Eco Warriors

Volkswagen giving The Conservation Fund $1.25 million to buy, protect land in East Tennessee

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Nov 16, 2019, 12:07 pm

Volkswagen is making a significant donation to help the environment of Eastern Tennessee.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

The Conservation Fund will be on the receiving end of a $1.25 million donation from Volkswagen. The monies will be used to buy, protect and donate hundreds of acres of land to the U.S. Forest Service. Any remaining money will be used to provide community grants in Eastern Tennessee.

Volkswagen's U.S. plant is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, near where these funds will be used.

Cherokee National Forest Tennessee The additional conservation efforts will allow visitors to enjoy the national habitats of wildlife in Tennessee.Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

"We are excited about our partnership with Volkswagen and the opportunity to advance their commitment to corporate leadership around sustainability," said Larry Selzer, president and CEO of The Conservation Fund. "Volkswagen is taking real, measurable steps forward to help protect the environment, embrace sustainable business practices and support the communities in which they work."

Most of the funds will be used to increase the size of the Cherokee National Forest. The Forest was created in 1920 and currently stands at about 656,000 acres north and south of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Volkswagen's donation will help add 1,500 acres to the site. That new acreage will be used for public recreation and habitat protection for black bears and Indiana bats.

Cherokee National Forest sign Tennessee Volkswagen of America and The Conservation Fund are teaming up to increase the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee.Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

"Our work with The Conservation Fund will help strengthen the environment and help us give back to a community where more than 3,800 of our colleagues live," said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. "This collaboration in our own backyard underscores our 'Drive Bigger' goal of pursuing ideas bigger than ourselves and then taking action. We feel a responsibility to show how a major automaker can credibly contribute to the greater good."

In addition to the bears and bats, the Forest is home to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, several whitewater rivers, and 12 designated wildernesses.

The Conservation Fund is negotiating with private landowners to acquire properties that will be held until they can be transferred to the USDA Forest Service for long-term stewardship in 2020 and 2021.

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The Price is Right

Volkswagen reveals U.S. pricing for significantly refreshed 2021 Arteon

The Volkswagen Arteon has been refreshed for the 2021 model year.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Americans aren't as in love with the Arteon as Europeans, but that won't stop Volkswagen from offering if for sale here, yet. The automaker, who has sold just over 2,600 Arteons this year, is pricing the 2021 edition to start at $36,995.

Only available as a sedan in the States, the Arteon will be sold in three trim levels: SE, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium R-Line. Each comes with an additional $1,195 destination and delivery charge.

The Arteon gets its power from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Its engine is paired with an eight speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available in the SEL R-Line and up grades.

2021 Volkswagen Arteon The Arteon has been reborn inside for the 2021 model year.Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Among the changes to the refreshed Arteon for the 2021 model year are its wide and wide hood, available illuminated front light bar, and fresh paint color options: Kings Red Metallic, Oryx White Pearl, and Lapiz Blue Metallic.

2021 Volkswagen Arteon SE (MSRP: $36,995)

The Arteon SE comes standard with front-wheel drive, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED taillights. It features keyless entry and has rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped touch multifunction steering wheel, chrome window switches, and stainless steel door sills and pedal caps.

Twelve-way power-adjustable heated front seats, leatherette seating throughout the cabin, automatic trio-zone climate control, Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, navigation, wireless App-Connect, Bluetooth, two USB-C ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, SiriusXM with 360L, and a rearview camera are also standard.

Each Arteon also comes with blind spot monitoring, forward collision assist, and rear traffic alert.

2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL R-Line (MSRP: $41,595)

The Arteon SEL R-Line is avialable in front- and all-wheel drive. It builds on the SE grade, offering 19-inch wheels, an illuminated front grille bar, adaptive front lighting, panoramic sunroof, power-folding side mirrors, remote start, wireless charging, driver's seat and side mirror memory, translucent decor with ambient lighting, and leather seats.

The R-Line design accents include a front bumper with C-signature and rear lid spoiler in gloss black, black headliner, paddle shifters, contrast stitching on steering wheel and shift knob, and R-Line badging.

This model gets more standard drive assistance features including adaptive cruise control with stop and go, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, road sign display, rear park distance control, and Light Assist.

