Volkswagen Golf 2014 News

Volkswagen has revealed its 2015 Golf R ahead of the car’s official debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. The car is the high-performance variant of the latest MkVII Golf family and should arrive in showrooms within 12 months. We can confirm that power will come from a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine shared with the 2015 Audi S3. The engine delivers a stout 221kW, a gain of 30kW on the outgoing MkVI Golf R. Better yet, the 2015 Golf’s MQB platform is around 100 kilograms lighter than the unit replaces, which should guarantee that this latest Golf R is better all ‘round than its predecessor. The good news is that a conventional manual transmission is still offered, but a six-speed DSG dual-clutch unit is also on offer. The 0-100 km/h time will take you just 5.3 seconds in manual-equipped models, versus 5.7 seconds for the outgoing model. Opt for the DSG ‘box and you’re looking at a time of just 4.9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h and combined fuel economy is expected to be around 7.1L/100km. Like its predecessors, the new 2015 Golf R benefits from an all-wheel-drive system. It is a Haldex system capable of sending up to 100 percent of the driving force to the rear wheels when needed. To ensure great chassis dynamics, there's a new sport suspension, the progressive variable-ratio steering system, and a stability control system which can now be fully deactivated for track driving. Other highlights include the optional DCC dynamic chassis control system that features a “Race” mode. In this setting, damping is increased and engine response and the shift points of the DSG transmission are configured to be even sportier. Finally, the car also comes with a cross differential lock (XDS) at the front and rear axles. When the car is cornering, brake pressure is applied to the inside wheel to aid traction as soon as the electronics detect excessively light loads. The XDS thereby operates as a transverse differential lock that helps compensate for understeer during fast cornering. Key visual features include a sporty body kit, 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, quad-exhaust tips and R badging. Inside, owners will find Alcantara trim, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and Recaro bucket seats. www.motorauthority.com  

Volkswagen Australia says technical faults with some of its diesel engines and automatic cars are “completely unrelated” to the death of a Volkswagen Golf driver in Melbourne, whose car was struck from behind by a truck in February 2011. The car involved in that incident had a petrol engine and a manual transmission. Reports at the time said the car had slowed suddenly to 20km/h while in the fast lane. The truck driver reported not seeing any brake lights. Volkswagen Australia spokesman Karl Gehling told News Limited: “We’re disappointed some media have ignored the details of the case and chosen to link completely unrelated issues. The examples are not relevant.” Volkswagen Australia has told News Limited that some early model diesel cars are being called back to dealerships across Australia to have their engine’s injectors replaced to prevent the vehicles from slowing suddenly or shifting into “limp home mode”. The self-contained safety measure is common on most new cars with engines controlled by computer software, and are designed to prompt drivers to take their car to a dealership while not leaving them stranded. Three years ago Volkswagen Australia called back about 8000 “twin-charge” petrol engines fitted to the Golf because rough idling would prevent the car from driving off. But the engine in the car at the centre of the investigation -- a high performance Golf GTI -- does not have the type of petrol engine at the centre of the earlier recall. It was also equipped with a manual transmission. Overseas, Volkswagen has recalled almost 500,000 cars equipped with its unique “DSG” automatic gearbox because of quality concerns and uneven acceleration and delayed gear changes, rather than sudden deceleration. However the issues have been brought into the spotlight following a Coroner’s inquest this week into the death the Volkswagen Golf driver in Melbourne two years ago. The coroner is investigating what caused the crash and led to her death and will release the findings in July. Another Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Kurt McGuiness, told media earlier the company currently has no plans for any new recalls. “Volkswagen conducts vehicle recalls in conjunction with the relevant federal government bodies. At this time we do not plan to announce a recall,” he said. “Rapid deceleration is not an issue widely observed or reported with any Volkswagen vehicles. However, should any of our customers have cause for concern with their Volkswagen vehicle, we urge them to contact our customer care team.” This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling  

