Volkswagen

Volkswagen developed a new vehicle platform, called Modular Transverse Matrix, that it will use for its Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, and Skoda brands, intended to enable more efficient manufacturing and the dissemination of advanced technologies among its smaller cars.

Many people don't know that Volkswagen owns the Audi brand, but small cars bearing the VW badge and Audi rings are about to become more similar, under the skin at least. The next Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf models will be the first built on the new architecture. The Modular Transverse Matrix was designed for A and B segment cars. Under … Read more

The E-Bugster concept from VW is an electric car that uses a tablet for its infotainment system, and an electric motor to drive the wheels.

DETROIT--If you're a Bug fan, chances are you might dig an electric version.

Volkswagen has been showing off its zero-emission E-Bugster concept at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, as well as a Jetta Hybrid.

The storied Beetle, which recently had an update for the third generation since its launch in 1949, gets a Blue-e-motion drive unit with a 114-horsepower (85 kW) electric motor and 110 miles of range with its lithium-ion battery.

It does 0-60 mph in a laid-back 10.9 seconds.

The Bugster has a low-slung roof like the 2005 Ragster concept and fat, … Read more

CNET Tech Car of the Year for 2011

2012 Audi A7 Our choice for CNET Tech Car of the Year goes to the 2012 Audi A7, a car that shows superb technology throughout. The list of nominees this year included many very advanced cars representing an impressive leap over last year, proving that the automotive industry is on a hot streak. Improvements in power-train tech play a big role, which helped the Chevy Volt take a top spot in our reader poll, but the connected car seemed like the most relevant and broad-based trend, which is why our staff leaned … Read more

In its annual list, Wards Auto lauds what its editors perceive as the 10 best engines powering cars today.

The 2011 Ward's 10 best engines list pays homage to electrification, including both the mixed gas and electric system driving the Chevy Volt, and the pure electric motor in the Nissan Leaf. One diesel also made the list, Volkswagen's TDI. Among the gasoline engines, most feature forced induction. Direct injection also makes an appearance. But big displacement has its place, as seen in the 5-liter V-8s from Ford and Hyundai.… Read more

These five cars have the best-sounding stereos we've tested all year.

To get good sound in a car, you used to have to visit an installer, who would rip out four tinny speakers and replace them with six-by-nines, a sub, and an amp. But now many automakers are partnering with known audio companies to put high-quality audio components in cars at the factory. These systems are designed specifically for each car by professional audio engineers. We picked out five cars with the best-sounding audio systems we heard this year. These systems produce the kind of sound that will have you driving around the block until your favorite song finishes playing.… Read more

LOS ANGELES--The 2013 model gets an updated front end and new navigation systems.

The notion of a four-door coupe may seem like the product of a fevered marketer's imagination, but Volkswagen's CC is still one good-looking car. The CC stands for Comfort Coupe, a designation derived from the frameless doors and the low roof that curves gracefully back over the trunk.

Volkswagen showed off the 2013 version of the CC here at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the car's first redesign since its launch. Notably, it gets a new front end patterned after those of the new … Read more

LOS ANGELES--Volkswagen is keeping the specifications of the Beetle R concept a secret, but the production Golf R, coming out next year, should give some clues.

Letters like GTI and GLI used to spell performance in Volkswagen terminology, but the German carmaker is introducing a new letter, R. The company now has an entire performance division tuning up existing Volkswagen models and slapping an R badge on them. The first effort hitting production is the Golf R, and now Volkswagen is showing off a concept version of a Beetle R.

Based on the 2012 Beetle, the Beetle R concept has … Read more

Peugeot is capitalizing on the familiar "renew, reuse, recycle" campaign by adding "regenerate." The French car maker will debut the all-new 208 in Europe in the spring of 2012, replacing the 206 and 207 models.

The automaker also introduced a new range of three-cylinder engines promising fuel economy of 83.1 mpg (2.83 l/100km) using the diesel engines. The 1.0- and 1.2-liter VTi gas engines, also available, offer an estimated 65.7 mpg (3.58 l/100km).

The 208 has been completely redesigned. The controls are positioned around a small steering wheel, … Read more