Volkswagen

Volkswagen (VW) is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany. It forms the core of Volkswagen AG (VAG), one of the world's four biggest car producers.

From 1970s to present

While VW's range of cars soon become similar to that of other large European car-makers, the Golf has been the mainstay of the VW line-up since its introduction, and the mechanical basis for several other cars of the company. There have been five generations of the Volkswagen Golf, the first of which was produced from the summer of 1974 until the end of 1983. Its chassis also spawned the Scirocco coupe and Jetta sedan. The second generation Golf hatchback/Jetta sedan ran from late 1983 to late 1991. In 1991, Volkswagen launched the third generation Golf and it was third time lucky when the Volkswagen Golf was voted European Car of the Year for 1992. The previous two versions had lost out to the Citroën CX in 1975 and the Fiat Uno in 1984. This time the sedan version of the Golf was badged Vento in Europe (but Jetta in the USA). The fourth incarnation of the Golf arrived in late 1997, its chassis spawned a host of other cars within the Volkswagen group—the Volkswagen Bora (the sedan, still called Jetta in the USA), Volkswagen New Beetle, Seat Toledo, Seat Leon, Audi A3, Audi TT and Skoda Octavia. However, it was beaten into third place for the 1998 European Car of the Year award by the winning Alfa Romeo 156 and runner-up Audi A6. The last generation Volkswagen Golf was launched in late 2003, came runner-up to the Fiat Panda in the 2004 European Car of the Year, and has so far spawned the new generation Seat Toledo, Skoda Octavia and Audi A3 hatchback ranges as well as a new mini-MPV, the Seat Altea. The fifth generation golf is now available in Europe, and the GTI boasts a 2.0L Turbocharged direct injection engine. The fifth generation Jetta is currently available in the united states, and the next GLI should be available late 2005, with same 2.0L turbocharged motor of the European GTI.

Related Topics:
Scirocco - Jetta - Citroën CX - Fiat Uno - Volkswagen Bora - Alfa Romeo 156 - Audi A6 - Fiat Panda

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The other main models have been the Polo, a smaller car than the Golf, and the larger Passat saloon car for the segment above the Golf. As of 2005 there have been four incarnations of the Polo: Mark 1 (1976), Mark 2 (1981, facelifted 1990), Mark 3 (1994, facelifted 1999) and the current Mark 4 (2002). The Scirocco and Corrado were both Golf-based coupés.

Related Topics:
Polo - Passat - Scirocco - Corrado

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In 1998 VW launched the J Mays-designed New Beetle, a "retro"-themed car with a resemblance to the original Beetle but based on the Golf—this has been popular in the USA but less so in Europe. In 2002 VW announced two models taking it into market segments new to the company: the Phaeton luxury saloon, and the Touareg sports-utility vehicle.

Related Topics:
J Mays - New Beetle - Phaeton - Touareg - Sports-utility vehicle

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Volkswagen currently offers a number of its vehicles with an advanced, light duty diesel engine known as the TDI. While extremely popular in the European market, light duty diesels do not yet enjoy the same wide acceptance in the U.S. marketplace, despite increased fuel economy and performance comparable to gasoline engines due to turbocharging. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 of the 10 most fuel efficient vehicles available for sale in the U.S. in 2004 are powered by VW Diesel Engines. They are: a three way tie for 8th (TDI Beetle, TDI Golf, TDI Jetta) and 9th, the TDI Jetta Wagon. Sales of light duty diesel engine technology are increasing as gasoline prices rise. Products such as the Toyota Prius might have highlighted the economy of non-gasoline engines, but in reality a VW TDI engine is often found to be more efficient than the hybrid Toyota Prius on the highway (although not so when driving in the city).

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