Leaking early, the new Volkswagen 2012 Super Bowl XLVI TV commercial has been released, and builds on the canine theme featured in ‘The Bark Side’ teaser spot, which we previewed earlier in the week. ‘The Dog Strikes Back’ features an overweight pooch called Bolt, who undertakes lots of doggy exercises to get fit so that he can chase the German company’s new Beetle. That’s all very cute, but where does the Star Wars link make itself known? Well, we won’t spoil it here, but there is a galaxy far far away-tinged ending, keeping the running theme from last year’s ‘The Force’ film. An edited 60-second version of this 76-second clip will air during the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday 5 February. Will VW keep the same theme for 2013?

Buoyed by the 2011 success of its Star Wars-themed ‘The Force’ advert (Adweek’s ‘Commercial of the Year 2011’, 44 million YouTube views, 6.8 billion impressions), Volkswagen is again going intergalactic for its 2012 Super Bowl XLVI TV commercial. Called the ‘Bark Side’, this 64-second teaser previews the full advert which will air on 5 February. Featuring a collective of canines (some ‘dressed’ as notable characters from the series’ titles) barking the ‘Imperial March’ from the film’s soundtrack, it’s looking like it will cause as much of a sensation as last year’s US Darth Vader-themed clip.

Hot on the heels of its victory at the What Car? Car of the Year 2012 awards, the diminutive Volkswagen Up is once again in the news, as the new family-friendly five-door variant is unveiled. The 2.42-metre wheelbase stays the same, as does the efficient three-cylinder engine. The main noticeable difference when compared to the three-door (with the exception of two rather obvious additional doors), is the rear profile styling. The Up’s unique upward rear window kink has given way to a downward styling line, reminiscent of that on the three-door Škoda Citigo and SEAT Mii. Prices for the five-door Up will be announced nearer the on-sale date of summer 2012. The full Volkswagen UK press release follows.

Practicality goes Up with baby Volkswagen’s five door version

Getting into Volkswagen’s award-winning Up city car is now easier than ever, with the introduction of the new five-door model. Pictured here for the first time, the five-door Up has many of the same virtues as its three-door sibling: a 2.42m long wheelbase that makes for impressive interior space, a capacious 251-litre boot, an efficient three-cylinder engine, new-to-the-class safety features and an innovative infotainment system.

Rear passengers in the five-door Up benefit from exactly the same cabin space as those in the recently-launched three-door, with 947mm of headroom (versus 993mm in the front) and 789mm of legroom. The rear seat base is set slightly higher than that in the front, at 378mm (versus 306mm) giving rear passengers a clearer view of the road ahead.

As well as front and side airbags, ABS with Hydraulic Brake Assist, Isofix child seat preparation in the rear and standard ESP (on all but the entry level Take Up model), the Up can be ordered with an optional City Emergency Braking system. This uses sensors to scan the space ahead of the vehicle, applying the brakes automatically if it detects that the car is about to hit an object in front, and costs from just £225. The Up has received a five-star rating and the Advanced Award from Euro NCAP, the European New Car Assessment Programme. It is the first vehicle in this class to receive these awards.

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

The Up has already received top honours at the prestigious What Car? awards, where it was named Car of the Year for 2012, and has also been named Top Gear magazine’s Small Car of the Year. First UK deliveries of the five-door Up are expected to start in the second half of the year; prices are yet to be confirmed. The three-door Up is available to order now, with prices starting at £7,995 (RRP ‘on the road’). The first models of the city car will arrive in showrooms in March 2012.

Even before it has hit UK roads, the small new Volkswagen Up has claimed top honours at the prestigious What Car? awards, being named both Car of the Year for 2012 as well as best City Car. Taking the Car of the Year title for a record sixth time makes Volkswagen the most successful manufacturer at the UK magazine’s awards since their inception 34 years ago in 1978.

It was a highly successful night for the manufacturer overall at the motor industry’s annual ‘Oscars’ held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, with the Golf returning as winner of the Small Family Car category for the sixth time overall and fourth consecutive year, and Volkswagen also taking the coveted Safety Award for the Up’s City Emergency Braking System, which applies the brakes if it detects objects ahead of the car.

Commenting on the awards, What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: ‘The Volkswagen Up sets new standards for a car at £10,000. It’s a city car that can seat four adults, while offering new class levels of refinement, quality and maturity at this price; none of its rivals feels quite so grown-up. Buyers will be looking for even more for their money than ever in 2012, so the Up is a very worthy winner of this year’s What Car? Car of the Year.’

Once again, the What Car? editorial team found the evergreen Golf hard to fault, and summed up by saying: ‘The Golf now has four wins in a row in our Small Family Car category – proof that Volkswagen got the package just right. This is a particularly demanding category, but the Golf has all the right ingredients: it’s practical, comfortable and good to drive, holds its value well and is economical. It’s really all the car most people will ever need.’

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand with responsibility for Development collected the award and commented: ‘We are very grateful for this award which recognises the achievements and qualities of our new small car, the Up. We set out to design a car which would combine Volkswagen values and maximum space in a distilled and compact package; a car which embodies the pure essence of the brand. From its modern, clean and efficient engines, through its class-leading safety features to its innovative infotainment system, it is a design which encapsulates modern urban mobility.’

The Up is available to order now, with prices starting from £7,995 (RRP ‘On The Road’) with the first raft of models arriving in UK showrooms in March 2012. For more details on Volkswagen’s multi-award-winning range of cars, visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

‘Small, but perfectly warmed.’ That’s how Volkswagen is guerilla marketing the GT Up concept, the latest almost-production-ready version of its new Up city car. By far the most pleasing (to our hot-hatch-loving eyes anyway) version of VW’s new baby to be unveiled at September’s Frankfurt motor show, the pint-sized package points to a possible new sports-orientated Up GTI, and we’re definitely in favour of one of those. Volkswagen states that the GT Up ‘promises to distil the driving pleasure of the seminal hot hatch, the GTI, into a powerful yet petite package’, and on looks alone, it ticks all the boxes.

