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The W8 is unlike any eight-cylinder engine ever built. In conceptual terms, the W engine is basically two narrow four-cylinder engines joined together at their center line, forming a W that has displacement typical of a large standard American V-8 engine, yet it is not much larger than a compact car's four-cylinder.
IRVINE, CA - For 2005, Volkswagen introduces an all-new Golf and GTI, bigger and more refined than any previous Golf in almost every respect.
IRVINE, CA - For 2005, Volkswagen introduces an all-new Golf and GTI, bigger and more refined than any previous Golf in almost every respect.
2006 Volkswagen GTI First Drive - the car's unique styling, top-notch interior, outstanding powertrain, and athletic handling all make this turbocharged sport hatch well worth the $22,620 base price.
Enthusiasts starved for affordable German performance were rewarded with the Volkswagen GTI back in 1983, a monochromatic hot hatch patterned after one of Europe's most fun models but based on the relatively pedestrian Americanized Rabbit.
As the performance-oriented model of the Jetta line-up, the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI jettisons the previous generation's V6 in favor of a powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine...
Volkswagen Passat - 2006 First Drive:
Sporting timeless design, a relatively low price, a Germanic fun-to-drive nature coupled with a smooth ride quality, and a luxurious interior, the 1998 Passat saved Volkswagen's bacon just as the company was considering a retreat from the American market.
Volkswagen Rabbit - 2006 First Drive: Raumwunder is a German expression for small on the outside and big on the inside, and it's how VW describes the 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit, which returns this summer as an all-new, fifth-generation replacement for the venerable Golf.
Built on a modified Passat platform, the four-door, all-wheel drive SUV goes on sale in the U.S. next summer. Tiguan will do battle in the same arena as the Honda CR-V and...
For L.A., Volkswagen brought the third variant of the Up! concept, the Space Up! Blue, which is a combination fuel cell and plug-in hybrid...
First, let's get one thing straight: I am not a fan of convertibles. Not because they remind me of my lack of long Abercrombie-model locks when the top is down, but mainly because there has yet to be a canvas material genetically engineered to provide strength and security on par with a fixed metal roof.
The 2007 Volkswagen Eos convertible, named after the Greek goddess of sunrise, is based on the all-new Passat sedan's platform, and replaces the old four-seat Cabrio in VW's lineup...
With its eager turbocharged engine, slick six-speed manual transmission, responsive handling, and quality construction, the Eos is actually a car we, well, like...
The new 2007 Volkswagen Golf R32 bolsters the image of the brand, a brand clearly aimed at people who love to drive...
Volkswagen Passat Wagon - 2007 Review: This modern interpretation of an old style excels in the areas of power, handling, comfort, efficiency, and style, though at nearly $30,000 you definitely pay for such advances...
Volkswagen Routan Preview - 2008 Chicago Auto Show: Volkswagen unveiled a vehicle that it says is part of its new strategy to move from a niche car company to one that sells in higher volume.
2009 Volkswagen Passat CC Preview - Detroit Auto Show: When your styling mimics one of the most attractive German luxury cars on the market, chances are you'll grab some positive attention, and we'll be the first to call the Passat CC one sexy looker.
the Jetta TDI is part of a new generation of European diesels charged with changing the image of diesels as stinky and under-performing to clean, modern and high-performance powerplants...
This is a conclusive review of the Volkswagen CC--also known as the Volkswagen Passat CC to help you make the right decision on a luxury sedan.
Buyers are migrating to small crossovers because this segment offers the promise of having it all. Or at least most of it: utility and reasonable economy, in a sporty, sensibly sized package. Manufacturers are also drawn to this segment because, well, there are all those customers waiting, and more pouring in every day.
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Preview - 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: The Touareg has a baby bro, dubbed the Tiguan, and it's VW's first crossover.
In bringing you this comprehensive review covering the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg, TheCarConnection.com looks to some of the most respected review sources on the Web. In order to make the review especially useful.
You need room for your stuff, but you don't want a clunky SUV or pudgy crossover and can't live with the daily-driving restrictions of a road-hugging, fun-to-drive sports car.
After more than three years of rumors, Volkswagen has acknowledged its consideration to bring a subcompact car to the U.S. market in order to compete with other small car offerings.
The glass roof gives the Eos a unique look even with the top up. It provides one of the largest openings for a sunroof available in any car as it covers the full width of the roof even if it does not slide back as far as most sunroofs.
In spite of its diminutive dimensions, the Eos seats four, and getting into the back seat is relatively easy. The interior is trimmed nicely, an area where Volkswagen excels.
With wheel trims rather than alloys, plus a plain plastic grille, the five-door hatchback is undeniably conservative. Yet its solid and well proportioned styling is pure MkVI Golf. This evolutionary approach has helped to make the car an institution over the years, and even in base spec the impression you get from the outside is of rock-solid build quality.
Real men don't drive cars with 1.4-litre engines - do they? Well, it depends. Forget about engine size, and consider instead a VW Golf with 168bhp and a torque curve whose peak of 177lb ft is more of a plateau, all the way from 1750 to 4500rpm. The result is a maximum speed of 136mph, and 0-62mph acceleration in 7.9sec.
