is strictly considered to be a concept, but it wouldn’t be completely outlandish to see it hit the market here soon, especially given the fact that VW no longer offers a wagon model in the U.S. The closest to a wagon that VW offers is the Tiguan, a crossover SUV, and the Routan, a minivan. The Alltrack is reported to arrive with a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that cranks out a respectable 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Along with the TDI engine, the Alltrack will feature a six-speed, dual clutch automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD. The Jetta Alltrack is a really good looking car, for a station wagon that is. The question that really arises is can a traditional station wagon not named “Volvo,” roam the streets of America anymore? Lately automakers are starting to move back into the wagon market, but most are “sport wagons,” including: Acura TSX Sport Wagon, Audi A3 Wagon, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, and so on. Its most likely competition would be the BMW 3-Series Wagon and the upcoming Volvo V40. The determining factor will be the response it gets at the auto show. If potential buyers start clamoring for it, you can expect VW to release it almost as quickly as they can produce them. We will continue to provide details on this potential new model, as VW releases them. One thing is for sure, we can all appreciate VW spelling “Track” the right way. Not “Trac,” “Trak,” “Trax,” or any other odd variation.
2013 Volkswagen Golf VII GTI
It has been rumored that Volkswagen will be bringing the seventh generation Golf to the 2012 Paris Auto Show in the Fall. The new Golf VII will be completely different, built on a new platform and sourced with more powerful engines. Volkswagen really needs this generation Golf to take off, after the sixth generation flopped and had to be redone after only three years on the market. The new Golf will be built on the company’s new MQB platform and will be longer and wider compared to the current generation. Expect to see some exterior changes as well, although they won’t be very significant because Volkswagen will want to keep its typical Golf formula. The GTI version will also be a bit more aggressive than the current generation and will get a modified front bumper, new headlamps, and other minor tweaks here and there. Volkswagen will place more powerful engines under the hood of the new Golf, although the exact specs on most of the engines have yet to be divulged. For the GTI, Volkswagen will most likely offer a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder that will deliver up to 260 HP. So, if the rumors are true, the new generation Golf GTI will offer an increase of 60 HP over the current generation (50 HP for the European model). The Volkswagen Golf VII GTI will be brought onto the market a few months after the standard version, so don’t expect to see it until sometime in 2013. UPDATE 03/23/2012: British magazine, CAR, has caught wind of some new details on the upcoming GTI version of the future generation Golf. The car will sit about 30mm lower than the current version, while the wheelbase will be around 50mm longer. At the front, the new Golf GTI will continue the design language of the sixth generation, but will add new front and rear spoilers and new red piping interlaced into the headlamps. Under the hood, Volkswagen will place an updated version of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, so expect an output of about 260 HP. The sprint from 0 to 62mph will take just 6.7 seconds and top speed will be 153mph. The official debut of the Volkswagen Golf VII GTI will be made in 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show. UPDATE 05/23/2012: The future Golf GTI has been caught during some laps at the Nürburgring track. 2012 VW Beetle Commercial: Relax Guys, it’s Okay to Drive One
Seemingly every car has a stigma attached to it. Some make their driver look like he has a big ego, some are classified for country folk, and some cars even get tagged with a specific gender. Yup, how many guys do you see driving a Miata? Not too many, unless you happen to know me – hey, it’s a Mazdaspeed MX-5, leave me alone. The Volkswagen New Beetle was another car that got stuck with the “chick’s car” label, and rightfully so. C’mon, there is a flower vase in the dashboard… In 2012, VW redesigned the beetle, giving it a lower profile and elongated hood, which makes it look stouter, flower vase and all. On top of the more “manly” look, VW also targeted men in particular in 2012 Beetle ads. The two ads that stick out most are the “Slap five” and “Thanks for flying Volkswagen,” both of which are directly aimed at men – the former more than the latter. I guess fist bumping and high-fiving random dudes and one pretty woman makes the Beetle manly. Hmm… Regardless of my opinion on it, this campaign worked. Since September 2011, 49% of all 2012 Beetle buyers were men. That’s nearly one-third more than last year. Apparently, Volkswagen knows a thing or two about how men’s brains work and aren’t afraid to blatantly go after what it wants. One mind trick VW pulled over men’s eyes was to focus mostly on the turbocharged models, tugging away at our weakest point, raw power. I wonder what people would think of me if I decided to trade my Miata for a Beetle. 2012 Volkswagen Golf VI GTI "Leitgolf" by CFC StylingStation
