AUTOCARS COLECTION 2011

This time, with feeling. According to both Bloomberg News and USA Today, Volkswagen is once again considering bringing the ill-fated Phaeton back to the U.S. market. The reasons behind the move are many, but center around VW’s intention to triple its market share here in the land of the free by 2018. In order to do that, the company is planning on rolling out its luxury bruiser one more time, bolstered in part by the successHyundai has seen with its Genesis sedan. Of course, that particular luxury cruiser doesn’t cost anything close to the Phaeton’s $85,000 MSRP – even the Korean automaker’s forthcoming Equus range-topper will likely not command that sort of money – and its success in the U.S. remains as-yet unproven.

Bloomberg spoke with Juergen Borrmann, the director of the carmaker’s Dresden facility. Borrmann said that the company is gunning for the U.S. and that by the time the model hits our parking lots, it will be completely reworked.

Consider us interested.

Supposedly, the American version will feature a slew of different engine choices compared to the cars currently on sale in Europe and China, as well as a significantly different interior materials. According to the report, our model will share very little with the next-generation car set to hit the market next month. Hey, if at first you don’t succeed…

The sixth-generation 2011 Jetta is a pretty big deal for Volkswagen. The automaker has developed a completely new platform for the new model (instead of simply relying on Golf architecture), and the end result is a car that is 3.5 inches longer than its predecessor. This should mean that much more passenger room will be on deck, enabling the Jetta to really compete within the midsize sedan segment (as well as the compact class). As for the design, it’s admittedly a bit predictable, but we’re glad to see the Jetta no longer being styled as a Golf sedan. What’s more, we can see hints of the NCC concept car from this year’s Detroit Auto Show, and while it’s not overly sexy, it still looks clean and crisp.

One place where there isn’t much news, however, is under the hood. The 2.5-liter inline-five and 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four are carried over from the current car, and we’ll see a return of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four for the Jetta GLI. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be on hand, including Volkswagen’s well-liked DSG on TDI and 2.0T models.

An all-new interior is similar to what Volkswagen has done with the Golf and CC cabins. We’re sure that cloth and leather will be available, as well as a host of interior upgrades like navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and so on.

Volkswagen of America descended upon New York City this morning and, much to the chagrin of native New Yorkers, plugged up Times Square with the world premiere of its 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. For being inconvenienced, Manahattanites were treated to a free Katy Perry concert on VW’s Urban Oasis stage after the sheets were finally yanked from three sixth generation Jettas. We had a man on the scene who battled the crowd for live shots, which you can view in the high-res image gallery below, as well as video of the car’s reveal after the jump.

It’s not surprising that the latest batch of photos of the reworked 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton were all taken in China. The Middle Kingdom is by far the biggest market for VW where wealthy executives prefer to be driven rather than get behind the wheel. As we already witnessed at the Beijing Motor Show, the Phaeton has now adopted the same horizontal theme for its fascia that we have seen on every other recent Volkswagen introduction, and the headlamp clusters now feature LED eyeliner running lamps.

Interestingly, the Phaeton is the first car to incorporate the ability to download Google Maps satellite imagery and points of interest data over a mobile phone. The new information can be overlaid on the built-in navigation maps to provide a vastly expanded and up-to-date database of information compared to the static data that can be stored on-board the car.

A camera behind the windshield can actually read traffic signs and display information like speed limits and no-passing zones on the navigation screen and the driver information display in the main instrument cluster. The camera can also scan the surroundings for other cars that could suffer glare from the bi-xenon headlamps and mask portions of the lights to cut that glare. We’ll be curious to see just how well the Dynamic Light Assist works at maintaining light for the driver without blinding others. While you ponder all of that technology, check out our high-res gallery below and the official press release after the jump.

Those crazy kids over at Auto Express have managed to get their hands on a leaked photo of the next generation Volkswagen Passat. The car is set to debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show, and so far, the German manufacturer has been quiet about exactly what we can expect from the mid-sized fighter. From what we can tell from the leaked photo, it looks like the company will be giving the Passat a dose of familial styling. A sharp chrome-laced grille replaces the black plastic of the current generation, and crisp headlights similar to what’s currently found on the Golf have been swapped in place of the old units.

It looks like the car will also wear slightly more aggressive body work all over, including aggressively arched fenders. Details are still scarce as to exactly what will crop up under the hood, but we don’t expect too many big surprises. American buyers will likely still be able to get their Passat with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower while our European cousins will be able to enjoy a range of dieseland small-displacement gasoline powerplants.

