Ah, Mother’s Day, the second favorite day of the year for flower shops and chocolatiers.

In an attempt to sell SUVs and minivans to modern family-goers, car companies have come up with some funny and clever commercials aimed at making these vehicles slightly less boring.

Take a look at a few good commercials aimed at the modern Mother:

4. Family Friendly Vehicle – Kia Sorento

Not particularly funny, but this is one of a series of “documentary-style” ads Kia put out for the 2013 Sorento. They each go over individual features of the SUV aimed at showing mothers why it’s a smart vehicle for them and their little ones.

3. Safety Sacrifice “Ridin’ Dirty” – VW Tiguan

2. “The Motherhood” – Fiat 500L

Clever and well-done ad from Fiat that got some flak when it came out, but overall a good response. I think it’s funny.

Bonus: The Fatherhood

1. “Swagger Wagon” – Toyota Sienna

Easily my favorite Rapping Mom commercial, we posted about the Swagger Wagon when it was first released a few years ago.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Send these to your Mom and let us know what you think!

The iconic Volkswagen Beetle, informally called the VW Bug is as well known as any vehicle on the planet. The Beetle is the longest running and most manufactured car of a single design platform in the world. This week we’ll get a chance to test drive a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Coupe with a diesel powerplant. The diesel is not new to the Beetle as Volkswagen prototyped the first one in 1951. But diesel technology has come a long way and we’ll see how the 2.0-liter turbodiesel Beetle performs in our week of driving.

The Volkswagen Beetle was completely redesigned for 2012 and there are no real changes except for 2013, a Beetle convertible joins the lineup. We tested a Denim Blue TDI Coupe that looks more dynamic and muscular than the pre-2012 models. The newly styled Beetle is a bit less cute and feminine than before. Upon first entering the cabin, it feels less like a capsule than the previous generation Beetle. We took the three grand daughters to the park and access to the rear is easy with the wide doors. The back seat is great for kids, but with just 31.4 inches of legroom, adults will have an issue for trips longer than a few miles.

The turbocharged diesel is well-proven

The coupe has a decent amount of room inside, with 85 cubic feet. Front legroom is plentiful, and there is good visibility out the front and rear, even with the low roof and high beltline. The interior is uncluttered and instrumentation is so clean and simple, it’s memorable for its rarity these days. In the center of the dash sits a three instrument display that shows the oil temperature, boost pressure and a lap timer. This test driver felt like he needed a pair of driving gloves after getting behind the wheel. This tester came with V-Tex Leatherette seats that were comfortable and stylish.

If you after performance and fuel economy, go with the TDI turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine. Volkswagen has been using this engine successfully in the Golf and Jetta models and is well-proven. The 2.0-liter turbodiesel delivers a modest 140 horsepower, but pumps out 236 pound-feet of torque. Torque is what will propel the Beetle up a hill at scary speeds. And the turbodiesel delivers excellent fuel mileage. The TDI with its 2.0-liter turbodiesel, is EPA rated at 29 City/39 Highway when equipped with the DSG automatic transmission.

The diesel is clean and has a quiet ride

And you don’t need to worry about the diesel being noisy and belching black smoke. It’s clean and it’s a quiet ride. The 2.0-liter turbodiesel with the DSG transmission is designed for those who want good performance to go along with fuel-efficiency. The 2013 Beetle TDI has enough power to get anyone in trouble with the local police. This driver had a hard time keeping the Beetle coupe within the speed limit during the week of driving on the interstate between the mountains and the city.

A six-speed manual is standard, but we like the DSG automatic with Tiptronic and Sport mode. It snaps off relatively quick shifts, and has smooth shifts when pushed hard in the turbo. The harder the car is driven, the more it grew on this driver. It features a manual shift capability and done with side-to-side movements using the lever. The TDI diesel in the Beetle just begs the driver to get into the turbo and feel the neck-snapping torque.

A good commuter that’s fun to drive

The Beetle TDI coupe ($24,395) comes well equipped with V-Tex leatherette upholstery, tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats with driver’s side lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, split folding rear seat, heated power mirrors, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, auxiliary input jack, iPod interface, and Bluetooth. The TDI coupe also gets steering-wheel audio controls, center console, keyless access and starting, and satellite radio.

The 2013 Beetle TDI Coupe wins in a number of areas. It’s smooth, quiet, comfortable, economical, and fast enough to get in trouble with the local law enforcement. Instrumentation and controls are simple and the cabin doesn’t feel like a capsule. Rear legroom is tight, but access is easy, and the fold-down rear seats create a nice cargo space. For performance and outstanding fuel mileage the diesel-powered Beetle TDI is a good choice. The Beetle is a good commuter car that’s also fun to drive.

