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Automobiles

Review: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Convertible

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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Less Flower, More Power

Pardon our political incorrectness for a moment, but the Volkswagen New Beetle was, undeniably, a “chick car.” There was almost nothing that the New Beetle offered to enthusiasts (of either gender), and by the end of its run, VW had even stripped all of the exciting engines from the car’s lineup. Looking to resurrect some of the excitement behind the Beetle, the third generation of the iconic car ditched the cuteness when the coupe debuted for 2012, and now the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible aims to show how much fun drivers can have without a top.

Celebrating almost six and a half decades of the Beetle convertible, Volkswagen is offering a trio of distinct special editions that celebrate three of the car’s most popular decades (the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s), but as one of the unofficial cars of the 1960s, it would almost be a crime not to test this version, right? Besides, this is also the only special edition to get the turbocharged engine. While our first drive of the 2013 Beetle Convertible was in the fuel-miser TDI variation, our two-week romp in the 2013 Beetle Convertible ’60s Edition came just as peak convertible weather was kicking off down in Florida.

The retro styling craze caught like a wildfire in the early 2000s, but quickly fizzled out as automakers realized that redesigning these cars for a subsequent second generation became a challenge in itself. This is likely the very reason why the New Beetle remained relatively the same for almost its entire 12-year run, but in creating the third-generation Beetle, Volkswagen tried to distance itself from adjectives like “cute” and “bubbly” by using more mainstream-friendly cues, which carry over nicely to the convertible form.

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Audi Reportedly in Talks to Purchase Alfa Romeo

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By Jens Meiners

BMW X1 EV/Hybrid spy shots

Alfa Romeo’s 4C will continue to look as gorgeous as it does, even if it winds up being property of Audi.

Fiat is strapped for cash and the Volkswagen Group knows it. What’s more, VW can help. Over the years, German executives have made no secret of the fact that they’d like to add Alfa Romeo to the VW Group’s impressive portfolio of brands. The advances, however, have been met with a cold shoulder. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, in particular, has reacted harshly to VW’s praise for Alfa’s potential—which he largely has left untapped—with a firm “hands off.”

In the past two weeks, the fire surrounding the ailing brand has flared up again with a report from Wards Auto. According to the report, negotiations are taking place at the highest level in Ingolstadt and Turin, and that the deal could include Fiat’s Pomigliano plant and supplier Magneti Marelli. The official line from Audi and Fiat is that there is no truth to the rumor. And to our knowledge, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler and Sergio Marchionne haven’t met to discuss the subject as yet.

We believe there is some merit to the speculation, however. Our sources tell us that the Agnelli family could well be open to a sale of Alfa Romeo, Marchionne’s posturing notwithstanding. However, some of the details of the rumor don’t exactly jive with what we’re hearing in Germany. For example, the Volkswagen Group has shown no interest in taking over one of Fiat’s production sites. The brand is interesting, but its baggage isn’t. Audi also has no interest in purchasing Magneti Marelli. “Why would we take over a supplier?” an Audi source asked us rhetorically. That source at Audi believes, and we agree with him, that the rumor originates in Turin, intended as an elegant way to communicate that Magneti Marelli is for sale.

If the VW Group manages to acquire Alfa, it would make a lot of sense to integrate it into the Audi empire of brands, which includes Lamborghini and Ducati. In fact, Audi designers have been spending time to come up with strategies and concepts in case of a takeover. Alfa design can only profit from the departure of a styling language that has led to vehicles such as the MiTo, which, according to former BMW chief designer Chris Bangle, looks “like a squirrel that has been kicked in the balls.”

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

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This GM Rival Is Upping Its Game

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By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

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Who’s the biggest automaker in the world?

For a long time, there were only two possible answers to that question: Detroit giant General Motors , which held the crown for years (and stole it back in 2011), and Japanese colossus Toyota , which came on strong last decade and won the title again last year.

But now there’s a third entrant in the race to become king of autos. And last week, this automaker gave another big indication that it’s pushing hard to up its game.

