Volkswagen Chattanooga builds 100,000th Passat

Volkswagen is celebrating its first important milestone with the production of the 100,000th car at its new $1 billion Chattanooga factory.

The car - a Night Blue Metallic 2.0-liter TDI SEL Premium - was bought by Joanne Benante, who had the key handed to her by Volkswagen Chattanooga CEO Frank Fischer in a special ceremony that included all the plant's employees.

Passat No. 100,000 was completed just nine months after the car went on sale in the U.S. and 114 days after building the 50,000th car. The plant builds all Passats for the U.S. and for export to Canada, Mexico, the Middle East and South Korea.







Press Release

Volkswagen Chattanooga Builds 100,000th Car

CHATTANOOGA, TN--(Marketwire - May 31, 2012) - Volkswagen Chattanooga has achieved another significant production milestone -- the completion of its 100,000th Passat, just nine months after the car went on sale in the U.S. The milestone Passat was handed over to its new owner in a ceremony held today with hundreds of Volkswagen employees at the Chattanooga factory.

The Passat was driven off the line by employees from the factory and into the Conference Center where an all-employee meeting was being held this morning. The keys were then handed to Volkswagen Chattanooga CEO and Chairman Frank Fischer who presented them to owner Joanne Benante, who had come from Atlanta, Georgia, to take delivery at the factory. To the cheers of the employees, she then drove her new car through the middle of the gathering and out the front doors on her way back to I-75 and south to Atlanta.

"We have built each and every one of those 100,000 Passats with a passion for detail that sets the standard for safety and reliability for the mid-size sedan market," Fischer said. "I'm so proud of our team for reaching this milestone so quickly while maintaining the superior quality that earned the Passat the Motor Trend 2012 Car of the Year award," Fischer said.

The 100,000th Passat built at the LEED Platinum Certified Chattanooga factory was a Night Blue Metallic 2.0-liter TDI SEL Premium with six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission and Moonrock leather interior.

"Producing 100,000 Passats so soon after the vehicle went on sale in September 2011 is a testament to all the hard work that has gone into making our LEED-certified Chattanooga plant and the Passat such a success, both here and abroad," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen of America. "It is further evidence that our momentum in the U.S. market is continuing and we are appreciative of our growing customer base, which has been drawn to the Passat's outstanding fuel economy, German engineering and value," Browning said.

The Volkswagen Chattanooga team celebrated completion of the first customer car on April 18, 2011, the 10,000th Passat on Sept. 8, 2011 and the 50,000th Passat on Feb. 7, 2012.

The 100,000 vehicles include pre-series cars, technical training cars, dealer experience cars, U.S. customer cars and export cars to Mexico, Canada, South Korea and the Middle East.

Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition

The Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition has been unveiled at the 2012 Leipzig motor show in Germany, on June 2.

Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged generating 200 bhp. Features of this special edition include 18" alloys, bi-xenon headlamps, painted dashboard, Fender logo, 400W nine speakers, sub-woofer, and tweeters. Read the Press Release below and get to know the new Beetle Fender Edition.

Outside, all Beetle Fender Edition vehicles are painted in Deep Black Metallic and also feature brushed chrome exterior mirrors, 18-inch “Disc” aluminum-alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights, and the famous Fender logo.

Inside, the dashboard is painted to take on the same glowing hue Fender guitars have. Unfortunately, it sounds like it isn’t real wood. The seats also have exclusive fabric inserts, though the best interior feature is the Fender sound system, also found in the Jetta GLI. Outside, the car has 18-inch chrome “Disc” rims, a deep black paint finish and brushed chrome mirror caps.

The cabin is fitted with a 400-watt, nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. The system comprises four front tweeters, twin 20cm front and 16cm rear speakers, a 20cm Fender Bassman subwoofer and a 10-channel amplifier.





