Volkswagen Beetle
The VW Type 1, which was called the Beetle or Bug or Käfer (in German), is a small family car, the best known car of Volkswagen, one of the best known cars from Germany, and one of the most recognisable and distinctive cars in the world. Thanks to its distinctive shape and sound, and its reliability, it now enjoys a "cult" status.The Beetle was in production from 1938 until 2003, interrupted only by the Second World War. Over 21 million Beetles were produced.The "Beetle" name was not originally given to the car. Inside Volkswagen, it was simply known as the "Type 1" until the 1968 model year (August 1967), when, for the first time, German brochures used the name "Der Käfer" (meaning "The Beetle" in German) on the front cover and inside. The Beetle name was later reused when the New Beetle was introduced in 1998.The origins of the car date back to 1930s Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler wanted private motorized transport to be widely available and commissioned engineer Ferdinand Porsche to produce such a vehicle. Some claim that this was based on a sketch that Hitler drew in 1932, a year before he came to power. Hitler decreed that this car should be capable of transporting two adults and three children at a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), and that it should cost no more than a motorcycle and sidecar to buy. A savings scheme was also launched that would enable people to buy the car. However the advent and aftermath of World War II meant that those who paid into the scheme never received their cars. Rumors said that the Beetle was originally designed for conversion into a makeshift armored car in times of war. Its style resembles a tankette without a turret or armor.Who designed the car is a matter of controversy. The official story is that it was designed by Ferdinand Porsche. But in the 1920s Joseph Ganz had already made a similar design for a car that was smaller and more affordable than existing models. Car manufacturers were not interested, but two motorcycle manufacturers were. Adler produced the Maikäfer and Standard the Superior, which it advertised as 'Der Deutsche Volkswagen' and was the cheapest four wheel car at the time. When the nazis came to power, they tested the Superior and favourable reviews appeared in magazines. However, shortly after, the nazis suddenly imprisoned Ganz for a while, fired him as chief editor of the magazine Motor-Kritik and confiscated his documents, after which he fled to Switzerland, never to return. The reason for this is probably that they found out he was a Jew. The nazis then turned to Porsche, who produced a prototype of the Käfer that looked a lot like the Superior. Volkswagen say that Ganz wasn't the only one to have such a design and that the Käfer was not based on his. See also [1]Prototypes of the car called the KdF-Wagen (German: Kraft durch Freude = strength through joy; the car was so called because it was intended to be sold to members of the KdF, a Nazi leisure organization), appeared from 1935 onwards—the first prototypes were produced by Daimler-Benz in Stuttgart, Germany. The car already had its distinctive round shape (designed by Erwin Komenda) and its air-cooled, flat-four, rear-mounted engine. However, the factory (in the new town of Kdf-Stadt, purpose-built for the factory workers) had only produced a handful of cars by the time war started in 1939. Consequently the first volume-produced versions of the car's chassis (if not body) were military vehicles, the Jeep-like Kübelwagen Typ 82 (approx. 52,000 built) and the amphibious Schwimmwagen Typ 166 (approx. 14,000 built).Deliberately designed to be as simple as possible mechanically, there was simply less that could go wrong; the aircooled 985 cm³ 25 hp (19 kW) motors proved especially effective in action in North Africa's desert heat. A handful of civilian-spec Beetles were produced, primarily for the Nazi elite, in the years 1940–1945, but production figures were small. In response to gasoline shortages, a few wartime "Holzbrenner" Beetles were fueled by wood pyrolysis gas producers under the hood. In addition to the Kübelwagen, Schwimmwagen, and a handful of others, the factory managed another wartime vehicle: the Kommandeurwagen; a Beetle body mounted on the 4WD Kübelwagen chassis. A total of 669 Kommandeurwagens were produced until 1945, when all production was halted due to heavy damage sustained in Allied air raids on the factory. Much of the essential equipment had already been moved to underground bunkers for protection, allowing production to resume quickly once hostilities had ended.Much of the Beetle's design was inspired by the advanced Tatra cars of Hans Ledwinka, particularly the T97. This also had a streamlined body and a rear-mounted 4 cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine. Tatra sued, but the lawsuit was stopped when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia. The matter was re-opened after WW2 and in 1961 Volkswagen paid Tatra 3,000,000 Deutsche Marks. These damages meant that Volkswagen had little money for the development of new models and the Beetle's production life was necessarily extended.The Volkswagen company owes its postwar existence largely to one man, Oldham-born British army officer Major Ivan Hirst (1916–2000). After the war, he was ordered to take control of the heavily bombed factory, which the Americans had captured. His first task was to remove the unexploded bomb which had fallen through the roof and lodged itself between some pieces of irreplaceable production equipment; if the bomb had exploded, the Beetle's fate would have been sealed. He persuaded the British military to order 20,000 of the cars, and by 1946 the factory was producing 1,000 cars a month. The car and its town changed their Nazi-era names to Volkswagen (people's car) and Wolfsburg, respectively. The first 1,785 Beetles were made in a factory near Wolfsburg in 1945.Production of the "Type 1" VW Beetle increased dramatically over the years, with the 1 millionth car coming off the assembly line in 1954. During the 1960s and early 1970s, innovative advertising campaigns and a glowing reputation for reliability and sturdiness helped production figures to surpass the levels of the previous record holder, the Ford Model T, when Beetle No. 15,007,034 was produced on February 17, 1972. By 1973 total production was over 16 million, and by 2002 there had been over 21 million produced. The car was known under various names in different countries, usually local renderings of the word "beetle": Käfer in Germany; Sedan, then Fusca in Brazil; Coccinelle in France; Maggiolino in Italy; Sedán or Vocho in Mexico; Kever in the Netherlands; kotseng kuba (literally: hunchback car) in the Philippines; Garbus (literally: "Hunchback") in Poland; Brouk in Czech Republic; Carocha in Portugal; Escarabajo in Spain; Hipushit in Israel; Bug in the US.Faced with stiff competition from more modern designs—in particular economical Japanese autos in the US—sales began dropping off in the mid-1970s. There had been several unsuccessful attempts to replace the Beetle throughout the 1960s; but the Type 3, Type 4, and the NSU-based K70 were all failures. Finally, production lines at Wolfsburg switched to the new watercooled, front-engined, front wheel drive Golf in 1974, a car unlike its predecessor in most significant ways.Beetle production continued in smaller numbers at other German factories until 1978, but mainstream production shifted to Brazil and Mexico. The last Beetle was produced in Puebla, Mexico, in mid-2003. The final batch of 3,000 Beetles were sold as 2004 models and badged as the Última Edición, with whitewall tires, a host of previously-discontinued chrome trim, and the choice of two special paint colors taken from the New Beetle. Production in Brazil ended in 1988, then restarted in 1993 and continued until 1996. Volkswagen sold Beetles in the United States until 1978 and in Europe until 1985.Independent importers continued to supply several major countries, including Germany, France, and the UK until the end of production in 2003. Devoted fans of the car even discovered a way to circumvent US safety regulations by placing more recently manufactured Mexican Beetles on the floorpans of earlier, US-registered cars. The end of production in Mexico can be primarily blamed on the Mexican government's decision to gradually outlaw the use of 2-door cars as taxi cabs, the Beetle's core market in latter years. In addition, Volkswagen, now Germany's largest automaker, has been attempting to cultivate a more upscale, premium brand image, and the simple Beetle, with its US$7000 base price, clashed with VW's new identity, as seen in the Touareg and Phaeton luxury vehicles.

