Tag: Volkswagen

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Motorsports News Volkswagen

Volkswagen Touareg TDI wins 2009 Dakar Rally

Volkswagen wins 2009 Dakar Rally

The Volkswagen Race Touareg claimed a series of firsts in this year’s 2009 Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile. Including the first that counts the most, with outright success going to the South African-German pairing of Giniel de Villiers (driver) and Dirk von Zitzewitz (co-driver).

It was the first time the race had been held in South America. It was the first time a diesel powered car won overall honours. And, with American Mark Miller’s second position, it was also Volkswagen’s first quinella at the Dakar. Volkswagen have one previous Dakar win, the 1980 Paris-Dakar won by Sweden’s Freddy Kottulinsky in a Volkswagen Iltis.

The 280bhp TDI Race Touaregs dominated the rally winning 10 out of 13 stages, and it was a sweet taste of victory for the de Villiers-von Zitzewitz combination after the duo piloted a Touareg to second in the 2006 race. Volkswagen also claimed a third position in the top ten with sixth place going to the German duo of Dieter Depping and Timo Gottschalk .

De Villiers was elated with the win, “I’m so happy about having clinched this exploit for Volkswagen. This victory is worth more than any of the titles I won in touring car racing. The Race Touareg was running absolutely like a charm, and at such a tough edition of the Dakar Rally at that. That was the key to success. I want to thank everyone at Volkswagen for this.”

It was a bitter sweet rally for high-profile driver Carlos Sainz who looked set for victory until a nasty accident on the twelfth leg, but he was happy for the team success, “We set the pace for a long time at the Dakar Rally and led it for a long time as well. That’s why it was a particularly bitter pill for my co-driver Michel Périn and me that we were forced to retire after an accident on the twelfth leg. One must never underestimate the Dakar Rally and prevail against it before being able to win. I congratulate my team colleagues Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz on their ‘Dakar’ victory. They deserved winning this tough rally.”

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Volkswagen

Der Neue Golf GTI added to UK website

Volkswagen Golf GTI - UK website

Information, alebit limited, on the Golf VI GTI has been added to the UK website. There’s not a hell of a lot to see, although the gallery is okay and the GTI looks great in red. But, it’s nice to see a classic inspired three-door white GTI on the homepage. (Click HERE for AUSmotive’s Golf VI GTI image gallery.)

There’s still been nothing official from Volkswagen Australia in regards to when we can expect the Golf VI in Australia. However, don’t be surprised if the vanilla models are launched at the Melbourne International Motor Show in March, ready for immediate delivery. There’s also plenty of speculation the GTI will be ready for Australian deliveries in October or November. I’m not so sure on the dates for the GTI, but we’ll see. As soon as I hear anything I will let you know.

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Fifth Gear Volkswagen

Fifth Gear reviews Golf VI

Fifth Gear returned to UK screens last week with the premiere episode of Series 15. This makes them the first major UK car show to get their hands on the Mk6 Golf. Here’s Jonny Smith’s review.

For more on the new Golf, check out this previous AUSmotive post, including the Trackback links at the bottom of the article that will take you to a wide range of Golf VI related articles.

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Concept BlueSport picture gallery

Volkswagen Concept BlueSport

The Volkswagen Concept BlueSport made its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last night. It’s a stunning looking car, but perhaps the most notable feature for a car in this segment is it’s mid-mounted efficient diesel engine.

The BlueSport roadster, fitted with six-speed DSG transmission, has a 2.0 TDI with 132kW powering the rear wheels. Being a turbo diesel, there is plenty of torque, too, all 350Nm of it. The BlueSport weighs a relatively light 1200kg and is capable reaching 100km/h in a GTI-beating 6.6 seconds, along to a top speed of 226km/h. When driven more sedately Volkswagen claims fuel consumption as low as 4.3l/100km. Its CO2 emissions are 113g/km.

“The BlueSport proves to be a compact and passionate car with a clear Volkswagen signature. The car offers pure dynamics with a powerful 180 PS Clean Diesel engine that is combined with the characteristic Volkswagen philosophy of efficiency,” confirmed Volkswagen’s Chairman of the Board, Prof. Martin Winterkorn in Detroit.

The BlueSport features an Eco mode which uses stop-start technology and an energy regeneration mode to help lower fuel consumption. Although, Volkswagen are claiming a relatively small benefit of just 0.2l/100km in normal city driving.

Some of the technology in this car may new for Volkswagen, but there doesn’t appear to be anything earth shattering under the roadster’s gorgeous metalwork. Although, a mid-engined diesel sports car is kind of cool and very now.

Update: Wallpaper sized images of the Volkswagen Concept BlueSport (click an image to load 2000px super image), along with video footage and the official press release are now available below.

Update 15 January: German Car Blog suggests the BlueSport won’t hit the roads until 2012 (that’s if it goes into production). I’ve also added a small clip below from Car and Driver’s YouTube channel.

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News Porsche Volkswagen

It’s official: Porsche is Volkswagen’s majority shareholder

Porsche & Volkswagen logosOn Monday Porsche increased its stake in Volkswagen AG to 50.76 per cent, after securing a deal to purchase more ordinary voting shares.

Porsche wanted to reach majority shareholder status before Christmas. Unsurprisingly, the delicate and sometimes acrimonious negotiations between the two companies took Porsche past their deadline.

Despite owning over half the shares, German law still stands in the way of Porsche having a controlling interest over Volkswagen. To do that, according to law, a company usually requires 75 per cent of a company’s stock. Although, further frustrating Porsche, is the Lower-Saxony ruling that requires an 80 per cent stake in Volkswagen to gain a controlling share. Porsche has unsucessfully challenged this ruling.

