JE Design throws its Scirocco into the mix

Click above for a high-res gallery of the JE Design Scirocco Volkswagen's new Scirocco seems to be the hottest new platform for Euro tuners, with Abt and MTM already coming out with tuning packages. JE Design has developed their own line of parts and accessories, starting with a subtle three piece aero kit that includes a new front spoiler, side skirts, and a rear spoiler extension. A performance kit boosts the turbocharged 2.0L inline-four to 244 bhp and 258 lb-ft torque, while an upgraded exhaust system adds another 11 more horsepower. Also available are lowering springs and multispoke wheels in a variety of finishes. Now if we could only get Volkswagen to once again reconsider its decision to not bring the Scirocco stateside. [Via: www.je-design.de ] [Tag: JE Design, JE Design Scirocco, JeDesign, JeDesignScirocco, Scirocco, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Scirocco, VolkswagenScirocco, VW, VW Scirocco, VwScirocco ]

Nein! Porsche denies U.S. production of Cayenne

It didn't take long for Porsche to set the record straight about its rumored production plans for the Cayenne in North America. Speaking with Autoweek, Porsche spokesman Albrecht Bamler, refuted a report by Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper that the automaker planned to build Cayenne's at Volkswagen's new factory in the U.S. According to Bamler, there's no need to produce Stuttgart's uber-ute here in the States, since European manufacturers supply parts and Porsche is protected against the weak dollar by currency hedging through 2013. However, Handelsblatt's report said that production of the Cayenne in the U.S. wouldn't begin until after 2015, two years after Porsche's currency hedging expires. Does that mean N.A.-built Cayennes are still a possibility? Bamler says it's too early to speculate on the next Cayenne and Porsche's production plans.

[Via: Autoweek ]
[Tag: cayenne, north american plant, NorthAmericanPlant, porsche, production, u.s. plant, U.s.Plant, volkswagen ]

New York '08 Preview: World Car of the Year finalists announced

With the New York Auto Show just around the corner in late March, the organization behind the "World Car of the Year" Awards has revealed its top three finalists. The top vehicles in each of four categories were chosen by an international panel of 47 automotive journalists reportedly committed to carrying out the process with the "...utmost objectivity, credibility, and integrity." Regardless of how spotless the chosen journalist's driving record is, it's still a subjective vote, so don't be dismayed if your favorite chunk of steel didn't make the list this year. Instead, be pleased that the majority of the vehicles are actually available in the States.Last month, the list included ten vehicles in each category. This week, the distinguished panel whittled it down to three finalists in each category. Check out the finalists in Design, Performance Car and Green Car after the jump.
2008 World Car of the Year Finalists
Ford Mondeo
Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2008 World Design of the YearAudi R8
Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
Volvo C302008 World Performance CarVolkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI
Past winners include the 2005 Audi A6, the 2006 BMW 3 Series, and the 2007 Lexus LS460. We'll be on the floor at the New York Auto Show on March 20 to bring you the winner for 2008. Anybody care to place any bets?

[Via: World Car of the Year ]
[Tag: Finalists, WCOTY, World Car of the Year, WorldCarOfTheYear ]

Central Europe Rally: VW on top, Gordon in 10th

After all the trials and tribulations, the first event in the Central Europe Rally took place this past weekend and Carlos Sainz took the overall win behind the wheel of a heavily prepped Volkswagen Touareg 2, while NASCAR driver Robby Gordon's team finished 10th.
The race, which spanned some 1,670 miles across Hungary and Romania, took Sainz and his co-pilot, Michel Perin, 11 hours, 18 minutes and 8 seconds to traverse, followed by the team of Stephane Perhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret driving a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, while Dieter Depping and Timo Gotschalk came in third, behind the wheel of another Touareg 2.
Gordon, whose total time was 1 hour, 25 minutes and 38 seconds behind Sainz, completed the race with the help of a HUMMER H2 and Andy Grider at his side. The full race results can be viewed after the jump, and we've assembled a gallery of some seriously awesome shots from the Central Europe Rally below.

