Tag Archives: VW

Cupra’s Small EV To Cost €5k More Than Volkswagen’s Own Model

September 26, 2021 admin

The Volkswagen Group is readying a trio of fully electric small models wearing the VW, Cupra, and Skoda badges. It turns out that Cupra’s offering will be the most expensive of the three, with a starting price of €25,000 when it arrives in 2025.

The Cupra UrbanRebel Concept that premiered in Munich a few weeks ago previewed for the upcoming production model. In a similar fashion, Volkswagen previewed their own offering with the ID.LIFE Concept that will spawn a production car by 2025. Both models, together with the rumored Skoda Elroq, will be based on a shortened version of the MEB platform.

Cupra’s EV city car will start at around €25,000 which makes it more expensive compared to its Volkswagen sibling, starting at €20,000. We don’t have information about the Skoda, but given the budget-oriented nature of the brand, we guess that it will be slightly cheaper.

Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths admitted that their EV city car will be priced higher, as they want it “to be positioned between the mass and the premium segment”. He added that the production version will retain the bold design language of the concept car, with the exception of the massive aero components: “You take the fin off the back and the spoiler off the front, and then you get very very close to what we want to do with the car we want to launch in 2025”.

As reported by Automotive News Europe, the production version will be fitted with a single electric motor producing 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS) and feature a 55 kWh battery pack allowing for a 248-mile (400 km) range. Like its VW sibling, the Cupra will accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6.9 seconds, while Griffiths claims that the compact dimensions and the low weight will make the car quite sporty.

Cupra’s new small EV will join the upcoming Born C-Segment hatchback and the Tavascan SUV in the growing range of fully electric models. All small EVs of the VW Group will be produced in Spain with a capacity of up to 500,000 cars per year, utilizing both Seat’s Martorell and VW’s Pamplona factories.

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Live photo credits Stefan Baldauf / Guido ten Brink for CarScoops

Volkswagen Shows Us 10 Cool Features About The ID.4

February 18, 2021 admin

As Volkswagen‘s ID.4 starts making its way to customers, the company has been releasing promotional videos to try and drum up some excitement around the electric crossover. In their newest one, they go over some of the car’s more unique features, and there are actually quite a few interesting ones.

No Start Button

Similar to the system in Teslas, this car has no start button. Instead, to start it, all you have to do is get inside and put your foot on the brake. From there, you can put the car into gear and go on your way. To turn it off, simply come to a stop and put it in park, and the car will shut off.

ID.Light

We’ve already covered this one before, but it’s still worth mentioning as it’s one of this car’s most unique and interesting features. The 54-LED strip running across the car’s dashboard is used to easily convey important messages to the occupants. It uses different colors and patterns to signify alerts, navigation prompts, and vehicle charging status, among many other things.

Column-Mounted Gauge Cluster

Rather than fixed in place on the dashboard, The ID.4’s gauge cluster is mounted to the steering wheel. The main advantage of this is that when you adjust the steering wheel, you never have to worry if it’s now in the way of your gauges, as they move together.

Interchangeable Cupholders

Watch: VW ID.3 Enters Production At Dresden, The Former Home Of The e-Golf And Bentley Flying Spur

While the concept of movable cupholders is nothing new, the way Volkswagen does theirs is a little different. The cupholders in the ID.4 can be stowed away in the center console to get some extra space between the seats, or replaced with the included dividers to keep items in place.

Adjustable Rear Cargo Floor

The ID.4’s trunk floor is on a rail system, so it can be moved up or down depending on whether you want a flat load floor or more space. Additionally, it can be flipped up to reveal another cubby under the floor for some extra storage.

While some of these features have been done on other cars before, they’re still pretty cool to have, and combining them all together into one package adds that extra bit of quirkiness over some of its competition.

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VW Golf Mk8 1.5 TSI Gets 189 HP, Lowering Springs And 19-Inch Wheels

January 17, 2021 admin

Even though it was unveiled more than a year ago, we haven’t seen that many tuners take on the new generation Volkswagen Golf.

Barracuda Racing Wheels is one of the few who have, and they have unveiled a custom project that boasts several upgrades.

