Volkswagen

Natalie Anderson asked:


The Volkswagen GX3 looks like a three-wheeled hornet from another planet -- at least that’s what its detractors say about it.

Despite its appearance however, the Volkswagen G3 is considered a radical ride. It was first unveiled last January 2006, could have reach production at the end of that same year and reached dealers spring of 2007. Unfortunately its detractors prevailed; it only took eleven hours for them to magically banish the GX3, never to return again. The big question is: Was the GX3 a loss or a disaster?

The GX3 is one of Volkswagen’s vehicles were users can lie down with both legs comfortably stretched out in the long tunnel leading to the narrow pedal box. Its five-point seatbelt straps you into the thinly padded bucket, which has a fixed backrest and side bolsters. It doesn’t have handlebars, a hand-operated clutch, and a twist-grip throttle, which are common to other vehicles instead it has foot pedals for the clutch and the brakes, a gear lever located between the seats, and a tiny, suede-rimmed steering wheel that looks and feels as if it came from a racing car.

It has an engine that delivers only 80 of the promised 125hp and in fairness to Volkswagen it has equipped the GX3 with high quality auto parts like Volkswagen ball joints that are meets the high standard set by the automaker for its vehicles. The steering rack is from the Lotus Elise, and the brakes are adapted from VW's European-market Golf and Polo.

Lotus has also had a hand in the GX3’s unequal-length control arm front suspension. The front tires are pretty standard at 215/45WR-17, but the single rear semi-slick is a 315/30YR-18. The fourteen-spoke aluminum rear wheel is located on a lightweight, single-sided swing arm with a compact coil-over damper. And in order to cut cost or for some other reasons, the German automaker has opted for a chain to relay power to the rear wheel despite the fact that a driveshaft would have been classier and a belt would have been quieter.

Originally, Volkswagen planned to market the GX3 as a motorcycle as its entry to high-occupancy vehicle lanes despite the fact that the footprint of the GX3 is closer to that of a car. The GX3 is a two-seater vehicle measuring 73 inches wide, 148 inches long, and four feet tall. It rides on a 106-inch wheelbase and sports a broad 64-inch front track, which supposedly makes it perfect for weaving through busy traffic.

The experience that the GX3 conveys is as intimate as that offered by the conventional motorcycles. This means that once you ride on the GX3 you can really sense the detailed texture of the road surface and noticed even the tiniest irregularities which help you to watch out for gravel, puddles, and diagonal seams. You also learn to dodge potholes and avoid transverse ridges.

The GX3 is the only vehicle that could make evenly smooth looking asphalt road uneven and expect also for longitudinal grooves to bounce you off course without warning. Conversely crests, expansion joints, manhole covers, and crosswinds are also liable to seriously deflect the flight path---in fairness again to Volkswagen all the aforementioned untoward incidents only happens at sports car speed. And according to the automaker the GX3 can pull up to 1.25g of lateral force enough to cause you heart attack and your cheeks to wobble.

The GX3 is likened to a high-tech soapbox, its flyweight and weighs 1257 pounds when empty meaning no occupants on board. To provide it with a balanced side weight distribution, the fuel tank, the 2.8-cubic-foot cargo cubicle, the swing arm, and the battery are all situated on the passenger's side of the vehicle. And according to Volkswagen the GX3 can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.7 seconds made possible by its 125hp, 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. The automaker also added that it can achieve a top speed of 125 mph and an average fuel consumption of 45 mpg.



Posted by David

Rain Stockton asked:


On a report that Volkswagen AG may have agreed to share technology with Proton Holdings Bhd., and to acquire a stake in its manufacturing unit, shares of the unprofitable Malaysian automaker rose.

After the Edge magazine said that Volkswagen may pay several hundred million ringgit and supply vehicle platforms as part of an agreement, the stocks of Proton jumped as high as 5.2 percent. The report also said that the biggest carmaker in Europe, Volkswagen, will own 51 percent of a new company that will own Proton's manufacturing division.