Volkswagen Beetle (Pre-1998)
Strong public reaction convinced the company to move the car into production, and in 1998 Volkswagen launched the New Beetle, designed by Mays and Freeman Thomas at the company's California design studio. The New Beetle is related to the original only in name and appearance: under the hood, it is a modern car in every way, based on the Volkswagen A platform (Mark 4 Volkswagen Golf). Still, it carried many of designs reference to the old Beetle: separate wings, vestigial running boards, sloping headlamps, large round tail light, as well as a high rounded roofline that provide enough headroom for tall drivers.In stark contrast to the original, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the New Beetle among the best safety ratings in its class at the time of its launch.Marketing campaigns have enhanced the continued goodwill towards the original, and helped the new model to inherit it. The Volkswagen New Beetle was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1999.

Volkswagen Beetle - New (1998-Present)
In 2002 total production of the VW Golf, at 22 million units, overtook that of the Beetle. However this measure includes all four distinct generations of Golf since 1974, and these are really different cars using the same name, as is also the case with the Toyota Corolla.By 2003 Beetle annual production had fallen to 30,000 from a peak of 1.3 million in 1971. On July 30, 2003, the final original VW Beetle (No. 21,529,464) was produced at Puebla, Mexico, some 65 years after its public launch in Nazi Germany, and an unprecedented 58-year production run since 1945. VW announced this step in June, citing decreasing demand. The last car was immediately shipped off to the company's museum in Wolfsburg, Germany. In true Mexican fashion, a mariachi band serenaded the last car.