Volkswagen has fleshed out its latest generation Polo lineup with the introduction of a new GTI variant. This latest GTI has the same output as the last hot Pol,o but now produces it on one-quarter less petrol. Each and every one of its 177 horsepower now comes from VW’s twin-charged 1.4-liter TSI inline-four with direct injection, a turbocharger and a mechanical supercharger. The combined fuel efficiency goes from 29.8 miles per gallon to 39.9 mpg on the EU test cycle.

The Polo GTI gets a similar rounded five spoke wheel design to its big brother, the Golf GTI, along with the obligatory red brake calipers and trim on the grille. Note, too, that this is the first Polo to get LED eyeliner running lamps and corner markers along with bi-xenon headlamps. In proper GTI fashion, the seats are covered in a plaid fabric just like the originals of three decades ago. In fact, with the growth of the Golf over six generations, this Polo is actually almost the same size as the original Golf.

Interestingly, the Polo GTI only comes with the quick shifting seven-speed DSG gearbox and sprints to 62 miles per hour in just 6.9 seconds, and handling will be aided by VW’s electronic differential lock, which is said to reduce oversteer.

Volkswagen finally unveiled its new sub-compact Polo sedan in Moscow today, billing it as the first ever VW developed specifically for the Russian market. While Russia may be the first market for the trunked Polo, it isn’t likely to have an exclusive on it for long. The Polo sedan is expected to make its way to North America within the next 12 months as part of VW’s drive to expand its sales here to 800,000 units a year by 2018.

Like Americans, Russians consumers have generally had a preference for notchbacks over hatchbacks despite the sacrifices in utility. In an effort to keep the Polo sedan affordable in Russia, Volkswagen is equipping it with a 103-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline inline four-cylinder engine with a choice of five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

As impressive of a vehicle as the seminal Volkswagen Phaeton may have been, the uber-luxe German sedan was an unqualified flop of an experiment here in the United States. In some other parts of the world, though, VW’s BMW and Mercedes-Benz (not to mention VW-owned Audi) competitor is still going strong.

Hence, VW has seen fit to give the Phaeton a mild update for the 2011 model year, and it tellingly used theBeijing Motor Show as the platform to reveal its top-shelf sedan. In case you missed the exterior changes, take a closer look at the front and rear fascias, where you’ll find tighter lines and new LED lighting.

It’s inside the cabin where the Phaeton gets the bulk of its improvements. Included in the refresh is VW’s latest navigation technology, along with a helpful seeing-eye camera that can monitor speed limit and no passing signs and inform lazy drivers of the data. There is also a lane-departure system that keeps the car between the proper lines and Dynamic Light Assist that adjusts the headlights to keep from blinding oncoming traffic.

Powertrain options remain the same as before, with a 450-horsepower 6.0-liter W12 engine taking top billing over a 335-hp 4.2-liter V8 and a 3.6-liter V6 that puts out 280 ponies. Finally, those looking to save a few bucks at the pump can opt for a 3.0-liter diesel V6. Check it out for yourself in the high-res image galleries below.

Citing inside sources, German car magazine ‘Auto Motor und Sport’ is reporting that the VW Group is planning to introduce SEAT and Skoda variants of its forthcoming mid-engine roadster that will be based on the BlueSport concept unveiled at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. Due to arrive sometime in 2012, VW’s edition of the roadster will most likely be offered with the firm’s TSI / TFSI gasoline and TDI diesel engines.

While a SEAT variant of the mid-engine roadster sounds logical given that the Spanish brand is supposed to be somewhat sporty (as long as it comes with a unique styling and a lower price tag than the VW’s proposal), a Skoda version doesn’t really make much sense in our opinion.

During his speech at the Volkswagen Group’s Annual Media Conference and Investor Conference on March 12, Prof. Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of VW AG, revealed that the automaker that is made up of nine brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Scania, SEAT, Skoda and VW CV, will rollout more than 20 completely new models worldwide by 2010.

Winterkorn said that amongst the cars that will be introduced are the sixth-generation VW Golf GTI 210HP in 2009 and the New Small Family based on the Up! Concepts in early 2010 which will be available for both urban drivers in the West and for the emerging markets.

