Latest Volkswagen News

The automotive industry is always evolving, with manufacturers unveiling ever-more advanced vehicles and showcasing models and features around the globe. Volkswagen is no different to any other manufacturer in the respect that its engineers and design teams continue to push the boundaries of passenger and commercial vehicle development. However, staying on top of all the latest news isn’t easy.

As such, we at Hadwins Volkswagen are delighted to bring you all the key news and events from both the manufacturer and our own Lake District-based dealership. We’ll bring you the top stories relating to the brand, as well as detail our involvement in the local community, special events, vehicle, launches, promotional activity, and much more.

Keep checking this page regularly - and follow us on social media - to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the key developments from Hadwins Volkswagen and Volkswagen itself. And, if you’ve a story to share of your own, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.



1/6/2023

Milnthorpe JFC

Congratulations to Hadwins sponsored under 14’s Milnthorpe JFC, pictured here in their brand new kit.

After recently winning the Westmorland County FA Cup, the boys were also close runners up in the Lancaster & Morecambe FA Cup.



17/5/2023

Hadwins Anniversary Ceremony

On 17th May Hadwins Motor Group recently held an extraordinary awards ceremony to honour our exceptional long-serving staff members, with everyone gathering together in our showroom to celebrate their remarkable dedication and loyalty.

We were privileged to recognize our incredible team members for their outstanding commitment, with awards presented in 5-year increments, all the way up to an incredible 50 years of service for our esteemed Managing Director, Mr. Roy Allen, who was honoured for his exceptional half-century of dedicated service.

In addition to the awards, to express our heartfelt gratitude the HR team also presented each long-serving staff member with congratulatory cards, accompanied by a thoughtful gift voucher. It was our way of saying "thank you" for their unwavering dedication and contribution to the success of Hadwins Motor Group.

We have more celebrations planned in the weeks to come, with additional awards for our fantastic team members reaching their 5 and 10-year milestones.

The atmosphere during the ceremony was truly electric, with over 500 years of combined experience in the room! The wealth of knowledge and expertise displayed by our long-serving staff was awe-inspiring. We are immensely proud of their remarkable achievements and the role they play in making Hadwins Motor Group the success it is today.

Speaking of milestones, we recently celebrated over 50 years with Audi, and we are eagerly looking forward to marking the same milestone with Volkswagen in 2024! Our enduring partnerships with these exceptional automotive brands are a testament to our commitment to excellence and providing unparalleled service to our valued customers.

We extend our sincerest congratulations to all our long-serving staff members once again and express our gratitude for their exceptional contributions. Thank you for being an integral part of the Hadwins Motor Group family!



1/3/23

Get £750 when you take delivery of your Motability car

The Motability Scheme is giving back to their valued customers, and as of now, when you receive your car, you get a free, one-off £750 New Vehicle Payment!

You can use this £750 however you wish - spend it on fuel for your car, put it towards your energy bills or save it - the choice is yours!

Motability introduced the New Vehicle Payment back in February 2022 at £250. But now it’s been raised to £750. If you received £250 back in 2022, you will be receiving an extra £500 this year to make up the difference.

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27/1/2022

ID.5 in series production: Volkswagen successfully transforms Zwickau site into an electric vehicle production plant

Volkswagen is driving forward the shift to electric vehicle manufacturing with its ACCELERATE strategy. Today’s official start of production of the ID.5 and ID.5 GTX marks the completion of Volkswagen’s successful transformation of its Zwickau plant into a dedicated electric vehicle production facility. The long-established site in western Saxony is the first large-scale facility of any volume manufacturer worldwide to switch over all production from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. Six models from the Volkswagen, Audi and CUPRA brands will now be manufactured in Zwickau based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). The plants in Emden (ID.4), Hanover (ID. Buzz) and Chattanooga (USA, ID.4) will be added to the electric vehicle production network this year. The Volkswagen brand has thus laid the foundations for building 1.2 million all-electric-vehicles at its sites in Europe, the USA and China in 2022 based on the MEB.

