Category: Volkswagen

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Volkswagen

Next-gen VW Scirocco to take different path

Volkswagen Scirocco R

For a while there the Volkswagen Scirocco was the ‘it’ car of the moment. It’s dramatic swooping lines were (and still are) a welcome breath of fresh air for the normally reserved VW family.

The only downside, we could see, was that the moment had passed by the time Volkswagen Australia delivered the Scirocco R (almost three years after its European release).

In the planning for the new model Volkswagen’s design boss Walter de Silva says the next-generation Scirocco will be another step forward in terms of its design.

Speaking to Car Advice at the New York Auto Show, de Silva said: “It must be completely different. Completely.”

It’s still early days for the new Scirocco, which has been given the green light for production and de Silva adds the brief is still open.

“We don’t want to repeat the body style of the Scirocco, we want to change that.

“At the moment it’s only a studio [project]. It’s not defined at the moment.

“We are still working … but we are looking 360 degrees.”

Fingers crossed the new Scirocco is as great looking as the current model and that Volkswagen Australia doesn’t torture us again with ‘yes we will’, ‘no we won’t’ deliberations.

[Source: Car Advice]

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Australia caps service costs

Volkswagen Australia capped price servicing

Volkswagen Australia has announced a capped price servicing scheme for all of its passenger vehicles. The scheme applies to all new vehicles sold since the start of this year.

A capped scheme was first introduced to the local market by Volkswagen when it launched the up! late last year. Australian pricing for the Beetle also listed a capped price servicing schedule.

The program covers the first six years or 90,000km of vehicle ownership (whichever comes first) and you can check on the costs of your car by using the Volkswagen Australia website.

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf – 2013 World Car of the Year

Volkswagen Golf VII

Volkswagen went into the Easter break with the happy news its Golf VII had just been awarded the 2013 World Car of the Year award.

Volkswagen’s head honcho, Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, express his joy by sating: “We at Volkswagen are all delighted that the Golf has been named ‘World Car of the Year’. To win this award again shows that the Golf is and remains in a class of its own all around the world. This car sets new benchmarks again and again, not least in terms of efficiency and environmental credentials. Soon, for instance, the Golf will also be launched as a plug-in hybrid and as a 100% electric car.”

The Golf VII’s success adds to recent World COTY awards collected by Volkswagen for the Golf VI (2009), Polo (2010) and up! (2012). And you’ll be seeing the new Golf on Australian roads very soon. Click HERE to see what Europe’s press have been saying about the Golf VII.

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Volkswagen

2013 VW Beetle – Australian pricing & specs

2013 Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen Australia launched The Beetle (aka the new New Beetle) in the middle of last month. So while we’re a tad late bringing you the details we hope to make up for it with the quantity of information on offer after the break.

First, though, The Beetle will be available in Australia with just one engine option, the 118kW/240Nm 1.4 litre TSI twincharged motor. With a 6-speed manual it is priced from $29,990 or $32,490 with the optional 7-speed DSG.

In June buyers will also be able to choose the Beetle Fender Edition for $34,490. This model uses the same 1.4 litre TSI engine and comes standard with a 7-speed DSG and a 400W stereo. It pays homage to the Fender guitar and you can have it in any colour you like, so long as it’s black. Yes, really.

Volkswagen has added The Beetle to its capped price service program. The schedule runs for six services (up to 90,000kms or 72 months) and amounts to $2,623 with prices ranging from $375 to $638 per service.

Full details are available after the break and if you’re interested in buying a new Beetle we suggest you download the PDFs we’ve made available for you.

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Green Machines Volkswagen

Volkswagen e-up! revealed!

Volkswagen e-up!

When the e-up! concept was launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Volkswagen said the production version would be ready in 2013; and true to their word here it is! We like the up!—it is the reigning World Car of the Year after all!—and think it’s a pretty nifty thing for ferrying folks around cities the world over! Now, with the e-up!, you can do all that ferrying with zero emissions!

Unsurprisingly the e-up! is not going to win any TLGPs, despite its lowish 1185kg kerbweight the little blighter only has a maximum output of 60kW/210Nm! Mind, VW also states the continuous power of the e-up! is just 40kW! That means reaching 100km/h will take you an epic 14 seconds! The e-up! has an equally modest top speed of 135km/h, but with modest driving can travel up to 150km/h on a single charge!

Charging is done through the Combined Charging System connecter—behind the fuel flap of course!—and can be used by AC or DC charging methods!

