The Volkswagen Caddy has its first ever special edition, the Match, offering unbelievable value for money with a higher specification and stylish exterior, plus competitive finance offers available.

The Caddy Match is available for a limited period only, until 30 April 2012, and with the following additional specification over the standard model, it is one of the most desirable and best value compact vans currently available:

• Air conditioning
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Trip computer
• Electric windows
• Electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors
• Cruise control
• Body-coloured bumpers and wing mirrors
• Wheel trims

The value-busting Match trim is available for both the standard Caddy and the long wheelbase Caddy Maxi (except 4MOTION and EcoFuel models) with prices starting from £14,110 (ex. VAT) and £16,060 (ex. VAT) respectively.

With a range of economical and refined 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI engines plus BlueMotion Technology models available, which all comply with the latest Euro5 emissions standards, running costs for the Caddy Match are also very competitive.  For even better value and complete peace of mind, Volkswagen Van Centres also offer competitive finance with the Caddy range from £199 a month (plus VAT and Initial Rental) and fixed-price servicing and maintenance contracts from £250 (plus VAT).

‘It’s great to start the New Year with an outstanding special edition for one of the UK’s best-selling compact vans,’ said Paul Vissian, Product Marketing Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.  ‘We’ve studied the market carefully and chosen some of the most popular options to give the Caddy Match an unbelievable standard specification and probably the best value for money we’ve ever offered,’ he continued.

The latest Beetle might be ‘more power, less flower’, but that doesn’t mean that it’s anything other than environmentally conscientious, and that’s especially the case with the E-Bugster concept, which is powered purely by electricity.

Revealed this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the two-seat E-Bugster continues the latest Beetle’s sporty theme.  An electric motor provides 85 kWh of power, which can propel it from 0 to 60 mph in 10.9 seconds, and yet offer a range of at least 110 miles from the 28.3 kWh lithium-ion batteries.  Even in a country as large as America, that’s sufficient for the majority of commuters’ needs, while if the E-Bugster needs a top-up, a fast-charging function allows complete recharging in just 35 minutes.

The quick charging is possible thanks to a new Combined Charging System that was developed in co-operation with Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, Ford and General Motors/Opel.  This allows charging via single-phase AC sources (for example a 120-Volt US or 230-Volt European domestic outlet) or via ultra-fast DC sources at specific charging stations.  To succeed, this will require the development of a uniform industry standard for sockets and plugs and also for the charge controller, so that all charging types can be handled.

Of course, the E-Bugster doesn’t charge only when plugged in: as soon as the driver’s foot leaves the accelerator pedal kinetic energy is transformed into electricity and stored in the battery.  Applying the brakes increases the intensity of regeneration, a function that is indicated to the driver in the instrument panel.  Other instruments include driving range and battery state indicators, and a meter that shows how much energy the driver is requesting via the accelerator pedal.

At 4,278 mm long and 1,838 mm wide, the E-Bugster is the same length as a standard Beetle but 30 mm wider, while the new roof lowers the height by around 90 mm to 1,400 mm.  This helps to give the E-Bugster its more dynamic and sporty look.  The low, swept-back windscreen ensures maximum visibility, as does the wide rear screen, which shows that speedster-style vehicles need not be impractical.

Both front and rear bumpers have been substantially modified from those of the production Beetle.  At the front, LED daytime running lights at the outer edges of the central air intake form a C-shape on the left that is mirrored on the right – a signature feature of Volkswagen’s electric vehicle concepts.  This is also true at the back, where reflectors take the place of LEDs.  Beneath the flared wheel arches sit 20-inch alloy wheels that are adapted from the 18-inch ‘Twister’ alloys of the production car, with 235/35 tyres.  Around the bottom edge of the side windows is a chrome strip that loops around the vehicle from A-pillar to A-pillar.  From this chrome strip to the top of the E-Bugster’s hard top the height is a low 400mm.

Inside, the two-seat interior reflects the E-Bugster’s blend of high-tech and sportiness, with sports seats nestling either side of a continuous centre console, plus aluminium door handles and seatbelt guides.

Starting the E-Bugster is pure theatre: upon pressing the Start button the interior is bathed in white light, then blue light.  It starts with a light pulse in the instrument cluster, from where the light emanates in a millimetre-wide strip, coursing into the doors and around the air nozzles.

If the E-Bugster’s name is familiar, it should be: it takes some inspiration from the Ragster concept that made its debut at the 2005 Detroit Show, and which itself inspired the current Beetle.  The ‘E’ of the name signifies the vehicle’s electric power, and the ‘Bug’ part of the name should need no explanation.

The E-Bugster is only a concept at this stage.  The petrol-powered production Beetle is available to order now, with first deliveries due in April.

Volkswagen has announced UK pricing for the new CC, which is now available to order.  The new CC, which made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, will cost just £24,200 for the entry-level 1.8-litre TSI 160 PS, rising to £30,100 for the range-topping GT 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS DSG with BlueMotion Technology.

The new CC offers the same blend of four-door practicality and sleek coupé-like styling as its predecessor, the Passat CC, but is updated to incorporate Volkswagen’s new design DNA.  This is most evident at the front in the new radiator grille’s strong horizontal line and the reprofiled bumper, and at the rear in the completely redesigned bumper and new LED tail lights.

The comprehensive standard specification includes RNS 315 touchscreen satellite navigation system, DAB digital radio, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, 2Zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights and brake energy recuperation on all models.  Safety features include a driver alert system, ESP electronic stabilisation programme and four-way adjustable front head restraints, to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries.

Move up to GT trim and the equipment becomes sybaritic, with heated front seats, full Nappa leather upholstery, three-mode adaptive chassis control, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and heat insulating tinted glass from the B-pillar back all included as standard.

Options include High Beam Assist, which automatically controls dipping of the headlights; Side Assist, which monitors the vehicle’s blind spot; Lane Assist and adaptive cruise control with City Emergency Braking function; a rear-view camera; front climate seats with massage function; and an electrically deployed towbar.

From launch, the UK engine range will comprise 1.8-litre TSI 160 PS or 2.0-litre TSI 210 PS petrols and a 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel with either 140 or 170 PS.  All models with 170 PS or more also now get a standard XDS differential, an electronic cross-axle traction control system for improved traction and handling.

UK retailers are taking orders for the new car now and first customer deliveries are due on 16 April.

Volkswagen CC model line-up and pricing

Following its debut last year, the Scirocco R-Cup racer returns to the Race of Champions to be driven by some of the world’s leading drivers this weekend, 3-4 December.  Among them will be double Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, who will be keen to get revenge for last year’s defeat to US motocross star Travis Pastrana in the 275 PS biogas-powered coupé.

The Scirocco R-Cup racers will line-up on the specially constructed track inside the Düsseldorf Football Arena, with some of the world’s greatest racing drivers taking part.  Alongside Vettel and Pastrana will be the new Volkswagen rally factory driver Sébastien Ogier, Formula One world champions Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button, eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, three-time World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx,and DTM champions Timo Scheider, Martin Tomczyk and Mattias Ekström, among others.

‘We’re proud that the organisers of the Race of Champions have again selected the Racing Scirocco as a car to be fielded at the event. This shows the prestige which the Scirocco R-Cup enjoys worldwide as a one-make cup,’ said Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Kris Nissen.

In 2010, it was a Scirocco of all cars in which Formula One world champion Vettel had to accept one of his few defeats, so he will want to make amends this year. In a direct duel, motocross star Travis Pastrana, not least thanks to clever use of the push-to-pass button that allowed each driver to activate an additional 50 PS for four seconds four times during the race, had achieved a surprise victory against Vettel.  ‘The push-to-pass button is a brilliant idea. By using it I was able to beat Sebastian as late as on the finish straight,’ said Pastrana last year, as he expressed his enthusiasm about the power boost at his fingertips.

Thanks to the use of bio natural gas, the 2.0-litre engine of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup reduces the overall carbon footprint, consisting of the fielding at the race and logistics, by 80 per cent – compared with conventional petrol fuels.  At the Race of Champions, the Scirocco R-Cup is the only vehicle featuring an alternative drive concept.

The Scirocco R-Cup enters its third season in 2012, being held as part of the DTM programme. Spectacular races are guaranteed by the Pro, Junior and Legends Cup, and the innovative push-to-pass system.

For more information about the Scirocco R-Cup or Volkswagen Motorsport, please visit www.volkswagen-motorsport.info. .

