REPORT: VW confirms Jetta name for small sedan, upcoming coupe concept could enter production

(Original Blog Post: http://vogtlandsuspensionusa.com/blog/report-vw-confirms-jetta-name-for-small-sedan-upcoming-coupe-concept-could-enter-production/213/)

It seems that we'll be getting a new Jetta sedan next June, and it apparently won't be a slightly restyled Golf with a trunk grafted to the rear end. According to Car and Driver, VW's so-called New Compact Sedan, which will be built at the same Mexican plant that assembles the current Jetta, will indeed retain the Jetta nameplate.

Following its June debut here in the States, Volkswagen will prep the car for its European launch later in the year, and it may or may not be called Jetta overseas. A sportier GLI variant will continue to be offered on the new model. Looking farther down the model-range totem pole, there's a decent chance that VW will bring the Polo to the U.S. market to rival the new Ford Fiesta, possibly as both a sedan and a hatchback.

Lastly, we're told that we should expect to see a new U.S.market-tailored two-door notchback coupe concept on the show circuit in short order. If public reaction to it is positive, there's a good chance VW will greenlight the car for series production.

[Source: Car and Driver]

REPORT: VW confirms Jetta name for small sedan, upcoming coupe concept could enter production originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:47:00 EST.


Vogtland Suspension USA features high quality products manufactured by Vogtland, such as Audio Spring Kits, Audio Suspension Kits, Height Adjustable Coilovers, Sport Spring Kits, Sport Suspension Kits, Junior Suspension Kits and DONK Lift Kits. In addition they are paired up with Koni Sport Dampers, Koni Sport Valving, TokicoD-spec Dampers and Tokico HTS Dampers for the ultimate suspension product on the market today. Visit our store for great deals and savings from an Authorized Vogtland Dealer.

LA 2009: Toyota and Billabong craft one funky Venza

(Original Blog Post: http://vogtlandsuspensionusa.com/blog/la-2009-toyota-and-billabong-craft-one-funky-venza/198/)

Billabong Toyota Venza - Click above for high-res image gallery

No, this isn't a leftover post from SEMA, although to be perfectly fair, it is a leftover vehicle from SEMA. While reporting on the Hot Rod Toyota Tundra and Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer, we somehow missed this tricked-out Venza. Kitted out by the Australian surfwear mavens at Billabong, it's called the Ultimate Venza Concept. Umm, yeah. While the vast majority of Venza crossovers are probably never going to be used off-road, this Ultimate Venza apparently wants us to know that any extreme sports fan will be happy in one.

Toyota had Street Image do the build. They started with a 2009 Venza and added a body kit with Outback-worthy fender flares and alloy wheels. That crazy custom roof rack can accommodate surfboards, snow boards and wake boards, and can be lowered for easier loading. There's even a hidden cargo rack that allows skis and snow boards to be mounted at the back. There are front and rear hitch receivers, a Grinch Winch to "pull wake boarders into waves or snow boarders and skaters across flat land to a jump or rail," and a TRD big brake kit in there as well.

Besides being identified by the massive graphics along the flanks, Billabong also chipped in wet suit material for the seats and an homage of sorts on the headliner which features a collage of Billabong athletes in action. The vehicle also incorporates certain "living" features like a heated shower system to help you rinse off after surfing and a Verizon Wireless access point router to keep you abreast of current surf and snow conditions. Look for it at upcoming Billabong surf events, read more about it in the press release after the jump, and see it in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: LA 2009: Billabong Toyota Venza

Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading LA 2009: Toyota and Billabong craft one funky Venza

LA 2009: Toyota and Billabong craft one funky Venza originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST.

Vogtland Suspension USA features high quality products manufactured by Vogtland, such as Audio Spring Kits, Audio Suspension Kits, Height Adjustable Coilovers, Sport Spring Kits, Sport Suspension Kits, Junior Suspension Kits and DONK Lift Kits. In addition they are paired up with Koni Sport Dampers, Koni Sport Valving, TokicoD-spec Dampers and Tokico HTS Dampers for the ultimate suspension product on the market today. Visit our store for great deals and savings from an Authorized Vogtland Dealer.

Nissan updates Qashqai crossover - and no, we're still not gonna get it

(Original Blog Post: http://vogtlandsuspensionusa.com/blog/nissan-updates-qashqai-crossover-and-no-were-still-not-gonna-get-it/208/)

2010 Nissan Qashqai - click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan Qashqai has a silly name. Though not as silly as the Qashqai+2, the seven-seat version of the British built small CUV. But silly name not withstanding, the slightly smaller than a Nissan Rogue compact crossover has been something of a sales phenom for Nissan, selling more than 500,000 copies around the world since 2007 despite not being offered in the North American market.

For the 2010 model year, some things are changing, and some aren't. The biggest and most obvious difference is the front end, which is all-new and quite handsome looking. We especially like the sculpted lower fascia and intake. And while it is slightly smaller than the Rogue we do have in America, the Qashqai (named after a nomadic Iranian tribe) looks tougher. In the rear, the song remains largely the same, though the taillights have been slightly revised. The colors you see here are both new -- Magnetic Red and Mineral Gray.

Inside, functionality is up with a new dash computer, gauges, lighting and "oddments" storage. Refinement is also up, with more baffling in place to reduce NVH, along with a revised windscreen and A-pillars to cut wind noise. The suspension has also been redesigned to improve both ride comfort and handling. All in all, the Qashqai looks to be a pretty tasty package. But you can almost set your watch to the fact that Nissan will not be bringing it to our red, white and blue shores, and while we like the Rogue just fine, we'd just assume that Nissan give us this one instead. What do you think? Check out the ress release after the jump and the high-res gallery below, and then let us know which one you'd prefer to see on sale in America.