Dr. Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Brand responsible for Production: “Volkswagen will continue to increase the pace of e-mobility in 2022 with its ACCELERATE strategy and the expansion of the model portfolio. The Zwickau production plant has paved the way for the Group to do this with six ramp-ups from three brands in just 26 months. The knowledge and experience gained will help us to continue to electrify our production network quickly and efficiently.”

Dr. Stefan Loth, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Saxony: “After Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden, we have now converted a second Volkswagen factory in Saxony to dedicated electric vehicle production. The start of production of the ID.5 and ID.5 GTX marks the successful transformation of the Zwickau plant on the product side. Our focus now – depending on how the semiconductor situation pans out – will be on achieving full capacity. This year we aim to exceed the 180,000 vehicles Volkswagen Saxony built in 2021.”

Jens Rothe, Chairman of the General Works Council at Volkswagen Saxony: “Switching over to electric vehicle production was exactly the right decision for the Zwickau plant. Demand for our models is booming, and our team’s jobs will be safe for years to come. We are a trailblazer of change and have repaid the Group’s trust in us. This is first and foremost a fantastic achievement by our workforce.”

An efficient digital model factory

Since 2018, around 1.2 billion euros has been spent on converting the Zwickau plant from ICE vehicle production into a digital, flexible, highly efficient showcase factory for the manufacture of electric vehicles. Increasing use is being made of technology such as smart Industry 4.0 robots and driverless transportation systems that take components to the assembly line completely autonomously.

Close to 40 percent of the investment volume went into the enhancement and expansion of the body shop alone. This area’s already high level of automation now reaches nearly 90 percent, and the number of state-of-the-art robots has risen from 1,200 to 1,625. Automation in the assembly line has also been almost doubled to 28 percent, and production ergonomics have improved significantly. Only jobs involving monotonous or physically strenuous work have been affected, such as working with one’s hands above one’s shoulders or overhead work.

In total, more than 50,000 square meters of new building space have been created, such as for the expansion of the press shop, which is where all shell body parts for the electric models are now pressed on site – saving 9,000 truck trips per year. Other major projects involved construction of a new logistics building as well as a battery sequencer, which is now the tallest building at the Zwickau site. The volume of investment for these three projects alone is around 115 million euros.

The transformation to electric vehicle production in Zwickau has created enduring, future-proof jobs. The some 9,000 permanent staff working at the site received training in the new technology as part of a major training initiative. For example, all employees attended information events on electric vehicles. A total of 3,000 production workers completed the training center’s e-mobility program to prepare them for the new production requirements. By the end of 2020, the Zwickau team had put in a total of around 20,000 days of training.

Models and production figures

In Zwickau, six models from three brands will leave the production line – the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 plus the Audi Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron and CUPRA BornThe production capacity corresponds to an annual output of more than 300,000 vehicles, making the Zwickau plant currently the most efficient electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Europe.

Green production

With the models produced in Zwickau, Volkswagen only delivers vehicles to customers that are produced in a carbon-neutral manner throughout the entire supply and production chain. In the manufacturing process, carbon generation is avoided or reduced as far as possible – and any unavoidable emissions are offset through climate action.

The carbon avoidance measures in manufacturing also extend to energy-intensive production of battery cells. Here, it was agreed that suppliers would use green electricity from renewable sources in cell production. The life-cycle assessment of electric vehicles can be improved further with this important tool.

At the Zwickau plant, the external power supply was switched over to 100 percent green electricity as early as 2017. Since production of the ID.3 began in November 2019, any remaining emissions from the site’s highly efficient cogeneration unit and the entire upstream chain have been offset for all models manufactured in Zwickau through certified climate projects implemented in accordance with officially recognized standards.

