Volkswagen Canada
Founded before WWII in 1937, its name translates from German to English as “people's car” and its first automobile was just that – a car for the people.
The distinctive, round-shaped car had an air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine that delivered 25 hp to the rear wheels, and enough space for four passengers and their luggage. Volkswagen's Type 1 would become known more affectionately as the VW Beetle. The basic design remained relatively unchanged for over five decades with only minor changes and mechanical updates, until production finally ended in July 2003. Over 21 million original Beetles were produced.
VW expanded little during the '50s and '60s with the exception of the Type 2 panel van, produced in many variations including microbus, flatbed pickup and camper van, as well as the Type 3 sports coupe and convertible. VW vehicles starting to arrive in the U.S. in 1949, and in Canada in 1952.
The 1970s saw the introduction of the Passat (Dasher in North America), the Scirocco coupe, the subcompact Golf hatchback (Rabbit in North America) and Jetta sedan. The Golf GTI was crated in 1976 and offered in 1983 in the U.S. and Canada as the Rabbit GTI. The Vanagon replaced the Type 2 in 1979. Diesel powertrains were starting to appear in VW models at the end of the ‘70s.
A Cabriolet version of the Golf/Rabbit was also available from 1980, while in 1981, the Quantum mid-size sedan and wagon arrived in North America, offering a four-wheel drive powertrain from 1984. The 2- and 4-door Jetta reached the U.S. and Canada in 1982. In 1985, the Rabbit name was dropped, and both the Golf and Jetta were redesigned. GTI and GLI versions are offered.
In 1990, the third-generation Passat was introduced in replacement of the Quantum, and the EuroVan replaced the Vanagon. The Corrado and its supercharged engine arrived in the U.S. and Canada in 1990, replacing the Scirocco, and a new platform led to the fully modern New Beetle being launched in 1998.
A Cabriolet version of the New Beetle was launched in 2003, replacing the droptop Golf, while the mid-size 2004 Touareg was Volkswagen's first SUV. In 2007 appeared the Eos and its power-folding hardtop convertible. The full-size Phaeton sedan was launched in Europe in 2002, but offered in North America from 2004 to 2006.
In Canada, two affordable models were offered: the City Golf from 2007 to 2010 and the City Jetta from 2007 to 2009. Meanwhile, the Rabbit name returned to the U.S. and Canada for a few years, but VW ultimately restored the Golf from 2010 on.
Today, Volkswagen’s North American line-up consists of the compact Golf in 3-door, 5-door and wagon body styles, the Jetta sedan, the performance-oriented GTI and GLI models, the mid-size Passat, the CC four-door coupe, the Eos coupe/convertible, the Beetle, the compact Tiguan crossover, the Touareg SUV and Touareg Hybrid as well as the Routan minivan.
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Latest Reviews
79%
A man's Beetle
That's basically the simplest way to sum up the new New, newest, uh, latest Volkswagen Beetle. It actually sparked my intrigue at one point when I asked around about girlie cars and came up with a few stats. Essentially, the Beetle was the "girliest" amongst chick cars.
75%
Euro-ness without pretention
Volkswagen has positioned the CC as a four-door Euro coupe, so what better place than Nice, France, to launch the 2013 version, which projects revised front and rear styling along with engines that have gained further efficiency.
82%
Right in so many ways
You're all set. You got the spouse and the kid loaded and ready to go. The family vehicle is a brand new, right-sized 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. When you started off shopping for a new, more versatile car, you researched and inspected all the usual crossover suspects, namely the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, and Ford Escape. In the end, why the Tiguan?
Latest News
Road tripping to Detroit in a Volkswagen Routan (video)
When our photography and video crew cover an auto show, they've got a lot of gear to haul. Cargo space is a priority, but when you're hitting the road for an 11-hour trek from Montreal to Detroit with people on board, you also need room to stretch out and chillax.
'R' You Aware?
Are you aware that Volkswagen is planning to bring its mighty Golf R to Canada? This unit towers above the Golf GTI in terms of raw performance, and features VW's 4MOTION all-wheel-drive capability to ensure its 256 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque aren't wasted on madly spinning front wheels.
Volkswagen announces their new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB)
This year, Volkswagen Group will be introducing the Modular Transverse Matrix - the German acronym is MQB - for the Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA and SEAT brands. The MQB strategy represents a turning point in the design and production of future automobiles with transverse-mounted engines. The Modular Transverse Matrix standardises many vehicle component parameters - across brands and vehicle classes. At the same time, it offers access to new technologies. The MQB extends from the A0 to the B segment. At the Volkswagen brand, for example, it covers the following models: Polo, Beetle, Golf, Scirocco, Jetta, Tiguan, Touran, Sharan, Passat and Volkswagen CC. In the future, all of these models could theoretically be produced on the same assembly line - despite their different wheelbases and track widths. It will be possible to produce MQB models of different brands together. The first new vehicles to be produced based on the MQB will be the successor to the Audi A3 and the next generation Golf.
