2008 Volkswagen Jetta S on 2040-cars

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Volkswagen Group sales down 15% in pandemic year, but EV sales up 214%

FRANKFURT, Germany — German automaker Volkswagen said its global sales fell 15.2% during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but showed significant recovery toward the end of the year. The company more than tripled its sales of battery-only vehicles. Global sales for all of Volkswagen's brands amounted to 9.3 million vehicles. The fourth quarter showed a smaller decline of 5.7% and within that quarter the month of December was still further improved, showing a shortfall of only 3.2% from the same period the year before. Volkswagen said Wednesday that sales fell the most in Western Europe, by 21.6%, while China, the company's largest single market, was down 9.1% Sales of battery-only cars jumped 214% to 231,600 from 73,700 across all the company's brands. The company's electric sales leaders included the Volkswagen ID.3 compact, with 56,500, the Audi E-Tron SUV with 47,300, and the high-end Porsche Taycan with 20,000. Volkswagen said that its sales fell by less than the overall market, meaning it had slightly expanded its market share. “The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 an extremely challenging year,” said group sales chief Christian Dahlheim. “The Volkswagen Group performed well in this environment and strengthened its market position." Volkswagen Group's brands include Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, and Skoda as sell as truck makers MAN and Scania.

VW GTI Clubsport Concept celebrates model's 40th birthday with 261 hp

Volkswagen is celebrating the four-decade milestone for the GTI with the world debut of the GTI Clubsport concept at the annual Worthersee festival in Austria. While the version in these sketches is just a prototype, European buyers at least are set to get a production model in early 2016. The Clubsport is essentially a way for VW to split the difference between the already well-liked GTI and the hotter Golf R. In concept form, it packs 261 horsepower, compared to 220 hp from the standard version in the US with the Performance Package or 292 hp from the R. A temporary overboost function even lets the Clubsport make about 10 percent more power for short periods. Beyond just the mechanical upgrades, the concept in these sketches also wears a revised lower air dam at the front with a mesh grille and big strakes at the corners, and there's a new roof spoiler and rear diffuser at the back. VW also promises a more "individualized" interior. Unfortunately, the North America might not be getting this more powerful GTI. "There are no plans to bring the car to the US currently," VW spokesperson Mark Gillies told Autoblog. At this time, VW only has info about the Clubsport in German, which you can take a look at below. Related Video: Weltpremiere des Golf GTI Clubsport am Worthersee Exklusives Jubilaumsmodell zum 40. Geburtstag des GTI Golf GTI Clubsport debutiert mit 265 PS und Boost-Funktion Im kommenden Jahr feiert der Golf GTI seinen 40. Geburtstag. Volkswagen wird dieses historische Ereignis mit einem progressiven Jubilaumsmodell adeln: dem neuen Golf GTI Clubsport. In Form einer seriennahen Studie wird Volkswagen den Golf GTI Clubsport bereits am 14. Mai 2015 als Weltpremiere im Rahmen des legendaren GTI-Treffens am Worthersee prasentieren. Mit einer Leistung von 195 kW / 265 PS (plus 35 PS gegenuber dem Golf GTI Performance*) sowie einer temporar dank Boost-Funktion nochmals um rund 10 Prozent hoheren Spitzenleistung soll der Golf GTI Clubsport Anfang 2016 als der bis dato starkste jemals in Serie gebaute „GTI" durchstarten. Das Jubilaumsmodell wird nicht nur mit einem extrem leistungsstarken Motor, sondern mit einem individualisierten Interieur und exklusiven Karosseriedetails auf den Markt kommen. Zu den Design-Modifikationen gehoren ein komplett neuer Frontstoss-fanger, neue Seitenschweller, ein ebenfalls neuer und aerodynamisch hoch innovativer Dachkantenspoiler sowie ein eigens entwickelter Heckdiffusor.

New European charging network will offer speeds up to 350 kW

It's about to get easier to fast-charge your electric vehicle across Europe thanks to four major automakers working together in a new joint venture. BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), Ford, and the VW Group (Audi and Porsche) have all signed a Memorandum of Understanding to install about 400 DC fast charging sites in Europe. As you may know, there are different types of fast chargers, but the ones that this group is talking about installing will be able to charge an EV in much less time than other stations. That's because these chargers will offer power levels of "up to 350 kW." Compare that to what's generally considered the current gold standard, the Tesla Superchargers, which have rates of up to 145 kW and a statement not that long ago from a Ford exec that suggested that 150 kW chargers would be the new normal. Of course, the Tesla chargers use the company's proprietary connector and the new network the JV is setting up will use the CCS standard. The first new stations will go up in 2017 and those 400 sites are just the beginning. A joint statement by the JV says that EV drivers will "have access to thousands of high-powered charging points" by 2020 along highways and main roads. "The charging experience is expected to evolve to be as convenient as refueling at conventional gas stations," the companies said. While not every electric vehicle will be able to take advantage of the 350 kW charging rate, the companies involved would be silly to build the infrastructure without vehicles that can handle that kind of energy flow. The JV says it would welcome participation from other automakers and will cooperate with interested regional partners. Related Video: News Source: Daimler Green Audi BMW Ford Mercedes-Benz Porsche Volkswagen Electric fast charging