Spice Up Summer With WDSRA

WDSRA kidSchool aged children dream of summer with intense excitement and anxiously await the days full of sunshine and playtime. For many parents, finding ways to keep their children occupied and in a structured environment can pose a challenge. However, the Naperville Park District program is making it easier for parents to keep their kids active throughout the summer.

Parents of children with special needs can receive additional support from Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) when they register their children in the programs offered by the Naperville Park District. An alternative for parents of those with special needs would be to enroll their children into a program developed by WDSRA for those with disabilities. WDSRA offers a wide variety of exciting programs that include, but are not limited to, dance, social clubs, arts, sports and music and are available throughout the seasons, not just during the summer months.

In fact, WDSRA programs are also available to parents of children with disabilities that are now grown. For over 35 years, WDSRA has been serving the needs of families by providing structure and education to those with special needs. The programs available provide children and adults alike with daily structure, the opportunity to grow socially and allow each individual to improve their self confidence and build up their self esteem.

Source: positivelynaperville.com

Best Mexican Restaurants in Naperville

mexican fiestaIn honor of the holiday recently celebrated on the 5th of May, we would like to share with you five Mexican restaurants favored in the Naperville area. One of the best things about celebrating Cinco de Mayo is all of the great tasting food.The holiday represents the Battle of Puebla, where the Mexican Militia defeated the French and is celebrated throughout the United States, but not so much in Mexico.

Nowadays, the holiday is a time for gathering with friends and family to enjoy festivities such as food, drinks, dancing, art and culture and much more. But food is something that has a tradition of bringing people together in many cultures.  After reviewing the Yelp! Directory, it was clear which restaurants ranked highly with Naperville residents. The top five places to celebrate Cinco de Mayo food festivities any day of the year are:

  • Burrito Parrilla Mexicana
  • Totopos
  • El Burrito Loco
  • The Jalapeno Grille
  • The Mexican Grille
  • Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant

These are some favorite places to enjoy some great Mexican food and margaritas.  But there are certainly more places that did not make the list. Submit your own restaurant reviews by visiting Naperville Patch.

Solar Power for Volkswagen

solar panelsIn collaboration with Unirac, Volkswagen recently built a solar park in Chattanooga, Tennessee on 33 acres of land alongside the facility where the Volkswagen Passat is manufactured. The site contains 33,600 solar panels and is the largest of its kind of any automaker in North America. The solar park will provide the manufacturing facility with up to thirteen percent of the energy it requires for operation.

The ISYS Ground Mount 2.0 system was developed for the project by Unirac. This system allowed Volkswagen to cut the overall cost of the project because it required less on-site labor and a quick delivery of pre-assembled components. The Vice President of Unirac, Tony Borck, indicated that the utility group’s partnership with Phoenix Solar US for the purpose of the project gave the company the ability to provide Volkswagen with a top notch product at a reduced cost. Borck was also proud that the project allowed Volkswagen to be awarded the LEED Platinum certification by the USS Green Building Council.

Unirac is a leader in its industry, proving mounting solutions for solar projects throughout the United States. It is a rapidly growing company that has expressed its excitement to have been involved with the solar project for Volkswagen and assisting in providing an alternative source of energy for the company. For more detailed information about Unirac, please visit their website.

New Concept Car from Volkswagen

VW CEO new conceptsCuriosity abounds as car enthusiasts anticipate the unveiling of the Volkswagen Golf GTI concept whose claim to fame is more power. Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen’s R & D Chief made the announcement that the concept will be revealed at Wörthersee prior to the end of the month.

In an interview with CAR, Hackenberg elaborated on the concept car, indicating that it will act as somewhat of a teaser of future designs that won’t boast as much of the incredible power claimed by the Golf GTI W12. That particular model was presented at Wörthersee in 2007 and featured a twin-turbo engine, 553 lb-ft of torque and the ability to reach a speed of 62 mph in 3.7 seconds as well as the ability to reach a top speed of 203 mph.