Cue endless headlines about how the GT Up channels the original idea of the Volkswagen Mk 1 Golf GTI – it’s no surely no coincidence that both the weight and power of the two cars are similar. But, as the Golf GTI celebrates 35 years in the spotlight, why not make a fuss about a possibly successor that promises to have everything that light and nimble first-generation GTI enjoyed? Indeed, Volkswagen itself is making the comparison, and the GT Up employs the modern GTI wide-mouthed honeycomb grille, and 17-inch alloy wheels, similar to the ‘Watkins Glen’ rims fitted to the Golf GTI Edition 35.

The grille itself is flanked by twin cooling ducts which direct air to the front brakes, and LED daytime running lights. No details on the GT Up’s engine have been released, but with it heralding around 100bhp, we reckon on a version of the new 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit powering the standard Up models, or VW’s 1.2-litre turbocharged powerplant, if it can be made to fit under the GT Up’s stubby bonnet. Sporty addenda features around the back of Volkswagen’s hot tot, too, with extended side sills, a deep roof spoiler and black diffuser housing twin exhaust pipes all playing their visual part.

No images of the cabin have been shown, but Volkswagen assures us that it is ‘no less sporty’. The traditional GTI black roof lining is offset by anthracite-coloured sports seats, with the centres trimmed in a blue chequered pattern, again referencing both the modern and original GTIs. A gloss black dashboard and upper door trim panels are said to contrast well with the blue-ringed air vent nozzles, while a the driver threads the GT Up through crowded city streets and into the countryside with a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel.

Volkswagen resolutely states that the GT Up remains a concept for now, but that it ‘certainly received a favourable reception when it was shown at the recent Frankfurt motor show’. So, is production likely? We hope so, but don’t bank on the GTI-themed Up arriving before summer 2012. The order books for the standard three-door Up have recently been opened in the UK, with first customer deliveries expected in spring 2012. Available in three models ranging from £7995 to £10,390, two further special edition cars are available at £11,180. Visit your Volkswagen Retailer or Volkswagen UK’s Up website pages.

Volkswagen GT Up concept

Volkswagen GT Up concept

Volkswagen GT Up concept

Volkswagen GT Up concept

The latest engine efficiency technology from Volkswagen is a ground-breaking cylinder shut-off system, which will debut in a new 1.4-litre TSI powerplant in early 2012. With the primary goal of reducing fuel consumption, the engine temporarily shuts off two of the four cylinders under low to medium loads. Cylinder shut-off reduces fuel consumption of the 1.4-litre TSI by 0.4 litres per 100 km in the NEDC driving cycle, and when the company’s Start/Stop functionality is integrated – deactivating the engine in neutral gear – the savings adds up to 0.6 litres per 100 km.

The greatest benefits of the cutting-edge technology are realised while driving at constant moderate speeds. At 50km/h (31mph), in third or fourth gear, the savings amount to nearly one litre per 100 km. This new fuel efficient TSI will therefore also fulfil the forthcoming EU6 emissions standard. High efficiency does not exclude driving comfort: even when running on just two cylinders, the 1.4-litre TSI – with its excellent engine balance – is still very quiet and low in vibration.

Cylinder shut-off is active whenever the engine speed of the 1.4-litre TSI is between 1,400 and 4,000rpm and its torque is between 25 and 75Nm (18-55lb ft). This applies to nearly 70% of the driving distance in the EU fuel economy driving cycle. As soon as the driver presses the accelerator pedal sufficiently hard, cylinders 2 and 3 are reactivated imperceptibly. The system takes its information from the accelerator pedal sensor to detect the mode of driving. If the driving exhibits a non-uniform pattern – for example, while driving in roundabout traffic or in a sporty style on a country road – the shut-off functionality is automatically suppressed.

Volkswagen UK have today confirmed pricing and specification details of the celebratory Golf GTI Edition 35, celebrating 35 years of its iconic hot hatchback. First announced back in May (see here for our previous story), the most powerful Golf GTI to date features a 1984cc turbocharged engine, producing 232bhp (235PS) – 23bhp more than the standard car – at 5500rpm. Maximum torque of 221lb ft (300Nm) is produced at 2200rpm. The GTI Edition 35 posts a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds, while top speed is 153mph, and CO2 emissions are 189g/km (185g/km on DSG cars).

Special exterior identifiers include a more sports-orientated bodykit which includes new side skirts and front bumper, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, 18-inch ‘Watkins Glen’ alloy wheels finished in ‘Dark Steel’ or silver, an ‘Edition 35’ front wing badge, gloss back door mirrors, darkened rear windows and darker LED rear lights. ‘Edition 35’ badges also feature on the front seats, door sills and floor mats, while the seatbelts feature a red stripe and the legendary ‘golf ball’ Golf GTI gearknob (fitted to both manual and DSG-equipped cars).

Prices for the Golf GTI Edition 35 start at £27,525 (RRP OTR, £2220 over the standard car) for the six-speed manual three-door model. There is a £1,295 premium for the DSG gearbox and £585 for five doors. Volkswagen Retailers will begin taking orders from today with first customer deliveries due next month. For more information contact your nearest Volkswagen Retailer or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35 UK prices
2.0-litre TSI, 235PS, 6-speed manual 3-door, 189g/km: £27,525
2.0-litre TSI 235 PS, 6speed auto DSG, 3-door, 185g/km: £28,820
2.0-litre TSI, 235PS, 6-speed manual 5-door, 189g/km: £28,110
2.0-litre TSI 235 PS, 6speed auto DSG, 5-door, 185g/km: £29,405

Traditionally an impressive home motor show for German car manufacturers, Volkswagen is pulling out all the stops at 2011’s IAA in Frankfurt. With 54 show cars on it 8893m² Hall 3 exhibition stand, the company’s largest (not literally) launch is its all-new up! city car. The new Golf Cabriolet and Tiguan will also be Volkswagen’s stars of the show. In addition, there will also be a fleet of 74 test vehicles – the largest at the event – including nine electric-powered Golf blue e-motions. 1000 workers are on site turning the vision of 14 architects into reality, while 2870m² of carpeting will be laid along with 6400m² of glass flooring. Four hundred lamps and a similar number of moving lights will illuminate the two-floor stand, and 80 Volkswagen employees and 228 hosts and hostesses will welcome visitors. The 2011 IAA Frankfurt opens it doors on 15 September. Read more for the full official Volkswagen press release.

