We’ve already seen Volkswagen showcase their L1 Concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show and already they have again taken center stage to show us their E-Up! Concept.

This concept measures just 10.5 feet long and is big enough to hold 4 passengers including the driver. Despite being small, the E-Up! is said to be able to reach speeds of up to 85mph while being able to sprint from 0-60mph in 11 seconds or from 0-30 in 3.5 seconds. The vehicle is to be powered by a 18kWh lithium ion battery that gives the E-Up! a range of about 80 miles. Even better, the battery pack will be able to reach an 80% charge in under an hour.

No word on when the E-Up! Concept will go into production, if ever.

via autoblog

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Originally intended to make its debut at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen has decided to unveil their 2010 Golf R. This vehicle is falls into the same lineup as the Scirocco R that we saw back in May.

VW’s 2010 Golf R features a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine capable of 265hp, 320Nm of torque with the ability to sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds when coupled with a 6 speed manual transmission or 6.4 seconds with the DSG model. Aesthetically the Golf R features an updated grill, LED daytime running lights and R badges out the ying yang.

Unlike the Scirocco R the Golf R is actually destined for a North American release but exactly when, we don’t know.

via wcf

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The VW/Porsche merger is no small move, and that’s no secret. But it seems that VW CEO, Martin Winterkorn, has a very strong feeling that Porsche will be coming out better than they went in. In fact, in a recent interview with German magazine Manager Magazin, Winterkorn has said that he could see Porsche sales increasing 200% to 150,00 vehicles sold a year by 2013.

The only way to actually see how Porsche will do once the deal goes down is to wait however, Mr. Winterkorn seems pretty confident. Let the speculation begin!

via wcf

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A press release issued by VW today with the main purpose of finding a new advertising agency has given us a glimpse of the years to come. First and foremost, VW has detailed their intentions to increase yearly vehicle sales up to 800,000 by the year 2018. To reach these numbers VW has said they will introduce both a midsize sedan and compact sedan sometime next year. The press release states that both of these sedans will be “all-new” which leads us to believe they will not be alternative models to either the Passat or Jetta.

Lastly, VW has said that “both models have been designed with the specific wants and needs of the U.S. consumer in mind.” Could this possibly mean a low priced and fuel efficient vehicle? Let’s hope so.

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It seems that there VW is about to shine a ray of hope for unemployed Mexican citizens — The automaker has recently announced that they manufacture their newest compact sedan at a plant in Puebla, Mexico sometime early next year. This will be the same plant that produces the latest Jetta and Beetle models.

VW hopes to invest close to $1 billion into the project which about half of that going towards producing a new assembly line at the plant.

For those anxiously awaiting more details, check back soon as we’ll keep you posted.

via Autoblog

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We got our first hint that Porsche and VW would merge into a single company back in May but ever since no deal has officially gone through. Today however, reports suggest that VW is all ready to actually buy-out Porsche effectively merging the two companies.

The deal will apparantly allow Porsche to get out of the severe debt they are currently with as VW will pay off €8 billion of their €10 billion+ debt in two stages.

If all goes well and this deal pans off, VW is looking at a 49.9% share in Porsche. Now let’s see a VW branded supercar hit the market!

via Autoblog

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Although German independent vehicle manufacturer Karmann closed its doors late last month as the company heads towards bankruptcy, latest reports say the move may not be final. Karmann has reportedly signed a $14 million deal with Volkswagen to assist with the development and supply of the VW’s future electric vehicles.

This info was first reported by Germany’s Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung, which claims that Karmann will use the funds to organize a restructured company with 1,600 employees. Neither Karmann nor VW has yet to confirm the reports, but there is a strong chance the two companies could join forces

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Volkswagen Passat CC

Volkswagen’s newest luxury sedan, the CC (or the Passat CC), has done it again. This graceful four-door coupe, brought out only recently, has already won the prestigious iF Product Design Award as well as the Australian International Design Award. And now Volkswagen can add the Red Dot Design Award to its list of achievements.

One of the most sought after design awards, the Red Dot prize has been presented annually since 1955 by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen on the best designs in the world, and was received this year by Volkswagen designer Martin Kropp on behalf of his whole team.

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Impressed in its recent trip from Japan, European car maker Volkswagen is reportedly mulling a possible 10% stake in Suzuki. Apparently, the market penetration of the Japanese car manufacturer into India is what caught Volkswagen’s eye, something that they have not been successful at to date.

This should be good news for Suzuki considering that they needs all the help they can get financially although some terms of that area may possibly need further elaboration. But whatever happens, you can bet that this potential investment or partnership can be a good one for both of them.