VW’s push for global domination
That automaker is Volkswagen . VW has made no secret of its ambition to become the No. 1 selling global automaker by 2018.

In an interview last week, VW works council chief Bernd Osterloh told German newspaper Handelsblatt that the automaker is planning to boost its global headcount by 9%, from 550,000 to 600,000, by 2018. It’s part of VW‘s ambitious plan to overtake both GM and Toyota in overall global sales.

Needless to say, most of those new hires won’t be in VW‘s home base of Europe. VW is the European market sales leader, but Europe isn’t where the growth is – in fact, protracted economic slumps in many European nations have hammered auto sales in the last couple of years.

Europe‘s economic weakness is a big part of why VW is pushing so aggressively to expand overseas. Like rival GM, VW has a huge, well-established presence in China. GM has been the China market leader for nine years now, but VW‘s total 2012 sales in China were close behind the General’s.

Poised for expansion in China and the U.S.
Like Ford , which has been investing heavily to expand its presence in China, VW is expected to make a significant expansion push in the Middle Kingdom over the next few years. VW executives have said that they expect to nearly double the German automaker’s production capacity in China between now and 2018.

VW also sees the U.S. as a significant growth opportunity. So far in 2013, the VW brand has just a 2.7% share of the U.S. market, with VW‘s luxury Audi brand adding another 0.9%. Audi in particular may have room to grow: The brand is the luxury-car market leader in China, but trails its big German rivals – along with Toyota’s Lexus and GM‘s Cadillac – here in the U.S.

VW already leads Toyota and GM in profits
In one way, though, VW is already the global automotive leader, thanks to its efficient engineering approach and its very profitable Audi brand. VW was the most profitable automaker in the world in 2012, with $15 billion in pre-tax profit. Toyota’s $11.1 billion operating profit and GM‘s $7.9 billion pre-tax total were a long way behind.

But VW and its shareholders want more. Will the German giant really leave GM and Toyota behind? Stay tuned.

Worried about GM?
Few companies lead to such strong feelings as General Motors. …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Luxury Cars Are a Booming Business

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By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

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The U.S. economy may still be struggling in some ways, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at luxury-car sales.

Global luxury-car heavyweights Mercedes-Benz and BMW , the reigning champ, are locked in a fierce battle to lead the U.S. luxury-car market in 2013. Both reported strong sales here in the first quarter — and several of their rivals posted big gains of their own.

A small market that generates big bucks
The sales volumes are relatively small. In some months, Ford‘s sales of F-Series pickups alone are greater than the total U.S. sales of these two put together. But thanks to impressive margins, luxury cars are big business here and around the world, and BMW and Mercedes, along with Volkswagen‘s Audi brand, are the Big Three that seem to dominate it just about everywhere.

BMW posted a 13% gain in U.S. sales in March to 27,078 vehicles, marking BMW‘s best March in the U.S. ever. That increase was powered in large part by gains for its SUVs — the X3, X5, and X6 in particular, which were together up 40% over year-ago totals.

That’s a strong showing, and the company is optimistic about its chances for further gains in the coming months. BMW‘s North American chief, Ludwig Willisch, said in a statement that he expects the new entry-level 320i model to “accelerate our momentum in the months ahead.”

Meanwhile, arch-rival Mercedes-Benz posted a 6.5% year-over-year sales increase for March, with 24,646 sold — enough for its own record March and first-quarter totals. Strong points were the 34% gains for the company’s C-Class sedans, which compete directly with BMW‘s 3-Series, and a nice result for the company’s M-Class SUV.

Mercedes, which is owned by Germany’s Daimler , made much of the fact that it posted record sales without launching any new models in the first quarter. The company’s U.S. sales chief, Steve Cannon, noted in a statement that coming launches of redesigned E-Class and S-Class models could lead to Mercedes’ “strongest year on record” as 2013 continues to unfold.

