The German auto manufacturer, Volkswagen has revealed it’s all new platform called “Modularer Querbaukasten” or MQB in short for easier pronunciation. The MQB platform has been designed primarily for the upcoming 7th generation Golf along with some other models also. Volkswagen has stated that this MQB platform will be used in their cars like the Polo, Beetle, Golf, Scirocco, Jetta, Tiguan, Touran, Sharan, Passat and CC, the upcoming Q3 and many Skoda and Seat models. So many cars sharing the same platform clearly say how important the development t of the MQB platform was for the company.

One of the important aspects of this platform is the flexibility in fixing of the wheelbase, overall length, track width, wheel size and the relative seating positions in the vehicle. The MQB platform is a really dynamic one with suiting the requirements from a compact hatch like the Golf to a luzury sedan like the Passat. Other things like the distance from the wheel center to the pedal are fixed in the platform and will be the same for all the models. Volkswagen states this is to provide a unified front-end system.

Slated to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March in the Audi Q3, this platform wills surely is one of the key strategies to reduce the costs and increase profit margins across their models. The MQB platform also has a Modular Petrol Engine (MOB) which delivers power outputs from 60 PS to 150 PS and will feature Cylinder Deactivation Technology (ACT). The Modular Diesel Engine (MDB) has a power range between 90 PS to 190 PS. Volkswagen has already set aggressive targets on itself to become the Number 1 car maker overtaking Toyota by 2020. The Golf with the MQB platform will be showcased at the Paris Motor Show.

The German auto giant, Volkswagen announced at the event of Detroit Motor Show that the company had achieved over 8 million sales in the year 2011. This was achieved for the first time by Volkswagen and it overtook even the Japanese giant and world’s number 1 car manufacturer in terms of sales, Toyota. BMW still maintained its world number 1 ranking in sales of premium cars. BMW posted an overall rise in 14% sales volumes to reach total sales of 1.67 million units which included sales of BMW, Rolls Royce and MINI models. Audi went on to become the second beating Mercedes Benz by registering a growth of 19% to 1.3 million vehicles in terms of sales.

Volkswagen, who’s stable includes many top brands of the world like Audi, Bentley, Skoda, Lamborghini, Porsche, etc registered total sales of 8.16 million vehicles in the year 2011. It was a 14% increase compared to the previous year’s sales. Few weeks ago, we had run a story on how Volkswagen is putting its strategy in place to become the world’s largest car manufacturer. Looks like, Volkswagen is actually doing it, and doing it very aggressively. Last week, Volkswagen owned Bentley, reported its best annual sales since 2007. The luxury sports car brand, Porsche also had a similar 22% jump in its sales volumes buoyed by a 65% jump in sales in the Chinese market.

The year 2011 also saw Volkswagen emerge as the largest manufacturer since its rival; Toyota was badly hit by the Tsunami in Japan and floods in Indonesia. Toyota, however expects to get back on track soon and regain the world number 1 ranking. Volkswagen, on the other hand plans to sell annually a total of 10m vehicles by 2018, and thereby overtake Toyota and General Motors to become the world’s biggest carmaker by sales. It will be very interesting to see how these global brands carve out their strategy to beat each other to get the number 1 spot.

Volkswagen XL1 (Diesel-Electric Hybrid)

Launched in 2011 Qatar Motor show, the XL1 is diesel plug in hybrid from the house of Volkswagen, Germany. Let’s see what it is made up of. The Monocoque body is made up of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) to achieve highest strength with lowest weight. Aerodynamic design to reduce drag coefficient to minimum is what drives overall form and design of the XL1. Covered rear wheels to avoid air stream disturbance, small opening of glass in window, hidden door handles and on top of all use of cameras instead of rear view mirrors are all outcome of great German minds at Wolfsburg. It looks striking when viewed from front with sharp LED head lamps. The rear looks quite unconventional as we are not used to such form, but it manages to look good from rear too. Overall dimensions of XL1 stand close to Volkswagen Polo. It uses only 23% steel and aluminum components just to enhance safety and it weighs 184 kg out of total vehicle weight of 795 kg.

