The history of Volkswagen began in 1934 when a talented engineer named Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned by Adolph Hitler to build a small, inexpensive car. His creation was a beetle shaped sedan he called Volkswagen, German for the people’s car.
Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party’s motto, “Joy through Strength”), and soon decided that Porsche’s creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the “Joy through Strength” car). This upset Porsche, who was not political. World War II delayed production as the factory was badly damaged by allied bombings. After the war, the company was renamed Volkswagen and production moved to Wolfsburg where production of the Beetle hit full stride by the late 1940′s. The 1950′s and 60′s saw Volkswagen turn out Beetle after Beetle along with a few other additions to the model line. By 1972, the Beetle had surpassed 15 million units assembled and it was now time for Volkswagen to turn their efforts towards new models and new technologies. The decade saw the introduction of the Passat, Golf and Rabbit as the Beetle was discontinued for the US market. The 80′s and 90′s were somewhat lackluster for Volkswagen. New models with better performance seemed to be the mandate however ho hum marketing and dated styling resulted in sales declines in North America. Towards the end of the decade however, the reintroduction of the new Beetle certainly helped lift Volkswagen out of their doldrums. The new millennium saw Volkswagen move into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and engineered, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Lucky for Volkswagen that it has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.
Automobile Magazine Volkswagen
Automobile’s comprehensive new and future cars section covers all the news, prices, specifications, photos, and more for every 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 make and model that will be in the showrooms soon including concept cars.
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI – Beauty Beneath the Skin Friday, 18 May 2012, 3:05 pm
We start to look beneath the Passat’s plain wrapper.
Although its mainstream mission and conservative exterior styling have led some staff members to believe the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI is bland, so far, everyone who’s driven the car during its first month in our Four Seasons test fleet has walked away impressed.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI – Four Seasons Update – May 2012 – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI – Four Seasons Update – May 2012 – Automobile Magazine
Automobile Magazine Volkswagen |
Driven: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Monday, 14 May 2012, 5:05 pm
The best Jetta you can get.
When the current-generation Jetta was launched, its big advance over the previous model was its much lower price. Unfortunately, that lower price was achieved with some severe cost cutting both in the car’s mechanicals — a cheaper rear suspension and a smaller, less-powerful engine — and its interior. The arrival for 2012 of the top-spec GLI edition of the Jetta, goes a long way toward remedying those issues.
Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI – Automobile Magazine
Automobile Magazine Volkswagen |
2012 Volkswagen Golf R Two Door Wednesday, 2 May 2012, 11:05 pm
The Golf R is a halo product for VW, a car that caters to diehard fans.
There’s almost no reason to review this car. Volkswagen fanboys probably bought every Golf R within a few days of the announcement that it was coming to the States. Car guys who don’t like VW products will complain that the Golf R is way too heavy and expensive. Both groups made up their minds as soon as the specifications were announced, and it’s unlikely driving impressions will convert the nonbelievers.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R Two Door – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R Two Door – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine
Automobile Magazine Volkswagen |
2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI – Americanized Monday, 30 April 2012, 3:04 pm
Twelve months with a TDI.
The 2012 Volkswagen Passat is more than just another Passat, or even yet another midsize sedan in an already vast pool of similar-sized vehicles in North America. No, the innocuous-looking sedan, which went on sale in 2011, reflects a shift in Volkswagen’s North American product planning — and, for that matter, VW’s global ambitions.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI – Four Seasons Introduction – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI – Four Seasons Introduction – Automobile Magazine
Automobile Magazine Volkswagen |
Deep Dive: Volkswagen Group’s Product Plans Monday, 23 April 2012, 3:04 pm
VAG aims to be number one by 2018. It might just get there early.
Volkswagen has met with doubt and derision for pursuing “strategy 2018.” No one, not even VW chairman Ferdinand Piech, can simply mark a date on a calendar when the company might end up as the biggest automaker on earth, certainly not when so many competitors are fiercely fighting over every percentage point of market share. In that respect, at least, the naysayers are correct. Volkswagen is not on track to take the number one spot in 2018, but rather, in 2016 — two years ahead of schedule.
Photo Gallery: Deep Dive: Volkswagen Group’s Product Plans – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: Deep Dive: Volkswagen Group’s Product Plans – Automobile Magazine
Automobile Magazine Volkswagen |
First Look: Volkswagen Alltrack Concept Wednesday, 4 April 2012, 6:04 pm
Volkswagen imagines a rugged, all-wheel-drive, diesel wagon.
The Volkswagen Alltrack concept is a raised, all-wheel-drive station wagon, and you’re correct in thinking we’ve seen this recipe before. The Subaru Outback is also an all-wheel-drive wagon that tries to bridge the gap between sedan and SUV. Volkswagen’s take on that idea, the Alltrack concept, makes its debut at the New York auto show.
Photo Gallery: First Look: Volkswagen Alltrack Concept – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: First Look: Volkswagen Alltrack Concept – Automobile Magazine
Automobile Magazine Volkswagen |
Volkswagen Amarok Canyon Concept Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 7:03 pm
Volkswagen’s Amarok Canyon Concept Makes Waves (of Sorts)
Volkswagen’s Amarok pickup truck might be useful for hauling simple things like furniture or building supplies, but its newest Geneva Motor Show concept is thinking a bit more extreme. The company has unveiled the Amarok Canyon Concept, a truck designed to handle the rigors of freestyle kayaking.
Photo Gallery: Volkswagen Amarok Canyon Concept – 2012 Geneva Motor Show – Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: Volkswagen Amarok Canyon Concept – 2012 Geneva Motor Show – Automobile Magazine
2009 Volkswagen Model Lineup
- 2009 Volkswagen GTI
- 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2
- 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2009 Volkswagen Routan
- 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
- 2009 Volkswagen R32
- 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible
- 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle
- 2009 Volkswagen EOS
- 2009 Volkswagen GLI
- 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2009 Volkswagen Passat
