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Volkswagen tees up new Golf for first customer orders

The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf opens for ordering today, with prices starting below those of the previous model, at just £16,285* (RRP OTR) and rising to £24,880.

 

The latest Golf is lighter, safer, more advanced, more spacious, more efficient and better equipped than previous generations of Europe’s best-seller, of which over 29 million have been sold – some 1.6 million of these in the UK.  From launch, the Golf is available in the UK in three trim levels: S, SE and GT (GTI and BlueMotion models join the line-up in 2013).  Four petrol engines and two diesel engines are available, in either three- or five-door form. 

 

The petrol engine range starts with a four-cylinder 1.2-litre TSI unit producing 85 PS, rising via a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS and a 1.4-litre TSI 122 PS motor to the 1.4-litre TSI 140 PS with Active Cylinder Technology, which is capable of 60.1 mpg (combined cycle) and 110 g/km (with DSG gearbox), thanks to the ability to deactivate two cylinders under light loads.

 

The diesel engines at launch are a 1.6-litre TDI 105 PS and a new 2.0-litre TDI 150 PS unit.  Both feature the latest common rail diesel technology for maximum efficiency.  All new Golf models – both diesel and petrol – come with a Stop/Start system as standard, along with battery regeneration.  Gearboxes are a mixture of five- and six-speed manuals, and six- and seven-speed DSG units, depending on the engines’ power and torque outputs.

 

All Golf models come with seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, five three-point seatbelts, ABS with ESP, XDS electronic differential lock and Isofix preparation for two rear child seats.  The entry-level Composition Media system includes a 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, DAB digital radio, a CD player, MDI interface (for connecting iPod or MP3 player), Bluetooth telephone preparation and audio streaming and eight speakers.  Also standard is ‘Climatic’ semi-automatic air conditioning, among a host of other features.

 

Moving from S to SE trim brings an outstanding range of features, including standard ADC Automatic Distance Control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, which can even bring the vehicle to a complete halt if necessary, a Driver Alert System, PreCrash preventative occupant protection, Driver Profile Selection, rain-sensitive wipers, an automatically dimming rear-view mirror and dusk sensor (automatic driving lights). 

 

The GT model comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, ‘Cherry Red’ rear light clusters, heat-insulating dark-tinted rear glass, electrically foldable door mirrors with puddle lights, and front and rear parking sensors with visual display.  Inside are gloss black inserts, Alcantara and cloth sports seats, LED reading lights, ambient lighting and the Discover Navigation media system with 5.8-inch colour touchscreen.

 

Options include high beam assist, lane assist, park assist, ACC adaptive chassis control, a rear-view camera, Discover Pro navigation system with eight-inch colour touchscreen, keyless entry and a panoramic sunroof.

Volkswagen Retailers begin taking orders for the new Golf today, 19 October, with first deliveries due from the car’s official on-sale date of 7 January 2013.  For full details, see the price list.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

VW Up review by TopGear

It's good, the Up. Good enough that the facelifted Panda will have to have raised it's game several notches to match it, good enough to give the entire city car class a real shake up. You didn't expect any less, did you?

  • Comfort

    That smooth ride marries an interior that has been lovingly worked over: the ergonomics, seating, layout, design and texture are all top notch, and there's a genuine feeling of space inside the cabin.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Performance

    The Up gets an all-new, all-alloy three cylinder petrol engine in two flavours: 59bhp and 74bhp. It dispenses with the balancers shafts, and VW has worked hard to remove as much harshness from the three-pot as possible. The higher-spec one rumbles along with a reasonable verve, though it doesn't like to revved too much. 

    Rated 5 out of 10

  • Cool

    It's simplicity should be key here, so as long as there aren't too many trinkets, yes.

    Rated 5 out of 10

  • Quality

    VW city cars aren't famed for their build quality - we're looking at you, Fox - but this one feels well screwed together and lovingly crafted. 

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Handling

    A measure of handling sharpness appears to have been sacrificed for a smooth ride. Steering's a bit soft and it's not as nimble as an Aygo or as eager as James May's favourite, the Panda, but it is very polished.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Practicality

    Despite being smaller than a Panda, it's got a bigger boot (250 litres) and there's actually room for humans and their associated limbs inside, without the need for driver and passenger to become unnecessarily closely acquainted. 

