VW Scirocco Studie R unveiled at Bologna motor show

By Tim Pollard

03 December 2008 11:50

Volkswagen today surprised Bologna show goers with another hint at what the forthcoming hot Scirocco coupe will look like. The Scirocco Studie R is a more roadgoing version of the Scirocco GT24 race car – and is a thinly veiled guide to the R20T that’s in development.

CAR Online revealed VW’s plans for a hot Scirocco earlier this month, and this white concept car further fleshes out Wolfsburg’s thinking. There’s high-gloss black trim, with accents in red and green in homage to the show’s host nation.

As accurately disclosed by CAR, the Studie R has a 266bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine which is destined to remain for production in 2010. It’s related to the Audi S3’s engine.

And the VW Scirocco Studie R’s styling?

Clues aplenty here, too. Expect the production R20T to follow some of the concept’s styling cues. There’s a front splitter, while the large rear wing and diffuser are claimed to be 100% in the interests of aerodynamics. Of course.

Spot the Studie R from its twin pipes and triple-spoke 19in alloy wheels. Nestling behind the polished rims lie a set of four-piston brake callipers and sport-tuned suspension.

Inside the hottest Scirocco yet are black and white Nappa leather Recaro seats and a smattering of carbonfibre trim.

VW Golf Plus unveiled at Bologna motor show

By Ben Pulman

03 December 2008 10:20

Volkswagen used today’s Bologna motor show to unveil its Mk2 Golf Plus, the third Golf model (after the three- and five-door hatchbacks) to get Wolfsburg’s latest looks.

Only the nose on the new VW Golf Plus looks new! What’s changed?

That new nose is indeed the obvious change. The headlamps, now with daytime running lights, receive a little nip on the inner edges and the two-bar grille is now in high-gloss black.

The bodywork tweaks also see the rubbing strips disappear from the revised front bumper, while the rear is tidied up by new bodywork and LED rear lights.

And if you’re not already asleep, then VW’s talk of ‘newly designed integrated roof rails’ will surely send you into the land of nod. Gripping stuff.

If VW is claiming this is a second-generation Golf Plus where has the money been spent?

Upping the interior quality. Unfortunately, that means the blue backlit dials are dropped for more sterile white instruments, but there is the latest choice of steering wheels, air-con and multimedia systems from the Passat CC. The CC also donates its Park Assist tech which, you’ve guessed it, parks itself.

And the engines in the new VW Golf Plus?

Petrol and diesel, of course, linked to either five- or six-speed manual, or six- and seven-speed twin-clutch DSG gearboxes. The full line-up has yet to be confirmed but there’ll be a 120bhp 1.4 TSI petrol and a 2.0-litre TDI with 89 to 138bhp. More soon.

SEMA 2008 show report: Volkswagen Passat CC

By Ben Whitworth

07 November 2008 09:00

Volkswagen’s sobriety took a back seat at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this week – it pulled the covers off a pair of muscle-bound Passat CCs, a racy 295bhp Tiguan and a grunty diesel Jetta aimed at cajoling the American market into turning its back on gasoline.

A hot VW Passat CC isn’t without appeal…

The unambiguously named Performance CC – designed by Volkswagen’s California-based design centre – gets a shot in the arm from a three-stage turbo boost to its 2.0-litre TSI engine. In Eco mode you get a modest 222bhp and 236 lb ft of torque, GT mode hikes those outputs to 252bhp and 268 lbs ft, while the Full Power stage unleashes 311bhp and 313 lb ft. Expect expletive-inducing acceleration – and torque steer – on tap. Behind those 20-inch alloys sit 356mm Brembo brakes gripped by four-pot calipers.

To ensure it looks the part, the CC is kitted out with ‘black chrome’ exterior accents, customer bumpers, a bespoke metallic grey paintjob and a machined aluminium spoiler, while the cabin gets high-gloss piano black touches, matte black graphics and customer Recaro seats.

What’s this Passat Gold Coast all about?

