The Force: Volkswagen Commercial

A pint-sized Darth Vader uses the Force when he discovers the all-new 2012 Passat in the driveway. This award-winning commercial first aired during the 2011 Big Game. Watch our 2012 Game Day commercial here: http://vwoa.us/dogstrikesback

VW readying Jetta Alltrack for America

It looks as if Volkswagen aims to spread the Alltrack love around. Autocar reports the German manufacturer is currently mulling a lifted version of its next Golf and Jetta. European buyers would be able to sink their teeth into the smaller of those two creations, while Americans would be left to enjoy the larger Jetta Alltrack. Like the Passat Alltrack shown above, the vehicles would enjoy a taller ride height, black plastic cladding on the wheel arches and unique front and rear fascias. Why would Volkswagen look to add another crossover to its ranks when it already has the Tiguan?

The next-generation Tiguan will likely be larger and offer third-row seating, leaving a compact crossover-sized void in the company's lineup. An all-wheel drive high-riding Jetta could be just the answer. There are no solid details on what the driveline could offer, but we'd be surprised if anything other than the current spate of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines showed up under the hood.

Volkswagen Think Blue Symphony

Through the years, Volkswagen has been committed to Think Blue in the United States by providing eco-friendly vehicle options, building the first LEED-certified car manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, TN and supporting environmental activities in local communities.

Volkswagen gives its CrossPolo the Storm Trooper look with Urban White edition

We have to admit we're big fans of the Storm Trooper look. Combining white paint with blacked-out trim, the treatment is one you'd typically find performed in the aftermarket. But in this case Volkswagen is offering it direct from the factory. Or so it is to European customers, anyway.

The treatment is being applied to a special edition of the CrossPolo, the soft-road version of the popular Polo hatchback. The Urban White edition combines a unique shade of white paint with 17-inch alloys painted either white or black, with black roof rails and dark tinted glass aft of the B-pillar. The interior features black and light gray sports seats in cloth and Alcantara, with black headliner and trim and silver top-stitching on the controls.

Overseas buyers can choose between four gasoline and three common-rail diesel engines, with prices starting at €18,975.

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Volkswagen wants you… to help build better batteries, cash award awaits

Turning to the seemingly endless supply of brilliant minds scattered across the globe, Volkswagen and chemical company BASF jointly confer an international "Science Award for Electrochemistry."

It’s not often companies turn to the collective efforts of the general public in order to help advance key technologies needed for the cars of the future. But that is exactly what Volkswagen is doing with the introduction of the German automakers new “Science Award for Electrochemistry” it plans to hold annually along with chemical company BASF.

Applicants for the award — which includes a hefty prize purse of 50,000 Euros (roughly $64,000), making it one of the highest endowed science awards — are invited to help “promote outstanding accomplishments in science and engineering from which stimulation may be gained for the development of high-performance energy storage devices.” Basically this translates to developing and building more reliable and effective battery technology used in many of today’s all-electric and hybrid vehicles.

One of the main concerns of current battery technology, along with alternatively powered vehicles in general, stems from reliability. Because electric vehicles EVs typically cost more than their gasoline counterparts, the need for continued innovation and refinement for existing battery technology is of utmost important to automakers like VW.

Volkswagen and its luxury brand Audi are on the verge of adding an array of new hybrid, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric cars to its respective automotive lineups, including the upcoming Jetta Hybrid, the Audi A6, and A8. The German automaker also plans on rolling out the highly anticipated battery electric Audi R8 e-tron, which will see a limited release this year, as well as the XL1 plug-in hybrid which is set to launch sometime next year, though specifics regarding availability and pricing are unavailable.

With VW rolling out a sizeable amount of new EVs, and the introduction of its new award, it’s clear alternatively powered vehicles, in this case electric cars, are in the company’s long-term future. In a statement released by Volkswagen AG, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, VW’s chairman of the board of management, states the “science award is intended to motivate and carry forward innovative thinking,” before reiterating the pivotal role high performance batteries play in the enhancement of vehicle driving range and thus the appeal of electric cars as a whole. He added that Volkswagen’s primary objective with its battery system is to “facilitate day-to-day operations for 10 years” in keeping with the average life span of conventional gasoline-powered cars.

Candidates for the Science Award can apply at www.science-award.com with the required documents. The prerequisites for participation, the procedure, and the selection process are described there. The application period ends on August 3, 2012. The award ceremony will take place in Wolfsburg, Germany on October 22, 2012.

