Volkswagen Golf TDI Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORD!

On July 8, 2015, Volkswagen of America was thrilled to announce that the 2015 VW Golf TDI Clean Diesel had set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS achievement for “Lowest fuel consumption—48 U.S. contiguous States for a non-hybrid” vehicle. The 2015 VW Golf TDI, which is a part of the Golf family that earned 2015 North American Car of the Year honors, spent 16 days traveling 8,233.5 miles around the lower 48 states all while averaging a record-breaking 81.17 mpg and spending only $294.98! It beat out the previous mark of 77.99 mpg by more than 3 mpg and also beat out the hybrid record of 74.34 mpg. Keep reading to find out more! 

The 2015 VW Golf TDI left from VWoA headquarters in Herndon, Virginia on Monday June 22, and hit all 48 contiguous states before returning to Virginia on July 7. The vehicle was driven by Wayne Gerdes, an automotive journalist and founder of cleanmpg.com, was the primary driver during the trip. He was accompanied by Bob Winger, an electronics engineer who has long been involved in conservation and energy projects. Mr. Gerdes had this to say about the trip:

Volkswagen’s TDI Clean Diesel engines are just amazing. I don’t think people realize the potential mileage you can get from them. In our experience, it is possible to get truly impressive mileage results by using just a few simple fuel-saving techniques.

Michael Horn, President and CEO, VWoA, Inc., had this to say about the record being set:

Covering 8,233.5 miles on just 101.43 gallons of Clean Diesel fuel is a remarkable accomplishment, and solid proof of the efficiency and fuel economy of Volkswagen’s TDI Clean Diesel vehicles. Whether on a long road trip, or even in daily commuting, the great mileage and long range of our TDI models is a pure convenience factor that few other vehicles on sale can match. It’s a simple formula: Less Stop, More Go!

To learn more about the TDI engine and the 2015 VW Golf family, head on over to your local Volkswagen dealership serving Evanston, Jennings Volkswagen, to speak to a member of our team today!

Volkswagen Unveils “Unleash Your RRRR” Campaign!

Last week Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) unveiled the “Unleash Your Rrrr” website that allows Volkswagen fans and drivers to engage in a virtual reality experience. The Unleash Your Rrrr site lets VW fans drive a virtual VW Golf R using only the sound of your voice. Keep reading to learn more!

The Unleash Your Rrrr app utilizes deep learning—an artificial intelligence subset of machine learning—that was developed by VW’s agency of record Deutsch LA to analyze each user’s individual and unique impression of the VW vehicle’s engine’s roar. Once it analyzes each voice, it then will generate a customized video of the VW Golf R roaring down a race track while drifting, braking, and other cool stunts that will correspond to the voice recording. The deep learning technology uses the pitch of each person’s voice and then matches it to a clip from a pool of previously made Volkswagen car videos. Vinay Shahani, Vice President of Marketing for Volkswagen of America, had this to say about the “Unleash Your Rrrr” site and concept:

The idea behind the Golf R “Unleash Your Rrrr” was simple—imagination. As children, we’ve all played with toy cars, and the power of our imaginations allowed us to turn rugs into expressways and wooden floors into slick racetracks. Our voice would act as the engine. Fast forward to today where we now have the power of technology to enhance our imagination, and to visualize the power of our voice.

The stunts in the video are performed by a professional racecar and stunt car driver, Tanner Foust, who is a member of the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Team. If you want to Unleash Your Rrrr, you can visit http://rrr.vw.com on your computer. To check out the real life Rrrrs of our new Volkswagen models, head on down to your Glenview Volkswagen dealers, Jennings Volkswagen, to speak to a member of our team today!

Volkswagen Extends Partnership with MoMA and MoMA PS1!

Earlier this summer, Volkswagen of American, Inc. (VWoA) was thrilled to announce an expanded two-year partnership with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and MoMA PS1. The partnership will continue to provide lead support for all of MoMA’s education programs, its key exhibits, and the innovative initiatives it supports. Volkswagen’s presence will help to share MoMA and MoMA PS1’s programming with a broad, global relationship. Keep reading to find out more!

