The first thing you notice is that the 2012 Beetle still has that iconic VW “Bug” appearance, but it’s much improved. They flattened its roof, lowered its stance, and made it a little wider and a little bit longer. All of the VW dealers were pulling out their camera phones to take pictures of this new beauty that starts at less than $19k. Once inside the car you realize that this was a complete remake. The dashboard had a carbon-fiber appearance and three gauges mounted on top of the dash gave it an exotic car feel. The new Beetle offers Bluetooth technology, keyless access with a cool push-button start. Wait until you see the new multi-color ambient lighting inside! The new Fender Audio System will absolutely blow you away. The clarity at every volume level is the best I’ve ever heard in any vehicle.
You can pre-order a new 2012 right now and they tell us the first cars will arrive in September. We will have a base model and a turbo-charged version in our showrooms in mid-September. Beetle owners like to customize their cars and this model will offer a lot of options to make it your own. From various wheel options to some really interesting graphic wraps this car will definitely draw a lot of attention as it rolls down the Dallas Tollway!
The 21st Century Beetle arrives in dealer showrooms this September, and you have the coveted opportunity to own one of 600 Black Turbo launch edition models. All it takes is a $495 fully refundable reservation fee that goes toward your future Beetle purchase. You can pre-order the 2012 VW Black Turbo launch edition at http://preorder.vw.com.
First shift team in place; second shift hiring under way
Chattanooga, Tenn. — Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations announced today that the company has passed the 1500 employee mark. The 1500th employee represents the three-quarter point in the effort to hire and train the 2,000 plus employees who will build the all-new 2012 Passat. Hiring will continue through 2011 as the plant reaches full production.
“It is an exciting milestone to have hired our 1500th team member here at Volkswagen Chattanooga, but we still have long way to go, and there is still a lot of opportunity for those who want to join our team,” said Hans-Herbert Jagla, Executive Vice President of Human Resources. “We are on schedule with our hiring plan. The workforce that we have hired has been very trainable, extremely capable and most of all, passionate about the quality of their work. I am very confident that we will find these same characteristics as we continue the hiring process,” Jagla said.
Volkswagen now employs a total of 1,516 people. The production team is made up of 674 people, of which 96 percent are from Hamilton County, Tennessee. There have been a total of 75 new hire orientation classes of common core training, a process which takes place in the cutting edge Volkswagen Academy.
“Our production workforce has just produced our 500th new Passat,” said Don Jackson, president of manufacturing. “Our training program immerses our team members in the Volkswagen Passion for Detail. The men and women that build the new Passat are producing excellent products here in Chattanooga,” Jackson said.
About Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations LLC
Volkswagen will invest $1 billion in the local economy for the Chattanooga plant and create more than 2,000 direct jobs in the region. According to independent studies, the new Volkswagen plant is expected to generate $12 billion in income growth and an additional 9,500 jobs related to the project. The Chattanooga manufacturing facility will build the all-new 2012 Passat sedan, specially designed for the North American market.
Herndon, VA – On April 18th, Volkswagen will celebrate the global reveal of the 21st Century Beetle, marking a new chapter in the iconic vehicle’s history. The Beetle will be revealed to the public in a spectacular world debut on three continents. The reveal will begin in Shanghai, China with an exclusive MTV Sound System celebration hosted by MTV VJ’s, followed by MTV World Stage events in Berlin and New York City.
At the MTV World Stage event in New York City, presented by the 21st Century Beetle, The Black Eyed Peas will perform their most popular hits, including material from their latest album, “The Beginning.” At the Berlin MTV World Stage event, Belgian duo 2manydjs will headline and perform a DJ set at the city’s E-Werk space. The New York performance will be streamed live on www.WorldStage.MTV.com (except in the UK), with highlights later broadcast on MTV networks around the world, making it the most widely distributed World Stage event to date. Highlights from both the New York and Berlin events will also be available online.
“The Beetle is an icon of the automotive world, just like MTV is an icon of the music world. In the context of this marketing alliance, we are taking the new Volkswagen directly to customers and fans of the Volkswagen brand – and we are doing it globally,” states Luca de Meo, Director of Marketing, Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Brand Passenger Cars. “We are certain that the car’s one-of-a-kind styling combined with the latest technology will be very well received by customers.”
The 21st Century Beetle is an automotive icon, reinvented. Its exterior reinterprets the silhouette of the famous Volkswagen Beetle, combining stylistic elements borrowed from the original coupled with the latest technology. The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle guarantees drivers a fun and unique driving experience.
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2011 Volkswagen vehicles come standard-equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This is important because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.