Press Release


THE BEETLE FENDER EDITION: TWO ICONS, ONE STATEMENT

• Volkswagen presents a new special edition of the Beetle at the Leipzig Auto Show

• Standard concert-quality Fender Premium Audio System

• Interior features "Sunburst" dash and contrasting stitching

• Brushed chrome side mirrors, 18-inch "Disc" aluminum-alloy wheels

• Fender logo displayed in chrome

First seen as a concept car at the Frankfurt International Auto Show in 2011, the production version of the Beetle Fender Edition makes its world debut at the Leipzig International Auto Show. Volkswagen's iconic coupe is not only fitted with the outstanding premium Fender© sound system, but also visually demonstrates its affiliation with the American musical icon.


The Beetle Fender Edition stands out with unique interior and exterior styling. Its distinctively painted dashboard features the quintessential sunburst color of Fender guitars, and the vehicle's interior is accented with color-contrasting seams that complement the dash's colors. Beetle Fender Edition vehicles equipped with the 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder TSI© engine will receive seats with exclusive fabric inserts. Outside, all Beetle Fender Edition vehicles are painted in Deep Black Metallic and also feature brushed chrome exterior mirrors, 18-inch "Disc" aluminum-alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights, and the famous Fender logo.


The Fender Premium Audio System debuted in the Jetta GLI in the U.S., but the Beetle is the first VW vehicle in Europe equipped with the high-performance sound setup. Using proprietary Panasonic© speaker technology, the system cuts through noise and other distraction with front dual-voice coil speakers to create a soundstage closely akin to a true, live performance. The concert-quality audio won CNET.com's "Best-sounding car stereo" award.


The Fender Premium Audio System includes no fewer than nine speakers along with a 10-channel amplifier providing 400 Watts of system power:


• Four Fender DeluxeTM Tweeters

• Two-ohm soft dome with neodymium magnet

• Wide frequency range and extension

• Incredibly low distortion

• Excellent off-axis performance

• Reveals the harmonic richness of voices and instruments

• Two Fender TwinTM Speakers

• 20-cm with dual-voice coils

• Ribbed polypropylene honeycomb cone

• Wide frequency range and extension

• High power-handling capability

• Lightweight and low distortion

• Two Fender Rear Speakers

• 16-cm with neodymium magnet

• Ribbed polypropylene honeycomb cone

• Smooth midrange response

• One Fender BassmanTM Subwoofer

• 20-cm with dual-voice coils

• Lightweight and high-efficiency neodymium magnet

• Glassfiber-reinforced foamed paper

• Super-low distortion

• High power-handling capability

• Powerful and precise bass response

The Beetle Fender Edition will first go on sale in Europe and will be available in America in the fall of 2012. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

2013 Volkswagen CC R-Line

Volkswagen will unveil the R-Line version of the CC at the Auto Mobil International auto show in Leipzig, Germany on June 1st.

Exterior design updates distinguish it from the standard model and include a redesigned and sportier front bumper that boasts a larger air intake as well as projector-style fog lights. A set of unique 18-inch alloy wheels, shaded taillights and R-Line badging completes the look. Inside the cabin, there are stainless-steel R-Line scuff plates and a multifunction steering wheel.

The R-Line variant also makes several options standard, including rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated 12-way power front seats, and those with the six-speed automatic gets paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The CC R-Line does have a manual transmission option and is powered by the standard 2.0-liter turbo-four with 200-hp.

Other standard features include bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated 12-way power front seats and a premium sound system with eight speakers.






Press Release

Volkswagen will unveil the R-Line version of the CC at the Auto Mobil International show in Leipzig on June 1st. This CC model will be available in the U.S. at the end of 2012 with the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter, turbocharged TSI® engine, mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.


With interior and exterior enhancements, the R-Line upgrades make the CC an even sportier vehicle. Compared with the Sport model, the R-Line gains a more aggressive front bumper design that incorporates a large lower air intake and projector-style foglights with a striking chrome motif. Side skirts and the R-Line logo on the grille further differentiate it from the Sport model, along with shaded taillights and unique and dramatic 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Inside, there are stainless-steel R-Line scuff plates and the multifunction steering wheel for the DSG-equipped model has paddle shifters.