Volkswagen is showcasing its concept of an SUV of the future at the Tokyo Motor Show this week, in the shape of the Cross Coupé.  The all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid hints at how a crossover between a four-door coupé and an SUV could look.  It also defines a new stage in Volkswagen engineering design, being the first model based on the company’s new ‘modular transverse matrix’ – or MQB – to be shown publicly.

At 4,345 mm, the concept car being shown in Tokyo is longer than a Golf and shorter than a Tiguan.  The width of 1,868 mm and height of 1,523 mm also come exactly in between these two bestsellers, meaning that the Cross Coupé’s dimensions place it at the heart of the globally in-demand A segment.

The concept car’s 2,630 mm wheelbase is very long in relation to its overall length (52 mm longer than the Golf and 26 mm longer than the Tiguan).  The overhangs (855 mm at the front and 860 mm at the back) are correspondingly short.  This gives the car a very compact but dynamic appearance, which is emphasised by wide tracks widths of 1,585 mm (front) and 1,613 mm (rear).  It’s not just coupé-like though: off-road, it possesses figures that almost fall into the range of classic SUVs.  The front angle of approach, for example, is 24.2 degrees and at the rear 32.5 degrees.  The Cross Coupé also features good off-road ground clearance.

The design of the car – penned by a team led by Volkswagen Group Chief Designer Walter de Silva and Brand Design Chief, Klaus Bischoff – features the characteristic horizontal lines of the Volkswagen ‘face’ at the front while linking to the future with a completely new light and grille treatment.  The rear is dominated by steeply sloping angles and new distinctive light clusters which are combined with SUV-like chunky bumpers and twin tailpipes.

The four-seat Cross Coupé is powered by two electric motors (one front and one rear) which generate 40 kW / 180 Nm of torque and 85 kW / 270 Nm respectively, and a TSI direct injection turbo petrol engine.  With overall power of 265 PS, the Cross Coupé can accelerate to 62 mph in just seven seconds and on to a top speed of 125 mph. It can travel up to 40 km on purely electric power.

The all-wheel drive system with ‘electric drive shaft’ also represents an innovation for Volkswagen, with the rear axle being driven by the rear electric motor.  In this situation power is supplied to the rear electric motor by the one at the front, which during this phase acts as a generator powered by the TSI engine.  This means that in the Cross Coupé, the flow of electrical energy thus replaces the conventional transfer of power by means of a drive shaft – which creates room in the central tunnel (which would usually house the drive shaft) to hold the lithium ion battery.  The resulting low position of the battery and layout of the drive systems give the vehicle a very low centre of gravity and a balanced spread of axle loading, endowing the car with dynamic coupé-like handling qualities.

The overall packages of occupant, child and pedestrian protection and the safety assistance systems installed in the up! and the new generation Beetle have been evaluated by the European consumer protection organisation, Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), and the results are first-rate: five stars for both new Volkswagen cars.

In addition, the up! received Euro NCAP’s Advanced Award for the car’s innovative City Emergency Braking function.  This positions the new Volkswagen ahead of its direct competitors, because no vehicle in its class has earned five stars and the Advanced Award before.  So, the Volkswagen up! is ‘Best in class’ when it comes to safety.

In occupant protection, both vehicles attained top results in all seat positions and regardless of the sizes of the driver and front passenger.  Factored into the rating were results of frontal and side impact tests, a pole side impact test and what is known as a whiplash test – which determines loads to the cervical spine of the neck.  It is not only the large vehicles that are safe.  Both small Volkswagen cars achieved excellent child protection results with dummies representing 18 month and three-year old children.

The up! and Beetle also attained impressive results in the area of safety equipment.  Here, Euro NCAP rated the seatbelt reminders for all seats and use of a vehicle dynamic control system (ESP) as especially positive.  Euro NCAP is increasingly evaluating active safety assist systems in vehicles.  Along with its five star rating, this also led to the up! receiving the Advanced Award for its City Emergency Braking function.

The optional City Emergency Braking is automatically active at speeds between five and 30 km/h, and it utilises a laser sensor (integrated in the upper part of the windscreen) to scan an area of up to 10 metres in front of the up! and detect the risk of an impending collision.  If a collision is about to occur with a vehicle moving in the driving direction or with a stationary object without the driver reacting, first the braking system is preconditioned, and in a second stage the hydraulic brake assistant is switched to a more sensitive level.  Depending on the situation, City Emergency Braking might then initiate hard braking to a stop as a third stage or support the driver with full braking power if brake pedal pressure is insufficient.  Depending on the vehicle’s speed and the particular situation, the emergency braking function with its automatic brake intervention can reduce the severity of accidents and in some cases avoid a collision altogether.

Volkswagen has today released the first images of the new Passat Alltrack, which is making its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show next week, ahead of its introduction to the market in early 2012.

Based on the popular and versatile Passat Estate, the Passat Alltrack adds 4MOTION four-wheel drive and a raised ride height that give it greater agility off-road, along with stylish body enhancements that also provide some protection from scrapes when covering rough terrain.  These include stainless steel-look front and rear underbody protection panels and flared side sills.  Other features include matt chrome roof rails, window surrounds, grille and exterior mirror casings.

At 4,771 mm, the Passat Alltrack is exactly the same length as the Passat Estate, and despite flared wheel arch protection the vehicle’s width also remains the same at 1,820 mm.  The suspension is raised to increase ground clearance from 135 to 165 mm, which also improves the ramp breakaway angle (significant when crossing the crest of a hill) from 9.5 to 12.8 degrees.  Ruggedly styled front and rear bumpers increase the approach angle from 13.5 to 16 degrees, and the departure angle from 11.9 to 13.6 degrees.

As with other Volkswagen vehicles featuring 4MOTION, on the Passat Alltrack the front axle is usually driven, with only 10 per cent of propulsive power going to the rear axle.  This saves on fuel.  If necessary, almost 100 per cent of power can be sent to the rear axle, through use of an electrohydraulic Haldex clutch.

The Passat Alltrack also features an off-road mode, similar to that on the Tiguan Escape.  When switched on (via a dashboard-mounted button), this activates hill descent assist, which automatically brakes the vehicle when the descent angle is greater than 10 degrees.  The ABS function is also altered, with higher thresholds for operation on loose surfaces, along with faster-reacting electronic differential locks (EDS) to prevent wheelspin.  For vehicles fitted with DSG dual-clutch transmission, the shift pattern is also altered when off-road mode is engaged, with higher shift points to give more power, a flatter and easier to manage accelerator pedal movement and no automatic upshifting in manual mode.

In the UK, the Passat Alltrack will be available as a 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS with six-speed manual gearbox or a 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS with six-speed DSG transmission.  Standard equipment will include Alcantara upholstery, 2Zone electronic climate control, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring system, MDI iPod connectivity, Bluetooth telephone preparation and 18-inch alloys.

Retailers in the UK are expected to start taking orders for the new car in April, with first deliveries scheduled for July.  More details including pricing will be available nearer the launch date.

For over 60 years now, commercial vehicles from Volkswagen have maintained a visual presence on the world’s streets. They are helpers in everyday life, which bring us people goods, services, postal deliveries and occasionally emergency assistance as well. Volkswagen Group Research, which is responsible for the world of tomorrow, together with the German Post Office (‘Deutsche Post AG’), which is one of the largest customers of lightweight commercial vehicles – as well as the University of Art at Braunschweig – formed a think tank on future transport and mobility issues. Finally, these research activities led to a completely new vehicle concept for the delivery and logistics field: eT!

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research: “We analysed process flows and customer needs in detail, and from these analyses we derived ideas on how the segment of delivery and courier vehicles could be further developed over the long term. In this context, we focused on zero-emissions driving and available space in urban areas, semiautomatic driving functions that offer relevant support and simplify work processes and the integration of new communication technologies. On top of that, we also set out to design a very emotionally appealing commercial vehicle. To attain these goals, our teams not only looked towards the future from the past, but also worked from a future perspective to implement an advanced development concept based on technologies available today.”

The eT! research vehicle could someday actually revolutionise the world of lightweight commercial vehicles. Completely reconceptualised, driven with zero emissions, thought through to the last detail and driving semi-automatically if necessary! Just how wide-ranging the significance of this research project could be for sustainability in the transportation field is underscored by the support for the eT! project by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. “The eT! research vehicle,” explains Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, spokesperson for the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, “unifies a whole gamut of innovative functions, which will gain in future importance, specifically for logistics businesses. In particular, the possibility of driving the car semi-automatically – and electrically – in downtown areas unifies economical and environmental aspects more systematically than ever. As a vision of the future, the eT! Is showcasing what is the maximum feasible technology for electric vehicles in the commercial market today with a special design that systematically addresses future customer needs.”