MTV
MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile and its online hub is the leading destination for music, news and pop culture.
In the first spot for The 21st Century Beetle, cutting-edge CGI creative goes entomological, creating a photo-real lush kingdom where the Black Beetle rules, runs, navigates and out performs all the other creatures.
Driving the all-new performance inspired 2012 VW Jetta GLI is definitely an experience, and the Fender audio system provides the soundtrack. It’s no small honor that Fender, arguably the most iconic name in audio, partnered exclusively with Volkswagen to make sure the new line up of VWs sound as good as they drive.
The GLI already prowls the streets with a rock star attitude. With its aggressive stance, 2.0-liter, 200hp turbocharged engine, interior sticking, honeycomb grill and flashy red caliper breaks the GLI is photogenic and it knows it. And with the addition of the Fender Premium Audio System the final piece of the puzzle is in place. This nine-speaker system is specifically designed to capture the raw emotion of a live performance, making it a “face-melting” audio experience. And according to Brian Tedeschi, Fender’s Business Affairs manager, that’s a technical term.
We had Danielle Gumro catch-up and rock-out (literally) at the Chicago Auto Show with the big brains at Fender to hear the inspiration and science behind the gut-busting sound. This state-of the-art sound system was the product of over three years of research and development to bring unmatched audio clarity at high and low volume to your driving experience. In laymen’s terms this means a lot of really smart people spent a really long time making sure that this audio system is going to be better, louder and generally more “face-melting” than anything you’ve heard before.
On Wednesday Jonathan Browning, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, proudly unveiled the much-anticipated all-new 2012 VW Jetta GLI amidst a firework show of camera flashes. Enthusiasts rushed the car like Justin Bieber at an elementary school to get a glimpse of the details that keep so many drivers coming back for more of the GLI. The cherry red brake calipers, interior stitching, flat-bottom steering wheel, and honeycomb grill were the subject of most of the “oohs and ahhs.”
The beauty of this ride isn’t just skin-deep, the sporty 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine had real drivers chomping at the bit to get out and drive. Fast. And if the performance inspired design wasn’t enough to turn everybody’s head at the Chicago Auto Show – the Fender Audio System was.
The reveal wasn’t open to the general public, but luckily for you we know people who know people. And those people have cameras. Check out pictures of the new Jetta GLI, and the Chicago Auto Show here.
Yesterday the Jetta GLI rolled onto the stage at the Chicago Auto Show, but its first photos were shot months ago. So while you wait for updates from the big show, see all the Jetta GLI images here.
But before you dismiss these rock band-heavy shots as our attempt to look overly cool, (you know: picture of car next to super model, car next to waterfall, next to large hadron collider), you may want to keep this in mind:
The GLI will be the first model to feature a VW-exclusive Fender audio system. It’s a product of three years in a state-of-the-art sound lab, and, other than traveling with your own private band, it’s is as close as you get to a live performance. This particular GLI, however, seems to have both.
What you can’t see is what lies beneath the hood. The GLI is equipped with VW’s turbocharged, 2.0-Liter engine, and a host of autobahn-ready performance features. With track-tuned four-way Independent Performance Suspension, six-speed manual or optional DSG® transmission, and XDS® cross differential system, this GLI has more performance than the extended version of Freebird.
This Jetta’s performance-inspired body kit and signature GLI badging are backed by optional DSG transmission, which coincidentally is also this band’s name.
This Jetta’s GTI-inspired honeycomb grill hides an award winning 2.0L, 200-hp, turbocharged engine that delivers a full 207 lb.-ft. of torque at just 1,700 rpm. It’s the VW version of speed metal.
Not all of the GLI’s safety features are as flashy as its red brake calipers. Electronic stability control, disc brakes standard, and Intelligent Crash Response System are only noticeable when it counts.
The GLI’s exclusive Fender sound system features, “lower inter-modulation distortion”, “smooth mid-range response to eliminate harshness”, and is “harmonically complex, with extended range tweeters and properly voiced 16cm speakers.” Aka: It rocks.
Jetta GLI is the complete Volkswagen package: A well-balanced, fun-to-drive, German-engineered performance vehicle – at an accessible price
HERNDON, Va., February 8, 2011 — Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the debut of the new 2012 Jetta GLI, which combines the comfort and sophistication of a Jetta with aggressive performance and handling in a sporty yet sleek package. The all-new Jetta GLI is the most differentiated Jetta GLI model ever made by Volkswagen. With a rich heritage that dates back to 1984, the new Jetta GLI is sure to appeal to both automotive enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike.