Volkswagen at the IAA: up!solutely innovative
World premiere of the up! at the IAA in Frankfurt; largest fleet of test vehicles with 74 models; 54 show cars at 8,893m² exhibition stand

Wolfsburg, 01 September 2011

When the International Motor Show (IAA) opens its doors for the 64th time in Frankfurt on September 15, the Volkswagen brand will be present with a 9000 square metre exhibition stand in Hall 3. The brand will be showcasing 54 vehicles and numerous technical exhibits. Highlights include the world premiere of the brand’s new small car called the up!, innovative studies and a 30-metre ‘Innovation Wall’ – a giant-size tablet PC. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a driving experience in a test fleet of 74 cars including nine electric-powered Golf blue-e-motions.

‘The innovative and emotional side to Volkswagen will be on show at IAA 2011,’ said Tillmann Stauske, head of fairs and congresses at Volkswagen. Construction of the Volkswagen exhibition stand is currently at the crucial phase. Planning began ten months ago. A team of 1000 is now on site, working hard over a 25-day period to turn the visions of 14 architects into reality.

Volkswagen is showcasing 54 vehicles at the 8893 square metre stand shaped like a cloud. The main attraction is Volkswagen’s new up! (above) which has its own multimedia showroom. Further models of the city specialist are on show on the shiny white ‘carwalks’ that crisscross the stand. A DJ is in action right next to the exhibits at the 500 square metre Beetle showroom which has been designed with a lounge feeling in mind. The new Golf Cabriolet and the Tiguan are also on show for visitors to take a look. The interactive ‘Innovation Wall’ is at the heart of the technology section of the exhibition stand. The 30-metre wall gives visitors a taste of tomorrow’s mobility as well as presenting innovative studies and alternative technologies. The giant-sized tablet PC will create virtual presentations around the real exhibits.

Innovative and appealing – these are the common themes of the multi-media stand concept. A web special for smart phones (download via www.volkswagen.de) provides visitors with information on the hall plan, the Driving Experience test fleet schedule and also has sight-seeing tips for Frankfurt. In addition, the web special functions as an audio guide – in English and German – for the up! and Beetle showrooms and for the technology section. The hosts and hostesses will be distributing around 400 headsets to visitors at the VW stand each day so that they can enjoy the benefits of the mobile motor show and travel guide.

Anyone who follows the web special route to downtown Frankfurt encounters the up! all along the way. Volkswagen’s smallest model makes a big appearance on giant banner ads and a digital screen at Frankfurt central station. For those interested in finding out more, lots of information on the latest model is available via an integrated USB interface at the up! display at Frankfurt airport.

A total of 228 hosts and hostesses and around 80 Volkswagen employees will be looking after visitors, either at the IAA 2011 stand or at the driving experience and offroad track. As Stauske says: ‘Volkswagen has the largest test fleet of any automaker at the IAA – 74 vehicles are lined up outside Hall 3. That means our guests can experience the entire Volkswagen product range – from the Polo and Golf blue-e-motion to the Touareg Hybrid.’

The Volkswagen team performed a logistical masterpiece in the run-up to the motor show: From setting up the stand architecture, through cabling up the IT system for the multi-media technology world to the light installations. Around 2,100 lamps and roughly 80 kilometres of cables were installed to create a perfect light setting for the exhibits and over 100 show elements. The Volkswagen stand has been a popular feature at the IAA in recent years, and large crowds of automobile fans are expected this year, too. 150,000 catalogs and flyers as well as roughly 10 pallets of give-aways are ready and waiting for the visitors. There will be plenty of replenishments, too: a further five deliveries, each with 7.5 tons of material, are already scheduled.

Volkswagen stand – facts and figures
8,893 sq m total exhibition space (of which 4,436 sq m built-up stand designed on two floors), 54 show cars at the stand, 74 Driving Experience vehicles (test drives and off road), 25-day stand erection period, 9-week production period, 10-month preparation period, 14 architects, 8m-high three-dimensional supporting structure, 2,870 sq m carpeting, 6,400 sq m glass floors, 300 tons of steel, 13,550 sq m chipboard, 5 turntables, 35,000 carrier bags, 10 km IT cables, 155 sq m LED area light sources, 5 km audio cables, 440 moving lights, 400 lamps and vehicle lighting (total 2,100 lamps), 2 megawatt total power output, 80 km lighting cables, 48 up! shows, 56 Beetle shows (total of 104 shows on 8 show days), 228 hosts/hostesses, 80 Volkswagen employees.

Typical. We go on holiday and one of the autumn’s biggest potential stars is unveiled to the world. After months, no, years of speculation, and ahead of its Frankfurt motor show later this month, Volkswagen has released the first official images of the up! – its much promised city car. Errant exclamation mark and trim level names (‘take up!’, ‘move up!’ and the range-topping ‘high up!’) notwithstanding, we like the idea and the car itself, and it should prove popular. A monobox in silhouette, the up! is an all-new design and according to Volkswagen, ‘offers maximum space on a minimal footprint.’

New 59bhp and 74bhp three-cylinder petrol engines make their debut in the tiny tot, while an electric version is in the pipeline. Technology also features heavily to lure in city dwellers, with VW’s new Personal Infotainment Device making its debut. The system has been developed to organise navigation, telephone, information and entertainment, and was designed in cooperation with Navigon. The up! goes on sale in continental Europe in December; UK prices and specifications will be released nearer the diminuative car’s on sale date here. Read more for the first official VW details.

The new up! – small but perfectly formed
The first photos of the Volkswagen up! have been released, ahead of the new small car making its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

The up! is an entirely new design, offering maximum space on a minimal footprint (3.54 x 1.64m), making it ideal for driving in the world’s cities. It will be launched in Europe in December. There are three versions for different budgets and needs: take up! is the entry-level car, move up! the comfort-oriented model and high up! the top version. At the car’s market launch, there will also be two models based on the high up! – up! black and up! white.

Making its debut in the up! is a new generation of three-cylinder petrol engines, with outputs of 60PS and 75PS. Combined fuel consumption as a BlueMotion Technology version (including a Stop/Start system) is 4.2 l/100 km (60PS), and CO2 emissions for this version are less than 100g/km. There are also plans for an up! with electric drive.

