This is the heart of the 2014 VW Jetta 1.8T

The 2014 model year marks the end of the 2.5 liter five cylinder engine in the VW’s lineup.  Enter the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T as the new mid grade Jetta offering.  What is there to be excited about?

Well, lets start with the EA888 generation 1.8 turbo four cylinder.  It’s more compact and lighter weight than the 2.5 liter five ever dreamed of being.  It’s said to produce 170 hp and 180 ft-lb, although final North American power rating is not available yet.  Of course, it also more efficient.  So it looks like Volkswagen addressed the power unit.  They did not stop there.

The 1.8T Jetta will also be available with a 6-speed manual transmission and independent rear suspension.  Obviously, VW has the driver in mind with this setup!  Final pricing has not been announced yet, but this configuration is expected to come in right around $20,000.  So what you have here is basically a younger and more affordable sibling to the GLI.

The 2014 Jetta 1.8T will be able to share many parts and accessories with the current GLI, so owners will have many options to upgrade their 1.8T.  There will also be a plethora of aftermarket tuner support for the engine.  Note: Volkswagen itself unveiled a Passat Performance concept at the 2013 NAIAS with a 1.8T motor pushing 250 horses.  Of course, the more basic 170 hp version will also be available in the upcoming Mk7 Golf and potentially other VAG vehicles.

This is very good news for automotive enthusiasts everywhere, and especially VW fans.  The 2014 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T is said to go on sale this summer.  While we wait, please check out this fun TFLcar insider video of the 2013 Jetta Hybrid.

Andre Smirnov

Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, software engineer, writer, and reporter. He has been writing and reporting at TFLcar since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or scouring the internet and other media for various automotive, mechanical, and computer related information.

The post News: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T Brings Affordable Fun to the People appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

The Jeep Wrangler JK is a vehicle that appeals to a certain kind of consumer. Buying a Jeep Wrangler JK is a sure sign that buyers are getting something they want rather than just a vehicle they need. Anyone can buy a car, but there’s something unique about a Jeep Wrangler JK buyer.

“Every Jeep Wrangler sold to customers around the world is born in Toledo, Ohio,” said Pino. “Since this facility opened eight years ago, the Toledo workforce has built every one of those million vehicles with pride, passion and a focus on quality. We all look forward to building the next million.” – - Chrysler Group LLC Media

Jeep has made a name for itself since 1941 and, as all of us at The Fast Lane Car are fans of one Jeep or another, we’re delighted with their success. It’s gratifying to see such an American icon is still being built in the United States. The production of Jeeps has a real history in Toledo: “Connected under one roof with the North Plant, where the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee will be built this year, the Toledo Assembly Complex’s Supplier Park began production of the Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited in 2006. Located on the same site as the former Stickney Plant, the complex includes body and chassis operations, produced in partnership with suppliers Kuka and Mobis, respectively.” – - Chrysler Group LLC Media

A hearty congratulations goes out to Jeep for building so many Jeep Wrangler JKs.

Check out our fun video in Moab, UT with a JK!

The JK is a unique ride to say the least.

Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.

The post One-millionth Jeep Wrangler JK rolls off the assembly line in Toledo appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Modern Collectibles Exposed: The 2001 Mustang Bullitt Edition 0-60 MPH Review

The 2001 Mustang Bullitt Edition may look familiar to movie fans and that’s because it harkens  back to the 1968 390 fastback Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in the movie Bullitt.

The 2001 Mustang Bullitt is based on a Mustang GT but added some special bits to make it drive and perform better including high-flow mufflers, Tokico shocks, red brake calipers with the Mustang Logo and a few engine tweaks to make it a bit more powerful.

What makes this car unique and why will do we think it will eventually go up in value with classic cars collectors?

And how long will it take before the car becomes collectible? And of course how fast is it from 0-60 MPH?

Those are questions that we answer in this new feature and modern collectible drive and review.

You can also check out other Modern Collectible HERE.

The post Modern Collectibles Exposed: The 2001 Mustang Bullitt Edition 0-60 MPH Review appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

The 2014 Subaru Forester is all-new this year and it boasts some impressive off-road capabilities along with the creature comforts families want in a car. It also touts some pretty lofty MPG ratings of 24 city/32 highway. These are darn good numbers for a crossover so I took it for a drive this weekend to see how it would fare on a typical family day-trip.

