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Volkswagen Passat “The Force” ad is the top watched car video on YouTube in 2011!

December 22, 2011 at 4:21 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Volkswagen

Remember Volkswagen’s The Force commercial? The one featuring a pint-sized Darth Vader trying his “powers” out on the new Volkswagen Passat in his parent’s driveway. Well, it turns out that the amusing ad made it as one of the top 10 most watched videos on YouTube in 2011. The ad made its debut at the Super Bowl, and the recipe combining one of the most popular car brands in the world with one of the biggest movie franchises in the world sent the ad on its way to becoming one of the most viral videos of 2011.

The commercial showcases the Passat’s Remote Start feature, which allows you to start your Volkswagen Passat’s engine from your remote control while you are still outside the car – this is a useful feature if you want to crank up your car to let the air conditioning run and cool down the interior before you get into the driver’s seat.

The Passat featured in the ad is the North American model, which is a unique larger model designed specifically for the North American and Chinese markets. The Passat sedan with the 1.8 liter TSI engine that was launched in Malaysia this year is the European model.

Check our the rest of the Top 10 Most Watched Videos on YouTube.

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Tokyo 2011: VW Cross Coupe Concept is small but stout

December 6, 2011 at 1:19 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, International News, Volkswagen

One of the best looking and realistic concepts on show in Tokyo is German. Volkswagen brought this broad, hunky piece of metal to Japan, called the Cross Coupe Concept. VW says that this crossover is part four-door coupe, part compact SUV – sounds a little like a mini Range Rover Evoque, doesn’t it?

Wide body, low roof, plunging roofline, raked windscreen, prominent square cut wheel arches and an imposing bold front end – the Cross Coupe lookes even better in grey metal than pics. All the right ingredients for an urban fashionable crossover.

After circling the showcar a few times, I was sold. VW says that the “Cross Coupé hints at the future of SUV design at Volkswagen,” which can only be a good thing.

A neat design touch is at the nose, where Walter de Silva, Klaus Bischoff and co have combined VW’s usual inner headlight elements with the grille bars, emphasising the wide look. This CC’s proportions also make the Tiguan look gawky. By the way, while it may look large, the Cross Coupe, while bigger than a Golf, is actually smaller than a Tiguan.

More good signs inside. VW isn’t known for designing sporty, driver centered cabins, but here’s one that deviates from the straight laced, business-like dashboards that they usually prefer.

We see a centre stack tilted to the driver, a high centre console for a boxed in cockpit feel and a flat bottomed steering wheel. Actually if you strip off the obvious show car detailing such as the fancy inner air vents and gear knob, this could well be a production design. Try it.

The Cross Coupe sits on VW’s new modular transverse matrix (MQB), the first time a vehicle has been shown off this platform. It has three power sources. Under the hood is a 148 hp/210 Nm TSI engine as well as an electric motor that makes 54 hp and 180 Nm.

If the Cross Coupe is to be used in AWD or pure electric mode, a further electric motor integrated as a co-axial drive unit in the back axle powers the rear wheels. This one generates up to 114 hp and 270 Nm. Overall output of the system is 262 hp.

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New Volkswagen showroom opens in Ipoh, 10th in M’sia

December 5, 2011 at 10:36 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) and Goh Brothers Motor, an authorised dealer of VGM, recently launched Goh Brothers Motor’s Volkswagen showroom in Ipoh, located along Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

In his speech at the launch, Ricky Tay, MD of VGM said the launch is in line with VGM’s rapid expansion plans in Malaysia and also to ensure customer satisfaction throughout the region. “Volkswagen’s presence in the northern region will further strengthen VGM’s nationwide network as well as bringing the Volkswagen brand and service closer to customers and Volkswagen lovers in this region,” he said.

“Volkswagen‘s main guiding principles in Network Development are Optimised Coverage, Customer Oriented, Dealer Profitability and Investor Friendly, all of which are values shared by Goh Brothers, and they are thus equally keen to translate these principles into business achievements and results,” Tay added.

Goh Brothers Motor is an old name, having been in the automotive industry for over 23 years, and with experience dealing with both local and international car brands. Goh Brothers Motor was appointed an official authorised VW dealer in May 2007. To date, Volkswagen has 10 showrooms across Malaysia.

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Suzuki wants to divorce VW, taking the dispute to court

November 25, 2011 at 3:29 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Suzuki, Volkswagen

We saw it coming, and the sour relationship between Suzuki and VW is now going to the courts, with the Japanese bride demanding that her estranged German husband sign the divorce papers.