An important new safety technology in the up! is the optional City Emergency Braking system. It is automatically active at speeds under 18mph, and uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an impending collision. Depending on speed and situation, City Emergency Braking can reduce accident severity by initiating automatic brake interventions that can even avoid a crash. So far, the up! is the only vehicle in the segment to be offered with this function.

2011 Volkswagen up!

2011 Volkswagen up!

2011 Volkswagen up!

2011 Volkswagen up!

2011 Volkswagen up!

2011 Volkswagen up!

2011 Volkswagen up!

2011 Volkswagen up!

The interior is as colourful as it is capacious, with either decor paint or body colour (depending on the equipment line) used in the interior, including across the dashboard facia. The clean and well-organised layout of the interior of the up! also offers clever details, fun styling and a level of quality that will enhance the market segment.

For the first time in a Volkswagen, the ‘maps + more’ system is now being offered, which is a mobile Personal Infotainment Device (PID). In the economically priced up! this is an equally economical system that was developed to organise navigation, telephone, information and entertainment, and was designed in cooperation with Navigon, one of the world’s leading suppliers of navigation systems. The user simply snaps the PID into place above the centre console.

Unlike many other similar systems of this type, ‘maps + more’ melds with the car’s network of systems more effectively: navigation, telephone and infotainment can be controlled and viewed via the ‘maps + more’ touchscreen, which can also be used to view vehicle information, such as the display of the parking sensors (where fitted). Apps specially developed for the up! also let users extend ‘maps + more’ to meet their specific needs.

Wondering which Volkswagen might suit your fleet needs? Wonder no more, as Volkswagen Fleet Services has launched two new CO2 emissions price lists, making it simple and quick to find a car that suits a fleet manager’s or driver’s needs. First launched in 2009, the fleet price guide details all the car’s in the Vokswagen range with a CO2 output of 160g/km or less. Including information on P11D values, Benefit in Kind tax implications and individual CO2 emissions listings, it is joined by a booklet containing all the vehicles in the Volkswagen range with CO2 emissions under 120g/km.

Volkswagen Fleet Services’ Communications Manager, Tracey Rossetti, commented: ‘We had a very positive response to the first emissions guide we published in 2009 and so have decided to develop it further and introduce the new version with sub-120 g/km vehicles. Although all our fleet price lists contain this information, we believe this makes people’s lives and vehicle selections easier – as all the data is contained in one easy to use guide – and that’s important to both busy fleet managers and drivers.’

The sub-160 g/km booklet contains 16 model ranges, from the Fox city car to the Sharan people carrier, and includes the recently introduced Polo Match and new Touran, while the sub-120 g/km price list offers a choice of nine model ranges including the highly acclaimed new Golf Cabriolet and the Golf BlueMotion which emits just 99g/km of carbon dioxide and is exempt from the London Congestion Charge. To download electronic versions of the price guides, go to www.volkswagen.co.uk/fleet. Printed copies are available by calling the Volkswagen Fleet Business Centre on 0800 38 989 38.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original hot hatchback, Volkswagen has announced the first details of the latest special edition Golf GTI model – the Golf GTI Edition 35. With an increase in power of 23bhp over the ‘standard’ car, the Edition 35 develops 233bhp and is the most powerful production Golf GTI to date.

Since the debut of the first Golf GTI in 1976, the iconic model has enjoyed an uninterrupted history of success which now spans 35 years. During this time, the GTI has become a car with cult appeal as well as an independent brand and milestone GTI anniversaries have been celebrated with exclusive special models (in 1996, 2001 and 2006 – 20th, 25th and 30th anniversary models respectively), and Volkswagen continues this tradition with the Edition 35.

In addition to the increase in power, the Edition 35 combines classic GTI design elements with features specially created for this latest anniversary model. A revised front bumper is joined by lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels while, in the cabin, the traditional golf ball gearknob makes a return. To mark out this special edition further, the ‘35’ signature appears on the front wings, sill plates, head restraints and on the centre panel of the seats. The car will cost €30,425 (£26,627) in Germany when it goes on sale in mid-June.

This latest anniversary model will make its world debut at the legendary GTI event at Wörthersee in Austria at the beginning of June, alongside other GTI anniversary models. The Golf GTI Edition 35 will open for order in the UK later this year. Prices and full UK specification will be announced in due course.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

After seemingly endless teasers and prototype mule shots appearing on websites around the world, Volkswagen finally pulled the covers from the new 2012 Beetle (note that it’s not ‘New Beetle’ this time around) today with simultaneous unveils in Berlin, New York and Shanghai. Still using design cues from the original air-cooled model first launched 73 years ago, the Mk 3 Beetle combines fuel-efficient engines and more masculine looks. About time, too; seeing a now outgoing car this evening really does make the latest regeneration look something special. Gone are the round rear lamps – replaced with units which blend into the hatchback shut line – and the effeminate lines. Due in the UK ‘early in 2012’, the latest Beetle has a much lower roofline, wider stance, and combines the latest sharp Volkswagen look within its curved form. The full Volkswagen UK press release and picture gallery follows.

New generation Beetle revealed at Shanghai show
Volkswagen has unveiled the latest generation Beetle in Shanghai on the eve of the city’s motor show, marking a new era in this iconic car’s history. The latest generation moves away from design of the New Beetle of 1998 and instead draws on cues from the original and Beetle Ragster concept shown in Detroit in 2005. As such it’s longer, wider and lower, giving a more masculine and dynamic appearance.

The Beetle now measures 4278mm in length (+152mm), 1808mm in width (+84mm) and 1486mm in height (-12mm). The track width front and rear, as well as the wheelbase at 2537mm, are also increased. Overseen by Walter de Silva (Volkswagen Group) and Klaus Bischoff (Volkswagen Brand), with Marc Lichte the team leader for exterior design, the car’s new proportions mean the roof extends back further, the windscreen is shifted back and the rear section is now more akin to that of the original Beetle. The boot capacity is a practical 310 litres, up from 209 litres in the 1998 model. The Beetle has four seats, with a split-fold rear seat for added versatility.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle (US)

2012 Volkswagen Beetle (US)

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Three trim levels will be available – Beetle, Design and Sport – and each will be endowed with its own individual character and features. A wide range of innovative optional equipment will also be available, ranging from Keyless Access through satellite navigation systems and a panoramic sunroof to bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights – all of which are available for the first time on a Beetle.

