Geneva 2010: New Volkswagen CrossPolo

In addition the the sporty Polo GTI, VW will show the next generation CrossPolo at the Geneva Show in early March.

The CrossPolo comes with refreshingly cheeky design, unique world of colors and a higher ride height (15 millimeter gain). The CrossPolo is produced only as a five-door hatchback.

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Three all-new special edition Volkswagens now available

Volkswagen of America has announced that three all-new 2010 special edition models are now available in dealer showrooms. The CC R-Line, Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, and New Beetle Red Rock Edition.

New CC R-Line comes outfitted with a number of visual enhancements for a decidedly sporty look. A body kit with side skirts, new front bumper, including an integrated chin spoiler, special 18-inch “Mallory” wheels, R-Line badges on the front fenders, and smoked taillamps complete the exterior upgrades.

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VW intends to overtake Toyota - 10 million sales by 2018 is new goal

Toyota is in a big safety issue fiasco with their accelerator pedal recall. Different automakers like GM and Ford see it as an opportunity to increase their sales, while Toyota’s biggest competitor Volkswagen is setting long-term goals to overtake Toyota as the world’s largest automaker.

Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, said it plans to increase sales to more than 10 million vehicles by 2018 as it seeks to dethrone Japan’s Toyota.

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Volkswagen’s 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel Engine Named a ‘Ward’s 10 Best Engine’ for 2010

Volkswagen’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI Clean Diesel engine has been selected by Ward’s Automotive Group as one of the “10 Best Engines” for 2010.

“For over 30 years, Volkswagen has been developing and refining diesel engine technology to help bring an ever-improving host of benefits to drivers now and into the future,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Our 2.0L TDI unites an exceptional balance of fun-to-drive performance and efficiency, and we are proud to have it recognized in the prestigious Ward’s list.”

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Volkswagen Passat CC now available as a five-seater

The Passat CC has been available so far only as a four seater, from now on it is also available with an optional new rear bench that turns it into a five-seater.

This new option is added in response to requests by many customers to give the Passat CC even greater everyday utility by adding a seating position. The new rear bench fulfils all necessary safety aspects and comes with third head restraint and three-point seat belt at the centre position.

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Volkswagen Amarok demonstrates its power at the Dakar Rally as the official support vehicle

The Dakar rally started from Buenos Aires in Argentina on 1 January, and crosses the Andes to Antofagasta on the Pacific coast in Chile, before taking a more southern route to the finish back in Buenos Aires on 17 January.

On duty as a support vehicle for the rally is the new VW Amarok pickup. A total of 35 Amaroks are used as support vehicles by the Volkswagen team and the official organisers, throughout this year’s 5,600 mile event.

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Volkswagen Tiguan Track & Avenue special edition

Volkswagen is extending its Tiguan model range with the Tiguan Track & Avenue special edition. As always in such case, special edition is all about visual upgrades.

The Tiguan Track & Avenue rides on 19-inch “Savannah” alloy wheels. Two special exterior colours are offered: “Oryx White Pearl Effect” and “Island Grey Pearl Effect”. The package also includes a 25 degree off-road front end, modest wheel flares and a silver-coloured diffuser.

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Volkswagen and Suzuki establishing a long-term partnership

It is no secret that Volkswagen is doing the best to become the world’s biggest automaker. Just yesterday we reported about a big stake they bough in Porsche AG.

Now Volkswagen has announced about a new partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation. Two companies have reached a common understanding to establish a close longterm strategic partnership.

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Volkswagen takes 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG

Last year everything pointed to a Volkswagen getting swallowed by a much smaller Porsche. Unfortunately for Porsche their plan did not go through as they ended up in huge debt, despite of the fact that they owned 51 percent of Volkswagen.

So the tables turned and the two companies are integrating. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft yesterday finally took 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG. The price for the stake is €3.9 billion and is based on the enterprise value for Porsche AG calculated under a careful due diligence and valuation procedure.

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Volkswagen Amarok pickup unveiled

With the Amarok, Volkswagen is entering a new segment of mid-range pick-ups, representing an annual market volume of two million vehicles worldwide. Amarok is also the first 1-tonne class pick-up to be developed in Germany and VW has big plans for it.

Amarok will be launched first as a four-door version with “double cab” – a “single cab” will debut in 2011.

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Volkswagen shows Tiguan Facelift at Guangzhou Auto Show

Chinese market is one of the biggest growing markets and soon very likely the biggest vehicle market in the world. More and more we see different automakers introducing their new models there for the first time. Yes in China, not in Frankfurt, Detroit or Paris.

Here we have a VW Tiguan Facelift for the Chinese market. Details are scarce, but this is how the facelifted Tiguan will also look when it goes on sale in Europe and North America.

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VW Amarok Pickup is the official support vehicle for 2010 Dakar Rally

Volkswagen announced that its new upcoming Amarok Pickup will be the official vehicle for 2010 Dakar Rally. A total of 35 Amarok Pickups will be supplied, with 20 going to the organiser and 15 for press and shuttle services.

Volkswagen claims that Amarok is durable, robust and can tackle any road, no matter how tricky - 2010 Dakar Rally surely is a good place to see how the car stands to these claims.

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Latest news on the Porsche-Volkswagen front

It looks like the decks are clear for a Porsche Volkswagen merger which has been swinging one way and then the other, with no clarity emerging for quite some time now. But with the resignations of Porsche’s chief executive Wendelin Wiedeking and chief financial officer Holger Haerter it looks likely that the merger may well happen sooner or later.

Porsche had earlier tried to take over the larger Volkswagen, but it did not succeed and in fact incurred a great deal of debt (€10 billion) in its efforts. Porsche has plans to seek funds from a Qatar investor to make its merger plans easier.

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Porsche-Volkswagen battle near an end?

Is the end to a takeover battle near? According to German media reports, Volkswagen will purchase half of the debt suffering Porsche and the rest later.

Spiegel has received word that Volkswagen is planning a takeover of the debt-ridden sports carmaker Porsche, doing so in a two transaction series. The imminent purchase is planned for 50% of Porsche shares. The remaining shares will be purchased from the Germany based automaker in a second transaction.

Once the purchase is completed, Porsche will be the 10th brand in Europe’s biggest automaker, Volkswagen. This purchase follows a power struggle between the two companies. Porsche had originally sought to purchase VW, but the complicated loan transactions fell through due to a credit crunch that dried up its liquidity. It was already announced that Volkswagen would purchase 49.9% of shares from Porsche; however, Spiegel has learned it is now going for a complete acquisition, through the second purchase of remaining shares.

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Porsche and Volkswagen at loggerheads again

Volkswagen’s had wanted to buy 49 percent of Porsche as part of a merger on Monday, but it offer was rejected by Porsche, which said that a sale of the unit would incur a financial penalty that would make the deal impractical.

Deeming the offer ‘unfeasible’ Porsche spokesman, Frank Gaube said that deal was impractival because the sale would mean that the company would have to make a repayment of 12.5 billion euros” on a syndicated loan put together by 15 banks, a financial burden that would render the merger unworkable.

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