2010 was a good year for the Volkswagen Group, which shifted more than seven million vehicles for the first time ever. In total, the Group delivered 7.14 million vehicles to customers, a 13.5% increase of 2009′s 6.29 million units. Since the global auto market grew only 11.3%, VW increased its share of the pie.

Deliveries in China grew 37.4% to 1.92 million units, a new record. India paled in comparison with just 53,300 units, but that’s still a 181% growth. The Group delivered 888,000 vehicles to South Americans (+8.9%) and 360,300 units in America (+20.9%). Western Europe (excluding Germany) recorded 1.85 million sales, which is +11.6% in a market that only grew 1.9% for the year. Russian sales were up by 39.5%.

The only market to show a decline is VW’s home market of Germany, where the Group delivered 1.04 million vehicles, down by 16.8%. Still, it wasn’t too bad since the market contracted by 23.4% due to scrapping premiums, so it’s a market share expansion.

Divided by marques, the Volkswagen brand also broke a new record last year with deliveries growing 13.9% to 4.5 million units. China (VW’s largest market), USA and Russia saw growths of 35.5%, 20.3% and 49.1% respectively.

Premium brand Audi broke its own personal records with 1.09 million vehicles sold in 2010, up by 15%. The four rings did well in America and China. Czech outpost Škoda delivered 762,600 (+11.5%) vehicles while Spanish brand SEAT did 339,500 (+0.8%) vehicles in 2010.

This is the Volkswagen’s New Midsize Sedan (NMS) that it has talked about since 2009, and it will wear the familiar Passat badge. To be unveiled at Detroit, this car will split the Passat name into two cars – the European version that was unveiled at Paris 2010 (click here to read the post and see our live gallery) and a larger bodied version for America – like how Honda does it with the Accord.

The seventh-generation European Passat is about the same size as the previous gen car which we are familiar with in Malaysia. This US version is 4,869 mm long with a 2,804 mm wheelbase, which makes it 100 mm longer than the European Passat, with a 95 mm longer wheelbase. That’s the perfect length to compete with the Honda Accord (2,800 mm wheelbase) and Toyota Camry, the top mid size saloons in the US. VW claims best in class legroom.

Although the NMS looks like the Euro Passat from the front with VW’s new corporate face (grille is slightly different), the rear design takes a completely different path – it’s very similar to the Jetta unveiled mid last year. The cabin looks familiar from a glance, but deeper comparison reveals a different centre stack – the Euro Passat has a round clock between the air-con vents and stereo, while the US car’s clock is sandwiched between the vents.

There’s also an empty space/cubby hole below at the base of the stack. Steering, dials, stereo and layout are all standard VW, which is a good thing. Compared to the black interior/silver metal trim of the Passat shown in Paris, press photos of the NMS show a beige leather cabin with wood trim, a more warm and “luxurious” feel in keeping with American tastes. The Passat will also offer the new Fender audio system designed exclusively for VW. Read about that collaboration here.

There are three drivetrain options: a 2.5L five-cylinder petrol, a 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel and a 3.6L VR6. The 170 hp/240 Nm five-pot engine comes standard with a manual gearbox, but a six-speed auto is optional. The 140 hp/320 Nm diesel, which “has the power of a six cylinder gasoline engine and the fuel economy of a hybrid” is capable of 15.2 km/l on the highway and has an amazing 800-mile range (1,280 km). The range topper is the 3.6L V6 with 280 hp and 350 Nm of twist. Both it and the TDI come with the 6-speed DSG.

The Passat rolls out from VW’s new Chattanooga plant that is part of a $4 billion investment by the company in the US market. The Camry/Accord fighter will be offered in three trim levels (S, SE and SEL) with a total of 16 equipment levels. Prices will start from around $20,000 when it reaches US showrooms later this year.

Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

It’s been a while coming, ever since news came about in 2009 that Volkswagen would be introducing its New Midsize Sedan bound for the US market, but it looks like Wolfsburg is finally debuting the as yet unnamed car at the NAIAS in Detroit next week.

Aside from the sketches already released of the car, the Volkswagen of America site has what is presumably the NMS, draped and awaiting January 10, when it will be unveiled.

