Category: Volkswagen

Volkswagen has released info and images of its new city car, called the up!, ahead of its European sales debut in December. We first got an inkling of Volkswagen’s thinking with the E-Up! at Frankfurt in 2009.

At just 3.54m long and 1.64m wide the up! is quite small and comes in three different model designations: the entry-level take up!, the “comfort oriented” move up! and top-of-the-range high up!

Powering up! at launch will be a pair of 1.0 litre three-cylinder diesel petrol engines. Power is either 44kW or 55kW and fuel consumption on a combined cycle will be 4.2l/100km or 4.3l/100km respectively. A 50kW natural gas powered unit will also be available. The range will be complemented by an electric powered model in 2013.

Safety hasn’t been left out and the up! will feature Emergency Braking, which uses a laser sensor to try and avoid, or minimise, low-speed shunts at speeds below 30km/h.

You’ll find more on the up! from Volkswagen below, including a gallery of 24 images, all accessible at 2000px super sizing.

Plans for Volkswagen to put its five-seat Bulli concept into production are gathering momentum, according to Autocar. Rather than just using electric power, as per the concept shown at Geneva earlier this year, VW wants to sell the Bulli with conventionally powered engines as well.

Pictures can be a little deceiving as the Bulli is only marginally larger than a Polo. However, with retro-inspired MPV-like styling Volkswagen reckon the Bulli would be a sales hit, especially in the US.

“As a designer, I am convinced by this idea,” says Walter de’Silva, Head of Volkswagen Group Design. “We don’t have a space for another conventional MPV, but this one would be desirable on a different level, combining practicality with the heritage appeal.”

VW believe its history and heritage value give it a unique selling point against increasing competition from Korea and China.

[Source: Autocar]

Official word from Volkswagen Australia has come through confirming pricing and availability for the Golf GTI ‘Edition 35’.

As reported earlier today the ED35 will hit the market with a list price of $43,490 for the 6-speed manual and $45,990 for the 6-speed DSG. The special edition will only be available in Australia with a 5-door layout and buyers will have a choice of four colours: Tornado Red (pictured), Candy White, Carbon Steel metallic and Deep Black pearl effect.

Interestingly, there’s no word in the press release below to confirm a limited run of 200 models for the local market.

In addition to the more powerful 173kW engine the ‘Edition 35’ has bi-xenon dynamic cornering headlights with LED daytime running lights and tinted LED rear tail lights. Special ‘35’ badging adorns the front guards, front seats and door sills. A model specific front bumper (see if you can spot the difference) is complemented by gloss black wing mirrors.

Unique ‘Jacky’ trimmed seats are standard equipment. These can be changed via the optional Vienna leather upholstery package (see interior pictures below). The silver ‘Watkins Glen’ 18″ alloy wheels can be optioned in grey metallic as well.

For more detail read the official press release from VW Australia after the break.

GoAuto brings word the Volkswagen Golf GTI ‘Edition 35’ deliveries will commence in Australia from September. A limited number of 200 will be available locally in 5-door spec only and will carry a $3000 premium over regular GTI pricing. The list price for the ‘Edition 35’ will be $43,490 ($45,990 for 6-speed DSG).

For the extra coin you get a 173kW/300Nm 2.0 litre EA113 engine which has been sourced and de-tuned from the Golf R. That’s an 18kW/20Nm increase over the EA888 engine in the standard GTI. You’ll also get model specific designation, trim details and 18″ alloy wheels to set you apart from the GTI crowd.

Volkswagen claim the car will reach 100km/h in 6.6 seconds and will sip premium unleaded at the rate of 8.0l 8.2l/100km (DSG) or 8.1l 8.3l/100km (manual).

We’ll bring you the official Volkswagen Australia press release as soon as its been made available.

[Source: GoAuto]

Autocar makes it a quinella of Golf Mk7 news with word the next GTI will receive a timely power increase. Currently the Mk6 GTI has 155kW (208hp) provided by its EA888 engine. Predictions suggest Volkswagen’s boffins will fiddle with the same engine for the Mk7 GTI and increase power to around 165kW (220hp).

The current 188kW Golf R uses an older EA113 engine and it’s understood the Mk7 R will carry that engine over in the short term. However, EU6 emissions regulations due in 2014 will see the demise of the engine before a beefed up EA888 is called on for R duties.

[Source: Autocar]

This rendering from Autocar supports their theory the next-gen Volkswagen Golf will sport a sleeker look with a more dramatically raked windscreen.

A wider track, lower roofline and seating position are also changes expected when the Mk7 Golf hits overseas showrooms in 2012. An initial debut is predicted for the Geneva Motor Show in March. Assuming that timeline is accurate then the Golf VII would likely make an Australian debut in early 2013.

It is being reported Volkswagen will introduce different, more sporty, body styling for the 3 door model compared to the volume selling 5 door model. This would be a first in the car’s 37-year history.

We can also expect to see plenty of trickle-down tech into the Golf. Things like active steering, adaptive cruise control and related systems. There’ll be a revised instrument panel and the centre stack will likely be angled towards the driver. An interesting move given the Golf’s broad appeal in left and right hand drive markets.

[Source: Autocar]

The Chambray Chin has been granted the first opportunity to drive the new Volkswagen Beetle. It’s worth watching for the sights at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg and for his brief test in a 1938 model Beetle, but not so much for the new car.

Calling it a review is probably a little generous. It’s certainly not in depth. But if Volkswagen paid me to go over to Wolfsburg and read out a few pages of text I would probably oblige too. Well, I think that’s probably what happened. What do you reckon?

[Thanks to Dylan for the tip]