Gina Murphy-Darling has not only been an active member of the Tucson community for the past 35 years — she is also known as her environmentally-conscience alter-ego, Mrs. Green. Mrs. Green is leading the global sustainability movement where she says “she was born to inform and connect individuals and businesses, informing them how they can make changes every day that are good for them and for the planet”. In an effort to spread Mrs. Green’s sustantainable message, Chapman Volkswagen of Tucson provided Mrs. Green with a brand new Jetta TDI. Below is our interview with her about her new sustainable car.
Chapman: For those who don’t know who “Mrs. Green” is how would you explain who she is and what she does?
MG: My [Gina Murphy-Darling’s] passion for preserving the planet and morphing into Mrs. Green has been a slow, progressive awakening. After attending a conference for the Amazon Herb Company, my awareness began to turn into a passion when I heard the company founder, John Easterling, talk about why the preservation of the rainforest should matter to everyone. My commitment to educating “mainstream” people like myself about the confusing “green issue” motivated me to start my own radio show, Mrs. Green Goes Mainstream in 2008. I soon realized that millions of mainstream people were going green and my show is now “Mrs. Green’s World.) MrsGreensWorld.com
Chapman: You recently switched to the Jetta TDI. How has the switch to diesel fuel been?
MG: Even though diesel is more expensive than regular gas, I get so much more miles per gallon. And it makes me feel wonderful that I am driving a clean fuel burning car.
Chapman: How is the fuel efficiency for the Jetta TDI?
MG: I easily get 44 mpg in town and as much as 50 on the highway
Chapman: For those looking to make a switch to a more “green” or environmentally friendly car, what would your recommendations be?
MG: It’s about two things for me – miles per gallon & clean fuel burning. I believe CO2 emissions are contributing greatly to climate change and I want to do my part of make a difference
Chapman: A lot of people think that diesel powered cars are loud, would you say this is true with the Jetta TDI?
MG: OMG – this is soooooooooooo not true. What a myth that needs to be put to rest. My car can creep up on anyone and that is the Mrs.Green truth.
Chapman: What are some of the interior features that you like the most?
MG: I know this sounds really weird since I live in Arizona but I love the heated seats. I have become such a wimp when it comes to cold weather and the heated seats are something I really appreciate. I also love how much room there is in the trunk and it really surprises people when I show them – and that’s without compromising the room for passengers in the back seat.
Chapman: Finally, where can our readers find more information about you and your new Jetta TDI?
MG: To find out more about me check out www.mrsgreensworld.com! Also check out my Facebook page, Mrs. Green, or my Twitter, @mrsgreensworld, to get updates on my new Jetta as well as fun and easy tips to go green! And if people have questions, they can always email info@mrsgreensworld.com.
Check out the video of Mrs. Green getting her new Jetta TDI at Chapman Volkswagen in Tucson on her YouTube page here: http://youtu.be/cq00S33LBLw
For the 2013 Model Year, the CC gains new front and rear styling and an extended range of standard equipment that includes Bi-Xenon headlights and LED taillights. The new CC makes an even bolder move towards the automotive luxury class, offering a sleek, dramatic look at a highly attainable base price of $30,610. With its sweeping roofline, dramatic body detailing, low-to-the-ground stance, and elegant frameless side windows, the Volkswagen CC offers expressive, head-turning design for the cost of a traditional sedan.
Arizona Volkswagen drivers will be drawn to the new radiator grille, Bi-Xenon headlights, and the hood design. The entire area comprised of the new front bumper, headlights, and radiator grille exhibits clean lines that correspond more closely to Volkswagen’s “design DNA” styling than previously. Like the Passat, the new CC also has an extra air intake beneath the bumper. The foglights are housed inside “winglets” that are integrated in this intake.
More visual tension
At the rear, the bumper was given greater volume, enhancing the swoopy nature of the coupe-like C-pillars and the very long, swept-back rear window. The entire rear section now shows more geometric surfaces and a greater emphasis on horizontal lines. The new taillights finish with a horizontal sweep at their lower ends. In contrast to the previous model, the new rear lights have LED elements that respond quickly, use less energy, and are longer lived.
Interior
Each Volkswagen CC Tucson model features a blend of luxurious materials, rich textures, and intuitive controls. All the seats can be covered in V-Tex Leatherette or leather and are available in both solid and striking two-tone color schemes. The front seats are heatable and come with standard 12-way power adjustment, with four-way power lumbar and adjustment for height.
