1958 Vw Ragtop Sunroof Beetle Matching Numbers Beautiful Patina on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Volkswagen delivers with new Caddy van

As many models as the Volkswagen Group offers in North America, it has even more that never make the journey: models like the Scirocco and Polo but also entire brands like Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. That's the brand that gives us models like the Amarok, the Transporter and this – the new VW Caddy. Now entering its fourth generation after 1.5 million units sold around the world, the Caddy takes some of its underpinnings from the Golf and some from the Touran minivan to make a small work van, similar to the Ford Transit Connect or Nissan NV200, only more, you know... German. The new model obviously benefits from revised sheetmetal to bring its styling more in line with other VW models, but also gets new equipment as well. There are new safety features on board and a revised interior with an upgraded infotainment system. There's an array of engine options including a 2.0-liter diesel four in four states of tune, three gasoline engines (including a 1.0-liter three and 1.2- or 1.4-liter fours) and even a 1.4-liter EcoFuel version running on natural gas. And buyers will be able to choose as well between passenger and panel-van cargo versions. Unfortunately, as with the rest of its commercial vehicles lineup, Volkswagen doesn't offer the Caddy in North America. So if this is the type of vehicle you're looking for, you'll have to make do choosing from models like the Ram ProMaster City, Chevy City Express and the aforementioned Ford and Nissan. The new Caddy – always the best choice – world premiere for the fourth generation of the best-seller - Entry-level price reduced due to new versions - Emissions and fuel consumption reduced by new EU6 engines - Safety increased by new driver assistance systems - Design refined with clear edge Hannover/ Poznan, 04 February 2015: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is showing the fourth generation of the hugely popular Caddy for the first time. Around 1.5 million of the award-winning previous generation were sold worldwide during its eleven years in production. A success that the new Caddy is intended to continue because the urban delivery van and its privately used brother have been enhanced and refined in every area.

Audi diverting a third of R&D budget to electrification

Companies make promises all the time. We'll do X by Y. The new A will be our biggest seller in B. You know the drill. But it's when an automaker puts its money where its mouth is that we really stand up and take notice. That's precisely what Audi is doing as it attempts to convert 25 percent of its sales to electrified vehicles by 2025. Citing two sources with knowledge of Audi's plans, Reuters reports that around a third of the company's research-and-development budget will go to " electric cars, digital services, and autonomous driving." Of course, shifting that much money over to newer technologies means sacrifices elsewhere – Reuters' sources claim Audi will move money away from combustion engines and reduce country-specific powertrain variants, but the sources wouldn't get more specific. According to Reuters, Audi is 22nd in total sales of hybrids and EVs. That's eight spots behind Mercedes and ten spots behind BMW (not to mention hybrid-happy Lexus). Audi's only electric representatives in the US market are the A3 e-Tron and Q5 Hybrid and things aren't much better in Europe – the company needs to dump buckets of money into expanding its meager lineup to bring up the percentage of EVs it sells. Expect greater detail on Audi's electrification plans very soon – CEO Rupert Stadler will discuss the company's path forward on Wednesday at a closed-door meeting in Munich with over 2,000 managers. It's unlikely all those managers will be able to keep quiet. We'll be listening. Related Video: Featured Gallery Audi E-Tron Quattro Concept View 36 Photos News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Audi Green Audi Volkswagen Green Driving Electric Hybrid PHEV e-tron audi e-tron electrification

Volkswagen Cross Up! aimed at rugged lifestyle folks, complete with plastic cladding

If you thought there was nothing wrong with the Volkswagen Up! that a little body cladding wouldn't fix, you're in luck. VW has officially pulled the wraps off the production version of the Cross Up!, and its wheel arches and rocker panels are full of the black plastic cladding you've been yearning for.
In addition to the "particularly rugged design and tough, lifestyle qualities" that the cladding exudes, VeeDub has also seen fit to put its Cross Up! on a new set of 16-inch alloy wheels clad in 185/50-series tires. Inside, there are new kick plates to go along with a dash pad that can be had in red, black or silver.
All that cladding must equal additional off-road readiness, right? Well, sure... just so long as you're fine with the same 75-horsepower three-cylinder engine that all other Up! models also feature, along with a five-speed manual transmission sending power to the front wheels, again, just like all other Up! models. The Cross Up! appears to have a taller ride height than other models, but we haven't been able to find out what - if any - changes have been made.