Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross is on a winning streak, extending its Championship lead with first and third-place finishes this weekend at the second Americas Rallycross Championship (ARX) race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Scott Speed claimed his first victory of the year ahead of his VW teammate, Tanner Foust, who earned a hard-fought third-place finish on Saturday afternoon. “Getting the win this weekend is a great accomplishment for the Volkswagen Andretti team,” said Speed. “The track conditions changed throughout the day and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to find where the grip was. It is great to back at COTA, and to be racing rallycross in America.” Speed dominated the event from the outset, winning his first three qualifying heats. In the fourth and final qualifying round, contact with another competitor knocked the No. 41 Oberto Circle K Beetle Rallycross to the back of the field. The resulting fourth-place finish was the only blemish on Speed’s winning day, and the reigning champion bounced back to secure his first victory of the season. Tanner Foust shadowed Speed for most of the day; securing second place finishes from difficult outside grid positions in the first three qualifying rounds. In the fourth qualifying heat, Foust took advantage of his teammate’s troubles to earn a win, setting up a first-place starting position in his semifinal. Victory for the No. 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Beetle Rallycross in semifinal 2 granted the championship leader a second-place grid position for the final. Forced to take the longer Joker on the first lap of the race put Foust at the rear of the field, but the rallycross and drifting veteran raced hard to work his way forward, finishing in a gritty third position at the checkered flag. “There was a lot of decision making in the first 100 feet of the track, and the only hope was that as many vehicles as possible would follow me into the Joker,” explained Foust after the race. “Our strategy did not work in the end, and I had to work hard to get the third-place finish for the team. It was great to see all the new fans that came out in this Texas heat and I’m looking forward to coming back in September.” The results of the weekend place the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross drivers at the top of the championship standings — Scott Speed holds a one-point lead over teammate Foust. Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross will return to action next month north of the border in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, August 4-5. The ARX highlight broadcast show of the COTA round will air on CBS Sports Wednesday, July 18 at 8:00 PM (ET). of

Volkswagen Car-Net® Security & Service1 has always been there for you.  From sending destinations directly to your compatible navigation system, obtaining Vehicle Health Reports, Remote Vehicle Access, Guardian Alerts,2 or safety features like Automatic Crash Notification (ACN),3 Emergency Call,3 and Roadside Assistance,4 it’s a great way to help you stay connected when you are on the move. And now, the VW Car-Net app has added three new valuable Security and Service features that only strengthens the relationship between you and your VW. The first new feature is Curfew Alert,2 great for parents with teen drivers. Simply turn on the Curfew alert and you will be notified anytime your vehicle is driven – giving you added peace of mind knowing if your teenage driver is taking the car without permission. Next is Valet Alert,2 which provides you added confidence when valeting your vehicle. Once the alert is turned on, you will be notified if your Car-Net equipped VW moves more than 0.2 miles from your location. Both alerts can be sent by text, email or both, and easily turned on or turned off in the Vehicle Options menu in the Car-Net app. The third new feature, Parking Information powered by Parkopedia, can help make your lives easier by providing off-street parking information.5 You can find available parking locations either near you or a point of interest. Once you click on a specific location, the address, hours of operation and pricing will populate. Users can also send the location to their car’s navigation system, if so equipped, by tapping the “Send to My VW” button. VW Car-Net Security & Service is available on select models/trims. Please consult your dealer or VW.com/carnet to learn more. New vehicle owners can subscribe to the Car-Net trial at the dealership at the time of purchase or by pressing the i-Button in the overhead console and speak with a representative. To get information on subscription prices after trial, call (877) 820-2290 or go to vw.com/carnet.