We started out bright and early on Saturday morning with the car packed full with husband, kids and gear. Our drive began on the highway but our journey quickly took us to the steep, twisted roads of the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. It’s a beautiful scenic drive, but one that’s not exactly easy on a car’s mileage.

This is not a cruise-control, sit back and relax kind of drive, but one that has you constantly accelerating and braking to manage the changing road and the traffic you encounter. It’s the stop and go, inconsistent kind of driving that practically sucks the gas right out of your tank. I fully expected the 2014 Subaru Forester to come in near the low end of its stated MPG range.

And since this was a family day out, we didn’t just drive straight from Point A to Point B without a stop, but wandered a bit on our journey. There were plenty of stops in small towns that ended up getting us caught in Saturday afternoon traffic and which I expected would even further hamper our MPG average at the end of the day.

I figured we’d be lucky just to hit 24MPG, but the 2014 Subaru Forester fared surprisingly better. When I pulled back into my driveway late that night with husband and kids all comfortably passed out, the car had averaged an amazing 29.9 MPG.

With gas prices rising, the 2014 Subaru Forester turns out to be the perfect little gas-sipper for all those family adventures you have planned for this summer.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.

The post The 2014 Subaru Forester Is a Gas-Sipping Surprise appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Volkswagen Enthusiasts of Colorado kicked off the 2013 season with their signature 2013 Volkswagens On The Green car show.  The event was held at the  Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden, Colorado and was host to a wide variety of air cooled and water cooled Volkswagens.  The gorgeous Colorado weather helped to make this gathering a big success.  The event was filled with unique dubs ranging from Split-windowed Volkswagen buses, to old school Beetles, to your modern day water cooled cars such as; Golf, Gti, Corrado and many others.

Please enjoy a few photos that were taken of the cars that were in attendance.  Special thanks to Volkswagen Enthusiasts of Colorado for throwing a great event, see ya at the next show.

::Tamer Omran

Also, see this TFLcar first drive review of the 2013 Beetle Conveertible:

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Marvel Studios is using not one but two Corvettes in two highly anticipated releases. Captain America: The Winter Soldier which is due April of 2014 and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be on televisions this fall or mid-season. The all new Corvette Stingray was sighted on the set of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and a (I’m guessing) 1961/62 Corvette used in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Here’s the press on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.:

“Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson’s team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage, Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) expert pilot and martial artist, Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker); brilliant engineer and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet). “

Here’s the preview:

From Executive Producers Joss Whedon (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” ”Buffy the Vampire Slayer”); Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” pilot co-writers (“Dollhouse,” “Dr.Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”); Jeffrey Bell (“Angel,” “Alias”); and Jeph Loeb (“Smallville”) comes Marvel’s first TV series. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.” – - ABC Television

There isn’t much available on Captain America: The Winter Soldier other than fuzzy photos and tidbits from here and there. I have no idea what the Corvette Stingray will be used for – BUT – can you think of a more ‘Merican ride than the new Corvette Stingray?

Now, I know Marvel had a deal with Acura (which is pretty apparent when you look at the last batch of Marvel films) and there is no word on anything changing for the moment. I would assume that GM, after being smart by being tied to Transformers, knows a thing or two about product placement. Let’s face it, comic-book movies are (potentially) big bucks and massive recognition.

I love comic-book movies, when they’re done properly. I would love to see Ol’ Cap chasing Tony Stark’s Audi in a Stingray one day.

Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.

The post Like Corvettes? So does Marvel Studios! appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

2014 Nissan GTR vs BMW M6 0-60 MPH Mile High Mashup Test with Launch Control

The 2014 Nissan GT-R is perhaps the world’s best supercar bargain and the flagship car for the Japanese Nissan brand.

The BMW M6 is also a flagship for the BMW and represents the most power and technology the German Car maker can cram into a sports car.

In this next video in the TFLcar series of Mashup test and reviews we see which of these two monster cars is the fastest from 0-60 MPH @ a mile above sea level using launch control.

We think that you’ll certainly be surprised by the results, because we certainly were surprised by the unexpected finish to another fun and informative TFLcar mashup.

BTW: You can also watch the complete Mashup Review HERE.

