ABT introduces 240-HP tuned VW Beetle

Maybe you want a Volkswagen Beetle that does more than merely get noticed. Maybe you want a Beetle that... provokes. If so, you need to give German tuner ABT Sportsline a call.

Tweaks are made to the 2.0-liter turbo that add 40 horsepower. A front spoiler, wheels anywhere from 18 to 20 inches, and oval tailipes boost the aggression. Headlight covers make it look mean, and the "carbon-look deco set" with red trim makes it unforgettable.

The result is the Beetle Limousine 5CO, and if you're a configurating kind of guy, then ABT will let you toy around with the options. Otherwise there's a press release if you scroll below and a high-res gallery above. Think small and very fast: The new ABT Beetle

Its predecessor was an evergreen, a mass-consumption vehicle, both in Germany and worldwide. The Beetle was dependable and robust, it looked nice and was very distinct. Incidentally, it was also a sportsman and film star, if you will, and this potential for a cult following is what characterises its successor as well, especially when tuned by ABT Sportsline.

The traditional company from the Allgäu has been involved in "breeding beetles" for decades now. Way back, the basis was disrespectfully called "creepy-crawly", but the new model is much improved over its predecessor: In the ABT Beetle, the 2 litre turbo engine's 240 hp (176 kW) is the right thing for the fast lane. Compared with the standard model, this is an extra ABT POWER of 40 PS (29 kW) you can really feel – on whatever road and in whatever gear. And this extra power is what the 1965 Beetle had to show in all, mind you! So this new speedy car asserts itself wherever it goes. Don't only think small – drive fast, too! The exhaust system includes two oval ABT rear mufflers. An ABT Beetle is an everyday athlete and makes driving a real pleasure. The design elements turn this unusual car into a cheeky and dynamic sports car before you have even started the engine.

The Beetle from Kempten is a car you can use every day but also a real grand-grandson of Herbie's: The carbon-look deco set is both retro and modern. It highlights the car's charming individuality. The headlight covers make it look more aggressive. Rear light covers and a license plate insert lend the rear end more originality. The front spoiler signals that this beautiful sports car will never get off the ground. To make the Beetle's looks even more perfect, we recommend ABT wheels in their powerful DR or CR designs, which are fully in line with the Beetle's silhouette and contours. These wheels are available from 18'' to 20'' and also in conjunction with the right sport tyres. This visual unit is completed by the ABT brake system, which you can tell by its black painted callipers bearing the ABT Logo. This turns the Beetle's base into an eye-catcher, too. And ABT suspension springs make it corner even better. All these upgrades make the new Beetle a... well-rounded thing.

Thanks for the 5-star review, Gilbert!

"Our main vehicle broke beyond repair, upon finding the dealership on the internet we called and arranged for transport. We were preapproved for credit with our bank but decided to go with a financing option offered by the dealership that was much more competitive. We left with a new Beatle the same day and are very happy with with everything so far. The sale associate was very knowledgeable and friendly and sold from the top down instead of the bottom up or out of his own budget, which I appreciate." -Gilbert

New 5-star review on Google Maps - Thanks Tom!

"Matt and Duman are by far the best sales team I have ever had the pleasure of working with in 30 years of buying cars. These two gentlemen are the single reason why I buy my cars from Checkered Flag and will continure to do so in the future. They are truly experts at their craft, geniunely friendly, and will do anything within reason to accomodate their customers' wishes. I trust them implicity. Very rare qualities - and I will travel way out of my way to buy from them" -Tom

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan

The small SUV is one of the most popular and fastest growing car buyer segments in the automotive industry. I’ve had countless car executives go out of their way to tell me so.

Volkswagen elbows its way into that market with the 2012 Tiguan. Aimed to stand alongside the Ford Escape, the Subaru Outback and the Toyota 4Runner, this compact SUV is generally more expensive than the competition. But, the Tiguan just might be the best drive in the class.

