New ambitious sustainability targets

A host of measures in the next few years will bring about a fundamental change for the Volkswagen Group in ecological terms. This includes reducing CO2 emissions for all new cars by 30 percent, based on the period between 2006 and 2015. The recently introduced Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) will play an important role in this process. A significant part of the multi-billion investment programme has been set aside to make every new model generation 10 to 15 percent more efficient on average than its respective predecessor. But sustainability in terms of production and energy sources is also of immense importance to Volkswagen. This is why the company has set itself the goals of making production around 25 percent more environmentally compatible by 2018 and achieving a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in energy supplies by 2020 by expanding the use of renewable energies.

BlueMotion Technology für den Beetle

BlueMotion Technology bedeutet Effizienz. Sparsamkeit. Umweltbewusstsein. Das klingt sehr vernünftig – und ist im Beetle kein bisschen langweilig. Zwei Motoren mit BlueMotion Technology stellen das unter Beweis: der 1,2 l TSI* und der 1,6 l TDI**, beide mit 77 kW (105 PS) und hervorragender Leistung bei besonders niedrigem Verbrauch: Das Otto-Aggregat benötigt durchschnittlich nur 5,6 Liter Benzin auf 100 Kilometern, der TDI begnügt sich gar mit 4,3 Litern Dieselkraftstoff. Dazu tragen unter anderem das Start-Stopp-System mit Bremsenergie-Rückgewinnung und die rollwiderstandsoptimierten Reifen bei. Der TSI-Motor ist in Verbindung mit dem 6-Gang-Schaltgetriebe erhältlich, beim TDI haben Sie die Wahl zwischen dem 5-Gang-Schaltgetriebe und dem besonders komfortablen 7-Gang-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe DSG. Immer serienmäßig dabei: der kompromisslose Fahrspaß.

Weltweiter Service für Elektrofahrzeuge

Eines der wichtigsten Themen unserer Zeit ist verantwortungsbewusste Mobilität. Das immer breitere Angebot an elektrisch angetriebenen Fahrzeugen ist ein wichtiger Beitrag dazu. Volkswagen Partner in den großen internationalen Märkten haben bereits Erfahrungen mit dem vor zwei Jahren eingeführten Tourareg Hybrid gesammelt; umfangreiche Flottenversuche mit dem Golf Blue-e-Motion in zahlreichen Ländern sorgen für zusätzliches fundiertes Know-how – ergänzend zu den systematischen Qualifizierungsprogrammen, beispielsweise der Zertifizierung zum Hochvolttechniker. Auch die Werkstätten sind durch spezielle Diagnoseinstrumente, Geräte und Werkzeuge bereits für die neuen Herausforderungen gerüstet. Auf diese Weise stellt Volkswagen sicher, dass Kunden sich auch mit ihrem Elektrofahrzeug wie gewohnt an den Volkswagen Partner ihres Vertrauens wenden können.

VW unveils E-Bugster concept car at the Detroit Auto Show

Volkswagen rolled into the Motor City with something a little different this year—think of it as a time machine in the guise of a car. Unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, it’s a little something we call the E-Bugster, and it’s the latest addition to our Blue-e-motion™ line of concept cars. While its design lines hearken back to the classic Beetle era, it takes a future-forward leap with an all-electric motor and pumped-up, speedster styling.

At the heart of the E-Bugster is a 114-horsepower (85 kW) electric motor and a lithium-ion battery that enables the car to go more than 100 miles with zero emissions. Stored under the trunk floor and the rear bench, the battery weighs a mere 695 pounds—pretty light, considering all the power it’s producing. The battery is recharged via a plug interface located beneath the hood’s VW logo and can accommodate all three types of available chargers: Level 1 (120V), Level 2 (240V) and, where available, Level 3 (quick charge; 80 percent charge in 30 minutes).

Up front, the E-Bugster boasts a distinctive flat, wide. The E-Bugster features the same “C”-shaped LED daytime running lights offered on the production Beetle, mirrored as reflectors in the rear bumper. The front end is arched and stretched, like a chopped-down speedster; it’s three inches shorter than the production Beetle.

A unique exterior look isn’t all that sets the E-Bugster apart from the production Beetle; a peek inside reveals other differences. Traditional gauges are for traditional vehicles, and the E-Bugster is anything but. It features EV-specific gauges, like an energy consumption display that fluctuates with vehicle acceleration, a driving range indicator and a display that shows the battery’s charge state. There’s even a display that shows the level of battery regeneration, important for long road trips.

We know you can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the first-ever electric Beetle, but we’re afraid you’ll have to. Concept cars like the E-Bugster and the award-winning Bulli offer a glimpse into the future of the automotive world, and besides, good things come to those who wait. Even though you can’t drive it now, you can see it at the Detroit Auto Show, located on the main stage of the Volkswagen booth And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for live updates from the show.

Announcing the Golf R Ultimate Fan Experience

Oh, what a difference a letter makes. When Volkswagen announced that the all-new 2012 Golf R would be available for the first time ever, enthusiasts rejoiced with a capital R. We’re excited about it, too, which is why we’re celebrating its launch by offering our fans a chance to win the Golf R Ultimate Fan Experience.

With 256 horsepower, a turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI engine, standard six-speed manual transmission, 4Motion all-wheel-drive and a zero-to-60 time of less than six seconds, the 2012 Golf R is sure to please anyone looking for thrills behind the wheel. But we’re not looking for just anyone—we’re looking for the Ultimate Golf R Fan. If that sounds like you, here’s what you could win:
A seven-day, six-night trip to Germany
A visit to Wolfsburg to tour the Autostadt and Volkswagen headquarters
A visit to Nürburg to drive a Golf R on the Nürburgring with instruction from professional drivers
A visit to Berlin to enjoy an exclusive sightseeing package