2012 Volkswagen Up

For American car buyers, “small” and “premium” are no longer mutually exclusive terms. Vehicles such as the Mini Cooper and Smart Fortwo have sold well enough to prove that small cars don’t necessarily have to be cheap. Volkswagen’s upcoming small car, the Up, will attempt to follow in the Mini’s tire tracks, but it will start at about $10,000. What’s odd is that even though VW has designed the Up with the idea of offering it in the U.S. market, the company is still not completely committed to bringing it here out of fear that it may prove too small for American tastes.

When VW unveiled the Up as a concept car at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, it was a rear-engine, rear-wheel-driver in the spirit of the original Beetle. We loved the idea, not only because of its flashback layout—we also liked the styling, and its small size and light weight promised entertaining handling.

Keep Reading: 2012 Volkswagen Up - Car News

2009 Volkswagen CC gets IIHS’s Top Safety Pick award

Volkswagen of America announced today that the 2009 Volkswagen CC received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award for 2009. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute’s front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control, which is standard on the CC.

“The TOP SAFETY PICK award from the IIHS is a tremendous honor for our CC,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We are thrilled when organizations like the IIHS recognize the hard work of our engineers who are dedicated to the safety of our customers. This award further validates Volkswagen’s Prevent and Preserve Safety System approach to vehicle safety.”

The CC, like all 2009 Volkswagen models, features four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), anti-slip regulation (ASR), brake assist and electronic differential locking (EDL).

The 2009 Volkswagen CC carries a base price-tag of $27,100 and offers an EPA certified fuel economy of 21/31 mpg (city/highway).

Volkswagen to implement significant weight-saving technologies by 2012

According to a report by AutoCar, Volkswagen, Opel, Daimler, Volvo and Renault are working on reducing weight of their vehicles. In a joint project called SuperlightCar project, Volkswagen has reportedly built a Golf with a bodyshell that is 30 percent lighter than the standard five-door model.

The body is made mostly of steel but also uses magnesium, aluminum and plastics. A total of three concepts were developed - one was made purely of steel, one with mixed materials and one with more expensive mixed materials. Weight of the Mk5 Golf was reduced by a total of 41 percent.

The final shell is said to be a combination of all three. Volkswagen will be implementing the weight-saving technologies to its production cars by 2012.

Source: AutoCar

Volkswagen Routan customers can now get in-vehicle Wi-Fi

Volkswagen of America announced today that it is teaming up with Autonet Mobile to offer an option that will equip the Routan minivan with uconnect web, offering in-vehicle Wi-Fi. Chrysler had announced plans to offer a similar option during the same time last year.

Volkswagen said that up to 600 dealerships will offer the uconnect web option to Routan buyers with a monthly subscription plan that starts at $29.

“Passengers can bring all of their own Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, gaming systems, digital music players, and other devices on the road. Routan passengers will be able to Instant Message (IM), visit popular social media sites, check traffic or make dinner reservations all from the comfort of their Routan.”

As if YouTwitFace wasn’t already taking up enough of our time.

Click through for the press release.

Press Release:

Routan Customers Now Able to Take Internet Access on the Road With Wi-Fi from Autonet Mobile

Uconnect web to provide in-vehicle internet entertainment to Volkswagen’s minivan

HERNDON, Va., June 9 /PRNewswire/ — Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced a collaboration with Autonet Mobile, that will make it possible to equip their European-tuned minivan, Routan, with uconnect web, an in-vehicle internet service. Beginning this month, approximately 600 Volkswagen dealerships in the United States will offer Routan owners the opportunity to add uconnect web, powered by Autonet Mobile, to their vehicle. This partnership will deliver the first internet entertainment system for Volkswagen vehicles.

Routan customers will now be able to take the internet with them on the road. With Autonet Mobile, the seven passenger Routan becomes a Wi-Fi hotspot, delivering reliable and easy-to-use internet access. Passengers can bring all of their own Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, gaming systems, digital music players, and other devices on the road. Routan passengers will be able to Instant Message (IM), visit popular social media sites, check traffic or make dinner reservations all from the comfort of their Routan.

