Los Angeles (November 2018) - Volkswagen sure made its presence known at the LA Auto Show this year, bringing along the Final Edition Beetle, the I.D. BUZZ CARGO van, as well as a concept electric bike, Cargo e-Bike. The I.D. BUZZ van was first released as a concept at the Detroit Auto Show last year, and this year VW released a sibling, the I.D. BUZZ CARGO van. VW says it could be launched in Europe as a production vehicle as early as 2022. A little longer than the I.D. BUZZ, it features a few other features: a variety of battery pack options, and depending on the chosen pack it can range 200-340 miles, a solar roof that can extend the range by up to 9.3 miles a day, fully autonomous driving, a digital cargo system, a 201-horsepower electric motor, single-speed transmission, and rear-wheel drive. An all-wheel drive system is said to be available in the future, adding an additional motor to the front of the vehicle. In addition, VW introduced their first electric bike - the Cargo e-Bike. The thought here is for use where trucks or standard sized vehicles cannot fit, making it ideal for deliveries in obscure places. It features a 250-watt motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. It is equipped with two wheels on the front with a load platform placed between them. The e-Bike can carry a total of 463 lbs and tilt-compensating technology keeps the load platform horizontal while turning. Market introduction is expected in 2019. As VW is looking towards the future, they also paid tribute to their past with the Final Edition of the Beetle, which made its auto show debut during this time. As we covered in another post, VW is discontinuing the Beetle going forward, but not without paying tribute to its icon by releasing limited edition models - of which we are already starting to receive in our inventory so be sure to check them out before they're gone for good!
The Volkswagen Golf R - the sparsely produced all-wheel drive hot hatch - is now more exclusive than ever. In August, Volkswagen of America announced the Spektrum program, which gives enthusiasts the option of 40 different hand-painted exterior colors when ordering the Golf R for an additional $2,500. Did you ever own a Ginster Yellow or Mars Red GTI? How about a Deep Blue Pearl R32? Want to reminisce the good ol' days? You're in luck - those colors and 37 others are part of the program. (Including Viper Green Metallic, found on the Lamborghini Huracán 8-) ) For a full 360-degree view of all 40 colors you can visit www.vw.com and use their builder tool. If you are interested in ordering, contact our sales department and they can walk you through the process. :-D
The Volkswagen Beetle: the people's car since 1945. After three generations and 7 decades Volkswagen announces the end of production for the iconic Bug. In celebration, Volkswagen is producing two special Final Edition models; the Final Edition SE and the Final Edition SEL. No immediate replacement is in the works, but Volkswagen says, "Never say never." The Final Editions will be available as a coupe and as a convertible. Standard they are equipped with a 2.0 liter TSI® engine (174 hp & 184 lb-ft of torque), six-speed automatic transmission, body-matched side mirrors and special chrome treatments, heated washer nozzles, and the coupe models come standard with a sunroof. The "Turbo" badging will be replaced with a special-edition "Beetle" badge. The SE model will come with 17-inch 15-spoke aluminum wheels, while the SEL will feature 18-inch wheels with a disc design to replicate the classic salad-spinner wheels. All Final Edition models will feature KESSY® keyless access/push-start button ignition, leather wrapped multi-function steering wheel, Climatronic® automatic climate control, ambient lighting, a 6.3-inch touchscreen radio with Bluetooth, USB port, SiriusXM® radio, Car-Net® App-Connect, blind spot monitoring and rear traffic alert system. Some of the upgrades in the SEL model include diamond-stitched leather seats vs. the cloth rhombus-pattern seats the SE models have. The SEL also includes Car-Net® Security & Service, Guide & Inform, navigation, Fender® Premium Audio system, and front and rear park distance control. The Final Editions will feature two new colors: Safari Uni "a reinvention of Harvest Moon Beige, a color from the New Beetle—and Stonewashed Blue, a nod to the 1970 Jeans Bug and most recently seen on the 2016 Beetle Denim" They will also be available in Pure White, Deep Black Pearl, and Platinum Gray. The exception here is the convertible which will not be available in Safari Uni, but are available with a unique brown soft top. Pricing starts at $23,045 for SE coupes and $25,995 for SEL coupes. Convertible pricing starts at $27,295 for SE models and $29,995 for SEL models. We'll be sad to see them go - but you never know. They might be back ;-)
