2007 Volkswagen Eos Review

I always think a Mom's opinion is as valuable as gold when it comes to cars. I thought this article about the EOS was fun and well written. It really is a remarkable car, albeit not comparable to a Passat or a Touareg when it comes to carrying kids.

Volkswagen Eos Awakens Sun Goddesses
By: Lori Hindman

I love car names that make sense. Give a car a name that reflects its personality, and I remember the car. Give a car a number, and I’m guaranteed to mix it up with all the rest of them. The name was the first thing I loved about Volkswagen’s entry into the luxury-hardtop-convertible market, the Eos. You see, in ancient Greek mythology Eos was the goddess of the dawn. As in, here comes the sun, break out the SPF and put on your shades. Driving the Eos, I embraced my own inner sun goddess and shared my light with the world. That’s how to name a car, people!

As soon as the Eos 2.0T appeared on the horizon, a beautiful sparkly red with creamy leather inside, I felt absolutely divine. Clearly, I love more than just the name of this one. The Eos looks like classy, European-styled fun. With the top up, it’s a sporty coupe. Put it in Park and press a button, though, and it’s a whole new day. My kids called it a “Transformer car” and insisted on showing the automatic roof off to everyone we saw. Based on our testing, the top can handle even the most capricious of drivers. Up, down, up, down, up, down — the magic just doesn’t fade. And just when you thought you couldn’t decide where you wanted the top, Volkswagen offers a third option: The Eos has a huge sunroof that should be impossible in a convertible. I’m telling you, this car has supernatural powers. Read more...

Made in America

More news about VW's plans to build a production plant in America.

North American plants will feed U.S. assembly operation
By Rick Kranz, Automotive News

Volkswagen will have engine and transmission assembly plants in North America to support a new vehicle assembly plant the automaker is expected to build in North Carolina.

The assembly plant could be operational in 2010.

“We’ll make an announcement within six months” about the location of the plant, Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America Inc., told the Automotive News World Congress on Wednesday. After that announcement, the first vehicles could appear in “a little bit more than three years,” he said.

Jacoby said the engine and transmission plants do not have to be near the assembly plant, saying Mexico and Canada are options. But “if we don’t localize the plants” in North America, he said, “we can’t be competitive.”

Generally speaking, an engine and transmission account for about one-third of a vehicle’s cost.

Jacoby refused to confirm an Automotive News story that the automaker purchased or had an option to purchase land in Rocky Mount, N.C., east of Raleigh and Durham.

Said Jacoby: “There has been a lot of speculation on this front, including the silly rumor that I’ve been traveling the Carolina countryside with a bunch of Germans purchasing land. That is not true.

“We need to build the right vehicle, at the right price, in the right plant, within the right supplier corridor, at the right time. A decision on local production will come in six months.”

The assembly strategy is part of VW’s plan to sell 800,000 vehicles annually in the United States by 2018. VW refers to its “Five Pillars” plan to reach that target. The five pillars refer to:

-- Redesigned vehicles and a wider product line for the United States.

-- A new advertising campaign to reposition the brand.

-- Improving the dealer network.

-- Streamlining the VW organization.

-- Evaluating U.S. production.

In other comments, Jacoby said:

-- "We need to offer a portfolio of technology,” to meet U.S. fuel economy regulations. “It will include hybrids, electric vehicles. The main pillar will be diesel. It will be lighter vehicles and, of course, this country has to get used to smaller vehicles. They could be an alternative.”

-- It was a mistake to end Phaeton sales in the United States. “We are thinking of relaunching the Phaeton, which is difficult in this market. I think Volkswagen is so good at brands that we can offer models in the volume segment and also in the luxury segment. It is a state-of-the-art car, and I think this car will fit very well in this market.”

-- The VW brand has a sufficient number of U.S. dealers to handle sales volume of 350,000 to 400,000 vehicles. When the brand reaches that total, additional dealers will be added. Last year, VW sold 230,572 vehicles. In the meantime, Jacoby said, VW is concentrating on improving and strengthening the quality of its dealer network.

-- The Chrysler-engineered VW minivan will debut at the Chicago Auto Show.

-- Although VW once sold a pickup in the United States, a pickup will not be needed to reach VW’s 800,000-unit U.S. target.

Passat CC Video

New model lineup

This article is interesting in that it gives a timeline of when new models are coming out. Diesel versions of the Jetta, Sportwagon and Tiguan will also be available in those timeframes.

VW hints at vehicles for new North America plant
Diana T. Kurylko
Automotive News Europe
January 21, 2008 - 12:01 am ET

Jacoby: Plant site will be decided this summer.

DETROIT — Volkswagen won't disclose the location for an assembly plant that it wants to build in North America, but a senior executive hinted last week at the products the plant will build.

Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, said the company will decide this summer where to locate the plant. One or more of VW's core vehicles for the United States — the Jetta and Passat sedans, the Tiguan SUV and a new crossover — will be produced there.

"This is an integral part of increasing capacity and building a new plant here," said Jacoby.

