VW's Space Up! Will Lift Drivers' Attitudes
POSTED May 15, 2:19 PM
 

The “Space Up!” is a new concept vehicle from
Volkswagen. Why is the Space Up! going to cause
the jig to be up for the competition? Because this
people transporter is simply the real deal.
 
The VW Space Up! - The Next Small Wonder?
 
 
The Shape of Things to Come?
 
 
The car is described as a small space wonder. 
Its outside measurements come in at just over
12 feet in length and 5 feet 4 inches in width. The
bottom line is that this car has the interior space
of a much larger vehicle. This is due to the engine
being located in the rear thus freeing up additional
interior space. Furthermore, the four seats can be
folded-down, reconfigured, or easily removed. The
front and rear doors open from the center allowing
a large opening for importing and exporting cargo.
Easy Entry and Exit
 
Walter DeSilva is the Chief Designer of the Volkswagen
Group. Regarding the vehicle’s space utilization he says:
“In formal design terms, one can see that the Space Up!
is fun and at the same time offers maximum space on the
smallest of platforms. Our new small family brings a smile
back to the road.”
 
Another thing that will bring smiles to consumers’
faces is that the Space Up! will be available in gasoline,
diesel, or electric drives for excellent fuel economy.
In today's driving environment, plenty of space and
fuel economy are indeed a winning combination.
 
I welcome your comments or vehicle questions at
my auto web site: www.DriveTheBestBook.com.
 
 
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VW Will Try to Pick-Up New Customers
POSTED May 14, 6:23 AM
 

VW is testing an all new pick-up truck that
will be named the Volkswagen Robust or Taro II. 
The company is getting into the truck business to
add additional customer sales.
 
 
 Spy Photo of VW's New Truck - The Robust 
 
Volkswagen cars are known to be well-built and
durable (I have one with over 492,000 miles in the
clock!). This bodes well for a four-wheel drive truck
that will handle rugged off-road terrain. 
 
As with its competitors, the Robust will be available
in single cab and double cab offerings. Power will
come from a common rail diesel and possibly a V6
gasoline engine.
 
The truck will compete with others such as the Nissan
Navara, the Mitsubishi L200, the Isuzu Rodeo, and the
Toyota Helix.
 
Possible Final Look of VW's Truck
 
A SUV offering will also possibly be build on this
truck’s platform. It would go head-to-head with
the Mitsubishi Shogun and the Nissan Pathfinder.
 
Look for the truck to first be available in the UK by 2010
and then arrive in the United States.
 
I welcome your comments or vehicle questions at

my auto web site: www.DriveTheBestBook.com.

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Two New VW Beetles Motoring Your Way
POSTED May 13, 5:45 AM
 

 
The original VW Beetle started out as a war related
vehicle. Later, it became known in Germany as the
“People’s Car.” 
 
The Beetle was first imported to the United States
in 1949. It had a simple design including a horizontally-
opposed 4-cylinder air-cooled engine located at the rear.  
Because the weight of the engine was over the rear wheels,
the car went well through mud and snow like few other cars.
 
 
 
The First Beetle - Rear Wheel Drive
 
 
A new Beetle, based on the Golf platform, came on the
automotive scene in 1998. Initially, Volkswagen was not
going to build the car, however, in 1994, the public gave an
explosive thumbs-up to the concept Beetle and the company
moved forward. This car has a water-cooled 4-cylinder
engine located at the front of the car powering the front wheels.
With the weight of the engine over the front wheels, this car
motors through snow and poor weather conditions.
 
 
The Current Beetle - Front Wheel Drive 
 
 
In 2009 Volkswagen will provide a model update for the
current Beetle. In 2010/2011 VW will likely also introduce
a smaller Beetle that resembles the iconic original but in
a modern format. The car will again have a rear engine
powering the rear wheels. It will be equipped with a 750 cc
2-cylinder engine and also 1-liter 3-cylinder gas and
diesel engines. The car will have inexpensive front and
rear independent suspension and other hardware. 
 
A Future Beetle - Rear Wheel Drive Again
 
 
Like the original, the new smaller Beetle will represent
a simple and pure driving experience. This is welcome
given an increasingly complicated age that includes
among other things, high fuel prices. In one way this
new Beetle will be very modern however, it will get
50-70 mpg on the highway.
 
I welcome your comments or car questions at my auto
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The Versatile Nissan Versa
POSTED May 12, 5:05 AM
 

 
With fuel prices moving toward $4.00 per gallon,
several fuel efficient new cars have hit the market.
These cars include the Dodge Caliber, Honda Fit,
Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio5, Nissan Versa, Suzuki Reno,
and Toyota Yaris. The base price for this group is
from just under $13,000 to $15,000.
 
