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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
VW's Most Unusual Beetle Hits the Block
Few cars match the original Volkswagen Beetle's cultural reach. It started as an affordable transportation, but fate dictated its evolution into a global icon. Its distinctive shape, simple mechanics, and underdog character are embraced by fans. The Beetle raced off-road, starred in films, and inspired a worldwide cult following. We've seen several custom-built Beetles in the past – including a pickup truck conversion – but one version stands out: the limousine Beetle that Porsche and Volkswagen distributor John von Neumann commissioned in 1969. It wasn't just a stretched version of the People's Car – it was a purpose-built luxury car that Volkswagen of America used as a promotional centerpiece. Von Neumann sourced the build from Culver City's Troutman-Barnes, the same outfit that crafted Chaparral and Scarab race cars. They extended a stock Type 1 Beetle by 40 inches, resulting in a car that stretched 16 feet, 6 inches. They used original VW parts wherever possible, including the custom rear doors and running boards, to preserve a factory-like finish. Junior Conway of Junior's House of Color painted it in black baked enamel. Hot rod upholsterer Tony Nancy trimmed the cabin in gray English broadcloth at the rear and black vinyl up front, divided by a power-operated partition. The build also included power windows, soundproofing, a mahogany-trimmed minibar with foldout jump seats, an intercom, a Philips five-speaker cassette system, and a roof-mounted carriage lamp. To handle the 400-pound weight gain, builders installed a 1.6-liter flat-four engine with dual Weber downdraft carburetors. The project cost $34,499.95 – far more than a new Lamborghini Miura at the time – and Volkswagen of America ran a national ad calling it "The $35,000 Beetle." The limo made magazine covers, including Dune Buggies and Hot VWs, in September 1971. Historical notes suggest it chauffeured John Wayne to the 1970 Academy Awards, where he won Best Actor for True Grit, although that detail remains unconfirmed. After Volkswagen of America took ownership of the Beetle limo, Orange County VW dealer Chick Iverson acquired the car through a sealed bid in 1979. In 1996, he sold it to Lorenzo Pearson, founder of West Coast Metric. Pearson preserved the car in his collection for nearly three decades, maintaining it meticulously with documented service records and a handwritten logbook. Now, RM Sotheby's will offer the "Rollswagen" at its Monterey auction on August 15, 2025. It's estimated to fetch around $150,000 to $200,000. For collectors who appreciate one-off craftsmanship and period marketing oddities, this Beetle is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Volkswagen of America Selects CI&T as Digital Agency of Record
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CI&T (NYSE: CINT), a global technology transformation specialist, has been named the Digital Agency of Record (DAOR) for Volkswagen of America, Inc. In this capacity, CI&T will drive Volkswagen's core digital marketing and ownership ecosystem in the U.S. market, enhancing the experience for Volkswagen's customers, empowering its dealers, and enabling its employees. As the DAOR for Volkswagen of America, CI&T is responsible for strategy, design and development across and the myVW app. CI&T leverages GenAI tools to boost productivity and accelerate delivery, while a product-led mindset ensures solutions are grounded in user needs and creating tangible business value. This approach has already played an important role in the successful launches of the all-new, all-electric ID. Buzz, third-generation Tiguan, and refreshed Taos, demonstrating its ability to drive high-impact results at speed and scale. 'Volkswagen has bold ambitions for the future of mobility, and we're honored to be chosen as their digital agency of record,' said Nick Haywood, SVP of Automotive at CI&T. 'Their vision aligns seamlessly with CI&T's deep expertise in strategy, innovation, design, and development. Together, we're creating smarter, customer-centric digital experiences that empower dealers, engage drivers, and bring the future of the brand to life.' 'Digital is key to how customers experience the Volkswagen brand, and we're focused on reimagining every touchpoint to be more seamless, intuitive, and valuable,' said Rachael Zaluzec, Chief Marketing Officer, at Volkswagen of America. 'Working with CI&T gives us the strategic insight, technical depth, and executional speed we want to bring bold ideas to life—with the goal of delivering real impact for both our customers and our dealers.' CI&T's selection as Volkswagen's digital agency of record reflects its proven ability to drive growth through a product-led mindset, Gen-AI-enabled teams, and a highly efficient nearshore delivery model. With a strong track record across OEMs, retailers, and automotive vendors, CI&T stands out for its ability to solve complex business, customer, and technical challenges. Its focus on product leadership, customer-first design, and engineering efficiency makes CI&T a trusted collaborator for brands looking to accelerate digital transformation and deliver real impact. About CI&T CI&T (NYSE:CINT) is a global technology transformation specialist for 100+ large enterprises and fast growth clients. CI&T brings a 30-year track record of helping clients navigate change to deliver accelerated business impact, with deep expertise across AI, strategy, customer experience, software development, cloud services, data and more. CI&T's proprietary AI platform, CI&T FLOW boosts team productivity, ensuring fast, efficient, and scalable delivery of world-class solutions. CI&T operates globally, supported by over 7,400 professionals across 10 countries. About Volkswagen Volkswagen of America, Inc. is an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, which is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia Volkswagen of America sells the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Golf R, ID.4, ID. Buzz, Jetta, Jetta GLI, Taos, and Tiguan vehicles through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Volkswagen Group of America operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee which produces Volkswagen brand vehicles including the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and the ID.4. The global Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Learn more at or
Motor 1
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Volkswagen Sales Are Way Down—Except for One Model
