Reposted from Automobiles de Luxe

By Gunnar Heinrich

Not necessarily, but the carmaker is redefining cut-price chic.

Volkswagen is fast becoming the IKEA of automobile manufacturers; svelte style at bargain prices. Just don't expect longevity or reliability in the design.

Consider some of the choices in their current lineup - the Rabbit, the Passat, the Jetta; each model represents a design that's a careful blend of evolution and quiet revolution.

Unlike Audi whose design teams seemed to have lost their creative way when attempting to redo the A4 (M.Y. 2008 looks much too familiar), VW has managed to draw new energy into the models that we've come to know (Passat) and recreate models that some of us knew way-back when (Rabbit) into modern-day icons.

It's as though throughout these intervening years, the li'l rodent-namesake never left us.

And Volkswagens are proving more luxurious than ever. Have you ridden in the back seat of the new Passat lately? I have, for an hour, while I was shuffled from Eleftherios Venizelos airport to downtown Athens. It felt more commodious than an E-Class - and dare I say - more refined than the current generation Benz, too.

And there's the Eos. On two occasions, I've had the recent pleasure of getting behind the wheel for extended cruises.

It's an accomplished boulevardier that can (and will on command) let its hair (and top) down on twisting lanes. The only convertible that's fitted with a moon-roof also rides better than rival Saab's current 9-3 convertible. The interior's ergonomics trounced the Swedish competition, as well.

That said, the Saab bests the V-dub in just about every other category I can think of - though in the fun-to-drive category, it's a close match.

What's coming down the pike from VW is also tantalizing. Consider the IRoc concept that may yet see the light of production day. Or the 2009 Tiguan SUV. These models are efficient, smooth Teutonic designs in their purest form.

But does all this a luxury car outfit VW make? I'll argue no for now, but they're not far off...