Slug Bug Success!

Street VW would like to thank all of you who participated in our 2^nd annual Calling All Slug Bugs event. We had such a great turn out this year at Wonderland and are looking forward to many more years of community get-together’s to come.

For all of your Volkswagen needs, don’t forget to stop by our temporary location at 2725 SW. 45^th Avenue in Amarillo, TX 79110. If you are in need of a new 2014 Beetle Coupe or Convertible we have a large selection to choose from, as well as a great selection of used and certified used cars, trucks and SUVs in stock. Thank you for all your support in the last year and we look forward to working with you.

Calling All Slug Bugs!

VW Beetle owners, we know you are just as unique as the cars you buy. We at Street VW would like to honor all of our unique customers at this year’s Slug Bugs 2 Car Show to be hosted at Wonderland Park in Amarillo, TX. It will be a day full of fun, peace, love and good old VW Beetle community.

The Car Show of the year!

Join us for free hotdogs, bratwursts and bountiful fun! We will have music, door prizes and awards for participating slug bug owners. Meet our staff and see what Street VW is bringing to the Amarillo area.  Don’t forget to register your Slug Bug at sales@streetvw.com and enter for your chance to win one of 8 different categories to be judged. For all you Slug Buggers participating in the car show, make sure you arrive at Wonderland between 10-11 AM, admission is free. For everyone else looking to have a fun Saturday afternoon, the party starts at noon and lasts until 4 PM.

We at Street VW look forward to seeing you on July 20^th at our annual Slug Bug Car Show. It will be a day full of fun and community. For all your VW needs don’t forget to stop by our showroom, conveniently located at 2725 SW. 45^th Avenue in Amarillo, TX. Don’t forget to register your Bug in time for the show by RSVP’ing to sales@streetvw.com. If you don’t have a Bug to register then stop by and see us – we have a large selection of both New and Pre-loved Bugs to choose from. See you at Wonderland on July 20^th!

Take a ride down the Volkswagen conveyer belt

Have you ever wondered what it’s like when a car is being made? Going up and down conveyer belts, getting assembled, and finally painted before hitting showroom floors. Check out this Volkswagen Experience and you will see what it’s like from start to finish, with a little different perspective. For all your Volkswagen needs come by Street VW in Amarillo. We have a large selection of new 2014 Golf’s and other Volkswagen models as well as used and certified used cars, trucks and SUV’s to choose from.

VW unveiled the new NMC concept car at Auto China 2014

For the first time, making its grand debut at the Auto China 2014 show, it’s the Volkswagen New Midsize Coupe (NMC) concept car, in the flesh so to speak.

This new sedan gets some style attributes from a few of its siblings, however it will be shorter, lighter, and lower than the Jetta and wider than a Passat.  It sports a three-bar grill, with a high-gloss black top bar and chrome bottom bars giving the illusion that the NMC is lower than it appears. It also sports a high-gloss black roof panel and Dragon Red paint which is complemented by the 20-inch wheels and 3D LED taillights.

New styling isn’t the only impressive aspect of this concept model, the New Midsize Coupe will be equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo providing 217-horsepower, meaning that the spunky sedan can go from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just under 7 seconds. This car has speed, style, and when paired with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, VW says the NMC can get fuel economy of about 37 mpg.

Check out the video below for the full world premiere of the VW New Midsize Coupe concept in Beijing.

The NMC is not available yet, but you can still hit the road in style with a new 2014 Passat or Jetta, so come by Street VW in Amarillo and let us help you get behind the wheel. We also have a large selection of Used and Certified Used cars, trucks and SUVs for you to choose from. Do not miss any of the great things going on at Street Volkswagen of Amarillo! LIKE US on Facebook and FOLLOW US on Twitter!

 

Volkswagen introduces the new Golf GTE plug-in hybrid at the Geneva International Auto Show.

Volkswagen recently introduced the newest model to the Golf family, the all new Plug-in Hybrid Golf GTE edition. The newest installment to the VW lineup makes Volkswagen the first automaker to offer a full range of conventional and alternative powertrains. The spunky little hot hatch has quite a few new features that its siblings don’t, aside from the combined fuel economy of 157 mpg. Let’s dive on in and see what the newest member of the Volkswagen family has to offer.

The Golf goes electric…and blue.

For the first time ever the Golf GTE will come with two engines: a 1.4-liter 148 horsepower turbocharged and direct-injection TSI engine and a 101 horsepower electric motor. Add that all up and this little green machine can put out up to 201 combined horsepower. What does that mean? Simple, through the combined power of both engines this sporty little compact can hang with the big boys on the autobahn, reaching a top speed of 135 mph. Wow! If speed isn’t what you’re looking for, but efficiency is, then look no further. The Golf GTE is capable of reaching a top speed of 81 mph when just running off the electric motor, and when driving in town on electricity alone it can run for days, weeks, even months between charges depending on the amount you drive.  But speed and efficiency certainly aren’t the only things the GTE is capable of, what really makes it stand out from other plug-in hybrids is its pulling power. That’s right, this little car can pull its own weight and more, with a maximum torque of 258 lb-ft. Move over plug-ins and hybrids alike, there is a new kid on the block and his name is Golf GTE.

