I’m not a huge fan of parking, but I have to wonder about the safety concerns of Volkwagen’s self parking car. I mean seriously what happens when this malfunctions and it drives to Taco Bell at 12am for some chalupas?

I love Volkswagens advertising they constantly push their brand over and over again. It’s a great move incorporating their car logo strongly with their commercials and general image.

After nearly a year of concept teasers and discussions of its place in auto history the new VW Scirocco has finally reached the stages of the Geneva Auto Show in production ready form. While it is not necessarily a departure from any of Volkswagens other small hatches the Scirocco carries in with it a heritage of being a swift, fun ride and thus has a lot to live up to.

The overriding philosophy behind the Scirocco is to bring thrilling sportscar production with a small car entry fee. The 2009 VW Scirocco will be released this year on the European market with a starting price of 21,750 Euros. However appealing the starting price is though the engine range being discussed in conjunction with the Scirocco seems to leave some (okay, us.) wanting.

Currently there are three gasoline variants reportedly available and one diesel for the VW Scirocco. Without conclusive details on the engine sizes their expected horsepower ranges are 120, 145, and 158, and the diesel engine splitting the difference at 140-hp. Those are not necessarily hairsplitting figures. There is other speculation online that resembles those found in the GTI and even talk of a special edition Scirocco with 230-hp, but at this point these all fall under the category of rumor and hyperbole.
…Press Release and Picture Pages to follow…

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its 11th annual Top 10 listing of the Meanest and Greenest vehicles for 2008. Basing their rankings on results derived from what ACEEE calls a “Green Score”, “a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and the emissions of gases that cause global warming.” Coming out on top of 2008’s Green list for the second year in a row is the limited production Honda Civic GX. Running on natural gas, which burns cleaners than gasoline, and averaging 39 mpg the Honda Civic GX is surely clean, but virtually impossible to buy.

Running the dubious honor of being #1 as 2008’s Meanest car is the VW Touareg. With fuel ratings at or below 20 mpg from all 3 engine variants (the diesel is rated at 20 mpg highway), yet still in the mid-to-high teens, there would seem meaner vehicles on the market. Part of what brought down the score for the VW Touareg would be its diesel engine’s emissions results. With higher nitrogen oxides and particulate matter being emitted from the tailpipe the VW Touareg TDI is a top ranked polluter according to ACEEE.    …Full Top 10 Lists and Press Release after the link…

Recession? …Here.  Weak Dollar? …Present.  Isuzu?  …Isuzu?  …Isuzu?

Just like the housing market in the US the Auto Industry is not only dealing with their reorganizations from their gluttonous years but also with the economic situation that has gripped this country. As could be expected each auto maker has its own approach to handling such shifts, and it is there strategic efforts that will determine their future. Focusing for a moment on how the foreign auto makers are handling the American economic situation some are adding new plants and assembly factories, some are re-imagining themselves and others may be doing Pres. Bush’s least favorite thing… the cut and run.

To combat a slumping US dollar and to protect themselves from a loss of profit Volkswagen is looking to expand more into North America. While American companies still out-source their jobs over seas to nations with cheaper labor, the Germans are starting to look at America the same way… sorta speak. They can save money and salvage greater profits by moving some more manufacturing and assembly plants into the US.

It has been reported out of the UK that after years of concepts and toying with the notion VW may finally be ready to put out an affordable and modernized version of the VW Camper. Following a 60 year anniversary celebration in Hanover, Germany where the Who performed before 40,000 fans VW officials contacted the Who to get them involved in the Campers revival. While the original VW Camper still has the connotation as a Hippie-mobile, the new Camper would be marketed to attract buyers both old and new.

Ofcourse it will be with its feet in the “old” that the VW Camper will find its marketing campaign. The Who have reportedly already agreed to allow VW to utilize their Magic Bus song for the marketing campaign.

The search for the VW diesel with the highest mileage is over. Syl Schmid the owner of a 1986 VW Jetta Turbo Diesel, from Blue Rock, Ohio has been declared the winner by VW, the car has done a mere 562,000 miles according to the odometer and the cars records too.