See how much this car should cost you. Hint: It's not MSRP - get Free Price Quotes at Edmunds.com

Up until now, VW Group – to include Audi and Volkswagen, among others – have had a near monopoly on consumer-level clean diesel cars. That is, anything they put the “TDI” badge on. Diesel hasn’t been a big thing in the States for a long time, unlike Europe, mainly because in the past, diesel-powered cars and trucks spit out smelly black smoke and was more expensive at the pump.

But now that clean diesel (that’s the “Ultra-low sulfur diesel” option you see at gas stations) is widely available and required in all vehicles made after 2007, we have good reason to start looking at diesel engines as an option again.

After all, they get great fuel economy compared to gasoline (even beating out most hybrids on highway MPGs) and performance doesn’t suffer. In fact diesel cars can be more fun than their gasoline-powered counterparts since they have more low-end torque.

Until now though, only the German brands offered diesel engines in the States, and most of us can’t afford a Mercedes, Audi, or BMW. Most of those choices were limited to high-end models anyway. Luckily, VW gave us a diesel-powered option across nearly their entire lineup; we’ve previously reviewed the Golf TDI, Audi A3 TDI, Jetta TDI, and Jetta SportWagen TDI – and loved all of them. I’m a huge proponent of clean diesel, especially over gas-electric hybrids.

And now that diesel is starting to gain some steam again, we have an American company jumping in -

Chevy’s been talking about the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel for a while now, and now they’ve announced it’s going on sale in “certain cities” (nondescript) in May, then rolling out nationwide and in Canada in early Fall.

The numbers are pretty impressive:

But of course they’d have to be, considering they’re competing directly with a car that’s essentially defined its own class in the US for years – the VW Jetta TDI:

But really, how do they compare? The Jetta’s been around for years and has established itself as the mid-sized clean diesel sedan to buy. The Cruze has been around for a few years now of course, and in fact I was very impressed with the Chevy Cruze Eco when I drove it a while back.

Let’s take a look at the numbers:

	Chevy Cruze Diesel	VW Jetta TDI
Starting Price:	$25,695	$23,055
Economy:	46 mpg hwy 700 miles/tank	42 mpg hwy 609 miles/tank
Power:	148 hp 258 lb-ft	140 hp 236 lb-ft
0-60	8.6 sec	9.1 sec

The Cruze has slightly better numbers overall, and that’s worth noting. Chevy also says, defending the higher starting price, the car comes standard with more than the Jetta: MyLink infotainment system, larger 17-inch alloy wheels (16-inch alloys on the Jetta,) leather-appointed seating, a longer 5-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty (Jetta: 5-year/60,000-mile,) and a two-year maintenance plan (Jetta: 3-year/36,000-mile.) Also. while the Jetta comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission (which I prefer,) Chevy only touts the automatic gearbox, and doesn’t mention a manual trans at all – so if you’re looking for a stick shift, you might only have the Jetta as a choice anyway (but again, that’s not confirmed, only implied.)

Those are the very basic numbers and don’t really tell that much. The two cars are very close in what they offer, and are in direct competition. What it comes down to, as usual, is driving both and deciding which one you like more.

So will VW’s 2014 or 2015 Jetta have better numbers than the Cruze? It’s possible, but interestingly, VW just released the $24,995 Jetta Hybrid, which gets a turbocharged 48/42 hwy/city mpg (that’s damn good) all from 170 hp and 184 lb-ft. I’m still a diesel over hybrid guy, but that’s definitely a good option.

What do you think about the Chevy Cruze Diesel, and does it give a good fight against the Jetta TDI?

How much cash do you need to splash to successfully tear up the racetrack? Lots of people will answer with the obvious: tons. From the car itself to the necessary gear to the insurance to the track babes, racing is a seriously expensive hobby, right?

Wrong. In fact, with a little know how and petrol-headed prudence, you can buy and prepare a track car for under a grand and a half. I kid you not. And no, you won’t have to remortgage your homestead, sell your sacred soul, or attack your savings account with a sledge hammer. Here’s how…

The Car

First things first people: you don’t need the sickest car in the world just to burn a bit of rubber. I mean come on; you aren’t Schumacher. Step away from the Ferrari FXX. If you’ve never had track experience before, spending nine figures on a high-powered sports car is the first mistake track newbies make. These babies are hard to handle and bruise easily. It’s wise to start small.

Plenty of old cars can still hold their own against much faster and more expensive machinery – and they can be had for under $1000! Modified or classic car insurance doesn’t need to cost the Earth and the key is to choose something light, small and uncomplicated. Small engine ‘hot hatchbacks’ are the cars of choice as they tick all the above boxes and handle like go-karts. Remember, the real fun in track-driving is found in the corners. Clipping the apex. Drifting. Anyone can drive fast in a straight line!

Here are two popular options. Both can be bought for under $1000:

Honda CRX Si

The mother of hot hatches before hot hatches were cool. The Honda CRX – a smaller, lighter, two-seater version of the popular Civic – is still burning up pavement at racetracks today.