The biggest one is a new control unit for the 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine. Signed by RaceChip, it has raised the output and torque of the four-banger from the standard 150 PS (148 HP / 111 kW) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) to 192 PS (189 HP / 141 kW) and 318 Nm (235 lb-ft).

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Although the tuner refrained from releasing any performance data, the stock hatchback needs 8.5 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration and has a 224 km/h (139 mph) top speed.

A set of Eibach sport springs have lowered the ride height, while also leaving room under the arches for Barracuda’s Tzunamee Evo rims. The Y-spoke set has a dark gunmetal finish, measures 8.5×19 inches on both axles and is shod in 235/35 tires.

Schwabenfolia’s custom wrapping with a unique design rounds out the styling.

As this is a custom project, interested parties will have to reach out to each company to get all features presented here. While they are at it, they might also want to check out what other tuning companies have in store. JMS, for one, offers a visual makeover and a few performance upgrades too, while for a more aggressive look, you could turn to Ingo Noak Tuning and Autohaus Gerken.

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Explore The 2021 VW ID.4 With The Help Of Augmented Reality

December 18, 2020 admin

VW has launched a special online tool using augmented reality prior to deliveries of the all-electric 2021 ID.4 kicking off in the United States.

Dubbed the VW Showroom, the tool allows shoppers to use their phone to place an ID.4 somewhere in your home, driveway, or anywhere else for that matter. Users of the app are able to walk around the vehicle as they would in a real showroom and can view it from all angles.

In addition, the AR technology allows you to choose between six exterior colors for the ID.4, including red, blue, black, white, and two shades of grey/silver. There are also two different wheel designs that can be chosen. You can also take a virtual tour of the VW’s interior, although there are no areas of customization in the cabin.

Volkswagen says it took an international team of 17 people three months to develop the tool. In addition to the ID.4, it can be used for the new 2022 Taos, which is heading to the United States next year as a rival to the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Seltos.

VW’s U.S. range for the ID.4 starts out with the Pro model that’s available from $39,995 and comes standard with an 82 kWh battery pack that drives an electric motor with 201 hp and 228 lb-ft (309 Nm) of torque. The next step up in the range takes shoppers to the ID.4 1st Edition which has the same powertrain but is better equipped and available from $43,995.

2021 VW Golf Alltrack Costs More Than The Tiguan Allspace In The UK

November 29, 2020 admin

Volkswagen has opened the order books for the all-new Golf Alltrack and Golf Estate in Great Britain.

The jacked-up station wagon is available in a single trim level, from £35,560 ($47,518), or £3,365 ($4,497) more than the Tiguan Allspace, while the regular Estate starts at £24,575 ($32,839), £1,275 ($1,704) more than the five-door hatchback.

Powering the Golf Alltrack is a 200 PS (197 HP / 147 kW) 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel four that’s mated to a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. The 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration takes 7.1 seconds and the car averages 49.6 mpg UK (5.7 l/100 km / 41.3 mpg US) in the WLTP cycle and emits between 148 and 151 g/km of CO2.

In addition to the higher ground clearance and plastic cladding on the lower parts of the body, the Golf Alltrack features a honeycomb design for the fog lamp clusters, illuminated front grille, silver roof rails and 17-inch ‘Ronda’ alloy wheels. It also gets a three-zone climate control, Lane Change Assist, Emergency Assist, Side Assist and Travel Assist as standard.

The Golf Estate is available with three petrol engines: a 110 PS (108 HP / 81 kW) 1.0-liter TSI, a 130 PS (128 HP / 96 kW) 1.5-liter TSI and a 150 PS (148 HP / 110 kW) 1.5-liter TSI, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. These units are also available with a mild-hybrid system and a 7-speed DSG transmission. Moreover, customers can also choose between two diesels, a 2.0-litre 115 PS (113 HP / 84 kW) TDI and a 2.0-litre 150 PS (148 HP / 110 kW) TDI.

The lineup comprises of three trim levels, named Life, Style and R-Line, with the entry-level getting LED lights at both ends, 16-inch alloy wheels, interior ambient lighting, a 10-inch infotainment system, digital radio, 10.25-inch digital dials and Lane Assist, Front Assist, Dynamic Road Sign Display and Adaptive Cruise Control.