Target vision of the Volkswagen brand

At the heart of the “Way to ZERO” decarbonization program is the brand’s ACCELERATE strategy aimed at stepping up the pace of the electric offensive. Volkswagen intends to be net carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest. The interim target is to cut CO2 emissions per vehicle by 40 percent in Europe by 2030 (baseline: 2018). The production, including supply chains, and operation of electric cars are to be made net carbon neutral.

Added to this is the systematic recycling of the high-voltage batteries from old electric vehicles. The goal is the full electrification of the new vehicle fleet. By 2030, at least 70 percent of all Volkswagen’s unit sales in Europe will be all-electric vehicles – i.e. substantially more than one million vehicles. In North America and China, the share of electric vehicles in unit sales is expected to reach at least 50 percent. In addition, Volkswagen will be launching at least one new electric car each year.

13/1/2022

Available to order now: the new T-Roc R

The T-Roc R has been the powerful flagship of the compact SUVs from Volkswagen since 2019. Pre-sales of the new edition of this performance model are now underway. The new T-Roc R impresses with a 221 kW (300 PS) 4-cylinder TSI engine, 7-speed DSG gearbox and the intelligent 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. This combination and other technical features ensure exceptional agility, which is reflected in both the dynamic exterior design and the high-quality interior. The dynamic crossover model now also features innovative technologies from higher vehicle classes, including the high-output IQ.LIGHT system, new assist systems and advanced digital services.

The new T Roc R is available to order now, with prices starting from 48,445 euros. More than ever, the new edition of the extremely sporty compact SUV guarantees the kind of driving dynamics typical for R models. It completes the sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. This thrilling performance is now combined with an extensive technology update. The new T-Roc R comes with the advanced assist systems Front Assist and Lane Assist as standard. And the new IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist and predictive cruise control enable assisted steering, braking and acceleration at speeds of up to 210 km/h. The choice of digital functions also reaches a new level and includes natural Online Voice Control as well as access to streaming services. We Connect Plus services are available free of charge in Europe for one year as part of the standard package.

Supreme performance. “We have sharpened the design of the T-Roc R and emphasised its athletic personality even more than before. As a result, the new model meets the premium standards of Volkswagen R in every possible way,” explains Reinhold Ivenz, the new Head of the R Business Unit at Volkswagen. With its model-specific drive and running gear technology, the new T-Roc R guarantees a fascinating motorsport feeling. Its powerful 2.0-litre TSI engine delivers a peak output of 221 kW (300 PS) and a maximum torque of 400 Nm. This power is transferred to the road via a 7-speed DSG gearbox (with Launch Control function) and the intelligent 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. Custom sports running gear and progressive steering allow extremely agile handling characteristics. A model-specific button on the newly designed multifunction leather steering wheel (with paddles and touch controls) allows direct access to the driving mode selection, where a Race mode is also available.

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8th & 9th September 2021

Hadwins Volkswagen are thrilled to have attended the Westmorland County Show every year since its inception, and this year was no exception.

We brought a selection of Volkswagen to the show, and it was our pleasure to meet so many people and four-legged friends at the 2021 show over the two days.

Next year, the show will be taking place over one day, the 8th September - and we'll be there once again.



14th June 2021

In partnership with Volkswagen UK, we were pleased to be able to sent Sam Wilson, one of our loyal customers, and his son Toby to yesterday’s UEFA Euro 2020 game to watch England play against Croatia. The game finished 1-0 to England thanks to a Raheem Sterling goal!



26th January 2021

Already huge fans of the Golf 8, the all-new R has just arrived at Hadwins Volkswagen. Taking you from 0-62 mph in just 4.7 seconds, the Golf R’s TSI engine produces 320PS with 4Motion all-wheel-drive designed for exhilarating speed and dynamic performance.

As well as impressive power, the Golf R also boasts an imposing exterior with 18-inch Jerez wheels and an interior with quality sports seats and a Digital Cockpit. We LOVE this car!


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20th March 2020

In an uncertain world, some things are constant - our focus to provide award winning service for every one of our customers.