Under the hood there is 0.8 liter TDI (tubo diesel) producing 48 PS with help of DSG gearbox. On the electrical side, 28 PS motor is fitted. With this its range is said to be 540kms when refilled full. Speed is limited to 158km/h and acceleration of 0-100km/h in 11.9 sec. Highlight about XL1 is that it can take you past 100km distance in just 1 liter of diesel.

Audi A3 e-tron (Petrol-Electric Hybrid)

Designed as a plug-in hybrid, the Audi A3 e-tron concept is also showcased at Delhi AutoExpo in the stands of Audi, alongside of Q3, S6 and Q7 V12. A3 e tron is absolute treat to our eyes. It is a full size, feature rich sedan which looks like it is production ready. Improved and innovative LED technology is what makes it at headlights and taillights. Front grill is Audi’s iconic hexagonal in shape. A3 is made of combination of metals and CFRP.

It has a 211hp 1.4 TFSI four-cylinder engine with award winning technology. An electric motor is provided with an output of 27 hp. Working together, the TFSI engine and electric motor accelerate the notchback to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, then top speed of 231 km/h. A regulated oil pump, the intelligent Audi thermal management system, a start-stop system and an energy recovery system – technologies from the brand’s modular efficiency platform – all contribute to this high efficiency.

To power the electric motors, Audi A3 e-tron concept has the lithium-ion batteries located behind the rear seats. They give the notchback a range of up to 54 km (34 miles) on electric power alone.
This is small summary of green vehicles which are spotted at AutoExpo from Volkswagen group. Details will come up as concepts turn into reality. Some say both will make it on the road in next 2-3 years. Untill then just wait and watch.

The German car maker, Volkswagen has introduced it’s pre-owned car business called ‘Das WeltAuto’ in India. The aim of Volkswagen is to provide a one-stop solution for all its customers looking for pre-owned cars. Volkswagen will be commencing its used car operations in India in the first half of 2012. The company won’t be launching any new products in India this year, except the new Volkswagen Touareg. The new Touareg will be powered by a 3.0-liter, V6, diesel motor and is expected to be priced around Rs. 43 lakhs.

“With a healthy customer base and a strong network established in the market over the last couple of years it has encouraged us to bring in our global pre-owned car business into the country. We are confident that Das WeltAuto. will chart out its own success story in this market very soon,” Neeraj Garg, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen India, said.

Volkswagen ended the year 2011 on a positive note with clocking close to 78,408 units of sales. It indicated a record growth of 140% over the last year. Volkswagen has also increased its dealership network in India from 70 to 101 across 82 cities and towns in 2011. Increasing brand awareness and expansion of dealership and service centers has resulted in better re-sale values of Volkswagen cars and these have been the key motivators behind Volkswagen introducing the used car business in the Indian market. The German automaker has very aggressive plans for the Indian market in the near future with a slew of product launches across different segment and expansion of its dealership and service network.

The Volkswagen XL1 is coming to the 2012 Auto Expo. The German automaker had disclosed its plans for the upcoming Auto Expo and will showcase the complete India range. The theme at the VW stall will be Think Blue, Drive Blue and the XL1 is one such vehicle which justifies the Blueness of Volkswagen. A Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV), the XL1 is set to go into production in 2013. It returns a mileage of 130 kmpl from its hybrid motor. The 800cc, 2-cylinder diesel unit produces 48 bhp of power, with an extra 27 hp being produced by the electric motor. With a weight of just 795 kgs, the Volkswagen XL1 is light thanks to the use of aluminum, magnesium, ceramics and CFRP. A 0-100 kmph time of 11.9 seconds and a top speed of 160 kmph make this Volkswagen relatively quick. The USP of this car is the all electric mode which is active till 35 kmph.

