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!

Volkswagen of America Supports Tour De Fox and Parkinson’s!

Last week, Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) was thrilled to announce that it would be supporting extreme adveture athlete and Michael J. Fox Foundation staff member, Sam Fox in his 14,000 mile journey across the United States into British Columbia, Canada. Keep reading to learn more about his journey and how Volkswagen is supporting him!

Over the next three months Sam Fox (no relation to Michael J. Fox) will bike and hike and climb his across the lower 48 states, while also climbing the highest peak in each state, in order to raise awarness and money for Parkinson’s research. While on his journey, he hopes to meet his goal of raising $1 million towards the critical research towards finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

Volkswagen is proudly supporting Sam and his goals by providing him with Volkswagen Touareg and Volkswagen Tiguan SUVs as well as a $5,000 monetary donation. Each of the SUVs will be equipped by Volkswagen Parts and Accessories to support his bicycles, climbing equipment, clothes, cargo, and gear throughout the course of the trip. Michael Horn, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, had this to say about VWoA’s support of Sam Fox and his journey across the United States:

We are proud to support Sam on his journey to raise funds and awareness for The Michael J. Fox Foundation. The versatility and durability of the Tiguan and Touareg make these the perfect vehicles to support Sam throughout this noble adventure.

The Tour de Fox’s main goal it unite and inspire people from all corners of the USA and Parkinson’s Community  through Sam Fox’s passion, sweat, and determination. Sam Fox, outreach and engagement officer, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, had this to say about the support from VWoA:

We’re very grateful to Volkswagen for its support of Tour de Fox. With these vehicles, we will be able to meet with thousands of members of the Parkinson’s community this summer.

To learn more about how you can help out, support, or join the Tour, head on down to your local Volkswagen dealership, Jennings Volkswagen, to speak to a member of our team or head to tourdefox.org to check it out!