In late May 2009, VW said that it was mulling cooperation with the Chinese company BYD to build hybrid or electric cars.

(Source) Steel Guru

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A drop in the price of diesel has pushed it below gas prices, and ignited sales of diesel fueled vehicles. According to the Department of Energy, the average price for a gallon diesel as of June 22 is $2.61, while average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.69 and if your car requires premium, tack on another $0.25 or so. Now that it’s not just a more efficient fuel, but also cheaper to drive a diesel, it’s not surprising that Americans are flocking to the few carmakers that offer them.

As a matter of fact, Volkswagen saw a rise of 71% in sales of the Jetta TDI between April and May, as reported by AutoWeek and are expecting to do just as well or even better in June. Mercedes-Benz is also profiting from this sales trend, with their diesel powertrains. Some of these diesel engine vehicles are eligible for a tax break of between $900 and $1,800 under a provision of the Lean Burn bill.

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VW Touran R-Line

German car manufacturer Volkswagen has wheeled out the recently designed R-Line package for the Touran. This Touran R-Line Edition is available with two TSI gasoline engines and three TDI turbo diesel units. The exterior details include matte chrome grille treatment, a new set of 18-inch multispoke alloy wheels, silver tone roof rails and body color protective strips. VW has also included a sport suspension kit that lowers the ride height by 15 mm.

The Touran R-Line’s interior features sportier seats, leather gearbox knob and handbrake, three-spoke, flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel, sport pedals and faux aluminum decorative trim details on the door panels and dashboard. Some of the Touran’s standard equipment has been upgraded such the audio system, CD changer in the armrest, automatic climate control, and fog lights with VW’s cornering system. Prices start from €30,800 for the Touran R-Line 1.9 TDI.

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Last month Porsche substantiated that it is seeking an outside investor, in spite of the ongoing drama of the merger with Volkswagen. The company is more than €9 billion ($12 billion) debt, and with no distinct path for quick access to VW’s cash, the government of Qatar may step in as the answer. Qatar’s finance minister, Youssef Kamal, has been quoted as saying, “Our government is interested in acquiring a stake in Porsche. When and how much, I don’t know. We are always looking for opportunities in the car market.”

Porsche has also applied for federal loans from the German government-owned bank KfW according to a Financial Times report. Porsche originally accumulated the debts while increasing its stake in VW to just over 50% last year. In terms of shareholder ownership, VW and Porsche are already combined, though a closer consolidation was desired to wipe out remaining debts.

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The management team of Volkswagen have a reason to smile these days. With all the turmoil covering the auto industry, they are experiencing an increase in market share and are apparently being led by an unlikely car line. The sportier-looking Volkswagen Golf GT MK6 seems to be capturing the attention of the car market and has been queuing up customers.

The Mk6 is the quickest ever car in the company’s range, and coupled with its stunning looks, quality build and great handling, it’s no wonder drivers can’t wait to get their hands on it. The Mk6 has a top speed of 149 miles per hour and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 6.9 seconds, but despite this awesome power, the car is, rather miraculously, more eco-friendly.

With a sportier design, it looks like Volkswagen has greener days ahead of it and we don’t mean just being eco-friendly. People love the new looks so the next thing you may have to worry about would be consumer complaints on when they can get their order.

New models start at around £21,000 but for those on a tighter budget, a used VW may provide the answer.

(Source) PR Web

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Eos White Night

Volkswagen’s has brought out a new, special model called the Eos White Night. The White Night is built upon contrasts, the exterior body is painted in “Candy White”, while the roof, mirror covers and radiator grille are colored black in “Deep Black Pearlescent.” To top it off, the tail lights on this car are cherry-red LEDs.

The color scheme carries on to the interiors, with the doors, seats, and steering wheel covered in black with seams of a lighter color. The sill panels strips have “White Night” written over them to mark the special model. It is available for order now, and retails for €33,140

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Volkswagen may be preparing a new three-door version of its 2010 Polo hatchback, but a reported coupe version due late next year may be even more attractive. That car would fit into VW’s lineup as a smaller sibling to the Scirocco coupe, and will share most of its styling, and there may even be some influence from the recently unveiled Bluesport roadster concept.

As a more aggressive version to the Polo family, this coupe will be getting the auto maker’s splendid 1.4L supercharged and turbocharged engine. According to AutoExpress, the compact engine will be putting out close to 180hp (140kW) in the Polo coupe, and this should provide for some high-spirited performance, particularly when paired with VW’s new 7-speed DSG. This same engine will also be seen in the Polo GTI, which was recently previewed as a concept at the 2009 Worthersee tuner show.

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