Category: VW

Next Golf to feature smaller engines
The next-generation Golf will be launched within one year, but technical details still remain scarce. A new report gives more information about the engine range.
With the next Golf, VW will continue downsizing the current engine range and plans to release unexpected small engine under the bonnet of the future compact model according to the German news website Automobilwoche. Until now, the smallest engine available on the Golf is the turbocharged 1.4-litre unit which delivers a power output of 168bhp. In the future lineup, rumours talk about a small 1.2-litre petrol unit of which delivered power remains unknown.
The most surprising engine might be a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit which would power the future entry-level version. Without a doubt, selling an entry-level 1.0-litre-powered Golf will be a difficult exercise. As Audi previously said, consumers aren’t ready to buy an Audi A6 powered by a 1.4-litre engine. How will potential buyers react to a 1.0-litre petrol engine under the Golf’s bonnet. Such a tiny displacement was considered reserved to city models five years and even today.
June 5, 2008
VW CEO threatens to resign
Martin Winterkorn is more and more upset by Porsche’s will to interfere with the VW’s operations and has threatened to resign.
Porsche’s will to interfere with the VW’s brands generate more and more frustration among companies’ executives, especially at Audi. The German weekly magazine Der Spiegel reports that premium carmaker’s managers are more and more concerned by Porsche involvement. In an attempt to increase its sales to 1.5 million vehicles by 2018, the carmaker has started expanding its lineup and some models are competing with Porsche models. Unhappy with the results, Porsche has started to interfere with the future lineup. The rumoured R4 has been canceled by Audi. It isn’t confirmed whether Audi took the decision alone, but the R4 was expected to compete with the Porsche Cayman.
This isn’t the first time it might happen. A longtime rumour suggests that Porsche had obliged Audi to cancel a similar project fifteen years ago. Audi was developing the Quattro coupé which would have competed with the future Porsche Boxster. Under pressure from Porsche as rumoured, the German carmaker canceled the project.
Aware of the situation, the former Audi’s CEO has sent a warning to Porsche. How will Piech react? The former VW CEO and Porsche shareholder brought Winterkorn at the head of VW and also helped Porsche to acquire 31 per cent of VW.
June 3, 2008
Karmann won’t build the future VW Golf Cabriolet
For the German coachbuilder, the future looks rather gloomy. After the end of the Chrysler Crossfire last year and the planned termination of the Audi A4 at the end of the year and the Mercedes-Benz CLK convertible next year, Volkswagen has decided to keep in-house the production of the next Golf convertible.
This news is a major blow for Karmann which has built 675,000 Golf convertibles since its first launch in 1979. Fortunately, the company will still build the BMW 1-Series convertible until 2013. However, current production capacities need to be used. Karmann isn’t the only coachbuilder that struggles to find replacement business. Heuliez, Bertone and Pininfarina have a tough time since the carmaker have decided to build niche vehicles in their own hands.
One opportunity for the coachbuilders might be to provide their production site to Indian and Chinese carmakers which have to buy expertise in order to compete with the Western major players.
May 28, 2008
VW Passat R36 Variant Styling Study unveiled at Worthersee Tour
Like Audi, Volkswagen has unveiled a special edition of the Passat R36 at the Wörther Lake in Austria. But VW engineers had less freedom than their counterparts at Ingolstadt.
Dubbed Variant Study, this special R36 comes with a unique paint scheme “Moonlight Blue”. The new color has also been applied to the chrome parts. The R36 Variant Study gets lowered suspension, while featuring bigger wheels. It sits on 20in alloy wheels which come straight from the Touareg R-Line and gets a 6-piston Brembo braking system upgrade.
On the inside, the Variant Study features a set of bicolour Recaro seats and dark blue chrome trims on the dashboard and the doors.
May 28, 2008
China first quarter saloon sales figures
Here are the results of saloon sales for the first quarter of 2008 in China.
As usual the Shanghai VW Santana(pictured) takes the first rank followed by the Buick Excelle. Another VW, the Jetta, ranks third. The first Chinese car ranks fifth with the Tianjin FAW Xiali whiel the small Chery QQ gets the sixth place thanks. Volkswagen also records a tenteh rank for the Passat GP. In total, Volkswagen holds three of the top ten sales. Japanese carmakers have two models, while the American carmakers have only one model.
1. Shanghai VW – Santana – 69,214
2. Shanghai GM – Excelle – 62,750
3. FAW VW – Jetta – 61,202
4. Guangzhou Toyota – Camry – 54,123
5. Tianjin FAW Xiali – Xiali – 48,421
6. Chery – QQ – 46,251
7. FAW-Haima – Family – 45,352
8. Guangzhou Honda – Accord – 42,160
9. Beijing Hyundai – 41,556
10. Shanghai VW – Passat GP – 36, 865
May 17, 2008
VW to choose its US factory in July
Volkswagen’s CEO has finally announced that the company will choose its US factory in July before the company’s mid-July meeting.
