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[VIDEO: Mechanically-inclined ninja blows our collective mind]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/video-mechanically-inclined-ninja-blows-our-collective-mind/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/video-mechanically-inclined-ninja-blows-our-collective-mind/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/video-mechanically-inclined-ninja-blows-our-collective-mind/#commentsFiled under: ,

You won't believe your eyes - Click above image to watch video after the jump

Years and years ago, we saw punk rock legend Mike Watt break an E-string on his bass during a fIREHOSE show. Without missing a beat, he yanked a new string from beside his amp, slid it through the bridge, tied it around the tuning peg and with a single twist his bass was back in tune. The whole shebang from snapped string to next note took perhaps three seconds and the song never stopped. It was amazing; truly one of the most impressive things we've ever seen. Until today.

You're just going to have watch this to believe it. However, we'd like to take this opportunity to tell you that if you happen to have an old VW Bug and a screwdriver sitting around, you should totally NOT try this at home, as odds are you'll lose a knuckle or three. Why? You sir, are not superhuman. This guy, however, is. Make the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Streetfire]

Continue reading VIDEO: Mechanically-inclined ninja blows our collective mind

VIDEO: Mechanically-inclined ninja blows our collective mind originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BeetleBeltBelt changeBeltChangeBugFan beltFanBeltVolkswagenVolkswagen BeetleVolkswagen BugVolkswagenBeetleVolkswagenBugSat, 14 Nov 2009 11:07:00 EST<![CDATA[New VW Beetle coming in two years, Scirocco still not in cards for U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/new-vw-beetle-coming-in-two-years-scirocco-still-not-in-cards-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/new-vw-beetle-coming-in-two-years-scirocco-still-not-in-cards-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/new-vw-beetle-coming-in-two-years-scirocco-still-not-in-cards-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Malibu Barbie VW New Beetle Convertible - click above for high-res gallery

We're in Wolfsburg, Germany right now for the launch drive of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf and we've just returned from a presentation at the company's design center with Walter de Silva. We'll have more on de Silva's comments a little later, but first, we did have a chance to chat with VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby about future products.

First up, despite de Silva's promise that VW wont do retro designs, there is a new New Beetle coming. When the NB debuted a decade ago, we lamented the fact that it officially carried the "New" prefix (unfortunately, Autoblog was not yet born so no one at VW heard our complaints). This time around it will just be called "Beetle." Contrary to some speculation that it might move to the NSF platform of the forthcoming Up! model, the Beetle will still ride on the Golf's chassis when it appears in two years. Jacoby didn't say how the next Beetle might change to meet de Silva's "no retro" statement, but it will continue to fill VW's niche quotient.

Speaking of niches, the Scirocco remains dead to us, despite the fact that Lower Saxony seems to be crawling with them. The problem, Jacoby explains, is that the Scirroco appeals to almost exactly the same buyers who opt for the GTI. Company research indicates that there would be almost no incremental sales increase with the Scirroco, instead it would just cannibalize the GTI. Why not just replace the GTI? Adding the coupe would be another niche product that requires more parts inventory, training, marketing dollars and so on. While we as enthusiasts might want another coupe, the numbers just don't add up for VW - especially when every Euro costs $1.47. Sorry.


Gallery: Malibu Barbie VW New Beetle Convertible



New VW Beetle coming in two years, Scirocco still not in cards for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beetleNew BeetleNewBeetleSciroccostefan jacobyStefanJacobyVeedubvolkswagenVolkswagen BeetleVolkswagen bugVolkswagenBeetleVolkswagenBugVWVW BeetleVW bugVW SciroccoVwBeetleVwBugVwSciroccoWalter de SilvaWalterDeSilvaWed, 07 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Vintage VW Bug with Subaru STI power is a hybrid we can get excited about]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/video-vintage-vw-bug-with-subaru-sti-power-is-a-hybrid-we-can-get-exc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/video-vintage-vw-bug-with-subaru-sti-power-is-a-hybrid-we-can-get-exc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/video-vintage-vw-bug-with-subaru-sti-power-is-a-hybrid-we-can-get-exc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Subaru WRX STI-powered Volkswagen Beetle - Click above to watch the video after the break

Somehow, we doubt this is what Dr. Ferdinand Porsche had in mind when he set out to design a horizontally-opposed four cylinder engine powering the rear wheels of his so-called "People's Car." No matter, we're happy to see the good ol' Beetle is still getting its due after all these years, in this case courtesy of a worked-over turbocharged 2.5-liter engine making over 350 horsepower yanked from a Subaru WRX STI.

As you might imagine, this little bugger of a powerplant has no problem moving its rounded Volkswagen wrapper at warp speed. While some may bemoan the lack of the donor car's all-wheel drive powertrain, the Beetle's rear-mounted engine placement and super short gearing equals loads of traction, making for an excellent drag racing platform.

Fortunately, the rest of the package has been appropriately beefed up and customized to handle the Beetle's newfound power. Modifications include a narrowed and dropped front beam, four-wheel disc brakes, a heavy-duty clutch, wide rear rubber and a touchscreen digital dash enabling on-the-fly tuning adjustments. Check out the gallery below and hit the jump for a couple of videos.