You’ll want to shoot for the second generation CRX, which was restyled and given a new chassis, more power, and a fully independent wishbone suspension for 1988. Of course you’ll want to opt for the Si trim level, whose engine was upgraded to a 1.6-liter, 108 hp inline-4. If you’re outside the US, you’re lucky enough to have the option of the VTEC engine, which produces 150 hp in Europe and 157 hp for the JDM “SiR” model.

With the CRX you can have a blast on the track and still get 60+ MPG on the street. You might have to look hard to find a decent example for $1000; they’re highly desirable, but they’re out there.

Mk2 VW Golf GTi

The Golf GTi is one of the most successful hot hatches of all time, with the Mk2 being arguably the best of the bunch among enthusiasts. Precise handling, great reliability and impressive performance from its 1.8 16v engine (137 hp) made the Mk2 probably the best GTi variant ever produced.

When choosing a Mk2 Golf GTi, try and go for the non-catalyst version which produces 137 hp (as opposed to the cat version that sapped some power down to 127).

Preparation

Track driving puts far greater strain on a car’s components than road driving. This needs to be taken into account when preparing your car. Check and upgrade brakes, tires and restraints. A well maintained car will not only be faster around a racetrack but will also make death less of an option.

Braking System

Due to the excessive heat build-up that occurs during track driving, upgrading your old and tired braking system is a must for any track car. However, this does not necessarily mean buying a big brake kit for hundreds or thousands of dollars.

By upgrading the brake fluid to a racing DOT4 or DOT5, you increase the temperature at which the fluid boils, meaning the braking system can take more heat before brake fade occurs.

Additionally, changing the brake pads for racing pad compound will reduce the chances of brake fade by increasing the maximum operating temperature.

Racing brake fluid: $20
Racing compound brake pads: $60/pair (ex: Hawk HPS Brake Pads at AutoAnything)

Tires

It’s very important that you select the correct tires for your track car. After all, they’re the only part of the car that comes into contact with the road (hopefully!) Normal road tires aren’t designed to take the stresses and heat of track driving, so buy a sport or track compound and tread pattern. If this is your daily driver as well, buy a good mix between hard and soft compound.

Tires: $300-500

Weight saving

Removing weight from your car is by far the easiest and cheapest way to improve performance, handling, braking, and all-round balance. For a pure track car, everything that isn’t absolutely necessary to drive the car should be removed: interior, rear seats, spare wheel, stereo system…bin the lot!

Cost: free!

Servicing

Many people wrongly believe that by adding bolt-on air filters and big bore exhausts, you will release more power from your engine. Although this may be true for some (especially forced induction) cars, naturally aspirated cars are much harder and much more expensive to tune for massive gain.

Instead of trying to add power with expensive mods, make sure the stock engine is running as efficiently as possible by giving it a good old-fashioned service. Lost power can be clawed back by simply changing the spark plugs and engine oil, and making sure the car can properly breathe.

Spark plugs: $20-80 (ex: CR-X Pulstar Performance Series Spark Plugs – you don’t have to go this expensive)
Spark plug wires: $30-60
Air filter: $10-40 (it’s worth getting a high-flow filter like K&N)
Engine oil and filter: $30-50 (get a good filter like the K&N Wrench-Off Oil Filters and a decent oil.)

Safety

Now the car is setup and safe, it’s time to think about your own personal safety. Most track day companies will offer helmet hire for around $10 per day, however an entry-level helmet can be bought new for $75 or second-hand for as low as $20 (edit: some readers have correctly pointed out that it’s not particularly wise to buy a second hand helmet – it’s one of those things worth spending some extra money on.) Additionally, a racing harness is recommended; however, this should be professionally installed as improper installation can be hazardous.

Racing harness: $100 (approx.)
Helmet: $60+ or $10 to hire

Oh, and you might want to get your car thoroughly inspected by a reliable mechanic to make sure it’s safe to take on the track, too. But you already did that, didn’t you?

Now What?

And there you have it, a car fit for the race track for under $1500. Who knew?

If you have a little extra cash sitting around after this, you can go in any direction to make your car a track monster. Upgrade the suspension, get racing seats to further reduce weight, add a better intake and exhaust…you have a thousand options. Check out forums for your specific car for suggestions.

To get started, we recommend checking out any local forums or associations like SCCA to see where the local Autocross events are taking place. For $15-30 a day, Autocross is the cheapest way to get into racing and a great way to get to know your car. From there, you’ll make contacts and meet people that can help take it a step further when you’re ready.

Let us know if you have any more money-saving track tips and remember, drive safe!

There are, believe it or not, advantages to living in Europe.

Sure, everyone speaks a funny language (including the English, some would have you believe) and the economy appears to be spiraling into a giant plug hole somewhere in the Mediterranean, but at least we get to gloat over the U.S. when it comes to cars.

For one reason or another, North America misses out on some of Europe’s hottest models, either through legislation or simply a board member saying “nein!” (or a variation thereof).

