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2014 VW Golf brings storied hatchback's seventh generation to US

The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf in US-specification officially debuts at the 2013 New York Auto Show. The new model is the first VW in the States to ride on the company's MQB architecture, and as such, it makes use of plenty of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel to keep weight down. All told, the new shell is 51 pounds lighter than the outgoing generation, despite the fact that the finished car is a full 2.2 inches longer and .5 inches wider than the 2013 model.
Buyers can expect to find a base model powered by a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (blue car above) with 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That means the powerplant delivers the same horsepower as the old naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder while weighing less and producing seven extra pound-feet of torque. TDI (silver car above) buyers, meanwhile, will enjoy a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel four-cylinder mill. VW says the engine yields 10 more horsepower than the old lump, which means the Golf TDI now boasts 150 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.
GTI (red car above) buyers will now get their hands on a revised 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with approximately 210 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque - Volkswagen hasn't finalized power numbers for that machine. We're happy to see that the GTI still features its trademark plaid seats. Volkswagen says the new Golf and GTI will go on sale as a 2015 model, but doesn't say when the car will actually hit dealerships.

Volkswagen Caddy gets the Alltrack treatment for Frankfurt

We've seen Alltrack versions of the VW Golf and Passat. The German automaker's commercial vehicles division has even done a concept version of the Multivan with a similar treatment. And now it's taking that same rugged off-road approach with the Caddy van. The new Caddy Alltrack starts off with the latest, fourth-generation city van revealed earlier this year in Geneva, and beefs it up to replace the previous Cross Caddy. That comes down principally to black trim on the wheel arches, side sills, bumpers, and underbody protection with metallic accents. It also packs unique 17-inch alloys, fog lights, chrome trim on the grille, silver roof rails, a new optional beige metallic paint (pictured), and Alltrack logos galore. The interior has similarly been worked over with unique trim. Though no mention has been made of any suspension upgrades, the Caddy Alltrack can be specified with 4Motion all-wheel drive. Prospective buyers (in markets where VW offers its commercial vehicles line) will also have to choose between passenger and panel van body-styles, and between four diesel and three gasoline engine options. They range in output from 74 to 123 horsepower and come mated to manual or dual-clutch transmissions with five, six, or seven gears. Look for the new Caddy Alltrack to highlight the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles display at the Frankfurt Motor Show opening later this week. Related Video: The new Caddy – now available as Alltrack version with off-road styling - World premiere of Cross Caddy successor at IAA 2015 - Fourth generation of the Volkswagen best-seller once again available in rugged off-road style - Passenger car and panel van Alltrack variants optionally available with 4MOTION Hannover/Frankfurt, 10 September 2015 – Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be showcasing the latest off-road style version of its best-selling Caddy at the IAA (International Automobile Show) from 15 to 27 September, 2015. The successor to the Cross Caddy is called the Caddy Alltrack. Like its predecessor, it is available both in passenger car and panel van formats. The latest version of the urban delivery van and family MPV is clearly distinct from the other Caddy models with its exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels 'Quito', new Mojave Beige metallic paintwork and optional 4MOTION all-wheel drive technology.

Which will Dieselgate hurt more, Volkswagen or US diesels?

The most damning response to the news Volkswagen skirted emissions regulations for its diesel models may have actually come from the Los Angeles Times. On Saturday, the Times published an editorial titled "Did Volkswagen cheat?" The answer was undoubtedly yes. When you can't drive down Santa Monica Boulevard without seeing an average of one VW TDI per block, the following words are pretty striking: "... Americans should be outraged at the company's cynical and deliberate efforts to violate one of this country's most important environmental laws." VW has successfully cultivated a strong, environmentally conscious reputation for its TDI Clean Diesel technology, especially in states where emissions are strictly controlled. A statement like that is like blood all over the opinion section of the Sunday paper. The effect on VW's business, even Germany's financial health, was already felt Monday when the company's shares plummeted 23 percent in morning trading. The statement on Sunday from VW CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn says "trust" three times. That probably wasn't enough in nine sentences. Writers over the weekend have compared VW's crisis to one at General Motors 30 years ago, when it was the largest seller of diesel-powered passenger cars until warranty claims over an inadequate design and ill-informed technicians effectively pulled the plug on the technology at GM. In a sense, VW is in the same boat as GM because it has fired a huge blow into its own reputation and that of diesels in passenger cars. And just as automakers like Jaguar Land Rover, BMW and, ironically, GM, were getting comfortable with it again in the US. VW of America was already knee-deep in its other problems this year. Its core Jetta and Passat models are aging and it needs to wait more than a year for competitive SUVs that American buyers want. The TDIs were the only continuous bright spot in the line and on the sales charts. Even as fuel prices fell and buyers shunned hybrids, VW managed to succeed with diesels and show that Americans actually care about and accept the technology again. Fervent TDI supporters might actually lobby for that maximum $18 billion fine to VW. I've personally convinced a number of people to look at a TDI instead of a hybrid. Perhaps not so much for stop-and-go traffic, but I know buyers who liked the idea that a TDI drove like a normal car and wasn't packed with batteries.