Plug in, Bug out: VW unveils E-Bugster concept car at the Detroit Auto Show

Posted on 10 January 2012 by

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.

Introducing the Jetta Hybrid: One part eco-friendly, one part high-tech, all parts awesome

Posted on 10 January 2012 by

The Volkswagen Jetta made a New Year’s resolution: to be even more fuel-efficient. And only nine days into 2012, it’s made good on that promise. The Jetta Hybrid was revealed at the North American International Auto Show today, and thanks to its all-new technology, it’s the most fuel-efficient Jetta in our lineup.

What’s New

The all-new Jetta Hybrid is powered by a high-tech turbocharged gasoline engine that is paired with a zero-emissions electric motor. While this marriage of smart and sensible enables impressive driving performance with a class-leading 0-60 mph time of less than 9.0 seconds, this new Jetta is also the world’s first hybrid to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. What does that mean to you? It means the Jetta can deliver an estimated combined fuel economy figure of 45 mpg with no sacrifice in power. The fuel efficiency is a full 20 percent higher, and in city traffic, it climbs to a little over 30 percent.

The Jetta Hybrid can also be driven in pure electric mode at speeds of up to 44 mph and for up to 1.2 miles, depending on operating conditions. And for the first time in the U.S. market, we’re using our acclaimed 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline power plant, which weighs in at a mere 216 pounds. The slimmed-down four-cylinder engine produces 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque from just 1400 rpm. Now you can have a lead foot and still be environmentally friendly.

What’s Cool

The Jetta has always had a certain cool factor, but the Jetta Hybrid turns it up a few notches. It features a new take on regenerative braking: its clutch decouples the gasoline engine from the drivetrain when in pure electric drive or coasting modes to release more kinetic energy back into the battery. Because “decouples” is such a cool word, we’ll use it to describe another feature: when you step off the accelerator pedal at speeds of up to 84 mph, the TSI® engine shuts down and decouples from the drivetrain to eliminate driveline drag and the effects of the engine’s torque, resulting in even greater fuel efficiency. Want info on how fuel-efficient the Jetta Hybrid is? Get it with one glance at its all-new ePower meter. It also boasts a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery, and its Autobahn-proven technology makes it the fastest compact hybrid in its class. Now that’s cool.

Why It Matters

Think Blue is Volkswagen’s commitment to achieving sustainable mobility through technology and cars that don’t compromise performance. With its impressive fuel efficiency, turbocharged speed, innovative technology and standard safety equipment like Electronic Stability Control, anti-lock brakes and six airbags, the Jetta Hybrid embodies the Think Blue spirit of mobility that’s not only environmentally friendly, but fun.

For more information on the new Jetta Hybrid, check out our press release. The Jetta Hybrid launches in North America in late 2012, but you can see it now at the Detroit Auto Show. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for live updates from the show.

Behind the wheel with Danielle Gumro: Why she loves the Touareg, in her own words

Posted on 25 August 2011 by

It’s a story as old as time: girl meets Touareg, falls in love, and drives happily ever after. (That’s a thing, right?) We recently caught up with Volkswagen product specialist Danielle Gumro to get her thoughts on her daily driver, a 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel.

Danielle’s Touareg—which she nicknamed her “Miracle Whip”—is more than just a great way to get around; it also doubles as a personal assistant. The Touareg’s voice command feature is especially handy when either of them needs to fuel up. “I love being able to locate things so simply by just pressing a button and telling my Touareg what I need. ‘I need coffee. I need diesel. I’m hungry.’” She also loves that she can open the back hatch right from her key fob when her hands are full. And even though the sweltering summer temps have prevented her from using them, she’s looking forward to trying out the heated seats and pressing the Touareg’s REST button this winter. (Editor’s Note: “REST” is the German word for “residual,” and the button enables the vehicle’s residual heat function, which keeps the cabin warm, even when the engine off and you’re running short errands.)

When we asked Danielle what she likes best about driving a TDI, she answered, “The fuel economy, definitely. I also like the way that it performs—it gives me a little pep in my own step,” she added, referring to the powerful low-end torque, but also to something else. “Once you know what diesel technology is all about, it’s like being in on the secret. You feel cooler. Let’s just say that if I had a collar on right now, it’d be popped.”

Like Danielle, the Touareg is always up for a challenge and does everything in style; this dynamic duo gets lots of attention, no matter where they go. Danielle recounts one story involving a valet who drilled her for information on the Touareg. “He had no idea Volkswagen made something that luxurious” Of course, as a seasoned product specialist, she was more than equipped to answer all his questions.

While Danielle isn’t planning to drive her Touareg across 14 countries like the TDI Panamericana team recently did, she does have a few road trips on her calendar. Stay tuned to the Touareg Blog for more on that.