So have a look through the collection below. And weep, because you’re not getting any of them. Still, consider yourselves lucky: At least you don’t have to look after Greece.

BMW M135i

It could only be explained by a processing error. BMW was happy to send the 1M Coupe to U.S. soil, but its slightly subtler predecessor, the M135i, missed the boat. The styling isn’t to all tastes, but this is one car which really can outrun ugly.

The 320-horse inline-six provides eye-popping performance in the relatively small 1-Series shell, with 62mph arriving in a whisker under 5 seconds. Corners are devoured as easily as straights, too. There’s a sneaking suspicion that it’s the best car BMW makes, right now.

Volkswagen Scirocco

As the Volkswagen empire heads towards global domination, some of its products seem content to rest at home. One of those is the Scirocco coupe, based on the same platform as the Mk6 Golf, the Jetta and the Beetle. Only much, much more rakish than any of those cars, with running gear from the GTI.

To rub salt into the wounds, we can confirm it not only looks better than the Golf, but out-handles and out-performs it too. Yeah, you lose a bit of rear seat and trunk space, but who’s counting? If there’s one saving grace, it’s that VW knows the U.S. desperately wants the Scirocco. And it may keep that in mind if a next-generation model appears…

Renault Megane RenaultSport 265

The “hot hatchback”, so integral to European life, has never really caught on in the States. There’s the VW GTI, and a few MINIs with long-winded names, but beyond that the market is sparse. In Europe, it’s fierce – and the fiercest wears the RenaultSport badge. Amazingly, with 265 horsepower it still isn’t the most powerful hot hatch, but as we all know – it’s what you do with it that counts.

A limited slip diff and clever suspension let you put all that power to the road, and a steering wheel bristling with feedback ensures you know exactly where it’s going. There’s huge grip, an adjustable chassis, and the security of front-wheel drive to let you explore the limits more safely. But Renault, its reputation forever tarnished in the U.S, is unlikely to ever bring it over.

Ford Focus ST… Wagon

HAH! Almost had you there. You were about to say, “but we will be getting the ST!”. Well, not in wagon form you won’t. In contrast to Europe, where wagons are seen as dull and utilitarian – but necessary for that reason – the U.S. sees wagons, particularly hot ones, as the perfect mix of sleek styling and practicality.

So it must be galling to miss out on the wagon, which makes the hatch and saloon look a bit homely. The ST is the best of the lot, not only for its 250-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost, but also for its 18-inch wheels and aggressive bodykit. We really are sorry about this one…

Range Rover Evoque… diesel

Whoops, we did it again. The U.S. can enjoy the stunning, concept-car lines of the Range Rover Evoque, but can only choose from gasoline power. European buyers get a Jaguar-sourced 2.2-liter turbodiesel, with just shy of 190bhp. The smooth-running diesel suits the Evoque so much more than the slightly raucous gas version, and gets better mileage, too.

Actually, we could have picked any car here – the Evoque just particularly suits its diesel engine. Whether it’s the hugely expanded range of German diesels denied to the U.S. (in cars like the Scirocco too…), or American models you’ll have to wait for – the Chevy Cruze diesel, for instance – diesel fans in the States have been left with the shortest straw.

Antony Ingram is News Reporter for Car Throttle. Antony has what can only be described as an obsession for all things automotive. If it moves, he’ll drive it, and even if it doesn’t move, he’ll sit inside and have a good poke around. Car Throttle is making car discovery fun again with cool car videos and viral auto content.

Volkswagen has taken great pains to let everybody know that the new Beetle is unlike any one that has preceded it. This was illustrated by the Black Turbo Launch Edition model that led the car’s introduction into the United States market. The Black Turbo is the meanest – and therefore coolest – Beetle we’ve seen in years.

The effort to give the Beetle a different image appears to be working so far – sales to men are over the 40% mark, up from just 29% with the previous model. That’s a huge improvement and comes down to a focus in design and advertising. We’ve been hoping that would carry over to a full-blown R performance model.

At the Los Angeles auto show in November, Volkswagen showed off a convertible version of the Beetle, as well as an R-Line appearance package. Available only on the existing Turbo model, it appeared that the R-Line was going to only be available in the European market. Now Volkswagen has announced that the Beetle R-Line will be available in United States as well. The company is beginning to take orders for the new model which will start deliveries in Spring of next year.

So far VW R-Line has been primarily a Europe-only thing, with just the Passat CC having the package as an option here. Like the Passat CC, the R-Line includes a more aggressive front fascia, “sports grained” black surfaces and chrome-framed turn signals, along with a rear bumper the that features a “race-inspired” diffuser. Other details you can expect are R-Line logos, standard 19-inch “Tornado” aluminum-alloy wheels, and Bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRLs. As the top-line Beetle (until an R rolls around, that is), the R-Line will cost a pretty penny on top of the Turbo’s asking price. The arrival of the Beetle R-Line may herald more widespread availability of the package in the U.S.

