To help fund various acquisitions, Volkswagen AG said that it may use a convertible bond issue rather than a big portion of new shares.

VW said that on April 22, the date of the annual general meeting, it will request that shareholders approve a possible bond issue with an option or right to convert the bond into 40 million preferred shares. Finance chief Hans Dieter Poetsch said that having that authorization would provide an additional financing tool that the company regards as standard for raising the financial flexibility of major joint stock companies such as Volkswagen, but which is not currently available to the company. VW asserted that the issue could be bearer bonds with warrants or be convertible bonds with a term of up to 20 years on one or several occasions in the period until April 21, 2015. Management would only be able to exercise the authorization if the sum total of new shares does not go beyond the 135 million approved by shareholders at December’s extraordinary general meeting.

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Volkwagen revealed at the Geneva Motor Show its brand new 2010 Sharan, also known as the favourite vehicle of countless families all over Europe. This new generation is equipped for the first time with sliding doors in the back as well as a new design, inspired by the new trend in Volkswagen family.

Under the hood, we have the TDI and TSI engines (103kW / 140PS to 147kW / 200PS) and transmission systems (DSG optional). The 2010 Sharan includes EasyFold seating system (up to seven easily adjustable seats), high-end quality, uncompromising safety (seven airbags, Light Assist automatic main beam control, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running and position light) and numerous clever details. Also, we have new adaptive chassis control (DCC) and a level regulating system. The 2010 Vw Sharan will be available in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline versions and the base model will include features such as semi-automatic air-conditioning (‘Climatic’) and radio/CD system (‘RCD 210’). Volkswagen will again offer the four-wheel drive version (Sharan 2.0 TDI 4Motion with 140PS), which means that the vehicle will be the only in its class to offer such a system. The new Sharan will hit the dealerships by the end of March. Photo gallery after the jump!

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Tags:2010 geneva motor show, 2010 sharan, 2010 vw sharan, car news, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen, vw, vw gti concept
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At the CeBIT technology show in Hanover slated from March 2 to 6, attendees will be treated to a Volkswagen demonstration on how eCall, Europe’s emergency call system, works in real-life situations.

VW will coordinate with officials from its home state, Lower Saxony, to establish the technological infrastructure for an eCall pilot project. Michael Nitsche, a manager for the project, said that the new receivers will be able to process signals from both the American Global Positioning System (GPS) and Galileo, the future European satellite navigation system. Nitsche added that this compatibility “ensures exact positioning data and optimum availability.” Continued after the jump!

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Tags:2010 cebit, car news, Volkswagen, volkswagen ecall, vw, vw ecall
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Volkswagen unveiled today the brand new CrossGolf, which successfully completes the Golf line consisting of the classic Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Variant, Golf GTI and the Golf R introduced just a few weeks ago.

Based on the Golf Plus, the new car is actually a bridge between the MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) and SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), which means it unifies the variability of an MPV with the ruggedness of a SUV. Set to make its market debut in April, the new CrossGolf introduces a new generation of engines that offer huge fuel economy advantages. Continued after the jump!

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Tags:2010 crossgolf, 2010 geneva motor show, 2010 vw cross golf, 2010 vw crossgolf, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen, vw
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The Polo GTI makes a strong comeback. This GTI boasts to have 132 kW / 180 PS and it has superior handling properties unified with uncompromising engine dynamics and a maximum of safety.

The high-tech features don’t just end there. The 2011 Polo GTI is powered by a new 1.4-liter TSI with petrol direct injection plus turbo- and supercharging. A 7-speed DSG, which transfers power to the front wheels, is standard equipment. The tendency to understeer is reduced due to an electronic transverse differential lock (XDS). Continued after the jump!

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Tags:2011 polo gti, 2011 volkswagen polo gti, 2011 vw polo gti, car news, new polo gti, Volkswagen, vw
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In Volkswagen’s plan to be the world’s largest automaker by 2018, it would have to carefully weigh decisions and as much as possible, not commit any serious mistakes. Its lineup would have to be improved too.

Apparently, Volkwswagen had looked at the success of the Polo last year and thought that this time, it will present the new CrossPolo at the Geneva Motor Show. The CrossPolo’s ground clearance has been increased and will ride 15 mm higher than a standard Polo. The CrossPolo, which will only come in a five door configuration, will be offered in the following engines: 1.2 liter 70 hp, 1.4 liter 85 hp and 1.2 liter TSI 105 hp petrol engines, as well as the 1.6 TDI 75 hp, 90 hp and 105 hp diesel engines. At the Geneva show, VW will also be unveiling the 2011 Polo GTI, which is “the fastest, most focused and cleanest performance Polo yet produced.” Powering this vehicle is a twin-charged 1.4-liter TSI engine mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission, both of which are also used on the Seat Ibiza Cupra. The Polo GTI’s ride height has been dropped by 15mm compared to the conventional Polo. In Europe, the new Polo has the title of the Car of the Year 2010, the first Volkswagen in 18 years. Photo gallery after the jump!

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Tags:2010 geneva motor show, 2011 crosspolo, 2011 volkswagen crosspolo, 2011 vw crosspolo, car news, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen, vw
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A deal has been forged between German engineering sector union IG Metall and Volkswagen AG for job guarantees to be extended by three years until 2014, according to a union spokesman.

The deal, which took months of negotiation, was entered amid weak car markets, stunted growth, and increasing unemployment in western Germany. Last November, this proposed deal had raised the hopes of 90,000 workers in its high-wage western German plants as its personnel director had talked about the possibility of extending job guarantees until 2014. Continued after the jump!

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These are the first images with the new Vw Polo GTI which is set to make its official debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show. The new car carries the 1.4-liter TSI engine found also on the Golf GT and capable to deliver 180 hp, mated of course to the seven-speed DSG transmission.

The car also features a version of VW’s XDS electronic differential, used also by the Seat Ibiza Cupra. Regarding the suspension, this is lower with 15 mm comparing it to the standard Polo. Inspired by the last version of the Polo GTI, the new car looks like a mini Golf GTI and features similar five-spoke polished 17-inch alloys and honeycomb grille with the legendary red frame. Inside the car features sports seats, with the same trim as the Golf GTI and the awesome flat-bottomed steering wheel. More details to be revealed! Photo gallery after the jump!

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Tags:2010 geneva motor show, 2011 polo gti, 2011 vw polo gti, car news, Geneva Motor Show, new polo gti, vw
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Volkswagen AG’s 41.3% gain in January sales is certainly something to be ecstatic about but the carmaker has doubts on whether this surge will continue. VW sales boss Christian Klingler said that the challenges in 2010 can’t be underestimated and that the “international automotive markets remains tense.”

Last January, VW delivered 538,500 vehicles to customers, up from 381,100 a year earlier. VW sales were boosted in China, Germany and the United States last month. Deliveries in China nearly doubled from 83,900 in January 2009 to 166,900 last month. Meanwhile, VW’s U.S. sales rose 40.1% to 24,600 units. In most markets, sales are seen to rise. The sales concerns are mostly centered in Germany.

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Tags:car news, Volkswagen, vw, vw january sales
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Production of the Volkswagen Amarok SUV won’t start anytime soon as plans were shelved to see how the market for this vehicle develops. An Autocar report says that VW chose to wait because it considers the SUV market to be already saturated.

Volkswagen Group financial boss Klaus-Dieter Schurmann said that it makes the Touareg, the Cayenne, the Q7, the Q5 and Tiguan – five cars in the same class. Even Schurmann questions if VW really needs another in this class. Specifications released back in December state that the truck will come first in a four-door version with “double cab.” Continued after the jump!

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