New Volkswagen Tiguan Match Edition Launched in the UK

Volkswagen is adding a new trim model to the UK range of its Tiguan SUV, the Match. It replaces the SE trim level and is available with a choice of two petrol (1.4 TSI with 150HP and 2.0 TSI with 170HP) and two diesel engines (2.0 TDI with 140HP or 170HP).

Along with the existing standard specification of the SE which includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a six-disc CD changer, heat insulating glass from the B-pillar back, six airbags, ESP and ABS, the Match adds Park Assist, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, climate control, a touchscreen DAB digital radio and a leather multifunction steering wheel.

The Tiguan Match is on sale now in the UK with a starting price of £22,110 OTR for the 1.4-litre TSI BlueMotion Technology model with two-wheel drive.

Tiguan Match model	CO2, g/km	OTR
1.4-litre TSI 150 PS 6 spd manual BlueMotion Technology 2WD	156	£22,110
1.4-litre TSI 150 PS 6 spd manual	185	£22,845
2.0-litre TSI 170 PS 6 spd manual	199	£23,560
2.0-litre TSI 170 PS 7 spd DSG	199	£24,810
2.0-litreTDI 140 PS 6 spd manual BlueMotion Technology 2WD	139	£23,195
2.0-litreTDI140 PS 6 spd manual	167	£23,900
2.0-litreTDI140 PS 7 spd DSG	170	£25,300
2.0-litreTDI170 PS 6 spd manual	172	£24,785

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Volkswagen ups the Luxury Ante with New Eos Exclusive Edition

Volkswagen is rolling out a new special edition version of its Eos hardtop convertible called 'Exclusive' in Europe. The package includes two-tone nappa leather combinations, unique alloy wheel options and black 'piano lacquer' trim inlays.

More specifically, the Eos Exclusive's interior is covered in black nappa leather contrasted with either cinnamon or corn silk beige in the centre sections and side panels. Black "piano lacquer" trim inlays with coloured seams and piping round off the changes inside.

Special features of the car's exterior include a chrome grille, a sports suspension that lowers the body 15 mm and the "Volkswagen Exclusive" badge. In addition, buyers can choose among three different alloy wheel designs, all 18-inch.

The Eos Exclusive is available with all engine variants including the 1.4-liter TSI with prices starting in Germany from €34,350 or about US$44,000 at today's exchange rates between the Euro and the U.S. dollar.

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Everybody Join in! More Hedge Funds Join Anti-Porsche Lawsuit

In a continuation of the Porsche-Volkswagen takeover/stock controversy, 18 hedge funds added their names to a list of people taking Porsche to court in a $2 Billion lawsuit here in the States.

Porsche, Wendelin Wiedeking (former CEO), and Holger Härter (former CFO) are said to have committed fraud and "manipulated the market" over a four-year period in order to keep the company out of bankruptcy.

The alleged shady dealings were "an attempt to recoup large losses suffered by [Porsche, Wiedeking, and Härter] after a VW share price surge in 2008 triggered by Porsche's takeover attempt on Europe's largest carmaker."

Porsche is said to have taken advantage of "a special type of options" which can be hidden (or not disclosed) according to laws in the Fatherland, in order to prevent the public from seeing exactly how much it had invested in VW.

In a statement, Porsche said: "We are currently examining the charges made in the lawsuit's amended version and if necessary we will defend ourselves against those charges."

People in contact with the various funds taking Porsche to court say damages claimed could be as high as $10 Billion. Ouch.

By Phil Alex

Thanks for the tip Akiv! Via: FT (sub. req.)

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Volkswagen Presents E-Lavida Study at Beijing Show

Volkswagen is gauging Chinese customer reaction to electric cars with the world premiere of a battery-powered version of its Golf-based Lavida sedan. Called the 'E-Lavida', the concept study is the VW group's first ever e-car completely designed and produced in China. Details on the E-Lavida remain scarce, but the company did release a bunch of photos of the car that you can check out after the break.

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Volkswagen to Unveil Facelifted 2011 Phaeton at Beijing Show

Volkswagen is giving it's slow-selling Phaeton flagship another chance at life with a mid-life facelift. Set to be revealed at this week's 2010 Beijing Motor Show, the updated Phaeton features a new look and technologies.

The cosmetic changes up front include a more chiseled design with new bi-xenon headlight units complete with LED running lights and a new grille with two pronounced horizontal bars.

Elsewhere, new front wings and a reprofiled bonnet are joined by a revised front bumper, complete with chrome strips and a set of LED foglights. At the rear end, changes are limited to the new light units and the restyled bumper. The new alloy wheel designs round off the exterior updates.