Other luxury makers are looking strong
Meanwhile, German rival Audi merely posted its 27th straight month of record sales in the U.S., with a 14% gain over good year-ago totals. Continuing the theme, small sedans and SUVs were strong for Audi as well, with a 20% gain for its A4 and a 39% increase for the Q5 SUV. Those gains were achieved with minimal discounting, Audi officials noted, as VW continues to try to maximize its profits outside its troubled European home base.

Toyota‘s Lexus brand posted a 16% gain for the month and a 15% gain for the quarter behind strong sales of its ES midsized sedan. And General Motors‘ Cadillac brand continued its slow resurgence, as its ATS sedan — a surprisingly strong competitor to BMW‘s 3-Series — led the way to a 49% year-over-year gain.

Keep watching the auto market in 2013 to see whether luxury vehicles …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

What China's Massive Auto Boom Means for Detroit

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By Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith, The Motley Fool

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Some predictions have the Chinese auto market growing by 144% in the coming years. In this video, Brendan Byrnes discusses which auto companies are most likely to benefit. Right now, he says, General Motors and Volkswagen have substantial market share and are likely to expand on their stakes. Ford isn’t as big in China as GM or VW are, but it’s investing heavily and won’t go away quietly. With a decline in Japanese auto sales stemming from the country’s current anti-Japan attitudes, American companies could benefit, despite some headwinds related to regulations and infrastructure. Check out the video for further details.

Worried about GM?
Few companies lead to such strong feelings as GM. But ignoring emotions to make good investing decisions is hard. The Fool’s premium GM research service can help, by telling you the truth about GM‘s growth potential in coming years. (Hint: It’s even bigger than you think. But it’s not a sure thing, and we’ll help you understand why.) It might help give you the courage to be greedy while others are still fearful, as well as a better understanding of the real risks facing General Motors. Just click here to get started now.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Brendan Byrnes and Austin Smith“, contentId: “cms.30220”, contentTickers: “NYSE:F, NYSE:TM, NYSE:HMC, NYSE:GM“, contentTitle: “What China‘s Massive Auto Boom Means for Detroit”, hasVideo: “True”, …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Yes, Really: General Motors Is a Buy

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By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

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General Motors still takes a lot of heat for its 2009 “bailout” and high-speed bankruptcy proceeding.

That bailout was initiated by President Bush in late 2008, but it was President Obama‘s team that shepherded the wounded Detroit giant through a fast-packaged bankruptcy that left a lot of hard feelings in its wake.

Some of those hard feelings were politically motivated, of course, stoked by commentators unfriendly to the then-new administration. But many were a result of the decisions made during the court proceeding: Holders of Old GM‘s stock and bonds were left mostly empty-handed, while GM‘s union members were arguably rewarded.

A lot of those hard feelings continue to this day, and they sometimes drive some in the media to give big attention to little things that don’t really matter all that much.

But I think all of that has obscured something very important, and that is this: General Motors is becoming a really interesting turnaround story.

And it might turn out to be a really profitable, albeit somewhat risky, investment.

Ford’s example shows a path for GM
GM‘s turnaround hasn’t been nearly as dramatic as old rival Ford‘s — at least not yet. Most investors who watch auto stocks know that Ford has been (and continues to be) a truly great story, one that will be taught in business schools for decades to come.

Under amiable CEO Alan Mulally, Ford borrowed a ton of money and financed its own massive restructuring — no bailout needed. The result: cars and trucks that went from so-so to genuinely excellent, and steady, strong profits that let Ford pay down that big debt and recover its investment-grade credit rating.

Ford continues to shine, expanding rapidly in Asia and applying the magic that fixed its U.S. operation to the challenges it still faces in Europe. There’s no question, at least in my mind, that Ford’s stock is still a buy, as the good work it is doing overseas should drive even more big gains in profits over the next few years.

Making the case for GM is more complicated, but I think it’s worth making.

The huge global potential of General Motors
Like many industries, the auto business is very much a global one nowadays. And as an industry with huge fixed costs (all those factories, all that tooling, all those workers), economies of scale matter a lot.

That means size matters. Scale matters. GM spent decades stumbling, but it’s still to this day one of the three global giants of the auto world, right up there in sales with its two peers, Toyota and Volkswagen .