Gallery: 2010 Nissan Qashqai

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan updates Qashqai crossover - and no, we're still not gonna get it

Nissan updates Qashqai crossover - and no, we're still not gonna get it originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST.

Vogtland Suspension USA features high quality products manufactured by Vogtland, such as Audio Spring Kits, Audio Suspension Kits, Height Adjustable Coilovers, Sport Spring Kits, Sport Suspension Kits, Junior Suspension Kits and DONK Lift Kits. In addition they are paired up with Koni Sport Dampers, Koni Sport Valving, TokicoD-spec Dampers and Tokico HTS Dampers for the ultimate suspension product on the market today. Visit our store for great deals and savings from an Authorized Vogtland Dealer.

LA 2009: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder proves the devil is in the details

(Original Blog Post: http://vogtlandsuspensionusa.com/blog/la-2009-spyker-c8-aileron-spyder-proves-the-devil-is-in-the-details/196/)

Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

Where to even start? Oh right - that interior! With the possible exception of a couple of British-ish cars (BMW-owned Rolls-Royce Phantom, Volkswagen-owned Bentley Mulsanne, Tata-owned Jaguar XJ), no interior even comes close. And frankly, being honest, those luxo-barges just pale in comparison to the blinged out old-world splendor of a Spyker cockpit. And the C8 Aileron Spyder ups that already pricey ante. And get this - all C8s are now built in Coventry, England, shaving about $9,000 off the asking price, which is somewhere south north of $200,000 depending on baubles options.

Normally, photographing cars at auto shows feels like a strange, exotic form of torture, at least for us writerly types. The bright lights, the bumrush, the awkward positions (you try crawling on your hands and knees between a posing CEO's knees to get a shot of a wheel) - it's not fun. But when photographing this car, we were overcome with a rush of (let's just say) endorphins. We could imagine ourselves winding up the California coast, fondling that leather-wrapped aluminum gear shifter for hundreds of breezy, dreamy miles. And get this - it's an automatic... and we don't care!

For you number junkies who choose to hastily look past the incredible innards, the C8 drop top is powered by a 4.2-liter Audi V8 good for 400 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. That medium-amount of gumption is routed to the rear-wheels via a 6-speed slushbox. Top speed is 187 mph and 0-60 happens in 4.5 seconds. Spyker claims that the car's strength is in the frame (stouter than a Ferrari F430, so they say) and therefor chopping off the roof has limited negative structural impact. Want more tech details? See our post from Monterey.



Let's get back to that interior. If you're into fancy cars (hi mom!) you've no doubt heard of special leather coming from "free range" cows raised without barbwire so as to ensure the leather is flawless. Well get this, the leather in the Aileron Spyder comes from a Dutch tannery that works with free range cold weather cows. Why cold weather? No mosquito bites. No, really. And you can get that interior in any of fourteen colors, most of which are (hopefully) equally eye-searing. Finally, anyone else as in love with the tonneau cover-mounted quilted leather briefcase as we are?

Gallery: LA 2009: 2010 Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder

LA 2009: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder proves the devil is in the details originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:32:00 EST.


Vogtland Suspension USA features high quality products manufactured by Vogtland, such as Audio Spring Kits, Audio Suspension Kits, Height Adjustable Coilovers, Sport Spring Kits, Sport Suspension Kits, Junior Suspension Kits and DONK Lift Kits. In addition they are paired up with Koni Sport Dampers, Koni Sport Valving, TokicoD-spec Dampers and Tokico HTS Dampers for the ultimate suspension product on the market today. Visit our store for great deals and savings from an Authorized Vogtland Dealer.

VIDEO: Helicopter chases two Lamborghini Gallardos around Los Angeles

(Original Blog Post: http://vogtlandsuspensionusa.com/blog/video-helicopter-chases-two-lamborghini-gallardos-around-los-angeles/214/)

Helicopter chases two Lamborghini Gallardos - click above to watch the video

While not quite as in your groin face as Samuel L. Jackson's Snakes on a Plane, the following video is as honest in its title to content ratio. Yes, a camera crew in a helicopter follows two Lamborghini Gallardos (one hardtop and one Spyder) up and down Pacific Coast Highway and through some of the Southland's best canyon roads. Nearly perfect, right?

Well, there's an issue or two. First is the thumping, blasting "butt-rock" soundtrack. Second, that soundtrack is annoying and obscures the glorious fury of the Gallardo's 5.2-liter V10 -- a motor that can make a four-year-old to burst into tears when cranked from a cold start (true story -- we saw it happen in person). Truly, a beast of an engine.

Had it been our video then, we would've killed the royalty-free-Nickelback soundtrack and instead stuck mics on the Lambos as if they were pincushions. Then we'd have tailed the two blue bulls to Kanan Dume Road. Why Kanan? Tunnels -- three of them. Not to get all David E. Davis on you, but you really haven't lived until you've heard Lambo's V10 at 8,250 rpm in a confined space. Glorious. With that said, make the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading VIDEO: Helicopter chases two Lamborghini Gallardos around Los Angeles

VIDEO: Helicopter chases two Lamborghini Gallardos around Los Angeles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:20:00 EST.

Vogtland Suspension USA features high quality products manufactured by Vogtland, such as Audio Spring Kits, Audio Suspension Kits, Height Adjustable Coilovers, Sport Spring Kits, Sport Suspension Kits, Junior Suspension Kits and DONK Lift Kits. In addition they are paired up with Koni Sport Dampers, Koni Sport Valving, TokicoD-spec Dampers and Tokico HTS Dampers for the ultimate suspension product on the market today. Visit our store for great deals and savings from an Authorized Vogtland Dealer.