Many people have said the new Mk6 Golf should really be called a Mk5.5 because it is so similar to the previous model. Such arguments aside, is the new car actually any better than the model it replaces? The Mk5 Golf has been a successful car for Volkswagen, so the new car certainly has a job ahead of it if it is to raise the bar. This short review from iMotorMag (available after the jump) has a crack at coming up with a definitive answer.
[Source: iMotorTV]
Towards the end of last year Volkswagen Motorsport driver Jimmy Johansson took a few lucky punters for some hot laps around a very wet Sturup Raceway in Sweden. He was beind the wheel of the class winning Scirocco GT24 as raced in the 2008 Nürburgring 24 hour race. Here is the footage filed by Swedish website Sportbilen.
For more on the racing Sciroccos, check out AUSringers.com:
[Source: Sportbilen.se]
Make sure you check out the AUSringers interview with motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck. He has driven some of motor sport’s most fearsome and rapid racing cars, find out which one has been his favourite. Learn how he helped Niki Lauda after his infamous crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix. And, find out what an all round nice guy he is.
A quick reminder for Melbourne readers not to miss the Bugatti exhibition currently on show at the National Gallery of Victoria. Entry to the exhibition is free and it is open until 26 April. The blurb from the NGV website states:
“For most people the world of Bugatti is associated with cars. However, the Bugatti story is a much larger one, encompassing three generations and four remarkable individuals: Carlo Bugatti, his sons Ettore and Rembrandt, and Ettore’s son Gianoberto (Jean). For the first time in Australia this exhibition will show the furniture, sculpture and cars of this extraordinary family…”
Included are incredibly rare examples of two stunning cars, Ettore Bugatti’s Type 37 racing car and a Type 57C coupe designed by Jean Bugatti. Amazingly, all the items on display are from Australian collectors.
After the jump you can see a brief 4 minute video featuring pieces from the exhibition, including footage of the two cars in action.
[Source: NGV]
After the usual internet leaks Mercedes-Benz has released pics and info about their latest AMG bahnstormer, the E 63.
As with most AMG machines the numbers are big. Very big. In exchange for 6.3 litres of V8 metal you get 525bhp (386kW) with very handy 630Nm of torque. The car is only available with the AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed transmission, but at least its not a conventional torque converter auto. The box employs a wet start-up clutch and has four selectable options—in manual mode it can change gears in as little as 100 milliseconds. There’s also a RACE START function that blips the throttle at all the right moments making you look as adept as Mika Hakkinen.
What this means is the E 63 AMG will accelerate to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. As usual for Mercedes-Benz, top speed is capped at 250km/h.
There’s the usual raft of improvements and electronic trickery under the skin including more direct steering and better fuel consumption. They say there is a three stage ESP system that includes an “ESP off” setting. I wonder if that is what they really mean, as Mercedes-Benz have been known in the past to not allow ESP to be fully deactivated by the driver.
Mercedes describes the design of this car as “decidedly dynamic”. I personally think that is decidedly optimistic. The more modern Benz design solutions haven’t always been a treat to the eye. And, to me, this E 63 is no different. It’s not that it’s ugly, but it’s just not pretty to look at. Sure, there are some nice design details, but overall it’s not on the money.
More words and images after the jump.
UPDATE: From the Australian press release – “The European market launch of the new E 63 AMG will commence in August 2009. This exciting new model will hit Australian road in the first quarter of next year. Full Australian specifications and pricing will be announced closer to the time of model release”
You’ve seen the images from the recent Golf VI GTI launch at St Tropez in France, now here’s a pretty nifty YouTube clip. Excuse the audio track and you’ll get a good indication of the GTI’s engine note inside and outside the cabin. Sounds good, looks good, can’t wait till it gets here so I can see if drives good!
Jamie from VWvortex.com has just posted some brief thoughts on his drive experience from the launch as well, you can read them HERE.
Porsche has given the global financial crisis a two finger salute by posting pre-tax profits of €7.34 billion for the period 1 August 2009 to 31 January 2009. Sounds good on the surface, but…
The result is based largely on cash-settled share option transactions surrounding the value of Volkswagen shares.
Investment in future product lines such as the Panamera and hybrid drive Cayenne have had a negative effect on Porsche’s bottom line.