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Running costs

    The 74bhp model returns 65.5mpg and both engine variants emit under 100g/km of CO2, so running this thing will be cheap. Plus, if VW can keep that entry price hovering around £8,000, the initial outlay shouldn't be too onerous either.

    Rated 5 out of 10

Article source: www.topgear.com

Volkswagen Scirocco review by Top Gear

You know how we love the Golf GTI. Now imagine a car that drives a little better, looks far better, and hardly costs more

  • Comfort

    A firm chassis of course, but the adaptive dampers and low-slung seats mean the Scirocco’s ride doesn’t feel too turbulent. The seats are terrific, but there’s a headroom shortage in the back. There’s also a fair bit of wind and road noise at speed, especially with the optional glass roof.

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Performance

    There's a 1.4-litre TSI, two two-litre turbo four-pots with either 197bhp (as seen in the Golf GTI) or 260bhp in the R, plus a 2.0-litre TDI. While the 197bhp 2.0T engine might be broadly the same as the GTI's, the torque arrives earlier, making it seem quicker (though it hits 62mph in 7.2s, the same as the Golf). It's a bit inert when you really start to go mental, but you still come away with the sense that if you had to have a car that spans a multitude of situations, the Scirocco would be it. Since the 1.4TSI comes with Volkswagen's 'Twincharger' system (meaning it boasts both a supercharger and turbocharger), it's lively and responsive despite it's diminutive size. The 2.0TDI is fast-revving and punchy and sounds pretty rorty too. Not as clean and sweet as the petrol, but not rattly and never strained either. The 260bhp 2.0 in the R feels punchier than the 197bhp You can feel the extra oomph, and yes, it is empirically really very quick indeed (0-62mph in 6s and 155mph) but most of the time, the noise and the power delivery is lacking that little extra something. And that something is joy.

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Cool

    Remember the impact the Audi TT had first time around? The Scirocco has that, but without trying too hard.

    Rated 8 out of 10

  • Quality

    If you’ve been in other modern VWs you’ll spot the parts sharing, but so what? That means you know the stuff works well and feel good to the touch. Only the interior door trim is a bit cheapo. As you drive, the bodyshell feels like it’s one solid ingot. It looks like that sort of quality from the outside too.

    Rated 8 out of 10

  • Handling

    All Scirocco's get VW's excellent ACC (adaptive chassis control) which lets you choose from three settings: 'comfort' for motorways, 'sport' for speed, and 'normal' for everything else. The ACC adjusts three things: the throttle map for better response, the steering for better feel and the damping for better control of Scirocco's mass. And it works. The VW driving vibe remains, but the car is a Golf GTI expanded to be 25 per cent better. It turns in precisely, suffers from less roll and lets you exploit the power.

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Practicality

    It's a strict four-seater, although thanks to using the Golf's platform, room in the back is generous for a coupe. Rear head room, though, will be an issue for most adults and the rear headrests block the already small rear screen. Plus, if you sit in the back, there's virtually no vision and the blindspots will hide suburbs. At 292 litres, the boot isn't bad for a weekend toy, beating the likes of the Nissan 370Z for size.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Running costs

    Something this in-demand won’t depreciate, surely. And group 16 insurance even for the 200bhp model ain’t too bad if you say it quickly. CO2 is 179, less for the diesel and 1.4 of course. On variable servicing, you might be ableto get up to 18,000 miles interval. But not driving it the way we would.

Article source: www.topgear.com

VW Tiguan review by TopGear

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a nicely finished and versatile family car pointlessly dressed up as an off-roader.

  • Comfort

    The interior is roomy and quiet, and the high eyepoint gives a good view out. But sacrifices have been made in order to give the Tiguan its good handling: the suspension and ride are a bit firm. Still out-rides the BMW X3 though.