Eye-catching look-at-me luxury, according to Volkswagen. It’s triple-layer paintjob showcases DuPont’s Pepe Pepper tones, which combine gold, brown and silver. This is complemented by custom taillights, a ground-effects bodykit and 19-inch polished alloys. Inside, it’s Latte Macchiatto and Cornsilk leather on all four seats, and to ensure you can give the fashion police a run for their money, the Gold Coast is powered by a 280bhp 3.6-litre V6 FSI engine.

And the Tiguan?

It follows a similar performance path to the Passat – body kit and three-stage 295bhp turbo kit, but all the attention will be focused on its Rockford Fosgate sound system. Its Power T1000-1bd 1000-watt mono amplifier powers two P3D410 dual voice coil 500-watt Punch subwoofers. A Power T400-4 amplifier delivers 400 watts to each of the door component speakers featuring 6.5-inch mid-bass in the front doors and 5.25-inch mid-bass in the rear doors, with matched inverted hard dome tweeters. Which, we think, means it’s quite loud.

Is the diesel Jetta equally bizarre?

No, it’s pretty dull compared to what we get here in the UK. Built to capitalise on the conclusion of this year’s Jetta TDI Cup series, VW unveiled its Jetta TDI Cup 'Street' edition at SEMA. Fitted with bigger brakes and what VW calls European sport tuned suspension, the Jetta is powered by the group’s new common-rail turbodiesel 2.0-litre that delivers a modest 140bhp and 236lb ft of torque. Hardly a fireball, then and it makes you wonder why VW didn’t go the whole hog and drop in the 170bhp version of the same engine… Chunky 18-inch alloys, trick rubber, six-cog DSG box and a smattering of TDI Cup Edition logos complete the package. Expect it to arrive in America in early 2010 with a sub $30,000 price tag.

VW Passat Bluemotion 2 unveiled

By Ben Whitworth

03 November 2008 10:50

Volkswagen has opened up its order books on its new Passat Bluemotion 2, it’s cleanest and greenest Passat yet. Replacing the current Bluemotion model, the Mk2 Bluemotion is powered by a 110bhp 2.0-litre common rail diesel that’s been recalibrated with a lower idle rate and fitted with a switchable start/stop system to cut emissions and boost economy.

How clean and green is the new VW Passat Bluemotion 2?

When it arrives here in January, the Passat will post a combined economy figure of 57.6mpg and a CO2 rating of 128 g/km - useful savings compared to the outgoing 1.9-litre 105bhp BlueMotion model (55.4mpg and 136 g/km). The new car features a five-speed manual box with longer gear ratios in third, fourth and fifth, a 15mm lower ride height and a more aerodynamic grille.

The start/stop tech centres around the clutch – select neutral at idle and the engine will shut down. Dip the clutch and it will fire into life. The system can be deactivated by a dash-mounted switch. The BlueMotion 2 saloon will cost £17,700 (£18,835 for the estate) – a £475 price hike over the equivalent standard model. Volkswagen currently shifts around 38,000 Passats a year in the UK, with the Bluemotion accounting for 1400 units, but expects the new car to boost that figure to around 2000 a year.

VW announces Mk6 Golf prices

By Ben Pulman

20 October 2008 12:17

VW has released prices for the new Mk6 Golf, but while the new car was rushed into production to cut costs, none of these savings seem to have been passed onto the consumer – the base 1.4 S now starts at £13,150 – £870 more than the Mk5 entry-level Golf.

What goodies does my £13,150 Mk6 Golf come with?

Along with a 79bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine, an entry level S model comes with a decent level of equipment to help offset the price increase. As standard there's ABS, ESP, seven airbags, air-con, heated and electric mirrors, body-coloured bumpers and door handles, plus a CD/radio.

SE models add an uprated stereo with MP3 connectivity, 16-inch wheels, cruise control and automatic wipers and lights. Range-topping GT models get sports suspension and seats, front fogs, a multifunction steering wheel and 17-inch alloys. Apart from that, customers can spec the Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) sysytem lifted from the Scirocco, and ParkAssist which steers into spaces for you.

