After the hype that came with the “undercover” release of photos and tehnical details about the new generation VW Golf, rumors have started going around about the high performance models the GTI and R32. According to Autocar, who states personal VW insiders, the new GTI will have 11 more bhp, thus reaching a total of 211, mostly due to the new 2.0 litre engine, enriched with Audi’s variable valve-lift system. Changes about this engine also include a more accessable turbo and an oil cooler, which will help keep the running costs down. On the outside, the GTI will differentiate from the regular mark VI by a distinctive body kit, tailights, a choice of 18 or 19 inch wheels and headlights fitted with Audi-type LED lights.

A major change will consist in the replacement of the old R32, the V6 powering it has been sliced due to the stricter EU regulations. In an effort to satisfy the power-hungry clients, VW will release a new version, called GTI-R which will feature AWD and will be powered by the 2.0 litre TFSI from the Audi S3.

A GTI concept is expected to appear this fall at the Paris Motor Show, and clients will be able to purchase it in spring 2009.

Read More: "Possible Golf VI GTI and GTI-R specs ?"

Volkswagen Tiguan is one of the most popular new smal SUV’s out there, being a real hit with clients, waiting lists being very long. As such, VW has released the Tiguan in the Russian market, saying that it’s local factory based in Kaluga will be supplying the SUV for these clients. The plant also produces the Jetta and Passat models which are also available on the Russian market.

Frank Witterman, CEO of VW in Russia has stated that “the decision to build the Tiguan locally is an indication of the strategic importance of the Russian market for the VW”. It seems that VW is really taking into account the spending power of this new emerging market and it’s taste for modern vehicles. There will be two models available at the lauch of the Tiguan, one equipped with a 1.4 litre 150 bhp TSI engine priced at €27,900 (or 904,000 ruble) and another TSI engine, a 2.0 litre one, capable of delivering 170 bhp starting at €32,500 (or 1,053,550 ruble).

Read More: "VW Tiguan from Russia for Russia"

Earlier this week, we posted the leaked photos of the mark VI Volkswagen Golf. Now it seems that VW has released the official details about the launch calendar, new tehnologies employed in this car and the new engines that will be available for this model.

The new Golf will make it’s commercial debut in October in Europe and after that in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America. The prices will start from €16,500, a bit more expensive than the previous Golf V. Among the new tehnologies that the new car will benefit are Automatic Distance Control (ACC), Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) and Park Steering Assistant. Besides these new features, a new ESP system will be fitted, this one having a finer response, also new safety equipements will be fitted like seven airbags including knee airbag, special anti-whiplash head restraints (WOKS) and a seatbelt detection feature for the rear seats.

As for the engines, the Golf VI will be available right off the start with two 2.0 litre TDI engines, capable of delivering 81 kW / 110 bhp and 103 kW / 140 bhp. These two engines will be the first ones to benefit from the common rail injection, the old ones having pump duse injection. On the gasoline side, 4 engines will be featured in the new line-up, two normally aspirated ones, that will deliver 59 kW / 80 bhp and 75 kW / 102 bhp, and to TSI engines, either supercharged or turbocharged, that will deliver 90 kW / 122 bhp and 118 kW / 160 bhp. VW are really proud of these engines, having stated that these new engines have 28% better fuel economy and are compliant with future EURO 5 standards.

Read More: "New details about the VW Golf VI"

As a part of Volkswagen’s plan to overcome Toyota sales by 2015, the new Robust pick-up (rendered here by Argentinian designer Jorge L. Fernandez) will be launched at the end of next year and marketed starting 2010. The model will have two traction versions: RWD and 4×4. The new model will be sold at the beginning in South America and Africa and if it will be a success in these continents, will also be sold on the European market. Everything may seem a little bit wrong because of the increase in fuel prices, because the demand for pick-ups with “huge” consume decreased, but the global trend will not surrender to these body cars, but more economic and compact models. So Volkswagen will start in compact pick-up segment, starting with equal opportunities.

The next Volkswagen model will be assembled in Germany and Argentina and it will come with two doors or four doors, while it’s expected that the diesel presence to give a strong competitive advantage, starting next year, when the model will be launched.

The Volkswagen Golf is a trully great car, having withstood the test of time with a big success. We will soon see the sixth generation of the small german hatchback later this year, most probably in November when it will be introduced to the European markets. Officially, VW was planning on releasing the first pictures of this car on the 6th of August, but they haven’t really kept those images secure, a few leaked photos of the Volkswagen Golf VI having been released yesterday on the Internet.

At the first look, the Golf engineers seem pretty lazy, preferring to borrow a lot of ideeas from the Scirocco designers. The headlights are almost the same as the VW’s competitive coupe, the tail lights are from the Touareg and the rest of the design is pretty much the same as the last generation. Sure, maybe they worked a lot on the inside, you might think, well not that much, as we can see that a lot of the interior pieces are from the Scirocco. Not quite sure what was VW’s strategy with developing the sixth generation, probably thinking that the popularity which the 5th has enjoyed will be transfered to the new one without much stress. We’ll have to wait until November to see if this new generation will live up to the reputation which the Golf name entrusts to its cars.