“Suzuki is today commencing arbitration proceedings in London with the ICC, International Court of Arbitration, in order to compel Volkswagen AG to dispose of its Suzuki shares to Suzuki or Suzuki’s designated third party,” the company said in a statement released yesterday.

“The arbitration proceedings follow Suzuki’s termination of its alliance, and Volkswagen AG’s lack of response to Suzuki’s requests for the disposition of its shares,” it added.

The Japanese small car expert declared last week that it had ended its alliance with VW, and demanded that the German giant sell back its stake in Suzuki by November 2012. Suzuki also warned that it would seek arbitration if VW refused to sell the 112.21 million shares, or 19.89%, back to Suzuki or an appointed third party.

Suzuki’s executive VP Yasuhito Harayama was previously quoted as saying: “It was made very clear when we tied up with Volkswagen that we did not want to become consolidated, and that we would remain independent. We feel we need to return to the starting point, including over the ownership ratio. The understanding that we are independent companies, and equal partners, is the absolute prerequisite in pursuing any specific cooperation.”

Besides that, Suzuki has complained that VW failed to provide promised access to green technologies, while VW is sore about the supply of diesel engines to Suzuki from Italian rival Fiat.

VW denies any wrongdoing in the marriage and dismissed Suzuki’s claims that it had violated terms of partnership. “Volkswagen categorically rejects these accusations. We are very disappointed (by Suzuki’s decision to seek arbitration). There is no legal reason to take such action,” a company spokesman told AFP.

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VW briefs local and ASEAN vendors at Suppliers’ Day

November 25, 2011 at 11:22 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s Regional Sourcing Office recently hosted a Suppliers’ Day, which saw the attendance of more than 300 automotive suppliers from Malaysia and throughout the ASEAN region.

The purpose was to share information with the vendors on the upcoming Volkswagen local assembly operations in Malaysia, and for them to better understand VW processes such as supplier management, logistics, quality assurance and engineering.

Among those who also attended were Government officials, current and potential suppliers, officials from DRB-HICOM and Volkswagen production officials from Wolfsburg, Germany.

Tay added that with 62 production facilities throughout the world, Volkswagen is constantly looking out for production opportunities and to build and establish a bigger network of suppliers to complement the brand’s growth in key markets.

A total of 11 speakers from various organisations presented their plans and strategies, including supplier quality awareness and logistics requirement processes, during the half-day event.

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WRC star Sebastien Ogier leaves Citroen for Volkswagen

November 24, 2011 at 5:30 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Citroën, Motorsports, Volkswagen

Highly rated World Rally Championship (WRC) driver Sebastien Ogier has joined Volkswagen after exiting the sport’s top team Citroen. The Frenchman, who was a strong and competitive teammate to 2011 champ and living legend Seb Loeb, will be replaced by Finn Mikko Hirvonen at Citroen.

Ogier, who left Citroen with a year remaining on his contract, is joining Volkswagen effective immediately. The 27-year-old ex Junior World Rally Championship champion will now be helping the development of the Polo R WRC for VW’s planned 2013 entry. This means that we won’t see him in action next season.

“Volkswagen is the number one in Europe and will soon be number one in the world. I’m sure that they’re going to compete with the goal of clinching the WRC title. And I’m happy to be part of this from the outset,” Ogier said.

“We are proud that such a successful and quick duo as Sebastian Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia have decided to join Volkswagen. The aim of putting a competitive Polo R WRC on the road for them as quickly as possible will additionally drive our team. We look forward to working with them and are hoping for many victories and titles in the future,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

VW confirmed its 2013 WRC entry and previewed the Polo R WRC back in May. Click here to view a video of it.

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No CKD VW Passat launch yesterday, DRB-Hicom clarifies

November 24, 2011 at 11:53 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

So November 23 came and passed, and we had no news or sight of the locally-assembled Volkswagen Passat, as reported by Bernama. It could be that the national news agency reporter at the International College of Automotive (ICAM) launch misquoted the Group MD of DRB-Hicom, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil. We would have been surprised if it was true – no press invites were sent out for a “launch.”

What actually happened yesterday was the production roll-out of the CKD Passat at the DRB-Hicom Automotive Complex in Pekan, DRB-Hicom clarified. “Volkswagen Group Malaysia has submitted the recommended retail price of CKD Passat to the government and was awaiting approval before retailing could commence,” Mohd Khamil said, adding that to date, DRB-Hicom has assembled about 70 units of the CKD Passat 1.8.

