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2008
VOLKSWAGEN NEW CAR MODEL GUIDE
 Volkswagen
of Germany offers up its favored nameplates
for 2008 including the Beetle, Jetta,
hot-hatch GTI and Rabbit. The top sedan
available is the deluxe, mid-size Passat,
while the Touareg SUV now offers powertrain
choices with six, eight or even 10 cylinders.
 Rabbit
Volkswagen's subcompact series of three-door
and five-door hatchbacks use the iconic
label of Rabbit, which traces to VW's
original small hatchback marketed in the
United States from 1974 to 1982. The 2008,
5th-generation Rabbit totes a new powertrain
— VW's 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine,
which generates 170 horsepower while linked
to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic or
five-speed manual transmission. A tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is now
standard for 2008 models, while all-disc
ABS brakes and a non-skid device called
electronic stability program (ESP) is
also available.
 GTI
Charged with the kick of a turbo engine,
VW's hot-hatch GTI is a compact two-door
coupe masked as a convenient hatchback
with precise mechanical components. The
2.0-liter turbo engine feels vigorous
and quick, netting 200 horsepower. Additionally,
there are two choices for the GTI transmission,
either a six-speed manual or six-speed
Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) Tiptronic automatic
with paddle shifters. The GTI's exterior
package features a brash face with big,
matte-black grille. Lots of new equipment
goes into the 2008 model including Sirius
satellite radio. The GTI is available
in both the GTI and GTI Autobahn trim.
 New
Beetle
VW's compact, two-door coupe shows keen,
slick styling and a bold face with large
oval headlamps and a mesh grille. The
Beetle's standard engine is a 2.5-liter,
five-cylinder rig, which achieves 150
horsepower through a five-speed manual
transmission or a six-speed automatic
with Tiptronic shifter. This year's equipment
upgrades consist of a traction control
system (TCS) with ESP added to all models,
along with a TPMS. New trim tags emerge
this year as the New Beetle S and New
Beetle SE. The S model rolls on new 16-inch
alloy wheels, while the SE is mounted
on 17-inch alloys.
 New
Beetle Cabriolet
This VW is a convertible conversion for
the New Beetle hardtop created by Karmann
Coachworks in Germany. With its top raised,
the convertible maintains the arched roof
of the coupe, leaving its cabin dimensions
relatively the same. The fabric-lined
top has three layers of insulation, plus
a rear window constructed from glass and
imbedded with a defroster element. The
cabriolet's top opens and closes by manual
mode or with optional semi-automatic power
controls. The model's powertrain compares
to the hardtop, with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder
plant bringing 150 horsepower.
 Passat
The mid-size Passat sedan and five-door
wagon offer new trims for 2008 including
the Turbo, Komfort, Lux and VR6. There
are two powertrain options along with
the choice of front-wheel-drive (FWD)
or VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive (AWD)
traction. The base engine for the Passat
is a 2.0-liter, four-in-line, which adds
a turbo-charger and direct fuel injection
to generate 200 horsepower through a manual
six-speed transmission on the Passat Turbo
or a six-speed electronic automatic with
Tiptronic sequential shifter. More juice
flows from the 3.6-liter V6 sparked to
280 horsepower. The Passat VR6 now stocks
bi-xenon headlamps with the Adaptive Front
lighting System (AFS), curtain-style air
bags and ESP.
 Eos
Eos of Greek mythology applied to the
goddess of the dawn, and this VW version
allows that sun to come up with push-button
ease, converting the model from a hardtop
coupe to an open-top convertible. The
sleek two-door — with seating for
four in its well-stocked cabin —
uses the Rabbit/Jetta platform with FWD
and two powertrain options. A 2.0-liter,
four-in-line turbo produces 200 horsepower
through a manual six-speed transmission
or six-speed DSG Tiptronic automatic.
Additionally, VW's twin-cam 3.2-liter
V6, mated exclusively to the DSG, hits
250 horsepower. New 2008 trims include
the Turbo, Komfort, Lux and VR6.
 Jetta
/ GLI
The Jetta's crisp styling features a brash
face with chrome grille flanking corner
lamps and aerodynamic lines sweeping across
the arching roof. The model's five-seat
cabin has surprising room for a compact.
A new powertrain is available, VW's 2.5-liter
five-cylinder plant delivering 170 horsepower.
Additionally, a 2.0-liter, four-pack with
turbo-charging nets 200 horsepower for
the upscale GLI, tying to a six-speed
manual or optional six-speed DSG automatic
Tiptronic. The GLI and new GLI Autobahn
editions have a reduced ride height, creating
a sporty stance. 2008 Jetta trims include
the S, SE and SEL.
 Touareg
The Touareg SUV from VW has a five-door
design with a tight unibody structure.
It's sleek in style and large in scale
for the mid-size class, offering a spacious
cabin, seating for five and plush appointments.
The Touareg employs VW's four-wheel-drive
(4WD) traction device labeled 4XMotion,
which provides uncanny traction for all
wheels, plus optional locking rear differential
and an air suspension. The available engines
contain six, eight and even 10 cylinders.
The massive, 5.0-liter, V10 turbo-diesel
delivers 300 horsepower through an automatic
six-speed transmission, achieving a tow
capacity of 7,716 pounds.
 R32
VW's quickest hatch lands late in 2008,
but flashes bold exterior lines, cool,
cabin styling cues and boosted power ratings.
The R32's power package consists of the
3.2-liter, VR6 engine with 250 horsepower,
the dual-clutch DSG Tiptronic automatic
with paddle shifters and 4Motion AWD traction.
The R32's cockpit stocks sports seats,
a leather-wrapped, tri-spoke steering
wheel, alloy foot pedals, automatic climate
controls (Climatronic), anti-theft alarm,
cruise control, rain sensing wipers and
heatable washer nozzles. Also available
is a deluxe audio kit with CD player and
10 speakers.
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