In the UK, a choice of four engines will be offered: three petrol – a 1.2-litre TSI 105PS, a 1.4-litre TSI 160PS and a 2.0-litre TSI 200PS; and one diesel – a 1.6-litre 105PS with BlueMotion Technology. Thanks to the addition of Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems the Beetle 1.6-litre 105PS is estimated to have a combined fuel consumption of 65.7 mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 112g/km.

As well as being economical and environmentally sound, the Beetle is also built to be one of the safest cars on the road thanks not only to features such as standard ESP and six airbags but also a laser-welded and galvanised body structure which has one of the highest torsional rigidity values in the segment at 26,000 Nm/˚. In addition the range-topping engine, the 2.0-litre 200PS, will feature standard XDS electronic differential lock as fitted to the Golf GTI.

The new car will be available to order in the UK in the summer, with first cars arriving in showrooms early in 2012. More details will be available closer to launch.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

Volkswagen has launched volkswagen-classic.de, a new website for owners of older VWs. Aiming to offer an ‘exciting and fascinating mix of magazine and interactive community’, visitors to the focused portal will find a selection of unpublished photographs, brand new information and comprehensive facts on Volkswagen history and classic models from 1949 to 1999. All the historical Volkswagen activities will be found at volkswagen-classic.de, from events, car collections/tours and even original part sales. A central part of the new website is the official magazine of Volkswagen Classic, which will appear exclusively online. It offers exclusive stories and features articles about classic Volkswagens. In each issue of the magazine there will be a special theme – the star of the first issue is the Golf Cabriolet.

Each individual model also gets its own profile page, complete with detailed chronology, technical specifications and advertising history. The online community will offer a central online platform, where owners and friends of classic Volkswagens are offered numerous opportunities to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, discuss, and to actively communicate with Volkswagen. Registered users can create a personal profile with which to network; brand and specific model clubs get their own website space to present and promote their vehicles and activities. Professional support is provided, too: the Volkswagen Classic online team, support staff and experts will ‘always be ready to answer discussion questions.’

volkswagen-classic.de: Polo I profile page

volkswagen-classic.de: Polo I chronology

volkswagen-classic.de: Polo II GT G40

volkswagen-classic.de: front page

volkswagen-classic.de: Magazine

volkswagen-classic.de: Scirocco

Volkswagen is taking its special edition Style models on a nationwide tour of Germany, visiting more than 200 cities in the country. Starting in April 2011 and running until the autumn, the tour will highlight the company’s broad range of models to both retailers and potential customers. ‘With the Style Tour 2011, we invite visitors to experience the Volkswagen brand and experience the diversity of our attractive and environmentally friendly model range itself,’ said Werner Eichhorn, Head of Sales and Marketing (Germany), Volkswagen Passenger Cars. In addition to style, the models and the driver assistance systems will focus on VW’s environmental theme of ‘Think Blue.’

At the national roadshow, visitors can take a closer look at the Style special models, which include the Polo, Golf and Golf Plus. The tour kicked off on 8 April in Autostadt in Wolfsburg, where it will stay until 17 April. ‘We are pleased to present the Style special edition models to guests of Autostadt and Volkswagen employees here in Wolfsburg,’ said Christian Hammerich, Manager of Autostadt. In addition to the Style special models, the new Jetta and Eos will be shown, as will economical BlueMotion versions of the Sharan, Touran and Passat Variant. Drivers of a more sporting bent are offered the Golf GTI, Golf R and Scirocco.

In addition to short test drive appointments, Volkswagen will present the ‘Story of Style’, a selection of the company’s design milestones. In addition, there will be information and a world of ideas relating to sustainability and innovation at Volkswagen under the ‘Think Blue’ banner – how of make individual mobility safer and more comfortable, as well as films on driver assistance systems. Fuel saving tips will also be offered and VW will also inform visitors about its parking aid and new ‘Lane Assist’ lane departure technologies. The Polo Style is available from €14,075 and features a range of equipment including Toffee Brown metallic paint and 15-inch ‘Estrada’ alloy wheels.

Volkswagen is set to take to the road for the next six months, visiting a number of shows and exhibitions with its BlueMotion Technology products, encouraging the nation to ‘Think Blue’ and find out about the latest innovations which help cut the cost of motoring by making every drop of fuel take you further. Visitors to events including the Gadget Show Live, the Ideal Home Show Scotland in Glasgow and Gardeners’ World Live will have the opportunity to learn about Volkswagen’s range of BlueMotion Technologies by engaging with an interactive touchscreen experience and riding the ‘rollercoaster’ which takes them on a journey of discovery into the innovations which reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Visitors will also get the chance to get up close and personal with one of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion products and see for themselves that these cars are standard vehicles – but better. The Polo BlueMotion, for example, looks like a Polo, has the same safety and technology features, is conventional to drive, service and maintain – and yet returns 80.7mpg on the combined cycle and emits just 91g/km of carbon dioxide making it exempt from VED and the London Congestion Charge. Volkswagen will also be giving away tickets to some of the shows via an online competition through its @UKVolkswagenTwitter feed. For details on the events, visit the links below or the Volkswagen UK Facebook page.