2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL Premium R-Line (MSRP: $46,995)

2021 Volkswagen Arteon

Volkswagen has enhanced the Arteon for the 2021 model year with a thorough refresh.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

The range-topping Arteon SEL Premium R-Line comes standard with all-wheel drive. It rides on 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and has a Harman/Kardon auto system, heated steering wheel with paddle shifters, massaging driver's seat, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, rear seat climate controls, an additional USB-C port, and power trunk. The model adds Park Assist and Area View.

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon will be available in three trim levels and is expected to begin arriving at Volkswagen dealers in Q4 2020.

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New Model News

New 2022 Volkswagen Taos compact SUV set to take on hot-selling Toyota, Honda models

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is the newest member of the compact SUV segment.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos, the Tiguan's little brother, has been revealed. The model is a compact SUV designed to go head-to-head with the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V.
The introduction fo the Taos as Volkswagen works to flush out its North American market offerings, first with the Atlas Cross Sport late last year then with the ID.4 electric SUV just last month.

2022 Volkswagen Toas The Volkswagen Taos sits below the Tiguan in the VW lineup.Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

"Taos is our fifth new addition to the Volkswagen SUV family in just four years, and we're thrilled to keep finding new ways to meet the needs of American families," said Scott Keogh, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "Taos will bookend our compact SUV offering, giving buyers all the style, technology, and drivability that Volkswagen is known for at an even more affordable price."

The Volkswagen DNA is instantly apparent by anyone looking at the model. Its front end comes with a grille with familial ties to the Tiguan and Atlas while the light signature is borrowed from the ID.4. Top trim levels of the model feature VW's adaptive front lighting system. A panoramic sunroof is also available.

VW will offer the SUV in eight paint colors and with four wheel designs. Seventeen-inch aluminum-alloys are standard. Buyers can opt for their choice of 18-inch wheel designs (machined or black finish) or 19-inchers.

Size-wise, the Taos is a little larger than the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport and a little shorter than the 2020 Ford Escape. It's 9.3 inches smaller than the Tiguan but has a wheelbase that's longer than the CR-V.

2022 Volkswagen Taos

2022 Volkswagen Taos

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Despite its compact size, the Taos has just 1.6 cubic feet less passenger space than the two-row Tiguan - 99.5. That's far less than the spacious CR-V, which comes in at 105.9 cubic feet, but more than the 94.1 cubic feet in the Mazda CX-30.

Taos features 28.1 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second-row seats and 66.3 cubic feet with the second row folded down. Again, that puts it between models with the Rogue having more space and the Buick Encore GX having far less. The model offers a good amount of legroom for front and rear passengers.

Volkswagen is touting the Taos's interior design aesthetic and high-quality fit and finish. In typical VW style, the cabin is full of clean lines, seemingly all well-organized.

Two-tone seats are standard on the Taos, whether they're covered in the base cloth or available leatherette or leather seating surfaces. The top tier Taos model is available with a unique French Roast and black color combination.

VW developed the Taos especially for the U.S. market and it shows. The list of standard features includes automatic headlights, push-button start, keyless entry, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated side mirrors, and heated washer nozzles.

2022 Volkswagen Taos The Taos shares its looks with the rest of the VW stable of SUVs.Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Volkswagen Digital Cockpit is standard, meaning that there are no analog dials on the dashboard. Each model comes with Wi-Fi capability and an infotainment system powered by the company's MIB3 operating system, which is shared with Audi. An 8-inch infotainment touch screen is standard while wireless charging, 10-color ambient lighting and a BeatsAudio system is available.

The automaker has made its IQ.Drive suite of driver assistance technology available on every Taos. The suite includes forward collision warning with autonomous braking, active blind spot monitor, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Park distance control is available.

Taos is powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that runs the Jetta. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel drive models, the engine makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Those number are on the low end of what is offered in the segment. All-wheel drive Taos models get a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission.

Volkswagen plans to sell the Taos in three trim levels: S, SE, and SEL. Taos will be produced in the North American Region at Volkswagen's Puebla, Mexico factory. More details and pricing will be announced ahead of the launch in the summer of 2021.

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