Volkswagen of America, Inc. has harmonizing blast-offs with extravagance accordingly of its joint venture with Bliss Spa. At the North Scottsdale Volkswagen dealership, customers can take pleasure in selected spa treatments after test driving Volkswagen vehicles, enter to win a complimentary manicure, facial or massage, and sample brownies in the Bliss "You Be The Fudge" contest. The cool package was announced last Saturday, June 7, 2008.

An air-conditioned tent will be put up on site where Volkswagen customers will take delivery of flattering Bliss product samples and experience a soothing hand/arm massage as well, right after a test drive. Customers won’t depart with a grumbling stomach, as all customers are welcome to pamper in chocolate fudge brownies to distinguish which recipe will triumph the Bliss Scottsdale "You Be The Fudge" contest. Customers can enter to win one of three Bliss Spa treatment giveaways just by showing up as well.

"Volkswagen is excited to partner with a like-minded brand such as Bliss. Volkswagen welcomes opportunities to show our customer appreciation and we’re happy to collaborate with Bliss to offer unique and exciting amenities to our customers visiting the dealership," says Mya Walters, Manager Lifestyle Public Relations, Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Volkswagen has a long-standing connection with Bliss through its infamous Blissmobile — a 1966 Volkswagen MicroBus decked out in blue accents and eyelashes. The Blissmobile travels to major cities complete with a brownie buffet inside ready to crown the next title in the "You Be The Fudge" contest, serving up Bliss products to people on the street

The world premiere of the new Volkswagen Scirocco stunned the world as the German auto manufacturer presented the 239 kW (325 PS) version of the new Volkswagen Scirocco at the well-known GTI Meet at Wörther Lake. A team of iconic drivers will begin the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in the sports version of the Scirocco for two days later. The new Scirocco, consequently, will be the main attraction at two trendy occasions for car fanatics at the same time. Volkswagen will be showcasing the racing version of the Scirocco GT24 at Wörther Lake in a world premiere.

"This car doesn’t need to be driven to look fast. The Scirocco GT24 with the blue-white finish sits so low on its extended wheel wells that a hand will not fit between the wheel arch and the tyre. Yet the race car remains unmistakeably a Scirocco from every angle. Just even wider, even longer and even lower," says Volkswagen Chairman for Development Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, who will not be sacrificing the chance to get behind the wheel in the race to be held in the Eiffel.

In addition to this, the 325 PS Scirocco will be driven as well during the race by legendary drivers such as world champion Carlos Sainz and Hans-Joachim Stuck, three-time winner of the 24-hour Nürburgring race. Before I forget, "Striezel" Stuck won the very first 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 1970. The Scirocco GT24 is competing thirty-eight years later today. Everyone is looking forward to this event for another thrilling moment to be placed in history books once again.

Without having to merge the Scania (SCVb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research), MAN (MANG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) and VW truck brands, Volkswagen can mangle benefits from joint truck operations, according to Martin Winterkorn, VW Chief Executive on a newspaper interview.

"We do not need to merge the three brands to benefit from synergy effects. We will not make one single company out of three strong brands, says Winterkorn.

According to reports, last March, VW agreed to take majority control of Sweden’s Scania and is the biggest investor in MAN with a stake of approximately 30 percent, prompting speculation VW could elevate its MAN venture to a majority and form a massive automotive group as well. Furthermore, according to the VW Chief Executive, the approach is to employ a variety of brands while saving money on joint technology and purchasing. Volkswagen, Europe’s biggest carmaker, also makes light commercial vehicles in Europe and heavy trucks in South America.

The Auto Channel reported that Volkswagen’s largest shareholder, Porsche SE, has stated that it plans to lift its stake to a majority once it clears anti-trust obstacles, but Winterkorn said VW would still set its own course.

The headlines accounted Winterkorn would not rule out MAN’s taking over VW truck operations in Brazil at some stage, quoting him as saying: "That is certainly one of several imaginable options.

"Porsche SE, under whose roof the VW stake is being administered, will not make operative decisions for Volkswagen as an automotive company even in the future. Volkswagen’s heart will continue to beat in Wolfsburg,” added Martin Winterkorn.