“Volkswagen Group Malaysia will make the necessary announcements pertaining to availability of the CKD Volkswagen Passat and its recommended retail price in due course,” he added.

There you go, no CKD Passat for now. What you can have now is our first impressions of the CBU Passat – click here to read.

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Volkswagen Passat Alltrack – VW does an Audi Allroad

November 24, 2011 at 11:28 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

The upcoming Tokyo Motor Show will see Volkswagen give this Passat Alltrack a world debut. The Alltrack is basically a raised and tougher looking Passat wagon with VW’s 4Motion AWD system, pretty much the same recipe as Audi’s Allroad wagons. The Passat Alltrack is positioned between the standard Passat Variant and the Tiguan SUV.

VW’s rationale is that there are many who use their car as a towing vehicle, or in light off-road situations, who want a versatile, sporty and roomy passenger car with rugged qualities. The Alltrack is defined by new SUV style bumpers with wheel well and side sill flares.

Compared to the standard car, it has greater off-road ramp angle (12.8 degrees), approach angle (16 degrees) and departure angle (13.6 degrees). The 165 mm ground clearance has been raised by 30 mm.

Two TSI engines (160 PS/210 PS) and two TDI units (140 PS/170 PS) are available. The more powerful engine from each camp have standard 4Motion AWD and a dual clutch DSG.

Something new here is the ‘Off-Road Driving Programme’ from VW’s SUVs. It works up to 30 km/h and electronically tailors settings for the AWD hardware including the electronic differential, ABS, torque control, hill descent and, in DSG-equipped cars, gearbox shift points to provide easier and better off-road performance.

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CKD Volkswagen Passat 1.8 launching tomorrow?

November 22, 2011 at 10:50 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

Bernama has reported that the locally assembled CKD version of the Volkswagen Passat 1.8 will be launched tomorrow. The national news agency got the news from Group Managing Director of DRB-Hicom, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil, after the opening of International College of Automotive (ICAM) yesterday.

The DRB boss told reporters that about 70 units of the Passat 1.8 model will be marketed initially. No price was given though, as they are still awaiting government’s approval.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, since Volkswagen Group Malaysia only recently launched the fully imported Passat in mid October, alongside fellow CBU models Jetta and CrossTouran. In CBU form, the D-segment Passat is powered by a 1.8-litre TSI engine with 160 PS and 250 Nm, paired to a 7-speed DSG ‘box.

Kit includes 17-inch alloys, bi-Xenon headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights, RCD 510 touch-screen, 6-disc CD changer / eight=speaker audio system and leather seats. Other items include cruise control, electric parking brake with auto-hold function and hill-hold control, PDC for the front and rear and a tyre pressure monitoring system. It is priced at RM184,888.

We’ll keep tabs, in the meantime you can read our review of the CBU Passat here.

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Volkswagen eT! is the delivery man’s perfect partner

November 21, 2011 at 11:48 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

Here’s a research vehicle from Volkswagen that’s not going to make production soon, belonging more to an 80s TV series. They’ve done cabs before, but this time it’s a light commercial van. The eT! is the fruit of a think tank on future transport and mobility issues by VW, Deutsche Post AG (Germany’s Pos Malaysia) and University of Art at Braunschweig, with support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

“We analysed process flows and customer needs in detail, and from these analyses we derived ideas on how the segment of delivery and courier vehicles could be further developed over the long term. In this context, we focused on zero-emissions driving and available space in urban areas, semiautomatic driving functions that offer relevant support and simplify work processes and the integration of new communication technologies,” said Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research.

The eT!’s wheel hub electric motors mean that space for cargo is optimised and it’s better at manoeuvering the narrow European city streets. And to make the life of courier drivers simpler, the eT! can be operated semiautomatically in certain situations. For instance, the van can follow the delivery man from house to house (“Follow me”), or return to the delivery person on command (“Come to me”), instead of him hopping in and out the vehicle for a string of short distance deliveries. Like a good dog!

Or, the driver can direct the car’s movements via a “drive stick” from the passenger’s side that also offers a standing seat and quick access to the vehicle. This makes sense because the passenger’s side in Europe is the side that faces the sidewalk and is therefore the working side of the delivery person – no more walking around the vehicle. There’s also an electrically opening sliding door that opens to 2 different stages.

And let’s not forget that the eT! is a zero emissions EV which doesn’t add to city pollution. VW says that the eT! will now be put in a driving test study and further analysed.

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