Volkswagen Group of America did what any model corporate citizen would do by donating $50,000 to AmeriCares and another $50,000 to Doctors Without Borders in an effort to aid global disaster relief efforts.

AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization that is dedicated to transporting medicine, medical supplies and other forms of aid to people around the world who are severely in need, as the United States. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has provided more than $10 billion in humanitarian efforts, spanning no less than 164 countries.

Doctors Without Borders, or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a Nobel Peace Prize winning international medical humanitarian entity created by the efforts of French doctors and journalists back in 1971. Today, the organization provides aid in nearly 70 countries to people whose survival is threatened by either violence, neglect, or catastrophe. These grim circumstances are often the by-products of armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. The care done by MSF is independent, and provides impartial assistance to those who are in need of it most.

Volkswagen stole the Super Bowl last year when its “Tiny Vader” commercial aired, inducing smiles to millions in an instant, and millions more on YouTube. The marketing magic goes beyond amusement, as the ad managed to capture the audience while still showing off the functionality of the remote start feature with the new Passat.

To grasp the same undivided attention of “Tiny Vader”, as well as paying homage to last year’s successful ad, there will be another ad running this year on February 5, 2012 featuring dogs. But not just any dogs, these clever canines will bark to the tune of the Imperial March — that grim tune featured in Star Wars which sounded off just about every time Darth Vader came into the scene.

Just what does Volkswagen have up its sleeve? Interestingly enough, it’s rumored to be a minute-long spot of the upcoming Beetle TDI, as the video below tells us that something will be “back and better than ever.” The video below also gives us a good impression of the canine choir, thematically dressed up in wookie and ewok costumes, among other Star Wars things. Additionally, you can find more information on Volkswagen’s Star Wars page.

If you thought that the launch of the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle was big news, get ready for this: the  2013 CC midsized four-door coupe. If you’re curious, a four-door coupe describes a sporty vehicle with a slick roof line, but with the practicality of a sedan. The rakish CC receives a refresh for the 2013 model year, which includes updates in the design of both the front and rear fascias.

What we see from the new design is more of a similarity to the modern VW design language found in the 2012 Passat, just with a sportier touch. For instance, consumers are now graced with standard bi-xenon headlamps and standout LED running lamps to go with the modernized face. Follow the low slung roof line to the back, and take notice that the rear tail lamps now share a closer family resemblance to the Jetta and Passat. They almost appear to be as if they came straight out of Tron, providing an edgy, yet very modern look thanks to the sharp lines of the LED lights.

Additionally, the 2013 CC will receive a set of new 17 and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, giving the customer more options in style. There’s also variety to be found in the engine bay, as consumers have the ability to choose between two engines. First is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at a sufficient 200 horsepower that can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. Upgrade to the 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine, and 280 horsepower will be on tap, flowing through a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission to either the front or, as an option, all of the wheels with 4Motion all-wheel-drive.

Finally, seating is available for five for those that could use it. Look for the 2013 Volkswagen CC in showrooms starting the first quarter of 2012 — which is this quarter.

This year’s group was a record at 35, all-new or thoroughly redesigned, 2012 model year vehicles. The all-new for 2012, made in America, Volkswagen Passat edged out its European, Japanese and American contenders in an exhaustive evaluation process that included the full complement of Motor Trend performance tests, track-based ride and handling evaluations, and real-world driving on city streets, freeways, and two-lane roads.

“The well-equipped Passat is a breakthrough car for Volkswagen, as it has been designed to suit the North American market and is being built in a brand-new, state-of-the-art assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.,” said Motor Trend editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie. “It has one of the roomiest interiors of its class, a wide choice of powertrains and a well-tuned chassis. A compelling new entry in the toughest, most competitive vehicle segment in the U.S. today; it’s a terrific all-around family sedan.”

For the past 62 years, the editorial staff of Motor Trend has met to determine the best new car for the following model year. The Car of the Year process is not a comparison test; the winning vehicle is the one that, in the judges’ opinions, best fulfills six key criteria: advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value, and performance of intended function.

