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April 16, 2008

VW planning 7-seat SUV

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Volkswagen has apparently seen the same gap in its SUV lineup that we did when the Tiguan was introduced. According to Autocar, the Germans are working on a mid-sizer that would slot between the large Touareg2 and the smaller Tiguan, but have seating for seven.

Autocar says VW does not plan to base the vehicle on Audi’s Q5 platform or a stretched Tiguan. Instead the company is expected to utilize the much cheaper, next-generation Passat, which itself shares numerous parts with the next Golf. Sources say the larger SUV is planned for a 2011 intro with possible Skoda and Seat variants.

Anyone want to take a guess at what obscure nomadic tribe this one will be named after? Wikipedia lists at least two that begin with “T” that haven’t been used yet. There are the Toubou of Chad, but that’s a bit too easily pronounced. Our money’s on the Dutch Trekboers, as in “How much do you think the new VW Trekboer will cost?”

[Source: Autocar]

 

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April 15, 2008

Spy Shots: Volkswagen Lavida - first China-only car caught

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The Volkwagen Lavida (or La Vida, perhaps) is VW’s China-only sedan that will go into production this summer. The car will be built in China by Shanghai Volkswagen, and could get the Chinese produced 1.4-liter TSI engine as well, but is more likely to come with a 1.8- or 2.0-liter engine.

As a testament to VW’s commitment to China, they haven’t skimped on the car: it gets the PQ34 platform that sits under other VW Group products like the Bora and A4. Planned as a luxury car that will compete with the Buick Excelle, the car is 100 mm longer than the Bora and has been called a “mini Phaeton” by the Chinese motoring press.

The car’s design has some split personalities and a bit of Zelig thrown in. If you look at the grille, it’s obviously a VW. If you look anywhere else, well, it could be any number of Asian sedans — but if you know it’s a VW, you can also see VW cues, like the rear door line at the wheel well. Shanghai VW is expected to sell 8,000 Lavidas in the second half of this year.

Thanks for the tip, 21cdb!

[Source: The Tycho]

 

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April 12, 2008

Rabbit on ‘roids: Abt tunes the Volkswagen R32

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Click above for a high resolution version

It was only a matter of time before Abt got its hands on a Volkswagen R32. The hot hatch is no slouch in stock form with 250 horsepower, but Abt has boosted output to 370 bhp via a supercharger complete with a water-cooled intercooler. This knocks the 0-60 mph time down to 5.0 seconds flat and raises the top speed to 167 mph. Abt has also fitted the R32 with an adjustable sport suspension, as well as 19-inch BR wheels. Follow the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Abt Volkswagen R32

[Source: Abt Sportline]

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April 9, 2008

In the Autoblog Garage: Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SE

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Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SE

“I think we’re gonna have to buy a Volkswagen,” I told me wife just hours after signing for the keys to a 2008 Jetta 2.5 SE. I had only done about four miles in the car and, already, the near-luxury interior and throaty exhaust had won me over.

But my wife was skeptical of a sedan’s ability to handle the needs of our pack-rat family even if it did have 170 horses. So I drove the handsome little VW a couple of days more before turning it over to her for toddler-toting duty. I felt sure she’d see the positives of German engineering by week’s end.

Gallery: 2008 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 Special Editon

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.

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April 3, 2008

Volkswagen drops “Passat” sticks with “CC” for new sedan

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A few of us around the Autoblog offices have made the case that the recently unveiled Volkswagen Passat CC should replace the current model and drop the “CC” prefix altogether. Both are fine looking vehicles, but there doesn’t seem to be any need for another variant carrying the Passat name. Well, apparently VW agrees with part of that argument and has updated its consumer web site with information about the new CC, while dropping the Passat moniker altogether. It’s a subtle marketing ploy that may or may not work, but will help to fill the gaping hole between the standard Passat and the soon-to-be-revived Phaeton nameplate.

Thanks for the tip Rob!

[Source: Volkswagen]

 

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Volkswagen ist das Auto

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When Volkswagen reintroduced the Rabbit to the U.S., it claimed that it was drawing on enthusiasts’ emotional connection with the Rabbit name, and it wants to draw on even more of that pop culture history with its latest advertising and marketing campaign. VW is referring to its new campaign as “DAS AUTO”, or literally as “the car.” A black 1964 Beetle called Max will be the star of the campaign as he it converses with such varied celebrities as Heidi Klum, David Hasselhoff (!) and Leonard Nimoy, among others.

According to Tim Ellis, the newly-appointed vice president of marketing at Volkswagen of America, “Max personifies Volkswagen’s American consumers and lets them know how Volkswagen understands and responds to what the people want.” Were people asking for talking VW Beetles? We’re not sure, but we’ll soon be finding out; Max and the DAS AUTO campaign will begin in earnest starting very soon, kicking off five new model launches: the Tiguan compact SUV, Routan minivan, CC, clean diesel Jetta TDI and Jetta SportsWagen.

[Source: Volkswagen]

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