The CC 2.0T R-Line will feature standard Bi-Xenon headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights and the Adaptive Front-lighting System; LED taillights; LED license-plate illumination; rain-sensing windshield wipers; Climatronic® automatic climate-control; heated 12-way power front seats; the touchscreen Premium VIII sound system with HD Radio, eight speakers, and a six-disc CD changer; Bluetooth® technology; iPod® connectivity; and V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces.


The CC was refreshed for the 2013 Model Year, featuring new front and rear styling and an extended range of standard equipment. The 2013 CC went on sale in March and now has seating for five (previous models seated four). The new CC makes an even bolder move towards the automotive luxury class, offering a sleek, dramatic look at a highly attainable price.

Volkswagen Passat R-Line

Volkswagen has releases photos and details for the Passat R-Line.

The package will be offered for both sedan and station wagon versions. Based on the Euro-spec model, the car features new bumpers, revised side skirts and a gloss black rear diffuser. There's also a body-color spoiler, a sport-tuned suspension (that reduces the ride height by 15mm) and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Passat R Line comes with a choice of three gasoline engines (122 hp, 160 hp, and 210 hp) and three diesel engines (105 hp, 140 hp and 170 hp), all of the turbocharged four-cylinder variety. Strangely, what you can’t get in the R Line is our favorite engine: the naturally aspirated 300-hp, 3.6-liter VR6. The previous-generation, European-market Passat R36 was offered exclusively with that engine.

The interior design in the Volkswagen Passat R Line hasn’t been left aside either by the car manufacturer and the cabin is now getting “Kyalami” design sports seats, titanium silver inserts on the dashboard, center console and door panels, stainless steel elements on the pedals, leather wrapped sports steering wheel and the R Line logo on the front door sill plates.

The new Passat R-Line starts at 30,225 Euros in Germany. The company is also offering the R-Line as a 990 Euro package for the Comfortline and Highline variants.






Press Release

Sporty R-line equipment for the Passat

Wolfsburg, 02 May 2012 - The Passat range continues to expand: As a completely independent line of equipment will be offering the new Volkswagen Passat R-Line. Positioned as a particularly sporty model is available from 30 225 € in Germany.

On the outside, the newly designed bumper and side skirts set in the R-sporty styling accents. These belong in the front area of ??particularly large cooling air inlet with the R-Line logo in the grille and integrated fog lamps. The rear of the new Passat R-Line is in the "Gloss Black" dominated painted diffuser. Also affect the dynamic and elegant roof spoiler in body color, and not least the silver anodized roof railing. The features of the Passat R-Line, the dynamically tuned sports suspension, lowering the suspension by 15 millimeters belong (except for vehicles with DCC) and the 17-inch alloy wheels type "Mallory" in titanium silver with 235 mobility tires (optional 18-inch).

The Passat R-Line also scores in the interior with numerous equipment details: In addition to the sports seats in design "Kyalami" the decorative inserts in "titanium silver" in the dashboard, door panels and center console for extra sportiness. A sports leather steering wheel and stainless steel elements on the pedals and the front door sill plates with R-Line logo round out the features.

For the Passat and Passat Variant, there is now also an optional "R line package design" (for Comfortline and Highline). It includes the R-line bumper, the rear or roof spoiler in body color, newly designed side sills in styling as well as the R-R-Line logo on the radiator grille. The design package for the Passat and Passat Variant is a price of 990, - Euros.

Chicago Debut: 2013 VW Beetle TDI

Volkswagen has releases details for the 2013 Beetle TDI, which will debut at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show next week and should reach dealerships this summer. The 2013 Beetle TDI will be available in three models including the TDI, TDI with Sunroof and the TDI with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation.

The 2013 Beetle TDI is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection clean diesel engine that makes 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The diesel engine can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a dual-clutch DSG six-speed automatic.

The Volkswagen TDI gets an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel gets 30 mpg city, 42 highway and a 34 mpg combined rating.

The car is distinguished from its gasoline-powered counterparts with a chrome trim line, TDI badging and unique 17-inch alloy wheels, plus an extra set of gauges, including oil temp and turbo boost.