Analyst Mohd Hanafi said that the agreement seems to be just waiting for a formal decision. The analyst at Alliance Research Sdn. in Kuala Lumpur, with a ``buy'' rating on Proton stock, added that any kind of new positive development would surely have an impact on the share price.

Based on the estimates of Hwang-DBS Vickers Research Sdn., the control of Proton's car making division may cost 900 million ringgit ($263 million). The state-owned automaker needs an ally to help roll out new models and turn out increasing sales.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd. spokesman Mohd Asuki Abas refused to comment on the report. Khazanah, a Malaysian government investment unit, holds 43 percent of Proton. Proton Spokeswoman Faridah Idris said that she was not able to comment immediately.

Proton shares jumped as high as 30 sen to 6.10 ringgit. The stock has dropped 11 percent this year as compared with a 26 percent increase by the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index.

The Magazine said that according to the agreement, Proton will control domestic vehicle distribution and Volkswagen will monitor international sales.

Azman Mokhtar, the Managing Director of Khazanah, said in June 26 that he plans to look for a partner for Proton before the end of this year.

The Edge also states that collaboration between Proton and U.S. carmaker General Motors Corp. is unlikely to happen because Proton sells vehicles in Iran. According to the magazine, GM particularized that Proton must pull out of Iran, a condition that will be met.

About Volkswagen and the environment

Protecting the environment is increasingly becoming an important part of the whole process chain from product planning and product development to the recovery of end-of-life vehicles. In this connection, when a new Volkswagen is developed, several line-ups of activities guarantee the long life of the vehicle and improve subsequent recovery.

All engineers who are involved in the development process use the internal respective guidelines and broad information as the basis for creating recyclable products. Aside from avoiding the use of hazardous substances, they are also increasingly using recycled materials as well and labeling the materials of all applicable vehicle components with their material types, to succor identification and subsequent recycling.

Through a recycling analysis, the environmentally friendly properties of the new vehicle are checked.

Documentation is prepared and made available to the recycling companies to guarantee environmentally friendly recycling at the end of a vehicle’s life.

The company engineers are the experts behind quality Volkswagen Jetta parts.



Posted by David

Phoenix Delray asked:


Volkswagen is a German car manufacturer that is based out of Wolfsburg, Germany. The origins of this company date all the way back to the early 1930s. Volkswagen has a very interesting history that not many people are aware of. In 1930s Germany, Adolf Hitler had a very keen interest in cars despite the fact that he could not even drive. Shortly after taking over as the leader of Germany, Hitler contacted his good friend Ferdinand Porsche to help him design a new model car. Ferdinand Porsche had designed a 1931 automobile, Hitler like it very much, but he had some modifications in mind that could be made. He thought that the original 1931 model could be made so it was better suited for the working man. This is how the very first Volkswagen Beetle, with Volkswagen parts in it came into existence. Porsche decided to name this as the Peoples Car for Hitler.

One of the first changes that they made to the automobile to make Volkswagen parts was to increase and make for better fuel efficiency. They also increased the overall reliability, ease of use, and made the Volkswagen parts much more economically sound for repair purposes. The intention of making these types of modifications was to encourage the people in Germany to save more money and eventually, close to 400,000 people paid into this idea. At this point, the Volkswagen Beetle already had its distinctive round shape and air cooled, flat four, rear mounted engine. The guy who is credited for designing and developing the car body which is recognizable as the Beetle we know today is the longstanding chief designer, Erwin Komenda.

They began building a brand new factory which commenced on May 26, 1938 and was in a new town which is now known as Wolfsburg. This factory was purpose built for the workers, but it only manufactured a handful of cars by the time the war started in 1939. Now of these cars were actually delivered, but one Type 1 Cabriolet was given to Hitler on April 20, 1938 which was his 49th birthday. The war impacted many different aspects of life in Germany as well as many other parts of the world. For the car manufacturing industry, this meant that the production changed to military vehicles. This turned out to be very profitable for the Volkswagen company and for many other car manufacturers as well.