“eT! is a pure electrically powered transporter that systematically transfers E-mobility to the area of commercial use,” says Dr. Rudolf Krebs, Group Manager for Electric Traction at Volkswagen AG. And continues: “As a transport specialist, the eT! is advancing to become the automotive building block for an innovative, future-oriented logistics concept, which not only drives with zero emissions in urban areas – thanks to its electric wheel hub motors – but also offers maximum freedom in manoeuvering and turning as well as optimal utilisation of the vehicle’s interior space. If ‘refuelled’ with electricity generated from renewable energy sources, the eT! can indeed be operated with zero emissions. Naturally, the eT! is not a vehicle which – unlike the Golf or up! with an electric motor – could become available very soon. But we must make plans today for what the world of lightweight commercial vehicles might look like starting in the second half of this decade, including with regard to electrical drives.”

To make the working world of mail delivery personnel and courier drivers simpler and safer, to optimise the logistics of delivery and to shorten delivery times, eT! can be operated semiautomatically in certain situations. The car can follow the delivery person from house to house (“Follow me”), or the car can return to the delivery person on command (“Come to me”) – driverless! As an alternative, the driver can direct the car’s movements via a ‘drive stick’ from the passenger’s side that also offers a standing seat and quick access to the vehicle. On the passenger’s side – the side that faces the sidewalk and therefore the working area of the delivery person – there is therefore an electrically opening sliding door that opens to 2 different stages; this enables extremely quick entry into the vehicle as well as quick access to the mail parcels. This makes unnecessary walking movements around the vehicle a thing of the past.

Variants of this lightweight transport vehicle could be implemented for all conceivable business uses. And these derived concepts are also the focus of research activities. Meanwhile, the eT! concept shown in a world premiere at the Design Centre of Potsdam was specially designed for delivery of mail shipments of all types. The research vehicle will now be integrated in a driving test study and further analysed.

The Beetle R Concept has made its American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, following its unveiling in Frankfurt earlier this year.  It’s no wonder that this attention-grabbing machine has crossed the Atlantic to seek the limelight in Los Angeles: the US was the biggest market for the previous New Beetle, and that’s likely to remain the same with the new vehicle.

While the familiar outline of the latest Beetle is still clear, the R Concept adds the kind of muscled enhancements that seem entirely appropriate in image-conscious California.  The front and rear bumpers are completely redesigned, and are a generous 30 mm wider than standard.  Three chunky air intakes in a black high-gloss finish dominate the front; the central one to provide air to the radiator, and the side two to aid cooling of the brakes.  Additional engine cooling is provided by vents on either side of the top of the bonnet.

Along the sides flashes of gloss black give the Beetle R a distinctive look: it can be found on the door mirror caps (just as on the Golf R and Scirocco R), the door handles, the 15 mm wider side sills and also on the roof.

The rear wings are also 15 mm wider than is standard, helping them to flow purposefully into the wider rear bumper, which houses not only a diffuser, but also a quartet of exhaust pipes – two either side.  Above this sits a large spoiler with a gloss black finish on top and body-coloured finish beneath.

The wheels are five-spoke Talladega alloys, which will be familiar to drivers of the Golf R or Scirocco R, though in this instance they measure 20 inches in diameter.  Behind these sit blue-painted brake callipers.

Inside, both driver and front passenger are held snugly in hard-shell racing seats covered in black Nappa leather offset by grippy grey nubuck panels.  The same upholstery adorns the individual rear seats.  The seat seams and piping are in Volkswagen R’s trademark blue colour, while the dashboard is accented with high gloss black.

The instrument panel highlights the Beetle R’s sporting intent: the tachometer is in the middle (and the speedometer to the side), while atop the dashboard are three auxiliary instruments: an oil temperature gauge, chronometer and turbo boost pressure indicator, all with distinctive blue needles.

As for the engine… this car is only a concept for now, but the Beetle R’s production siblings, the Golf R and Scirocco R, use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit providing 270 PS and 265 PS respectively.

A pre-production Golf Blue-e-Motion electric vehicle has won its class in the RAC Future Car Challenge for the second time, using the least energy to cover a 57-mile route from Brighton’s Madeira Drive to Pall Mall in the heart of London.  This year’s Challenge attracted a larger entry list than the inaugural event, including hybrids and fuel cell models as well as highly efficient diesel cars such as the Passat BlueMotion.  The Golf was named the Most Energy Efficient Regular Car (Prototype) class.

Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the Golf Blue-e-Motion has an electric motor with a peak power output of 115 PS and a range of around 100 miles in normal conditions.  It can reach a top speed of 86 mph and accelerate from rest to 62 mph in 11.8 seconds.  The car features battery regeneration that can activate when the accelerator is released and during the initial travel of the brake pedal.  This reduces the amount of energy that would otherwise be wasted during driving.  Despite its unconventional motive power the Golf Blue-e-Motion appears like any other Golf with space for five adults and a slightly reduced boot volume of 279 litres.

The class-winning vehicle was piloted by Volkswagen engineer Folko Rohde, aided by co-driver Fabienne Kleinert, and is one of two Golf Blue-e-Motion models that took part in this year’s event.  The second vehicle, which won the inaugural event last year, was the first car away from the start and was once again driven by Jim Holder, editor of Autocar magazine, and this time co-driven by Volkswagen engineer Eike Feldhusen.

The third Volkswagen entry, a production Passat BlueMotion, one of the most efficient and lowest-polluting internal combustion engined vehicles on sale today, was driven by motoring journalist Richard Aucock and Edd China, best known for his part in TV’s Wheeler Dealers, and the creator of the road-legal motorised sofa.

The Passat BlueMotion is powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine producing 105 PS and employs a series of aerodynamic and mechanical changes to maximise the efficiency of the engine, giving it a combined fuel economy of 68.9 mpg and CO₂ emissions of just 109 g/km.

On arrival in London on Saturday afternoon, the Golf Blue-e-Motions had their data recorders removed by the RAC scrutineers and then joined the Passat BlueMotion plus all the other competing vehicles for a display in the centre of London as part of the inaugural Regent Street Motor Show.

A production version of the Golf Blue-e-Motion is planned to be introduced to the market in late 2013.  The Passat BlueMotion can be purchased now.

Volkswagen has successfully started the tests with the new Polo R WRC. Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Volkswagen Board of Management for Technology, and the two-time World Rally Champion and Dakar winner Carlos Sainz (Spain) completed the first test kilometres in the vineyards of Veldenz near Trier, the location that normally plays host to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, without any problems today. Prior to competing in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) from 2013 onward, Volkswagen will intensively test and continue to develop the four-wheel drive vehicle that delivers an output of about 300 HP.

‘The first test with the new Polo R WRC is a special moment and marks an important milestone in the preparations for our entry in the WRC,’ comments Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management for the Development Division. ‘We’re well on schedule and are now able to start testing our concepts and developments in reality. The WRC is the top category in rally sport and a great challenge for the team, the drivers and the technology. We’re taking on this challenge and will be making efficient use of the time before we start into our first competition.’

‘The first Polo represents a preliminary stage of the subsequent rally car and during the upcoming months will serve as a test vehicle for various components such as engines, gearboxes or suspension parts. The findings obtained in these tests will be directly fed into the first thorough-bred Polo R WRC,’ explains Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. ‘Next year we’ll be running an extensive testing programme on tarmac, gravel, mud and snow in order to prepare ourselves for the 2013 season as best we can.’

On the first test day Dr Ulrich Hackenberg and Carlos Sainz, both with co-driver Timo Gottschalk (Rheinsberg, Germany) at their side, drove some 100 kilometres on the 2.8-kilometre tarmac circuit. An initial functional test was followed by tuning and set-up work on the engine and the suspension, all of which was performed without any problems. ‘I immensely enjoy being involved in the development and testing of the new Polo R WRC – and having the privilege of driving the first kilometres is naturally a great honour,’ says Carlos Sainz. ‘The car is still in an early stage but already feels very good. For the whole team, whether engineers, mechanics or drivers, it’s very important to get to know the first real car as early as possible and to test and continue to develop it.’

In parallel to the tests with the Polo R WRC, Volkswagen is continuing its trial runs in the World Rally Championship. Next week the German Sepp Wiegand with Dakar winner Timo Gottschalk as co-driver and the Dutchman Kevin Abbring with co-driver Lara Vanneste will be competing in the Great Britain Rally in Wales (10–13 November). At the fourth WRC test run this year the Volkswagen factory team is again fielding two Fabia cars of the Group’s Škoda brand in order to evaluate talents and gather valuable experiences with the team at this famous gravel rally.