Mr Schmid wins a six month lease of a VW Touareg V10 Tdi, if he takes the Jetta back at the end of the six months, do you think would notice?

PRESS RELEASE:

VOLKSWAGEN DIESEL HERITAGE SEARCH FINDS HIGHEST MILEAGE DIESEL IN OHIO

1986 Volkswagen Jetta Has 562,000 Miles On The Original Engine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced that, as part of its Diesel Heritage Search, it has located the highest mileage Volkswagen diesel vehicle in the United States, a 1986 Jetta Turbo Diesel owned by Syl Schmid of Blue Rock, Ohio with over 562,000 miles.

The Jetta’s mileage was recently verified by Volkswagen of America, Inc. and Byers Imports, a Columbus, Ohio-based Volkswagen dealer. Fuel and mileage records presented by Schmid show the Jetta frequently delivered fuel economy over fifty miles per gallon.

“Mr. Schmid has a story that is like so many of our diesel owners; he loves the longevity of the engine and fuel economy that his diesel Volkswagen has delivered these last twenty years,” said Steve Keyes, Volkswagen Public Relations Director. “Throughout all of entries that we received for our Diesel Heritage Search, we found many VW owners who were passionate about their cars and the economic benefits of the diesel engine.”

Schmid originally leased the Jetta for three years and decided to purchase the vehicle at the end of that period. After twenty years, and over a half million miles, he is especially proud of the original drivetrain and muffler. In recognition of owning the highest mileage Volkswagen diesel in the U.S., Volkswagen has provided Schmid with a Touareg V10 TDI to drive for six-months.

Volkswagen announced their Diesel Heritage Search in March 2007 and received more than 200 entries for the highest mileage and oldest operating U.S. diesel Volkswagen vehicles. Volkswagen recently recognized a 1977 Rabbit owned by Clint Wilson of Tehachapi, Calif. as the oldest diesel Volkswagen.

Volkswagen is a leader in the U.S. diesel passenger car market with over 815,000 diesel vehicles sold since the introduction of the 1977 Rabbit, the first U.S. Volkswagen diesel. In addition to the currently available diesel Touareg V10 TDI, Volkswagen has previously announced that the 2009 Jetta and Jetta SportWagen, which will be available late first quarter 2008, will feature a Clean Diesel TDI engine option.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.

Source [Auto Blog]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/vw-finds-highest-mileage-diesel-in-ohio/

Ever look at those car company logo’s and wonder where they came from? Well there is a convenient listing out there that provides some of the background for the some of the worlds most recognized symbols.

Take for example the Volvo logo. In Latin the word Volvo means “i roll”. The circle with arrow of the Volvo logo is the symbol for iron, which was used to make Sweden’s main industrial product of the country back in the day: steel.

The internet has been paying a fair bit of attention to the VW Golf GTI W12 since the concept cars unveiling. But do not let the term Concept Car fool you, as this is a living, breathing little road monster that has plenty of swag.

With a 6.0 liter Bentley engine mounted behind the front seats this mid-engine VW is sure to leave a trail. The Golf GTI W12 manages a zero-to-62 time of just 3.7 second and with 650 horses behind the driver there are no questions why. With a wider stance, plenty of ruber and many air scoops feeding cooler air to the W12 engine the Golf GTI W12 manages to make its presence known whether it is moving or just sitting still.

The UK’s AutoCar recently managed to get some seat time in the VW Golf GTI W12 on a closed course. Take a look at what they had to say about it.

For some there is the battle of Horsepower and Zero-to-60 times. For others it is Miles-per-Gallon and Zero emissions effect. While the VW Polo may resemble a GTI or Rabbit, when paired with the VW TDI (diesel) engine it is a true Fuel-Misers car.

A recent test drive by Popular Mechanics of a 1.4 liter turbo-charged Polo left a favorable impression for zip and sip, but as always with the smaller hatchbacks the fear of the Big Bad SUV might scare drivers away. Then again if 20,000 Smart Cars can find buyers in the U.S. there is no reason the Polo could not do the same.