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The VW Beetle in Rhode Island It’s safe to say that the Volkswagen Beetle is still one of the most universally recognizable cars ever built. Its historical significance in pop culture, modern American society, the sexual revolution, and the 60s and 70s counterculture cannot be understated. The VW Beetle in Rhode Island is still a big piece of Americana, and it’s still treasured by so many. The Volkswagen Beetle Has Come a Long Way since it was first introduced, and a few recent videos make that more evident than ever. The National Geographic channel produced a half hour documentary on the history and evolution of the Volkswagen Beetle. It is pretty incredible, and filled with historic interviews and footage that really help to place this piece of nostalgia in a cultural context. It is 30 minutes well spent for anyone who loves the bug. Coincidentally, this week VW also released a pretty epic video showing the 2015 VW Beetle in all its modern glory. We currently have several Beetle configurations in stock here in Rhode Island. They are as affordable as they have ever been. We even set up a virtual showroom right here on our website to let you see all of the options and features of the new 2015 Beetle. If you’ve never driven a bug, they are absurdly fun with tons of personality. They still turn more heads than any other VW model. Feel free to schedule a test drive for a time that is most convenient for you. And, as always, feel free to pop in whenever you’re in the neighborhood! Also, be sure to check out the latest VW Incentives for the Beetle and the Beetle Convertible. Driving the car of your dreams is more possible than you probably realized.

Do you think the return of the VW Microbus (Hippie Van) is long overdue? Would you be interested in a new VW Pickup Truck? Both might be in our future. VW cruised onto the scene here in America with its one-of-a-kind Microbus. And now Volkswagen is thinking about introducing a line of vans and pickups here in the United States. Eckhard Scholz, head of the light commercial vehicles unit for Volkswagen, expressed interest in the U.S. market just last week.  Are VW Vans Coming Back to the United States? “Pickup trucks are a dominating segment,” while there’s also a trend in the U.S. toward compact European vans, Scholz said. “We’re looking at both options intensively.” Truthfully, VW has been toying with introducing a pickup to the U.S. market for a few years now. The Volkswagen Amarok is the midsize pickup that is seeing unbelievable success in South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, and much of Europe. As of now, Canadian and U.S. dealerships do not have access to the popular pickup, but all of that might change in the near future. If vans and pickups from Volkswagen are going to be successful here, Volkswagen will have to continue to pull American consumers into the current century by educating the market about the endless list of benefits to diesel. As we showed you right here on the blog, diesel engines are still in the midst of a long-running public relations campaign. And if a diesel pickup or van are going to take hold in this market, there’s still some work to be done in educating the public. For some reason, only the United States market still sees diesel engines as the old technology that existed in the 1980s. It goes without saying that diesel engines have come a long way in the last 30 years, yet Americans struggle with abandoning misconceptions when compared to other nations. The Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus/camper van, pictured above, was still in production in some markets right up until December of 2013. Around the world it is still called the ‘microbus’ and here in the United States the older models still represent the counterculture movement of the 1960s. The microbus is affectionately known as the “Hippie Van” by a lot of people throughout the country. The cult following of the VW Microbus has never diminished over the years. Subsequently, a fairly large cross section of the U.S. market still believes that a more efficient, up-to-date model that maintains the overall appearance of the original generation would do well in the United States. In many ways, bringing back the VW Van /Microbus wouldn’t be that unlike the resurgence of the new VW Beetle. The Beetle still enjoys unbelievable popularity as one of the most recognizable vehicles in history. It’s more efficient, more safe, and modern, but it still looks like a Beetle. The same could hold true for the microbus. In fact, when VW launched the New Beetle the company also began planning for a similar release of the Hippie Van, but plans were scrapped in favor of more cost-effective designs that have yet to make their American debuts. What do you think? Would you be interested in a new and improved VW Microbus or an updated, modern, efficient but durable VW Pickup Truck? Volkswagen currently plans to invest $7 Billion into North American operations, so it’s a fairly safe bet that if they started to produce a new consumer-focused microbus, or a commercial pickup or transport van, they would all be built right here in the U.S.

