VW Shift Gears on Hybrids and Pulls A Cayenne Hybrid Out of the Hat

Germany’s Automobilewoche reports that with the change in Volkswagen’s top management is coming a change in strategy for hybrids.

Now, rather than target a mild hybrid Jetta for sale into the California market in 2008 as described by Pischetsrieder, Volkswagen will focus first on a full hybrid Touareg SUV (along with Porsche with its Cayenne) for the end of 2008, with Bosch providing the full hybrid system.

Obviously Porsche's new seats on the board of VW are having their effect.

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1970toyotamarc - 1/31/2007 11:34:51 AM

+1 Boost

more European hybrids........

EL34i - 1/31/2007 11:49:17 AM

+3 Boost

Mad because your design instructor is forcing you to integrate hybrid technology into your 'designs'.

cynic - 1/31/2007 1:38:16 PM

+4 Boost

But who is forcing the Europeans, is it some law that was just put in place? There are other options available to European automakers, so there must have been some business model that supported their decision. Or, do the Europeans car manufacturers believe that they do not have enough marketing smarts to bring diesels to the forefront as the Japanese have done with hybrids?

Lexus - 1/31/2007 5:57:57 PM

+1 Boost

Well..welll...look at what we have! European auto company now copying Toyota/Lexus. Look like VW/Porsche wasn't kidding when they says, they are targeting Toyota. Hey! if you want to be the best you got to beat the best (AKA) Toyota. VW you're heading in the right direction;)

Lexus

S4cabriofoxone - 1/31/2007 6:13:51 PM

0 Boost

Hey, there's a market. I'd rather have a Cayenne S or Touareg V8, but if they steal sales away from the RX400h, don't let me say, "I told you so."

Lexus - 1/31/2007 6:32:37 PM

+2 Boost

S4cabriofoxone, the Cayenne S or Tourage V8 "Hybrid" are not even out yet. So can you be so sure it will steal from RX400h? People that buy the Cayenne S will will buy a Cayenne S or Touareg. People that buy a Lexus RX400h will continue to do so.

Both brand have their own groups of customer who is very loyal to their brand. I own Lexus IS350 and I when I get another ride it will a be a Lexus again. And if I have the money I would buy the Aston Martin V8 Vantage or the DB9.

The cars that I like, that are made in Germany are the BMW 650i, Audi RS4 and that is it. But Lexus is will alway be my favorite brand.

Lexus Rule !

S4cabriofoxone - 1/31/2007 10:37:13 PM

+1 Boost

Woah, woah, woah! No need to get defensive.

But it's pretty obvious that these cars are RX400h competitors, and it's also obvious that they'll have similar buyers. Why would it be surprising that they'd be competitive, sales-wise?

You stated before that you liked "all cars", but you only like two German cars? How about Porsche? Audi A8? Any Mercedes models? My car?

S4cabriofoxone - 1/31/2007 10:37:59 PM

0 Boost

LOL, if you have an IS350, I'm not sure if you can afford an AMV8 or DB9.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/31/2007 10:38:35 PM

+1 Boost

Hmm, maybe they'll go in on the merger between DCX, GM and BMW?

DieselRules - 2/16/2007 1:55:46 AM

+1 Boost

huu76

Are you suggesting Bosch won't "play well" with VW?
Lets see: Bosch's main products are ABS controllers and Fuel-injection, particularly for diesels.
ALL VWs sold in N.A. (and probably Europe) have ABS, unlike Toyota, which is the only company selling more CARS than VW.
Its likely that VW ships more ABS-equipped vehicles than automaker.
And VW makes the most diesel engines in the world, all with Bosch injection.

I'm pretty certain that VW is Bosch's largest customer, and if Bosch "did not play well" with VW it would be death for the company. (Bosch, that is, not VW).

2JZSoarer - 2/1/2007 12:09:45 AM

+1 Boost

How good is the Bosch hybrid system?Is it as good as Hybrid Synergy Drive,because right now H.S.D is the one to beat!!

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 12:33:09 AM

+1 Boost

2JZ, cool down on the exclamation points. There's something called a "period". It looks like this:

.

I don't know if you've ever used it.