Interior changes are limited, but there's a supplementary instrument pod which has a stopwatch and oil temperature / turbo boost gauges. Options include a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, a Fender audio system and GPS navigation.




Press Release

VOLKSWAGEN TO DEBUT THE FUEL-EFFICENT BEETLE TDI® AT THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

• The Beetle coupe range is rounded out by the thrifty TDI Clean Diesel model

• The most fuel-efficient 21st Century Beetle, with predicted fuel economy of 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway

• Beetle TDI goes on sale this summer as a 2013 model

• The first Beetle TDI Clean Diesel model since 2006

• Available in three well-appointed trim levels

• Choice of six-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG® transmissions

Herndon, VA - The Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L and Turbo were launched to great acclaim from
both consumers and the media in 2011. At the Chicago Auto Show, VW will unveil the third
model in the Beetle lineup: the fuel-efficient TDI Clean Diesel model, which has manufacturer
fuel economy estimates of 39 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city. The Beetle TDI, the
only Clean Diesel offering in the compact coupe category, will go on sale this summer as a
2013 model. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

Engine and Transmission

The biggest difference between the TDI and other Beetle models lies, obviously, under the
hood. The Beetle TDI uses the company's 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection Clean Diesel
engine that makes 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Volkswagen pioneered the
use of turbocharging and direct injection in diesel engines and continues to lead the industry
in this technology.

This isn't the first Beetle to be sold in the U.S. market with a diesel engine. From 1998 until 2006, the New Beetle was fitted with a 1.9-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. Since then, this engine has been heavily revised to accommodate increasing demand for improvements in exhaust emissions and acoustics. One of the most fundamental improvements was converting the fuel-injection system to a common-rail design, as well as increasing the capacity by 72 cc thanks to a 1.5-mm wider bore.

The current engine features a cast-iron cylinder block and an aluminum-alloy cylinder head. It also utilizes some subtle design elements that contribute to longevity and the reduction of noise, vibration, and harshness. The forged steel crankshaft, for instance, uses just four counterweights, instead of eight, to reduce bearing load and noise emissions. The pistons incorporate annular channels into which oil is sprayed for cooling the piston-ring zone. A pair of counter-rotating balancer shafts is situated below the crankshaft in the oil pan.

Dual overhead camshafts are driven via a toothed belt that also powers the coolant pump and the high-pressure fuel-injection pump. The cams themselves are linked by means of spur gears that have an integrated backlash adjuster that helps to ensure quiet operation. Each cylinder has two intake and two exhaust valves.

The TDI engine's intake manifold uses flap valves that are powered by a step motor that is in turn activated by the Engine Control Module (ECM). At idle and low engine speeds, the flap valves are closed in order to cause high swirl into the combustion chamber, which results in optimal mixture. During regular driving, the flap valves are adjusted continuously according to load and engine speed to ensure optimum air movement; above 3000 rpm, the valves open fully for maximum filling of the combustion chamber.

The engine's turbocharger features adjustable guide vanes that maintain the best aspect ratio for low- and high-speed performance. In order to meet current tailpipe emissions standards in all 50 states, the engine makes use of both high- and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation over all engine speeds, as well as an exhaust system that has a particulate filter and no fewer than three catalytic convertors: for oxidation, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and hydrogen sulfide.

The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or VW's innovative, dual-clutch DSG six-speed automatic. DSG combines the comfort and ease-of-use of an automatic, with the responsiveness and economy of a manual. The six-speed, transversely-mounted DSG unit features two wet clutches with hydraulic pressure regulation. One clutch controls the 'odd' gears-first, third, fifth and reverse-while the other operates the even gears. Essentially it is two gearboxes in one.

With DSG, the set-up allows the next-higher gear to be engaged but remain on standby until it is actually selected. In other words, if the Beetle is being driven in third gear, fourth is selected but not yet activated. As soon as the ideal shift point is reached, the clutch on the third-gear side opens, the other clutch closes and fourth gear engages under accurate electronic supervision.