And if I want an oil-burning Golf?

The cheapest TDI model starts at £15,800 for a 2.0-litre with 108bhp. A more powerful 138bhp version is available in SE and GT trim levels, while the full-on 158bhp model is limted to GT spec. Other petrol engine options include a 101bhp 1.6, plus 120 and 158bhp versions of the 1.4 TSI, the latter again limited to GT models.

But don’t go down to your nearest VW dealership and place your order just yet. Of course the hot GTI model is still to arrive (it's due in summer 2009), but many of the mainstream launch engines will also be replaced in 2009. The entry level 1.4 is ousted for a 1.2 TSI in September 2009, while around the same time a new 1.6-litre diesel will also appear in VW brochures.

Volkswagen at the Paris motor show 2008

By Ben Whitworth

02 October 2008 10:16

Volkswagen is calling it a concept, but its new Golf GTI study is pretty much the real thing. Bar a few minor tweaks, what you see here is what will start rolling out of Wolfsburg in spring 2009. And to keep the eco brigade happy, VW also showed its new Passat BlueMotion II that comes with some astonishing economy figures.

Tell me more about the Golf GTI

This sixth-generation hot hatch marks 32 years and 1.7 million sales of the GTI – and time and ubiquity has done little to dim the its appeal. We've pretty much told you all you need to know about the GTI, but here's a quick recap of the key points: it gets an all-new Audi-sourced 2.0-litre blown engine with 210bhp on tap, the same underpinnings as the current car, with most buyers opting for the six-speed DSG transmission.

The XDS electronic slip differential is now hooked up to the ESP system for enhanced traction and stability, while Dynamic Chassis Control (active damping to you and me) will be an option. Expect prices to climb by an extra £700 over the current car.

What else is new on the Volkswagen stand?

The new Passat BlueMotion II also bows in at Paris. It may not have the street cred of the GTI, but this Euro VI-compliant saloon and estate returns 68.9mpg and an incredibly low 109g/km, although VW admits the production version – in our showroom in early 2009 – will emit a slightly higher 114g/km. It features a stop-start system, advanced common-rail injection and longer gears for lower revs. Expect it to command a £500 over the standard diesel model.

CAR's verdict: Volkswagen at the Paris motor show 2008

Volkswagen played its people card at Paris: its new GTI is still the most aspirational hot hatch on the market with more upper-echelon kudos than its Vauxhall, Ford and Honda rivals can muster together. And the ultra-clean Passat BlueMotion II shows that it's still at the bleeding edge of sustainable mobility. Two VWs, both desirable for very different reasons.

CAR's VW show score: 4/5

New VW Golf GTI Mk6 concept (2008): first official photos

By Ben Pulman

25 September 2008 02:00

The VW Golf GTI is back and the mundane Mk6 range just got interesting. These are the first pictures of the new Golf GTI, which will be officially unveiled at the Paris motor show next week. Power from the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot engine is up, while the looks are inspired by the W12 650 GTI concept from 2007.

VW is calling this car a concept, 'a first step towards the Golf GTI which will start production in spring 2009', but CAR expects the looks and mechanicals to remain unchanged when the GTI goes on sale.

Thank goodness for the new VW Golf GTI.

Yes indeed. Reception to the new Golf has been lukewarm at best, and while the Mk6 might be the most refined car in its class, it’s no stunner.

Step forward the GTI, with a jutting front bumper, telephone-dial alloys, twin pipes, a honeycomb grille, that three letter badge and those discreet red stripes.

VW designers have drawn inspiration from the W12 concept, trying to make the new GTI look lower and wider than before, even though all the hard points from the Mk5 car have been carried over. That means upright fog lights at the extremities of the front bumper and dual exhausts at the rear, again split far.

What other visual tweaks has the new Golf GTI had?