“Volkswagen is committed to delivering vehicles that epitomize and enhance our digital customers’ lifestyle, and the Routan is a modern family vehicle,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Internet access is a clear benefit to our customers. We’re excited to work with Autonet Mobile to bring uconnect web to our Routan customers.”

The addition of uconnect web brings advanced communications features to Volkswagen’s newest family vehicle. Now Routan customers will have instant internet access anytime and anywhere. Monthly subscription plans start at $29 and uconnect web is installed by the dealer.

“The Routan customer is looking for entertainment options beyond the traditional DVD player,” said Sterling Pratz, CEO of Autonet Mobile. “Consumers want to extend their living room lifestyle to the vehicle and want the ability to use internet-driven applications - gaming, email, IM, internet radio, and other entertainment and information services - while on the road. We’re thrilled to be a part of the revolution that is making the minivan the cool vehicle to own.”

About Autonet Mobile

Autonet Mobile is the world’s first in-car internet service provider. Founded by a corporate executive and former race car driver and a leading network architect and designer, the company is dedicated to enhancing the in-car experience by bringing the power of the internet to the 200+ million cars on the road in the U.S. For more information about Autonet Mobile, visit www.autonetmobile.com

Volkswagen To Offer Pickup In 2010

Possible Volkswagen Pickup Styling

Further solidifying their hold as Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen is expanding their lineup to include a mid-size pickup in 2010.  If pre-production photos are any indication the new vehicle will adopt a  Ridgeline-like profile.  The pickup will be named the “Amarok,” and therefore also continue VW’s recent use of hard-to-pronounce, nonsensical model names.

The name is a derivative of the word “wolf” in the Inuit language, but may as well mean, “unsuccessful, Frankenstein truck” to those in the United States.  Nevertheless, the truck will be built in VW’s manufacturing plant in Pacheco Argentina and will initially go on sale in South America and Europe, followed by Australia and Africa, before a possible importation to North America.  Subsequent lackluster sales and discontinuation here in the states are sure to follow.

VW Robust Concept

Despite skepticism as to it’s success in America, it will be another major step in VW’s market share consolidation in contrast to GM’s decline on the world stage.  Both the single and double cab versions will utilize a variant of VW’s highly acclaimed common rail turbo diesel injection (TDI) and purportedly produce the best fuel economy and emissions in its class.

Volkswagen Concept BlueSport

While the 2009 Detroit auto show was arguably the most miserable in living memory, it did have a few bright moments. Among the most notable was a delightful little mid-engined barchetta concept from Volkswagen – the Concept BlueSport Roadster. The only thing more delightful than recently driving it up and down a mountain pass on the German-Austrian border would be a decision by VW to put the diesel two-seater into production.

Such a green light might not be far away. Volkswagen bosses always intended the concept to be feasible pending a positive public reaction, which it received at Detroit and elsewhere. Volkswagen  Group policy is currently to invest strongly in new product. Rivals who are suffering more than the German automaker in the recession are cutting back on their new-car pipelines.

VW’s Eco-Friendly BlueSport Roadster Not Dead After All?

The Wolfsburg juggernaut Volkswagen has decided to produce of one of their most well-received concepts in many years, the BlueSport roadster, which our colleagues in the automotive press corps like to consider the spiritual successor to the VW-Porsche 914. They’ve given the little bugger an internal development code, which is big news because it was originally intended to be a one-off concept, not a pre-production concept. Plus, with its small turbo-diesel engine, it’s theoretically good for 42 MPG and complies with California’s strict emissions standards. Cool! Read on for more details …

Here’s the goods: the expected price on the BlueSport will be around $30,000, which isn’t too bad. For that you’ll get a 180 HP, 260 ft-lbs of torque, 2L inline diesel four. Plus around 2600 lbs of curb weight. Not bad - that’s a MX-5 beating specification for just a bit more than a normal MX-5. Plus it will blow it out of the water in fuel economy. Quite an interesting little car. We hope VW produces it, as just the idea of a mid-engined diesel sportscar makes our naughty bits tingle with excitement.

[Source: Autofiends]