Since the opening and closing actions of the two clutches overlap, a smooth gearshift results and the entire shift process is completed in less than four-hundredths of a second. In addition to its fully automatic shift mode, DSG has a Tiptronic® function to permit manual gear selection.

Design

The latest Beetle is more dramatic, with a stronger masculine design than the New Beetle that was sold between 1998 and 2010. The car breaks free of the design geometry defined by three semi-circles-front fender, rear fender, and domed roof above it. The roof profile actually runs distinctly lower and can be considered a development of the Ragster concept car shown in Detroit in 2005.

The 2012 Beetle is 71.2 inches wide (3.3 inches wider), 58.5 inches tall (0.5 inches lower) and 168.4 inches long (7.3 inches longer). The new focal point is the C-pillar. The development team also increased the car's track widths and wheelbase. The changed proportions give the Beetle a powerful and dynamic appearance. The TDI differs externally from the 2.5 and Turbo in having unique 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, TDI badging, and a chrome trim line that caps the top of the door's sheetmetal.

Inside, the car is distinctively styled, with colors and shapes that harken back to the original Beetle's interior. Three round gauges are arranged in front of the driver (tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge), providing key information at a glance. A multifunction display is integrated in the speedometer, which is housed in the central position in the binnacle. All TDIs gain a supplementary instrument pod that has oil temperature and turbo boost gauges and a stopwatch. Similar to the original Beetle, the car has an extra glovebox integrated into the dashboard-the kaeferfach or "Beetle bin". The lid folds upward, while the standard glove box opens downward.

Even though the "cathedral ceiling" dome roof of the New Beetle has been replaced with a sleek and sporty roofline, front and rear passenger headroom remains plentiful. The longer roof section results in 0.4 inches more rear-seat headroom. Front legroom is improved, too, by 1.9 inches, and front shoulder room grows by 2.5 inches. Overall, the interior volume has increased from 81 to 85 cubic feet.

The trunk is significantly larger, offering 15.4 cubic feet of space, compared with the New Beetle's 12.0 cubic feet; with the seats folded, the capacity increases to 29.9 cubic feet. A split-folding rear seat and a wide opening trunk lid ease loading and unloading.
Suspension

Beetle TDI models are fitted with a strut-type front suspension with a lower control arm and a 22-mm-diameter anti-roll bar. At the back, there's a torsion beam arrangement that has coil springs and telescopic dampers. Like the Beetle Turbo, the TDI uses rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance.

All Beetle models have standard anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake pressure distribution (EBD). The Beetle TDI has 11.3-inch-diameter vented front discs and 10.7-inch-diameter rear disc brakes.

Safety and Security

The starting point in the Beetle's safety armory is a very rigid body structure that uses ultra-high-strength, hot-formed steels in the crash-load paths and seamless laser welds. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is standard, as are driver and front passenger airbags and Side Curtain Protection® airbags in front and rear. The Beetle includes Volkswagen's advanced Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collision.

The Beetle TDI is also covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program®. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty-three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Additionally, all current Volkswagen vehicles use synthetic oil, which, when combined with state-of-the-art German engineering, eliminates the need for a 5000-mile oil change, and allows owners to go farther between scheduled oil changes.

Model Lineup

There are three Beetle TDI Clean Diesel trim lines: TDI; TDI with Sunroof; and TDI with Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation. All three are very well equipped, with standard features such as power windows with one-touch up/down; cruise control; V-Tex Leatherette seating; the kaeferfach secondary glovebox; Bluetooth®; a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with audio controls; three auxiliary gauges; Keyless entry with push-button start; and a Media Device Interface with iPod® cable.

TDI

The base TDI comes with standard 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, all the equipment listed above, and an interior and exterior chrome package. The standard RCD310 audio system has an AM/FM radio, CD player, Bluetooth®, and eight speakers.

TDI with Sunroof

This version takes the TDI's standard equipment and adds a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof that is fully 80 percent larger than the one fitted to the New Beetle. The insulating glass blocks 99 percent of UV radiation and 92 percent of heat energy. The model's Premium VIII audio system has a full-color touchscreen display, a six-disc CD changer, and an SD card reader.