Since 2011, VWoA has been a major partner for MoMA and MoMA PS1 by supporting a wide range of exhibitions, educational opportunities, and special event programming. The new initiatives and furtherance of the partnership will continue to build on that success with a new focus on supporting MoMA Education in order to reach a worldwide audience of those who want to learn. In the last nine years since MoMA launched its curriculum website in 2006, the world has profound shift towards digital learning, which has allowed MoMA to produce a ton of content. The partnership has allowed MoMA to produce and aggregate all this content while also allowing for expansion of such opportunities such lead sponsorship for future exhibitions, creating a new strand of MoMA PS1 VW Fellows, and the development of the Volkswagen Global Conversation Series. Glenn D. Lowry, MoMA Director, had this to say about the partnership:

It is a pleasure to work with an organization that shares our commitment to bringing world-class modern and contemporary art to a diverse, global audience. We look forward to continued partnership and to connecting visitors and our community abroad with today’s most significant artists and innovators through conversation, exhibitions, educational programming.

To learn more about Volkswagen and its philanthropic and educational goals, head on down to your local Chicagoland VW dealership, Jennings Volkswagen, to speak to a member of our team! We can help answer any questions you might have as well as show you all of our great new Volkswagen models!

Volkswagen and Discovery Channel Team Up for Fourth SHARK WEEK!

Earlier this week, Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) was pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year that it would be a sponsor for Discovery Channel’s incredibly popular SHARK WEEK TV event. VWoA is collaborating with the network to debut “Sharks ReScored” as a part of the launch for the all-new 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen. Keep reading to find out more!

The stylish and sporty VW Golf Sportwagen is helping to change the way that American drivers view wagons. With its attractive exterior, well-stocked interior, and peppy powertrain, drivers are realizing it’s a fun-to-drive and well-made vehicle. VInay Shahani, Vice President of Marketing, VWofA, had this to say about the partnership:

Volkswagen is thrilled to continue working with Discovery Channel and SHARK WEEK. Year after year, our partnership with SHARK WEEK grows stronger, and this year gives us an unprecedented opportunity to introduce millions of consumers to Volkswagen and the all-new Golf Sportwagen.

The Sharks ReScored campaign is an innovative online experience that allows users to view videos, play games, and use eye-tracking technology to use interactive score footage and show how music influences perceptions of sharks. Through the interactive site, users can also see what Volkswagen is doing to help shark conservation efforts. Ben Price, executive vice president, ad sales, Discovery Communications, had this to say about the partnership:

Discovery Channel and Volkswagen share a great relationship and we are excited to have them back as presenting sponsor of SHARK WEEK for the fourth year in a row. As TV’s must-see summer event, SHARK WEEK has a loyal audience, which we are proud to engage in this unique sponsorship with Volkswagen connecting them with our passionate fans bringing awareness to VW’s innovation and originality.

To find out all that the 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen has to offer drivers, head on down to your Chicagoland Volkswagen dealers, Jennings Volkswagen, to speak to a member of our team and get set up on a test drive today!

Summer Safety 101: Getting Your Car Ready for Summer Road Trips!

As summer officially started a few days ago, our team here at your Chicagoland Volkswagen dealers, Jennings Volkswagen, wants to make sure that both you and your vehicle are ready for the road. Before you head on down the highway, we recommend checking a few technical items off the old checklist to ensure that you’re trip goes and smoothly as possible:

Total Recall: Cars, like the human body, need to be treated like a temple in order to get the best possible effort out of it. Just like you should go to the doctor for a physical each year, you need stay in the know about your vehicle. Make sure that it has recently gotten a tune up and check to see if there are any active recalls on your vehicle. You can check recalls through your manufacturer by using your VIN. If there is a safety recall, your vehicle manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy.