Volkswagen will also showcase the all new 2012 Beetle. The 2012 Beetle will be launched soon and will be powered by the same engine that powers the Jetta. The 2.0-liter TDI unit produces 140 BHP of peal power at 4200 RPM and 320 Nm of peak torque between 1750-2500 RPM. This engine will be mated to a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed DSG transmission. The Beetle will continue to be sold as a CBU and there are no plans to assemble this model in India just yet. The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg will debut at the biennial event and will be powered by a 3-0-liter, V6 TDI mill, producing around 200 BHP of power. Price is expected to be around Rs. 43 lakhs. If this is not enough, the German automaker is also considering showcasing the Polo BlueMotion at the VW stall.

The German auto major, Volkswagen is no doubt known to be one of the most aspiring and aggressive companies among all the car manufacturers. Armed with brands like Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Seat, Skoda and others, it’s CEO; Mr. Martin Winterkorn recently announced that VW aims to become the world leader car manufacturer by 2018. He also added that the VW group has aims to sell about 10 million vehicles annually by 2018 to achieve world domination. How is Volkswagen going to do it? Becoming a world leader is no child’s play with biggies like Toyota and GM around who have enjoyed in the No. 1 position for a long time. To achieve this target, Volkswagen is primarily targeting 3 geographical locations: US, Europe and BRIC nations.

In the US, Volkswagen is comparatively a very small player with Toyota and GM around who rule the market. However, VW has got some ambitious plans of selling 19.6 million vehicles by 2018. In 2011, VW is projected to sell about 300,000 vehicles here, up 40,000 from 2010 and up 100,000 from two years ago. That’s good progress but not nearly enough. Volkswagen has had only one successful model in the US market, the Jetta. Redesigned for 2011, the new Jetta is expected to account for 180,000, or more than half, of Volkswagen’s total sales this year. It is also trying to reintroduce the Passat (now made in America) which is larger and cheaper than its European counterpart and plans to sell about 100,000 of them each year. Volkswagen might also introduce a new crossover built on the ‘compact modular transverse’ architecture that debuts with the next Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf. In Europe, VW already is the major player with 2.9 million units under its belt. In future, a key model for Volkswagen in this market would be its up-coming compact hatchback, Up!.

“The strategy of VW is based on outpacing the competition—do whatever needs to be done, only much faster than anybody else. Build new factories wherever there is the slightest indication of market growth; close all gaps in the product portfolio; strengthen marketing and sales to compete for highest growth and/or highest market share in every country; excel in all conceivable technologies, especially on the powertrain side; squeeze existing production capacities and supplier relationships to the max; and keep the pressure on efficiency and cost control.” Christoph Stürmer, an auto analyst, IHS consulting, said.

Volkswagen is mainly focusing on the Chinese and Indian markets for the big expansion it needs. In India, Volkswagen has been unable to write its success story till now and only managed to sell a meager 53,300 vehicles in 2010. The Up! will also play a key role for Volkswagen in the Indian market. It continues to have a good grip on the Chinese market with 1.92 million sales in 2010. By contrast, the group sold just more than 300,000 units there 10 years earlier. Even if the VW Group just keeps its 11.5% market share in China, growth there could be the biggest single contributor to Volkswagen’s global sales targets. The Russian market looks bleak will the South American market is growing good where Volkswagen has a strong presence.

Source – Car and Driver

Volkswagen has released in a press release today its theme for the 2012 Auto Expo. The German car maker has adopted a Think Blue, Drive Blue theme, where in the company will be focusing on environment friendly and fuel efficient technology. The Volkswagen Passat was launched early this year and is equipped with BlueMotion Technologies. The third generation VW Beetle will be showcased too and the company is expected to commence bookings for the retro car in the first quarter of 2012. The 2012 Beetle is expected to be priced upward of Rs. 25 lakh and is an all new model ground up. The Volkswagen Up! which was recently spotted in India won’t be displayed at the Expo and the company is having a tough time in positioning it as an Hyundai Eon alternative.