The Jetta GLI offers exceptional features and options, for equally impressive pricing. Available in three trim levels, the Jetta GLI has a starting MSRP of $23,495. The GLI Autobahn, with an MSRP of $25,545, adds 18” alloy wheels, sunroof, dual zone climate control, heated V-Tex Leatherette seats and the Fender® Premium Audio System. The top of the line Jetta GLI Autobahn with Navigation adds the RNS-315 navigation system and keyless access with push-button start technology for an MSRP of $26,445.
Engine and Transmission
The sporty Jetta GLI boasts the award winning 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, generating 200 horsepower and a full 207 lb.-ft. of torque at just 1,700 rpm, contributing to drivability and response of the vehicle in both everyday and performance situations. The Jetta GLI is offered with a six speed manual transmission as standard equipment. This new model is significantly lighter than the previous Jetta GLI and it offers power and performance coupled with German sensibilities. While EPA figures are not yet available, the Jetta GLI is expected to deliver 31 mpg highway with the manual and 32 mpg highway with the DSG® automatic.
Additional performance features for the Jetta GLI include:
Track tuned four-way Independent Performance Suspension for superb handling
DSG® automatic gearbox that offers steering wheel mounted paddles shifters, super quick shift times and rev-matched downshifts
XDS® cross differential system that debuted on the Volkswagen GTI, that helps prevent inside wheel spin during cornering
Four wheel disc brakes with floating red calipers
Premium Features
To make life on the road a little easier, the Jetta GLI offers sophisticated, German engineered premium appointments. Features include standard 6.5” touch screen premium VIII radio with Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, standard one-touch up/down power on all four windows, standard multifunction display (for vehicle status, trip, radio and navigation information when equipped), available dual zone climate control, available RNS-315 navigation system and available keyless entry with pushbutton start.
The 2012 Jetta GLI Autobahn and Autobahn with navigation models come standard with a Fender® Premium Audio System, bringing the concert stage to the vehicle for the ultimate music experience. Designed exclusively for Volkswagen, the Fender® Premium Audio System is embedded in the vehicle design and features proprietary Panasonic® speaker technology. The system covers the cabin with directional sound from front door speakers that generate imaging beyond the capabilities of traditional speaker designs. It cuts through the noise and other distractions with front dual voice coil speakers, with extended range for all musical genres.
The sound system features lower inter-modulation distortion and smooth mid-range response to eliminate harshness. It is harmonically complex, with extended range tweeters and properly voiced 16cm speakers revealing original instrumentation timbre and harmonic richness, bringing the raw emotion of live music to the driving experience.
Exterior
The Jetta GLI combines performance, space and comfort in one sleek package. At 182.2 inches long, 57.2 inches tall and 70 inches wide, it is more than 2.9 inches longer than previous Jetta models.
The front end of the car is defined by prominent horizontal lines. The Jetta GLI grille and the car’s trapezoidal headlights help create a distinct look. Below the bumper is a cooling air intake and tray-shaped front spoiler that completes the masculine look of the car. The upper front end section shows a powerful transition from the v-shaped engine hood to the fenders on the sides while the shoulder section provides dynamic and muscular styling.
The aggressive styling of the Jetta GLI is powerfully emphasized by the arches of the wheel wells available with 17” or 18” alloys. Sleek lines and sporty shoulders dominate the rear section. The smoked taillights stand out with two distinct sections extending on either side from the fender into the tailgate above the dual exhaust tips.
Interior
Like the exterior, the interior of the Jetta GLI stays true to its sport and performance roots. Featuring sport bucket seats with red stitching and a sport flat-bottom steering wheel with red stitching, the GLI logo and aluminum accents, the interior styling consistently follows the clean, sporty lines of the car. The Jetta GLI is available in cloth or V-Tex Leatherette and also features sleek alloy pedals, shifter, dash and door trim.
Intuitive controls and well-arranged instruments allow drivers to enjoy a comfortable and ergonomically designed gear shift grip. Further up on the center console are the newly designed and intuitive controls for climate and radio. The console is also slightly inclined toward the driver to heighten comfort behind the wheel.
To increase versatility, the rear bench seatback is split 60/40 and folds. The trunk can also be opened from inside the car by a remote unlock switch.
Safety
The Jetta GLI includes several features designed to enhance driver and passenger safety including electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and Volkswagen’s advanced Intelligent Crash Response System, which initiates automatic safety protection in some types of collisions — the electrical supply to the fuel pump is shut off, the doors unlock and the hazard lights switch on.
As part of the equipment package, the Jetta GLI also features driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags in front and Side Curtain Protection® airbags in front and rear.
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2011 Volkswagen vehicles come standard- equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This is important because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.
