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Skoda 1203 camper concept is the VW Transporter's Czech cousin

Many of the Volkswagen Group's brands make models that compete in the same segment, but the Transporter has avoided internal competition for decades. What if that changed when the next generation arrives in 2021? Skoda designer Daniel Hajek imagined what a Transporter-based van inspired by the classic 1203 could look like. Czech Republic-based Skoda hasn't sold a van in years, but its heritage in the segment is significant. Launched in 1968, the 1203 (shown at the end of our gallery) was an extremely common sight in Czechoslovakia because its people- and cargo-carrying variants performed nearly every task imaginable. Some took kids to school, while others worked as ambulances. Many were used by construction companies, thousands delivered anything from milk to beer, and a handful were converted into camping rigs. It's the latter configuration that Hajek retained. His 1203 concept exists only in sketches, so its specifications are purely theoretical. He noted that he started with a Volkswagen Transporter platform, meaning power comes from a time-tested turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, but he pointed out making an electric model is possible. We know that Volkswagen's modular MEB platform can underpin a big van, because it's the architecture that will be found under the production version of the ID.Buzz. Giving the van a retro design would have been too easy. "I wanted it to be clear that this is the same vehicle, but I didn't want it to be too obviously retro. I designed a modern vehicle that pays homage to the legend," he explained. Instead of round headlights, the design study's front end wears an LED light bar with hemisphere-shaped accents that echo the original van. The overall proportions are markedly different, because the new model has less of a cab-forward look than the old one. He made the roof noticeably narrower than the body to create another visual link between the two 1203s, but the Transporter-derived platform gives the concept enough interior space to be comfortably used as a camper. The entire roof panel pops up, Westfalia-style, to create a sleeping quarter big enough for two adults. Hajek intentionally gave the 1203 concept a simple, back-to-the-basics dashboard. It doesn't even have an infotainment system. Instead, the driver uses a smartphone or a tablet to get information about the van and its surroundings, like navigation directions, and to play tunes while road-tripping.

Volkswagen Group sales down 15% in pandemic year, but EV sales up 214%

FRANKFURT, Germany — German automaker Volkswagen said its global sales fell 15.2% during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but showed significant recovery toward the end of the year. The company more than tripled its sales of battery-only vehicles. Global sales for all of Volkswagen's brands amounted to 9.3 million vehicles. The fourth quarter showed a smaller decline of 5.7% and within that quarter the month of December was still further improved, showing a shortfall of only 3.2% from the same period the year before. Volkswagen said Wednesday that sales fell the most in Western Europe, by 21.6%, while China, the company's largest single market, was down 9.1% Sales of battery-only cars jumped 214% to 231,600 from 73,700 across all the company's brands. The company's electric sales leaders included the Volkswagen ID.3 compact, with 56,500, the Audi E-Tron SUV with 47,300, and the high-end Porsche Taycan with 20,000. Volkswagen said that its sales fell by less than the overall market, meaning it had slightly expanded its market share. “The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 an extremely challenging year,” said group sales chief Christian Dahlheim. “The Volkswagen Group performed well in this environment and strengthened its market position." Volkswagen Group's brands include Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, and Skoda as sell as truck makers MAN and Scania.

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume will be installed as head of the VW brand

Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess is planning to promote Porsche CEO Oliver Blume to take over as the head of the VW brand, according to a report from Auto Motor und Sport. Citing company sources, the German site said Bernhard Maier, who currently sits at the head of VW's Skoda brand, will lead Porsche in Blume's place. A shuffle at VW isn't surprising. The last thing Volkswagen needs as it transitions away from its long-running "clean diesel" TDI fiasco and into a clean electric ID future is negative press surrounding its burgeoning electrified lineup. Unfortunately, the ID.3 launch has been marred by software issues, with Manager magazine citing company engineers saying "the basic architecture was developed too hastily." Because of that underlying issue, various modules "often do not understand each other" and suffer dropouts. The brand-new eighth-generation Golf launch was also troubled and pushed back due to software problems. And more recently, Volkswagen was forced to pull an advertisement after admitting it was racist and insulting. That marketing misstep, according to the report, will lead to the firing of Chief Marketing Officer Jochen Sengpiehl. Related Video:

