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Golf tees up new sales for VW

If you consider the Passat and the CC two different lines, Volkswagen USA lists nine different models on its website, and they have sold a total of 238,074 units in the US this year through the end of August. The Golf, which was voted North American car of the year in 2015, and its variants account for 44,416 sales, an increase of nearly 150 percent compared to the same period last year. That's also the most Golfs ever sold in that time in the US, and almost 19 percent of this year's entire brand sales. This is compared to a compact car segment that has gained just 1.1 percent compared to 2014. A number of factors are responsible, according to a report in Automotive News: the MQB platform allows different powertrains to roll down the same assembly line; VW USA product planners can now configure vehicles to suit our market and they work with a selection of dealers to refine the retail offering; and the Golf maintains its proper European driving experience. The expanse of the Golf range has meant not only increased profits and new buyers, but more breadth in the buying demographic - expanding outward from the standard Golf to five different extremes, from the e-Golf to the Golf R. Room will be made for a new kind of consumer next year when the current Sportwagen model goes all-wheel drive with an Alltrack designation. Unsurprisingly, VW USA says, "Golf is a role model for the US for us. We want to learn from our success and implement those lessons in our future model planning." After decades of uneven effort, perhaps that formula plus a long-awaited range of crossovers can finally deliver on the promise of the US market. Related Video:

Bentley Bentayga bodies to be built in Bratislava

Volkswagen's plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, has come a long way. After getting its start in 1971 by subcontracting the production of Skoda-branded vehicles, the plant was purchased by VW in 1991, where it was quickly put to further good use as it began producing Volkswagen Passat models for export. More recently, Bratislava has become a bastion for SUVs, assembling the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, in addition to the VW Touareg. Color us unsurprised, then, to learn that the Bentley Bentayga, which will be built atop the same large SUV platform as its cousins from Audi, Porsche and VW, will also be used for at least part of the production of Bentley's first SUV. Surely, though, one of the hallmarks of the Bentley brand is that its cars are handmade in England. Won't the Bentley-buying populace feel slighted by production in Slovakia? Not to worry. As is the case with the Porsche Cayenne, all that will be produced in Slovakia is the Bentayga's body. According to a report from Automotive News, bodies for the Bentayga will be shipped from Bratislava to Crewe, England, where they will be finished into fully operational vehicles. In order to accommodate the additional work, VW will reportedly invest 500 million euros into the plant in Slovakia and hire hundreds of workers.

VW recalling 38k Jettas, Passats, Golfs and Beetles for fuel leak

Earlier we reported on a recall issued for the 2015 VW Jetta regarding a problem with the headlights, and now Volkswagen and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have issued another recall for a separate issue affecting not only the Jetta, but several other models as well. The issue revolves around a sealing cap in the fuel rail, which could leak fuel into the engine compartment and potentially cause a fire. The problem affects an estimated 37,979 vehicles in the United States, including the 2014-15 Jetta (manufactured between March 28 and November 24, 2014), the 2014-15 Passat (April 7 to November 18), the 2015 Golf and GTI (July 1 to November 20) and the 2014-15 Beetle and Beetle Convertible (March 31 to November 27). That covers pretty much the entire range offered by Volkswagen of America, short of the Tiguan and Touareg crossovers (and the discontinued Eos convertible). Considering, though, that VW routinely sells around 30,000 vehicles in the US each month, the small number of vehicles being recalled (relative to the quantity out there) tells you this recall really only affects a specific cross-section of models. Owners of the affected vehicles can expect to be contacted by their dealers to have the fuel rails replaced. RECALL Subject : Fuel Leaking Into Engine Compartment Report Receipt Date: DEC 22, 2014 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V809000 Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Potential Number of Units Affected: 37,979 Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. SUMMARY: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, certain 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, certain 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and certain 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment. CONSEQUENCE: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire. REMEDY: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Bi.