Posted by David

Katherine Hooper asked:


Volkswagen A/C Compressor

The Heart of the A/C System

The comfort and welfare of the car occupants are usually being prioritized by means of developing comfortable interiors, and reliable controlling devices. For instance, steering wheels now come equipped with controls for the car radio, so that the driver does not need to exert effort in changing the station. This high-tech way of giving the driver a comfortable ride can be enhanced by the most basic system that fosters the car occupants' well-being---the A/C system. For after all, during hot summer days, who needs the ability to easily control the radio if he or she cannot even control a cooler temperature? Given this, carmakers such as Volkswagen has made sure that their A/C systems will not fail for a long and satisfactory performance.

The Volkswagen A/C Compressor is an integral component of the system's functionality since it is the main part that pumps the needed fluid all throughout the system. Hence the name heart of the A/C system. The Volkswagen A/C compressor can be easily compared to the human heart because it supplies refrigerant, which is comparable to the human blood. The distributed refrigerant will then make it possible to absorb all the heat that is generated inside a Volkswagen's cabin. While the compressor fulfills a very important task in the system, its care and maintenance should not be singled out over the rest of the system's components. The Volkswagen A/C compressor only needs to be replaced when it is called for, since they are made with materials that are designed to withstand both the heat and cold temperature of the Volkswagen.

The A/C compressor works basically because it is powered by a belt that is attached to the engine. The compressor then is able to pump the refrigerant through this generated power. Its convenient positioning in the center of the A/C system allows it to work with the high and low pressure sides of the system, which is very much needed in the compressor's operation. Coming from the low pressure side of the A/C system, the Volkswagen A/C compressor takes in the the low pressure refrigerant gas that is distributed either by the evaporator or the accumulator. This refrigerant gas would then be compressed, allowing both its pressure and temperature to increase. After this process, the high pressure would be dissipated to the A/C condenser. The A/C condenser is another important component of the A/C system that takes care of its high pressure side.

After this process, the refrigerant would then be distributed to the other parts of the system, making it possible for car occupants to feel cool and comfortable inside their Volkswagen.



Posted by David

Katherine Hooper asked:


The Key to Volkswagen’s Efficient Air Conditioning System

A high level of comfort is what the German car brand Volkswagen offers in every model it makes. Pleasant seating and entertainment features, as well as adequate storage space are just some of those equipped in many Volkswagen models to ensure a smooth ride quality. Aside from those, the air conditioning system of Volkswagen that cools the vehicle’s interior is indispensable in providing a pleasant and comfortable ride.

The air conditioning system of a Volkswagen works like the cooling system in the engine. Both systems get rid of heat and release it into the outside air. The engine’s cooling system has a coolant, which is a liquid mixture of water and anti-freeze, tasked to absorb heat from various engine parts. Similar to the coolant’s role, the air conditioning system’s refrigerant is a tasteless and odorless gas that changes to liquid and vice versa as it travels throughout the air conditioning system.

Volkswagen’s air conditioning system consists of vital components that are connected by hoses and tubes to move heat from inside the vehicle to the atmosphere. One of these components is the Volkswagen A/C condenser, which serves as a venue for heat exchange in the air conditioning system. The Volkswagen A/C condenser is similar in appearance and function to the radiator of the engine’s cooling system. A large device situated right at the back of the grille and radiator, the Volkswagen A/C condenser allows heat to pass from the warm refrigerant to the colder air outside. Its series of tubes covered by thin fins give a big area for heat to be dispelled. The hot and compressed refrigerant coming from the compressor goes to the top of the condenser, where it is cooled off. Then the refrigerant, which is in a gaseous state, condenses and leaves through the bottom of the condenser as a high-pressure liquid.

There are two types of A/C condenser used for air conditioning systems, depending on the design. The A/C condenser with a serpentine design is composed of a long tube with cooling fins between the tubes. On the other hand, the A/C condenser with a parallel flow design is where the refrigerant flows across multiple passages, giving a bigger surface area for the cooler air to contact.



