Ridden with inaccuracies, half truths, and plain old news.
Posts tagged vw
Volkswagen’s Electric Beatle
Nov 16th
Like most automotive companies Volkswagen are looking to the future and designing electric vehicles. Unlike most Volkswagen already have a design classic under their belts in the form of the iconic Beetle. The Volkswagen eUp! (complete with unessential punctuation) owes a debt to the Beetle in terms of style and ambition.
The eUp! aims to have widespread appeal in order to become “the Beetle of the 21st century”. This should come as a surprise from a company whose name translates as ‘the people’s car’. By the time the eUp! comes out in 2013 there should be quite a lot of competition in the electric car market although it may have the stats to make it stand out:
The range is expected to be up to 130 kilometers (80 miles) on an overnight 230-volt charge for the five hours when electricity is cheapest while you’re asleep. Charged in this way, the E-Up! could be driven 100 kilometres for just two Euros in electricity costs (about 14 Euro cents per kWh). This would be the equivalent of driving 62 miles on $2.97 worth of electricity at $0.20 cents a kwh (McMansion Californian electric rates), or about like buying gas for $1.50 in a 31 mpg car. – gas2.org
The eUp! is the smallest VW to date at only 3.19 meters long and 1.64 meters wide. Hopefully this vehicle will lead to Volkswagen creating other, larger electric vehicles across their range. With van emissions being clamped down upon we need more electronic vans for sale.
Retro Campervan Sales Booming.
Aug 4th
Sales of used Volkswagen campervans are booming in the UK thanks to the recession. The VW Transporter has been a cult classic since it was launched almost 60 years ago with used models in good condition often selling for big bucks. Now the camper van’s appeal appears to be widening with sales up 250% this summer.
It has been suggested that the rise of ’staycations’ where people holiday in the UK to save money may be fueling the rise in sales. Consumer specialist Dominic Harrison of the Future Foundation belives that the recession is causing people to reconsider their work/life balance and consider taking time off work or working fewer hours.
“The recession is causing many to ask serious questions about their habits and work life.”
Applications to test drive new Volkswagen Van models have also risen by 200% according to a company spokesman.
Volkswagen Lunar Module Advert
Jul 20th
As you will have noticed it is the 40th anniversary of the moon landings this month. Seeing footage of the takeoff what struck me was the cameras people were using to photograph it. It seems strange that we were able to fly people to the moon and back before the invention of the humble digital camera. We were able to see live footage of the astronauts bouncing around on the moon’s surface before the invention of the mobile phone.
What is also surprising is that the Volkswagen Beetle was 31 years old at the time of the moon landings. To put that in context the Ford Escort was in production for 30 years in total, the original Beetle was built until 2003.
Volkswagen have always had a reputation for creating (or, I suppose, commissioning) great adverts. Car adverts tend to range from the offensive to the boring to the bafflingly rubbish. They can rarely be called subtle although I think the Volkswagen one below is. The tag line is ‘it’s ugly but it gets you there’. Some would argue that some of the VW vans for sale are less attractive than the Beetle but either way you get the idea.
Escape with VW
Jun 26th
Volkswagen have launched a new site to celebrate their reputation as van makers of choice for those with an eye for adventure. The popularity of their camper vans with surfers and other outdoor types is clear to see, particularly in the summer time.
The site VWescape.co.uk is tied in with a series of summer events including the GoldCoast Oceanfest in Devon and the Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival in London. At the these events people will be able to have a look at some of the Volkswagen vans for sale the Caravelle and the California.
There will also be a chance to look around some split screen camper vans that will no doubt be out and about this summer. The used vans seem to all come out of the woodwork once the sun is shining!
56 Year Old VW Van Breaks World Record
Jun 15th
A 56 year old Volkswagen Transporter van has broken the world record by reaching a top speed of 102.84 mph. The Transporter achieved this feat during a quarter mile sprint at the Santa Pod racetrack. It completed the quarter mile in 12.65 seconds.
The record is for non-turbo charged vans but the owners from Frankfurt believe they can beat the record for any VW van which is currently set at 12.5 seconds. They are going to attempt this at the anual ‘Bug Jam’ held at Santa Pod between 17-19 July.
The Transporter is Volkswagen’s best-selling van, and one of the most popular vans ever with over 10 million being produced since production started almost 60 years ago in March 1950. They have a reputation for longevity as those with an interest in used vans will know.
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