Volkswagen replaces Toyota's Crown as World's Largest Automaker

The people want an empire, apparently, with that unassuming little black VW bug at the head of it.

The U.K.’s Guardian explains, "Volkswagen-Porsche has overtaken Toyota to become the world's largest car manufacturer as the German group benefits from state-backed stimulus packages around the globe." VW has "produced 4.4 million vehicles so far this year, outstripping its Japanese rival which has seen four million cars roll off production lines since January."

Ironically, VW reached the milestone in part by taking over Porsche – which it was forced to do after Porsche failed in an attempt to take over VW earlier this year.

"Of course," Autoblog notes, there is "some number play involved" in the Guardian’s numbers. "We're talking about the combined entity VW-Porsche, which has built 4.4 million cars to date, which is roughly 400,000 beyond Toyota's mark. However, Toyota halved its production earlier this year and shut down all its plants in February." VW also "benefited much more than Toyota from the European cash-for-clunkers programs," though Toyota saw more sales than VW spurred by the U.S. version of the car-swap program.

The news doesn’t just push Toyota down a notch. Jalopnik notes that VW has "passed Toyota and GM at the top of the heap." America’s largest automaker – the world’s largest just three years ago – now sits in third globally.

The change may not be permanent. The Guardian notes that Toyota "has the capacity to make 10 million vehicles a year but it expects to make seven million vehicles in 2009" as production picks back up. VW, however, may see its production increase long-term enough to stay ahead, or at least to take the title again even if it loses it later this year.

After all, Autoblog notes, "VW's also got the edge on Toyota" in the huge Chinese market, "where it has spent years introducing models."

2009 Volkswagen CC "2009 CC is a 4-door, 4-passenger sports sedan, available in 4 trims, ranging from the Sport to the VR6 4Motion."

MSRP

$27,100 - $39,800

Invoice

$25,252 - $37,277

The 2009 CC is a 4-door, 4-passenger sports sedan, available in 4 trims, ranging from the Sport to the VR6 4Motion.

Upon introduction, the Sport is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 200-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 21-mpg in the city and 31-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The VR6 4Motion is equipped with a standard 3.6-liter, V6, 280-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

The 2009 CC is all-new for 2009.

Free 2009 Volkswagen Eos preview

MSRP

$31,615 - $35,200

Invoice

$29,433 - $32,832

The 2009 Eos is a 2-door, 4-passenger convertible, available in 4 trims, ranging from the Komfort to the Lux PZEV.

Upon introduction, the Komfort is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 200-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 21-mpg in the city and 31-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The Lux PZEV is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, I4, 200-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 22-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

The 2009 Eos is a carryover from 2008.

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is another fresh statement from a company that is known for its strong styling.

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is "your typical sport-utility," according to Edmunds, and for 2009, the Tiguan VW is available in "three trim levels: S, SE and SEL." According to Cars.com, "the [VW] Tiguan looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg 2 midsize SUV until you step around back, where it looks like the rear end of a Rabbit compact hatchback." Road & Track generally concurs, though it notes the VW Tiguan's exterior styling "is an interesting blend of Touareg and GTI." Autoblog says the VW Tiguan "looks pretty bitchin' to us," and they give it credit for not just being a "prettied-up tall Golf."

Edmunds reviewers report that the Tiguan VW "boasts a number of cues first established on the Concept A," a VW show car from several years ago, "including its bold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatment." However, the concept car had a more "sporting, coupe-like silhouette with a roof line that plunged to the rear," whereas the production Tiguan VW has a more upright roofline that's more practical, which should appeal to the masses. The Auto Channel says the VW Tiguan's styling is "clean, graceful, modern and attractive."

The exterior of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is very well received by reviewers, and the interior doesn't disappoint either. For those who've spent some time in Europe, Edmunds says that "if the interior of the new Volkswagen looks familiar, it's no coincidence," adding that "in a bid to keep development costs down, Volkswagen has provided its new SUV with the same basic cabin architecture as the European-market Golf Plus." That interior is highly rated by The Auto Channel, which says the "interior is attractive as well" and the "gauges, controls, and everything we interact with are thoughtfully placed." Kelley Blue Book also appreciates the "thoughtful" layout of the interior controls.