The Style adds 17-inch alloy wheels, uprated headlights, ambient lighting with more colors, three-zone climate control, Lane Change Assist, Side Assist and Traffic Jam Assist. Finally, the R-Line brings sportier bumpers, tinted rear windows, 17-inch wheels with different pattern, sports suspension, progressive steering, three-spoke heated steering wheel wrapped in leather and Driving Profile Selection.

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VW Golf GTI Driver Leads The Police To 150 MPH (240KM/H) Wild Chase

October 24, 2020 admin

The driver of a VW Golf GTI has been arrested in the Netherlands after leading the police on a high speed chase.

In the lead-up to the chase, an officer pulled in front of the German hot hatch for a traffic stop along a highway exit road. Rather than stop, though, the driver of the Golf GTI quickly swerved back onto the highway and hit the throttle, quickly passing the police vehicle.

Unfortunately for the driver of the Golf, the exit road that the police vehicle had taken soon reconnected with the highway and a chase quickly ensued. Dashcam footage from the police vehicle shows it hitting at least 240 km/h (149 mph) in their attempts to keep up with the VW.

The driver probably thought they had a good chance of outrunning the authorities, but after turning off the highway and entering a smaller side road, they were soon confronted by another police vehicle that was stopped on the road and waiting for them. Footage shows the two individuals being aggressively pulled from the Golf GTI and taken into custody.

Local media outlet Westlanders reports that the driver did not have a valid driver’s license. In addition, police found a large amount of money that the suspect tried to hide in the hatchback. Both the money and the car were seized.

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2022 VW Taos Arrives Next Summer To Battle The Chevy Trailblazer And Kia Seltos

October 13, 2020 admin

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for crossovers and Volkswagen is responding by introducing the 2022 Taos.

Designed to slot beneath the Tiguan, the Taos is a compact crossover that is “small in stature, but big on value.”

While the model looks a little plain, it features a wide grille and sweptback headlights. Higher end variants go a step further as they feature LED lights which extend into the grille via an illuminated light bar.

Also Read: 2021 VW ID.4 Debuts With $39,995 Price Tag And 250 Mile Range

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Elsewhere, designers installed sporty skid plates and plastic body cladding. The Taos also has squared off wheel arches and a greenhouse which closely resembles the Tiguan.

Out back, there’s an angled liftgate with an integrated spoiler. We can also see wraparound taillights and faux dual exhaust system. Eight different colors will be available and wheels range in sizes from 17- to 19-inches.

In terms of size, the Taos measures 175.8 inches (4,465 mm) long, 72.5 inches (1,842 mm) wide and 64.4 inches (1,636 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 105.9 inches (2,690 mm). That makes the model slightly larger than the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Seltos.

Moving into the cabin, the Taos has a minimalist interior with clean lines and straightforward controls. Volkswagen didn’t go into specifics, but confirmed the model will come standard with a digital instrument cluster and two-tone cloth seats.

Higher end variants feature an 8-inch infotainment system, a wireless smartphone charger and a ten color ambient lighting system. Other options include a heated steering wheel, an eight-way power driver’s seat and an 8-speaker premium audio system. Buyers can also get heated / ventilated front seats, a dual-zone climate control system and leather or leatherette upholstery.

Thanks to the crossover’s sizeable dimensions, the Taos has a roomy interior with 37.9 inches (963 mm) of rear seat legroom. The luggage compartment holds 28.1 cubic feet (796 liters) of cargo, but that can be expanded to 66.3 cubic feet (1,877 liters) by folding the rear seats down.

Motivation is provided by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 158 hp (118 kW / 160 PS) and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is optional and it sees the eight-speed automatic replaced by a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

On the safety front, there’s a multitude of driver assistance systems including Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and an Active Blind Spot Monitor. There’s also Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, High Beam Control and a Lane Keeping System.

The 2022 Taos will be launched in the United States next summer and available in three different trims. Full details will be announced closer to launch, but the model should cost thousands less than the Tiguan which begins at $24,945.

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VW Type 4/411 Was A Beetle-Based, Rear-Engined Compact Car That Failed To Achieve Success

October 11, 2020 admin

Fueled by the massive success of the iconic Beetle, Volkswagen wanted a roomier car based on the same platform and they came up with the Type 4.

