Volkswagen GTI

Jetta GLI combines GTI fun, Jetta practicality. VW crafts a hot hatch with no hatch By Jim Bray TechnoFile.com You could call it the hot Jetta. And you'd be right. The VW Jetta GLI is basically a GTI with buttocks, in that it isn't a hatchback like the Golf-based GTI, but rather is a sedan ? like, er, the Jetta. It's the most entertaining Jetta you can buy off the shelf. And needless to say, it's a blast. And, all things considered, it's also priced well. VW's are pretty great to drive anyway, but one thing the current generation of Jetta needed was a little more oomph, and by dropping the two liter turbocharged four cylinder engine shared already by the GTI and the Tiguan small SUV, they've upped the oomph ante adequately. It's a wonderful engine, peppy and torquey and a nice match for the Jetta's size and weight. The GLI has been given exterior cues to differentiate it from the garden variety Jettas, including a different front fascia with a honeycomb grille and integrated fog lights

Columnist looks at the cars that most impressed him for the 2011 calendar year.. TechnoFile's Most Intriguing Vehicles of 2011 By Jim Bray TechnoFile.com The years seem to get shorter the older I get, which means it's already time to take a year end look at the most interesting cars I drove in 2011. These aren't necessarily the best, the fastest or most luxurious, but cars I found most noteworthy for a variety of reasons. This was definitely the year of the Korean carmaker, as Hyundai and Kia between them not only figure extensively on my personal list, but the companies also copped five out of the 11 category winners in the Canadian Car of the Year Awards in late October. Congratulations to them, too; they earned it by building compelling, well-equipped vehicles that offer good value for the dollar. The biggest surprise for me was the Kia Optima, of which my review sample was the top-end SX Turbo model. It earns my "Most Interesting Sedan" award because, other than it coming with whee

Small "Cute Ute" comfortable, efficient and performs well.. VW Tiguan a Fine Choice in a Crowded Market By Jim Bray TechnoFile.com VW's entry into the "Cute Ute" segment is a little more cute for 2012, while still being a good ute. It isn't an all-new version, but you can definitely notice the evolution. It starts with handsome new front and rear ends that have more than a little Touareg in them ? not a bad thing, since VW's bigger SUV is a handsome beast ? and continues inside to an even nicer interior than before. Not that the previous interior was a bust; I think Volkswagen makes some of the best interiors on the market and, fortunately, they haven't messed with success here. The Volkswagen folk apparently like to think of the Tiguan as "the GTI of compact sport utility vehicles." I think that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but that doesn't mean the Tiguan is a slug, either. In fact, other it having than gobs of turbo lag, its GTI-shared two liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder en

"Outlander Sport" goes head to head with the Frog-like Juke. Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan Juke - A Tale of Two CVT Crossovers By Jim Bray TechnoFile.com One has a schnoz like Darth Vader's mask, the other looks like a legless frog on a skateboard, and the makers of both vehicles think they represent compelling solutions to customers' need for a small and capable crossover/wagon. Do they? It depends upon what you're looking for in a vehicle, of course. Mitsubishi's RVR (or "Outlander Sport" in the U.S.) is the tall wagon whose proboscis causes a great disturbance in the force. It's more like a conventional wagon than the Juke ? the second vehicle under dissection, er, discussion here. The little Juke is more of a conventional SUV or crossover. Between them, Mitsubishi and Nissan have a lot of bases covered for people seeking a reasonably small utilitarian vehicle. Both vehicles sport ? no intimation of sportiness intended ? four cylinder engines that get their power to the wheels via continuo

Hyundai-Kia, Volkswagen win most 'top safety pick' awards from insurance industry group. South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia and German car maker Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, used by safety-minded consumers looking to buy a new car.

Hyundai-Kia, Volkswagen win most 'top safety pick' awards from insurance industry group. South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia and German car maker Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, used by safety-minded consumers looking to buy a new car.

The insurance industry's top safety pick winners for the 2011 model year. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognized 66 vehicles as winners of their top safety pick award for the 2011 model year. The award honors vehicles for their ability to protect motorists in front, side, rear and rollover crashes. The vehicles must have anti-rollover technology called Electronic Stability Control, or ESC, and strong scores in roof strength tests.

Jim Bray looks at his favorite cars from 2010. The 2010 TechnoFile Awards for Interesting Automotive Achievement By Jim Bray TechnoFile.com It's time for the annual TechnoFile Automotive Awards, where I wrap up the year with a few words about what I thought were the most interesting vehicles of the year. These aren't necessarily 2010 models, nor are the necessarily 2011 models. Since 2011 models have been oozing into the marketplace since last spring, I'll just look at the cars I drove that I thought where the most interesting, innovative, fun ? in short (well, not that short, I guess!), the vehicles I found most worthy of mention. My only parameter is that it had to be a vehicle I wrote about in calendar year 2010, and I daresay most of these cars, crossovers or whatevers are still on the market, whether they be part of the new 2011 inventory or unsold 2010 inventory. In the case of the latter, this means there may be some pretty nifty deals out there ? assuming you give a hoot about

2011Volvo C30 is pricey hatchback with distinctive styling. The Volvo C30 three-door, small hatchback sure isn't a "me-too" car. Three years after it came to the United States as Volvo's smallest vehicle here, the not-quite-14-foot-long C30 with distinctive, large rear liftgate glass and four seats has sold in such low volumes that it's still a rarity on most roads.

VW's hot hatch offers a lot of fun. Golf GTI a little Rocket By Jim Bray TechnoFile.com If you're looking for a small, economical car that's also a real blast to drive, you can't go far wrong with the Volkswagen Golf GTI. When the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada named the GTI as its 2010 Canadian Car of the year, I didn't agree. I thought it should have gone to the Porsche Panamera, because it was a completely new car ? as opposed to the GTI's being merely another generation of a long-running vehicle ? and it had represented a bigger risk for its company. Obviously, my opinion means little in the grand scheme of things and once I had stopped blubbering in frustration I waited impatiently for my turn with the GTI to come so I could get some quality seat time in it. Well it has and, while I still think the Panamera is a bolder and more deserving choice, I can definitely see why the GTI copped the Canuck challenge: it's a delightful car, fast and wonderful to drive and with a

U.S dominates for first time in 13 Years with Ford leading the way. For the first time since 1997, domestic auto brands -- collectively -- have surpassed import brands as a whole in vehicle appeal, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.

Volkswagen of America sales jump 41.4 percent, as new models continue to drive growth. Volkswagen of America Inc. said sales last month leaped 41.4 percent, as new models continued to drive growth.

Carmakers try to add value, safety, improved mileage to 2010 models; a list of the changes. MITSUBISHI

Volkswagen recalling Jetta, GTI and Eos over transmission sensor issues. Volkswagen of America is recalling 13,500 vehicles to fix problems with a dual-clutch transmission that could lead to a warning on the dashboard.

Top-ranked vehicles in J.D. Power's 2009 initial quality study at a glance. J.D. Power and Associates on Monday released its annual survey of initial quality for 2009 model year vehicles, based on questionnaires from more than 80,900 new-vehicle owners.