TDI with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation

The topline TDI features the RNS 315 navigation system that has a five-inch touchscreen display. The Fender® Premium audio system that offers concert quality sound is also standard. This has an additional subwoofer, proprietary Panasonic® speaker technology that covers the cabin with directional sound, and 400 watts of output power.

Tokyo Motor Show: Volkswagen Passat Alltrack

Volkswagen has releases the new Passat Alltrack,which will debut at the Tokyo Motor show next week. The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack will come equipped with all-wheel drive as standard in the UK and will sit between the Passat estate and the Tiguan in VW’s line-up.

VW claims the Alltrack has genuine off-road capabilities, something emphasised with both its styling and equipment. The visual changes include a new design for the front and rear bumpers inspired by the Tiguan and Touareg SUVs and flared wheel arches wrapped in black plastic cladding. Despite the changes, the Alltrack’s length and width are identical to the Passat estate’s at 4771mm and 1820mm respectively.

The new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack is going to be offered with two turbocharged direct injection petrol engines (one with 160 PS / 118 kW and the other rated at 210 PS / 155 kW) and two turbodiesels (TDI) capable of delivering 140 PS / 103 kW or 170 PS / 125 kW.

The range kicks off with the 138bhp six-speed manual version, while there will also be a 168bhp model with a six-speed DSG automatic transmission. Just the one, highly specified, trim level will be available, which comes with Alcantara suede, two-zone climate control, cruise control, tyre pressure sensors, an iPod dock, Bluetooth and 18-inch alloys.

Prices will be revealed soon and order books open in April, with deliveries expected by late summer.



Press Release

Passat Alltrack unites passenger car and SUV worlds

Passat Alltrack has higher ground clearance and new off-road design

Wolfsburg, 23 November 2011 - Over the past four decades, well over 15 million Passat cars have been built. Along with its favourable all-round qualities, the success of the bestseller - which is sold on all of the world's continents - can be attributed to the Passat's wide and diverse range of versions. Now, Volkswagen is extending the model series with another specialist: the Passat Alltrack.

This new version is offered in an estate car configuration, and it closes the gap between the conventional Passat Estate and SUVs such as the Tiguan. The rationale here: many car drivers who use their car as a towing vehicle, or in light off-road situations, want a versatile, sporty and very roomy passenger car that has rugged qualities. Volkswagen developed the Passat Alltrack for this clientele. In comparison with the familiar Passat Estate, the new model is defined by new bumpers in SUV style - with wheel well and side sill flares. Its greater off-road ramp angle, approach angle, departure angle and higher ground clearance all make the Passat Alltrack an excellent SUV alternative for driving on unpaved track.

Two turbocharged direct injection petrol engines (TSI) with 118 kW / 160 PS and 155 kW / 210 PS and two turbodiesels (TDI) - also with direct injection - with 103 kW / 140 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS are available in the Passat Alltrack. The two most powerful Alltrack versions, the 170 PS TDI and the 210 PS TSI, have standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a dual clutch transmission (DSG). For the Passat Alltrack with a 140 PS TDI, Volkswagen will offer all-wheel drive as an option. Just how efficiently the engines of the Passat Alltrack operate together with the intelligently controlled 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is illustrated by the two TDI engines: the 140 PS version has a low combined fuel consumption of 5.7 l/100 km (equivalent to 150 g/km CO2), while fuel consumption for the 170 PS version is 5.8 l/100 km (152 g/km CO2). The Alltrack will debut in a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show (03 to 11 December); market launch for the new versatile Alltrack begins in early 2012.

Volkswagen eT! Concept

The Volkswagen eT! Concept is making its debut at the Design Centre of Potsdam was specially designed for delivery of mail shipments of all types.

The eT! is an all-electric van, which means it is quiet and doesn’t produce any emissions while driving through dense urban environments. The cabin has a tablet computer mounted to the dashboard, presumably allowing the driver to monitor deliveries while on the road.

As an alternative, the driver can direct the car’s movements via a ‘drive stick’ from the passenger’s side that also offers a standing seat and quick access to the vehicle.

