2006 Volkswagen GTI

Volkswagen's high-performance, two-door hatchback version of the Jetta is the GTI. GTI stands for Grand Tourisme Injection. The 2006 GTI was powered by a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic Direct Shift Gearbox with paddle shifters. Among its standard features were unique wheels and styling shared only with the Jetta GLI.

2006 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible

This miniscule trunk opening is on the rear end of the New Beetle Convertible. The convertible's trunk offers 5 cubic feet of space, versus 12 in the sedan. The New Beetle had been given a minor update for 2006. Engine options included a 150-horsepower 2.5-liter 5-cylinder, or a 100-horsepower 1.9-liter TDI®, which, in the New Beetle, was supposed to deliver fuel economy of up to 58 miles per gallon, making it Volkswagen's most fuel-efficient vehicle.

2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

The 2006 Jetta TDI® was powered by a 100-horsepower 1.9-liter Turbo Direct Injection 4-cylinder diesel engine. Depending on the choice of a 5-speed manual or 6-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission, this engine was supposed to deliver fuel economy of up to 36 city/42 highway. The TDI® engine, while efficient, did not meet emissions standards of all states, and thus was not available in California, New York, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts. Other engine choices for the Jetta were a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, and a 150-horsepower 2.5-liter 5-cylinder.

2006 Volkswagen Passat

This was Volkswagen's impressive-looking all-new 2006 Passat. Powered by either a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with a 6-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission or a 280-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with either the automatic or a 6-speed manual. Also available with the V6 is Volkswagen's 4MOTION® permanent all-wheel drive. Other options included rain-sensing automatic wipers, Climatronic™ automatic climate control and heated front seats.

1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle "Rolls-Royce"

I believe this Volkswagen Super Beetle is a 1974 model, the first year to feature the larger 5-mph bumpers and the last year to feature the original muffler design with twin tailpipes. This was the penultimate year for the Super Beetle sedan, but that is not all that makes this particular car noteworthy. This Super Beetle has been fitted with a body kit to make it resemble a Rolls-Royce, with an upright grille and quad headlights in the front and an imitation "Continental kit" on the rear.

There were several manufacturers of these "Rolls-Royce" kits, and I have no idea which kit this is, but it is a fairly extensive one with the hood, front fenders, and decklid all being replaced, though the rear fenders appear to have remained original, which was not the case with all of these kits. Rolls-Royce was not amused by these conversions and sued at least one manufacturer of these kits. This kit may have been a later one as the grills has no emblem or hood ornament as some kits did, perhaps in an attempt to avoid potential copyright infringement lawsuits, or perhaps the owner merely chose to omit them. In any case, it is a distinctive car that certainly attracts attention. It attracted mine in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in December of 2001.

1998 Volkswagen New Beetle

A newcomer for 1998 was the all-new retro-styled Volkswagen New Beetle, which got a lot of attention. Production of the New Beetle began December 1997 at Volkswagen’s plant in Puebla, Mexico, the sole source. Based on Volkswagen’s Golf chassis, it was scheduled to be on sale in the United States by the end of March 1998. Exports to Europe were scheduled for Fall 1998, and the rest of the world in 1999. Based on the Volkswagen Concept 1 that was presented at the 1994 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The base model starts at $15,700 with a 115-horsepower 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. A 90-horsepower 1.9-liter 4-cylinder Turbo Direct Injection diesel engine was also available, starting at $16,975. A 150-horsepower turbocharged 1.8-liter engine would become available in the fall of 1998. Unlike Volkswagen’s original Beetle, which featured an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine, the New Beetle is front wheel drive with water-cooled engines mounted in the front. With a wheelbase of 98.9 inches, the New Beetle is 161.1 inches long and 67.9 inches wide. Standard features include a fully galvanized body for rust protection, dual front airbags and front seat-mounted side airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, pretensioning front safety belts, front and rear headrests, halogen projector-beam headlights, daytime running lights, air conditioning, pollen and odor filter, six speaker stereo, beverage holders, antitheft alarm system, central locking system with remote, and even a bud vase. Available options included anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels, cruise control, leather upholstery, fog lamps, heated front seats, and power windows.

2009 Volkswagen CC

The new Passat-based Volkswagen CC is powered by a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct fuel-injected DOHC 4-cylinder engine with 207 foot-pounds of torque or a 280-horsepower 3.6-liter VR6 with 265 ft-lbs torque and a 6-speed Tiptronic® automatic with sport mode. The CC will go from 0 to 60 in 6.6 seconds.

Standard features include side curtain airbags, a stability control system, automatic headlights, and auto-dimming mirrors. Options include all-wheel drive, a touch-screen navigation system with backup camera and adaptive swiveling xenon headlights. Prices start at 26,790. The example shown, displayed at the 2009 Portland International Auto Show, cost $32,680.