Gadget Show Live 2011
NEC, Birmingham; 13–17 April
www.gadgetshowlive.net

Ideal Home Show Scotland
SECC, Glasgow; 27–30 May
www.idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk

Drive the Future at Motorexpo
Canary Wharf, London; 6–12 June
www.motorexpo.com

Gardener’s World Live
NEC, Birmingham; 15–19 June
www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com

EcoVelocity
Battersea Power Station, London; 8–11 September
www.ecovelocity.co.uk

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

Last month, Volkswagen Australia launched a cute new 60-second brand TV commercial campaign to ‘celebrate the unique Volkswagen product experience.’ With 30 and 45-second edits to back the full-length ad up, agency DDB Sydney produced the spots, which aim to show the whole range of Volkswagen products available. Only using sounds of everyday life from fictional satisfied VW owners, the commercials are littered with sounds of appreciation, approval and the Volkswagens themselves. And where does the Polo fit in? A yellow example can be seen exiting a corner a second in during the full-length version above…

Volkswagen ‘Word’ TV campaign credits
Agency: DDB Sydney
Executive Creative Director: Dylan Harrison
Creative Directors: Steve Wakelam/Grant McAloon
Art Director and Copywriter: Steve Wakelam
Director: Steve Rogers
DoP: Simon Duggan
Production House: Revolver
Executive Producer: Michael Ritchie
Producer: Pip Smart
Strategic Planner: Nick Andrews
TV Production: Brenden Johnson/Claire Seffrin
Business Director: Patrice Bougouin
Media Agency: Mediacom
Client: Jutta Friese/Nina van der Wees/Loren Elsegood

[Source: Campaign Brief]

The 81st Geneva Motor Show threw open its doors today, and aside from the Italdesign Volkswagen Tex coupé concept we reported on earlier in the week, VW itself has more than a handful of debuts and new models on show. The Swiss expo sees the world debut of the new Golf Cabriolet – only announced last week – and the rejuvenated Tiguan. There’s also the BlueMotion variant of the new Passat, and perhaps most surprisingly of all, a new take on the iconic Type 2 (T2), called the Bulli – the original T2’s name in Germany. Here’s a quick round-up of the latest Volkswagen unveils from the show floor. The 81st Geneva Motor Show is open until 13 March at Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland.

Golf Cabriolet
The latest drop-top Golf is based on the Series 6 car, and features a more rakish a-pillar, and GTI-style LED tail lights. A full four-seater, the powered canvas roof can be folded in 9.5 seconds at speeds up to 18mph. The ‘pram handle’ rollover hoop has disappeared, to be replaced with an automatically-deploying rollover bar. Volkswagen says refinement is a strong feature of the new car, even when powered the top-spec 208bhp engine from the Golf GTI. Six engines will be available, starting with a 104bhp unit. Over 684,000 examples of the Golf Cabriolet have been sold since the model’s introduction with the Series 1, and there’s no doubt that Volkswagen sees this one being equally as successful. Whether this will see the folding hardtop Eos slowly disappear, we’re not sure.

Tiguan
The best-selling small SUV in Germany largely sees cosmetic tweaks with its latest version. New assistance systems and engines sees VW’s smallest SUV consume less fuel, however, so its a little more than style over substance. The revised styling takes cues from the Tiguan’s larger brother, the Touareg, with revised bumpers and lights, and a choice of front end designs for on-road or off-road use. Three of the seven European engines are new and range from 168bhp to 208bhp. Volkswagen says that, thanks to the new technical highlights, the Tiguan is now one of the fuel-efficient SUVs.

Passat BlueMotion
Just as with the Polo BlueMotion, the new eco-Passat features fuel-saving technologies such as Stop/Start, battery regeneration, low rolling-resistance tyres and improved aerodyamics. A 1.6-litre 104bhp TDI engine provides motive power with emissions of only 109g/km (saloon, 0-62mph in 12.2 seconds) and 114g/km (estate, 0-62mph in 12.5 seconds). All 2011 Passat BlueMotions come with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Bulli
And now to the big one. Volkswagen unveiled a Californian-designed Mircobus concept in 2001, and it says, that this one is the follow-up. Smaller than the version which debuted 10 years ago, the Bulli is based on a new platform and isn’t much longer than a current Polo. It’s a full zero-emissions vehicle powered by an electric motor, and has six seats in two rows of three and an iPad to control the entertainment and information systems. Volkswagen have big ideas for the Bulli and say that the newcomer (reported as almost production-ready at Geneva) will establish a fifth Volkswagen people carrier line alongside the Caddy, Caravelle, Sharan and Touran.

The 114bhp motor provides 199lbs ft of torque and is capable of providing 186 miles of range, and a 0-62mph time of 11.5 seconds. The fact that Volkswagen hints at 1.0 or 1.4-litre petrol engines also being considered under the Bulli’s T2-inspired nose must surely mean that the company has sales targets firmly in its sights. With a Passat-rivalling wheelbase of 2.62 metres, the Bulli utilises space well, just like its T2 forebear. The Bulli on show at Geneva has red and white two-tone paint, a 12” VW badge on the nose, chromed hubcaps, and a style very similar to the T2 Samba. Bench seats and the iPad centre console provide minimalist yet practical cabin design. Will Volkswagen build it? The company says that the Bulli could arrive in 2013.

Golf R concepts
Finally, Volkswagen R GmbH is displaying four new concept versions of the high-performance Golf R at Geneva. The names of the Golf Rs ‘Oryx White’ and ‘Carbon Steel Grey’ refer to the names of the paints used on the first two R concepts. Both feature interiors trimmed in two-tone leather that matches the cars’ exteriors and brushed aluminium inserts. The ‘Space Grey’ Golf R has carbon accents, orange brake calipers and carbon mirror housings. Contrasting leather-trimmed motorsport shell seats grace the interior (with orange piping) and carbon replaces the brushed aluminium accents. The Golf R ‘Aplomb Blue’ meanwhile features 19-inch ‘Glendale’ alloys in silver (all other concept versions have 19” ‘Talledega’ rims), while as with the Golf R ‘Space Grey’, the interior is dotted with carbon inserts.

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Bulli

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Bulli

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Bulli

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Bulli

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Golf R 'Oryx White'

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Golf R 'Oryx White'

Geneva Motor Show 2011: Volkswagen Tiguan

Famed design house Italdesign has been part of the Volkswagen Group since the middle of last year, and the first fruits of the companies’ joint cooperation were unveiled last night on the eve of the 81st Geneva Motor Show. Leaked online last week, the two concepts are both less than four metres long, and feature twin-drive hybrid drivetrains. But, most intriguingly, does the Tex, the sportier of the the two models – the other, the Go! is a compact MPV, maybe another future Polo variant – point to a new spin on the ‘80s Polo coupé? The current Polo is 3970mm long, and lacks a true out-and-out sports focused model, so could the Tex fill the void and be a baby brother to the successful Scirocco?