We’ve certainly faced many challenges over the years, none more challenging than the Corona Virus outbreak we are all dealing with. As an Independent Volkswagen Centre in the UK, providing a customer centric, enjoyable experience, is paramount to our success and this is only possible because of the dedication and commitment of the Hadwins Volkswagen team.

A huge thank you for your continued support. Stay safe, and remember, the Hadwins Volkswagen team are here for you.



16th March 2020

Your health and safety is our number one priority

The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to dominate the news and is causing impact around the world. We are monitoring developments closely and connecting with you directly to communicate the precautionary measures we are taking across the Hadwins business to protect the health and safety of both you and our employees.

Following the latest Public Health guidelines from central government and the World Health Organisation, we have put in place enhanced health and hygiene measures across our entire business to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable visit whilst we operate in a safe and responsible manner.

We have enhanced the frequency and scope of our onsite cleanliness measures to include sanitisation of high touch points and increased availability of soap and/or hand sanitizer in community spaces in all of our buildings.

We have temporarily restricted all non-essential international and domestic business travel for our employees.

All of our employees are following local health authority advice to stay at home if they’re feeling unwell.

We remain in close contact with our teams across the business and our local authorities, so we can prepare for all eventualities as this challenging situation continues to evolve.

We are still very much open for business and remain committed to providing the very best service we can over the coming weeks. That service includes home demonstrations of our range of cars, be that any new or used models, and our aftersales departments continue to offer a collection and delivery service (subject to availability).

Please don’t hesitate to call, email or drop us a message via social media if you need us.

Thank you for your continued support, your friends at Hadwins Motor Group look forward to seeing you soon.


VIDEO: Prepare for the All-New ID.4

Volkswagen has officially confirmed the name of newest member of the ID. family, and given a glimpse of what the final production car will look like.

The ID.4 is the brand’s first all-electric SUV and will be launched later this year. It’ll be the second model based on Volkswagen’s modular electric drive (MEB) platform.

Its intelligent design allows for improved aerodynamics, reducing drag and boosting range up to 310 miles on a single charge, depending on the battery package.

Like all MEB-based vehicles, the ID.4 features a spacious interior. It’s always connected, with a fully-digital cockpit, operated primarily using touch surfaces and intelligent, intuitive voice control.

The carbon-neutral car will initially be launched with rear-wheel drive, with an all-wheel drive version to arrive at a later date. It’ll be produced and sold in Europe, China and the US.


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New Golf GTD to premiere at Geneva Motor Show

The new Golf GTD is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show, which opens to the public from Thursday 5 March to Sunday 15 March.

The GTD is the Golf’s popular, top-of-the-range diesel variant. It combines high performance with maximum efficiency.

It features the cleanest turbo diesel injection (TDI) engine ever to be fitted to a Golf, meaning NOx emissions are significantly lower than its predecessor.

The design of new Golf GTD is charismatic and reflects its dynamism and self-confidence. It features the Golf 8’s fully-digital cockpit, and steps into the future with the press of a button, used to start the engine.

The history of Golf GTD

The first Golf GTD was presented in 1982, in a time where Volkswagen introduced new excitement into the compact class with its turbo diesel. The same dynamic concept is still going strong almost four decades later.

Once again, Volkswagen will introduce its sporty and economical compact model to the market, continuing the trend of increased performance with high fuel economy.



​11th February 2020

Polo will be offered in a new, exciting Match trim from Thursday 13 February.

This trim brings even more style and technology to our already popular model. The Match trim is priced at just £200 more than the SE trim it replaces, with equivalent powertrains.

The following options will become standard across the Match trim, with a total value of £1,185:

  • 15-inch Seyne Alloy wheels diamond turned
  • Privacy glass
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Front fog lights


10th February 2020

All-electric ID.3 named ‘Best Family Car’ at GQ Car Awards

The all-electric ID.3 has earned its second major accolade from British media, ahead of its official launch in the summer.

