Category: Volkswagen

Information in from the UK this morning that Volkswagen is adding to its ‘R Line’ range with the introduction of a Tiguan model. Based on the Tiguan Sport the R Line extras consist of a body kit, 19″ wheels and moderately flared guards.

Internally there is a flat bottom R Line steering wheel and sport seats, featuring Volkswagen’s familiar ‘R’ logo.

The Tiguan R Line will be in UK showrooms in June and is available in five colours, Candy White (featured), Reflex Silver, Deep Black, Biscay Blue and Mountain Grey.

AUSmotive will investigate to see if/when Australian readers can expect to see this model.

UPDATE: GoAuto have a story confirming the R Line won’t be available in Australia. Apparently Volkswagen Australia says the R Line name will cause confusion with existing performance enhanced R models (Golf R32, Passat R36, Touareg R50). And yet, sister company Audi manages just fine in Australia with their S Line cosmetic enhancements offered alongside their performance based S range.

Fans of the new Golf GTI are going to love this review from UK publication iMOTOR. Make sure you watch the video as well, it’s well worth the effort.

While AUSmotive will need to wait some time for its first drive of the Mk6 GTI, I’m going to make a bold claim and state, taking all considerations into view, including environmental issues, the Golf VI GTI will be the best GTI ever!

The Volkswagen Golf VI has been criticised for being too small a jump from the previous generation V. For motoring enthusiasts, the relevance of this criticism will hold strongest in the hero GTI model. Seeing as I was busy when the recent launch took place on the French Riveria we’ll have to make do with reading the thoughts of those who were there.

Drivers Republic are right up there in terms of holding credibility in the motoring hack segment. You can be assured that they will tell it like it is. As an unashamed GTI fan, I’m hoping they give the car a big thumbs up.

The above photo shows the lads didn’t hold back in putting the car through it’s paces. And the blacktop in which the car was tested also left nothing to chance, with a series of switchbacks and flowing curves.

So, is the new GTI a step forward, or a jump to the left? Find out for yourself…

(Thanks to Chris for the tip.)

News has been confirmed that Volkswagen US will not be importing the gorgeous Scirocco.

What affect, if any, this has on Volkswagen Australia’s plans and hopes to bring the coupé down under remains to be seen. Like the US, it is currently believed the Scirocco doesn’t make business sense for VW as it would most likely take sales away from Golf hero, the GTI.

Whatever the beancounters say, I know one thing, a fan base exists in both countries that would ensure Sciroccos would sell. Maybe not in record numbers, but if Renault can bring in a limited release of 40 Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27s, then could Volkswagen Australia consider doing likewise?

While the Scirocco was launched in between the Golf V and Golf VI models, the car stands on it own and has the benefit of not being affected by new model syndrome. A mild curse which affected the limited release of 200 MkIV Golf R32s, which were on sale just months before the launch of the Golf V.

Australian readers will have to hang their hats on hope at this stage. Volkswagen Australia have not categorically ruled out the Scirocco, but things don’t look too promising, it has to be said. The best chance seems  to the opportunity to bring in the Scirocco R20T (based on the Studie R), which could be revealed to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

[Source: autoblog]

This is a pretty cool ad for der neue Golf GTI, which has just gone on sale in Germany. Of course, our wowser advertising rules would never see an ad like this make it past the we-can’t-admit-that-it-is-possible-to-have-fun-behind-the-wheel do gooders. So, we’ll just have to make do with internet viewing instead. As it happens, we’d better do that while we can too, just in case Krudd gets his way.

The tagline at the end of the TVC reads, “only for advanced drivers”.

There’s also a behind the scenes look after the jump, which is great news if you sprechen Deutsch.

[Source: Carscoop via The Motor Report]

You’ve seen the images from the recent Golf VI GTI launch at St Tropez in France, now here’s a pretty nifty YouTube clip. Excuse the audio track and you’ll get a good indication of the GTI’s engine note inside and outside the cabin. Sounds good, looks good, can’t wait till it gets here so I can see if drives good!

Jamie from VWvortex.com has just posted some brief thoughts on his drive experience from the launch as well, you can read them HERE.

Is this the new über Golf GTI ‘R’ being tested at the famed Nürburgring? One thing is sure to be certain, it is unlikely to be a 2.0 TDI as the rear badges suggest. For one, the centre mount twin exhaust hint at a far more potent powerplant. Images available at WorldCarFans also show the test mule is fitted with Audi S3 brakes.

While not likely to be final, the extended side skirts and deeper front grille also indicate this is a more performance oriented vehicle.

The badging for this new top of the line GTI has not been confirmed, it is believed the Golf VI replacement for the outgoing R32 is to be powered by a 2-litre four cylinder turbo with around 200kW. All-wheel drive is also said to have been confirmed for the new hot-hatch replacement.

Expect to see a concept version of this car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Some even reckon there’s a chance the GTI ‘R’ will be racing in this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race in May.

Check the NextAutos link below for more images of the car in action.

[Source: NextAutos via The Motor Report]