GM outsold VW and was close behind Toyota in 2012, but both of its rivals made a lot more money than the General did last year. Why? There are lots of reasons, but most of them boil down to efficiency: VW and Toyota are both more efficient in the way that they design …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Brad Pitt Helps Cadillac Catch On in China

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By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

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After a holiday-induced dip in February, General Motors resumed its sales growth in China during March. Sales by GM and its Chinese joint ventures rose 12.6% in March from a year ago, the automaker said on Wednesday.

With 290,538 vehicles sold, March had GM‘s second-highest monthly sales total ever in China. It caps a quarter that saw GM‘s sales rise 9.6% from the year-ago period, to 816,373 vehicles – GM‘s best-ever quarterly showing in China.

It was a good showing in several areas, including a bright start for one of GM‘s most important global projects: the elevation of Cadillac — with some help from Brad Pitt.

A promising start for Cadillac’s big car in China
GM said that Chinese Cadillac sales grew 32.2% in March from a year ago. Much of that growth was driven by the new-to-China XTS, Cadillac’s biggest sedan, which sold 2,006 units in its first full month in the Middle Kingdom.

That may not sound like a lot, but it’s a nice showing by luxury-car standards – for comparison, the XTS sold “just” 3,061 units last month here in the U.S., where Cadillac is much more established. The XTS is GM‘s current take on the big cushy old-school Cadillac concept, but loaded with advanced technology like a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system and sensor-driven electronic safety features.

That technology has been a big point of emphasis in Cadillac’s marketing both here and in China, where GM officials at the February launch of the XTS in Guangzhou called it the most technically advanced Cadillac to date – and where television commercials starring actor Brad Pitt (yes, really) in a white XTS have played up the car’s high-tech features.

That’s a game that GM will have to continue to raise in China if it wants to meet its ambitious goals for its luxury brand.

A long-range plan facing daunting competition
Technology, along with Cadillac’s ever more sophisticated styling, may be GM‘s best route for expanding Cadillac’s appeal in China. The Chinese market for luxury cars has boomed in recent years, but so far it has largely been controlled by the big three German luxury brands.

Volkswagen‘s Audi brand, the favored brand of powerful government officials and Chinese bigwigs, led the market with a 29.6% share in 2012. Its German rivals BMW at 23.6% and Daimler‘s Mercedes-Benz at 20.6% were the second- and third-place finishers. The high margins typical in the luxury-car market mean that all three are booking outsized profits from their success in the Middle Kingdom.

Cadillac has been just a bit player in China‘s luxury market so far, but GM would dearly like a piece of that action. Much of the work being done to refurbish and elevate the Cadillac brand is being done with China in mind. GM outsells VW in China, but its profits from the region trail its German rival’s by a wide margin, and the success of Audi is a big reason why. The project to turn …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

Report: Volkswagen to add 50k jobs by 2018

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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Volkswagen still has its eyes set on becoming the top global automaker by 2018, and to get there, it’s apparently going to need more boots on the ground. Automotive News Europe is reporting that VW is looking to increase its staff by 50,000 over the next five years – an increase of nine percent – which does not include an increase in its US dealer network.

According to the report, a majority of the growth will come from China where the automaker is also looking to double its production capacity in the same time frame. The Volkswagen Group is already expected to rival General Motors for the top sales spot in China this year, and such a rapid expansion in the region could make a good springboard for sales increases in other countries.

Volkswagen to add 50k jobs by 2018 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diesel benefits shrink as gas engines get more fuel-efficient, torquier

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By Danny King

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Could all of the work some automakers are doing to increase diesel engine adoption in the US be going up in a cloud of smoke? Maybe so, as torquier and more fuel-efficient gasoline engines and cheapening hybrid technology are cutting into what had been perceived as the advantages of diesel drivetrains, the Detroit News says.

While companies like General Motors and Chrysler have announced plans to add diesel models, Ford, Toyota and Hyundai are eschewing the technology for passenger cars. Hyundai CEO John Krafcik estimated that a diesel-powered car costs, on average, $5,000 more than a similar gas-powered car, while the price premium for hybrid-powered vehicles is about $1,500.

