Apr 22
The much-rumored iCar may have never made it into existence, but VolksWagen’s Apple-themed car has finally been made official: the iBeetle offers up some pretty deeply ingrained Apple tech. But who’s actually going to buy one? More »
Apr 19
Today the Volkwagen iBeetle has been announced – and it’s not just a concept car. This very real, very ready for the market vehicle has been unleashed at the Shanghai auto show with full iPhone 5 integration. But it’s not coming with an iPhone out of the box – you have to buy that separately.
In an effort to engage the younger generation once more, Volkswagen’s new “iBeetle” will be working with a phone dock that appears above the dash, ready for your next-generation iPhone. And just incase you were wondering – yes, Apple is in on the release.
With the iBeetle you’ll be seeing Apple releasing some car apps created specifically for the vehicle. Extra instrumentation viewing and control, connections wirelessly for both control and sound, and a new app that sends “digital postcards” of your location based on GPS information. Unlike many other in-car infotainment systems we’ve been seeing of late, this system is wholly dependent on the iPhone.
This system is said to be working in the near future with a set of Apple-made (in collaboration with VW) applications that are as follows:
• Live reading of social networking messages (likely Siri-related)
• Car data readouts for g-force, oil temperature, coolant temperature, compass, timer
• Data for time, distance, fuel in relation to one-another
• Instant photo transmission when app is activated
• Spotify – it’s unclear at the moment how this differs from the basic Spotify app
This vehicle will very likely change the way we see the car industry as far as how important a specific smartphone or tablet is to the vehicles being produced. Never before has a manufacturer placed such specific reliance on a single device before! At least in the past, they didn’t name the car after the smartphone, that’s for sure!
[via USA Today]
iBeetle revealed: real iPhone-friendly vehicle set for 2014 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Apr 19
Apple has a penchant for naming a fair number of their gizmos with the prefix of the letter “i”, and here we are keeping our fingers crossed that Volkswagen will not do the same with their future rides, even should the Volkswagen iBeetle do extremely well in the market. Wait a minute here, you say, just exactly what is the Volkswagen iBeetle all about?
The spanknig new Volkswagen iBeetle will be accompanied by an iPhone docking station, which has been specially integrated into the dashboard itself. This would mean you can snap the iPhone in its place nice and sturdy, where just about every single one of the phone’s functions will be able to be accessed and executed in the iBeetle directly, such as hands-free calls, navigation, and music playback, among others.
There will also be an app that helps hold everything together in terms of functionality, an advanced on-board instrumentation, gas-mileage trainer, text-to-speech message reader, and photos among others. Itching for a new ride already?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Boeing 787 Dreamliner Battery Modifications Approved By FAA, $82 Million Private Jet Terminal For Silicon Valley Elites Approved, 
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Apr 19
Volkswagen iBeetle integrates the iPhone through a dock, an app… and that’s it
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Many see Apple and Volkswagen as two peas in a pod given their similar marketing, even if previous talk of collaborations amounted to little more than speculation. That purported dream team will soon become real through the iBeetle, an adaptation of the modern VW Bug designed with a little help from Apple. Don’t get your hopes up for a tie-in on the level of VW’s iPad-friendly Bulli concept, however. The integration mostly amounts to an iPhone dock as well as a car-optimized iOS app that can play music, read messages aloud, take photos and augment the instrument cluster. It’s a solid idea, especially when a large number of us already use our smartphones this way, but it isn’t very adventurous — the iPhone won’t coordinate extensively with the center stack, unlike smartphone-aware infotainment platforms such as GM’s MyLink or Ford Sync. We’d still take a close look at the iBeetle when coupe and convertible models reach US dealerships in early 2014, but it may be best for those already bent on getting some fahrvergnügen from their next ride.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Apple
Via: Autoblog
Source: Volkswagen
Mar 16
China’s most powerful TV program, China Central Television, controlled by the country’s government, aired a 2-hour show that attacked both Apple’s and Volkswagen’s customer service policies in the country. CCTV aired the broadcast in celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, held every year on March 15th. The company has attacked several, major corporations in the past, including Mcdonalds, KFC, and a French retailer named Carrefour.
In its broadcast, CCTV accused Apple of cheating Chinese consumers on their warranty, as well as offering Chinese customers different customer service policies compared to its policies offered in every other country. Apple is also accused of ignoring China’s laws in its practices. CCTV also attacked Volkswagen for selling error-filled cars in China. Volkswagen’s cars in China have been equipped with “substandard direct-shift gearbox systems” that resulted in acceleration mishaps and car accidents to an “unspecified” amount of drivers.
Apple responded with, “Our team is always striving to exceed our customers’ expectations, and we take any customer concerns very seriously.” Volkswagen responded with, “We will spare no effort to make improvement in the future,” and that it plans on fixing the gearbox systems in its vehicles in China. Apple and Volkswagen are both working hard to fix the problems described by CCTV. China is a major market for both companies, especially for Apple, who has over 17,000 stores and resellers in the country.