The 2012 Tiguan comes in seven individual setups. Yes, that’s too many for most drivers to keep track of or care about, but options and snob appeal always play a roll at VW. The Tiguan starts at an approachable $22,840 for the S version, and edges up to $35,930 for the kitted out SEL 4Motion.

All seven models come with a 2 liter, 4 cylinder engine. Volkswagen was well ahead of the curve in the high compression engine business, so that little engine puts out 200 horsepower and averages about 25 mpg. Actually, I expected VW to squeeze out a few more miles out of that fuel efficiency number, but 25 for a vehicle of this size is acceptable.

Along the way, you can build in improved audio systems and connection, all-wheel drive, satellite radio and a satellite navigation system with two different sized screens.

The satellite navigation system did leave something to be desired in practice. I’ve seen the setup described as “reasonable” in other reviews of the Tiguan, but I found it frustrating en route across Los Angeles. The understanding with the sat nav systems we see in modern cars is that we trust the technology to find the fastest, clearest path to our destination without unnecessary detours, turnarounds, etc.

I had to pull off the busy 101 freeway to get the navigation straightened out because it was sending me in circles. I ended up turning back to my iPhone to complete my guidance. Now, bear in mind, we only get these cars for a week during these extended road tests. A week might not always provide enough time to master a car make’s individual technical quirks, so your mileage may vary.

Of course, no one buys a car based on the reliability of a sat nav system. These days, they’re looking for fuel economy and reliability in a time where gas is expensive and cars are a major investment. Since we’ve already established that the fuel numbers are livable, it comes down to ride quality.

The 2012 Tiguan provides one of the smoothest, classiest drives in the small SUV class. There’s a pleasant heaviness to the cruising feel – a sensation not at all dissimilar to the feel of an entry level Mercedes Benz. Yes, there’s something to that legend of German engineering and construction quality. Acceleration is steady and ample. Steering is tight for an SUV. There’s simply very little to complain about once you’re behind the wheel.

If we thrown in build quality as a bonus, the 2012 Tiguan’s comfortable interior has the character of a Lexus or Merc SUV – providing a bargain at any of its ticket price levels. If you can afford the Tiguan over its rivals, and if you’re not afraid of VW’s higher repair costs, this small SUV is a pleasure to drive.

Volkswagen: Engineers of Emotion

Design that makes you feel cool. Performance that makes you feel energized. Forward-Thinking Technology. That's the Power of German Engineering.

Your Family Car is a Volkswagen Jetta?!

I have a baby. I carpool a lot with other moms who have babies. I have two rear-facing child-safety seats installed in my car the majority of the time, and I just got a new 2012 Volkswagen Jetta.

You may not have seen it atop any family-car lists lately, but the Jetta has a family-friendly secret that's about to get out: The backseat is big.

It's bigger than every other compact sedan on the market (in terms of rear legroom), and it's big enough that it doesn't feel like a small sedan at all. It even fits rear-facing child-safety seats comfortably, and my adult co-pilots don't feel cramped with their knees in the dash when riding shotgun, either.

If I had a dime for all the times I've heard, "But you have a baby! How do you fit all that stuff in a Jetta?" over the last month, I'd be able to upgrade to the highest SEL trim level. But truth be told, we took everything we haul around on a day-to-day basis with us to the VW dealership, installed my daughter's safety seat inside the Jetta and made sure the stroller fit in the trunk (also largest in the class) before we even drove off the lot on our test drive. Families shopping for a new car should do the same. It's the best advice I could give to any family looking for their next car.

Like many families, we were trying to "downsize" by lowering our monthly car payment and reducing fuel costs. I was driving an SUV that required premium gasoline and just the trips to the gas station were giving my husband and me ulcers. We had five cars on our list, but the Jetta joined the family because not only was it relatively fuel efficient and practical, but it looked good and felt fun to drive. Other contenders felt "cheap" to me, lacked a little character or they were just too small inside.

In addition to doing the happy dance at the gas station and being able to take a fellow momma and baby friend along for the ride, there's plenty more keeping me happy about my Jetta purchase. The leatherette interior holds up extremely well to scuffs and spills. The interior's Cornsilk Beige color disguises crumbs until I gather my resolve for clean-up duty.

