volkswagen

Some people see self-parking cars as a sign of the end. Others are just skeptical of this technology working at all. At CNET Car Tech, we've seen it working very well on the Lexus LS 460L. And the world didn't end when we tried out the system. Automotive component maker Valeo built a new system called Park4U that performs similarly to the Lexus. Park4U will see its first deployment in Volkwagen's Europe-only Touran minivan. Park4U relies on ultrasonic sensors to find a suitable parking spot and guide the car in without hitting anything. It turns the wheel, … Read more

Forget about Skylarks and Colts, we like our cars with letter-number designations. VW helps us out by announcing the next generation of its hot hatchback, the VW R32. VW introduced the new generation of this performance-oriented car at the Chicago Auto Show. The R32 gets a 3.2-liter V-6 under the hood, producing 250 horsepower. Better yet, VW's brilliant Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) comes as part of the package. The DSG is a manual transmission that works the clutch for you, making shifts in 80 milliseconds. From our experience, it's a blast to use. And to distinguish the … Read more

We assumed this was a Photoshop job when we first saw it on Spluch, but now we're not so sure. This "Bus Ball," credited to an artist and musician named Billy Gibbons, apparently morphs the remains of classic VW bus into a spherical objet d'art. We assume it's non-functional, though we suppose it can roll around on its own somehow. But then you'd probably have to repaint it after every outing.

The Paris-to-Dakar rally is being run right now and, in the car division, Mitsubishi Pajeros are duking it out with Volkswagen Touaregs on a daily basis. As of the 10th stage of the rally, Team Repsol, with drivers Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret, had taken the overall lead with their specially modified Mitsubishi Pajero Evo. The car uses its original MIVEC six-cylinder engine, with extensive modification, and a six-speed sequential gearbox. The dashboard holds a ruggedized navigation system with special trip computers to help the driving team stay on course and on time. Among the 110 entrants in the car … Read more

The winner is: Volkswagen's GTI. Automobile magazine may be published in Michigan, but it picked the VW GTI as its Automobile of the Year for 2007. Here's what our CNET car tech editors thought about the 2006 GTI.

Automobile's site won't have this information until January 7, but it released the winner's name on CNBC TV today. Its pick for best design? 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Our editors got inside a V8 Vantage at the Los Angeles Auto Show, as you can see on this video. We'll be looking over the GTI, Vantage … Read more

Volkswagen is not really known for its off-road prowess, but that might be about to change with a new series of VW-branded sleds for kids. The snazzy snow-skimmers, which boast steering wheels and padded seats, come in a choice of trims inspired by VW favorites such as the GTI and the Beetle. There are no details on whether or not the sleds have brakes or whether they will come fitted with VW's steering impulse system, but they sure will have other parents glowering with envy on the slopes.

Source: CarScoop via Autoblog

Volkswagen has designed a programmable electronic bumper sticker that enables drivers to communicate real-time messages to other road users. A product of VW's Electronics Research Laboratory in California, the electrophoretic displays make use of a thin foil membrane that can be programmed to show messages and pictures that reflect a driver's mood at any given time. At the moment, the application is specific to VW's Chameleon concept car, but designers tell us they're looking into other automotive applications for the technology. The picture VW sent us shows a display wishing other road users to "Have … Read more

Roadholding technologies such as traction control and stability programs are becoming standard on many cars, but VW takes a further step with its steering-impulse system. When your car's tires are slipping and the car is thinking a little countersteer (turning toward a sideways skid) is called for, VWs with steering impulse give the steering wheel a little tug in the right direction. VW points out that the car is not steering for the driver, just making an almost subliminal suggestion about which way you should be moving the wheel. VW claims that stopping distance can be decreased by up … Read more