The Passat’s styling is clean and simple, but executed with precision normally seen on expensive luxury cars. Car of the Year judge Tom Gale, Chrysler’s former design chief, noted, “…like the Audi [A6], what is remarkable is the restraint shown with the handling of the design. Clean, beautiful surfaces have been refined for an engaging result.”

With options that include a 2.5-liter five-cylinder gas engine, a powerful V6 or a highly efficient turbo diesel–each with the option of being mated to a standard transmission or the seamlessly smooth dual-clutch auto-manual unit–Motor Trend found the powertrains of the Passat to be perfectly matched to the car. Editors particularly praised the diesel engine mated to the dual-clutch auto-manual gearbox. Engineering guru, Chris Theodore noted of the combination, “…without the compromise that mainstream green vehicles impose–a true technological achievement.”

The standard 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine returned 26.5 mpg in testing while the optional turbo-diesel returned an average of 34.3 mpg. The Passat has the best fuel economy stats among this year’s finalists over the course of 11 mixed-driving loops.

Between government mandates and consumer expectations, pretty much all vehicles in this segment gets a standard complement of passive safety gadgets that include six airbags, stability control, tire-pressure monitoring, ABS, and brake-assist, among numerous other electric aids. “What’s more fun to talk about under the safety rubric is how well the Passat’s chassis is tuned to keep it out of trouble, because well-driven, agile cars are less likely to plow into things than poorly controlled, flabby, clumsy ones,” said Motor Trend technical editor, Frank Markus.

And by investing in a facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. to build the Passat, VW has reduced the potential for currency fluctuations to negatively impact the price, as happened with the previous imported model. With initial costs lower and overall ownership costs suppressed–thanks to improved build quality and VW’s Carefree Maintenance Program–the 2012 Volkswagen Passat stands as a great value in a market segment driven by price-conscious consumers.

The 2012 Passat was inteneded to be an affordable, roomy, efficient mid-sized sedan for the American family, and the car delivers perfectly on the mission statement. Car of the Year judge, Chris Theodore summed it up best, “I was expecting a large, cost-reduced VW that had lost its Fahvergnugen, but it’s still there, just cloaked in Brooks Brothers.”

This is only the second time Volkswagen has won Motor Trend’s highest honour, the first being in 1985 for the then American-built GTI.

Other cosmetic changes are much more conservative. The 2013 CC gains new LED tail lights with L-shaped lens patterns resembling those used on the Passat, Jetta, Golf, and Eos. The bumper receives an ever so slight revision that highlights the chrome band running across it.

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Further details have yet to be released but officials say that the new car will not change much mechanically from its current iteration. We expect that most trims will utilize a 200-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4, mated either to a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It is most likely that the 280-hp, 3.6-liter VR6 will be relegated to the top-trim models, and paired only with a six-speed automatic and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

We will bring your more information closer to the Los Angeles auto show press days, which officially kick off on November 16th, 2011. Continue to follow us on Twitter and check in on our Facebook community to stay in the loop.

On the outside, the Fender Beetle is covered in high-gloss black with a fine red line framing the side windows. For the guitar enthusiast, there is also a Fender Telecaster customized by Volkswagen Design that shares this style. The Fender Beetle is also highlighted in chrome and aluminum. Chromed door mirror caps, door handles, trim strip beneath the side windows, accents in the side sills, VW badge, and the two exhaust pipes.

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The Concept is 0.4 inches wider at the rear than the regular Beetle and sits 1.2 inches lower, allowing the wheel-tire package to fill out the wheel housing more fully. Look closely and you will discern a couple of other neat details including a guitar pick decal on the hood and the original Fender signature (in chrome) located beneath the VW badge on the trunklid.

A number of design features stand out in the interior. The dash pad is a striking sunburst motif with the two-toned wood design pattern of many Fender guitars integrated into it. The design extends across the dashboard in front of the driver and passenger and creates a visual link to the world of rock music.

The high-end Fender audio system has an auxiliary tube amplifier that is prominently displayed on top of the dash. Thanks to a special socket in the trunk, an electric guitar can be plugged in and plays over the subwoofer that is also integrated into the luggage compartment.