Posted by David

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


Vehicle sales figure for 2007 is predicted to be 16.1 million units and almost equaling this figure is the number of recalls each automaker made for several of their models together.

Last August, Ford announced that they will be recalling their 3.6 million vehicles, mostly in the truck segment from the 1990s model years. The massive recalls were due to defects in the speed control deactivation switch. Similarly, brake light problems have resulted in Volkswagen recalling 1,000,000 units of the Volkswagen Beetle from 2001 to 2007 model years making it the most recalled vehicle model for the year. For Toyota, the 2004-2006 Tundra and the 2004-2007 Sequoia were recalled due to problems in the lower ball joint on the vehicle’s front suspension.

These past few years, almost all automaker have issued vehicle recalls. "Now almost any time you pick up a newspaper, there is a recall," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at J.D. Power & Associates in Troy, Michigan.

Even a Ferrari worth $168,000 is not an exception to defective vehicles. In the early months of 2007, the Italian luxury sports car maker recalled 216 of its 2005 and 2006 models of the F430 coupe and spider models. The vehicles were detected to have faulty clutch pumps. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the defect “could result in a reduction in a driver’s ability to shift gears while driving and result in a crash.”

We may wonder that if every year, vehicle quality is upgraded, then why are recalls also rising? According to auto experts, the incidents are due to automakers sharing platforms and parts, therefore increasing the chances that a defective part be used in various models causing problems to all of it. On the other side, Libby said that recalls could be taken as a sign that the automakers are exerting extra efforts to solve vehicle problems, thereby protecting its consumers.

Recalls can be a stain to a vehicle’s brand and model. It may give the consumers the idea that they bought a “lemon” and it is known to all that recalls can be ammunition to product liability attorneys for lawsuits.

"This stuff gets amplified a great deal because there are certain lawyers waiting to use this information, and they are out there actively looking for new business on a class action basis," VW spokesman Keith Price said.

This year the most recalled vehicles are: Volkswagen New Beetle (with Volkswagen Beetle distributor rotor), Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, Jeep Liberty, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Nitro, Suzuki Forenza and Reno, Volkswagen Passat and Passat Wagon, Lexus ES 350 and Chrysler Sebring.



Posted by David

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest automaker, said that sales of its namesake brand will rise to a record this year after gaining 8.3 percent in the past eight months - thanks to the escalating demand for its best-selling Golf model, with more than 25 million units built by 2007.

According to the Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker, global deliveries will rise at least 3.2 percent to more than 3.5 million vehicles. The automaker sold 3.39 million Volkswagen-brand cars and sport-utility vehicles in the previous year.

"By the end of the year Volkswagen will deliver more than 3.5 million vehicles, more than ever before," VW brand sales and marketing chief Michael Kern said in a statement on Thursday.

Volkswagen Golf, a small compact car, was the first successful replacement for the air-cooled Beetle. The Golf’s success made the use of the hatchback in the C segment of cars popular. Based on Bloomberg data, Golf sales in the first half, the latest figures available, rose ten percent to 300,600 vehicles, and the automaker has added shifts at the main Wolfsburg plant to increase production.

The current Golf will be replaced in 2008 with the next generation model. Sales generally decline for cars nearing the end of their life cycle as customers wait for the new version.

Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn announced plans last week to add 12 models at the Volkswagen group within the next three years as he seeks to boost sales to 8 million vehicles. Groupwide sales this year will rise to a record 6 million cars and SUVs, from 5.73 million in 2006, he said.

The German automaker said that sales at the namesake brand increased by 12 percent in August, led by growth in China. Additionally, worldwide deliveries climbed to 286,000 cars and sport- utility vehicles, automaker said in an e-mailed statement. Eight-month sales gained 8.3 percent from a year earlier to 2.4 million vehicles.

The automaker also said that the unit sales of its Volkswagen brand totaled 286,000 in August, up 12.1 percent compared with the same month last year. For the January-August period, total unit sales were 8.3 percent higher year-on-year, Forbes reported.

