Ronald Reagan Once Said "trust
This problem won鈥檛 be solved through computer security as we normally think of it. Conventional computer security is designed to prevent outside hackers from breaking into your computers and networks. The car analog would be security software that prevented an owner from tweaking his own engine to run faster but in the process emit more pollutants. What we need to contend with is a very different threat: malfeasance programmed in at the design stage. We already know how to protect ourselves against corporate misbehavior. Ronald Reagan once said "trust, but verify" when speaking about the Soviet Union cheating on nuclear treaties. We need to be able to verify the software that controls our lives. An important aspect of this scandal that hasn鈥檛 been discussed as much as it should. While Volkswagen is certainly to blame for cheating, the people designing the tests, those in charge of quality control, are equally to blame because of their poor standards and predictable procedures. For sensitive matters such as pollution and health we need to have independent methods to double-check the approval process; otherwise similar situations will keep happening and faking results will become more widespread and potentially harder to uncover.
Volkswagens of all types, like the Beetle and the Thing, as well as the Karmann Ghia and the Camper or the Cabriolet, bring smiles and fond memories to the minds of many people. If you are a VW fan I hope you will enjoy seeing the many vintage VW pictures featured in this section. Development of the German VW can be traced back to the 1930's. Volkswagen added new models over the years. First there was the sedan that became popularly called the Beetle or Bug, then came the sunroof version plus the convertible and the first transporter vans. Transporters evolved into a whole series of models as time passed the including the Kombi, the Camper and more. In 1956 the sleek little Karmann Ghia coupe arrived. It was joined in 1958 by a sporty Karmann Ghia convertible. 2 (passengers) car would is being generous. 2 passengers had to be pretty small people to be comfortable. In 1966 the familiar Beetle, Bus and Karmann Ghia were joined in the USA by the 1500, a larger car with boxier styling. The larger Super Beetle came along later. The Super Beetle convertible was the last holdout for the Bug style VWs in the USA being imported until 1979. The hobby of collecting and restoring vintage Volkswagens is popular with many folks.
We鈥檙e eagerly anticipating our new Tiguans here at Volkswagen, as they have been bestowed many great updates that really change their game. 1. The 2018 Tiguan is now 10 inches longer. May not seem like much, but those 10 inches translate into 57% more interior cargo volume, and a whole new row of seating. The previous 5 seater Tiguan can now seat 8! 2. Significant upgrades to the 2.0 L engine improve performance and efficiency. The now hardier engine is also now mated to a new eight-speed automatic gearbox. 3. Another great interior improvement is in the visuals, as the Tiguan now offers a svelte Volkswagen Digital Cockpit with an available 12.3-inch gauge display. 4. The Tiguan will now receive a new bumper-to-bumper warranty that will cover owners for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Additionally, the coverage will also be transferable should the original owner sell the vehicle before the warranty expires. The new warranty coverage includes all powertrain and drivetrain components such as the engine, transmission, and the available all-wheel drive system.
Some would argue that the first minivan was a Volkswagen Microbus. The ubiquitous hippie-mobile that crisscrossed the country in various patterns of paint in the 1960s showed that baby boomers would bond with a car that looked and ran like a loaf of bread. When it came time to raise a family, however, the boomers were looking for something with more status, safety and functionality鈥? Volkswagen never made much of a dent in the U.S. Vanagon and Eurovan, minivans that sometimes seemed unnecessarily eccentric. Other than its name, there's nothing eccentric about Volkswagen's current minivan, the Routan. That's because it is a rebadged version of the Dodge Grand Caravan built on Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario, assembly line. With its first minivan since it discontinued the Eurovan in 2003, Volkswagen aimed for 5 percent of the U.S. But economic travail sidelined those goals. Recalls also have caused some distress. The 2009 models were recalled along with their Chrysler platform mates last June for a fire hazard stemming from an improperly routed wire harness.
Those issues aside, the Routan, like its Chrysler cousins, is a terrific vehicle that deflects "soccer-mom" aspersions with a long, flat-roofed profile, brusque front end and blunt tail. In dark paint, this minivan could accommodate a crew of gangsters without hurting their rep. Designed to seat seven in three rows, the Routan comes with Chrysler's amazingly simple stow-and-go third-row seats that flip into a container to create a large, flat storage surface. The loops that you pull are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4. In a few seconds, the seats are gone and the floor is utterly flat. All Routans are powered by a new 3.6-liter engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that deliver 283 horsepower and 260 lbs./ft. 2,250. And the Routan does not require premium unleaded. Standard 12-volt power outlets are provided for cell phones, MP3 players and game consoles. The comfortable seats are covered in leatherette with pillow-top armrests. The second row is a set of captain's chairs, while the third row is a split-folding bench. All 2011 Routan models include an all-new leather-wrapped steering wheel with multifunction controls, a leather-wrapped shift knob and a full array of gauges. All three seating rows get LED reading lights, while sunshades filter harsh light. A Garmin Navigation system is optional for the SE, while Sirius Travel Link and integrated iPod interface are added to Routan SEL with Navigation. Dual power sliding doors with power windows are standard, along with a power lift gate. Remote keyless entry can be upgraded to a remote vehicle start system. The Routan's ride and handling are deft and comfortable, making the minivan an outstanding road car. Passenger protection includes front, side and head-curtain air bags, along with a knee airbag for the driver. Active safety features include anti-lock brakes and engine braking control, along with electronic stability control.
