Ambitious expansion plan from VW

Faced with a slumping market share in Europe, the Europe’s biggest carmaker based in Wolfsburg, Germany, VW is looking to expand its business outside Europe. More than 60 percent of its vehicles are already sold outside of Europe. Basically it is looking for more opportunities in China, Southeast Asia and Mexico. With more than 102 facilities worldwide, VW is looking to locate a manufacturing facility in Indonesia. If it proceeds with its plans, it can serve the ASEAN countries that include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. It has big plans to become the world’s biggest car maker by 2018.

It is also planning to expand commercial vehicle sales including pickup trucks and vans in the United States. Its overall goal is to sell 800,000 VW brand and 200,000 Audi brand vehicles in the U.S. by 2018. Currently it is pushing sales of its compact Jetta, mid-size Passat and Tiguan, a compact SUV in the U.S.

VW’s Audi is also building a $1.3 billion facility in Mexico. It opened its 100th engine production facility recently in Silao, Mexico at a cost of more than $550 million. More than 77 percent of VW’s production capacity now located outside of Europe.

Street legal Porsche Panamera

The Porsche Panamera is the best in Porsche’s 989 concepts that started in 1980s. The Porsche Panamera production model was first introduced at the 13th Auto Shanghai International Automobile Show in Shanghai, China in April 2009. The V8-powered Panamera first came in S, 4S and Turbo. The Panamera 4 and the Diesel comes with a V6. The four-door car comes in a front engine with rear-wheel drive and in all-wheel drive version too. Porsche introduced hybrid and diesel versions in 2011. Duel clutch transmission is standard in 4, 4S and Turbo models. With new introductions in 2011, there are eight models with six different engines from 300-horsepower V6 to 550-horsepopwer twin-turbocharged V8 and a pick to satisfy your hunger for power. The Panamera is the most powerful street-legal Porsche in the market.

The Panamera is the Porsche’s answer to the high performance cars dominated by BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, and Mercedes-Benz S Class. Those who are familiar with Porsche 911, Panamera bring in similar driving dynamics. The 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS comes with a sticker price starting at $110, 875. The Automobile Magazine lists eight models with prices ranging from $75,850 for 2013 Panamera base RWD 4-door Hatchback V8 to $175,300 for 2013 Panamera S 4wd 4-door Hatchback V8.