Coronavirus prompts VW to stop production throughout Europe

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen Group, the world's biggest carmaker, is suspending production at factories across Europe as the coronavirus pandemic hits sales and disrupts supply chains, the company said on Tuesday. The German carmaker, which owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat and Skoda brands, also said that uncertainty about the fallout from coronavirus meant it was impossible to give forecasts for its performance this year. "Given the present significant deterioration in the sales situation and the heightened uncertainty regarding parts supplies to our plants, production is to be suspended in the near future at factories operated by group brands," Chief Executive Herbert Diess said on Tuesday. Volkswagen's powerful works council concluded it was not possible for workers to maintain a safe distance from each other to prevent contagion and recommended a suspension of production at its factories from Friday. Production will be halted at VW's Spanish plants, in Setubal in Portugal, Bratislava in Slovakia and at the Lamborghini and Ducati plants in Italy before the end of this week, Diess said. Most of its other German and European factories will prepare to suspend production, probably for two to three weeks, while Audi said separately it would halt output at its plants in Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Mexico. Volkswagen's vast factories in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Puebla, Mexico, and plants in Brazil were not affected, but that would depend on how the coronavirus spreads, VW said. Volkswagen has 124 production sites worldwide of which 72 are in Europe, with 28 in Germany alone. "2020 will be a very difficult year. The coronavirus pandemic presents us with unknown operational and financial challenges. At the same time, there are concerns about sustained economic impacts," Diess said.   Production in China resumes Volkswagen Group sold 10.96 million vehicles last year, putting it ahead of Toyota based on the latest figures from the Japanese carmaker. Globally, VW employs 671,000 people and it delivered 4.86 million vehicles to European customers in 2019. Only last month the car and truck maker based in Wolfsburg, Germany, predicted that vehicle deliveries this year would match 2019 sales and forecast an operating return on sales in the range of 6.5% to 7.5%. "The spread of coronavirus is currently impacting the global economy. It is uncertain how severely or for how long this will also affect the Volkswagen Group.

Skoda Octavia RS iV is the VW GTE for someone who wants a sedan or wagon

In the United States, the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI exists for people who want VW GTI performance in a sedan bodystyle. But the Jetta is a North American car not offered in Europe, so what's a European sedan fan to do? They should look into the new Skoda Octavia RS iV. The Skoda Octavia for many years actually shared the same platform as the Jetta, at least until the Jetta got a new North America-exclusive design. It wasn't quite a conventional sedan since it actually had a low hatchback, and still does. Though on a different platform nowadays, the Octavia presents an option to the Golf, since it's still a VW product and shares many of the engines. The Octavia RS iV, the latest in a long line of performance Octavias, shares the plug-in hybrid powertrain with the all-new VW GTE. That also makes it the first plug-in hybrid Skoda RS model. It combines a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with an 85-kW motor to make the same 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Skoda says it will get to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds. It has a top speed of 140 mph. But when sporty performance isn't the goal, the battery has a 13-kWh capacity that allows it to go 37 miles on a charge using the WLTP testing cycle. Styling-wise, the Octavia RS gets subtle upgrades. Any and all chrome trim is painted black, the grilles are enlarged, a small rear lip spoiler is added, and it gets custom wheels. Inside, sportier seats are added with flashy upholstery and a smattering of RS logos. And if the sedan design doesn't suit your lifestyle, there is an Octavia RS iV wagon model. The Octavia RS should go on sale later this year. Naturally, you won't be seeing it offered in the U.S., since Skoda has no presence, plus the body and powertrain would need to undergo certification. Related Video:       Featured Gallery Skoda Octavia RS iV View 13 Photos Green Geneva Motor Show Skoda Wagon Hybrid Performance Sedan

