Volkswagen

CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen | Volkswagen, more commonly known with its abbreviation "VW", is the original and biggest-selling brand of automobile of the Volkswagen (VW) Group. Volkswagen Group now also owns the Lamborghini, Bentley, Audi, SEAT, Bugatti, Scania (truck manufacturer), and marques of Škoda . On May, 28 1937, the company of "Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagen mbH" is founded, and on September 16, 1938 has been renamed "Volkswagenwerk GmbH". In early 1938, that today is Wolfsburg, work begins on the construction of the Volkswagen plant that has its own production of a new vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is pronounced). Its current tagline or slogan is Das Auto (meaning "the Car").When in 1937 the company known as "Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH" was founded, no one could have guessed that it would one day be Europe's largest carmaker. The history of the company - with all its trials and tribulations - is first and foremost a story of impressive success.

During the Second World War Volkswagenwerk's production is switched to armaments. Some 20,000 forced labourers, prisoners of war, and later also concentration camp prisoners, work at the plant.

Volkswagen Beetle

In September 1998, in recognition of the events of that time, VOLKSWAGEN AG established a humanitarian fund on behalf of the forced labourers compelled to work at Volkswagen during the Second World War. By the end of 2001 more than 2,050 people in 26 countries had received humanitarian aid from the fund. Furthermore, a Memorial in remembrance of the forced labour employed at the Volkswagenwerk plant is currently being established at Wolfsburg, involving contributions from present-day Volkswagen apprentices.

After the end of the Second World War, in mid June 1945, responsibility for Volkswagenwerk is placed in the hands of the British Military Government. Under the management of Major Ivan Hirst, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle is started.

Volkswagen Touareg

On March 8th, 1950 the Type 2 goes into production, expanding the company's product range. The Volkswagen Bus, still today known to many as the "VW Bully", soon creates rising demand thanks to its multifunctional capabilities. In 1956 a separate manufacturing base for the Transporter is established in Hanover, at the same time setting down the roots of today's Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand.

In 1955 employees and dealers from Germany and abroad celebrate the production of the one millionth Volkswagen Beetle in Wolfsburg.

Volkswagen Bulli

On February 17th, 1972 Volkswagen breaks the world car production record: with 15,007,034 units assembled, the Beetle surpasses the legendary mark achieved by the Ford Motor Company's Model T, popularly known as the "Tin Lizzy", between 1908 and 1927.

In 1973 the Passat is the first model of the new generation of Volkswagen vehicles to go into production - with front-wheel drive, a water-cooled four-cylinder engine and a range of engines up to 110 bhp. The Passat is built in line with the modular strategy, by which standardised components usable in a range of different models provide significant rationalisation.

Volkswagen Golf 2011

In January 1974 the first Golf is built at the Wolfsburg plant. The compact saloon quickly becomes a hit, and advances to become the legitimate heir to the legendary Beetle. The same year also sees the launch of the sporty Scirocco, which was to continue in production until 1981.

In 1976 the first Golf GTI rolls off the production line. The car, with its110 bhp engine, creates a real furore on the roads - and lays the foundations for the birth of a legend.

Volkswagen Passat, 2011

In June 1983 production of the second-generation Golf begins. The car is designed for a largely automated assembly process, and in the specially erected final assembly hall, designated Hall 54, robots are deployed for the first time in vehicle manufacture.

With the production launch of the Lupo 3L TDI, the first production car to offer fuel consumption of just three litres per 100 kilometres, in July 1999, Volkswagen once again makes automotive history.

Volkswagen Touran, 2011

In August 2002, at Volkswagen Slovakia, a.s. in Bratislava, mass production of the Touareg, a luxury-class off-road vehicle, is started, marking the Volkswagen brand's move into an entirely new market segment.

In December 2002, "Auto 5000 GmbH" company that manages the site of the factory in Wolfsburg, starts production Volkswagen Touran compact van. Special collective model has been developed, aimed at implementing lean production, and with flat hierarchies, team working, flexible working hours and the introduction of experts working multiple jobs. In 2003, the production of fifth-generation Volkswagen Golf has begun. - CAR REVIEW

Volkswagen

Skoda

Skoda | CAR REVIEW | Skoda AutO, more commonly known as Skoda , is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Skoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group. Its total global sales reached 684,226 cars in 2009 and 85,000 for the month of March 2011. Skoda Works was established as an arms manufacturer in 1859.