Gallery: Subaru STI-powered VW Beetle


[Source: Caradisiac]

Continue reading VIDEO: Vintage VW Bug with Subaru STI power is a hybrid we can get excited about

VIDEO: Vintage VW Bug with Subaru STI power is a hybrid we can get excited about originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>subaru enginesubaru stisubaru sti beetlesubaru wrx stiSubaruEngineSubaruStiSubaruStiBeetleSubaruWrxStivolkswagenvolkswagen beetlevolkswagen bugvolkswagen sti beetlevolkswagen subaruVolkswagenBeetleVolkswagenBugVolkswagenStiBeetleVolkswagenSubaruWed, 26 Aug 2009 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/20/new-details-emerge-about-2010-vw-beetle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/20/new-details-emerge-about-2010-vw-beetle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/20/new-details-emerge-about-2010-vw-beetle/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res renderings of a possible New Beetle

When designing a retro-style automobile like the revived MINI, Mustang or VW Beetle, the first generation is the easy one. The second go-round, on the other hand, is a tougher nut to crack, and the easy thing to do is to maintain the status quo. Volkswagen did just that when it revised its New Beetle back in 2006, but the third-generation of today's Bug is expected to ratchet things up a bit design-wise. We're expecting something more mature, perhaps along the lines of the Ragster concept from 2005, which emphasized its low-slung bodywork with a chopped top reminiscent of the Porsche Speedster. Flashier lights and more angular sheetmetal are also distinct possibilities.

Whatever the case, it won't be an easy redesign. VeeDub could stay the course by keeping the cute and charming nature of the current New Beetle intact or it could spice things up with something much more sporty. Could the German automaker do both? That's an option for the future, and current rumors indicate that VW has considered at least two separate Beetle models, one based on the Golf and another using the underpinnings from the yet-to-be-released Up! microcar. The current state of the economy, though, makes a plan like that much less likely to bear fruit.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle - renderings


[Source: Car Magazine]

New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>volkswagenvolkswagen beetlevolkswagen bugvolkswagen new beetleVolkswagenBeetleVolkswagenBugVolkswagenNewBeetlevwvw beetlevw bugvw new beetleVwBeetleVwBugVwNewBeetleSat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST<![CDATA[2010 VW Beetle to be 'more mature']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/2010-vw-beetle-to-be-more-mature/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/2010-vw-beetle-to-be-more-mature/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/2010-vw-beetle-to-be-more-mature/#commentsFiled under: , ,



When it was first unveiled, the Volkswagen New Beetle's only mission in life was to emulate and modernize the look of the classic air-cooled Bug that was so popular in America during the '60s and '70s. The New Beetle's first restyling was so minor that you'd be forgiven for not even knowing it had been changed. Not so for the next update, a hardtop of which is due for the 2010 model year with a convertible following one year later. Such ergonomic deficiencies as a huge expanse between the driver and the windshield were acceptable in order to get the look right the first time around, but not any longer. Therefore, expect to see some radical changes for the cute little Bugger that will make what Volkswagen's own Walter De' Silva calls "a much more mature product." The word "mature" doesn't quite jive with the current New Beetle, so we're pretty interested to see how far this redesign will go.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd, Photo by Tim in Sydney | Creative Commons 2.0]

2010 VW Beetle to be 'more mature' originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's a rather undignified process, being pulled over by the police. Next time you're sitting at the side of the road with the lights flashing in your rearview mirror, just think of this: at least you weren't pulled over by a VW Beetle. Unless you reside in Blount County, Tennessee, where Archie Garner, a 40-plus-year police veteran, nabbed this 1972 Beetle in a DUI case and summarily converted it into an Interceptor. Not that it does too much intercepting, being capable of only 70 miles per hour or so using the stock air-cooled 1600cc engine.

The "bug-erceptor", as it's affectionately referred to, just so happens to be car 53, wearing the same number as the lovable bug from the Herbie movie enterprise, and sees most of its duty in parades and on public relations missions. Wouldn't it be fun, though, to see your buddy pulled over in his souped-up Camaro by a Beetle? That's a story he'd never be able to live down.

[Source: USA Today, Knoxville News Sentinel]

Volkswagen Beetle police cruiser, the "bug-erceptor" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blount countyblount-countyBlountCountypolice carpolice carspolice interceptorpolice-carpolice-carspolice-interceptorPoliceCarPoliceCarsPoliceInterceptorvolkswagen beetlevolkswagen bugvolkswagen-beetlevolkswagen-bugVolkswagenBeetleVolkswagenBugvw beetlevw-beetleVwBeetleTue, 25 Mar 2008 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkswagen hoping buyers stick around for New Beetle styling gimmick]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/volkswagen-hoping-buyers-stick-around-for-new-beetle-styling-gim/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/volkswagen-hoping-buyers-stick-around-for-new-beetle-styling-gim/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/volkswagen-hoping-buyers-stick-around-for-new-beetle-styling-gim/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In an effort to keep British consumers interested in the New Beetle, Volkswagen has unveiled a line of vinyl graphics dubbed 'Beetle Art' to offer buyers another way to personalize their Bugs.

VW is initially offering four designs of the decals, dubbed 'Mud Splats,' 'Taking Flight,' 'It's All Mine' and 'Chasing Rainbows,' each with a unique artist and story behind them. The company promises that the designs will last for three years, and can be removed without any paint damage.

No word yet on if VW's in-house art car options will cross the Pond.

Click on the link for VW's microsite on Beetle Art.

[Sources: Volkswagen UK; MotorTorque at AskaPrice.com]

Volkswagen hoping buyers stick around for New Beetle styling gimmick originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 May 2006 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Art CarArtCarBeetleCabrioletConvertibleVolkswagenVolkswagen BeetleVolkswagen BugVolkswagenBeetleVolkswagenBugVWVW BugVwBugThu, 04 May 2006 17:03:00 EST