Volkswagen has rejected a proposal to expand its factory in Puebla, Mexico, which produces the Jetta and New Beetle. "Puebla has come to its limit," Jacoby said.

No more droughts:
Tiguan SUV in June
Coupelike Passat CC sedan in September
Rebadged Chrysler minivan, the Routan, in fall
Redesigned Rabbit in 2009
Redesigned Jetta in 2010
Larger Passat sedan in 2011
New crossover or SUV in 2011 or 2012

Key products
The new assembly plant — which will produce up to 250,000 units a year — will be somewhere in the Eastern time zone. VW is still considering sites in Mexico, Canada and the United States, said Jacoby.

He labeled as "speculation" a report in Automotive News last week that Volkswagen had narrowed its site search to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

The new assembly plant is the key to Volkswagen's plans to raise U.S. sales to 800,000 units a year. To boost sales, Jacoby is counting on four key products: the Tiguan SUV, a new mid-sized SUV or crossover, and the Jetta and Passat sedans.

The Jetta is produced in Mexico, but the Passat and Tiguan are assembled in Europe. Currency fluctuations have made it difficult for Volkswagen to make a profit on vehicles exported from Europe.

To revive sales, Jacoby wants to match the Jetta more closely in size and price with the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Likewise, the Passat would more closely match the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The Jetta and Passat still would be priced higher than their rivals, but the premium would be reduced to 5 percent or so from the traditional 10 percent premium, he said.

No more droughts
In the past, VW dealers suffered through boom-and-bust cycles as Volkswagen launched vehicles at irregular intervals. Now Volkswagen is trying to time its launches more smoothly.

The new Tiguan SUV debuts in June, and the Passat CC — a coupelike four-door unveiled at the Detroit auto show — is due in September.

A rebadged Chrysler minivan, the Routan, follows late this year, and the redesigned Rabbit debuts in 2009. The next-generation Jetta arrives in 2010 and a larger Passat in 2011, and an as-yet-unnamed crossover or SUV will be launched in 2011 or 2012.

VW will relocate its U.S. headquarters to Virginia in April. Jacoby said 120 VW and Audi employees have agreed to move. About 300 new employees will be hired in Virginia to fill vacancies in marketing, sales and service, Jacoby said.

Six hundred employees in quality control, engineering and customer relations will remain at the headquarters in suburban Detroit.

After the move, Volkswagen and Audi will have a combined staff of 1,000 U.S. employees, about 400 fewer than it has now.

The Routan?

Why is the name for the new VW minivan not ringing right with me. Routan...Routan. Not sure, but there it is regardless. Should be a great alternative to American and Japanese styling when it comes out later this year.

Press Release: Chicago Auto Show 2008
New van from Volkswagen especially for the US market

Wolfsburg, 16 January 2008 - Volkswagen is stepping on the gas in one of its most important markets. Just weeks after the successful premiere of the new Passat CC at the current NAIAS 2008, Europe's largest car manufacturer will present the new Routan in Chicago (February 6 - 17, 2008).

Volkswagen will be showing its new minivan for the first time at the Chicago Auto Show. "Routan" is a newly coined word indicating the bond between Volkswagen and America. "Routan" contains both the English word "route" as well as the "-an" suffix which is appended to the names of Volkswagen's European vans - Touran and Sharan.

The new minivan is a joint development with Chrysler LLC. The vehicle will be built in the Canadian Chrysler factory in Windsor, Ontario. Of course, both the interior and the exterior follow Volkswagen's clear design concept. The appearance, technology and functionality are splendidly adapted to the US market. That's why the Routan is an imposing seven-seater more than five metres in length. Whether kids, dog, baseball gloves or inline skates - there is sufficient space for everyone and everything for the Friday afternoon trip to the park.

Volkswagen is hoping to increase its volume in North America with models like the Passat CC and the new Routan, both of which are strongly tailored to this market's requirements. Volkswagen wants to sell 800,000 vehicles just in the USA by 2018.

2009 Passat CC

Volkswagen released the first four-door coupé at the North American International Auto Show.

From Passat CC

The Passat CC unifies sports car dynamics and sedan comfort.
First car in the world with Lane Assist lane keeping system.
Dynamic Drive Control electronic chassis system is standard.
High-class engines deliver 300 HP.



Wolfsburg / Detroit, January 2008. Volkswagen is opening the year 2008 with the world premiere of the Passat CC. Its identifying characteristics: coupé design, yet with four doors; impressive comfort, yet pure dynamics; sporty interior, yet space without compromises. The interplay of these contrasts has resulted in a car whose concept and design set a new course beyond the mainstream. At the same time, the Passat CC is a progressive technological platform with high-class engines (103 kW / 140 PS to 220 kW / 300 PS) and innovative assistance and driving dynamics systems. These include world firsts in the "Lane Assist" lane keeping system and the "Dynamic Drive Control" electronic chassis control system. No less innovative: the "Park Assist" parking assistant and "ACC Automatic Distance Control" with stopping distance reducing "Front Scan".