Origin of what has become the Skoda Auto to return to 1890, who, like many long-term car manufacturers, the Skoda started manufacturing bicycles. It was 1894, and the 26-year Klement Vaclav, who was a bookseller in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic today, which was then part of Austria-Hungary, did not get spare parts to repair his German bicycle. Klement returned his bicycle manufacturers, Seidel and Naumann, with a letter, the czech Republic, asking them to do the repairs, just to get the answer,  and said. "If you want an answer, you should try to write in a language we can understand "

Skoda Octavia

In 1895, a disgusted Klement, despite not having technical experience, decided to start a bicycle repair shop, which he and Václav Laurin opened in Mladá Boleslav. Before going into business partnership with Klement, Laurin was established as a bicycle manufacturer in the nearby town of Turnov. In 1898, after moving to their newly-built factory, the pair bought a Werner "motorcyclist", which was produced by French manufacturer Werner Brothers. Laurin & Klement's first motorcyclette, powered by an engine mounted on the handlebars driving the front wheels, proved dangerous and unreliable - an early incident on it cost Laurin a front tooth. To design a safer machine with its structure around the engine, the pair wrote to German ignition specialist Robert Bosch for advice on a different electromagnetic system. In 1899, the pair's new Slavia motorcycle made its debut.

Skoda Yeti

In 1900, when the company of Skoda had a workforce of 32, Slavia exports began, with 150 machines shipped to London for the Hewtson firm. Shortly afterwards, the press credited them as makers of the first motorcycle. The first model, Voiturette A, was a success and the company was established both within Austria-Hungary and internationally. By 1905 the firm was manufacturing automobiles.

Skoda Fabia Combi

After World War Laurin-Klement Company began producing Skoda trucks, but in 1924, after running into problems and being hit by a fire company was looking for a partner, and was taken by Skoda Works, an arms manufacturer who was now a multi-sector concern, and the largest industrial enterprise in Czechoslovakia. Most of the production was later under the name Škoda. After a decline during the economic depression, Škoda was again successful with models such as popular in the 1930s. During World War II occupation of Czechoslovakia, the Škoda works was turned into part of Hermann Göring Werke serving the German World War II effort. - CAR REVIEW

Skoda Roomster

Skoda

Bugatti

CAR REVIEW | Bugatti | Bugatti (legal company name Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.) is a French automobile company. The company was founded in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti (born in Italy). Bugatti was founded in the town of Molsheim in the Alsace region in France. Its main product is high-performance automobile, like Bugatti Veyron.

Bugattis were well-known for the beauty of their designs (Ettore Bugatti was from a family of artists and considered himself to be both an artist and constructor) and for the large number of races they won. The death of Ettore Bugatti in 1947 proved to be the end for the marque, and the death of his son Jean in 1939 ensured there wasn't a successor to lead the factory. No more than about 8000 cars were made. The company struggled financially, and released one last model in the 1950s, before eventually being purchased for its airplane parts business in the 1960s. Today the name is owned by Volkswagen Group, who have revived it as a builder of limited production exclusive sports cars.

Founder Ettore Bugatti was born in Milan, Italy, and the automaker that bears his name was founded in 1909 in the town of Molsheim in Alsace. The company was known as much for the detail of its engineers in their cars, and how the artistic designs were executed, given the artistic nature of Ettore's family (his father, Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940) was a furniture Art important Nouveau jewelry designer). The company  of Bugatti also enjoyed great success in early Grand Prix motor racing, winning the first Monaco Grand Prix. The company's success culminated with driver Jean-Pierre Wimille win the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice.

Bugatti Ttype 35b Grand Prix, 1925

The Bugatti produces several Famous vehicles, such as Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix cars, Bugatti Type 41 "Royale", Bugatti Type 55 sports car and Bugatti Type 57 "Atlantic". - CAR REVIEW

Bugatti

Bentley

Bentley Convertible, 2009

CAR REVIEW | Bentley | Bentley, with legal company name Bentley Motors Limited is a British automobiles manufacturer. Bentley Motors Limited was founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O", when the first Bentley engine burst into life at new street mews, London.