In regards to the new concept, it’s expected that the concept may have been developed to honor the particular models 40th anniversary. The new concept from Volkswagen could possibly be a version of the Golf VII GTI that offers more power with a lighter design. The concept could also be an Edition 40 GTI with a more powerful engine, similar to what is offered by the Golf V Edition 30 and the Golf VI Edition 35.

Source: World Car Fans

VW Reducing Co2 Emissions

Carbon Dioxide EmissionsVolkswagen is alive and well with many new tricks up its sleeve. The CEO of Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, announced at the 2013 Vienna Motor Symposium in Austria that the company is developing a 10-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox, a technology that seemed to have been forgotten by many automakers. Without revealing too much about the dual-clutch gearbox, the presentation shifted to discussion of diesel engines, hybrid vehicles and economically and environmentally friendly options for consumers. Volkswagen has a diesel engine in the works with electronic superchargers (e-boosters) but is also focused on providing alternatives to customers.

The company has revealed the 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, Volkswagens first plug-in hybrid vehicle. It’s expected that this technology will eventually be used in other models such as the Golf and Passat, among others. The company is also planning on implementing natural gas technology in several models but will begin with the Golf and Audi A3 models. The Audi line from Volkswagen has created its very own synthetic natural gas, referred to as “e-gas” which is derived through methanation and energy generated from wind farms.

Martin Winterkorn acknowledged this advancement and stated that this type of gas engine is something that can be used daily without causing significant harm to the environment. The company’s long term goal is to reduce Co2 emission levels to 95 grams per kilometer by 2020. Winterkorn indicated that this goal is attainable with the implementation of things such as newly developed operating methods, thermal management and intelligent lightweight design.

Self-Dimming Mirror from Volkswagen

self dimming mirrorAdded features are often some of the best selling points for car manufacturers. Companies search for ways to appeal to buyers and to give them the best driving experience possible. Volkswagen has taken something as simple as a mirror and turned it into a self-dimming feature that is included in select models.

Visibility is a huge concern when it comes to driving. It’s quite a hassle when bright lights shine into a car and reduce a driver’s visibility. Most cars are equipped with the ability to tilt the mirror with a lever to dim the effects of bright lights but that’s not the most ideal or convenient option. Volkswagen has developed a self-dimming mirror that will identify bright lights and automatically dim the mirror so that the driver can maintain visibility and prevent lights from causing dangerous driving conditions.

Not only does this feature dim when things become too bright, it also detects when the vehicle is in reverse and the mirror lightens to allow rear visibility. This new feature was developed with driver safety in mind. The driver doesn’t need to fumble with a lever to prevent blinding lights from illuminating their vehicle. They can drive with peace of mind knowing that visibility will be taken care of automatically. The self-dimming mirror is not available in all models and may cost an additional fee in some cases.

VW Golf Models Offering More Options

2013 vw golfThe seventh generation Volkswagen Golf models have been designed with specific improvements in mind, including the introduction of three R-Line optional packages. These new options were created by the R GmbH Division of Volkswagen. The division has been in charge of Volkswagen’s performance cars and has used its skills and expertise to bring forth an enhanced Volkswagen Golf.

The R-Line exterior package, R-Line interior package and R-Line Sport handling kit are each available for consumers to order in Germany. The R-Line exterior package features R-Line front and rear bumpers, fog lights, a grille that features the R-Line logo, rear spoiler and even the opportunity to select exhaust pipes that are either visible or hidden from view. The Highline offers this package at a rate of approximately $1,300.00 while the Comfortline offers the package for about $1,540.00.

The R-Line interior package features cloth seats that prominently display the R-Line logo, stainless steel front door sills and a leather steering wheel. This incredibly sporty option comes with a price tag of $835.00 for the Highline and $1,235.00 for the Comfortline. There is also an all leather option for a price of $2,295.00 for the Highline and $2,760.00 for the Comfortline.

The R-Line sport handling kit features sports suspension and also has tinted windows for both the side and rear. This package has focused more on overall driving capabilities unlike the other options that are more for visual appeal. The R-Line sport handling kit is available for only $560.00 for the Highline and the Comfortline.

