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Volkswagen

autocar.co.uk drives Golf VI

2009 Volkswagen Golf VI

In Iceland for the official Golf VI launch autocar.co.uk has filed a brief review of a 2.0 TDI Golf VI, with DSG transmission. Here’s a few snippets:

  • “It’s quiet – exceptionally quiet, in fact. VW engineers have been through the old Mk5 Golf design aiming to make a major leap forward in refinement. There’s no doubt that they’ve succeeded.”
  • “VW has thrown the works at it, in its goal to make the VW Golf as refined as a car from the class above.”
  • “The Mk6 – in non GTI form at least – becomes the most refined and upmarket feeling car in this sector.”

Read the autocar.co.uk article in full for more detail.

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen prepares for Golf VI launch

Volkswagen Golf VI

While official images and details of the new model Golf have been released, the official launch of the Golf VI is yet to come. Volkswagen has chosen the unique Icelandic landscape for the launch venue and some great spy shots of the preparations have been posted on Golf Mk6.comclick here to check them out.

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Volkswagen

Computer generated renderings of the 2010 Golf GTI

Golf VI GTILeftLaneNews has just published some computer generated renderings of the 2010 GTI. While not official—we’ll have to wait for the upcoming Paris Motor Show for that—their images certainly do look convincing. Assuming these graphics are on the money, it is pleasing to see GTI specific treatments still exist. The Golf IV GTI was virtually identical to its lesser Golf siblings—a fault that Volkswagen fixed superbly with the Golf V GTI. Not long to go now until an official reveal for the Golf VI GTI, which is reported to have a revised 160kW/300Nm 2-litre turbo, which can be coupled to an optional 7 speed DSG transmission.

See more images now at LeftLaneNews. For more on the Golf VI, check out the AUSmotive Volkwagen category listing.

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Volkswagen

Golf GTI Pirelli treads down under

Volkswagen Golf GTI Pirelli

Although not officially confirmed, it is believed that Volkswagen Australia will soon have a limited edition Golf GTI Pirelli in a showroom near you. The GTI Pirelli was first announced at the Wörthersee show in 2007, and launched for UK sales in April this year. The model features a distinctive body kit and reworked 2-litre TFSI engine, yielding figures of 169kW, up 22kW from the regular GTI, and torque has been bumped 20Nm to 300Nm. The Pirelli GTI also features model specific 18″ five spoke ‘P’ alloys, wearing Pirelli P-Zero rubber, of course. The wheels hark back to the original 1983 Mk1 GTI Pirelli, with its ‘P-slot’ wheels. Styling tweaks continue inside with yellow stitching and some choice tyre tread patterned seats. Okay, then. Not such a successful addition. Never mind.

So how much will all this Pirelli bling cost you? Expect pricing to be around $47,500 for the 3 door and $49,000 for the 5 door, offset by the fact only 300 will be delivered to Australia, all fitted with DSG transmissions. Thankfully, other colours will be available in addition to the unique Sunflower yellow featured in these pictures. The extra colours are Diamond Black (or possibly Black Magic as is currently available), Blue Graphite and Reflex Silver, the latter two being familiar to the usual GTI palette.

Look out for an announcement at the Sydney Motor Show in October, in the meantime check out the original European press releases and more pics below. Or you can just muck around with the configurator on Volkswagen’s UK website.

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Volkswagen

TimesOnline drives all new Volkswagen Scirocco

Volkswagen Scirocco

Gavin Conway from TimesOnline has recently filed a report on the all new Volkswagen Scirocco (also reviewed by Greg Kable in the July 2008 issue of Wheels). The car is now available for order in the UK, but the car’s Australian future remains unclear. Volkswagen sales in Australia are going from strength to strength, and while the introduction of the Scirocco to our market may affect sales of the Golf GTI and the R32, it is the new sales the Scirocco’s stunning and swooping lines could help create that should be adding a sparkle to the eyes of the decision makers at Volkswagen Group Australia.

The Scirocco, in GT24 guise, made a stunning racing debut at the recent Nürburgring 24 hour race, claiming first, second and fourth spots in class from the three cars entered (see AUSringers.com for more detail, including some superb photography).

Certainly, Mr Conway thinks Volkswagen are on to a good thing with the first new Scirocco in over 30 years, “a third of a century may have elapsed but the new car does the same job the cultish Scirocco did back then—takes ordinary, reliable, proven VW mechanicals and wraps them in a form that will make people point and smile.”

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News Volkswagen

Volkswagen Australia confirms MkVI Golf plans

Volkswagen logoNewly appointed General Manager of Press and PR for Volkswagen Group Australia, Karl Gehling, has denied claims that the MkVI Golf will not be coming to Australia. A recent report suggested that the MkVI Golf would not be sold in Australia due to currency and return on investment concerns. In 2007, the MkV Golf was Australia’s best selling European car. That trend continues, with sales to the end of May 2008 up 25% from the same point last year.

Golfs delivered to Australia are built at Volkswagen’s Uitenhage plant in South Africa, with the exception of all R32 models and three door GTIs, which are built at Wolfsburg in Germany. Volkswagen plans to shift all MkVI Golf production to the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg. The MkVI will debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show in October and should be at your local Volkswagen dealer in the second half of 2009. Keep reading AUSmotive.com for more.