We’ve compiled all the Volkswagen ‘How To’ videos for changing your car’s clock for Daylight Savings Time. It’s been a week since we sprang forward, losing an hour of sleep but gaining some much-appreciated sunshine. Daylight Savings Time has arrived, and if you are like us you’re probably feeling a little groggy still. It’s amazing how changing the clocks one hour can really impact so many things. One of those things is your the clock in your Volkswagen. We know people who just leave the clock in their car on the wrong time until the clocks change and they become correct once more. There’s no need to live this way. VW produced a series of very handy How To videos for each Volkswagen model, showing you How To Set The Clock in Your VW. It is far easier than you think. Find your model below, and get back on track. Setting the Clock in your Volkswagen Jetta Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Passat Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Golf Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Golf GTI Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Beetle Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Eos Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen CC Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Tiguan Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Touareg We host a variety of other helpful How To videos on our website. They are designed to help you get comfortable with some of the basic controls and features of your new Volkswagen. Check them out. And, of course, if you landed on this page and none of this information was helpful, it’s probably time for a much-deserved VW upgrade. Feel free to peruse our New Volkswagen Inventory and let us know if you find something you like!

2015 VW Beetle Classic Providence RI Upping the ante on what is already considered by many to be a “classic” car, we’ve just received word that, for the upcoming model year, there will be a 2015 VW Beetle Classic. We at Speedcraft VW have sifted through several of the details, and you can get your first look (and first information, of course) regarding this upcoming release right here! Here’s what we know so far: 1) Its styling will be decidedly retro. Look at those wheels in the photo above. Look familiar? They’ve been called the “Heritage” wheel design, crafted to recall the iconic wheels found on Beetles from the 1950s and 60s. Certainly eye-catching, no? The Classic will also get an attractive two-tone interior, which can be seen in the picture below, and will be available in exactly three colors: Pure White, Black Uni, and Reflex Silver. To put it mildly, we are fans of this design. The attractive two-tone interior trim certainly sets the Beetle Classic apart. 2) This will be the least expensive Beetle. Wait, what? You heard us correctly. The base price of the Beetle Classic will actually come in at about $275 cheaper than the previous base model. This recalls one of the Beetle’s initial aims, which was providing cheap transportation following World War II. Care to take a guess what the first Beetles cost? Under $1,300. 3) Don’t let the price fool you… Because this Beetle is anything but bare-boned. Along with its retro aesthetic, it is powered by a 1.8L Turbo four-cylinder that gets paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It also features a spoiler and VW’s RNS315 Navigation system. So, basically, this is just an awesome deal all around. We’re expecting to begin seeing the Beetle Classic Coupe around these parts in the coming weeks, with its convertible counterpart planned for release early next year. For further details about this or any other vehicle at Speedcraft VW, contact us today!

VW Vehicles Under 30k Providence RI “Yeah, but you have to say that.” This is the common response from the average auto shopper, enduring yet another verbal barrage of options and amenities that would seem to distinguish one car from another. And, at Speedcraft VW, we understand this position; after all, would you expect us to intentionally steer you toward another vehicle? We are here to provide inquiring minds with all the information regarding Volkswagen vehicles, and to that end, I suppose we might sometimes come across as mildly biased. Thankfully, we aren’t the only ones singing the praises of Volkswagen vehicles as well-built, affordable options. Car and Driver magazine recently released their “30 under $30k” list--a rundown of the top vehicles available under $30,000--and we’re proud to announce that four of our models at Speedcraft VW have made the cut. The Beetle R-Line features athletic performance to match its iconic styling. First among them is the 2015 VW Golf GTI, which was recently released to gushing reviews. Recognized among the top entries in the ultra-competitive “hot-hatch” segment, the GTI received high marks for painstaking craftsmanship and execution, which C&D referred to as VW’s “terror of imperfection.” Well, if that can be taken to mean that resulting GTI was worth all the precise planning, we’d call that a win, no? Next among our vehicles to be recognized was the Beetle R-Line, the iconic coupe’s turbocharged sport model. C&D applauded the R-Line’s 210 horsepower and multilink rear suspension, which give the vehicle a curve-hugging, aggressive performance profile. C&D also gave a little love to the 2014 VW Tiguan, our acclaimed crossover SUV option. The magazine likened the Tiguan to a natural extension of the GTI--okay, the exact words used were “What happens when a GTI sucks on an air hose”--but the point was made. The Tiguan is just as advertised, boasting the agility of a car in the body of an SUV. The Jetta SportWagen TDI is spacious, fast and efficient. Our final entry in the “30 under $30k” list was the Golf SportWagen TDI, a remarkably versatile vehicle that rewards drivers with over 40 mpg on the highway along with 67 cubic feet of cargo space. C&D described the SportWagen as “Roomy, Zoomy and Not-at-all Fumey,” which we’ll just paraphrase as “spacious, fun to drive and efficient.” All of these great vehicles are now available at Speedcraft VW, located near Providence in Wakefield, RI. To learn more about these or any of our vehicles or to schedule a test drive, we eagerly await your visit at Speedcraft VW!

