With eight brands already in the family, the Volkswagen Group has as many marques as it needs. Actually, I’d go further and argue it has too many. The German giant might do well to allow a couple to fly the nest. Because they’re often - not always - competing directly with each other. And it’s you, the retail customer, who ultimately picks up the tab for these costly VW Group rivalries. This is perfectly illustrated in the mid-size hatch sector, where the Audi A3 goes head to head with the equally fine VW Golf, the brilliant SEAT Leon and the clever Skoda Octavia. As someone who’s driven all four cars over many thousands of miles, I can attest that there’s little between them in real-world conditions. A right-minded person who’s not a badge snob could happily live with any of the above. It’s the same overlapping story in the supermini class, with the A1, Polo, Ibiza and Fabia at each others’ throats. They’re pretty much the same cars with different bodies and badges.
Economies of scale on production lines are outweighed by each brand having its own costly HQ and dealer network. That’s why none of the above cars (not even the Skoda) is inexpensive. These attempts to steal sales from each other - paid for by you, remember - don’t come cheap. Instead, Diess stated, on 15 January, that “Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Company launch global alliance”. And to underline the fact he’s referring to a formal alliance, not a mere occasional tie-up, he deliberately mentioned that symbolic word ‘alliance’ three times in his first three sentences. This is not, at this stage at least, a Renault-Nissan-type alliance. Instead, ‘VolksFord’ insists it will initially deliver only pick-ups and vans from 2022, and explore potential collaboration on EVs, with or without drivers. But here’s the kicker: “Volkswagen and Ford also said they were open to considering additional vehicle programmes in the future,” according to VW. Volkswagen is the number-one group in Britain for new car sales, with a market share of more than 20 per cent. Ford is the biggest-selling single brand, with around 11 per cent. ‘VolksFord’ would therefore be selling to around one third of UK new-car buyers. With rival automotive groups and individual firms left unhappy, maybe it would be time for another alliance. Between Jaguar Land Rover and Hyundai-Kia, perhaps? That would get my vote. Do you agree with Mike? Is the Volkswagen and Ford alliance bad news for UK buyers?
What is the wheel base of the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has a 9 ft. 5.9 in. (113.9 in.) wheel base. Does the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg include free maintenance? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has free maintenance for 3 yr./ 36000 mi.. What size engine does the 2012 VW Touareg have? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has a V6 engine. How many valves does the 2012 VW Touareg have? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has 24 valves. How many gallons does the gas tank in the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg hold? The gas tank on the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg holds 26.4 gal.. Is the 2012 VW Touareg electric or gas? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg is a gas-powered vehicle. How long is roadside assistance included with the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg includes 3 yr./ 36000 mi. What is the drag coefficient of the 2012 VW Touareg? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has a drag coefficient of 0.37 Cd. What kind of transmission does the 2012 VW Touareg have? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has a 8-speed shiftable automatic.
How tall is the 2012 VW Touareg? The height of the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg is 5 ft. 8.2 in. (68.2 in.). What is the cargo capacity of the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg with all seats in place? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has 32.1 cu.ft. How wide is the 2012 VW Touareg? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg is 6 ft. 4.4 in. (76.4 in.)12V front, 12V rear and 12V and 115V cargo area power outlet(s) wide. What is the city and highway range of the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg in miles? The EPA range estimate for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg is 422.4 mi. 607.2 mi. on the highway. What kind of fuel does the 2012 VW Touareg use? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg runs on premium unleaded (recommended). What is the EPA city and highway mileage estimate for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg? The EPA mileage estimate for the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg is 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway. How many horsepower does the engine in the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg have? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg's engine produces 280 hp @ 6200 rpm. What is the rear shoulder room of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta? The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta has 53.6 in. What is the rear shoulder room of the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan? The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan has 55.0 in. What is the rear shoulder room of the 2012 Volkswagen Eos? The 2012 Volkswagen Eos has 41.5 in.
New Ghibli: Maserati’s first saloon in the Premium E Segment features two twin-turbo V6 petrol engines, a brand new efficient diesel engine and undiminished luxury. The all-new Ghibli marks a turning point in Maserati’s history. Unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show and arriving just months after the new Quattroporte, the Ghibli will give Maserati two four-door saloon models for the first time in its history. Its petrol range provides high performance from both of the power outputs from the Twin Turbo-charged, 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines. The Ghibli’s design team was challenged to produce a saloon that emphasised its more dynamic driving characteristics through a more aggressive visual personality, yet still maintained discernible visual links with the Quattroporte. The outline of the body reflects a coupe-like philosophy for the four-door saloon, while there are strong feline hints around the Ghibli’s grille and headlights. The grille takes its inspiration from the current GranTurismo and it can draw a line back to the classic 1950s A6 GCS. The side profile is dominated by a swage line that runs from the traditional Maserati grille vents behind the front wheels and finishes in the rear lights themselves.
