Volkswagen has created this London black cab concept based on its forthcoming Up city car. Like the E-Up! shown at Frankfurt last year this creation is powered by an electric engine. Although, the taxi version has 112hp and claims impressive numbers, including a 120km/h top speed and a range of 300km. Less impressive is its 1500kg weight and ability to carry only two fare paying passengers.
[Source: Autocar]
Volkswagen Australia Managing Directo, Anke Koeckler, has lifted the hopes of local Scirocco fans by virtually confirming the car could be a surprise arrival in 2011.
Speaking to media at the launch of the Polo GTI Koeckler said, “It’s an amazing car, and I love this car as well—that’s why I’m working on that.
“It’s probably more a matter of when [it arrives].”
It’s likely the Scirocco would be brought in R specification only, which means a front-wheel drive 195kW/350Nm engine spec, outstripping the Australian spec Golf R by 7kW/20Nm.
The Scirocco has been available in Australia for some time now, but only as a non-factory import via a specialist importer. It’s a gorgeous looking car, but has the hype died down too much and the horse already bolted? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
[Source: Drive.com.au | Thanks to Peter for the tip]
Volkswagen Australia has just released pricing and specifications for its newest hot hatch, the Polo GTI. There’s good news, too, as the pre-delivery list pricing comes in under $30K and both 3-door ($27,790) and 5-door ($28,990) versions are available.
Standard equipment includes a 132kW twincharged 1.4 litre engine, a 7-speed DSG transmission, an XDL electronic diff, ESP with Hill Start Assist, six airbags and 17″ alloys. For the first time on a Polo model xenon headlights with LED daytime running light can be added as an option ($1600). Unfortunately, there is no option for a manual transmission at this stage.
The usual GTI colour palette is offered with two flat colours Candy White and Flash Red (pictured). While an extra $500 will get you pretty sparkles in your Shadow Blue, Reflex Silver or Deep Black Pearl Effect colour options.
Performance is both brisk and efficient, with the baby GTI matching its larger Golf GTI cousin by reaching 100km/h in 6.9 seconds. While the 6.1l/100km fuel economy rating is first class for a car in this segment.
Press statements from Volkswagen Australia are available after the break, including a gallery of 24 local images.
UPDATE: Thanks to Corey_R who has left a note in the comments section that all Polo models in Australia can be ordered with a Panoramic Glass Sunroof. This will be a $1700 option and will be available from January 2011 build. There is nothing official from VW Aus just yet, but the information comes from a credible source.
Volkswagen Group wants to knock Toyota off its perch to claim the mantle as the world’s largest car maker. And to do so they know they’ll have to spend up and spend up big. So they have just announced they’ll be pouring in a massive €51.6 billion (AU$70 billion) over the next five years to help achieve their aim.
Professor Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG said, “The Volkswagen Group will help shape the technological turning point in key areas of the automotive industry and, to do this, will continue investing in environmentally friendly technologies, efficient drives and new models.
“We are systematically pursuing the goals of our Strategy 2018 to further increase our profitability and to make Volkswagen the world’s most future-proof automotive group. The investment program we have now resolved will play a significant role in this.”
Volkswagen’s full statement is available after the break.
Oprah Winfrey has revealed the profile of Volkswagen’s new New Beetle. Of course, who else! Well, what do you think? It looks a bit old skool 911, if you squint your eyes, hold breath and think of flowers in your hair in San Francisco.
Apparently the stunt is all part of Oprah’s goodbye tour in which she will be giving a fleet of 275 Beetles away to audience members. Due for release in 2012, or possibly late in 2011, the New Beetle is scheduled for production at Puebla, Mexico from around September next year.
There has been previous speculation that VW will reveal their new “icon” at the Detroit Auto Show in January. However, this rumour was quashed by Volkswagen of America boss, Jonathon Browning, when he confirmed that Oprah had been granted an early preview of the New Beetle. He went on to say that the public wouldn’t get to see the car until their Spring in 2011 (our Autumn).
We’ve spared you the video of Oprah’s audience hooting and hollering, but if you must, follow the source link below to the see the drama for yourself.
[Source: Autoblog]
It’s been a couple of years since there was a decent rumour suggesting the Volkswagen Microbus was on the way back. But, thanks to AutoExpress we can, once again, start to think how we’d all look with flowers in our hair.
We probably won’t see anything new until 2012, or even later, but Klaus Bischoff, Head of Volkswagen Design said, “I would not be doing my job at Volkswagen properly if I was not thinking of bringing back the Camper.”
Elaborating further Bischoff went on to say, “The key question is ‘what sort of car should we build?’ It could be a traditional MPV, with a conventional interior, or we could be much bolder, designing a more flexible, versatile machine – perhaps one that is closer in spirit to the original model. It is not yet decided.”
The original 2001 concept still looks as good today as it did back then. Sadly it was money issues that put a stop to the rebirth of the “Kombi” back in 2005; with any luck the project won’t stall a second time around.