2014 VW Beetle Providence RI Perhaps no vehicle is so ingrained in the average gearhead’s consciousness quite like the VW Beetle. Its iconic shape, the rich history, the adorable way they used to have a trunk in the front...we could go on for days. However, compelling as that history is, we at Speedcraft VW near Providence RI tend to be even more drawn to the Beetle’s future. The revamped styling, the energetic performance, the well-appointed interior...listen to us, we’re doing it again! So, before we lose focus again, we should probably mention that the 2014 VW Beetle near Providence has now added a Premium Package to its already impressive lineup. So what does the Premium Package include? To give a bit of a synopsis, the Beetle Premium Package sort of takes some the most popular facets of the existing R-Line, and then spices it up with some new elements that are all its own. It is available in the gas-powered 1.8L Turbo or the diesel TDI, and will also be appearing as either a convertible or a coupe. The Premium Package sweetens the deal further for lovers of the 2014 VW Beetle. From the R-Line, the Premium Package will borrow its muscular bumpers and foglights. It will then add leather seats with contrast stitching, a Fender sound system and eye-catching Bi-Xenon automatic headlights. It will also add automatic climate control, an iPhone 5 cradle, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and the latest update of VW’s navigation and display system. Even with all of these extra features, Volkswagen hasn’t lost sight of their excellent fuel economy. The 1.8T option, capable of an athletic 170 horsepower, returns an excellent 33 mpg on the highway, while the TDI  cranks that number up to 41 highway mpg. We’re expecting to see the Premium Package available at Speedcraft VW soon, adding it to the already-great lineup of available 2014 VW Beetles in stock. We look forward to seeing you soon at our Providence-area location; pay us a visit today!

Volkswagen Convertible Providence RI Now that summer is rapidly approaching, and as the red Sharpie gets a workout drawing circles on the calendar, doesn’t it seem like something is missing? With trips to the beach, summer cruises to various festivals, perhaps a night or two at the various drive-in theatres in the area, wouldn’t all of this be much more enjoyable in a Volkswagen convertible from Speedcraft VW near Providence, RI? Many of the benefits of driving a convertible are obvious to the point of cliche, “The wind in your hair” and all that drivel. Some perks, however, are much less so. Anyone who sits a little long in the saddle, for example, will never have to worry about headroom or neck pain again, while the corollary problem of nagging blind spots during lane changes will be similarly forgotten. And, while we often associate the term “family vehicle” with SUVs and sedans, can you think of anything to bring you and your loved ones together more than a sun-soaked cruise to the coast? No, we thought not. The 2014 VW Eos offers sophistication and luxury that suggests a far steeper sticker price. At Speedcraft VW near Providence, RI, we feature both new and used convertibles to boost your summer months from mild to hot. Each is host to its own charms while proudly featuring the quality craftsmanship that is undeniably Volkswagen. The 2014 VW Beetle Convertible, now available at Speedcraft VW, is everything you would expect from the update of one of history’s most popular convertibles: fun, stylish and highly functional. In all three of the available engine formats--the 2.5L five-cylinder, 2.0L Turbo R-Line, and all-new 1.8L Turbo four-cylinder--the 2014 VW Beetle Convertible exudes confidence and charm, with plenty of athleticism to boot. Also available at Speedcraft VW near Providence is the 2014 Volkswagen Eos, a sophisticated and sporty convertible with a retractable hardtop that neatly separates passengers from road noise when needed, and quickly folds to let the sunshine in on perfect summer days. The Eos comes standard with VW’s new CarNet telematics system, and its refined feel and performance exhibit fine-tuned luxury at a practical price. Of course, the best way to understand the finer points of convertible ownership is to schedule a test drive, which our friendly staff at Speedcraft VW is standing by to assist you with today. For all your VW convertible needs in the southern Rhode Island and beyond, Speedcraft VW has you covered!