Watch Genki Hagata pull off the world's greatest motorcycle save

We officially have a new motorcycle hero. Genki Hagata rolled his Yamaha YZF-R6 out onto the track during the second AMA Pro Supersport qualifying session at Sears Point recently. Partway through his out-lap, the bike lost traction in the rear before abruptly regaining it. We likely don't need to tell you that scenario almost always results in a one-way ticket off of the saddle in a not-so-glorious highside. But not for Hagata. The racer exhibited nothing less than super-human strength by clamping onto the handlebars and holding on for dear life.

Miraculously, it worked. After the bike settled down, Hagata managed to cling to the machine as it rode upright until he was able to fling himself back into the saddle. The guy's efforts kept the Yamaha off of the asphalt, but cost him a spot on the grid. Hagata missed the cut-off by a few tenths of a second. Still, we haven't seen heroics like this in a long spell. Scroll down to check it out for yourself

 

Courtesy of AutoBlog.com

Watch: UK Volkswagen's fantastic Father-Daughter Commercial.

Now here's an ad that gets it right. The UK faction of Volkswagen is currently airing a new commercial for their 'Polo' (don't think it's a stateside car just yet) that presents a father actually taking a role in his daughter's life from birth onward... without being a fool.Take a look below:

Volkswagen to produce Fender-inspired Beetle

A Volkswagen Beetle based on the legendary Fender guitar is reportedly going from concept car to production vehicle.

Based on the concept Beetle launched at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the car looks set to be produced as a limited edition for music fans, says Car and Driver magazine.

The model presented in Frankfurt looked every inch a rock star, with a high-gloss black finish, red-framed windows, leather roof and chrome exterior finishings very reminiscent of the guitar and amplifier brand's equipment.

Inside, the concept was even more eye-catching, with a pad on the dash made of the two-tone wood design pattern used on Fender guitars and an 'instrument bar' leaving passengers in no doubt that the vehicle wasn't ordinary.

Sadly, Car and Driver reports that the subwoofer that was cleverly stashed away in the trunk, complete with vintage Fender grille, and the dashtop tube amp, won't make it through to production.

The model could arrive before the end of the year, the site says.

Fender's collaboration with Beetle hasn't only led to a pretty design concept -- it also earned the vehicle "car audio system of the year" from US website CNET for its exclusive Fender-developed sound system.

Courtesy of NY Daily News

We got a whole lotta' Jettas!

Right now at Checkered Flag Volkswagen, we've got a whole lot of brand new 2012 Jettas starting at just $13,990! Not only are the prices on these Jettas insane, we can set you up with great financing offers. Have we caught your interest yet? Good! Then go to cf.CheckeredFlag.com or call 757-687-3447. Don't wait, these Jettas will be gone before you know it.

Volkswagen Jetta Commercial: Door Thunk

The Power of German Engineering is easy to hear in the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, just watch your head.

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High-MPG Taylors drive a Volkswagen Passat 1,626 miles on one tank of diesel

Watch out, Wayne Gerdes, there's a new hypermiling crew in town.

John and Helen Taylor – Volkswagen calls them "mileage experts" and "the world's most fuel-efficient couple" – recently drove a stock 2012 Passat TDI SE all the way from Houston, Texas to Sterling, Virginia without refueling. That's 1,626.1 miles from just 19.3 gallons. Bad with numbers? VW has done the math for you: it's 84.1 miles per gallon (we came up with 84.2, but who's counting?).

The three-day trip happened earlier this month, and it turns out that the Taylors are not new to the high mileage game. They have previously set the "48 Contiguous U.S. States Fuel Economy Guinness World Record." Still, the new Passat TDI record is impressive and it mimics some of the ways that Gerdes runs his hypermiling trips. As you can see in the gallery, the gas tank was filled to the brim with gas (see here) and there was a LOT of documentation going on during the trip. These sorts of things are important, since the Taylors often run workshops on driving efficiently and have, over the years, "collected more than 90 world fuel economy and vehicle-related records from drives around the globe." They run the website Fuel Academy.

See the official press release below

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SETS WORLD RECORD FOR LONGEST DISTANCE ON ONE TANK OF CLEAN DIESEL FUEL

Mileage experts John and Helen Taylor complete 1626-mile drive in Chattanooga-built Volkswagen Passat TDI®-without stopping for fuel!

