2008 Volkswagen GTI Named One of Car and Driver’s 10 Best Cars for 2008
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced that the GTI has been named one of Car and Driver magazine’s 10Best cars in its 26th annual competition. This is the fifth time the GTI has earned this distinction, including a back-to-back 10Best nomination for the 2007 and 2008 models.
The GTI is fun to drive, with its high-tech, 200 horsepower 2.0T four- cylinder engine that produces 207 ft.-lbs. of torque, fully independent sports-tuned suspension, aggressive exterior styling, and a practical interior that equally mixes functionality, flair and a driver-first focus and layout.
The 2008 GTI is a solid and aggressive sports model with an available automated manual DSG(TM) transmission that utilizes direct shifting, which automatically depresses clutch-shift points more efficiently and quicker than even a professional driver can. For those driving enthusiasts who want the control of a clutch, the GTI comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission. With all that power and performance, and fuel economy of nearly 30 miles per gallon on the highway, it is easy to see why the GTI is a repeated winner of Car and Driver’s 10Best.
Car and Driver selects its 10Best cars after a weeklong, editorial staff- wide examination of all of the year’s newest and best cars. The GTI was among 57 vehicles considered for the honor.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, Touareg and Phaeton through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.
Source: VW of America
German Courts Give Porsche Leverage to Buy VW
While Porsche has been gobbling up stake in Volkswagen for about a year, a little piece of legislation called the VW Law has been the only thing preventing the sports car builder from gobbling up the giant German automaker. Currently Porsche holds a 31% stake in VW, but with news today of the European Court striking down the VW Law, many expect the company to quickly increase its stake to a controlling 51%.
The VW Law itself dates back to 1960, and while a bit complicated to understand, basically stipulates that 80% shareholder approval is required to pass major decisions and regardless of how much stake a single entity holds, its voting block cannot be greater than 20%. Since the company’s home state of Lower Saxony owns 20.1% of VW, it alone holds the power to influence the company’s decision making. Under the VW Law, it has held the power to block any decision that would threaten its jobs and local economy. Thus, Porsche’s desire to own a controlling stake in VW has been blocked by Lower Saxony as well as its inability to use the full force of its 31% stake in voting.
Porsche has been very patient so far, and will apparently remain so a little longer. It is not expected to increase its stake in VW before the end of the year, but everyone seems fully aware that today’s historic news means that the company will sooner or be controlled by Porsche.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
Volkswagen Recalls 340,000 Vehicles
On October 1, 2007 Volkswagen announced the recall of 340,000 Jetta and Rabbit vehicles that were made in Mexico. A headlamp issue was to blame.
The german automaker says that some headlamps installed on these vehicles could have been installed without the required rubber caps in the sockets of both the low bean and vertical aiming screws. VW insists that there is no danger to the vehicle or the occupants because of the missing caps, but urges vehicle owners to bring their cars in to have the parts installed.
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