The Fender system is controlled via the RNS 510 radio-navigation system (which comes with a touchscreen and integrated 30-GB hard drive.) Like the rotary knob for the RNS 510, the controls for the climate control system (temperature, air conditioning function, rear window defrost, and seat heating) were redesigned to look like those used for decades on guitar and bass amplifiers.

Another feature that is tailored to musicians is a pick holder to the right of the DSG shift lever. The holder comes with three picks on which the outline of the Beetle is imprinted. Moreover, the band across the door storage bin features the Fender signature.

Although the Fender Beetle is still a concept, you can have the Fender Sound with the new Beetle. With the Fender Sound option, you’ll also get three-colored ambient lighting for the interior in red, white, and blue. Along with indirect lighting in the door shoulder panels, there are also light rings around the loudspeaker boxes in the doors. The sound system itself has two sets of tweeters–one set by the door mirrors up front and one set mounted in the rear trim panels. In the front doors, there are woofers with dual-voice coils, while the woofers located in the rear side trim each have a single voice coil. In addition, a subwoofer with a dual-voice coil is integrated in an enclosed bass box in the Beetle’s trunk. The centerpiece of the sound system is a 10-channel amplifier with Class A/B power amps and 400 Watts of output power.

Contact us today if you’d like to find out more about the Fender Sound option. Continue to follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook community to find out the latest news.

“Our adrenaline is still pumping after setting the new world record on the Pan-American Highway,” said Rainer Zietlow, manager of the German car event agency, Challenge4 GmbH, after finishing the Challenge. “We were able to overcome every weather challenge along the way, and our fueling and transportation stops ran like clockwork. Thanks to our sponsors, we were outfitted with a vehicle that could handle the demanding driving schedule and challenging conditions, and had amazing technical and driver support along the way.”

The journey began on July 2nd for Zietlow and his fellow German teammates, starting at the southern-most tip of Argentina where the Pan-American Highway begins. They travelled through 14 countries – Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Canada – and through challenging conditions ranging from a blinding sandstorm in Chile to muddy roads in northern Alaska. The team drove day and night, taking five-hour driving shifts throughout the trip. The TDI-Panamericana Endurance Challenge website, www.tdi-panamericana.com shared the team’s experiences through blog posts and videos, and tracked their progress using live cams.

As we previously posted, this journey is also one of goodwill as Zietlow will donate 10 Euro cents for every kilometer that was driven this trip to two villages in Latin America managed by Plan International.

“Volkswagen congratulates the Challenge4 Team on their success,” said Rainer Michel, vice president of product marketing, Volkswagen of America. “We knew that the Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel SUV could be pushed to unimaginable limits. The completion of the TCI-Panamericana Endurance Challenge in record-setting time demonstrates the vehicle’s durability, reliability, comfort and fuel-efficiency. This is a great vehicle for adventurers, driving enthusiasts, and families alike.”

From August 1 through August 20, Zietlow will drive the record-setting Touareg to Volkswagen dealerships across the nation where those interested can watch a movie about his journey and look inside the vehicle. To see the tour schedule, please visit www.tdi-panamericana.com.

Construction began in 2009. Today, built on a 1,400 acre site in Chattanooga stands an automobile plant that includes body shop, paint shop, assembly facility, technical testing center, academy for the initial and advanced training of employees, and a supplier park with eight companies. The design production capacity of he plant is 150,000 vehicles a year and the manufacturing depth for the Passat produced here will be of the order of 85 percent. Currently, the plant directly employs 1,700 people while an estimated 10,000 additional jobs will be created in the U.S. component supply industry.

Altogether, Volkswagen is investing about one billion US dollars in the development of the facility which boasts to be among the world’s most advanced and environmentally compatible automobile plants. The new plant is in line with the highest requirements of the U.S. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard, which lays down stringent provisions for the sustainable, environmentally compatible construction of buildings.