“The Auto Expo is one of the best platforms to showcase our latest and best to the Indian automobile enthusiasts and we are confident that the 21st century Beetle will be a cynosure of every visitor at the Pragati Maidan,” Mr. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board, Director, Volkswagen India, said.

The German auto giant, Volkswagen is planning on launching a small crossover vehicle which will be positioned below their compact SUV, the Tiguan. This was announced by the design boss of the company Mr. Walter De’Silva. The crossover is currently Europe’s fast growing demand and Volkswagen doesn’t have a suitable product to cater to the demand. The crossover segment recorded a sales boost of 81% to 112,530 units. The French car rival, Renault grabbed the majority of the sales volumes with its Duster which recorded a sales increase of 76,204 units. As Volkswagen is no company to take a back seat, the company is gearing up to develop not just one but a range of crossovers to cater to a wider appeal of the customers.

As a part of this plan, the company will be launching the small crossover now positioning it below the Tiguan which will be followed by the large Touareg. The company also showcased its Cross Coupe concept at the Tokyo Motor Show as a part of this. Although the new Tiguan will not be similar to the Cross Coupe concept, yet it was just to give an insight as to how the company can attract the customers in the crossover segment. The Cross Coupe concept also represents the face of the future SUVs from Volkswagen. The Cross Coupe demonstrates a plug-in hybrid powertrain which generates 147 BHP of power from the 4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine while it employs to motors, one at the front and the other at the back.

Source – AutoNews

The German auto giant, Volkswagen is aiming to increase its volume of component exports from India in the coming years for its global operations. The company has a target of tripling its annual component sourcing from the country to over 300 million euros (Rs. 2074 crores) in a period of 3 to 5 years. To achieve this aggressive target, the company is aiming to broaden its supplier base by over 200 to increase the variety of components and spare parts to cater to the demands of the global market. The company is able to gain a cost advantage in its global models by sourcing the components from India and thus increase its profit share. It will also help the company is increasing its capability of localizing components that will be of help when the company will launch its small car, the UP! in the Indian market 2 to 3 years down the line.

“We are still seeing India as a very competitive sourcing base – there’s a cost advantage of at least 10-15% over Western Europe. And having worked with Indian vendors over the past few years, their capabilities too have matured and we do see them playing a bigger role.” Mahesh Kodumudi, Executive Director (Components Purchasing), Volkswagen Group India, said.

Increasing the localization content will help the company to price the UP! very aggressively to be able to compete with its rivals like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and General Motors. Currently the company sources components like engine and transmission parts, metallic components, sheet metal parts and many plastic parts from India. Annually the company will be close to sourcing about Rs. 432 crores of plastic parts annually. Volkswagen will be investing close to 250 million (Rs. 1728 crores) over the next few years on tooling and vendor development. The company has already invested a similar amount of money for such purposes since its entry into the Indian market. Overall, the company has plans to source components worth close to 1 billion for domestic and export markets.

The German auto giant, Volkswagen had showcased their Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV) concept called the XL1 at the Qatar Motor Show this January. Now, Martin Winterkorn, the CEO of Volkswagen group has announced that the development plans for the XL1 concept are under way and we can expect the production version of this vehicle in 2013. The XL1 will be manufactured in either of the two Volkswagen plants of Dresden and Wolfsburg. The USP of the XL1 is its fuel efficiency which is as high as 130 kmpl, thanks to its hybrid motor.

The XL1 is powered by a 27 HP electric motor and a 48 BHP turbo-charged, 2-cylinder diesel engine having a capacity of just 0.8-liter. Combining the two power units, a power output of 75 BHP is expected. The car makes use of many lightweight materials like magnesium, ceramics, aluminum and CFRP which helps the car to weigh just 795 kg. It can operate in an all-electric mode to a speed of 35 km/h after which the diesel engine is activated. It is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox and can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 11.9 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 160 kmph.