I'm also in love with VW's CarGo system, which are plastic blocks with Velcro on the bottom that allow you to configure a variety of storage combinations in the trunk. I can anchor them to form the perfect spot for my stroller so it doesn't shift around, and I position them around my grocery bags to keep eggs from sliding and canned goods from falling out of the bag and rolling around.

But truly, that we were able to overcome the challenge of fitting rear-facing car seats in a smaller, more efficient car without having to sacrifice convenience or comfort, is what makes the Jetta such a rewarding find for our family.

 

Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune

More 5-star reviews! Thanks guys!

"We enjoyed working w/ our sale rep, Mark (Helm) very much. This was our 2nd vehicle purchase from Checkered Flag. And, my family has purchased 3 cars from Checkered Flag w/ good experiences, as well. Our situation was somewhat complex and Mark did a great job in holding the deal together. He was friendly, very professional and processed our purchase with expedience (which was important to us as small business owners). We were impressed with his Hyundai knowledge and patience. I would comfortably recommend Checkered Flag to anyone." -Anna Mosity

Two new 5-star reviews! Thanks everybody!

"Barbara Collins was extraordinary from the moment I walked in. She did not pose as the typical car dealership salesman--pushy, over-aggressive, or annoying. After a greeting, I explained to her what I had in mind and, if it even would be possible to work it out, she presented me with options or possibilities to get the deal I wanted." -electrifying_jd

2012 VW Beetle - April Specials

Click here to check out the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle! Through the rest of April, we've got some great specials on the Beetle, including 1.9% APR for 60 months. We've even got great leasing specials, so get down here now or shop online before these offers are gone!

Four new 5-star reviews on DealerRater! Thanks everybody.

"Jim Hanrahan was a real pleasure to work with. He is knowledgeable about the cars, freiendly, and easy to work with. He effectively advocated for VW and Checkered Flag without being pushy or pressuring. I would definitely recommend him and Checkered Flag to others in the market for a new or used car." -Alotz

The up! is ‘World Car of the Year 2012’

Latest triumph for Volkswagen: the up! is ‘World Car of the Year 2012’! This much sought after title was awarded today at the New York International Auto Show.

The jury, consisting of 66 top journalists from 25 countries, voted by a majority to name the up! ‘World Car of the Year 2012’. In the end, Volkswagen’s city car beat off two other finalists to secure the internationally recognised prize.

“This award shows once again that in the up! our designers and engineers have created a vehicle that has been thought through in minute detail. A vehicle that sets standards in its class for efficient use of space, safety, motoring fun and environmental compatibility,” remarks Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chariman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.

Within just a short time of its launch last December, the up! was, for example, already topping the statistics for new vehicle registrations in Germany. At around the same time, consumer protection organisation Euro NCAP awarded the up! a top score of five points and also gave it an ‘Advanced Award’ for its city emergency braking system. The highly regarded iF Design Institute in turn gave Volkswagen’s smallest car the ‘iF design award in Gold’. Nor does it end there! The up! has to date also won the ‘2011 Goldene Lenkrad’ (Golden Steering Wheel) in Germany and three awards from British motoring magazine ‘What Car?’: ‘Car of the Year’, ‘City Car 2012’ and the ‘Safety Award’.

On a minimal footprint (3.54 m long) the up! provides maximum space for four people, plus extremely efficient drive technologies. The up! thus sees the debut of a new generation of three-cylinder engines. Petrol fuelled, they deliver 44 kW / 60 PS and 55 kW / 75 PS and are also available with the highly environmentally friendly BlueMotion Technology.

Volkswagen launches Golf R Ultimate Fan Experience

Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) has launched the “Golf R Ultimate Fan Experience” Sweepstakes, a contest created to celebrate the recent arrival of the all-new 2012 Golf R—Volkswagen’s most powerful performance vehicle ever sold in the United States—and the loyal enthusiast community that rallies around it.