The post 2014 Nissan GT-R vs BMW M6 0-60 MPH Mile High Mashup Test with Launch Control appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

The Dubai police force has added yet another incredible supercar to its fleet and this time it’s a Bugatti Veyron. Now the bad guys there will have to outrun the fastest production vehicle in the world, so unless they’re driving the same car, they are out of luck.

The Bugatti Veyron joins an already impressive fleet of vehicles that the Dubai police department has decked out in their signature green and white paint job. They’ve got a Lamborghini Aventador, an Aston Martin One-77, and a Ferrari FF in the fleet already so the Bugatti should feel right at home parked with such elite company.

The rest of the cars, however, might feel a little inferior since the Bugatti packs some serious punch. As the most powerful car in the their fleet, the Bugatti Veyron will hunt down criminals with a quad turbo, 16-cylinder engine that produces more than 1,000 horsepower. Just thinking about being chased by that thing should be enough to make you throw your hands in the air and give up.

Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina has said in the past that these cars won’t necessarily be burning up the roadways in Dubai, but will be used more to police tourist areas and enhance the country’s upscale reputation. That means you might catch a glimpse of it if you happen to be at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

Still, it’s hard to imagine that not one of the cops assigned to drive a supercar has taken it out on the highway, just to be sure everything is working properly.

I also can’t help but wonder how they decide who gets to drive it every day. “Bob, you get that sedan. Mike, I like you better, here are the keys to the Bugatti.” I’d think it’d bring office politics to a whole new level of crazy.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.

The post Dubai Police Add Bugatti Veyron To The Fleet appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Specifics are slim, but Aston Martin says it has the company’s normally aspirated V12 hooked up to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. I’m guessing the V12 is a 5.9-liter with an output of 510 horsepower like the Vantage. The Aston Martin CC100 is supposed to go from 0 to 62 mph in four seconds and has a limited top speed of 180 mph.

The Aston Martin measures about four and a half meters in length, over two meters wide, which includes the mirrors, the body and interior of the Aston Martin CC100 is fashioned out of carbon fiber.

“CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. Fantastic heritage, exceptional design, superb engineering and an adventurous spirit.” – - Aston Martin CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez

The Aston Martin CC100 appears to be a one-off special edition vehicle. No plans for production have been announced. Still, it was pretty cool the way Aston Martin displayed the Aston Martin CC100: “Revealed to the world at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, CC100 was driven on its debut by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez. Alongside him on this unique celebratory lap of the iconic Nordschleife was DBR1, the same car that completed the 1000km of Nürburgring in 1959, crewed by the same man – Sir Stirling Moss.

CC100 – the ultimate expression of Aston Martin’s first century.” – - Aston Martin Media

Enjoy the gallery!

Speaking of elegant British automobiles, check out Roman as he drives a Bentley Flying Spur in China!

Poor guy, stuck behind the wheel of pure British elegance.

Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.

The post Check out the Aston Martin CC100 celebrating 100 years in racing appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

2014 Bentley Flying Spur Review: Driving the most powerful Bentley sedan ever in China

The brand new 2014 Bentley Flying Spur is a tidal wave of luxury torque…at least that’s what Bentley will tell you.

In this first drive review, we travel all the way to China to drive and review Bentley’s newest luxury creation. Why China?

Because it is where Bentley says will sell to the new generation of wealthy Chinese looking for the ultimate luxury performance ride.

So how does over 616 horsepower feel in the People’s Republic of China.

You’ll have to watch as Roman get’s to tick of an item from his bucket list by driving the newest and most powerful sedan ever made from Beijing to the great wall of China.

BTW: You can also watch a review of the new Roll-Royce Ghost HERE and/or watch the TFLcar 2014 Bentley Flying Spur Review below.

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Is this a 2015 Nissan Titan HD?

We brought you the first spy shots of the next 2015 Nissan Titan test vehicles in March of this year.  Still, Nissan remains incredibly secretive about any details or the release schedule of the redesigned truck.  Competition is a fierce as ever.  The new 2013 Ram is already on sale with a diesel Ram 1500 coming as a 2014 model.  The new 2014 Toyota Tundra is coming this summer, and so is the 2014 Chevy Silverado.  Ford is not far behind the redesigned F-150 coming in 2014.

The rumor is that the next Nissan Titan will be released in the Spring of 2014 as a 2015 model.  So why haven’t Nissan teased any information about the next truck?  The word is that Nissan is going big on this and is thinking outside the box.  The goal is to bring real innovation and differentiate from the competition.  The main objectives are capability, usability, fuel economy, and value.  How will Nissan solve for the crucial MPG objective?

