Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Evidence of Apple and VW collaboration on up! dashboards?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/19/evidence-of-apple-and-vw-collaboration-on-up-dashboards/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/19/evidence-of-apple-and-vw-collaboration-on-up-dashboards/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/19/evidence-of-apple-and-vw-collaboration-on-up-dashboards/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Last week we told you about Volkswagen's plan to put touch screens in every one of its cars next year and wondered if maybe this is what Apple had been helping VW sort out.

Well, our brothers over at Engadget did some digging and came up with a video showing VW's UP touch interface in use. Apple fans will immediately recognize the look and feel of the images as very Coverflow or Front Row-like. Apple fanboys will have already seen all this, of course, and put their cars up for sale in anticipation of the new VW lineup (anyone want to by a 2002 Corolla, btw?).

Is this the fabled iCar? Has Apple assisted in the design of VW's new touch interface? While the video shown here is indeed intriguing, don't get excited just yet. Apple's Coverflow is easily imitated, and VW might have only been inspired by Apple's work. Even so, it would be a huge improvement over what VW uses now, and as much of a leap forward for the automotive industry as Apple's iPhone has been for mobile phone companies.

If you know Apple, they're gonna keep this pie as secret as they can until it's fully baked. But we're gonna do our best to keep an eye on it while it's cooking, so stay tuned.

[Source: Engadget]

Evidence of Apple and VW collaboration on up! dashboards? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Apple automobileApple carAppleAutomobileAppleCariCarVolkswagen AppleVolkswagen touch screenVolkswagen upVolkswagen UP!VolkswagenAppleVolkswagenTouchScreenVolkswagenUpVolkswagenUp!VW AppleVW upVW UP!VwAppleVwUpVwUp!Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1042166/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/11/19/evidence-of-apple-and-vw-collaboration-on-up-dashboards/1042166/article-detail.xml 1042166 <![CDATA[Volkswagen plans to overtake Toyota as world's largest by 2015]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/24/toyota-to-be-overtaken-in-2015-by-the-germans/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/24/toyota-to-be-overtaken-in-2015-by-the-germans/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/24/toyota-to-be-overtaken-in-2015-by-the-germans/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Volkswagen has revealed that it plans to take on the newly minted global leader Toyota and become the world's largest carmaker by 2015. The ambitious goal was confirmed by Michael Kern, head of sales and marketing for the Volkswagen brand, who said they aim to beat Toyota on both vehicle sales and profitability.

According to Kern, VW plans to bring 12 new models to its lineup in the next three years, a level unprecedented by any large carmaker. Kern was also quoted in German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport as saying "we are going to expand our presence in the United States, Russia, India and other markets."

One of the previews at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show was the up! minicar concept. Small cars are expected to be the Next Big Thing as the Indian and Chinese middle class mobilize.

As of 2007, however, Volkswagen is far behind Toyota and GM in sales. The company will manage to sell just over 6 million cars compared to more than 9 million for the two leaders.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Volkswagen plans to overtake Toyota as world's largest by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>volkswagenvolkwagen globalVolkwagenGlobalVWvw up!VwUp!Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/996520/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/09/24/toyota-to-be-overtaken-in-2015-by-the-germans/996520/article-detail.xml 996520 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/volkswagen_logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/volkswagen_logo.jpg <![CDATA[VW's Up! could be coming to the States]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/15/vws-up-could-be-coming-to-the-states/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/15/vws-up-could-be-coming-to-the-states/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/15/vws-up-could-be-coming-to-the-states/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



High fuel prices have started to change the way Americans look at transportation, and several automakers are rushing to market smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles onto US roads. Daimler Benz is in the final stages of launching the Smart fortwo city car here in the US, and Volkswagen is looking at entering the fray with their own mini compact, the Up!. The stylish Up! was unveiled in Frankfurt on Monday, and Adrian Hallmark, head of Volkswagen of America, has already informed Wolfsburg that the US market is interested.

It's hard to gauge how the fortwo will do here in the States due to its freakishly small size and seating for only two, but the VW Up! concept has a rear-engine, rear drive configuration with room for four. A sedan with roughly the same amount of interior space as a previous generation Golf will likely be available for US consumers if the vehicle goes to production in the next few years. We just hope VW can achieve incredible fuel economy with the good looks of the concept, while offering the Up! at the low prices that once made the original Beetle such a smash hit.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

VW's Up! could be coming to the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fortwoPoloSmartVW UP!VwUp!WolfsburgSat, 15 Sep 2007 11:53:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/990163/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/09/15/vws-up-could-be-coming-to-the-states/990163/article-detail.xml 990163 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/up!_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/up!.jpg <![CDATA[Frankfurt 2007: VW gets it up!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/11/frankfurt-2007-vw-gets-it-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/11/frankfurt-2007-vw-gets-it-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/11/frankfurt-2007-vw-gets-it-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

UPDATE: Press release added after the jump.

Click the image above for more live high-res pics.

Some may compare it to the Beetle, but in the end, it looks like a restyled Golf that's been left in the dryer for one cycle too long. The rear-engine, three-door, four-seat city car from Volkswagen, dubbed the up!, aims to be the V-dub equivalent of the smart, with a small footprint (3,450mm long and 1,620mm wide) and inoffensive styling.

It's a strange dichotomy of sorts, with the 50-year old rear-engine drivetrain mated to a host of 21st century technology that allows on-the-go urbanites the right balance of size and cargo space. All the seats, except the driver's, fold down and can be removed, and once out they can be stored in the frunk (front-trunk) or in the rear cargo area. Naturally, drivers get climate control, sat-nav, and an on-board computer, along with a secondary screen for the co-pilot.

We'll have more details as soon as we get VW's official press release, but for the time being, you can check the gallery below for two dozen of live shots.

Gallery: VW up!

Continue reading Frankfurt 2007: VW gets it up!

Frankfurt 2007: VW gets it up! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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