Up front, a leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel features integrated controls for the CC’s multimedia system. The gauges are surrounded by chrome trim, which extends through the CC Sport range, while the CC 2.0T Lux and VR6 models feature either full brushed aluminum or engineered ebony trim. New standard interior features include front head restraints that adjust fore-and-aft as well as up-and-down. In this new design, the head restraint can be pulled forward and, because it lies closer to the head, further helps reduce the risk of whiplash in a crash.
Arizona VW drivers will appreciate the variety of entertainment options that are available with the CC. The 2.0T Sport comes with a touchscreen Premium VIII sound system with HD radio, eight speakers, a six-disc CD changer, SD memory card reader, AUX-in for portable audio players, and SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio with 3-month trial subscription. Bluetooth® connectivity and Media Device Interface (MDI) with an iPod® cable are also standard. The 2.0T Sport Plus and 2.0T Lux have VW’s RNS® 315 navigation system.
To add to the versatility and flexibility of the CC, the rear seatback is split 60/40 and folds forward to connect the trunk to the cabin to increase load space. There’s also a pass-through behind the armrest to accommodate longer items, like skis. Another new interior feature is remote latching for the rear seatback. Levers mounted under the rear shelf on the right and left sides of the trunk make it easy to unlatch both sections of the split seatback. The trunk itself has a capacity of 13.2 cubic feet.
Engines and Transmissions
The award-winning, 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected TSI® four-cylinder engine generates 200 horsepower and the 3.6-liter narrow-angle VR6 engine produces 280 horsepower.
All 2.0-liter models are front-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission. The six-speed transversely-mounted DSG unit features two wet clutches with hydraulic pressure regulation. In addition to its fully automatic shift mode, DSG has a Tiptronic® function to permit manual gear selection. Mated to the manual transmission, the 2.0T achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
The VR6 engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic shifting, driving either through the front wheels on the new VR6 Lux model or via 4Motion all-wheel drive on the topline VR6 Executive model, which is also equipped with paddle shifters. Producing 265 lb-ft of torque, the 3.6-liter VR6 offers refined, responsive performance. The EPA estimated fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive VR6 Lux is 17 mpg city and 27 mpg highway; the corresponding numbers for the VR6 4Motion are 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Suspension
All 2012 Volkswagen CC Arizona models are equipped with a sport-tuned suspension to satisfy the driver looking for lively, involving handling coupled with a smooth, comfortable ride for daily driving.
Up front, there’s a strut-type suspension with coil springs and telescopic dampers, low-mounted lightweight forged-aluminum control arms, and an anti-roll bar. At the rear, the CC has a compact multilink coil-sprung suspension with upper and lower transverse arms and a longitudinal link on each side to control wheel location.
The rear suspension components are mounted in a subframe made of high-tensile steel to help reduce weight and increase rigidity. The subframe is also acoustically decoupled from CC’s bodyshell to significantly lessen road noise and vibration.
An electro-mechanical, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system with variable speed assistance helps ensure driver confidence. Advantages of the system include its mild self-centering action, its ability to help compensate for different driving hazards such as crosswinds and steep road cambers as it dispenses with the usual engine-driven pump.
Safety and Security
Safety and security in the CC starts with a strong, rigid, laser-seam-welded bodyshell and crash-optimized, energy-absorbing front end. For those inside, there’s the protection of a suite of airbags that includes front and side airbags from the driver and front seat passenger, and Side Curtain Protection® head airbags for those in both the front and rear seats. Three-point safety belts have belt-force limiters for all the seats.
A number of aids and enhancements work seamlessly with the CC’s drivetrain and suspension to help get the car and its occupants to their destination safely. They include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), and Engine Braking Assist (EBA).
Every CC also includes the advanced Volkswagen Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard warning lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.
And for real peace of mind, the CC, like every Volkswagen, is covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Model Line-up
Each 2013 CC model comes exceptionally well-equipped. At launch, there will be five different models: the sporty 2.0T R-Line model will go on sale early in 2013. To learn more about the 2013 Volkswagen CC, visit our new Volkswagen Arizona dealership.
The all-new 2012 VW Beetle is a lot more functional than the 2011. The redesigned car is lower, wider and longer in shape. The redesign of the shape means more legroom and a bigger trunk. The interior design has also been redone to give the car a more modern feel without loosing the Beetle legacy. The dashboard contains a drop-down glove box know as the “Beetle Bin” which is color-keyed to the exterior for character. The electronics that are featured in the VW Beetle include Bluetooth, iPod and navigation systems just like other vehicles in the VW lineup. The 2012 VW Beetle is mostly comprised of different parts of the VW Golf. The Turbo features a suspension that is comparable to the Golf GTI; which has a decent balance between slick handling and a refined ride. The base Beetle has a suspension that is borrowed from the VW Jetta.