You’ve got to love corporate rivalry. In some ways, spirited competition can be a good thing. General Motors and Ford have had a long-standing rivalry. It seems to have died down a bit, but it is still there underneath the surface. Usually issues like this emerge when these companies have large personalities as their leaders.

For instance, Fiat, with Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne, and Volkswagen, with its Chairman Ferdinand Piech. VW is on a relentless drive to become the world’s largest automaker. It reminds us very much of General Motors in its heyday, particularly in regards to the way the corporate structure is set up. Much to Marchionne’s consternation, Piech has publicly voiced his desire to purchase Alfa Romeo.

This request has been denied over and over and is something of a sticking point between them. Tensions really escalated though back in October, after Volkswagen announced its desire to see Marchionne resign from the presidency of the European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA). This ignited a firestorm between the two. Marchionne has since claimed that Volkswagen is trying to push out competitors by pricing its products too low.

The result has been a gain in Volkswagen market share, even as the overall European market has shrunk. Most think this strategy is aimed at causing competitors (such as Fiat) to go bankrupt. The rest of the voting members of the ACEA obviously feel different than Volkswagen however, as last week Marchionne was elected to a second term as president. While the European situation is difficult for Fiat, in the United States the Fiat-Chrysler partnership means things are reversed. Bloomberg reports that Chrysler and Fiat are offering a $1000 rebate for buyers who switch from Volkswagen. This is a strong incentive aimed at eroding some customer loyalty. It will be interesting to see how Volkswagen responds. We can’t imagine they would let this go unanswered.

With much of the world busy guessing (and alarmingly betting on) the name of an unborn heir in a royal family, the automotive world braces for its own new additions. First coming at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and to Detroit early in the new year, 2013 and beyond automobiles will see some brand new personalities emerged with many destined for dealerships. Instead of annoying a young woman and family with furious media attention, there’s considerably less wrong speculating on the yet to be released new products of a company.

Advance news on upcoming vehicles is compiled through a collective effort of automotive media insiders interviewing executives and/or spying on the development procedure of vehicles. Thanks to the trademark registration process in the United States, it is possible to get an idea of what might be in the minds of auto companies. Sometimes trademarks are acquired to preserve a famous, out of production vehicle for other monetary purposes. Ford Motor Company maintains and filed the ‘Thunderbird’ trademark in relations to a variety of merchandise such as collector coins in recent years. More thrilling, trademarked names can identify upcoming street vehicles before they have the covers removed for an official unveiling.

The following is a collection of United States trademarks currently associated with popular auto manufacturers may spoil suspense for what 2013 has in store:

General Motors

Appshop- Is General Motors preparing an endeavour into a new virtual marketplace? Trademarks attaching Appshop to three of General Motors’ four auto division (Cadillac not included) were filed earlier this year. The trademark registration describes the product as both computer software to manage connectivity for downloading software and as an online retail outlet. General Motors recently announced a revised version of MyLink would be equipped on the 2014 Chevrolet Impala but there is no mention of an Appshop or a similar functionality.

Cadillac LTS- Up until about the 1960s, Cadillac was as much a gold standard in global luxury as it was in American luxury. The Cadillac LTS could be future that will help the premier General Motors brand reclaim their spot on the world pedestal. Since introduction of their Sixteen concept car a decade ago, rumblings of Cadillac’s plan for a six-figure vehicle ultra-luxury sedan were apparent. Though the 2013 Cadillac XTS was introduced to market this year, possibilities of a higher tier vehicle continues be the source of speculation. With reports the four-door sedan is confirmed as a future model, we may not have to wait long to find out if Cadillac has a use for the LTS name.

Ford

Mach 1- A well-known accompaniment with the Ford Mustang in past years, the Mach 1 barrier could be broken for a future offering from the auto company. Connected to the Mustang pony car in 1969 to 1978, the name Mach 1 was revived later for a two-year run starting in 2003. The inclusion of the Mach 1 could be involved in ushering forward the next redesigned Ford Mustang. The Mach 1 name has a history for entering production ahead of major restyling.

BMW

BMW 430- Today, BMW announced the concept presentation of the 4 Series as a mid-range sport coupe. However, the ‘BMW 430’ trademark was registered over a year ago. As BMW appears ready to cover single digit numbers Projected by the German company as an evolutionary existence for the automobile, the BMW i division is nearing production scale with their electrified vehicles. In relations to the BMW i sub brand, the full number range from i1 to i9 have been registered.

Chrysler

Chrysler 100- Defining their flagship sedan with the historically anchored ‘300’ badging since 1999, Chrysler placed a spin on their famously used number renaming the mid-sized vehicles as the 200 in the 2011 model year. It seems like inedibility that Chrysler will follow their new numeric system if they wish to add a new vehicle. Perhaps indicating that an entry level Chrysler product is close down the production pipeline, Chrysler 100 has been claimed for possible use. First thoughts would connect the Chrysler 100 with an upscale version of the newly released Dodge Dart.