Volkswagen Cabrio
Except for an on-off switch for the self-dimming mirror, and a new trunk escape handle, little is new for 2002 on Volkswagen’s convertible. The Cabrio has been offered in its current form since 1995, and three versions are available: the base GL, with a manual vinyl folding top and manually operated windows and mirrors; the midlevel GLS, with a manual cloth top, heated seats, and power windows and mirrors; and the top-of-the-line GLX, with a power-operated cloth top and leather seats. Based on the prior-generation Golf and Jetta, the front-drive Cabrio uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. An automatic transmission is the only major option.Even though the Cabrio hasn’t changed much, Volkswagen has revised its warranty. Instead of the prior two-year/24,000-mile basic coverage and limited 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, VW now offers bumper-to-bumper coverage for four years or 50,000 miles. Wear-and-tear items and adjustments are covered for one year or 12,000 miles. Fully transferable powertrain coverage is for five years or 60,000 miles, and roadside assistance, previously limited to two years, is now for four years or 50,000 miles.The Cabrio is lushly rounded in appearance and has a more rigid structure than some convertibles; this is due in part to a fixed roll bar over the interior that helps to stiffen the body. The overall length is 160.4 inches — less than an inch shorter than Volkswagen’s New Beetle. The Cabrio is 56 inches tall on a 97.4-inch wheelbase.The Cabrio can seat four occupants. Its front seats are roomy for adults, but passengers in the two-place rear seat are more likely to feel cramped — though it’s not the worst among convertibles by any means. Cargo space is limited to 8 cubic feet, which makes traveling light mandatory. The rear seatback folds down but provides only a modest increase in usable storage capacity.

Volkswagen EuroVan
While many credit Volkswagen with creating the minivan concept with its legendary Type 2 Microbus way back in the '50s, the company's present managers gladly award that distinction to Chrysler Corporation and its acclaimed brainstorm of 1984. "There's nothing mini about our van," they say with a twinkle, before showing a video that demonstrates how their latter-day Microbus successor, the EuroVan, can swallow tall loads that defeat the grandest Voyager. And it's true, you could always fit a lot more into a Volkswagen EuroVan than the seven occupants it accommodates in comfort and style.Only thing was, size apart, Volkswagen forgot to put a couple of other important things into its capacious hauler when it was launched in 1993: power and value. With a piddling 109 horsepower on tap from five grumpy cylinders, the first EuroVans could barely outrun an original Microbus--or, for that matter, a smart American shopper on foot, although there weren't too many of those chasing EuroVans, as the Spartan VW was priced uncomfortably close to its more powerful, better-equipped American competitors.Sales were predictably slow. So slow, in fact, that between 1994 and 1997, Volkswagen forgot to bring the EuroVan to America at all (except for a Winnebago camper conversion). In 1998, the boxy VW returned, mildly invigorated with a version of the Wolfsburgers' excellent VR6 engine in place of the five. Detuned to 140 horses, the new narrow-angle six marked an improvement, but, with a list price northward of $31,000 and virtually no marketing support, the EuroVan was guaranteed to remain more than a little exclusive. Until now.Anxious to reclaim its good name in the truck and passenger-van markets on the eve of the 2003 debut of its upcoming sport-utility vehicle and the likely launch of the new Microbus, an ascendant Volkswagen has decided to breathe some life into the EuroVan. Seeking to quadruple sales to 10,000 in 2002, VW has given its biggest hauler more power (extracting a creditable 201 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque from the VR6) and more features (including traction control, Electronic Stability Program, improved dual-zone air conditioning, and sixteen-inch aluminum wheels). Best of all, the company has cut prices.

Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is an automobile manufactured by Volkswagen. The Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling badge in history, with more than 24 million built as of 2005[1]. Considering that the only thing sucessive generations of the Volkswagen Golf have in common is the name and a vague similarity, its claim to "the best selling car of all-time worldwide" is dubious at best. That title remains firmly with its brother, the Beetle or rival Toyota Corolla.Most production of the Golf has been in the 3-door hatchback style. 5-door hatchback, station wagon (estate) and convertible variants have also been available, as well as a sedan (saloon) car based on the Golf (see VW Jetta). They have existed everywhere between basic personal cars and high-performance sports coupes.The Volkswagen Golf is an automobile manufactured by Volkswagen. The Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling badge in history, with more than 24 million built as of 2005[1]. Considering that the only thing sucessive generations of the Volkswagen Golf have in common is the name and a vague similarity, its claim to "the best selling car of all-time worldwide" is dubious at best. That title remains firmly with its brother, the Beetle or rival Toyota Corolla.Most production of the Golf has been in the 3-door hatchback style. 5-door hatchback, station wagon (estate) and convertible variants have also been available, as well as a sedan (saloon) car based on the Golf (see VW Jetta). They have existed everywhere between basic personal cars and high-performance sports coupes.The first Golf began production in 1976. Marketed in the United States and Canada from 1975 to 1984 as the Volkswagen Rabbit, it featured the water-cooled, front wheel drive design pioneered by the Citroën Traction Avant with the addition of a hatchback pioneered by the Renault 4. The Golf was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1975.While the Golf was not the first design with this layout (earlier examples being the Austin Maxi in the late 1960s and the Fiat 128 3P of the early 1970s), it was very successful, especially since it married these features with Volkswagen's reputation for solid build-quality and reliable engineering.The Golf was designed by Italian automobile architect / designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, of the ItalDesign design studio. A version of this original Golf model, known as the VW CitiGolf, is still produced in South Africa as an entry level car.The GTI version, launched in Europe 1976 and the US in 1983, created a whole new type of car, the hot hatch, and was widely copied by all other manufacturers since. It was one of the first small cars to adopt fuel injection for its sports version, which raised power in the 1588 cc engine to 110 PS (81 kW/108 hp). In 2004, Sports Car International named the Rabbit GTI number three on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s. In Automobile's October 2004 Issue, it was placed as #39 in the top 100 Cool Cars list.The convertible version, named the Cabriolet, was sold from 1980 to 1993. It had a reinforced body, transverse roll bar, and a high level of trim. Golfs were literally delivered to Karmann to have their tops cut off. The vinyl tops were insulated and manually operated, with a glass rear window.

Golf II (1984–1991)
The second-generation Golf was launched in 1984 (launched in North America in 1985) and featured a larger bodyshell and a wider range of engine options, including a turbo-diesel, a DOHC 16-valve version of the straight-four GTI (as well as the tried and tested 1800 8v GTi), the supercharged 8v "G60" and a racing homologated variant of this, the "Rallye".

Golf III (1991–1997)
The third-generation Golf was launched in 1991, although it did not appear in North America until 1993. The third-generation Golf was elected Car of the Year in 1992. For the first time a station wagon derivative was produced. The GTI variants (especially with the straight-four 4 cylinder engine) are considered to be the poorest of the performance Golfs, with significantly increased weight, but with minimal power increases. A "best of breed" VR6 variant exists which was available in a well regarded "Highline" trim; this 2.8 L VR6 engine gave a significant boost in power to 174 PS (128 kW/172 hp) for the Mk.III, a car weighing only about 1285 kg (2836 lb). Compare that to the Mk.II GTI that weighed 285 kg (629 lb) less but had only 139 PS (102 kW/137 hp) and a much smaller engine to tune (1.8 L). The convertible version was called the Cabrio.

Golf IV (1997–2003)
The Golf IV was the heaviest, largest and slowest version to date, but still became the biggest selling car in Europe at one point. It was a deliberate attempt to take the Golf further upmarket, with a high-quality interior and higher equipment levels. However, the upgrade of the vehicle's interior materials and exterior details appeared to have been done at the expense of the vehicle's engineering. The average dynamics were reasonably well concealed in daily driving, though, and the car's reputation was unscathed.

GTI 337 Edition (2002)
The GTI 337 was officially introduced at the New York Auto Show and made it to dealers by late May 2002. The price of the GTI 337 was $22,225 in the U.S. and $32,900 in Canada. Only 1,500 units are being produced for the U.S. market with an additional 250 specifically for Canada and it only came in Reflex Silver.

20th Anniversary Edition (2003)
Due to the popularity of a commemorative 25th anniversary edition GTI produced in Europe in 2002 (GTI 337 edition in North America), Volkswagen of America produced 4,200 so-branded '20th Anniversary Edition' GTIs and 4000 were shipped to the United States and 200 to Canada. This event, in 2003 marked the 20th anniversary of the GTI's first introduction to the US, then called the Rabbit. Several special features distinguish this new GTI from the rest of the pack.

Golf R32 (2003-2004) - In 2003
VW produced the Golf R32 in Europe. Again, due to unexpected popularity VW (through Volkswagen of America) decided to sell the car in North America (except Canada) as the 2004 VW R32. Billed as the pinnacle of the Golf IV platform, the R32 included every performance, safety, and luxury feature VW had to offer including the all new 3.2 L VR6 engine, AWD, a new 6-speed manual transmission, independent rear suspension, automatic climate control, sport seats from Koenig, 18" OZ Aristo wheels, ESP, massive (334 mm) brakes, sunroof, and model specific bodywork.

