Volkswagen of Downtown L.A.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the 2010 New Beetle and New Beetle convertible Final Editions, which will mark the last of Volkswagen's current generation of the iconic models. Available in U.S. dealer showrooms beginning in the Spring of 2010, the Final Editions will be limited to only 1,500 units each. The Final Editions will receive a host of unique upgrades and touches that will truly set them apart from others cruising across the country.

"Since its launch in 1998, the New Beetle - and the New Beetle convertible that later followed - have connected generations of fans that love the cars' totally unique styling and characteristics that are simply unmatched," said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The Final Editions combine all of the elements that best represent what people love the most about the New Beetle, and that have created the car's legacy, which will live on in generations to come."

 

On the outside, the Final Editions come dressed in special Aquarius Blue paint with a painted black roof on the coupe, and a two-tone Aquarius Blue and Campanella White paint scheme with a white top on the convertible. Final Edition exterior badges help these models stand out from the crowd wherever they go. The coupe also adds individually numbered badges outside, and fog lights that are integrated into the front bumper. Both the coupe and the convertible have a full sport suspension and special 17-inch alloy wheels that provide a more fun-to-drive stance, and make getting from point A to point B even more exciting.

 

Inside, drivers are welcomed with an individually numbered, Final Edition steering wheel. The convertible entices with a sumptuous white interior that matches the top, and the special exterior paint scheme. Under the hood of both models is Volkswagen's 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder gasoline engine, with its ready-to-go 150 horsepower, and 170 lbs.-ft. of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic^® puts the power to the pavement, and can change gears on its own, or let the driver select each gear by tapping the selector up or down. With the automatic transmission, the New Beetle can achieve an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city, and 29 mpg on the highway.

 

Like all 2010 Volkswagen models, the New Beetle and New Beetle convertible Final Editions come standard-equipped with the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), for safe driving in most any conditions, as well as Volkswagen's Carefree Maintenance Program. With this program, there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in the vehicle's maintenance booklet over the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty - three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

 

The 2010 New Beetle Coupe and New Beetle Convertible Final Editions will be available for $20,240 and $27,170 respectively.

Four 2010 Volkswagen models - the brand-leading Jetta sedan, the all-new Golf four-door, the stylish Passat sedan, and the nimble Tiguan - have each received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK award for 2010: The highest rating possible from the non-profit research organization. The annual award recognizes those vehicles that perform best in protecting passengers in the Institute's front, side, and rear crash test evaluations, and the newly required roof-strength test evaluations. The Institute only tests vehicles with electronic stability control (branded Electronic Stabilization Program® / ESP® on Volkswagen vehicles), and head protection airbags.

"TOP SAFETY PICKS are the vehicles on the top rung for safety," said IIHS president, Adrian Lund. "These Volkswagen models are in an elite group that afford the best protection in the most common kinds of crashes, and have electronic stability control to keep drivers out of many crashes altogether."

"The safety of our cars is of the utmost concern, from the initial design stages, all the way through to the maintenance procedures at dealerships," said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen Group of America. "To have such an important group as the IIHS recognize not one, but a total of four Volkswagen vehicles with this prestigious award is a true testament to the care, safety, and precision we strive for with every Volkswagen we build."

Beyond their fun-to-drive dynamics and fuel-efficient engines, every 2010 model year Volkswagen vehicle includes, as standard, Volkswagen's Prevent and Preserve Safety System. Composed of more than 40 different features, the Prevent and Preserve Safety System helps keep drivers and passengers safe during normal driving conditions, and reduces the severity and consequences of a possible crash. The Jetta, Golf, Passat, and Tiguan also come standard with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), ESP, up to eight airbags (depending on model), and more.

In addition to the Prevent and Preserve Safety System, the entire 2010 Volkswagen lineup includes the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. With it, all of the scheduled maintenance for the vehicle, as described in its maintenance booklet, is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty -- three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta sedan (starting at $17,605), Golf four-door (starting at $19,190), Passat sedan (starting at $26,995), and Tiguan (starting at $23,200) are available now at Volkswagen dealerships across the U.S.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that its all-new sixth generation GTI has been named the 2010 AUTOMOBILE Magazine Automobile of the Year. This marks the second time in its history that the GTI has won this prestigious award. In AUTOMOBILE Magazine's twenty year history of awarding their top honor, the Volkswagen GTI is the only make and model to ever win it twice.

"At a time when the world's economy is in shambles and fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are on everyone's minds, there remains only one car that ticks all the enthusiast boxes without setting off a single wretched-excess alarm. That's the Volkswagen GTI, and that's why it is, once again, Automobile Magazine's Automobile of the Year," said Joe DeMatio, Executive Editor, Automobile Magazine.

"Having our GTI named AUTOMOBILE Magazine's Automobile of the Year once again is a tremendous honor for our brand," said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "We're thrilled that the staff of AUTOMOBILE Magazine acknowledged that today's sport's car consumers are looking beyond horsepower and going fast, rather they are looking for vehicles that are practical, fuel efficient, and fast. The GTI truly embodies what the Volkswagen brand is all about--affordable, efficient, and fun-to-drive German Engineering," Barnes added.

First introduced in the U.S. in 1983, the GTI drew admiration for its combination of sporty performance and practicality. The 2010 GTI is Volkswagen's definitive return to its groundbreaking, hot hatch sports car, offering a modern and dynamic extension of the automaker's original "pocket rocket."

The 2010 GTI is a solid and aggressive sports model that features Volkswagen's highly acclaimed 2.0-liter 16-valve DOHC turbo-charged four-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 lbs.-ft. of torque. It's available with an automated manual DSG® transmission that utilizes direct shifting, which essentially automatically depresses clutch-shift points more efficiently and quicker than even a professional driver can. For those driving enthusiasts who want the unique control of a clutch, the GTI comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Top speed is electronically governed at 130 miles per hour in the U.S. The 2010 GTI starts at $23,490, and attains a fuel economy rating of 32/24 highway/city when equipped with the DSG transmission.

New for the 2010 GTI is a standard Electronic Limited Slip system that Volkswagen has named XDS. The system electronically monitors input from various wheel sensors and, in the event of slippage, transfers extra torque to the wheel or wheels with the most traction. The 2010 GTI also comes standard with numerous other safety features including: a three channel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Anti-slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Engine Brake Assist (EBA), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and like all 2010 Volkswagen's, Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP®).