Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s smallest crossover is getting an overhaul for the 2025 model year. The Taos, which debuted a few years ago, will see refreshed exterior styling, new interior fixtures, and an upgraded turbocharged engine.

On Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that Volkswagen would need to recall 98,806 all-electric crossovers over an issue with the doors. The matter is effectively an expansion of a 2023 recall impacting the 2021-2022 VW ID.4. The recall now encompasses vehicles from the 2023 and 2024 model year.

I don't how rare a manual-transmission Volkswagen Eos is, but I imagine they aren't super common. This 2007 Volkswagen Eos shows that they do exist, at least.

Volkswagen Transporters with the factory Westfalia treatment tend to sell for good money even when they're a bit rough around the edges, so you'd think they'd be virtually nonexistent in your local Ewe Pullet, right? Not so! Here's a Sage Green T2 Campmobile with its pop-up tent deployed, found in a Northern California car graveyard.

Dieselgate was a huge blemish on VW’s public image, and the fallout continues today, nine years after the story broke. Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn recently appeared in court on fraud charges related to Dieselgate, and the now-77-year-old faces fines and other penalties if he’s found guilty.

Despite many manufacturers turning away from sedans, Volkswagen has remained committed with the Jetta seeing a nice sales bump as a result. For the 2025 model year, VW is giving the Jetta and GLI refreshed exterior, updated interior elements and even a lower starting MSRP.

However, this isn’t a total re-imagining of the sedan. The Jetta persists as affordable transportation that somehow manages to feel more upscale than it actually is, whereas the GLI remains one of the better sport sedans in its segment — especially for those still wanting to option a manual transmission.

Automakers temporarily pause production and move things around between factories all the time, but Volkswagen has never closed a factory in its home country of Germany. That could change soon, however, as the automaker recently announced that it would consider plant closures there to help it cut expenses in its core product lines.

Today we have a 1990 Volkswagen GTI that's for sale on the East Coast.

Today we bring you a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta GLI that is located somewhere near where I live.

A few years ago, Volkswagen announced that it would build six battery production facilities worldwide by 2030, but the automaker is walking back some of those plans as EV demand isn’t growing as quickly as expected.

I've been trying to stay away from Volkswagens for a few days after a few of you pointed out that this feature has been a bit too VW-heavy lately, but I couldn't resist this 1993 Volkswagen Corrado SLC. I mean, it's a Corrado.

Rumors of the gas-powered Volkswagen Golf’s demise might be overblown. Company executives recently stated that the car could stay in production until 2035, which aligns with the EU’s plan to ban internal combustion vehicles.

Today we bring you a Mk6 GTI for our used car of the day. This 2010 Volkswagen GTI is a high-mileage example with a manual transmission.

Rivian and Volkswagen recently announced a joint venture, but it first had to pass the scrutiny of the German Federal Cartel Office. The pair got the greenlight, which will see VW making a significant investment in Rivian and billions into building the venture.

Volkswagen is set to give Rivian $3 billion and plans to spend another $2 billion to get the joint venture off the ground, after German officials said the partnership had “no serious competition problems.” That said, it’s worth noting that the German automaker has set performance milestones before Rivian earns the entire amount.

Volkswagen is expected to roll out the second and third models in its ID electric vehicle line for U.S. buyers soon, but Europeans and other global markets have more of the company’s EVs to choose from. The automaker recently revealed the ID. Unyx, a sporty electric crossover for the Chinese market that offers a solid range estimate, striking styling, and unique tech features.

Today we bring you a clean-looking 2010 Volkswagen CC with the DSG automatic transmission and about 147,000 miles on it.

If you want an older sedan with a stick, give this 2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX a look.

Today we bring you a 2012 Volkswagen Golf GTI that has been heavily modified and needs some cosmetic work.

It wasn't a prediction, exactly, but journalist Peter Ramsay from EVInFocus.com did some reporting last year that suggested executives were calling for Volkswagen to invest in Rivian.

Volkswagen no longer makes diesels, of course, but if you want a VW diesel and can deal with an old car, maybe this relatively inexpensive 2000 Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

It's been awhile since we've had some van time. Today, though, we rectify that with this 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan Weekender MV.

