2006 Volkswagen Jetta Tdi Sedan 4-door 1.9l on 2040-cars

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Volkswagen bringing production GTI Clubsport to Frankfurt

"No plans for the car to be sold here." It's probably good I read that part of the email from Volkswagen before I looked at the photos and read the release for the car you see above. It's the production-spec GTI Clubsport. It's coming to the Frankfurt Motor Show. It's awesome. And I want one. I know, I'm kind of a GTI fanboy, but really, there's a lot to like here. The special-edition hot hatch is essentially a road-going version of the concept Volkswagen brought to Worthersee this year, complete with a more powerful engine. It produces 261 horsepower – a healthy increase over the 210 hp of the base GTI (or 220 if the car is fitted with the performance pack) – and can even crank out 286 hp for short bursts, thanks to an overboost function. Hitting 62 miles per hour takes six seconds flat with the six-speed manual gearbox, and that time is reduced to 5.9 seconds should you opt for the six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Even with these upgrades, VW says the GTI Clubsport will still return nearly 34 miles per gallon with the manual transmission. Volkswagen doesn't specifically mention any chassis upgrades, however. In its press release, VW simply says that the GTI Clubsport "has groundbreaking handling properties at high speeds and breathtaking cornering speeds." Cool. I'm sure it'll be a riot. A lot of the exterior is new: the front bumper, side sills, rear diffuser, roof spoiler, and aluminum wheels are all unique to the Clubsport. Buyers can choose between 18- or 19-inch rollers, the tailpipes are larger than those on a standard GTI, and the LED lights out back have a black/red, dark finish. Inside, the Clubsport comes with racing buckets covered in tartan fabric (of course) and there's Alcantara everywhere. Fellow GTI fans, get excited about this one – even if it's just another delicious piece of forbidden fruit. Still, I can't wait to see it live in Frankfurt next week. Related Video: VOLKSWAGEN TO UNVEIL MORE POWERFUL GTI CLUBSPORT AT THE FRANKFURT INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW New anniversary model celebrates the GTI's 40th birthday - 265 PS special edition accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds - An overboost function increases power to more than 290 PS for a short time - Expressive exterior design features new front bumper, side skirts, rear diffusor and multi-part roof spoiler Wolfsburg, September 9, 2015 – At the beginning of 2016, the iconic sporty compact—the Golf GTI— celebrates its 40th birthday.

Volkswagen offers Beetle Classic, priced from $20,195*

The current Volkswagen Beetle already tries to be a fairly retro-looking ride by cribbing styling elements from the iconic original. However, for the new, limited-edition Classic model, VW is hopping into the time machine to grab even more vintage cues. The company is even cutting the price, perhaps in hopes of turning around flagging sales this year. You don't need to wait long for any of these upgrades either because the automaker says that the Classic goes on sale this week for $20,195, *excluding the $820 destination charge. That's $100 less than a bone-stock Beetle.
Starting as a standard Beetle with VW's 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, the Classic edition comes with a six-speed automatic and then adds some retro flair. It includes new vintage-look 17-inch wheels with simulated dog dish polished hubcaps over black spokes. It also comes with a rear spoiler, and the automaker is offering the model in Pure White, Black Uni, and Reflex Silver.
The interior mixes in a few more classic touches but includes modern amenities like a standard navigation system, satellite radio and multifunction steering wheel. However, the seats are finished in a two-tone design combining light brown leatherette on the sides and checked cloth centers, plus lumbar support for the driver's side. The shift knob and handbrake also get wrapped in leather.

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.