Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Prototype 2011 Volkswagen Touareg caught naked?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/26/spy-shots-prototype-2011-volkswagen-touareg-caught-naked/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/26/spy-shots-prototype-2011-volkswagen-touareg-caught-naked/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/26/spy-shots-prototype-2011-volkswagen-touareg-caught-naked/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hey there, odd looking, what you got cooking? Yes, we're pretty positive you're looking (or about to be looking) at the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg caught without its robe on. Visually speaking, not much has changed. The front clip and hood look more in line with the sixth generation Golf/GTI. From behind, you can see an awful lot of Porsche Cayenne - which is not surprising as the two SUVs are very closely related - especially these days.

We're always liked the Touareg. It's one of those special Volkswagens built almost entirely out of Ferdinand Piech's adrenal glands, akin to the Phaeton and Bugatti Veyron. All three are cars built (largely) without compromise. Don't believe us? Allow us to suggest a weekend with the twin-turbo V10 TDI model - it really will bring you around to our way of thinking. 553 lb-ft of blown diesel torque at 1,800 rpm tends to have that effect on people.

The question now is, will this new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg be anywhere near as phantasmagorical as the last one? We can't say (yet), but we're thinking VW's going to probably dial the "hell yeah!" back a bit. That's just the way of things. Of course, they may not. Either way, we just hope they figure out how to make the next one more reliable. A tip of our off roadin' flap hats to Paul!

[Source: Secret New Cars]

Spy Shots: Prototype 2011 Volkswagen Touareg caught naked? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 Touareg2011 Volkswagen Touareg2011Touareg2011VolkswagenTouaregFerdinand PiechFerdinandPiechPorscheTouaregVolkswagen TouaregVolkswagenTouaregThu, 26 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Volkswagen interested in Ducati... still]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/rumormill-volkswagen-interested-in-ducati-still/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/rumormill-volkswagen-interested-in-ducati-still/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/15/rumormill-volkswagen-interested-in-ducati-still/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ducati 1098R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumors of a possible motorcycle brand for Volkswagen aren't anything new. It's a well-known fact that Ferdinand Piëch, Chairman of Volkswagen's Board, wishes that the German automaker had purchased Ducati back in 1985 when the Italian bike manufacturer was in dire financial shape.

As recently as last year, Piëch - himself a Ducati rider even at age 72 - commented that Volkswagen could still purchase an unnamed motorcycle manufacturer if the conditions were right. Strike up the rumormill again, boys and girls. The Italian motoring press is reportedly signaling that Volkswagen is making renewed overtures toward Ducati, which, like pretty much all other motorcycle manufacturers these days, is seeing sales and profits take a dive due to the sorry state of the global economy.

Just a few weeks back at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Piëch indicated that the Volkswagen Group was looking to expand, and some took that to mean it would procure a sizable stake in Suziki, another long-rumored target of the German automaker. KTM, maker of the bonkers X-Bow roadster, has also been bandied about as a potential partner. So, is there any truth to the two-wheeled VW rumors? We'll see how it all pans out soon enough, but we're not exactly holding our breath.


Gallery: Ducati 1098 R


[Source: Clutch and Chrome]

Rumormill: Volkswagen interested in Ducati... still originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ducatiducati vwDucatiVwferdinand Pichferdinand piechFerdinandPichFerdinandPiechmotorcyclePichPiechvolkswagenvolkswagen ducativolkswagen ktmvolkswagen motorcyclevolkswagen suzukiVolkswagenDucatiVolkswagenKtmVolkswagenMotorcycleVolkswagenSuzukivwvw ktmvw motorcyclevw suzukiVwKtmVwMotorcycleVwSuzukiThu, 15 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Porsche's Wiedeking tipped to get $140M golden parachute?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/porsches-wiedeking-tipped-to-get-140m-golden-parachute/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/porsches-wiedeking-tipped-to-get-140m-golden-parachute/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/porsches-wiedeking-tipped-to-get-140m-golden-parachute/#commentsFiled under: ,



If the rumored deal for Volkswagen to consume Porsche is indeed accurate, then there are only two things left: the shouting, and the sound of Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking departing his post in a Brinks truck filled with €100 million ($141M USD). German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported "it is now no longer a question of if, but of how Wendelin Wiedeking will step aside, and that he will clear his desk voluntarily in the coming week."