Volkswagen boss Dr Martin Winterkorn drove the e-up! to Volkswagen’s Annual Press and Investors Conference last week and the model will make its full debut in Frankfurt later thus year!

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Green Machines Motor Shows Volkswagen

Geneva 2013: Volkswagen XL1

Volkswagen XL1

Time for a quick Geneva Motor Show catchup now with the two-seater Volkswagen XL1. It’s the slightly odd, but rather intriguing carbon fibre-bodied diesel-electric hybrid that uses just 0.9l/100km.

The XL1 has been a model a long time in the making, with its roots going back to 2002 when Ferdinand Piech, then VW Chairman, drove its forerunner, the 1 Litre car, to the company’s AGM.

Even the concept for the XL1 was first seen more two years ago. And now that it’s here Volkswagen will be making just 250 for the time being. The XL1 will only be sold in Germany and Europe and with a hefty price tag we suspect it will be as much a loss-making marketing exercise as a serious eco warrior.

The rear-wheel drive XL1 features a 35kW two cylinder TDI engine and a 20kW electric motor, coupled to a 7-speed DSG transmission. The combined 55kW will take the 795kg (unladen) green machine to 100km/h in 12.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 160km/h. In full electric mode the XL1 has a range of 50km.

In most images it’s hard to get a handle on the proportions of the XL1, as an object it looks slick and relatively well styled for what it is. But it’s not until you see a photo of the XL1 with two people on board that its compact dimensions become apparent. The press guff boasts that the XL1 is shorter than a Polo and lower than a Porsche Boxster.

We’re not really sure what the make of the XL1, but do think Volkswagen deserves a pat on the back for turning a crazy idea into a production reality, even if it’s just a limited production reality.

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2013 Geneva Motor Show in video

McLaren P1

To complement our two part Geneva Motor Show picture gallery here is a selection of the best videos posted to YouTube. We start with Chris Harris’ weekly drive episode before doffing our caps in appreciation to Autocar, Evo, Auto Express and XCar.

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Volkswagen WRC

Sebastien Ogier wins 2013 Rally Mexico

Volkswagen WRC team, 2013 Rally Mexico

Sebastien Ogier’s decision to take leave from the WRC in 2012 to help develop the Volkswagen Polo R WRC appears to have been a masterstroke as he notched up his second win in succession by taking out Rally Mexico on the weekend.

Winning in Sweden was one thing, but the domination of Ogier in the altitude of Mexico’s mountains was actually a little bit scary. By rally’s end Ogier was almost 3 minutes 30 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Mikko Hirvonen, the bloke who was supposed to takeover from the great Sebastien Loeb and run away with this year’s championship in the hitherto unstoppable Citroën team. Ford driver Thierry Neuville, enjoying his first ever WRC podium, was more than 4 minutes behind.

Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia topped the times in 16 of the 23 special stages and racked up the extra points on offer in the power stage as well. Ogier has finished second–first–first in the opening three events of 2013 and has accumulated 74 points, which is 44 ahead of third placed Hirvonen. Loeb is still in second on 43 points, but will only compete in two more rallies for the year.

As you can imagine Ogier is over the moon with his flying start to the year. “What a fantastic feeling. The Polo R WRC was perfect for every single minute of the Rally Mexico. I can only thank my team for that,” Ogier said. “This victory at our debut on gravel is very special and will always have a special place in my heart. We will definitely celebrate it in style tonight.

“We take every win as it comes. This morning I took an extremely cautious approach on the first special stage and steered around every stone. However, from midway through I put my foot down again. We obviously have a big lead now in the World Championship, but there are still another ten rallies to come.”

While Ogier was sunning himself in his winning sombrero teammate Jari-Matti Latvala looks like he’s having one of those years you just want to forget. On the third corner of the rally proper Latvala clipped a rock damaging his suspension and ruining his chances of victory or even a podium. The rest of the rally became little more than a development exercise for him, although he says he is now feeling better about the the car.

“No sooner had the rally started than things took a turn for the worse for us. We had to give up after a matter of metres on Friday, due to suspension damage we received when we hit a stone. After that, we tried a few things with the car and I worked on my driving style,” Latvala said.

“By the end of the rally, I felt more comfortable than ever in the Polo. I now have a better understanding of the handling characteristics. That gives me a lot of motivation ahead of Portugal. Winning a point on the Power Stage was obviously a nice way to finish.”

