Autoblog

All-time high gas prices have made Americans intensify their searches for top-shelf fuel economy, as evidenced by 15-year-old Geo Metros selling on eBay for $7,200. Apparently even capitalistic insanity isn't enough to convince Volkswagen to bring a diesel engine Stateside in the hotly anticipated Tiguan, as the ultra-efficient 2.0L oil-burner likely won't be available for MY 2009.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that the Tiguan is selling extremely well in Europe, which negates the need to rush additional models to the US, where a weak dollar is cutting into the German automaker's profits. VW is also trying to keep the price down on the new crossover, and diesel engines add thousands to the sticker. We wouldn't be surprised if the constant delays surrounding the 2.0L TDI have anything to do with the decision, either.

If a price war can break out on eBay in an effort to buy a turquoise 49 hp deathtrap, we're more than certain that Americans are willing to shell out $30k for an efficient CUV. Without a diesel powerplant, however, the Tiguan is just one more of the many mediocre-mileage tall wagons from which to choose.

[Source: Winding Road]

Shortly after the revelation that Volkswagen wished it hadn't passed up on the opportunity to purchase famed Italian bike maker Ducati, comes a word that the German automaker has plans for its own line of motorcycles. What we can say for sure is that the rumored bike isn't likely to look anything like the picture above, which nonetheless is an interesting mash-up of an Aprilia trellis frame along with bodywork from MV Agusta. At least the artist chose good stock from which to pilfer. KTM, more and more a serious manufacturer itself, is the likely source of bike-specific components and is rumored to be providing technical know-how to VW as a sort-of repayment for the help it received in designing the awesome X-Bow, which uses an Audi engine. KTM is known in the bike realm for producing excellent engines, so basing a possible VeeDub VeeTwin on existing Katoom architecture strikes us as a good idea. What also strikes us as a good idea is the reconsideration of the ill-fated GX3 three-wheeler, which was axed over fears of possible litigation. If VW were to sponsor a range of two-wheelers already, though, the GX3 would be a much safer bet for future production. Let us cross our collective fingers on this one.

[Source: Auto Express]

Despite what VW fanbois will tell you, the People's Car people have had some serious reliability issues over the last few years. Volkswagen execs are hoping to change the automaker's expensive to maintain image with a vehicle maintenance program that will provide owners of new, 2009 models with free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, along with regular checkups every 6,000 miles or 90 days. Volkswagen is calling it the "Carefree Maintenance Program" and is touting it as the only program of available among its competitors. Considering that the VW Rabbit just took the top spot away from the Mazda3 in ConsumerReports' hatchback battle, this might be a good time to start specing up a new GTI.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

The rendering specialists at AutoBild have come up with images of the next Passat. It gets a bit more character in the twin swage lines running down the side of the body, a feature that is looking like the next big design thing. The front end continues the tripartite bumper design VW has recently taken up, but swaps the giant headlamps for some sleek, stylized numbers reminiscent of Audi.

We aren't sure about the sedan design. It looks like it could be a contender with character... or it could be a sedan just trying to be fancy. The wagon, however, looks pretty sexy. We'll know when we see it in the flesh, but the Passat CC is probably a good indicator in the mean time, so if you like that, then you'll probably like this.

[Source: AutoBild via German Car Blog]

It's far too early to come up with suitable jokes to make, so we'll just give you the facts. According to Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, Police are investigating a case of corporate eavesdropping in the form of a baby monitor that was found in the hotel room of Porsche CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking. Wiedeking was in Wolfsburg, Germany visiting Volkswagen headquarters for a board meeting when a security firm found the monitor behind a sofa in the CEO's room. An investigation is underway, however, it deserves noting that the alleged spying took place in November of last year and that Der Spiegel isn't citing any specific sources for their story.

[Source: Forbes]

The honchos at VW decided that Park Assist (PA) wasn't enough. That's where the car parallel parks itself while you twiddle your thumbs behind the wheel, and when the Fasten Seat Belt sign is extinguished you can get out and go on about your business. The latest development from VW is called Park Assist Vision (PAV), and it will park the car for you in any kind of spot -- parallel or perpendicular -- and you don't even need to be in the car.

