http://www.vwforum.com/forums This section contains VW News, Announcements and VW Forum related News and Announcements. The topics posted in this section appear on the front page. Only Administrators may start new threads/polls in this section. en Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:10:20 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.vwforum.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.vwforum.com/forums http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/nhtsa-investigating-2009-volkswagen-jetta-stalling-issues-44401/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:56:35 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tdi-400x265.jpg NHTSA is investigationg the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI after...

NHTSA is investigationg the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI after a handful of reports suggest that the vehicle can stall and lose power while driving.

While NHTSA only received 7 complaints out of nearly 38,000 vehicles sold, other forums, including the extremely popular VWVortex and TDIClub have reported a series of complaints surrounding this issue.

So far, causes are being thrown around, with poor quality diesel fuel and a problem with the fuel delivery system are being cited as culprits, and some repair estimates run as high as $10,000. We'll be following the issue closely and updating you on new developments as they appear.

More: NHTSA Investigating 2009 Volkswagen Jetta For Stalling Issues on AutoGuide.com ]]> AutoGuide.com http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/nhtsa-investigating-2009-volkswagen-jetta-stalling-issues-44401/ http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/volkswagen-reconfirms-amarok-not-planned-north-america-44350/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:14:52 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/LI20100612003-400x266.jpg Despite reports to the contrary, Volkswagen...

Despite reports to the contrary, Volkswagen continues to insist that the Amarok pickup truck will not see duty in the U.S. In a recent interview with Gilberto dos Santos, VW Brasil's PR boss, InsideLine states that there is no plan to bring the German pickup to North America.

"Volkswagen is not planning currently to market the Amarok in the U.S.. It is destined for South America, Europe, Russia, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Capacity of the General Pacheco manufacturing plant in Argentina is 100,000 units yearly, and the planned demand will be fully met. Other markets such as the U.S. and Asia are not in the company's plans."

There's still hope for Amarok fans in the U.S. however, as it's certainly seems like a strange decision for VW to not bring a pickup to the world's largest pickup market – especially when VW is trying to hard to expand its product base here. And with VW already having a strong diesel following and room for a diesel truck in the market that isn't a Heavy Duty rig, it seems like bringing the Amarok here would be a wise decision.

Plus, with the Amarok being built in South America it doesn't face the prohibitive cost factor of the Euro, which stops so many high-performance VW products from crossing the pond.

The earlier Car & Driver report had indicated that the Amarok would not see U.S. shores any time soon. Perhaps that's a hint that we'll have to wait for the second generation of the truck. Or perhaps it's just until Volkswagen can accommodate for sufficient supply.

Currently the Amarok is being offered with a small turbocharged diesel 4-cylinder that makes 160-hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque.

More: Volkswagen Reconfirms Amarok Not Planned for North America on AutoGuide.com ]]> AutoGuide.com http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/volkswagen-reconfirms-amarok-not-planned-north-america-44350/ http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/volkswagen-race-touraeg-3-revealed-will-take-part-2011-dakar-rally-44268/ Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:12:09 GMT

The Dakar rally doesn't get a lot of love in North America, but some of the machinery used in it is extremely badass, and the Volkswagen Race Touraeg 3 is no exception.

Looking like a Touraeg's homicidal cousin, the Race Touraeg 3 is build for racing on sand dunes and features the appropriate jacked-up bodywork, special BF Goodrich tires and a 2.5L TDI engine making 296 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The Race Touraeg can sprint to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, not bad for a massive truck.

With 10,000 km of testing behind it, the Race Touraeg 3 should be competent enough to give Volkswagen yet another Dakar title in 2011.

More: Volkswagen Race Touraeg 3 Revealed, Will Take Part In 2011 Dakar Rally on AutoGuide.com ]]> AutoGuide.com http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/volkswagen-race-touraeg-3-revealed-will-take-part-2011-dakar-rally-44268/ http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/vw-phaeton-confirmed-return-north-america-early-2013-a-44137/ Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:34:13 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/gallery.php/d/203497-4/db2010au00559large.jpg The next-generation Volkswagen Phaeton will be offered in...

The next-generation Volkswagen Phaeton will be offered in North America says VW product planning boss Juergen Borrmann. The first generation version of the flagship luxury sedan originally went on sale in the U.S. in 2002, but was dropped in 2006 after dismal sales results. Originally targeted at 20,000 units globally, last year VW moved just 4,500 units.

By the time the Phaeton does make its return to the U.S. market it will be entirely redesigned, with a timeline for the second generation model due out around 2013. Earlier this year VW announced an update to the current Phaeton model, which received a similar update in 2007.

The plan to reintroduce the Phaeton is part of a larger plan to grow the VW brand in the U.S., where Volkswagen aims to double its share of the marketplace by 2018 and increase profitability – although at this point any profit would be an increase as VW's U.S. unit has posted eight consecutive losses.

CEO Martin Winterkorn firmly believes in the Phaeton, however, and it's ability to help position VW in the marketplace. "Without our flagship Phaeton, VW wouldn't be where we are today in terms of technology and image," he said when the revised 2011 model was unveiled in April.

And the updated model does seem to be sparking interest in the luxury sedan with sales up 15 percent over last year and the Dreseden plant where the vehicle is produced now working at full capacity. Much of the demand, however, is coming from China with that country accounting for 70 percent of deliveries.

In the interview with Bloomberg, Borrmann did not discuss how VW aims to make a success of the Phaeton this time around. The vehicle's failure in the U.S. market is generally blamed on the fact that it was sold in VW dealerships alongside volume and economy models, while the biggest issue was the price, with some models costing as much as $85,000.

More: VW Phaeton Confirmed for Return to North America, As Early as 2013 on AutoGuide.com ]]> AutoGuide.com http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/vw-phaeton-confirmed-return-north-america-early-2013-a-44137/ http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/volkswagen-looking-add-small-vehicle-new-u-s-production-plans-43983/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:24:35 GMT Image: http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/gallery.php/d/201203-4/db2010au00645large.jpg Volkswagen is looking at producing a small car (similar to...

Volkswagen is looking at producing a small car (similar to the Polo pictured above) at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant alongside the upcoming New Midsize Sedan, set to replace the Passat when it debuts in 2011. The Chattanooga facility could also host a new engine plant as well.

The new U.S. plant is a vital factor in VW's goal to move close to 1 million units in North America by 2018, as it will help significantly reduce the costs of producing vehicles for sale in North America. Volkswagen's New Midsize Sedan will be cheaper and more suited to American tastes than the Passat. The Passat currently retails for about $27,000 while a comparable Accord can be had for under $20,000, thanks to an unfavorable euro-dollar exchange rate.

A new small car or SUV would help expand the product lineup, enabling VW to continue to move units while saving money on importing vehicles from Mexico or Europe.

More: Volkswagen Looking To Add Small Vehicle To New U.S. Production Plans on AutoGuide.com ]]> AutoGuide.com http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f2/volkswagen-looking-add-small-vehicle-new-u-s-production-plans-43983/