Volkswagen of America didn't have a great second quarter. The German automaker reported results for April, May, and June on Wednesday, revealing a 29 percent decrease in sales year-over-year. Every model saw a drop in sales, save for one: The Golf R. Sales of the hot hatchback were up 12.1 percent versus the same period last year. The sudden jump in Golf R sales can be traced to a model changeover that happened late last year. The all-wheel drive hot hatch and its sibling, the Golf GTI, received a facelift that included a slightly altered design and more power. That meant a retooling at the factory, and subsequently, a delay in production. Only now is production finally back up to full speed, hence the increase in sales. Here's the full sales breakdown: Car Q2 2025 Sales Q2 2024 Sales YoY Change Atlas 18,174 19,293 -5.8% Atlas Cross Sport 7,984 9,769 -18.3% Taos 13,898 20,468 -32.1% Tiguan 11,486 21,038 -45.4% ID.4 1,992 5,690 -65.0% ID. Buzz 564 0 100.0% Jetta 14,545 20,508 -29.1% Arteon 2 419 -99.5% Golf GTI 1,877 2,647 -29.1% Golf R 873 779 12.1% Total 71,395 100,612 -29.0% "Increase" is, of course, relative. The Golf R makes up a tiny fraction of VW's volume, accounting for just 873 units in the past three months. Only the ID. Buzz , which only recently went into production, sold in fewer numbers (weirdly, VW also sold two Arteons in Q2, despite the car being long out of production, but we don't count those). The more affordable Golf GTI fared a bit better in the second quarter, with dealers moving 1,877 units—a drop of 770 cars versus the same period in 2024. The decrease isn't terribly surprising, seeing as how Volkswagen dropped the manual gearbox option for the 2025 model year. In its suspiciously short press release, VW didn't cite a reason for the sharp decline in sales beyond calling the current market a "challenging environment." If we had to guess, tariffs placed on foreign vehicle imports likely had a material impact on supply and pricing. The company paused shipments to the US in April, but also promised to keep prices tariff-free until the end of June. It's still unclear how much more expensive VW's lineup will get, though any increase certainly won't help sales. More on Volkswagen Wow: Volkswagen's EVs Are Outselling Tesla in Europe Why Volkswagen Golf GTI and R Sales Are Way Down Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Hypebeast
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
Volkswagen Restores "Magic Bus" That Survived California Wildfire
Summary Volkswagenof America is honoring the third annual International Volkswagen Bus Day by restoring a remarkable survivor of California's 2025 Palisades Fire — a 1977 T2 Bus known as 'Azul.' The white-over-blue van captured national attention after an AP photo showed it seemingly untouched amid the charred remains of a Malibu neighborhood. Now dubbed the 'magic bus,' Azul belongs to Megan Krystle Weinraub, who was relieved when Volkswagen offered to assess and restore the beloved vehicle. Following clearance to access the area, the bus was transported to VW's Oxnard Engineering Campus, home to the brand's historic fleet, where a thorough inspection revealed the need for extensive repairs despite its photogenic 'good side.' Restoration efforts are underway, with work expected to be completed later this year. The project reflects Volkswagen's ongoing support for California communities impacted by wildfires. Earlier this year, the automaker donated to the California Fire Foundation to aid first responders and their families. 'Getting Azul back on the road will let its magic and message of hope continue,' said Rachael Zaluzec, SVP of Marketing for Volkswagen Group of America.
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Volkswagen announces plans for hybrid Tiguan and Atlas at 2025 New York Auto Show
Volkswagen announces plans for hybrid Tiguan and Atlas at 2025 New York Auto Show Show Caption Hide Caption New York International Auto Show celebrates its 125th anniversary The New York International Auto Show is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. "The New York Auto Show really got things started for the auto industry back in 1900 at the old Madison Square Garden," said Show president Mark Schienberg. It will take a couple of years, but Volkswagen has plans to get some hybrids into the hands of North American customers. It isn't that the German automaker doesn't have them — it has regular and plug-in hybrids for sale in Europe. But the company, like many others, miscalculated the speed with which American customers would adopt electric vehicles, betting they would go all-in on full battery electric cars, trucks and SUVs with greater speed. But the forecasts were too ambitious, and the market is more interested in hybrids than pure EVs right now, catching VW flat-footed. 2025 New York International Auto Show: Why these three cars could steal the show The biggest miss: When the all-new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan goes on sale this summer, this third generation of VW's bestselling vehicle will not offer a hybrid. A decision has been made The decision has been made to feature two vehicles with hybrid powertrains, Volkswagen of America CEO Kjell Gruner told a small group of media at the 2025 New York Auto Show. A hybrid is coming for the U.S. Tiguan to right the aforementioned wrong, but it is still a couple years off. To help bridge the gap, VW used the New York auto show to unveil a performance version of that small SUV that will be added for the 2026 model year. 2025 New York Auto Show: Highlights of every new car and SUV reveal The Tiguan hybrid will be joined by a hybrid version of the Volkswagen Atlas in roughly the same time frame. The next-generation Atlas is due in 2027, and we will get our first look at the updated three-row SUV next year. However, the hybrid is not expected to be ready at launch, Gruner said. Not plug-in hybrids This means VW will have added electric motors to its top-selling models by volume in North America. But they will be conventional hybrids which that don't require customers to change their behavior, not plug-in hybrids, Gruner says. This also saves on weight and cost. The automaker also wants to see how the regulatory environment unfolds over the next 24 months or so — the existence or absence of credits for low-emission vehicles is a factor. Volkswagen wants to make the hybrids — and source batteries — in North America even though it would be faster to import them from Europe where they are already offered. Gruner said there could be a mild hybrid for the VW Jetta in the future, as well. Volkswagen offered a Jetta hybrid in the past, discontinuing it after the 2016 model year. Photos by MotorTrend
