Volkswagen reinvents electric cars with the hip, all-electric Beetle speedster.

The Volkswagen Beetle has always been about fun. So what could be more fun than a cool, customized two-seat speedster version of the newest Beetle?

How about one that’s a zero-emissions electric?

The head-turning new E-Bugster concept—one of the stars of the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit—is the latest addition to Volkswagen’s growing family of Blue-e-Motion™ electric concept cars.

“It’s every designer’s dream to create a car like this,” says Klaus Bischoff, executive director of Volkswagen Design. “With the more masculine look and sportier stance of the Beetle, it was a natural for us to do.”

In true speedster fashion, the E-Bugster concept sports a cut-down, swept-back windshield that lowers the car’s height by nearly three inches compared to the stock Beetle. The swoopy lines of the super-light carbon fiber hardtop only accentuate the hot-rod look of this sporty two-seater.

And since no sports car is complete without big wheels, the E-Bugster rides on retro-styled 20-inch alloys mounted beneath fat flared-out fenders.

Up front, there’s a redesigned bumper featuring bright-white LED Daytime Running lights, just like the production Beetle. The difference here is the lights’ distinctive C-shaped graphic—a signature design element on all Volkswagen electric vehicles.

And speaking of electric, at the heart of the E-Bugster is a brawny powerhouse of a motor that cranks out 114 horsepower and a muscular 199 pound-feet of torque.

With an advanced lithium-ion battery pack stashed beneath the trunk floor and rear bench, the E-Bugster concept can whoosh along for more than 100 miles on a single charge with zero emissions.

And charging couldn’t be easier. Simply plug the power cable into where the fuel filler normally sits and choose your charging option—Level 1 domestic 120-volt; Level 2 240-volt; and, where available, Level 3 300- to 600-volt that delivers an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes.

Even though Volkswagen has no immediate plans to put the E-Bugster into production, it’s still moving ahead with its exciting Blue-e-Motion™ electrics.

Every now and then VW offers special deals to entice current owners into buying new cars. The lease pull-ahead program offers current VCI lease or balloon customers whose  contracts are expiring May 1st to October 31st, 2012 the opportunity to get into any new Volkswagen and have up to 4 months of remaining payments waived.
 
If you're getting close to your mileage limit, or just want the newest and best technology available to you right now, this is the opportunity to take advantage of now. Features like the bluetooth phone connectivity to help you keep your focus on the road and your hands on the steering wheel have now become more common and is considered a safety feature as well as for convenience. The touchscreen radios are used in most of our lineup that gives you an easy to use setup and excellent compatibility with Apple's i-Pod with the appropriate MDI cable. If you haven't looked at the new selections in Volkswagen's model lineup, now is the time to see how far we've come!
 
*Eligible customers are those flagged in Maturity Manager and approved for new vehicle credit by VCI. The targeted pool will be those customers with VCI lease or balloon contacts on Volkswagen vehicles maturing May 1st – October 31st 2012. Customers not flagged are not eligible. Customers not approved for new vehicle credit by VCI are not eligible. Please speak to one of our sales consultants to verify eligibility.

Mileage experts John and Helen Taylor complete 1626-mile drive in Chattanooga-built Volkswagen Passat TDI®—without stopping for fuel!

• Record set using a stock 2012 Passat TDI SE with six-speed manual transmission
• Average of 84.1 miles per gallon during three-day trip
• Shows mileage benefits of VW Clean Diesel technology

The world’s most fuel-efficient couple has done it again. John and Helen Taylor were determined to break the record for the farthest distance traveled on a single tank of fuel. They decided to attempt the record in the U.S. with a stock 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI Clean Diesel vehicle equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. The previous record for the most miles covered on a single tank of diesel was 1526.6 miles, achieved with a VW Passat 1.6 BlueMotion® diesel in Europe.

The result? A new record of 1626.1 miles, achieved on one tank of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel under real world driving conditions. That’s an incredible 99.5 miles better than the old mark. Over the course of three days and driving through nine states, the couple averaged 84.1 miles per gallon, spending only 4.65 cents per mile. The three-day drive commenced on May 3, 2012 in Houston, TX and ended on May 5, 2012 in Sterling, Virginia. To make the drive as realistic as possible, the couple included 120 pounds of luggage and drove during daylight hours to experience normal traffic situations. Additionally, the couple took turns driving and didn’t travel more than 14 hours per day.

“We’re excited to have broken the record for the longest distance driven on one-tank of fuel,” said John Taylor. “The Passat TDI was the perfect car for the trip. It offers plenty of interior and cargo space, yet is frugal enough to help us achieve this record.”

The Passat’s 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel inline four-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and with a manual transmission delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 43 mpg on the highway. The TDI engine is equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR) that fulfills emissions requirements in all 50 states. The Passat—built at the world’s only LEED Platinum certified automotive factory in Chattanooga, TN—was named Motor Trend’s 2012 Car of the Year.

“The Passat was engineered and designed to be a comfortable yet fun to drive alternative in the midsize segment. The TDI Clean Diesel version unites driving dynamics and fuel efficiency that isn’t found in the competitive set,” said Rainer Michel, Vice President of Product Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We’re honored that the Taylors chose the 2012 Passat TDI as the vehicle to set this outstanding distance record. Their record shows just how economical the Passat TDI can be in the right hands.”

Prior to the drive, the speedometer and odometer were calibrated by a state certified testing station in Houston, Texas. Law enforcement officers from the city of Houston, Texas oversaw validation of mileage, fuel fill-up, and gas tank sealing at the beginning of the drive. A Loudoun County, Virginia Sheriff’s Deputy verified completion of the drive and mileage prior to removing the fuel tank seal.

The Taylors have made a career out of driving efficiently and conducting workshops globally on fuel-efficient driving techniques. They have collected more than 90 world fuel economy and vehicle-related records from drives around the globe.

The Power of German Engineering is easy to hear in the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, just watch your head.

When was the last time you got an oil change? If you can’t answer that question, it’s probably time for one! Head to VW of Downtown LA and you can get a Synthetic oil change for only $64.95!

Every now and then VW offers special deals to entice current owners into buying new cars. The lease pull-ahead program offers current VCI lease or balloon customers whose  contracts are expiring May 1st to October 31st, 2012 the opportunity to get into any new Volkswagen and have up to 4 months of remaining payments waived.
 
If you're getting close to your mileage limit, or just want the newest and best technology available to you right now, this is the opportunity to take advantage of now. Features like the bluetooth phone connectivity to help you keep your focus on the road and your hands on the steering wheel have now become more common and is considered a safety feature as well as for convenience. The touchscreen radios are used in most of our lineup that gives you an easy to use setup and excellent compatibility with Apple's i-Pod with the appropriate MDI cable. If you haven't looked at the new selections in Volkswagen's model lineup, now is the time to see how far we've come!
 
*Eligible customers are those flagged in Maturity Manager and approved for new vehicle credit by VCI. The targeted pool will be those customers with VCI lease or balloon contacts on Volkswagen vehicles maturing May 1st – October 31st 2012. Customers not flagged are not eligible. Customers not approved for new vehicle credit by VCI are not eligible. Please speak to one of our sales consultants to verify eligibility.

You made our day very special with your presence, donations and gifts for our students and staff.   As more and more environmental issues are brought to the attention of the public, more people will become involved in improving conditions on our planet.

Thank you again for supporting the Environmental Club at GCC.  We hope to see you again at Earth Day 2013!