Fuel economy is on most drivers' minds and the
average fuel economy of these cars is 30 mpg in
the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Although
these cars are small on the outside and easy to
park, they are quite large and useful on the inside.
 
A road test of the Nissan Versa hatchback determined
that it can seat three people in the back seat. With the
rear seat folded down, out of the six other cars, it tied
for first place in cargo volume, and at 70 miles per hour,
it was the second quietest car of this group.
 
The Nissan Versa Hatchback
 
The Versa is available with a Continuously Variable
Automatic Transmission (CVT) that gets about 35 mpg
on the highway. Overall, the Versa scored near the top
when compared to the other cars in this group.
 
My personal drive of the Versa determined that it
has comfortable front seats and a roomy and versatile
interior. The engine is reasonably powerful with good
passing ability. The Continuously Variable Transmission
is smooth at all times and it helps to maximize fuel
efficiency. The interior fit and finish are good, and the
car handles well with reasonable ride quality.
 
If the $13,500 base price of a new Versa is more
than you can spend, used Versas are becoming available.
It is one car to look for!
 
I welcome your comments or car questions at my
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Two that Do the Redline Anytime
POSTED May 10, 6:52 AM

Over the past 40 years, Porsche has developed and
refined one of the most successful sports car ever,
the 911. The flat-six boxer engines and drivetrains
have gone from air-cooled to water-cooled; from
non-turbo to twin-turbo; from rear-wheel drive to
four-wheel drive, etc. In the beginning, the engine
had about 120 horsepower and today it can deliver
over 450 horsepower.
 
The Porsche 911
 
 
In recent years, car offerings from BMW, Lexus,
Infiniti, and others have been pushing up against
the 911's horsepower advantage. Porsche was
starting to encounter the limits of the flat-six boxer's
horsepower capabilities.

A number of years ago, it was rumored that Porsche
had considered a flat-eight boxer engine for the 911.
However, even the flat-six hung off the car's rear axel.
The car's weight distribution was highly rear-biased,
and thus the 911 has had and continues to have
unique and somewhat challenging handling
characteristics.

A flat-eight boxer engine would have certainly
enabled Porsche's 911 to pull away from competitors
with horsepower. However, the greater weight and
power of the engine would have increased the 911's
challenging handling characteristics. Consequently,
Porsche would have put the 911 in a conundrum of
more power being a plus, but increased inappropriate
handling characteristics being a minus.

In 2006 Porsche has introduced a "mid-engine" hardtop
sports car named the Cayman. It shares the same
floorpan and some other components with the Porsche
Boxster convertible. This has enabled Porsche to spread
the cost of production between the two models, thus
lowering the Cayman's cost of production. Given today's
increasingly competitive automotive environment, Porsche
will be better able to maintain an acceptable profit margin
on the Cayman, but also sell the car at a reasonable price.
 

The Porsche Cayman
 

Is $50,000 for a Cayman 2.7 reasonable pricing? The
Cayman's lap times at Nurburgring have been right on
the heels of the more powerful 911. What the Cayman
lacks in horsepower to the $80,000 911, it closes the
gap with its superior handling. Look for the Cayman to
overtake the 911 as it gains the 911's more powerful
engines. Because of competitive pressures, it is likely
that Porsche will basically keep future prices of the
Cayman stable while offering more powerful engines.

What if the competitors continue to increase the
horsepower of their cars? Porsche has the ability to
put a flat-eight or a flat-ten cylinder engine in the
Cayman, and because of the mid-engine design,
the car's handling would remain balanced and
exceptional.
 
Overall, the Cayman has the shape of a great
sports car. The driving experience is smooth and
refined with precise shifting and excellent brakes.
Last, but not least, the Cayman obtains about 20mpg
in the city and about 28 mpg on the highway.

With the Cayman, Porsche has jumped out in front
again! The almost endless possibilities to add more
power, great handling, and reasonable production
costs are a fabulous combination for Porsche. In the
near future, buying a Cayman in the used car market
at a 25%-35% price reduction will be a fabulous 
opportunity for consumers too!
 
I welcome your comments or car questions at my auto
 
 
Categories: Porsche 911 , Cayman
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Kyle Busch
Kyle is an auto enthusiast and consumer advocate with over 30 years of experience. Author of “Drive the Best for the Price…” He welcomes your comments and car questions on his website www.DriveTheBestBook.com . Kyle’s car has over 490,000 miles and he even has the same name as the #18 NASCAR driver.

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