US diesel sales jumped 25 percent last year, but diesels sill only account for 2.7 percent of the overall market.

Additionally, gas engines are being developed to deliver more torque at the low end, which provides one of diesels benefits without the drawback of (currently) about 36 cents more per gallon compared to regular unleaded. While US diesel-vehicle sales did jump 25 percent last year, they sill only account for about 2.7 percent of new US cars, or slightly less than hybrids’ market share, the newspaper says, citing Edmunds. Diesels account for about half of the new vehicles sold in Europe.

In February, General Motors unveiled the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel, which will be GM‘s first diesel passenger car in the US since the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette. The Cruze Diesel, which is turbocharged, will deliver 148 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque as well as 42 miles per gallon highway fuel economy.

Late last year, Germany‘s largest automakers, including Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, joined up for their “Clean Diesel. Clearly Better.” campaign, which promoted diesels as a relatively inexpensive way to boost fuel economy and combat rising refueling prices. Last year, VW‘s clean-diesel sales jumped 32 percent from 2011 to almost 83,000 units, while diesel sales for Audi in the US were down 1.6 percent to 7,179 vehicles.

Diesel benefits shrink as gas engines get more fuel-efficient, torquier originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen to Drop Routan Minivan at End of 2013, According to Report

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By John Lamm

Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR - Forza Horizon

It probably seemed like a good idea at the time, but so too did Ford’s Edsel, Mercury’s LN7, and importation of the Yugo. When Volkswagen presented its Routan-badged, Chrysler-built minivan at the 2008 Chicago auto show, there was talk of as many as 45,000 being happily driven off VW dealer lots each year. In theory, that would have put Routan sales to this point at some 200,000, but the total through February 2013 runs to just 57,650. Now comes word via Automotive News that VW will drop the Routan from the brand’s lineup as of this year.

Any Routans built for the 2013 model year will be designated for fleet use, mainly by VW. In fact, Chrysler hasn’t assembled any Routans in its Windsor, Ontario factory since July 2012. We understand that the agreement between VW and Chrysler’s Windsor facility expires at the end of 2013, and VW tells us that a decision regarding the future of that agreement hasn’t been determined yet. According to AN, that contract will be allowed to expire, as we speculated late last year.

At the New York auto show, Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, told Automotive News, “The segment is contracting in favor of crossovers and SUVs,” adding, “If you look at the history of the [minivan] segment, I don’t think anybody can deny there’s been erosion.” AN points out that U.S. minivan sales rose 14 percent last year to 597,118, with Chrysler and Dodge selling 253,212 of those and Honda adding 125,980. VW sold 10,483 Routans during the same period.

Volkswagen has suffered from van envy for years after doing much to establish the segment in the 1950s before falling victim to the infamous 1963 Chicken Tax. VW has teased us mercilessly with very cool Microbus concepts, including the Bulli—an ad featuring Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs doing “Wooly Bully” would have been a natural—but apparently couldn’t make the numbers work for U.S. or Mexico production. Now VW is on a new track echoing Browning’s comment about crossovers and SUVs, as evidenced by the debut of the CrossBlue concept, the made-for-America three-row crossover.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

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Report: Volkswagen's De Silva says next Scirocco will be 'completely different'

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By Chris Paukert

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From our perspective, the reborn Volkswagen Scirocco is a handsome (if squat) little thing. Yet design-wise, it’s always struck us as uncomfortably close to the Golf three-door hatchback with which it shares its basic underpinnings. That aesthetic kinship may be part of the reason why Volkswagen has steadfastly refused to import the Scirocco to North America, seeing as how the Golf doesn’t regularly set the company’s sales charts alight, and it’s less expensive.

But that visual similarity might be about to change, says Walter De Silva, who recently told Australia’s Car Advice that, “It must be completely different… we don’t want to repeat the bodystyle of the Scirocco, we want to change that.” Further, the Volkswagen Group’s design boss says that the next-generation car isn’t terribly far along in development yet – “at the moment, it’s only a studio [project]… it’s not defined.” It’s probably just as well, as the new seventh-generation Golf arguably borrows some of its design from the current Scirocco anyway.

