So long 2012, hello 2013: a look back and ahead
"This is a time when many of us reflect on the preceding year and get excited about what lies ahead. I’m the same way myself. 2012 was filled with great moments for Volkswagen: we kicked off the year by debuting the Jetta Hybrid and ended it by unveiling the Beetle Convertible; both models are now in dealerships. We enjoyed a 35.1% increase in US sales and our best year since 1973. We also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Shark Week and even set a land speed record. And of course, we launched this site, which compiles great stories from owners like you." [Read more]
Volkswagen Passat Concept
Once we unveil the Concept at NAIAS, you’ll get a glimpse of what the future may hold. As the name implies, it’s just a concept car at this point—we have no current plans to put it into production—but what a concept it is! We’ve taken our best-selling family sedan and transformed it into a powerful performance vehicle.
The biggest changes take place under the hood, where you’ll find an all-new turbocharged direct-injected 1.8 liter TSI engine. The four-cylinder engine puts out 250 horsepower and is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Passat Concept Performance also differentiates itself from the production Passat with a lowered stance for sharper handling, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a dual exhaust. And sporty appointments are everywhere, from the Bi-Xenon headlights with Advanced Front-lighting System (AFS) and LED taillights to carbon-like touches that accent the dashboard and the inserts on the two-color leather sport seats." [Read more]
Happy Thanksgiving!
From our family to yours, we would like to wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
From Santa Monica to the Statue of Liberty: Volkswagen supports Alex Flynn’s Trans America Challenge
"We love cross-country drives. There’s no better way to really see the U.S. than from ground level. But we have to admit that Alex Flynn’s Trans America Challenge is a bit more impressive than your average road trip.
Flynn’s plan is to travel more than 3,500 miles across the U.S., raising awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research. His trek —which starts September 5th in Santa Monica, CA and is planned to end October 4th at the Statue of Liberty in New York City—will not just be in a car. That would be too easy. Flynn, a trained athlete diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, plans to cycle, kayak, and swim the route. Along the way, the UK native will challenge himself by climbing Mount Whitney, running 135 miles across Death Valley, cycling to Chicago, kayaking across Lake Erie, and swimming across the Hudson River to the finish line.
We’re supporting his efforts by contributing a pair of 2012 Volkswagen Touareg SUVs. Each vehicle offers 32.1 cubic feet of cargo space and will transport Flynn’s crew, supplies, and equipment, including a kayak, bike, and more." [Read more]
Flynn’s plan is to travel more than 3,500 miles across the U.S., raising awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research. His trek —which starts September 5th in Santa Monica, CA and is planned to end October 4th at the Statue of Liberty in New York City—will not just be in a car. That would be too easy. Flynn, a trained athlete diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, plans to cycle, kayak, and swim the route. Along the way, the UK native will challenge himself by climbing Mount Whitney, running 135 miles across Death Valley, cycling to Chicago, kayaking across Lake Erie, and swimming across the Hudson River to the finish line.
We’re supporting his efforts by contributing a pair of 2012 Volkswagen Touareg SUVs. Each vehicle offers 32.1 cubic feet of cargo space and will transport Flynn’s crew, supplies, and equipment, including a kayak, bike, and more." [Read more]
Consider us totally honored: Strategic Vision names Volkswagen Total Quality Index leader
"At Volkswagen, we take pride in everything we build—from fun, safe, fuel-efficient cars to a massive 22-person foosball table. That’s why we are especially proud that Strategic Vision, a research-based consultancy that studies how and why consumers make buying decisions, has named Volkswagen their Total Quality Index leader.
Strategic Vision identifies consumers’ motivations to purchase a particular product by looking at everything from product attributes and personal benefits to perceived value and emotions. Three Volkswagen models were named segment leaders in the Total Quality Index study. The Golf took top honors in the small multi-function segment, the Eos led in the convertible under $30,000 segment, and the Tiguan placed first in the entry utility segment." [Read more]
Flat-out Fast: Jetta Hybrid sets speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats
"When you think “hybrid,” you probably don’t think “land speed record.” It’s a good thing no one ever told us that, because a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid recorded the fastest speed ever achieved by a hybrid car on the famed Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching 185.394 mph (298.363 kph).
Since 1914, the Bonneville Salt Flats have been a place where everything that rolls—from hot rods to motorcycles to trucks and more—tries to roll as fast as possible. The Jetta Hybrid raced across the flats—or, as they say in Bonneville, “shot the salts”—near Wendover, Nevada as part of Southern California Timing Association’s (SCTA) annual Speed Week. Motor Trend Associate Road Test Editor Carlos Lago was behind the wheel for the record runs.
The Jetta Hybrid that Lago drove was specially modified to meet SCTA regulations. To add the kind of horsepower needed to reach more than 185 mph, the powertrain was modified by Volkswagen R&D in Wolfsburg, Germany. And since the Jetta Hybrid is designed to run on asphalt instead of salt, various safety mods were handled by A-Salt Racing and Advanced Product Engineering in Camarillo, California." [Read more]
Since 1914, the Bonneville Salt Flats have been a place where everything that rolls—from hot rods to motorcycles to trucks and more—tries to roll as fast as possible. The Jetta Hybrid raced across the flats—or, as they say in Bonneville, “shot the salts”—near Wendover, Nevada as part of Southern California Timing Association’s (SCTA) annual Speed Week. Motor Trend Associate Road Test Editor Carlos Lago was behind the wheel for the record runs.
The Jetta Hybrid that Lago drove was specially modified to meet SCTA regulations. To add the kind of horsepower needed to reach more than 185 mph, the powertrain was modified by Volkswagen R&D in Wolfsburg, Germany. And since the Jetta Hybrid is designed to run on asphalt instead of salt, various safety mods were handled by A-Salt Racing and Advanced Product Engineering in Camarillo, California." [Read more]
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