Category: VW

A big part of the 2018 world domination planned Volkswagen focuses on increasing sales in emerging markets. While the German group is a strong leader in China, it still needs to build its nest in the other largest emerging market, India. Volkswagen announced that it will build 240,000 vehicles per year there by 2012. It plans to produce two small cars there: the next-generation Polo and a a model derived from the Up! concept car.

If the production model keeps the core ideas of the Up!, the German low cost car will be more revolutionary than the Renault Logan. Although the latter is an industrial success story, it is more a skilful DIY from former Renault cars than a brand new offer. The Up! production version will receive a brand new platform, will feature a rear-engine and a minimalist interior.

Along the tow cars, it is also rumoured that Volkswagen might build a four-door Polo like Honda did with the City model. Volkswagen group has already been present in India with the Skoda brand whose models are considered as premium vehicles. The Volkswagen brand has been selling the Passat since November and the next-generation Jetta will head there.

The picture you see here is from the teaser of the future Passat Coupé which will be unveiled either at the Detroit Motor Show in January or at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Like the Mercedes CLS, it will be a four-door coupé derived from the Passat saloon. Secrecy surrounds the exact spec of the car, although it is said that the engine range will include a new 2.0-litre TFSi petrol engine which produces 230bhp and a 204bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine. There wil be the range-topping 300bhp 3.6-litre V6 unit seen in the Passat R36.

Positioned as a more upmarket model than the current Passat, the four-door coupé will provide seating for four people. The interior styling will feature luxury extras such as generous armrests, air conditioning front and back and a panoramic sunroof.

At the end of the ’90s and beginning of this century, Volkswagen unveiled two supercars concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show designed by Giugiaro at the request of Ferdinand Piech. The first was a bright yellow W12 coupé. The second was the Nardo and this video is about it.

The super car was powered by the W12, which produces 600bhp. Thanks to weight of only 1,200kg, the Nardo ran the 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and reached a top speed of 214mph.

Volkswagen and Proton ended their talks about a potential partnership a few days ago according to a statement released by Volkswagen. This is not the first time the situation occurs between the Malaysian government, which owns Proton, and several carmakers. PSA Peugeot Citroen and GM also ended their negotiations.

The major stumbling block appears o be the controlling stake. While foreign car makers want a controlling stake, 51%, of Proton in exchange of engines and expertise, the Malaysian refuse to abandon its control over Proton.

Volkswagen Group also said that it will now consider building its own factory in South Eats Asia.

In an interview with Car and Driver, VW of America CEO Stefan Jacob declared that the future four-passenger coupé will not cross the Atlantic Ocean to join the American range. He justified this choice by explaining that VW needed to focus on the current range. At this moment, Volkswagen offers the Golf, dubbed Rabbit there, the Jetta, the Passat and soon the Tiguan.

Surprisingly, he also said that the Phaeton might come back on the American market, but with a diesel engine. The luxury saloon went on sale in 2003, but its sales have suffered as a result of poor brand image. VW ceased to sell it in 2006. It was rumoured that the next generation would likely come back. At a time where petrol prices are sky rocketing, a diesel Phaeton might a smart move to convince potential buyers.

Volkswagen Group has announced that it will invest £20 billion between 2008 and 2010 in manufacturing and new models. With the goal to overtake Toyota in 2018, the German manufacturer has to modernize its factories in order to cut cost and produce more with less.

Germany will receive half of the total amount as VW plans to expand on the US market and in China. India might also be on the plan. The £20 billion will also be used to add 20 new vehicles to the Volkswagen range by 2010.

It seems that every carmaker has set plans to dominate the world. Toyota, BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen all have a struggling national market and growth is abroad. The American market and the Chinese is where the fiercest battle will be and all of them plan to gain market share. The problem is the market can not be extended indefinitely. There will be winners and heavy losers.

In an interview given to Automotive News Europe, Walter de’ Silva announced that all VW cars will feature a touchscreen next year, either as standard or as an option.

He explained that “Touchscreens are the most intuitive interface between humans and machine”. He also said: “We want to build naturalness, not only in the design, but also in functionality all future Volkswagen models.”

The German car manufacturer has unveiled a preview of the Touchscreen interface in two concept cars: the Up! concept car at the last Frankfurt Motor Show and the Up! Space concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show.

With more and more comfort features, the touch screen is a big benefit for customers. In 2001, BMW launched the iDrive to make drivers’ and passengers’ lives easier. Unfortunately, the initial good intention became a textbook case of bad interface design. Audi launched the MMI soon after. Despite significant progress, the MMI commands still present a steep learning curve. With the success of iPhone and iPod Touch, the public seems to be ready for a touchscreen experience. Volkswagen clearly makes a clever move.

Oddly, Audi will not adopt the new technology and will stick to its current MMI technology. Nevertheless, the A1 concept car unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show featured an updated screen interface with an Apple’s Cover Flow experience.