    Rated 5 out of 10

  • Performance

    The Tiguan has the option of three engines, a 1.4 TFSI and two 2.0 TDIs with either 138 or 168bhp. Fabulous in smaller, lighter cars such as the Golf, in this hefty SUV the 1.4 TFSI can feel underpowered despite its 150bhp. Push hard and is soon runs out of puff at the top end, so you need to change up diasppointingly early when accelerating. There's also a long delay when setting off from a standstill which is scary at a busy junction. So while its clever turbocharger plus supercharger combo has power, economy and emissions advantages, for all-out torque, the diesel is the way to go, even if the two-litre TDI 140 is slower than the TSI.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Cool

    VW isn't a proper 4x4 maker, so the Tiguan will be seen as a bit of a sham. And shams aren't cool. Not even Sham 69 were cool.

    Rated 5 out of 10

  • Quality

    The cabin is terrific - really well-designed and finished, with VW's typical high standards of build quality. However, it's all starting to look a bit samey - get behind the wheel of a Golf and you struggle to spot the difference.

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Handling

    You never forget the height and weight of a Tiguan, but you can chuck it about a bit if the mood takes you. It steers accurately and controls body movements well, and there's traction to push you through corners whatever the weather.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Practicality

    The Tiguan is longer, wider and taller than VW's own compact seven-seat MPV, the Touran, which makes it decently spacious. Leg, head and shoulder room are all excellent front and rear, although it's a bit tight for three in the rear. The boot is generous at 1,510 litres (rear seats folded), larger than the Toyota RAV4's but smaller than the Land Rover Freelander's. However, the rear seats don't fold completely flat.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Running costs

    The CO2 levels are better than class-competitive if you stick with manual transmission, and servicing is on a variable schedule. But there are lots of new competitors launching, so three years away they might be in glut, which will harm residuals.

    Rated 6 out of 10

 

Article source: www.topgear.com

Win tickets to see Paul Weller in session at Abbey Road Studios in association with the Volkswagen Beetle

The only way to win access to what promises to be a truly unforgettable show is by entering a competition being hosted by the digital music service Spotify.  To be in with a chance of winning one of 50 pairs of tickets, simply visit Volkswagen’s Facebook page; from here you will be invited to browse Spotify’s catalogue of over 18 million songs, and choose your ultimate track to add to the ‘VW Beetle Iconic Tracks’ playlist.  The competition is open until Friday 26 October, and Spotify will contact all of the winners during the week commencing 29 October. 

The design of the brand new Beetle was inspired by the original Volkswagen, a car that was immortalised on the cover of The Beatles’ landmark album ‘Abbey Road’. The new model reinvents that timeless design to create a truly modern classic - an icon reborn for the 21st Century.

Paul Weller’s career and influence spans multiple generations and genres. He is known for radical reinvention, whilst still maintaining a cohesive link to his love for all things mod, soul and rock ‘n’ roll. To this day he creates fresh and inventive music, with his latest album ‘Sonik Kicks’ hitting no.1 in the UK album charts.

Abbey Road very rarely opens its doors to members of the public, so this competition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit Studio One, and see a master of his craft perform in a truly inspiring setting. The largest of Abbey Road’s spaces, the studio has hosted recording sessions from the likes of Pink Floyd, Elbow and Kanye West, plus film scores including Star Wars, Batman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The English Patient and 2001 A Space Odyssey. Most famously, The Beatles performed ‘All You Need is Love’ in Studio One, which was broadcast live to the nation in 1967.

Paul Weller said: ‘It’s always exciting for me to perform at Abbey Road, in a space where so many icons have gone before me.’

Kirsten Stagg, National Communications Manager at Volkswagen said: ‘We are hugely excited about the launch of the 21st century Beetle, and we are thrilled to be able to offer the chance for members of the public to see a legendary performer in such an iconic venue.’

The competition will be promoted by a national advertising campaign on Spotify, encouraging Spotify’s audience of music lovers to take part.  The URL for entering is: www.facebook.com/volkswagenuk. For more information on the new Volkswagen Beetle please visit http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new/beetle-nf/home

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

More Articles...

  1. Beetle Cabriolet prepares to make world debut at La Auto Show
  2. New Golf GTI concept powers into Paris Motor Show
  3. All-new seventh generation Volkswagen Golf breaks cover in Berlin
  4. New Sharan debuts at the Geneva Motor Show

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