04 Vw Golf, 1 Owner, No Reserve, 5spd on 2040-cars

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German judge 'inclined to dismiss' hedge fund lawsuit against Porsche

Last year, around two dozen investors, including hedge funds, leveled a 1.4 billion euro ($1.95 billion at the time) lawsuit against Porsche in connection with the automaker's attempted takeover of Volkswagen in 2008. The Stuttgart Regional Court dismissed the case. Around 19 of those plaintiffs are heading back to court to appeal the ruling and still hope to get 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion). However, according to one German judge, the chances for success aren't any better this time around. "On balance it's our view that we consider the lawsuit, or the appeal, to be unpromising for several reasons," Gerhard Ruf, a judge in Stuttgart, said to Reuters. "We are inclined to dismiss the case." The court's ruling on the appeal will be announced on March 26. The investors' case hinges on Porsche's strategy surrounding the botched takeover. The sports car maker said that it wasn't trying to control VW, when in fact it was. These hedge funds had bet against Volkswagen stock, but the share price surged when Porsche's plan inevitably came to light. Investors have sued the sports car company multiple times since then in attempts to recoup billions of dollars. However, none of the lawsuits have been successful, whether attempted in the US or Germany. Former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and and CFO Holger Haerter might still stand trial for the alleged stock manipulation, though. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Matthias Rietschel / AP Photo Government/Legal Porsche Volkswagen lawsuit hedge funds porsche lawsuit

2015 VW Golf R ready for your pre-order on January 8

If you want to be the first person on your block with Volkswagen's latest Golf R parked in your garage, you need to clear some time from your schedule on January 8. On that day, VW is opening the pre-order books for the first 500 Stateside examples of the new hot hatch, and they come with some neat accessories, too. Don't worry about specing just the right Golf R because all 500 early models are identical. In addition to the obvious 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 292 horsepower 280 pound-feet of torque and 4Motion all-wheel drive, the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox is the only option here. Every one of these hot hatches comes in Lapiz Blue Metallic paint with 19-inch wheels covered in summer performance tires. Based around the DCC and Nav trim, each of them also has VW's adaptive damper system, bi-xenon headlights with LED running lights, a Fender audio system, parking sensors and navigation. Beyond just being the first ones to own VW's latest hot hatch in the US, the deal for these 500 folks also includes a Volkswagen R watch, carbon fiber and stainless steel keychain and a certificate. All three items are serialized to match the VIN of the buyer's Golf R. The total price for each one of these 500 Golf R's is $39,090, plus $820 destination and delivery. But potential buyers don't have to come up with all of that on January 8. They just need to visit VW's Golf R site and pay a $500 reservation fee to get in line, which goes toward the purchase of the car. The money is refundable for anyone who backs out, and any additional orders are put on a waiting list in case of any cancelations.

Volkswagen reveals updated Sharan minivan for Europe

Volkswagen's experiment with rebadging Chrysler minivans as the Routan may not have gone so well for the German automaker in North America, but overseas it offers vans of its own. Even aside from the fullsize Crafter and Transporter vans sold by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the passenger car division offers its own minivans like the Touran and the Sharan. Now it's revealed an updated version of the latter. The VW Sharan was first introduced back in 1995 and entered its second generation in 2009, built in Portugal alongside the Seat Alhambra and offering seating for seven in its five-door form. The new model looks largely the same as the existing one, but benefits from new taillights and a revised interior. But most of the upgrades are found under the skin. There's an array of turbocharged and direct-injected engines that are now up to 15 percent more efficient than those found in the existing model, with two gasoline engines ranging in output from 148 horsepower to 217, and three diesels producing 113, 148 and 181 hp. Along with the updated powertrain options, the revised Sharan also gets a host of new safety and convenience systems, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist with City Emergency Braking, Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist and Blind Spot Monitor. Inside, the infotainment system has been upgraded as well. The updated Sharan arrives hot on the heels of the new Caddy released earlier this month and just in time for the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Wolfsburg, 18 February 2015 Show premiere of the Sharan in Geneva - Even more technical highlights for the popular Volkswagen MPV - New TSI and TDI engines* are up to 15 per cent more fuel efficient Volkswagen is presenting the technically updated Sharan at the Geneva International Motor Show. Numerous new convenience and assistance systems make the family-friendly MPV one of the most advanced models in its segment. A wide range of infotainment systems also guarantees full connectivity to many smartphones and tablets. At the same time, the fuel economy of the petrol and diesel engines* was improved by up to 15 per cent. The updated Sharan will arrive on the German market this summer; advance sales begin in April. Along with the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically initiates braking after a collision if the driver is no longer able to intervene, numerous optional assistance systems are available in the updated Sharan as well.