Apr 15
Volkswagen has unveiled the new 2015 Jetta at the New York International Auto Show. The 2015 Jetta gets new front, rear, and interior styling that enhances the design the Jetta … Continue reading
Apr 01
It takes a special breed of traveler to own a VW Vanagon. These quirky people-movers are far from the most luxurious whips on the road but they always seem to arrive at the most scenic of destinations. Or the garage. Because these things break down—a lot.
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Oct 24
There are two approaches when it comes to stocking a kitchen: You can find yourself the best multi-purpose tools, appliances, and other accessories that might cost a little more, but promise to keep your drawers and counters free of clutter. Or, you can embrace every single cheap novelty gadget and knick-knack that are primarily designed to be fun or cute. Can you guess which category this camper van toaster falls into?
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Aug 07
Volkswagen and Google launch SmileDrive Android app: it makes insufferable commutes sufferable (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili
It surely isn’t the first time we’ve seen a quirky automaker look to the smartphone in order to add a bit of pizazz to the morning drive — Mini owners far and wide have plenty of inside jokes when it comes to the Mini Connected app. That being said, SmileDrive might just have the market cornered when it comes to all-out joviality. The free app, which was launched today by Volkswagen of America and Google, is presently only available for Android devices. (And yes, it’s a result of Google’s Art, Copy & Code project.) In a nutshell, it connects to any vehicle via Bluetooth (yes, Fiats and Ferraris as well) and runs in the background while a drive is ongoing. Once the wheels have stopped and the ignition has been switched off, it uses factors like location, distance, time and weather to deliver users their Smile Score and awards them with stickers — think of ’em as Foursquare badges for motorists.
On a longer road trip, SmileDrive offers the ability to create a Smilecast: a dynamic travelogue filled with the captured photos, maps of the trip, status updates, as well as other memories that are collected on a single URL. It all sounds pretty fantastic, if we’re honest, but allow us to offer up a tip: make sure you phone’s plugged into a charger. Wouldn’t want that background action to drain too much of your battery, now would you?
Filed under: Transportation, Software, Google
Via: The Verge
Source: Volkswagen, Google Play Store
Jul 09
Fans of Volkswagen, particularly fans of the VW Microbus are going to love this toaster. You can’t just walk into a shop and buy one of these. This rare Microbus toaster was distributed through Volkswagen dealerships in Japan.
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
Jan 14
VW unveils CrossBlue plug-in SUV with iPad mini headrests and 85MPGe efficiency (eyes-on)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
America is the land of the SUV and so it’s no surprise that Volkswagen came here to launch its CrossBlue plug-in concept. The SUV features a front-mounted diesel engine paired with an electric motor in a traditional hybrid configuration, plus a second, more powerful electric motor in the rear to drive those wheels in the back. This configuration gives it all wheel drive and also allows the ECU to either send power to or retrieve power from (in the form of regeneration) either motor to recharge the on-board battery pack — which can also be juiced up by plugging into the wall.
The system is said to deliver an estimated 85MPGe efficiency, which is pretty amazing for an SUV, and 14 miles of pure electric driving should you wish. As it’s a concept, it’s anybody’s guess just how it’ll actually perform when it goes into production, but we couldn’t help but notice something very much available today in the back seats: iPad minis. Yes, one was embedded in each of the headrests, rear-facing for maximum efficiency in keeping the kids busy during a long cruise. Again, this is just a concept, so no guarantees we’ll ever see this on the road, but a VW rep commented that they hope to see this in production in a year or two.
Gallery: VW CrossBlue with iPad mini eyes-on
Gallery: VW CrossBlue concept
Filed under: Transportation
Aug 19
Volkswagen 2013 Jetta Hybrid sets speed record, gives new meaning to hypermiling
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Most hybrid car drivers will tell you that their world is all about being gentle on the throttle, spending as much time as possible in that electric-only speed range even if it makes a family minivan look speedy. Volkswagen has just claimed a record for doing precisely the opposite: the 2013 Jetta Hybrid is reportedly the fastest production hybrid in the world, having come just shy of a verified 185.4MPH after an all-out assault on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The company did have to modify the sedan to reach the breakneck pace, tweaking the powertrain, wheels and interior to run safely on that atypical surface, but it isn’t known to have bumped the 150HP output of the gas engine or the 27HP of the electric motor. We have a hunch that VW’s title won’t last for long, whether or not we see the claim as valid — there are a few decidedly more performance-oriented hybrids rolling off assembly lines now and in the future. Still, until there’s a more direct challenge, one of the world’s more ubiquitous commuter cars is the hybrid speed leader.
Continue reading Volkswagen 2013 Jetta Hybrid sets speed record, gives new meaning to hypermiling
Filed under: Transportation
Volkswagen 2013 Jetta Hybrid sets speed record, gives new meaning to hypermiling originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Aug 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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