Volkswagen has today released the first images of its new CC, which will be officially unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16.  If it looks familiar, don’t be surprised: over 270,000 people across the world have been won over by its predecessor the Passat CC’s blend of four-door practicality and sleek coupé-like styling.

At the front, the new radiator grille has strong horizontal lines that represent Volkswagen’s new design DNA, flanked by new bi-xenon headlights and topped with a reprofiled bonnet.  The bumper is different, too, with a new extra air intake, and silver-coloured ‘winglets’ that frame the fog lights.

Along the side, the frameless doors are carried over from the previous model, but more sculpted sills, revised bumpers and the new bonnet add up to create a subtly updated silhouette.

The rear bumper has also been completely redesigned, with more emphasis on horizontal lines and a reworking of the characteristic chrome strip.  The tail lights are new as well, not just in their more dramatic design, but in their use of LEDs.  The numberplate lights are also now LED.  As before, the Volkswagen logo doubles as the handle for the boot, and it can now optionally contain a rear-view camera.

There’s one last change at the rear, too: ‘Passat’ has been dropped from the name.

While the name may have changed, a comprehensive list of standard equipment remains and expands to include features such as the standard driver alert system, as found on the Passat, and front head restraints with four-way adjustment, to reduce the risk of whiplash.  New options include High Beam Assist, which automatically controls dipping of the headlights; Side Assist, which monitors the vehicle’s blind spot; Lane Assist and adaptive cruise control with City Emergency Braking function; front climate seats with massage function; and an electrically deployed towbar.

From launch, the UK engine range will comprise 1.8-litre TSI 160 PS or 2.0-litre TSI 210 PS petrols and a 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel with either 140 or 170 PS.  All models with 170 PS or more also now get a standard XDS differential, an electronic cross-axle traction control system for improved traction and handling.

The CC will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show before going on sale in the US in early 2012.  Retailers in the UK will start taking orders for the new car around the same time with first deliveries due in March.  More details including pricing will be available nearer the launch date.

Just as the new up! compresses all the virtues of a Volkswagen into a compact city-friendly package, the GT up! concept promises to distil the driving pleasure of the seminal hot hatch, the GTI, into a powerful yet petite package.

Following in the wheel tracks of another sporty small car – the original Golf GTI – the GT up! exudes sporting style, from its wide-mouthed honeycomb grille to its two chromed tailpipes – one either side.

The wide central grille is distinctly larger than that on the standard up!, to allow plenty of air to the engine, which could potentially pack 100 PS or more.  Either side of this, the broad bumper includes ducts to provide cooling airflow to the front brakes, these ducts also containing the wing-shaped LED daytime running lights. 

The sporting theme continues along the flanks, which feature extended sills and black gloss-painted door mirrors.  The wheels are arch-filling 17-inch alloys with wide
195-section tyres.  At the rear, a deep roof spoiler helps reduce lift over the rear axle, while a black diffuser at the bottom is framed by an exhaust pipe on either side.

In the cabin, the GT up! is no less sporty.  Beneath a black roof lining are anthracite-coloured seats offset by central panels with a blue chequered pattern that has more than a hint of GTI about it.  The gloss-black dashboard and upper door trim panels are similarly offset by blue rings around the air vent nozzles, while the driver gets to grip a chunky leather-bound three-spoke wheel.

The GT up! remains a concept for now but certainly received a favourable reception when it was shown at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show.

Order books for the standard three-door up! are already open, and first customer deliveries are expected in spring 2012.  For more information please visit your Retailer or www.volkswagen.co.uk.

The up!, the smallest new Volkswagen, is a very spacious car. To prove this thesis, employees at Volkswagen Communications made an attempt at an unofficial world record. The results: not only is it possible for four people to sit comfortably in the new up! in normal use – if one really tries hard, many more people can fit into the car: 15 women and one man squeezed themselves into its interior spaces. It was not all that comfortable any more, we must admit!

Two in the boot, one on the dashboard, seven on the rear bench, four on the front seats, two in the footwells – then the boot lid and doors were shut, and the windows were closed. A world record! 16 people in the new up!. In this record attempt, the goal was not so much comfort as it was to have a lot of fun. And that is why such record attempts have a long tradition: back in the 1950s it was extremely popular to cram as many people as possible into a telephone booth – which in those days was still a very easy to find object. But what is a telephone booth compared to a VW Beetle? At a car meet in Australia, 17 Beetle friends spontaneously decided to squeeze into this Volkswagen icon. In 2010, 20 people – who obviously had extremely high levels of pain tolerance – raised the bar with a record in Wilmore, Kentucky (USA), which landed them in the Guinness World Records. Naturally, attempts were also made in the successor model. In January 2001, a record 27 students from the USA squeezed into a New Beetle.

And now, in 2011, we have the up! – one for all! Well, it was good for at least 16 on our first try. At 3.54 metres long and 1.64 metres wide, the up! is one of the smallest four-seat cars. After its market launch in Spring 2012, customers can set their own records.

The new Volkswagen Beetle is now open for ordering, ahead of the first UK deliveries in spring 2012.  At launch, two engines will be available: a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission and a 1.4-litre 160 PS TSI with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Three trim levels will be available: Beetle, Design and Sport.  The 1.2-litre is offered in Beetle or Design trim from £16,490 (RRP OTR) and the 1.4-litre in Design or Sport trim from £19,470.  Three other engines – a 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology 105 PS, 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS and 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS – will be joining the line-up later in 2012 along with the option of a six-speed manual gearbox for the 1.2-litre TSI model.

Specification levels are high. The standard Beetle comes with air conditioning, remote central locking, an RCD 310 CD system with DAB radio and rear Isofix seat preparation.

Moving to the mid-level Design trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels in a choice of two styles, Bluetooth telephone preparation with MDI (multi-device interface) iPod connectivity, front fog lights, an alarm, an RCD 510 DAB CD/radio, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel and body-coloured door and dashboard panels.

The range-topping Sport specification brings 18-inch alloys in a choice of two styles, tinted glass, cruise control, sports seats, parking sensors, gloss black door mirrors, dashboard and door panel and 2Zone electronic climate control.

A wide range of optional equipment will also be available, including Keyless Access, satellite navigation systems, a panoramic sunroof and bi-xenon headlights.

The option that is expected to make the biggest impact is the Fender sound pack.  Developed in conjunction with the legendary electric guitar firm of the same name, this audiophile’s delight offers a 400W output and a subwoofer, along with switchable three-colour illumination surrounding the front loudspeakers, all for just £495.

Order books open today, with initial customer deliveries expected in spring 2012.
For more information please visit your Retailer or www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Beetle model line-up and pricing (for full details see price list):

The Beach Boys dreamt of a bit of California as they lamented ‘All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey’ in their 1982 cover version of the Mamas and Papas hit. But Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is ensuring endless summer fun with the announcement of the new California Beach model.  A new entry-level camper, it offers added value and more versatility with seating for up to seven people, with prices starting at £34,970 RRP on the road (including VAT) from £379 a month with a Volkswagen Solutions Personal Contract Plan.

The California Beach blends the appeal of the California with the practicality and versatility of the Caravelle people carrier.  Inside, seating for up to seven people is available with a two-, or three-, seat rear bench, and further optional individual chairs.  The front seats swivel to face the rear and a portable table, neatly stored in the sliding side door, can create a sociable lounge area.  In addition, two folding chairs are stored in the tailgate.

A large amount of luggage space is offered behind the rail-mounted seats and the Beach also offers sleeping accommodation for four.  The bench-seat easily folds to convert to a two-berth bed across the width of the vehicle, while a manual pop-up roof gives access to a further double bed.  Integrated pull-down blinds for the side and rear windows, plus pop-up covers for the front window, ensure privacy when required.

The California Beach is powered by a choice of 2.0-litre TDI engines.  Making its debut on the Beach is a highly-efficient 114 PS BlueMotion Technology model offering optimised fuel efficiency and lowering emissions.  With a five-speed manual transmission with longer gearing, cruise control, Stop/Start system, brake regeneration and low rolling resistance tyres, it offers a combined fuel economy figure of 40.4 mpg and a CO₂ output of 184 g/km.

The second engine is the more powerful 140 PS unit, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.  With a premium of £1,165 over the BlueMotion Technology model, the 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS returns 36.7 mpg on the combined cycle with CO₂ emissions of 203 g/km.