Over and above the regular Golf there are new front and rear bumpers, the former with a honeycomb grille. There are also new sills with black cladding, designed to make the GTI appear slimmer hipped. The rear features smoked rear lights, a discreet spoiler and, according to VW, a diffuser.

VW’s designers have kept the clean shape of the Mk5 GTI, deeming it unnecessary to cover the GTI with body addenda. The telephone-dial alloys remain the same design as before, but this time feature piano black paint on the insides rather than grey.

Inside the famous tartan trim is back, adorning four of the five seats, while the Passat CC steering wheel is now flat bottomed, features a shiny GTI logo and comes wrapped in black leather with contrasting red stitching. There’s also silver trim on the dash.

Right, the dynamics please

The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is carried over, but induction tweaks lift power from the Mk5 GTI's 197 to 207bhp, while there’s also 206lb ft. The transmission is by the existing GTI’s six-speed manual or twin-clutch DSG ‘box. The benchmark sprint is dispatched in 7.2 seconds and this latest GTI will then go on to 148mph. But the new car is cleaner and more economical than its predecessor, doing 37.6mpg and puffing out 178g/km, down from 189.

Under the skin the Mk6’s front struts and multi-link rear suspension has been retuned, while there’s also GTI-specific springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. The Scirocco donates is adaptive chassis control, and the ACC system features comfort, normal and sport modes for the dampers. ACC also adjusts the steering and throttle response accordingly.

The new Golf GTI goes on sale in the UK next summer, with prices expected to rise to around £21k, despite the new Mk6 car being quicker to build.

And if the GTI isn’t quick enough for you, an R version with four-wheel drive and a 265bhp version of the 2.0-litre engine will go on sale by the end of the decade. It will replace the R32, which bites the dust as it’s just too dirty and thirsty.

VW Pickup concept: first official photos

By Chris Chilton

24 September 2008 18:00

He’s designed Alfa Romeos, Audis and even a Lamborghini but now Walter de'Silva has gone all humanitarian and designed a pick-up.

VW’s first small flatbed since the Mk1 Golf-based Caddy will take on trucks like the Toyota Hilux and Mitusbishi L200 when it goes on sale late in 2009.

Isn't the VW Pickup a concept?

It is, but not for long. This thinly veiled concept, called simply Pickup Concept, has been designed as a search and rescue vehicle for coastguards but essentially this is what badge-conscious UK builders will be driving in 2009.

The new Volkswagen corporate face with its monobrow top grille and wide mouth is likely to be carried over mostly unchanged to the cars that will roll off the South African production line, as will the surprisingly stylish interior which features hooded instruments and Audi TT-style air vents.

Mechanical details are sketchy but Volkswagen claims that engines will be common-rail diesels which rules out the old-tech 2.5 five pot that powers many of VW’s current commercials. The group’s powerful 3.0 TDi is likely to be offered along with the 2.0 TDi which, while down on capacity compared to rivals’ engines, actually offers more torque.

Volkswagen isn’t revealing whether a single-cab version will also be available but expect to pay less than £20k for a bare-bones double cab.

VW Golf Bluemotion concept (2008): first pictures

By Ben Pulman

08 September 2008 13:22

This is Volkswagen’s cleanest Mk6 Golf, a Bluemotion concept car that is claimed to achieve 74mpg while puffing out a paltry 99g/km. Those are figures on a par with today’s Polo Bluemotion, but this concept will become production reality in mid-2009.

So what’s the clever tech in this VW Golf Bluemotion?

A 1.6-litre common-rail diesel engine powers the new Golf Bluemotion, producing 104bhp and 184lb ft, but those remarkable figures are helped by revised ratios on the five-speed ‘box, optimised aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres. There’s also a particulate filter to keep the exhaust gases clean.

For now eco-conscious Golf buyers must make do with a 2.0-litre TDI that does 62mpg and 119g/km, but the Golf Bluemotion will go on sale in the middle of 2009, priced from around £15,500.