Though slated to fill in the Passat slot in the North American market, VW says that the NMS is separate from the European Passat shown at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, adding that there is no common design between the two. Whatever the case, it’s pretty much gunning for the likes of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry.

To be built in Veedub’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the car will go on sale in the US sometime in spring, and will be the first model built at the facility. It is also due to be sold in China.

Volkswagen is now offering an optional “STYLE” package for the Golf, Golf Plus and Polo which consists of small aesthetic enhancements like new alloy wheels, fog lamps, tinted side and rear windows as well as STYLE badging. A winter package and convenience package are also part of the kit.

A STYLE-Plus package adds a sunroof or panorama roof, and a different set of alloy wheels. The photos here depict fashion designer/photographer Karl Lagerfeld posing with the cars, but he didn’t have any hand in styling the STYLE packages.

Oh, and the STYLE versions are also accompanied by new, distinct exterior shades – the Golf and Golf Plus come in a shade called Moonlight Blue Pearl effect, while the Polo is available in Toffee Brown Metallic.

Not your typical white van, this Volkswagen Transporter for hard off-road missions, for “transporting personnel and materials to the toughest places to reach”. The Transporter Rockton is based on the Transporter Kombi but it has 4Motion permanent four-wheel drive with fourth-generation Haldex coupling, differential lock on the rear axle, 30 mm raised ride height and heavy-duty springs and dampers.

Panels in place of rear side windows and special vehicle trim identify the Rockton, which also features supplementary heating and auxiliary heating in the passenger compartment as well as an air filter for dusty and sandy conditions. The seats are in rugged fabric.

The Rockton is powered by a 2.0-litre TDI engine with either 140 PS or 180 PS, paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. For extreme off-road tasks, the 140 PS version is available with the Expedition package, which has 16-inch AT tyres on reinforced steel rims, a special gearbox which provides enhanced pulling power in off-road operation and a rugged floor-rail system securing two single seats.

For even more hardcore use, the “Protection” package includes underbody protection for the engine and gearbox, tank, sills, rear differential and the main silencer. It’s available on both versions for 3,200 euros extra. The Transporter Rockton is priced at €34,545 plus VAT in Europe. The off road optimised Expedition version will set one back €42,490. Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

Volkswagen of America has issued a recall on more than 228,000 vehicles, and the list of cars includes 2006-2010 Rabbit (essentially, the Mk V Golf), Jetta and Beetle models as well as the 2009 2.5-litre Jetta Sportwagen.

The company says that on all of the recalled vehicles, with the exception of the Beetle, a small plastic tab in the windshield wiper fluid reservoir could chafe against a fuel supply line under the hood, leading to the possibility of a fuel leak and potential fire if chafing occurs.

For the Beetle, a fastening clamp on the hydraulic hose of the power steering system may be located in an improper position, again leading to the possibility of chafing an underhood fuel supply line, where a fuel leak and a fire could develop.

VW said its dealers will inspect and replace the underhood fuel line if necessary, and depending on the model, either remove the plastic tab from the windshield washer fluid reservoir or adjust the fastening clamp into the correct position. The company said there had been no reports of fires, crashes or injuries related to the issue.

Here’s Volkswagen’s vision of the famous London Black Cab, an all black rendition of the Milano Taxi Concept that came out in April. Based on the underpinnings of the forthcoming UP! city car, it was recently unveiled in the British capital by Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design at Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen Taxi Concept is powered by an electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries. With a capacity of 45 kW/h the batteries allow the electric motor to generate a maximum power output of 115 PS, translating to a theoretical top speed of 120 km/h. The range is estimated at 300 km between charges with an 80% charge taking around one hour to complete.

The concept measures 3,730 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,600 mm tall. That makes it shorter than the VW Fox although its long wheelbase and minimal overhangs allow for a spacious cabin with room for two adults plus a luggage area. The major functions of the vehicle (climate, entertainment and fare information) are shown on a touchscreen display next to the driver. A similar screen relays information to the passengers.

The styling is similar to the UP! concept cars and features cool details such as the silver Union Jack on the roof and the City of London’s coat of arms. It’s a cab, so the ‘Taxi’ light on the roof glows green when it’s available and red when it’s not. Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]