Volkswagen’s R GmbH division has also developed new seventeen and eighteen inch alloy “Salvador” wheels that can be combined with any of the available R-Line packages. It’s expected that the soon to be released Volkswagen Golf R hatchback model will feature elements that are similar to these three currently available R-Line optional packages.

Phones Set To Replace Keys

vw keyThe technology industry is booming and companies everywhere are jumping aboard what appears to be a permanent bandwagon filled with modern day conveniences galore. Even the automotive industry is looking for innovative ways to offer new conveniences to consumers. One of which is as simple as a car key.

The standard metal key became outdated years ago when the smart key was introduced. This allowed drivers to unlock, enter and even start their engines without the use of the traditional metal key, provided the smart key was on their person or located somewhere inside of the vehicle. Now, even the smart key is facing the possibility of becoming obsolete.

Smart phones will likely replace the smart key. According to AAA, Chevrolet and Nissan have developed apps that consumers can use to direct certain car functions and Hyundai has created a smart phone that allows drivers to unlock their vehicles, start their engines and many other capabilities which could be available to the public as early as 2015.

The smart key was once reserved for top of the line brands such as BMW and Lexus but rapidly became standard or an available option for many other models as the popularity of the technology grew. Now, according the to the AAA director of automotive engineering and repair John Nielsen, it’s foreseeable that the smart phone will replace the smart key as well as traditional metal keys.

The company stated that it responded to 4 million drivers last year who had mistakenly locked themselves out of their cars, a trend that didn’t change even after the introduction of the smart key. New technologies such as the ability to remotely unlock and start a vehicle with the use of a smart phone will likely help to decrease that number as people are more apt to have their phones on their person than their keys.

Volkswagen Thrives In Weak Economy

VW Dealer SignIn times of economic uncertainty it can be difficult for companies to determine what choices to make, how to stabilize or increase sales or for some, even how to stay in business. With automakers such as PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Ford closing factories and anticipating massive financial losses, most wouldn’t expect Volkswagen to remain focused on their goal of being one of the top automakers by 2018.

Volkswagen must be doing something right. In an age where many are reluctant to spend their hard earned money, the company saw a nine percent sales increase in the United States. The automaker also saw a $2.34 billion Euro profit during their first quarter; they anticipate sales to increase throughout the course of 2013 and have a goal in mind. Volkswagen aims to reach a profit of $11.5 billion Euro’s, the previous years’ record setting earnings.

In order to push sales and maintain a strong presence in the market, the company plans to add 1,500 sales locations in areas where growth is expected. This will be in addition to the existing 20,000 dealerships throughout the world. The company believes that the markets overseas are growing and that sales will continue to improve over time. In addition to new sales locations, the company also plans to reveal an astounding sixty new or updated models over the course of the year, an indication that the company is still thriving and consumers are still buying.

The Sustainable VW

vw logo in lightsAs population booms, the world continues to become a more fragile and delicate place. Companies are scrambling to “go green” and do their part to contribute to the preservation of a healthy, balanced environment where people can live comfortably and still have modern luxuries, such as a car, without causing a significant impact on their surrounding environment.

Volkswagen aims to please their customers and have understood that people are changing the way they think about cars. They want to know that the automaker feels the same way they do about protecting the environment, and they want their products to reflect that. Volkswagen has invested an immense amount of money into developing vehicles that will meet the needs of their customers and give them peace of mind knowing that they’re driving more efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.

In Hanover, Volkswagen released a sustainability report at the Annual General Meeting which detailed the company’s success in moving towards more efficient vehicle models both economically, environmentally and socially. The report detailed how energy and water use has been lowered to ten percent per vehicle over the course of two years and how the company has managed to lower CO2 emissions in European vehicles. The company consults with specialists during the course of the production to ensure appropriate measures are taken to create a more environmentally friendly and efficient vehicle.

Volkswagen has set some incredibly high standards for itself, an indication that the company has a deep understanding of what consumers are seeking as well as a desire to do their part to create more efficient vehicles. The sustainability report details the companies past success and their efforts to reach their goal of creating worldwide standards for continued success.

Source: The Auto Channel