Volkswagen

The original Volkswagen Van sketch

By Mike Hanlon

21:44 August 9, 2007 PDT

August 10, 2007, We’ve already written up the fact that it’s 60 years since Volkswagen produced the first Transporter (nee Kombi, nee Bulli, nee Camper) but when we saw this sketch that started it all, we got all weak at the knees and felt compelled to do it all again. Inspired by a vehicle staff had built to transport heavy panels around Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg factory, this is the actual concept sketch that led to the first Volkswagen T1 van, famous for its split-windscreen. Read More

Sixty Years of the VW Camper

By Mike Hanlon

02:33 July 30, 2007 PDT

July 30, 2007 It was precisely 60 years ago this week that Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon discovered a vehicle at the Wolfsburg factory, which Volkswagen staff had built for their own use to transport heavy panels around the site. It was this vehicle that provided the catalyst soon afterwards for the first sketch and concept of the "Bulli" (affectionate term for the Volkswagen Camper - the "Kombi" in Australia!), later to become the driving force of the economy, vehicle of choice for the flower power generation, holiday camper and people carrier. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has used the unparalleled history of this vehicle as an opportunity to organise an international VW Camper event from 5th to 7th October at the Exhibition Centre in Hanover. Read More

Volkswagen unveils new Tiguan Compact 4x4

By Mike Hanlon

June 29, 2007 Volkswagen has taken the wraps off its new Tiguan compact 4x4 which will go on sale in February 2008, following its world public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Based on the Concept Tiguan that made its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show last year, the Tiguan is slightly larger than the Volkswagen Touran compact MPV and an appearance which reinforces its strong links to its ‘big brother’, the Touareg. In the UK, the Tiguan will initially be available with two engines – a 2.0-litre 140 PS TDI diesel which is likely to be the most popular model, and a 1.4-litre 150 PS TSI petrol unit. Later in 2008 a 170 PS TDI and two further petrol engines will become available to order. Read More

Used Convertible Values: Volkswagen Chases Ferrari For Top Spot

By Mike Hanlon

June 1, 2007 Buying an set of wheels is an emotional decision but we’d always suggest that a look through the residual value figures might help to point you towards a more rational emotional decision. The latest figures from EurotaxGlass’s in the UK are a case in point. EurotaxGlass’s has found that a number of volume-brand drop-tops retain a far greater proportion of their value than prestige-brand models from the likes of BMW, Lexus and Maserati. While the Ferrari F430 Spider holds onto its value better than any other 12-month-old convertible on sale in the UK (a typical ’06-plate example retaining 97 per cent of its original list price as a trade value), hot on its heels is the rather more humble Volkswagen Eos (at 94 per cent retained value in 2.0 TDI Sport guise). Read on for the top 20 listing. Read More

New seven-speed DSG gearbox

By Mike Hanlon

May 25, 2007 Volkswagen has developed a seven-speed version of its DSG gearbox which is used on such exotica as the Bugatti Veyron and the Audi TT. The new seven-speed gearbox, codenamed DQ200, uses a pair of dry clutches in preference to the six-speed version’s twin wet clutches, increasing efficiency and performance over the wet clutch six-speed system. The six-speed DSG gearbox, which was introduced in 2003, uses a pair of clutches submerged in oil. The new seven-speed gearbox adopts a pair of dry, organic bonded friction linings that do not require cooling, making the drivetrain more efficient through the extra ratio and the fact that less power is required for the gear selection and clutch servo system. Read More

VW’s Concept Tiguan makes debut at Los Angeles Auto Show

By Mike Hanlon

November 30, 2006 The launch looked more like a nighclub than an automotive debut but Volkswagen was intent on selling the sizzle as well as the sausage. The sausage in question was the Concept Tiguan compact 4x4, and the venue was the Los Angeles Auto Show, with the whole affair topped off by the announcement that the first examples of the SUV will be delivered to customers by the end of next year. The first news of the Tiguan’s development came with the debut of Concept A in Berlin earlier this year. This was followed by the naming of the model in July, the result of a poll of more than 350,000 readers of magazines of the AutoBild group. This latest development in Los Angeles takes the Tiguan one step closer to production and hints strongly at how the final version could look. Read More

Volkswagen Neeza Concept Car

By Mike Hanlon

November 19, 2006 With the Chinese automotive market now the second largest in the world and growing like topsy, the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition is become one of the world’s premier automotive showcases in very short order. Few of the world’s non-Chinese automotive companies have debuted concept cars there for a variety of reasons that will no doubt change over the next year or two – one of the first to launch an entirely new concept car is Volkswagen which has just taken the wraps off the Neeza concept, a crossover between a sports coupe and an estate with an off-road appearance. Significantly, it was designed in China for China, combining Chinese and German design philosophies. The concept intentionally has neither a radio, navigation system nor other form of infotainment equipment. Instead a ‘Magic Box’ serves as an interface for radio and navigation systems, mobile phone, personal organiser and other devices. And the roof is entirely glass. Read More

