Fast and Cool Dubs.. GRC, Waterfest, and Wolfsgart 2014

It's been a crazy month for Volkswagen. With two GRC races and two big Volkswagen of America sponsored enthusiast events, July has been jam packed with sweet dubs. Hot weather and cool cars? We couldn't think of a better combination for summer.

(Photo credit D. Pizzutiello, VW Product Specialist)

(Photo courtesy of D. Cary, VWoA)

There was lots of drama for the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team in New York and in Charlotte. The team's leading driver, Scott Speed, placed second in New York, but was disqualified due to "unapproved adjustments". His bad luck continued this past weekend in Charlotte, where he had tire and mechanical issues the entire weekend. He ended up placing in 5th place at Charlotte, and remains in second place overall for the entire series. 

Speed's teammate Tanner Foust had better luck this month, winning the Volkswagen Rallycross New York, Foust's first win this season. In Charlotte, Foust too had tire issues, causing him to miss the podium despite an awesome effort. 

Volkswagen is currently second in the standings for the Manufacturer Championship, right behind Ford. With four more cities, and five more races left in the season, there's still plenty of time for Foust and Speed to catch up and bring home an overall victory for Volkswagen Andretti. We're all rooting for you guys here at Stohlman, so keep on keeping on!

(VWR intake for mk7 GTIs unveiled at Waterfest 2014)

Waterfest returned to Englishtown, NJ a couple of weeks ago for its 20th year. A favorite among VW lovers, Waterfest is one of the biggest Volkswagen enthusiast events in the world. Considered a shopping show, owners not only come to show off their finely tuned wheels, but to buy parts for their current/next project. Vendors in turn bring their A game with drool worthy parts, and often discounted pricing. 

(Waterfest 2014)

Volkswagen again featured generations of the Golf in their display, showing the evolution leading up to the current generation mk7 GTI/Golf (now on sale at Stohlman). Because Waterfest was held at Englishtown's Raceway park, different types of contests were featured, including the 1/4 mile drag race, autocross course, and the tire burn-out contest. Who doesn't love the smell of freshly burnt rubber? 

Wolfsgart in Burlington, VT was this past weekend, a Northeast based show that features primarily German and European cars. From classics to modern models, Wolfsgart is car show combined with an all weekend camping experience, featuring Vermont's beautiful scenery as the backdrop. Along with best in show competitions, Wolfsgart organized activities like night cruises, a car rally, and a car limbo. Yes, you read correctly, a car limbo to see who's car rides the lowest. 

(Wolfsgart 2014)

The next big VW gathering is Dub Deliverance on August 16th at Summit Point, WV. Summit Point will be opening up its track to VW and Audi owners, in coordination with TrackDaze, NGP, and APR. If you'd like to participate, register with TrackDaze by August 8th or visit NGP's site for more info.

Let us know if you'll be attending Dub Deliverance, or any of the remaining GRC races this season @StohlmanAuto. Until next time!

Esther Cho

VW Product Specialist

@esther_ch5

We're #2! And New SUV Coming To Chattanooga

Hip hip hoorah! We’re almost there! General Motors announced last Wednesday their car and truck sales world wide from January through June was 4.2 million cars. Which means, Volkswagen advanced to the second place position in global auto sales with 4.97 million YTD. Toyota has not released their numbers yet, but it is expected that they will remain in first place, with an expectation of 10.1 million vehicles by the end of the year. 

So why is this a big deal? Not only is this an awesome accomplishment for VW, but it’s just another step towards the ultimate goal of world domination.. I mean the biggest auto manufacturer in the world by 2018. 

(Photo provided by @VW media)

In addition to this exciting update, Volkswagen also revealed more fantastic news. For those of you familiar with the CrossBlue concept we unveiled at the 2013 North American Auto Show in Detroit, an SUV based on this design is finally planned for production to take place at VW’s Chattanooga plant. CEO of VW Dr. Martin Winterkorn stated, “This model will play a key role for Volkswagen’s presence in North America.” 

The CrossBlue concept showed as a 3 row SUV. It was also initially equipped with a plug-in diesel-electric hybrid powertrain that was under development. This new concept is estimated to average 89 mpg, which would seriously change the automotive game. Similar versions of the conceptual powertrain were unveiled at various auto shows, including a dual electric motor direct injection gas V6 hybrid, which initially showcased on the CrossBlue Coupe concept, estimated to achieve 79 mpg, with a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds. Pretty fast for not only a hybrid, but an SUV.

(Photo provided by +Volkswagen USA  media)

Chattanooga currently builds the Passat, which has been a success in the U.S. market. The Chattanooga plant currently employs approximately 1,500 employees for production for the Passat. There was much debate on whether another vehicle would go into production in Chattanooga due to the union saga, creating a standstill for the future of Chattanooga and Volkswagen. Tennessee is a Right to Work state, which allows employees to choose whether or not to join/support unions. Chattanooga was the only factory in the Volkswagen Group worldwide to not have any representation, causing the factory to have no representation in Germany. 