Why so blue? To distinguish the GTE from its other siblings in the Golf family, Volkswagen’s lead designers decided to change out all the red accent that is familiar with the Golf GTI, GTD and others and replaced it with a nice, cooling blue color. Klaus Bischoff, Volkswagen’s Head Designer, says: “Volkswagen’s e-mobility color of blue creates attractive contrasts in the car’s seating, decorative seams, and material design. Moreover, the blue ambience lighting builds a visual bridge to the world of e-mobility.” Other interior features include a high-resolution 6.5-inch radio system and the “Discover Pro” radio-navigation system, as well as a driving range monitor, energy flow display, zero emissions statistics, e-manager and the optional navigation system.

Are you ready to join the Golf family?

Look no further than Street VW. While the plug-in Hybrid Golf GTE is not currently available, we here at Street VW have a great selection of other Golf models to choose from. We also have a variety of used and certified used cars, trucks and SUV’s if you prefer “pre-loved” vehicle options. Do not miss any of the great things going on at Street Volkswagen of Amarillo! LIKE US on Facebook and FOLLOW US on Twitter!

Volkswagen Stars in “Summer of (Family) Love”

With each passing generation we are noticing that more and more people are becoming more conscious of their very surroundings and the world that we live in. The phrase, “Waste Not, Want Not” comes to mind, and we happen to think this is pretty accurate. As this sentence is being written, America has wasted 15,175,696,742 pounds of food since 2014 began and you can see that number growing here. A statistic like that is what many would refer to as an epidemic. There is a major movement evolving within our culture that promotes the ideas of living simplistically. Essentially, those who are involved believe that we are too adjusted to consuming more than we need on a regular basis.  This idea could be directed at a number of factors in our lives including food consumption, water waste, fossil-fuel dependency, clothing and other shopping addictions just to name a few. Nicolas Boullosa and Kirsten Driksen are a living testament of the value of putting simplistic lifestyle into practice.

Living in a 1981 VW Westfalia Van

Co-founders of the simple living website www.faircompanies.com, Nicolas Boullosa and Kirsten Dirksen have used their site to explore and highlight the lives of those who have chosen a simple lifestyle for themselves or their families. Recently, the couple and their children were able to put what they had learned into practice. Essentially, these determined folks turned a 1981 Volkswagen Westfalia van into a simple living experiment by taking a road trip with the whole family across the Pacific Northwest. They turned their experiences into a fun documentary that they have shared online titled Summer of (Family) Love. They limited themselves to only one backpack of belongings per person to take on their journey. They also prepared all meals themselves, prepared on a propane stove when they would post up near a new RV park every night. They also have some great opportunities to meet some of the very people they had featured on their website. “With no advanced reservations and only interviews to guide us, we visited the homes of regulars in the tiny house world. With each stop we picked up some new piece of wisdom about life’s essentials. Tiny house builder Dee Williams (Olympia, WA) asked us to consider: “What do you want to hold in your arms when you die?” Boeing engineer and Seattle micro-apartment designer Steve Sauer explained he is less interested in simplicity and more focused on having control over the things in his life. Oregon Coast surfboard-maker Lanny Shuler thinks you can be happy anywhere as long as you give your mind time to heal through meditation.”

The Westfalia Story

The VW Westfalia camper could easily be pegged as one of the most popular conversion campers in history. They were built by Volkswagen based on their popular VW Bus from 1951 through 1999. There were several different types and models offered, and that was the real beauty of the Westfalia, they were so unique and different but remained practical. If you are planning a summer road trip for the family this year and you are lucky enough to find a VW Westfalia for the journey, why not try something simple and create your own “Summer of (Family) Love”?

Do not miss any of the great things going on at Street Volkswagen of Amarillo! LIKE US on Facebook and FOLLOW US on Twitter!

The Beetle Celebrates 65 Years of Being a US Citizen

If you have not noticed by now, Street VW takes immense pride in being a part of the Volkswagen family. VW has built an iconic presence as well as an amazing fan and customer base that many other automakers are deeply envious of. The only thing we love more than being a part of VW is working with those that love Volkswagen just as much, if not more, than we do. The Beetle has long been an icon of the VW brand, and is the vehicle to be thanked for attracting a large portion of VW’s devoted fans. The VW Beetle has been a cornerstone of the VW empire and will continue to do so into the future. From playing ‘slug bug’ with annoying siblings to watching Herbie the Love Bug for the first time, more often than not, when we think of Volkswagen, the Beetle is one of the first thoughts that probably comes to mind. This January, Volkswagen began its celebration of 65 years of availability in the United States.