In an interview with the German newspaper Handlesblatt, VW Group’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn, has revealed that a decision will be made before the company’s mid-July meeting. VW Group wants a American factory to offset the impact of weak dollar as part of an ambitious plan to increase its sales on the American market and catch up with Toyota. The factory is planned to build Volkswagen and Audi models, but also Porsche.
Winterkorn also revealed that the company had selected three states for the new plant: Alabama, Michigan and Tenesse.
May 13, 2008
Volkswagen announces pricing For The Passat CC
Volkswagen has announced prices for the Passat CC. The The entry-level powered by the 1.8-litre TSI petrol engine will cost £21,040, while the range-topping 3.6-litre version will cost £31,120.
The Passat CC will offer two trim levels: standard CC and GT. Standard models include sports suspension, 17in alloy wheels, two zone air conditioning, touchscreen CD stereo system with six-disc autochanger, six-way electrically adjustable sports seats, a multifunction leather steering wheel, six airbags and ESP. The GT adds 18in wheels, ‘silversprint’ upholstery, tinted windows and front foglights as well as, for the first time on a Volkswagen, Adaptive Chassis Control, ACC in short.
Three engines are available at launch – two petrol and one diesel. Petrol options are a 1.8-litre TSI unit delivering 157bhp and 184 lbs ft of torque linked to a six-speed manual or DSG gearbox plus the flagship 3.6-litre V6 FSI with 296bhp and 258 lbs ft of torque channelled via 4Motion four-wheel drive and DSG gearbox. A common rail 2.0-litre TDI with 138bhp is also offered at launch, and will be joined in September by a 168bhp version of the same powertrain. An additional 2.0-litre petrol unit, with 197bhp, will also become available at this time.
CC 1.8-litre TSI 158bhp 6 speed manual: £21,040
CC 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp 6 speed manual: £21,870
CC 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp 6 spd DSG: £23,140
CC GT 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp 6 spd manual: £22,770
CC GT 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp 6 spd DSG: £24,040
CC GT 3.6-litre V6 4MOTION 6 spd DSG: £31,120
May 12, 2008
Skoda to produce the Up! in India
Skoda has announced it will build a budget car in India which will be launched within two years.
As predicted, Skoda will build the future Up! production version, but not in Czech Republic as initially thought. The Indian factory located in Aurangabad has been selected to built it.The Skoda production site was in competition with another VW facility located in Pamplona, Spain.
Skoda India Director Thomas Kuehl said that the "car will be launched first in India. The car will cater to virgin markets and will be priced in the Rs 3-5 lakh bracket", between £3,800 and £6,200.
The carmaker will expand the current production site to increase output from 30,000 cars to 100,000 cars annually by 2012. Skoda will also move the production of the Fabia next year to a VW facility located in Chakan.
May 12, 2008
Future A1 and next-generation Polo to get AWD
An Audi model isn’t a true Audi without an all-wheel drive and the future small A1 won’t avoid its fate. The Volkswagen Group is currently working on a four-wheel drive variant of the PQ25 platform shared Bentley
the future Audi A1 and VW Polo, and the new Seat Ibiza.
In an interview with Automotive News, Erich Schmitt, president of Seat, has revealed that "The new small-car platform architecture includes an all-wheel drive option. Seat won’t offer AWD for its new Ibiza, but other group models could use it." The next-generation AWD Polo will be similar to the current CrossPolo.
Technical details remain secret. Will Volkswagen Group use the Quattro system or the Haldex system, unless it takes inspiration from the A1 MetroProject seen at the last Tokyo Motor Show. The concept-car that previewed the eagerly-awaited Audi A1 was powered by two engines, a 150bhp petrol engine at the front and a 41bhp electric engine at the back.
May 8, 2008
US to be biggest market for Volkswagen CC
Volkswagen is expecting the US to become the largest market for the new Passat CC.
In an interview with Automotive news, VW of America head of marketing, Detlef Wittig said that the German carmaker expect the CC to make 60 per cent of its sales on the American market. Volkswagen plans to produce 300,000 units over the next seven years. Compared to our European version, the American Passat CC will feature less equipment in order to offer a price tag below $30,000/£15,000, while the European Passat CC is expected to cost around £22,000.
The Passat CC is part of an ambitious plan set by VW to unveil models intended especially for the American market. The German carmaker wants to increase its sales there in an attempt to boost its global sales. After the Passat CC, VW is expected to launch a pickup and two other exclusive models for the American market.
April 29, 2008