The revolutionary hatchback scooped the ‘Best Family Car’ award at the 2020 GQ Car Awards, as the publication recognised the ID.3 as the “future of sustainable motoring.”

The ID.3 was praised for its ease of use, modern aesthetics and multiple battery options, as well as spearheading Volkswagen’s wider strategy to spread its electric influence throughout its upcoming range of ID. models.

A particular mention was given to the brand’s partnership with Pod Point and Tesco, which is seeing the installation of over 2,400 free chargers at 600 stores across the UK.

Announcing the award in the March 2020 issue of the magazine, GQ said: “Volkswagen wants to normalise electrification to gain mass acceptance for a format whose range and charge anxiety is still bothersome to many.

“A new kind of people’s car, then… Its design is crisply inoffensive, the driving process easy, the experience precision-tooled to sweep away all objections. Volkswagen is even working with Tesco to improve charging infrastructure.”

The ID.3’s first big trophy was the ‘Most Wanted’ award from Carwow, having driven the highest level of interest across its site throughout 2019.

Tim O’Donovan, EV Product Marketing Manager at Volkswagen UK, said: “This is a considerable accolade for a key model in Volkswagen’s electric future. We know how talented the ID.3 is, and we’re hugely grateful that this has been recognised.

“What’s new and refreshing is that its success is recognised and measured against all of its peers, rather than just other electric models. Recognition of the ID.3 as the electric people’s car is massively rewarding, too.”



6th February 2020

It’s National Apprenticeship Week and Hadwins Motor Group are proud to be offering apprenticeship opportunities in our workshop teams.

Please visit hadwins.co.uk/careers to see how to apply.




22nd January 2020

A murky but atmospheric day for taking promo shots of our camper converted T6 ‘Weekender’


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13th December 2019

Today we’re having a Christmas Jumper Day at our Lindale branch! All monies raised will be donated to Save The Children



17th September

In April of this year, our supported dressage rider Melanie Turner offered a training bursary to a junior member of The Lakes Riding Club, a club we’ve had long association with.

Melanie was a proud member of the club and enjoyed huge success competing on the teams for them, then went on to be a Committee Member before leaving the area to work away. With the club helping to start her competition career, Melanie felt it was important to give something back to the members. The chosen member was Catherine Bloom, who received the training bursary consisting of 12 lessons from Melanie along with the opportunity to regularly visit Melanie’s yard and watch her team of dressage horses training.

Steve Ellwood (Sales Manager, Lake District Audi) went along before one of Catherine’s lessons to present her with a rug that that we’re delighted to have sponsored.

Huge thank you to Melanie, and best of luck to Catherine throughout her continued training!


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7th August

Melanie Turner, Freelance Dressage instructor, previously Yard Manager for International trainers and riders, Ian and Tracy Woodhead, is now running my own training and teaching business in Lindale, Cumbria. A former World Class Pathway Squad member for British Dressage, Melanie has an exiting team of younger horses to train and compete with the long term aim of riding internationally at Grand Prix.

This horse is Frasier FST, an 8yr old British Bred Hanoverian gelding. He was bred by FST sport horses in Wales and bought when he was 12 weeks old. He was graded as an elite foal and then was crowned U.K. National Champion foal for his breed society in 2011. He has had limited mileage competing but when campaigned for a National Championship he successfully qualified for Winter National Dressage Championships in 2017. He is now working happily towards Prix St George at home.

Melanie and Frasier headed to Nantwich on Saturday 3rd August to compete at Advanced Medium, and in Frasier's first Advanced test which, incorporates all the Prix St George work with less intensity. They had a successful day with a win in both classes, showing plenty of promise for the future.




11th July

The annual Allithwaite Carnival is an event we look forward to every year, and this year’s was one to remember!

This little girl certainly enjoyed it, did you spot any of our cars?


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17th July

Congratulations to PGA Professional, Nick Lowe (right), collecting his new car from Stephen Ellwood (Lake District Audi Sales Manager, left).

