VW Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - VW Golf GTI wrung out by Chris Harris - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

 

Enthusiasts like nothing more than to crucify modern interpretations of their favorite performance models for failing to live up to some imagined ethos. Even the Volkswagen GTI has suffered its fair share of slings and arrows for growing in size and curb weight. Chris Harris recently spent some time with the all-new MK VII GTI to find out if growing up means giving up on what makes the machine so special.

Judging by his comments, Harris certainly doesn't think so. Yes, the new GTI is considerably more comfortable than its predecessors, but that's hardly a bad thing. The multitude of driving modes actually seem to add depth to the car rather than simply try to force one tool to do many jobs, and Harris even finds the machine's electronic power steering tolerable. As a result, Harris goes so far as to call the Volkswagen GTI "one of the best cars to actually own." How's that for high praise? You can watch the video for yourself by scrolling below.

RELATED GALLERY2015 Volkswagen GTI: First Drive

News Source: Drive via YouTube

Autoblog
by Zach Bowman

 

 

 

 

VW Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - VW Up Buggy may be headed to showrooms - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Volkswagen showed six conceptual takes on its Up at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, one of those being the Up Buggy. Although few will probably remember it, VW has not forgotten it, applying for a patent for the Meyers Manx revival roadster way back in March 2012 and being approved in June of this year, according to a report in Autocar. That will give the automaker a 14-year lock on the design while it decides whether to move forward with a reboot of its past.

A patent doesn't mean the Up Buggy will ever move beyond the sheet-of-paper stage, but Autocar says VW is studying the market to see if a production version is feasible. We can't see North America ever getting it, but even so, we wouldn't complain if they made it - especially if they put an exposed engine in back that was set off by 18-inch-long twin tailpipes jutting straight up into the air. However, for a company that aims to be the world's number-one automaker by 2018, a niche vehicle for its mass-market brand would be a surprising use of resources.

News Source: Autocar, Carscoops
Autoblog

by Jonathon Ramsey

http://www.boscheuropean.com

VW Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Volkswagen reveals new 296-hp Golf R - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

 

Volkswagen has been making R-badged Golfs for longer than you might think. In fact, what you're looking at here is the fourth such model. But while previous generations have moved the power game incrementally forward, this latest version moves it on by leaps and bounds.

Set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, now just weeks away, the new Golf R packs a prodigious 296 horsepower. That's not just more than the 286 hp we expected or more than a proportionate increase over its predecessors: Compare that figure to the 237 hp in the first Golf R32, the 247 hp in the one that followed and the 261 hp in the outgoing Golf R, and you'll realize that the new output doesn't just represent a bigger leap than Volkswagen R GmbH has ever taken before, it's bigger than the entire progress of the line until now.

The power (and its accompanying 280 pound-feet of torque) is once again channeled to all four wheels through a Haldex system and either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch transmission, although it remains to be seen which will make the transatlantic voyage Stateside and when. The suspension is dropped by 0.78 inches compared to the Mk7 Golf upon which it's based (0.2 inches lower than the GTI), the aero kit looks similar to the R-line package we've seen before, dual exhaust pipes protrude from the diffuser in the back and buyers can opt for 18- or 19-inch wheels.

Volkswagen hasn't let us inside just yet, having revealed just two exterior shots and a pair of design renderings. However, VW specifies textile seats with Alcantara bolsters and optional Nappa leather, replete with carbon trim and R logos abounding. Scope out the full press release below and watch this space for more as Frankfurt approaches as quickly as a 300-horsepower hot hatch in your rearview.

source: autoblog
by Noah Joseph

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Audi Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Audi TDI Truth in 48 drives us from LA to NYC in mpg efficiency run - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

"Nice ones." "Fuel cut." "Surf drafting." There are certain phrases that, when you hear them, you know you've not at your average automotive event. In fact, the drive we're setting out on today is something that has never been done before: taking three 2014 Audi TDI vehicles – a Q5, an A7 and an A6 – from Los Angeles to New York in 48 hours while attempting to beat the vehicles' official EPA fuel economy numbers. It's going to be an interesting combination of careful green driving and non-stop movement.

Two years ago, we had our first serious lesson on hypermiling with world record holder Wayne Gerdes and the CleanMPG crew. That endeavor saw a heavily packed Ford F-150 get 30+ mpg coast to coast. This time around, there will be more people, more vehicles and more speed. Even our bathroom and refueling breaks will be timed because this is a big country and 48 hours is not a lot of time. This is why Gerdes, during his pre-drive pep talk last night, ran us through the items listed above, as well as how to use the paddle shifters to improve our fuel economy and a bunch of other tips.

For the record, the EPA says the three vehicles are capable of the following:

2014 A6 Quattro: 29 combined, 24 city and 38 highway

2014 A7 Quattro: 29 combined, 24 city and 38 highway (yes, the same as the A6)

2014 Q5: 27 combined, 24 city and 31 highway

We'll see what we get between here and New York. You can follow along on Twitter (both through the AutoblogGreen account and from other participants using the TruthIn48 hashtag) and on the CleanMPG site. Eleven guys and one gal in three cars for 2,800 miles without so much as an extended meal break? It's gonna be a cramped, smelly weekend. Oh, and a lot of fun.

source: http://green.autoblog.com/2013/09/07/audi-tdi-truth-in-48-la-to-nyc-mpg/
by Sebastian Blanco

http://www.boscheuropean.com

BMW Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - 2013 BMW M6 Coupe – Test Drive - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

It’s the Coupe of Coupes

The 2013 BMW M6 is the 3rd generation of the 6 series coupe that has gotten the M treatment. This is BMW speak for their Motorsports division and all of the additional performance items that the car brings. By far, the 2013 BMW M6 is the best one yet! Gone is the heavy and thirsty V10, replaced with a lighter more efficient, and higher powered 4.4 liter, V8 twin0turbo engine that makes the latest M6 a joy to drive.