The maker of Volkswagen gear shift repair kit said that it expects to sell more than 3.5 million vehicles of the core brand by the end of the year. The German automaker also intimated that the Volkswagen brand will increase sales by over 3.1 percent this year, thanks to strong growth in emerging markets like Argentina, Brazil, and China.

In 2006, models like the Eos hardtop retractable coupe-cabriolet, as reported by Reuters, helped augment the automaker’s core brand sales by ten percent to nearly 3.4 million units. At present, the automaker is striving to improve its lineup to pull more shoppers.



Posted by David

Benjamin Hudson asked:


Later this May 2007, Volkswagen AG will commence the production of the much-awaited revamped model of VW Phaeton full size luxury sedan. The car will roll out in dealer showrooms carrying numerous new technical features and modified equipments inside and out.

Unveiled at the recent 77e Salon International de l'Auto Geneve (77th annual Geneva International Motor Show), the VW Phaeton now comes with a new V6 TDI turbo-diesel engine, the first Volkswagen model to comply with the most stringent European emissions standard, the EURO 5 standard that goes into effect in 2009. The EURO 5 emissions standard requires an 80 percent lower amount of dirt particulates compared to the previous EURO 4 standard. The VW Phaeton's V6 new TDI turbo-diesel engine complies with this requirement, thanks to its common rail direct-injection system allowing the vehicle to have improved fuel efficiency and lower exhaust emissions as well as low fuel consumption, about 9.6 liters per 62 miles of driving range. The TDI turbo-diesel engine pumps out 299 horses (171 kW) under its hood, and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 146 mph.

For customers who prioritize power and performance than fuel efficiency, Volkswagen is offering optional three petrol gasoline engines to suit their driving personality. The German automaker will include a V6 gasoline engine pumping out 237 hp (177 kW), a monstrous V8 engine with 443 hp (331 kW), and the powerful W12 petrol engine that also pumps out 443 hp. Volkswagen also improved the Phaeton's handling and driving performance, powering the luxury car's standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) drivetrain configuration.

Outside, the VW Phaeton received additional exterior features like chrome accent strips in the lower area of the front apron, newly designed bi-xenon headlamps, dynamic and static cornering headlamps, newly designed automatically activated LED daytime running lamps, and a new 19-inch alloy wheel designs for the vehicle to ride on. Customers should get a VW car cover from the company’s OEM division to protect these exclusive and new features of the VW Phaeton.

In addition to the new exterior features, the utilization of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is one of the new technical changes and features for the VW Phaeton. The Adaptive Cruise Control system is equipped with innovative functions including: Follow-to-Stop function, Front Assist stopping distance reduction and Side Assist lane change assistant.

Here is how the two systems work according to Volkswagen engineers:

Front Assist:

"The system utilizes a radar sensor to monitor the distance to vehicles in traffic in front of the Phaeton. When they approach too closely the driver is informed in two stages. At the same time the vehicle is prepared for possible hard braking by the driver. In certain situations the system preventatively puts the brakes in a preconditioned status ahead of time; otherwise they would only become active when the driver actuates the brakes. This is how the new system achieves Stopping Distance Reduction (AWV)."

Side Assist:

"This system monitors the area in back of and next to the Phaeton via radar sensors in the rear bumper (one sensor each for areas to the left and right of the vehicle), and it signals a potential collision risk via an indicator light in the outside mirror housing. The sensor monitoring range is about 50 meters to the rear and 3.60 meters to the sides of the sedan."

Meanwhile, to provide additional driving safety, the VW Phaeton now comes with a tire pressure control system, low-beam lamp that automatically activates during full throttle acceleration and in rainy driving conditions. The car has is also equipped with enhanced information and entertainment systems including voice-controlled Bluetooth telephone system with auxiliary Bluetooth receiver, and navigation system with DVD capability that can support different types of functions.