Bentley Continental T, 1999

Bentley Motors had been previously known for their range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later versions of the Sopwith Camel. After the war W. O. Bentley designed and made production cars that won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1924 and following models which repeated those successes each June 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930.

Bentley Corniche, 1980

From these modest beginnings, Bentley ’s company went from strength to strength through the 1920s, with an evolving series of acclaimed motor cars and a parade of racing triumphs to prove their outstanding performance. These laurels were capped with five outright victories at Le Mans between 1924 - 1930 and a sixth in 2003.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur, 1965

When production was moved from London to Derby and later to Crewe, Bentley was purchased by Rolls-Royce in 1931,  the company has been owned by the Volkswagen Group of Germany since 1998. The business is still based in Crewe, Cheshire, England with their Central Production Facilities there.

Bentley Mark VI, 1950

Before the First World War, W.O. Bentley had been in partnership with his brother HM Bentley selling French DFP cars, but he had always wanted to design and build its own line of cars bearing his name. In August 1919, Bentley Motors Ltd. was registered, and a simulated engine chassis was unveiled at the London Motor Show in October 1919. The engine was built and operational in December, and orders taken for delivery in June 1920, but development took longer than expected, and the first cars were not ready until September 1921. Durability won acclaim. Appearances were made in hill climbs and Brooklands and a single entry into the race at Indianapolis, 1922 500 Mile Run by W. Douglas Hawkes completed at an average speed over 80 mph.

Bentley, 1930

Bentley Motors Limited ("Bentley") is a company registered in England and Wales (VAT 279230739). Bentley Motors manufacture handcrafted motor cars in Crewe, England and have a rich heritage of 90 years as a pinnacle, British automotive marque. Bentley Motors, which located in Crewe, England since 1946 and owned since 1998 by Volkswagen AG, is dedicated to making responsive and powerful Grand Tourers with the stamina to cross continents at pace, and drive in refined comfort and style. - Car Review

Audi

CAR REVIEW | Audi | Audi or Audi AG (Xetra: NSU) is a German manufacturer of various type of automobiles, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand, positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group.

The company is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany, and has been a wholly owned (99.55%) subsidiary of Volkswagen AG since 1966, following a phased purchase of its predecessor, Auto Union, from its former owner, Daimler-Benz. Volkswagen relaunched the Audi brand with the 1965 introduction of the Audi F103 series.

The company name is based on the surname of the founder August Horch, his surname meaning "listen" in German—which, when translated into Latin, becomes Audi.

The largest shareholder of Audi is Volkswagen AG, which holds over 99 percent of the share capital. Volkswagen AG includes the consolidated accounts of Audi in its own financial statements. In recent years, the possibility of Audi being spun off or otherwise divested by Volkswagen has been mooted.

From 2002 up to 2007, Audi headed the Audi Brand Group, the Volkswagen Group's automotive sub-division, consisted of Audi together with SEAT and Lamborghini, that was focused on more sporty values, with the marques' product vehicles and performance being under the higher responsibility of the Audi brand.

On 14 November 1899, August Horch (1868–1951) established the company A. Horch & Cie. in the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne, but because of dispute between him and the supervisory board, he had to leave the company. A few years later, he established a second company, Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH. The company traces its origins back to 1909 and August Horch. The first Audi automobile, the Audi Type A 10/22 hp (16 kW) Sport-Phaeton, was produced in 1910 in Zwickau.

In 1909, Horch was forced out of the company he had founded. He then started a new company in Zwickau and continued using the Horch brand. His former partners sued him for trademark infringement, and the German Supreme Court (Reichsgericht in Berlin) finally determined that the Horch brand belonged to his former company.