65 years of the Bug 

January marked the start of an important year for Volkswagen, as we celebrate the awesome 65 years that we have known the Beetle here in America. The beginnings of the Beetle itself actually can be traced back to Germany in 1934, when Adolph Hitler commissioned Ferdinand Porsche to help him design a cheap, simple economy car. Volkswagen translated into English literally means “car for the people”. Four years later in 1938, the Beetle was officially born. However, it was not until after World War II, in 1949, that it would first touch land in the United States of America. Since its arrival, over 5.5 million Beetle models have been sold in the states. This number is especially impressive when you consider that in its first year only two were sold. In 1968, there were over 420,000 models sold to a generation for which it would become a cultural icon. The Beetle had it all, affordability, practicality and efficient size, uniqueness and fuel economy. “Since its arrival in the United States 65 years ago, the Volkswagen Beetle has preserved its reputation of being more than just a car, but a symbol of uniqueness and freedom. The Beetle has become part of the cultural fabric in America and we are proud that its rich heritage continues to live with fans around the States,” according to Michael Horn, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.

A Brief History of the Beetle

As we mentioned, the Beetle, also known as the Volkswagen Type 1, was born in 1938 in response to a need for an efficient, affordable automobile. It was one of the first rear-engine cars of its time, during a point in history when there was a demand in Germany for vehicles that were both functional and affordable.  In the 1950s, the Volkswagen brand was introduced to numerous countries that surround Germany and its production was expanded to many of these areas. Today, due to popularity and demand, the Beetle is built in over a dozen countries across the world and grown its international love and respect from the automotive industry and consumers alike. The Beetle overcame its rocky start in the US to become an icon with millions of devoted followers all over the world. We hope the next 65 years and beyond offer the same success the Beetle has enjoyed for past six and a half decades.

Do not miss any of the great things going on at Street Volkswagen of Amarillo! LIKE US on Facebook and FOLLOW US on Twitter!

Saturday! Saturday! Saturday!

Street Volkswagen of Amarillo is proud to be a sponsor of the Amarillo VA Health Care System’s “Welcome Home” event for local soldiers and veterans going on Saturday, November 9. The “Welcome Home” celebration will be held at the VA Hospital in Amarillo at 6010 Amarillo Boulevard West from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is free to the public and there will be live music and activities for adults and children as well. Daniel Greg of the Street Volkswagen team will be in charge of a booth where you will have the opportunity to take pictures while “riding” his once professional bull. Daniel uses green screen technology to allow participants to impress their friends and family as they look like they are attempting the “ultimate 8-second ride” on a rodeo bull, virtually! Come out this Saturday to enjoy some fun events and support our local veterans and all members of our U.S. military troops that have fought or are currently fighting for our freedom!

Calling All Slug Bugs a Great Success – Thank You Amarillo!

This has been our first week officially being open for business, and it has been great! The happy faces of Amarillo community members have been so pleasant to interact with, and we are proud to be representing the Volkswagen brand in the city of Amarillo. We have already sold several models. Our first purchase was an awesome Beetle that we are certain made a great first car and birthday present for its new owner. Becoming a part of the VW family is a great experience and we cannot express how exciting it has been to see the pride VW owners take in their vehicles. That same VW love made our Grand Opening Daze and Calling All Slug Bugs event such a blast.

We Socialized

Like we said, it has been an absolute pleasure interacting with our new city and the people that have made it their home. The turnout for our event was even better than we expected, as we had several entries for the slug bug contest and even more individuals who came out for the fun! One such spectator stated, “I think this is really awesome and pretty unique to Amarillo. We have some awesome community events but nothing like this.”

We Dined

True to the heritage of Volkswagen, we served bratwurst and hot dogs accompanied by Heineken (as well as youngster friendly drinks) and some awesome desserts, including delicious cupcakes made to look like a peace sign. There was plenty of food to go around and we were more than happy to feed the masses.

We Partied

Again, we wanted to make sure all ages felt at home. So, naturally we had to have a bounce house present. DJ Jack Light was at the event to keep the party going with excellent music fit for the occasion.  To top it all off, we had some great VW swag being handed out to those present.

We Awarded

The most epic part of our Grand Opening Daze was the Calling All Slug Bug event. While the name may specifically call out Beetles, it was actually a car show for any and all VW models from the surrounding area. Many models entered and several awards were given.

Our grand opening was hopefully the first of many fun experiences that will take place at Street Volkswagen, Amarillo’s only full-service Volkswagen dealership, located at 2725 SW. 45^th Avenue.

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Calling All Slug Bugs to Amarillo this Sunday!

The big day is almost here and we are excited to be getting closer to opening day at Street Volkswagen of Amarillo. This Sunday, September 15, at the new Street Volkswagen located at 2725 SW 45^th Avenue in Amarillo, Texas, we will be partying from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. We will be serving hot dogs and bratwurst, handing out door prizes, and jamming to music, admission is free and the event is open to everyone. We could not be more stoked to meet the residents of the Amarillo community and enjoy all the beautiful Volkswagens we are expecting to be a part of our car show and grand opening. If you would still like to show off your awesome VW, it is not too late to register: R.S.V.P through sales@streetvw.com. We look forward to meeting you Amarillo!