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How the Car Key Took Shape

VW remote start and keys

Plus, How to Open the Door to Your Dream Car at a Volkswagen Dealer

When cars first hit the road in the early 1900s, you could only get your engine going with a hand crank. Even worse, hand cranks are very dangerous to use. That’s because once the spark plugs ignited the fuel to start the engine, the crank would often get thrown backward, crushing the driver’s hand. Thank goodness the car key arrived on the scene to save our strength and our hands. From cranks to keyless entry, look at the history of the car key, and how a Volkswagen near you has taken this simple device to the next level.

The First Car Key Didn’t Do Much

Early car locks were designed as cylinder locks, which were very similar to locks used on house doors. They only locked the engine, but still required drivers to crank up the engine, which meant many people were still getting injured when they started their car. Another problem with this kind of lock and key was that the shape was very mechanical and had no unique features like pin or wafer tumblers. Tumblers are a set of flat pins or wafers used in a lock to keep it from opening unless you have the right key. Without tumblers, keys were very easy to mass produce, but left vehicles extra vulnerable to thieves. Fast Facts From Your Volkswagen Dealer: When someone tries to steal your vehicle, an Electronic Engine Immobilizer using coding software checks whether the right key is being used to start your car. The transponder in your key sends a special signal to your VW vehicle, so even if someone tries to make a perfect copy of your key, it still won’t work.

Push-to-Start - But Make It 1920s

Fortunately, a more modern ignition in the 1920s made it much easier to start your car. All you had to do was press a simple button, and your engine sprang to life. This made owning a car a lot easier, but didn’t stop unauthorized users from hopping in the driver’s seat and pushing start. For instance, a child could easily press start and injure themselves in a moving vehicle. It wasn’t until 1949 that starter buttons were replaced by key starter switches, which remained the only way to start your car until 1998, when luxury vehicle manufacturers introduced keyless entry and start. Fast Facts From Your Volkswagen Dealer: Looking for a seamless entry into your vehicle? Then search no further than a new Volkswagen near you! With your key fob nearby, you can unlock the door by simply putting your hand in the driver’s side handle area. If you want to learn more about the incredible tech in our VW vehicles, contact a Volkswagen service center, or schedule a test drive at VW Lee’s Summit!

The 1970s Created One Key to Unlock It All

The 60s saw little, but important, evolution in the car key. Instead of having pins or wafers on one side of the key, car manufacturers produced keys with them on both sides. That way, you could insert your key into the ignition either way up. However, you still needed two sets of keys- one for your ignition and one to unlock your doors. The 1970s rolled around with a key that could both start your vehicle and unlock the doors. This is the time where drivers saw sidewinder or laser-cut keys, which have a unique winding cut on the metal part. Standard keys, like the one for your house, have the usual straight grooves and jagged cut edge, where a sidewinder key can have smooth edges. Fast Facts From Your Volkswagen Dealer: Did you know keyless entry is available on most used Volkswagens? In fact, you can find this feature on 2017 Beetles, Golfs, Jettas, and Tiguans. Many models also have push-button start. Just look for Certified Pre-Owned Volkswagens at used car dealerships near you.

Mainstream Keyless Entry Stole the Show in the 90s

The history of remote entry capable of locking and unlocking your car is unclear, but the tech is certainly in every newer vehicle on the road. One of the first appearances of a remote keyless system was in 1980, but it didn’t use modern key fobs. Instead, it used a keypad with five buttons that needed a special code to unlock your door. Eventually, this tech was replaced by the more favorable handheld key fob. By the late 1990s, nearly every new vehicle on the market had a keyless entry system. The exact way your keyless entry works varies by make and model. For example, you may need to manually press a button to unlock your car, or you might have a keyless entry that senses your key is within a certain range and unlocks automatically. Fast Facts From Your Volkswagen Dealer: You can replace a lost key fob or key at your Volkswagen service center. An expert orders a new key using your VIN (vehicle identification number), cuts the key, and manually programs your vehicle’s computer to accept the replacement.

What’s New for Car Keys in 2022? Find Out by Asking a Volkswagen Dealer!