As standard, the well-equipped newcomer to the popular California camper range is fitted with stylish 16-inch ‘Miyato’ alloy wheels, Climatic air conditioning and a CD/radio with eight speakers.  The choice of Sunny Yellow exterior paint and ‘Takato’ upholstery are exclusive to Beach models.  Customers can also choose from a raft of options, including larger alloy wheels, a 32-litre cool/warm box (powered by second leisure battery), programmable parking heater, an awning, privacy glass, double glazing and Bluetooth mobile phone provision, plus satellite navigation with Western Europe mapping pre-loaded to an internal memory and xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights.

The California Beach is available to order now.  For more information about the California camper range, or to find your local Volkswagen Van Centre, call 0800 717131 or visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk.  For the latest updates, follow Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles on Twitter @Volkswagen_CV.

Visitors to this month’s Frankfurt Motor Show got the biggest clue yet as to the look of the production five-door up!, in the shape of the cross up!, one of six small car family concepts that were displayed alongside the three-door city car model.

The cross up! previews the five-door up! but with the styling cues of an SUV, including suspension raised by 15 mm all round.  The most obvious differences when compared with the standard up! are of course the additional doors and the styling of the C-pillars.  While on the three-door car the shoulder line and windows ascend towards the rear near the C-pillars, on the five-door the two elements form a straight line, creating a more upright appearance.

Many of the styling elements on the cross up! (such as the wheel arch and side sill extensions and the black side protection strips above the sills) will be familiar to those who recall the last-generation Polo Dune, sold in mainland Europe as the Cross Polo.  These styling cues give the vehicle a more rugged look, as can be seen in the eye-catching front bumper with silver cross-bar and integrated fog lights.  The front air intake is also modified, with a honeycomb grille that is distinctly larger, especially towards the bottom.

Underneath, there is robust silver-coloured underbody protection at both ends.  Like the front bumper, the rear bumper also gets a silver cross-bar.  That colour is echoed in the matt silver roof rails and the light silver door mirror caps, all offset by the eye-catching Tornado Red paint of the body, which can also be found surrounding the Volkswagen logo in the centre of the 16-inch alloy wheels.

On the cross up! study, the red theme continues inside the spacious interior where the seats have red centre panels, offset by grey side panels.  The dashboard panel and upper door trim panels are also body-coloured.  Other accents, such as the bezels of the air nozzles and the centre console, are designed in black piano paint, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel, gearlever and handbrake all have decorative coloured seams.

Order books for the three-door up! will open in October with the first models arriving in the UK in spring 2012.  The five-door model will follow later in the year.

Amid the raft of new car concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month, one of the head-turners was Volkswagen’s bright orange ray of sunshine, the buggy up! concept.

The buggy up! is inspired by the Californian beach buggies of the 1960s.  These buggies, pioneered by people such as American Bruce Meyers, took the simple, reliable Beetle chassis and engine and replaced the steel bodies with glassfibre, creating agile, fun vehicles that perfectly reflected the care-free California in which they were created.

That same California feeling is encapsulated in the lightweight steel construction of the two-seater buggy up!, which brings the beach buggy bang up to date.  Based on the brand-new up!, the buggy up! keeps its city sibling’s (reinforced) underbody, running gear and drive technology, while the roof-less and door-less exterior is completely redesigned, and the ride height is lowered by 20 mm.  Everything is different: the bonnet is flatter, the bumpers have been reworked and the rear has been completely redesigned.

The buggy up! does not have any C-pillars, and neither does it have a boot like the standard up! model.  The bootlid is constructed of two pieces: the main part of the lid lifts upward like a saloon’s bootlid, but the section above the bumper folds down, like the tailgate on a pick-up, making it extremely easy to stow bulky items.  On top of the lid, there are also tie-down straps for luggage.  Despite all these changes, there’s no mistaking the buggy up! for anything but an up!.

Climb into the buggy up! and you’ll find specially designed neoprene-covered seats that are 58 mm lower than those in the production model.  To match this, engineers reduced the basic angle of the height-adjustable steering wheel by four degrees to an angle of 21 degrees, creating a go-kart like driving position.  Passengers also get something to hold on to, in the shape of a sturdy handle on the dash panel, because you never know what lies over the next dune.

Even if there are rainclouds over the next dune, that’s no problem for the buggy up!, because as well as a rudimentary fabric roof, the interior is completely waterproof.  The seats have drains in them, as do the sills and the floor.  Even the controls for the iPod-compatible infotainment system are waterproof, and you can remove the entire module – including the integrated loudspeakers – so that you’ve got a sound system for your beach party.  All you need to add is your favourite Beach Boys tracks.

As a look ahead to the 30th anniversary of the successful Caddy next year, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is showing an exciting special model at the IAA: the Caddy Edition 30 – a near-production concept vehicle. This Caddy is a very special highlight with its black roof, machine-polished alloy wheels, a high-end interior and a powerful and torque-strong engine.

1982 saw the launch of the Caddy on the European market, then still as a pick-up based on the Golf Mk1. 30 years later, the Caddy is now an established major player in the compact and urban delivery van market, with over 1.5 million units sold to date. Whether for young families, city delivery firms or tradesmen, the Caddy thus has a constantly growing community of fans. Good reason to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this range in due style with a special edition model: the Caddy Edition 30.

On its exterior, the Caddy Edition 30 stands apart from other Caddy models by virtue of a roof painted in brilliant gloss black, roof railing also in high-gloss black and high-end machine-polished 17-inch alloy wheels. The fact that this is a special edition model is also shown by signatures on the sliding doors, the back of the vehicle and the door sills. Five bodywork colours are available, all going well with the black roof, buyers have a choice of Candy White, Reflex Silver, Salsa Red, Primavera Green or Sunny Yellow. The interior, in either five-seat or seven-seat configuration, has a sporty, high quality design, with seats in Alcantara upholstery, multi-function steering wheel, leather-trimmed gear stick and handbrake lever, semi-automatic (Climatic) climate control and tinted windows combining to create a pleasant ambience.

The Caddy Edition 30 is available with four different engine specifications, both with a short wheelbase as a car or as a panel van for commercial use: as a diesel (TDI) producing 75 to 125 kW and as a petrol (TSI) version with 77 kW.

Appearing at the display stand at the IAA in Frankfurt is the Caddy Edition 30 featuring the most powerful engine ever installed in a production Caddy: the 125 kW / 170 PS 2.0 TDI with DSG accelerates the compact MPV to a top speed of 196 km/h and generates enormous traction with a torque of 350 Newton metres, making this special edition Caddy the most dynamic Caddy ever.

A 35^th birthday can mark the onset of a mini midlife crisis, the tipping point between the big 3-0 and even bigger 4-0.  Luckily the iconic Golf GTI is in no such predicament, but rather celebrating in style with a special edition model which has an uplift in spec and appearance and, underneath the skin, the most powerful production Golf GTI engine to date.  Clearly those gym sessions have paid off.

On sale from today, the Golf GTI Edition 35 – which made its debut at the GTI enthusiasts’ meeting on the shores of Lake Wörthersee in Austria at the start of June – has a 1,984 cc four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which produces 235 PS (25 more than the standard GTI) at 5,500 rpm and 300 Nm (221 lbs ft) of torque at 2,200 rpm.  Like the standard GTI, the Edition 35 is front engined and front-wheel drive.  Standstill to 62 mph takes 6.6 seconds and top speed is 153 mph.  The model still returns a very respectable 34.9 mpg on the combined economy cycle (35.3 DSG) and emits 189 g/km of CO₂ (185 for the DSG model).

Bespoke exterior styling changes include a more sporty bodykit incorporating new side skirts and a revised front bumper which sits below bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights.  Unique lightweight 18-inch ‘Watkins Glen’ alloy wheels, finished in ‘Dark Steel’ or – at no additional cost – silver, distinguish this model from the standard GTI, along with an Edition 35 badge on the front wing, gloss black door mirror casings, rear windows with 90 per cent tinted glass and rear tinted LED lights.

Subtle ‘35’ signatures are carried through to the interior, featuring on the head restraints of the heated Vienna leather front sports seats as well as the door sills and floor mats, along with a red stripe on the seatbelts and the now famous GTI ‘golf ball’ gearknob which is available on both manual and DSG transmissions.

Prices for the GTI Edition 35 start at £27,525 (RRP OTR) for the manual three-door model.  There is a £1,295 premium for the DSG gearbox and £585 for five doors.