In the rare case that you have ever wondered how many and what type of vehicles the VW Group sells worldwide, then you’ve come to the right place. As we learned from the company’s Facts and Figures booklet, the VW Group currently sells a total of 178 passenger cars, SUVs, sportscars, LCVs, busses and trucks spread across nine different brands – Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Scania, SEAT, Skoda and VW Commercial Vehicles. You can check out the complete list that includes photos of all models right after the jump.

In celebration of the 110th anniversary of engine building at its Mladá Boleslav plant in the Czech Republic, Skoda has announced that it will manufacture the VW Group’s latest generation 1.2-liter TSI gasoline engine. The new four-cylinder power unit features both direct fuel injection and turbocharging technology delivering an output of 105HP at 5,000 rpm and 175Nm (129 lb-ft) of peak torque available between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm.

It can be combined with either a six-speed manual transmission or the VW Group’s 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission.

Further blurring the lines between the regular Passat and its sportier CC sibling, Volkswagen has now added an optional new rear bench for the Passat CC that turns the four-seater model into a five-seater. Available in Europe as an option for €100 or about US$140, the new rear bench gets a third head restraint and three-point seat belt at the center position while the folding backrest is asymmetrically split.

Hit the jump to check out the rear passenger area of both the four- and five-seat versions of the Passat CC.

The newly forged Volkswagen Group – Suzuki alliance plans to develop a new low cost small car for India as well as Europe and other markets, the Economic Times reported on Friday. The business daily said that the new vehicle, which will act as a replacement for Suzuki’s Alto, would cost between 200,000 and 250,000 rupees in India, which comes to about $4,300 – $5,300 or €2,900 – €3,600 at today’s exchange rates.

This means that the projected price for the VW/Suzuki model, is double the price of Tata Motor’s Nano, which is the world’s cheapest automobile.

“We will need a car in the Rs 2.5-lakh apiece range. First we had the M800, then the Alto. At some point we will need a replacement for the Alto. That price range is the entry level for Indian customers today, so we can’t leave that segment open,” Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava told the newspaper.

The Economic Times reported that in Europe, the car would fit right under Volkswagen’s forthcoming Up! model.

“Volkswagen will be greatly interested in a car below the price segment of the Up, which we have already displayed in India, and that is something we will need to check in our future together with Suzuki,” VW spokesman, Fabian Mannecke, told ET.

The newspaper added that in Europe, the VW/Suzuki small car would be priced well under the still under development Up! (which it claims will carry a price tag of around $8,800 or €6,000 in Old Continent), at around $4,000 to $5,000 or €2,700 to €3,400.

We’re assuming that ET made some sort of typo in the price range as there’s no way that the VW / Suzuki small car will be priced lower in Europe that in India.

And while Tata Motors proves that everything’s possible in India, somehow we find it hard to believe that the two automakers will be able to develop a car that meets the strict emissions and crash standards in Europe and at the same time carry a price tag of around €3,000…

Hold onto your butts because here’s VW’s first ever compact SUV. The Tiguan, which will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in a couple of days, puts VW right up against the heavyweight players of the category like Toyota’s RAV4 and Honda’s CR-V.

Don’t let the word Concept fool you, as with the exception of a few details like the bi-coloured tires. Although we admit that we were waiting for something more extravagant –don’t blame us, blame VW and its 2006 Concept A prototype… the Tiguan looks quite good, and it could be easily be characterized as a, “baby Touareg”.

Based on previous information I gathered talking with VW people, the Tiguan uses Golf’s simple 4wheel drive system, dubbed 4MOTION. Despite the fact that the prototype is fitted with a TDI engine, the production version is expected to use VW’s wide range of petrol and diesel motors, including the Golf GTI’s 200Hp 2.0 TFSI. In Europe, the Tiguan will most possibly be offered with the new generation 1.4 TSI engine available in 140 and 170Hp versions.

Heads up, CR-Z fans: Honda has announced that the company will be releasing a mere 300 Mugenaccessory kits for the Japanese sport hybrid. The ultra-rare bodywork includes bits like a completely revised front fascia with an altered grille design, a massive rear spoiler and flashy 17-inch rollers. Under the hood things stay nearly completely stock, though Honda has swapped the blaséplastic oil filler cap with a billet aluminum piece. Astounding, we know.

But all of that pales in comparison to the interior work. Along with a new shift knob, Honda has installed “sport mats.” We aren’t entirely sure what makes a floor mat sporty, but we’ll take their word for it.