Since August Horch was barred from using "Horch" as a trade name in his new car business, he called a meeting with his best business friends, Paul and Franz Fikentscher from Zwickau. At the apartment of Franz Fikentscher, they discussed how to come up with a new name for the company. During this meeting, Franz's son was quietly studying Latin in a corner of the room. Several times he looked like he was on the verge of saying something but would just swallow his words and continue working, until he finally blurted out, "Father – audiatur et altera pars... wouldn't it be a good idea to call it audi instead of horch?" "Horch!" in German means "Hark!" or "hear", which is "Audi" in Latin. The idea was enthusiastically accepted by everyone attending the meeting. The first Audi car, the Type B, 10/28PS was delivered early in 1910.

Audi started with a 2612 cc inline-four engine model followed by a 3564 cc model, as well as 4680 cc and 5720 cc models. These cars were successful even in sporting events. The first six cylinder model, 4655 cc appeared in 1924.

August Horch left the Audi company in 1920 for a high position at the ministry of transport, but he was still involved with Audi as a member of the board of trustees. In September 1921, Audi became the first German car manufacturer to present a production car, the Audi Type K, with left-handed drive. Left-hand drive spread and established dominance during the 1920s because it provided a better view of oncoming traffic, making overtaking safer. - CAR REVIEW

AUDI

Review: 2011 Volkswagen CC

Review: 2011 Volkswagen CC - The Volkswagen CC is a four-door coupe, a four-seat sedan with a sleek, low stance. It looks more expensive than it is. The Volkswagen CC, a Comfort Coupe, was launched as an all-new model for 2009 and carries through 2011 unchanged.

The interior design and materials are exceptional. The optional two-tone stitched leather bucket seats are downright Italian-like. The cabin feels racy due to the steeply raked windshield and distant dash. It's cozy inside and there isn't as much front legroom as in the Acura TSX, Nissan Maxima or Lexus IS. The rear bucket seats accommodate just two in cozy comfort with decent legroom but limited headroom. Cargo space is small for the class, comparable to that of the Lexus IS.

The Volkswagen CC is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 200 horsepower. We found it impressively powerful and amazingly smooth. It uses front-wheel drive and is available with a choice of 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic Direct Shift Gearbox. The 2011 Volkswagen CC with the 2.0-liter engine gets an EPA-estimated 22/31 mpg City/Highway on Premium fuel with the DSG, 21/31 mpg with the 6-speed manual. A Volkswagen CC Sport with the manual gearbox can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, the company says.

The Volkswagen CC VR6 4MOTION features the narrow-angle 3.6-liter V6 rated at 280 horsepower an 17/25 mpg. It comes with all-wheel drive. The 2011 Volkswagen CC VR6 4MOTION can accelerate from 0-60 in just 6.6 seconds, according to Volkswagen. The VR6 4MOTION is a pricey package, however.

We took the road turns smooth and solid, firm but not hard. This is not a high-performance sports car, but it is lighter than the maximum number, or the Lexus IS. The electromechanical steering make parking easier. The brakes work very well.

Car Review - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Car Review - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta: After years of trying to obtain compact sedan to dress the part, Volkswagen has finally managed to naturalize the Jetta. This German 4-door now wears a suit that is required to reach an agreement with the notoriously conservative American masses, and is priced car that buyers are much more attractive, thanks to a lot of things cost reduction. However, these changes occur at a price themselves.

Model Lineup: Volkswagen is offering the 2011 Jetta in four trim levels, from bare-bones to dressed-to-the-nines. Eventually a fifth model, the performance-oriented GLI, will join them on showroom floors. Things get started at S trim, featuring 15-inch wheels and not much else; cloth seats and soul-crushing hard plastic dominate the cabin. Fortunately, stepping up to SE trim takes care of a few of those issues. Stylish 16-inch rollers take the place of the smaller 15-inch wheels, and leatherette seating surfaces show up inside. The interior also receives a small dress-up package in the form of chrome accents around the climate-control knobs.

You can also adorn your Jetta SE with a convenience package that throws in amenities such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a more civilized 6-speaker sound system, though we would be just as likely to opt for the SEL trim. This next step up throws in all of the goodies found in the SE convenience package, but adds hardware such as a fog lights, 17-inch wheels, keyless entry and a navigation system.

At the top of the lineup is the TDI. It's basically a Jetta SE with disc brakes on all four corners and an uberefficient diesel engine.