CCTV has a great deal of influence on companies and consumers in China. When the TV program made a broadcast on the quality of chicken provided by Yum Brands Inc.’s KFC stores, the company saw a 6% decline in sales during its 4th quarter. The company had then revamped its practices, and made a public apology. When CCTV launched an investigation on a database-marketing unit, named Dun & Bradstreet Corp., about its illegal practices, the company was fined 1 million yuan ($160,640), and 4 of its executives were sentenced to 2 years in prison.
[via The Wall Street Journal]
China’s CCTV attacks Apple’s and Volkswagen’s customer service policies is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 15
The Volkswagen E-Up was nothing but a concept just four years ago, and now the German car company has decided to have it “grow up” and enter production, where the small electric vehicle is touted to be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this fall. Of course, since much time has passed between now and back then, the Volkswagen E-Up would not be exactly the same as before, as it sports proper seating for four adults, and an 18.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 60kW electric motor will drive this four-wheeler.
You will be able to eke out around 150km (93 miles) from this bad boy, and do not expect to win any kind of drag races at the red light, considering how it hits 62mph from a stop within 14 seconds, and has a top speed of 84mph. On the other hand, you should not have an issue with the Volkswagen E-Up in your garage since it takes just 30 minutes of charging via DC to reach 80% of its battery capacity thanks to quick charging capability, and will also be compatible with traditional AC circuits courtesy of a Combined Charging System.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Charging Your Electric Cars Become Easier, Yunasko: Ultracapacitors with High Power Efficiency,
Mar 14
Remember the Volkswagen’s E-Up! concept from 2009? The company just announced that it plans to launch a production version of the tiny EV at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. It’s been tweaked a little since we last saw it, with proper seating for four (vs. 3+1 on the concept), a revised snout and updated wheels. Under the hood you’ll find an 18.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 60kW electric motor which provide a range of 150km (93 miles) with a respectable top speed of 84mph and a leisurely 0-62mph time of 14 seconds. The car supports quick-charging to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes via DC but also handles traditional AC circuits thanks to a Combined Charging System. The E-Up! will join the existing Up! and Eco-Up! (natural gas) models in Volkswagen’s lineup, but it’s unclear if the company plans to bring the EV to the US. Hit the source link below for the full PR and some additional photos.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Autoblog green
Mar 08
The concept of the Volkswagen XL1 dates back to 2002, but the final production model of the car has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. What makes this piece of automotive engineering so incredible is that it’s powered by a diesel hybrid engine that Volkswagen claims can get 261 miles per gallon.
The XL1 is a two-seater, and located in the back is a 48 horsepower, two-cylinder diesel engine connected to an electric system that you can plug in to charge. Volkswagen claims that the XL1 can do 100mph and can go from 0-60 in about 12 seconds, which obviously isn’t anything to be proud of from a gearhead’s perspective, but if you’re getting over 250 miles per gallon, everything else just seems insignificant.
The engine is connected to a 7-speed transmission, as well as a 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. In total, the car weighs just 1,752 lbs., which is about half the weight of a typical American midsize sedan. On electricity alone, the XL1 can travel 31 miles before needing a juice boost, while a single gallon of disel fuel can last over 250 miles.
However, here comes the bad news. Volkswagen will only be making 250 XL1s for now, but there’s always the possibility of ramping up production if sales go well. However, you’ll have to lay down over 100,000 euros ($130,000 USD) before you can drive one home. Then again, it’s not the prettiest car in the word, but the Lambo doors sure do look pretty.
[via Wired]
Volkswagen XL1 production model unveiled at Geneva Motor Show is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 08
It’s hard to deny that online advertising has grown a bit stale, with most ads being some take on ye olde banners. Google obviously has a vested interest in keeping us clicking — so it’s launching its Art, Copy & Code project to liven things up. The initiative sees Google experimenting with partners to see which concepts garner the most interest. Among the early field tests is the “useful marketing” of Volkswagen’s Smileage app, which uses a Google+ Sign-In to share media from a road trip; there’s also an upcoming internet of things experiment that may involve talking shoes, among other wireless-aware objects. The full scope of Google’s advertising outreach will have to wait, although the search firm plans to show and discuss some of its plans at South by Southwest this week. Companies that haven’t been getting much attention from old-fashioned, picture-based pitches may want to give the project a closer look.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
Via: Google Official Blog
Source: Art, Copy & Code
Feb 26
There’s something quite amazing about hybrid and electric vehicles, especially if you tend to pile on the miles each and every week. At some point, you become interested in cutting down on costs, spending less on fuel, and being more mindful of the environment. The Volkswagen XL1 takes it up a notch in all of these areas.
The Volkswagen XL1 has a futuristic body, that’s got a certain appeal to it. It runs off a 27hp electric engine and a 47hp two-cylinder TDI engine. It definitely looks futuristic, and while you won’t be beating any Ferraris anytime soon driving one of these, you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank because this thing gets an estimated 261 miles per gallon. Yep, that’s no typo.
The XL1 will soon go into limited production for select markets, but there are no plans to offer it in the US. VW hasn’t yet announced any pricing.
[via Uncrate]
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