The body kits will be available in all five CR-Z colors. So far, there’s no word on how much the kits will cost, but we can’t imagine they’ll go cheap. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

The team from Bisimoto has taken to curing the Honda CR-Z hybrid of its anemia by prescribing massive doses of forced induction. The stock 1.5-liter four-cylinder was extracted and rebuilt using Arias pistons and a Bisimoto valvetrain, but the star of the show is that massive billet Turbonetics turbo. It shoves ample amounts of air through a 70-millimeter custom throttle body at a rate that has to rival most jet engines. The whole kit and caboodle is good for a staggering 533 horsepower, which helps explain why a car that started life with a 0-60 mph time of 10 seconds now requires a parachute to reduce its inertia.

Is this proof positive that the CR-Z has the kind of tunability that made the CRX legendary, or simply an example of cash conquering all handicaps? Decide for yourself as you scroll through our high-res image gallery below.

Honda has not yet given up in the entry-level hybrid fight. There’s the new, not-for-U.S. Jazz (Fit) Hybrid, for one thing, but the older Insight hybrid isn’t being left in the dust, either. Autocar reports that some of the lessons from the Jazz are being applied to the Insight – most importantly that the “stop” time of the Insight’s stop-start cycle can now be up to 90 seconds long in Eco Mode.

Because of “obscure patenting reasons” that made the system assume a worst-case humidity situation, the previous limit was just 30 seconds. This change can save a lot of gas in city driving. There are no new mile-per-gallon numbers to tout just yet, and the change isn’t likely to affect America’s EPA figures (the government agency’s test cycle doesn’t recognize the benefits of start-stop), but it’s a nice, green upgrade nonetheless.

Honda has just released details on what buyers in the UK can expect to see from the 2011 Civic. The company has kept the changes to its spacey-looking five-door largely cosmetic, including a new grille up front. The company says that piece borrows cues from the legendary Type R, and if you squint your eyes enough, you can almost see the resemblance. A new range of wheels is also available for next year ranging in size from 16 to 17 inches depending on engine and trim level. There’s also a new Ionized Bronze paint color available across the lineup.

Inside, Honda has moved to up the ante ever so slightly. SE and ES trims will now boast seats that are covered in half fabric and half Alcantara, while the Si guise now comes with heated front thrones. Otherwise, the vehicle stays much the way it was for 2010. Under the hood, buyers are still greeted with the familiar 1.4 and 1.8-liter powerplants, and the horsepower figures haven’t moved from last year’s numbers, either. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Despite the fact that Honda has no plans – at least not yet – to export its 2011 Honda Fit (Jazz) Hybrid to the U.S., we’ve still kept a close eye on the automaker’s subcompact gas-electric. From the rumors thatswirled around back in 2006 to its on-stage debut at the Paris Motor Show, we’ve never lost sight of the Fit Hybrid and its overall importance in the gas-electric segment. Now, as the vehicle launches in Japan, we’re pleased to note that Reuters is reporting that Honda has kept its promise and priced the Fit Hybrid at a mere1.59 million yen ($19,310 U.S. at current exchanges rate). This makes it the cheapest gas-electric car available in Japan.

Honda reports that pre-orders in Japan for the bargain-priced hybrid have reached nearly 10,000 units. Toppling the nation’s best-seller, the Toyota Prius, though, will require even more consumer interest than that. Under Japanese testing methods, the Fit Hybrid receives a 70.6 mile-per-gallon fuel economy rating, equal to that of the company’s Insight.

What do the Ferrari 599 HY-KERS, Lotus Evora 414E and Porsche 918 Spyder have in common? They’re all fuel efficient sports cars with technology that’s finally fitted to something worth driving. Also, we can’t buy them… yet. What’s worse, when they do go on sale, mere mortals who don’t log on to an off-shore account to check their net worth won’t be able to partake.

So how can a gearhead tread a little lighter and still get their kicks? Read our full story to find out.

Honda has told us it will not be producing a Honda Fit Hybrid for the U.S. market, but it also once told us thatthere will be no Honda Jazz Hybrid. What you are looking at above is exactly that – an EU-market Honda Jazz with a gas-electric drivetrain. The new, more verdant model is set to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, and Honda has just released an expanded array of images and more details about the eco-minded hatch. While the Japanese automaker hasn’t divulged the car’s full specs, there are a few things we do know:

The U.S. 2010 Honda Fit model is rated at 27 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, and we expect the Fit Hybrid to push that urban rating up by more than a few notches. Sadly, this new model remains unlikely to make it to North American shores.