Golf V (2003–)
Sales of the fifth generation began in November 2003. For the presentation of the new Golf, Wolfsburg was renamed to Golfsburg for a week. In order to counter criticisms of the average dynamics of the previous model, it is widely reputed that Volkswagen "poached" from Ford the engineering team who designed the multi-link rear suspension system of the Ford Focus, widely regarded as the class benchmark for ride and handling. Indeed, the rear suspension of Golf V (a modified wishbone arrangement) bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Focus.

Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta is an automobile manufactured by Volkswagen. It is essentially a sedan version of the Volkswagen Golf. Until 2005 the name was only used in North America and South Africa, as it was dropped in Europe in 1991, when it was replaced by the Vento, which was in turn replaced by the Bora in 1998. The model was developed due in part of the Volkswagen marketing group's observation that the North American market leaned more towards the sedan shape as opposed to the Golf's hatchback configuration. Similarly, in South Africa, the Jetta remains more popular than the Golf. This proved to be a wise move on VW's part because the Jetta was destined to earn the title of best-selling European car in the US. The mechanicals are shared with the other Volkswagen A platform cars.The first-generation Jetta appeared in the North American market in 1980, available as a two-door coupe and four-door sedan. Styling was penned at ItalDesign, by Giorgetto Giugiaro. A version of this model, known as the Volkswagen Fox, continued in production in South Africa until the late 1990s.Powering the base A1 Jetta and GL trim in 1980 was a standard 1.6 L four-cylinder producing 78 hp (57 kW) and 83 ft·lbf (113 N·m) torque. In 1981, the engine was upgraded to a 1.7 L producing 74 hp (54 kW) and 90 ft·lbf (121 N·m) torque. Additional engine choices were a diesel 1.6 L four making 50 hp (37 kW) and, in 1984 (the final year of the A1), a "GLI" high-performance version was offered, powered by the 1.8 L engine and close-ratio transmission from the Rabbit GTI, which made 90 hp (67 kW) and 105 ft·lbf (142 N·m) torque.

A2 (1985 - 1992)
The longest reigning Jetta of all time, the second-generation A2 proved to be a sales success for VW, outnumbering Golf sales two-to-one, and securing the title of best-selling European car in the US. It was also one of the first VW models produced in China. With classic lines (this time penned by VW's own styling department) and great handling characteristics, it's no wonder A2 Jetta's still roam the modern automotive scene as stylish, handsome, European cars. Like the A1 series, the A2's were offered as two-door coupes or four-door sedans; unfortunately, coupes were limited to the base, Wolfsburg and diesel trim levels. Major exterior changes throughout the series run include the elimination of the front-quarter windows in 1988, the addition of larger, body-colored bumper covers , and lower side skirts from 1990 - 1992, and several grille and side-cladding changes.

A3 (1991 - 1998)
Known in Europe as the Vento, the A3 was a refined evolution of the previous-generation Jetta. The Vento debuted in 1991 while the Jetta debuted in 1993. Hailed as the "Poor Man's BMW", it was designed in-house under Herbert Schafer. The third-generation series was criticized for its "boxy" design. Though only offered as a four-door sedan, the A3 spawned more trim levels than any other Jetta line. Exterior changes to the A3 through its production run were subtle, such as a new grille, body-colored rub strips, and different wheel covers.

A4 (1998 - 2005)
Known as the Bora in Europe, the fourth-generation Jetta debuted in late 1998 after its larger sibling, the Passat, with which it shares many styling cues. The rounded shape and arched roofline serves as the new Volkswagen styling trademark, abandoning traditional sharp creases for curved corners. The A4 comes in three different trim levels, and is also offered as a wagon. In some European markets the station wagon version was marketed as a Golf ("Estate" in the UK and Ireland, "Break" in France) and had a Golf grille and headlights.

A5 (2005 - present)
The fifth-generation Jetta debuted at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show in January. It is larger than the fourth generation, with more upscale styling and greater interior room. One major change is the introduction of the first independent rear suspension in a Jetta.

