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HERNDON, VA.—Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that its Jetta SportWagen, a sporty and functional wagon version of their top-selling Jetta model, is now available in dealer showrooms. The Jetta SportWagen combines practicality with European style and balances both style and sportiness—exceptional ride and handling and class-leading safety features, coupled with its functional design are perfect for those with an active lifestyle.

Staying true to Volkswagen’s long history of delivering performance and value, the Jetta SportWagen will be offered in three engine variations. Now available in dealer showrooms is the 2.5-liter, five cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 177 lbs.-ft of torque. For those wanting more power, a 2.0-liter, turbo-charged, four cylinder engine that produces 200 hp and 207 lbs.-ft. of toque will be available in dealer showrooms later this year. The 2.5L Jetta SportWagen has a starting price of $18,999.

For customers desiring an efficient alternative fuel vehicle, the Jetta SportWagen TDI will also be available later this year with an all-new 2.0L clean diesel engine that produces 140 hp, and an impressive 236 lbs.-ft. of torque. The clean diesel engine version demonstrates that consumers do not have to compromise when it comes to performance and fuel efficiency. The Jetta SportWagen TDI will have a starting price of $23,590.

Aside from offering the sporty feel and fun to drive performance of a Jetta, the SportWagen also opens up a new world of possibilities in the way of usable cargo room— 32.8 cubic feet to be exact, or an even more impressive 66.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. For those whose active lifestyle requires even more room, there is an optional fold-flat front passenger seat that provides additional cargo space. Fold-flat front passenger seat is available with “V-Tex” leatherette seating.

The Jetta SportWagen comes standard with Volkswagen’s Prevent and Preserve Safety System™, with over forty standard safety features – including no less than six standard airbags, with optional rear side airbags. Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) is now standard on all 2009 Volkswagens.

Also standard for 2009 is Volkswagen’s carefree maintenance program, with this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in the vehicle’s maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

SAN JOSE, CA – Stanley, the history-making autonomous vehicle developed by the Stanford Racing Team returns home to Silicon Valley after a global victory tour. Showcased at museums from South Africa to Singapore, Stanley will be on exhibit at The Tech Museum of Innovation from June 20 through July 17. After the close of this exhibition, the robot will go on display at the newly renovated Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Stanley was the accomplishment of the Stanford Racing Team, a collaboration of nearly 100 technology and business experts from Stanford University’s School of Engineering, Volkswagen’s Electronics Research Laboratory in California, Volkswagen Research and Development in Wolfsburg, MDV–Mohr Davidow Ventures, and Intel. The Stanford Racing Team worked like a Silicon Valley start-up to design and implement this experimental robot vehicle, which is a modified biodiesel-operated Volkswagen Touareg.

Stanley earned its place in the history books in October 2005 when it became the first driverless vehicle to successfully navigate and win the Grand Challenge, sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Stanley beat 22 other robot vehicles in the 132-mile course competition—without any human assistance—cruising through the Mojave Desert to complete the course in under seven hours. DARPA sponsored the competition to accelerate research and development in autonomous ground vehicles.

Stanley incorporates many technological advances that have since led to more advanced driver assistance systems in production vehicles, including adaptive cruise control and ESP (Electronic Stabilization Program).

A synthesis of these advances and other technologies allows Stanley to drive without human intervention. It “sees” the road ahead through special sensors, including radar, lasers, a camera system and Global Positioning System receivers. Advanced computer systems and artificial intelligence integrate these technologies to allow Stanley to have a sense of his environment and autonomously avoid obstacles and steer clear of trouble. Stanley demonstrates promising advances in artificial intelligence—or machine learning—and driverless vehicles.

Two of the Stanford Racing Team organizations, Volkswagen of America and Stanford University, continue their collaboration on automotive-related research through the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Lab (VAIL) on the university’s campus. Last fall, Volkswagen announced a $5.75 million contribution to Stanford for VAIL, its corresponding CarLab research and a new teaching program. The goal is to accelerate automotive-related research on campus, increase opportunities for collaborations between VW and Stanford, and build a global community of academic and industrial partners committed to the future of automotive research.

“I think I can speak for the entire Stanford Racing Team when I say that we are honored to have Stanley back in San Jose and at The Tech Museum. After touring some of the key international exhibition sites for technology history, it is appropriate he return home,” said Dr. Burkhard Huhnke, executive director, Electronics Research Laboratory, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We hope that Bay Area residents will stop by to wish Stanley well before he makes his way to the Smithsonian later this summer.”

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. regards the Stanley Project as a pioneer project and devoted a special exhibition to it in the fall of 2006. That presentation was followed by a tour that took Stanley to some of the key international exhibition sites for technology history, including the Science Center in Singapore, the Scibono Discovery Center in Johannesburg and the Traffic Centre of the German Museum in Munich.

The Stanley exhibit will be located in New Venture Hall on the lobby level of The Tech, where all visitors can see and experience the exhibit for free. The exhibit complements other interactive, hands-on exhibits and unique floor programs at The Tech that showcase not just how technology works, but how it affects who we are and how we live, work, play and learn.

HERNDON, VA — Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced the grand opening of the Capitol Volkswagen Dealership in San Jose, California. Perfectly aligned with the demographics in the San Jose market, Capitol Volkswagen is set to become a key dealer for Volkswagen. To help celebrate the grand opening, Volkswagen Group of America’s President/CEO Stefan Jacoby, COO Mark Barnes, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, City Council Members, Members of the Chamber of Commerce and local business luminaries will be in attendance.

“We are extremely proud to celebrate the grand opening of the Capitol Volkswagen Dealership in San Jose,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Recognized for providing exceptional customer service in the Bay Area, Del Grande Dealer Group has demonstrated their continued commitment toward customer service over the past 30 years. The Del Grande Dealer Group’s newest acquisition is a premier Volkswagen dealership that is sure to make a significant impact on the San Jose marketplace.”

Making a special appearance at the opening, Stefan Jacoby will arrive in the Volkswagen Tiguan HyMotion concept vehicle. One of only two hydrogen powered Tiguans in the world, event guests will have the rare opportunity to view the HyMotion prototype. Embodying Volkswagen’s commitment toward research, innovation and sustainability, the Tiguan HyMotion is the brand’s first compact sports utility vehicle powered by a zero emissions electric motor generated by a hydrogen fuel cell.

In addition to the Tiguan HyMotion concept, Volkswagen will mark the dealership’s opening with dinner, drinks and live entertainment for all attendees to enjoy. Located at 911 Capitol Expressway Auto Mall, the new Del Grande Dealer Group’s Capitol Volkswagen VIP grand opening will be held June 11. A grand opening for the public will follow from June 12 through June 15, offering an array of great deals on the entire line-up of Volkswagen models. In addition, Capitol Volkswagen will be giving away a $25 gas card with a test drive while supplies last.