Posted by David

Natalie Anderson asked:


Another automaker was targeted by the suicide prevention groups for having ads that suggest suicide. Europe’s largest automaker and maker of renowned Volkswagen performance parts, Volkswagen AG didn’t escape the probing eyes of the suicide prevention groups. Five mental health groups have recently demanded that Volkswagen scrap its new TV spot that shows a depressed guy on a ledge who decides not to jump off the building after he hears that Volkswagen is offering three vehicles under $17,000.

According to Keith Price, VW spokesman, the company has no plan whatsoever of scrapping the ad since “We see no reason to stop at this point. We are willing to continue the discussion. But controversy is not something VW has shied away from its marketing.”

The complaints came pouring in after General Motors has agreed to modify the ending of their Super Bowl ad that features a depressed robot that jumps off the bridge. Masterfoods USA similarly scrapped their Snicker’s ad because gay activist groups complained that the reaction of the men on the commercial is homophobic.

The Volkswagen’s commercial “Jumper” was first aired last Monday at NBC’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. The ad was created by Crispin Porter + Bogusky and is also shown at YouTube. Before the ad was aired, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA has sent a letter to VW requesting for its stoppage. Another letter was sent to VW last Wednesday asking for the stoppage of the ad but this time it was from four mental health groups: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychiatric Association, mental Health America and National Alliance on mental Illness.

Madison Avenue is feeling the increasing pressure from activists who are keen in checking commercial contents. And that’s not all; it seems also that interest groups actually have the power to apply pressure even on some of the world’s largest companies.

Barry Glassner, professor of sociology at the University of Southern California said, “There’s little that marketers or politicians can do if power advocacy groups coalesce against them. In some cases, they’re crucial corrective that society needs. In other cases, they go overboard.” But in this case, Glassner is in support of the advocacy groups.

Jerry Reed, executive director of Suicide Prevention Action Network USA also said, “There’s nothing entertaining about the public health tragedy of suicide.” This was seconded by Robert Gebbia, executive director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention saying, “You shouldn’t use mental illnesses as a way to sell cars.”

But according to VW spokesman Price, the automaker didn’t mean to harm anyone with its commercial and further stated “it was not designed or conceived to offend anyone” unfortunately due to forces we cannot control the whole ad thing came out offensive to some people. This was answered by crisis consultant Jonathan Bernstein saying that Volkswagen should dump the ad completely, “VW should have learned a lesson from GM. It’s not worth running an ad that’s socially controversial.”



Posted by David

Luna Mohanty asked:


Volkswagen owes its post-war existence largely to one man, British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst, REME. In April 1945, KdF-Stadt, and its heavily bombed factory were captured by the Americans, and subsequently handed over to the British, within whose occupation zone the town and factory fell. The factory was placed under the control of Oldham-born Hirst.

At first, the plan was to use it for military vehicle maintenance. Since it had been used for military production, and had been in Hirst's words a "political animal" rather than a commercial enterprise, the equipment was in time intended to be salvaged as war reparations. Hirst painted one of the factory's cars green and demonstrated it to British Army headquarters.

Short of light transport, in September 1945 the British Army was persuaded to place a vital order for 20,000. The first few hundred cars went to personnel from the occupying forces, and to the German Post Office.

Some UK Service personnel were allowed to take their VW Beetles' back to the UK when they were demobilized, and one of the very first Beetles brought back in that way (UK registration index JLT 420) is still owned by Peter Colborne-Baber, the son of the original proprietor of the UK's first official Volkswagen Importer, Colborne Garages of Ripley, Surrey.

By 1946 the factory was producing 1,000 Volkswagen cars every month, a remarkable feat considering it was still in disrepair. Due to roof and window damage, rain stopped production and steel to make the cars had to be bartered for new vehicles.

So, what is Major Ivan Hirsts legacy? In 2008 Volkswagen is recognized as one of worlds leading automotive brands, with Volkswagen Car Services centres spanning the globe, offering new models every other year, and supporting these with Volkswage Parts and Servicing departments. They are also leading the environmental battle with their

partnership with Mercedes and other companies to market BlueTec clean diesel technology, calling it BlueMotion.

Quite some progress from such humble beginnings.



Posted by David