Change might mean just figuring out how the right size VW works better for your life — for example, how a cargo carrier could help you on those summer camping trips. And change might also mean figuring out which upsized VW is better for your life — to add that extra grocery-carrying space or third row for the soccer team. Discover the adaptable add-ons and new models that fit the you of today — and tomorrow. Upsize: Atlas A Great Fit for the Extenda-Family You’ve hit that point in your family life in which the kids much prefer travelling in packs — or pairs— and you prefer carpooling, too. The Atlas lets you all ride like kings and queens, not sardines, with three super-roomy fold-down rows, four USB ports, 17 cupholders, and available Driver Assistance1 features for on-the-road help amid the giggliest car pools. Add a Cargo Box Carrier,2 and packing up for the annual holiday road trip will be a piece of cake. Right Size: Tiguan Adapt for Urban Adventure Seekers You’ve successfully tested the capacity of your Tiguan with all things off-road. That 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a transport accessory2 is perfect for skis, mountain bikes, or whatever your personal adrenaline rush needs to make its heart content. Your new passion? Exploring your urban environs with vintage furniture scores, multi-couple date nights, and bags and gear for weekend escapes. VW DriverGear or Accessories: They can help solve all your driving and storage conundrums (and make you look cool). Even better? The Genuine Volkswagen Accessories Warranty offers coverage for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first.3 To find more ideas and get your favorite items, click here. Right Size: Alltrack or SportWagen The Road Less Traveled Is Always Good You got the Alltrack or SportWagen because you knew it could keep up with your adventurous streak. That doesn’t have to change now that out-of-town soccer tournaments are as likely as backroad escapes. (And you’ll enjoy both thanks to the 4MOTION® all-wheel drive, which comes standard on the Alltrack and is available on the SportWagen. It can send torque to the rear axle just when you need it.) To make sure you can take advantage of non-soccer weekends, add base carrier bars and a bike or kayak holder attachment2 — enjoy the evolution. Right Size: Passat More Space for the Family on the Move The sheer volume of kids’ stuff seems to grow right along with them, leading you to yearn for a little more room. Your Passat has the dedicated space — with more than three feet of rear legroom — for weeklong vacations, holidays at the grandparents, or all those super-size groceries. Upsize: Jetta Superior Sound for the Independent Go-Getter A redesign and a teched-out interior in the all-new 2019 Jetta may force your friends into a serious case of VW envy. And with some of the vehicle’s features, who wouldn’t feel that way? Take the available BeatsAudio for example. It’s described as “sound you can feel” for a reason. It may net you the title of DFD (the designated festival driver). Upsize: Golf or Golf GTI Because You Just Love to Drive You know that driving is more than just getting from point A to point B. That’s why the Golf or Golf GTI —  in all its customizable glory — is your urban spirit vehicle. Whether you’re toting the week’s groceries or simply out to enjoy the road, the unmistakable profile of either hatch turns heads. Perfection. Upsize: Arteon An Artful Approach for the Style Connoisseur Do you find inspiration is everywhere, from gallery walls to well-crafted meals? Then add the all-new Arteon — with a classic fastback design as your style statement — to your driveway. It’s like a navigable work of art, with both design and substance (hello, turbocharged engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission) on display. It makes art openings and grocery runs equally sublime. Available this fall.

Anyone who spends time on social media may think the only storytellers that flourish there are the ones with their phones permanently set to selfie mode. To see the opposite, meet Noor Tagouri. The 24-year-old has followed her own path that straddles the worlds of journalism, fashion and activism, from shooting her own documentaries to starting a clothing line that benefits charitable causes. “I knew I wanted to be a storyteller, a journalist, before I knew what that meant,” Tagouri says.  “My intention was to connect with people and get them to open up, and to create an experience where people realize they’re not alone.” A native of the D.C. area, Tagouri entered college at 16, and has since worked in newspaper, radio and digital media. As a practicing Muslim who wears a hijab daily, Tagouri says she tries to build trust through empathy with people who feel the world doesn’t understand their lives. “I realized that the misrepresentation of my community was so detrimental and harmful to our community,” she says. “I always approach stories by asking ‘How is the way I’m covering this going to affect the community?'” As a social media personality with hundreds of thousands of followers, Tagouri’s very presence and style often makes a statement, for both fans and the occasional critic. Tagouri says the hijab is “more of a reminder to live for something that bigger than myself, to focus on my voice. “I have this strong sense of identity. [The hijab] is a reminder of humility, and that not everything is about you — the story is always bigger than you.” Last month, Volkswagen supported Tagouri’s fashion project, The Noor Effect. Created in collaboration with Lisn Up Clothing, the line features a striking graphic of the word “girl,” reversed and crossed out — a reference to a quote by a well-known artist: “I cross out words so you will see them more.” “Fashion is always something I really loved and appreciated,” says Noor.  “Adam Khafif from Lisn Up had reached out to me to collaborate, and he donates half his profits from each piece to charity. It’s heavily rooted in philanthropy and giving back, and that’s something I care about.” Up next for Tagouri: a podcast drawn from her documentary reporting, potentially more fashion efforts, and keeping up the drive to find stories worth sharing. “If you’re not doing something that feels good, helping those that come later…you might feel a sense of being lost.”