[Source: AutoExpress]
You’re looking at the Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion. It looks most like any other Golf, except this one is a fully electric creation. VW say it will commence sales in late 2013; Australian buyers will have to wait until 2014.
The front-wheel drive Golf blue-e-motion has an electric motor under the bonnet in the traditional position and its power is stored in a lithium-ion battery. Three driving profiles are offered, “Normal”, “Comfort+” and “Range+”. Each setting alters peak power and top speed accordingly. You’ll need Comfort+ for all the herbs, which gives you 85kW and a dizzying v-max of 135km/h. Normal mode reduces power to 65kW and the top speed is 115km/h. Using the Range+ setting deactivates the air conditioning system and cuts power to 50kW, offering a top speed of 105km/h.
Performance is clearly not one of the blue-e-motion’s strong points, then, and you’ll need near on 12 seconds to reach 100km/h. Of course, going fast is not high on the agenda for this car, so its the range that can be travelled that will be key here. And, wouldn’t you know it, Volkswagen are keeping quiet on that front saying only that prototype models can go as far as 150km before needing a recharge. We’ll get full details closer to launch.
For more on the blue-e-motion, check out the official press release after the jump.
Last week Volkswagen held the European launch of its latest Jetta saloon in Munich. Same old fare, really. That was until you realised there was a Jetta R on display with everything to show except the official R badging.
Well, that might be stretching the truth a little, but according to Autocar there was Jetta present fitted with a 3.6-litre V6 with an undisclosed power rating. Also featured in this Jetta R-in-hiding was a 6-speed DSG and 4motion all-wheel drive.
The chances of the R’s future appear to lie with consumer demand, “If there are customers asking for it, we will do it,” claims Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen R&D boss, “It wouldn’t be a problem for us. The Jetta’s platform can take four-wheel drive.”
It would seem, then, that this is America’s best chance to jump on the R performance bandwagon, which currently misses out on the Golf R and Scirocco R.
[Source: Autocar]
The Motor Report brings word that Volkswagen has confirmed production for a Golf VI-based cabrio. They’ve even come up with this rendering to show how such a car could look. The soft-top Golf will be built in Osnabrück at the former Karmann factory, which Volkswagen picked up after the body specialists filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Production should commence in 2011 with deliveries for late that year or possibly beginning in 2012. Following a near decade-long hiatus the re-introduction of the Golf Cabrio would likely signal the end of the Eos convertible. Check out the source link below for more.
[Source: The Motor Report]
UPDATE 4 November: A press release from Volkswagen AG has been added below, which confirms a new Golf Cabrio will be built at Osnabrück.
According to a report in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech has decided against entering VW into Formula One. Such a move was previously intimated by a number of sources, including brand ambassador Hans Stuck.
Volkswagen enjoyed open wheeler success last year by powering young Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo in his Red Bull sponsored Carlin Motorsport machine to the 2009 F3 title. It was understood new engine rules for F1, to be introduced in 2012, would provide an ideal opportunity for VW to move into motorsport’s premier category as an engine supplier. Reportedly there was interest from Red Bull Racing and even McLaren to partner with VW.
However, it now appears the Volkswagen Group may focus its motorsport endeavours on the WRC and Le Mans 24 hour race through its Audi and Porsche brands.
[Source: FAZ.net]
Word has emerged that the Volkswagen Group’s mittelmotor (MiMo) sports car platform has been approved. That means an Audi R5, like the rendering above, could be a reality by 2014.
Volkswagen would make use of the MiMo architecture by turning their Concept BlueSport into a production reality. Porsche, though, is likely to get first dibs on the platform as they will likely play a lead development role. Something which can only benefit Audi and VW.
The mid-engine R5 will sit in between the TT and the R8 in Audi’s model lineup. While a number of engine configurations will be available, including a few electric gizmos, it’s expected the hero R5 will be powered by the 2.5 litre five pot found in the TT RS.
The MiMo Porsche, complete with the internal codename 356, would be positioned below the Boxster, making it the most affordable way into Porsche ownership.
This mittelmotor thing, then, is set to bring the motoring world some very tasty metal. With Porsche’s involvement, it is sure to be a fantastic drive, as well. One very big AUSmotive tick of approval has just been granted!
[Source: Car]
British publication Autocar brings news that the stillborn Volkswagen Polo R is now likely to be revived. This follows recent news that the future of an all-wheel drive Audi S1 is now looking very good.
The theory being the Volkswagen Group PQ25 platform, on which the Polo and A1 are built, will be more cost-effective if more models are able to utilise all-wheel drive. Of course, this means the Polo R would feature an all-wheel drive system too, likely to be developed by Haldex and to wear 4motion branding.
Joining the Polo R and S1 in a third all-paw offering could be the CrossPolo. I guess that means we could see an Audi Q1 in the future, as well.
[Source: Autocar | Rendering: Motor Authority]