Under the Hood: Volkswagen has added a new engine to the Jetta lineup for next year. Starting in 2011, you can get your sedan with a 2.0-liter 115-horsepower 4-cylinder engine that produces around 125 lb-ft of torque. The new engine is part of the company's plan to lower the price tag, and it comes bolted to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. While the Environmental Protection Agency hasn't issued fuel-economy figures for the new engine yet, Volkswagen promises somewhere around 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway.

If the little 2.0-liter doesn't serve up quite enough punch for you, Volkswagen is also offering the same 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine found in the previous generation. For next year, buyers will have the choice of the same two gearboxes offered with the 4-cylinder engine. Either way, they can expect the 2.5-liter to churn out a more respectable 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, all while returning just 1 mpg worse on the highway.

The company's endearing 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel engine will also make a return for 2011. It produces 140 horsepower and a ridiculous 236 lb-ft of torque, making it feel significantly larger than its diminutive displacement would suggest. Expect to see around 30 mpg city/42 mpg highway when equipped with either the 6-speed manual or 6-speed direct-shift gearbox.

As we mentioned above, the GLI will likely debut later in the year, featuring the Jetta engine that we've come to love, the 2.0 TFSI.

Inner Space: Volkswagen has proudly proclaimed that the 2011 Jetta was designed to be more in line with American tastes; the company stretched the sedan's wheelbase by 3 inches to add interior room front and rear. Full-grown adults can now comfortably camp out in the back seat without having to fold their shins or collapse a few vertebrae. That doesn't mean things are all sugar and spice in the cabin.

To begin with, the dash has lost the nice soft-touch material of the last generation, in favor of hard plastic in S trim. Why? Volkswagen is looking to do away with the dreaded "European car premium" that U.S. consumers have to pay for its cars. And the cost of this lower price tag is a less-than-savory interior. In this case, the cabin is borderline cheap. The new switches and knobs aren't what we've come to expect from Volkswagen, either. Flipping through the climate controls, we couldn't help but pine for the weighty clicks of the old hardware.

That said, plop your derrière in the leatherette-lined goodness of SEL trim and it's easy to forget about the cost-cutting measures. With the leather-wrapped steering wheel firmly in your palms and a comfy bucket seat beneath you, there's little to complain about inside. Throw in the extra legroom and it's easy to believe that some sacrifices may actually be worth the net savings.

On the Road: We were able to nab some time in the 2011 Jetta SEL, complete with the company's 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. In this guise, it's difficult to find fault with the drivetrain. Of course, there shouldn't be one. Volkswagen has had years to perfect this particular concoction, and as a result, you're rewarded with a powertrain that's almost perfect — almost. The 170-horsepower engine provides just enough low-end grunt to dispatch with foes in the right lane without too much heavy breathing. At the same time, torque steer is nonexistent. Despite the uniquely torquey feel of the 5-cylinder, zero to 60 mph shuffles by in 8.6 seconds — not exactly rocket-quick.

Things have gone downhill somewhat on the handling front, though. In another effort to keep the cost down, Volkswagen opted for a torsion-beam rear suspension instead of an expensive, fully independent setup. Whereas the previous-generation car could be coaxed into being entertaining while carving through your favorite mountain passes, the 2011 model is more content to amble from point A to point B.

Volkswagen has also changed the hydraulic power steering system by 2010 - a move that generally produces more steering feel. Only instead of getting more feedback from the helm, we are rewarded with much less. It feels like electricity, and the truth is that the previous car felt a plumber. Of course, it is important to remember that Volkswagen does not build the fans of this Jetta. The company has designed the U.S. average car buyer - a group that is more concerned about the number of cup holders as the steering feel. -- car review --

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2011 VW Touareg VR6 Sport Road Test and wallpapers

2011 VW Touareg VR6 Sport Road Test and wallpapers


Host Ross Rapoport spent a week in the all-new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg VR6 Sport, a brand new redesigned premium SUV that is as fun to drive as it is comfortable and elegant.

Sharing some design cues with the far-more expensive Porsche Cayenne, the Touareg has flowing lines and a pronounced back-end