Building on current and reported future Volkswagen design cues, we think the Tex already looks like a slightly edgier Polo, with echoes of the current model in its side profile. The front grille is an even slimmer version of that seen on current VWs, while the rear features a glass hatchback, with hidden rear lights (first shown on the Up! concept from 2007) and a mounted blade-type spoiler. A full-length panoramic glass roof lets light into the brown and read leather interior, while deeply-sculpted ‘quarterlight’ windows provide a new Volkswagen design flourish. Large spider-like multi-spoke wheels fill the pronounced wheelarches, while the red pinstripe evokes that of the original 1982 Polo coupé.

Powered by a Twin Drive plug-in engine built by Volkswagen, the Tex showcases modern hybrid technology. A 1.4-litre turbocharged engine is paired with a 114bhp electric motor, which, when used together, can produce 295lb ft of torque, enough for 0-62mph in around six seconds and a top speed of 137mph. All this power is driven through a seven-speed DSG gearbox, with paddles on the steering wheel, as seen on the latest Polo GTI. As well as being a sporty powerhouse, the Tex is also eco-minded, too, and can travel around 20 miles in all-electric mode only. If given the green light for production, both the Tex and Go! could be on the market by 2018. The full Italdesign/VW press release follows.

Italdesign Giugiaro presents Tex and Go!: the Volkswagens
of the future for the AO segment
A Coupé and MPV powered by the Blue-e-motion and Twin Drive systems mark the debut of the company based in Moncalieri, Italy within the Volkswagen Group.

The world preview of GO! and Tex at the 81st edition of the International Motor Show in Geneva marks the debut of Italdesign Giugiaro as part of the Volkswagen Group. The two prototypes are Giugiaro’s interpretation for the Volkswagens of the future designed for the A0 segment.

‘Italdesign is a figurehead of Italian design and engineering creativity. We have been working together closely in a spirit of partnership for many decades,’ said Martin Winterkorn Chairman of Volkswagen Group. ‘As a full member of the global Volkswagen Group, Italdesign, now more than ever, is a creative center for fresh ideas and new concepts for our brands. The integration of Italdesign is a building block in our effort to take Volkswagen to the top of the automotive industry by 2018. That is why the outstanding know-how and capacity of Italdesign in design and engineering are so important for our Group.’

‘We conducted a research study imagining the Volkswagens of the upcoming future, cars for the most part designed for the city with our highly personal interpretation, for our debut within the Group,’ declared Giorgetto Giugiaro. ‘Go! is an MPV that continues that subject owing to its improved ergonomics and passenger room while keeping the smaller exterior size that has distinguished a large part of my career. It is a vehicle that is no more than 4 metres long, is eco-friendly, and is able to guarantee the utmost in terms of ergonomics and luxury, with an abundant loading volume. Tex on the other hand is our interpretation of tomorrow’s future, sporty Volkswagen.’

The two concept cars are powered by Volkswagen systems. Blue-e-motion is the totally electrical system of the Go!, while the plug-in Twin Drive hybrid is fitted on the Tex. Thanks to these technologies, the two prototypes guarantee performance ever-attentive to the environment. The Go! is able to travel 240km at zero emissions, while the Tex can run a total of 35km in electric-only mode.

‘The Go! and Tex are the first concrete result of Italdesign Giugiaro’s integration within the Group,’ added Walter de’ Silva, Head of VW Group Design. ‘In actual fact, they depict the Group’s philosophy and at the same time the reason that led us to want Italdesign to join us. These two concept cars are the outcome of an independent research study carried forth by Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro on a topic strategic for the Group: solutions for the urban mobility of tomorrow. The GO! and Tex come out of the discussions and observations that Volkswagen and Italdesign have been working on. The first is a people mover that is compact but very roomy. The coupé instead follows Volkswagen’s long sporting tradition.’

One architecture, two proposals: made in Wolfsburg
The Go! and Tex have a least common denominator labelled Volkswagen. These platform proposals, developed by Volkswagen, show the future potential of the modular transverse architecture (MQB = Modularer Quer-Baukasten). The first vehicles, based on the MQB, will be launched next year. In future this architecture will indeed be able to house an electrical plug-in system, a hybrid system, a classical internal combustion engine powered by petrol, diesel, LPG, CNG and even hydrogen fuel cells without distinction.

‘Besides the one for cars, Walter de’ Silva, Fabrizio and I share another passion: the one for Italian comics hero, ranger Tex Willer,’ said Giorgetto Giugiaro. ‘We wanted to name the coupé after the legendary ranger, as a homage to the men who wrote and drew important pages on our popular culture. Thanks to Mr. Sergio Bonelli’s kindness and helpfulness we finally could realize this unique operation. And, in the end, our prototype, just like the real Tex, has a strong heart and a gentle soul.’

Exterior
Four real seats, front wheel drive and a gently aggressive line, the Tex fits into a long tradition of Volkswagen brand sports cars.

‘We designed the Tex in actual fact thinking to the Volkswagen sports cars of the years to come,’ commented Fabrizio Giugiaro, deputy chairman and style manager of Italdesign Giugiaro. ‘We intentionally kept a family feeling that would immediately identify it as a Wolfsburg product close to production. No visionary or futuristic choice was made, but it is rather a natural evolution of today’s canons with the addition of a few technologies that will shortly become available on the car market.’

Compact, very low (1355mm in height) and 1750mm wide, the Tex at first glance looks like a sports car with great grip on the road, stressed by the large 19” wheels at the ends and generous wheel arches. Its set-up is that of a classic two-door coupé whose clearly sporty personality is emphasised by an aggressive front and its rear flaunting two spoilers. The side view is marked by lines that sculpt the doors next to the air exit of the front wheels and its waistline that rises up toward the tail.

The front is distinguished by a slender grille that encloses the light clusters in an unprecedented trapezoidal shape and three air intakes in the bumper/spoiler zone, necessary for cooling the brake discs and 1.4-litre turbo engine. The VW badge sits in the centre of the grille and is optically underscored by the V-shaped groove of the bonnet. Windscreen and roof are a single piece of glass that becomes dark electronically.