Australia’s Chris Atkinson finished the rally in sixth place in a one-off drive for the Citroën Abu Dhabi Racing team. He did well to recover after also collecting a rock and damaging his suspension on the opening day. A late charge saw him take sixth place from megastar Ken Block on SS21.

The WRC resumes for Rally Portugal from 11–14 April.

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2013 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 2

2013 Geneva Motor Show

You can have your fancy pants limited-edition Lambo, or your stonking new LaFerrari, even the McLaren P1; we’re not really interested. The car of Geneva, for us, is the Porsche 911 GT3. That’s the one we’d like to take home and get intimate with. And so begins the second and final part of our Geneva Motor Show image gallery. There’s over 120 new  images to see and enjoy.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Geneva 2013: Volkswagen Golf Variant

Volkswagen Golf VII Estate

Today has been a great day at Geneva. The Porsche 911 GT3 was revealed, and that way over the top Lamborghini Veneno, too. As we speak the covers have just come off the Alfa Romeo 4C and Ferrari’s Enzo replacement is moments away from its debut. But, never mind any of that! There’s a new Volkswagen Golf Variant! It’s sure to steal away the limelight from those tinpot models already mentioned.

The Golf VII “Variant” is so versatile it can be called a Variant in Europe, an Estate in the United Kingdom and a Wagon in Australia. Plus, it can fit up to four boxes in the boot. It’s true, there’s even a picture to prove it.

Thankfully, though, the new Golf Variant Estate Wagon is actually pretty nice to look at. For a Golf Variant Estate Wagon. At least, it’s a whole lot better looking than the old abomination it replaces.

Actually, what does sound quite interesting, and sadly there’s no pics from VW HQ just yet, is the Golf Variant R-Line. It features a flash body kit, a 110kW/320Nm 2.0 TDI engine and the latest Haldex V all-wheel drive system. Now that is something that sounds like it could be the perfect family planner Variant Estate Wagon.

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Volkswagen

VIDEO: Do it the GTI way

Volkswagen Golf VII GTI

To help promote the release of the Golf VII GTI at the Geneva Motor Show Volkswagen has released this Frank Sinatra inspired video. The clip closes with the line, “Often copied. Never equalled.” Volkswagen knows the GTI has big boots to fill, we can’t wait to find out how they’ve gone honouring the GTI legend.

[Thanks to Paul for the tip]

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf VII GTI revealed

2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The pre-release of new information ahead of the Geneva Motor Show from manufacturers continues with Volkswagen getting in on the act presenting limited info and pics for its latest iconic Golf GTI.

We’re not really learning much more than we saw in Paris last year, but we can now confirm some details with greater clarity. The Golf VII GTI will be available in two specifications, standard with 162kW (220PS) and the GTI Performance with 169kW (230PS) plus a locking front diff and bigger brakes. Both specs enjoy 350Nm of torque available from 1500–4400rpm.

The regular GTI can reach 100km/h in 6.5 seconds (6-speed manual) while the GTI Performance sneaks in just below that mark at 6.4 seconds. Similarly, the GTI Performance boasts a modest increase in top speed. It tops out at 250km/h up from the 246km/h achievable in the standard spec.

Thankfully, Volkswagen has finally scrapped those horrible 17″ “phone dial” alloys first seen on the Mk5 GTI in favour of these much fussier but much nicer Brooklyn wheels. Standard spec is 17″ with 225/45 sized tyres.

It’s exactly what you’d expect on the inside of the new GTI, with the highlight features being a model specific leather-wrapped steering wheel and “Clark” tartan fabric on the seats.

Fuel consumption from the new direct injection 2.0 turbo has been slashed by almost 20%. Like the new Golf GTD, it is the manual box that is the more fuel efficient, using 6.0l/100km whereas the 6-speed DSG is rated at 6.4l/100km (GTI Performance 6.5l/100km).

The new GTI’s kerbweight (standard spec) has been confirmed at 1351kg using the RL 92/21/EEC guidelines, which includes allowances for a 68kg driver, 7kg of luggage and a 90% full fuel tank.

You can have the Mk7 GTI in any colour you like so long as its Black, Pure White or Tornado Red. It’s expected to be on sale in Australia later this year, perhaps even as early as mid-year (although we’d suggest you don’t count on that).

We expect there’ll be more detailed information available next week and if so we’ll be sure to bring it to you then. We’re keen to learn more about the VAQ locking diff, for starters.

UPDATE: Volkswagen Australia has confirmed the Mk7 GTI will be released locally in the fourth quarter of this year.

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