Volkswagen brass lobby hard for North American SUV

Story by John LeBlanc As it pushes to become a full-line automaker in North America, one gaping hole in the Volkswagen brand’s product portfolio is a three-row SUV. But if Volkswagen Group of America executives get their way, a new VW crossover will not only be sold in America but also built there.

2013 Frankfurt: Volkswagen goes electric

Story and photos by John LeBlanc FRANKFURT – In what will eventually become a fleet of as many as 40 electric or hybrid vehicles, Germany’s Volkswagen is making a big bet on the electrification of the automobile.

2013 Frankfurt: Ford’s new Vignale is a Lincoln for Europe

Story and photos by John LeBlanc After shedding Volvo, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover, Ford has been without an upmarket brand in Europe for years. But here in Frankfurt, the American automaker debuted its new, exclusive Vignale sub-brand.

2013 Frankfurt: Porsche’s all-new supercar debuts alongside its 50-year-old sibling

Story and photos by John LeBlanc FRANKFURT – You probably already know a fair bit about Porsche’s big news at this year’s Frankfurt auto show, its 700-horsepower 918 Spyder mid-engine gas-electric hybrid supercar. But did you know that it is now officially the fastest street-legal car around Germany’s famed Nürburgring race track?

2013 Frankfurt: Audi stuns with half-super-car/half-crossover Nanuk

Story and photos by John LeBlanc FRANKFURT – It’s rare these days to arrive at an auto show and be surprised, with automakers using the Internet to “leak” information well before the actual media days. But the Audi Nanuk Concept — a supercar/crossover — caught many in the industry off guard.

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