VIDEO: Volkswagen's Über Cool Super Bowl 2012 Beetle and Passat TV Spots [Full Edition]

We've already told you about Volkswagen's plans to air two new commercials during this Sunday's Super Bowl event and even shown you a teaser trailer of the 'Black Beetle' ad, but today, the German automaker released the full TV spots for both the 2012 Passat and 2012 New (or is that New²?) Beetle on Youtube.

The first advert is about the upcoming Beetle and shows a real bug with white racing stripes acting like a car on the forest ground, while the other commercial is for the U.S.-market spec 2012 Passat and is more humorous concentrating on a child dressed up as Darth Vader. Watch them both right after the break.

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VW Releases UK Pricing for New Jetta Saloon, Available with Turbocharged Petrol and Diesel Engines

Today, Volkswagen announced UK pricing information for its new Jetta sedan that is available to order now, with first customer deliveries due in May. In Europe, the Jetta is offered exclusively with turbocharged petrol and diesel engines with on-the-road prices starting from £16,960 (US$27,350) for the entry-level S 1.4-litre TSI 122HP model and top out at £22,320 ($35,990) for the Sport 2.0-litre TDI 140HP with a DSG transmission.

There are three trim levels to choose from (S, SE and Sport), with all models fitted with air conditioning, an MP3 compatible CD stereo, six airbags, ABS, Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), an alarm and folding rear seats as standard.

Powering the Jetta is a range of TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. Currently, two petrol engines are offered, 1.4-liter TSI with 122-horses and a twincharged 1.4-litre TSI unit developing 160HP.

The diesel lineup starts with a 105HP 1.6-litre TDI engine equipped with BlueMotion Technology features including Start/Stop and battery regeneration, that returns 67.3 mpg UK (56 mpg US) on the combined cycle while emitting 109 g/km of CO2. A 2.0-litre TDI engine developing 140HP and returning 58.9 mpg UK combined is also available.

The 1.6-litre TDI and the 1.4-litre TSI 160 HP engines can be specified with the option of a seven-speed DSG gearbox, while the 2.0-litre TDI is available with a six-speed DSG transmission.

We'll remind you that the European Jetta is more upscale than its American counterpart featuring higher-quality and softer materials inside plus a four-link rear suspension system similar to that fitted to the Golf.

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NHTSA Investigates 490,000 Volkswagen Passat Models Over Engine Compartment Fires

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] has upgraded an ongoing investigation into the Volkswagen Passat with 4-cylinder turbo powerplants over reports of engine fires to include all sedans from the 2001-2007 model years and Wagons from the 2006-2007 model years. Last summer, the government agency had opened a preliminary examination into the 2002-2003 model year Passat amid concerns on fires caused by failing ignition coils. The upgraded investigation now covers some 490,000 VW Passats.

According to a document filed on the safety agency's web site, the Office of Defects Investigation [ODI] has received 14 complaints alleging that a fire started in the engine compartment of the vehicle that may be related to ignition coil failure, and 21 complaints of ignition coil failure that did not result in a fire. Volkswagen said it has received another 199 complaints for problems related to coil failures.

The reports received by the NHTSA state that the "vehicle hesitated or lost power, and the check engine or dashboard lights illuminated", and that "the vehicles were repaired by replacing the faulty ignition coil(s) while some of the complaints indicated that the ignition coils were replaced more than once".

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GM, Mercedes, BMW and other Automakers Close Down Factories in Egypt

The continuing crisis in Egypt has prompted several automakers including General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and BMW to shut down their factories in the country, while other companies like Volkswagen, have been forced to completely stop vehicle deliveries as it was uncertain if the cars would reach their destinations, according to a company spokesman.

“We decided to close our assembly plant in Egypt due to the unstable political situation,” Nissan spokesman Mitsuru Yonekawa told Bloomberg News on Monday.

GM international operations spokesman, Johan Willems, told Autonews Europe: "All of our employees in Egypt as well as our plant property is safe and secure. Our local team in Cairo is assessing the situation and will decide to commence normal operations once the conditions permit."

As well as bringing production to a stop to ensure the safety of their workers, certain carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes are also evacuating expatriate employees and their families.

At the time being, it remains unclear when automakers will resume production in Egypt.

Source: Autonews Europe [Subscription required]

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VIDEO: VW Teases its Super Bowl Commercial for the 2012 New Beetle

Volkswagen is offering us a 10-second glimpse of its new 'Black Beetle' TV commercial that will air during the Super Bowl football game next Sunday, February 6, 2011. The is the first television spot for the next generation of the Volkswagen Beetle, which is scheduled for launch in May, 2011. However, the 'Black Beetle' commercial won't reveal the car itself as it is centered on a beetle (as in the insect) that runs around the forest outperforming all the other creatures. Follow the jump to watch the teaser spot.

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Volkswagen Intros New R-Line Sport Package for Touareg SUV

Volkswagen Touareg shoppers now have one more box to tick on the options list as the German automaker has released the third and final R-Line package for the luxury SUV model, aptly called 'Exterior'. As its name suggests, the new package gives the Touareg a more aggressive appearance on the outside. It includes a bodykit with a front apron, chunky side skirts, a bespoke roof spoiler and a rear apron that incorporates a diffuser in a matte black finish with openings for the chrome tail pipes.

The exterior styling kit can be combined with the two other available packages, and in particular the standard R-Line, which includes 20-inch alloy wheels, a sports suspension, stainless steel door sill plates, a sports steering wheel with decorative inserts in piano black, stainless steel pedals and aluminum trim on the dashboard, and the R-Line Plus that adds sports seats in a two-tone leather finish.

The R-Line Exterior package is available on all models except the Hybrid, and in true VW-fashion, pricing depends on the engine option with the kit costing (in Germany) €1,840 when ordered on the V8 TDI and €2,200 on the V6 petrol model.

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It Came from eBay Hell: ‘80s VW Golf Stretch Limo with Mercedes Nose

So you want your own limousine? Sure, I can dig that. Who hasn’t thought of trading in their daily commute for something that’s chauffer driven? And what better place to start your search than on eBay, where you’re sure to find something both unique and affordable, if not exactly well built or driveable.

Here’s one such find, based on a 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf for the rest of the world) with a Mercedes-Benz nose piece. The seller’s description reveals that this vehicle has new brakes, struts, a new exhaust, new wheels and tires, new windshield and gas tank. And it still has its original motor and transmission, with a twin barrel carburettor with aluminium intake and header which the seller assures us makes it, “Fast for what it is.”

Inside there are two bench seats facing each other, and an electrically operated tinted glass partition that can separate the passengers from the driver. Classy.

The interior is in need of a lot of attention, though. There’s no headliner, no carpet and the custom interior panels have yet to be fitted. The air conditioning’s not hooked up and there’s no sound system, either. The car’s also missing a, “Few other odds and ends.”

On the upside, it has a clear title and the car comes with a fixer upper GTI engine and a white rabbit plush toy that has been stretched and has a VW hat on its head. Sadly there are no pictures of the latter. The starting price is a low, low US$4,999.00 (€3,676). Price for a first generation Rabbit, but not bad for something with such...uh...”unique qualities.”

The strange this is, this car has been on sale before, almost two years ago. And it was in the exact same state it’s in now. We don’t know what this means, except maybe that the owner grew tired of working on it. Take that however you want, and leave your comments below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

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