EcoDiesel 3.0L- As of the 2013 model year, the only diesel vehicle available in the United States under Chrysler Group is a Cummins 6.7 liter turbodiesel in the Ram HD pickup trucks. With a recent trademark, the inclusion of a smaller diesel powerplant could be possible once again in some Chrysler Group vehicles sold in the United States. Registering the EcoDiesel 3.0L badge design, a new diesel engine connected to the branding could be used to power a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee rumoured to be part of the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The powerplant could also be the propulsion for the upcoming Ram ProMaster work van.

Volkswagen

Nanobus and Microbus- Unveiled in 2011, the Volkswagen Bulli concept vehicle presented something exceptionally unique throughout last year’s auto show tour. A small corssover embodying the spirit of the 1960s Microbus, the Bulli concept was overall modern in presentation. Bringing the Bulli concept car to North America on occasions, Volkswagen tested the waters for the prospect sending this vehicle or a similar subcompact crossover into production. According to registered trademarks, Volkswagen has claimed both the Nanobus and Microbus names for use in a vehicle in the United States if market conditions are favourable.

Information source: BMW AG, Chrysler Group, General Motors, United States Patent and Trademark Office
Photo source: BMW AG, Chris Nagy, General Motors

The convertible/ragtop has always been an essential part of the Volkswagen Beetle equation. Towards the end of the previous car’s run, there were a lot of special edition models and concepts. One idea that VW has toyed around with is the Ragster/Bugster. We’ve seen it for the previous generation model and already for the current car.

This leads us to believe we’ll see a production version of it at some point. The Beetle is ripe with opportunity for special edition models and off-shoots, much like the MINI and Fiat 500. Volkswagen completed a major re-launch of the Beetle coupe for the 2012 model year, and now it is turning to the convertible for 2013.

VW didn’t waste any time announcing pricing information. As always, the convertible model costs more than the standard car. The convertible starts at $24,495, $4,700 more than the $19,795 base model. One key difference however, is the fact that the convertible is available only with the automatic. $24,950 will get you VW’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder, which makes 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque.

The model everyone cares about, the Turbo, will set you back $27, 795. If you want better fuel economy, you’ll have to pay for that too-the TDI diesel starts at $27,895. We’ve never figured out why they don’t price diesels lower to gain more sales. From the sounds of it though, VW isn’t having any trouble moving them. That’s what high gas prices will do. It looks like the rumor about special edition models called Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies didn’t pan out. VW says the Beetle convertible will go on sale next month, just in time to put a bow on it.

Since its introduction in 2006 as the successor to the Golf Cabriolet, the Volkswagen Eos has flown under the radar and hasn’t really gotten much recognition. But the Eos still offers practical daily transportation and sporty, top-down fun. The Eos is considered a subcompact, and its wheelbase and width are identical to Volkswagen’s GTI and Jetta models. The 2012 Volkswagen Eos has been updated with fresh styling, new interior appointments and more standard equipment.

Upon first glance of the 2012 VW Eos tester this week, it doesn’t look anything like a soft-top convertible. The top is made of glass and steel, rather than conventional fabric, and it looks like a sporty coupe until you look closer. For the 2012 model year, the Eos gets a few exterior styling changes in front and rear. The three-bar grille connects re-shaped light clusters and the two-part taillights are also re-shaped. The rear bumper is restyled with a single twin-tip exhaust pipe under the left side.

A multitude of standard features

The Eos Lux ($37,585) we’ll be testing this week comes very well equipped, with keyless access and push button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, GPS navigation with color touch screen, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and auto headlights. It adds fog lamps, rain-sensing windshield wipers and heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Eos Lux adds even more luxury items like leather seating, burl walnut interior trim, a power front-passenger seat, park-distance control, power-folding side mirrors and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The multitude of standard features help justify the coast over lower priced soft-top competitors like the Chrysler 200, Mini Cooper, Fiat 500 and Ford Mustang.

The cabin offers excellent fit and finish

The interior is nicely finished and is what we’ve come to expect from Volkswagen. The materials used throughout the cabin are very good and the real strength of the VW Eos cabin is the fit and build quality. The only complaint about the cabin would be the lack of legroom in the back seat. There isn’t much room for more than a quick ride for an average size adult. But this is a subcompact and it’s not unusual for a convertible to have a back seat that’s just used for cargo.

But in the front it’s a different story. The front seats are large and spacious for a relatively small car, and comfortable. The sides of the seats are bolstered and keep the driver in place during aggressive driving. The heated seats work well and often got too warm with the top up. But they worked perfect for motoring around with the top down on a 50 degree day in Denver.