Lane "Assist": This active lane keeping system on the Passat CC is unique worldwide in this vehicle class. It automatically counter-steers as soon as the Passat CC leaves its lane unintentionally; a genuine gain in convenience and safety. About 14 percent of all accidents involving injuries are caused by the vehicle leaving its driving lane. "Lane Assist" will contribute to reducing this accident rate. By the way, if the driver sets the turn signal to intentionally change lanes, "Lane Assist" does not intervene.

"Dynamic Drive Control": The car’s new "Dynamic Drive Control" (DDC) chassis control system combines the sportiness of a coupé and the comfort of a top sedan in one car. In parallel to tuning of the suspension’s damping characteristic, the power steering system is controlled too. "DDC" offers the three programs "Normal", "Sport" and "Comfort". Decisive here is the fact that Dynamic Drive Control improves comfort and dynamic properties in the "Normal" mode too – and therefore full-time. In certain markets, "DDC" is on-board as standard equipment on all versions starting at 125 kW / 170 PS.



"Park Assist": Another high-end technology is the "Park Assist" parking assistance system. It automatically guides the Passat CC into a parking space at the push of a button. The driver no longer needs to steer in this case, but instead just accelerates and brakes.

"ACC Automatic Distance Control": When "ACC" is activated, the Passat CC automatically brakes and accelerates within a speed range input by the car driver beforehand. Thanks to "Front Scan", the system also avoids frontal collisions. It uses a radar sensor to monitor the distance to other vehicles in traffic in front of the Passat CC. In advance of certain situations, "Front Scan" preventively places the brakes in a preconditioned state, thereby performing a stopping distance reduction function.

Furthermore, the Passat CC is putting on a whole display of fascinating fireworks with other innovative detailed solutions. These include small details that have tremendous impact. Such as the unique guide system for the side windows in the frameless coupé doors, which do not offer any surfaces for the wind to catch hold. No less impressive is the climate control feature for the car’s seats (active climate seat). Until now this comfort feature was reserved for the Phaeton luxury sedan. In summer months the active climate seat supplies noticeably improved comfort on long drives.

Another perfect example of attention to the smallest detail is the newly designed Mobility Tire System: from a purely statistical viewpoint car drivers experience a flat tire every 100,000 kilometers. On the Passat CC with "Mobility Tires", it is estimated that this value could be increased to 500,000 kilometers, since a highly flexible rubber mixture encapsulates the penetrating object and keeps the tire sealed. Also providing for a plus in safety are the up to eight airbags, ESP electronic stabilization program and an extremely high-strength body.

The Passat CC is positioned in the premium range of mid-class cars, in this case the sporty sedans and coupés. However, based on its dimensions (4.8 meters length) and uncompromising layout of comfort and quality properties, the car breaks through class boundaries to the upper mid-class. Its core markets are North America, Western Europe and Japan. The Passat CC – built at the German Volkswagen plant in Emden – will initially be introduced in Europe in the second quarter of the year. Following in the fourth quarter will be the USA and Canada, then Japan.

Want French Fries with that?

A handful of customers have asked me what I think about vegetable oil conversion kits for Diesel Jettas (a.k.a. grease cars). The cars will amazingly burn restaurant waste oil. While this sounds like a crazy democratic plan to save the planet, people actually are doing this to reduce emissions and of course save money at the pump.

Apparently the car still starts and stops on Diesel fuel, but it burns the used restaurant oil most of the time when the car is warm when driving long distance, making it a hybrid of sorts. A small computer aids you in knowing when to switch to burning grease. Stock Diesel Jettas are already capable of 50mpg or more on the highway, so using vegetable oil would extend the life of your tank of diesel fuel that much more, but you're not getting better mileage.

The do-it yourself kits start at $1,500 with everything you will want to have (controllers, filters) but plan on spending another $500 to $1,000 to have the kit installed.

Verdict: Right now people are paying a huge premium for used diesel Volkswagens. So, after considering the price of the used VW, the premium, the conversion kit, the installation, the grease hunting on weekends (and I did work at restaurants in my college years and yes, the grease bin stinks!) - I'm out! At least for now.

If you're thinking about saving on fuel and the environment, save up for the new 2009 Jetta TDI 2.0 due out in November 2008 which reduces NOx emissions by up to 90 percent. You will be getting a cleaner car, tons of power (140hp and 236 lbs./ft of torque), incredible mileage (40-60mpg), full use of your trunk and a warranty covering all systems.

Grease conversion information for Jetta TDI:

vegcar.net (TDI grease information)
vegtruck.com (TDI grease information)
votechusa.com (TDI grease conversion)
goldenfuelsystems.com (TDI grease conversion)
greasecar.com (TDI grease conversion)

Jetta Delivery

Jetta delivery

Modified GLI

It wasn't 48 hours after the customer took delivery of his Fahrenheit GLI that it was fully customized with wheels, exhaust, blow-off valve, Alpine DVD, smoked tail lights, sound system, blue lights everywhere and more.