A number of key environmental measures were taken at the plant including the use of a painting process without any filler, which reduces CO2 emissions by about 20 percent. Water efficiency at the plant also meets the most stringent requirements. VW has built the world’s first automobile paint shop that uses a waterless separation process for topcoat application. Thanks to the use of collected rainwater, water consumption at the Chattanooga plant is also considerably lower than at other facilities of comparable size. In addition, the U.S. plant is the first Volkswagen facility to rely entirely on energy-saving LED systems for outdoor lighting. The production buildings and offices are also equipped with energy-saving lamps controlled by motion sensors. The entire lighting system of the plant uses about 20 percent less energy that a comparable facility.

With the North America being one of the world’s largest and most important automobile markets, the plant lays the important foundation that will enable VW to meet its target of boosting Group sales in the market to more than a million vehicles per year by 2018 while at the same time winning a market share of about six percent.

As we previously posted, having the plant in the U.S. makes the Passat, which has been specially tailored to meet the needs of the U.S. and Canada, much more affordable. Book a test drive today and be one of the first customers to own a U.S. made Passat. Follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook page to find out when the first vehicles will hit our showroom.

Of it’s entire line of vehicles, between 20 to 25 percent of Volkswagen’s total vehicles sold in North America are equipped with TDI Clean Diesel engines. According to our sources, VW is eager to expand its line of models that offer a diesel option. Currently, the Passat, Jetta, new Beetle, Toureg, and Golf all offer a TDI option which leaves the Eos and the Tiguan as the final two gasoline-only models. Europeans can relate to the diesel Eos but it’s highly unlikely that North Americans will feel the same way; therefore, by process of elimination, that leaves us with the Tiguan as the only viable option.

There hasn’t been much talk about the exact timeline of release, neither has there been any concrete confirmation that such a car will come to North America. But we think that the Tiguan would be a great fit for VW’s 2.0-liter Clean Diesel TDI engine, which cranks out 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It’s been speculated that it will be at least a year before we see the diesel option available for the Tiguan. If not present when VW reveals the results of the Tiguan’s latest mid-cycle face lift, that wait might be a further ways away.

60 years later, in 1998, Volkswagen reignited the spirit and imagination of the original and inspired a new generation of Volkswagen owners. The second generation Beetle sparked another round of Beetle Mania.

Today, we begin a whole new chapter in this long-running history. The debut of the third generation beloved Beetle is being done simultaneously around the globe in Shanghai, Berlin, and New York.

Volkswagen Group Design Chief, Walter de Silva, and Volkswagen Brand Design Chief, Klaus Bischoff, welcomed the task of developing a modern interpretation of the historical icon. They planned on incorporating all the benefits of today’s technologies and efficiencies, and the driving characteristics that define the Volkswagen brand but at the same time, they recognized the importance of staying true to the Beetle’s spirit and great heritage.

So rather than continue from the second generation, they decided to take a step back and take inspiration from the earliest Beetle profile. They wanted a design that respected the past while at the same time looks to the future. And that is what they created.

When placed side-by-side, it is clear that the lines of the rear section of the original Beetle and the 21st Century Beetle are almost identical. However, the overall look is bolder and much more dynamic. Gone is the design geometry defined by three semi-circles.

“The Beetle is now characterized by a clean, self-confident and dominant sportiness. The car not only has a lower profile; it is also substantially wider, the front hood is longer, the front windshield is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline. All of this creates a new dynamism,” explains Klaus Bischoff. These changes give the Beetle a much more powerful presence.

Powerful and sportier, offering both turbo-charged TDI® Clean Diesel and turbo-charged gasoline engines, in addition to dual exhaust, performance-handling packages, 19-inch wheels, sport seats and new, sleeker styling. Volkswagen will offer a panoramic roof, a range of audio options, including the Fender® Premium Audio System, and a customization program for the 2012 Beetle with a large number of personalization options, including a wide variety of colors and wraps along with an annual theme model.

There are a host of new features and options available for the brand new Beetle but why not come in and take a look for yourself. The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle arrives in showrooms this fall. Rediscover the new Beetle at its dedicated site, or visit our website to sign up for the latest updates.