Although the new car is a special edition model, there is not a specific restriction on the number available.  Volkswagen Retailers will begin taking orders now with first customer deliveries due next month.  For more information contact your nearest Retailer or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Golf GTI Edition 35 line-up with pricing

The first photos of the Volkswagen up! have been released, ahead of the new small car making its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

The up! is an entirely new design, offering maximum space on a minimal footprint (3.54 x 1.64 m), making it ideal for driving in the world’s cities. It will be launched in Europe in December.  There are three versions for different budgets and needs: take up! is the entry-level car, move up! the comfort-oriented model and high up! the top version.  At the car’s market launch, there will also be two models based on the high up!: up! black and up! white.

Making its debut in the up! is a new generation of three-cylinder petrol engines, with outputs of 60 PS and 75 PS.  Combined fuel consumption as a BlueMotion Technology version (including a Stop/Start system) is 4.2 l/100 km (60 PS), and CO₂ emissions for this version are less than 100 g/km.  There are also plans for an up! with electric drive.

An important new safety technology in the up! is the optional City Emergency Braking system.  It is automatically active at speeds under 18mph, and uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an impending collision.  Depending on speed and situation, City Emergency Braking can reduce accident severity by initiating automatic brake interventions that can even avoid a crash.  So far, the up! is the only vehicle in the segment to be offered with this function.

At 3.54 metres in length and 1.64 metres in width and 1.48 metres in height, the up! is one of the smallest four-seater cars.  Its overall length consists of short body overhangs and a long wheelbase of 2.42 metres.  Use of space in the car is exceptionally good, because of the wheelbase, which is one of the longest in the segment, combined with an engine that is mounted well forward.  The 251-litre boot is also significantly larger than is typical in this class.  When the rear seat is fully folded, cargo space is increased to 951 litres.

The interior is as colourful as it is capacious, with either decor paint or body colour (depending on the equipment line) used in the interior, including across the dashboard facia.  The clean and well-organised layout of the interior of the up! also offers clever details, fun styling and a level of quality that will enhance the market segment.

For the first time in a Volkswagen, the maps + more system is now being offered, which is a mobile Personal Infotainment Device (PID).  In the economically priced up!, this is an equally economical system that was developed to organise navigation, telephone, information and entertainment, and was designed in cooperation with Navigon, one of the world’s leading suppliers of navigation systems.  The user simply snaps the PID into place above the centre console.  Unlike many other similar systems of this type, maps + more melds with the car’s network of systems more effectively: navigation, telephone and infotainment can be controlled and viewed via the maps + more touchscreen, which can also be used to view vehicle information, such as the display of the parking sensors (where fitted).  Apps specially developed for the up! also let users extend maps + more to meet their specific needs.

More details and pricing information will be available closer to launch.

Volkswagen’s Polo range now offers customers even greater value for money, thanks to the addition of a new Match model which replaces the existing SE and Moda trim levels and provides £650 worth of equipment – but with a pricetag that means it costs £215 less than those models.  Prices for the Polo Match start at £11,300 (RRP ‘on the road’) for the 1.2-litre 60 PS manual version. 

The Polo Match combines the most popular features of the existing SE and Moda trims that it replaces, while adding extra specification.  Exterior highlights include stylish 15-inch ‘Castille’ alloy wheels, front fog lights and heat-insulating tinted rear windows.  Comfort and convenience are the main focus inside the cabin with manual air conditioning, an RCD 310 radio / CD player, multifunction computer and MDI (Multi Device Interface) with iPod connectivity all standard.  The model is also fitted with electric windows and a comfort pack, incorporating remote central locking and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors

Naturally all the Polo’s usual safety equipment remains on board with standard specification including four airbags, ABS and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme).

Also available are a range of attractive finance deals for the Polo Match.  And when the car is bought with a Solutions PCP package, it also qualifies for one year’s free insurance and three years or 30,000 miles free servicing.

The Match is offered in three- and five-door guise, and is available with a choice of three highly efficient engines.  The two petrol units – a 1.2-litre three-cylinder producing 60 PS and  a 1.4-litre 85 PS – plus one diesel – a 1.2-litre 75 PS – are fitted with a five-speed manual transmission as standard.  A seven-speed DSG option is also available with the 1.4-litre petrol engine.

The new Polo Match is available from today – for details see www.volkswagen.co.uk/polo.

Polo Match prices

Glastonbury wellies are packed away, Wimbledon is running to schedule and there’s an abundance of red shoulders on show: yes, the English summer has finally arrived and it’s here to stay (for at least a day or two).  What better time then to open the order books for the new Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet which is back after a nine year absence and in better shape than ever.  Prices for the new model range from £20,720 (RRP OTR) to £26,595.

First shown earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, the new two-door, four-seater, front-engined soft top joins the range alongside the Eos hard-top convertible.  It is fitted as standard with an electrically-powered fabric roof which can be lowered in just 9.5 seconds including on the move at speeds up to around 18 mph.  No separate roof cover is needed, contributing to the very rapid opening time, and resulting in less bootspace intrusion and meaning that even with the roof down, there is 250 litres of available space.

The Golf Cabriolet is around 20 cm shorter than the Eos, measuring 4,215 mm in length, 1,424 mm in height and 1,779 mm wide.  The 2,578 mm wheelbase (same as Golf hatchback) ensures there is plenty of interior space for all four passengers, while a 50:50 split/folding rear seat and Easy-Entry function ensure maximum practicality and good access to the rear.

At the front, the grille and bonnet make the new soft-top model clearly identifiable as a Golf; however from the heavily raked windscreen back, it’s all new, giving a sportier appearance.  At the rear, new lights plus a deep crease in the bootlid are distinctive design features.

What can’t be seen from the outside are the differences that have been incorporated under the skin.  In changing the hatchback to a soft-top, modifications were made to ensure that safety, comfort and refinement were not compromised in the cabriolet version.  These include reinforced window frames and structural modifications to the underbody, side panels, cross-members and doors to endow the new car with an extremely high level of torsional rigidity.  Also benefiting refinement is the design of the fabric roof which has an additional exterior skin, as well as new window and door seals.

Safety has always been a Golf attribute and the Cabriolet is no different in this respect.  An active rollover protection system is employed, ABS, ESP and front and side head/thorax airbags are also all standard.

The new Golf Cabriolet will be available with a choice of three engines: a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS, 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS and a 1.6-litre TDI 105 PS.  A further petrol and two diesels will be offered later in the year.  DSG automatic transmission will be offered while BlueMotion Technology modifications will be applied to the diesel engines to ensure high efficiency and low emissions.

Three trim levels will be offered – S, SE and GT – and all will have a high level of standard specification, featuring 16-inch alloy wheels, and Bluetooth among other items .  Moving up to SE, features such as 2Zone climate control, cruise control, parking sensors and automatic lights are added, while at the top of the range, GT adds a number of new highlights including sports suspension, Alcantara upholstery and 18-inch alloy wheels.

With total sales of around 1.42 million units, Volkswagen is one of the world’s most successful producers of convertibles; from 1979 to 2002, 684,000 Golf Cabriolets were sold.  The new model will be built at Volkswagen Osnabrück (formerly the Karmann company) in Germany.

Golf Cabriolet model line-up and pricing

* BlueMotion Technology

Like the previous model, the latest Tiguan is unique in being available not only with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive, but also with the option of two front ends.  One has a front end biased towards on-road driving with an 18 degree angle of approach while an ‘Escape’ model has a 28 degree angle of approach and additional technologies for off-road driving.

Whichever version is chosen, all new Tiguans feature a new look dominated by horizontal lines on the front grille, bringing the model into line with other new Volkswagen models.  The Tiguan now also once again bears a strong resemblance to its ‘big brother’ the Touareg.  At the rear, new two-part light clusters give the Tiguan a distinctive appearance.  Again, similar to those of the Touareg, they form an ‘L’ shape, while the lower border of the lights also follows a horizontal geometry.

Four trim levels available: S, SE, Sport and Escape.  All models will be well equipped, with 16-inch alloy wheels, Climatic air conditioning, DAB radio and alarm standard on even the entry-level S.  SE adds 17-inch alloys, 2Zone electronic air conditioning, Park Assist, iPod and Bluetooth preparation plus Fatigue Detection system (as fitted to the new Passat) as standard.  Sport versions gain multi-function steering wheel and Bluetooth connectivity, plus chrome plated roof rails, heat insulated and tinted glass from the B-pillar back, sport seats, front fog lights and sports suspension among other items.  The new Escape model features comfort and convenience features (including Bluetooth and multi-function steering wheel) which were not previously available, reflecting a change in customer demands for off-road capability and a high level of equipment.