So we should expect a much bolder, more differentiated design, right? Well, yes, no and maybe. Back in September, De Silva himself was quoted as saying that the era of flamboyant styling has passed, and that future VW designs will be simpler to better reflect the times and preserve resale value. So… how different could it be?

Volkswagen’s De Silva says next Scirocco will be ‘completely different’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW hints hyper-efficient, 260-mpg XL1 could come to US, but only to show off

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By Danny King

Volkswagen XL1 - white - front three-quarter view

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While the limited-production Volkswagen XL1 diesel-hybrid coupe is earmarked for Europe, a small number of the super-light vehicles may find their way to this side of the pond, Plug In Cars says, citing an interview with Volkswagen of America CEO Jonathan Browning.

As many as 20 of the projected 250 XL1s may be brought to the US for testing, though how VW would get around the fact that the car’s haven’t been safety-tested for American roads remains to be seen. We asked VW of America’s manager of product and technology communications, Mark Gillies, who poured water on the idea of the XL1 being available in the US: “Not happening. Ever.” Gillies did say some XL1 might come here as part of a publicity effort or test drive, but that’s about it. Thus, the car won’t be sold in America, but a few examples might be spotted here.

Weighing about 1,750 pounds – about 60 pounds less than a Smart ForTwo – the XL1 gets an astonishing 260 miles per gallon. That means that even with a fuel tank that holds just 2.64 gallons, the VW can go upwards towards 700 miles on a full tank of diesel. The car combines a 0.8-liter turbocharged two-cylinder diesel engine with a 27-horsepower electric motor. It’s loud and proud of its efficiency numbers, as you can read in our recent first-drive review.

VW hints hyper-efficient, 260-mpg XL1 could come to US, but only to show off originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volkswagen Routan dead, pour out a sippy cup for your little homies

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By Chris Paukert

2010 Volkswagen Routan - front three-quarter dynamic view

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America’s minivan wolfpack has just gotten smaller by one. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen officials have confirmed what we’ve suspected for some time – the Routan is dead. Essentially a lightly reworked version of the Dodge Grand Caravan, the Routan actually hasn’t been rolling off of Chrysler’s Windsor, Ontario production line at all this year, but VW had yet to confirm its discontinuation. However, Jonathan Browning, CEO of VW America, has reportedly admitted that the Routan is being axed, with remaining units expected to be funneled into corporate functions for “internal purposes.”

The move isn’t unexpected – the Routan has never been a big seller, with just 57,650 examples moved since sales began in 2008 – peak yearly sales totaled under 16,000 units, and that was back in 2010. And while many have talked of the minivan segment shrinking, Automotive News points out that the segment actually grew 14 percent last year to 597,118 units, though it should be noted that most segments have been on sales upticks as the US economy chugs out of its recession.

So, is volume-crazy Volkswagen prepared to pass on large family vehicle sales? Probably not – the German automaker has signaled that it plans to build a three-row crossover in North America soon, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it looks an awful lot like the Crossblue Concept from January’s Detroit Auto Show – minus the fancy plug-in diesel powertrain.

Volkswagen Routan dead, pour out a sippy cup for your little homies originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York: 2014 VW Golf brings storied hatchback's seventh generation to US

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By Zach Bowman

2015 VW Golf, GTI and Golf TDI

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The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf in US-specification officially debuts at the 2013 New York Auto Show. The new model is the first VW in the States to ride on the company’s MQB architecture, and as such, it makes use of plenty of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel to keep weight down. All told, the new shell is 51 pounds lighter than the outgoing generation, despite the fact that the finished car is a full 2.2 inches longer and .5 inches wider than the 2013 model.

