VW / Audi / VW Group Tidbits

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Those are the beefs that bother me too.
- Wish HIDs were offered on TDI models
- Wish a 5dr Sportline TDI was offered (maybe a 5dr GTD is in the works?)
- Wish for better selection of actual colours
- Wonder why (besides cost) they don't offer the driver's knee airbag to stay ahead of the competition

Hoping some of the above will be addressed in time. Surprised at the colours on the Wagon as I've seen a good number of Laser Blue and the Red stands out nicely too.

Generally think VW Canada has done a good job of streamlining and they could have done worse - I don't like the US VOG in comparison, so overall I'm okay with the packaging. GTI is near identical to today which is good.

As for pricing, figure the Wagon will be released first... all should come in August I'd imagine. The '10 Jetta 2.0T Wolfsburg seems to be good value (while the rest of the '10 line-up pricing has crept upwards), hopefully when pricing on the Golf family is announced I'll be thinking it's just as sharp.

And where's my Tiguan TDI?! 

[G0dspd]

Golf wagon = Jetta wagon 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Golf wagon = Jetta wagon 

Yes, in Canada the Jetta Wagon becomes the Golf Wagon - the 'Golf Family' for 2010MY will include the City Golf, Golf 3dr, Golf 5dr, Golf GTI, and Golf Wagon. Which only makes sense going forward as Jetta sedan will be redesigned into a North American exclusive model which I'm assuming won't resemble the current model or wagon, and likely won't receive the face-lifted front end before that time. So the Wagon will more closely resemble the Golf anyway.

In the US believe they are continuing to call it the Jetta SportWagen. Jetta name carries far more weight there and considering it's a wagon is selling at a decent pace currently.

[G0dspd]

Thanks for the info. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Volkswagen to invest $1 billion in Mexico plant

Automotive News
July 15, 2009 - 12:01 am ET

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Volkswagen will start producing a new model at its plant in Mexico next year as it invests $1 billion to expand the site.

The investment at its key Mexico plant, which produces Jettas, Boras and New Beetles, comes as carmakers around the world face slumping demand due to the economic downturn.

"The production of the new model will start in March or April of 2010," spokeswoman Consuelo Minutti said.

Before the global financial crisis hit its worst last year, the German company said it would invest $1 billion in Mexico between 2008 and 2010, without specifying how it would spend the money.

Volkswagen's investment is a vote of confidence about the future of Mexico's auto industry, which accounts for a fifth of the country's total manufactured exports.

A slide in U.S. demand has thrown Mexico into its steepest recession since at least the 1995 slump that became known as the Tequila Crisis.

Minutti declined to say which car Volkswagen will add to its line-up at the plant in the central state of Puebla, the company's only North American facility and the sole producer of the popular New Beetle model.

Company officials in Germany could not immediately be reached for comment.

Volkswagen is Mexico's No. 2 automaker, sending most of its cars to the United States, Canada and Europe.

But falling demand forced the company to slow VW's Mexican production in June by 22.7 percent, year over year, to 30,947 cars, according to the country's automaker association.

Mexican auto production, geared to supplying the U.S. market, plunged 48.1 percent in June, year over year, while exports fell 44.6 percent.

In May, VW began building a new U.S. factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The $1 billion plant will begin production of a midsized sedan designed for the North American market starting in 2011. It will have an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.

The German carmaker aims to triple sales of its VW and Audi brands in the United States by 2018.

[mmorriso]

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q_how_to/a5/09_10_TDIdifferences.htm

not sure if there is anything new here but it seems interesting for those shopping for a 2010 Golf/Jetta TDI

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q_how_to/a5/09_10_TDIdifferences.htm

not sure if there is anything new here but it seems interesting for those shopping for a 2010 Golf

Thanks for posting. I learned something. First time seeing the Climatic HVAC, and I'm happy they kept rotary dials for it instead of push buttons which is my major pet peeve with the operation of the new Climatronic system.

[tpl]

Must be the money.  I do not understand why we get a decontented version ( in some respects) of these cars.  Surely Bejasus it must be easier just to make one NA version. I know there are some fiddly bits that are different ( symbols in Canada vs text in the US on some buttons ond idiot lights) but can't they just do that with software nowadays.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Saw a new 2010MY Touareg TDI Sport. The new meaty Individual W12-ish skirts and brushed chrome chin are very handsome on 'er 

[Roddy]

Saw a new 2010MY Touareg TDI Sport. The new meaty Individual W12-ish skirts and brushed chrome chin are very handsome on 'er 

and no doubt very unreliable

[Benhaze]

Optional sound system without a subwoofer??? Yikes. 

[G0dspd]

VW, Porsche to expand platform sharing; 911 not off limits
http://www.leftlanenews.com/vw-porsche-to-expand-platform-sharing-911-platform-not-off-limits.html

Macht added that even the Porsche 911 platform "could be made available to other VW brands" ... Macht says engine development is a core value for Porsche and therefore won't be shared with other VW brands.

     Give them a few years, and the proprietary engines will be a thing of the past.

[ktm525]

VW, Porsche to expand platform sharing; 911 not off limits
http://www.leftlanenews.com/vw-porsche-to-expand-platform-sharing-911-platform-not-off-limits.html

Macht added that even the Porsche 911 platform "could be made available to other VW brands" ... Macht says engine development is a core value for Porsche and therefore won't be shared with other VW brands.

     Give them a few years, and the proprietary engines will be a thing of the past.

Didn't porsche use a VW engine in the 914?

[G0dspd]

Didn't porsche use a VW engine in the 914?

I don't know about past models but the current Cayenne is using V6s sourced from the VW group.  The gas one is a VR6 and the diesel is from Audi.  All the other power plants are developed/tuned in house.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Swanky rear LED tail lights on the Golf VI's... 'cept reported not here.
http://www.insideline.com/volkswagen/golf/2010/2010-volkswagen-golf-gets-led-rear-lights-but-not-for-us.html

[dougjp]

Pretty Funny!

http://www.metacars.com/?p=650