2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport on 2040-cars

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VW to relax ambitious US sales targets?

The Volkswagen brand sold 407,704 cars last year, a 6.95-percent decline compared to 2012, and it's down a further 8.36 percent through the end of April 2014 compared to this time last year. In order to to put the sales football between its Strategy 2018 goal posts, the brand would need to add 100,000 more sales every year to achieve the lofty 800,000-unit target. Coming to grips with how unreasonable that is, VW US CEO Michael Horn has said, "For now, we have to have realistic targets."
The reasons for the brand's slow-down are imprecise, but lots of folks are throwing lots of reasons around. Last November, VW Group Chairman Ferdinand Piech told Bloomberg, "We understand Europe, we understand China and we understand Brazil, [but] we only understand the US to a certain degree so far." Analysts say the brand hasn't had midsize and compact SUV offerings, especially an overdue retail version of the CrossBlue, and the ones it does have are priced too high for their segments. It "didn't introduce enough new engines, or alternative technologies or model variants" for the Passat and Jetta. It devoted so many resources to China that the US market suffered. It was being outspent two-to-one on advertising by competitors. Its J.D. Power dependability ratings aren't high enough to overcome its past. It "has never really taken the US customer seriously." And so on.
There's still no official admission of defeat concerning the target, but reading between the lines there are some VW execs that appear to accept it won't happen short of some deus ex machina. Still,

VW bringing fuel cell concept to LA Auto Show

Amid the flurry of hydrogen announcements from Toyota and Honda last night, Volkwagen has something to add: a new hydrogen fuel cell concept vehicle. This will be the first VW hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in many years – remember the Tiguan Hy-Motion back in 2008? – and it comes as a bit of a surprise. First written up by the German publication Wirtschaft Woche, VW is going to have the prototype car (not pictured) available at the ride and drive at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week. We don't yet know what kind of vehicle will sport the hydrogen powertrain, but our money's on a Golf variant. We'll see soon enough when we get to Los Angeles. What's interesting is that there have been a number of not-so-mixed messages out of the VW executive ranks when it comes to hydrogen vehicles. VW's Japanese president, Shigeru Shoji, said in September that, hydrogen fuel cells, "may fly within Japan, but not globally." Last year, VW's electrification head Rudolf Krebs said that "hydrogen mobility only makes sense if you use green energy." Also last year, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said it's basically impossible to build hydrogen vehicles at a "reasonable cost." Nonetheless, we're going to see a new VW H2 concept soon. Thoughts?

2015 VW Golf SportWagen priced from $21,395*

Now known as the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen in the US, the long-roof version of the platform gets larger for its new generation in 2015, but it also sheds up to 137 pounds and cuts some money off the price of some models. The base now begins at $21,395, plus $820 destination on all versions, when they arrive at dealers in April. Volkswagen claims that with all of the extra standard content, buyers actually save $700 compared to the previous-gen Jetta SportWagen, despite its lower $20,995 starting price. The S trim is the least expensive model and comes with a five-speed manual and 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 170 horsepower. Paying an extra $1,100 adds a six-speed automatic. The SE for $26,995 gets the auto as standard and also includes a panoramic sunroof, front foglights, push-button start and a rearview camera. The top SEL for $29,345 further features chrome roof rails, navigation, a 12-way power driver's seat and more. In addition to the gas engine, buyers can choose the 2.0-liter TDI with 150 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque, and VW quotes EPA estimates of up to 43 miles per gallon highway fuel economy for it. All of the trims with the oil burner come with a six-speed manual, but a six-speed DSG is a $1,100 extra. The base TDI S trim starts at $24,595, which is nearly $2,000 less than the last-gen Jetta SportWagen with a diesel, and buyers also get standard push-button start and a rearview camera. The SE and SEL trims offer similar upgrades as their gasoline counterparts and ring up for $27,995 and $30,345, respectively. Of course, many buyers want extra tech for their cars, and VW is offering two packages of options for the SE and SEL trims with either engine. One adds collision warning, automatic post-collision braking and front and rear parking sensors for $695. The Lighting Package includes adaptive Bi-Xenon headlights, LED running lights and LED interior lighting for $995. VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES PRICING OF 2015 GOLF SPORTWAGEN ? New TDI® S model reduces base Clean Diesel pricing by almost $2,000 ? Newly available driver assistance technology includes Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Post-Collision Braking System ? Larger interior than outgoing Jetta SportWagen rivals compact SUVs for size ? Car will be offered with 1.8-liter turbocharged TSI® gasoline and 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel engines ?