Buyers can expect to find a base model powered by a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (blue car above) with 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That means the powerplant delivers the same horsepower as the old naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder while weighing less and producing seven extra pound-feet of torque. TDI (silver car above) buyers, meanwhile, will enjoy a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel four-cylinder mill. VW says the engine yields 10 more horsepower than the old lump, which means the Golf TDI now boasts 150 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.

GTI (red car above) buyers will now get their hands on a revised 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with approximately 210 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque – Volkswagen hasn’t finalized power numbers for that machine. We’re happy to see that the GTI still features its trademark plaid seats. Volkswagen says the new Golf and GTI will go on sale as a 2015 model, but doesn’t say when the car will actually hit dealerships.

Check out the press release below for more information.

Continue reading 2014 VW Golf brings storied hatchback’s seventh generation to US

2014 VW Golf brings storied hatchback’s seventh generation to US originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Details U.S.-Spec 2015 Golf and GTI Powertrains [2013 New York Auto Show]

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By Alexander Stoklosa

Volkswagen Details U.S.-Spec 2015 Golf and GTI Powertrains [2013 New York Auto Show]

When Volkswagen debuted the seventh-generation, 2015 Golf at the last year’s Paris auto show and the 2015 GTI at the Geneva show earlier this year, the automaker tantalizingly revealed nearly everything about both rides. That is, everything except final engine options for the U.S. market. Oh sure, VW furnished European powertrain specifications for both rides, but despite the latest Golf and GTI being still about a year away from going on sale here in the U.S., we’re an impatient bunch—after all, the Golf and GTI are among our favorite compacts. Thankfully, the wait is over for U.S.-spec powertrain info, which Volkswagen has announced at the 2013 New York auto show.

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI

While the European Golf offers a host of gas and diesel engines, the U.S. model will offer just two: A turbocharged, gas-fed 1.8-liter four and a 2.0-liter diesel four. The 1.8-liter makes the same 170 horsepower as the outgoing Golf’s inline-five it replaces, but seven more lb-ft of torque. Once again, the diesel will be dropped into the Golf TDI, but this time around it’s an all-new engine. Compared to the current Golf TDI’s 2.0-liter four, the new engine—which is a member of VW’s new EA288 engine family—produces the same 236 lb-ft of torque, but 10 additional horsepower, for a total of 150. Volkswagen’s specificity regarding the regular Golf’s transmission choices starts and ends with the promise that both manual and automatic options will be offered; gear counts and the type of automatic weren’t detailed. We’re betting that we get either the Euro model’s seven- or six-speed dual-clutch auto.

2015 Volkswagen GTI

As for our favorite hot hatchback, the GTI, it will get the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter four as the Euro model. Only our version will make slightly less horsepower, with VW’s initial estimates coming in around 210 ponies. Before you start bellyaching about how Americans always get the short end of the stick, consider that at least the 2015 GTI will make the same 258 lb-ft of torque as the Euro model. The outgoing U.S.-spec GTI packs 200 horses and 207 lb-ft and is hardly a slouch; factor in the newest model’s slight weight loss, and it should be quicker than before. Regardless, the last-gen GTI was down a few horsepower to its European counterpart, too, so any anguish over missing output shouldn’t be a surprise. Once again, a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission will be offered.

Finally, Volkswagen gave no further indication of expected fuel economy for any 2015 Golf derivative, or whether it plans to bring the latest GTD—effectively a diesel-powered GTI—to the States. (We suspect it will make it here.) As for the possible next-generation Jetta SportWagen, well, look no further than the …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Why Is Ford Losing in Europe?

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By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

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Ford is doing quite well here in the U.S., but it’s another story in Europe. Th company lost $1.75 billion in the Old World last year, the brutal result of a protracted car-sales slump that has hit the entire industry very hard.

Nearly all of the automakers doing business in Europe have seen big sales declines over the last year. Deep recessions in many European nations have led cash-strapped consumers to put off new-car purchases for now.

But in recent months, Ford has lost more ground than most of its rivals. Europe‘s overall auto sales fell 11.4% in February, but Ford’s fell even more — down almost 20% from year-ago totals.

It was a similar story in January, and in December, too, when Ford’s sales were down a whopping 27%.

