Volkswagen Announces The Strangest Recall In History

If you're one of the 27 U.S. customers who purchased Volkswagen New Beetles manufactured between September 1, 2010 and September 22, 2010, Volkswagen wants your car back. That customer list includes 26 two-door Beetles and one Convertible, none of which meet current standards for occupant crash protection. New standards apparently went into effect on September 1, 2010, but Volkswagen was unable to stop production of New Beetle models in time. The 27 cars in question were delivered to dealers and subsequently purchased by customers.
Here's where the story takes a turn for the weird: rather than replace the cars with models built after September 22 (which would meet the new occupant crash protection standards), Volkswagen has instructed dealers to replace the cars with inventory built prior to September 1. In other words, VW wants to use up inventory built before the new standards went into place. Worse, the recall requires dealers to replace the cars with "comparable vehicles", which tells me that those affected may not even get new cars to replace the ones they just bought. As for me, I wouldn't accept a dealer demo car, that's been flogged mercilessly by customers and sales staff alike, in trade for a brand new car I was still in the process of breaking in. VW missed an opportunity for goo PR here, and I suspect they're about to learn how vocal 27 pissed-off customers can be.
Source: Autoevolution

Related Posts:

• Toyota Recalls 245,000 Lexus Vehicles
• Chrysler Recall A Palooza: 144,000 Vehicles Involved
• Toyota Slapped With Record Smashing $32.4 Million Fine
• VW Recalls Over 377,000 Jetta, Jetta Wagon, Golf, Rabbit and New Beetle Models
• Chrysler Recalls 367,000 Minivans

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Volkswagen Polo named 2010 World Car of the year

Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen of America, Inc. are proud to announce that the Polo has been honoured as the 2010 World Car of the Year. With 59 of the top automotive journalists from around the globe judging, the Polo surpassed a total of 29 other nominees. Announced this morning at the New York International Auto Show in New York City's Jacob Javits Center, the annual World Car of the Year awards recognize the year's most outstanding vehicles based on merit, value, safety, environmental impact, significance, and emotional appeal.

"We're honoured that the Volkswagen Polo was chosen by this distinguished group of jurors," said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. "After the great triumph of the Golf last year, we are delighted to repeat this success with the new Polo. These automobiles have reaped numerous awards, winning well-nigh every prize the automotive industry has to award. This shows that Volkswagen is on the right track and is offering arguably the best range of products in its history."



The latest generation of the Volkswagen Polo has quickly become a favorite in the brand's lineup to drivers and media alike, with its uncluttered, timeless design, and exceptional versatility and efficiency. More than 230,000 customers worldwide have placed orders for the newest version of Volkswagen's popular subcompact vehicle.

Now in their seventh year, the World Car of the Year awards, have become one of the most credible and significant programs of its kind. The World Car jurors hail from 25 countries, and are appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of their expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of his ongoing, full-time professional work, and, collectively with all the jurors, reaches millions of consumers and automotive enthusiasts across the globe.



In a separate award, the BlueMotion product brand consisting of the Golf, Passat, and Polo, was declared the 2010 World Green Car of the Year by the World Car of The Year organisation.

The 59 member jury awarded the BlueMotion product brand over two other finalists in the 2010 World Green Car award: the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.

Jurors felt that: 'It is not necessary to add an electric motor and a heavy battery pack to achieve class-leading efficiency. Based on Volkswagen's common rail diesel engines, the BlueMotion models are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. In fact, the Passat BlueMotion can travel just about 1,000 miles on one tank of fuel in the European cycle. As far as internal combustion engines go today, these models are the ultimate you can get.'

'BlueMotion is one of the most succ...

100,000th new Volkswagen Scirocco leaves the production line

Since its market launch in 1974, the Scirocco compact sports coupé has been the most successful Volkswagen in its segment: 795,650 vehicles were sold up to 1992. Currently, the third generation is being manufactured.

On Friday, at the VW Autoeuropa - Automóveis Ltda. plant in Portugal, just two years after its market launch, the 100,000^th third generation Scirocco rolled off the production line. Andreas Hinrichs, Autoeuropa Plant Manager, said: 'The Scirocco is one of the most important cars that we produce. For myself personally, it was a moving moment.'

The celebrated model is a Scirocco R 2.0-litre TSI, in Rising Blue Metallic, with a Titan Black interior, radio navigation system, Park Pilot and a tilting sunroof. In southern Portugal, with 3,000 employees, Volkswagen produces the Eos, the new Sharan and, since 2008, the third generation of the Scirocco.

With its attractive design and sporty appearance, the Scirocco leaves a lasting impression. In 2008, it claimed the AutoBILD Design Award and was named Car of the Year by Top Gear magazine.

The Scirocco is looking just as good in motorsport as it does on the open road: already in 2008, the racing version of the new Scirocco occupied top ranks at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. In its first time at the competition in 2009, the Scirocco GT24-CNG (natural gas) won in the alternative-drive class.

How much does your lifestyle cost? Find out with Volkswagen

Volkswagen has launched the latest stage in its 'Unbelievable Value' campaign with a new microsite designed to illustrate the true cost of everyday living over a lifetime and how looking beyond the initial price tag and making small changes can lead to dramatic financial gains over the long-term.



By logging onto www.truelifecosts.com visitors to the site are introduced to a fictitious village representing different areas of everyday life from food and family to fun, homes, holidays and cars. Click on any of the areas and they'll be guided through a series of simple interactive demonstrations showing how the little expenditures in life can quickly mount up and how, with a series of small tweaks, large savings can be made. An expensive coffee, an extravagant holiday, that handbag or the latest TV – they all add up over a lifetime.



In the car section, visitors can learn how much they could save if they opted to buy a Volkswagen rather than a competitor model. Volkswagens offer impressive whole-life costs thanks to competitive purchase prices and running costs through fixed price servicing plus consistently strong resale values. In the case of the Golf, over a period of three years, this could amount to a saving of up to 14 per cent when compared to its direct rivals. Enough for an expensive coffee every day, an extravagant holiday… you choose.

Interesting facts are also included – for free of course. Such as that the average person spends £1172.44 on sausages in their life, which all added together would make a banger measuring 360 metres. Or that we spend £512.47 on jams and marmalades over a lifetime. Based on an average application time of six seconds per slice of toast would take 18 and a half hours to spread. Incredible.

Any of these facts can then be shared on Facebook, along with guilty confessions about whether the user is a gourmet supermarket shopper or a pub grub fiend for example. Visitors can also compile a personal Cost Report and the financial implications of their spending choices calculated. These can also be posted on Facebook.

Designed and developed by DDB UK, the site will be supported by a radio advertising campaign in the coming weeks.

Volkswagen at the MPG marathon: The results

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Volkswagen at the MPG marathon: The results

Volkswagen is pleased to report a successful performance in this month's 2010 ALD Automotive/Total ECO 10 MPG Marathon.



Two vehicles were entered, both of which demonstrated impressive economy, thanks to a combination of engineering, technology and careful driving.



The Golf GTI with 2.0-litre 210 PS engine and DSG automatic gearbox has a manufacturer combined figure of 38.2 mpg. Driven by David Madgwick and Ashleigh White, it achieved 55.63 mpg – a 45.62 per cent improvement – to claim the best percentage improvement accolade.



Meanwhile, the Polo BlueMotion – a vehicle more traditionally associated with low fuel consumption and driven by Andrew Andersz and Alyson Marlow – was named runner-up in the best 'overall MPG' category. The Polo returned 89.22 mpg during the event, representing an 8.52 per cent improvement over the manufacturer's combined economy figure of 80.7 mpg.



The Polo BlueMotion has a three-cylinder 1.2-litre 75 PS common rail diesel engine and a raft of economy measures including aerodynamic and gearing modifications, Stop/Start system, low rolling resistance tyres and battery regeneration. Despite this, it is a practical five-seater and retains all same design, quality and practical attributes of other Polo models. Winner of the best 'overall MPG' category was the SMART Fortwo.



Thirty-five vehicles took part in this year's 400 mile, two-day challenge which covered a testing combination of A and B roads as well as the motorways of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Only six, including the Polo BlueMotion, achieved more than 80 mpg.

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Seventh generation Passat unveiled at the Paris Motor Show

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Seventh generation Passat unveiled at the Paris Motor Show

Following over 15 million sales in 37 years across 100 countries around the world Volkswagen has unveiled the seventh generation of the Passat at the Paris Motor Show. Establishing benchmarks in quality, design, economy and comfort the new Passat is not only the most advanced iteration yet but also the most efficient.



A completely new look styled by Klaus Bischoff (head of design, Volkswagen) and Walter de Silva (head of design, Volkswagen Group) establishes a fresh direction for the Passat saloon and Estate with clean surfaces and an elegant yet imposing stance. The front of the car, dominated by a new grille element with prominent horizontal chrome fins, features striking heavily contoured headlight units, set into which are LED running lights. At the rear a set of distinctive tail lights is joined by subtle chrome highlights that extend down the side of the car. Every body panel apart from the roof is new.

Measuring 4,769 mm in length (Estate 4,771 mm) the new Passat is marginally longer than the car it replaces (+4 mm) and at 1,820 mm wide and 1,474 mm tall (Estate 1,519 mm) it retains the same proportions.

The fresh look continues inside the seventh generation Passat with new seats that can be specified to both heat and cool their occupants and even feature a massage function for the driver and front seat passenger. A revised dashboard with new dials, trim finishes and an analogue clock are joined by subtle chrome inserts and the option of ambience lighting similar to that found in the Phaeton. The centre console has also been uprated with revisions to the minor controls as well as new door trims.

Powering the new Passat is a range of advanced and highly efficient petrol and diesel engines. The petrol line-up comprises a 1.4-litre TSI engine developing 122 PS, a 1.8-litre TSI unit with 160 PS, a 2.0-litre TSI 210 PS engine and a range-topping 3.6-litre V6 producing 300 PS.

The refined and frugal diesel range starts with the most efficient engine, the 1.6-litre TDI unit producing 105 PS. Equipped with this engine and the BlueMotion package of changes including aerodynamic modifications, Stop/Start and battery regeneration, the new Passat can achieve a combined 68.8 mpg while emitting just 109 g/km of CO₂. This equates to a theoretical range of over 1,000 miles on a single tank of diesel. Joining the 1.6-litre TDI is a 2.0-litre TDI engine available in two power outputs – 140 PS and 170 PS. Each of the engine ranges can be specified with a choice of manual or DSG gearboxes.

The new Passat is available with many new safety and comfort technologies previously only seen in the Touareg and Phaeton luxury models.

The optional new City emergency braking function, a part of t...

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Volkswagen 展示沒有辦法腳踏的 Bik.e 電動腳踏車

最近，堆四輪的公司都爭著發表兩輪的電動車。繼 Lexus 之後，Volkswagen 也展示自家的 Bik.e 電動 腳踏「自行」概念車。和 Lexus 自豪的 Hybrid 混合動力不同，VW 的 Bik.e 採用純電力推動的方式，省去了鍊條、齒輪和腳踏板的空間。而這全新的設計讓折疊後的自行車能夠縮小到足以輕鬆放進後車廂的備胎空間裡。( 詳見跳轉後的影片 )

Bik.e 可使用家用插座，也可以直接使用車上的 DC 電源進行充電。原廠宣稱每充滿一次電可行進 20 公里，極速正巧也是每小時 20 公里。目前 VW 還在觀察是否有將它商業量產的可能性，如果真有那麼一天，希望不會限定買四輪才能加購這兩輪呀！

香港這麼細小的行人路上可以駕著代步也非常不錯!

Passat CC再戰行政車系

Passat CC為Volkswagen進入四門跑車市場的首款作品，動感的跑車線條、優雅舒適的內裝、搭配創新科技的頂級配備，Volkswagen透過Passat CC的上市，持續展現進軍高級車市場、推升品牌形象的企圖心。

四 門四座的Passat CC設計兼具跑車的動感與豪華房車的舒適優雅理念，除此之外，Volkswagen更將多項全新研發的創新科技以及豪華配備，率先導入在這款風格跑車上。 Passat CC 全車系將「DCC可調式懸吊系統」、「雙前座12向電動調整座椅」、「Lane Assist 車道偏離警示系統」、「藍芽行動通訊系統」、「後擋電動遮陽簾」、「Self Sealing 穿刺防護輪胎」等列入標準配備。

在 台灣共有Passat CC 3.6 V6 FSI、Passat CC 2.0TSI兩款汽油引擎以及Passat CC 2.0TDI柴油引擎共三種選擇，最大輸出依序為300hp/200hp/170hp，全面配備六速DSG雙離合器變速箱，Passat CC 2.0TDI極速還可達時速224公里，0-100km/h僅須8.6秒即可達成。再加上相當出色的低油耗（原廠測試每公升16.39公里），讓 Passat CC堪稱最經濟的跑車車款之一。

雙門Scirocco 1.4TSI 30年後再起風雲

* Volkswagen史上最成功雙門跑車推出第三代車款* 車頭設計展現Volkswagen全新世代設計風格* Scirocco 1.4TSI搭載雙增壓汽油直噴系統馬力高達160匹* 1.4TSI汽油引擎首次搭載七速DSG雙離合器自手排變速系統* 2.0TSI搭載DCC可調式懸吊系統

Volkswagen重返雙門跑 車傳奇--即日起在台上市全新世代雙門跑車Scirocco。雙門四座的Volkswagen Scirocco 傳承了70年代首代Scirocco以來純種跑車兼顧日常生活需求的精神，嶄新的設計風貌也為Volkswagen後續設計奠定新的里程碑。就台灣市場而 言，Scirocco為Passat CC之後今年所推出另一款跑車車款，將為台灣Volkswagen車系增添全新的生力軍，讓全車系更豐富多元。

自 1974年第一代上市以來，Volkswagen Scirocco就以傲視同儕的駕馭樂趣、兼顧安全與日常生活需求的跑車設計特色廣受歡迎、在車迷心目中建立傳奇地位。前兩代Scirocco全球銷售合 計約80萬台，是Volkswagen 史上最成功的雙門跑車車款。

Volkswagen原廠表示，全新世代的Scirocco刻意避免僅 在設計元素上的復刻，更注重傳承與延續前代的理念與精神 ---- 純粹的駕馭樂趣、強有力的全新設計，以及搭載包括七速DSG雙離合器自手排與DCC可調式懸吊系統的尖端科技配備。除此之外，高效能的TSI引擎、可舒適 容納四個成年乘客的車室空間、高規格的安全防護，同時兼顧到車主在日常生活的需求。

總代理這次同時推出1.4TSI以及2.0TSI兩種引 擎形式，並且在發表會中同時展出七種車色的Scirocco，展現Scirocco多樣的迷人丰姿。總代理指出，未來將以白色以及深灰色兩種為標準色，其 他五種車色將以接單引進方式提供車主選擇。Scirocco 1.4TSI上市優惠價132萬；Scirocco 2.0TSI上市優惠價155萬。

Polo: Golf 既細佬!

Polo車系存在於 Volkswagen產品線上已有相當久的歷史，長久以來也一直扮演著位階在Golf之下的小型掀背車角色，但是隨著世代交替以及Lupo、Fox等車款 的陸續加入，Polo在今日Volkswagen的產品線上也不再是身形最小的入門車，而且在定位與訴求方面，Polo更是不斷朝向豪華小車而邁進，因此 總代理也特別為Polo賦予了「歐洲最年輕旗艦」的稱號。

Polo的外觀和內裝部份有許多細部設計都 充滿了濃郁的Volkswagen家族風格，而且在用料和組裝上也有相當高的水準，原廠對於安全防護表現也極為重視，包括前座雙氣囊和ABS都被列為標配 項目。國內引進的車型則是以1.4升引擎為主力，雖然出力部份的帳面數據僅為80hp/13.4kgm，但是在六速手自排變速箱的搭配下，動力反應仍屬輕 快，並且也具有不錯的經濟表現。