Volkswagen claims acceleration performance is better with the DSG than with the manual gearbox; 0-60 mph takes just 6.9 seconds with the DSG. And if you want to play with gears yourself, you can, using Formula 1-style paddles on the steering wheel.
Like the Civic Si, the GTI is a familiar face — a decidedly European face, with rounded contours and a protruding honeycomb grille outlined with a red stripe — now with two additional doors, which makes for five total in the VW's case. (Determining whether a hatch is really a “door” is, as they say, beyond the scope of this article.) What couldn't be more distinct is how the GTI applies its power to the road in a deceivingly smooth and understressed way.
The Volkswagen GTI is fun to drive and that's where it shines. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is responsive and offers a broad plateau of torque. Maximum torque is available from a mere 1800 rpm up to 5000 rpm, so you can putter comfortably around town in fourth gear without having to overwork your right arm searching for the engine's sweet spot as you maneuver in city traffic. While the car operates on regular unleaded, premium fuel is recommended to achieve maximum performance.
The GTI draws its energy from VW's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine turbocharged to boost output to 200 horsepower and to 207 pound-feet of torque, with peak torque holding steady all the way from 1800 to 5000 rpm.
The Volkswagen Jetta blends German-bred engineering and technology, good materials and build quality and solid performance in a value-priced package. The base model comes well equipped, with a decent CD player and a host of safety features.
Turn the key in the Volkswagen Jetta S, SE, or SEL and you're greeted by the raspy growl of a five-cylinder engine. It's definitely an in-your-ear sound that will find favor with those who appreciate mechanical Sturm und Drang. We like it, but it might be annoying to drivers who'd rather talk on the phone.
Regardless of engine or equipment level, the Jetta is responsive around town and comfortable on long trips. It snicks through corners and carves through curves precisely, but rides quite comfortably.
The Jetta is more potent for 2008, with 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque (compared to 150 hp and 170 lb-ft in 2007). Its 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine is pleasantly robust, with a broad power curve and a raspy sound, and delivers an EPA-estimated 21/29 mpg City/Highway. The Jetta is responsive around town and comfortable on long trips.
The Volkswagen Jetta is a mid-size sedan. It was completely redesigned for the 2005 model year, the GLI was added for 2006, and the SportWagen joined the lineup for 2008.
The Passat's interior ambience is best defined as understated luxury. Despite the cockpit's many creature comforts and electronic controls, there's a simplicity about the design and functionality that helps drivers fulfill their assigned task without confusion or calamity.
Volkswagen isn’t a company that’s known for doing things differently. The German firm has built a reputation for producing well built and conservatively styled models, but the Passat CC bucks that trend.
The recipe for the new car starts with a laser-welded platform related to the Jetta's, which means the new Passat has a transverse powerplant. Here in the U.S., the engine is either the 200-bhp turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter inline-4 of the reasonably priced base Passat ($22,950), or the 280-bhp narrow-angle 3.6-liter VR6 engine of pricier models such as our test car, whose list price of $29,950 climbs to a surprising $36,115 when a few common options are ordered.
The BlueMotion label is now one of the most recognisable eco brands around, but Volkswagen has been here before. Back in 1994, its first stop-start model, the Golf Ecomatic, was a novelty. As this test proves, however, the Passat BlueMotion 2 is part of a growing trend.
The Passat's electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering is very responsive and adjusts the power-assist based on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. It also corrects for side winds as well as minimizing column vibration. We can attest to its precision while making rapid lane changes at high speed.
Passat benefits from precise steering, with effort that automatically adjusts to the situation. Its optional six-speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive, and its brakes are excellent.
The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 200 horsepower that should satisfy most needs, while returning 23/32 city/highway mpg with a six-speed manual transmission.
The Volkswagen R32 is not as fast as the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Nor does it have the grip of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. But you know what? Who cares. This car isn't about scorching test numbers.
The Rabbit is most responsive when equipped with the five-speed manual transmission. However, the optional automatic transmission features six gears so it kicks down quickly when needed for passing or freeway on-ramp merging maneuvers.
The Rabbit offers only one engine, but it has been tuned for American-style driving. Volkswagen's 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder offers the sort of torque that Americans want for off-the-line acceleration and for merging into freeway traffic.
The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is an all-new compact SUV that VW is releasing at the right time. VW calls it the GTI of crossovers, an apt description based on our test drive.
There’s no denying the Touareg has huge road presence. With its large chrome grille, upright stance and raised suspension, the VW is every inch the premium SUV. Entry -level models get 17-inch alloy wheels, while SE models add chrome window surrounds, 18-inch rims and leather seat trim.
Each Volkswagen Touareg model has its own set of distinct driving characteristics defined by engine, suspension and tires, and each feels of-a-piece solidly built and engineered to a point where it feels all the moving parts are light and balanced, with that rigid platform and luxury features responsible for the weight.
For 2008, the Touareg gets new front and rear lamps and appendages, and while the wrapper looks familiar, there are a couple of thousand new parts within. This represents a major upgrade for 2008, and it's officially dubbed the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2.