We’ve loved every minute of our sponsorship of Grange-over-Sands Golf Club so far, and look forward to our continued partnership. Enjoy your new car, Nick!


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17th June

We were delighted to attend the Cumbriavag ‘Show and Shine’ Festival at Westmorland County Showground this weekend. With hundreds of cars on show, our team certainly enjoyed it and we hope you did too!

Did you get chance to take a look at our 3 showpiece vehicles, the Golf R, Up! GTI and our T28 Panel Van?


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17th May

We welcomed over 70 golfers to Grange-over-Sands Golf Club today. We're delighted to be sponsoring the Club in their Centenary year and they were the perfect hosts to our first Hadwins Invitational Golf Day.

Playing in four ball's under Stableford Rules, our prize winners were:

  • 1st Gillian Wells with 38 points
  • 2nd Andrew Troughton with 36 points
  • 3rd Nick Matthews with 36 points (after card playoff)
  • Nearest the Pin on the 8th Gents: Phil Rhodes
  • Nearest the Pin on the 8th Ladies: Christine Blake
  • Longest Drive on the 18th Gents: Dale Kin-Cleaves
  • Longest Drive on the 18th Ladies: Shelley Savesi
  • PAR 3'd Only Stableford Competition: Tony Clare with 12 points and card count back
  • Royal Troon Simulator Challenge: Oliver Wilson 5' from the pin

We also witnessed Stephen Wilson achieve his first ever hole-in-one on the 2nd which was a very special moment. Many congratulations to him.

Our Audi Head of Business Paul Crewdson was delighted to make the awards and we admire all those who put themselves through the pain of playing Golf! We hope to welcome more guests to our Invitational in 2020.


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23rd April

It may not have been the finish they hoped for, but what a terrific season for Ulverston Rangers U12s!

Ulverston took home runners up medals after defeat to Dalton U12s at Holker Street Ground (home of Barrow AFC) in the Barrow & District Football League Cup Final. A great achievement to reach the final and not only that, Ulverston finished 2nd in the League.

We’re all extremely proud of you, and we can’t wait to see you go one step further next season with winning trophies!


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13th April

Huge congratulations to Swarthmoor Under 7s football team who on Saturday came 3rd out of 8 teams in a tournament that took place in Kendal.

A brilliant performance by everyone involved!


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23rd March

Grange Over Sands Golf Club is celebrating its Centenary Year in 2019 and Hadwins Motor Group are delighted to be supporting the Club. With Hadwins Volkswagen & Lake District Audi flags around the course, an exciting event coming soon (more details to follow), plus fantastic all year round benefits to our customers, we’re excited to be working with the team at Grange GC.

Today’s Captain’s Drive In saw the opening of the season and Club Captain David Bushell tee’d off in style in period dress with a historical Club and ball. Fantastic!

Stephen is pictured with David and Grange’s Lady Captain Pauline Smith. Pauline will be hosting her Captains Drive In on Thursday 4th April.

Here’s to a fantastic anniversary year Grange GC!


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15th March

Bateman Cup winners for the fifth time in a row!

Last Friday saw the return of the annual 11 a-side football match between ourselves and Lake District Audi, and we certainly had the upper hand. Our team ran away with it in a 10-4 victory, making it 5 out of 5 since the cup started in 2012.

Let’s make it six on the bounce next year!


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6th March 2019

Check out the new 100% electric Volkswagen I.D. BUGGY at the Geneva International Motor Show.


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6th March 2019

Introducing the new high-performance Volkswagen T-Roc R, unveiled yesterday at the Geneva International Motor Show.




22nd January 2019

We’re delighted to have been named in the Top 50 Volkswagen Dealerships in the UK for 2018!

Awarded for our impressive performance in new cars sales, parts & accessories, along with customer satisfaction, this incredible achievement is testament to the hard work we put into everything we do. And we’re determined to maintain our success in 2019!





11th November 2018

Today, Hadwins Volkswagen remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We will remember them.


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For older news, please see our archive.