Volkswagen's hardcore Golf GTI concept that we told you was heading for Austria’s annual Wörthersee Tour tuning event has turned out to be a striking race car concept dubbed the Design Vision GTI. The concept is based on the latest 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, the seventh generation of the iconic hot hatch, and has been developed as a ready-to-race product. The regular VW Golf GTI drivetrain has been thoroughly overhauled for the concept, with the standard four-cylinder turbo replaced by a twin-turbocharged and direct-injected 3.0-litre V6. Peak output now registers at 375kW and 560Nm, which is more than double that of the regular Golf GTI. All this power and torque is distributed to the wheels via a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and Haldex all-wheel-drive system. Volkswagen boasts the concept will hit 100km/h from rest in just 3.9 seconds and max out at 300km/h. In order to slow this souped-up Golf GTI, designers fitted large carbon ceramic brakes, sized 380mm up front and 355mm at the back. The 20-inch wheels, which feature the GTI’s ‘Austin’ pattern, come with special blades designed to vent hot air generated by the brakes through the wheel openings. The wheel bolts are covered to give the appearance of a centre-lock design.   The design team for the Design Vision GTI, led by Volkswagen brand design chief Klaus Bischoff, has drawn the C-pillars and sills outward, thus creating space for substantially wider front and rear tracks, as well as the specially developed wheels (with 235 tyres in the front and 275s at the rear). The concept is slightly shorter than a regular Golf GTI, however, thanks mainly to a more compact rear bumper treatment, and it sits a bit lower as well. One particularly neat element is the GTI's typical red grille divide, which on the concept also divides the headlights. The actual lighting elements are set back, giving them a deep, sunken look. Inside, designers had a ‘pure GTI’ focus, which meant concentrating on the truly essential but with a little style. This meant as few switches as necessary, so that they can be operated intuitively even while driving hard. Unique features include an electrical kill switch, a push-button for a fire extinguisher and an ESP deactivation button. The car has three drive modes: "Street," "Sport" and "Track". The shapes of the dashboard and the center console correspond to the GTI's, but are even more driver oriented, with tauter surfaces and harder edges. The race-car impression is reinforced by the use of carbon fiber, which is combined with Alcantara and Nappa leather. The rear seats have also gone; their space taken by an X-shaped cross member that further strengthens body stiffness. Volkswagen explains that the aim of the design was to provide a glance into the future of the GTI. Though we’re unlikely to see the Design Vision GTI enter production, many of the concept’s features are likely to appear on eventual race versions of the latest Golf as well as the more extreme 2015 Golf R hot hatch due out next year. The 2013 Wörthersee Tour kicks off today and concludes on May 11. www.motorauthority.com  

The Biggest Loser has proven that weight-loss shows can draw serious attention. Volkswagen must be watching because the German automaker is looking for lower numbers on the scales with the Golf. According to Edmunds, VW is nearly ready to offer up an optional extra that will help the popular hatchback ditch a few pounds. A carbon fibre roof will be offered up on the performance variants of the hot hatch, which could net weight savings of around 8-9kg. The Mark VII Golf GTI is appearing on the not-too distant horizon, so it's no surprise that we might see some of the weight-saving tech from the newest Golf. There's been a Carbon GTI rumoured to make an appearance that will make more extensive use of the lightweight material. We're happy that VW is also offering up the good stuff to those vehicles sitting a bit lower on the vehicular totem pole. Normally, carbon fibre is a very expensive material with which to work. Carmakers are learning new tricks, however, to reduce the cost and utilise the strength and lightness benefits in more applications. By bonding a bit of carbon fibre to a thin layer of steel, which acts as the core of the roof. The carbon fibre adds in the required strength for safety without requiring additional steel or aluminium. Thus a customer is left with a lightweight solution that also happens to look pretty good as well. www.motorauthority.com

In past years, the annual Volkswagen and Audi tuner fest in Wörthersee, Austria has seen the reveal of a number of exciting performance concepts that have led to production. Notable concepts included the Scirocco GT24, Audi A1 clubsport quattro and Golf R Cabriolet, which eventually spawned the respective Scicorro R, Audi A1 quattro and Golf R Cabriolet production cars.  It turns out this year’s event, which takes place from May 8-11, will be no different. We’ve already been treated to a preview of the Audi TT ultra quattro concept, which is said to preview a new lightweight version of the next-generation TT sports car, and now there are reports that a similar hardcore Volkswagen Golf GTI variant will also be previewed at this year’s Wörthersee Tour. Speaking with CAR, Volkswagen R&D boss Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg confirmed that a concept car previewing a future Golf GTI variant would be revealed at the event. He went on to reveal that it won’t be over the top like the Golf GTI W12, a previous Wörthersee concept, but instead will be “more realistic.” Volkswagen is reported to be planning a more hardcore version of its latest 2015 Golf GTI, one that’s said to focus on lightweight design, so it’s possible this is the model the automaker will preview. If this is the case, look for carbon fibre construction and an upgraded electronic differential. Another possibility is the Edition 40 GTI, a 40th anniversary Golf GTI special edition due on the market in 2016, though it’s unlikely this is the car Hackenberg is referring to, given how far its release date is. www.motorauthority.com  

...motor show, and now Carparazzi catches the upcoming wagon during cold-weather testing.There is very little camouflage which points to European preview drives in 2013, although it's unlikely to be sold in Australia until early next year. The pictures point to a bigger cabin but it's unlikely prices will rise much from the $26,990 starter of the current model. Here in 2014 for less than $30,000.This reporter is on Twitter @paulwardgover 

