After loosing the number 2 spot in worldwide sales to Toyota in 2003, Ford is on its way to yield the third place to the VW Group. During the first half of 2008, Volkswagen managed to slip into the third position right behind Toyota and GM, leaving Ford in fourth place. The German Group reported sales of 3.27 million vehicles during the first half of the year, a 5.8 percent increase over 2007. Ford on the other hand saw its sales fall 11 percent during the same period to 3.09 million vehicles.

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VW Group tuning specialist ABT has launched the first wave of products for the new Volkswagen Passat CC. Though ABT’s visual package is still pending, the Kempten based tuner offers power upgrades for both the 1.8 TSI (from 160 to 200 Hp) and 2.0 TSI (from 200 to 240 Hp) petrol engines. In the forthcoming weeks, ABT will also offer a power kit for the 2.0 TDI diesel engines, upgrading the 140 Hp version to 170 Hp and the 170 Hp version to 190 Hp. Buyers can also add a sport suspension kit along with new 18 or 20-inch alloy wheels in two different designs.

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 One of the star attractions at this year’s “New Beetle Sunshine Tour” that will take place at Grömitz in Northern Germany on July 19, 2008, will be without doubt a life-sized New Beetle made entirely from sand. The sculptured Beetle, which was created with river sand instead of sea sand as it’s more resilient, is the work of two sand castle artists, Michel de Kok from The Nederlands and his partner Martijn Smits. The tour is a private initiative that got started by Beetle Cabriolet driver Gabriele Kraft in 2004. This year’s gathering is considered special as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of VW’s New Beetle.

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A high powered Volkswagen Scirocco concept car has been unveiled at the annual Worthersee Festival in Austria at the same time as a trio of race-prepared, factory-entered Scirocco racers prepare for the start of the Nurburgring 24-hour race.

The Scirocco GT24 road car has a race-tuned 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine developing 295bhp at 6,500 rpm. This is mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox which puts power through to the front wheels only. The gearbox features uprated clutch plates along with revised gear ratios and a lightened flywheel linked to a differential lock.

The vehicle is based on the shell of the Scirocco race car, prepared by Volkswagen Motorsport in Hanover and is finished in Volkswagen Racing Blue.

Although many components are carried over from the road car, the Scirocco GT24’s dimensions vary significantly, with a 227mm gain in length and 61mm gain in width to accommodate a wider track.

Lowered, adjustable race damper units account for a 75mm drop in ride height on a set of 18″ lightweight racing wheels housing 362mm (255 mm at the rear) racing brake discs clamped by six-piston callipers.

With many components removed from the road car the Scirocco GT24 weighs 178 kg less, tipping the scales at 1,120 kg.

Inside the GT24 is a rollcage and Recaro bucket seats with five-point harnesses are included for the driver and passenger.

The road-going Scirocco, on which the GT24 concept is based, goes on sale in the UK on August 29. It will be powered initially by a 2.0-litre TSI engine developing 196bhp linked to a choice of six-speed manual or DSG gearboxes.

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VW tuning specialist ABT has introduced a new sport package for the diesel-powered Touareg 3.0 TDI. Starting with the Power S engine kit, the 3.0-liter V6 unit’s output rises from 225 hp to 300 hp. The tweaked Touareg goes from 0 to 62 mph in 8.2 sec, while its top speed is 133 mph. The German tuner has also equipped the Touareg with a sports suspension and ABT sports brake system, which provides appropriate brake force thanks to a disc diameter of 380mm and six-piston calipers.

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