“The Golf R has an incredibly loyal following of fans, and this is a way for Volkswagen to say ‘thank you’ for their passion and enthusiasm,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “We are delighted to reward one lucky Golf R fan with the ultimate enthusiast travel experience, including an adrenaline-pumping driving experience on a legendary track.” The Golf R Ultimate Fan Experience Sweepstakes offers fans an opportunity to share what they love about the Golf R and describe why they are “the ultimate fan” through the Golf R Drivers Forever iPad® app. One winner and a guest will receive a prize package that includes:

• A seven-day, six-night trip for two to Germany in September 2012
• A visit to Wolfsburg to tour the Autostadt and Volkswagen AG headquarters
• A visit to Nürburg to drive the Golf R on the Nürburgring motorsports complex with instruction from professional drivers
• A visit to Berlin for an exclusive sightseeing package
• Luxury hotel accommodations in each city

To enter, iPad® owners can download Volkswagen’s free Golf R Drivers Forever app and click on the Sweepstakes link, and describe, in 256 words or less, why they want to win the Ultimate Fan Experience. The Golf R Drivers Forever app features exclusive Golf R videos, photos, footage and interviews that illustrate the heritage and performance of the iconic performance vehicle. Mail-in entries are also accepted.

The sweepstakes runs from April 12 through May 14, 2012. Entrants must be 25 years of age or older at the time of entry. The potential winner will be selected in a random drawing on or about May 28, 2012, from the pool of eligible entries received. The winner will be notified within 30 days of the drawing.

2013 Volkswagen CC: First Drive

Four years ago, when Volkswagen first introduced its CC, this “four-door coupe” was a design standout, unlike anything else on the road—and for that matter, a surprisingly daring look for normally conservative VW.

Now, for the 2013 model year, after the introduction of curvaceous mass-market models like the Hyundai Sonata—or even the new 2013 Ford Fusion—the CC's design fits in much more closely with the mid-size sedan mainstream.

So it doesn't come as a big surprise that VW has positioned the CC more as a luxuriously equipped Passat alternative and less of a edgy niche vehicle than it was originally. Most notably for 2013, the two individual seats in back are gone, replaced by a three-across bench seat with a fold-down armrest.

Along with those changes, the CC gets a mild facelift for 2013, to help keep it in line with the rest of the VW lineup, as well as add a little more fine detail. The grille gets a more horizontal look with slats running all the way across, the lower airdam has a new design, and in front and in back, LED running lamps give it a more finely detailed look.

As for how the CC drives, it's almost exactly the same as before, and there's nothing bad about that. Our choice is still definitely the 2.0T models, which are lower-priced, much more fuel-efficient, and actually more nimble and responsive in more ways. We spent nearly equal time in two well-equipped CC Sport models—one with the six-speed manual gearbox, and the other with the six-speed automatic—and found them agreeable. But this is one case where we'd probably pick the automatic; the six-speed dual-clutch unit, which blips almost instantly between gears just seems to better match the character of the turbocharged four—as well as the greater heft of the CC, compared to some of the other VW products that have the 2.0T. With the manual gearbox, you're instead alternating on and off boost.

As in former model years, on the road the CC feels part mainstream sedan, part luxury sedan—although it never quite plays the part of a sport sedan. The steering is very precise and confident, albeit a little too light and damped in feel, and the suspension allows a fair amount of body motion yet keeps it all nice and controllable. In the past we've found that the suspension feels more shuddery and out of sorts when it's on more pothole-ridden roads, however it was all good behavior on the only somewhat rough-surfaced roads around Half Moon Bay, California.

There's much to soothe and very little to disappoint inside. The look is clean, switchgear is neat, and and the cabin is really well damped from road and wind noise (the CC's window shuffles up just a fraction of an inch after the doors are closed). And the engine isn't coarse or unduly vocal. About the only disappointment—other than the seating layout, which definitely sacrifices some backseat space in the name of a stylish roofline—is that the base cloth upholstery that we liked in the former CC is now gone, while the now-standard VW-Tex leatherette (vinyl) upholstery is the only seating material for much of the lineup.

 

Courtesy of the Car Connection