Also known as the 411, it entered production in 1968 as a two-door and a sedan (which was the first four-door VW), featuring independent suspension and a rear-mounted flat-four engine.

The boxer unit had twin carburetors and a capacity of 1,679 cc, making 76 HP at 5,000 rpm and 93 lb-ft (126 Nm) of torque at 3,300 rpm. It came paired to a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission.

Other highlights of the Type 4/411, which was marketed as “The big one from Wolfsburg”, included the draft-free air circulation, thermostat-controlled auxiliary heat system, six-way adjustable front seats and front and rear crumple zones, as well as collapsible steering column and steering wheel with padded spokes that improved safety.

Despite sharing its roots with the Beetle, it didn’t really catch on, with just 20,000 units sold in the first year and 48,000 in 1969. VW expanded the lineup with a three-door wagon, but that didn’t help either.

Not discouraged by the poor sales numbers compared to the Bug, the German automaker then launched the Type 4/411 in the United States in 1971 and facelifted it the following year. The revamped model, named the 412, gained a higher-output engine in 1973, while production ended altogether in 1974, with the car unable to pass the 80,000-unit mark.

While the Type 4 never gained traction, the K70, which is the forefather of the Passat, did. It came out in 1970 as part of the brand’s new era of water-cooled, front-engined cars and was produced in the hundreds of thousands.

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VW Boss Herbert Diess Agrees With Bill Gates On Green Tech

August 31, 2020 admin

It’s good to see the chairman of a major carmaker mirror the thoughts of one of the most influential people on the planet when it comes to lowering carbon emissions.

VW boss Herbert Diess has recently encouraged Bill Gates to advise governments on how to lower emissions across the board. He also publicly criticized Germany’s slow abandonment of coal power, as reported by Bloomberg.

“You thoroughly understand the CO2 logic of the mobility sector. You know what we have to do and you could and should advise governments how to regulate and what to promote,” stated Diess in a LinkedIn post while referring to the Microsoft co-founder.

“As you say, it’s not too complicated – electric vehicles wherever possible,” wrote Diess, while referencing a post Gates published last week regarding how climate change could actually be more dangerous to the world than COVID-19.

The VW exec would like all cars and vans to become fully electric, with long-haul trucks running on bio-fuels. He also added that switching to carbon-free electricity is critical to fighting climate change.

“Germany’s target date to exit coal power only by 2038 is for a rich, tech-leading country by far not ambitious enough”. Following the Dieselgate scandal of 2015, VW has embarked on a push into the electric sector, investing 33 billion euros ($39 billion) to date in order to develop the world’s largest fleet of battery-powered cars.

VW wants to cut its carbon footprint by 30% before 2025, compared to where it was in 2015. Meanwhile, their ultimate goal is to become carbon-neutral by 2050.

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BMW, Honda, Ford, VW To Remain Neutral On Trump’s New Emissions Rule

June 29, 2020 admin

BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and Honda will not take a position on legal challenges to the Trump administration’s decision to weaken fuel economy standards introduced while Barack Obama was president.

The Trump administration recently finalized the rollback of U.S. vehicle emissions standards. Under the Obama administration, car manufacturers were required to make 5 per cent increases in efficiency across their models through 2026, but now, these required efficiency improvements have been reduced to 1.5 per cent annually.

Auto News reports that on Monday, BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and Honda will ask a U.S. Appeals Court in Washington for permission to be heard in a court challenge over the new regulations “to ensure that any remedy imposed by this court is both appropriate and achievable.” The four automakers finalized a voluntary agreement with California in July 2019 on vehicle emissions rules.

In a statement issued on Friday, Volkswagen said its “preference continues to be one set of national standards that’s achieved through an agreement between the federal government and California.”

A group of 23 U.S. states, including California has challenged the Trump vehicle rule and while some automakers are taking a neutral stance on the regulation changes, others are supporting the move. For example, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Toyota have sided with the Trump administration on the rollback.

These automakers have also sided with the government in a separate lawsuit to determine if the federal government can strip California of the ability to set its own zero-emission vehicle requirements.