CFC StylingStation, based in Neuss, Germany, has once again offered a tuning package for the Volkswagen Golf VI GTI. The once vinyl body specialists branched out in 2010 and tried their tuning skills on the 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and now they’ve outdone themselves with the 2012 Volkswagen Golf GTI package. They call the finished product the Leitgolf. For 22,900 Euro, or about $30,000 USD, CFC StylingStation will not only upgrade the performance, but will also totally change the look of your 2012 Golf GTI. After adding a Kerscher front bumper and widening the fenders by 2.5 cm, CFC gets to their area of expertise and wraps the body with matte grey vinyl. The Leitgolf’s roof gets high gloss carbon fiber vinyl, while the emblems, passenger’s side front fender, fuel door, and the inner part of the front bumper grille get covered with an awesome looking comic book style collage that CFC calls "Sticker Bombing." Vinyl lettering on the rear passenger glass simply reads "I Love Haters." CFC then adds a carbon fiber kit that includes a front lip spoiler, side sills, mirror caps, rear diffuser, and an engine cover. Hit the jump for more details on the Volkswagen Golf VI GTI "Leitgolf" by CFC StylingStation. Full story 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
The world heard the Beetle name for the first time back in 1938 and with 73 long and impressive years tucked away nicely under their belts, Volkswagen has never really strayed away from their original design. The appeal for the Beetle never really faltered because it was, in fact, a unique design, but Volkswagen has made the decision to reignite the passion for the Beetle with efficient engines and innovative features combined to obtain a ‘modern classic’ in the 2012 Beetle. The vehicle will make its first appearance in China, at the Shanghai Motor Show, and then it will be brought to the 2011 New York Auto Show. Sales on the North American market will begin this autumn, while Europe sales will start in early 2012. The new Beetle shares its platform with the new Volkswagen Jetta and will be 1,808 mm wide (84 mm wider), 1,486 mm tall (12 mm lower), and 4,278 mm long (152 mm longer). Thanks to the new proportions, the roof is extended further, the front windscreen shifted back, and the rear section follows the contour of the original Beetle. US customers will have the possibility to choose from three trim levels - "Beetle", "Design," and "Sport" - and three engines - one diesel and two petrol. UPDATE 03/08/12: Just in time for Spring, Volkswagen has updated the Beetle line-up with the addition of two more engines that will make the car even more affordable. The first is a 1.2 TSI engine that delivers a total of 105 HP and the second is a 1.6 TDI engine with an output of 160 HP. The company has added a series of new images from the Spring Drive. Check them out in the picture gallery! Full story 2012 Volkswagen Cross Coupe TDI Plug-In Hybrid Concept
When Volkswagen unveiled the Cross Coupe Concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, little did we know that it had a twin brother in the form of the Cross Coupe TDI Plug-In Hybrid Concept. The latter will be making its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, where it will showcase a completely different powertrain from the first concept we saw in Tokyo last November. Aesthetically, the two car’s look like mirror images from each other with the only exception being the two-tone red and silver color scheme of the Cross Coupe TDI Plug-In Hybrid Concept. What distinguishes this model from its Tokyo counterpart lies in its mechanical specifications. Whereas the Cross Coupe came with a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid system - three power sources! - the Geneva-bound Cross Coupe TDI Plug-In Hybrid is powered by two electric motors and a more frugal turbodiesel four-cylinder unit with direct injection. Those two electric motors are situated on opposite ends of the vehicle and together with the four-cylinder engine, the powertrain is capable of producing 301 horsepower with a top speed of 137 mph. Those numbers are an improvement from the Cross Coupe’s 262-horsepower output and 125-mph top speed. There’s a good chance that Volkswagen is still keeping more information on the Cross Coupe TDI Plug-In Hybrid Concept close to its chest. In the event where that’s the case, expect more details to be released when the crossover makes its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. 2005 - 2008 Volkswagen Golf V R32 by MR Car Design
MR Car Design, in collaboration with BTS-Racing, has released a new aftermarket tuning package for the Volkswagen Golf V R32, which was produced from 2005 to 2008. The package starts with a R32 HPG turbo kit and a 3-inch sport exhaust system with valve control. After performance tuning, the Golf’s 3.2L engine makes a whopping 458 horsepower and 405 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s an amazing increase of over 210 horsepower and over 165 lb.-ft. of torque. To handle all that extra power, the tuning companies reinforced the DSG transmission. The tuning doesn’t stop there. With the package, The Golf V also receives a KW Clubsport suspension kit, H&R stabilizers, and a Stoptech brake package. All the old bushings are replaced with Superpro bushings. The matte blue VW MR Car Design used to highlight their performance parts got fitted with 19-inch OZ Ultraleggera HLT matte alloy wheels wrapped in 225/35/ZR19 high performance tires. Top speed and acceleration times have not yet been released. Check out the photos and leave a comment to let us know what you think of this souped up Volkswagen. | featured reviews:Volkswagen cars reviews2028 2015 2014 2013 2012
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Volkswagen cars
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