Sales, too, have been down across the board for Porsche, with the Cayenne being the highest selling model (16,773 vehicles against 20,638 in the previous year). The introduction of the new Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne Diesel earlier in the year are expected to give sales a welcome boost.
A press release from Porsche can be read after the jump. It might be best if you have a CPA sitting next to you, though.
Is this the new über Golf GTI ‘R’ being tested at the famed Nürburgring? One thing is sure to be certain, it is unlikely to be a 2.0 TDI as the rear badges suggest. For one, the centre mount twin exhaust hint at a far more potent powerplant. Images available at WorldCarFans also show the test mule is fitted with Audi S3 brakes.
While not likely to be final, the extended side skirts and deeper front grille also indicate this is a more performance oriented vehicle.
The badging for this new top of the line GTI has not been confirmed, it is believed the Golf VI replacement for the outgoing R32 is to be powered by a 2-litre four cylinder turbo with around 200kW. All-wheel drive is also said to have been confirmed for the new hot-hatch replacement.
Expect to see a concept version of this car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Some even reckon there’s a chance the GTI ‘R’ will be racing in this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race in May.
Check the NextAutos link below for more images of the car in action.
[Source: NextAutos via The Motor Report]
The widely acclaimed Nissan GT-R is acknowledged as a genuine supercar. For a fraction of the cost, it has humbled the best Porsche can offer. However, a US website has revealed the GT-R may not actually be as cheap as first thought.
Edmunds Inside Line took their long-term loan GT-R in for a routine service the other day. Okay, it was a major service according to the factory schedule, but the final bill came in at over US$2000 (approx AU$2900). Looks like it’s hard work keeping up with the Porsches. Especially hard on the differential and transaxle, which needed new fluids. Made from liquid gold it seems! Check the link below for the full itemised account.
I guess the Australian customers about to take delivery will not mind spending such amounts after forking out AU$150,000 for the car in the first place. All the same, such high service bills will make for a varied experience at your local Nissan dealer, alongside true budget motoring, such as the Micra et al.
[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]
Skoda Auto today opened a new production facility in Pune, India. The factory opened a year ahead of schedule and extends Skoda’s existing production capacity in the far east, where they have had a manufacturing presence since 2001. Skoda has a 60-strong dealer network across India.
Starting in May, the new plant in Pune will start making the Fabia, pictured above, which is based on the Volkswagen Polo platform. The facility cost EUR25 million and takes Skoda’s Indian investment to EUR90 million.
The site is one of the most modern manufacturing plants in the Volkswagen Group. It is the company’s only Indian plant in India covering the entire production process, from panel pressing, welding and painting operations, and, of course, final assembly. In 2010 when the plant is at total capacity it will offer around 2500 jobs to Pune locals.
Press releases from Skoda and Volkswagen after the jump.
…but you can’t take the Queanbeyan out of the boy. No doubt, recent access to a high powered Aussie muscle car brought back plenty of Monaro Street memories from Mark Webber’s youth. Imagine if he had the keys to FPV F6 back in the day, he would have been the biggest show in town. Yes, even bigger than Barnsey performing at the Raiders Leagues Club.
Webber handed back the F6 to Ford Australia this morning, and says there are some things from home he always misses, “What a great car … this is what I miss in Europe … awesome Aussie muscle cars.”
Gavin Conway from TimesOnline got an early gig in Volkswagen’s new Scirocco last year, and now, rubbing further salt into our collective wounds, he has been given the keys to the new Golf GTI.
The car was launched last week and after his first drive he rated Volkswagen’s hot-hatch with five stars and had the following to say:
“…one of the most noticeable changes is in the torque response, with the maximum 206 lb ft available over a wider rev range. So from anywhere above 1700rpm your right foot can order up a meaningful wedge of performance. VW claims the GTI will hit 62mph in 6.9sec, but frankly it feels even quicker.
“In sport mode, the suspension firms up noticeably, and the steering becomes heavier too, but in a way that doesn’t feel unnatural as some systems do. Add the paddleshift gearbox, which swaps cogs with blinding speed, and you really do have the makings of a proper successor to the previous GTI. This car is genuinely fun to drive.”
You can be assured that AUSmotive will have a review of the new GTI online as soon as possible. Let’s hope this happens before the year is out. Until then, Australian readers will just have to make do with pretty pictures.
[Source: TimesOnline]