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The Karmann Ghia is a two-seater sports car marketed by Volkswagen, designed by the Italian firm Ghia, and built by German coach builder Karmann. Over 445,000 Karmann Ghias were produced between 1955 and 1974.In the early 1950s Volkswagen was producing small, fuel efficient, reliable automobiles (Like the Volkswagen Beetle); but as the world recovered from World War II, consumers began to demand more stylish and elegant vehicles.In the early 1950s executives at Volkswagen decided that it was necessary to produce an "image" car to satisfy the needs of demanding post-war automobile buyers.Volkswagen contracted with German coach builder Karmann to build this car. Karmann in turn contacted the Italian firm Ghia for a sports car design. Ghia took an already made, but unused design (originally Chrysler or Studebaker) and modified it to fit on a slightly modified Beetle floorpan.
The body and nose of this elegant two door unibody coupe were hand crafted and significantly more expensive to produce than the strictly assembly line produced Beetle; this was reflected in the Karmann Ghia's higher price tag.The design and prototype were well received by Volkswagen executives, and in August, 1955 the first Karmann Ghia was created in Osnabrück, Germany. Public reaction to the curvy Karmann Ghia was excellent, and over 10,000 were sold in the first year, exceeding Volkswagen's expectations.Since the first Karmann Ghia's used the same 36hp engine as the Beetle, the car was not suitable as a true sports car; however the car's beautiful looks and "Beetle reliable" parts made up for this shortfall.In 1958 a convertible or cabriolet version was introduced.The car was slightly redesigned for the 1960 model year. The most notable exterior changes were the car's front "nostril" grills (which were replaced with a wider design), the headlights (which were moved up the fender), and the rear tail-light lenses (which became taller and more rounded, sometimes referred to as "cats-eye" lenses). Cars made from 1955-1959 are referred to as "lowlights," due to the lower placement of the headlights, and are much sought-after by Ghia purists and collectors.1970 saw larger taillights with integrated reverse lights, as well as squarish wrap-around turn signals, versus the "bullet" style used on earlier cars. The taillights were revised again in 1972, becoming taller and adding integrated turn signals.In 1974 the car was discontinued due mainly to increasing safety regulations and sluggish sales.

Types of Ghia
Type 34 Ghia - n 1962, Volkswagen introduced the Type 34 Karmann Ghia, based on their new Type 3 platform. It was the launch vehicle for VW's new larger 1500cc motor. It was the fastest, most luxurious, and most expensive Volkswagen at the time. One interesting option was an electrically operated sliding steel sunroof -- a feature not found even in their (similarly priced) Porsche cousins. The styling was more squared-off, versus the curved appearance of the original Type 14 Ghia, offering more interior and cargo room. This venture into a more up-market realm with a low volume production car was not a success, and production ceased in 1969 after about 42,000 units were built. Today the Type 34 is considered a semi-rare collectible.

Rebirth of the Ghia
When VW/Audi came out with the Audi TT, many VW enthusiasts likened the styling of the TT to that of the Ghia, and the TT has been analogous with the Ghia in much the same manner as the New Beetle has been with the Classic Beetle.

Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat is a midsized car built by Volkswagen AG, produced in various forms since 1973. It falls between the VW Golf/Jetta and VW Phaeton in the current VW production line-up, and is currently produced in VW's plant in Emden. Although normally known as the Passat in European markets, it has been badged as a variety of other names including Dasher, Santana and Quantum, particularly in markets such as North America.The Passat has always been one of Volkswagen's most important models, falling in the middle of the sedan/saloon market segment. It was critical to Volkswagen on its introduction in 1973 — sales of the Beetle were declining, and larger air-cooled rear-engined models like the 411 and 412 were failing to take hold in the market. Following the Volkswagen Group's acquisition of Audi in 1964, VW were able to use newly gained engineering expertise to develop a modern front wheel drive car with a water-cooled engine, and thus the Passat and Golf (introduced 1976) were the first of a new generation of Volkwagens. Indeed the first Passat was very heavily based on the Audi 80/Fox, enabling it to compete more squarely with its European rivals than its old-fashioned rear-engined predecessors. As of 2005, the Passat is one of VW's best-selling and most-profitable models in nearly every market.

Generations of Passat
Mark 2 (1981-1988) - B2 Platform - The second generation VW Passat, an all-new car, was launched in 1981 for the 1982 model year. The platfom, named B2, was slightly longer and the car's updated styling was instantly recognisable as Passat, with the most obvious difference being the rectangular headlights. The car was known as the Quantum in North America, where it was introduced in 1982.Mark 3 (1988-1993) - B3 Platform - The third-generation Passat (introduced 1988 in Europe, 1990 in North America) was a completely new car and its curvy looks, were a world away from the boxy appearance of its predecessor, and owed much to the 'Jelly Mould' style pionered by Ford with the Sierra. The lack of a grille made the car's front end styling reminiscent of older, rear engined, Volkswagens such as the 411.

Mark 4 (1993-1996) - B4 Platform -
The Mark 4 Passat was actually a facelifted Mark 3, but Volkswagen renamed the platform B4. This version was available from 1995 to 1997 in North America. The car was mechanically nearly identical to the Mark 3, with some new body panels, the most obvious exterior change being the re-introduction of a grille to match the style of other contemporary Volkswagen models such as the Polo. The interior design was also updated and improved safety equipment including dual front airbags were added.

