Volkswagen/Audi Diesel Emissions Settlement Program

     On September 18^th 2015, news broke about Volkswagen’s emissions tests being faked on many of VW and Audi’s TDI vehicles. It was found that Volkswagen had intentionally programmed turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel engines to activate certain emissions controls only during laboratory emissions testing. The programming caused the vehicles' carbon output to meet US standards during regulatory testing but emit more carbon in real-world driving. Volkswagen put this programming in about eleven million cars worldwide and in 500,000 in the United States, during model years 2009 through 2015.

     

     And finally settlements have been reached and the plan is in order to make it right with owners of VW’s here in the U.S. pending judges approval.

If the proposed Settlements are approved by the Judge, then Volkswagen has agreed to:

·        Buy back, terminate leases or provide approved emissions modifications for nearly 475,000 2.0-liter TDI diesel cars in the United States;

·        Provide cash payments to owners/lessees;

·        Pay for environmental remediation; and

·        Promote zero emissions vehicle technology

     So you can choose to sell or terminate your lease back to car back to Volkswagen plus cash or VW will make the modifications to your car to improve emissions plus cash. So needless to say, VW is giving you cash for their deceitfulness.

The following 2.0-liter TDI engine vehicles are included and may be eligible.

·        VW Beetle  2013-2015

·        VW Golf      2010-2015

·        VW Jetta     2009-2015

·        VW Passat  2012-2015

·        Audi A3       2010-2013, 2015

What are the next steps?

    If the Judge grants preliminary approval, notice will be mailed to owners and lessees announcing the specific terms of the Settlements.  At that time, owners/lessees will learn about their rights to exclude themselves, object, or comment on the Settlements as well as the options available to buyback or modify their car, or terminate their lease.

    Volkswagen is working on an emission modification for each of the cars listed  above. EPA will need to approve any emissions modification before this option becomes available.

If I am a former owner or lessee, am I eligible to participate in the proposed Settlements?

    If you owned an eligible vehicle on or before September 18, 2015 and sold it before June 28, 2016, you may be eligible to participate. Likewise, if you were leasing an eligible vehicle as of September 18, 2015, you may be eligible to participate.

For more information please visit our website or contact us for questions.

VW is the King of the Ring

Nürburgring's infamous Nordschleife has once again removed its speed liimts, and it was only a matter of time before the different automakers would attempt to set new speed records. And Volkswagen has done exactly that, recording the fastest front-wheel-drive with the all-new Golf GTI Clubsport S.

                                                

The all-new Golf GTI Clubsport S puts out about 306 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The weight in the Clubsport S weighs in under 3,000 pounds and does 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds. It comes with a standard adaptive suspension. Volkswagen will only produce just 400 these cars, with 100 staying in Germany.

VW's 7:49.21 lap time positively decimates the record of 7:50.63 set by a preproduction 2015 Honda Civic Type R, which itself bested the previous record of 7:54.36, held by the Renault Mégane RS. 

To see some of our other fine Volkswagen Vehicles or contact us today to get your own!

VW is getting back in the van game.

But its not the VW Bus you are thinking of.

Recently Volkswagen released sketches of its new Crafter Panel Van, ahead of its launch in autumn 2016. They are jumping in feet first into the commercial vehicle industry.  

The new model will feature Volkswagen’s latest family face, sporting in the front with the wide grille and large VW badge. This van has sleek lights on the front and rear that are one of the design highlights, as well as large alloy wheels round out the exterior.

The interior is completely customizable. From a passenger transport van to cargo/work van.  Roof variants, partitions, floor coverings, tow bars and access aids are also available.

More details are on the way soon, but for now VW is saving plenty of information for the official reveal. Currently the Crafter features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in four guises, with 108bhp, 113bhp, 135bhp and 161bhp, with up to 37.7mpg and 208g/km emissions.

Expect an entry-level load bay of around 100 inches. There will be more options to choose from, however, including a long-wheelbase version that adds extra space inside.

We look forward to the fall when these finally arrive. Contact us to set up your appointment now.

Volkswagen Emissions Settlement

  

  On September 18, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a violation notice  of the Clean Air Act to the German Automaker Volkswagen Group for knowingly programming the TDI engines to activate certain emissions controls only during laboratory emissions testing.  The intentional programming caused the vehicles' NOx output to meet standards during testing, but in real-world driving, the emissions were 40 times more than US standards allow.  This programming was put into about eleven million cars worldwide and in 500,000 in the United States, for model years 2009-2015.

  Volkswagen soon became the target of regulatory investigations in numerous countries, and Volkswagen's stock fell in value by a third in a matter of days following the news. The Volkswagen Group CEO resigned, and the head of brand development, Audi research and development head, and Porsche research and development head were all suspended.  It was announced by Volkswagen that plans were made to spend US$7.3 billion (later raised to US$18.32 billion) to rectify the emissions issues and planned to refit the affected vehicles as part of a recall campaign.

Fast forward to now. 283 days later.

  It has been announced that a settlement has been reached with Volkswagen on Tuesday June 28, 2016 after the German auto group knowingly rigged 475,000 diesel vehicles in the U.S to cover up that fact that they didn't meet emissions standards. The $14.7 billion settlement will include about $10 billion that, according to federal regulators, will be used to compensate owners and get the faulty vehicles of the road. All in all, about 475,000 vehicles are involved in the settlement, 460,000 of them were sold by the Volkswagen brand and another 15,000 Audi models. The models include the 2013-2015 VW Beetle, 2010-2015 VW Golf, 2009-2015 VW Jetta 2012-2015 VW Passat and the 2015 Audi A3.

