Volkswagen Polo gets EuroNCAP top marks

The new fifth-generation Polo, due in Australia soon, has received top marks in the new, more stringent EuroNCAP crash tests achieving a maximum possible five-stars.

Featuring an optimised body structure, highly effective belt-and-airbag combination and driver-assist systems the result has secured Polo’s title as the safest compact car in the world.

More Porsches, Suzuki tie-up; says VW boss

Volkswagen is looking at three new models for the Porsche line up to bolster sales for the German sports car maker and is interested in a small car tie-up with Japanese carmaker, Suzuki, according to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Martin Winterkorn.

Reuters Newsagency quotes an interview Dr Winterkorn, above, gave to the German business publication [...]

Porsche merged into Volkswagen

German sports car maker, Porsche, will be merged into the Volkswagen group of companies following an all-night board meeting that sealed the fate of the company.

Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piech tightened his grip over Porsche on Thursday after the company’s chief executive was ousted following a power struggle to keep Porsche independent.

Porsche debt a massive 14 billion euros

Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the administrative company of the Porsche business, amassed 14 billion euros (US$19.75 billion) in debt in its failed attempt to take full control of Volkswagen, Germany’s Bild newspaper has reported, citing an informed source.

Sources told Reuters Newsagency recently that Porsche’s debt was “clearly” higher than the10 billion euros that had so [...]

Volkswagen to take over Porsche – reports

There’s probably no better example of how the best laid plans can go horribly wrong in an economic crisis than the attempt by Porsche to take over Europe’s largest car maker, Volkswagen AG.

It now seems more than likely that Volkswagen will, in fact, take over Porsche’s sports car business if reports by Reuters Newsagency are [...]

Peugeot 308 CC – First Steer

2009 Peugeot 308 CC – First Steer

Has Peugeot found an answer to Volkswagen’s EOS?

It’s 9:30 am on a freezing Monday morning and I’m suppose to be at the Gold Coast airport by 10:45 am. If I wasn’t such a convertible fan, the thought of having to drive there from Brisbane in peak hour traffic [...]

Karmann shuts up shop

German-based coachbuilder Karmann, best known for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia,  has officially closed its doors after being forced to file for bankruptcy in April.

The company produced 3.3 million convertibles and more than 1 million coupes for larger car companies since 1949 but due to falling demand in the face of the recent economic downturn, Karmann [...]

Skoda Superb Estate spotted

The upcoming Skoda Superb Estate (or Combi) has been spotted on test in Europe by our friends at AutoExpress showing for the first time what we can expect from the spacious wagon when it’s released in just a few months.

At around 4850mm in length the Superb Estate will be roughly the same size as its [...]

VW supports Qatar loan to Porsche

Volkswagen would support the Gulf emirate of Qatar taking a substantial voting stake in either its debt-laden parent Porsche or in VW itself, Europe’s largest carmaker has said.

“In principle we view this positively since it would accelerate the process to form an integrated group with 10 brands,” a VW spokesman said, using phrasing approved by [...]

Porsche seeks US$4.37 billion loan

Following on from our previous story on Porsche’s financial issues, the German manufacturer has just announced that it will apply for a 1.75 billion euro (US$4.37 billion) loan from German state bank KfW.

A Porsche spokesman said the company did not aim to obtain state loan guarantees and intends to pay back the loan with interest.

Vic rules change for young drivers

Citing what it somewhat facetiously calls an “outbreak of common sense” Mercedes-Benz has congratulated the Victorian Government on a decision that will change the types of cars young and probationary drivers are allowed to drive.

You’ll recall that we recently reported that following representations from Volkswagen Group Australia the New South Wales Road Traffic Authority (RTA) [...]