Performance-wise, there are still quite a lot of rumours going around, on the base model we will be able to have quite a lot of engines to choose, from TSI and TFSI petrol engines to the TDI diesel units. We’ll see the GTI version in the late 2009, sporting a 2.0 TFSI engine capable of delivering 240 bhp, the top of the line R32 version will probably have Audi S3’s 2.0 TFSI engine that can offer 280 bhp.

We’re going to get more official photos on Wednesday, but full details will probably be available after the car’s debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show in October.

Check out more photos after the jump.

Read More: "First pics of the new Volkswagen Golf VI"

To be honest, not that I like the new Volkswagen Passat CC very much (doesn’t even come close to the CLS), but I was expecting more tuning packages for the car. As far as I know, this one, created by the German tuner Abt Sportsline is one of the first for the CC. The package includes a new aerodynamic kit and some mechanical upgrades. Abt has fitted the Passat CC with upgraded suspension springs and Abt power packages which boost the power output up to 200 hp (147kW) for the 1.8 TSI (160 hp (118kW) on the production version) and up to 240 hp for the 2.0 TSI. Abt also announced that soon after the first package will be released, they will offer power upgrades for the 2.0 TDI engines too, 190 or 170hp (140/124kW) instead of the serial 170 and 140hp respectively (125/103kW).

The body kit is one of the coolest things in a tuning package, however, unfortunately, Abt didn’t release any photos of the car’s new aerodynamic kit, instead we got these ‘teasers’, showing us the car fitted with Abt’s AR and BR alloy wheels which will be available in sizes 18 to 20 inch.

More details will come when Abt decides to let us know, meanwhile check out more photos.
Read More: "Volkswagen Passat CC tuning by Abt"

According to AutoCar, as a part of their ambitious plan to sell 5 million cars by 2018, Volkswagen has decided, after all, to build an affordable mid-engined two-seater coupe/roadster. The concept, designed by Walter da Silva, will be presented at this year’s LA show and, if the public reaction is positive, the car might hit showrooms as early as 2011. According to one of Autocar’s sources, this is the fifth time in as many years they’ve created a car like this, but this time it really looks like the car will go into production.

Built on an aluminum spaceframe developed by Audi (which also points out that the rumors about Audi building the R4 are not only rumors), the car will weight under 1000 kg and power will come from VW’s 168 hp 1.4 liter TSI and from a new 1.6 liter TDI engine developing 125 hp.

The new Volkswagen roadster is described as being a cut-priced alternative to the Lotus Elise, designed to be stylish and lightweight while offering genuine performance and class-leading fuel economy.
Read More: "Volkswagen planning two-seater coupe/roadster"

At the “Travemünder Woche”, Germany’s second largest annual race week in sailing Volkswagen, in cooperation with North Sails, will present the VW Touareg “North Sails” design study. North Sails is the largest sail manufacturer in the world and the special Touareg features material details and equipment inspired from the sailing world.

On the outside the car has custom 19-inch wheels, outside mirror and reflectors equipped with aquamarine blue colored lenses, while the interior features natural teak wood flooring panels outlined with LED lighting strips, aquamarine zig-zag stitching pattern in the white Nappa leather seats and door panels in addition to North Sail branded stainless steel entry strips. The Touareg also comes with a set of binoculars, compass on the instrument panel round out the interior equipment and included North Sails bicycle.

Check out more photos after the jump.
Read More: "Volkswagen Touareg “North Sails” study"

These days it seems that there is no need to advertise a car. Just mask it up, tip a few paparazzi and then see all the publicity unfold in car magazines. Seems that VW is going down this road, having its future truck model spied once again, this time getting even interior shots. This time they were testing brakes and cooling in the Alps.

Even though the test were happening in Europe, I’m sorry for all fans but you won’t see the Robust pick-up truck in Europe at all. It will be sold only in North America, plus Argentina, Brazil & South Africa. So Europeans will have to do with the Japanese trucks for now. Volkswagen Robust will be made in Argentina and will hit the American showrooms in 2009.

Source: World Car Fans

After 15 years the Volkswagen Scirocco is back finally. However the recipe is the same: strip a Golf and put some sexy clothes on it. The Scirocco is a bit longer and wider and has a very muscular look to it, quite different from the peaceful looks of a standard Golf.

Under the bonnet, Volkswagen offers 2 gasoline engines, developing 197 bhp and 158 bhp, plus the omnipresent 138 bhp diesel. You can choose either a six speed manual gearbox, or the excellent DSG automated manual. And prices seem accesible. In Germany the Scirocco starts from 23,000 Euros.

The Scirocco seems to be what the more demanding Golf GTI owner should want. Especially if he has no children. The engines are the same as the GTI. The interior is the same, but it feels a bit more intimate. The seats are very good and the position is lower, giving it a more sports car feel.