Well, Nissan has a few possible tricks in their hat.  First, is a new Hybrid Pure Drive system, which is being introduced on the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder.  This system uses a supercharged four cylinder in combination with an electric motor.  However, at 243 ft-lb of torque, the Pathfinder Hybrid powertrain is not strong enough for a full size pickup.  What else?  During my recent test of the 2013 Infiniti M35h Hybrid, I thought that the 457 ft-lb from the M35h system would work nicely in the next Titan.  My theory is that Nissan is working on a next generation of a Hybrid system for their next big truck.  They could combine a supercharged V6 (something they have experience with) with electric motor(s) and have a flexible and efficient combination.

Electric motors are known for their instant torque and come in a plethora of power levels.  Even if Nissan has aspirations for a Heavy Duty version of the next Titan, a Hybrid HD can also be a possibility.  It could provide the needed torque and satisfy stricter emission standards.  It would also differentiate Nissan from the its pure diesel HD opponents.

Check out this fun TFLcar video of the current Nissan Titan on a Safari:

Andre Smirnov

Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, software engineer, writer, and reporter. He has been writing and reporting at TFLcar since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or scouring the internet and other media for various automotive, mechanical, and computer related information.

The post Will the Next 2015 Nissan Titan be a Hybrid? appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Today’s 5-Series is roughly the same size as the previous model generation 7-Series. Yeah, I guess you could say everything from Bavaria is getting bigger.

Keepers of the blue and white roundel from Bavaria have officially released 2014 pricing on their four door sedans and love-it-or-hate-it five door Gran Turismos. On sale this August, the 5-Series lineup is bigger than ever in the United States, with diesel engines available  in two of the middle executive chariots (535d Sedan and 535d xDrive Sedan).

The MSRP with $925 destination and handling charge for the 2014  5-Series Sedan and 5-Series Gran Turismo are as follows:

We’ll get our hands on some of the new models in the future, but for now – check out this informative TFLcar mashup (or is it comparison) between the 2012 BMW 535i and the 2012 Audi A6.

The post 2014 BMW 5-Series Pricing Announced appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Volkswagen surprised fans at their annual GTI enthusiasts’ meeting on the shores of Lake Wörthersee, Austria with the presentation of the Amarok R-Style.

For those of you who don’t know. The Volkswagen Amarok is a small pickup truck that sells worldwide (but not in North America) and is built in Argentina and Germany. Scorpion’s guitarist Rudolf Schenker drove one in the 2010 Dakar Rally and it’s won accolades for its utilitarian durability.

“The striking exterior design features widened wheelarches to accommodate 22 inch alloy wheels, 80 mm lowered suspension, bi-xenon headlights with chrome surround and a chrome grille plus an enlarged lower air intake.  At the rear there is also a carbon fibre diffuser and dual exhausts, plus tinted taillights and red, white and black side decals.

Inside, the dashboard, door trims and exclusive Nubuck leather sports seats have a black, red and white colour theme.  In-car entertainment is supplied via an infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen and 500 watt subwoofer.” – - Volkswagen AG Media

The Amarok R-Style pickup truck might have a production future in Europe where that much torque is completely unnecessary. I just wish the truck were no longer forbidden for sale in the United States.

Check out this fun Volkswagen video with the sexy Nathenia!

Sexy – no?

No.

Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.

The post Check out Volkswagen’s Verboten Amarok R-Style pickup truck appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

2014 KIA Cadenza First Drive Review

The 2014 KIA Cadenza is new near luxury sedan that could have been built in German a few years ago.

It is no secret that KIA head designer, Peter Schreyer, used to design Audi’s.  You can’t help but see the connection in any new KIA model.

But perhaps the new 2014 KIA Cadenza is the best example of Schreyer’s influence on the Korean brand.

The new 2014 KIA Cadenza looks like it could have been designed in Germany…and that’s because it was.

While Schreyer may design KIAs he still works out of Germany given his cars a very Germanic flavor.

In this first drive video review, Nathan goes to San Diego to test and review the news KIA.

Is the KIA a Korean Audi?

You’ll have to watch the review below to find out and BTW you can also watch the car’s introduction HERE as it debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

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