Top-down motoring fun

The top of the VW Eos is made of glass and steel, rather than conventional fabric, and the forward portion can be slid back and used like a wide sunroof. The top opens in 25 seconds with a push of a button and disappears into the trunk. It can be opened from inside or outside the car, and the Eos has a pop-up roll bar that automatically deploys behind the rear seats for added crash protection.

With the top up, the Eos feels similar to a fixed-roof coupe without any rattles or wind noise. But it does have some minor visibility issues and feels a bit closed in. The windshield pillars are designed for safety and are a bit thick and the hard top’s rear pillars can block a driver’s over-shoulder view range. The driver definitely needs to double-check before changing lanes. But with the top down, the visibility issues disappear just like the hardtop.

The Eos comes equipped with a wind deflector that can be raised along the top edge of the windshield, and it works best when just the forward portion of the top is slid back, like a sunroof. With the top down, the driver might notice a bit more wobble or shimmy rippling through the body, particularly on rough roads.

Powered by turbocharging

The Volkswagen 2.0-liter turbo is a real strength for the VW brand. This four-cylinder is used in a lot of VW and Audi products because it’s so good. It’s small enough to deliver good fuel economy, but the turbo provides plenty of power for the small compact Eos. The 2.0-liter powerplant pumps out 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of acceleration-producing torque.

Initially, the gas pedal takes a little getting used to and can feel a bit touchy until the driver gets familiar with where the turbo kicks in. It can deliver a lot of power with very little effort from the driver’s foot to the pedal. The torque seems to come evenly at any speed, and is there whenever the driver needs it. At Denver’s high altitude, the 2.0-liter turbo had plenty of power for any driving situation.

For the driver who likes to get the most performance out of their vehicle, the turbo is perfectly suited for more aggressive driving. The Eos pulls strong all the way up to its redline and moves the small convertible with considerable zest. Volkswagen says the 2012 Eos will sprint from 0-60 mph in under 8 seconds with a top speed of 148.

The 2012 Eos is only offered as an automatic, but the DSG works nicely. It’s responsive and works nicely with the 2.0-liter turbo. Shifts are quick and crisp, and there’s no hesitation with it trying to find the right gear. The six-speed DSG Tiptronic offers the ability to shift manually when the driver or conditions warrant a change.

Overall, the 2012 Volkwagen Eos Lux succeeds in its mission as an everyday driver and definitely fills the need as an all-season convertible. It’s comfortable for driver and passenger and is economical yet powerful enough to satisfy those looking for performance. With its smaller size and front-drive layout, it’s a good fit between the cheaper droptop models and the luxury ragtops like the Audi A5 and BMW 3-Series.

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Resale value is an important consideration when purchasing a new car. It impacts lease rates, insurance and other factors in the equation. Manufacturers also focus on things like reliability and reduced fleet sales when wanting to bring up their scores. Less often focused on is how design impacts resale.

For years flashy design was mostly reserved for high end cars. Lately, style has been brought to the mainstream, as far down as the emerging A- and B-segments. Standing in marked contrast to this trend is Volkswagen, who has designs that are moving in the opposite direction of the industry.

The previous generation of VWs were arguably a lot more stylish (save for the 2013 Beetle and the new Golf) than their current models. There is less involvement to the designs and they look more alike across the lineup. That’s not to say that current VWs aren’t good looking, but there are clearly cars that have gone backward (such as the Passat CC). VW’s head of design Walter de Silva thinks minimalistic is the way of the future.

“People want to understand what they buy. There is a certain security in our design.” says de Silva to Automotive News. He says this is an important component of resale value. With models like the Golf, we can see where consistent design over the years comes into play.

It’s true that trendy designs can be dated quickly, but we think there’s a balance to things. VW’s drive to increase profits and become number one has resulted in a lot of cost cutting. We’ve seen that in interior materials and suspension components, and there is no reason to think VW hasn’t demanded cuts in the design department as well. Simpler designs are cheaper to produce and fix what is needed. That’s our take on it. VW definitely needs to guard against becoming too cookie cutter going forward.

What the Golf BlueMotion does have is a 1.6-liter TDI four-cylinder that makes an impressive (in this application, with these fuel economy figures) 108 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That sounds respectable to us. It is run by a stop/start system with battery regeneration . Aerodynamics have been improved thanks to things like a lower ride height, smoother underbody panels, closed off air intakes, reworked brake channels and a C-pillar spoiler (to name a few improvements). Reductions in weight over the previous car help to give it a 15-percent improvement in efficiency.

To give you an idea of just how efficient the Golf BlueMotion is, VW calculated that if you drove only 9,300 miles a year, you would have to visit the gas station just 10 times. Now most of us drive far more than that, and you’re not likely to get 73.5 mpg all the time, but it is still a stunner. That’s because the car has a 13.2 gallon tank. Last time, BlueMotion was a standalone model available. This time it is treated as more of a trim level, with Trendline and Comfortline option packages. We still can’t figure out why they won’t offer it as a three-door as well. Beyond that, what are they thinking not selling this in the United States?