• Record set using a stock 2012 Passat TDI SE with six-speed manual transmission
• Average of 84.1 miles per gallon during three-day trip
• Shows mileage benefits of VW Clean Diesel technology

Herndon, VA (May 7, 2012) – The world's most fuel efficient couple has done it again. John and Helen Taylor were determined to break the record for the farthest distance traveled

on a single tank of fuel. They decided to attempt the record in the U.S. with a stock 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI Clean Diesel vehicle equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. The previous record for the most miles covered on a single tank of diesel was 1526.6 miles, achieved with a VW Passat 1.6 BlueMotion® diesel in Europe.

The result? A new record of 1626.1 miles, achieved on one tank of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel under real world driving conditions. That's an incredible 99.5 miles better than the old mark. Over the course of three days and driving through nine states, the couple averaged 84.1 miles per gallon, spending only 4.65 cents per mile. The three-day drive commenced on May 3, 2012 in Houston, TX and ended on May 5, 2012 in Sterling, Virginia. To make the drive as realistic as possible, the couple included 120 pounds of luggage and drove during daylight hours to experience normal traffic situations. Additionally, the couple took turns driving and didn't travel more than 14 hours per day.

"We're excited to have broken the record for the longest distance driven on one-tank of fuel," said John Taylor. "The Passat TDI was the perfect car for the trip. It offers plenty of interior and cargo space, yet is frugal enough to help us achieve this record."

The Passat's 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel inline four-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and with a manual transmission delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 43 mpg on the highway. The TDI engine is equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR) that fulfills emissions requirements in all 50 states. The Passat-built at the world's only LEED Platinum certified automotive factory in Chattanooga, TN-was named Motor Trend's 2012 Car of the Year.

"The Passat was engineered and designed to be a comfortable yet fun to drive alternative in the midsize segment. The TDI Clean Diesel version unites driving dynamics and fuel efficiency that isn't found in the competitive set," said Rainer Michel, Vice President of Product Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "We're honored that the Taylors chose the 2012 Passat TDI as the vehicle to set this outstanding distance record. Their record shows just how economical the Passat TDI can be in the right hands."

Prior to the drive, the speedometer and odometer were calibrated by a state certified testing station in Houston, Texas. Law enforcement officers from the city of Houston, Texas oversaw validation of mileage, fuel fill-up, and gas tank sealing at the beginning of the drive. A Loudoun County, Virginia Sheriff's Deputy verified completion of the drive and mileage prior to removing the fuel tank seal.

The Taylors have made a career out of driving efficiently and conducting workshops globally on fuel-efficient driving techniques. They have collected more than 90 world fuel economy and vehicle-related records from drives around the globe. The couple also provides fuel efficient tips on their website, www.fuelacademy.com.

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Volkswagen People's car project, Hover Car, the flying two-seater

The days of the hovercraft are upon us. As Google's self-driving cars prepare to roll out onto the streets of Nevada, Volkswagen one-ups everyone with its concept design for a hover car.

The Volkswagen hover car is a product of the "People's Car Project" in China, which called upon customers to contribute design ideas for Volkswagen's model of the future.

The crowd-sourcing initiative debuted in China last year and, to date, has inspired 33 million website visitors to submit 119,000 ideas.

The hovercraft, as seen in the concept video above, uses electromagnetic levitation to float along its own grid above the regular road network; distance sensors keep the craft from colliding with other vehicles. The disc-shaped pod seats two people and is controlled by a joystick that offers amazing maneuverability. The car can move both back-and-forth and side-to-side and can even spin on an axis. To top it off, the concept car produces zero emissions.

Along with the hover car concept, Volkswagen presented two other ideas from the "People's Car Project" at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Though the hover car is by far the coolest, the music car, which causes the exterior color of the car to change with the driver's choice of music, is a close second. Volkswagen also debuted an advanced touchscreen smart key that features information about crucial vehicle functions.

Volkswagen Director of Marketing Luca de Meo told the audience that the innovative ideas derived from the crowd-sourcing project mark the beginning of a new era.

“We are no longer just building cars for, but also with customers and at the same time initiating a national dialog which gives us a deep insight into the design preferences, needs and requirements of Chinese customers,” de Meo said during the event.

 

Courtesy of The Huffington Post

Volkswagen wins prestigious CLIO Award for advertising

The International CLIO Awards are the world's largest advertising prizes given to companies, agencies, and artists for their work in marketing and advertising. While Hollywood has its Oscars and the music industry has its Grammy's, advertising has the CLIO. These awards are given by the advertising industry to brands and creative professionals who exemplify creative excellence.

At the 53rd annual awards, coming this May 15th at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Volkswagen will again take honors for its unique and unusual advertising. VW won awards in 1999 and 2009 as well, so this is not the first time the German automaker has been recognized as a world leader in creative advertising.