The 2012 VW Beetle has the same traditional look that will appeal to the Beetle lovers, but the redesign will help attract new buyers to the Beetle. Matched to high-fashion compacts like the Mini Cooper and the Fiat 500, the Beetle has a practical backseat and trunk.
The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle is a two-door, four passenger hatch back available in three trims; the Beetle (base Beetle), 2.5L Beetle and the Beetle Turbo.
The base Beetle has a 17-inch wheel, heated mirrors, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, cloth upholstery, a trip computer, an eight-speaker sound system with an auxiliary audio jack and CD player.
The 2.5L Beetle adds a heated windshield along with washer nozzles, heated and height-adjustable front seats, a second glove box, floor mats, Bluetooth and an iPod interface.
There is a Sunroof package that includes a panoramic sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, a multifunctional steering wheel, front center armrest, an upgraded trim computer, satellite radio, a touch screen audio interface and a six-CD changer.
The Sunroof, Sound and Navigation package include the features listed above along with 18-inch wheels, a navigation system integrated into touchscreen interface and a fender audio system with a subwoofer.
The Beetle Turbo includes all the features mentioned in the 2.5L Beetle along with 18-inch wheels, fog lights, a rear spoiler, sport seats, Turbo specific cloth upholstery and alloy pedals.
The sunroof package for the Turbo is the same for the 2.5L adding the fender audio system and shift paddles.
The Turbo Sunroof, Sound and Navigation package adds a navigation system to the Turbo Sunroof package. A sport-tuned suspension is optional on all Turbo models.
The safety features include stability control, antilock disc breaks, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.
Chapman Volkswagen of Tucson’s General Sales Manager Cameron Erhardt says “VW Beetles always sell like hotcakes, we end up taking orders from our customers having to wait for the next shipment because they sell so fast.”
Make sure you stop by Chapman Volkswagen to test drive a Beetle today. Come get one while they are here!
A fair price for a new car is one of the top considerations when picking out a new car especially in these economic times. Its no wonder that the new 2012 Passat is one of the top considered cars in the midsize segment with a starting price of $19,995. The redesigned 2012 Passat combines the driving dynamics and interior quality that Tucson VW fans expect with the roominess, comfort and value that the public demands.
The 2012 Passat is being offered at Chapman Volkswagen Tucson in 3 different levels – S, SE and the SEL. The Passat offers many options including a choice between three types of engines – diesel 2.0-liter four cylinders, diesel 2.5-liter inline-five cylinder gas engine and a gas 3.6-liter V-6 engine.
One of the Passat’s most impressive qualities is its forgiving suspension, which translates into comfortable highway cruising. The Passat has better body control over big dips and rises than the Toyota Camry. This is different from the previous generations firmer ride but it makes sense for this car since it is more about comfort than sportiness.
As with other Volkswagens, the Passat has light-effort steering whether you get the gas engine, which uses hydraulic power steering, or the diesel, which has electric power assist. The steering wheel provides virtually no road feel but good precision makes it easy to steer on winding country roads.
Despite the suspension tuning, the Passat doesn’t turn into a lurching chaos on winding roads. For a big sedan, body roll is well controlled. Wheel sizes range from 16-18 inches and all versions of the Passat are fitted with the same suspension tuning.
The Passat has grown some with its redesign — 4 inches in length, half an inch in width and half an inch in height — but the cabin feels substantially roomier than the outgoing Passat. Legroom and shoulder room have increased. The backseat has nearly as much legroom as a long-wheelbase full-size sedan, which the Passat isn’t. This is the kind of car four tall adults could take on a long road trip and feel comfortable.
The spacious passenger area doesn’t come at the expense of cargo room, as the trunk measures a competitive 15.9 cubic feet. It’s very deep and rectangular, with few intrusions. A 60/40-split folding backseat is standard, and lowering the rear backrests reveals a large opening between the trunk and the cabin.
As required of all vehicles starting with the 2012 model year, the Passat includes an electronic stability system. Also standard are antilock brakes, side-impact airbags and active head restraints for the front seats, and side curtain airbags for both rows.
The Passat may have had a hard time fitting into the mainstream midsize segment in the past, but it’s clear the 2012 edition has a lot that will appeal to Tucson Volkswagen buyers in addition to its competitive price.
Welcome to our new blog! Stay in tuned for more updates about our dealership.
