Posted by Bob Aldons - Northstar Volkswagen

When is a Volkswagen Jetta not a Jetta? When it's made in China and called a Bora

If you want to experience Volkswagen Jetta/Bora in person, call into Northstar Volkswagen at 322 Anzac Avenue Kippa-Ring on the Redcliffe Peninsula. We're only 15 minutes or so from Brisbane Airport and a leisurely drive down the highway from Noosa, Bundaberg, Maryborough, and a short trip from Nambour, Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Bribie Island. We also get a lot of our customers as FIDO - that's not a dog by the way, that's fly in drive out. With cheap airfares, our customers come in from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Mt Isa and even Sydney, Melbourne and as far away as Perth.

We'll happily arrange a drive home registration and you know the best thing about this? The drive home gives you just the best running in you'll ever get. New engines love a long drive to bed everything in and you'll get the best economy you've ever experienced. Alternatively if you're time or distance poor, check us out online at www.northstarvw.com.au or read more reviews at www.mycarreview.com.au . Finally, if you can't come to us, we'll come to your home, workplace or worksite - call Northstar on 1300 NTH STAR or 1300 684 782.

2013 Volkswagen Bora

Based on the PQ35 platform

Volkswagen has launched in China the 2013 Bora based on the group's PQ35 platform.

The Bora name is still going strong in China where the new model year borrows some of its styling cues from the U.S.-spec Jetta with those angular headlights and chrome inserts.

Power comes from a 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine producing 122 hp (91 kW) and fitted with the BlueMotion technology that includes stop/start and brake energy recuperation. Those ponies are sent to the front wheels via a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an optional DSG dual clutch transmission.

Inside the cabin there are several wooden and chrome details, along with navigation system and automatic climate control...read more

Commentary by Bob Aldons - Northstar Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Volkswagen

Karla Pincott from Carsguide reveals early design drawings from Apple for your car interior.

The only question I have for Apple, is that being so geek minded, what do they really know about car control systems. Having read numerous stories about the legendary Mr Jobs and his penchant for NOT using a car that often, I worry that it will be too techy and not receive the popularity of say an I Phone, Pod, or Pad.

Even car people get instrumentation, audio controls and such like incorrect in a big way - but I'm crossing my fingers and toes and hope that the technology does get into car design. If the Apple guys demonstrate their forward thinking design as they've done in recent years, it will be a huge hit. Tip - Buy Apple shares now

If you want to see the range of accessories and merchandise available in the Chrysler Jeep Dodge and VW range click through to our web site and then check out our spare parts section. Alternatively you can call into our dealership at 320-322 Anzac Avenue Kippa-Ring on the Redcliffe Peninsula.

The remote control patent will mainly be used to develop interfaces for portable media devices.

You’ll never have to touch that in-dash dial again, with Apple putting controls on your wheel.

Among 21 patents for Apple published yesterday by the US Patent and Trademark Office is a remote control that clips to your steering wheel.

It looks remarkably like the thumb-operated click wheel now made familiar by the former long reign of the Apple iPod – before the crown was taken by the iPhone (now looking nervously over its little shoulder at the iPad). The resemblance is probably the mark of a particular engineer who previously headed up design at legendary Frog Design in California, who have worked with Apple since the early days, according to a report on Patently Apple.

However the patent details the remote’s faceplate as being completely touch-sensitive rather than rotationally, as the click-wheel was. Patently Apple believes the remote control patent will mainly be used to develop interfaces for portable media devices, which means applications could also be developed to control future iPads – and whatever else Apple has coming down their clever line. Say bye-bye to factory-fitted audio, satnavs and possibly even telematics.

The only problem we can see with this part of Apple's grand plan is that the remote is bound to get in most people's way as they steer. From that, we believe the position on the outer part of the wheel will change before it gets to market. Stay tuned. But don't touch that dial.

VW Jetta 147 TSI vs. Kia Optima Platinum
by Bob Aldons - Northstar VW

Mark Hinchliffe, a respected motoring journalist with the Courier Mail in Brisbane compares the European designed and built Volkswagen Jetta with the Korean built Kia Optima

Mark rates the Kia Optima with 19.5 points v the VW Jetta at 17 points. The only thing I'd like to add to this calculation is the re-sale value of the Volkswagen v the same with the Korean. My money and my business sense tell me that the Jetta will power in front when that is taken into account.

Volkswagen vehicles historically don't depreciate way as much as the Korean cars have proven over a 3 or 4 year ownership cycle and whilst Hinchliffe may decry the Jetta for its lack of features compared to the Kia, I'd suggest that you could option the German sedan up by as much as $5000 and still be better off at the end of this time.

I'd suggest that anyone interested in one of these cars takes a extended test drive, perhaps overnight. I'm quite sure that you'll love the Jetta just a little bit more in the morning.

Volkswagen Jetta 147 TSI and Kia Optima Platinum go head to head in this comparative review.

Volkswagen Scirocco R arrives

It's taken more than three years to get here - and you may have to wait another six months for sought-after colours - but the Scirocco R is finally here

The Volkswagen Scirocco R is set to make a few waves in the hot hatch segment with its top speed of 250km/h and sleek coupe-like design — not to mention a starting price of $47,490 for the six-speed manual.

While Volkswagen Australia boss, Anke Koeckler, says the new model won't match the five-door Golf R for sales - the latter presently accounting for 10 per cent of all Golf sales in Oz - she says the vast majority of Scirocco buyers will pick the more expensive variant ($49,990) with six-speed DSG.

"We are selling 10% of the total Golf mix as Golf R. But we are not seeking to have those figures for the Scirocco R.

"The Scirocco R is a bit of a limited edition; that's how we look at it. It is a really sporty car for two people, less so for four people, so this already limits the people you are talking to."

Rivalling the Renault Megane RS 250 in terms of straight line performance, the coupe-like hatch is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo/intercooled four-cylinder engine that generates 188kW/330Nm - enough power to propel the car from 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds flat.

Weighing in at 1351kg, the Scirocco is lighter than the 1476kg five-door Golf R by 125kg and cheaper by $2500. However it misses out on the AWD powertrain of the Golf R.

Fitted as standard with lots of mod cons, Volkswagen is offering only three options, satnav ($2500), Dynaudio Excite premium audio ($1100) and a panoramic glass roof ($1800).

The stuff that comes standard includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, six airbags, ESP with countersteering assist, xenon headlights with curve lighting and dynamic levelling control, plus dual-zone climate control and a CD-stereo touch screen system with MP3 playback and eight speakers.