Category: Volkswagen

European readers delight, you can now order the hottest new R models in Volkswagen’s lineup—the front-wheel drive 195kW Scirocco R and the all-wheel drive 199kW Golf R.

German pricing for the Scirocco R starts at €33,475 (AU$54,500 on current exchange rates), with the Golf R a few grand more at €36,400 (AU$59,200). To put that in some perspective an Audi S3 retails for €37,650 in Germany.

The good news for Aussie readers is that we should be able to get our hands on the Golf R in June 2010. Sadly, though, as many of you are aware, the Scirocco (in any form) looks to be a pipe dream for Australian buyers. Although, if you’re an eternal optimist, like me, you still haven’t given up hope that, maybe, this top of the line Scirocco might find its way to Australian shores.

In other news concerning the Scirocco R, its recent iPhone app knocked up more than 1 million downloads in less than a month. Very loosely based on the Scirocco R’s exploits at the Nürburgring 24 hour race the game reached the number 1 app spot in 32 countries around the world.

It looks as though Australian pricing for the next model Golf GTI has been given an advance screening. Although, when you consider Golf VI GTIs have been spotted on Australian roads for over two months now, perhaps things are just catching up.

This time around the traditional GTI three door model will be available from launch. According to the my-gti.com website entry level Manufacturer’s List Pricing for a three door GTI fitted with 6 speed manual will be $38,990 or an extra $2500 for the 6 speed DSG. Add a further $1500 for the five door models. This is pretty much in line with the outgoing Golf V GTI pricing.

If you don’t mind ticking a few options boxes then you’ll need to cough up $700 for metallic paint, $1900 for a tilt/slide sunroof, $2500 satellite navigation, $3300 for leather seats (heated up front) and $2000 for bi-xenon headlights. For the first time on a GTI in Australia you can option 18″ alloys and Adaptive Chassis Control, these will set you back an extra $1200 and $1500 respectively.

There’s still other options on offer, too, such as premium Dynaudio sound systems, park assist, rear view camera, electronically controlled driver’s seat and rear privacy glass.

You should be able to see GTIs in local showrooms across the country from late this month, or early November, and it is understood that a sizeable inventory of GTIs with varying specifications has already been delivered to Australia. This should help Volkswagen avoid the problematic delivery shortages faced when the Golf V GTI was launched in Australia in 2005.

More pics after the break.

[Source: my-gti.com]

[Ed: Bit of a brain fade from me on this one, thanks to revhed for pointing that out in the comments section!]

As this pic shows it looks like Volkswagen will be offering a twin cab version of their new Amarok SUV. The Amarok is due in Australia late next year. The question is, will the dual cab be the launch model, with the single cab version, as seen in the show car, be a later release?

That’s a possibility according to the spy photographer who has been quoted as saying, “The double cab as seen here will be the first model, later on a single cab will follow. Power will come from latest generation diesel engines with common-rail and the Amarok will be offered as both two-and four-wheel drive versions.”

More pics available by following the link below.

[Source: Next Autos]

The Australian launch of the new Volkswagen Golf GTI is just around the corner. When exactly, I still can’t say (other than a tip passed on to me for 26 October). What can be said with certainty is that you, yes you, could have the chance of fanging around a racetrack in the new GTI very, very soon!

Volkswagen Australia will be conducting a series of drive days to showcase its new GTI to the public in early and mid November. Sydney’s Eastern Creek will be the venue for the first two days (2-3 November), while Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway will be the venue for the second, and final, two days (17-18 November).

That’s right, no joy for Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra or Perth customers. Not to mention Hobart, Darwin or any rural areas. That said, this appears to be a very cool initiative from Volkswagen, so full marks to them for that.

For more details, why don’t you take a peek at the GTI Advanced Driving Academy website.

[Thanks to Simon for the tip]

Anke Koeckler, the new Volkswagen Australia Managing Director, has revealed some of her plans as she settles in to her new role. As well as a raft of new models Koeckler aims to keep Australia’s Volkswagen dealers on their toes.

In her previous role Anke Koeckler was responsible for 150 Volkswagen dealerships in northern Germany. During her time in that position she was known to spring surprise visits to dealerships under her command. This would allow her to get a hands on feel for how staff were treating Volkswagen’s most important assets—its customers.

“In Germany sometimes I put my cap on and went to a showroom just to figure out how I will be treated,” said Koeckler.

Ms Koeckler expects her mystery shopping habits to continue in Australia, “Why not? I have a lot of caps. Why should I change my habits.

“You get a feeling, all the processes, how the welcome is. How close the dealer prinicipal is to the staff. Everybody as a customer should be treated well, absolutely.”

Jutta Dierks, the previous MD, saw Volkswagen Australia grow from 10,000 annual sales in 2005, to a figure fast approaching 30,000 in 2009. By any measure, that’s a big jump. Anke Koeckler knows she’ll have a tough job matching such impressive growth, “We plan to have growth, then stabilisation, then growth again. We can make this happen,” she said.

Helping her, and Volkswagen, achieve those aims is an impressive line up of new products soon to be launched, including, the new Golf GTI (October 2009), a revised Transporter T5 (early 2010), new Golf Wagon (March 2010), new Polo (by June 2010), the eagerly awaited Golf R (June 2010) and in late 2010 there will be an updated Touareg and new Amarok SUV.

Interestingly, unconfirmed talk remains that the on-again-off-again Scirocco is still a possibility. It is also interesting to note that the Golf GTD is not listed among those new models, even though there does appear to be some evidence the car is planned for Australian shores.

[Source: carsales | Thanks to Jason for the tip]

Volkswagen, usually known for creative excellence in their advertising, have let the team down a bit with this new commercial which features the Scirocco R and Golf R. But, by showing both cars fanging around a racetrack, well, I guess they can be forgiven. And by being another member of the blogosphere to showcase the ad I guess Volkswagen have achieved their aim!

The highly anticipated Golf R32 replacement is almost here, as these leaked images show. The old 3.2 V6 engine has made way for a turbocharged  four cylinder unit, which is essentially the Audi S3 engine. Perhaps the best news is that it appears, unlike the Scirocco R, the Golf R—as it will be named—will have a Haldex all wheel drive system.

Power is rated at 195kW (261bhp) with 350Nm of torque. The 0-100 time is rumoured to be around 6.5 seconds for the six speed manual, and 0.1 second less for DSG equipped models. These figures seem a bit low compared to Audi’s official claims for the S3, which are below 6 seconds for the 0-100 dash. Is the Golf R fitted with a marketing speed-limiter by Volkswagen perhaps? That is, the car may be just as quick as the Audi, but we have to pretend its not.

Other styling details in terms of LED lighting and body kit seem to follow the path set by the Scirocco R. More details and pics as they come to hand.

[Source: Autocar]

UPDATE: Official details and images now available HERE.