A PAV-equipped car is ringed with cameras and ultrasonic sensors, and when you find a spot you want, you select it on a touchscreen. You place the car in "P" and get out if you have that much faith in technology not to scratch your paint. Your remote control keyfob tells the car what to do from then on, and the car parks itself, shuts down and locks itself up, as any happy android car should.

PAV is still in development, but it's a neat idea. It could especially come in handy when trying to slip into one of those ever-shrinking "compact" parking spaces, since it's so hard to get out of the car once you get in the space. Now if they could develop a feature that actually locates available parking spaces for you, we'd be in business.

[Source: Autocar]

Volkswagen announced today that its entire 2009 lineup will come with a new Carefree Maintenance Program standard. What this means is that all scheduled maintenance for your 2009 Vee-Dub will be done and paid for by Volkswagen for the length of your limited warranty, which is 3 years or 36,000 miles. The program will debut with the new Tiguan crossover and Routan minivan, and should come in handy considering the former requires at least three scheduled service stops for maintenance before it hits 36,000 miles and the latter requires six. Other automakers like BMW and VW's own sister brand Audi offer free scheduled maintenance programs as well, but this is the first time we've seen it offered to folks who aren't buying a luxury car. Would free scheduled maintenance lure you into a VW dealership when shopping for a new car or is this program required by the German automaker to improve its perception of quality in the U.S.? Check out VW's official press release on the new program after the jump for more details.

[Source: VW]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Scirocco.

Volkswagen will use the 24-hour endurance race at the Nurburgring in Germany to showcase the new Scirocco's sporting credentials when the event gets underway the weekend of May 24 and 25. The race-prepped version of the low-slung, Golf-based coupe will be spitting out 300 hp from its tuned 2.0-liter TFSI engine. Volkswagen didn't reveal a lot of details about the Scirocco racer in its press release (after the jump), but you can be assured that serious suspension and brake tweaks will be accompanied by all the prerequisite safety equipment to make the Scirocco competitive in the 2.0-liter turbo class. And VW isn't skimping on drivers, either. The Scirocco will be piloted by two-time WRC champ Carlos Sainz and two-time Le Mans winner and 'Ring legend, Hans-Joachim Stuck.


[Source: VW via WCF]

Volkswagen has apparently seen the same gap in its SUV lineup that we did when the Tiguan was introduced. According to Autocar, the Germans are working on a mid-sizer that would slot between the large Touareg2 and the smaller Tiguan, but have seating for seven.

Autocar says VW does not plan to base the vehicle on Audi's Q5 platform or a stretched Tiguan. Instead the company is expected to utilize the much cheaper, next-generation Passat, which itself shares numerous parts with the next Golf. Sources say the larger SUV is planned for a 2011 intro with possible Skoda and Seat variants.

Anyone want to take a guess at what obscure nomadic tribe this one will be named after? Wikipedia lists at least two that begin with "T" that haven't been used yet. There are the Toubou of Chad, but that's a bit too easily pronounced. Our money's on the Dutch Trekboers, as in "How much do you think the new VW Trekboer will cost?"

[Source: Autocar]

The Volkwagen Lavida (or La Vida, perhaps) is VW's China-only sedan that will go into production this summer. The car will be built in China by Shanghai Volkswagen, and could get the Chinese produced 1.4-liter TSI engine as well, but is more likely to come with a 1.8- or 2.0-liter engine.

As a testament to VW's commitment to China, they haven't skimped on the car: it gets the PQ34 platform that sits under other VW Group products like the Bora and A4. Planned as a luxury car that will compete with the Buick Excelle, the car is 100 mm longer than the Bora and has been called a "mini Phaeton" by the Chinese motoring press.

The car's design has some split personalities and a bit of Zelig thrown in. If you look at the grille, it's obviously a VW. If you look anywhere else, well, it could be any number of Asian sedans -- but if you know it's a VW, you can also see VW cues, like the rear door line at the wheel well. Shanghai VW is expected to sell 8,000 Lavidas in the second half of this year.

Thanks for the tip, 21cdb!

[Source: The Tycho]