The Volkswagen Scirocco seems more agile and balanced than the Golf, but the steering has less feel to it than in a Golf. Safety wise, it has six airbags and ESP standard for all versions. So we should be looking at a five star rating with Euro NCAP.

We can only salute the return of the Scirocco and hope to see it on the road as soon as possible.
Read More: "Volkswagen Scirocco or the Return of the Affordable Sports Car"

Several years ago VW unveiled a car capable of doing 1 liter per 100 kilometers properly named the “one-liter”. Everything went quiet after the initial presentation but in the current eco-friendly, mileage conscious environment VW apparently decided it was time to begin production of the one-liter even if a limited one. The initial concept vehicle was able to do better than the goal of 1 liter per 100 kilometers and was rated at 0.83 liters per 100 kilometers or 282 miles per gallon. Impressive. The production version will apparently get a two cylinder diesel and possibly a hybrid drive.

In order to get that fuel economy VW has resorted to some rather drastic measures. The passengers sit one behind the other, motorcycle style, and the whole car has an aerodynamic tear-shape. In order to keep the weight down all the panels are built from carbon-fiber on top of a magnesium frame ensuring a weight of only 300kg. This along with the low height has got some people concerned about safety. The one-liter has 4 wheels so at least that should calm some fears. A trike can be classified as a bike so it doesn’t have to pass the same safety standards as a car. It also has the basic safety equipments we have come to expect ABS/ESP, airbag but then it better have considering the expected price in the range of 30.000.

Even at that price VW is expected to sell the car at a loss a la Veyron, hence the limited production numbers maybe even in the hundreds, although they hope to get some sort of government tax cuts or incentives.

While this may be little more then a publicity stunt, and will not in itself have a real impact on car pollution, it is a first step and it will get people noticing. A two seater may not be very practical for to many but a four seater with a very aerodynamic body and low weight may be entirely possible without sacrificing much of the fuel efficiency and introducing that type of car in, say, 2013-2015 could prove a real success so maybe VW is on to something.

More photos after the jump.
Read More: "VW still planning to launch one-liter car, possibly in 2010"

Volkswagen has really decided to enter the trend of crossover launches, after the succesful launch of the Tiguan, which has enjoyed a very good welcome by buyers, VW has announced that by 2010, they will launch a crossover based on their small sized model, the Polo.

This will give BMW and Opel a run for their money, both having announced the launches of the X1 and Corsa-based crossover, by being outfitted with VW’s 4Motion tehnology, designed for 4×4 models but it will not go into the premium market, VW not wanting to hurt Audi’s sales of their future model, the A1. According to Walter da Silva, chief designer of VW, the future models will not try to bring something really innovative, but every model will enjoy a certain dose of character.

This model will almost certainly be powered by most of the TDI engines available, the 1,4 and 1,6 litre diesels, and for those who prefer regular petrol, the range of engines is consisted by the 1,4 TSI, the old 1,2 litre engine developing 70 bhp, and a brand new 1,2 litre TSI engine capable of delivering 105 bhp.
Read More: "Volkswagen to release Polo-based SUV"

Volkswagen announced that it plans to open an US plant and more details about that will be made available after the final decision is made, in July. It seems that the most probable locations are Alabama, Tennessee and Michigan. This doesn’t come as a surprise at all, with the recent recession America is going through. One other thing’s interesting. According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, when the plant will open, in 2010, it will also produce the next generation Porsche Cayenne.

Asked by Automotive News, VW spokesman Andreas Meurer did not deny that, actually kind of confirmed it. “When we discuss whether to build the Touareg and Q7 in the USA, we also talk about the Cayenne,” Meurer said. The new facility will build 150,000 units and the cars made there will be the Jetta and a new Passat-like sedan.

Read More: "Porsche Cayenne to be built at the new VW US plant?"

Sometime, all those animal rights activists are right and their actions save animals, but sometimes, they’re simply ridiculous. Take, for example, this VW Polo commercial. That singing dog is pretty funny. But the commercial had to be taken off air after animal rights groups said that the “shaking” dog either was mistreated to behave in such a way, either it gave the wrong impression to the public by showing an animal that feared its owner.

Even though VW said that the two terriers, Cody and Bear, are highly trained animals and the whole commercial shooting was supervised by the American Humane Association, the commercial had to be taken off air. Now we don’t know about you, but we don’t think that there was someone on the set whipping the dog to act like that.

Read More: "Controversial VW commercial taken off air"

In a ceremony that took place last Friday, the German magazine “Guter Rat” (Good Advice) awarded the Volkswagen Golf estate with the “Most Sensible Car of the Year 2008″ award, based on the car’s CO2 emissions values, driving comfort and spacious, clever interior. On behalf of VW, Jochen Sengpiehl, Head of Marketing, was present and accepted the award.

You can read more about the award in the full press release, after the jump.

Read More: "VW Golf estate is “Most Sensible Car of the Year 2008″"