Volkswagen’s dual charged TSI engines have bagged the "International Engine of the Year Award" in the category "1 litre to 1.4 litres" for the third time. It wasn’t a twist of fate for those who doubt the capabilities of the 103 kW (140 PS) and 125 kW (170 PS) TSIs. These two are charged by both a turbocharger and a supercharger, are among the most efficient petrol engines in the planet today…Now that’s the bottom-line! Oh yes, they really deserve it.

The motto for these engines is "maximum dynamics with minimum fuel consumption". And that’s the reason why the jury, consisting of 65 journalists from 32 different countries across the world, has unanimously agreed with the result according to one jury member. Dr Rüdiger Szengel, Head of Petrol Engine Development, accepted the award for Volkswagen.

"Our TSI engines have set the standard since their introduction in the performance class of 90 kW to 125 kW. They achieve new levels of economy for petrol engines while providing performance that offers real fun. We take it as a compliment to the entire development team that our TSI has won again in the displacement class to 1.4 litres,” says Dr Rüdiger Szengel.

Furthermore, an additional honor highlights the Volkswagen Group’s huge proficiency in building engines. On the other hand, Audi notched first place in the category 1.8 litres to 2.0 litres with the 2.0 TSI.

Volkswagen has done it once again; for the third time around…Hopefully, by next year, we’ll see the Volks at the winning spot again. Congratulations and cheers!

When it comes to quality and practicality, Volkswagen cars are among the most preferred vehicles in this type of category. Just recently, the Volkswagen Rabbit became known as Consumer Reports’ top-rated inexpensive hatchback following tests of six models for their next issue. The VW Rabbit outplayed the Mazda3, which is the formerly top-rated hatchback of Consumer Reports’.

The Auto Spectator reported that the VW Rabbit was evaluated next to five other multipurpose small sedans; the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, Toyota Matrix, Saturn Astra, Mini Cooper Clubman, and the Scion xD.

"With agile handling and a versatile, well-finished interior, the Rabbit feels solid and is a pleasant car to drive. The Rabbit has commendable fit and finish, a versatile interior, and agile handling," says David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut.

Furthermore, the Rabbit earned an "Excellent" total score in CR’s tests. In fact, the Rabbit is the model in the range to notch this kind of rating. On the other hand,  the Subaru Impreza and Matrix were graded "Very Good" overall, while the Astra and Mini Cooper achieved lower rankings, although they were included in the "Very Good" range. The xD was the lowest rated vehicle in the group, scored "Good" overall.

According to CR’s experts, the vehicles in this group performed double duty as people and cargo haulers with four doors, large tailgate openings, usable back seats and seating for up to five.

"As gas prices continue to soar, hatchbacks make sense for anyone used to the utility of an SUV but ready for a smaller, more affordable and efficient alternative," Champion added.

With a fuel economy of 83.1 miles per gallon and carbon emissions lower than the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen will be joining the crusade of green cars with its new diesel-electric powered Golf hatchback concept, treehugger.com reports.

The diesel engine utilized in this new Volkswagen vehicle was specially made to suit the strict emission standard criteria in United States.   This concept from Germany-based automaker Volkswagen will be launched at the upcoming Geneva International Auto Show.

According to a reliable source, studies on the feasibility of Volkswagen hybrid vehicles have been made since the early ‘90s but it was only in 2004 that a diesel-electric hybrid was showcased during an eco-car rally held in Shanghai, China. 

The Volkswagen Golf hatchback is more popularly known as Rabbit in US.  According to volkswagen.com, it is the best-selling car in Europe since its debut 30 years ago.   It boasts of exquisite driving dynamics, a cutting-edge drivetrain technology, unparalleled safety and diversity of styles.  Inside, it features comfortable seats with adjustable rear seats and bigger loading space.  Safety is also a top priority in Volkswagen’s Golf.  It is equipped with traction control and state-of-the-art anti-lock braking system.

Volkswagen is considered as the world’s fourth largest automaker next to General Motors, Toyota and Ford.