The M6 is on the verge of being “out there,” with its 20 inch M light-alloy wheels, carbon fiber roof, quad exhausts and air intakes that can swallow a small village. This is not an understated coupe. Yet, all together, the look works, without the risk becoming boy racer-looking.

Once inside, the interior captivates you, with the sumptuous double stitch leather and simple yet elegant layout, the M6 mixes elegance and performance quite nicely. The thick rimmed steering wheel is perfectly sized, offering the full range of switchgear one expects from a performance coupe. There is a configurable Head-Up display, which is a nice touch. The high-center infotainment screen is large and offers excellent viewing, regardless of the sun angle. Menu navigation is managed by the BMW iDrive system; one that takes a bit to get used to, but once you’ve fiddled for a few minutes, it does become fairly intuitive to use.

One thing we always enjoy about BMW automobiles is the wonderful tactile sensation all the buttons and switchgear offer. For me, BMW is the gold standard in this area. Rear seats are more for occasional use, yet comfortable for small people or kids. Trunk is surprisingly large and well appointed. One novel trick is the backup camera placement. Can’t see it? Maybe it would be a good bar bet with your friends to ask them to tell you where it is. Surprise, it’s hidden behind the roundel emblem. BMW’s iconic emblem does double duty as the manual trunk release in addition to being the electrically operated lens cover. I love it!

Touch the start button and the wonderful sound of the V8 resonates with authority. The transmission is an M double clutch system that also has a launch control feature. There is no doubt, the M6 can put the power to the ground, thanks to the incredible level of technology and engineering that is active yet hidden.

Driving the M6 is an effortless experience, interestingly enough, several times I noticed that when looking at either the speedometer or the information on the head-up display you begin to doubt if the information is really true. Yes, it’s that fast and that effortless. Cornering is amazingly agile, more so considering the size of this coupe. Stopping is as if the earth stopped rotating, thanks to the wondrous technology of the M Carbon ceramic brakes. Acceleration, especially when the “M” Button is used, is nothing short of breathtaking.

Comparables (if there are any) include: Jaguar XKR-S, Aston Martin Vanquish, Maserati Gran Turismo, Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG and the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe.

Regrettably, my time with the mighty M6 came to an end all too quickly. The toughest part was giving back the key after one week and 500 miles of wonderful driving! As it left my driveway, all I could think of was….The M6 makes anything else on the road seem like beige appliances.

source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2013/09/03/2013-bmw-m6-coupe-bmwblog-test-drive/
By Juan Robbin

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Jaguar Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Jaguar C-X17 crossover concept revealed, hides new lightweight aluminum architecture [w/video] - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Just as Jaguar teased earlier this month, the luxury marque is debuting its first-ever sports crossover concept at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, which begins this week. In addition to previewing what a soft-roading Jag might look like, the C-X17 concept also showcases the brand's new advanced unibody aluminum architecture, which it calls the future of its brand.

Just as Jaguar teased earlier this month, the luxury marque is debuting its first-ever sports crossover concept at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, which begins this week. In addition to previewing what a soft-roading Jag might look like, the C-X17 concept also showcases the brand's new advanced unibody aluminum architecture, which it calls the future of its brand.

The British automaker touts the new technical foundation as high-strength, lightweight and extremely stiff, and notes that it incorporates sustainable technologies such as a high-strength alloy made from recycled raw material. The architecture's flexibility means Jaguar will be able to simultaneously manufacture several vehicles on the same production line – a change that will ultimately help the automaker grow its product portfolio.

Indeed, if the C-X17 concept sees production, it would represent a completely new direction for Jaguar, which has previously focused on luxury sedans and sports cars. However, while Jaguar says a range of future models will be built using the new architecture, it hasn't yet mentioned a crossover. The first model to be built on the new underpinnings will launch globally in 2015, and it's – you guessed it – a premium midsize sedan.

Source: Autoblog
By Lauren DeAngelis Puckett

Mercedes Sprinter Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Mercedes-Benz classes up camper market with Sprinter Caravan Concept - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Mercedes-Benz has moved into the Caravan Salon 2013 held in Düsseldorf, Germany with several new live-in showcases, starting with the Sprinter Caravan Concept. The tall-boy cargo van has been turned into a cut-away model with a kitchen with gloss-white fixtures, a living area, a bathroom with integrated wardrobe, front seats that can swivel all the way around, laminate flooring and walls and ceiling covered in Alcantara, plus LED lighting throughout. Mercedes says it ships 4,000 Sprinters to North America that get outfitted into high-luxe mobile dwellings, and the Caravan Concept is a symbol of how far that can go.

Show-goers can also check out the Viano Fun and Viano Marco Polo, exemplifying the same concept as the Sprinter but in smaller packages. Going the other way, there is also a vehicle based on the heavy-duty Actros truck.

The Viano Marco Polo comes with a pop-up roof, a kitchenette ready for a traveling gourmet, and an electrically convertible rear bench seat. The Viano Fun offers a pop-up roof as an option and comes with movable seats around a folding table and a fold-down rear bench. You can read more about them in the press release below, or check them out at the show if you plan to be in northwest Germany this week – the show runs from August 31 to September 8. If none of those do it for you, there's always that Sprinter-based Airstream Interstate 3500...

news source: Mercedes benz via Carscoops
Autoblog
by Jonathon Ramsey

http://www.boscheuropean.com