Futuristic Nanospyder Concept (psst - it’s a Volkswagen)

By Mike Hanlon

November 1, 2006 A team of highly creative Volkswagen designers based in California have unveiled their own unique take on the future of modern transportation. The result is the Volkswagen Nanospyder. Futuristic nanotechnology supported by hydrogen fuel cells, solar power, wheel-mounted electric motors and inflatable organic body panels combine to form the unusual shape of the two-seater concept. Read More

Volkswagen Atacama 4WD van concept

By Mike Hanlon

October 7, 2006 Ooooh, we really like this one - VW has revealed a striking off-road vehicle based on the recently-launched Crafter van. Named Atacama, after the desert in South America, the four-wheel drive concept is the product of the Volkswagen Design Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany, and shows further potential for the Crafter in the leisure and fun segment. ’could become a limited production vehicle. VW Sales Manager, Harald Schomburg, is very enthusiastic and is seeking customer feedback. "If it is positive", says Schomberg, "we will build a series of up to 100 vehicles." So there you have it folks - email your local distributor if you think this is a good idea. Read More

New VW CrossGolf combines SUV and MPV

By Mike Hanlon

September 28, 2006 Volkswagen will be showing a new crossover version of the Golf at the Paris Motor Show which opens today. The CrossGolf merges the can-do qualities of a compact SUV with the versatility of a small MPV into a new model. SUV means “Sports Utility Vehicle”, denoting a significantly more “civilian” stage on the path to the “tough” off-road vehicle. Approximately 480,000 compact SUVs were sold in Europe in 2005. MPV means “Multi Purpose Vehicle”, referring to a van. With its versatile and spacious interior, the CrossGolf also bridges this segment which sold 1.4 million compact SUVs in Europe in 2005. As a combination SUV and MPV, the new CrossGolf is precisely positioned between these poles and has no direct competitor in this class due to its positioning and conception. Read More

New VW Touran has automatic parking

By Mike Hanlon

September 13, 2006 Volkswagen has revealed the first images of its new Touran compact MPV, ahead of its world public debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month. With a fresh new appearance and innovative technologies, yet still boasting all the practical features for which the Touran has become renowned, the revised seven-seater people carrier looks set to continue the model’s success. The new Touran will be the first Volkswagen available with ParkAssist, an optional parking guidance system developed by Volkswagen engineers. ParkAssist enables automatic parking, using front and rear ultrasonic sensors to detect available parking space and a control unit to calculate the ideal manoeuvring path. Acoustic and visual displays guide the driver to the correct parking start position, then once reverse gear is selected the car parks itself in under 15 seconds. All the driver has to do in this time is accelerate and brake – the Touran does all the steering. The system will be available in the from June 2007. Read More

Volkswagen Reveals Iroc Sports Car Concept

By Mike Hanlon

August 25, 2006 Volkswagen has revealed its Iroc sports car concept at a special event in Berlin last night. The Iroc marks the return of the Scirocco, Volkswagen’s iconic sports coupe, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 33 years ago. Under the bonnet, the Iroc features Volkswagen’s TSI petrol technology, which uses a turbocharger and a supercharger to produce diesel-like consumption with impressive performance. Designed to maximise driving fun, the concept has a 210 bhp TSI engine, but a range of TSIs, starting from under 150 bhp, are also feasible. Most distinctive, however, are the gauges and controls in the Iroc’s cabin. Two large and newly-designed round instruments form the visual centre of the cockpit. The driver looks into two cylinders with twelve illuminated bars which create a three dimensional segmentation within the instruments. The Iroc combines practicality with driving fun and expressive design in a car that as a possible series-production vehicle would be “attractively positioned in price” according to VW. Read More

USB audio interface for Volkswagen models

By Mike Hanlon

June 27, 2006 Volkswagen is well known for its futuristic outlook and in keeping with this it has become the first manufacturer to make a USB audio interface module available across a wide range of Volkswagen vehicles. The USB module is a versatile music and data source that allows users to connect USB sticks and portable media players to the vehicle's audio system and listen to music without carrying CDs in the car. Available across Europe for the current Volkswagen Golf, Golf Plus, Jetta, Touran and Passat and the new Eos, the product is distributed exclusively via VW's accessories arm, Volkswagen Individual, as an aftermarket option. Read More