Six engines are available, three petrol and three diesel, four of which are new to the Tiguan.  New engines include a twin-charged 1.4-litre TSI with 160 PS (up from 150 in previous generation), a 2.0-litre TSI with 180 PS and a 2.0-litre TSI with 210 PS (previously 200 PS).  Despite the increase in power CO₂ emissions have remained as before or improved.

A 2.0-litre TDI 110 PS engine is offered in two-wheel drive and with a CO₂ output of 139 g/km.  A further two diesel power units are carried over from the previous generation (the 2.0-litre common rail TDI with 140 and 170 PS).  All have improved carbon dioxide emissions values: the 170 PS engine now emits 158 rather than 165 g/km; while the 140 PS unit has been improved substantially meaning it is now in a lower VED band (reduction from 164 to 150 g/km manual and 169 to 158 g/km for seven-speed DSG).  Diesel engines will account for around 90 per cent of Tiguan sales; the best-selling derivative is expected to be the 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS.

Both the 2.0-litre TDI 110 and 140 PS models, as well as the 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS with two-wheel drive are designated BlueMotion Technology models.  As such they feature Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems to enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions.

A number of options are available for the first time on the latest Tiguan, including Kessy (Keyless Entry and Start System), the RNS 315 satellite navigation system, Lane Assist (which helps prevent accidents caused by the driver drifting out of the lane) and Light Assist which switches between dipped and main beam depending on oncoming traffic.

Also available as an option is XDS electronic differential lock – as fitted to the Golf GTI.
A functional extension of the electronic locks already integrated via ESP, XDS improves handling when driving quickly through bends.

Naturally the latest Tiguan retains all the versatility and practicality for which the previous model was renowned, being a four-door, five-seater.  The rear seat (from SE upwards) is a 60:40 split bench that can be adjusted forwards and backwards by up to 16 cm and also reclined, while cargo capacity ranges from 470 to 1,510 litres.

New Tiguan line-up with pricing

The most spectacular Golf will line up for the most extreme race as Volkswagen prepares to contest the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring this weekend (23–26 June) with three 450-hp Golf24 cars.

Flat out around the clock, more than 200 competitors, rapidly changing weather conditions, strategy chess and all this on the world’s most difficult race track – the Golf24 has been built for exactly this enormous challenge.  Fitting the 35^th anniversary of the Golf GTI, Volkswagen Motorsport has developed a thorough-bred racing version of the world’s highest-volume production car.

Powered by a 450-hp 2.5-litre five cylinder turbo engine, the Golf24 is equipped with four-wheel drive, a sequential 6-speed gearbox with paddle shifters and, last but not least, a spectacular body shell. High-calibre racers will be taking turns at the wheel of three factory-fielded cars – they range from seasoned Nordschleife drivers like Peter Terting and Patrick Simon, Formula 1 legends like Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell through to the Volkswagen junior René Rast and the DTM rookie Edoardo Mortara.

With green power: three Dakar winners on the grid together for the first time

Nasser Al-Attiyah, Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers – these are the names that have dominated the Dakar Rally in the past three years and made three consecutive Volkswagen victories possible.  They will use the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife for a joint circuit visit.  The three Dakar Champions from 2009, 2010 and 2011 will compete together for the first time and share a 330-hp Scirocco GT24-CNG.

Their team-mates will also be direct rivals for victory in the class for vehicles with alternative power-trains. Le Mans racer Vanina Ickx and the journalists Peter Wyss and Bernd Ostmann will be driving the sister car. Both Scirocco vehicles are powered by bio natural gas and reduce CO₂ emissions by 80 per cent compared with conventional petrol engines. The fourth driver of both cars will be the former DTM racer Klaus Niedzwiedz, who has already won the 24-hour race twice.

The Volkswagen driver line-up for the 2011 Nürburgring 24-hour race will be as follows:

#35 – Golf24 – white / red

Peter Terting (D) / Nicki Thiim (DK) / Franck Mailleux (F) / René Rast (D)

#135 – Golf24 – white / blue
Thomas Mutsch (D) / Fredrik Ekblom (S) / Patrick Simon (D) / Edoardo Mortara (I)

#235 – Golf24 – white / yellow
Johnny Herbert (GB) / Patrick Bernhardt(D) / Mark Blundell (GB) / René Rast (D)

#116 – Scirocco GT24-CNG – blue / silver
Dr Ulrich Hackenberg (D) / Vanina Ickx (B) / Peter Wyss (CH) / Bernd Ostmann (D)

#117 – Scirocco GT24-CNG – blue / orange
Nasser Al-Attiyah (Q) / Carlos Sainz (E) / Giniel de Villiers (ZA) / Klaus Niedzwiedz (D)

A standard production Passat BlueMotion entered the record books in October 2010 after covering a distance of 1,527.63 miles on a single tank of fuel, achieving an average 89.83 mpg.  Not wanting to rest on the laurels of the previous generation, Volkswagen has now added a BlueMotion model to the seventh-generation Passat range which is even more efficient.  Prices start at £19,875 for the saloon and rise to £21,180 for the Estate.

Launched in January this year, the latest standard Passat and Passat Estate exceeded the fuel economy figures of the outgoing BlueMotion models, and this latest BlueMotion model, which was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, raises the bar even further.

At the heart of the Passat BlueMotion is a modified version of Volkswagen’s efficient 1.6-litre common rail TDI engine developing 105 PS, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox.

In addition to the Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems which already feature on the BlueMotion Technology models, the latest addition to the BlueMotion range includes further modifications to improve aerodynamics and reduce drag.  These include low rolling resistance tyres, suspension lowered by 15 mm at the front and 7.5 mm at the rear, plus a revised radiator grille and underbody panel to minimise drag.  The saloon is also fitted with a compact rear spoiler.

Lightweight and aerodynamic 16-inch steel rims are fitted as standard, while exclusive 17-inch ‘Buenos Aires’ alloy wheels are also available as an option.

These modifications result in an expected average combined fuel consumption of 68.9 mpg for the saloon and 65.7 mpg for the Estate, while CO₂ emissions of 109 g/km for the Passat, and 113 g/km for the Passat Estate, put them into VED bands B and C respectively.

Despite these efficiency measures, the car remains spacious, comfortable, safe and refined.  With a premium of just £220 over the S trim models on which they are based, all BlueMotion variants are also well-equipped featuring curtain airbags, ESP, ‘Climatic’ air conditioning, electric windows, electronic parking brake, RCD 310 radio / CD player and Multi Device Interface (MDI) with iPod connectivity.  Items such as the fatigue detection system with cruise control, Park Assist II and High Beam Assist are also available as options.

As with all BlueMotion models, these latest additions to the range are conventional to drive, service and maintain, yet among the most efficient vehicles on the road today.  They also benefit from the same competitive low rate finance offers as the rest of the Passat range through Volkswagen Finance, and are eligible for free servicing for three years or 30,000 miles (whichever comes soonest).

The new Passat and Passat Estate BlueMotion are available to order now, with first examples arriving in showrooms towards the end of July.

Volkswagen just recently introduced the new Golf Cabriolet, and the designers and engineers of Volkswagen R GmbH have already come up with an extremely sporty variant of this model: the Golf R Cabriolet Concept. Like its closed top counterpart, the 199 kW / 270 PS Cabriolet concept races to the 100 km/h mark in less than six seconds. Their top speeds are also identical at 250 km/h. This makes the R Cabriolet the fastest open-top Golf ever. Even more impressive, however, is the engine’s tremendous torque – 350 Newton metres from a low 2,500 rpm make this cabriolet an ideal cruiser.

Like the closed-top Golf R, the cabriolet was lowered by 25 mm via a sport chassis. A 17-inch brake system with internally ventilated discs at all wheels and blue painted high-performance brake callipers (including R-logo) enables impressive deceleration values. Making contact to the road surface on the Golf R Cabriolet Concept are 19-inch “Talladega” alloy wheels with size 235 tyres.

Naturally, the Golf R Cabriolet Concept also presents an especially sporty interior concept. Motorsport shell seats in dark blue carbon leather, combined with high-end Nappa leather in “Pure Grey”, set the tone here. The backs of the shell seats are painted in luxurious black piano paint. Upholstery piping and decorative seams provide for colour contrast. Carbon accents emphasise the concept’s technical-sporty character. The sand-blasted aluminium door sill plates with black piano paint inlays display finely crafted workmanship.