The 2014 Volkswagen Golf has launched at the Paris Motor Show, being the seventh iteration of the VW brand’s bread and butter vehicle. While not visually a huge move forward, underneath the car switches to VW’s MQB platform, dropping 220 pounds in the process. Along with the standard car VW is showing off the GTI Concept.

And that’s “Concept” – it is nearly an exact preview of the upcoming production model. Very few details have been released, except what is underneath the hood. The car’s turbocharged four-cylinder makes 217 horsepower, a bump of 17 horsepower versus the current car. The GTI’s weight reduction will enable an 18 percent increase in efficiency.

The concept has been shown off in the GTI’s traditional white/red launch color scheme. That includes interesting elements, such as a continuous red line that runs though the front headlights and grille. Like the rest of the lineup the GTI gets extra interior room (increased luggage space and legroom for rear passengers) along with available technologies like PreCrash (accident detection/prevention system) and “multi-collision” braking. New infotainment systems round out the changes to the technology package. What’s more is that the interior is now canted toward the driver, and appears to be top notch in design and details.

Recently we’ve expressed disappointment at what appears to be a move backward for VW design, particularly in interiors. For instance, with the U.S-focused Jetta and Golf, the interiors in the previous generation models were undisputably better (thanks to cost-cutting). The Golf bucks that trend, and we hope it is indicative of future VW models to come. All in all the seventh generation Golf really moves the ball forward, improving the formula in every way over the previous car. Stay tuned for more details on the production GTI as we move closer to a launch. In the meantime, check out our gallery below.

Say hello to Volkswagen Golf VII, the seventh generation iteration of VW’s iconic hatchback. When a new Golf comes around, it is kind of a big deal. That’s because the Golf is VW’s bread-and-butter car in most markets around the world – the United States being a notable exception.

It was introduced in 1974, and since then nearly 30 million have been sold, making it the best selling VW ever. The Golf is generally regarded as the best of the breed as well. The Paris Motor Show is beginning on September 29th (it’s hard to believe auto show season is nearly upon us already!) and VW is scheduled to release the Golf tomorrow. Thanks to some leaked images though, we get to see it a few hours early.

As expected the Golf doesn’t change up the stylistic formula much, but moves the ball forward with a new, angular design. There are crisper and more defined lines than what we see on the current car. For instance, the very defined side character line running through the doors. Up front it is more aggressive and it wears VW’s slim, horizontal grille well. Most of the consequential changes will be taking place under the skin though. Underneath the Golf moves to VW’s new MQB platform, which is being spread across all of the VW Group’s brands. This will help to increase economies of scale and profitability greatly. Mileage should be boosted significantly as well, thanks to a range of new engines and a focus on weight loss.

The interior is an even bigger change than what we see on the exterior as well. While VW’s interiors are still great, they have been moving backward lately in an effort to reduce costs for the mainstream market. The Golf reverses this trend, with an interior that looks more upscale and expensive than the car it replaces. Piano black accents and chrome detailing abound, and the center stack is canted toward the driver. If the U.S Jetta (or Passat for that matter) got an interior that looked that good, we’d be very satisfied. Hopefully Golf comes to the U.S untouched. Stay tuned for more details when the car is released officially.

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Sometimes, enough is enough. The Volkswagen Group has more brands than anyone else in the automotive industry today. Recent acquisitions were completed for Ducati, Scania and Porsche. That is an addition to Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen.

Sound familiar? It reminds us of General Motors at the height of its dominance. There’s the potential for more too – VW has tried to convince Fiat to sell Alfa Romeo for a long time. For years Volkswagen has toyed with a Proton partnership/buyout, as a way to gain market share and sales in Southeast Asia. An obstacle has been Proton’s ownership by the Malaysian government – they desire to see the company stay local.

Recently Malaysian investment firm DRB Hicom purchased a controlling share in Proton (causing Lotus’ future to be in upheaval), and that is impacting the nature of Volkswagen’s interests. VW has an independent history with both Proton and DRB Hicom. In 2010 VW worked a deal with DRB Hicom to assemble Jettas and Passats for local sale. Now, rumors are swirling that VW is interested in purchasing a stake in Proton – possibly even a full purchase, which the Malaysian government will reportedly not approve.

Regardless, it is clear VW has an interest in some kind of tie up with Proton. According to Reuters, one member of Volkswagen’s board is speaking out about any further purchases, saying 12 brands are enough for now. Bernd Osterloh, the union’s representative says that “We already have 12 brands and we first have to stabilise the group….even though further sales and production sites in south-east Asia are important, there is no support from the labour side for a purchase of Proton.” He has a point there. While the union may not support the move though, there are 19 other board members that vote on these decisions. Given sources are saying VW is highly interested in a stake, it probably is more likely one will go through than not.