If you want to see the latest technology in keyless entry, remote start, and infotainment, then schedule a test drive at VW Lee’s Summit. We have the latest Volkswagen models and the best Certified Pre-Owned vehicles at our new and used car dealership near you. Even better, we sell VW accessories and offer incredible specials on our Volkswagens. Call us today at (816) 841-7253 or contact us online to get behind the wheel of a new or used Volkswagen. Don’t forget to talk to our Volkswagen dealers about financing and our College Grad Bonus Program!
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Meet the In-Car VW App Store and See How It'll Elevate Your Ride

The myVW App Is About to Get a Welcome Addition in the Technology Department As experienced smartphone users know, the App Store is what provides access to a world of applications, including weather, streaming services, gaming, and much more. With the rollout of App-Connect - more commonly known as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto - it finally affords users the ability to integrate their smartphones with their vehicles. Owners of late model cars and SUVs can access their favorite third-party apps using Apple CarPlay/Android Auto; however, the technology is by no means perfect. First, select third-party apps are not accessible through the App-Connect software. Additionally, some apps have compatibility issues that result in poor display or functionality issues. Fortunately, Volkswagen is rolling out a solution – the in-car VW App Store, which will be featured on select VW vehicles in the near future. Let's get to know a little bit more about this upcoming technology upgrade and what drivers can expect. Afterwards, we’ll review the myVW app and its overall role in VW technology. Elevating from App-Connect to the VW App Store Every application within the VW App Store will be optimized to run on the touchscreen monitor included with Volkswagen vehicles, which means any compatibility issues users previously experienced will be ironed out. The other major pain point that the VW App Store addresses is the guessing game users play when adding apps using the App-Connect software. Since all apps will be available via the VW App Store, the manual addition process can officially be retired. So, what exactly will be included with the VW App Store upon roll-out? CARIAD – the software company overseeing the new app store’s creation – has gone on record stating that the VW App Store will include notable third-party favorites like Spotify, The Weather Channel, Webex, Yelp, and TikTok. However, it’s important to note that apps like TikTok can only be used for consuming content – not creating it. This ensures drivers exercise safe driving practices when behind the wheel. Creating TikTok videos must be done using the mobile version of the app. CARIAD also reports that the new app store will be available across all brands included in the Volkswagen Group of vehicles, starting with Audi in July 2023. The app store will eventually expand to Porsche, Bentley, and, of course, Volkswagen. In keeping with the original app store, the VW App Store will include numerous app categories, including: News Gaming Podcasts Music Weather Video conferencing Parking info EV charging station locations Currently, there has been no formal announcement about the exact Volkswagen models the VW App Store will appear in; however, we can safely estimate that it will be included in the all-electric ID. lineup of VW vehicles. Further, it’s possible that VW will roll out a software upgrade for current vehicles so that they can take advantage of the new technology. It will likely be handled in the same fashion as the VW ID.4’s recent software upgrade. Getting Reacquainted with the myVW App Drivers who purchased their VW vehicles within the past two years have probably noticed that VW Car-Net has transitioned to the myVW App. Although the name has changed, the core concept of the app has remained the same – providing a suite of remote and convenience features to VW owners. The main features of the myVW App include: Last parked location, which is a feature that shows drivers where they last parked on a map. Parkopedia parking assistance®. Remote lock/unlock, start, and cabin climate control. Amazon Alexa sync. Roadside assistance requests. Vehicle service reminders and history. Service appointment scheduling. Five years of access to the myVW App is included with all late model vehicle purchases as part of the Carefree Coverage warranty. Looking for New and Used Volkswagen Vehicles in Kansas City! Visit VW Lee’s Summit Today! Now that you’re officially up to date on what to expect from the VW App Store and the myVW app, your next step is to check out some of our VW vehicles in person by taking a test drive. As the leading Volkswagen dealer in the KC area, VW Lee’s Summit has plenty of new cars and SUVs made to suit any budget and driving style. Ready to finally go electric? We have the award-winning 2023 VW ID.4! How about a sedan with incredible gas mileage? The 2023 VW Jetta is the car for you! VW Lee’s Summit also carries a large variety of used cars and certified pre-owned vehicles that come with a limited warranty. Feel free to check out our specials for more great deals and limited-time offers on Volkswagen vehicles and services. Visit VW Lee’s Summit at 2225 NE Independence Ave, or call (816) 841-7252 for questions. You may also email us using the contact form on our website; a VW team member will get back with you shortly.

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Is the VW ID. Buzz Safe? Industry Experts Say Yes!

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