SEAT Adds 4WD Option to Alhambra Minivan

The VW Sharan"s Spanish sibling is now more worthy of the ?multi-purpose? label as SEAT has presented a new variant with a permanent all-wheel drive system for the Alhambra. The new model benefits from the latest-generation of VW"s 4x4 system, electronically controlled and set up for improved driving dynamics.

According to SEAT, the system has been tuned to offer ?a surprising level of sporty driving fun?. The all-wheel drive system is operated by a multi-plate clutch that sends the juice to the axle that needs it the most. In the event that the front wheels slip, an electrically driven annular piston pump builds up the oil pressure necessary for the clutch to divert a large proportion of the driving force to the rear wheels.

The 4WD option will be offered in conjunction with the most powerful diesel engine available, the 2.0-liter TDI which develops 140 horsepower. Linked to a six-speed manual transmission, the oil-burner pushes the Alhambra to a top speed of 191 km/h (118 mph). The standard 0 to 100 km/h sprint takes a decent 11.4 seconds and average fuel consumption is rated at 6.0 liters/100 km (equal to 39.2 US mpg).

The low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 158 grams per km are also due to the Ecomotive package, which includes a brake energy regeneration and an automatic start/stop system.

The SEAT Alhambra 4WD will be available for sale starting this summer, in the Reference and Style versions with interiors configured with 5 seats. Towards the end of the year, the all-wheel drive MPV will also have a 2+2+2 seating arrangement.

It Came from eBay Hell: ?80s VW Golf Stretch Limo with Mercedes Nose

So you want your own limousine? Sure, I can dig that. Who hasn?t thought of trading in their daily commute for something that?s chauffer driven? And what better place to start your search than on eBay, where you?re sure to find something both unique and affordable, if not exactly well built or driveable.

Here?s one such find, based on a 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf for the rest of the world) with a Mercedes-Benz nose piece. The seller?s description reveals that this vehicle has new brakes, struts, a new exhaust, new wheels and tires, new windshield and gas tank. And it still has its original motor and transmission, with a twin barrel carburettor with aluminium intake and header which the seller assures us makes it, ?Fast for what it is.?

Inside there are two bench seats facing each other, and an electrically operated tinted glass partition that can separate the passengers from the driver. Classy.

The interior is in need of a lot of attention, though. There?s no headliner, no carpet and the custom interior panels have yet to be fitted. The air conditioning?s not hooked up and there?s no sound system, either. The car?s also missing a, ?Few other odds and ends.?

On the upside, it has a clear title and the car comes with a fixer upper GTI engine and a white rabbit plush toy that has been stretched and has a VW hat on its head. Sadly there are no pictures of the latter. The starting price is a low, low US$4,999.00 (?3,676). Price for a first generation Rabbit, but not bad for something with such...uh...?unique qualities.?

The strange this is, this car has been on sale before, almost two years ago. And it was in the exact same state it?s in now. We don?t know what this means, except maybe that the owner grew tired of working on it. Take that however you want, and leave your comments below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

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Volkswagen Reconsidering Scirocco and Phaeton for the U.S. Market

Earlier this month, Volkswagen announced that it?s going to expand its North American SUV lineup in order to catch up to GM and Toyota and triple its U.S. sales by 2018. However, the automaker also wants to boost its image, so it may bring back the Scirocco coupe and Phaeton sedan to the States.

In an interview in Washington, Jonathan Browning, head of Volkswagen?s U.S. operations, told Bloomberg News that the company is exploring the idea of selling the two models in the U.S. ?We will reconsider bringing the Phaeton back to the U.S. in the next product cycle,? said Mr. Browning who added that no final decision has been made yet.

While not a bad car, the Phaeton had a short-lived career in the U.S., which ended in 2006. It seems that American buyers just couldn?t get used to the idea of a Mercedes S-Class rival with a Volkswagen badge. On the other hand, the Scirocco was successful in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s, so to this day, many are wondering why VW chose not to import the latest generation of the coupe model. In Europe, the Scirocco is offered with a variety of powertrains ranging from a 52.3 mpg 140HP diesel to a 265HP 2.0-liter turbo in the sporty "R" model.

The Scirocco and Phaeton are not expected to offer a lot in terms of sales, but rather to provide an image boost for the company. The real ?earners? will have to be models such as the new Jetta and Passat.

?VW wants to capture U.S. buyers by rolling out more emotional cars and the Scirocco certainly fits that category,? said Frank Schwope, a NordLB analyst in Hanover. ?In terms of volume sales, the Scirocco and Phaeton are only decorative accents, they won?t be crucial for VW?s goal to greatly increase deliveries?.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Bloomberg

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VW XL1 Hybrid Coupe Study: Videos and Photos from Qatar

The highlight of Volkswagen"s presentation at this week"s Qatar motor show is the new XL1, a futuristic looking diesel-electric plug-in hybrid study for an everyday-use coupe vehicle with a combined fuel economy of just 0.9 liters per 100 kilometers or an amazing 261 mpg US.

The extremely low fuel consumption is achieved through the use of a lightweight construction, carefully honed aerodynamics and of course, the hybrid powertrain that combines a 0.8-liter twin-cylinder diesel producing 48-horses with a 27HP electric motor. If you follow the jump, you can check out live photos as well as on the road videos of the XL1. For more details on the study, read our previous post here.

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