Golf R Concept: Two variations of the Golf R Concept are also making strong visual statements at Wörthersee. Like the classic Golf R and the R Cabriolet on display at Wörthersee, the two Golf R Concepts are also powered by a 2.0-litre turbo engine with the mentioned 199 kW / 270 PS, which is as powerful as it is efficient.

The first version of the Golf R Concept attracts attention with mid-tone “Velvet Grey Metallic” exterior, polished 19-inch “Talladega” alloy wheels, orange painted brake callipers and carbon mirror caps.

The driver and front passenger have the pleasure of sitting on perfectly ergonomic motorsport shell seats. Their outer segments are upholstered in black Nappa leather; anthracite-coloured Nappa leather (“Light Anthracite”) is used towards the inner surfaces in the area of the lateral seat supports and towards the head section. The cross-stitched centre panels of the seat and seatback gets an even lighter Nappa leather (“Pure Grey”). The back shell glistens in black piano paint. The piping on the side sections of the seat and head section provide a fine contrast: the orange of the brake callipers is repeated here. Meanwhile, interior accents match the look of the mirror caps: carbon. The same material is also used for the steering wheel, gear shift lever and the door sill plates. Black piano paint characterises the panels behind the inside door handles, the trim of the window controls and the trim of the gear shift grip.

The second model of the Golf R Concept is painted in the sophisticated “Aplomb Blue”. The 19-inch “Glendale” wheels that are new to the Golf line-up shine in “Brilliant Silver”. Once again, the exterior mirror caps, various interior accents and the door sill plates are made of carbon.

Parts of the back shells of the motorsport shell seats also feature carbon. Black Nappa leather covers the outer areas of the seat and seatback surfaces. Meanwhile, the ridge of the seats – a continuous stripe that runs along the lateral seat and back supports – consists of blue leather. The sport leather steering wheel’s inner segments and grip recesses were upholstered in “carbon leather”; characteristic of this lightweight material is its woven structure. Even the floor mats have a carbon look. The decorative seams here, as in the area of the parking brake lever, are styled in blue.

The new Caddy Racer has made a strong start to the 2011 Volkswagen Racing Cup with a competitive first outing, coming away with 11^th and 14^th places in the two races at Snetterton over the weekend, 14-15 May.

A tricky qualifying session saw the number 33 RAC-liveried new Caddy Racer start Race 1 in 15^th with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK director, Simon Elliott, at the wheel.  The pairing showed strong potential throughout the race and Elliott battled hard to make up several places, crossing the line 11^th place which would be his grid spot for the second race of the weekend.

Keen to build on the positives from Race 1, Elliott made a very strong start to Race 2 and had moved up to eighth position by the first corner.  However, an incident caused by a driver further up the field saw the Caddy Racer’s progress halted and Elliott was unlucky to drop positions after taking avoiding action.  Over the remaining laps, as Elliott became more familiar with the characteristics of the new Caddy Racer, he was able to further exploit its potential and was involved in a number of close battles, posting his quickest laptime of the two races before crossing the line 14^th.

Completely new for the 2011 season, the new Caddy Racer is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine developing 270 PS, channelled through the front wheels via a six-speed Volkswagen Racing quick shift gearbox.  In addition to this, the rear axle has been uprated to the multi-link system found in the road-going Golf.

Returning for his second  season in the highly competitive Volkswagen Racing Cup, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK director, Simon Elliott explained: ‘It is great to finally be back out on track with the Volkswagen Racing Cup for what is shaping up to be a more exciting season than ever.  The new Caddy Racer feels strong already and I am really pleased with our debut performance.’

Elliott continued: ‘We were unlucky to finish just outside the top ten this weekend but we have made some strong steps forward with the Caddy Racer’s development and that will be the aim for Brands Hatch. Since it was launched at the end of last year, the new Caddy has won a number of awards, and I am hopeful that the new Caddy Racer can add to this success.’

Rounds 5 and 6 of the Volkswagen Racing Cup takes place at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 18-19 June.

To celebrate the 35^th anniversary of the original hot hatch, Volkswagen has announced the first details of the latest special edition Golf GTI model – the Golf GTI Edition 35.  With an increase in power of 25 PS over the ‘standard’ car, the Edition 35 develops 235 PS and is the most powerful production Golf GTI to date.

Since the debut of the first Golf GTI in 1976, the iconic model has enjoyed an uninterrupted history of success which now spans 35 years.  During this time, the GTI has become a car with cult appeal as well as an independent brand and milestone GTI anniversaries have been celebrated with exclusive special models, and Volkswagen continues this tradition with the Edition 35.

In addition to the increase in power, the Edition 35 combines classic GTI design elements with features specially created for this latest anniversary model.

A revised front bumper is joined by lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels while, in the cabin, the golf ball gearknob makes a return.  To mark out this special edition further, the ‘35’ signature appears on the front wings, sill plates, head restraints and on the centre panel of the seats.

This latest anniversary model will make its world debut at the legendary GTI event at Wörthersee in Austria at the beginning of June.

The Golf GTI Edition 35 will open for order in the UK later this year.  Prices and full UK specification will be announced in due course.

“We have invited you to join us here in Olbia to announce Volkswagen’s entry in the World Rally Championship starting in 2013.” – These were the words used by Volkswagen Management Board Member Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg as he declared Volkswagen’s entry into the most versatile of the four automobile world championships (World Rally Championship, WRC). In front of 200 journalists he unveiled the concept of the Polo R WRC, the car with which Volkswagen will compete from 2013 onwards, together with Luca de Meo, Head of Marketing of Volkswagen AG, and Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. Luca de Meo: “Almost exactly two years ago, in May 2009, the most recent model of the Polo was presented here in Sardinia. Today we are proud to show you the hottest Polo of all time – the Polo R WRC.” For Kris Nissen and his team the World Rally Championship entry marks a new commitment. “We look forward to this new challenge and are working on this project with the same passion with which we won the Dakar Rally in the past three years,” said Kris Nissen.

After three consecutive victories at the Dakar Rally, Volkswagen has set itself new aims in top-calibre sport. With three car corporations currently involved in the championship and global media coverage, the WRC offers an attractive, highly competitive environment for Volkswagen. By 2013 the Wolfsburg-based brand will develop a near-300-hp rally vehicle with a 1.6-litre TSI engine and four-wheel drive based on the Polo.

Universal technological challenge, new rules

The World Rally Championship offers the most diverse technological challenge in worldwide car racing to the manufacturers involved. Various types of ground have to be considered during the concept design of a WRC vehicle such as all manner of gravel, scree, tarmac, ice, snow and mud. The calendar this season features 13 WRC rounds on four different continents. Hence a world rally car has to function in extremely different climatic conditions, from the blazing heat of South America to the icy ride in Scandinavia.

In addition, new technical rules have come into effect in the WRC this year. For the first time, engines with a maximum displacement of 1,600 cc, direct injection and turbochargers are prescribed.

“The new Technical Regulations of the World Rally Championship are an ideal fit for Volkswagen’s philosophy with respect to the development of production vehicles,” says Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board of the Volkswagen Brand, Development Division. “Downsizing, high efficiency and reliability are top priorities for our customers. The timing of the WRC debut is optimal for Volkswagen. The big task of engineering a vehicle that is competitive and capable of winning at a large number of challenges holds great appeal for us.”

Proven squad, new aims: Volkswagen Motorsport’s factory commitment

Volkswagen will prepare and enter the Polo R WRC as a factory commitment. In doing so, the Wolfsburg-based squad can build on structures which have been established over the past few years. The World Rally Championship is a new ambitious aim for the team that has won the “Dakar” in the past three years. “We can draw on an experienced and proven squad which has done an outstanding job in top-calibre sport in the past few years,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “Even though the WRC is new territory for us and involves learning in many areas the team already meets some important prerequisites now as it brings an unwavering professional attitude and resolve to deliver absolute perfection to this commitment.”

Volkswagen in the WRC: a success story

Volkswagen looks back on a small yet impressive rally tradition. Production-based vehicles from Wolfsburg celebrated rally racing successes in the middle end of the 1980s. The most important one: In 1986 the Swede Kenneth Eriksson and his German co-driver Peter Diekmann in the Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V claimed the world champion’s title in the newly incepted Group A. In addition, Volkswagen vigorously promoted young rally talent through the Golf Rally Cup. The fielding of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC from 2013 onwards closes the loop: Today’s WRC vehicles are still based on the philosophy of the Group A introduced back then, which enables rally sport to be conducted with vehicles based on production models.