To gather, to meet: In Germany it’s known as treffen, but in the U.S. treffen has a slightly different meaning. Here, it refers to the Highway 1 Treffen, a yearly trek that owners of air-cooled VWs make from the Canadian to the Mexican border on Highway 1. Along the way, those 1,000 or so drivers — some who join for a day, some who make the whole journey — reunite with old friends, meet fellow VW enthusiasts, and generally enjoy all that the coast has to offer. “We all want to drive our Volkswagens up and down the coast,” says Andre Toselli of Airhead Parts, which created and has sponsored the Treffen for the past 20 years. “This is an opportunity to do it with hundreds of your new best friends.” Here’s why the Highway 1 Treffen should be on your bucket list: Anyone can participate, but the actual drive of Treffen is reserved for air-cooled Volkswagens, making the event pure eye candy for lovers of vintage buses, Beetles, and Karmann Ghias. “Some of these cars deserve to be in museums, but the best part is, they’re not,” says Toselli. “People are driving them, they’re enjoying them, and they’re sharing them with other people.” Part of the draw of the Treffen is the chance to spend time with people who share an enthusiasm for Volkswagen vehicles. “The camaraderie is just amazing,” says Mike Anderson, who has driven his 1961 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible in portions of previous Treffens — and plans to complete the entire drive this year. Many drivers have owned a series of VW vehicles over the years — and drive other models such as a Jetta or Passat when they’re not cruising in their classic cars. “Whenever you get a bunch of like-minded people together, you have a lot of fun,” says Tom Summers, who has driven his 1962 bus during portions of multiple Treffens. “If you want to meet people and bring good vibes, there’s nothing better than to be in a VW Beetle or a bus.” Participants drive about 150 miles a day, winding their way through iconic settings such as the California redwoods. “It’s a beautiful drive,” says Anderson. “You’re next to the ocean, you’re not going fast, the cars are all in a convoy.” Drivers participate in car shows at several stops and may camp in their buses or stay in the same hotels at night. There are events that drivers in Treffen gather around as well as spontaneous happenings, such as a local parade of vehicles. “You’ve got retired couples, you’ve got young couples with kids in car seats,” says Toselli. “Everyone gets along like they’ve known each other their whole lives.”   Jason Chenoweth drove his 1965 Bahama blue Beetle to the Treffen stop in Pacific Grove, California, near his residence. Later, he spotted a drawing of his car at the event on social media. He contacted the artist and bought a print, which now sits on his desk. “It was shocking,” Chenoweth recalls. “I said, ‘Holy cow, that’s my bug!’” Some Canadian drivers make the trip, and Mexican car clubs drive up to meet the Treffen at the border and join in the fun at the end of the cruise. One year, Toselli says, a man shipped his bus from the Netherlands to participate. Another time, an Australian couple bought a vintage bus in Alaska, drove to the U.S. with their nine-month-old baby, completed the Treffen, and then kept on going until they reached Costa Rica.   It can be a challenge to keep a cavalcade of decades-old vehicles humming along for 1,700 miles, but usually a VW auto mechanic travels with the group to help with repairs. Either way, the Treffen is filled with people whose chief hobby is fixing up classic Volkswagen vehicles. “If something happens, you have all the help in the world,” says Anderson. “Things break, but we have parts available,” says Summers. “That’s all part of the adventure.” Although the air-cooled VW is the primary focus of the Treffen gathering, anyone is welcome — the curious, the locals, the car fans. There’s no admission charge, no ticket necessary, so just follow the crowd and get ready to amp up your knowledge of all things VW.   of