Argentine Dealer Signs Porsche-For-Wine Program to Offset Car Imports

Argentina's Industry Ministry signed an agreement with Porsche importer Grupo Pulenta according to which, the company will have to offset all car imports with equivalent exports of wine and olives.

The deal complies with local regulations that allow companies to import cars for sale only if they export goods of the same value. Grupo Pulenta, which aims to import 100 vehicles worth around $8 million this year, will therefore have to export wine and olive products to 18 countries, including the U.S. and neighboring Brazil.

The agreement comes two weeks after Volkswagen signed a deal with the Argentine government to increase exports from VW's Cordoba plant by 77 percent in 2011, so that the deficit between the company's exports and imports will drop around 70 percent.

Automobile sales in Argentina rose 43 percent in 2010 to a record 698,299 units, according to the country's Automobile Manufacturers Association. Out of these, 435,767 units were imported. Exports from Argentina's car industry reached 447,953 units last year.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Bloomberg

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Volkswagen Launches New Line of Accessories for Facelifted Eos

VW has released the first aftermarket accessories for its facelifted Eos coupe-cabriolet in the form of new aerodynamic, styling and practical accessories. In particular, VW proposes a tailgate spoiler, stainless steel muffler tips and a rear protection bar finished in high-gloss chrome. The spoiler is applied directly to the bootlid and promises to improve the car’s aerodynamics at high speeds

The chrome bar gives the Eos an extra “bling” factor, while also protecting the edge of the tailgate. It simply sticks to the lower rim of the tailgate, without damaging it in any way. Rounding off the exterior styling propositions is a new 17-inch alloy wheel design called “Azuro”, which is painted in silver and has five double spokes.

For the car's interior, VW Accessories offers three different trim sets, each consisting of five decorative pieces that apply to the doors and the dashboard. Available colors include carbon, aluminum and piano.

Cycling fans can order a bicycle rack that can transport up to two bikes, with an extension kit for a third one available. Finally, Volkswagen has developed a special luggage set for the Eos, made up of two branded suitcases.

The updated Eos was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late November 2010, featuring new headlights and grille, revised bumpers, redesigned taillights and an upgraded equipment list.

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Skoda's Winged Arrow Logo Celebrates its 85th Anniversary

Skoda is renowned for being one of the oldest car manufacturers in the world, having been established in 1895. The Czech brand, which now belongs to the Volkswagen Group, also has one of the oldest logos. Today, the maker’s winged arrow emblem turned 85. On May 10, 1926, the first Skoda car to wear the logo was produced in the Mlada Boleslav plant and delivered to the president of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Masaryk.

The car in question was a Skoda Hispano Suiza, as the industrial manufacturer had bought the license to produce luxurious vehicles from the Spanish company Hispano-Suiza in 1924, a year ahead of the merger with the automobile factory of Laurin & Klement.

During the three years it remained in production, only 100 units of the Skoda Hispano-Suiza were ever built. Production of the first model began in the spring of 1925 and was completed a little after a year, in May 1926. The reason for the long production time was that every car was custom-built to individual requirements, with each one being unique. The Skoda Hispano Suiza 25/100 PS weighed up to 2,700 kilograms (5,950 lbs), depending on equipment, and was able to reach a top speed of 86 mph (138 km/h).

Prices were considerably higher than other vehicles available on the market. The car's base price was 190,000 crowns but it could easily reach a quarter of a million crowns, depending on the features. For example, the office of the president paid 280,000 crowns for the first Skoda Hispano Suiza, at a time when the small Skoda 422 cost 38,000 crowns.

The car's accompanying marketing booklet at the time read: “The Škoda Hispano Suiza is a luxury car designed by a brilliant engineer who put his stamp on the smallest details and manufactured with the utmost care and with finest materials.”

By Dan Mihalascu

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VW Premieres Sharan and Passat Variant Emergency Vehicles at the 2011 RETTmobil

After Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Volkswagen also revealed its dedicated lineup at the annual RETTmobil exhibition, which is dedicated to emergency and rescue vehicles. The Wolfsburg-based manufacturer premiered the Sharan and Passat Variant as emergency vehicles together with new features for its range of specialty cars.

The new Sharan is equipped with the 170HP version of VW’s 2.0-liter TDI engine linked to a six-speed DSG gearbox. The minivan features a special signal system with LED technology and is fitted with a remote speaker. The Passat Variant has the same engine and gearbox but adds four-wheel drive to the mix. Both cars have base Candy White paint and are fitted with front and rear flashing lights.

VW also displayed a Touareg emergency medical vehicle, equipped with the 245HP 3.0-liter diesel engine. It features blue front and rear flashing lights plus a special signal system with LED technology. There's also the Touran as a covert police car equipped with an accident data storage system and a run-safe mode that allows the engine to function even if the keys are removed from the ignition.

Volkswagen said all mergency vehicles have a special suspension tuned to the specific needs of their job.

In addition to the aforementioned vehicles, VW also showcased several new features such as the headlight flashers, which improve the visibility of emergency medical vehicles. Another useful accessory is the standard horn speaker, which makes the emergency vehicle easier to notice in traffic, while also lowering the noise level in the cabin.

By Dan Mihalascu

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It Came from Kyrgyzstan: Steel Drake’s Volkswagen Concept Sports Car

Imagine for a second that, in the very near future, Audi is facelifting the TT to look more like its big brother R8. Then, halfway through the project, Audi cans it and hands over all its sketches and prototyping model to Volkswagen which then decides to put the two-door coupe into production.

Kyrgyzstanian graphic designer “Steel Drake” has created something very much fitting with this scenario in the form of his Volkswagen Concept Sports Car. Looking like a scaled-down, front engined Audi R8, Steel Drake’s Concept Sports is a simple-yet-sleek design let down only by some questionable design choices.

Take for instance the drooping taillights that seem more befitting a Chinese car than one built in Germany, or the peculiar concave curves around the doors that seems stuck on rather than an integral part of the design. Otherwise it’s quite good looking, though perhaps more something Infiniti would produce than Volkswagen.

You can check out our full gallery below and / or leave your comments below.

By Tristan Hankins

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