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Volkswagen began to introduce some new models after Bernd Pischetsrieder became their chief executive officer of Volkswagen Group in 2002. The sixth generation of VW Golf which was launched in 2008 was runner-up "European Car of the Year" in 2009, while the Opel / Vauxhall Insignia wins. Specifications VW Golf also shared with several other models, such as the VW Jetta, VW Scirocco, SEAT Leon, SEAT Toledo, Skoda Octavia, Audi A3, as well as the SEAT Altea. Another version of the Golf is the Golf GTI, a car "hot-hatch 'with 2.0L engine Turbocharger Fuel Stratified Injection technology (FSI) injection. VW Golf with a re-marketing the Rabbit name in the U.S. market and Canada in June 2006, its GTI version came four months later. The sixth generation VW Passat and the fifth generation Jetta was launched in 2005 in North America. After that, followed by the launch of the Jetta in 2008. Models under the leadership of Wolfgang Bernhard including Tiguan SUV in mid-2008 and VW Passat Coupé. In November 2006 Bernd Pischetsrieder announced his resignation as Volkswagen Group CEO and will be replaced by Audi CEO Martin Winterkorn at the beginning of 2007. Winterkorn is known for his dedication to making the Audi as a rival of Mercedes-Benz and BMW in the premium car market. However, Volkswagen still has a fairly complex relationship with its shareholders and unions. The state of Lower Saxony owns 20% shares of this company.
In North America, VW experienced many challenges. After sales increased significantly between 1998 and 2001, sales dropped to their next in 2005 they suffered an operating loss of 1 billion U.S. dollars in the U.S. and Canada. One reason is because the reliability of their cars began to be questioned. In 2005, Consumer Reports stated that the rating the reliability of VW cars almost at the very bottom. J.D. Power and Associates also provides a ranking of 35 of the 37 brands surveyed. In 2002, VW unveiled the latest generation Phaeton. This car is generally recognized quality but received no response either in the market. VW also stop selling these cars in the U.S. market in 2007 because of disappointing sales figures.
In 2005, despite numerous challenges, Volkswagen is still able to sell 224,195 units of cars-at least still better than in 1993 where their sales in the United States only 49,333 units. Momentum came next in 2006. That year they can sell 235,140 units of vehicles, still rose 4.9% over the previous year, whereas other American manufacturers suffered a decline in sales. So, selalin introduction of new cars, VW is also moving some production sites of their car. 2007 Volkswagen Eos is produced at a new plant in Portugal. All Golf / Rabbit and GTI produced in Wolfsburg, Germany, which previously produced in Puebla, Mexico, and Curitiba, Brazil. VW is also in the process of building a new assembly facility in Belgium. Whole new models and improvements made this VW immediately responded positively by critics. Consumer Reports stated that the GTI is the best sports car under $ 25,000. Car and Driver magazine also includes Golf in the list of 10 best cars of 2007. Another magazine, Automobile, named GTI as "Car of the Year" in 2007. Motor Trend magazine also reported that the VW Passat is the best car in its class. J. D. Power and Associates also raise the ranking Volkswagen became the order of 14 in 2006.
Volkswagen is known as one of the leaders in small diesel engines, and partner with Mercedes and several other companies to market separately BlueTEC diesel technology is environmentally friendly. Volkswagen's TDI technology has been installed (turbocharged direct injection) diesel engines in them, and this machine is recognized keiritannya. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, four of the ten most efficient machines sold in the United States in 2004 were diesel engines owned by Volkswagen. Since 2007, VW no longer market their cars gasoline / electric like the Toyota Prius. In addition, all VW TDI diesel engines produced 1996 to 2006 can use 100% biodiesel fuel. In 2007, because the regulations are increasingly stringent fuel in the United States, Volkswagen was forced to pull most of the diesel engines of the U.S. market. They quickly adapt to U.S. standards and returned to the U.S. market in 2009. Diesel engines are marketed in 2009 was only limited fuel to 5% biodiesel only, to keep the warranty from Volkswagen.
Volkswagen also finally launched them with a Volkswagen Touareg SUV in the early 2000's. This SUV shares components with the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. Although the car is recognized when control is good, but sales are not so good. Some auto analysts say that this is due to the absence of third-row seat on the Touareg, fuel efficiency is relatively wasteful, and the weight of large vehicles. VW plans to add another compact SUV, which was dated July 20, 2006 finally announced that the SUV will be called the Tiguan.
In September 2006, Volkswagen began selling the City Golf and City Jetta specifically for the Canadian market. Both of these cars is actually a MK4 Golf and Jetta, but later insisted was replaced by Brazil from MK4 Golf and Bora. VW City Golf and City Jetta were introduced to compete with the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Volkswagen itself to the introduction of such models is to test the market, and it later if successful, this will be the beginning for VW to get into the subcompact market.
VW 1L, lightweight concept vehicle that made for two people with a magnesium frame, will be available in June 2010 and available on a limited basis. Each component of this car was chosen to reduce the mass of the car. Brakes aluminum, carbon-fiber wheels and ceramic bearings, and some other components to make this car very light. In addition, to add to the better aerodynamics, the car was not equipped with a rearview mirror. Instead, the car is equipped with a camera that will feature visually through the LCD screen in the car. This car is very fuel efficient, each gallon of fuel (= 7.3 liters), can be used to carry drove as far as 235 miles (378 km), while the contents of the tank itself only 1.7 gallons (liters 6:29), so more or less this car can travel a distance 640 kilometers once the content. Own maximum speed of about 120 km / hour.
In May 2011 Volkswagen VW Assembly Plant menginaugurasi Chattanooga. The plant will produce cars specifically the North American market, first starting with the Volkswagen New Midsize Sedan, which plans to compete with the Toyota Camry sedan and Honda Accord. Production planned to commence early 2011.
Dated December 9, 2009, Volkswagen AG and Suzuki agreed on strategic cooperation agreement. Volkswagen will buy 19.9% stake owned by Suzuki.
In February 2010, Volkswagen announced the latest generation Polo BlueMotion with common-rail diesel engine 3 cylinder capacity of 1200 cc. This car is generating power by 75 PS and torque of 133 ft · lbf (180 N · m) of 2000 rpm. This car has the fuel emissions of 91g/km for CO2 and fuel efficiency of 80.7 miles per gallon (1 liter: 34.9 km).