(Photo provided by +Volkswagen USA media)

The workers voted no - 53% to 47% - on the existing United Auto Workers union based out of Detroit in entering Chattanooga back in February, but VW continued to encourage the workers to consider assembling some type of workers council, so that the group could move forward in expanding production in Tennessee. After many months of debate following the vote, the UAW created a local union to represent workers for Chattanooga, with Volkswagen Group’s approval. Volkswagen issued a statement that said, “Just like anywhere else in the world, the establishment of a local organization is a matter for the trade union concerned. There is no contract or other formal agreement with UAW on this matter.” The local chapter will be recognized when they can get a majority of the workers to join, but Volkswagen has already began its expansion process at the plant.

Approximately $900 million will be invested in the production of the new SUV, with around $600 million being invested in Tennessee. More money also means more jobs. Approximately 2,000 jobs will be created, in addition to an independent National Research & Planning Center of the Volkswagen Group of America. The R&D facility will identify consumers’ feedback for the U.S. market and expedit the integration for Volkswagen models. This will create opportunities for approximately 200 qualified engineers in Chattanooga. 

With the goal of delivering 800,000 Volkswagen Group vehicles in the US by 2018, production for the new SUV will begin in late 2016. A total of $7 billion is planned to be invested in North America to achieve this goal as well, to allow the brand to reach their Mach 18 sales goal. Not to make any promises, but I would estimate a mid-late arrival at dealerships in 2017 for the highly anticipated new SUV.

Will you be in the market for 3 rows in the future? Do you think Volkswagen will reach its Mach 18 goal? Share your thoughts with us on twitter @StohlmanAuto. Until next time!


Esther Cho
VW Product Specialist
@esther_ch5

Germany FTW! and MLS Legend Loves VW

Before the holiday, we discussed Volkswagen's connection to the world's sport, soccer. Although the United States was knocked out of the FIFA World Cup tournament in the round 16, their defeat wasn't an easy feat for the Belgium National Team. Tim Howard showed us an amazing performance, even getting himself briefly named as Secretary of Defense of the United States on Wikipedia. I would have loved to see the Howard edit up until the end of the tournament, no offense of course to the actual Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, but unfortunately Wikipedia didn't deem it as an acceptable statement. The big story however comes from the motherland of Volkswagen Group. Germany had a stunning game against Brazil yesterday, practically massacring the host nation with a 7-1 win. The German National Team broke all sorts of records, including scoring 5 goals in the first 29 minutes. Jaw-dropping. Germany will be playing in the World Cup final game on Sunday versus either the Netherlands or Argentina, who will be facing off this afternoon at 4pm EST. I'd say it's safe to assume that most of us at Stohlman VW will be rooting for "zee Germans". Plus there's internet rumors swirling that everyone affiliated with Volkswagen Group will get a raise if Germany wins the World Cup. Fingers crossed, folks.

In related news, Volkswagen sponsored the Philadelphia Regional Junior Masters tournament in Lehigh Valley a few weeks ago. The kids showed an amazing amount of talent and teamwork in the beating hot sun, which wasn't unnoticed by special guest, MLS legend, John Harkes. A resident of Northern Virginia, Harkes was a former player for the New England Revolution, Columbus Crew, and our very own home team, winning two MLS Cups with DC United. He was also a member of the #USMNT (U.S. Men's National Team), appearing in the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups. Harkes recently was given a TDI Touareg by VWoA, and with it he drove up to the Philadelphia area to meet fans and the young players at the tournament, providing great insight to the kids about fine tuning their game. 

(John and I with his 2014 Touareg TDI)

Harkes took some time with me at the tournament to discuss his thoughts on his new whip. As a current Audi A6 owner, he felt that the Touareg was "comparable in quality and feel" to our cousin company's fit and finish. But that's not what really impressed John. "It's just like the commercials, I can just keep driving past gas stations without having to refuel.. The mileage is remarkable." Harkes also discussed how he remembered driving diesels when he played in England. He praised our diesels for how far along they've have come, from how quiet the Touareg's engine is, to the great performance thanks to the 406 lb-ft of torque. Harkes had been driving the Touareg TDI for about a month when we spoke, and he was in love and sold on the brand. We even discussed the possibility of him getting a Jetta for his son in the future. 

Mr. Harkes also took the time to throw a shout out to Stohlman VW, showing his appreciation for the great men and women that set Stohlman apart from the rest. We're fans of you too, John. Thanks for truly being an amazing individual on and off the field. 

Tweet us with your predictions for the final game this weekend @stohlmanauto. Until next time!