Over his 16-year tenure at the top, Wiedeking has turned Porsche from an automaker offering one iconic car and a couple of others into the maker of one iconic car and several hugely profitable models. Still, his departure now comes after driving Porsche to the brink, and if €100M sounds like a lot of money to leave in humble circumstances, well, that's because it is.

Yet, if this report is to be believed, it's not an outrageous sum in the world of Wiedeking: his pay packet for 2007 was said to amount to €60M ($85M USD). No matter what he gets, and it will certainly be substantial, he will leave behind a company subsequently controlled by its mass market sibling. And although Porsche labor boss Uwe Heck said, "VW will never be able to buy the souls of Porsche employees," their time, their cars and their technology are another story.

[Source: Drive.com.au | Image Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty]

Porsche's Wiedeking tipped to get $140M golden parachute? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionsferdinand piechFerdinandPiechporschevolkswagenvwwendelin wiedekingWendelinWiedekingMon, 20 Jul 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkswagen reportedly comes to terms with Stuttgart leadership to absorb Porsche]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-volkswagen-and-porsche-reach-deal-on-takeover-of-car-biz/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-volkswagen-and-porsche-reach-deal-on-takeover-of-car-biz/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-volkswagen-and-porsche-reach-deal-on-takeover-of-car-biz/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The family soap opera surrounding the attempted takeover over of Volkswagen by Porsche may soon conclude if a reported deal is approved next week. Porsche SE, the holding company that owns automaker Porsche AG, has attempted to secure its independence by acquiring a controlling interest in Volkswagen. Unfortunately for Porsche, the economic downturn has put the company in danger of insolvency thanks to a hefty debt load.

In the midst of all the financial maneuverings, a personal drama has steadily unfolded as well. Porsche is controlled by the descendants of Ferdinand Porsche's children, Ferry Porsche and Louise Piëch. The leaders of the Porsche and Piëch branches of the family, Wolfgang Porsche and Ferdinand Piëch, have been at odds throughout this entire process. Piëch is chairman of VW's supervisory board, while cousin Wolfgang holds a similar position at the family business. As the sequence of events progressed, it appeared that Wolfgang Porsche was trying to oust his cousin, while Ferdinand Piëch was trying to eliminate Porsche CEO Wendelin Weideking.

It now appears that the two companies have reached an agreement that will allow Porsche SE pay off much of its €10 billion+ debt. If approved, Volkswagen would pay €8 billion for Porsche in two stages. The first would give VW 49.9%, with the rest coming at a later date.

[Source: Reuters | Image: David Hecker/Getty]

Volkswagen reportedly comes to terms with Stuttgart leadership to absorb Porsche originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferdinand piechFerdinandPiechpiechporschevolkswagenvolkswagen eats porschevolkswagen takes over porscheVolkswagenEatsPorscheVolkswagenTakesOverPorscheSat, 18 Jul 2009 15:06:00 EST<![CDATA[VW Piech era could be drawing to close, family planning coup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/15/vw-piech-era-could-be-drawing-to-close-family-planning-coup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/15/vw-piech-era-could-be-drawing-to-close-family-planning-coup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/15/vw-piech-era-could-be-drawing-to-close-family-planning-coup/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For the past 15 years Ferdinand Piech has been the guiding force behind Volkswagen, first as CEO and Chairman, and since his mandatory retirement in 2002, as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Before that he headed Audi and helped to cultivate the four-ringed brand's engineering reputation. However, the Piech era may be drawing to a close as the Porsche takeover of VW looks set to break out into intra-family warfare. While Porsche is public company, much of the voting control is held by members of the Porsche and Piech families, the children and grandchildren of founder Ferry Porsche. While little has been said publicly about what is going on in the boardroom at Porsche and the companies reasons for taking control of VW, Piech has been in the peculiar position, being on both sides of the takeover battle. Earlier this year there were reports that Piech was trying to oust Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking in order to maintain control of VW. It now appears that Piech's own family may have had enough of his control, and cousin Wolfgang Porsche is reportedly preparing to push him out. Piech apparently stayed away from a board meeting on Friday to avoid voting with or against his family on the issue of Porsche cooperating with Audi. The family is apparently incensed at Piech's behavior and want him dismissed.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