Volkswagen Crafter to be unveiled later this month

By Mike Hanlon

April 8, 2006 The Commercial Vehicle Show 2006 to be held at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (UK) from 25 to 27 April will see the worldwide public debut of Volkswagen’s latest model, the Crafter. Replacing the Volkswagen LT, the Crafter will be the biggest van in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ range and its arrival, in September this year, completes the renewal of Volkswagen’s van line-up. Read More

Volkswagen and Microsoft display multimedia and communication automotive concept at the CeBIT

By Mike Hanlon

March 9, 2006 One of the more interesting exhibits (among thousands) at the CeBIT exhibition opening today is the Volkswagen Eos, which looks at what tomorrow's automotive multimedia and communication functions might be. Created in collaboration with Microsoft, the Eos is on display at the Microsoft stand in the new CeBIT "Digital Living" area. Based on a car PC from inperio Systems with an Intel Celeron Processor (650 MHz), a RAM with 256 MB and a hard drive with 20 GB, the user enjoys all the functions that he has at home. The data processor is centrally located in the backrests of the rear seats and two seven inch monitors are installed in the head restraints of the front seats. Read More

VW Crossover Concept A combines sports car design with SUV elements

By Mike Hanlon

February 17, 2006 Volkswagen has revealed its latest design study, the Concept A, a crossover between a sports car and a compact SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle). The concept combines a sleek coupe-style silhouette with the raised stance of an SUV. The study shown in Berlin yesterday is powered by a 110 kW (150 hp) Twincharger (TSI), with power reachingthe wheels via a six gear transmission and an all wheel drive 4MOTION system. Studies such as this are allowed complete freedom though, and VW also suggested that the study might find its way into production (as VW concepts tend to do), powered by a turbo diesel direct fuel injection (TDI) motor or the FSI Turbo of the Golf GTI (147 kW / 200 hp). Read More

Volkswagen shows first U.S.-bound Golf

By Mike Hanlon

February 10, 2006 Volkswagen chose the Chicago Auto Show to debut the fifth generation of Europe’s best-selling car, the new Volkswagen Golf hatchback. While it is hands down the most popular motoring choice for drivers on the other side of the Atlantic, one of the most interesting claims made by Volkswagen in announcing the new Golf was “an appeal that transcends both status and social class.” VW believes the Golf appeals to the purist, as it “epitomizes an authentic German car built for a wide group of buyers who share a stringent set of Teutonic standards for motoring.” The US Golf will go on sale mid year in both two- and four-door versions, though no pricing has been announced. Standard items on all new Golfs will include an advanced ABS braking system, traction control, active headrests (front), front and rear head curtain protection, front side airbags, manual climate control and anti-theft alarm system with remote locking. Read More

VW and Google team to explore future vehicle navigation systems

By Mike Hanlon

February 4, 2006 The next battleground in the ongoing war for humanity’s digital future emerged this week – first it was business, then the home, and now the attention of the giants has focussed clearly on the automobile. Earlier this week Fiat and Microsoft announced their jointly-developed automotive telematics system Blue&Me would launch at the 2006 Geneva Motorshow later this month. Now VW and Google have announced their collaboration in building an in-car communication and entertainment system and have released significantly more detail. Volkswagen, Google, and graphics chipmaker, nVidia, are working on an in-car navigation map system and display that is 3-dimensional and more realistic than anything currently available. Users will instinctively recognize their location in relation to the surrounding topography, especially in urban areas that are depicted with depth and accurate size relationships between buildings and roads. The group is also working with the likes of Sun Microsystems and Splashpower on other advancements, including automatic personalized content updates for its vehicle navigation systems, and a wireless in-car charging system for handhelds. Read More

VW's 3-wheel sportcar

By Mike Hanlon

January 6, 2006 Volkswagen dropped a bombshell of significant magnitude in the automotive market overnight by showing a new three wheeled vehicle concept machine which it has billed as a crossover between sports car and motorcycle. That the mighty Volkswagen company should consider such a vehicle is surprising, but in an unprecedented move for any major manufacturer and a concept machine, the company has specified a price, indicating that the extreme performance and economy of the three wheeler could be delivered to market for under US$17,000 and inviting consumer response to the concept. Considering that the three wheel, two seater will deliver supercar performance while offering access to the carpool lane and delivering 46 mpg (5.2 l/100 km), we suspect the public response might be positive. We’ve reported on a number of three-wheel concepts recently, including the Aprilia Magnet , Mercedes-Benz Life-Jet , the Peugeot’s 20CUP, Toyota’s I-Swing and the Phiaro Eternity. Read More