Volkswagen profit jumps as it warns of a cooling auto market

FRANKFURT, Germany — Volkswagen says its profits jumped 44% in the third quarter thanks to a more profitable mix of vehicles in its lineup but warned that global car markets are slowing more than expected and lowered its forecast for annual sales. After-tax profit rose to $4.42 billion (3.98 billion euros) as revenues rose 11% to $68.27 billion (61.42 billion euros). The sales margin of 7.8% exceeded the goal of 6.5-7.5% as vehicles bringing higher profits took a larger share of sales. The Wolfsburg-based automaker pointed to the headwinds facing the industry by saying that it expects "vehicle markets will contract faster than previously anticipated in many regions of the world." It said sales would be "on a level" with last year's record of 10.8 million vehicles. Previously it had expected a slight increase. The company said its profits would be in the lower end of its forecast range. Global automakers are facing a slowdown in sales amid disputes over trade and from pressure in the European Union and China to develop and sell low-emission vehicles that require heavy investment in new technology. Ford and Renault have issued profit warnings in recent days, while Daimler, maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury cars, lost money in the second quarter and is expected to outline a cost-cutting strategy for investors on Nov. 14. Volkswagen is leading the push into electric vehicles in Europe by launching its ID.3 battery-powered compact car at prices it says will make zero local emission vehicles a mass phenomenon. The company was able to increase earnings in the quarter despite an 18% rise in spending on research and development.

VW and partner SAIC start building $2.5B Audi plant in China

BEIJING — Volkswagen AG's China joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp has started building a $2.5 billion new energy vehicle (NEV) plant in Shanghai, which will make VW's luxury Audi brand cars, a possible first for the venture. The new plant is a key step for Audi to diversify production of its cars in the world's largest car market from its long-standing local partner, China FAW Group Corp. This shift has been delayed amid resistance from local dealers. SAIC Volkswagen said the new plant would have an annual capacity to make 300,000 cars and begin production from 2020. Audi sold 481,387 vehicles in China from January to September this year. The announcement comes the same week Tesla secured a Shanghai location for a Gigafactory battery plant to serve the Chinese market. Audi unveiled the plan to bolster ties with SAIC in late 2016. Earlier this year, the Germany luxury carmaker bought a 1 percent stake in the SAIC Volkswagen venture, paving the way for the joint venture to produce and sell Audi cars. Volkswagen currently gets a larger proportion of the proceeds from the 50-50 tie-up with SAIC than from its 40 percent stake in the venture with FAW. SAIC Volkswagen said in a statement on Friday the plant would cost 17 billion yuan ($2.5 billion) and would make VW and Skoda models as well as Audi cars. It will help VW tap China's fast-growing market for NEVs, a category comprising electric battery cars and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. ($1 = 6.9314 Chinese yuan renminbi) Reporting by Yilei Sun and Adam JourdanRelated Video: Image Credit: Reuters Green Plants/Manufacturing Audi Volkswagen Skoda Electric Hybrid

2019 Skoda Kodiaq vRS claims Nurburgring record for 7-seat SUVs

Crossovers usually aren't particularly exciting things, but there are always exceptions, and the latest is this Skoda Kodiaq vRS. It's a new high-performance crossover from VW's Czech subsidiary, and it's closely related to our own Volkswagen Tiguan. Unlike our Tiguan, this Kodiaq boasts a beefy diesel powertrain, and even lays claim to its own Nurburgring lap record. The time for the Skoda is 9:29.84, which is actually rather slow, particularly compared with other fast crossovers and SUVs such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. But the Skoda gets to claim record rights because the time is for seven-seat crossovers, something not offered by the current crop of super SUVs. Also of note is the driver of the record-setting Kodiaq, Sabine Schmitz. She's a Nurburgring expert, and a frequent guest on the U.K. version of " Top Gear." Propelling the Kodiaq vRS is an engine that we have no chance of seeing stateside. It's a twin-turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, and it makes 236 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels and gets there through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All that torque is available from just 1,750 rpm to 2,500 rpm. It sounds like a blast, but there's no way VW would try to offer any diesel in the U.S. anymore. The Skoda's impressive performance is augmented with a sportier exterior and interior. It has a deeper chin spoiler, 20-inch wheels and integrated exhaust tips on the outside. On the inside, the Kodiaq vRS gets sporty, body-hugging seats with Alcantara upholstery, plus a Skoda-tweaked Virtual Cockpit like that seen in VWs and Audis. Pricing and availability haven't been announced for Europe yet. We know we won't get the Skoda here in part because no Skodas are available here, but we feel safe in saying we won't see a Tiguan with this powertrain setup either. As we already mentioned, VW isn't going to touch diesels in America anymore. But maybe if we're lucky, VW will give us a version of the hot Tiguan it seems to developing. Related Video: Featured Gallery Skoda Kodiaq vRS View 22 Photos Image Credit: Skoda Paris Motor Show Skoda Crossover SUV Performance