VW Golf Mk6 (2009): first photos

By Tom Richards

06 August 2008 09:56

This is the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf - officially unveiled today after a string of leaks - with new looks inspired by the Scirocco and a higher-quality interior. But underneath the new Golf's mildly warmed-over looks, the platform is still from the current Mk5 car.

Are the Golf Mk6's visual nips and tucks, plus revised engines and new technology, enough to beat competition from the facelifted Ford Focus and the all-new Megane? We’ll find out when Renault and VW make their debuts at the Paris motor show in autumn 2008.

The new Golf's face looks familiar. Has VW just taken its Scirocco design and put it on the front of the Golf?

The first thing you’ll notice is the Scirocco-inspired headlamps, as well as the Touareg-esque rear end. But the overall profile of the Golf Mk6 hasn’t really changed a great deal. There are lots of new side creases though, making you wonder how the Scirocco can stand out. VW calls the new Golf the ‘evolution of an icon’, but will the minor changes be enough to last for at least another six years?

What about inside the new VW Golf Mk6?

The cabin's refresh appears equally insignificant, with a plundering of the VW parts bin offering up a Passat CC steering wheel. What you can’t see are the new design of door and window seals, plus new damping for the engine. All these changes apparently make the Golf the quietest yet.

‘This sixth generation of Golf cars will completely redefine the quality and comfort level of its class over broad categories, offering more customer value than ever before,’ says Prof Martin Winterkorn, chairman of VW's board.

We'll be the judge of that, when CAR Online drives the car this autumn...

So Volkswagen has altered the Golf's looks – slightly – but are there any changes underneath?

Mechanically, the Mk6 Golf will use the same platform as the previous generation Golf, although there is a new range of petrol and diesel engines. The new 108bhp 2.0-litre TDI common-rail diesel emits just 119g/km of CO2 but will return 62.7mpg, while other diesel variants produce 89, 138 and 168bhp.

For now, four other petrol engines complete the line-up, but there has yet to be any announcement on the GTI or expected R36 hot hatches.

There must be some new technology...

Volkswagen is now offering its Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC), which is already available as an option on the new Passat CC and comes as standard on the Scirocco. It allows the driver to select from Normal, Comfort or Sport modes, which alter the suspension, steering and accelerator responses to suit whatever mood you’re in.

Another option on offer is Automatic Distance Control (ADC) – a series of sensors to monitor the immediate area around the vehicle, reducing the Golf’s speed if they sense that there’s something in the way. ADC can completely stop the car, although only under extreme circumstances.

For those wanting a safer car, a driver’s knee airbag is now standard, bringing the total number to seven. There’s also a new head restraint system - which is designed to cut down on whiplash injuries - and rear seatbelt detection sensors for the times when your children are feeling defiant in the face of safety laws.

Prices and specifications aren’t yet available, but they’ll be announced closer to the Golf’s arrival on UK shores in January. Just don’t expect too many surprises…

New VW Golf Mk6: leaked pictures

By Ben Pulman

04 August 2008 12:57

This is Volkswagen’s new Mk6 Golf, and these first pictures have been leaked onto the internet by a foreign website ahead of the new Golf's official unveiling later this week.

Mechanical details are still scant but it's clear that in the looks department the Scirocco has had a small influence. At best though, the Golf Mk6's design could only be described as evolutionary. Perhaps Porsche ownership is starting to have an effect…

So talk me round the new VW Golf Mk6.

The obvious changes are the new Scirocco-inspired headlamps and, depending on how unkind you're feeling, those Touareg or Seat Altea taillights. Around the glasshouse, Scirocco-esque creases are also visible, while new front and rear bumpers complete the makeover.

Those look like VW Eos wheels to me…

Almost. They certaintly are similar, and inside the Mk6 the Eos has donated its central air vents as part of VW’s strategy to improve the interior quality of the Golf. Other tweaks include a Passat CC steering wheel and VW’s latest-generation touch-screen sat-nav system.

Prices and further details of the Mk6 Golf, including mechanical changes, will be released this Wednesday 6 August, so come back to CAR Online for the full news.