  Consumers can find out more about the settlement at www.VWCourtsettlement.com, but don't expect an immediate payout. Documents are saying that the "earliest possible time for payments to begin is October 2016."  Volkswagen plans to notify owners immediately after the deal is finalized and it will have to complete any buyback within 90 days after an owner accepts the offers. The deal will allow VW and Audi owners to continue driving their vehicles until they either complete a buyback or get the necessary emissions repairs made.

Volkswagen Tiguan "One of the Best"

"It looks expensive, but with such impressive composure, equipment levels and fitness for purpose, the Tiguan is one of the best options in its class."--Vicky Parrot of Autocar.com

Volkswagen really tried to put an emphasis on family the past couple years. With the Tiguan, they definitely succeeded. Whether it was the sheer space that the SUV provided, the accessibility, the four-wheel-drive and power, or the safety, it is no coincidence that the Tiguan is accounting for huge portions of VW sales throughout the world. Vicky Parrot of Autocar.com calls the Tiguan "just as suave and sure-footed as it needs to be." We agree.

Powered by the 2.0 TDI engine, a seven speed DSG dual clutch automatic gearbox, and a two ton towing capacity, the family SUV takes a new look in the sense that it is one of the most powerful in its class. The steering is weighted just perfectly to give the driver as much confidence is needed to perform any tight maneuver. You can even changing steering modes to 4motion which makes it feel more natural. Safety features are just as impressive with not only automatic emergency braking, but lane assist and a driver's knee airbag standard.

The driving capabilities are great, but someone like me is more concerned about comfort. Let me tell you this: the comfort does not disappoint. While it does not look like the biggest SUV in the world, the only word to describe the cabin is luxury. Everything is fitted just perfectly, with plenty of space, but not an excessive amount. With loads of space, there is plenty of room for you and your friends to go camping or haul furniture. When you see the 8 inch touch screen fitted across the dash, it is impossible to not recognize the sheer innovation of this vehicle. 

In short, we recommend this SUV. For yours, shop with  us at Lujack Volkswagen of Quad Cities.

Volkswagen and Sport

Every major brand nowadays sponsors sports teams, whether it is soccer, basketball, or racing teams. While common practice today, it was once a revolutionary idea made popular in Germany by Volkswagen, which its no coincidence why they are the most sponsored brand in Germany.

The Bundesliga, Germany's top soccer division which features the European giants Bayern Munich, is rampant with Volkswagen sponsorships, with ten squads out of eighteen being sponsored by VW, as well as six squads in the second division. The main beneficiary of the Volkswagen sponsorship is club VFL Wolfsburg, who most recently won Germany's top division in 2008 and beat European giant Real Madrid in the Champions League this past year 2-0. Why would VW pick one club over the others to sponsor? Well, the answer is actually simple. Volkswagen owns Wolfsburg, investing over $100 million dollars in the club annually.

VFL Wolfsburg's team photo prior to a match, proudly donning the VW logo as their sponsor.

"The reason behind the sponsorship was VW’s plan to make the city of Wolfsburg -- site of VW’s HQ -- more attractive for the recruitment of engineers by the means of a successful Bundesliga team," Christoph Breuer, a sports economics expert said. 

VfL Wolfsburg Sports Dir Klaus Allofs told German media, "We have not discussed the effects on VfL. I believe that's not necessary. The VfL commitment has a great meaning. And it will not be automatically questioned by a crisis. We know the value VfL has for Volkswagen."

The stadium that Wolfsburg plays in? Volkswagen Arena, featured below:

Among other German clubs sponsored by Volkswagen are Hannover 96, Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, all of which have seen massive success over the years.

In the United States, popular Major League Soccer club D.C. United was previously sponsored by Volkswagen.

Volkswagen Motorsport is another division of VW that they are extremely proud to sponsor. Having over 50 years of success, they just celebrated their golden anniversary by winning the most victories in a season the past three seasons, winning 12 each year. No other brand even came close.

To be part of the global brand linked with greatness, shop with us or chat with one of our sales representatives at Volkswagen of Quad Cities.

Time for Golf? e-Golf Named 2016 Best Compact Car.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced last week that the 2016 e-Golf was named Best Compact in the 2016 AAA Green Car Guide, which is a report published annually by the AAA federation--the Automobile Club of Southern California and its Automotive Research Center.

Joerg Sommer, Vice President of Product Marketing for Volkswagen said, "Our team is very proud to be named to the top of AAA’s list. This award is a testament to the many strengths of the e-Golf—cutting-edge technology, versatility, efficiency and value along with the fun to drive element that is so characteristic of the Volkswagen brand.”

Megan McKernan, manager of the Automotive Research Center, called the VW e-Golf SEL Premium "well equipped and fun to drive, and the best part about is that it's a green version of a traditional Golf."

In order to win this award, the e-Golf was tested in the following 13 categories: emissions, fuel economy, crashworthiness, braking, acceleration, handling, cargo-carrying capacity, ride quality, interior noise, ease of entry and exit, maneuverability, roominess, and visibility.

What makes the e-Golf so special? Its estimated range is 83 miles, which ranks it among the higher end of electric vehicles. This can vary depending on how well you take care of your vehicle and the weather. What we find so awesome about it is that it can charge up to 80% in just thirty minutes at select DC fast charging stations. At home? It still only takes 4 hours. It is the perfect vehicle for someone to go to and from work, run some errands, and have some fun. Time for bed? Perfect. Plug in the e-Golf, and you can do this all again in the morning.

To inquire more about the e-Golf, be sure to visit our website and chat with one of our sales representatives.

SOURCE: VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF NAMED BEST COMPACT IN 2016 AAA GREEN CAR GUIDE