The eT! uses electric hub motors to maximize important interior volume both under the hood and in the load bay.




Press Release


World premiere in Potsdam: Volkswagen eT! - the reinvention of the delivery vehicle
eT! is electrically powered and drives semi-automatically on command

Driver can steer the eT! by ‘drive stick' from passenger's side as alternative

Wolfsburg / Potsdam, 18 November 2011 - For over 60 years now, commercial vehicles from Volkswagen have maintained a visual presence on the world's streets. They are helpers in everyday life, which bring us people goods, services, postal deliveries and occasionally emergency assistance as well. Volkswagen Group Research, which is responsible for the world of tomorrow, together with the German Post Office (‘Deutsche Post AG'), which is one of the largest customers of lightweight commercial vehicles - as well as the University of Art at Braunschweig - formed a think tank on future transport and mobility issues. Finally, these research activities led to a completely new vehicle concept for the delivery and logistics field: eT!

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research: "We analyzed process flows and customer needs in detail, and from these analyses we derived ideas on how the segment of delivery and courier vehicles could be further developed over the long term. In this context, we focused on zero-emissions driving and available space in urban areas, semi-automatic driving functions that offer relevant support and simplify work processes and the integration of new communication technologies. On top of that, we also set out to design a very emotionally appealing commercial vehicle. To attain these goals, our teams not only looked towards the future from the past, but also worked from a future perspective to implement an advanced development concept based on technologies available today."

The eT! research vehicle could someday actually revolutionise the world of lightweight commercial vehicles. Completely reconceptualised, driven with zero emissions, thought through to the last detail and driving semi-automatically if necessary! Just how wide-ranging the significance of this research project could be for sustainability in the transportation field is underscored by the support for the eT! project by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. "The eT! research vehicle," explains Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, spokesperson for the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, "unifies a whole gamut of innovative functions, which will gain in future importance, specifically for logistics businesses. In particular, the possibility of driving the car semi-automatically - and electrically - in downtown areas unifies economical and environmental aspects more systematically than ever. As a vision of the future, the eT! is showcasing what is the maximum feasible technology for electric vehicles in the commercial market today with a special design that systematically addresses future customer needs."

"eT! is a pure electrically powered transporter that systematically transfers E-mobility to the area of commercial use," says Dr. Rudolf Krebs, Group Manager for Electric Traction at Volkswagen AG. And continues: "As a transport specialist, the eT! is advancing to become the automotive building block for an innovative, future-oriented logistics concept, which not only drives with zero emissions in urban areas - thanks to its electric wheel hub motors - but also offers maximum freedom in manoeuvering and turning as well as optimal utilisation of the vehicle's interior space. If ‘refuelled' with electricity generated from renewable energy sources, the eT! can indeed be operated with zero emissions. Naturally, the eT! is not a vehicle which - unlike the Golf or up! with an electric motor - could become available very soon. But we must make plans today for what the world of lightweight commercial vehicles might look like starting in the second half of this decade, including with regard to electrical drives."

To make the working world of mail delivery personnel and courier drivers simpler and safer, to optimise the logistics of delivery and to shorten delivery times, eT! can be operated semi-automatically in certain situations. The car can follow the delivery person from house to house ("Follow me"), or the car can return to the delivery person on command ("Come to me") - driverless! As an alternative, the driver can direct the car's movements via a ‘drive stick' from the passenger's side that also offers a standing seat and quick access to the vehicle. On the passenger's side - the side that faces the sidewalk and therefore the working area of the delivery person - there is therefore an electrically opening sliding door that opens to 2 different stages; this enables extremely quick entry into the vehicle as well as quick access to the mail parcels. This makes unnecessary walking movements around the vehicle a thing of the past.

Variants of this lightweight transport vehicle could be implemented for all conceivable business uses. And these derived concepts are also the focus of research activities. Meanwhile, the eT! concept shown in a world premiere at the Design Centre of Potsdam was specially designed for delivery of mail shipments of all types. The research vehicle will now be integrated in a driving test study and further analysed.