Karl Vontz, Director of the CLIO Awards, says that "Volkswgen has a knack for grabbing our attention in unique and different ways while holding their brand to a very high standard." The Advertiser of the Year award is given to a brand whose global work achieves creative leadership. This past year, VW has run ads in all of its markets worldwide that have hit specific cultural and often humorous nerves in each area of the globe.

The award comes as Volkswagen receives 15 inidivual CLIO Awards for various campaigns around the world in several types of media from film to print and television. The marketing teams and creatives who made the ads were also recognized.

Check out a couple of the winning ads below!

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New York International Auto Show: VW Jetta Hybrid

Kevin Joostema, General Manager of Product Marketing & Strategy, gives us a closer look at the Jetta Hybrid from the New York Auto Show. The Jetta Hybrid is part of Volkswagen's commitment to achieving sustainable mobility through technology and cars that don't compromise performance.

How much would you pay for a self-driving car?

Although the technology is just in its infancy, one in five drivers expresses interest in cars that drive themselves, reports research firm J.D. Power and Associates.

Tech giant Google Inc., Caltech and other organizations have been working to develop such “autonomous” vehicles, which use radar, video cameras and lasers to navigate roads and stay safe in traffic without human assistance.

Google has said that computer-controlled cars should eventually drive more safely than humans, who, after all, get sleepy and distracted and can't see in every direction at once.

Some vehicle owners believe that one benefit of autonomous driving is taking control of a vehicle from careless and distracted drivers, the research firm said. So drivers could text as much as they want without endangering others.

But auto enthusiasts see autonomous driving as a “loss of status and would not want to give up the pleasure of driving,” J.D. Power said in its report, which surveyed 17,400 drivers in March.

“Consumers are still learning about how autonomous driving technology could be used in their vehicles,” said Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director of global automotive research at J.D. Power. “Many owners are skeptical about releasing control of their vehicle and would like to see the technology proved out before they adopt it.”

J.D. Power found that 20% of vehicle owners say they “definitely would” or “probably would” purchase it in their next vehicle after learning the estimated market price of $3,000. Before learning the price, interest for this technology was at 37%.

Men, drivers between the ages of 18 and 37 and people who live in urban areas were the most interested in fully autonomous driving, J.D. Power found.

Automakers are already offering autonomous driving functions in some vehicles.

Ford Motor Co. offers a park assist option that uses sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle to guide the vehicle into a parking space.

BMW has an “active” cruise control system that employs radar sensors at the front of the vehicle to scan the road ahead.  When the car approaches a slower vehicle, the cruise control automatically reduces power and applies the brakes, holding the BMW at a pre-defined distance to the vehicle ahead.

Volvo has a low-speed collision avoidance system that will take control of the car’s brakes and stop the vehicle if it detects the vehicle is about to hit another car or object in front of it.

Google was in Detroit this week talking to automakers about autonomous vehicles.

Anthony Levandowski, who heads the company’s self-driving vehicle project, was looking to see how the technology can be adopted in vehicles either with automotive partners or as an aftermarket option.

He said the Google system still needs millions of miles of testing and that there are outstanding issues about liability in the event of crashes.

Legislation introduced earlier this year by California state Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), SB1298, would establish guidelines for such "autonomous vehicles" to be tested and operated in California.

If approved, his legislation would direct the California Highway Patrol to develop standards and performance requirements for the safe testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on the state's roads and highways.

In June, Nevada became the first state to legalize self-driving cars.

VW Transporter Doubleback slides into production

Few automakers do camper vans quite so well as Volkswagen. From factory additions to aftermarket conversions, models like the Transporter seem perfect for on-the-go living. Now a company in the UK has taken the camper conversion one step further with the Doubleback. In addition to a large pop-up roof tent, the creation boasts an expandable aft section than can increase the vehicle's length by an additional 6.5 feet. The conversion is said to add just 286 pounds to the Transporter, and the mechanism expands in under 45 seconds to nearly double living space. Unfortunately, you'll be splitting all that extra room between you and only one other friend. The swap nixes all but the front two seats.

If this all sounds familiar, it certainly should. We first caught a glimpse of the Doubleback a month ago, but the company has released a few videos showing exactly how the conversion works here in the real world. With a load rating of 1,323 pounds with the legs extended, the structure is engineered to sleep even the biggest boned campers out there. Unfortunately, snagging one will cost you. Look to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $87,975 for the Doubleback if you like what you see. Scroll below to check out the videos for yourself.