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.

Now that Porsche has their hands on VW there are some mighty motivated execs looking to redesign the most iconic car in the VW line. It seems there intention is to make a line-up based on the Beetle’s good name that could involve another convertible, a small crossover vehicle, a truck model and a modern restyle of the 2-door. But what they are toying with could be something close to sacrilege. When you are manipulating the lines of a car that has over 70 years of history and only two designs that are not that dissimilar in shape some delicacy is required.

Growing up I would often hear someone say, “what is old is new again.” When you are a child those words mean little to you because you had never experienced the old. But as you grow.. *gulp*.. older those sayings seem to gain in meaning. There have been a number of revivals of the small car, so this latest trend in small car designs should really come as no surprise.

The first small car to become a multi-continental success was the Volkswagen Beetle. Originating out of Germany as the Peoples Car the Beetle was a tough, go-anywhere, efficient (for its time) auto that really captured the hearts and imaginations of many.

[At this point I am going to refrain from any Herbie the Love Bug references because I do not want to read any comments from people who do not know what that refers to.]

Instead we are going to take a look at some of the marketing for the old Bug that was. Do you see any resemblances with our modern cars and the marketing used to move them?

A cloaked test model of the 2009 VW Scirocco was observed going through heat tests in America just recently. Hidden beneath the black drapes auto manufacturers use to disguise their upcoming designs the distinct grille and headlights of the Scirocco could still be made out.

While hopes are high for some that Scirocco will find a place amongst the GTI and R32 in American dealerships it could be a tough sell for VW. Despite the growing appeal of smaller yet exciting hatchbacks and sedans to both customers and (now) car companies it seems unlikely that one company would attempt to squeeze so many models into such a compact market. Europe however will be seeing the Scirocco in show rooms as a 2009 model as Americans will be watching footage of those reviews on YouTube and the like.

What is most pleasing about the Scirocco and the resurgence of the small car are the chances the auto makers are making in the design of them. The Mini Cooper took a chance on revamping a model that enjoyed decades of success in Europe, so that was not as much of a stretch. But when you look at the Volvo C30, Audi A3, VW Scirocco and BMW 1-series hatchback you have to be a little pleased to see designers able to stretch their legs some on these smaller packages. It would be the equivalent of Hollywood using writers again instead of relying on Reality based programs to fill the networks void for creativity.

Source[Winding Road]

A growing trend now days is for owners of specific cars to have a day, weekend or even longer, run by the car maker where they can get to grips with their new vehicle.

The latest is the Trail rides for the VW Touareg; these will take place in Moab, the state of Utah. This is a great opportunity to get those cars off road and see exactly what they can do and to see what the cars look like when they get a little bit dirty and possibly even get mud on the car.

The off road adventures will last for three days, a typical day would start with cocktails and gourmet food served at the Sorrel River Ranch, this would then be followed by some eight hours of trail driving, the courses have been designed to push the car and driver beyond the normal driving conditions that they are used to.

There is a guide for every two drivers, which is a pretty good ratio, so there is no excuse for missing something or hiding at the back of the pack, if you go here you can expect to get dirty along with your beloved car.

The cost of the experience is $2,000 per person, for the three days, but other members of the family can attend too for an extra $500 per person. Quite an expense, but also an experience to remember for all.

Source [Autoblog]

Whether it is design, street credibility or the promise of a good drive the VW GTI models continue to bite at my natural Pony car tendencies. Volkswagen seems to be constantly testing the possibilities with their GTI variants. With models like the VR6, R32, R36 and the Golf W12-650 concept, finding another GTI concept to wettin’ the appetite is further evidence that (as David Allen put it here) VW truly is doing some “genetics engineering” in their design department.

This next VW concept is being called the R GTI and it truly is a street racing machine straight out of the labratory (not that we encourage street racing… noo…). Take a look at the video below and see what we mean.

With the rollercoaster design of the the backseats to the widened snout and racing graphics, the R GTI looks to be a thrill-ride from the word go.