Esther Cho

VW Product Specialist

@esther_ch5

Gooolf! VW Loves the World Cup

(Photo from VWoA)

The 2014 FIFA World Cup kicked off a little over a week ago and the excitement around Stohlman VW cannot be contained. Soccer,  known as football outside of the U.S., has a fan base of close to 3.5 billion people around the world. Other sports with a large fan base include basketball with around 2-3 billion, baseball with over 500 million, and American football with 390-410 million. It's safe to say that soccer is the most popular sport in the world, which makes sense on why the World Cup final game is the most watched sporting event, period.

If you've been watching the tournament, you've probably seen commercials for the new GTI featuring famous sportscaster Andres Cantor. Andres Cantor is famous for his signature "Gooooooooool!" after a score in soccer. And if you follow Volkswagen of America on Twitter, you'll see that they've been tweeting after every goal scored in the tournament. 

Why is VW taking part in the World Cup excitement? Well why wouldn't they? Volkswagen is the third largest manufacturer in the world, and with the global headquarters in Germany, there's a very good chance most VW drivers and employees are soccer fans. Not to mention, Volkswagen Group has factories in 12 of the 32 countries that had teams qualify for the World Cup, including the United States.

(Volkswagen's Plant in Chattanooga, TN)

(Photo from DC United)

Volkswagen also is actively involved in soccer programs outside of the World Cup. In the United States alone, Volkswagen is a major sponsor for Major League Soccer, and was formally a title sponsor for DC United, with the emblem on the DC United jerseys. With Major League Soccer, Volkswagen also sponsors several tournaments, to encourage physical activity and the game of soccer to drivers in the U.S. and all over the world. 

¡Futbolito! is a English/Spanish 4x4 tournament put together by MLS and sponsored by VW and Wells Fargo. This large tournament has an Adult Premier, Adult Recreational, and Youth division in 8 cities throughout the United States, with cash prizes. ¡Futbolito!'s local tournament will be through DC United, and played July 19th, at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD. Visit their website if you'd like more information and to register.

The Volkswagen Junior Masters is an international youth tournament that is played in over 22 countries. Junior Masters is the world's largest youth tournament for teams consisting of boys ages 10-12. Over 300 teams participate to qualify for the grand final, playing by FIFA tournament rules. The national champion of each country is invited to participate in the international Volkswagen Junior World Masters which occurs every two years, the next one taking place in 2016. The U.S. tournament has 10 regional tournaments for teams to qualify, then the qualifying teams compete at the National tournament, which is typically held at the same place and week of the MLS All Star Game. This year will be played on August 4-6th, in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit Volkswagen Junior Masters website.

It's clear that Volkswagen loves soccer, and the Stohlman folks definitely share the passion. Don't be surprised if you see the game playing in the show room this week, or if the staff is constantly checking their phones for a score update. The big drama will be on Thursday when the United States play Germany on the 26th at 12pm EST. Do we root for Germany, the origin of our favorite vehicles, or do we root for Team USA, our beloved home? I'll personally be rooting for Team USA, but I'd be happy with a tie as well. Team USA needs at least a tie to secure advancement, or they will face the possibility of elimination.

Who will you be rooting for on Thursday? Tweet us your choice @stohlmanauto. Until next time, Go #USMNT!

Esther Cho

Volkswagen Product Specialist

@esther_ch5

Scott Speed Visits Stohlman and Definitive Beetle GRC Unveiled!

(Stohlman VW Management, Sales, and Service Staff with Scott Speed)

Yesterday was an exciting day at Stohlman VW, where Volkswagen Andretti GRC driver, Scott Speed stopped by to say hello. He took the time to sign autographs and meet fans who were excited for the upcoming race. If you missed meeting Scott Speed, luckily he left some tickets for Stohlman customers, so if you'd like to attend the Volkswagen Rallycross DC this weekend at RFK Stadium, swing by the dealership and grab some before they're all gone!

The big news however is that the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team has finally unveiled the definitive Beetle GRC rallycross car. After it's initial concept unveiling at the Chicago Auto Show, there has been much speculation on what this powerhouse would entail.

(Photo courtesy of vwvortex.com)

The rallycross Beetle features a sequential six-speed transmission, with a fixed ratio all wheel drive system with multi plate limited-slip differentials in the front and rear. The suspension is an all-around strut-type suspension with ZF dampers, giving the Beetle around 9.1 inches to handle the off-road portion of the rallycross course. The Beetle GRC has 14 inch diameter front and 11.8 inch rear vented disc brakes, four-piston aluminum calipers, and 17 inch wheels with 240/640-R17 Yokohama competition tires. In other words, it's ready to handle whatever a rallycross course is going to throw at it.