The Lower-Saxony government owns 20.1 per cent of Volkswagen stock.

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Volkswagen

New Polo ‘mini-me’ GTI

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Auto Express have revealed images of the new Polo GTI. If these images are true to the final production models then the Polo will be a mini-me GTI to the upcoming Golf VI GTI.

Built on the PQ25 platform, also used for the SEAT Ibiza, the revised Polo will have more interior space than its predecessor. Its engine should be good for a smidge over 130kW, derived from a 1.4 litre twincharged engine—using a supercharger for low down torque, and a turbo for higher in the rev range. The final torque figure is a very healthy 250Nm. This should help propel the baby GTI to 100km/h in, or just under, seven seconds.

Following the trend towards greener engines, fuel consumption is expected to be around 5.9l/100km with CO2 emissions under 150g/km. Transmission options include a trad 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG.

The strong styling cues from the Golf GTI should follow inside leaving the Pogo as a very capable and great looking hot hatch. No word as yet on when to expect the little blighters down under, but with European delivery understood to be in early 2010 we’ve got a way to go yet. The car will debut this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Source: AutoExpress

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Volkswagen

Sometimes, the only one you have to beat is yourself

Hope you enjoy this advertisement for Volkswagen’s upcoming Golf VI. Already released in Europe and the UK, it is due for Australian release sometime around the middle of 2009. More details on that as soon as they come to hand.

The ad was created by DDB London and, perhaps, Toyota should have employed them too.

(Thanks to Craig for the tip.)

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Scirocco Studie R adds spice to Bologna

Volkswagen Scirocco Studie R

Regular AUSmotive readers will know the Scirocco holds a place high on our wish list of cars to bring to Australia. This desire was heightened further by the recent release of the Scirocco Studie R at the Bologna Motor Show.

Based on the class-winning Scirocco GT24 from the Nürburgring 24 hour race earlier this year, the Studie R has a few tweaks over the standard Scirocco that are good, and a few that are, well, not so good. To be fair, the not so good is limited mainly to the carbon fibre dash inserts. The rear valance is not as successful as one might hope for either, but these sins can be forgiven on learning that the car has a 198kW 2-litre turbo engine, some seriously cool race-style leather seats, race-inspired coilover suspension and four-pot brakes up front.

The splashes of colour pay homage to the Italian flag and the location of this world premiere.

The Studie R just looks the duck’s guts (that’s good, by the way, very good). It’s been said before about the Scirocco on this website, and I dare say it will be said again—Volkswagen Australia, please bring the Scirocco to Australia!

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Safety Issues Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf VI crash test video

Last month we brought you the news that the new Volkswagen Golf VI has received a 5-star crash rating from Euro NCAP. Here’s the video. Clips like this make quite sobering viewing.

Take note of the lateral head movement of the infant dummy with the side impact test towards the end of 1 minute 20 clip. Despite this, the Golf VI scored highly for infant protection, with a portion of the report stating, “Based on the dummy readings from the dynamic tests, the Golf scored maximum points for its protection of both infants.”

More detail on the Golf VI crash test can be read at the Euro NCAP website. Further information about how the tests are conducted can be read HERE.

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Volkswagen

Golf GTI wins another award – but what’s the point?

Golf V GTI

Volkswagen’s Mk5 Golf GTI is a bloody good car. I know this not only because the motoring world has barely stopped praising the car since its 2004 launch, but also because I have one in my garage. However, the GTI’s latest accolade, 2008 Drive Car of the Year (Best Performance Car Under $60,000), has to be the most irrelevant the car has ever won. Why? Go down to your local Volkswagen dealer and try to order a new GTI and see how far you get.

Sure, you can get a new Pirelli model, but with an extra 22kW, factory body kit and garish seats, that’s not the same car the Drive judges awarded. You could get lucky and find a dealer with a GTI in stock, but the factory has stopped making them, so ordering one to your specification is impossible.

The good news is the outgoing GTI can still hold it’s head high. Good for the dealer stock still remaining, and during the current financial doom and gloom, demand for the GTI in the used car market may hold firm. That said, while we’re waiting for the Mk6 Golf GTI, I just wish Drive was singing the praises of a new Volkswagen model…

…the Scirocco, for example.

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf Plus gets accidental release

Volkswagen Golf Plus

The Golf Plus is a kind of cool part Tiguan-part Golf thing that isn’t available in Australia. The facelifted version, based on the revised MkVI, is due for release in a few days at the Bologna Motor Show. But, as is often the case, there has been a bit of a leak. Brochures for the new Golf Plus were put on the Volkswagen stand at the Essen Motor Show. Oops! And, with the magic of the internet now everyone has a copy. Follow the autoblog link below for more.

Along with the Scirocco, put this down as another model Volkswagen Australia should bring down under.

Source: autoblog

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen to introduce GT24 inspired Scirocco R20T

Volkswagen Scirocco

Word around the blogospehere is that Volkswagen has plans to introduce a GT24 inspired Scirocco R20T. The hot four cylinder engine would be sourced from the Audi S3, which, in Australian spec, produces 188kW. No word on 4motion, but with that power you would have to imagine all-wheel drive would be a handy feature.

The GT24 performed amazingly well on debut in this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race, finishing their class in first and second (11th and 15th outright). The 300hp front wheel-drive racecars looked outstanding. CAR magazine from the UK claims most of the visual aggression of the racing version will translate to the road car. Oh mummy…

Now this is one car that Volkswagen Australia MUST bring down under!

Source: CAR via autoblog