[Via: Rallysportmag ]
[Tag: carlos sainz, CarlosSainz, central europe rally, CentralEuropeRally, hummer, robby gordon, RobbyGordon, volkswagen ]

One down, six to go for the VW Jetta TDI Cup

The first race of the first all-diesel, road racing series in America took place this past weekend at VIRginia International Raceway, and we were there, or rather AutoblogGreen was there, to watch it go down. The gorgeous VIR long course proved to be a great setting for the opening round of Volkswagen's new Jetta TDI Cup series. The new series is both a continuation of VW's history of grassroots racing, as well as promotion for the new Jetta TDI that launches this summer. Volkswagen had an open casting call earlier this year for young amateur racing drivers and picked the 30 best to run in the promotional series. Prior to arriving at VIR for Friday's first practice, the drivers had one day of actual running in the Jettas during the driver selection process at the beginning of April. Though the Jetta TDI race cars were slightly modified from their production counterpart for safety reasons, they still managed to return 25 mpg... while racing.

[Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[Tag: jetta,jetta tdi,jetta tdi cup,jetta tdi race,JettaTdi,jettatdicup,JettaTdiRace ]

VW Touareg Trophy Truck coming this fall with V12 TDI

For several years now, Volkswagen has been running diesel-powered Touaregs in a variety of off-road series around the world, including the Dakar Rally, and in the last couple of years, they have won their classes at the Baja 500 and Pikes Peak Hill Climb. The versions used so far have run either a 2.5L five-cylinder engine or the 5.0L V10. Arciero-Miller Racing announced at last year's SEMA show that it was building a new Touareg to compete in the SCORE Trophy Truck Open Production – Unlimited Class. During the inaugural Jetta TDI Cup race last weekend, VW of America PR boss Steve Keyes revealed that the new truck would be powered by the 6.0L V12 TDI diesel that is going into the Audi Q7 TDI V12. That's also the same engine that propels the Audi R8 TDI concept. The tube frame Touareg Trophy Truck will be covered with body work developed by VW that looks vaguely like a Touareg while being a foot longer. The automaker hasn't announced were it will unveil the new off-road racer this fall, but it is scheduled to run in the Baja 1000 this November.

[Via: Diesel Forecast ]
[Tag: arciero miller, ArcieroMiller, touareg, touareg diesel, touareg tdi v-12, touareg trophy truck, TouaregDiesel, TouaregTdiV-12, TouaregTrophyTruck ]

Poorly-translated rumormill: VW to build Porsches in U.S.

As much as we enjoy scouring through German newspapers, something inevitably gets lost in translation. However, the title of a story in Germany's Handelsblatt ePaper is clear: Volkswagen is considering building Porsche Cayennes at its new plant in the U.S.
While VW hasn't made a decision on the plant yet, it's been confirmed that the automaker is looking at locations in Alabama, Michigan and Tennessee to produce 150,000 units annually, including the Jetta and an all-new Passat-sized sedan. How the Cayenne fits into that equation remains a mystery, but the idea that VW and Audi could shift production of its Touareg and Q7 Stateside means that building the Cayenne in the U.S. is a distinct possibility.

[Via: Autoblog (Volkswagen) ]
[Tag: audi, cayenne, porsche, porsche cayenne, PorscheCayenne, u.s. plant, U.s.Plant, volkswagen ]

Rotten Tomatoes rates top 50 movie cars

Click the image above for more classic movie car pics
It's no secret that we're passionate about cars, and we're pretty sure you feel the same way. We're also big fans of the silver screen, especially when a great car or truck is a big part of the plot. The movie mavens over at Rotten Tomatoes feel the same way, and they've compiled a list of the top 50 movie cars in the history of motion pictures.
The list is chock-full of classics from movies like Bullitt and Vanishing Point, but there are also a lot of hidden gems, like Pepe the Little Mule from Romancing the Stone, or the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe from Mad Max. One omission that we would have like to have added was Gary's red Ferrari Mondial from Weird Science, but while we could argue forever which vehicle should rank where, we'd say this is a pretty darn good list. We've posted Rotten Tomatoes' top five movie cars after the jump and some of the classic movie cars in the gallery below, but it's definitely worth checking out the entire list. RT even added some great honorable mention vehicles, as well. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Via: Rotten Tomatoes ]
[Tag: Bullitt, car movies, CarMovies, movies, rotten tomatoes, RottenTomatoes, Vanishing Point, VanishingPoint, Weird Science, WeirdScience ]