The large rear window dominates the rear and accommodates two spoilers, with the windscreen wiper housed in one at the bottom. Like the Go! previously, the light clusters are under the windscreen and are invisible when the panel is off. Access to the luggage compartment is permitted by raising just the rear window and, once it is open, the light indicators are repeated by the two supplementary tail lights located in the lower part of the bumper, at the sides of the rear air intake that also contains the rear fog lights.

Interior
As in the Go!, the Tex’s interiors have also been designed to offer the occupants maximum space and maximum ergonomics. The passenger compartment is definitely geared to the driver. All of the instruments are positioned in a functional manner and wrap around the driver so as to leave the passenger an incredible sensation of space. The large dashboard containing the controls and driving information grows smaller as it approaches the door panels so as to make getting in and out of the passenger compartment easier.

‘We designed the interiors so that the first sensation would be that of entering a sports car,’ continued Fabrizio Giugiaro. ‘The driver has to be able to find himself, and this is why we chose finish details and elements that refer back to the classic idea of the sports car. We have adopted the large gear knob and leather interiors, with the speedometer and rev counter situated in the classic position behind the steering wheel and with “analogue” graphics, precisely for that reason.’

If the outfitting is classic in style, the contents are instead full of the maximum technology available today. All of the controls and indicators are housed in LCD screens, as is the infotainment console put on a touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, set in a transparent structure that lays bare the structure. The dashboard is separated from the central tunnel, an unusual solution for a car, but wraps around the driver with a graphic and colour continuity. The two rear seats are independent and can be folded down.

Strong heart, gentle soul
The Tex is fitted out with the hybrid plug-in system called Twin Drive conceived and developed by Volkswagen.

The Twin Drive couples a 1.4-litre turbo internal combustion engine with a battery-powered 85 kW peak electrical system capable of developing 400 Nm when used combined together. It has front-wheel drive with a 7-gear Direct Shift gearbox with gearshifting on the steering wheel. Its performance is that of a pure sports car. The Tex is able to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in about 6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 220 km/h. However, in this case sportiness and eco-friendliness are not worlds apart. The Tex is able to cover approximately 35 km in the totally electric mode, mostly enough for getting around during the day.

Italdesign Giugiaro
The roots of Italdesign Giugiaro go back to February 1968 when Giorgetto Giugiaro set up a design studio that represented an innovative formula for the car industry: a firm set up to act as an independent service company, with the aim of delivering creativity, engineering, construction of preseries prototypes, production start-up assistance and all the support required to put a new product into production. Italdesign Giugiaro has been a part of the Volkswagen Group since 2010. Since 1968, some 200 car models have been created that have spawned 50 million standard production units produced by international car manufacturers.

[Source: Italdesign Giugiaro]

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex concept

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex concept

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex concept

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex concept

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex concept

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex concept

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex concept

2011 Italdesign Volkswagen Tex and Go! concepts

One of the trailblazers for car manufacturer digital apps, Volkswagen UK has launched an iPhone configurator, showcasing its full range of models. Using it is simplicity itself. Just choose a model, and add your choice of engine and transmission, upholstery, colour and wheels. Optional equipment is also available to specify, and the app will also check that your chosen options are available with the configured model and even show an accurate price based on the boxes ticked. Different models can also be compared in terms of specification and performance, while your ideal chosen Volkswagen can even be sent to your friends for a pally approval or a scathing thumbs down. Whatever next, an iPhone virtual showroom? If you’re in the market for a new car and want a pocket-sized VW to try before you buy, download the Volkswagen UK Car Configurator app here.

New design
While the grille and headlights are perhaps the most noticeable changes, the only panel of the exterior of both the saloon and estate models that is unchanged is the roof. For a quieter ride, the side windows have thicker glass, the windscreen has two layers of glass with a thin plastic film between them, and the front bulkhead is thicker. However, despite all these changes the dimensions of the car are practically unchanged.

New interior
New seats feature both heating and cooling elements, and the dashboard, centre console and door trims have all been revisited. An iPod interface and leather multifunction steering wheel are standard for the S trim; the next level up (SE) comes with eight-speaker digital radio and is Bluetooth-enabled. The top of the range Sport has touchscreen satellite navigation. The estate is expected to out-sell the saloon for the first time.

New engines
There is a range of both petrol and diesel engines, all available with manual or DSG transmission. The petrol units are 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0-litre TSIs, topping off with a 3.6-litre V6. You have a choice of two diesels; a 1.6 or 2.0-litre TDI. The most economical of these is the 1.6-litre, the BlueMotion variant of which is capable of 68.8 mpg with only 109g/km of CO2. That fuel economy gives it a possible range of over 1000 miles on a single tank of diesel. If you think this is just hype, you’d be wrong – an unmodified Passat recently broke a Guinness world record by doing over 1500 miles on just one tank of diesel!

New safety and comfort features
Like previous Passats, VW’s ‘ESP’ (electronic stabilisation system) intelligent suspension is standard; if you opt to have a factory-fitted towbar then the system also takes into account your trailer. Six airbags, ABS and anti-whiplash headrests are also standard. However, there are also new features which were previously only available for the more expensive Touareg and Phaeton.

Automatic distance control and emergency braking
This new system means that at speeds below 18mph the car will automatically brake if it senses a possible collision in front. And – so long as there is space in front – if a collision from behind is anticipated then the car will automatically accelerate.

Fatigue detection
Another new feature (on the SE and above) monitors the driver’s actions and will give a warning message to the driver (both audio and visual) if it is felt that the driver is not active enough. Tiredness is a real killer and this warning to take a break could save lives.

New differential
The new XDS electronic transverse differential (also standard on the Golf GTI) makes the seventh-generation Passat feel more responsive by reducing understeer and improving traction on wet roads.

‘Hands Full’ boot opening system
Finally, saloon models with the optional keyless entry specification can be opened at the rear with a simple foot motion so long as you are carrying the key fob, making loading the boot easier.

Orders are being taken now for immediate delivery. Prices start at £18,470 (RRP on the road) for the saloon and £19,745 (RRP on the road) for the estate.

Victoria Stubbs, Vindis
Vindis are VW dealers for all models including used Volkswagen Passat