Moving on to the interior, a new steering wheel and a color electronic display in front of the driver are joined by fresh trim finishes and, for the first time on a Volkswagen, the option of Google Maps on the RNS810 satellite navigation system.

The updated Phaeton will be available with a choice of two wheelbase options, two back seat versions (three seats / two individual seats) and four engines including a V6 FSI petrol with 280HP, a V8 petrol with 335HP, a range-topping W12 petrol with 450HP and a V6 TDI diesel producing 240HP.

In Europe, VW expects that the diesel engine will continue to be the most popular unit. It accelerates the Phaeton from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 8.6 seconds and allows it to reach a top speed of 237 km/h (147mph). This is accompanied by average fuel consumption that has now been further reduced to 8.5 lt per 100 km or 27.7mpg US (equating to 224 g/km CO2).

The 2011 Phaeton will go on sale this August with prices and specifications to be announced nearer this time.

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Sainz, Brundle, Bell, Laffitte and Biela Return to the Race Track for Scirocco R Cup

Five famous names from the world of motorsport including Carlos Sainz, Frank Biela, Jacques Laffite, Derek Bell and Martin Brundle are getting ready to line-up on the grid at Hockenheim this weekend (23-24 April) for the first round of the new VW Scirocco R Cup series.

Together, the five racing aces have started 343 Formula 1 Grand Prix and won the Dakar Rally, two World Rally Championship titles, the Sportscar World Championship, the German DTM championship, the British Touring Car Championship and the Le Mans 24-hour race a total of 11 times.

Each driver will a race a Scirocco R fitted with a modified 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine running on bio-CNG that is said to reduce CO2 emissions by around 80 per cent compared with conventional engines.

The TSI unit produces 223-horsepower and 203 lbs ft of torque while an available "push-to-pass" system can provide a short 30HP boost in power.

The one-make series that supports the German DTM Touring Car Championship during 2010 includes a UK debut appearance at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 3-4 September 2010.

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New Ford Fiesta Overtakes VW Golf as Europe's Best Selling Car in Q1

The newest generation of the Ford Fiesta has become Europe's best-selling car, pushing the Volkswagen Golf into second place in both March 2010 and year-to-date sales, according to the latest figures from JATO Dynamics.

Ford sold 68,630 Fiestas in March 2010, representing a 25.8% increase in sales over March 2009, and 11,785 more than Volkswagen's second-placed Golf.

In the first quarter of the year (January-March), Europeans bought 140,496 Ford Fiestas (+21.7%) and 135,048 VW Golfs (+10.4%).

Beyond the Fiesta and Golf, small cars dominated the list with the best selling models in Europe in first quarter of 2010.

The most improved car in the month's top ten was the new Opel/ Vauxhall Astra, which saw a 42.9 sales rise in March, helped greatly by a 75.9% increase in the UK, where it was the third best-selling car.

As well as securing the top spot with the Fiesta, Ford also managed to finish first in the March brand chart, with 1,818 sales more than Volkswagen, whilst also closing up the year-to-date gap to its German rival which topped the Q1 charts with 372, 205 units (+7.8%).

As for the national trends, aside from Germany that saw a hefty drop in sales in march (-26,6%) and in the first quarter (-22.8%), all other major European markets posted sales gains for both March and year-to-date 2010, compared to 2009.

Via: JATO

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CoverEFX Wraps Touareg W12, Gives it 500-Horsepower

Sitting before you is a W12 Touareg Sport Edition swathed in matte gunmetal and gloss-black CFC film, brought to you by Erftstadt-based CoverEFX. The gloss black also gets around to touch-up duty on all trim, including mirrors, vents, and other "hang-on parts", while the tail-lights get a glazed-and-hazed treatment.

But what does CoverEFX have to say about the windows?

"The room climate is optimized – and the "anthracite-style" glass tinting on all windows of the vehicle is a perfect match to this. Sunscreening film contributes to the general sense of well-being, and the living is just better in a room with comfortably adjusted temperature." Plain terms: they're tinted.

The standard 450-horsepower W12 gets its speed limiter removed and breathes better thanks to a sports air filter and Cargraphic exhaust system, upping output to 500-horsepower.

There's also some chassis tuning, but the firm failed to go into details other than, "Electronic equipment makes the chassis even more sportish, and yet comfortable at the same time. The body lowering has been optimized electronically at the chassis level. So now where other powerful vehicles lose their stability, the W12 Sport Edition easily maintains its steadiness on the road."

Lastly, CoverEFX's behemoth rolls on 22-inch powder-coated Kahn RS-L alloys wrapped in Pirelli Scorpions and..."refined"...with red pinstriping.

This one's limited to just 500 units priced at €140,500 (~$189,000), so get them while they're around.

By Phil Alex

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