Volkswagen announced yesterday that it will be dropping $1 billion into Rivian -- and perhaps up to $5 billion over time.

This investment from a legacy automaker into a startup EV maker got me wondering -- what other legacy OEMs should put some cash into EV startups? Which startups should benefit?

Rivian started life with significant investments from Ford, Amazon, and others, but the automaker has struggled with profitability in recent times. However, while it has delayed investments in new production facilities and conducted layoffs to cut costs, Rivian is still burning through its cash reserves. Volkswagen could be the one to save the day, as it recently announced a joint venture with the automaker that will inject $1 billion into its operations to start.

Wolfsburg has reached into its bag of tricks and pulled out one powerful rabbit. When it goes on sale, the next VW Golf R will pack 328 horsepower, thirteen more than the old model, and should scamper to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds.

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI are refreshed, getting slightly updated styling, new available colors, and a lower pre-fees MSRP.

As far as saving the manuals goes, VW is taking one stick-shift away and leaving one available.

Despite an exodous by other makes, Volkswagen is sticking with the compact sedan segment – at least for the foreseeable future. Iterations of the 2025 Jetta and Jetta GLI will be unveiled early next week.

This week I was testing the 2024 Volkswagen Taos SEL.

Volkswagen fans will be pleased to learn the German brand’s lineup for the 2025 model year will apparently be the freshest array of machines it’s had on sale in some spell.

The Golf R represents the current pinnacle of Volkswagen’s performance offerings in the United States, but despite rumors of its demise, the automaker will release an updated car for the 2025 model year. VW recently teased the revised eighth-generation car, saying that it would debut on June 26.

Volkswagen hasn’t given up on its electrification plans, but it plans to shift some of its EV-designated funds to continue developing gas engines. Company Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz said the automaker would spend around $65 billion to “keep our combustion cars competitive.”

It was only a short spell ago that we all learned Volkswagen is hitting the pause button on the ID.7 in this country, deferring to changing market dynamics as a reason for the move. Now, the brand is eagerly posting about the imminent introduction of a cheap-as-chips EV – in Europe.

Volkswagen is recalling over 80,000 ID.4 electric vehicles, from the 2021-2023 model years, over concerns that interior screens may turn off without warning. While not really much of an issue on older cars, this is a colossal problem for newer models that have integrated touchscreen technology as essential for vehicle controls.

Volkswagen has been teasing the Golf GTI Clubsport all month ahead of the planned reveal during Nürburgring 24 Hours. The endurance race will serve as the premiere of what’s likely to become the most powerful GTI VW has ever fielded. The bad news is that North America isn’t supposed to receive this particular vehicle. But the good news is that some of its equipment is likely to migrate over to the standard GTI that’s still sold in the United States for the 2025 model year.

Volkswagen will roll out new Scout-branded EVs in the coming years, and its South Carolina factory is well underway. In addition to the hardware it takes to build thousands of new electric vehicles, the automaker is focused on making the site as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

Not even two months after detailing powertrain, battery size, and trim walk for the all-electric ID.7 sedan, Volkswagen has announced they are delaying its introduction.

Today we feature a clean-looking 2003 Volkswagen Golf.

Today's UCOTD is a 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX.

Dealers are often the first group to sound concerns when something changes in the auto industry, whether they’re justified in their complaints or not. Most recently, a state dealer association created an ad asking Volkswagen Group and Sony Honda Mobility not to sell their upcoming EVs outside of the existing dealer network over concerns the new divisions could follow Tesla and Rivian in selling directly to buyers.

Fresh off a great year for the United Autoworkers Union (UAW), which saw wins against the Detroit Big Three automakers, union president Shawn Fain set his sights on several other automakers across the American South. Volkswagen, which operates a factory and offices in Chattanooga, TN, was first. Its efforts were successful. Despite the most recent vote being the third attempt to organize workers there, the UAW’s efforts were finally awarded with a strong vote to unionize.

Today we bring you a car that wasn't, to my knowledge, sold new in the United States. It's a Mexican-spec Volkswagen Derby. Which was basically a rebadged SEAT Cordoba.

Today we bring you some wagon goodness -- a 2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS wagon.

Today we bring you an old-but-clean trucklet.

This 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit pickup has GTI badging and our interest.