No Tired Tires: Before hitting the road, make sure that your tires are good to go. You’ll want to focus on air, wear, and spare. Make sure that your tires are inflated to the proper PSI (This will located in the owner’s manual and/or door frame). Also make sure to check for excessive wear, you don’t want to be driving on worn out, or bald, tires as this can be dangerous. Finally, make sure you have a spare tire in your trunk in case you get a flat.

Take Care for Rubber Wear: Check out all your belts, hoses, and wiper blades for any blisters, cracks, or cuts and replace them if they’re not in good condition. Also check to ensure hose connections are secure.

Get Plenty of Fluids: Top off all fluids: oil, brake, windshield wiper, transmission, steering, and coolant. Double check whether it’s time for an oil change.

Light It Up: Check for and replace any headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency lights, and interior lights.

By taking some time to check out these different areas of your car, you’re setting yourself up for a smooth and safe roadtrip. If you have any questions or concerns, or just want some help, don’t hesitate to contact your Glenview Volkswagen Service Department to speak to one of our technicians today!

Volkswagen Teams Up with Food Network as Food Network Star Sponsor!

Earlier this month, it was announced that Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) was teaming up with the Food Network as the presenting automotive sponsor of the 11th season of Food Network Star competition series that kicked off on June 7th. Throughout the course of the season, the Volkswagen brand’s efficient and powerful TDI clean diesel vehicles will be seen taking the twelve finalists around town as they battle in unique challenges to win their own show on the Food Network. There will also be a “VW Challenge” episode where the Passat TDI, Golf Sportwagen TDI, and Touareg TDI will be featured. The VW Challenge episode airs June 28th. The Golf Sportwagen TDI will also be seen on the “Star Salvation” web series, which is where eliminated chefs compete to return to “Food Network Star.”

The Volkswagen vehicles that will be featured on the show include the 2015 VW Passat TDI that offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 44 mpg on highway and a highway fuel economy of up to 814 miles. The 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 43 mpg and a highway mileage of up to 567 mpg and offers a cargo capacity of 30.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 66.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The 2015 Touareg TDI that gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg. Vinay Shahani, Vice President, Marketing, VWoA, had this to say:

Volkswagen is excited to support the 12 contenders as they embark on their journey to become the next winner of ‘Food Network Star.’ Our efficient, spacious and powerful TDI Clean Diesel models stand ready to rise to utility and performance demands of the busy contestants.

To learn more about these great vehicles and all of our new Volkswagen inventory, head on down to Jennings Volkswagen today!

VW Unveils 2016 Volkswagen Jetta GLI!

Last week, Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) unveiled the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta GLI! The 2016 VW Jetta GLI is a performance-based sedan-equivalent of the VW Golf GTI. The latest generation offers new features and sporty look for the 2016 model year. Keep reading to learn more about what makes this sedan so popular!

The performance version Volkswagen brand’s best-selling car offers drivers an impressive and dynamic combination of value, performance, and practicality. It comes powered by a 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 210 horsepower. It comes equipped with all the latest in safety technology, including the Volkswagen brand’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking system. The system builds on the idea that a car collision does not generally consist of a single, instantaneous action, but that it stems from a series of events that follow that initial impact. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system will apply the brakes when the primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors. This helps to reduce residual kinetic energy, and in turn, hopefully additional damage.

All 2016 VW GLI models will feature the new MIB 2 infotainment system that incorporate a full suite of USB and VW Car-Net connectivity functions. SE models will feature LED tail-lights, Keyless access with push-button start, Climatronic automatic dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera, front and rear Park Distance Control, the premium Fender Audio System, rain-sensing wipers, and heated seats. The SEL trim brings a number of upscale features such as Blind Spot Detection with rear cross traffic alert, a navigation system, Bi-Xenon headlights with an Adaptive Front-lighting System, and Homelink. To learn more about all the great features that will be available on the 2016 VW Jetta GLI, head on down to your local Chicagoland Volkswagen dealership, Jennings Volkswagen, to speak to a member of our team today!