As VW sends its 5,000 2008 R32’s across the pond to the United States, Volkswagen has decided to one-up themselves by producing a faster R36. The R32 is essentially a GTI/Rabbit built on an All-Wheel drive platform with a reported 250-hp. This is the first return of the R32 with the redesigned GTI. The last model was released in 2004 and has appreciated nicely in the used auotmobile market. A low-mileage 2004 R32 can still fetch as much as $24-to-26,000. While the new VW R32 in will start around $32,500.

Then comes the 2008 R36, which is similar to the R32 but with a stronger engine and upgraded brakes and suspension. Where the R32 is criticized by some for being too civil, the R36 is engineered to thrust thru that civility while still giving the appearance of being just another GTI (yet anything but).

 

However, before you get too excited. Chances are the R36 will not find its way across the Atlantic and into the USA for at least a year. With the rate at which the R32 is selling on the US market without any national marketing, an R36 may yet find its way on our freeways.

This has been coming for a ling time now, the most famous sports car company in Germany taking over the one of the most famous car makers in the world, VW.

Yet things have not always been that way for Porsche, way back in the 80’s and 90’s they were struggling to survive, the cars were not that popular and they made some bad choices in design, but that all now appears to be behind them, their range is now probably the best sports car range available from any car maker, and they have managed to secure a significant market share.

Yet they only produce 100,000 cars per year, which is not a lot at all, if go on the other global brands, but still they have managed to buy their way into the massive VW company whose sales are around $200 billion compared to Porsches $8 billion, by anyone’s standards an incredible achievement.

So what next? The problem with massive organizations is that they tend to become decadent, with the influence of Porsche I suspect that there will be some changes, but not straight away, but the main concern would be for the other brands such as Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti, these brand compete with Porsche directly and it has to stand to reason that will not continue, so who will be the first victim? My tip would have to be Buggati, but lets wait and see what happens.

Source [EVO]

The VW Golf has seen many changes over the years since it first hit the roads, the GTI version has always been the benchmark for all “Hot Hatches” yet recently the designers appear to have been doing a of genetics engineering with the car, for the now is so far removed from the original that natural evolution just could not produce this car, there must have been some intervention somewhere along the line, but whatever the background to this miracle of automotive engineering, I love it!

This particular model, the VW Golf W12-650 is a one off concept car, so not surprisingly they have thrown everything that they can get into the design. Put your foot down and it will take you from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and just keep going until you reach 202 mph, how? This two seater car has the 6.0 liter engine directly out of the Phaeton, but because of the size, the rear seats needed to be removed and so the engine is in the rear.

The bodywork on this car is tailor made, and really does look like a Golf that has been on steroids or something, but whatever it looks like or whatever the emissions and so on, this car is just quite simply a fantastic machine that would be at home literally anywhere on any road, though it must be driven with care, one slim on the gas pedal and you could find yourself quickly shooting down the road, and no doubt being chased by the cops.

Source [Auto Car]

It is no joke, to be driving around in a car that is a potential fire hazard; it is in fact every driver’s fear the dangers are just too much to contemplate.

However there is every possibility this is the case with the VW Passat, as there have been at least 19 cases of the Passat having a fault that can actually cause a fire in the engine compartment. There problem lies with the ignition coil pack, these can overheat and when something keeps overheating eventually there may be the occasion when the heat is just too intense which can then lead to a fire in the engine compartment, the instrument panel, or even possibly underneath the car, it may depend on the condition of the car, if it has oil leaks etc, then it is more likely to be dangerous.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are said to be currently looking into this situation following the 19 incidents which only affect the cars built in 2000 to 2003, but do not affect the Tdi or the W8 models.

It is early days so there is no plans to recall any cars, but giving the amount of Passats that were sold in that period, VW could be looking to fix around 350,000 cars, not the sort of thing that any car company would like to have to sort out.

Source [Auto Blog]