VW Piech era could be drawing to close, family planning coup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferdinand piechFerdinandPiechporscheporsche familyPorscheFamilyvolkswagenvw takeoverVwTakeoverwolfgang porscheWolfgangPorscheMon, 15 Sep 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Volkswagen Passat could be built Stateside]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/next-volkswagen-passat-could-be-built-stateside/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/next-volkswagen-passat-could-be-built-stateside/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/next-volkswagen-passat-could-be-built-stateside/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Following-up on last week's announcement that Volkswagen was looking at Alabama for a new manufacturing facility, the German automaker's management board is expected to make their final recommendation today. Following that announcement, Volkswagen's supervisory board, headed by former VW group CEO Ferdinand Piech, will make its decision by tomorrow. Whether Huntsville, Alabama, or second-choice Chattanooga, Tennessee, gets the nod, the move is key for Volkswagen as they attempt to increase sales in the United States with more targeted, and lower priced, vehicles. In addition to the Volkswagen Jetta (itself being redesigned to better compete with the Honda Civic) the new facility will produce an all-new Passat-sized sedan with a base price of about $20,000. Larger, in order to compete with the Toyota Camry, the new sedan would undercut the current Volkswagen Passat's pricing by about $5,000--a significant margin. The plant would open in late 2010 with an annual production capacity of nearly 250,000 vehicles.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Next Volkswagen Passat could be built Stateside originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlabamaAssemblychattanoogaferdinand piechFerdinandPiechHuntsvilleManufacturingPlantTennesseeVolkswagenvolkswagen manufacturingvolkswagen stateside manufacturingvolkswagen united states manufacturingvolkswagen united states plantvolkswagen us plantVolkswagenManufacturingVolkswagenStatesideManufacturingVolkswagenUnitedStatesManufacturingVolkswagenUnitedStatesPlantVolkswagenUsPlantvw us factoryvw us manufacturingvw us plantVwUsFactoryVwUsManufacturingVwUsPlantMon, 14 Jul 2008 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Wolfgang Bernhard could leave VW if commitment doesn't come by Friday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/14/wolfgang-bernhard-could-leave-vw-if-commitment-doesnt-come-by-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/14/wolfgang-bernhard-could-leave-vw-if-commitment-doesnt-come-by-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/14/wolfgang-bernhard-could-leave-vw-if-commitment-doesnt-come-by-f/#commentsFiled under: ,



Looks like Wolfgang Bernhard may have taken the appointment of Martin Winterkorn as future Volkswagen AG CEO personally. Reports are swirling that Bernhard is likely to step down soon. Newspapers are reporting today that VW has asked for a commitment from Bernhard by Friday. German business newspaper Handelsblatt said Bernhard had threatened as early as May to resign if Winterkorn became CEO.

This would be a pretty big loss for Volkswagen, as Bernhard is widely regarded as a savior for VW because of his efforts to cut costs in Germany. Some put Bernhard's contribution to Volkswagen's bottom line as high as $9 billion (7 billion euros) by 2008. That has come mainly as a result of restructured benefits and extended working hours for VW's 100,000 workers at its plants in western Germany.

This comes on the heels of last week's shakeup that saw the group's chief executive Bernd Pischetsrieder stepping down after a power struggle with VW chairman Ferdinand Piech. That resulted in the nomination of Audi CEO Martin Winterkorn as the new head of VW. Bernd has since been reassigned to the trucking arm of VAG.

[Sources: Reuters and Automotive News, sub req]

Wolfgang Bernhard could leave VW if commitment doesn't come by Friday originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bernd PischetsriederBerndPischetsriederFerdinand PiechFerdinandPiechMartin WinterkornMartinWinterkornWolfgang BernhardWolfgangBernhardTue, 14 Nov 2006 18:34:00 EST