2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 Hatchback 2-door 3.2l on 2040-cars

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VW's Winterkorn to stick around through at least 2018

Volkswagen may yet to have found a new chairman, but it's not about to get rid of its chief executive any time soon. The German automaker has announced its intention to renew Martin Winterkorn's contract through the end of 2018. That is, assuming that the Supervisory Board heeds the recommendation of its own Executive Committee when the full 20-member board meets on September 25. 68-year-old Winterkorn joined the Volkswagen Group back in 1993 after a decade and a half at Bosch. He was named head of Audi in 2002, and chairman of the Board of Management (effectively the chief executive officer) of the entire Volkswagen Group in 2007. Just a few months ago he faced off against Ferdinand Piech – chairman of the company's supervisory board and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche – that resulted in Winterkorn's victory and Piech's resignation. The executive committee's endorsement, then, is effectively a vote of confidence in Winterkorn's leadership. It still leaves unresolved the question of who will ultimately take over as chairman to succeed Piech. Winterkorn was touted for a potential promotion, but if the supervisory board renews his contract – currently set to expire next year – he'll be staying right where he is and a new chairman will need to be found. The chair is currently filled on an interim basis by Berthold Huber, former head of the union that was instrumental in Piech's ousting. Wolfsburg, 02 September 2015 Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Volkswagen AG Supervisory Board The Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG unanimously agreed a resolution for submission to the Supervisory Board at its meeting on September 25, 2015 under which a new contract as Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG for a term until December 31, 2018 should be concluded with Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn. "Together with Professor Martin Winterkorn at the helm we will continue on our successful path of recent years and systematically implement the goals of Strategy 2018", Berthold Huber, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, said.

VW Passat GTE plug-in hybrid starts at ˆ44,250 in Germany

Want to know how much to put away for a new Volkswagen Passat GTE? Well, first you'll have to move to Germany, or another market where the model will be sold – because it's not being offered in the US. In fact, it's based on a Passat that's altogether different from the one we get in America. But, once you've arrived at a place where the Passat GTE is available, you'll need to shell out about ˆ45,000. That's equivalent to $50,000 US at current exchange rates, which is more than the starting MSRP on any VW currently available Stateside. VW just announced domestic pricing for the new plug-in hybrid, which starts at ˆ44,250 for the sedan and ˆ45,250 for the wagon. For that much scratch, you get a Passat with a 1.4-liter turbo four good for 154 horsepower paired with an electric motor good for another 113 hp. Working in unison, the hybrid powertrain produces as much as 216 horses, and will drive up to 31 miles on electric power alone. Combined with the 50-liter (13.2-gallon) gas tank, the Passat GTE will travel over 680 miles before needing to stop. Along with the GTE, the German automaker is also launching the new Alltrack version of the Passat. Based on the Variant wagon, the new Passat Alltrack packs all-wheel drive and more rugged styling inside and out for a treatment similar to what Audi does for its Allroad models, Volvo its Cross Country line, and Subaru its Outback range. In Passat form, the Alltrack will set German buyers back ˆ38,550. Launch of the new Passat GTE and Passat Alltrack Two new models added to the Passat range Volkswagen is extending its Passat range, adding the GTE and Alltrack. These models are available immediately at German Volkswagen dealers. For a year now, the three distinctive letters GTE have stood for plug-in hybrid models from Volkswagen. Following the Golf, the second GTE standard model is now going on sale, the new Passat. The Passat GTE is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI engine delivering 115 kW / 156 PS and an electric motor producing 85 kW / 115 PS. The two are perfectly coordinated and pool their resources to generate system output of 160 kW / 219 PS. The combination of turbocharged direct-injection engine (TSI) and electric motor brings together efficiency and sustainability. The lithium-ion battery that provides the e-motor with electricity is charged as the car drives along, including via regenerative braking.

Skoda Octavia vRS is just the thing for your pumped-up neighborhood

Skoda, oh Skoda. You're just so cool. Maybe it's the fact that it's a brand that we don't get in these United States, but Skoda's rebadged Volkswagens, in particular the new Octavia vRS shown here, are just different enough from the hum-drum VWs on our shores that the Czech brand seems strangely desirable. Maybe we're just craving forbidden fruit.
This short, minute-long spot covers the new vRS in a world of excess, where strollers ride on 26-inch wheels, lawnmowers feature V8 engines and ice cream cones are the size of toddlers. As things often go in these ads, the Octavia vRS draws the eyes of passerby that are seemingly use to things far more ridiculous than a reasonably priced Czech sedan. In reality, the Octavia should be fairly familiar to American buyers. It uses the same 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-pot found in the Volkswagen GTI and Jetta GLI, with 217 horsepower, and sits on the same platform as the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf. Take a look at the full spot, below.