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VW planning 20 new plug-in models for China

With just about everything getting super-sized for China, Volkswagen is following suit with its plug-in vehicle plans for the world's most populous country. VW, Europe's largest carmaker, is looking to sell more than 20 different plug-in models in China within the next four years, Reuters says, citing comments Volkswagen Group China head Jochem Heizmann made in Shanghai. The company is hoping that translates to sales of more than 100,000 plug-ins in China by the end of the decade. Go big or go home, right? There's a huge plug-in vehicle opportunity in China, especially given the bad pollution situation in cities like Beijing and Shanghai and the Chinese government's incentives for plug-in vehicle buyers. Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said at the Beijing Motor Show this spring that the company would spend $25 billion on at least a half-dozen plug-in models for China by 2018. VW will start selling the e-Golf in China this year and the Golf GTE plug-in hybrid in 2015. VW said in August that it would start selling the e-Golf in the US for about $35,500 in November. That's a $6,500 price hike from the base Nissan Leaf.

Volkswagen Golf, Ford F-150 named 2015 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year

Congratulations, Volkswagen Golf/GTI and Ford F-150. You've just been named the 2015 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year, kicking off the first press day of the Detroit Auto Show. The Golf faced some seriously stiff competition from its runners-up, the Ford Mustang and Hyundai Genesis. But the Golf has been a highly awarded vehicle since its launch, including recently being named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. As for the Truck/Utility award, it wasn't immediately clear that the aluminum-bodied Ford F-150 would win the North American honor, topping the Chevrolet Colorado and Lincoln MKC. The Chevy, after all, has been widely praised since arriving this fall, including taking home MT's Truck of the Year award. In 2014, Chevrolet had a sweep of the NACTOY awards, with the Corvette Stingray and Silverado taking top honors. Here's a look at the 2015 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year voting breakdown. As you can see, it wasn't exactly neck and neck. Car of the Year Volkswagen Golf/GTI – 256 points Ford Mustang – 204 points Hyundai Genesis – 110 points Truck/Utility of the Year Ford F-150 – 297 points Chevrolet Colorado – 205 points Lincoln MKC – 68 points The winners were determined by the votes of 57 North American jurors who work in all forms of media – magazine, newspaper, television, online and radio, and their ballots were tabulated in secret by accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. Autoblog editors Sharon Carty and Chris Paukert are members of the North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year jury. Featured Gallery 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI View 16 Photos Related Gallery 2015 Ford F-150 View 36 Photos Detroit Auto Show Ford Volkswagen Truck Hatchback 2015 Detroit Auto Show NACTOY

Shanghai debuts, Jeep's new Rubicon anniversary rigs | Autoblog Podcast # 777

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Byron Hurd for a recap of the past week's worldwide debuts along with some updates from their recent adventures. They start off discussing the rumors of a new Ford Mustang Raptor and what that means in the context of previous rumors of a Corvette SUV. Then it's time to talk Shanghai, where Polestar, Buick, Volkswagen, Porsche and Lincoln all had big reveals. After that, they segue to Byron's trip to Moab for the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari preview where he drove the AEV Level II Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition. From there, they reminisce about Mustangs in a nod to the nameplate's 59th anniversary, after which they stick to the theme with a sub-$15,000 RWD used-car discussion. Is there anything worth buying in this price bracket in today's economy? Autoblog Podcast # 777 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown ShanghaiPolestar 4 is a Polestar without a rear window 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuts with big redesign, new hybrid option Volkswagen ID.7 fully revealed as VW's sleek and spacious flagship electric sedan 2024 Porsche Cayenne gets more power, screens, equipment 2024 Buick Envista revealed as a good-looking, quite-affordable crossover 'coupe' News Ford Mustang Raptor off-road coupe rumored for 2026 2025 Chevy Corvette SUV said to start with ICE power, not be EV-only What we're driving 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition: On the trail to six figures 2023 Easter Jeep Safari: The search for the missing pink Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: Podcasts Rumormill Auto Shanghai Buick Chevrolet Jeep Porsche Volkswagen Crossover SUV Concept Cars Electric Future Vehicles Luxury Off-Road Vehicles Performance Sedan Polestar