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Volkswagen says goodbye to Eos, Routan in 2015 updates

Usually automakers announce changes to their lineup individually on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis, but sometimes it all comes at once – especially when the changes are ones we either expected or might not otherwise notice. That's the path Volkswagen has gone with changes to its US lineup for 2015. The biggest change is what we already knew: that the new Golf arrives for the 2015 model year, bringing with it the new GTI, Golf R, e-Golf and Golf SportWagen (to replace the previous Jetta wagon). But there are some new details as well. For starters, Volkswagen has finally confirmed that both the Eos and the Routan – both long rumored to be on their way out – will be exiting this year. The Eos hardtop convertible, pictured above, will linger for one last year, its Sport trim replaced by a new Final Edition with 18-inch wheels, two-tone leather interior and enhanced equipment. Meanwhile the Routan, which hasn't actually been built in over a year, is finally dead, as VW confirms it has dropped the Chrysler-built minivan from its lineup for 2015 altogether. The German automaker has also confirmed that the Touareg is getting a facelift early in the new year, which we expect will closely follow the revisions revealed a few months ago ahead of the Beijing Motor Show. Finally VW has announced an upgrade to its 2.0-liter TDI. Fitted to the Golf, Jetta, Passat and Beetle, the updated diesel gets 10 more horsepower with output now up to 150 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque. Scope out the full list of announcements in the press release below. MODEL YEAR 2015: NEW GOLF FAMILY, REDESIGNED JETTA, AND NEW TDI® CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE HEAD THE CHANGES Jul 22, 2014 In a busy year, Volkswagen will also add a new Golf SportWagen, an all-new Golf R, a redesigned Touareg SUV, and the company's first U.S.-market EV, the e-Golf - All-new Golf is bigger, lighter, and more fuel-efficient than the previous model, seats five, and has a larger trunk than any midsize sedan - New Golf GTI has 210-horsepower engine, with improved fuel efficiency and performance - e-Golf is Volkswagen's first full Battery Electric Vehicle for sale in the U.S.

Volkswagen taps Porsche chief for board

Matthias Mueller was promoted to the top position at Porsche in 2010 after a successful stint of developing model lines during his 36 years with the company, mainly at Audi. Having shown the same prowess while overseeing Porsche for the past five years, German outlet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that Mueller will be promoted to the management board of the Volkswagen Group, according to a leaked copy of an agenda for the meeting. It's said that a new spot is being created for him, one that will put him in charge of "overseeing cooperation" among Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Porsche. While other group executives are known to hold positions on the board and with brands, or across brands, it isn't clear yet whether Mueller will keep his spot at the CEO of Porsche after the promotion. One thing that is certain is the 61-year-old Mueller doesn't see himself in line for Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn's job in 2016, having told FAZ this month, "It's no solution to put a 63-year-old at the head of Volkswagen." News Source: Reuters, Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Porsche Volkswagen Performance volkswagen group matthias mueller promotion

That time when VW thought its diesels were holier than hybrids

When it comes to its diesel engines, Volkswagen was publicly trying to work the regulation system as far back as 2011. That's when the Obama Administration announced stricter US greenhouse-gas emissions standards for 2025. At the time, VW was saying its diesel engines were as clean or even cleaner than hybrids and some plug-in vehicles, The New York Times says, citing former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officer Margo Oge. VW did indeed boycott Obama's announcement of the 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards four years ago. The reason given at the time was that VW's attempt for its diesel engines to get special consideration and extra credits for fulfilling the emissions mandate was ultimately rejected by the EPA. Oge said VW's US executives were conciliatory but the automaker's German officials were "arrogant" in their belief that diesel technology was far superior, from an emissions standpoint, than hybrids or plug-ins. As we know now, that was not the case. Last month, we learned that VW fitted as many as 11 million vehicles around the world with software that programmed its diesel engines to show artificially low emissions levels during testing. In the ongoing fallout, VW has set aside $7.3 billion to address the scandal and the CEO resigned. New VW CEO Matthias Muller says recalls on the diesels in question may go into effect as soon as January in Europe. Meanwhile, among other indignities, Green Car Journal rescinded Green Car of the Year Awards it had bestowed on the 2009 Jetta TDI and 2010 Audi A3 TDI, while Volkswagen's Stock was delisted from the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. News Source: New York TimesImage Credit: Matt Cardy / Getty Images Government/Legal Green Read This Volkswagen Emissions Diesel Vehicles CAFE standards vw diesel scandal Barack Obama