2002 Volkswagen Golf Gti 1.8t Hatchback 2-door 1.8l on 2040-cars

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Audi CEO Rupert Stadler: Ducati is not for sale

"Ducati is not for sale." Those words, attributed to Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, are about as clear and definitive as can be, and they reiterate a previous statement about the potential sale of the premium Italian motorcycle brand that was made in March of this year. "[Ducati and Lamborghini] belong to Audi and, together with us, have an excellent future," said Stadler. Thing is, Audi, as well-off and established as it may be, still falls under the Volkswagen umbrella. And, as you're surely aware, things haven't exactly been smooth sailing for the VW Group over the last several months. The German automaker has squirreled away billions of dollars in anticipation of the legal fallout that's sure to come from the falsification of vehicle emissions data, and that's going to leave the company strapped for cash. All of that bad news led to speculation that VW could sell off some of its non-core businesses. What of the future of the Scania and Man heavy truck brands? Those don't currently appear to be on the auction block, either. VW's continued involvement in the HD truck segment was announced as part of the brand's TOGETHER - Strategy 2025 plan, in which Volkswagen outlined plans to push further into vehicle electrification and vehicle autonomy. Related Video: News Source: Asphalt & RubberImage Credit: Malte Christians/AFP/Getty Earnings/Financials Audi Lamborghini Volkswagen Motorcycle Performance Ducati Scania

VW Tiguan grows up, gets bigger

The compact crossover segment continues to do huge business around the world, and Volkswagen is showing just how important the niche is by debuting four versions of the all-new, second-generation Tiguan at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Now riding on VW's MQB platform, the latest version has had a growth spurt, but it has also shed 110 pounds in the process. The first of them will hit the international market in April 2016. While the design is still definitively a VW, the latest Tiguan looks more aggressive and expands to 2.4-inches longer, 1.2-inches wider, 1.3-inches lower. There's also three more inches of wheelbase than the outgoing generation. At the front, the grille stretches all the way across and connects with the headlights to visually widen the look even more. In profile and at the rear, things are now a bit more angular, but the changes give the model a more chiseled style. In Fall 2016, VW will debut an even longer wheelbase body for the Tiguan. According to the company, this version will be aimed directly at customers in the US and China that prefer larger vehicles. The added inches outside translate to more room for passengers and cargo inside. Even with the seats up, there's an extra 1.8 cubic feet for stuff in the back, and those sitting in the rear get 1.1 inches more knee room. As an added amenity, buyers can option a 12.3-inch Active Info display digital instrument panel. Europeans gets a choice of eight engines: four fueled by gasoline and four by diesel. They range in power from 123 to 237 horsepower. Expect far fewer options when the Tiguan eventually arrives on these shores. Both front-wheel drive and 4Motion are available, too. In addition to having standard, 4Motion, and R-Line variants on display in Frankfurt, VW also has the Tiguan GTE plug-in hybrid concept at the show. It combines a 1.4-liter TSI engine and an electric motor mounted to the six-speed DSG to offer a total system output of 215 hp. The 13 kWh lithium-ion battery also lets the PHEV cover 31 miles on electric power and get an estimated 124 miles per gallon on the European cycle. That's not too bad, but the roof also features solar cells that VW claims can add another 621 miles of driving range per year under ideal conditions.

Prop-driven VW Beetle hopes to land in Bonneville [w/video]

Sometimes you meet folks who, when they tell you "Hey, I have an idea," your reflex response is to stop what you're doing and tell yourself, "Get ready...." We imagine Mike Niemans is one of those folks, and the idea in question is putting a tank engine on a Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle. Not just any old tank engine - as if there were such a thing when we're talking about putting them in cars - but a 668-cubic-inch, 220-horsepower radial engine built by Continental in 1941 and procured from an M2 tank.
In the image above Nieman is using the tank clutch hub to get the motor set up, but in one of the images below you can see what really belongs back there is: a two-inch, reverse-pitch prop taken from a wind generator. He says there's enough mojo with the propeller action to get the car rolling down the runway like a jet when he gives it gas - and speaking of gas, the engine's been refitted to run on propane.
After a few safety tweaks Nieman's going to take the matte-black Beetle to Bonneville, "put the prop on, let her go and see what happens!" We can't wait to see the video of that. There are two shakedown videos below to get you ready.