(Photo courtesy of vwvortex.com)

The Beetle GRC features a 1.6-liter four-cylinder TSI turbocharged and intercooled engine, producing 544 horsepower. 168.8 inches long and 71.7 inches wide, the Beetle GRC must weigh in at a series regulation minimum of 2668 lbs. That being said, with a combination of the high horsepower, slender figure, and AWD, the new rallycross Beetle GRC is predicted to have an incredible 0-60 mph time of 2.1 seconds. Sign me up for one of those bad boys!

(Photo courtesy of vwvortex.com)

The Beetle GRC will not be used at the race this weekend, but will be available for fans and attendees to see. Volkswagen Motorsport director, Jost Capito stated, "After Volkswagen of America’s impressive start on the rallycross scene with the Polo, the launch of the new Beetle GRC rallycross car represents the next major milestone. The Beetle boasts a unique appearance and state-of-the-art technology. It will sweep fans off their feet.” I'd have to agree with Capito. The new Beetle GRC rallycross car has definitely swept me off my feet.

Let us know what you think of the Beetle GRC and if you'll be attending this weekend @stohlmanauto. 

Esther Cho

VW Product Specialist

@esther_ch5

Meet Scott Speed and the VW 7up Beetle!

VW Enthusiasts, we have your chance to meet Scott Speed and see the VW 7up Beetle in person!

Stop by Stohlman VW in Tysons Corner on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 5PM to welcome  the 7up Rallycross Beetle! (more info)

Scott Speed will be at Stohlman VW on Thursday, June 19th from 12-1 PM, and the 7up Beetle will depart at 1:30 PM that day.

Bring your camera and don't miss this one-of-a-kind team of epic VW proportions!












Call us at (866)311-4735 for more information!

Volkwagen Andretti Rallycross and Scott Speed Killing It... X-Games 2014

(Scott Speed X-Games 2014 in Austin - photo by VWoA)

The 2014 Summer X-Games in Austin took place this weekend, and the Volkswagen/Andretti team definitely made some noise. Scott Speed of Volkswagen Andretti RallyCross claimed the top spot on the Redbull Global RallyCross podium again this year, winning the gold.

Speed not only won the final, but crushed all his races including both heats, and the quarterfinal. This would be his second X-Games victory, his being at the X-Games in Brazil last year. His teammate, Tanner Foust unfortunately was unable to finish his race in the quarterfinal, knocking him out of contention, although he won both his heats.

Volkswagen announced back in February at the Chicago International Auto Show that they were teaming up with Andretti Autosport to enter the Global RallyCross circuit. The team consists of Scott Speed and Tanner Foust, both very seasoned drivers. These drivers have been proving that they will be a force to reckon with this season, with Foust having 22 heat wins and Speed winning the first two races of the season, the first being at the Top Gear Festival Barbados. Both drivers have been racing in two European rallycross prepared Volkswagen Polos. The team will be switching soon to 560+ horsepower All Wheel Drive Beetles, which have been featured at multiple car shows this year.

(X-Games 2014 - Photo by VWoA)

So who are these hardcore drivers? Well Scott Speed is no stranger to motor sports. The 31 year old began carting at the age of 10, winning a handful of titles. He moved up the Formula Series in 2001, and began driving as a test driver for Red Bull Racing's Formula One team in 2005, the first American to participate in a Formula One event since Michael Andretti in 1993. In 2006, Speed joined Red Bull's Scuderia Toro Rosso team, the relationship lasting for two years. Speed then transitioned into the NASCAR scene, achieving 22 top ten finishes, and a win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2008. In 2013 Speed joined the GRC circuit, and has been dominating since. He currently is driving the #77 7Up car.

Tanner Foust may be a more recognizable name for most. Foust has been a professional driver since 2003, starting off as a Hollywood stunt car driver. His credits include Iron Man 2, Fast & Furious, a few Bourne movies, and the Dukes of Hazzard. He began hosting the U.S. version of the very popular BBC series, Top Gear in 2010, and just began shooting their fifth season. Besides the big and small screens, Foust is a real contender in the racing world. Foust was the first driver in Formula Drift history to win back-to-back series championships in 2007 and 2008. Foust won his first X-Game in 2007 winning the gold in the rally racing event, and is the most decorated X Games driver with 9 medals. He also raced in the European Rallycross series, being the first American to compete in the Championship. Foust currently drives the #34 Rockstar Energy Drink car for the Volkswagen Andretti team and is featured in a commercial for the all new 2015 GTI.

The next GRC race will be in our own backyard, the Volkswagen RallyCross DC, from June 21-22nd. The event will take place at DC United's RFK Stadium, near Capitol Hill. The city will be transformed to host the event, which is being produced by Andretti Sports Marketing. Tickets are on sale ranging from $20-$149, and will definitely be an event you won't want to miss.

Let us know if you'll be attending the Volkswagen RallyCross DC in a couple weeks by tweeting us @stohlmanauto. Until next time!


Esther Cho
VW Product Specialist
@esther_ch5