Skoda Vision RS aims to prove hot hatches can be hybrids, too

Aside from a few virtually unobtainable hybrid supercars, there hasn't been much to get the average car enthusiast excited about an electrified future. Skoda clearly hopes to change that, as evidenced by the Skoda Vision RS concept that has made its debut at the Paris Motor Show. It's a hot hatch that happens to be a hybrid, a plug-in one at that. It sure seems to have all the right ingredients, too. Under the skin, the car combines a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor that can provide a combined 242 horsepower, with about 140 coming from the engine, and about 100 coming from the motor. For reference, that's 14 more horsepower than a new VW GTI. Speaking of the GTI, the Vision RS is similarly sized, bigger in fact, with an overall length 4 inches greater than the hot hatch stalwart. Despite the power advantage, Skoda's claimed performance is below that of the GTI, with a 0-62 time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. But it has another trick up its sleeve, and that's its ability to run purely on electricity. Skoda says that the 13-kWh battery can propel the Vision RS for up to 43 miles on a full charge. Granted, that's likely on a European test loop and would be less in the U.S., but it will still be more than a regular GTI. The Vision RS looks the hot hatch part, too. Outside it has the crisp, sharp lines, angles and creases we've come to expect from Skoda and most of the VW Group. It's pumped up with big grilles, bulging fenders, a pert rear spoiler, and big rear diffuser. Inside, there are red and carbon fiber accents all over. The upholstery is unique in its environmentally-friendly materials, with some panels made either from recycled polyester or pineapple leaves. The rest is Alcantara, which is apparently a performance car requisite nowadays. Most interesting is the fact that Skoda says this previews a future model. So we could be seeing a real hybrid hot hatch coming from the company in the near future. The company didn't say exactly what year, though. We wouldn't be surprised if the production model looks very similar to this, and even uses a similar powertrain with roughly the same output. We probably won't get the Skoda in the U.S., but since all of the VW Group's affordable models are extremely closely related, we imagine the powertrain will show up in a VW-branded equivalent, one that could be sold in America.

VW offers to buy back new diesels if bans introduced

By Maria Sheahan FRANKFURT, Germany — Volkswagen will buy back new diesel cars if German cities ban them, it said on Thursday, seeking to reassure potential buyers and stem a plunge in sales of diesel vehicles. Europe's biggest automaker also said it would extend incentives for buyers of new diesel cars. The moves come after a German court ruled last month that cities in the country could ban the most polluting diesel vehicles from their streets. Many German cities exceed European Union limits on atmospheric nitrogen oxide, known to cause respiratory diseases. Fears of bans have led to a plunge in demand for diesel vehicles, which are also key to carmakers' attempts to meet new EU rules on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. While diesel cars are heavily criticized for emitting nitrogen oxide, they spew out less CO2 than gasoline equivalents. Diesel car sales plunged 19 percent in Germany last month. At its core VW brand, Volkswagen said its buyback offer applied to new diesels bought between April 1 and the end of 2018 and would kick in if the city in which the buyer lived or worked banned diesels within three years of the purchase. It said its dealerships would buy back diesel vehicles affected by bans at their current value if their owners at the same time bought a new vehicle that was not affected by cities' driving restrictions. At Czech brand Skoda, the guarantee applies to cars bought between April 1 and the end of June, but will cover bans introduced within four years of the purchase date. At premium brand Audi, the offer only covers leased vehicles. Volkswagen also said it was extending to the end of June incentives for customers trading in older diesels for new ones. Fellow German carmaker BMW said earlier this month it would offer to take back leased vehicles if diesels were banned within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the operator's home or place of work. There has been a global backlash against diesel-engine cars since Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating U.S. exhaust tests. But Germany's government is seeking to avoid widespread bans on heavily polluting diesel vehicles, which companies say could cut the resale value of up to 15 million vehicles in Europe's biggest car market. In Germany, where motorists expect to drive powerful cars on motorways with no speed limits, any restrictions will be unpopular.