Mark 5 (1996-2000) - B5 Platform - The fifth-generation Passat (B5) was launched in 1996 in Europe and 1998 in North America, and was an entrirely new car. It was significant in that it returned to Audi underpinnings, again using the classic "overhung" longitudinally mounted engine with front wheel drive. This was the first step of VW moving its products upmarket, with SEAT and Skoda taking over as the "budget" brands, and the Passat being placed in between old rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Opel Vectra, and more upmarket cars such as the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In fact it undoubtedly took some sales from its sister car, the supposedly more upmarket Audi A4. The £16,000 starting price in the UK put it £1,000 above the equivalant Ford Mondeo, but the price difference showed when it came to luxury and upmarket feel. The most notable thing about the Passat was its good handling, which was as good as anything produced by Mercedes-Benz or BMW. The interior was also luxurious and well-equipped, with a long equipment list which included electric windows, air-conditioning, CD player, electric mirrors, electric sunroof and leather upholstery.

Mark 5 Phase II (2000-2005) - B5 Platform
In mid-2000, the Passat received a facelift, involving a minor tweaking of the styling and some mechanical alteration, and the platform continued to be known as B5. Although some of the body panels remained unchanged, new projector-optic headlights and bumpers gave the car a fresher look. The Passat was still very much the comfortable, well-built and luxurious large saloon and estate which had been launched four years earlier. Traditional Volkswagen trademarks of build quality and reliability continued to boost the Passat's reputation.

Mark 6 (2005-onwards) - B6 Platform
The latest Passat, an all new car, was first displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2005, and launched in Europe in the summer of 2005. The new B6 Passat features a return to the transversely mounted engine and no longer shares its platform with the Audi A4, since its underpinnings - the (B6 platform) - are now based upon the Mk5 Golf.

Volkswagen Rabbit
The Rabbit GTI is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive hatchback car. It has an 1.8 Liter, in-line 4 cylinder, 8 valve engine that puts out 90 BHP @ 5500 RPM. The Rabbit has a curb weight of 2100 LBS and has a 5-speed manual transmission.I am going to start working on the car pretty soon. I have just ordered pure red tailights for it (because I am planning on painting the car black) and have also ordered a Zender Wing for it.

Volkswagen Thing
The Volkswagen Type 181 or Thing was a small military vehicle produced by Volkswagen from 1969 to 1980 for the German army, as an updated version of the earlier Kübelwagen. The Thing, as it was commonly called, was also sold in the civilian market and enjoyed brief popularity in the United States in the mid-1970s. The vehicle was also referred to as the Safari, the Mehrzweckwagen, the Kübelwagen, and the Trekker.The rated payload of the Type 181 for military use was 400 kg, and being a general utility vehicle, acted as a command, patrol, dispatch, or radio vehicle. Standard military equipment included an axe, headlamp blackout covers, military lighting system, map light, radio suppression, four rifle mounts, a spade, a starting handle, towing eye, towing hook, and a wheel chock.For civilian use, the Thing was marketed as a recreational vehicle. Attractive features included the convertible top, removable doors, and a collapsible windshield. The vehicle was offered in orange, yellow, avocado green, or white. The convertible top was offered in black, tan, white or army green. Like its cousin the Volkswagen Beetle, the Thing featured rear wheel drive with a stock 1600cc dual port air-cooled engine in the rear.The Type 181 was sold as the Thing in the United States in 1973 and 1974 and as the Safari in Mexico from 1972 through 1977. A right hand drive version, the Trekker (Type 182), was built for the UK market. After 1973, Type 181s abandoned the Eberspacher gasoline heater in favor of a engine/exhaust heat exchange similar to the Beetle.The Acapulco Thing, originally designed for the Las Brisas Hotel in Acapulco, came with running boards, special upholstery and paint schemes, and a surrey top. Acapulcos are identified by their striped paint scheme and were offered in orange and white, yellow and white, green and white, or blue and white.Between 1969 and 1972 the Type 181 was produced in Germany. From 1973 until 1980 production took place in Mexico. Total production numbers are vague, and range from 70,495 to almost double that at 140,768.In North America, the Thing was criticized for failure to comply with federal safety standards for passenger cars. Rather than redesign the vehicle, Volkswagen abandoned the project altogether and the last Things were sold in the United States in 1974.The myth that Things are amphibious vehicles probably comes from their resemblance to the Schwimmwagen, a vehicle tested by the German military during World War II.

Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg (Pronounced Toe-waar-egg) is an automobile manufactured by Volkswagen. It is a luxury SUV (UK: 4x4), the first ever produced by Volkswagen.The Touareg was co-developed with Porsche, who was also looking to add an SUV to their lineup, as a cost-sharing initiative. Porsche shares this chassis to underpin their Cayenne sports utility vehicle, although there are numerous styling, equipment and technical differences between the two vehicles.The Touareg was Car and Driver magazine's Best Luxury SUV for 2003, Motor Trend magazine's Sport/Utility of the Year for 2004, and "Four Wheeler" magazine's Four Wheeler of the Year for 2005.

Volkswagen Vanagon
The T3 generation of the Volkswagen Type 2, also known as the Vanagon in the U.S., as the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, and also to some in Britain and Ireland as the T25, was built from 1980 until 1991. It was the last of the rear-engined Volkswagens. Compared to its predecessor, the Microbus, the Vanagon was larger and heavier, with square corners replacing the rounded edges of the older models.The Vanagon was built to be the modern successor to the Microbus. Unfortunately, the vehicle was somewhat underpowered in relation to its curb weight. Later versions of the Vanagon (produced in South Africa) had a 5-cylinder engine which helped performance greatly. Installing engines from more powerful vehicles -- including turbo diesel Volkswagens, Subarus, and even Porsches -- is a solution pursued by some owners.Most early Vanagons had chrome-plated steel bumpers with plastic endcaps; later years had larger and squarer plastic bumpers.Very early models (all 1980 models, some 1981) also had 8 welded-in metal slats covering the engine ventilation passages behind the rear windows. All later models had black plastic 16-slat covers that slotted in at the top and screwed down at the bottom.There were three engine variants , which were all pushrod OHV designs (not including the diesel variants):a 2.0 L (2000cc) (67bhp) (Serial # CV) air-cooled, fuel injected flat-4 in the 1980 to 1983 1/2 models*a 1.9 L (1913cc) (83bhp) (Serial # DH) water-cooled (or "Wasserboxer") engine used for the 1983 1/2 to 1985 models, which used a fuel injection system known as "Digijet" (Digital Jet-tronic)* a 2.1 L (2100cc) (95bhp) (Serial # MV) Wasserboxer, used until the end of Vanagon importation into the US in 1991. This engine used a more advanced fuel injection system known as "Digifant I".The Wasserboxer featured an aluminum case, cylinder heads, and pistons, and a forged steel crankshaft.The Wasserboxer, as with all VW boxer engines, directly drives the camshaft via a small brass gear on the crankshaft, and a large one on the camshaft that makes direct contact, so there is no timing chain or belt to worry about. The entire mechanism is internal to the engine so there is no concern as long as the oil is changed regularly.It also featured Heron, or "bowl-in-piston" type combustion chambers where the combustion takes place within the piston area, and not the cylinder head.The WBX featured cast iron cylinder liners inserted into a water jacket with a "rubber lip" style head gasket, which is a very different design as compared to most vehicles. The top of the cylinder liners is pressed into a recessed cut-out in the cylinder heads, that are sealed with compressible metal rings, to prevent leakage.Some Wasserboxers were plagued by head gasket failures due to inadequate maintanance (the system must be flushed or filled with phosphate-free coolant every 1 to 2 years) and marginal design (the engine was prone to overheating).This engine is representative of the fact that boxer 4 cylinders produce a low pitch rumble, rather than a high pitch buzz/whine, when running. Some find this aspect of the engine to be pleasing, owing to the dislike of the "sewing machine" sound of I4 engines.The switch to water-cooling for the boxer engines was made so abruptly mid-year in 1983 because VW could no longer make the air-cooled engines meet emissions standards. Water-cooled models can be distinguished by a second radiator grille.There were also 1.6 L (1600cc) (48 bhp) (Serial # CS) SOHC Inline 4 diesel Vanagons available for the 1982 model year. They didn't sell well in this configuration due to severe lack of power. Fuel economy, however, often approached 30 mpg US.Because of the engine placement, a Vanagon has very nearly equal 50/50 weight distrubution fore and aft.A four wheel drive version of the Vanagon (called the Syncro) was manufactured in limited numbers from 1986 through 1991. With a short wheelbase and 50/50 weight distribution, these vehicles have surprisingly good off-road capabilities.1980 to 1985 models had round sealed beam headlights. All subsequent models had smaller square headlights, with the primary lights outboard and high beams inboard.The Vanagon was replaced by the EuroVan in the US market in 1993 (1992 saw no VW bus imported into the U.S. market, save custom campers sold by companies other than VW).