We know Ford’s latest cars are good. So what’s going on? And what does this slide mean for Ford’s efforts to get back to making money in Europe?

A discount war that crushed profits
As Europe‘s auto sales have plummeted to a near-20-year low, many of the mass-market automakers have responded as you’d expect — with deep discounts. European market leader Volkswagen , flush with profits from China and North America, cut prices aggressively in an effort to hold on to, or even gain, market share at less-well-funded rivals’ expense.

Naturally, those rivals have done their best to respond with price cuts of their own. Ford, long Europe‘s No. 2 car brand behind VW, did plenty of discounting — until last fall, when mounting losses led the company’s senior management to rethink the company’s approach in Europe from top to bottom.

A plan to return Ford Europe to profitability
That rethink led to a comprehensive turnaround plan, announced by Ford CEO Alan Mulally last October. The plan, intended to restore Ford Europe to profitability by mid-decade, is well thought out and comprehensive. Most analysts gave it a good chance of succeeding, and Ford’s stock rallied in the days after the announcement.

Under the plan, Ford will close a factory in Belgium and two in the U.K., eliminating more than 5,000 jobs and saving as much as $500 million a year. Ford will also sharply expand its European lineup, drawing on its strong global product portfolio to expand its offerings of SUVs and commercial vehicles in Europe. The expanded product lineup should allow Ford to capture additional sales in segments it hasn’t previously contested in Europe, at minimal cost.

Ford also said it will engage in “brand strengthening,” improving its marketing and taking steps — such as reducing dealer inventories, and cutting sales to rental-car companies — to improve transaction prices.

Or put another way, over the past few months, Ford has been selling its cars and trucks with fewer discounts.

Is that shift in strategy costing Ford more sales than it had expected?

Lost ground may require a change in …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

LeMons Sears Pointless Day 1: 533i Battles 525i For Lead, XJ12 Chasing Beetle In Class C

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By Murilee Martin

With 174 entries, we knew the first day of the 2013 Sears Pointless 24 Hours of LeMons would be wild. Plenty of thrown rods, plenty of lunched transmissions, and a steady stream of black flags later, the race session ended with several very exciting battles that will be resolved on Sunday.


In the P1 position, we have the car that dominated West Coast LeMons racing throughout the 2012 season: Cerveza Racing’s 1983 BMW 533i. This car is on the same lap as the P2 car, the If It’s Not Punk It’s Junk BMW 525i, and ZZZZzzzzzzzz…


Let’s face it, it’s hard for a true LeMons aficionado to get excited about two fast BMWs going fast and clean yet again; we’ll let you know Sunday night who takes the overall win. But now we’re going to look at the most interesting race-within-a-race at this weekend’s event: the fight for the Class C lead. At the moment, the 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle of Bozos Sucko Racing (you may remember this car as the dual-control racing machine of Team Ferdinandwertschtzungsgesellschaft stands atop the Class C pyramid, in 32nd place overall. This car has had Subaru boxer power for its last few races, and the team has learned the hard way that Subaru engines manage to be even less reliable that air-cooled VW engines under LeMons conditions. However, the Bozos Sucko setup is working fine for now; the car has been quite reliable and (for Class C) fairly quick so far.


Just a single lap behind the Volksbaru is the tank-turret-equipped Jaguar XJ12 of the Flaming A-Holes. As we’ve seen, Jaguar V12s in LeMons racing have suffered from horrifically bad mechanical woes (hence the Class C berth for this car), but Sears Point hasn’t managed to kill this one.


A mere one lap behind the Jag, we find the twin-engined Toyota Corolla “FX32″ of Volatile RAM. This team, which has now built two twin-engined Toyotas, says the soft stock springs of their Corolla/MR2 mashup make for some interesting handling, but the car has been good enough to claw its way within grabbing distance of the Class C prize.


Meanwhile, the real shock of the race so far has been the performance of the Flaming A-Holes’ other car: this 1964 Hillman (badged as a Sunbeam for the US market) Imp. The Imp sat for …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver