The Tiguan, Volkswagen’s compact sport utility vehicle (SUV), is the Top Safety Pick for 2008 of the Insurance Institute for Highway Travel. The award is the highest rating from the non-profit research organization. It recognizes the vehicles that perform best in passenger safety through a series of evaluations: front, side and rear crash tests. Only vehicles with electronic stability control and head protection airbags are included in the tests.

According to Adrian Lund, IIHS president, the Tiguan earned top marks in the front and side crash tests without a single downgrade for structure or measures of injury likelihood recorded on the dummy. “We are extremely proud when organizations like IIHS recognize the hard work of our engineers who are dedicated to the safety of our customers,” said Stephfan Jacoby, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “This award is further validation of Volkswagen’s Prevent and Preserve Safety System approach to vehicle safety.”

The Prevent and Preserve Safety System consists of 45 safety features that help protect the driver and passengers as well as avoid crashes or keep the severity and consequences of possible crashes to a minimum. The Tiguan comes standard with the Prevent and Preserve Safety System, including ESP and six airbags, with rear seat airbags as an option. Tiguan, the GTI of Compact Sport Utility Vehicles, also features the “fun to drive” handling and performance expected from a Volkswagen.

Via IIHS

For Volkswagen, a bumper sticker should say more than just a clever proverb or a humorous quip. Volkswagen’s Electronics Research Laboratory is developing a high-tech bumper sticker that will let drivers indicate their mood. The wafer-thin, highly-flexible programmable foil sticker will display text and images like a computer screen. It will continuously update what the driver’s emotional state is, so that the following drivers will know.

This shows how Volkswagen, as well as other automakers, is hard at work to improve communication between drivers. “You can let the traffic behind you know how you are feeling or say whatever you want to say as the mood takes you”, says VW’s ERL based in Palo Alto California. Other ideas on the drawing boards include an on-board heart rate monitor or other vital signs monitor that lets other drivers know the driver’s condition.

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Last October 27, 2006 at the Arena Civica in Milan, Italy, the Mini Cooper, Volkswagen Eos and a host of other stunning automobiles emerged victorious at the XIV L’Automobile più Bella del Mondo or The World’s Most Beautiful Automobile” competition for 2006. The international jury led by Bruno Alfieri, the Italian journalist and editor who created the awards back in 1993, chose the best looking cars in various categories such as city cars and compact cars, mid-size hatchback, limousine, coupe, spider, station wagon, concept cars and many more.

After examination of the various new models introduced in 2006, the jury proclaimed the winners in their respective categories. However, upon a closer look on the list of winners, one can see that Japanese and American cars are conspicuously absent from the list. Europe does offer some of the most stunning of automobiles, but do they have the monopoly when it comes to aesthetics? We don’t think so. Still, the list offers a veritable showdown of some of the most beautiful cars ever to grace the road.

City cars and compact cars: Mini Cooper

Mid-size hatchback cars: Volvo C30

Mid-size sedans: Volvo S80

Limousine: Bentley Continental GTC

Coupé: Mercedes CL

Coupé-cabriolet: Volkswagen Eos

Spider: Alfa Romeo Spider

Sportscars: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Station wagon: Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon

MPV: Citroën C4 Picasso

Crossover: Audi Q7

Specials: Studiotorino RK Coupé

Concept Cars: Renault Twingo Concept

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All roads lead to Paris from Sept. 30 to Oct. 15 as the 2006 Mondial de l’Automobile opens at the Paris Expo, Porte De Versailles. Just like in previous Paris Motor Shows, automakers from all over the globe will turn out in full force to reveal their latest brand new models and concept car designs. This year, the spotlights will be on the latest hybrid and alternative fuel cars competing with high-end luxury cars and exotics for the public’s attention. Companies from Audi to Toyota will unveil their hottest new models and show a glimpse of their future design directions.

European automakers will take the covers off their top new models. The French have a number of major launches up their sleeves including Citroen’s midsize C4 Picasso and futuristic C-Métisse concept car. Meanwhile, Citroen’s mother company Peugeot is hoping that its Epure and 908 RC concept cars will both be a success. Another French automaker, Renault, will show off its new Nepta, a cabriolet concept with motor driven gull wings, 3.5-liter V6 engine, and 420-hp direct-injection gasoline engine.

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Striking metallic viper green paint, an aggressive and sporty stance, sleek lines and steeply sloping rear – these features characterize the new IROC Sports car concept from Volkswagen. The automaker has released new pictures of the concept car ahead of its debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show next month. The new sports car marks the return of the Scirocco, the iconic sports coupe that Volkswagen introduced in the ‘70s. The IROC will be 36 mm longer and 41 mm wider than the golf hatchback and will be 3.3 inches lower than the Golf GTI. Other notable features include five-point racing harnesses up front, 210-hp TSI engine, 19-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and 2+2 seating configuration.

The IROC’s design is undoubtedly attractive and distinctive with honeycomb-shaped grille different from VW’s corporate waterfall grill design. The interiors feature distinctive round gauges, instruments and displays at the cockpit illuminated by a cool blue back light. Meanwhile, our friends over at Volksbloggin found the IROC’s design too similar to the Peugeot Elixir Concept Car which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show three years ago. Well, whether or not it is a rip-off, we agree that the IROC is one hot concept car and will very likely be highly anticipated as a production model.

Volkswagen’s newest compact SUV, the little brother to the Touareg, will be called the Tiguan. The name was the clear winner chosen by readers of the Autobild group in a poll that encompassed ten countries and over 350,000 votes. The name ‘Tiguan’ was chosen from among 4 other names developed by Volkswagen Marketing. The alternative names include Nanuk, Namib, Rockton and Samun. Like its big brother, the Touareg, the new Tiguan compact SUV has an exotic sounding name that promises excitement adventure.

Borne from the desire for excellent driving dynamics and high comfort levels, the Tiguan concept is perfect for both the urban environment and the rough terrain. The VW Tiguan will be manufactured at the Wolfsburg plant and will debut in 2008. The world saw a glimpse of the new compact SUV early this year when VW unveiled its off-road design study, the Concept A.

A few weeks ago we reported on the new role of the Chevy Camaro in the upcoming big-screen, live action adaptation of ‘Transformers’ – as Bumblebee, one of the original Autobot Transformers in the popular comics/series. There has been an outcry from Transformers fans due to the fact that the original Bumblebee in the series is a Volkswagen Beetle. Here’s the latest update on the much-anticipated movie – a glimpse of the Camaro Bumblebee apparently halfway through ‘transformation’ at the Transformers set. Thanks to the reader who provided us with a link to a forum thread featuring lots of photos of the Camaro as well as the Saleen Mustang police car that will also ‘star’ in the movie. ‘Transformers’ is a Dreamworks, Paramount and Hasbro production set to premiere on the 4th of July, 2007.

Halo cars are designed to showcase what an automaker can offer in terms of design, engineering and technology. Usually a halo vehicle will feature all the talent and resources that the automaker has. Halo cars are special vehicles, typically sporty or a luxury model designed not really to sell but to draw in more customers who will hopefully believe in what the company can offer and purchase a vehicle, albeit a more practical one. However, putting out a halo car also has its risks. If the vehicle fails to live up to its promises and the expectations of the customers, these buyers will likely stay away from the automaker.

Halo cars have been around for quite a while in the automotive industry. For instance, the Corvette was Chevrolet’s halo car back in the ‘50s. It transformed the company’s image to sportiness. The Ford Mustang has played the role of halo car for Ford along with other models such as the Thunderbird and the GT. However, among these three models, only the Mustang has had a smashing success.

Meanwhile, the Pontiac Solstice played as a highly successful halo car for the GM marquee, named as one of the automaker’s ‘damaged brands’. Recently, another GM brand offered the Sky, featuring the brand’s future design direction and critics love it.

Here’s a list of the halo cars from both the past and present. So, what’s your favorite ‘halo’ car?

Pontiac Solstice
Saturn Sky
Ford Thunderbird
Ford GT
Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500
Dodge Viper
Mazda Miata
Lincoln Navigator
Chrysler 300
Volkswagen Phaeton
Toyota Prius
Chevrolet Corvette
Oldsmobile Aurora
Studebaker Avanti
Honda/Acura NSX

The 2006 version of the Volkswagen Passat took the top sport in the premium mid-size car category of the 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards of automotive research firm AutoPacific, Inc. Car owner surveyed by AutoPacific cited the Volkswagen Passat’s outstanding interior design, high grade materials and European driving mechanics as the main reasons why they are satisfied with their car. The new 2006 Volkswagen Passat is completely revamped version both inside and out. It features a fresh, new, sporty European styling and a new, 4-cylinder, two-liter base engine with an output of 200 hp at 5,100rpm.

The new Passat also has a new handling system that offers active-return steering and straight-ahead driving correction assistance. Its safety features now include advanced power steering systems, electronic stabilization and anti-slip features. Meanwhile, the Passat was also awarded the ‘Double Best Pick’ designation by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety because of its outstanding performance in front and side tests. Not only that, Kelley Blue Book also recently named the 2006 Volkswagen Passat as one of the top ten best redesigned cars.

Source: The Auto Channel

Adaptive Cruise Control is one of the most advanced innovations in automotive technology today, probably a precursor to fully automated travel. A number of luxury vehicles offer ACC. Mercedes Benz was the first to offer ACC, called the Distronic system. Other automakers followed suit, such as Lexus’ with its Dynamic Laser Cruise Control, Acura, Audi, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW, Infiniti, Cadillac, Toyota and Jaguar.

Adaptive cruise control uses either radar or lasers that signal the car to slow down if it gets too close to another car on the road and accelerate again if the traffic allows it. AAC promises to reduce rear-end collisions in heavy traffic as well as reduce fuel consumption. ACC can also handle twice or thrice today’s traffic.

Among the models with Adaptive Cruise Control, the Acura RL’s has a collision mitigating braking system. Some Infiniti models are equipped with sensors and cameras that read the lane markers and alert the drivers when crossing into another lane. Meanwhile, sensors in the Audi Q7 monitor blind spots.