The 2025 Volkswagen ID.7 will be here soon, and the automaker recently outlined specs for the upcoming electric sedan. VW will offer it in two configurations with up to 335 horsepower and said that pricing details will be available closer to the vehicle’s launch in the third quarter of this year.

Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, TN, have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to join the UAW. Clearly pleased, the union shared this world with the news on Monday to be accompanied by the requisite media agitprop.

This will be the first time a non-union automotive plant has filed for a union election in quite some time. The UAW called it a “grassroots effort” following the UAW’s previous contract negotiations with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.

With spring around the corner, we bring you a drop-top. It's a 2007 Volkswagen EOS.

Volkswagen has sold tons of ID.4s, but the EV is getting an update heading into the 2024 model year to keep it current. Changes include more tech, new advanced driver assistance features, but they’re limited to higher, more expensive trim levels.

After a decade-long project that saw changes in approach, multiple delays, staff changes, planning and replanning, and conflicting reports, Apple’s Titan autonomous electric car project is dead. The company made an internal announcement on February 27th, 2024 which leaked to the press immediately via several Apple employees. The project’s cancellation created our most recent Abandoned History subject matter to date. Let’s start at the beginning, in 2014.

As I've mentioned a few times when writing this feature, I try to pick interesting stuff, even if the vehicle needs to be restored.

That is the case with this 1971 Volkswagen Transporter.

We're going back to the VW well today with this two-door 2016 Volkswagen GTI.

Yes, it's a manual.

Today we return to New Jersey to bring you this 2013 Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

Football and marketing - does it get any better? In this era of fragmented streaming services, there are precious few moments of what was once dubbed Must See Tee Vee where one be assured hundreds of million eyeballs will be glued to the same message simultaneously. We likely will never have another shared broadcast moment like the finale of M*A*S*H, so The Super Bowl is it.

The more I review crossovers and utility vehicles, the more I evaluate them by how well they just simply work for commuting duty. With exceptions for performance and off-road versions. Those with luxury-brand badging and/or premium pricing get viewed through that prism.

This is, hopefully, a common-sense approach. Most of you readers may be enthusiasts, like I am, but these vehicles aren’t built for that. They are utilities before they are sporty. So that’s the way I look at it.

Viewed through that lens, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas generally works well. And with some upscale feel, to boot.

The year 2005 seems like yesterday but it's darn near two decades ago. Yikes. Let's put aside our existential angst to check out a car from that model year that's still rolling -- a 2005 Volkswagen Passat TDI.

Volkswagen is giving the Golf a makeover for its 50th birthday, adding an illuminated badge along with some novel LED headlight and taillamps. VW doesn’t like to make aggressive changes to the iconic hatchback, so the alterations made on the Mk8 Golf are fairly subtle. They’re also largely irrelevant because the only version of the model still sold on our market is the sporting GTI. 

Seventy-five years ago, a pair of Volkswagen Beetles were imported to this country, marking the start of this brand on our shores. Tempus fugit, VW plans to roll out numerous advertisement efforts to mark the milestone.

The forums I pick the UCOTDs from are littered with project cars on this January Monday. I nearly picked a 1969 Opel Kadett that needed a lot of work -- and I still could for tomorrow if y'all want -- but instead I am bringing you a 1998 Volkswagen GTI VR6 that also needs work, if not quite as much.

Given the hype around AI, this year’s CES soirée in the Las Vegas desert is sure to be awash with such technology – most of which will likely be deployed in strange and perhaps terrifying ways. Arguably falling into the latter category is VW’s decision to present the first vehicles in which the artificial-intelligence-based chatbot ChatGPT is integrated into its IDA voice assistant.

Some good news? The feature is only being “considered for the United States” at the moment.

We’ve been hearing about Volkswagen’s Scout brand revival for a while now, and it finally appears we don’t have long to wait for a first look. The automaker recently released a short teaser video, and while details are scarce, the end states that the first model is due this summer.

Next year will mark five decades since Volkswagen presented its first Golf, showing up with front-wheel drive and its engine ahead of the driver unlike the loaded-diaper Beetle. The model, currently in its eighth generation (or Mk8 as forum dweebs like to say) will receive some freshening for the big party in 2024 – and VW has decided to mark the occasion with a few retro photos.