Dakar Rally (Day 4): VW takes the lead

By Mike Hanlon

January 4, 2006 The Dakar Rally, from Lisbon to Dakar (Senegal), began on Saturday 31 December 2005 with a 370 kilometre stage from Lisbon to Portimao, followed on New Year’s Day with a further 567 kilometres to Malaga, Then followed a seven hour ferry crossing to Morocco for the entire rally contingent before racing got underway in Africa. There have been no surprises to date with Mitsubishi (questing for its sixth consecutive win) and the massive Volkswagen factory Touareg effort alternately holding the lead. In the bikes, the winning marque is already a foregone conclusion with KTM machinery holding the first six places. Yesterday Volkswagen hit back strongly with multiple WRC champion Carlos Sainz skipping out to a five minute lead and Volkswagen taking the first three places overall. Last year our extensive coverage of the Dakar Rally dubbed it the “Most Dangerous Sporting Event in the World” and compared it with the famous road races of 100 years ago. This year our coverage will be written separately for motorcycles and cars. Read More

VW shows a carbon fibre combination coupe, roadster and speedster at Tokyo

By Mike Hanlon

October 25, 2005 Volkswagen presented a new prototype that could well make history as the most economical sports car of its time at this week's Tokyo Motor Show. Its basic data: average fuel consumption of 3.4 litres for 100 km, a top speed of 230 kph. Its name: EcoRacer. Thanks to its carbon-fibre (CFP) bodywork, this sports car with its centrally located engine weighs in at only 850 kilograms, and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 6.3 seconds. Powered by a newly developed 100-kW turbo-charged diesel of the next generation, it offers a forward-looking synthesis of austere economy and impressive performance. 230 kph, 6.3 seconds, 3.4 litres – these vital statistics are as unusual as they are fascinating. But the objective of development was not to break records. With the EcoRacer, the intention was rather to create a research vehicle that united the elements of economy and performance under a very emotionally styled “roof”. Read More

Combination Supercharger and Turbocharger for VW Golf GT

By Mike Hanlon

September 15, 2005 At the International Motor Show (Cars) in Frankfurt, Volkswagen is presenting to the general public a groundbreaking innovation in the drive sector: The world’s first twinturbocharged FSI engine – the “Twincharger”. The compact 1.4 litre direct-injection engine develops 125 kW / 170 PS and has a maximum torque of 240 newton metres in the range from 1750 to 4500 rpm thanks to the combination of an exhaust turbocharger with a mechanically driven compressor. Furthermore, the “Twincharger” delivers a torque corresponding to a naturally aspirated engine of approximately 2.3 litres. And its fuel consumption is around 20 percent lower. Read More

The new Volkswagen Cabriolet-Coupe is to be called Eos

By Mike Hanlon

August 30, 2005 The Volkswagen Cabriolet-Coupe which was one of the stars of the 74th Geneva Automobile Salon in March 2004 as "Concept C” is to be released under the name of EOS – and will be seen in production mode for the first time in Frankfurt on September 12. The car is one of three production models debuting at the show with a cabriolet-coupe design. The Eos body concept has not been derived from a closed roof model; it was developed as an independent cabriolet-coupe. Fundamental technology such as the engine range (85 kW/115 PS to 184 kW/250 PS) and running gear can all be traced back to the new Passat. The vehicle features a new generation of fold-away steel roof, which transforms this four-seat Volkswagen from a coupe to a cabriolet in a matter of only seconds. The roof also features an integrated glass sunroof. The concept C was powered by a 110-kW / 150-hp FSI engine – no details have been released on the Eos. Read More

Volkswagen's much loved Beetle gets another makeover - the Ragster

By Mike Hanlon

Detroit, 11 January 2005 Volkswagen has shown a concept based on the ever-popular Beetle at the Detroit (NAIAS) Motor Show. Based on the concept of both a Ragtop and Speedster. Its most visible characteristic is a drastically lowered roof line with a large ragtop, and already the response has been positive enough to suggest the concept will see production and the world's best known automotive icon will continue onwards in yet another incarnation. This article looks at the new Ragster and the history of the Beetle, from Dr Ferdinand Porsche's early prototypes, through to its proliferation to every corner of the planet and a production of more than 20 million vehicles. Read More

VW offers insight into future automotive technologies

By Mike Hanlon

The automobile is evolving more rapidly than it has for many decades. New active vehicle safety and driver-assistance technologies are being developed by all of the leading auto manufacturers. Historically, these new technologies have been kept under wraps until ready for market but Volkswagen recently presented the media with an outline of nine future systems it has under development, offering an insight into the car of the not-too-distant future. Read More