In order to compete in the world of business, one must come up with the best marketing approach in order to get as many consumers as possible. Say for example how can you strongly market a car’s condenser? Today, the most powerful type of marketing is on the internet. Worldwide transactions, whether small or big time, it’s all happening in the World Wide Web. But before you promote something, make sure that your methods and style are striking, first and foremost, to online shoppers!

The success of online marketing has grown rapidly over the years. Every company strives harder to reach out to global consumers. Just like what Volkswagen did recently! The Auto Channel reported that Tribal opened the brand new site for Volkswagen.co.uk. The latest site guaranteed that it will provide clients with the most realistic experience of witnessing and driving brand new vehicles without sacrificing their time and without leaving the comfort in their own homes.

It took a total of 50 dedicated individuals on a team plus 18 months of work before the site was finally completed and launched. This is actually one of the biggest website projects being worked on in London at present.

"Buying a new car can be a confusing process. Using clean white space and featuring the most progressive car configurator currently available online, we built this site to be the most simple yet most comprehensive, intuitive and engaging experience in this market,” commented Tom Roberts, the Volkswagen site Account Director at Tribal.

"Our research shows that people looking for a new car now do the majority of their research on the internet, with visits to showrooms more than halved, down from five to two on average,” explains Volkswagen’s Relationship Marketing Manager, Marianne Nicholas.

"The challenge for us was to respond to this change and ensure our website is equipped to give buyers and owners the information they need at the touch of a button. The old site has seen a massive rise in visits over the past three years - up from 500,000 in November 2004 to 1.4 million in November 2007, which clearly indicates the importance of the web in a customer’s buying process. Our new site offers the most realistic experience on the web of what it’s like to sit in and walk around a Volkswagen car - it’s a richer, more responsive experience and heralds a new approach in the web’s role in selling cars," came the conclusion.

Oh yes, Volkswagen will invade this year’s Beijing Olympics. No. You won’t see VW participating in the games. But the automaker will play an important role in the 2008 Summer Olympics as its exclusive automotive sponsor.

In view of the sponsorship deal, the automaker will set free a number of Beetles to shuttle Olympic as well as government officials in Beijing. The Audi brand, moreover, will offer shuttle service for the VIPs.

In line with the Olympics sponsorship, the German automaker launched the Vmagination online Olympic art car design campaign in China. Beetles entertained some flamboyant paint jobs and unique Olympic designs. To view 6 of the special designs made to the Beetle, click here.

Separately, the Beetle, tagged the original ‘people’s car,’ is set to roll out on Indian roads in the middle of this year. "Volkswagen is known as Beetle in India. We have studied the market and feel that there is space for Beetle. We are planning to make it available in the middle of this year through imports," Adreas Prinz told PTI.

"The cheapest Beetle to be sold in European market is for around 17,000 Euros. Since we would be importing them into India, the car would be a little expensive for many," Prinz was quoted by Rediff as saying.

The Beetle, also known as the Bug, is by far, the most successful model VW has ever built. Though it was predicted before its launch that the Beetle will be a complete failure because of its odd styling, the car proved them wrong. The Beetle went on to ink solid car history.

At Beijing, sports enthusiasts will surely appreciate the legendary trails and styling of the Bug.

                                
The all-new VW GTI has been included in Car and Driver magazine’s 10 best cars in its 26th annual contest. It was announced a few days ago by Volkswagen of America Inc. For the fifth straight occasion, the GTI has notched this merit that includes a back-to-back 10Best selection for the 2007 and 2008 models.

According to the Auto Channel, the 2008 GTI offers a brand exciting driving experience. It is outfitted with its state-of-the-art 200 horsepower 2.0T four- cylinder engine that creates 207 ft.-lbs. of torque, completely independent sports-tuned suspension, forceful exterior styling, and a convenient interior that evenly blends functionality, elegance and a driver-first design and focus.

In addition to this, the 2008 Volkswagen GTI is a firm and hostile sports car with an offered automated manual DSG(TM) transmission that makes use of direct shifting, which by design depresses clutch-shift points more proficiently and faster than even a professional driver can.