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Volkswagen got its start just as World War II was about to begin. The original Volkswagen, the Kdf-Wagen, was conceived by Ferdinand Porsche as an everyman’s automobile. The car pioneered the body we know today as the beetle, with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine. The only thing that held VW back was the war, and the fact that their primary factory had been heavily bombed. Luckily for VW, the British army was in need of transportation and placed an order for 20,000 units shortly after occupying the factory and the surrounding city.
Through the years, Volkswagen had its share of troubles, some of which they solved through acquisitions, as is the case with Audi. Other issues though, like maintaining profitability in North America, meant changing the product altogether, branding Volkswagen as an entry level luxury vehicle and returning to the initial quality and reliability of their early years. Today, the company stands on the verge of a serious merger between itself and Porsche. The two brands have long collaborated on technological innovation and several models, but this would set a never before seen precedent for VW.
Our latest cars content can be found in the Cars category in our new magazine format and in the Car Reviews tag.
Volkswagen Reviews and Features
April 6, 2015
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R has the performance goods that enthusiasts love and the aspirational traits which should get more people into other trim levels.
June 18, 2014
There's a reason that the VW Jetta is so popular, and the 2014 model continues that tradition with its distinct look, first-class interior and great performance.
November 11, 2013
Showing just how far clean diesel has come in the past few years, the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI boasts great fuel efficiency and silky smooth performance.
November 4, 2013
The 2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport is pushing its way into the hearts of U.S. auto buyers with striking good looks and top-of-the-line quality.
October 31, 2013
There are few truly iconic cars on the road today that compare to the 2013 VW Beetle Convertible in both substance and stature.
March 29, 2012
On a recent trip to San Francisco, we learned how Volkswagen is exploring ways to be both fuel efficient and fun to drive.
Resources
Volkswagen
The Volkswagen home page sports the cute, clean, green advertising that has brought the company so much success. Unfortunately, the page is short on information. The ‘VW Life’ section attempts to offer a little more insight into the lives of average owners, but does little to connect drivers with their vehicles. The site has your standard retail features, so if you need some customer service, obviously you’ll come here.
Volkswagen at Wikipedia
The Volkswagen page at Wikipedia is a great spot to get a general understanding of this company’s interesting history. The VW story is one of the more unique among automakers, including dictators, wars, and foreign occupation. Who else can say that? The site also has a quick look at current models and some nice pics of classic beetles.
Volkswagen at Autoblog
While some may not consider the VW/Porsche deal big news, the guys at Auto blog find it, and virtually any other miniscule piece of news, worth reporting. They cover absolutely everything, from major press releases to YouTube videos. This is the one stop shop for auto news on the web, and they make no exception in the case of VW.
Community Sites
Volkswagen Club of America
This club started as a couple of Beetle fans back in the 50’s and has grown to include a full events calendar, a unique monthly publication, and plenty of resources for the VW enthusiast. The page offers information on joining, a look at their event calendar (which is mostly summer events) and a classifieds section. If you want a real brick and mortar type club, check here first.
VW Vortex
This is one of those great fansites that you can love to be a part of. The page is clean, with limited advertising and gobs of information. They post news, their own features, and have a classifieds section if you’re looking to get yourself a new ride. The forums aren’t your standard php bulletin board, but they’re easy enough to browse and chock full of the info we love.
My Fast GTI
For the tuners out there, this is the spot to connect with your GTI cronies. As far as model-specific forums go, this is definitely one of the more active we’ve seen. The posters know their stuff, and can share an opinion without coming across like an idiot.
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