The images largely refer to it as the Golf Variant, but it's a good bet to be the next Volkswagen Golf wagon -- and likely to be revealed at the Geneva motor show this week. There's little news in the look, with the wagon echoing the Golf hatch from the nose to the B-pillar. Further back it gets a longer rear overhang to form the wagon body, with what looks like a deeper opening making for a lower load floor. It also gets different taillight clusters with a rounded inner shape, and the photos show metal roof rails fitted. There are no details yet on the drivetrains, but you can expect it to follow the current model's line-up of both petrol and diesel engines, plus manual and auto transmissions -- but reflect the changes seen in the Golf VII hatch. The 118TSI 1.4-litre engine is gone, with the two turbocharged petrols for launch being a 64kW 1.2-litre promising 4.9L/100km and a 103kW 1.4-litre that VW says will get 4.8L/100km with the help of cylinder deactivation that shuts down two cylinders between 1400-4000rpm. Other petrols are likely to join the range later, including different tunes of the 1.2 and 1.4, and possibly a larger capacity unit. On the oilburner side there’s a tweak of the current 77kW 1.6-litre turbodiesel which VW claims will return 3.8L/100km and a Bluemotion version which promises 3.2L/100km. A revised version of the current 2.0-litre oilburner – including changing its alignment to improve cooling – also raises it to 110kW and delivers 4.0L/100km. The Volkswagen Golf wagon is likely to go on sale in Europe late this year, and may make it here by the end of the year or early 2014 Karla Pincott on Google+  

It's the top-secret prototype of the upcoming Golf station wagon, built over the seventh-generation Volkswagen mechanical package that's already scored a Carsguide hit during a European preview. Wagons don't sell well in Australia, but Golf 7 will set a new benchmark. Here soon for around $27,000.  

We've seen the leaked patent images, the spy shots, and even the almost-ready-for-prime-time concept, but today, we get our first official look at the Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet--the drop-top version of Volkswagen's hottest hatch. With 201kW of power and 350Nm of torque on tap from a turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, 4Motion all-wheel drive, and classically understated Golf looks, the Cabriolet is sure to be one quick little convertible. But does it make sense for the enthusiast? Perhaps. The Golf R in America is crippled by an always-on traction control system that has annoyed owners since its launch. The Golf R's European owners don't have to deal with this lawyerly bit of intrusion into the driving experience. Fortunately, some enthusiasts have found ways to circumvent the system by hacking the ABS code--though VW of America still hasn't come forward with an official resolution. With that in mind, Golf Rs of any flavor are likely to see little in the way of serious track duty, so why not cut the top off and make one fast and furious little cabrio? It will still be blisteringly quick, likely hitting 100km/h in well under six seconds. And as our experience with MX-5s and R8s has shown, taking the top off almost always results in more fun, even if it's not the quickest way to do things. Look for more official information and details soon. www.motorauthority.com

The hot new hatch doesn't look at all menacing on the Volkswagen stand at the Paris show, where it only wears a 'concept' label, but a big change is coming. There will be two models of GTI for the first time in 2013. Even the cooking Golf has been upgraded to the level of the outgoing Golf R, with 350 Newton-metres of torque and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.6 seconds. It also has a handy 162 kiloWatts of power to feed to the front wheels through its six-speed manual and DSG gearboxes. But wait, there's more. Volkswagen has developed a Performance Pack that lifts output from the 2.-litre petrol engine, with turbocharging and direct fuel injection, to 169 kiloWatts. The 0-100km/h time comes down just fractionally to 6.5 seconds. But the big changes are in the driveline, where the PP GTI gets bigger disc brakes and a mechanical limited-slip differential. “We're looking at both models,” the spokesman for Volkswagen Group Australia, Karl Gehling, confirms to Carsguide. He hints that both are likely to make the trip, although not until the back end of 2013. “It will be late next year. It's not launched in Europe until the middle of next year.” There is no hint yet on GTI pricing, although the current model is priced from $38,990 as a three-door hatch and $49,490 with five doors. Despite the performance push, Volkswagen says the new GTI will also be the greenest car to wear the tag. Both GTI versions come with a stop-start system and satisfy the upcoming Euro 6 emissions standard, with fuel economy but by 18 per cent to as good as 9.65 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 140 grams/kilometres. Both cars also come with variable-ratio steering and a flat-bottomed wheel for the driver. The package for the new car is slotted into the seventh-generation Golf body, which means reduced weight, anti-collision system and a high-end infotainment system. But it also gets predictable GTI tweaks including red-painted brake callipers, chromed 80-millimetre exhaust tips and smoked LED tail lamps. The Paris show car also has cloth tartan seats and a golf ball gear knob, although these are not likely to be standard in the production model.  As well as causing double trouble for shoppers forced to make a choice, the new GTI has the potential for mayhem in showrooms. The waiting time in Australia for the previous-generation GTI blew out to more than 18 months when the car first arrived and Gehling cannot promise any better in 2013. “We'll have to wait and see. With any new model there is likely to be a waiting list if demand exceeds supply,” he says.